Top UN official continues discussions with party leaders

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 11 March: Visiting UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe is holding discussions with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and leaders of Madesh parties on the second day of his Nepal visit Thursday.
He held political discussions with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and ailing Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala immediately on arrival for three-day discussions Wednesday.
He held a seven-minute discussion with Koirala on his sick bed and later told reporters,” The former prime minister is very valuable for peace and the constitutional process.”
He drove directly to Koirala’s residence from the airport for the meet.
He also held discussions with Maoist Chairman Prachanda Wednesday.
PM Nepal asked the senior UN official to be neutral.
“Prime Minister Nepal stressed that UNMIN is an important stakeholder in the peace process and should remain neutral,” the government chief’s Press Advisor Rajan Bhattarai said.
Nepal urged UN neutrality amid charges by government ministers UNMIN was not impartial while refusing to furnish a headcount on government request of the exact number of combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps under UN watch.
The government said a recount was needed after 40 percent of 4,008 disqualified combatants had deserted camps before official discharge this year.
UMNIM verified 19,000 combatants three years ago.
Government said a recount is necessary to disburse monthly allowances to actual fighters.
He urged parties to work together to carry out past commitments.
“I think there is a way out to move forward if everyone works together to carry out the commitments that were made in the peace process.”
Pascoe said he was in Nepal to push the peace preprocess at a time when it has hit obstacles.
“This is a critical time in Nepal’s peace process and this visit is aimed to find a way forward,” the top UN official said.
He’s holding second round of discussions with the prime minister and is meeting Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari Friday before flying for New York.
Bhandari is a firm defender of Nepal Army and has publicly decried the return home of a Nepali peacekeeper from Chad without consulting the country that provided troops to the UN.
Bhandari opposed a UN demand to present the major sent vack from Chad before a civilian court in Kavre where a case has been filed against him for alleged rights abuse although he has been cleared by a military court.
The top UN official flies for Chitwan Thursday to inspect a Maoist division at Shaktikhor.
Pascoe arrived in Nepal after holding discussions with officials in New Delhi indicating the role foreigners in Nepal’s internal political issues.
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Nepali leaders in New Delhi

Kathmandu, 11 March: Nepali leaders are again in the Indian capital holding parleys with Indian leaders and officials at a time of a looming political crisis.
Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar held political discussions with National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao in the Indian capital Wednesday.
The Chairman of MJFL is meeting other Indian leaders during a five-day visit.
Chairman of MJF Upendra Yadav is also in the Indian capital amid speculation of uniting the parties that split.
Vice-President Parmananda Jha also flew for Delhi Wednesday on what has been described as a personal visit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala is also returning home Thursday via the Indian capital.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood is also in New Delhi.
Retired Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawala also flew for New Delhi this week on what has been described as a private visit.
Nepal’s top leaders regular hold political discussions with Indian leaders.
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Sujata Koirala returns home

Kathmandu, 11 March: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala returned home Thursday after cutting short for Europe visit following the deteriorating health condition of her father Girija Prasad Koirala.
Doctors Wednesday ruled out an option to rush the Nepali Congress president to New Delhi for emergency treatment.
His latest condition has been described as stable.
Koirala, 86, suffers obstructive pulmonary edema.
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10 killed in jeep accident

Kathmandu, 11 March: Ten persons were killed and 14 were injured Wednesday when a jeep accident fell into a gorge at Shivapur-3, Setang, in Tanahu..
Eight died on the spot and two died succumbed to injuries at a hospital.
The jeep was heading for Damauli from Kahun Shivapur.
Police said the vehicle was overloaded.
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Appeal for $123.5 million humanitarian aid

Kathmandu, 11 March: Seven UN agencies and three NGOs have asked for $123.5 million to find projects that help 3.4 million people, including the hungry, in 2010.
“As a country emerging from conflict, Nepal needs sustained international humanitarian support to see it through this fragile period of transition.
“An estimated 28,000 children die every year from preventable diseases, some of them the consequences of severe malnutrition. Most of these problems can be solved with adequate donor support,” said John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in a statement Wednesday.
Funds were requested in a 2010 Nepal Humanitarian Transition Appeal.
Donations will be used to improve food security, fund malnutrition projects, strengthen disaster preparedness and assist refugees.
Seven UN agencies and three NGOs issued the appeal.
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Three dozen Tibetans arrested

Kathmandu, 11 March: More than three dozen Tibetans were arrested as they defied prohibitory orders in the Valley neat the Chinese embassy Wednesday to mark the 51st anniversary of a failed uprising against China.
China has also closed the border areas at in the central and east border regions, including Khasa for three days from Wednesday.
Authorities in the Valley had asked the Tibetan refuges not to stage anti-China protests following objections from Beijing.
China has asked Nepal to strictly enforce its firm support for a One China policy in a bilateral agreement signed in he Chinese capital this year.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“He [Girija] wished that his only interest at the final state of his life was promulgation of the new constitution, completion of the peace process on time and establishment of sustainable peace in the country.”

(Krishna Prasad Shitaula, The Himalayan Times, 11 March)