CA amends schedule for 9th time

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: The constituent assembly (CA) for the ninth time Sunday unanimously amended a schedule to complete a concept
paper for a constitution amid concerns a basic law may not be promulgated within the 28 May deadline creating a political crisis.
The deadline for 11 subject committees to complete concepts has now been extended from 21 January to 4 February.
Two discussions of two subject committees continue in the CA.
According to original schedule, the concepts were to be sent to the main constitutional committee headed by Nilambar Acharya for finalization.
There’s no unanimity between major parties on concepts.
Amid differences, the CA is now discussing a report of the committee to determine the form of governance structure.
UML leading government is divided on whether to elect a prime minister directly or through parliament as proposed by Nepali Congress.
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Supreme court okays promotion of Lt. Gen Toran Bahadur Singh

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: In a major boost for Nepal and Defence
Minister Bidya Bhandari, a two-man supreme court bench Sunday
vacated a stay order to halt the promotion of Lt Gen Toran Jung Bahadur Singh.
The court said it will give a final verdict 21 February in a public interest litigation challenging the promotion filed by two Maoists.
NA and Defence Minister Bhandari recommended the promotion but
the government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal withheld
the promotion for several months under intense foreign and UN
pressure.
The Nepal government approved the promotion rejecting pressures after
Intense lobbying from the defence ministry and army.
The two-men bench overturned a decision of Supreme Court Chief Justice
Anup Raj Sharma and said Lt Gen Singh is not guilty of human rights
abuses when he was chief of the Bhairabnath Battalion at the capital where 40 plus Maoists went missing during the insurgency.
The division bench ruled no charges were brought against Singh before his promotion when he was major general.
The supreme court decision comes at a time when government was under pressure also to present Major Niranjan Basnet at Kavre district court for alleged involvement in a murder of a girl while in military custody.
A US senator even charged a military court that cleared Basnet wasn’t independent.
UN sent him back from a peacekeeping mission in Chad without consulting the country providing troops.
PM Nepal, again under UN and foreign government pressure, asked NA and
Bhandari to sent Basnet to a civilian court—a request denied by Bhandari
and the army.
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Eight killed in Bhajang jeep crash

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Eight persons, including and Indian were killed overnight in Bhajang when a jeep plunged 200 meters off a road into a river.
Four injured are undergoing treatment at district headquarter hospital in Chainpur.
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More Maoist combatants being released

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Altogether 876 disqualified Maoist combatants, including child soldiers are being discharged from camps in Jhapa and Ilam Monday.
All the disqualified may not turn up though.
Only half the combatants had left camps from Sindhuli, Chitwan and Nawalparasi before their official departure even as they are under UN watch.
There are 4,008 disqualified Maoists, including 2,973 child soldiers in cantonments and camps.
Despite government concern at their disappearance, UMNIN says it
isn’t responsible putting the responsibility entirely on Maoists.
Maoists move in and out of camps freely and unhindered amid fears
Some may have joined rebel groups or Maoist fraternal organizations to
infiltrate society.
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Army opposes security sector reform idea

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: At a time when reform in th national
army—as outlined in the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA)—
has become inevitable, Nepal Army has suggested that the security
sector reform (SSR) practiced internationally does not apply to Nepal,
The Kathmandu Post reports.
“The SSR applies to a failed sate, It is a concept applied in war-torn
countries to form a new national army by merging the country’s
army with armed groups,” said a general.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Chatraman Singh Gurung and senior generals offered a hard-line position against SSR at a briefing organized by
Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari on Sunday.
The defence minister heads the cabinet committee on
democratization of the army, a key component of the CPA.
Meanwhile, the main opposition CCPN (Maoist) has opposed
The army’s stand on SSR, saying SSR is the core element off he CPA, agreed by Maoists and non-Maoist parties.
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Couple safe after a shootout at New Road

Kathmandu, 25 Jana.: A Patan couple escaped unhurt when two gunmen
on a motorcycle Sunday attempted to rob them of gold jewelry after shopping.
Prakash and Dipisa Rajbhandary drove back home in their car after the shooting.
The incident comes after increasing violent crimes in the Valley and
capital.
Before the fresh incident, a child was shot dead din Bhaktapur and
an attempted robbery on two million ruppes was foiled at
Giridhara.
A Maoist suspected on involvement in the Bhaktapur firing incident in
absconding.
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Drubs racket

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Comrade! I’ll occupy that chair if you vacate it to become a
member.”

(Chairman Prachanda tells PM Nepal from a high chair with Girija
Prasad Koirala and Jhalanath Khanal cartoon in Rajdhani, 25 Jan.)


“Which academic coined the word [integration] in the
comprehensive peace accord. This word is now a headache for every leader.”

(Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, Nagarik, 25 Jan.)

“I found traces of patriotism in Nepal Army when I was prime minister.
But we should be alert against some generals who are more loyal to foreigners than Nepal.”

(Chairman Prachanda, Nagarik, 25 Jan.)
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