Govt. directs security agencies to develop integrated approach

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 April: The cabinet discussed the security situation Thursday and directed all security agencies to develop an integrated strategy to tackle fresh Maoist recruitment and training of youth.
The cabinet reviewed Maoist activities and the security situation.
The cabinet decided to draw the attention and ask and Maoists to stop activities to train youth and develop paramilitary force against the spirit of the comprehensive peace agreement, Spokesman Shanker Pokhrel said after the cabinet meet.
The cabinet decided such activities will negatively impact peace process, drafting of the constitution and will have negative impact on relationswith parties
The cabinet decision came amid widespread press reports Maoists are conducting training of youth in warfare as the party decided to launch a street movement to capture state power.
Maoists minimized the training as physical training for self-defence while the cabinet categorically called it paramilitary training.
Maoists have 19,000 plus combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps observed by UNMIN and have mobilized the paramilitary YCL.
Nepali Congress central committee meeting Wednesday objected to the fresh training and mobilization of youth by Maoists.
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US envoy continues consultations with political party leaders

Kathmandu, 22 April: US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi continued consultations with political party leaders Thursday by holding discussions with Acting Nepali President Sushil Koirala.
DeLisi held talks Wednesday with the party’s parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel.
He is also expected to hold discussions with the party’s top leader Sher Bahadur Deuba.
There’s dispute in the party on who’s the top leader following the death of Girija Prasad Koirala.
DeLisi began his consultations with Nepali Congress leaders by first meeting Paudel.
The US envoy, who presented his credentials to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Sunday, began parleys with party leaders by first meeting Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
Maoists are Nepal’s biggest political party.
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Bhutanese refugee protest

Kathmandu 22 April Bhutanese refugees begin relay stage sit-in at a camp in
in Sanischere, ,Jhapa, asking the government to highlight the issue of refugees at the SAAC summit to be held this month in Thimpu, Bhutan.
They decided to state an hour-long sit-in every day until 28 April.
A memorandum to be passed on to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to the camp management asking him to highlight the refugee issue.
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