New problem crops up in govt. formation

Kathmandu, 14 June: Two Madesh parties decided Sunday morning not to join government led by Madhav Kumar Nepal even as Congress and CPN-UML divided ministries between themselves.
Ramjanam Chaudhari charged CPN-UML and Congress kept important ministries for themselves while allocating lesser ministries to other parties.
Ministry-sharing wasn’t discussed by CPN-UML and Nepali Congress with other parties, he charged.
Madesh Front, an umbrella organization of terai-based parties, is holding a meeting later Sunday.
Top CPN-UML and Nepali Congress continued discussions in government expansion and sharing of ministries and ministerial appointments Sunday.
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Renewed Maoist threat to capture power

Kathmandu, 14 June: Senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel said the YCL strength will be expanded from 400,000 to one million.
Gajurel revealed this in Nawalparasi Saturday at a party district conference.
He also said Maoists would capture state power without returning to the jungle, published reports said.
YCL central coordinator Uma Bhujel Siru has aa new strategy for safeguarding nationality and republicanism and added the party will capture national army, court, government and prisons.
More then one after quitting government, Maoists Saturday also formed a 11-member people’s government under Top Bahadur Rana at Dashrathpur VDC in Surkhet.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Bobert O. Blake Saturday called for an end to violent activities of YCL.
‘UCP-M should first end violent activities of Youth Communist League (YCL) and actively cooperate with other patties to achieve peace,” Blake said revealing US terrorist tag on Maoists won’t be immediately lifted.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood also called for a resolution of the YCL issue.
“Once you have resolved the issue of YCL, then the people and parties of Nepal will be assured that the Maoists are committed to the process of multi-party democracy,” Sood told The Kathmandu Post..
On the fall of the Prachanda government, Sook told Kantipur: …the Maoist-led government was reduced to a minority and Prime Minster Prachanda reached a point where he had to resign.”
He denied any Indian hand in the fall of the Prachanda government.
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New questions have arisen after Prachanda tape: Rakesh Sood

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 June: Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood said Sunday ‘new questions have arisen” after the new tape of Prachanda.
“New questions have arisen on UNMIN’s verification and its clarification after the new tape [Prachanda’s claim he duped UNMIN into accepting 19,000 plus combatants when the actual strength was only between 7,000 to 8,000].
“Its for political parties to decide the role of the UNMIN,” Sood told Kantipur in an interview.
Nepali Congress has demanded re-verification after the Prachanda boast.
Top UN official Samuel Tamrat who visited Nepal last week rejected re-verification adding new problems will be created.
Maoists have opposed re-verification demanded by Congress.
UN officials haven’t made comments Prachanda’s claim Maoists sought integration in the army to destabilize it or another claim UCPN (Maoist) would import arms from stipends for combatants in camps under UNMIN watch.
‘The peace agreement does not look at these issues separately. Integration and resettlement are parts of one process,” Sood said in reply to a question whether he preferred resettlement of integration in Nepal Army.
‘It’s not written that way in the peace agreement,” Sood said in reply to another question: Then there’s no choice [between integration in the army and resettlement in society].
Sood said new questions on UNMIN verification have arisen as a top US diplomat for South Asia warned Nepal should not expect a blank cheque from the international community and UNMIN.
“This should not be considered a blank cheque. We and other donors feel that it’s important for there to be real concrete progress and for the Nepalese to show everyone they are truly committed to achieving progress that will provide the basis for future support for UNMIN’s very important activities,.” Robert O. Blake said.
‘Nepal should not think that there will be unlimited patience on the part of the international community for this [peace] process,” Blake said complained the process had ‘dragged out’.
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Maoists shut down Bheri, Karnali districts

Kathmandu, 14 June: Maoists Sunday closed down eight districts in Behri and Karnali eight districts.
After ouster from government, Maoists have been staging daily protests on the street and parliament demanding a correction of the president’s action to retain Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal dismissed by the Prachanda government.
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Journalists demand security in front of Baluwatar

Kathmandu, 14 June: Journalists Sunday staged a sit-in front of the official residence of the prime minister at Baluwatar demanding security.
They later submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Nepal assured the security demanded.
Reporter’s Club led the sit-in.
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