Nepal Today

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Expulsion notice sent to speaker

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: CPN (ML) General Secretary CP Mainali Tuesday informed Speaker Subash Nemwang four lawmakers who defected and formed CMP (ML Socialist) 25 days ago were expelled from the party.
Yadubamsha Jha, Tilak Bahadur Thapa Magar, Ganesh Prasad Chaudhary and Sharada Nepali who defected and vote for Chairman Prachanda in election for prime minister were expelled.
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Mass entry of 14 women in foreign service

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: For the first time, 14 women entered the foreign service en masse Tuesday.
They were among 27 persons who were welcomed at the foreign ministry by Secretary Dr Madan Kuamar Bhattarai Tuesday.
Altogether 28 candidates were selected for the first the foreign service from Madeshi, Dalit janajati, retarded and women quota.
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NC central committee term extended

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: The five-year term of the NC central committee which ended Tuesday was extended by the central committee until the election of new members by the party general convention from 17 to 21 September.
The convention is being held in the capital.
Acting President Sushil Koirala and three-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba are the main candidates for president to succeed Girija Prasad Koirala.
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Black box of crashed Agni Air found

Kathmandu, 1 Sept. Black box of the crashed Agni Air Dronier in which 14 passengers and crew died in Makwanpur 24 August was found Tuesday, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed.
But the aircrafts voice data recorder in yet to be located.
The two devises will give clues for the reasons of the crash.
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Govt, bill registered in parliament

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: Government Tuesday registered in parliament secretariat to amend the Finance Act 2066 to regulate gold import.
The bill was registered as an ordinance for such import expires 3 September.
The parliament is not in session.
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Sujata Koirala going to China

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala is going to China and will be chief guest at the Shanghai Expo of Nepal Day 3 September.
Nearly four million people have visited the Nepal pavilion so far.
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Miss Nepal contest

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: Miss Nepal contest is being held Wednesday amid protests of some women organizations.
Maoists oppose the contest.
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PM Nepal going to UN

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is leaving for New York to attend the annual general assembly session 17 September, Nagarik reports.
‘The meetings of mountain countries climate change and least developed countries are important for Nepal,” the prime minister told Nagarik.
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New passports for old

Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: If you have a conventional handwritten passport and are worried about possible hassles while traveling abroad, here is a piece of good news, Republica reports.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allowing holders of valid conventional passports to get machine readable passports (MRP) as replacement if they wish, according to Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai.
But such passport holders should be ready to pay the MRP charge of Rs 5,000 besides surrendering the old passports to the ministry.
What happens if your old passport contains a valid visa and you want to go for an MRP?
In that case, the ministry is allowing possession of both the conventional passport and the MRP. But it will put in a notice about the status of the old passport.
Alternatively, old passport holders can also get their valid visas transferred to the MRP at the embassies concerned.
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American arrested

Kathmandu, 1 Sept: American national Harish Calboon of California was arrested Tuesday night at TIA with 8.7 kg hashish while boarding a Etihad Airlines flight for Copenhagen via Dubai.
The drug valued at $150,000 in the international market was concealed in a false bottom of his handbag.
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Embassy’s ‘media meddling’ draws widespread flak
Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: -
Political party leaders, Parliamentary committees and advocacy groups have taken serious exception to statements issued by the Indian Embassy that questioned the integrity of the Nepali media, which have questioned the quality of an Indian joint venture, The Kathmandu Post reports product.

In defence of the Nepali media, they have said it is the responsibility of the free press to remain vigilant.

They have demanded the government summon Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood to inquire about the statement, saying that it is in breach of established diplomatic norms. Though no one would go on record

fearing reprisals from the Embassy, even some senior officials in the joint venture companies say the Embassy’s recent policy could make them a “needless victim”.

In its recent statements, the Indian embassy tried to portray the Nepali media in poor light, claiming that the joint venture has received negative media publicity because it failed to provide advertisements. The embassy statements, however, remain silent on the fact that some half a dozen Indian joint ventures had voiced strong reservations against the embassy policy, asking them to impose an ‘Ad blackout’ on those media houses that the embassy regards as “unfriendly.”

“We have in fact told the embassy that it would not be in our long-term commercial interest to ignore the media that have wide reach,” said a senior official of one of the joint ventures. “We are a commercial enterprise and our decisions should be solely based on commercial interests. Politically motivated decisions will unnecessary hurt us. If the embassy wants to take all the decisions for us, it might as well run our companies.”

Reacting to the issue, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament, Ram Krishna Yadav, on Tuesday said his committee would take up the issue. “The questions raised by the media regarding substandard products of an Indian joint venture have drawn our attention,” Yadav said at the Reporter’s Club.

“We will convene a meeting to hold discussions on the issue at the earliest.” The PAC is the second House committee to express concern over the issue.

On Monday, the House committee on International Relations and Human Rights unanimously condemned the Indian embassy’s statements, directing the government to seek a clarification from Indian Ambassador Sood.

Expressing solidarity with the Nepali media fraternity, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) took strong exception to the statement. “FNJ believes that the embassy’s statement targeting the Nepali media is improper and uncalled-for. FNJ completely disagrees with the statement,” the umbrella body of Nepali journalists said in a statement. It also said it is preparing a detailed report on the recent developments vis-a-vis the embassy’s reactions on Nepali media and vice versa.

CPN-UML leader K.P. Oli said no one should interfere in the freedom of the press in the nation. “No one has the authority to question the people’s right to information,” Oli said in an interview with a radio station. “Consumers have the right to consume quality products.”

Nepali Congress central working committee leader Deep Kumar Upadhyaya and UML leader Pradip Gyawali said it was unfortunate to see that there was needless diplomatic response to what is clearly a commercial issue. “There could have been other ways to clarify the media reports, if they were erroneous,” said Gyawali.

Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna urged the government to investigate the issue. “It is the media’s responsibility to point out the wrongs in the society,” said Karna. “The Indian embassy’s statement is an attack on the free media.”

Similarly, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Rakam Chemjong, urged the government to seek an explanation from the Indian envoy. Talking to reporters in Dhankuta, Chemjong said the freedom of the press must be respected and everybody should keep it free from intervention.

Contrary to the Indian Embassy’s claims that the media reports were fabricated, the news reports, among others, are based on lab reports from the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), a government agency. The DFTQC report released earlier this month said the Dabur juice contained inedible substances, including worms. This was widely covered by the electronic and print media.

Concluding that the Indian statement was a direct attack on the country’s sovereignty and press freedom, the Nepali media fraternity has sought an apology from the embassy.
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NC's new policy floated at CWC before GC

Sher Bahadur Deuba presented the policy and programme for the upcoming GC and the CWC members expressed their views on it.
Kathmandu, 1 Sept: The tenure of Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) expired on Tuesday. The CWC, however, will be functional as an ad hoc body, The Himalayan Times reports..

The party's 12th General Convention slated for September 17-21 in the Capital will elect the new committee.

Meanwhile, the CWC held its last meeting at the party central office in Sanepa in Lalitpur.

In the meeting, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba presented the policy and programme for the upcoming GC and the CWC members expressed their views on it.

The policy and programme will be forwarded to the GC for the final approval after the CWC's commendation.

Meanwhile, activists of the NC’s sister organisations--Nepal Magar Sangh, Nepal Muslim Sangh, Nepal Tamang Sangh and Nepal Sherpa Sangh--chanted slogans at the NC central office this afternoon, demanding their representation in the GC. Other sister organistions have their representation in the jamboree.

According to president of Nepal Magar Sangh Ganesh Thapa, the party leadership assured to consider their demands seriously and would take decision on the matternnnn soon.
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Himani unfazed by obstruction of Maoist cadres
Kathmandu, 1 Sept.: -
Former princess Himani Shah faced obstruction from Maoist cadres during her visit to Dolakha district on Tuesday. The Kathmandu Post reports from Dolakha..

Amid the Maoist hurdle on her way to Namdu VDC, which is some 24 kilometres far away from district headquarters Charikot, she took part at a programme as scheduled. Some Maoist activists, acting on the order of district leader Bishal Khadka, obstructed the road in two places at Tamakoshi Bazaar. They parked a truck, blocking the way and piling some logs to prevent Shah from attending the programme organised by Rastriya Sarokar Mancha.

Maoist activists, however, were not present when Shah and her supporters reached the venue. “We cleared the road thinking that we should not force to return a person visiting our district," said a local, preferring anonymity.

Talking to the Post, Khadka said the obstruction was "a symbolic protest against the remnants of feudal monarchy". "We obstructed the road to warn the remnants of the deposed monarchy not to increase their movements in the country," he said.

Speaking at a programme later, Shah said that she visited the district just for a social purpose. On the occasion, she handed over two water tanks and 32,000 metre-long water pipe to a local water project

Earlier, Shah performed pooja at Tripura Sundari Temple in Charikot and handed over cash and sport materials to Bal Mandir School. She is scheduled to return to the Capital on Wednesday.
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PM, Prachanda secret meet

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.” Amid a two-month deadlock to elect a prime minister, Caretaker government Chief Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda held a 45-minute discussion at a house in Koteshwor at 9.30 in the morning Tuesday. Avenues Television reports.
Prachanda sought Nepal’s support for the election of prime minister 5 September while also discussing the UNMIN future, the television network reported.
Other details weren’t available of the encounter.
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Agni Air black probably found

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.” An expert team is flying to Makwanpur Wednesday to determine whether an object found Tuesday is a black box of the crashed Agni Air Dronier 24 August.
Fourteen passengers and crew were killed.
The black box will give clues on what caused the crash.
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UML lawmaker in judicial custody

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: UML lawmaker D.B.Karki was sent to 20-day judicial custody Tuesday by a three-member bench of a special court for allegedly taking a Rs 100,000 bribe to provide a job to a person in police.
An embarrassed UML team began its own investigation forming a three-member probe committee.
Karki was arrested Monday on CIAA initiative.
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British ambassador presents credentials

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Controversial British Ambassador John Prescott Tuesday presented his credentials to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav three weeks after arrival to takeover responsibilities from Dr Andrew Hall who retired.
The ambassador came into controversy by participating in a gay festival when Nepal is facing serious problems.
The British embassy said he was ambassador even when he was only a designate and the local media compared his to another controversial Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood known for his direct involvement in Nepali politics.
The new British envoy, in the name of promoting human rights, has opened up a anew front indicating the trivial issues London in promoting in Nepal after toppling monarchy two years ago.

