Nepal Today: July 2010

Nine dead, seven injured in jeep accident

Kathmandu, 31 July: Nine persons died and seven were injured Saturday when a jeep fell 50 feet off a dirt road into a river in Nawalparasi.
The jeep was traveling between Kulintar and Daldale.
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Maoists submit their response to four terai parties

Kathmandu, 31 July; Maoists Saturday submitted their written response to 16 points in a concept paper prepared by four Madesh parties rejecting demand for One Madesh, One Pradesh and collective recruitment of Madeshis in Nepal Army.
Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha Maoist didn’t furnish reply on number of former Maoists to be integrated in state security agencies.
The terai front said it’s support for prime minister will go to the party that supports the demands in writing.
Nepali Congress hasn’t yet given its official response to the front.
Nepali Congress is also against a demand for One Madesh, One Pradesh.
The third round vote for prime minister is being conduced Monday and candidates of the two parties are contesting.
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Prachanda, Nemwang meet

Kathmandu, 31 July: Maoist Chairman Prachanda and Speaker of Parliament Subash Nemwang Saturday discussed the extended political impasse ahead of Monday’s runoff election for prime minister.
Nemwang expressed concern with the delay in electing a prime minister and formation of a new government which is affecting the constitution drafting process.
The runoff vote to choose the successor of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is again likely to be indecisive.
Nemwang urged the vote should be decisive to form a new government to remove uncertainty.
UML has decided to boycott the poll again Monday.
Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel are contesting the vote.
Prachanda said a government of national should be formed adding he could also lead a majority government following Monday’s vote.
“There could be a result Monday,” he said after meeting Nemwang.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal Friday again asked both candidates to withdraw their candidacies.
“”You couldn’t form a majority government in two rounds of elections; now open the door for a government of understanding and withdraw your candidacies,” Khanal told a public meeting in the capital.
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Regional conventions of NC begin

Kathmandu, 31 July: Regional conventions of NC began from eight in the morning Saturday to elect nearly 2,000 delegates from 60 districts for the 12th general convention in the capital in the third week of August..
Elections in 15 districts will be held 10 August.
Elections were deferred because of internal dispute and weather as the country is gripped by a monsoon..
Regional chairmen and 11 representatives will be elected from each 200 electoral constituencies.
The general convention will elect a new party leadership following the death of President Girija Prasad Koirala who kept a tight reign on the country’s oldest political party.
Meanwhile, three-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former home minister Khum Bahadur Khadka Friday discussed a tie-up for elections at the convention.
Deuba sought support for his candidacy as president while agreeing to back Khadka as party general secretary.
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Cholera traces found in Nepalgunj

Kathmandu, 31 July: Traces of cholera have been detected in Nepalgunj where at least five persons have died of diarrhea, government officials said.
Hundreds have fallen sick.
Further tests are being conducted in the capital.
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Nepal pushes for upgrading president’s China visit

Kathmandu, 31 July: Foreign ministry is confused after Beijing proposed President Dr Ram Baran Yadav pay only an official visit to China even as the president completed a state visit of India, Kantipur reports.
The foreign ministry believes the China visit of Nepal’s first president should be a state visit after the visit to one neighbouring country was a state visit
The foreign ministry believes the differences in the levels of visits could have ‘other interpretations’.
“Questions could crop up on Nepal’s diplomatic exercise,” a senior foreign ministry said.
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US ambassador DeLisi holds discussions with NSP leader

Kathmandu, 31 July: US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi who has intensified his diplomatic activities with the ongoing political impasse, held discussions Friday with NSP Chairman Rajendra Mahoto.
DeLisi earlier held separate discussions with two prime ministerial candidates Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Raam Chandra Paudel.
The ambassador also exchanged ideas with NC Acting President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
The third round of run off elections for prime minister is likely to be inconclusive Monday.
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Govt. assures security for VDC secretaries

Kathmandu, 31 July: Government is to provide special security to VDC secretaries, Annapurna Post reports.
The decision was taken Friday at a meeting chaired by Home Secretary DR Gobinda Prasad Kusum.
A decision was also taken asking secretaries to withdraw their collective resignations.
Security personnel will be deployed for security and agencies have been instructed.
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French serial killer sentenced to life term

Kathmandu, 30 July: French serial killer Charles Shobraj, 66, laws sentenced to life imprisonment with the confiscation of his property by two-judge bench of the supreme court Friday.
The apex court upheld the verdict of the Patan appellate court seven years ago.
Fifteen days ago the court deferred a final decision .asking for time to prepare a full verdict.
The Patan court sentenced Shobraj for the murder of American backpacker Connie Joe Bronzich in 1975 at he height of the hippie movement when hundreds of young westerns were attracted to Nepal by cheap and legal drugs.
Shobraj was arrested in 2003 when he boldly slipped into the country even as he was convicted to 20-year life sentence by the Kathmandu district court.
Lawyers for Shobraj attempted to seek a postpone on a final verdict.
Another murder charge has been registered at the Bhaktapur court against Shobraj for the murder Canadian tourist.
The Frenchman was linked to serial killings of tourists in Bangkok and India.
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Possible outbreak of cholera in Nepalgunj being investigated

Kathmandu, 30 July: Possible outbreak of cholera in Nepalgunj that has claimed three lives is being investigated by a here-member head from the center/
The team headed by Dr Pramod Khanal flew to the far-West town for inspection.
Hundreds have fallen sick.
Cholera is a more virulent form of diarrhea.
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Floods inundate more than 300 houses in Kailali

Kathmandu, 30 July: Floods have inundated more than 300 homes in three villages in Kailali, including Pahalmanput and Tulsipur.
Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rain have washed away agricultural land in the far-West district.
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Indian attempt to placate Naxals

Kathmandu, 30 July: One of India’s states worst-hit by Maoist violence has offered more than 2,000 dollars to each rebel who surrenders their weapons and gives up the fight, police said on Thursday, a AFP report from Kolkata said.
The state government in West Bengal has promised a bank account with a deposit of 100,000 rupees as well as job training and employment opportunities.
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NC seeks support of small communist parties

Kathmandu, 30 July: Nepali Congress (NC) Friday morning lobbied for support of splinter communist groups in parliament for Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel, the party’s candidate for Monday’s runoff election for prime minister.
Paudel and Maoist Chairman Prachanda are the only candidates contest.
The vote will again be inconclusive should UML again abstain in the vote.
NC needs the support of both UML and the Madesh parties for Paudel’s victory.
NC leaders began meeting Friday to draft its written reply to 16 demands of the front of four terai parties who said they will support the party that supports its demands, including One Madesh, One lPradessh and self-determination.
Maoists have rejected the demand for One Madesh, One Pradesh.
Maoists and NC Friday again rejected a request of UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal to Prachanda and Paudel to withdraw their candidacies for national consensus.
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Employees Provident Fund to invest in Upper Tamakoshi

Kathmandu, 30 July: Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is investing Rs 12 billion in the Rs 35 billion 456MW Upper Tamakoshi hydro power project.
A loan agreement is being signed with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Friday.
NEA has already signed invest agreements with Citizens Investment Fund, Nepal Government and Nepal Insurance Corporation.
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Tiger count reaches 155; Indo-Nepal agreement

Kathmandu, 30 July: The tiger count in Nepal has increased to 155 with 34 more cats recorded this year.
A census is conducted once in two years.
The survey was extended to cover the Chure hills this year.
The survey was conducted by National Park and Wildlife Conservation Department.
Meanwhile, Nepal and India Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to curb illegal trade in wildlife and strengthen conservation activities coinciding with Tiger Day.
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Kamal Thapa on European tour

Kathmandu, 30 July: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa Thursday left of a three-week tour of several European countries, the party said.
He will be visiting Great Britain and Germany.
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Govt. effort to bring back 11 students jailed in Zimbabwe

Kathmandu, 30 July: Government has started diplomatic initiatives to bring back 11 Nepali students jailed in Zimbabwe, Kantipur reports.
Foreign ministry said the students are Nepalis and has written to the Zimbabwe government to pardon them and send them back home.
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• HOME
• NATION Efforts to open new embassies
• OPED
• EDITORIAL
KATHMANDU, July 30:
If everything goes as planned, Nepal will open diplomatic missions within a year in seven countries where the population of Nepalis is increasing. The idea is also to bolster trade and investment.

While Nepal has 32 diplomatic missions currently, it has a policy of opening one in a country where the population of Nepali nationals crosses the 5,000 mark.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is holding talks with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in this regard. The MoF’s prior approval is a must when opening a mission abroad. According to officials, talks are headed for the right direction.

Three SAARC countries—Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan—top the priority list.

“The Nepalese population in Afghanistan is increasing and we are planning to open missions in some countries within SAARC,” a MoFA official told the Post.

Last year, Nepal opened diplomatic missions in Kuwait, Brazil, South Africa and Canada.

