More details of Maoist nation-wide strike

Kathmandu, 6 Dec.: A Maoist nation-wide strike Sunday protesting Saturday’s eviction of thousands of Maoist squatters in Kailali has disrupted normal life.
One thousand security personnel were deployed Saturday.
The home ministry said police acted in self-defence after one policeman was killed by squatters.
Maoists Saturday evening released two abducted policemen in Kailali
Six vehicles were vandalized in Dhankuta.
Maoists have stopped the movement of vehicles in the capital burning tires at crossroads.
nnnn


Abducted student abducted and killed

Kathmandu, 6 Dec: Raju Dhital, 22, was abducted and killed in Nepalgunj.
The abduction and murder came to light Saturday.
Dhital was a graduate student in the capital.
Suspected abductors have been arrested in the capital—four in the capital and three in Nepalgunj.
Dhital was kidnapped for ransom.
Nnnn

Sher Bahadur Deuba doubts constitution will be promulgated by deadline

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 6 Dec: Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba Sunday doubted a constitution will be promulgated within the 28 May 2010 deadline.
He linked the promulgation of the constitution to the management of Maoist combatants.
“The constitution will be declared only after management of Maoist combatants]. Otherwise, the constitution shouldn’t be drafted,” Deuba said.
“They won’t be concluded,” the former premier said in reply to a question: Will both be completed by the 28 May 2010 deadline?
Deuba said the deadline for drafting the constitution could be extended by six months, in reply to a question on what could be done if the constitution wasn’t drafted within the deadline.
He said the interim constitution should be amended again to meet the extended date.
“The constitution should be drafted only when it’s [the issue of combatants] concluded,” Deuba said in reply to another question. “The matter should be first concluded even with another amendment in the constitution.”
He added:” The constitution will be drafted now if the combatants are managed.”
nnnn

TRADE, COMERCE, ECONOMY

Finance ministry unaware of Airbus purchase deal

Kathmandu, 6 Dec: Finance Secretary Khanal said Friday his ministry is unaware of a deal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNA) has made with Airbus to purchase two aircraft.
The RNA said it will seek a Rs 10 billion loan from Employees Provident Fund for the purchase.
“It’s clear the corporation has taken a hurried decision to purchase the aircraft,” Secretary Ramshwor Khanal told the public accounts committee of parliament.
‘Until now, the corporation hasn’t informed up in writing.”
Khanal said adding the ministry’s won’t give a government guarantee for the Rs 10 billion loan.
The Fund cannot extend the loan without a government guarantee.
RNA has already extended a Rs. 50.7 million advance to Airbus for the purchase.
The controversy has emerged after US embassy in writing to the government pushed the sale of Boeing to RNA.
nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Narayan Gopal was a Newar. He chose to sing in Nepali. He wanted to be singer of Nepalis.”

(Manjul, Nagarik, 6 Dec.)

“Federal autonomous state is not meant for implementation. This move is taken only for publicity and as a pressure tactic.”

(Maoist leader Mohan Baidya Kiran, The Rising Nepal, 6 Dec.)

“My tongue slipped while talking at the public accounts committee.”

(CEO of RNA Sugatratna Tuladhar who said he trapped the government in the Airbus deal, Deshantar, 6 Dec.)

‘We can expect nothing from this government as it has been incompetent even to take action against rapist policeman and its minister for slapping senior government employee.”

(Dr Babauram Bhattarai, The Himalayan Times, 6 Dec.)

“I don’t think so [possibility of Sujata Koirala becoming premier.].There’s no possibility because of the party situation after she became minister.”

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, Kantipur, 6 Dec.)
nnnn