FORMER KING LAUNCHES LGANESH CHAUTLI CELEBRATIONS

Kathmandu, `11 Sept.: Amid Maoist threats, former King Gyanendra launched Ganesh Chauti celebrations at a school complex in Biratnagar Saturday.
The day is observed to celebrate Lord Ganesh birthday.
Shah is offering prayers and puja at various temples in the industrial town.
The then king will fly back to the capital Saturday after meeting leaders of society in the town.
Maoists shad obstructed distribution of pipes and water tank in Dolakha earthier this month.
The former king has been in touch with society ever since his ouster and since March has been visiting temples in various carts of the country.
Former Crown Prance has returned home from Singapore to attempt revive monarchy.
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SECRET FOURM, MAOIST UNDERSTANDING

Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: Despite a tripartite agreement between two MJFs and Maoists to form a government by participating in elections, MJFL withdrew at the last moment delaying government formation for the 7th time, Kantipur reports.
Two Forums and Maoists held several rounds of tripartite talks and discussed introducing an inclusive bill, formation of a special unit in Nepal Army bill and autonomous Madesh Pradesh and other issues on which there was agreement.
Maoists had given consent for the integration of 8,000 persons but was to be kept a secret.
There was also agreement to disband YCL one week after government formation and return seized assets by a process in one month. Both the Forums had given agreement to this to which there was no written agreement and a government could be formed, according to Jayaparakash Gupta, Co-chairman of Madesh Janaadhikar Forum.
This was discussed with NSP and TMLP as well.
“Whatever demands are met by Maoists, TMLP and Sadbhavana, can’t agree to a government under Maoists,” said a senior TMLP leader told Kantipur. “ In the present circumstance, the ball is in the MJFL court.”
A leader of MJFL said: “ Not to vote even after an agreement reflects the intense pressure from elsewhere.”
Jayaprakash Gupta said:” Whatever demands a met, the Madesh front,there was no unanimity on a government under Maoists.”
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PM BEGINS PARLEYS
Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has begun political consultation with cabinet ministers about the mandate and tenure of United Nations Mission in Nepal, as its future has remained uncertain after the government sent a letter on Tuesday to the UN body, curtailing its previous mandate of monitoring both the Maoist combatants and Nepali Army.

UNMIN’s current tenure expires on September 15 but the peace process is still in limbo.

The PM today [Friday] held discussion with senior cabinet ministers and Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai on possibility of sending a joint letter to be agreed by the government and the Unified CPN-Maoist to UN regarding its mandate and renewed term.

The uncertainty grew after the government unilaterally sent a letter to the UN on

Tuesday, requesting it only to monitor the Maoist cantonments and the Maoist armies. The government letter mentioned nothing about the

UNMIN’s role on monitoring the Nepali Army.

Deputy PM Sujata Koirala, Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong, Minister for Culture, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Minendra Rijal attended the meeting.

Opposing the government’s move, the Unified CPN-Maoist also sent a separate letter to the world body on Thursday, asking it to monitor both the Maoist combatants and their arms, as well as the Nepali Army, in line with the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies and the interim constitution. Bishnu Rijal, press adviser to the PM, told this daily that the meeting focused on sending a joint letter to UN Security Council on mutual understanding between the Maoists and the government.

Rijal said the PM asked senior cabinet ministers and foreign secretary to explore ways of reaching an understanding between the two sides on UNMIN’s fresh term and mandate.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on behalf of the UNSC, has asked the government and the Maoists to send a joint letter if the UNMIN were to stay in Nepal until the conclusion of the peace process. UNMIN was called in the country in 2007 to monitor the ceasefire, Constituent Assembly election and Maoist combatants, their arms as well as the Nepali Army.

In case the government and the Maoist fail to send a joint letter to the UNSC regarding the UNMIN’s fate, UNSC might decide to let UN body continue for up to 60 days until a final decision was taken.
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