A team of MoFA formed to prepare an ‘Organisation and Management’ report and led by Joint Secretary Dhananjaya Jha will come up with the need to open more missions.

“There is a general impression that opening new missions is spending money unnecessarily; this is not true. Most of our missions are earning good money through consular and visa work,” the official said.

“Any stable government can take a call in this regard while we can easily open three-men missions in the beginning,” the official added.

Another MoFA official told the Post that Singapore is another country in the priority list.

“Singapore is the third largest importing port of Nepal after India and China. More than 15,000 Nepalis are currently working there. While Singapore and Nepal have direct air connection, the country’s new policy to attract medium-level work force could lure more Nepalis there,” the official said.

“Our policy has been opening new diplomatic missions and we are always open to extending our presence across the globe,” Harish Chandra Ghimire, the assistant spokesperson of the ministry, said.

Another target is Spain where the Nepali population has crossed the 100,000 mark.

Also, due to a large presence of Nepalis in Oman, the ministry is working to open a mission there. Opening of two Consulate General offices in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Guangzhou in China is also on the cards.
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Initiative to get British PM to visit Nepal

Kathmandu, 30 July: Nepali Ambassador to the United Kingdom Dr Suresh Chalise called on British Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan in London and discussed UK-Nepal military relations and issue of the Gurkhas in the British force, The Himalayan Times reports.
Robathan assured the Nepali ambassador that his office would make utmost efforts to see the British prime minister visiting Nepal in the future.
Nepal is yet to host any British prime minister even as the bilateral relations between the two countries date back to 1816.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The government was a desperate failure, as it was not formed on the basis of national consensus. It also failed to perform as per people’s aspirations.”

(Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, The Himalayan Times, 30 July)

“Although the UML has decided not to vote any of the prime ministerial candidates, I am still hopeful that they will change their earlier decision and vote for our candidate, The UML has no other option but to support the NC candidate as the NC had extended unwavering support to the UML’s senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal last year.’

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, The Himalayan Times, 30 July)

‘The relationship of the constituent assembly with the people was broken 28 May when it extended its tenure by one year demonstrating collective failure. This is not the people’s assembly.”

(Yubaraj Ghimere, Annapurna Post, 30 July)
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Jhalanath Khanal asks Maoists, NC to withdraw from race for prime minister

Kathmandu, 29 July: UML Chairman Jhananath Khanal Thursday asked Maoist and NC candidates Thursday to withdraw their candidacies for the runoff elections for prime minister Monday for ‘national consensus’.
Nepali Congress Vice-President Prakash Man Singh and Maoist Vice-chairman immediately rejected the request from the same platform.
Khanal said he suggested Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel to withdraw their candidacies for a ‘for a new way to find a solution.’
With UML decision to boycott Monday’s election, another runoff election for prime minister is almost inevitable.
Prachanda predicted Thursday Monday’s election will also be inconclusive pushing the nation towards a political crisis.
Indian and US diplomats have intensified their activities meeting leaders as the political standoff continues.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood held discussion with NC Acting President Sushil Koirala after holding discussions with Paudel one day earlier.
US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi held separate discussions with Prachanda and Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar amid concerns with the standoff.
Meanwhile, Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said Thursday his party has rejected a demand of a front of four Madesh parties for One Madesh, One Pradesh.
Nepali Congress has said its central committee can only decide on the 16 demands of the terai parties.
Both parties are unwilling to meet Madesh demands immediately; the four parties could likely boycott Monday’s elections as well as they demanded written support from the two parties for their crucial 89 votes.
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11 arrested for alleged involvement on forging passports

Kathmandu, 29 July: Eleven persons were arrested Wednesday and Thursday in police raids in the capital for forging passports.
Two persons were arrested Wednesday and nine Thursday from different locations in the capital.
Police suspect the gangs faked more than 200 passports,
Police believe at least five groups are involved in forging passports.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Nepse index gains 1.84 points

Kathmandu, 29 July: Nepse index gained 1.84 points on the last day of five-day weekly trading Thursday.
The market closed ar 461.63 points with the banking sector gaining 3.91 points.
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US ambassador holds discussions with Prachnda Deputy PM Gachedhar

Kathmandu, 29 July: US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi held separate discussions with Maoist Chairman Prachanda and Deputy Prime Minister and MJF Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar Thursday.
Discussions were held ahead of the 2 August runoff election for prime minister
Should UML again boycott the election, a fourth round of elections for government chief will be held.
DeLisi this week held discussions with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal as well amid an unending political impasse.
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BoP surplus to be increased to Rs 9bn inflation to be contained at 7 per cent

Kathmandu, July 29 -Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Wednesday unveiled new monetary policy for 2010/11 with the objective to increase the balance of payment (BoP) surplus to Rs. 9 billion within a year, The Rising Nepal reports..
The policy aimed at containing inflation to 7 per cent and increasing gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 5.5 per cent.
At a time when the country was reeling under a huge BoP deficit, double-digit inflation, surging import trade, weak lending of banks owing to liquidity crunch and sluggish performance of agriculture sector, the new monetary policy is expected to address these issues.
Unveiling the new policy, Governor of NRB Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the new policy targeted to increase the BoP surplus to Rs. 9 billion within the next fiscal year.
He said that the policy would contain inflation to 7 per cent.
Inflation rate at the global level is plummeting to single-digit, while Nepal still faces double-digit inflation, largely due to supply disturbances.
"Inflation is estimated to ease to a single-digit level with expected improvements in food and vegetable prices," he said.
The new policy targets to achieve a growth of 5.5 per cent GDP in the fiscal year 2010/011.
The new policy has put on hold the provision of establishing new commercial banks until there is a new provision. However, the provision will not be applicable to banks with foreign investment, huge capital investment and high technology base as they would help develop the physical infrastructure in the country.
However, the new policy has eased lending in the housing sector.
"The previous ceiling in housing and real estate lending has been raised for housing sector that adds a high value," the policy mentions.
The cash reserve ratio (CRR) has been kept unchanged at 5.5 percent. Likewise, the bank rate is kept unchanged at 6.5 percent.
In view of the inadequacy of compliance-based supervision in the event of growing competition, evolving new instruments and products in the financial sector, a risk-based supervision will be implemented in a planned way in addition to compliance-based supervision.
"The implementation of early warning signal (EWS) to banks and financial institutions will be further strengthened so as to enhance the efficiency of off-site supervision. In the process, Stress Testing of commercial banks will be carried out," he said.
Similarly, to maintain healthy competition among the banks and financial institutions, the new policy has set a precondition to take permission from the NRB before opening their branches.
Similarly, with the aim to divert some portion of lending of commercial banks to the energy development sector, the new monetary policy has envisioned to establish Hydropower Development Fund/Institution.
The policy has incorporated special provision to provide Rs 5 million interest free loans for a specific time period for banks opening their branches in the district headquarters of 22 remote districts listed by the government and Rs 10 million in similar loans if the branches are opened outside the district headquarters.
Similarly, the policy has made new provision to let the banks open their branches in the Kathmandu valley only after opening two branches outside the valley-- one in remote 30 districts listed by the government for low presence of the banking sector and one in other places.
The deprived sector credit requirement of 3 per cent for commercial banks has been continued. However, the deprived sector credit requirement for development banks has been increased to 2.5 per cent from 2 per cent and for finance companies to 2 per cent from 1.5 per cent.
The policy has estimated the circulation of broad money at 15 per cent. Similarly, the commercial banks’ lending to private sector has been projected to stand at 16.4 per cent and total deposit mobilization is estimated to be at 15 per cent.
However, the new policy could not cheer up the private sector. Speaking to the journalists after the programme, Sashin Joshi, president of Nepal Banker’s Association and Kush Kumar Joshi, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, remarked that the policy had nothing for the private sector to cheer about.
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Maoists response to Madesh demands

Kathmandu, 29 July: A meeting of Maoist office bearers Thursday decided to give its official written response to 16 demands of a front of four Madesh parties ‘either today or soon’, party Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shresstha said .
The front asked for a written response after request by both Maoists and NC for support for their candidates for prime minister.
Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel are contesting the third runoff elections for prime minister 2 August.
UML said it will again boycott the vote—a move that will force the fourth runoff elections.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood Wednesday held discussions with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and hoped the 2 August election will be decisive.
Sood held discussions with after US Ambassador Scott H.DeLisi held similar discussions with Khanal.
Nepali Congress is in a weak position; Paudel can’t get even a simple majority voteinthe599-member parliament without UML and
Madesh parties’ support.
A majority communist government can be formed if UML decided to coalesce with Maoists.
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Maoist killed in Bara

Kathmandu, 29 July: Khesang Yadar, a Maoist leader from Bara was killed
in the central terai district overnight.
He was associated with the YCL as well.
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UN objects to repatriation of three Tibetan refugees

Kathmandu, 29 July: Nepal forcibly repatriated three Tibetan refugees, the United Nations said on Wednesday, adding it was ‘extremely concerned’ by the move, AFP reports from Kathmandu,
The UN refugee agency said it had written to the Nepal government about the incident in early June, details of which were published in a report by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
Two of the refugees—s Buddhist monk and a young woman—are now in jail in Tibet after they were detained in western Nepal, and taken by helicopter to the border, where they were met by Chinese security forces, the ICT said.
‘Nepal is duty-bound under its own agreement with UNHCR to ensure the safe transit of Tibetan refugees through its territory,” said ICT President Mary Beth Markey.
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Skipper messed up NA shipment: UN
KATHMANDU, July 20: -
The UN said on Tuesday that the Pakistan-bound ship — The Aegean Glory — that was carrying, among others, military vehicles belonging to Nepal Army’s UN peacekeeping troops in Liberia hit rough weather, because the captain of the ship did not follow the route planned by the UN when it set sail from Liberia, The Kathmandu Post reports.

