PM Nepal, Khanal, Girija meet

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 31 July: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala held discussions Friday to form a high-level political mechanism to break a political impasse.
The mechanism proposed by Girija has been supported in principle by Chairman Prachanda.
The impasse is delaying the running of government, integration of 19,000 Maoist combatants and drafting the constitution within the May 2010 deadline.
A Maoist central committee is also meeting Friday to endorse an amended political report of Prachanda that Thursday was approved by a joint meeting of the party’s central and advisory committees.
The Prachanda report calls for a movement to establish a people’s republic with civilian supremacy while safeguarding national sovereignty.
The report pushed a ‘national joint government’ led by Maoists to draft a constitution and complete the peace process.
A seven-member headquarter or secretariat team
Headed by Chairman Prachanda will be formed with Mohan Baidya Kiran as vice-chairman; Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankazi Shrestha will be first and second vice-chairman respectively.
Prachanda will retain a veto right.
“The meeting amended the party statute for a chairman with executive powers,” Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said after the meeting.
Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal will be general secretary while CP Gajurel and Post Bahadur Bogati will be secretaries.
The central committee will divide party responsibilities Friday.
The present central secretariat will be converted into the standing committee.
The central committee will also discuss dates for the general convention probably in January/February 2010.
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Schools reopen nation-wide after three-day closure

Kathmandu, 31 July: Secondary and higher secondary schools reopened Friday after a three-day closure nation-wide.
The strike by an umbrella organization of teachers affected more than six million students.
The organization withdrew a strike after an agreement overnight with government.
Government and the organization will consider the demands Friday.
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Garbage lifted from capital streets

Kathmandu, 31 July: Municipal authorities Friday started lifting tons of garbage piled along streets in the capital after an overnight with residents of
Sisdol in neighbouring Nuwakot.
A landfill site for the capital’s garbage is at Sisdol.
Twenty-four containers started lifting 4,000 tons of rubbish after one week.
Government reached a six-point agreement with Sisdol residents to develop the area and environmentally manage the landfill site.
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Four terai groups unite

Kathmandu, 31 July: Madesh Mukti Tigers, Madeshi Virus Killers, Terai Smyukta Janatantrik Party and Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha announced an alliance in Rajbiraj Thusday as government unveiled a new security plan.
Government of Madhav Kumar Nepal has rejected talks with what is calls criminal groups saying it will negotiate with only political groups.
The alliance called for an end to police action in the south.
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Prakash Tibrewala arrested

Kathmandu, 31 July: Prakash Tibrewala was arrested Thursday in Kavre and handed over to Metropolitan Police range for further investigation.
Tibrewala was slapped a Rs 121.3 million fine by the Kathmandu district court for financial irregularities three years ago.
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Bishnu Prasad Lamsal appointed NSC member-secretary

Kathmandu, 31 July: Bishnu Prasad Lamsal, joint secretary at sports ministry, was Thursday appointed acting member-secretary of National Sports Council (NSC) until another arrangement through a ministry decision.
Jiban Ram Shrestha, a CPN-UML appointee, resigned after a government change.
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Nine persons killed in landslides

Kathmandu, 31 July: Four members of a family went missing and are feared dead overnight in Syangjha after a landslide hit a village in the western district.
Landslides also killed five others in neighbouring Dailekh and Tanahu districts.
Half a dozen other villages have been threatened by the landslide triggered by continuous rain in Syanjkha.
Thirty families have been displaced in Baglung as well.
Swollen Kosi river overnight started spurs along the river in Saptari as well.
Swollen Rapti river in Chitwan has swept away and flooded restaurants even as hotels are closed in the district.
Continuous monsoon has flooded rivers in other parts of the country.
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Maoists, Congress and CPN-UML meeting to form political mechanism

Kathmandu, 31 July: Top leaders of Maoists, Nepali Congress and
CPN-UML are meeting Saturday to form a political mechanism to tackle issues, Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel said.
Paudel said this after a meeting Friday between Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Nepali Congress Girija Prsasad Koirala.
Leaders of thee two ruling parties are again meeting Saturday to discuss the mechanism in which other parties will be invited later, Paudel said.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

FNCCI, Australia accord

Kathmandu, 31 July: FNCCI and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) have signed an accord during the Nepali business organization’s first Australia visit to strengthen economic and trade ties, an announcement said.
FNCCI delegation is by President Kush Kumar Joshi.
The two parties will also exchange information on commerce, industry and economy.
The agreement was signed in Brisbane.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Whosever responsibility it is to administer the oath of office and secrecy should take the initiative. Then, I will take the oath.”

(Vice-president Parmananda Jha, Annapurna Post, 31 July)

“Maoists shouldn’t be given entry into Nepal Army. They shouldn’t be integrated in Nepal Army but be given other responsibilities like in other security agencies.”

(Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, Annapurna Post, 31 July)

“What gives OHCHR the right to poke their highly-paid noses into Nepal’s internal affairs and then proselytize their opinions to the Nepali people? Are they under illusion that their meddling is welcome or indeed useful? If so they are sorely mistaken.”

(Sylvia Wineglass, The Kathmandu Post, 31 July)

“None should doubt the government’s commitment to the peace process. There will be no arms deal [with India].”

(PM Nepal, The Kathmandu Post, 31 July)


“This [proposal to appoint Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal ambassador to France] makes clear the present government
doesn’t have the intent to politics of understanding and consensus. This is highly objectionable work.”

(Maoist leader CP Gajurel, Rajdhani, 31 July)
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