More Maoist disqualified being discharged

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Altogether 451 disqualified Maoist combatants, including child soldiers, were to be discharged from a camp in Kailali
Saturday.
But all of them may not turn up to leave the camp.
Nearly half the combatants had deserted the 28 camps and cantonments under UMNIN watch from Sindhuli, Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Ilam.
Government has raised the disappearances with the UNMIN which shifts the responsibility o Maoists.
UNMIN disqualified 4,008 combatants, including 2,973 child soldiers, who were placed in camps for nearly three years even after their disqualification.
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Prisoner escapes in shootout

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Sanghir Khan who escaped from prison escaped after his arrest Saturday in Banke escaped in a shootout with police.
Khan escaped with handcuffs.
Nearly 200 supporters stoned two police vehicles as he was being transported.
Khan’s supporters and police exchanged more than 27 rounds of firing, reports from the far-West said.
Khan was arrested in an abduction case to months ago.
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HLPM takes firm initiatives

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: The high-level political mechanism (HLPM) Friday took two firm initiatives in the absence of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal the day Nepali Congress leaders demanded a successor government should be lead by it.
Nepal is only an invited member to the mechanism.
NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist Chairman Prachand and UML
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal decided to form a state restructuring commission soonest to recommend to the constituent assembly (CA) a federal structure currently under discussion in the assembly.
The Nepali Congress has suggested a panel of experts to suggest a structure.
There are widespread differences between parties on 14 provinces suggested by a subject committee of CA.
The HLPM also directed the government to take action against those involved in clashed between Maoists and UML in Sindhuli Friday.
The body also decided to form a three-member local inquiry committee to investigate the shooting and clashes.
A report will be presented at Thursday’s HLPM meeting.
The decisions of the mechanism indicate three top party leaders of NC, UCPN (Maoist) and UML want it to be a supreme body that will direct the government to draft the constitution within the 28 may deadline, complete the peace process and integrate and rehabilitate Maoist combatants in society and state army.
If the mechanism continues to act as it did Friday, the main
Opposition UCPN (Maoist) will have a direct hand in running the government as well.
Critics of the HLPM have called it a club of three parties convened illegeally without inter and intra-party consultations.
Foreign governments and UN have supported the body arguing it will held end an extended impasse.
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Nepal gets food assistance

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Nepal has received $14 million in food assistance routed by United Kingdom and UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UN/CERF) through WFP, an announcement said.
Britain’s DFID has contributed $8 million while UN/CERF has
extended a $ 6 million assistance.
Nepal is experiencing food shortages and escalating food prices
Following a failed monsoon.
The winter rain has also been meager.
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Nine Nepali players injured din SAG jamboree

Kathmandu, 30 Jan. Nine Nepali players and one official were injured Friday when a hotel lift in Dhaka crashed to the ground from the fourth floor.
Three players were seriously injured.
Deba Thapa, a judo player who won a silver in the 10th SAF Games, was among the injured.
Other to judo players injured were: Ramesh Magar and KalaumanTamang on the day of the game’s inauguration.
Meanwhile Nepal’s women footballers defeated Bangladesh 1-0
Friday with the solitary goal scored by Jamuna Gurung.
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RPP and RJP to merge next week

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: RPP led by Pashupati Shumshere JB Rana and Rashtriya Janasakti Party (RIP) chaired by Surya Bahadur Thapa will merge next week.
The new party will be named Rashtriya Shakti Prajatantra Party.
The new party name and manifesto was approved by leaders of the two
parties Friday.
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UML leaders arrested by YCL with pistol, bullets

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: A group of UML, leading the coalition government
has been intercepted by the YCL Friday in Sindhuli with a pistol,bullets and iron rods.
Central leader Keshav Debkota was among those overpowered by
Maoists who delivered them to police.
Maoists charged UML for shooting at them from a vehicle .transporting a UML team to a party regional convention.
UML charged Maoists for excesses.
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Parmananda Jha to take oath in Nepali

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: Inactive Vice-president Prmananda Jha is likely to spring a surprise by taking oath of office an secrecy for the prestigious post in Nepali following the seventh amendment of the interim
constitution to be endorsed by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, The Himalayan Times reports.
“He may take oath in Nepali language,” a close aide to Jha told The Himalayan Times today [Friday] on condition of anonymity.
‘Since he has already won the battle, he has been consulting the impact of his taking the oath in Nepali,” he said.
A panel of lawyers are mulling over his next move,” Mithilesh Kumar Singh, Jha’s legal advisor said
“It’s not about surprising people, but winning the battle,” Jha said.
[Note: Government and parties, including Maoists, amended the interim constitution for the seventh time this week to activate the vice-presidency
by allowing Jha, who refused last year to take his oath in Nepali, to take lhis oath in the mother tongue. Government and parties have been amending the
interim constitution to suit their interests.)
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Suspect in Bhaktapur shooting incident arrested

Kathmandu, 30 Jan: Palten Lama, 24, the main suspect in the fatal
shooting of a nine-year-old boy at Ghotetar in Bhaktapur last week
was arrested from his hideout in Kavre Thursday.
He was produced before the media in the capital Friday.
Nut Lama’s father Ratna Lama, a Maoist district leader, also wanted by the police is absconding.
Two other suspects have been arrested on the day of the shooting.
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Chinese military supplies begin pouring in

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: The fist consignment of military supplies
given by PLA has started arriving, Kantipur reports.
This is part of a Rs 110 million help announced by China when
Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal was defence minister.
Altogether two dozers, 11 dumpers, two excavators, two rollers,
two loaders and one graders arrived through the port of Calcutta.
“This is just a start. Other consignments will come,” a senior
military officer told Kantipur.
China will assist security agencies to control anti-China activities along the
border.
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Demand in Congress for govt. change

Kathmandu, 30 Jan.: A demand has come in the Nepali Congress, a
coalition partner, for government change, Annapurna Post reports.
Youth leaders at a parliamentary party meeting called for change
saying government has failed and a government should be led by
Congress.
They also criticized the party team in government.
They said if a government change isn’t possible, the present
Congress team in government should be represented by senior
leaders.
Gagan Thapa said Congress should lead a government with Maoists.
“My proposal has the support of many lawmakers. Now the
problem can’t be resolved by retaining the government,” Thapa said.
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