No likelihood of consensus govt. by Monday; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 July: Possibility of assembling a consensus government by Monday is remote with Nepali Congress rejecting a Maoist concept paper for an outlet to the prolonged stalemate.
The second five-day deadline to assemble a consensus government given by the president ends in another two days; parties didn’t met the first seven-day deadline.
Relations between two major ruling parties and the main opposition have soured with UML charging Maoists for killing its activist in Okhalgungha. The development will impact government formation.
A Maoist proposal approved by a meeting of office bearers says the UCPN (Maoist) is ready to put former 19,000 plus fighters in 28 cantonments and satellite under a special committee (SC) headed by the prime minister for the integration, supervision and integration of armies.
The main opposition wasn’t ready to specify the number of fighters for integration in state security agencies in the concept paper made public at a news conference Saturday.
Teams of the SC should visit cantonments and camps to verify their desires to resettle at their will in society or integrate them in state security agencies in the next two months.
Fighters should be put in three groups—those want to voluntarily go out of camps, resettle or integrate in security agencies.
Maoists have bought time through the suggestion and don’t want immediate resettlement and integration as demanded by ruling parties.
A separate force exclusively of former Maoist force should be formed with special responsibilities, another suggestion said.
The proposal comes when other parties and demanding immediate disbandment and integration.
YCL, the main opposition said, is the party’s youth organization and not a paramilitary force living in barracks.
The seven-point proposal to end the prolonged stalemate said Maoists were was ready to ‘remove shelters’ of YCL to ‘create an environment of confidence’, according to Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha.
Maoists Saturday made public their minimum pre-conditions at a news conference demanded by ruling parties for forming a national unity government under their leadership.
The proposal couldn’t be presented at a scheduled meeting of three top parties because UML, which accused Maoists for killing a district leader in Okhaldungha, didn’t attend.
The party demanded a commission should be formed to find out missing during the people’s war and their whereabouts in one month.
UCPN (Maoist) said the four-month tenure of the UNMIN which ends 28 September must be extended again.
Spokesman Dina Nath Sharma said Saturday morning the document wasn’t final and its contents were negotiable.
Constitution drafting and integration should go hand-in-hand, the paper suggests, while Maoists should lead a government of national unity.
Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala said the paper was ‘just a schedule which wasn’t enough’.
The party meeting of officials rejected the paper charging it was made public ‘without discussion with parties’.
The party’s official stance will come Sunday, party leaders said.
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Sushil Koirala calls UNMIN a ‘facilitator’ of Maoists

Kathmandu, 10 July: Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala Saturday charged UNMIN for being a ‘facilitator’ of Maoists one day after a published report which said the UN body suggested Maoists should be integrated in the next 15 months.
The accusation comes one day after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said UNMIN was attempting to derail the constitution promulgation process in the next 11 months by 28 May 2011.
Koirala said UNMIN tenure won’t be extended when in ends in September 2010.
The chief of the ruling party said an ‘explanation’ will be sought from UNMIN.
He made the remarks while talking with Image News.
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PM Nepal charges Maoists for killing his party activist

Kathmandu, 10 July: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday blamed Maoists for the murder Thursday of Okhaldungha UML leader Chabilal Karki.
He accused Maoists trying to ‘cover-up’ the killing and ‘encouraging criminal activities’ and offered condolences on behalf of the government while paying last respect offering flowers at body at Khula Manch where his body was placed for public viewing.
The body was transported to the capital from the central district.
Nepal charged Karki received death threats from Maoists who attempted to displace him from the district.
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal
Karki was later cremated at Pahupatinath Aryaghat.
UML demanded compensation and said it will hold nation-wide protests opposing the killing while exposing Maoists.
Chabilal’s death has soured relations between the two communist parties—one in government and the other in the opposition.
Maoists denied charge of their involvement.
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President says constitution should be promulgated in time

Kathmandu, 10 July: President Dr Ram BaranYadav said Saturday the constitution must be promulgated within the remaining 11 months by 28 May 2011.
He said the transition shouldn’t be prolonged.
He said this at a scout programme Saturday at Godavari.
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Govt, employee injured in Rukum

Kathmandu, 10 July: Dinaram Khadka was shot and injured in the leg at Khalangha in Rukum Saturday.
He was attached with the home ministry.
Gunmen decamped with Rs 250,000.
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