Maoists disrupt Himani’s social work

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Maoist workers disrupted former Crown Prinsess Himani Shah’s programme to handover drinking water pipes and tank at Nanbdu VDC 30 kms east of Dolakha district headquarters, Nagarik reports.
The programme was cancelled at 10 at night, according to police,
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Foreign ministry moving to Singha Durbar

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Foreign ministry is moving to Singha Durbar from Narayanhiti palace for additional space to manage issuance of machine readable passports (MRP).
The ministry is moving to a building occupied by the finance ministry.
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Monday, August 30, 2010

Seven buried alive in Kalikot landslide

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.:. Seven members of a family and guests were killed overnight at 11.30 when a landslide buried them in their sleep at … in Kalikot.
Five children were among the dead.
The village in five hours walk from district headquarters,
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UML lawmaker arrested

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: UML lawmaker Doll BahadurKarki was arrested by a special team of CIAA for taking a promising people jobs in police.
Karki is also chief of Chettri Samaj promoting interests of the community.
Speaker Subash Nemwang was informed of the arrest
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Govt. to amend finance act

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.; The cabinet approved a bill Monday to the finance act 2009/10 to be registered Tuesday in parliament which isn’t in session.
The bill will be tables in the legislature 5 September—the day elections will be held the sixth time to elect a prime minister.
The amended bill will empower government to regulate and raise tariff on gold import and other goods.
The government hasn’t presented the annual budget 2010/11
in parliament even until the end of August because of a deadlock between ruling parties and. Main opposition Maoists.
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Two Tibetans arrested

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Tibetan leaders Kelsaig Deldup,33, and Tashi Dawa, 23, were arrested in the capital Monday.
They are actively involved in anti-China activities, according to police.
Deldup is chairman of New Age Network.
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Valley disposal again disrupted

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Disposal of tons of Valley garbage was again disrupted Tuesday a week after municipal authorities began cleaing the streets of the thee cities following a three-point 65th agreement with Sisdole residents landfill site in Nuwakot.
Residents of Ratomato in the district turned back 10 trucks of garbage demanding facilities like Sisdole residents from the Valley’s municipal authorities.
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Niranjan Bhattarai dead

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Former Ambassador to Pakistan Niranjan Bhattarai, 71, died Sunday.
The retired career diplomat was fluent in Chinese.
He left behind a wife and three sons.
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Terai militant shot dead
Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Arjun Pandit, Parsa district in-charge of Madesh Muki Tigers (Rajan group) was shot dead in a police encounter in the district Sunday night.
Police raided a house where bombs were being manufactured.
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Army, UNMIN chief hold discussions
Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Army Chief Gen. Chatraman Singh Gurung Monday held discussions with UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren at army headquarters.
Gurung told Landgren as an army contributing troops for UN peacekeeping operations, Nepal Army (NA) regarded UN neutrality and impartiality highly.
The meeting came at a time when NA is dissatisfied with UNMIN operations and has even asked the government to send back the UN political agency.
NA has boycotted three consecutive meetings of the joint monitoring coordination committee headed by UNMIN and consisting of NA and PLA representatives after the agency said the army violated a comprehensive peace agreement by recruitment to fill in vacancies approved by the supreme court.
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Former Crown Princess Himani in Dolakha

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Former Crown Princess Himani is to inaugurate a drinking project constructed by Rashtriya Sarokar Manch Nepal and distribute pipes and tanks in Dolakha where she will offer puja at Bageshwori and Tripirasundari temples.
She is staying a t a resort in Charikot where she arrived Monday.
Himani has become active in social service after her husband former Crown Prince announced he returned home from Singapore to activate monarchy that was toppled two years ago.
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Sujata Koirala to talk ‘media meddling’ with Sood
Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala on Monday said she will hold talks with the Indian Ambassador on the controversial press statement issued by the embassy, which the media fraternity here has said violates press freedom, The Kathmandu Post reports from Biratnagar..

Koirala’s response comes at a time when some Indian media outlets have been accusing the Nepali media of intensifying a campaign against Indian joint ventures and distorting the Indian embassy’s concerns.

In a press meet organised by the Morang chapter of Nepal Press Union at her residence in Biratnagar, Koirala said, “After returning to the capital, I will discuss this problem with Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood.”

She said no one should meddle in the affairs of the media.

She, however, added that the media should be equally responsible and avoid dissemination of wrong information.

Drawing upon her father, the late Girija Prasad Koirala’s life-long struggle for press freedom, Koirala said she will follow in the footsteps of her father as “democracy will be meaningless without press freedom.”

Koirala, who is also the deputy prime minister, noted that things like insects found in packets of juice produced by the Indian joint venture Dabur would do no good to Nepali as well as Indian consumers.

In response to journalists’ query on the increasing intervention of the Indian Embassy in Nepali media, Koirala said she will discuss the issue with the ambassador.
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Nepal, India security talks
Kathmandu, 31 Aug,: Security officials of Nepal and India have agreed to exchange information in order to check criminal activities taking place in the bordering area, RSS reports from Bhairahawa.
An agreement to this end was reached at a meeting of security officers of Nepal and India held at Sunauli of India on Monday.
At the meeting agreement was reached on matters relating to control of trans-border crimes, smuggling of arms and illegal drugs among other issues of border security, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Rupandehi Taranath Gautam said.
An agreement was also reached to inspect the encroachment of the no-man's-land and the border pillars, and to restore them back to order, he said.
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India to take on Nepali FM stations in border region

Kathmandu, 31 Aug.: The Indian government is shortly setting up FM radio services at the Nepal-India border in Bihar to counter the popularity Nepali channels enjoy in the region, according to the Times of India report printed in The Himalayan Times..

The report published on Monday said the Indian government had last cleared a proposal to set up FM radio relay centres in Bihar’s border districts of Bettiah, Motihari and Madhubani.

Stating that Nepali FM radio is very popular in the villages of these districts, the newspaper quoted an official as explaining, "People are not able to tune in to Indian radio stations, but they are able to connect to Nepalese radio stations easily.”

The daily also said that security agencies had twice warned the government that Nepali FM stations could be misused by Maoists — or even Pak militants — for anti-India propaganda.

The Indian information and broadcasting ministry recently approved expenditure of Rs 100 crore to strengthen Indian transmission signals at the Jammu and Kashmir border to ensure that the signals are stronger than anything beamed from the other side, the daily quoted a ministry official as saying.

Apart from improving transmission and transformer capacity at the border, the ministry has also asked Doordarshan and AIR officials to plan and mount programmes on a regular basis to counter any foreign misinformation campaign, it said quoting a senior intelligence official.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The NC has sacrificed a lot to bring the Maoists to the mainstream and legalize their politics. Now we cannot surrender by providing them whatever they want in a series.”

(NC Acting President Sushil Koirala, The Himalayan Times, 31 Aug.)

“Some are accusing the UML of standing in the way of government formation by staying neutral in the voting, but I want to refute them. The two candidates are the ones who have been held the country hostage.”

(UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Republica, 31 Aug.)
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No cabinet decision on UNMIN

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: A regular meting of the cabinet Monday couldn’t take a decision of the UNMIN future in Nepal.
It’s tenure ends 16 September.
The next cabinet meet will take a decision, a government spokesman said.
Sixteen of 25 parties in parliament have told the government the tenure should be extended by taking Nepal Army off the UNMIN watch while the UN political agency should continue monitoring Maoist PLA.
Maoists, who complain of foreign intervention in Nepal’s political affairs, have demanded the UNMIN tenure should be extended by six months without changing its mandate.
The cabinet also decided to present a white paper to the security council on points implemented between seven parties and Maoists in a comprehensive peace agreement three years ago.
The agreement should have been implemented in six months.
Manwhile, Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari said Monday UNMIN tenure should be extended only by one month while demanding a new verification of Maoist combatants on 28 cantonments and satellite camps under UNMIN watch.
The country’s first woman defence minister is a firm critic of UNMIN and Maoists.
Her role has been appreciated in Nepal Army while Maoists denounce her
Bhandari has received firm support of senior UML leader KP Sharma Oli who is another critic of Maoists and is close to Nepali Congress.
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Week’s garbage to be lifted Tuesday

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Amid fears of an epidemic outbreak, tons of garbage on the streets of the three cities of the Valley will be lifted from Tuesday following a three-point agreement Monday between Valley local authorities and managers of a landfill site at Okharpauwa in neighbouring Nuwakot.
A three-point agreement promises employment opportunities for residents at the landfill site, the construction site, construction of a three km road there and implementation of past agreements.
Past agreements have been broken regularly for failure to implement agreements threatening health of valley residents with regular disruption of garbage clearance.
There’s o guarantee the fresh agreement will be implemented
People has to walk past heaps of rotten smelly garbage with their noses cupped.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“My own daughter-in-law is selling leafy vegetables in the US despite having a nursing degree. This is exactly the condition of most young Nepali nurses abroad.”

(Girija Mani Pokhrel complaining of inferior quality of nurse education at institutions, Republica, 30 Aug.)
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Sunday, August 29, 2010

PM consulting Chinese, Russian ambassadors

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is having separate consultations with ambassadors of China and Russia, permanent members of the UN security council on the future of UNMIN whose tenure ends 16 September.
The discussions come a day after 16 political parties urged the government to extend the tenure only by limiting the mandate of the UN’s political wing in Nepal by taking Nepal Army (NA0 off the watch of UNMIN.
The parties asked the government to keep the Maoist PLA under UNMIN observation.
Major parties, except Maoists, are dissatisfied with the work the functioning of UNMIN.
A government task force also has suggested the UNMIN should be limited in a changed context after three of five responsibilities entrusted to it have been completed.
The cabinet is yet to decide the UNMIM future.
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President continues consultations

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Yadav Monday continued consultations with parties in parliament amid a prolonged political deadlock after the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal more than two months ago.
The country is run by a caretaker government.
The president is holding consultations with Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party Chairman Narayanman Bujukakchaya who has been pushing for presidential rule.
The president is also meeting independent members of parliament.
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Two killed, four injured

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Two persons were killed and four were injured Monday morning when a bus was heading for Rukum from the capital
fell 500 meters off the road at Salyan.
The bus was heading for Rukum via Dang.
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First informer rewarded

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Bhaktaraj Syangtang, the first person to inform Armed Police Force (AFP) of the crashed Agni Air Dronier over Makwanpur 24, was Sunday present a Rs 5,000 cash award by APF.
The money was handed over in Shikarpur, Makwanpur.
Syangtang informed AIG Shailesh Kumar Shrestha over telephone prompting APF to immediately send a search and rescue team to the crash site.
Fourteen passengers and crew were killed in the crash.
A search goes on the aircraft’s black box that can give clues for the crash.
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MJF-Nepal to abandon neutral stance

