Abducted man freed handcuffed in Chitwan

Kathmandu, 26 June: Bishnu Nath Adhikari, 34, abducted from Dhading 35 days ago was found handcuffed along a highway in Chitwan overnight.
Democratic Security Force Nepal claimed responsibility.
Nnnn

Amid US denial, Maoist leader says he got invite, visa for US travel

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 June: Amid denial by US Ambassador Scoot H. DeLisi. Maoist politburo member Agni Sapkota said he received invitation and visa for travel to USA to attend a 10-day US State Department sponsored conference on Nepal in Boston.
A Maoist daily mouthpiece claimed Saturday there was a ‘conspiracy even though a visa was first given’ while there was ‘a conspiracy en route’.
“The embassy gave us visas in phases for the visit. Two received visas 22 July. one 23 July and I received it 24 July [Thursday],” politburo member Sapkota told Janadisha daily newspaper Saturday.” But they extended the invitation and they exerted pressure,” without going into details
But Sapkota didn’t board a flight for the Gulf that evening after receiving the visa saying there was pressure; three other Maoist colleagues boarded a flight.
‘The matter was discussed seriously and the conclusion was this was a party issue and not against me personally,” he told the newspaper.
Maoist politburo meet Friday recalled three top leaders CP Gajurel, Pampha Bhusal and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi have reacted the USA to attend the seminar.
Maoists are still on the US terrorist list but are given visas selectively.
“Fourth proposed participant could not be approved for travel due to serious and specific human rights allegations associated with his conduct during the insurgency.
“Although the Maoists remain on two US terrorist lists and are generally precluded from providing substantive support to the UCPN-M, the US government will authorise exceptions for them to participate in US government-funded programmes that support the peace process.
“Given the importance we attach to the search for lasting peace process in Nepal, we welcome the UCPN-M’s participation in the collaborative negotiations programme and we sought special clearances necessary for them to travel to the United States despite their inclusion on our list of terrorist organizations.
“Despite the disappointing withdrawal, the collaborative negotiation programme will continue,” DeLisi hoped in a statement Friday.
Maoist politburo meet Friday recalled the three Maoist leaders even before the meeting got off in Boston; representative of ruling parties NC and UML are participating.
nnnn

6 of 21 Nepali students homebound from New Delhi

Kathmandu, 26 June: Twenty-six Nepali students studying in troubled Kyrgyzstan have been repatriated to India on government expense, Nepali embassy in New Delhi said.
Twenty-one students have reported to the embassy until Friday six of whom have already left for home.
Nnnn

Another charge against FAO

Kathmandu, 26 June: With the onset of monsoon. INSEC charged the UN agency FAO this year has again distributed sub-standard food to generally poor students in the far-West.
The human rights watch Nepali body charged FAO for distributing sub-standard food to thousands in region where hundreds died in 2009.
An open feud broke out with UN threatening to suspend food aid to Nepal.
INSEC said this week food distributed at two primary schools in Jajarkot were substandard.
INSEC, quoting the district education office, said flour gifted to Saraswati Primary School and Ramchandra Primary School were adulterated with sand.
Students fell sick after consumption.
nnnn

Maoists seize 88 bighas farmland

Kathmandu, 26 June: Maoists have intensified an assets seizure drive when ruling parties NC and UML have set a pre-condition for return of assets for formation of a national unity government, Rajdhani reports from Bardiya.
A Maoist-affiliated organization Friday captured 88bigas farmland in Rajapur island in Bardiya Friday planting party flags.
Nnnn

Sushil Koirala undergoes health check-up in New York

Kathmandu, 26 June: The health condition of Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala is good after a regular health check-up at a cancer hospital in New York, Gorkhapatra reports quoting Private Secretary Laxman Dhakal.
He was treated for tongue cancer at the hospital there years ago.
nnnn





MEDIA GOOGLE

“The present government declared the ordinary people who were killed during the insurgency from the Maoists as martyrs [nearly 1,600 plus]… and this is an honour to the insurgency victims and their families.”

(PM Nepal, The Rising Nepal, 26 June)


“Currently, UML is leading everywhere in government, parliament and s street.”

(Party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Annapurna Post, 26 June)
nnnn