The 153-meter cargo ship, operated under the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), was stopped by Indian intelligence in Kolkata last week “for investigation” on the suspicion that it was carrying a huge cache of arms and

ammunition without proper documents.

The ship was there to offload the NA military cargo. When the Indian authorities denied it

entry, it sailed back to Karachi on July 25.

According to Martin Nesirky, Spokesman for the UN Secretary General, the ship was stopped by Indian authorities due to “inadequate communication” between the ship’s captain who did not follow the scheduled route and the Indian authorities.

The UN News Center states that the ship was originally scheduled to sail from Liberia on May 18 and dock at Karachi, and then Kolkata before proceeding to Chittagong, Bangladesh. The ship instead reached the Indian port city directly.

“Apparently, a unilateral decision to alter the route was taken without consulting the United Nations and that’s why it arrived in Bangladesh first and then went on to India. This resulted in the Pakistani cargo still being on board the ship when it arrived in Indian waters. That was

obviously not the original plan,” said Nesirky in the press briefing at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.

Earlier, Indian media had quoted senior police officers as saying that the ship was carrying rocket launchers, smoke bombs and anti-aircraft guns, apart from other sophisticated arms and ammunition.
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SC scraps petition challenging army recruitment
KATHMANDU, 29 July:: Stating that disputes on the Comprehensive Peace Accord fell under the purview of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee, the Supreme Court today scrapped a writ petition challenging recruitment in the Nepali Army three months ago, The Himalayan Times reports..

Upholding recruitment in technical posts, a division bench of Justices Bala Ram KC and Gauri Dhakal said the Supreme Court did not need to look into issues that the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee should resolve. “Since the Supreme Court is bound to settle disputes in accordance with internationally accepted principles of justice, the apex court need not settle disputes related to the agreement, under its extraordinary jurisdiction,” the bench observed.

Despite a warning from the UN, Nepali Army began recruitment for non-combatant posts such as doctors, technicians and mechanics. It had announced vacancies in November 2008 and April 2010.

A public interest litigation was filed immediately after NA began recruitment of 271 army personnel.

Accusing the government and the NA of violating the constitution and the CPA signed with the Maoists, International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED-International) filed a PIL at the apex court seeking its immediate intervention.

The petitioners sought order to the Cabinet, the Ministry of Defence, Nepali Army Headquarters and the Recruitment Committee of Nepali Army to stop the recruitment drive.

Stating that Nepali Army began recruiting against the apex court order, the petitioners alleged the army had violated Articles 144 and 147 of the interim constitution and Article 5.1.2 of the CPA and the Agreement on Arms and Ammunition signed between the government and Maoists, and sought an order scrapping the recruitment.
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Proportions and politics of prejudice

Vice-President Parmanand Jha certainly spoke for much of the country last week. “Even after the year-long extension of the constituent assembly, the Nepalese people are not at all certain whether they will get their constitution,” he declared, Maiala Bahe writes in Nepali Netbook..
Seeking to prove the Veep wrong, the major parties have set April 13, 2011 as the date for promulgating the new statute. Seeking to project an element of seriousness to their assertion, they gave a two-month timetable to the state restructuring commission to come up with recommendations on one of the more contentious issues. Yet 22 out of the 25 parties in the assembly registered their disagreement over the decision by the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the UCPN-Maoist to form the commission. Not quite a confidence booster.
That’s where Jha’s other assertion gains relevance. In order to build an inclusive society, he said, it is vital to enact inclusive acts and put into practices rather than limiting them into mere words. It would be wrong to view the preceding as a mere reiteration of Jha’s well-known claims of anti-Madhesi discrimination. Things are different this time, something even the Veep appears to acknowledge.
In a statement he made a few days earlier, Jha had the candor to claim that discrimination had been reduced to some extent. The top two – albeit ceremonial – offices have gone to the community. The caretaker premier is associated with the Tarai constituency he lost in the last test of popular strength than the Kathmandu neighborhood that spurned him. Moreover, a Madhesi leader is among the men staking their claim to form the next government. And all this is happening at a time when we still haven’t settled on who is a madhesi or what it take to be one – geography, ethnicity, skin color, verbal intonation, political sympathies, social behaviors, etc.
“Why can’t the state openly accept that there exists discrimination at the state level?” “Is it incorrect to demand equal representation?” When Jha asks such questions, they must be taken as rhetorical ones. Otherwise, the deadliness of the Maoist insurgency and the difficulties of peace process are there for all of us to see.
Stung by the parochialism that marred his last attempt at prominence, the Veep has attempted to rope in the cause of other marginalized groups. But the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has opted to break its own new ground. It declared a fresh stir to pressurize the political parties to draft the constitution on time. “It is immaterial for us which party leads the government and who is elevated as next prime minister,” Rajkumar Lekhi-Tharu, the chairman of NEFIN, said at a press conference. “We want a constitution that ensures rights to the Janajatis,” he said repeatedly.
Finally, someone seems to have their priorities right. NEFIN has declared economic blockade August 14, 2010 for Kathmandu valley and disruption of vehicle movement throughout the country. If this is not the kind of common cause Jha had hoped to build, then perhaps he should begin wooing other constituencies that now feel dispossessed, such as, say, Brahmins and Chettris.
As to the issue of discrimination in general, someone once said that if we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon. Another averred that human history is written by the fluid of prejudice. Still another claimed that everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences; no one can eliminate prejudices – they can just recognize them.
What do you do after that? Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument, we are told. Since it is all in the mind, if you believe that discrimination exists, it will. These nuggets of human wisdom accumulated over experiences good and bad over the centuries have their relevance in our context. But for the international laboratory that we have become, there is that added problem. We can’t really recognize where the highlighting of discrimination ends and the rationalization and legitimization of it begins.
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Ban on Nepali workers in Iraq lifted

Kathmandu, 28 July: Nepal Wednesday officially lifted a three-year ban on Nepalis working in Iraq.
The ban was imposed after the murder of 12 Nepali workers by a terrorist group there.
Nearly 30,000 Nepali workers faced eviction because of Theban that Nepalis’ stay in that country illegal.

Tiger population up; reaches 144 in Chitwan

Kathmandu, 28 July: A recently held tiger count has concluded that the number of adult tigers have risen from 91 in 2008/09 to 121 now in Chitwan district, Republica reports.
In addition, it has put the number of sub-adults at approximately 22 to23 in the Chitwan National Park. With the new study, the tiger population in Chitwan has now reached 144.
The study was undertaken by a government monitoring team, which has now found 30 more adult tigers during the study period from November 2009 to April 2010.
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Apology on behalf of former king

Kathmandu, 28 July: Phadi Pathak, personal secretary of former King Gyanendra, through a statement Wednesday expressed sorrow over the clash of security personnel with journalists at Bhaktapur one day earlier.
Security personnel clashed with journalists during a visit to a Shiva temple.
Some journalists were injured and their equipment damaged.
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Japanese national asserted with hash

Kathmandu, 28 July: Japanese national Hirokazu Tamura who was arrested with 1.2 kg hash 11 July at Tribhuvan International Airport was presented before the media by police Tuesday.
He was arrested before boarding a Thai Airways flight for Bangkok.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

IMF to look after Nepal from New Delhi office

Kathmandu, 28 July: International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) office in New Delhi will look after Nepal from November, an announcement said.
“The IMF decision will not adversely affect the ongoing discussions with Nepal government and Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) on a possible IMF-sponsored programme,” outgoing Resident Representative Alexander Pitt of IMF said.
The move was made with IMF ‘reorientation towards a more regional approach’.
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Kathmandu, 28 July:

Govt. to lift ban on Iraq jobs Wednesday

Kathmandu, 28 July: The government is all set to lift a government ban on Iraq job market for Nepalis after a few says of groundwork, considering that over 30,000 Nepali workers are at risk of losing their jobs following a demand by the US CENTCOM Contracting Command that they legalize heir status, Republica reports.
“The government completed final preparations to lift the ban on Wednesday after a consultations Tuesday with the prime minister and the foreign minister,” Labour Minister Mohammad Aftab Alam told Republica Tuesday.
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Kathmandu, Beijing to bolster info sharing
KATHMANDU, July 28: -
Nepal and China are all set to establish a high-level mechanism to share intelligence to contain anti-China activities in Nepal, The Kathmandu Post reports.