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: MJF-Nepal, one of four parties of the Madesh front, will abandon its neutral stance in voting for prime minister in the sixth round 5 September.
Party Chairman Upendra Yadav said this in the capital Sunday.
The party is close to Maoists.
Eleven members defied a party whip of votes for Maoists in our round of voting in parliament.
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Maoists support media, condemn Indian embassy

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Maoists Sunday supported the media and condemned Indian embassy for violating diplomatic norms and interfering in Nepali media.
The media had reported the sub-standard quality of a juice produced by Dabar-Nepal- a joint venture company in Nepal.
The embassy alleged the media for an extortion drive by media demanding advertisements.
:”We express our solidarity with the views expressed by media bodies on Saturday and urge the government to take the issue seriously,” Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said.
Four media associations Saturday said the embassy ‘overstepped its boundary’.
‘Nepali media are free to choose their contents and have fully utilized this right. We caution the embassy to respect diplomatic norms and values of press freedom,” a joint statement said.
The Indian embassy says it was surprised by the reaction of the media houses.
“At no point did the embassy refer to the media in Nepal in general. The reaction by these media associations would have been credible if backed by condemnation of such unethical practices and an offer to discuss how to address the issue with concerned companies,” The Himalayan Times quoted an Indian official as saying.
Indian joint venture companies generally don’t advertise in media critical of India on the urging of the embassy, media managers say.
The fresh showdown between the media barons and the embassy comes after a consignment of newsprint imported by Kantipur Publications was held up at Kolkata port for several weeks.
Two publications of the media house leaked a letter of Ambassador Rakesh Sood to the government soliciting award of a contract to print machinese readable passports.
A French company won a competitive tender bid.
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815 still missing after end of people’s war

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Although 815 person are still unaccounted for since the end of the 10-year people’s war, according to records.
The state is responsible for 614 and Maoists 201 disapearances.
Embassies of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, EU, Finland, Germany, Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, UK and USA asked government and Maoists to act on cases of disappearances coinciding with the International Day of Disappeared Monday.
A statement said Nepal Army and Maoists should act fully on cases of disappearances
‘Their long refusal to do so has prolonged the anguish of relatives, and delayed justice” a statement added.
“The government should also ensure that police and court orders are followed through and that Nepal Police acts on outstanding arrest warrants.”
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) says more than 1,300 went missing during the 10-year people’s war—victims of state security forces and Maoist PLA.
“To this day, their whereabouts and their fate remain unknown. We remember all those disappeared during the conflict,” the ICRC said.
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British Gurkha regiment to be trimmed (Excerpts)

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: The Gurkha regiment could be one of several sacrificed as a result on an increasingly bitter government dispute over defence funding, Mark Townsend and Toby Helm report in The Observer from London 29 August.
The Gurkhas have formed part of the British army for almost 200 years but may be among those cut unless the government meets Ministry of Defence demands for more money to fund the replacement of Trident nuclear missile submarines,
Last night, hopes for extra funds were fading as the Treasury rejected demands for more money from the defence secretary, Liam Fox, and insisted that 20 million pounds sterling cost of replacing Trident had to be met fully by the MoD.
One expert said that the increasing costs of running the Gurkha following
-actress Joanna Lumley’s high profile campaign last year to improve their rights –added to the sense that the ‘writing on the wall; for the British Gurkhas, which has 3,640 personnel.
Fox has been pushing hard for the Treasury to increase the MoD’s budget in some of the toughest negotiations spending review, aimed at slashing Britain’s 135 billion deficit.
Last night the MoD conceded that, given the financial pressures, ‘anything is possible’ regarding the Gurkhas and other regiments.
Defence experts said it was a cruel irony that Lamley’s campaigning- which led to retired Gurkhas being given the right to settle in the UIK- had made the Nepalese soldiers more vulnerable.
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Gold import regulation bill likely on Sept 5

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Finance Minister of the caretaker government Surendra Pandey today conferred with chief whips of the major political parties in the presence of the Speaker about tabling a Finance Bill in parliament to regulate import of gold, The Himalayan Times reports..
It is expected that the Bill could be tabled in the House on September 5, immediately after voting on the Prime Minister’s sixth round of election.
The tenure of the second ordinance introduced two months ago on importing precious yellow metal is expiring on September 3. Constitutionally, tenure of an ordinance expires 60 days after it is introduced unless parliament replaces it with a new Bill. The government cannot introduce an ordinance when the House is in session.
Pandey briefed chief whips of the major political parties about the seriousness of the situation and sought cooperation of the respective parties, especially the main opposition, Unified CPN-Maoist, to pass the Bill at the earliest. It takes at least five to six days to pass a Bill by the House.
After the second ordinance on the revised taxation of imported yellow metal expires, the government has no other legal option but to roll back to the previous taxation that was in place before April 5.
The council of ministers had introduced the first ordinance to raise import duty by Rs 430 per 10 grams of gold on April 4 to control its export to other countries. The second ordinance came into force in the first week of June and it is also expiring on Friday.
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Monsoon menace shows no signs of ebbing
Kathmandu, Aug. 30: -
Monsoon rainfall wrought havoc in various parts of the country on Sunday as well. At least two people died and scores have been displaced by floods and landslides within the past 24 hours, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Roshan Rai of Mangtewa VDC-5, Sankhuwasabha, died in a landslide on Sunday. The landslide buried him alive while he was repairing an irrigation canal, police said.
Similarly in Makwanpur, rain-fed Manahari rivulet swept away Rudra Kumari Phuyal, a resident of Manahari VDC-4, on Sunday morning. According to locals, the incident took place while she was crossing the rivulet.
Likewise, a man has gone missing when the swollen Kaligandaki river swept away him while he was digging out sand on the river banks in Baglung. The missing has been identified as Kushal Budhathoki, a permanent resident of Rukum.
Meanwhile, another landslide in Baglung swept away a house belonging to Putali BK at Adhikarichaur VDC-3 on Saturday night. According to villagers, six other neighbouring houses are at landslide risk.
Our correspondent from Makwanpur said 32 families of three different VDCs have been displaced due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall. The displaced people have been taking shelter in school buildings and houses of their relatives.
In Chitwan, some 200 people, who were rendered homeless after floodwaters inundated Imeliya settlement of Gardi VDC-1 recently, have demanded their resettlement. The victims have also called on Chief District Officer Basantaraj Gautam to provide relief materials.
Another report from Bara said at least houses are at high risk of a flood due to the rising water level in Khayar and Gadwan rivulets following heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, our Kanchanpur correspondent said the Mahakali River continued eroding its embankment on Sunday morning. Locals and security personnel have swung into action to tame the river.
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16 parties ask government to amend UMMIN mandate

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: Sixteen of 25 political parties in parliament/constituent assembly Sunday asked government to take Nepal Army (NA) off the watch of UNMIN, the political arms of the UN in Nepal.
Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal invited 25 parties to discuss the UNMIN which ends 16 September.
Maoists, who have proposed the extension of the tenure by another six months and the extension of the tenure by six months, along with mJF-Nepal boycotted the meeting at Singha Durbar.
The 16 parties suggested the Maoist PLA should be monitored by UNMIN though.
The Government position wasn’t revealed.
But PM Nepal expressed displeasure with UNMIN functioning in his opening speech.
The security council is discussing the Nepal situation and UNMIN Chief Karen Landgren leaves for New York this week to attend the discussions.
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Maoists deny supporting religious, cultural monarchy

Kathmandu, 29 Aug. : Maoist central committee meeting
Sunday denied the party favoured a religious or cultural of ousted monarchy.
The committee strongly objected to such suggestions Saturday by Caretaker Pririme Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who demanded an authoritative Maoist position on the subject.
The central committee is meeting to discuss three separate political reports of Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairmen Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya suggesting options for the party to handle future strategy amid a prolonged political standoff.
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Further details of Rautahat shooting

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: Yadav, who was shot dead at a Rautahat village overnight, was a local NC activist.
He was shot dead midnight.
Two suspects have been arrested.
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Further details of presidential meet

Kathmandu, 29 Aug: President Dr Ram Raran Yadav Sunday expressed concern with the continued political deadlock at a collective hour-long meeting with three fringe communist parties in parliament.
He will be consulting other parties later Sunday.
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PM discusses UNMIN with parties

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal convened a meeting of 25 political parties Sunday at Singha Durbar and began discussing the future of UMNIN whose tenure ends 16 September,
Maoist and MHF-Nepal boycotted. the meeting.
A government task force has suggested the mandate should be reviewed by limiting the monitoring role of UNMIN to oversee the PLA only and not Nepal Army.
Maoists demanded the tenure should be extended for another six months without changing the mandate.
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PM Nepal asks Maoists to clarify position on monarchy

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday asked Maoists to clarify their position on monarchy that was toppled two years ago.
“With the latest activities of the former king and former Crown Prince Paras, Maoists are linked with the keeping a religious and cultural king. Maoists must make their views of this issue.
‘Because attempts have been made to restore monarchy while claiming to be anti-feudal and revolutionary, all should alert of their split personality,” Nepal told a public meeting in the capital.
In Pokhara Saturday, RPP-Chairman Kamal Thapa said, the concept of a cultural king was the ‘personal view’ of the Maoists.
”The concept of cultural king is not our’s. It is the personal concept of Maoists. There is no understanding and unity with them.”
Thapa’s latest comment comes days after he revealed Maoists were favourable to restoration of limited form of monarchy after growing foreign play in the country.
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Search for new foreign ministry premises

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: The foreign ministry is again shifting to new premises, Annapurna Post reports.
The ministry at Narayanhiti Palace
A new building is being sought after the technical and administrative work for machine readable passports (MRPs) will be administered by the ministry.
A foreign ministry source said the ministry will move temporarily to la building in Singha Durbar.
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17 days.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

President meets small party representatives

Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: A concerned President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Sunday morning held collective discussions with representatives of small parties in parliament and discussed the prolonged political deadlock one day after he held collective discussions with top Maoist, NC and UML leaders.
He will met a second group later in the day
The president urged the leaders to the three biggest parties to break the impasse by developing a common concept for understanding.
But the party leaders only exchanged accusations against each other.
Sixth round voting for prime minister is being conducted 5 September.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel are the two contestants.
Meanwhile, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala Sunday asked UML to help end the deadlock by abandoning a policy to stay neutral by voting either for NC or the Maoists in the 5 September vote in parliament for prime minister.
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One shot dead in Rautahat

Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: Unidentified gunmen shot dead Billat Raya Yadav at Dubahi VDC in Rautahat overnight.
Yadav was shot dead by a group of four to five gunmen.
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Air crash probe starts

Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: A five-member government appointed team Saturday began its probe of Tuesday’s Agni Air Dronier crash that killed 14 passengers and crew over Makwanpur.
Four Americans, one Japanese and a Briton were among the 11 passengers killed.
A 43-memver police squad is still searching for the missing black box that will give clues to the reasons for the crash.
Two American forensic experts are assisting a Nepalese team to identify the body parts of foreigners through DNA tests.
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Monsoon menace continues

Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: Heavy monsoon rain continues to create havoc nation-wide leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.
The highest water flow on Mahakali river was recorded at 256,000 cusecs Sunday.
The river has breached embankments and 56 families of Bhujel gaon have been threatened.
The swollen Bagai river in Chitwan has again deluged Madi and surrounding areas.
More than 36families have been threatened and animals and fish farms have been swept away while agricultural land has been destroyed by silt.
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Govt. panel favours UNMIN tenure extension

Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: An expert panel formed by the caretaker prime minister to advise the government on the future of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has recommended the government to extend the tenure by another six months, but with a reduced mandate, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The recommendation comes amid fierce Maoist opposition to changing UNMIN terms.
The advisory panel that includes bureaucrats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction that doesn’t include Maoist representatives has suggested a mandate revision to allow UNMIN to monitor the Maoist army.
It said that in the changed political context, the Nepal Army should no longer be kept under the UN’s supervision.
“We have given our suggestions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will now draft a letter that will be dispatched to the UN Security Council,” said Retired Lt. Gen Balananda Sharma, a member of the advisory panel.
The panel has also suggested the government scrap other responsibilities given to UNMIN during the inception in 2007. The current UMNMIN mandate includes management of arms and armed personnel of Nepal Army and the Maoists’ Peoples Liberation Army assisting parties through the Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing the agreement signed during the peace protests, assisting in the ceasefire monitoring and providing technical assistance to the Election Commission for conducting the Constituent Assembly elections.
‘We have suggested the government to draft a new request exclusively to monitor Maoist combatants,” added Sharma.
The UCPN (Maoist) has been objecting to the government’s idea of revising UNMIN’s current mandate, saying such a move would be a ‘serious blow’ to the peace process.
Meanwhile, RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa also said UNMIN mandate should only be limited to monitoring the PLA and not the Nepal Army.
Thapa said in Pokhara Saturday UNMIN tenure should be extended.
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Abducted boy rescued
Kathmandu, 20 Aug.: One week after the abduction of a two-year-old boy for ransom, police rescued him unharmed and rounded up three persons in connection with the crime, today[ Saturday] morning The Himalayan Times reports.
The kidnappers have been identified as Basanta Gurung (19) from Sirdibas of Gorkha, Raju Gurung (21) from Dumkibas of Nawalparasi and Suryaman Lama (17) from Dumre of Tanahun.

They had kidnapped Mahesh Shrestha, the only son of Sushma Limbu Shrestha, from her rented room in Machhapokhari, Kathmandu, on August 21 at around 6:45 pm and held him hostage for one week in Basanta’s room in Teku, demanding a ransom of Rs 6 million.

Sushma was stunned with disbelief when she came to know of Basanta’s involvement, especially because Basanta was a close acquaintance. “He used to come to my room frequently and also take my son out,” she said. I had never even thought he would do such a thing.”

Sushma told mediapersons that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs 150 million on the day her son was abducted. “Finally, they agreed to Rs 6 million,” said Sushma.

Police nabbed the abductors in Dumre and Kathmandu separately. DSP Kedar Dhakal said Basanta was the mastermind behind the abduction. “Six days after the boy’s abduction, the grieving mother sought police help on Friday,” informed DSP Dhakal.

Police scrutinised telephone calls and SMS details in Sushma’s mobile phone, and pursued Basanta. “Sushma reached a deal with Basanta on the ransom. Basanta asked her to come to Dumre Bazaar to make the swap,” said Dhakal. “Police drove her to the location in the wee hours of Saturday, cordoned off the area, and arrested Basanta and Suryaman.”

However, the boy was not with them when police nabbed them. Basanta told investigating

officials that Mahesh was being kept in his rented room in

Teku, leading to his release. It has been revealed that Basanta and Suryaman had kept the boy

there under Raju’s care. DSP Dhakal said Suryaman and Raju were accomplices.
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3,088 reps for NC convention

Kathmandu, 29 Aug.: Over 3,088 representatives across the country are taking part in the upcoming 12th General Convention of Nepali Congress (NC) scheduled for September 17-23, Republica reports.
According to Krishna Sitaula, the chief of Publicity Department of the 12th General Convention, these will include 12 representatives each from all 240 electoral constituencies, 98 representatives from sister and well-wisher organizations and 54 representatives from the party’s Central Working Committee.
NA has made a provision that is liaison committees abroad having over 500 active members can send seven representatives to the general convention.
However, liaison committees with less than 500 active members can send observers only.
Shitaula said seven representatives each from party’s liaison committee in the UK, Qatar, Belgium and Malaysia will take part in the convention.
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Friday, August 27, 2010

President urges consensus before 5 Sept. election

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at a two-and- a- half hour meeting with top leaders of Maoists, NC and UML Saturday morning asked them to develop a common understanding before the next round of elections for prime minister 5 September.
Chairman Prachanda, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairmen Jhalanath Khanal were invited to Shital Niwas by the president.
The leaders presented the party views and traded accusations before him, a source said.
The country is being rum by a caretaker administration two months after the forced resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Nepal Saturday accused Maoists for the deadlock at a public meeting in the capital.
The premier said the country is without a successor prime minister even two months after his resignation.
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Bhaktapur inner city declared vehicle free

Kathmandu, Aug.29: Vehicles have been banned in the inner core of medieval city of Bhaktapur from 21 August.
The municipality took the decision to facilitate the movement of tourists.
The town is the best managed among the Valley’s three urban settlements.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Those who shout ‘down with imperialism’ the loudest, push for the division of a small state along ethnic lines. Where else in the world can you find a better gaijatra?”

(Author and UML leader Modraj Prashit, Annapurna Post, 28 Aug.)
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President’s collective meeting with three top leaders

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.: A concerned President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Saturday held collective consultations with Maoist Chairman Prachanda, NC Acting Prsident Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal Saturday amid a continuing political standoff.
The meeting comes after consultations earlier this week with Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The country is run by a caretaker government for nearly two months with the failure to elect Nepal’s successor in five rounds of voting in parliament.
Another attempt to elect a government will be made 5 September.
The vote could again be inconclusive in UML and a frontof four Madesh parties again stay neutral in the election.
Following a politburo meet Friday, the UML may again stay neutral in the fresh round of voting.
Parliament which normally meets until the beginning of the festive season isn’t in session and the government is facing a cash crunch without the passage of the annual budget 2010/11 even by the end of August.
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Claim of Korean woman climb rejected

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.: South Korea’s main alpine body said today [Friday] that is would not acknowledge a female climber’s claim to have scaled the world’s 14 highest peaks, AFP reports from Seoul.
Oh Eun-Sun completed her ascent of 8,091 meter Annapurna in Nepal on April 27 claiming to become the first woman to reach the peak of the world’s 14 highest mountains all in Asia’s Himalayan and Karakoram ranges.
She claimed the feat almost 13 years after she climbed the 8035 meter Gasherbrum-II in July 1987, but it has been disputed by other climbers.
The Korean Alpine Federation said Oh probably failed to reach the top of Mount Kangchenjunga on the Nepal-Tibet border in May 2009.
But the 44-year-old South Korean has refused to accept the Federation decision. The federation said its conclusion was made on Thursday at a meeting of seven leading local climbers who has scaled the 8586 meter Kangchenjunga.
‘All of the participants shared the view that the landscape shown in Oh’s two alleged photographs throughout the entire ascent doesn’t seem to match the actual landscape,” KAF secretary general Lee Eui-Jae told AFP.
Her Spanish rival Edurne Pasaban has said that the Korean had not yet produced documentary proof backing her claim.
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Alyasa Ayres to oversee South Asia at State Department

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has appointed a well-known South Asia expert to fill up a key post relating to India in the Department of State just months ahead of President Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to New Delhi in November, PTI reports from Washington.
“Alyasa Ayres will start as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the South and Central Asian Office Bureau of the State Department on August 30. Her portfolios will include India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives,” a State Department official told PTI.
Ayres will be coming from McLarry Associates.
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ArkeFly begins flights 1 Oct.

Kathmandu, 28Aug.: ArkeFly will begin direct once weekly flights between Amsterdam and Katmandu from 1 Oct until 23 April 2011 for the second successive year, an announcement said.
Last year, the airline flew in 3,000 tourists from Europe to Nepal.
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Monsoon continues to rain sorrow

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.:The monsoon havoc went unabated in different parts of the country today as well, with flooded rivers and rain-triggered landslides displacing scores of families, The Himalayan Times reports from Biratnagar. .

In Morang, a rain-fed Bakrakhola killed Pratima Magar (16) of Itahara-5 today, while Kurban Hemram (30) of Govindapur-5 went missing, the police said.

According to the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee, floods have inundated 150 houses in Itahara VDC.

Suresh Adhikari, Morang CDO and the coordinator of the committee, said the committee had moved 100 families to safer places and provided them foodstuffs. Upon knowing about the flood havoc, the committee members inspected the affected areas. According to the committee, Bakraha and Chisang rivers have swept away 22 houses in Madhumalla-4 and 5.

In Jhapa, the Kamal Baniyani River today displaced 11 families from Mahabhara VDC-8, Jhapa, today. The former VDC chairman, Bijay Agrawal, said the displaced had moved to safer places, while the river continued to wash away land in wards 1 to 8. The river has also damaged sections of the Dudhe-Mahabhara-Kunjibari road.

It has breached the spur near Balkalyan Secondary School at Mahabhara-3, putting the school in danger, while a swollen Ratuwa has inundated 20 houses in Lakhanpur-4 and 5. The Kamal river has submerged a squatters’ settlement at Topgachhi-8.

The squatters’ settlement at Damak-12 has also gone under water, the police said, while the Biring river has caused inundation in Dagibari-2.

Mechi river has submerged Aiyabari of Mechinagar-12. Locals and police have rescued the affected locals.

While in Udaypur, more than 100 families at Nigale VDC of Udaypur have left their homes after Rakuli and Bhulke rivers started eroding land.

