Govt. hikes customs duty on gold import

Kathmandu, 14 March: An emergency cabinet meeting Sunday morning hiked customs duty on gold import to prevent its smuggling across the open 1,700 km open border India where prices are higher.
Duty was increased from Rs 130 per gram to Rs 450 with immediate effect.
A gram of the yellow metal will now cost Rs 480 in the market.
Foreign exchange reserve has declined with the uncontrolled import forcing government to adopt measures to slow imports.
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Govt. says statement of visiting UN diplomat outburst undiplomatic

Kathmandu, 14 March: Government said Sunday it has only sought genuine ID cards of 19,000 plus Maoist combatants under watch at UNMIN camps and hadn’t sought any secret information from the world body.
The government also said last week’s outburst of visiting UN Under-secretary for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe was against diplomatic morns and practices.
Government Spokesman Shanker Pokhrel said the government will ask the UN not to make such statements in the future.
Pokhrel said genuine ID cards were sought to distribute monthly allowances and perks.
“Special attention of the government has been drawn. Government is serious with the statement,” Pokhrel said.
Allowances haven’t been disbursed for two months many combatants had deserted in the last three years.
In an angry and frustrated reaction to criticisms UNMIN was ineffective in Nepal, the visiting diplomat instead said Nepali players were responsible for the rut in Nepal.
The government reaction followed a cabinet meeting Sunday.
UNMIN said details of the fresh headcount of combatants in camps and cantonments were a secret which could be discussed at a committee headed by a UNMIN representative and in which government and Maoist representatives are present.
Ruling party Chairman of UML Jhalanath Khanal said Saturday UNMIN should provide details sought by the government.
“UNMIN should make available the information. There can be an agreement of the way to do it,” Khanal said.
UNMIN held discussions on the government request Sunday with three parties at a hotel.
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Tharus close down terai

Kathmandu, 14 March: Eight Tharu organizations closed down the terai districts Sunday in the terai charging government for non-implementation of five assurances.
Tharus are demanding de-linking from Madeshis also pushing for a multi-province in the south.
Other terai parties are pushing one Madesh, one province.
Tharus claim they are the indigenous people in the region bordering India.
Several vehicles were vandalized during the strike.
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Sujata Koirala not to appear before public accounts committee

Kathmandu, 14 March: Defiant Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala said Sunday she won’t appear 20 March before the public accounts for a grilling on her insistence to award a contract without tender to an Indian government to print machine readable passports.
Koirala told reporters Sunday she had a busy schedule.
Four companies have put in tenders to print new passports which have to be issued by 1 April under ICAO directions.
The committee had instructed the foreign ministry to award a contract by issuing a tender.
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Maoists convening standing committee meeting, other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 March: Maoist standing committee is meeting Sunday afternoon as top leaders of the main opposition last week discussed possibility of calling a special session of parliament to table a no-confidence motion against the government.
UCPN (Maoist) have asked is lawmakers outside the valley to return to the capital immediately and those in the capital have been told to remaining town.
Maoists don’t have a majority to topple the 10-month government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal supported by 22 parties.
But Maoists have more that the required 152 members to call a special meeting of parliament.
Maoists will need the support of other parties to get the motion through.
PM Nepal Saturday night held dinner meeting to discussion Maoist moves to topple the government and sought cooperation.
He held discussions Saturday with NMKP Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya who pledged support to the Nepal government,
“If the Maoist party brings a no-confidence motion against the government proving its majority, it must be welcomed,” Nepal said Saturday after meeting Bijukakchaya.
The government after a cabinet meeting said it’s ready to face the no-confidence against it.
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PM Nepal lends support to army chief

Kathmandu, 14 March: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday lent his support to Army Chief Gen Chatraman Sing Gurung’s opposition to mass integration of Maoist combatants in the Nepal Army.
The implicit support came one day after a public statement of the army which released a policy statement the chief made to visiting UN Under-secretary for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe Friday at a bilateral meeting.
“Maoist combatants won’t be directly recruited in the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. They should meet the requirements of the security agencies. The government is preparing to recruit 3,000 combatants,” Nepal told reporters Saturday.
Maoists said the army chief’s statement was an attempt to obstruct the peace process against the spirit of the comprehensive peace agreement.
The leaders discussed the opposition to mass integration the residence of Chairman Prachanda Saturday.
“The statement is against all processes so far of the comprehensive peace agreement. Such statement of the army is objectionable,” Vice-chairman Narayankazi Shrstha said.
Gen Gurung told visiting Pascoe only combatants who qualify individually could be taken in in the state army.
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Bidya Bhandari’s rescheduled China visit

Kathmandu, 14 March: Deputy Prime Minster Sujata Koirala’s China visit has been rescheduled from 22 to 29 March, The Kathmandu Post said quoting her press secretary Subash Debkota.
The visit was first scheduled to begin 26 March.
The visit was rescheduled after a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Gui Guohang Friday.
She will head a five-member team.
Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimere, Maj. Gen. Ram Bahadur Gurung and Brig. Gen. Pawan Bahadur Pandey are accompanying her.
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Indian embassy security strengthened amid terrorist threat

Kathmandu, 14 March: Security has been enhances at Indian embassy amid fears of a terrorist attack, Nagarik reports.
Police have enhanced security around the embassy at Lainchaur.
The embassy officials passed on the information quoting intelligence reports adding terrorist organizations could attack the embassy building and staff.
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Cyclist attempting to climb Everest to auction belongings

Kathmandu, 14 March: Pushkar Shah who cycled across 150 countries with the Nepali flag is auctioning the cycle and items collected during the tour, Nagarik reports.
“I took a decision to climb Sagarmatha to accomplish something good but didn’t receive any help,” Shah told Nagarik. “I may get something from the sale.”
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Maoists obstruct trekking

Kathmandu, 14 March: Maoist affiliated trekking workers’ union is stopping Nepali trekking workers Sunday from going along trekking routes pushing demands, including increased wages, Najarik reports.
Akhil Nepal Tourism Workers’ Union Kaski is putting the obstructions.
Kaski Union through a letter 9 March to trekking agencies said the tourism ministry and concerned agencies hadn’t show concern to the plight of the tourism workers and asked guides, porters, sherpas and helpers shouldn’t be sent.
Foreign trekkers will be allowed on the trekking routes but Nepalis will be debarred.
Maoists are demanding daily Rs 1,400 for guides, Rs 1,100 for sherpas, Rs 1,000 for helpers, Rs 1,100 for camping guides, Rs 1,000 for cooks, Rs 800 for spare Sherpas and Rs 700 for kitchen helpers.
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SPORTS

Nepal enters final defeating Malaysia

Kathmandu, 14 March: Nepal entered the final of the ACC U-16 Elite Cup defeating Malaysia by 25 runs.
Nepal bowled out Malaysia for 130 runs.
Nepal scored 162 runs for the loss of all wickets in the semi-finals of the tournament Sunday.
Nepal qualified from Group B while Malaysia qualified from Group A for the semis.
The match was played at the TU cricket ground.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The so-called revolutionary leadership which hides and takes prashad after recitation of the Bhagawat puran and worships the buffalo to ward off bad luck and goes to Kalibaba at mid-night accepting it was a mistake to go secular is responsible forth present intolerable state.”

(Amar Singh Karki, Annapurna Post, 14 March)

“Donors have helped to fight for rights and protests and all political parties have followed to teach it.”

(Finance Minister Surendra Pandey, Nagarik, 14 March)

“The home minister never worked to boost the morale of Nepal Police but always involved himself in discouraging security agencies.”

(Former minister of state for home Rijwin Ansari, The Hmalayan Times. 14 March)
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