Maoists conclude Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha was abducted

Kathmandu, 4 June: Without identifying who abducted Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha nearly 20 days ago, a Maoist party inquiry team concluded Friday the Executive Director of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan, was abducted.
The party probe team was headed by Amik Serchan.
The conclusion comes after Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the cancer specialist was safe.
Serchan said the safety of the doctor is the team’s concern.
No other details were released.
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Congress, UML went for a republic to amend

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 June: Maoist Chairman Prachanda revealed Friday NC and UML went for a republic without a vote to amend the interim constitution to incorporate majority rule following victory of Maoists in the 10 April 2008 constituent assembly elections.
The interim constitution first envisaged rule by consensus to draft a constitution following toppling of the royal regime.
It took Maoists nearly four months to form a government after emerging victorious in elections after amending the constitution.
“We opted for a republic. We weren’t going to choose monarchy in a choice between monarchy and republic.
‘They [ruling parties] went for monarchy if we wouldn’t opt for multi-party system on the day a republic was to be announced.” Maoist Chairman Prachanda said in an interview in Annapurna Post Friday.
He revealed there was a tussle between ruling parties and Maoists after the constitution assembly election result in which Maoists emerged as the biggest party and 28 May 2008 when the assembly met for the first time.
Girija Prasad Koirala would repeatedly say consensus politics should last for another 10 years.
Maoists are now pressing consensus politics to conclude thepeace process and draft a constitution.
Differences between ruling parties and Maoists have surfaced on interpretation of Friday’s three-point agreement that led to the extension of the CA term by one year until 28 May 2011.
NC and UML Friday charged Maoists for not presenting details of an integration schedule for Maoist combatants by Sunday leading to the collapse of Friday’s agreement.
The government and main opposition are trading charges of treachery.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador Scott H, DeLisi held hour-long discussions with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Friday following the breakdown of Friday’s agreement.
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