Task force begins work

Kathmandu, 2 Aug: A six-member task force launched by the country’s three biggest parties began work Sunday or one day after a major political decision to form a high-level political mechanism (HLPM) to break a political impasse.
The mechanism is expected to be headed by Girija Prasad Koirala.
The task force empowered to prepare terms of reference for the HLPM Ashok Rai and secretary Bishnu Paudel from CPN-UML, Vice-president Gopalman Shrestha and central committee member Krishna Prasad Shitaula from Nepali Congress and Narayan Kazi Shrestha and Deb Gurung from Maoists.
The task force is expected to present its report in three days.
Maoists have demanded Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal address their concerns like civilian supremacy before the establishment of the mechanism.
The peace process and drafting of a constitution have been stalled following fundamental differences between major political players.
“There’s no alternative to consensus. We’ve agreed in principle to the mechanism,” Narayan Kazi Shrestha said.
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Maoist national convention in January 2010

Kathmandu, 2 Aug: The first national convention of Unified CPN (Maoist) in 18 years will be held at a still unidentified location inside Nepal 29 January.
An extended three-week central committee meeting of the party took a final decision Saturday.
The last convention was held in Punjab.
The committee meeting that also concluded distributed responsibilities for 138 central leaders and adopted a 15-member code of conduct following criticism of luxuriant life style of leaders.
:The code of conduct has been enforces to bring property of leaders under party fold,” Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said.
The party also decided to nation-wide political training camps from 5 September.
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Cholera claims three more lives in Jajarkot

Kathmandu, 2 Aug: Cholera claimed three more lives in remote Jajarkot Saturday taking the death toll in the district in three months to 184.
The epidemic continues unabated.
One person died Saturday in neighbouring Dailekh were the toll has risen to 11.
The epidemic has affected more that six districts in the mid-West as health workers battle the disease in adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain.
Health Minister Umakant Chaudhari has come under fire for flying to Germany on a quota for a senior health official as the epidemic spreads in the region.
Maoists Sunday discussed an integrated health plan for the region where the party is sending teams after the central committee meeting.
Maoist combatants are helping fight the epidemic.
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Two student activists of CPN-UML held

Kathmandu, 2 Aug: Two activists affiliated with ruling CPN-UML were held for interrogation Saturday in the capital for a shooting incident at Tri-Chandra campus.
Ein Bahadur Mahar and Samik Badal were held for questioning, police said.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“”Gurkhas are allowed to live in the UK and that is justice. If you are prepared to die for our country then you should be allowed to live in our country. I got an overwhelming welcome, right from the airport and in each and every place I visited.”

(British actress Joanna Lumley concluding her six-day Nepal visit, The Kathmandu Post, 2 Aug.)

“I’m victimized in the power play of politics.”

(Secretary Unesh Prasad Mainali considering resignation after a rival was appointed chief secretary, The Himalayan Times, 2 Aug.)

“Unified national government should be formed by toppling the incumbent government.”

(Dr Baburam Bhattarai, The Himalayan Times, 2 Aug.)

“The government running on military support is attempting to push Maoists again to war but we won’t return to it.”

(Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Annapurna Post, 2 Aug.)