Govt. to deploy NA as back-up force

Kathmandu, 4 Mach: One day after government decided to reinforce security and identify security lapses, Government spokesman and Communication Minister Shanker Pokhrel said Nepal Army (NA) will now be deployed as a back-up force.
He told Kantipur FM Wednesday the army had in the past been immobilized and confined to the barracks.
He said the morale of the army and police must be enhanced.
Government has come under heavy fire for failure to provide security to people.
Indian criminal elements have penetrated Nepal Police and killed a prominent media tycoon.
A sib-inspector was liaising security of US diplomats in Nepal with police, has been arrested for alleged link in the murder of the media tycoon
The cabinet Wednesday decided to review a security plan amid demands for the resignation of the government following high-profile murders.
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Direct govt., UN clash

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 March: The host government and UNMIN are in direct conflict over the management of former Maoist fighters in camps and cantonments.
The government through the peace ministry Wednesday protested the non-co-operation of UNMIN to furnish details of the exact combatants remaining in camps.
Their numbers were verified three years ago.
‘The government hasn’t demanded any secret information. Nepal government has taken the matter seriously. Government considers this objectionable.
“Distribution of allowances and expenses to unconcerned combatants through the budget is against prevailing fiscal rules,” Peace Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
UNMIN through a press statement said details of combatants were a secret which it couldn’t share with the government.
The ministry said details of combatants in camps had been sought in the past as well.
Government sought details to distribute the money government gets from donor agencies to genuine combatants.
Most of the money is donated by EU member states which have been surprisingly silent over the row.
Donors should have been concerned whether the donations are being to the right persons.
UNMIN, which is just a front for donor countries, had verified 19,000 combatants,
The UN body said it had only a limited role and wasn’t responsible for curbing crimes and other activities inside the 28 cantonments and satellite camps.
There was one case of murder of a Kathmandu businessman inside a camp in Chitwan and armed combatants more freely in and out of camps.
“There’s no difference between the insurgency period and now. Maoists combatants are free to do whatever they like. It’s as if they are still in the jungle.
“They even have keys to the containers where their weapons verified by the UN are kept,” said a security analyst who preferred anonymity.
Government has formed a task force to determine the exact number of combatants in the camps after the UN refusal to furnish details..
Government sought details after receiving reports of desertions and the official discharge of only 40 percent of the 4,008 disqualified combatants last month.
“There can’t be two opinions genuine combatants should get allowances. It’s not just and correct that allowances and expenses should be distributed to combatants who have left the camps..
“It can’t be believed that all those who have been verified are in camps..
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari Wednesday also criticized he role of UNMIN.
“UNMIN is saying secret information has been asked when information of combatants were sought. UNMIN has to furnish statistics to the government,” she demanded.
She said every combatants gets Rs 7,000 every month and half the amount goes to the party coffer.
Peace Minister Rakam Chemjung has already protested UNMIN non-cooperation in public meetings.
Amid the row, UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren held discussions with Chairman Prachanda Wednesday.
UNMIN said the number issue should be discussed at a mechanism of the government, Maoists and the UNMIN.
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EU concern

Kathmandu, 4 March: The EU presidency Wednesday expressed concern over murders of two media persons.
“he government must give a strong message that there will be no impunity for those attacking freedom of expression and independent media or for those indulging in serious crimes.
“We are also deeply disturbed by reported threats against journalists in Kathmandu, Janakpur and throughout the country, “ a statement said.
The concern came after the murders of Jamin Shah in Katmandu
and Arun Singhaniya in Janakpur.
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NOC increasing petrol, diesel price

Kathmandu, 4 March: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is preparing to hike prices of petrol and diesel.
A proposal is being presented at the cabinet Friday.
Prices of POL products were hiked in India this month when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented an annual budget in parliament.
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Deepak Bista awarded Rs 1 million

Kathmandu, 4 March: Taekwondo star Deepak Bista, the first South Asian player to collect four consecutive gold medals in the SAF games, has been awarded Rs 1 million by the government for medical treatment.
He collected his fourth gold medal in the 11th SAF games.
The cabinet Wednesday awarded Bista.
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Nepal Army to provide security to Kuwait Emir

Kathmandu, 4 March: Kuwait government has asked for the deployment of Nepal Army (NA) as body guards and security of the palace emir of Kuwait and his palace, Nagarik reports.
Nepal government is giving a positive response to the request of Kuwait after retiring its own security force.
A request was made one month ago for the deployment of 200 soldiers of NA.
A proposal has been sent by Ambassador Madhuban Paudel after consultations with Kuwait government and the foreign ministry.
The army, through the foreign ministry, is proposing sending troops by retiring them.
A feasibility study is being conducted.
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10-year plan to modernize NA

Kathmandu, 4 March: Government has proposed a 10-year plan to modernize Nepal Army (NA- and upgrade it to Asian standard, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
NA headquarters sent the plan to the defense ministry which has forwarded it to the Office of the Prime Minister.
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PM presented with a pistol

Kathmandu, 4 March: Media persons from Lamgunj have sent a toy pistol to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Rajdhani reports from the west Nepal town.
The gift was sent after the murder of a Janakpur media personality.
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