Nepal third in cricket tournament

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.: Nepal was placed third in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4 after beating Tanzania by10 wickets in Italy Saturday.
Nepal bowled out Tanzania for 73 runs in 39.3 overs and scored 74 runs in 12.3 overs without losing a wicket.
USA topped Division 4.
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UML proposal for peace, statute, consensus
KATHMANDU:, 22 Aug.: The CPN-UML Politburo meeting today [Saturday] prepared a document on peace, constitution and building national consensus among parties, The Himalayan Times reports..

The paper will be distributed to other parties and further revised incorporating inputs obtained from them, said Pradip Gyawali, chief of the party’s publicity department. Senior UML leaders, including caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal had discussed the draft paper at the prime minister’s residence, Baluwatar on Friday.

According to Gyawali, the politburo proposed that the UCPN-M must be ready to disband the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League and return properties seized during the conflict to the rightful owners within one month from the date of signing the new agreement. The entire peace process must be completed within four months, Gyawali said highlighting the paper.

The politburo has proposed bringing Maoist combatants under the command and control of the Special Committee on Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation. It also speaks of categorising the combatants into three groups — those who want to take voluntary retirement; those who want to be integrated into the national security forces; and those preferring rehabilitation in society — and closing all the 28 camps once and for all.

The party has also proposed ending the double security arrangement for select Maoist leaders. The Maoist leaders have been enjoying double security facility, one provided by the State and the other by their own fighters.

In order to forge national consensus for peace and the constitution, the UML has proposed constituting the three commissions envisaged by the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) and the Interim Constitution. They include formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Commission on Disappearances and Commission for Scientific Land Reforms.

Gyawali said the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated into the national security wings could be settled after discussing it at the highest political level if the UCPN-Maoist agreed to implement the deal on integration and rehabilitation of combatants within the agreed time frame.

On resolving disputed issues regarding the constitution in-the-making, Gyawali said, the new constitution has to be drafted on the basis of the 12-point understanding reached between the then Seven-Party Alliance and the then rebel Maoists, the CPA and the Interim Constitution.

“All the parties need to forge unanimity on universal values of democracy, independent judiciary and on preserving national integrity and the country’s independence,” he said, adding that the first draft of the constitution could be prepared following due process of the Constituent Assembly.

He, however, clarified that the UCPN-Maoist could not be allowed to lead the consensus government unless it transformed itself into a fully civilian party. The Party’s earlier decision to stay neutral will continue during the fifth round of the prime ministerial election due on Monday, he said, adding: “Our decision to stay neutral is to pressurise other parties to opt for national consensus.”
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