US expresses deep concern

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Top US diplomat in Nepal Randy Berry expressed deep concern with continued Maoist obstruction of parliament proceedings and threats to declare 13 autonomous republics, the US embassy said.
The concern was expressed at a meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Friday.
He asked Maoists to make positive efforts to end a prolonged political impasse.

Jog Meher Shrestha dead

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Jog Meher Shrestha, 84, home minister in the panchayat era, died Saturday after battling a kidney ailment.
He was 84.
Shrestha was central leader of RPP.
Nnnn


Maoists vandalize vehicles in Kailali

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Maoists Saturday morning vandalized three buses, two trucks, two cars and several motorcycles during a district in Kailali in the far-West.
Maoists have brought life to a standstill in the district protesting Friday’s police forcible eviction of forest squatters.
Four persons, including a policeman, were killed and dozens injured.
Fresh reports have Maoists Saturday have closed five far-West districts in protest.
Nnnn

Ram Chandra Paudel heads Congress talks committee

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Nepali Congress has formed a seven-member talks committed headed by Ram Chandra Paudel for talks with Maoists and other parties to end a political deadlock.
Paudel is party vice-chairman and leader of the parliamentary party.
nnnn

Maoists delay declaration of autonomous republics

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Maoist standing committee meeting Friday couldn’t come to a final decision on boundaries and formal declaration of 13 autonomous federal republics.
Party Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said more discussions will be held after the on conclusive and prolonged debate.
The standing committee was entrusted with the declaration and demarcation after differences in the party.
Sharma also charged the government for acting unilaterally without agreement with Maoists.
“Government has formed a new committee by dissolving the peace committee without agreement. It’s clear through this, government is working without agreement,” Spokesman Sharma said after the committee meet.
Maoists charge government has been replacing such committees in districts and forming new ones amid Maoist objections and protests.
Maoists have taken a decision to form 13 federal autonomous republics on nationality changing an earlier decision to form such bodies on ethnicity.
Chairman Prachanda adopted a moderate approach Thursday after a standing committee meeting.
“The declaration to establish an autonomous republic is not to form a government or a parallel government. It’s only a political publicity for establishing a republic.” the UCPN (Maoist) chief said.
‘The interim constitution has provision for federal republics. How can it be unconstitutional to establish politically?” Prachanda asked.
‘The opposition [to such declaration] of leaders of Nepali Congress which hasn’t prepared a concept on state reorganization is meaningless,“ Dr Baburam Bhattarai told Kantipur. “There’s no reason for unnecessary government fears.”
Bhattarai added,” This is only a pressure for a federal republic. This programme falls under the interim constitution.”
The party vice-chairman criticizing the president’s concern with the prime minister at the declaration said,” This is not an issue of concern for the president. The declaration is being made at a time when there’s a conspiracy against the constituent assembly.”
nnnn

TU reduces fees 50 percent

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Amid student protests, Tribhuvan University (TU) executive council Friday reduced announced student fees 50 percent.
Students again succeeded in preventing fee hike to upgrade education standard and overcome a financial crunch.
Fees at TU are the cheapest compared with charges of other universities.
The meeting was chaired by Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Madhav Prasad Sharma
Thirteen student unions protested the hike.
TU increased fees tenfold 4 November.
Nnnn

TRADE, COMMERCE,E CONOMY

Pepsi expansion stayed

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Varun Beverages (Nepal) Pvt.Ltd. has stayed expansion plan by opening a Pepsi bottling plant in the terai.
RJ Corp. is its promoter.
“Safety and security of senior officials forced me to take this decision.” RJ Corp. Chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria told reporters Friday.
Devyani International, a subsidiary of the RJ Corp. opened the for the first time KFC and Pizza Huts outlets in the capital last month.
Maoist workers had been obstruction production at the Pepsi plant in the capital for more that one week.
nnnn


Sujata Koirala going to Myanmar

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala is flying for Myanmar Monday, Annapurna Post reports.
She is attending a meeting of BIMSTEK member states beginning Tuesday.
Nnnn

Minister in India without fulfilling govt. formalities

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Commerce Minister of State Saroj Kumar Yadav is on a private India visit without the prior approval of the council of ministers, Nagarik reports.
Such permission is required according to government regulation.
He has asked for government fund to pay his personal hotel, travel and daily expenses.
Nnnn

Foreigners funding gumbas [Buddhist monasteries] in Valley

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Government intelligence has concluded more than 40 gumbas in the capital have been constricted and are being operated by foreign organizations and foreigners, Kantipur reports.
National Investigation Department (NID) study says 40 of of 59 gumbas are funded by foreigners; one dozen gumbas have assets worth one billion rupees.
The report says organizations and individuals from USA, India, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Italy, Belgium, France and Denmark and financing the gumbas.
Even though prior government permission is needed for such foreign funding, the concerned the gumba management and management committee in the local development ministry is unaware of such foreign funding.
Nnnn

Gulf open for women workers

Kathmandu, 5 Dec: Government will allow women to seek employment in the Gulf with ‘security in the organized sector’, Kantipur reports.
Previously attractive destinations Israel, Hong Kong and Lebanon were closed for women.
A Thursday meeting at the labour ministry opened the Gulf countries to Nepali in an organized manner.
There’s big demand for Nepali women in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE-- major destinations for Nepali workers.
nnnn


MEDIA GOOGLE

‘I’ve been politics for 20 years. Had I known I would be deceived by my own friends, I wouldn’t have joined.”

(President Dr Ram Baran Yadav telling students in the capital, Rajdhani, 5 Dec.)

“Maoists are no more a revolutionary party after entering the parliament politics giving up their arms. They failed to maintain their revolutionary spirit in the parliament too.”

(Bhaktapur communist leader Narayanman Bijukakchaya, The Rising Nepal, 5 Dec.)
nnnn