The mechanism will also share information on other illegal cross-border

activities. The first of its kind, the Nepal-China Border Security and Law Enforcement Talks concluded here on Tuesday. The meeting agreed to set up focal points in the respective home ministries in Kathmandu and Beijing.

“The Chinese side assured full support to enhance capacity building, training of Nepali security personnel to be deployed across the northern border, seeking Nepal’s full commitment on information sharing on anti-China activities with effective law enforcement mechanism to contain the activities,” a senior government official, who took part in the talks, told the Post.

The idea behind such focal points is to set up a bilateral border security mechanism in the near future, which trickles down from the home ministry level to the local security and administrative level to enhance better cooperation in the field of information sharing and border security. It has not been decided who would lead the focal point in the ministry level.

Home Secretary Govind Kusum was leading the Nepali side while his counterpart Chen Zhimin led the Chinese delegation in the talks. The Chinese side also handed over logistic support like laptops, searchlights, and metal detectors worth two million Yuan (RMB) to the Home Ministry.

The Chinese side also thanked the Nepali side for upholding the one-China policy. Nepal has been acting tough on Tibetan refugees who want to travel here.

Those supporting the refugees are opposing the move, and have asked the government of Nepal not to curtail the movement of refugees.

“My visit is to find out ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between Nepal and China,” said Chen.
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Kham dares cops to arrest him
KATHMANDU: Kali Bahadur Kham, ‘most wanted criminal’ on Nepal Police list, has dared the law enforcement agency to bring him to justice, The Himalayan Times reports.

In a televised interview exclusively broadcast by News24 Channel today, he told police officials not to look for him. “Police may be well aware of my whereabouts as I am a central member of UCPN-Maoist and PLA commander of fifth division in Rolpa,” he said. “But, why do they keep on saying they are using all resources and legal tools to apprehend me? It shows how weak the police, especially a handful of officials, are. May be, this is the first time in its history that Nepal Police has mobilised as many as 300 personnel to track down an individual.”

For most part of the interview, Kham laughed off the existing criminal system and taunted the police. “The court and police should bring the perpetrators of Gaur, Dang and Nawalparasi

carnage, where 44 Maoist cadres were killed, to justice if they really want me to face the charge. If they honestly fulfil these conditions, I will turn myself in. Otherwise, the police and the court should not bother to find me any more,” Kham said.

He refuted allegations of killing Koteshwor-based businessman Ram Hari Shrestha a couple of years ago, robbing Chinese traders in the capital city and other charges.

“I claimed moral responsibility for Shrestha’s murder as commander of PLA third Division, Chitwan, where he was tortured to death by our cadres. But as far as the robbery is concerned, it was deliberately aimed at tarnishing the image of our party and myself. Police raided my rented house in Gongabu on July 25. I have not been in Kathmandu for three months,” Kham defended himself during the one-hour interview, which the interviewer said was shot some 200 km from Kathmandu.

“Bullets recovered from my room belonged to an UNMIN-registered pistol and Rs 5 lakhs kept there were for the party’s work. The money was not part of the amount allegedly robbed from the Chinese traders, as I was not involved,” he claimed.

“The yarsagumba the police exposed to the media was legal, but they have destroyed the valid document to prove it illegal.”

He added that Santro car found at his residence did not belong to him and said police had arrested a driver (Madhusudan Sharma) so as to present him as his driver.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The country will surely be disintegrated if the parties agree to address their [Madsh front] demand.”

(RPP Nepal Chairman Kanal Thapa, The Kathmandu Post, 28 July)

Ram Chandra Paudel seeks UML vote

Kathmandu, 27 July: NC Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel visited Jhalanath Khanal at his residence Tuesday morning and sought the support of UML chairman for his candidacy as prime minister.
But Khanal reiterated his demand for a government of ‘national unity’ or the election of a government chief with the support of 401 members in the 599-member parliament.
Khanal dropped out of the race in the inconclusive second round vote even though he had a simple majority but couldn’t muster the 401 seats demanded by the party.
UML central committee has decided a candidate in the third round vote 2 August should also collect 401 motes for election. UML said it will again abstain the third round voting
Paudel needs the support of both the UML and a front of four Madesh parties even for his election by simple majority.
The third round vote will be inconclusive should UML again abstain in the election process.
The direct meeting between Paudel and Khanal comes after Khanal supporters expressed dissatisfaction with the NC which earlier sought UML support in the election by courting Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Khanal supporters believe Nepal and influential member KP Sharma Oli engineered a strategy to prevent a communist government from taking over by pushing for a two-third vote in parliament.
There’s no constitutional or parliamentary requirement for a candidate to collect two-third vote in election of a government through simple majority.
The process will be endless should parties insist on two-third majority vote; no other candidate can replace Maoist Chairman Prachanda or Paudel—two contestants in the race for prime minister to succeed caretaker PM Nepal.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador Scott DeLisi held discussions with Khanal Tuesday amid the standoff.
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Sushil Koirala, UNMIN chief hold discussions

Kathmandu, 27 July: NC Acting President Sushil Koirala and UMIN Chief Karin Landgren held consultations Sunday.
The meeting comes after Koirala said the tenure of the UN political body which ends 24 September won’t be extended.
He said this after UNMIN circulated a roadmap amongst three major political parties to integrate Maoist fighters in l5 months when the government wanted their integration before a constitution has to be promulgated in less than 10 months.
The UNMIN roadmap figured in Tuesday’s discussions.
Koirala and Landgren discussed the delayed peace process.
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A pahadi killed in Morang

Kathmandu, 27 July: Bhupal Karki, 54, was abducted from Panipiya, Morang, and killed Sunday.
He was abducted by two motorcyclists.
This murder is the third abduction in the district in three weeks.
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Travel ban to Iraq being lifted

Kathmandu, 27 July: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has directed concerned agencies to lift the travel ban on Iraq, Nagarik reports.
Nepal said this in reply to email messages from Nepali workers in Iraq.
The move will legalize the stay of Nepalis in Iraq.
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Nepal’s Press Advisor Bishnu Rijal confirmed the exchange of emails.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Kathmandu, 27 July: Promoters of the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydel Project Monday signed an agreement for the Rs 10.59 billion project—the country’s biggest power project..
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will have a 41 percent state in the company, Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh, 20 percent, Nepal Telecom 6 percent, Rashtriya Beema Sansthan and Nagarik Lagani Kosh 2 percent each.
Locals of Dolakha, the project site, will have a 10 percent stake in the project while 10 percent shares will be floated amongst the public.
Nine percent shares have been set aside for employees.
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Rift between Prachanda, Bhattarai resurfaces

Kathmandu, 27 July: Intra-party rift has further widened in the UCPN (Maoist) with Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai pushing for an end to the ongoing process of electing a new prime minister with a simple majority in the legislature-parliament, Republica reports.
Bhattarai has stated that the country would be better off reverting back to the consensus system as forming a majority-based government would not lead to the conclusion of the peace process and constitution drafting.
‘If the parliament fails to elect a new prime minister even for the third time on August 2, this process should be ended; the country cannot be held hostage to the parties’ indecision forever, On top of that, any majority-based government, no matter who leads it, cannot conclude the peace process and constitution drafting,” said Maoist leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who is regarded close to Bhattarai.
But leaders close to Pushpa Kamal Dahal have accused that Bhattarai’s remark is against the party decision and dubbed it his ‘personal view’,
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• HOME
• Monetary policy Wednesday
• OPED
• EDITORIAL
• METRO
KATHMANDU, July 27: -
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is all set to make public the monetary policy on Wednesday although the central bank had delayed the process to wait for a new government.

Governor Yubaraj Khatiwada will be able to present a significant improvement in the balance of payment (BoP) situation with its deficit coming down to just around Rs. 3 billion. The BoP has remained negative by Rs. 15 billion until the first 11 months of the last fiscal year.

Generally, the monetary policy is brought in to support the financial and development target of the budget announced by the government.

NRB officials said the policy will incorporate programmes to address the increased trade deficit and promote export that resulted in the BoP deficit.

The monetary policy will also introduce some policies to substitute imports and provide some facilities to sectors with export potential. Central bank officials said they will add the list of goods that can be imported from India by paying in US dollars instead of IC.

According to NRB sources, the policy has provisions that will allow Nepali industries to help import substitution to get loans from foreign financial institutions.

