Maoists oppose foreign intervention

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Two Maoist leaders decry what they call foreign interference in Nepali politics.
“There’s a conspiracy to derail democracy by propping up a foreign army.
“Foreign lords shouldn’t be allowed to prevail in the country.
“All parties should unite for this,” Maoist Vice-Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai told a terai rally Friday.
“We’ve also been disgraced by India
“The nationalist movement is also linked with the people’s movement. There’s no question of taking back the movement,” Maoist second-ranking leader Mohan Baidya Kiran told Kantipur.
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Nepali girl student deported home from India

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: A Nepali girl student at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was deported back to Kathmandu by Pune city police on December 5 for alleged 'anti-India activities'., according to PTI from Pune
Confirming deportation of Neetu Singh - a fourth year student undergoing editing course at FTII -, Ravindra Sengaonkar, DCP (Special Branch) said here today the decision to deport her was taken as she had been found involved in 'anti-national activities'.
He refused to divulge further details in the case which has been taken up by All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), alleging that Neetu's deportation was ordered by Pune police at the instance of her husband Amaresh Singh, an influential person and a nominated Member of Parliament in Nepal.
Kiran Moghe of AIDWA who has written to Pune police on December 14 seeking details of her deportation told PTI that the authorities were not forthcoming with any information in the case except that the girl was handed over to her parents at Kathmandu after being found involved in 'anti-national activities' in the city as a result of a 'secret operation'.
Moghe who heads Maharashtra unit of AIDWA, said the girl was in touch with the organisation since June 2008 with complaint of harassment by her husband who wanted her to quit the course. .
Moghe said the girl was picked up on the night of December 5 from her hostel room at FTII by women cops in plainclothes without being told that she was going to be deported.
"If she has indulged in anti-national activities here, police should have filed a case and tried her in India instead of sending her back to Nepal", Moghe said and alleged that police had acted in connivance with Amresh Singh.
The FTII sources confirmed that the girl had joined her parents in Kathmandu.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Tourist arrival up only marginally in 2009

Kathmandu, 2 Jan. Tourist arrivals jumped only 1.1 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said.
Altogether 378,787 tourists flew into the country compared 374,661 arrivals in 2008.
Arrivals from India dropped five percent; 86,693 Indian visited Nepal in 2009.
Arrivals also dropped from Japan, South Korea and France as well.
Altogether 18,677 Chinese visited Nepal –an increase of 33 percent compared to the previous year.
China, during the just concluded China visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, asked Nepal to promote Nepal is China.
American arrivals was 22,877—up four percent compared 2008.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“I urge all the parties to move forward realizing their responsibilities of institutionalizing of a democratic republic.”

(Pres. Dr Ram Baran Yadav, The Kathmandu Post, 2 Jan.)

“I want to accomplish the task of PLA integration and rehabilitation as early as possible and the meeting of the special committee is taking place on a regular basis but the Maoists are not ready to settle the issue.”

(PM Nepal’s complaint with Karin Landgren, The Himalayan Times, 2 Jan.)

“Extremist Maoists and rightists and status quoists in Congress are hurdles for national understanding.”

(UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Annapurpa Post, 2 Jan.)
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