GOVT., MAOIST AGREEMENT ON UNMIN

Kathmandu, 14 Sept: Monday’s four-point agreement on UNMIN.
1. UNMIN mandate with current mandate to be extended for last time for four months.
2. Outstanding issues related with peace process to be completed by 14 January 2011 by taking up the remaining process from 17 September..
3. Bring Maoist combatants under the special committee without delay and share all information on combatants with the committee.
4. Endorse and implement documents of the special committee to push the peace process.
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STAMP TO COMMEMORATE TIGER YEAR

Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday will release a Rs 5 denomination postage stamp issued by the department of Postal Services depicting tiger put cancellation mark on a cover.
Nepal is commemorating 2010 as Tiger Year.
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FINLAND AMBASSADOR TAKES CHARGE

Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Finland’s ambassador Terhi Hakala assumed office Monday by presenting her credentials to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
Besides Finland, Scandinavian countries Denmark and Norway have residential embassies in Nepal.
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RS 1 MILLION GOVT DOLE FOR INDRAJATRA

Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Government has decided to release one million rupees for the coming Indrajatra festival.
Indrajatra is being observed 22 September.
Maoists in government didn’t release funds for the festival creating a controversy.
The party argued government couldn’t release funds for the festival after a declaration of a secular state.
Huge protests were triggered in the capital by the Maoist decision not to fund the festival.
Nepal is a predominantly Hindu state.
Past attempts to sow discord between Hindus and Buddhists who were always living in harmony has now mellowed.
Buddhists were discouraged from observing Hindu festivities.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The chances of the Madeshi Front voting for Nepali Congress candidate Paudel is increasing as there has been consensus on many agenda items raised in the second letter written by the Nepali Congress to the Madesh front.”

(Minister without Portfolio Laxman Lal Karma, Republica, 14 Sept.)

“Handing over the control of state to a party which has not given up its penchant for capturing power through revolt cannot be good for democracy.”

(PM Nepal, The Himalayan Times, 14 Sept.)


OBERTHRU TECHNOLOGIES TO BEGIN WORK TO ISSUE MRPs
Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: A high-level team of Oberthur Technologies is arriving here on Wednesday to install and inspect technical equipments of Machine Readable Passport (MPR) project, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The team is due to inspect the under construction site inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) where equipments of MRP project such as personalisation, computer, networking and printing machine will be fixed, said Siddahanta Rana, Nepal’s representative to Oberthur.
“The team will inspect the personalisation centre and will hold a meeting with officials with Foreign Ministry officials,” he said.
The French company has committed to supply per MRP copy at US$ 3.59 according to the deal signed with MoFA on Aug. 27. As per the commitment and agreement, Oberthur will provide the first sample copies of all four kind of passports—ordinary, diplomatic, official and travel document—within next two weeks. The sample copies should get clearance from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to meet the international standard before introducing
new passports.
“Once we meet the ICAO’s requirement, we hope the first sample copy of MRP passports will arrive at the end of October and delivery will start thereafter,” he said.
In view of its international experience and exposure, Oberthur will provide full security proof passports, he claimed.
“If we the current pace of work continues we will easily meet the 70-day deadline of the first MRP delivery,” he said.
The countdown has begun from Aug. 27. According to the agreement, the government has to issue first MRP copy 15 days after the first arrival of the passport by Nov. 21.
However, MoFA is facing technical hurdles such as how to reach out to public to collect application forms.
“As per the ICAO’s guideline, we cannot decentralise the passport distribution system. Passport seekers can apply from their respective district administrative offices. But it is a herculean task for us to collect the forms from all 75 districts, vet the submitted documents and deliver to the applicants,” a MoFA official said on condition of anonymity.
“Due to frequent load shedding, it would not easy to install internet in all 75 districts.
If we cannot get the verified applications through the Internet, we need to seek a reliable postal service which we lack here,” the official said
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RS 30 MILLION NC CONVENTION

Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Nepali Congress (NC) has reserved 103 hotels in various four locations in the capital for its over 3,300 general convention representatives and observers coming from across the country, Republica reports.
Organizing a press conference in the party’s headquarters on Monday, Bal Bahadur KC, coordinator of the Food and Lodging Management Committee for the 12th general convention said they have reserved altogether 103 hotels in Gaushala, Bagbazzar, Kamalpokhari, Sundhara-Bhotebahal and Thamel -Chetrapati areas.
:We have made one bed per person arrangement for the convention period,” he said.
The 12th general convention of the party is scheduled for September 17-21.
Each participant has to pay Rs 1,000 as participation fee for the convention.
According to KC, the party has made food arrangement at Bhrikuti Mandap and the participants would be provided with lunch and dinner besides refreshment in the morning.
The NC had earlier estimated that the total expense of the 12th general convention would stand at Rs 30 million, The party announced it would collect Rs 10 million on its own and Rs 20 million through donations.
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NC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SHER BAHADUR DEUBA’S INTERVIEW WITH THE HIMALAYAN TIMES.

:

Why your candidacy?

The main objective is to establish the NC as the largest party in Nepal. NC fell behind in the Constituent Assembly elections and today it is two times smaller than UCPN-Maoist. “The peace process initiated by late Girija Prasad Koirala is incomplete and I will take it forward.”

It is necessary to meet the challenges thrown up by the 21st century; establish NC as a powerful political force; and work to promote the minorities living in Nepal by accommodating them and encouraging the youths, women, dalit, indigenous groups, scholars and the handicapped.

Besides, democratic norms and values have eroded. People in villages live in fear, terrrorised as they are by the Maoists. I want all Nepalis to live free from fear and terror, it’s important. I think these goals are achievable.



What are your programmes for revitalising the party?

NC’s glory is not lost. The party needs to be revitalised. We will prepare political literatures to attract youths and will orient them. NC is the only party, which from its birth, has been committed to multiparty democracy and pluralism, independent judiciary and people’s right to property and to promotion of civil liberties. Active participation of youth is necessary to make the party a vibrant organisation. Organisational consolidation will be given priority. We will work to make people from all walks of life and communities feel they belong to the party. NC currently operates on an ad-hoc basis, it can’t go on like this any longer. The grassroots and the centre should be directly linked through technology and other means. The evaluation system within the party is at present not scientific and needs to be reviewed.



The party’s political document has proposed full-time cadres? Isn’t this practice typical of communist parties?

Full-timers should be introduced. We need them because there’s no one to work full time for the party. If we have full-timers, they can report to the centre and organise the grassroots. In some cases, these dedicated activists will also be necessary for self-defence. However, the modality and the pros and cons of maintaining full-timers still need to be discussed and finalised.



What are the lessons you learnt in politics and government? How are you different now from that ‘infamous’ prime minister?

As PM I don’t think I have made such mistakes. In my first term, I focused on water resources. The government signed the Mahakali Integrated Development Project with India, and initiated Kali Gandaki hydro-power project. Unfortunately, my tenure didn’t last long. I headed an extremely difficult coalition government. Bridges were constructed along the east-west highway and we signed the Trade Treaty with India, which everybody thinks is the best. Other things were also in progress, but they could not happen as my government was brought down.

Regarding your concern about giving the incentive to parliament members for buying “Pajero”, it was not my personal decision. In fact, it was an all-party decision taken by my predecessor — the UML-led government. Customs facility was given to ensure mobility for MPs so as to enable them to reach out to the villages. Unfortunately, the facility, in our case, was misused. That decision was endorsed by the parliament’s Business Advisory Committee. I only implemented it. I regret the misuse of that provision, but it was not, in any way, linked to the life of the government.

It was during my tenure that the Decentralisation Act and Local Self Governance Act were brought into force. I wanted to give to Village Development Committees and District Development Committees the rights. I created women’s ministry, youth ministry, environment and science and technology ministry. I created Dalit Commission, Women’s Commission and initiated land reform programmes and established the Janajati Pratisthan.

I was also the first to negotiate with the Maoists for four rounds and give them legitimacy. The king jailed me for a long period. In 2002, all parties wanted me to postpone the election. That was why the king fired me. How can I be wrong when I implement the recommendation of political parties? This hurt me. The parties were dishonest and charged me falsely, while the King was on the lookout for an excuse to punish me. After BP Koirala, I am the only prime minister who has been imprisoned. I would be a jailbird even now if the court had not given me justice.



