President concerned with Maoist declaration; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Dec: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is concerned with Maoist declaration of autonomous federal republics, according to Acting Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar who briefed the head of state on the prevailing situation in the country Wednesday.
“Maoists are going on with the declaration of federal autonomous republics but why isn’t the government coming out with a special plan to stop such unconstitutional acts the president asked.
“The president was deeply concerned with action that minimizes the role of the constituent assembly,” Gachedhar said after the briefing.
MJF, TMLP and NSP, three terai parties in government, Wednesday said the Maoist declaration of autonomous republics was “illegal and apolitical”
They said this after a tripartite meeting; they took the common position even as most terai parties and leaders have pushed a One Madesh, One Pradesh agenda.
But Maoists have rejected the concerns and opposition to their plans.
“This is a political declaration. But if opposition continue against the peace agreement and federalism, this will be converted into a parallel government. Nobody can stop this,” Chairman Prachanda declared while launching Newa federal autonomous region of Kathmandu, Lalaitpur and Bhaktapur from Basantapur square Wednesday.
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Maoists continue land grab

Kathmandu, 17Dec: Maoists have continued a campaign to seize land holdings of individuals and government amid forcible evictions by police.
Maoists began a new campaign after they were forcibly evicted from a community forest in Kailali last week.
At least five persons were killed, including a policeman, when 20,000 squatters were evicted from the forest as their huts were torched.
Maoists Wednesday captured 50 bighas in Bardiya National Park as locals protested.
Lawmaker Sundar Tharu led the seizure.
The main opposition said it has captured 2,000 bighas in the mid and far-West so far.
Kochila autonomous republic Wednesday took over a stadium in Biratnagar.
The main opposition hasn’t returned assets seized during the insurgency even as they committed to return it after joining the mainstream after 2005.
Nepali Congress in an appeasement policy abandoned pre-conditions that Maoists should return seized assets and disband the YCL before the 2008 constituent assembly elections.
They won the elections as they held on to seized assets.
The current government led by UML has even plans to compensate people whose assets has been seized with government funds.
If the plan is implemented, the government will be funding Maoist seizures.
The Maoist offensive comes at a time when doubts are being expressed whether the 28 May deadline to promulgate a constitution will be met.
Eleven subject committees failed to meet a 15 December deadline to recommend articles to be incorporated in the main document.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“You [parties] turn in 10 different directions even while saying the situation is difficult.”

(Chairman Subash Nemwang, Naya Patrika, 17 Dec.)

‘I haven’t done anything that I should resign. I’ve worked abiding by the interim constitution, the country’s laws, comprehensive peace agreement and agreements signed by leaders.”

(Home Minister Bhim Rawal, Kantipur, 17 Dec.”
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