No support of UML, three ruling Madesh for Maoists; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 July: Maoists didn’t get the support Thursday of neither the UML heading the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal nor three ruling Madesh parties.
Three ruling Madesh parties—MJFL, TMLP and NSP didn’t lend support to Maoists trying to forge a consensus government in the next five days one day after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav gave 25 parties another five days to assemble a consensus government after a seven-day deadline ended Wednesday.
The main opposition didn’t get the support of the UML as well in a separate meeting as the party leading the government canvassed support for the government under its leadership in a meeting with the main opposition.
There’s no indication the Maoist effort will be succeed after the failed first attempt; but Maoists are persisting to get back to Singha Durbar after they quit government 14 months ago in a showdown with Nepal Army.
The four ruling parties reemphasized Maoists must meet pre-conditions of parties in power and commitments of the main opposition to integrate 19,000 former combatants, dissolution of YCL and return of seized assets.
Yet, Maoist parliamentary board meeting Thursday decided to issue an appeal to all parties to support a national consensus government under the UCPN (Maoist) concluding there was no alternative to Maoist-led government.
Madesh parties gave Maoists an ultimatum to form a consensus government in the next five days demanding a role in a future government while assuring the terai parties will create an atmosphere for creating an environment for a consensus government.
“Without the understanding of Madesh parties there’ll no national consensus and the country cannot move ahead. We give a five-day ultimatum for an agreement,” Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of MJFL Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar said demanding the involvement of the regional government in any future government.
MJFL held separate discussions with Nepali Congress and UML pushing the Madesh agenda presenting a terai joint front to push a regional agenda Wednesday.
Six weeks after the 28 May three-point agreement to extend the two-year elected mandate of the constituent assembly (CA), three major parties are only posturing to retain government power or grip power.
No work has been done in the last six week after the 3-point agreement to draft a constitution.
Meanwhile, 50 young lawmakers, some from ruling parties, also said Thursday the entire attention of major parties has been focused at government formation.
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Fire in Lekhnath

Kathmandu, 8 July: A fire broke out at Lekhnath municipality, Kaski, Thursday night.
The fire which started from an oil facility continued as firefighters attempted to contain and control it until midnight.
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Three abductors presented before media

Kathmandu, 8 July; Three abductors, two Nepalis and one Indian, of Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha, Chief of the BP Koirala Memorial Hospital, Chitwan, were presented before media by police in the capital Thursday one month after his abduction from the district.
Nabin Chetri of Darjeeling, India, was presented before the media.
There were seven abductors-- five Nepalese and two Indians; search continues for four kidnappers believed to be hiding in India, police said.
The cancer specialist abducted from Chitwan one month ago was kept at separate houses of Bhimsen Pandit and Rajaram Ghimere in the capital for one month.
Dr Shrestha was released after 3.5 kg gold was delivered to abductors near Kanpur, India.
Dr Shrestha first claimed after his release he was abducted by a Hindu group, attempting to give political colour to the kidnap.
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Special budget on 12 July

Kathmandu, 8 July: Finance Minister Surendra Pandey in the caretaker government is presenting a special budget Monday 12 July for the second time in two years.
The special budget is being presented as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has resigned and has assumed a ‘caretaker’ status in his own words.
Parties are embroiled in a bitter tussle to form a government which won’t be formed by 16 July when the annual budget 10/11 has to be approved by parliament.
The administration will be paralyzed without the passage of budget.
Three major parties have given supported a bill for a ‘special budget’ which will enable the incumbent government to spend one-third of the amount set aside in the 2009/10 budget and run the administration without crippling it.
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Morang CDO recalled

Kathmandu, 8 July: Morang CDO Sashi Shekhar Shrestha was recalled to the home ministry Thursday and has been replaced by his deputy Surendra Pandit.
Shrestha was recalled after allegedly mistreating customs officers Man Bahadur Paudel, Rajendra Chudal and Gopal Khatri of Morang Customs Office by picking them up from their homes and keeping then in detention.
Customs offices nation-wide were closed down by protesting customs officials for the second consecutive day Thursday protesting the mistreatment.
Government dispatched an investigation team consisting of a representative each from the home and finance ministries.
Differences surfaced between the CDO following a raid on an industry in Morang.
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7,000 well-wishers greet former king on birthday

Kathmandu, 8 July: An estimated 7,000 well-wishers cheered, greeted and wished former King Gyanendra on his 64thbirthday Wednesday.
The gate of Nirmal Nibas, where he resides with former Queen Komal, was opened at 10.30 in the morning and was closed four hours later at 2.30 in the afternoon.
Crown Prince Paras wished his father a long life, along with son Hridayanendra by throwing a coin at his feet accompanied by a ‘dhog’.
Former Prime Ministers Kirtinidhi Bista and Marichman Singh, former army chiefs and people from all walks of life greeted the king turned commoner.
There were representatives from many districts, an aide said.
RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa also greeted Gyanendra.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

Clearly, our Maoists succeeded far beyond their wildest dreams, The Nepali Congress had democracy on their side. Yet their insurgencies faltered almost from the start. When the Jhapalis began hunting heads, skulls should have accumulated across the country. After all, the people who abhorred the partyless government had no other way of articulating their sentiments. Leaders in those two groups came in various shapes and sizes. There must have been a reason beyond ideology, injustices and idiosyncrasies for the Maoists’ triumph.”

(Maila Baje, Nepali Netbook, 8 July)

‘King Birendra lifted the ban [on parties in 1990] to checkmate the Indians, who were pressuring him to Bhutanize Nepal. New Delhi was stunned by the monarch’s impudence but it certainly was not out of options. While Nepalis were dancing and singing their way to ‘one of the world’s best constitution’, the real fight had entered a more virulent round.”

(Maija Maje, Nepali Netbook, 8 July)


“I want to read good things in the morning for positive thinking. But it’s been a long time; good news has stopped appearing in Nepali newspapers. I haven’t been able to choose a mainstream newspaper…..It makes me sad to say this.

(Renchen Yonjon on her 60th birthday Tuesday says she doesn’t read Nepali newspapers, Annapurna Post, 8 July)
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