In Dailekh, mudslides have put Rum village of the district at risk. More than 11 families have moved to safer places, while Saraswati Lower Secondary School and Janata Secondary School have been closed.

In Ramechhap, landslides brought traffic movement along the Pushpalal road to a complete halt today. While Thursday night’s landslide at Suru Phee of Sarangdada has caused extensive damage to the Uttare Yasok road in Panchthar, causing a loss of hundreds of thousands of rupees. According to Road Consumers Committee member Chandra Kumar Ang Debe, more than two dozen vehicles have been stranded on the road.
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Agni air crash
Father of British doctor had premonition of son’s death (Excerpt)

Kathmandu, 28 Aug.: The father of a British doctor killed in the August 24 Agni Air crash in Nepal has begged him not to take the flight after having a premonition about the tragedy, Daily Mail reports from London.
Jeremy Taylor,31, was one of six foreigner tourists traveling to Mount Everest base camp when their private plane crashed in bad weather. There were no survivors.
Mr. Taylor had booked a 14-day trekking tour and was traveling with a Nepalese mountain guide.
His father Trevor, from Torquay, Devon, said he tried to stop his son boarding the flight.
“He was living his dream but we were very worried. The last conversation I had with him was three days ago. I’d had a premonition. I told him don’t take the flight, the weather is bad.”
He told me,” Dad, I need to do this.” he said.
Mr Taylor was determined to reach the Mount Everest base camp to prepare for a full attempt on the world’s highest mountain next year.
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MRP deal finally signed

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Following direct intervention by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal (UML), the foreign ministry signed a deal Friday with Oberthru Technologies of France of print machine readable passports (MRPs) in an international effort to fight international terrorism.
The MRPs will replace traditional hand-written passports.
PM Nepal intervened and gave the go-ahead for signing the deal despite objection and public rebuke of foreign ministry officials by Deputy Prime Ministry and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala who leads the NC team in government.
Koirala charged she wasn’t given details of the tender awarded to the French company in an international tender bid approved by a team of ministry officials.
Sujata wasn’t present at the signing ceremony Friday.
The finalization of the delayed deal comes as a serious embarrassment for Koirala who doesn’t have her father, Girija, to back her.
Sujata publicly rebuked her ministry officials for lack of transparency and said as the ministry head she was entitled to contract details as demanded; the request wasn’t granted.
Prime ministerial intervention of a ministry headed by a minister from another party is rare while running government at a critical juncture.
She together with the cabinet first awarded the contract to an Indian government security printing press without tender.
The decision was retracted after pressure in parliament and other sectors.
ICAO directed Nepal and other countries to issue MRPs and extended the deadline for Nepal and several other countries that didn’t meet the target date.
The MRP saga reflects the amateurish functioning of ministers and and the government while handling serious national issues.
Koirala even called for an evaluation of security faults and evaluation by experts when she and the cabinet first awarded the contract to India without consulting experts.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood, through a secret letter to the foreign ministry, lobbied for the deal.
The letter was leaked to the press to the embarrassment and protest of the Indian embassy.
The MRP saga is, hopefully, over.
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Maoists ask PM not to send back UNMIN

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Aug; A Maoist team led by Chairman Prachanda Friday drew government attention and asked Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal not to sent back UNMIN, the political agency of UN, until the end of the peace process or change its mandate.
Prachanda met Nepal for the first time at SIngha Durbar nearly two months after the government chief’s resignation.
The extended tenure ends mid-September.
Governing parties, dissatisfied with the work of UNMIN, has formed a task force to suggest how to limit the agency mandate if it is extended.
Maoists, complaining about foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs, are pushing for a continued UN presence.
Nepal told Maoist delegation UNMIN hadn’t succeeded in completing its mission in an extended four months.
The premier told Maoists government will take a decision by consulting parties, Home Minister Bhim Rawal said.
Rawal and Peace Minister Rakam Chemjung assisted the government chief in talks.
In a separate meeting with major parties in which UML wasn’t present Maoists asked for their views of Nepal Army third boycott of joint monitoring coordination committee headed by UNMIN.
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Maoist central committee begins discussions

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Maoist central committee Friday began delayed discussions of three political proposals of Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairmen Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya Kiran.
The proposals present the views of the three top leaders on the party’s future course of action following a standoff with government.
Bhattarai and Kiran differed with the party chairman and suggested alternative action plans this week.
The 149 central committee members weren;t permitted to take home the proposals and studied the drafts at party headquarters for nearly seven hours Thursday.
An expanded central committee will approve the final party line after the three proposals are discussed by lower party units as well, Spokesman Dunanath Sharma said.
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Chinese gift for Kathmandu municipality

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Chinese government Friday gifted goods worth Rs 170 million to lift the capital’s garbage.
The Chinese embassy delivered the equipment, including transport vehicles, to Mayor Ananda Raj Pokhrel.
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Embankment collapses three days after construction

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: A Rs 260,000 embankment along Dora river in Kanchanpir in the far-West collapsed three days after completion Friday.
Thirty six families along the river have been displaced and 110 houses threatened.
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Prachanda flexible on monarchy: Kamal Thapa

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa Wednesday claimed Maoist Chairman Prachanda has become flexible on monarchy after foreign play surged.
‘Prachanda told me at a meeting, monarchy is necessary to protect nationalism.
“Because foreign play has increased after sidelining monarchy, Prachanda has become flexible on monarchy.
“Lately, the need and relevance of monarchy has increased.
“It’s our campaign to restore monarchy,” Thapa told a gathering at the Reporters’ Club.
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Govt. directs contractor to repair damaged residence of Krisshna Prasad Bhattarai

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar Thursday directed a contractor to repair the damaged and leaking home of former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai near Badegaon in Godavari.
Gachedhar issued the directive in the presence of Bhattarai at the latter’s home provided by the government for the only surviving founder member of Nepali Congress.
Bhattarai said Wednesday he was ‘saddened’ at government apathy to the condition of his home.
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Former minister dead

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Former state minister in the panchayat era Lokendra Pratap Bista died Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.
He left behind a wife, two sons and a daughter.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“’The open principled and physical support for political change in the last four years from foreign countries has opened the door for them to run the country.”

(Yubaraj Ghimere, Annapurna Post, 27 Aug.)
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Maoists ask PM not to send back UNMIN

Kathmandu, 27 Aug; A Maoist team led by Chairman Prachanda Friday asked Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal not to sent back UNMIN, the political agency of UN, until the end of the peace process or change its mandate.
The extended tenure ends mid-September.
Governing parties, dissatisfied with the work of UNMIN, has formed a task force to suggest how to limit the agency mandate if it is extended.
Maoists, complaining about foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs, are pushing for a continued UN presence.
Nepal told Maoist delegation UNMIN hadn’t succeeded in completing its mission in an extended four months.
The premier told Maoists government will take a decision by consulting parties, Home Minister Bhim Rawal said.
Rawal and Peace Minister Rakam Chemjung assisted the government chief in talks.
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Prachanda flexible on monarchy: Kamal Thapa

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa Wednesday claimed Maoist Chairman Prachanda has become flexible on monarchy after foreign play surged.
‘Prachanda told me at a meeting, monarchy is necessary to protect nationalism.
“Because foreign play has increased after sidelining monarchy, Prachanda has become flexible on monarchy.
“Lately, the need and relevance of monarchy has increased.
“It’s our campaign to restore monarchy,” Thapa told a gathering at the Reporters’ Club.
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Govt. directs contractor to repair damaged residence of Krisshna Prasad Bhattarai

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar Thursday directed a contractor to repair the damaged and leaking home of former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai near Badegaon in Godavari.
Gachedhar issued the directive in the presence of Bhattarai at the latter’s home provided by the government for the only surviving founder member of Nepali Congress.
Bhattarai said Wednesday he was ‘saddened’ at government apathy to the condition of his home.
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Former minister dead

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Former state minister in the panchayat era Lokendra Pratap Bista died Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.
He left behind a wife, two sons and a daughter.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“’The open principled and physical support for political change in the last four years from foreign countries has opened the door for them to run the country.”

(Yubaraj Ghimere, Annapurna Post, 27 Aug.)
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Thursday, August 26, 2010

President holding collective discussions with 3 parties

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has arranged a collective meeting with leaders top three parties- Maoists, NC and UML—as a political deadlock continues, a presidential palace source said.
The president has invited them to Shital Niwas for discussions Saturday.
The country is being administered by a caretaker prime minister for two months and parliament which normally meets until the beginning of the festive season isn’t in session.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday night briefed the president on a looming financial crisis without the presentation of the annual budget 2010/11 even until the end of August.
Meanwhile, three months have passed since the three parties extended the elected two year mandate of the constituent assembly (CA) for one more year until 28 May 2011.
But no work has been done to draft a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic in the last three months with parties’ undivided attention over toppling the government to retaining hold of Singha Durbar.
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Floods kill three more; other details

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Bodies of two persons swept away by floods were recovered in Okhalgungha Thursday while a third person in still missing, police in the central district said.
Floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains continue to wreck havoc from Mechi to Mahakali.
Six houses were swept away by Sapta Kosi at Mahendranagar-5 in Saptari Thursday.
Water flow of the river has started receding.
The flow was recorded Thursday was 204,095 cusecs—down from 339,405 cusecs while 27 sluice gates have been opened.
The red danger light hasn’t been switched off at the Kosi barrage on the Nepal-Bihar border though.
The river’s water flow was the highest in 14 years.
Floods have inundated 200 districts in Jhapa.
Water flow on Mahakali river in the far-West has started receding providing relief to residents of Bhimdutta municipality that was deluged.
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Two DNA experts arriving Friday to identify body parts

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Two American forensic experts are arriving Friday at government request to help Nepali doctors conduct DNA tests to identify victims of Tuesday’s Agni Air Dronier air crash over Makwanpur.
Body parts of the crash victims are kept at the TU Teaching Hospital.
Remains of eight Nepali passengers and crew have already been handed over to relatives after identification.
Eleven passengers and three crew members perished—among them were four Americans, One Japanese and one Briton.
The remains of foreigners are yet to be identified.
TU teaching Hospital has only limited facilities for DBA tests to identify victims.
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Cabinet approves MRP design

Kathmandu, 27Aug.: The row over the design of the machine readable passport (MRP) has finally ended after the cabinet approved the design on Thursday, a move that has paved the way for the signing of an MRP procurement deal with Oberthru Technologies, a French security printer, Republica reports.
Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai said the deal is likely to be signed Friday.
The deal was supposed to be signed much earlier but it was delayed as Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala declined to approve the design accusing officials of the her ministry of keeping her in dark while selecting the French security printer.
According to a source in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimere signed on the decision approving the design on Friday.
But the office could not send the decision to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoF) as it could not print a colour copy of the design within the office hours.
“We will send the decision and a colour copy of the design to the ministry of Friday,” said the source.
• Nnnn

• MEDIA GOOGLE
• “I appeal to all not to put the country in limbo for petty interests of few individuals, political parties and groups. Time is running out to end the protracted political deadlock, elect the new prime minister and resolve the crisis facing the country.”
• (Home Minister Bhim Rawal, The Himalayan Times, 27 Aug.)
• nnnn
• ET “””I CETERA
PM proposes reducing, limiting UNMIN mandate -

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has floated the idea of downgrading the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) from a “political mission” to a “technical mission”, which will only monitor the Maoist army, The Kathmandu Post reports.