The country faced the BoP deficit for the first time in two-and-a-half decades. With the liquidity crunch in the banking system, credit has been discouraged in certain sectors such as real estate. As such, the interest rate has gone up. The monetary policy generally addresses the financial health of the country, BoP and inflation.

The policy may not be able to address the BoP deficit and inflation alone because the first is also connected with the government’s fiscal policy and the latter is affected by non-economic factors.

Bankers have been demanding flexibility in credit policy. They are also demanding that the interest rate be lowered to loans going to the industrial sector, but the central bank is not in favour of lowering the rate.

With the Reserve Bank of India indicating an increase in the interest rate with the quarterly evaluation of the monetary policy on Tuesday, it will be difficult for the NRB to reduce the rate because the Nepali currency is pegged to the Indian currency.

However, the central bank will feel more confident while taking ambitious decisions, given the easing liquidity situation and increasing deposits in the banking system.

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry has asked the central bank to fix the credit percentage in the productive sector. “The maximum interest rate for credits that go to the industrial sector should be fixed,” the FNCCI has recommended.

The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has suggested establishing asset Management Company to manage non-banking assets. It has also demanded a separate credit policy for land transactions and housing projects.
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Nemwang says election process can’t be aborted

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 July: Parliament Speaker Subash Nemwang said explicitly Monday the election process for prime minister can’t be aborted until a final result.
He said this after a meeting with President Dr Ram BaranYadav who, Nemwang said, expressed concern with inconclusive elections after two rounds of votes and delay in government formation.
‘The process has to continue until a final result,” he told reporters after meeting the president.
He said there are such provisions in the constitution and parliamentary rules.
Nemwang said this as UML and Maoists are attempting to amend rules to suit themselves to facilitate an outcome in the 2 August third round vote for prime minister.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel are in the election fray.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal reiterated Monday his party will boycott the saying a majority vote will drag the country into a quagmire.
He claimed there was a conspiracy in the party to split it over the vote.
Khanal opposes election through simple majority while implicitly claiming a vote by three parties will be a national government,.
There are 25 parties in parliament,.
Sevem/eight parties ran the country for two years under Girija Prasad Koirala after the ousting King Gyanendra when the four-party Madesh front didn’t exist.
Anyway, even with the participation of seven parties, a coalition consisting of seven parties can’t be called a ‘national government’.
NC central committee meeting Monday decided it can’t give a written support of 16 demands of four-party Madesh front—including right to self-determination and terai autonomy.
General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi from Terai has been assigned to address the request for a written commitment from the Madesh parties.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The UN does not play politics in the countries where it goes to assist the peace process. The charges of UMNIN in some way being impartial are ridiculous. Since the parties have not been able to settle the issues, it is not UNMIN’s fault that the job is not done.”

(Outgoing British Ambassador Andrew Hall defending controversial UN political role in Nepal, The Kathmandu Post, 26 July)

“’People don’t want these things [lack of progress] looked into, Who knows what happens once you start opening up cans of worms? How far the chain of responsibility goes? At the moment, it is a conspiracy among all parties that this is going to be painful and difficult so we don’t want to do it.”

(Hall defending EU and US policy not to push peace process at the rosk of embarrassing political parties, The Kathmandu Post, 26 July)
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British Ambassador's farewell call on the President

Kathmandu, 26 July: British Ambassador Andrew Hall Monday paid a farewell call on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, the British embassy said.
Ambassador Hall leaves Nepal this week after a four-year tour.

Dr Hall recalled the long friendship between the two countries, noted the excellent state of UK-Nepal relations, and said that British support to Nepal's development and to the peace process would continue.

The new British Ambassador, John Tucknott, will take up his duties in Nepal in mid-August.
Dr Hall,who is retiring, served as information officer in his first stint at the embassy.

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Madesh demands have to discussed in NC central committee
Kathmandu, 26 July: Sixteen demands of a front of four Madesh parties, including right to self-determination and Madesh autonomy, have to be addressed and approved by the Nepali Congress central committee, spokesman Arjun Narsingh said Monday,
He said some demands of the terai parties involves nationality issues that had to be further discussed.
He said this following a meeting of the party’s office bearers and some central members after a meeting with the front this week to seek support for Ram Chandra Paudel, the party’s candidate for prime minister.
NC also decided to hold formal talks with UML demanding support for Paudel.
The party can’t form a majority government without the support of the UML and the Madesh parties.
Maoists are in a position to form a majority government with support of terai parties.
The third round elections for prime minister is scheduled for 2 August.
The terai parties in a commanding position are demanding written support for their demands and have decided they will vote for the party which supports regional demands.
Human rights activist ridiculed the argument a coalition of three major parties can be a ‘national government’.
‘How can a government of three parties be a national government when there are 25 parties in parliament?” he asked. “This is an interpretation of national unity to suit the interest of the parties.”
Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala ruled the country after toppling royal rule with the help of eight parties—the coalition collapsed after the April 2008 constituent assembly election in which Maoists emerged victorious.
Maoists are attempting to replace that alliance with the three-party rule now to gain control of government in the guise of completing the peace process and drafting a constitution.
Prachanda has admitted his party agreed to majority rule amending the interim constitution to replace consensus government after Girija Prasad Koirala agreed to declare a republic before an election.
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Security personnel of former king clash

Kathmandu, 26 July: Several journalists were injured when they clashed Monday with security personnel of former King Gyanendra and his supporters at a temple in Bhaktapur.
The then king drove to Bhaktapur to offer worship and puja at a Majhadeb temple at the end of a maha yagya.
Some journalists shouted slogans against the former king, eyewitnesses said.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY
Nepse index falls 5.4 points; Shankarman Singh resigns
Kathmandu, 26 July: Nepse index fell 5.4 points Sunday on the first day of weekly trading.
The index closed at 463.94 points.
Insurance and hydropower groups suffered the biggest losses.
Meanwhile, Nepse General Manager Shankerman Singh resigned Sunday without assigning any reason after more than two years in office.
No reason was given.
But he had differences with finance ministry with the appointment of new share brokers.
He headed a committee to appoint new brokers.
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More land under paddy crop
Kathmandu, 26 July: Paddy plantation was recorded in additional 308,000 hectares of land across the country over the last week, thanks to continued rainfall in this peak plantation season, Republica reports.
Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) said plantation has been recorded in over 938,308 hectares of the total of 1.55 millioni hectares of paddy fields till Friday.
“We are encouraged to see increase in paddy plantation area by 20 percent points over the week. The plantation area has increased significantly in the terai districts,” said Hem Raj Regmi, under secretary at MoAC.
Total area of plantation increased to 59 percent in eastern region, 64 percent in central region and 55 percent in western region.
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Parliamentary rules can’t be amended
KATHMANDU: 26 July: Parliamentary regulations cannot be amended when they are in effect, say constitutional experts, The Himalayan Times reports.

Senior leaders, including CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Unified CPN-Maoist vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai,

have called for amending the parliamentary regulations after the parliament failed

to elect prime minister even during the run-off poll held on Friday.

The parliament had failed to pick the PM on July 21, necessitating the run-off poll. Round III poll will be held on August 2.

“According to the regulations, the election process will continue until the House elects one of the contestants – Maoist Chairman Prachanda or NC Vice President Ramchandra Paudel – as PM by a majority vote of the parliament as per Article 38 (b) of the constitution,” Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang told THT.

An informal meeting of chief whips of the major political parties – UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML – had discussed the possibility of amending the regulations after Wednesday’s election failed to elect the PM.

Sources said UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya had proposed amending the regulations. But the UCPN-Maoist and NC chief whips rejected Acharya’s proposal, saying it was not possible when the candidates are in the race.

There is no provision in the regulations under which one of the contestants or the both can withdraw their candidacies to open doors for dialogue among the parties to elect the PM through a fresh election process.

Going by the regulations, the “vicious circle” of the PM’s election will continue until one of them emerges victorious on a majority basis, a leader said.

The problem could have been easily resolved had the parties, while drafting the constitution, agreed to give specific or limited constitutional powers to the President, who acts as ceremonial Head of the State. But the then Seven-Party Alliance did not want to give any power to the President to appoint the prime minister, fearing that s/he could become authoritative.

Instead, they decided to elect the PM directly by the House.

Had the constitution given the President limited constitutional powers, he could have either appointed one of the Constituent Assembly members as PM on consensus basis or appointed one of them on a majority basis or, in case both the options fail, appointed leader of the largest party as head of the government subject to s/he proving a majority support in the parliament within a certain period from the date of his taking oath. This is the parliamentary practice the world over.

