Three-party attempt to end deadlock

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Maoists, CPN-UML and Maoists will make another attempt Tuesday to end a prolonged four-month political impasse as Maoists have obstructed parliamentary proceedings during the period.
Maoists again threatened to launch a decisive popular movement if two ruling parties aren’t ‘flexible’ Tuesday.
Maoists have given the ruling parties with whom they launched a joint popular movement until tihar to meet their demands for what UCPN (Maoist) call the restoration of civilian authority.
The extreme communists also claim the government they led was brought down four months in a presidential and military coup.
UML and Congress have so far rejected a Maoist demand to discuss a censure motion in parliament against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
Congress has also rejected another fresh demand to amend the interim constitution to clearly define powers of the ceremonial president which UCPN (Maoist) is being developed as a parallel power center to a strong executive prime minister after Maoists emerged as the largest party in parliament and constituent assembly after a popular April; 2008 vote.
nnnn

Govt. announces public holiday for Eid

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Government Monday announced a public holiday nation-wide for Muslims celebrating Eid.
The home ministry announced the government decision to declare the day a public holiday.
Government took the decision after announcing public holidays for other communities celebrating their major religious events.
Nnnn

More details of PM Nepal’s praise for Nepal Army

Kathmandu, 20 Sept: Abandoning past criticisms, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday praised Nepal Army as it come sunder increasing attack from Maoists.
Nepal extended praise while inspecting the passing out parade of new officers who graduated from the military academy.
‘Nepal Army is the common strength and property of all Nepalis of different ethnic, regional, class, community and language groups.
“For US President Barak Obama to invite the Nepali prime minister to a conference of 10 major nations, including Nepal, contributing to peacekeeping worldwide makes clear the good image of Nepal Army, Nepal said.
Nepal added the state army saved the country by fighting British imperialists who overran India.
“Army has established itself as a top class organization by working under the government during transition,” the prime minister said.
The government chief said this as he asked India during his just concluded India visit to resume arms supplies suspended in 2004.
Maoists have objected to the resumption.
Nnnn


Govt. dissolves hospital development committees

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Cabinet Sunday dissolved all hospital development committees formed by the previous Maoist-led government.
The moves paves the way for the Nepal government to make new appointments.
Nnnn


Nepal to takeover leadership of LDCs and land-locked nations from Bangladesh

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Nepal will takeover the leadership of the least developed nations (LDCs) and land-locked nations from Bangladesh for three years at a sideline meeting of the group in New York during the current UN general assembly session.
“It will help us to raise the issues of the LDCs at the UN general assembly. We can play a decisive role on behalf of these nations,” Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala said.
Sujata is expected to takeover the leadership of the 50-nation group mostly of nations from Asia and Africa.
nnnn

Case against Rishi Dhamala withdrawn; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Cabinet Sunday withdrew a case against Rishi Dhamala, chairman of Reporters’ Club and two other terai journalists Subak Mahoto and Birendra Kumar Mahoto charged for illegal arms possession and extortion.
The trio were charged for links with Ranabir Sena believed to be behind bombs in the capital 2008.
Dhamala was free on bail.
Dhamala flew for the USA [Sunday] with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal after the case was withdrawn, Naya Patrika reports.
Mahatos are still in custody.
According to a source, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala decided two months ago to take Dhamala’s case to the cabinet.
Home Minister Bhim Rawal opposed the proposal which was dormant.
US embassy objected to the inclusion of Dhamala in the prime minister’s team visiting USA.
Sujata pressurized Rawal to withdraw the charge after Dhamala was denied visa; Rawal objected the issue was being considered by the supreme court.
PM Nepal then intervened on behalf of Dhamala who was cleared.
nnnn


24 Indian Naxalites killed, 10 security personnel missing

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: In the biggest reserve for Indian Maoists, 24 Naxalites were killed Sunday in Chhatisgadh where 10 security personnel are missing following the encounter.
Indian federal and state governments have refused to negotiate with the Naxalites even as New Delhi facilitated a 12-point peace agreement with Nepal’s Maoists and parliamentary parties in 2005.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the bloody Naxalite movement is worst that the insurgences in Kashmir and the north-east states.
Nnnn

China hands over assistance to enhance security along Nepal-Tibet border

Kathmandu, 20 Sept: Chinese government has handed over equipment worth Rs 10.5 million for immigration proposes to upgrade border security, Kantipur reports from Chautara.
China Saturday asked Nepali immigration official at two-day talks in Monday in Khasa to enhance border security with special measures; a Chinese military delegation from Lhasa headed by a major general headed the Chinese team.
The Nepalese team was led by Immigration Director General Madhav Regmi.
“China asked at talks to stop unwanted activities along the border. Nepal agreed,” home ministry spokesman Jaya Mukunda Khanal said.
China handed over equipment to check visas, computers, X-ray machines as well as helmets for use in immigration purposes only.
nnnn



TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY


Two parliamentary committees make opposing suggestions

Kathmandu, 21 Sept: Parliament’s natural resources and means committee [NRMC] Sunday recommended to the government to disallow permission to hotels and resorts permission to operate inside the Chitwan National Park on the world heritage list.
But the public accounts committee earlier recommended seven hotels and resorts inside the park to operate until 15 July 2012 as the country observes 2011 Nepal Tourism Year.
NRMC has asked government not to implement the public accounts committee recommendation as it is the only authoritative parliamentary committee to make a suggestion on the issue.
Government hasn’t renewed a 15-year lease with expired 15 July 2009.
The controversy has broken out at the beginning of the autumn tourist season.
There’s a tussle between hotels and lodges that operate within and from out side the park.
Tourism Minister Dipak Bohara asked the committees resolve the differences to enable government to take a final decision.
Nnnn

Credit rating agency launched

Kathmandu, 20 Sept: Credit Rating Agency Nepal Limited (CRANE) has been lunched with Sujeev Sakya as its chairman, an announcement said.
Operations will begin November.
CRANE has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CARE Ratings India.
‘We look forward to fill a void of a rating agency in Nepal and change the way business and financial transactions are conducted,” said Sakya.
nnnn


MEDIA GOOGLE

“I already said I became president by chance. I’ve got an opportunity to write my own history by adding on to foundations laid by Prithvinarayan Shah, Bidyapati, Laxmi Prasad Debkota, Ram Naraian Mishra and others. I want to utilize this opportunity.”

(Sharub quoting President Dr Ram Naraian Yadav, Kantipur, 20 Sept.)


“Koirala [Girija] announced that the party endorsed it. Then a few other members supported him. I have nothing against the party going republic. But it was a strategic suicide for the party and its ideology. Electoral defeat that followed was its direct outcome.”

(Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka, newsfront, 20 Sept.)

‘I do not like those who speak against me in my absence. Why don’t they speak up against me at the central working committee meetings in my presence?”

(Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, The Kathmandu Post, 20 Sept.)

“There is no such thing as a Madeshi or a Madesh in Nepal. I don’t whether Upendra Yadav is from Nepal or Bihar. Somehow he has managed to get Nepali citizenship. But whatever he may be, he is not a Madeshi,. He is a Yadav. He has his own caste There are other castes. Tripathis, Thakurs. Why are these people abandoning their castes and looking for trouble by declaring they are Madshis?”

(Laxman Tharu, former Maoist and Chairman of Tharu Autonomous State Council, The Kathmandu Post, 20 Sept.)
nnnn