Maoists stage sit-ins at district headquarters for second day

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Maoists continued their sit-ins of all district headquarters for the second day Thursday to district work at government offices.
The sit-ins were violent Wednesday at Maoists clashed with police who lobbed teargas shells
Maoists Wednesday also disrupted parliamentary proceedings again for the 32nd time.
The protests continue even as major leaders attempted to break a crippling five-month political impasse.
Maoists launched the second phase of their anti-government protests amid charges ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav acted unconstitutionally to retain sacked Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Twenty-two ruling parties against the spirit of the third popular movement in 2005 to create a strong executive prime minister are attempting to create a parallel power center around the president after Maoists emerged as the largest political party in the constituent assembly which also acts as a parliament.
Maoists said the president is a new king without a crown.
Maoists are responsible for the political deadlock as well.
Maoists leading a coalition government acted unilaterally to sack Gen Katawal and appointed a new army chief without involving the president who was only notified of the dismissal and appointment.
An emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday decided to protect the live and property of people during the movement.
Government again invited Maoists to begin a dialogue to discuss demands.
Twenty-two ruling parties are also holding a meeting later Thursday to find an outlet.
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Extensive powers of NC president curtailed

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: An extended general congress of Nepali Congress against the wishes of party President Girija Prasad Koirala Wednesday by a two-third majority voted to curtail the sweeping powers of the party chief.
Girija resisted the effort until the last moment.
More than 1,200 delegates voted to amend the party statute and restrict powers of the president to nominate office bearers and 50 percent central committee members.
After the amendment, the president can now appoint only one vice-president, one general secretary and a joint general secretary; the president is now empowered to nominate only 16 to 85 central committee members..
Koirala, who had been imposing his decisions on the party without serious discussion. resisted curtails in the power arguing he party will suffer,
The congress took the decision amid challenges to aging Koirala in the central committee and parliamentary party where young Turks also calling for collective and elected instead of nominated leaders opposed the promotion of daughter Sujata to deputy prime minister by the prime minister at Koirala’s request.
Dissatisfied youth leaders are demanding institutional decisions in the party.
Koirala is losing his once firm grip on the party.
More than two-third members calling for internal democracy were for restrictions of the president’s power and collective leadership.
The congress pledged continued support to the CPN-UMNL-led government of Madhav Kumar Nepal at a time when Maoists are calling for a national unity government under CUCPN (Maoist).
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Cabinet meeting at Everest base camp

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: The cabinet is meeting for the first time—possibly on 11 November-- at the base camp of Mount Everest, the 8848 meters high world’s tallest peak, to highlight the adverse effect of climate change on the Himalaya were the snowline is receding.
Cabinet members will fly to base camp from the capital for the two-day met in what some call a gimmick immediately after the underwater cabinet meeting in Maldives which could be underwater in the next two decades with rising ocean level ahead of the Denmark
Forest Minister Dipak Bohara denied Nepal was trying to emulate Maldives saying the meeting had been planned since September.,
Flying to base camp without trekking there could be dangerous with ministers likely to develop altitude sickness which can kill.
Bohara said final decision hasn’t been taken whether the meeting will be held at base camp.
“We’re considering four sites from 15,000 to 19,000 feet,” he said.
Doctors will accompany the ministers for emergency medical assistance and cabinet members will also be provided with oxygen masks for the meeting in the rarefied air.
Business community is funding the meeting.
“The meeting is not a gimmick. The adverse effect of climate change on the Himalayan region has affected one billion people,” Bohara said.
The declaration from Everest base camp will be circulated at the world conference on climate change later this year in Denmark.
PM Nepal is attending the meet.
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Curfew lifted in Dhankuta

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Local administration Wednesday lifted a two-day curfew in Dhankuta from nine at night.
The curfew was slapped after agreement between Maoist YCL and CPN-UML Youth Force which withdrew a indefinite strike in the district after the a five-point agreement.
Violence broke out in the east Nepal town four days ago.
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Judicial probe into Accham rape charge

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Former supreme court justice Krishna Prasad Basyal has been appointed chief of a team to investigate charge by a policewoman she was raped by colleagues.
The probe committee has three members.
A police team has already investigated the charge.
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Chairman Jhalanath Khanal meets Indian leaders

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal Wednesday held political discussions with Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee main opposition BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao in the Indian capital Thursday.
“Nepalis should work together to take the peace process to a logical conclusion,” Khanal told The Kathmandu Post after the meetings.
Khanal is continuing discussions with other leaders,
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Lives of Nepali peacekeepers in danger in Sudan

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: The investigation team sent to Sudan under the aegis of the home ministry and Nepal Police has come up with a shocking report according to which the 140 Nepali peacekeepers currently deployed in the Dafur region face a security threat as they are operating without armed personnel carriers (APCs), Republica reports.
The team concluded that the eight APCs sent to Dafur for peacekeepers are sub-standard and useless.
The report concluded that there was irregularity in the procurement process as well. According to the report, the lives of Nepali peacekeepers in Sudan are in danger as they are carrying out their duties without any APCs.
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Nepali winner of $1 million lottery in USA?

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: A Texas county has indicted a store clerk for allegedly stealing a winning $1 million lottery ticket, but the state lottery commission tells the original buyer that it considers the clerk to be the winner and won’t pay up, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports according to agency report in Republica.
Commission officials told Willis Wills,67, of Grand Prairie, Texas, that they consider the clerk, Pankaj Joshi, the rightful winner because Joshi signed and redeemed the ticket a required, Willis’ attorney says.
But Joshi has been indicted in Texas county on charges of claiming a lottery prize by fraud. Prosecutors hope to give $350,000 seized from Joshi’s bank accounts, the paper says.
Joshi later cashed it [lottery] in, receiving $750,000 after taxes, and apparently returned to his native Nepal.
Willis’ attorney Sean E. Breen said Tuesday: “I think the Lottery Commission is more concerned with covering their own behinds than making some sure Willis gets the money. We will move forward with all legal remedies.”
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Chinese brothel in Thamel

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Foreign women prostitutes are also active in Thamel, Naya Patrika reports.
Chinese women and Nepali were arrested W4dnesday by police from a rented room in Thamel.
The brother was run by a Chinese couple; the husband was arrested and his wife has gone missing.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

China to extend soft loan

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: China has pledged a $ 200 soft loan equivalent to Rs 14.97 billion for a hydro power project and infrastructure development.
The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank Of China will extend a $120 million loan for the Upper Trisuli hydro power project and $ 80 million to upgrade Pokhara airport.
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Hetauda Textile Mill liquidation

Kathmandu, 5 Nov: Government Wednesday decided to send the Chinese-aided Hetauda Textile Mill into liquidation.
The Prachanda government opted to run the factory even as a predecessor government decided to privatize it.
There were no takers.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The India visits of CPN-UNL Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav probably in search of resolution of current political stalemate, are indication of Nepal leaders’ dependency on our southern neighbour to make crucial decisions for them.”

(Sarina Chetry, The Kathmandu Post, 5 Nov.)

“Even UN Secretary General Ban Bi-moon said in the UN security council meting that Nepal needs a national unity government, His opinion matches ours. His statement is equivalent to one by an international community.”

(Chairman Dahal, The Kathmandu Post, 5 Nov.)

“With Indian Maoists already fighting a war, I don’t think India wants to open up another front in Nepal.”

(Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Republica, 5 Nov.)
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