But the President can only administer the oath of office and secrecy to the elected prime minister.
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VDC secretaries continue en masse resignations

Kathmandu, 26 July: VDC secretaries continue en masse resignations to save their lives amid threats from
Four-four secretaries resigned collectively in Udaipur amid threats from Samyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha.
The rebels were demanding donations amid death threats.
Secretaries from 30 districts in more than 1,500 among 4,000 VDCs have resigned amid the threat campaign.
Government has failed to provide security to officials to run basic services for people.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Gross foreign exchange in dollar terms declines

Kathmandu, 26 July: Gross foreign earnings in dollar terms declined to $3.32 billion in mid-June from $3.33 billion in mid-April, Nepal Rashtra Bank said.
The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar was the reason for the decline, the central bank said.
The reserve is sufficient to finance merchandise import for 8.1 months and service imports for 6.8 months.
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Inflation down to single digit

Kathmandu, 26 July: Year of year inflation as measured by the consumer price index fell to 9.6 percent in mid-June compared to 12.3 percent in the same period the previous year, Nepal Rashtra Bank said.
But the price index of food and beverage group increased 11.3 percent and non-food and service group increased by only 7.3 percent.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Jhalanath Khanal will resign immediately if there’s one brave person in this world to proves he is in a minority in the central committee. He’ll resign immediately. I took on the challenge to make prime minister a person [PM Nepal] who lost from two constituencies.”

(Jhalanath Khanal, Naya Patrika, 26 July)

“We’ll read about India’s role after you write about it. We’ll read after you write and then we’ll know. I decided out of my own conscience. Others may know what they did. Don’t ask my.”

(MJFN Chairman Upendra Yadav, Janabhawana, 26 July)

“Due to a greater focus on politics, the real and pressing concerns get lost somewhere in the middle. The politicians and government are not focusing on the food security as much as they need to. It is easier to ignore and overlook how the people in the rural hinterlands are living.”

(WFP Country Director Richard Ragan, The Himalayan Times, 26 July)
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Speaker to consult president

Kathmandu, 26 July: Speaker of Parliament Subash Nemwang Sunday is continuing his personal to end a prolonged crisis by holding consultations with ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
Nemwang, who is also chairman of the constituent assembly, at a similar meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal three days ago told the government chief hassles in forming government has delayed the constitution drafting process.
The president at a meeting with Nepal last week said he was concerned with the political deadlock.
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Bhutanese refugees start hunger strike in Jhapa

Kathmandu, 26 July; Over 3,190 Bhutanese refugees Monday started indefinite strike at seven refugee camps in Jhapa staging sit-ins demanding relief materials for their daily upkeep.
The refugees complained they haven’t been recognized as refugees and are demanding cards for identification.
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Former king offering puja at Bhaktapar temple

Kathmandu, 26 July: Former King Gyanendra Monday arrived in Bhaktapur Monday to offer puja and worship at the Latameshwor Mahadeb temple in the medieval town where he was greeted by hundreds of cheering people.
The former king, often accompanied by his wife, former Queen Komal, regular visits temples for prayers and worship.
Earlier this year, Gyanendra made high profile religious visits of temples first in Janakpur and then in Nepalgunj.
He was greeted there by thousands of supporters.
In a significant political statement in Janakpur, the former said in a television interview, he thought, monarchy hadn’t died even after the declaration of a republic.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

ADB president arrives Monday

Kathmandu, 26 July; Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda arrives Monday for a four-day visit.
The bank, Nepal’s biggest multilateral donor, has completed two decades of collaboration with Nepal.
The bank will invest $ 559 million in 2009/10—up from $258 million in 2007/08.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“It’s assumed that the government is the strongest agency, but it is not the case here. We have the weakest agency but people’s expectations are high. The government’s weakness has created problems in the implementation of plans.”

(National Planning Commission Vice-chairman Dr Jagdish Pokhrel, The Himalayan Times, 26 July)
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Indian minister inspects Kosi barrage

Kathmandu, 26 July: Indian Minister of State for Water resources Vincent H. Pala Sunday inspected the Kosi barrage on the Nepal-border along the state of Bihar for 30 minutes Sunday.
The minister inspected the barrage after record water levels were recorded in the Saptakosi during the current monsoon season that has left behind a trail of death and destruction.
India is responsible for the barrage maintenance.
Last year the river burst embankments causing untold sorrow and destruction in east Nepal and Bihar.
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Govt. likely to lift travel ban to Iraq

Kathmandu, 26 July: The July 20 notice of the US Contracting Command in Iraq, which requires all illegal Nepali workers to leave the country by August 9, has led Nepal policy makers mull whether to lift the seven-year ban on export of Nepali workers to the war-raved West Asian country, Republica reports.
Policy makers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (M0FA) and Ministry of Labour and Transport ( MoLTA) have started groundwork to that end from Friday, expecting that lifting the ban may impress the UN contracting command to consider the case of an estimated over 30,000 illegal Nepali workers.
Following the notice of the command, the Ministry of Foreign Affaris has consulted the missions in Pakistan, UAE, Qatar, India and USA on the issue and has suggested the MoLT is writing to review the ban.
‘MoFA has asked us in writing to lift the ban, arguing that the context when the ban was imposed has changed,” said a senior official of the MoLTM on condition of anonymity.
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MRP baby may end up stillborn
KATHMANDU, July:26 -
The government’s blow hot, blow cold attitude towards adopting Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) is a political leadership failure, and it is certain to put the livelihood aspirations of thousands of blue-collar job seekers in jeopardy, The Kathmandu Post reports.

ICAO’s new deadline for international travellers for MRP is Jan. 1, 2011.

The MRP stalemate is likely to drag on in the wake of Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala insistence on “personally” probing her ministry’s decision to award the contract to the French firm, Oberthur Technologies.

“We have not taken up the issue with our higher political authority,” conceded UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker and member of the Public Accounts Committee Keshav Nepal. Other parties, including the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (UML), are apathetic too, say the parties’ own lawmakers.

Former Foreign Minister and member PAC, Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani termed that it was a bureaucratic affair which became a victim of “political anarchy.”

There are three schools of thought inside the PAC. The Maoists, CPN (UML), and the majority of Nepali Congress lawmakers want to go with the

Foreign Ministry decision, which they say has followed rules put in place by the Public Procurement Act.

Former Ambassador Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa said that issue was being unnecessarily hyped up. “It is a bureaucratic matter,” he said.

“We are not for any vested interest. We only gave the jurisdiction to see whether the ministry completed procedures,” Dhan Raj Gurung, another PAC member from NC said.

“We don’t have jurisdiction beyond assessing the merit of the deal. Some technical questions were raised which are beyond our capability to judge. The people should not suffer,” Dip Kumar Upadhyay of NC said.

However, another PAC member Anil Kumar Jha claimed that there was foul play in awarding the contract and that it should be investigated. “Both the foreign ministry officials and the rival firms of Oberthur should pay the penalty if the allegations of both are disproved.”

The meeting of PAC has been postponed till further notice. Some lawmakers are demanding that Sujata and the foreign ministry secretary should be summoned to clarify about the deal and explain why contradictory statements are making headlines.
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PM Nepal tells Congress it will stay neutral is third round vote; other details

Kathmandu, 25 July: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday told a talks team headed by NC Acting President Sushil Koirala the ruling party will again stay neutral in the third round runoff elections to elect his successor.
Nepal told the delegation seeking support for Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel UML still stands by its central committee decision not to vote in the vote.
The NC didn’t get support when a separate talks held discussions with the four-party Madesh front.
Paudel can get elected only with the support of UML and the front.
Maoists held discussions with the front after inconclusive talks with the NC.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Soaltee Hotel Ltd earns Rs 108.6 m profit

Kathmandu, 25 July: Soaltee Hotel Ltd, Nepal’s leading five-star hotel, earned a Rs 108.6 million profit after tax in the quarter ending 30 June, announcement.
The hotel increased its compared to the performance the previous year.
It earned a Rs 97.7 million profit in the previous year quarter ending 30 June 2009.
Altogether Rs 159.3 million was set aside for bonus and taxes.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“An effort by a UML group to stop Jhalanath Khanal with the help of Madesh parties by approaching Lainchaur has been exposed. Madhav Kumar Nepal has taken sweet revenge when he was forced to resign as prime minister.”

