Maoist central committee to finalize anti-Indian protests

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 3 Jan.: Maoist central committee meets later Sunday to finalize detailed protest programmes opposing ‘foreign intervention in Nepal’s internal affairs’ approved by an extended politburo meeting.
The meeting began Saturday
The politburo decided to sent leaders to address rallies at areas where the border has been encroached.
Chairman Prachanda will present the plans for approval at the meeting.
The Maoist will address a rally at Kalapani where India has established a military base following the Sino-India war in 1972 and Mohan Baidya Kiran will lead the anti-Indian rally in the east at Pashupatinagar.
Vice-Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai will lead the protests at Nawalparasi where the disputed Susta lies; another Vice-Chairman Nayaran Kazi Shrestha will address a rally in Banke at Laxmanpur and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal will address a public meeting at Khurlotan where locals face inundation by unilateral construction of a dam by India downstream along a river.
Maoists have threatened an indefinite strike from 24 January in their demands aren’t met.
They are on the fourth phase of anti-government and anti-president protests.
Nnnn

UML anti-Maoist rally at Salyan

Kathmandu, 3 Jan.: UML will hold anti-Maoist rally Monday in Salyan where Maoists viciously assaulted workers of the ruling party past month.
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal will address the meeting.
Nnnn

Congress objects Khanal charge

Kathmandu, 3 Jan. Nepali Congress parliamentary party meeting Saturday objected UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal’s charge ‘status quoists and rightists’ in the ruling party were obstructing efforts to find an outlet to a prolonged political impasse.
Khanal also charged ‘hard-line Maoists’ for the obstruction.
Congress said the statement was against the spirit of politics of consensus.
Nnnn

Lobbying to bring China into SAARC

Kathmandu, 3 Jan.: More than half a dozen members of SAARC have started lobbying to give China full membership in the organization, Annapurna Post reports.
Pakistan is preparing to take a proposal to the forthcoming 16th summit at Bhutan in April.
It’s learnt the issue has been discussed in preparatory meetings for the summit.
Pakistan may raise the issue at the forthcoming preparatory committee meeting at SAARC headquarters 28/29 January.
SAARC has eight members.
China is currently a SAARC observer along with USA, Japan, EU, South Korea, Iran and other countries.
(Note: India objected when King Gyanendra proposed China’s entry into SAARC as observer during a Dhaka summit; Angry India joined hands with Nepal’s political parties and ousted the 238-year-old monarchy.)
nnnn