However, his own party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal was not impressed with the proposal pitched during a high level consultation held in Singhadurbar on Thursday afternoon. Leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Cabinet ministers, officials from the Foreign Ministry and non-Maoist representatives of the Special Committee and Technical Committee attended the discussion organised by the government to seek suggestions on the term extension of UNMIN.

According to a leader, the prime minister suggested that a small technical team comprising officials from the United Nations could be invited as an alternative to UNMIN to monitor the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The prime minister proposed that the Nepal Army be kept out of the purview of the UN as the concept of “two sides” mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has become irrelevant since 2008, after the Maoists joined the Interim Parliament.

Khanal, without referring to the prime minister’s proposal, however, stressed the need to “forge a political consensus before taking any decision” on the fate of UNMIN, whose term expires on Sept. 15. “UNMIN is needed in the country until the peace process reaches its logical conclusion,” UML General Secretary and Special Committee member Ishwor Pokharel told the Post. “But its mandate can be narrowed down in the changed context.”

During the one-and-a-half-hour long discussion, NC leaders supported the prime minister’s proposal to end UNMIN oversight over Nepal Army. They argued that UNMIN could be given an extension with a limited mandate focusing on the monitoring of Maoist combatants.

“The mandate fixed for UNMIN four years ago has now become invalid. We have suggested a revision,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

“We listened to various opinions from leaders on the term extension. This is a preliminary consultation,” said Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong. “The government will consult with the Maoists and reach a conclusion.”

Some participants also suggested the government hold discussions with ambassadors of five permanent member countries of the UN Security Council before taking a call on the future of UNMIN.

Following the discussion on Thursday, a three-member task force comprising Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Gyan Chandra Acharya, former Assistant Secretary of the UN General Kul Chandra Gautam and Retired Lt. Gen. Balananda Sharma has been assigned to prepare a proposal on the mandate revision.

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NC race for top posts begins
TAMANG, ACHARYA DECLARE LEADERSHIP ASPIRATIONS

Kathmandu, 27 Aug.: Nepali Congress leaders Bhim Bahadur Tamang and Narahari Acharya today announced their candidacies for the posts of party president and general secretary, respectively, in the upcoming 12th general convention to be held on September 17-21, The Himalayan Times reports.

The leaders have also set up a contact office at Baneshwor from where they will launch their election campaign. Making public a joint commitment paper, Tamang said he and Acharya had decided to contest the party’s election to restore its lost glory and strength.

“In order to ensure political and socioeconomic transformation, the 12th general convention should give space to the youths,” Tamang said at a press .

Acharya said the party leadership had failed to follow its ideology and run it as an institution. He stressed the need to heal the wounds caused by the party’s breakup seven years ago.

Acharya said their candidacies for the 12th general convention are meant to unite the party on ideological grounds; prepare it for socioeconomic transformation; maintain economic transparency and political relations in the party rank-and-file and reorganise it as a force for socioeconomic transformation. He vowed to give the Congress a new lease of life by bringing about structural changes in its organisational setup.

Tamang and Acharya have expected the 12th general convention to come up with a clear stand on the form of governance and federalism — the two key issues of the new constitution — that are yet to be finalised.

Although the NC has been invariably insisting on parliamentary democracy, Tamang and Acharya have options open on finding an alternative to the parliamentary democracy without compromising its universal values.

NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba also announced his presidential candidacy and set up his contact office at Baneshwor.
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Maoist murder suspect arrested

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: Prime suspect in a murder of a ruling party UML Rupendhaehi leader and most wanted on the police list YCL leader Sujit KM was arrested in Sundhara in the capital Thursday, police lsaid.
He was arrested with a forged citizen certificate and a fake driving license, police added.
BK is a prime suspect in the murder of UML leader Prachanda Thaiba who was shot dead in Rupendhaehi several years ago.
Maoist had assured authorities BK would be delivered to the National Human Rights Commission.
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PM briefs president on govt. difficulties

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: Caretaker Prime Minister in a hour-long meeting with ceremonial President Dr Ram Baran Yadav briefed in difficulties the country will face in a complete budget for the fiscal 2010/11 isn’t presented to parliament.
PM Nepal told the president development projects and the daily running of government will be affected without the presentation of a complete budget, the government’s political advisor Raghuji Pant said.
The president was concerned the country could face a financial crisis without the presentation of a full budget and was also concerned a replace government hadn’t been formed in two months.
Nepal’s government faced a similar situation last year.
Main opposition Maoists in July permitted the release of funds in parliament for four months to run only the government only.
PM Nepal told the president the caretaker government is consulting with political parties to resolve the hurdle faced by government even by bringing a complete lbudgeteven though the government is caretaker..
The country is run by a caretaker administration for the last two months and parliament isn’t in session to discuss crucial issues, including extensive damage caused by incessant rains.
Parliament should normally be in session until the beginning of the festive season.
Nnnn

PM Nepal seeks support for Kul Chandra Gautam

Kathmandu, 26 Aug. Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is separate meetings with ambassadors from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh Thursday and sought the support of the three South Asian countries for the candidature of Kul Chandra Gautam for the president of the UN general assembly 2010/11, Nepal’s aide said.
Nepal is meeting ambassadors of other Asian countries based in the capital Monday on behalf of Gautam.
Nepal has officially written to Asian countries seeking their support in the September vote.
Gautam is a retired UN assistant secretary general.
Nepal’s campaigning for Gautam has been lackluster
The Himalayan state is contesting the election when the country’s international rating if low with current political instability.
Nepal is also dissatisfied with the functioning of UNMIN, the political arm of the UN with main ruling parties pushing for the withdrawal of the mission—a demand that is unpalatable of the western states in the security council.
Nnnn

Maoists say activities of NA unnatural

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: Maoist PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun in a statement Thursday said the activities of Nepal Army (NA) was ‘unnatural’ and the suggestions of the Chief Gen Chatraman Singh Gurung to send home UNMIN with political party leaders was against the spirit of the comprehensive peace agreement.
Pun said ‘;PLA ‘serious attention’ had been drawn to the suggestion of the army chief and the NA third boycott Thursday of the meeting of the joint monitoring coordination committee headed by UNMIN.
Maoist central committee Thursday decided to take up the issues of UNMIN and army boycott with PM Nepal and other political parties.
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Maoists to discuss NA boycott of JMCC meet (DEVELOPING STORY)

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: Maoist central committee Thursday decided to take up the Nepal Army (NA) boycott of the nine-member joint monitoring coordination (JMCC) with other political parties.
The party will take up the issue with Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal as well, spokesman Dinanath Sharma said.
The prime minister also heads a committee to monitor, supervise and rehabilitate armies.
The central committee decided to begin discussions of differing political reports presented Wednesday by Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya Kiran and Baburam Bhattarai Friday only.
The two vice-chairmen presented differing options challenging Prachanda’s report for approval amid a political standoff in the country.
The party is discussing future strategy to tackle the deadlock.
Central committee members demanded time for study to the proposals although deliberations were scheduled to begin Thursday.
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Nepal Army boycotts meeting of JMCC chaired by UNMIN

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: As expected, three representatives of Nepal Army (NA) didn’t attend a meeting Thursday of the nine-member Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) chaired by UNMIN—the political arm of the UN in Nepal.
The committee has three representatives of UMNIM and Maoists.
The NA asked the committee to take off discussions of the controversial drive to fill in vacancies from the committee’s agenda for Thursday meeting.
Friction between NA and UNMIN comes at a time when the NA has charged UNMIN is attempting to extend its stay in Nepal even after its extended tenure expires mid-September.
Ministers in government have been publicly charging UNMIN for not being neutral in its dealings between government and Maoists.
Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari has even charged UMNMIN for being a Maoist ‘tail’.
Ruling Nepali Congress, the biggest constituent in the governing coalition, has demanded UNMIN mandate should be reviewed and the political arm of the UN should be striped of its responsibility to monitor the NA if the agency’s tenure is to be extended.
Nnnn

Probe into the air crash yet to start

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: An official probe by a five-member government appointed team formed Tuesday to probe the Agni Air Dronier crash that killed 14 passengers and crew is yet to start even three days after the crash.
Three members are yet to arrive in the capital to begin the probe.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Two more body parts handed over

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: The body parts of two more passengers were handed over to relatives of crew members and passengers killed in Wednesday’s Agni Air Dronier crash in Makwanpur.
The bodies of passengers Ishwar Rijal, Pemba Lama, Prakash Ambai and Aswani Rai were also handed over to relatives by TU Teaching Hospital.
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Krishna Prasad saddened with govt. behaviour apathy

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Former Prime Minister and the only surviving founder member of Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bahattari said Wednesday he’s saddened with government apathy after a government donated house in which he’s living became inhabitable.
The house in Lalitpur developed leaks and cracks following incessant rain this week as the compound wall collapsed.
Aides are looking for an alternative abode for Bhattarai.
“I stayed 14 years in prison. Can you imagine how a former prime minister is being treated?” he asked. “ I’m saddened with government behavious.”
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“The current political deadlock has defamed the country’s image before the international community and created rage against political parties.”

(Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal, The Himalayan Times, 26 Aug.)
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Bhuban Lal Pradhan dead

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Bhuban Lal Pradhan, 90, died Thursday morning.
He was minister in the panchayat era and a historian.
Pradhan, suffering kidney ailment, had penned more then a dozen books on history and culture.
Nnnn

Five bodies of air crash victims identified

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Body parts of six Nepalis killed in an Agni Air Dronier air crash Wednesday were identified by forensic experts until Wednesday night and handed over to relatives at the TU Teaching Hospital.
Body parts of Capt. Laxman (Lucky) Praksh Bikram Shah, Co-pilot Sophia Singh, flight attendant Sara Sherpa, Ishwar Rijal, Asshwani Raai and Pemba Sherpa.
Fourteen passengers and crew perished in the crash.
Four American, a Japanese and a Briton were killed.
Meanwhile, a team of the German aircraft company arrived Wednesday to conduct its own investigation.
The aircraft’s black box that could provide reasons for the crash has yet to be recovered.
Nnnn

Floods, landslides kill seven more person

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Floods and landslides killed seven more persons nation wide-wide Wednesday.
Floods and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rain have left behind a trail of death and destruction.
Urban areas and villages have been inundated in the terai and crops have been destroyed.
nnnn

UNMIN hand-in-glove with Maoists, claims NA
KATHMANDU, 26 Aug.: : The Nepali Army has accused the United Nations Mission in Nepal of conniving with UCPN-Maoist to tarnish the image of the national army and prolong its stay beyond September 15, the Himalayan Times reports..

While the Maoists strategically try to undermine the position of NA and the parliamentary system as a whole, the UNMIN wants to prolong its stay in Nepal by delaying the ongoing peace process, states a confidential briefing paper prepared by Nepali Army Headquarters.

“The 60-week roadmap of the UNMIN has helped the Maoists to delay the army integration process, and the Maoists seem to be adamant on extending the mandate of the UNMIN at any cost. It has helped weaken the position of NA. The so-called roadmap is nothing but its latent desire to extend its stay in Nepal.”

“This shows the underlying common interests of the Maoists and the UNMIN in Nepali peace process. It proves that the UNMIN’s role has been serving the interests of the UCPN-Maoist,” the paper states.

NA Headquarters sources said the briefing paper reflects NA’s official position, which has consistently maintained critical view of UNMIN’s modus operandi and ‘engagement in Nepal’s political affairs’.

The UNMIN has exceeded its jurisdiction time and again, states the report, citing the UN agency’s move to challenge the Supreme Court’s clarification on army recruitment. “That is a flagrant violation of the rule of law in Nepal.”

The government should take necessary decision to force UNMIN to pack up and leave and recall NA representatives from the ‘controversial’ Joint Monitoring and Coordination Committee. “There is no need to extend UNMIN’s tenure since the country is no longer in conflict.”

The Army will not take part in Thursday’s JMCC meeting to protest against the day’s agenda to discuss NA’s ongoing recruitment process, Brig Gen Ramindra Chhetri told THT. “We shall not allow discussion on army recruitment in the JMCC meeting.”

NA pointed out that the UNMIN had turned a deaf ear towards convincing the Maoists to abide by the prevailing laws of the country as envisioned in Article 2.e of the CPA.

UNMIN has helped Maoists to maintain the two parties’ status quo by recognising NA and PLA as parallel army structures instead of convincing Maoists that NA recruitment is initiated as per the prevailing laws.

UNMIN maintains double standards and tries to mislead all concerned, including the international community, states the report. “In its recent press release UNMIN uses the phrase ‘Recruitment of New People’ instead of ‘Recruitment of Additional Armed Forces’ mentioned clearly in the CPA.” UNMIN has always stood behind the YCL, issuing statements in its defence, adds the report.

It states that UNMIN often argues that the CPA was signed as a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ when any dispute arises regarding interpretation of CPA provisions.

UNMIN has kept NA representatives in JMCC in dark regarding its secret recognition of Nanda Kishor Pun and Chandra Prakash Khanal as PLA combatants though they were never registered as combatants. The report blamed UNMIN for recognising Maoists and PLA as not only parallel bodies but as parallel

governments.

“It is mysterious why UNMIN and Maoists have been propagating the ‘two parties’ status of the armed conflict through artificial division even though the Maoists have been carrying out the role of the state party in the parliament.”

NA is considering to forward the paper on UNMIN to the UN headquarters if needed, said NA sources.
Nnnn

British ambassador designate under fire

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: The newly appointed British Ambassador to Nepal John Tucknott attended a public function Wednesday without presenting his credentials, Naya Patrika reports.
He addressed a public programme as ambassador.
Before this, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood set aside diplomatic norms and practice and started political meetings in 2065 without presenting credentials.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Right now, there’s no situation to discuss the king and monarchy. The three parties are responsible for the current uncertainly. They dopn’t have political culture.”

(RPP Chairman Pashupati Shumshere Rana, Nagarik, 26 Aug.)
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• HOME
• ET CETERA
UNMIN’s mandate

The current mandate of UNMIN is expiring in mid-September 2010. Lack of progress in the peace process is a matter of concern to all, and UNMIN has expressed it in no uncertain term. It has sought the position of the government and political parties about the planned timetable for integration and rehabilitation (I/R) of Maoist combatants, and UNMIN’s future. The government in consultation with major political parties will have to take a decision regarding its future—whether to continue its presence in the present form, or with revised mandate, or terminate its presence and handover the responsibilities to other appropriate body, Dr Ram Sharan Mhat writes in The Kathmandu Post. .



Superseded

UNMIN was established in early 2007 immediately after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) at the request of the host country following political consensus. Its mandated task was to help the implementation of the Agreement on the Management of Arms and Armed Personnel (AMAA), particularly, ‘“to monitor the confinements of Maoist army combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas and monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains within the barracks and its weapons are not used against any side.”

Much water has flown down the Bagmati river since UNMIN’s original mandate was written in late 2006. Interim government was formed with Maoist participation, following the promulgation of the Interim Constitution 2007. Election was held to the Constituent Assembly (CA) in which the CPN (Maoist) emerged as the largest political party in the legislature, and led the first Cabinet. The country became a republic. Consequent upon these developments and experience of the last four years of peace process, the original mandate of UNMIN has largely been superseded and outdated, and therefore, calls for review.

The reference of Nepal Army (NA) remaining in the barracks, like the Maoist combatants in the cantonments, as mentioned in the original mandate, was to ensure that it would not be used to unduly influence the CA election. Another objective was to prevent

the NA from being a possible obstacle to the country’s march towards a

republic state in view of its traditional loyalty to the institution of monarchy. Both these objectives have been achieved, and NA has fully accepted the realities of changed political context and complied with new directives. Furthermore, it has an important duty of performing the role mandated by the constitution and relevant laws. Article 4.8 of the CPA clarifies that the Nepal Army will continue to perform its normal functions like border security, security of the conservation areas, protected parks, banks, airports, power houses, telephone towers, central secretariat and security of VIPs.

Against this background, continuation of UNMIN surveillance and monitoring of NA, almost at par with the former rebel force waiting to be reintegrated and rehabilitated, is unfair and unjustified, particularly when the NA is under civilian control and accountable to parliament. This must stop.



Obsolete paradigm

It is ironical that UNMIN continues to object to Nepal Army’s recruitment of army personnel even to fill up the vacant posts citing Article 5.1.2 of the CPA, which says, “Both sides shall not recruit additional military forces or shall not transport arms and ammunitions and explosives or conduct military activities against each other”. This is contrary to the ruling of Nepal’s Supreme Court, which says that fresh intake within the size existing at the time of CPA signing cannot be interpreted as additional recruitment. If the NA had stopped such routine recruitments since Nov. 6, 2006 when the CPA was signed, the size of Nepal Army would have been severely depleted and truncated by now, making its normal functions difficult.

There is also no justification in continuing the reference of “two sides” or “parties to conflict” to indicate Nepal government and the CPN (Maoist), or the Nepal Army and the Maoist combatants. This paradigm is obsolete and outdated.

Article 10.5 of the CPA has clearly said that the concept of two sides would cease to exist after the formation of the Interim parliament.



Controversial Role

It is generally perceived that UNMIN officials have a pro Maoist bias—which is often reflected in their reports and actions—raising question about the impartiality of the world body. I have myself publicly commented on some of them presented to the Security Council, questioning their tenor, nuance and even contents. In fact Prachanda boasted to his cadres during a training session in Shaktikhor that the UNMIN Chief is secretly supporting them. UNMIN has also been criticised for the huge gap between public expectation and their ability to deliver with respect to monitoring and supervising the combatants. The mandated task “the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons to designated cantonment areas” has not been handled effectively.

There is no daily roll call of the combatants under UNMIN supervision. They rely on second hand reports by Maoist commanders, without verification. About half of the registered combatants reportedly do not stay in the camps, but collect the monthly allowance provided by the government. Many of them have deserted the camps long ago and joined other outfits or rebel groups about which UNMIN has very little information. UNMIN has displayed helplessness in the face of blatant criminal activities involving the inmates, and the camps being used for political training and indoctrination by the CPN (Maoist). Activities of the likes of Kali Bahadur Kham Magar, and incidents like those of Kapilabastu and Nepalganj speak for themselves. The government also had genuine grievance when UNMIN refused to share information with them about the inmates for the purpose of monthly payments.

The constitutional provision says that the temporary cantonments of the Maoist combatants would come under the control and command of the Special Committee comprising of the representatives of major political parties. Subsequently, the seven-party agreement of June 25, 2008 stated that the Special Committee would complete the rehabilitation and integration within six months after which the government would have no obligation whatsoever. The integration and rehabilitation (I/R) was expected to be completed within six month after the CA election, while the constitution making would take two years. But the Maoists refuse to implement these constitutional obligation and written agreement. They insist that the I/R will have to wait until the constitution is drafted. They are trying to use their military force, instead of the parliamentary strength, as a leverage to write the constitution of their liking. Similarly, they want to link the question of Special Committee’s control over cantonments to their coming to power. Such postures represent serious deviations from the peace process.