(Ananda Ram Paudel, Naya Patrika, 25 July)
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NC holds talks with Madesh front parties

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 July: NC talks team Sunday morning hold talks with a front of four Madesh parties to collect support for Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel in the 2 August runoff elections for prime minister.
Talks are centered around 16-point concept of the front for regional demands ,including self-determination and an autonomous Madesh Pradesh.
The front said it will extend support to the candidate extending written support to the concept paper.
“We agree on many points raised by the front; but we have to discuss some points to come to an agreement,” Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC said.
Maoists are scheduled to hold separate discussions with the front leaders later Sunday.
Maoists are in a position to form a majority government should the front decide to support Maoists who have 237 seats in the 599-member parliament.
The front has 89 decisive votes.
NC will need the support of both the UML and the front to form a government to succeed Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai Sunday suggested one of two candidates withdraw to form what he called a government of national understanding to end a standoff.
The 2 August election will be the third for prime minister in one month.
“Within this election process, through understanding, one candidate should withdraw and agree in favour of the other. The second alternative is for both candidates to withdraw their candidacies, amend rules and start a new process,” Bhattarai told Kantipur in an interview.
Under the existing parliamentary rules, the election should continue until one candidates gets a simple majority; new candidates can’t come in the fray.
Bhattarai said a majority government formed with the support of 301 legislators won’t be stable.
“A government with the support of 310 lawmakers may be formed. That government can’t complete the peace process and draft a constitution. Finally, the country will be driven towards uncertainty and conflict,”
But Bhattarai didn’t rule out forming a government with simple majority even while calling for broader support within parliament.
Prachanda Saturday told a meeting in the capital his party’s support for Jhalanath Khanal was a planned move against ‘ status quoists and rightists’.
“It was not only a strategy to support UML Chairman with a two-third majority vote. It was a move against status quoists and rightists entrenched in Nepali society.”
He made the comment while releasing the Nepali translated version of Das Capital of Karl Marx along with Khanal and another communist leader.
Ram Chandra Paudel said a major crisis was averted in Friday’s inconclusive vote for prime minister.
“There would have been a big accident Friday; it was averted with great effort,” Paudel reportedly told a party central committee meeting, according to Naya Patrika.
Communists were close to capturing power—averted by a stand by a section in the UML insisting Khanal must be elected with two-third not simple majority vote in parliament.
There’s no provision for election of prime minister by two-third vote in majority voting system in parliament.
‘If the election on 2 August is held on simple majority basis, it will be a hollow exercise. It will be a meaningless exercise,” Khanal said
NC central committee Saturday formed three separate committees to collect support for Paudel.
Acting President Sushil Koirala, Sher BahadurDeuba, Chiranjibi Wagle and Paudel are in the talks committee with UML.
General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, who hails from terai, heads a talks team with the front of four terai parties; Shekhar Koirala, Khum Bahadur Khadka and Spokesman Arjun Narshing KC are members of the committee.
Vice-president Prakash Man Singh, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Dip Kumar Upadhaya have been entrusted responsibility for talks with Maoists.
“Dahal will score a hat-trick by losing on 2 August,” said UML politburo member KP Sharma Oli sarcastically.
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NC village, municipal conventions Sunday

Kathmandu, 25 July; Nearly 300,000 activists are participating in Sunday’s
village and municipal conventions Sunday, the party said.
Regional conventions will be held on schedule 31 July, according to a central committee decision.
But 59 district conventions have been rescheduled for 12 August after 2 August was set aside to hold runoff elections for prime minister.
District conventions will be held 31 July or two days before election for prime minister in 16 single constituency districts.
Local and districts were earlier scheduled to be held from 9 July to 2 August.
The elections are being held ahead of the 12th national convention in the capital from 26 to 30 August to elect a new leadership following the death of President Girija Prasad Koirala.
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Three Muslim girls drown in Sunsari

Kathmandu, 25 July: Three Muslim girls aged between 10 and 13 years drowned in a pond at Narsingh VDC in Sunsari Saturday while swimming.
Two children grazing goats were swept away by a river in the district.
Floods, landslides and lightning have claimed nearly 60 lives in the current monsoon season.
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Rohit’s attempt to get into record book again

Brothers Rohit and Santosh Tilimshina shook hands for 19 hours and 35 minutes in their attempt to etch their names in the Guinness Book of Records
They broke a record of Matthew Rosen and Joe Ackerman of London shaking hands for 15 hours 30 minutes and 45 seconds in November 2009.
The Timilshina brothers started their feat at 3.25 PM Friday ending it 11 in the morning Saturday.
Rohit, 35, the elder sibling has already been mentioned in the record book for holding 21 tennis balls in one hand and kissing 116 persons in less than a minute.
Guinness Book of Record is yet to recognize his feat of holding 23 gold balls in one hand for 3 minutes and 52 seconds.
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Another gruesome manslaughter caser in the capital

Kathmandu, 25 July: There was another case of manslaughter in the capital Saturday probably for ransom, according to police,
Krishna Shrestha died and his wife, Sita, was seriously injured in an attack by a group at their eatery in Masang Galli in the capital.
Shrestha was hit on the head with beer bottles and glass while his wife was gagged.
Two suspects have been arrested.
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SOCIETY

24 contestants qualify for Miss Nepal 2010

Kathmandu, 25 July: Twenty- four contestants have been selected from 100 applicants for the Miss Nepal 2010 contest.
The successful candidates will be under a six-week training on grooming, confidence building to improve their personality, The Hidden Treasure said.
The candidates will also attend a closed camp before the Dabar Special Miss Nepal 2010 contest.
The winner will represent Nepal is the Miss World 2010 in Sanya, China, in November/December while the runner-up will participate in the Miss Earth in Manila in October.
The winner will collect a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and the runner-up Rs 50,000.
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Donors attempt to free themselves of evaluation condition of SWC

Kathmandu, 25 July: Major donor agencies have objected to the Social Welfare Council’s (SWC) practice of charging non-governmental organizations (NGO) and international non-governmental organizations (INGO) fees for evaluating them, Republica reports.
The SWC currently charges NGOs and INGOs for mid-term and final evaluation of their respective projects as per the written commitment made while signing the project agreements.
While NGOs and INGOs had been grumbling quietly about this, donor agencies have registered their objection with the government, claiming that the practice is unfair.
“We brought that [practice] to the attention of the government,” Department of for International Development (DFID) said.
Sources claimed the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has already been directed to change the embarrassing practice.
”We have yet to get any official complaint but have received informal complaints about the practice,” Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Mahendra Prasad Shrestha said,
But he said the ministry cannot do anything as the SWC is an autonomous body formed under the Social Welfare Act 1992.
Director of SWC Raju Joshi said,” We hire an independent evaluator and a financial expert who team up with a representative each from SWC and the ministry related with the project for evaluation.
“The organizations deposit the amount in our account, and we pay to the experts, not the organizations themselves.”
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• LETTERS
Oberthur officials in town to seal deal
KATHMANDU, July 25: -
Senior officials from Oberthur Technologies, which won the contract to print and supply Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to Nepal, have arrived here to sign an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), The Kathmandu Post reports..

MoFA on Wednesday had dispatched a letter to Oberthur’s headquarters in Paris asking it to sign the deal within 15 days. The ministry had also asked Oberthur to deposit 5 percent performance bond of the total cost of the project before signing the final deal.

“Upon our request, a senior team of Oberthur is in town,” said a senior MoFA official. MoFA and Oberthur officials will hold preliminary talks in MoFA on Sunday.

“We are waiting to see if any complaints will be lodged against the decision to award the contract to Oberthur at the Public Procurement Office (PPO) by Sunday, the last date for two rival firms to register complaints against the French firm,” said the official.

The dissatisfied firm has to deposit a refundable US $ 120,000 to file a complaint against the decision at PPO. “If no complaints are filed by Sunday, we will expedite the talks with Oberthur,” the official said.

MoFA is also preparing documents for signing the deal with the French company. “Only a few lawmakers turned up at the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Saturday for a hearing on MRP. Moreover, the PAC has not instructed us to halt the process,” said the official. This, said the official, indicates MRP’s smooth passage.

A PAC meeting on MRP scheduled for Saturday morning has been put off as due to dismal presence of members, informed PAC Secretary Som Bahadur Thapa.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Ajaya Kumar Chaurasia demanded that foreign minister and foreign secretary be summoned over the issue. However, UCPN (Maoist) lawmakers were absent in the meeting. “Why should the PAC create a hiccup if the process adopted legal procedures,” said a Maoist lawmaker.
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US calls for new govt.
Kathmandu, 25 July: The United States has urged Nepal’s political parties to reach an agreement on the formation of next government soon, The Himalayan Times reports.
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley in the Bureau of Public Affairs in Washington in a daily press briefing on Thursday urged political party leaders to reach an agreement on a government that will move forward quickly on the issues that are essential for Nepal’s stability and economic development and completion of the peace process and drafting of a new constitution.
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81 Nepalis killed in Malaysia

Kathmandu, 25 July: Eighty-one Nepali workers have been killed in Malaysia from January to June, Annapurna Post reports.
The data was provided by the Nepali embassy in Malaysia.
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Prime minister consults president, speaker amid standoff; complete communist takeover narrowly avoided

