PM Nepal, Prachanda meet

Kathmandu, 19 July: One day after returning from Egypt where he led the Nepali delegation to a summit of non-aligned nations, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held discussions with Maoist Chairman Prachanda Sunday.
The meeting was held at the chairman’s residence.
Nepal Saturday asked Maoists to join a national government led by CPN-UML as the main opposition has proposed another national government under its leadership.
Maoists have predict the fall of the two-month Nepal government.
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Cabinet to discuss salary hike for officials

Kathmandu, 19 July: The cabinet will discuss Sunday a hike in pay for officials who went on a strike after demands for increase was not incorporated in the annual budget.
The cabinet is discussing a hike after three rounds of talks between government and unions representing employees were inconclusive last week.
Unions affiliated with main opposition Maoist and ruling parties, including CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, have led the protests demanding pay hike by defying prohibitory orders around Singha Durbar disrupting work at government offices.
Union demands aren’t uniform complicating government, union talks.
Maoists have proposed a flat Rs 5,000 for all employees while a union affiliated with Nepali Congress has proposed a structured increase from Rs 10,500 to Rs 55,000.
The cabinet now is considering a package after already deciding under pressure to hike salary.
The package proposes a flat increase of five percent and Rs 1,000 monthly dearness allowance.
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Maoist minimize govt. decision to begin sent disqualified combatants out of camps

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 July: Maoists Sunday minimized last week’s government decision to send 4,008 Maoist combatants out of 28 camps under UN watch and rehabilitate them in society.
Maoist military leader Barshaman Pun Sunday described the government move just as an attempt to collect information; the entire process of assimilation will take two years, he said.
“A process has started. Government now is collecting information. Rehabilitation process will be completed in two years,” Pun told Kantipur in reply to a question what is happening to the rehabilitation of combatants disqualified by the world organization.
‘If the process isn’t superficial, it’ll be good.”
Pun rejected the reorganization of a special integration committee of 19,000 Maoist combatants headed by then Prime Minister Prime Minister under incumbent Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
‘It’s out stand that the present committee [under Prachanda] should continue until the peace process between seven parties and Maoists are concluded. Prachanda headed the committee not because he was prime minister but because he is the leader of the biggest political party,” Pun said.
“The special committee will continue until the peace process is completed. The government may not last for a long time,” he added.“ The constitution won’t be drafted if Maoists aren’t included in a national government; the peace process won’t move ahead.”
Pun added: “National and foreign power centers are chasing us.”
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Three injured in abandoned bomb blast

Kathmandu, 19 July: Three persons aged between 55 and four years were injured Saturday in an abandoned socket bomb blast at a deserted home in Indrapur, Banke.
Many have been killed in explosions of bombs abandoned after the end of the people war’s in May 2008; people have been killed in hidden bomb explosions as well.
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MEDIA WATCH

‘Pancha kanyas were wrongly arranged for the prime minister while going to Egypt. The tradition won’t get continuity now.”

(PM’s press advisor Bishnu Rijal, Annapurna Post, 19 July)


“There is groupism, which is like a disease in the central committee. The UML suffered bitter defeat in constituent assembly elections due to internal conflict in the party.”

(Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, The Kathmandu Post, 19 July)
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:PLA fighters won’t be integrated until the draft until the draft of the new constitution is ready.”

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, The Himalayan Times, 19 July)
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