Two more autonomous republics being declared

Kathmandu, 17 Dec.: Magarat and Tamurat federal autonomous regions are being declared Thursday from Tansen and Pokhara by Maoists.
Amid protests, Maoists have declared 10 autonomous regions so far.
The main opposition plan to carve out 13 autonomous regions in the country unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, Nepal’s founder.
nnnn

Two dead, three seriously injured

Kathmandu, 17 Dec: In continuing road accidents, two persons died and three were seriously injured in a collision between a van and a passenger in Dhading Thursday morning.
One vehicle was traveling to the capital from the terai while the other vehicle was going south from Kathmandu
Nnnn

Buddhist conference

Kathmandu, 17 Dec: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is inaugurating the 10th National Buddhist conference in Lumbini, the birthplace of The Buddha, Thursday afternoon.
Nearly 1,000 delegates are participating in the two-day conference.
Chairman Prachanda will participate in the concluding ceremony Friday.
nnnn

PM addresses Copenhagen amid protests

Kathmandu, 17 Dec.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal pushed a five-point action plan in an address to the Copenhagen UN climate change summit one day before its conclusion calling for an international effort to “Same the Himalayas”.
On behalf of the least developed countries, he asked developed countries to prioritize help fight the adverse impact of climate change in poor countries.
The five-point plan calls urges developed countries to implement the Kyoto protocol and follow-up treaties.
The prime minister said LDCs should have greater access to resources and technology to deal with climate change.
Outside the conference venue, hundreds to protestors battled police to break into the hall as Nepal spoke.
Protestors were critical of the role of rich countries at the summit.
The summit has run into trouble with some saying a common declaration may not emerge.
Britain’s DFID has dished out at last $130,000 to fund Nepal’s huge participation at the summit although the money set aside for Nepal’s development.
nnnn



Action plan to discharge Maoist child soldiers

Kathmandu, 17 Dec.: Government, Maoists and the UN Wednesday signed an action plan to discharge 4,008 Maoist child soldiers in camps under UNMIN watch.
They were put inside camps even after their verification by UN.
Sadhu Ram Sapkota, joint secretary at peace ministry, Brigade Commander Sarad Sahayatri and Robert Piper, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal, signed the plan.
The discharge will be completed 40 days after launch 27 December.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the secretary general, said Maoists continue to be listed as a party with child soldiers.
“The de-listing will not take place until completion of one year of the discharge process,” she told reporters.
The discharge will be financed through a $8 million UN Peace Fund Nepal.
Nnnn