Conclusion

The current impasse has arisen because of the Maoist refusal to renounce violence and demobilise the former combatants. UNMIN’s interpretation about its role vis-à-vis the Nepal Army is also outdated and invalid. Continuation of their presence in the present form will not be without further criticism and controversies. In the interest of UN’s reputation and effectiveness, the present mandate must be revisited to reflect the new developments of the post-CA election period. Its future role should be limited to: first hand monitoring of Maoist camps, not relying on second-hand reports; and supporting the Special Committee in the I/R of the Maoist combatants and disposition of arms. Nepal Army must be kept out of UNMIN’s purview, and should be allowed to function as a normal army, subject to the country’s own laws and regulations.
nnnn

Bhuban Lal Pradhan dead

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Bhuban Lal Pradhan, 90, died Thursday morning.
He was minister in the panchayat era and a historian.
Pradhan, suffering kidney ailment, had penned more then a dozen books on history and culture.
Nnnn

Five bodies of air crash victims identified

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Body parts of six Nepalis killed in an Agni Air Dronier air crash Wednesday were identified by forensic experts until Wednesday night and handed over to relatives at the TU Teaching Hospital.
Body parts of Capt. Laxman (Lucky) Praksh Bikram Shah, Co-pilot Sophia Singh, flight attendant Sara Sherpa, Ishwar Rijal, Asshwani Raai and Pemba Sherpa.
Fourteen passengers and crew perished in the crash.
Four American, a Japanese and a Briton were killed.
Meanwhile, a team of the German aircraft company arrived Wednesday to conduct its own investigation.
The aircraft’s black box that could provide reasons for the crash has yet to be recovered.
Nnnn

Floods, landslides kill seven more person

Kathmandu, 25 Aug.: Floods and landslides killed seven more persons nation wide-wide Wednesday.
Floods and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rain have left behind a trail of death and destruction.
Urban areas and villages have been inundated in the terai and crops have been destroyed.
nnnn

UNMIN hand-in-glove with Maoists, claims NA
KATHMANDU, 26 Aug.: : The Nepali Army has accused the United Nations Mission in Nepal of conniving with UCPN-Maoist to tarnish the image of the national army and prolong its stay beyond September 15, the Himalayan Times reports..

While the Maoists strategically try to undermine the position of NA and the parliamentary system as a whole, the UNMIN wants to prolong its stay in Nepal by delaying the ongoing peace process, states a confidential briefing paper prepared by Nepali Army Headquarters.

“The 60-week roadmap of the UNMIN has helped the Maoists to delay the army integration process, and the Maoists seem to be adamant on extending the mandate of the UNMIN at any cost. It has helped weaken the position of NA. The so-called roadmap is nothing but its latent desire to extend its stay in Nepal.”

“This shows the underlying common interests of the Maoists and the UNMIN in Nepali peace process. It proves that the UNMIN’s role has been serving the interests of the UCPN-Maoist,” the paper states.

NA Headquarters sources said the briefing paper reflects NA’s official position, which has consistently maintained critical view of UNMIN’s modus operandi and ‘engagement in Nepal’s political affairs’.

The UNMIN has exceeded its jurisdiction time and again, states the report, citing the UN agency’s move to challenge the Supreme Court’s clarification on army recruitment. “That is a flagrant violation of the rule of law in Nepal.”

The government should take necessary decision to force UNMIN to pack up and leave and recall NA representatives from the ‘controversial’ Joint Monitoring and Coordination Committee. “There is no need to extend UNMIN’s tenure since the country is no longer in conflict.”

The Army will not take part in Thursday’s JMCC meeting to protest against the day’s agenda to discuss NA’s ongoing recruitment process, Brig Gen Ramindra Chhetri told THT. “We shall not allow discussion on army recruitment in the JMCC meeting.”

NA pointed out that the UNMIN had turned a deaf ear towards convincing the Maoists to abide by the prevailing laws of the country as envisioned in Article 2.e of the CPA.

UNMIN has helped Maoists to maintain the two parties’ status quo by recognising NA and PLA as parallel army structures instead of convincing Maoists that NA recruitment is initiated as per the prevailing laws.

UNMIN maintains double standards and tries to mislead all concerned, including the international community, states the report. “In its recent press release UNMIN uses the phrase ‘Recruitment of New People’ instead of ‘Recruitment of Additional Armed Forces’ mentioned clearly in the CPA.” UNMIN has always stood behind the YCL, issuing statements in its defence, adds the report.

It states that UNMIN often argues that the CPA was signed as a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ when any dispute arises regarding interpretation of CPA provisions.

UNMIN has kept NA representatives in JMCC in dark regarding its secret recognition of Nanda Kishor Pun and Chandra Prakash Khanal as PLA combatants though they were never registered as combatants. The report blamed UNMIN for recognising Maoists and PLA as not only parallel bodies but as parallel

governments.

“It is mysterious why UNMIN and Maoists have been propagating the ‘two parties’ status of the armed conflict through artificial division even though the Maoists have been carrying out the role of the state party in the parliament.”

NA is considering to forward the paper on UNMIN to the UN headquarters if needed, said NA sources.
Nnnn

British ambassador designate under fire

Kathmandu, 26 Aug.: The newly appointed British Ambassador to Nepal John Tucknott attended a public function Wednesday without presenting his credentials, Naya Patrika reports.
He addressed a public programme as ambassador.
Before this, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood set aside diplomatic norms and practice and started political meetings in 2065 without presenting credentials.
nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Right now, there’s no situation to discuss the king and monarchy. The three parties are responsible for the current uncertainly. They dopn’t have political culture.”

(RPP Chairman Pashupati Shumshere Rana, Nagarik, 26 Aug.)
nnnn
• HOME
• ET CETERA
UNMIN’s mandate

The current mandate of UNMIN is expiring in mid-September 2010. Lack of progress in the peace process is a matter of concern to all, and UNMIN has expressed it in no uncertain term. It has sought the position of the government and political parties about the planned timetable for integration and rehabilitation (I/R) of Maoist combatants, and UNMIN’s future. The government in consultation with major political parties will have to take a decision regarding its future—whether to continue its presence in the present form, or with revised mandate, or terminate its presence and handover the responsibilities to other appropriate body, Dr Ram Sharan Mhat writes in The Kathmandu Post. .



Superseded

UNMIN was established in early 2007 immediately after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) at the request of the host country following political consensus. Its mandated task was to help the implementation of the Agreement on the Management of Arms and Armed Personnel (AMAA), particularly, ‘“to monitor the confinements of Maoist army combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas and monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains within the barracks and its weapons are not used against any side.”

Much water has flown down the Bagmati river since UNMIN’s original mandate was written in late 2006. Interim government was formed with Maoist participation, following the promulgation of the Interim Constitution 2007. Election was held to the Constituent Assembly (CA) in which the CPN (Maoist) emerged as the largest political party in the legislature, and led the first Cabinet. The country became a republic. Consequent upon these developments and experience of the last four years of peace process, the original mandate of UNMIN has largely been superseded and outdated, and therefore, calls for review.

The reference of Nepal Army (NA) remaining in the barracks, like the Maoist combatants in the cantonments, as mentioned in the original mandate, was to ensure that it would not be used to unduly influence the CA election. Another objective was to prevent

the NA from being a possible obstacle to the country’s march towards a

republic state in view of its traditional loyalty to the institution of monarchy. Both these objectives have been achieved, and NA has fully accepted the realities of changed political context and complied with new directives. Furthermore, it has an important duty of performing the role mandated by the constitution and relevant laws. Article 4.8 of the CPA clarifies that the Nepal Army will continue to perform its normal functions like border security, security of the conservation areas, protected parks, banks, airports, power houses, telephone towers, central secretariat and security of VIPs.

Against this background, continuation of UNMIN surveillance and monitoring of NA, almost at par with the former rebel force waiting to be reintegrated and rehabilitated, is unfair and unjustified, particularly when the NA is under civilian control and accountable to parliament. This must stop.



Obsolete paradigm

It is ironical that UNMIN continues to object to Nepal Army’s recruitment of army personnel even to fill up the vacant posts citing Article 5.1.2 of the CPA, which says, “Both sides shall not recruit additional military forces or shall not transport arms and ammunitions and explosives or conduct military activities against each other”. This is contrary to the ruling of Nepal’s Supreme Court, which says that fresh intake within the size existing at the time of CPA signing cannot be interpreted as additional recruitment. If the NA had stopped such routine recruitments since Nov. 6, 2006 when the CPA was signed, the size of Nepal Army would have been severely depleted and truncated by now, making its normal functions difficult.

There is also no justification in continuing the reference of “two sides” or “parties to conflict” to indicate Nepal government and the CPN (Maoist), or the Nepal Army and the Maoist combatants. This paradigm is obsolete and outdated.

Article 10.5 of the CPA has clearly said that the concept of two sides would cease to exist after the formation of the Interim parliament.



Controversial Role

It is generally perceived that UNMIN officials have a pro Maoist bias—which is often reflected in their reports and actions—raising question about the impartiality of the world body. I have myself publicly commented on some of them presented to the Security Council, questioning their tenor, nuance and even contents. In fact Prachanda boasted to his cadres during a training session in Shaktikhor that the UNMIN Chief is secretly supporting them. UNMIN has also been criticised for the huge gap between public expectation and their ability to deliver with respect to monitoring and supervising the combatants. The mandated task “the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons to designated cantonment areas” has not been handled effectively.

There is no daily roll call of the combatants under UNMIN supervision. They rely on second hand reports by Maoist commanders, without verification. About half of the registered combatants reportedly do not stay in the camps, but collect the monthly allowance provided by the government. Many of them have deserted the camps long ago and joined other outfits or rebel groups about which UNMIN has very little information. UNMIN has displayed helplessness in the face of blatant criminal activities involving the inmates, and the camps being used for political training and indoctrination by the CPN (Maoist). Activities of the likes of Kali Bahadur Kham Magar, and incidents like those of Kapilabastu and Nepalganj speak for themselves. The government also had genuine grievance when UNMIN refused to share information with them about the inmates for the purpose of monthly payments.

The constitutional provision says that the temporary cantonments of the Maoist combatants would come under the control and command of the Special Committee comprising of the representatives of major political parties. Subsequently, the seven-party agreement of June 25, 2008 stated that the Special Committee would complete the rehabilitation and integration within six months after which the government would have no obligation whatsoever. The integration and rehabilitation (I/R) was expected to be completed within six month after the CA election, while the constitution making would take two years. But the Maoists refuse to implement these constitutional obligation and written agreement. They insist that the I/R will have to wait until the constitution is drafted. They are trying to use their military force, instead of the parliamentary strength, as a leverage to write the constitution of their liking. Similarly, they want to link the question of Special Committee’s control over cantonments to their coming to power. Such postures represent serious deviations from the peace process.



Conclusion

The current impasse has arisen because of the Maoist refusal to renounce violence and demobilise the former combatants. UNMIN’s interpretation about its role vis-à-vis the Nepal Army is also outdated and invalid. Continuation of their presence in the present form will not be without further criticism and controversies. In the interest of UN’s reputation and effectiveness, the present mandate must be revisited to reflect the new developments of the post-CA election period. Its future role should be limited to: first hand monitoring of Maoist camps, not relying on second-hand reports; and supporting the Special Committee in the I/R of the Maoist combatants and disposition of arms. Nepal Army must be kept out of UNMIN’s purview, and should be allowed to function as a normal army, subject to the country’s own laws and regulations.
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