Those who defected at one point of time are now back with you. How will you accommodate them?

They are all my friends and I can accommodate them. I have that capacity as I have already led a coalition government and have worked together with the other faction in the party. I will hold consultations with friends.



Suppose you win the party’s polls? How will you accommodate the rival faction, or suppose you lose how will you be part of the party organisation?

If I win, I will take them all ahead together. I will give them the role they deserve and respect them accordingly. I shall take them all on board if I am elected.



Suppose you win, how will it affect the NC’s stand in the government formation process?

No change.



If you win how will it help the constitution writing process? There are issues that have not been decided. For example, state restructuring.

Managing Maoist combatants, ending YCL excesses and guaranteeing democratic rights are the first things to be accomplished. Establishment of Federal Democratic Republic is a must because development cannot be channeled down from Kathmandu. We need to discuss with other political parties. Nepali Congress will never

compromise on the fundamentals of democracy: rule of law, pluralism,

civil liberties, press freedom, independent judiciary and multiparty democracy.



What do you think are the three best decisions that you took as president of NC-Democratic?

I made the NC-D inclusive for the first time with the inclusion of dalit, indigenous women and representation from the backward region Karnali. I made the provision of reservation from village to centre. Taking a decision to go to CA and making the fiscal policy of the state transparent were other decisions. Launching water resource projects and setting up different commissions have proved important for the nation’s development.



What further plans do you have for national development?

Developing water resources and the tourism sector and contributing to maintain political stability are my agendas. We need to develop and establish a stable political system in which elected governments can work. Without development of water resources, Nepal cannot progress. The most widely accepted system is multiparty democracy, but neither the kings nor the Maoists allowed the system to be firmly established. That is why every government has remained unstable. Now, we should compel the Maoists to transform into a democratic party.



What will be NC’s position in the next five years?

There is no proper evaluation system and the party suffers due to factionalism. Factionalism will end. Institutional development and internal democracy will be promoted. After five years, NC will take a huge step forward. It will be a party that reaches out to all and sundry across the country. People living in villages and remote areas will not feel a disconnect, as they do now. A system for maintaining transparency will be promoted and party workers’ contribution will be evaluated properly. We will have put in place a system of taking decisions by consensus and consultation. I promise to create a situation wherein law enforcement will be strong and people can move freely and enjoy democratic freedom.
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THREE CONDITIONS TO MAKE JHALANATH KHANAL PM

Kathmandu, 13 Sept.: Senior UML leader and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has set three conditions to push the candidacy of party chairman Jhalanath Khanal as prime minister, Annapurna Post reports.
Nepal suggested the party should remove Vice-chairman Bamdeb Gautam, standing committee member KP Sharma Oli should be appointed lawmaker and he himself should be appointed acting chairman.
Nepal has assured all assistance to Khanal is the proposals are met.
Khanal hasn’t agreed to the proposal.
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THREE MORE OFFICE BEARERS IN NC
Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Sushil Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba, two contenders for the party’s presidency, have agreed to make openings for three more office bearers in the party, Nagarik reports.
There’s provision in the party statute for only one elected vice-president and one elected general secretary.
Koirala and Deuba have agreed to amend the statute to enable thd president to appoint two vice-chairmen and one general secretary to accommodate supporters.
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NAXALS KILL 7 IN INDIA
Kathmandu, 14 Sept.: Maoist guerrillas [Naxalites] in India killed two policemen and five civilians on Monday in a two-day shutdown across the east of the country, police said, according to a AP report from Raipur.
‘Maoists shot dead two policemen in Dantewada district, 500 km south of the state capital Raipur,” senior police officer Rajesh Mishra said from the state of Chhattisgarh.
The jungle district of Dantewada is a Maoist stronghold. In April, a rebel ambush in the district killed 76 policemen in the bloodiest single attack so far on the security forces.
Police in Mindanapore of the state of West Bengal said the insurgents also shot dead five communist party supporters early Monday.
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