Landslide buried three family members

Kathmandu, 16 July: A landslide buried three members of a BK family overnight at Debisthan VDC Baglung in their sleep at three Friday morning.
The dead were 16,12 and eight years of age.
Five members of the family were injured, one seriously.
A man and two women were among the dead buried alive in their sleep.
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Prachanda, OHCHR chief meet

Kathmandu, 16 July: Chairman Prachanda held discussions Friday with OHCHR Chief Richard Bennet.
The meeting comes after reports this week a Maoist military camp of a camp in Chitwan under UNMIN watch was involved in criminal activities.
Home Minister Bhim Rawal Thursday met Prachanda and sought Maoist cooperation for the arrest of the PLA leader for alleged involvement in four criminal cases, including murder.
Television news reports said Friday the Nepal representative of the UN human rights body based in Geneva and Prachanda discussed the involvement of PLA military leader in criminal activities.
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Maoists reject NC, UML condition for Maoist-led govt.

Kathmandu, 16 July: Maoists Friday rejected a NC, UML proposal for a Maoist-led government.
“They’re bargaining for power. How will the peace process gain momentum in this manner?” Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel told Radio Kantipur.
He said the two parties repeated an old stand.:
NC and UML have proposed seeking an agreement by suspending election of prime minister through majority if Maoists make a practical commitment for the integration of fighters within three weeks by snapping ties with the party and bringing the under the special committee, Nepal Samacharpatra reported in its Friday editions.
Taking into consideration the peace process can’t be completed and the constitution promulgated by a majority government, the two parties have prepared a proposal for a government of national understanding under Maoist leadership.
Maoist fighters should be brought under the special committee of government for resettlement and integration.
NC leader Krishna Prasad Shitaula and UML leader Pradip Geywali gave the proposal final shape Thursday; they were members of a government talks team with Maoists and had been assigned responsibility to draft the proposal.
Maoists had asked the two parties to present a proposal for understanding after the two parties rejected a Maoist proposal for understanding.
The two leaders consulted Maoists while drafting the proposal.
UML leader Geywali said the proposal will get final shape Friday.
(Note: Maoists had proposed a three-month plan for integration, resettlement and voluntary retirement—an idea rejected by the two parties.)
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New Danish ambassador

Kathmandu, 16 July:Morten Jespersen has been appointed Denmark’s new residential ambassador to Nepal, the Danish embassy said.
He’ll take up his assignment in September.
Jespersen succeeds Finn Thilsted.
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Qatar requests support for UN job; Nepal yet to officially announce candidacy

Kathmandu, 16 July: Qatar has written an official letter to Nepal seeking support for its candidacy for the presidency of the UN general assembly, Annapurna Post reports.
A senior foreign ministry source said Nepal’s position is weak and lose the election after the country hasn’t officially announced its candidacy while Qatar has already started lobbying at the prime minister-level.
Government hasn’t made an official announcement although it has unofficially decided to push the candidacy of Kul Chandra Gautam, retired assistant secretary general of UNICEF.
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Pokhara plastic bag ban

Kathmandu, 16 July: Black plastic bags have been banned in all 18 wards of Pokhara from Saturday, Kantipur reports.
All plastic bags will ultimately be banned in the tourist resort town.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Didn’t even think my son was in Afghanistan; came to know if it only after learning of the battle.”

(Kin Maya Pun, mother of dead Gurkha soldier in Afghanistan, Kantipur, 16 July)

“Thought brother was in the UK. Came to know he was in Afghanistan only after the incident.”

(Khim Debi Pun, elder sister of dead Gurkha soldier, Kantipur, 16 July)

“Only after adopting a policy not to involve a country like Norway in the peace process, Sri Lankan government succeeded in ending the civil war in its country. It’ll be good to raise the Sri Lankan issue here.”

(Haribinod Adhikari, Gorkhapatra, 16 July)

“Rawal [home minister] said the police would soon arrest Kham if the main opposition commits not to intervene in the investigation process.”

(Report in The Kathmandu Post, 16 July)

“…the country’s legal system has been exposed by the request of the home minister to allow action against a criminal; the same minister boasted on assuming office he wouldn’t spare anybody.”

(Shiba Raj Joshi, Nagarik, 16 July)
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