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 24 July: One day after the a second inconclusive in parliament to elect his successor caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday held separate consultations with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Speaker Subash Nemwang.
Nepal has held the caretaker position for nearly after one month after main opposition Maoists forced his resignation to form a government led by them.
But Maoists haven’t succeeded in getting either consensus or majority support in the 599-membr parliament.
Maoists unconvincingly claim a republican constitution can be promulgated and the delayed peace process completed only by a government led by them.
Fundamental differences between communists and liberal democrats are a stumbling block in completing the peace process and drafting the constitution.
This week Nepal was on the threshold of a complete communist takeover; UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal with Maoist support collected 391 votes—10 short of a two-third majority to form a communist government.
The message was clear: UML and Maoists, should they join hands, can form an elected communist government.
A faction in the party led by Nepal and KP Sharma Oli, prevented the takeover insisting Khanal be elected by a two-third majority eve though there’s no constitutional provision for it.
Nepal repaid Khanal who brought the UML-led government even though it enjoyed a parliamentary majority.
Speaker Nemwang told Nepal Saturday delay in forming government obstructed the constitution drafting process.
No work has been done in writing the constitution since the three parties decided amongst themselves to extend the elected two-year mandate of the constituent assembly (CA) by another one year until 28 May 2011.
Only 10 months remain for the constitution to be promulgated.
Third round election is scheduled on 2 August.
UML and a front of four terai parties boycotted the second vote Friday creating the stand off which will continue if the election is again boycotted—a distinct possibility.
Khanal told a meeting in the capital his party will again boycott the third round vote.
‘UML will stay neutral in the next election as well. The party can’t think of election in the present context. This is our position until the party decides otherwise,” Pradip Geywali, Chief of the party propaganda department said.
Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari and a firm supporter of Oli said Friday: “UML will not support the Maoists under any condition at present. It is better to give continuity to the current left-democratic alliance.”
She said this as Government Spokesman and Communications Minister Shanker Pokhrel predicted the caretaker Nepal government will hold on for another year.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

$20 million ADB loan, grant; bank chief coming Monday

Kathmandu, 24 July: Asian Development Bank, Nepal’s largest multilateral donor, Friday approved a $20 grant, loan to improve urban transport system, reduce congestion and pollution in the capital, the bank announced.
The bank board approved a $ 10 million loan and a $10 million grant from its special fund for Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Programme.
The grant and loan were approved as Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda arrives on a four-day official visit Monday—the highest level visit by the Manila-based bank official to Nepal in 12 years.
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Foreign minister Koirala demands secret documents

Kathmandu, 24 July: Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala has said the decision of her ministry took on MRPs isn’t transparent, Nagarik reports.
Under the Public Procurement Act 2063, the report of the evaluation committee is a secret. But she insisted she should have access to the report.
“I’m minister. Why shouldn’t I get the report even after repeated requests?” she told a meeting in the capital Friday.
A source close to the minister said last year then coordinator and Chief of Protocol Mohan Krishna Shrestha submitted a report to the minister bypassing rules.
‘The minister asked for paper taking that as a precedent.” Chief of Protocol Mukti Bhatta said.
“We’ve said rules don’t allow this,” a member of the evaluation committee said.
Sujata said the evaluation should be reconsidered.
(Note: The foreign ministry has already invited a French firm to print MRPs for its lowest bid. Sujata pushed the first deal overturned by the cabinet through direct negotiations with the Indian government. Rarely does a minister speak publicly against own ministry’s decision.)
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• HOME
• NATION
PLA integration bone in gullet
ST REPORTKATHMANDU, JUL 24:-
Serious differences among political parties on the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants thwarted the UCPN (Maoist) bid to form a majority government on Friday, The Kathmandu Post.

The Maoists’ effort to form a government was further made difficult with the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), a coalition of Madhes-based parties, putting forward a number of demands, including ‘one madhes, one province’ and bulk entry of Madhesi community in security forces.

The Nepali Congress (NC) was the first one to ask the Maoists to agree on the number and modalities of integration, followed by the CPN-UML. The NC and the UML refused to support to the Maoists to form a Maoist-led unity government earlier as the latter failed to come up with a credible plan on integration. The Madhesi parties also took the same stance on the integration issue.

With the third round of the prime minister’s election scheduled for Aug. 2, political parties have 10 days to work for consensus. Unless the parties work out a magic formula, agreement seems elusive.

Both the NC and the Maoists could not address the demands of the UDMF.

The three major parties—NC, Maoists and UML—have been refusing to agree on an autonomous madhes province for long now.

And unless the UML changes its decision of not voting for a majority government, Madhes-based parties will remain key players for both the NC and the Maoists.

Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Upendra Yadav expressed optimism that they would have consensus, but said the parties must make a commitment on the ‘one Madhes one province’ issue. Maoist leader Dev Gurung said some points of a concept paper floated by the UDMF on Friday needs further discussion. According to Gurung, a meeting between the Maoists and the UDMF on Friday agreed to continue discussions on the UDMF’s concept paper and work out to forge consensus.

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, who withdrew from the prime minister’s race in the last minute on Wednesday, said his party will stand by its central committee decision not to take part in the voting process until consensus is had for a national unity

government.
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Newars seek positions in KMC
Kathmandu, 24 July: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) today [Friday] postponed the interview of candidates for the posts of 23 on gazetted officers in the wake of protests from Newar commintity, The Himalayan Times reports.
Newa Swatya Rajya Manka Sagharsha Samiti (NSRMSS) had forced to shut down all the 35 ward offices of KMC indefinitely since Wednesday putting forth a five-point demand that included appointment of Newar staff in the vacant posts at KMC.

According to KMC, the protest was launched after the publication of results of the tests in 2007 to fill 23 vacancies at KMC. Of the 29 candidates qualified for the interview, only a single candidate from the Newar qualified.
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TU succeeds finally
Kathmandu, 23 July: After ovear18 years of relentless struggle, Tribhuvan University (TU), the country’s largest varsity, has succeeded in doing away with the Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL) meant for post-high school students, Republica reports.
As 13 student unions and the Ministry of Education (MoE) struck an eight-point pact on Friday following a series of talks the last obstacle to TU’s decision to phase out PCL has been removed.
With grades XI and XII being an extended form of school education internationally, the country’s oldest university, which is resolved to devote much of its strength to university education and research, had decided in 1992 to phase out PCL.
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Belated British recognition

Kathmandu, 23 July: The British government this month presented
Elizabeth Crosses and memorial scrolls to six dependents and family members of Gurkha soldiers who died fighting for Britain from 1949 to 1982, the British embassy said.
Colonel Andrew McFarlane Mills presented six Elizabeth Crosses and Memorial Scrolls at British Gurkhas Dharan (BGD) to following dependants and family members:

• Mr Maniprasad Rai son of Rfn (Rifleman) Kinderman Rai 10 GR (Gurkha Rifles) who died in Borneo in 1964.
• Mrs Jogmaya Rai wife of Rfn Gopalprasad Rai 10 GR who died in Borneo in 1964.
• Mrs Krishnamaya Rai daughter of Rfn Dangadhoj Rai 10 GR who died in Malaya in 1953.
• Mrs Motisara Rai wife of Rfn Ratnabahadur Rai 7 GR who died in Malaya in 1949.
• Mrs Turimoti Rai wife of Sgt (Sergeant) Kabirbahadur Rai 10 GR who died in Malaya in 1950.
• WO1(Warrant Officer Class 1) (Retd) (Retired) Deoman Limbu father of LCpl (Lance Corporal) Budhiprasad Limbu 7 GR who died in the Falklands in Jun 1982.
• Comments weren’t immediately available from families of the deceased.
• What will medals and scrolls do after so many years of waiting for recognition anyway?
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Third round election for PM 2 August; Friday’s vote inconclusive (DEVELOPING STORY)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 23 July: The third round of election for prime minister will be held 2 August after an inconclusive second round election Friday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel couldn’t muster the required 301 votes in the 599-member parliament.
Prachanda got 241 votes in his favour; 113 legislators votes against him while 218 lawmakers abstained, Speaker Subash Nemwang said.
Paudel received 113 votes, 241 lawmakers voted against while 214 legislators boycotted the election.
Parliament’s business advisory committee fixed the date for third round of election
Voting was delayed by more than six hours as it became clear no party would muster the required majority.
The three parties were trying to consolidate their positions for the future through dark room bargaining.
UML and four Madesh parties boycotted the vote.
UML, the party leading the caretaker government, is meeting Monday to adopt its stance after a ‘principled’ standoff and is in a dilemma.
The president called for the election of a premier through majority vote following the failure of three parties to elect a consensus candidate in 12 days allotted by his.
But UML argues the majority vote will be a consensus arrangement which has failed; a two-third vote in a majority vote as the UML tries to confuse people.
There’s constitutional provision for consensus and majority vote and consensus politics failed in the first round of voting; UML is insisting the majority vote exercise will again be a consensus exercise.
Jhalanath Khanal brought down his majority government headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal who is collaborating with KP Sharma Oli seeking revenge against Khanal by preventing him taking over as prime minister with Maoist support.
But the country this week came closest to an overtake by communists with Maoist and Jhanal connivance.
The struggle to contain communists will continue in the days and weeks ahead while constitution drafting has been sidelined.
The issue is control of the government and Nepali Congress is in a weak position.
The party doesn’t have the votes to maneuver.
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