MAOISTS AGREE TO NEPAL ARMY PURCHASE OF ARMS RECRUITMENT

Kathmandu, 15 Sept. A special committee for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants chaired by Prime Minister Madhab Kumar Nepal Wednesday agreed to a timetable to begin integration and resettlement of Maoist combatants from 17 September.
The meeting, which Maoists was attended, agreed to the purchase of logistics ‘for the smooth operation of peacekeeping operations of Nepal Army’ and recruitment.
Both sides agreed to draft a code of conduct for the regulation of combatants.
Maoists appear to have changed position and have apparently become flexible.
The four-month tenure of UNMIN ends Wednesday was also discussed.
Following earlier differences, government and Maoists sent separate to the United Nations Tuesday to extend the mandate for another four months.
Although PM Nepal and Chairman Prachanda agreed the extension would be the last in a four-point agreement, the Maoist letter to the UN didn’t mention that point in the party’s communication to the world body.
The government letter mentions the point.
PM Nepal Wednesday briefed the committee on details of the four-point agreement.
The special committee meets again Thursday to draw up a schedule for integration and resettlement.
“I hope the process for integration and resettlement will start soon,” said NC member of the committee Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
Maoist committee member Barshaman Pun said his party ‘agreed to remove obstacles faced by Nepal Army. We won’t oppose.” Pun said after the meeting.
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FORMER MINISTER PRABHU NARAYAN CHAUDHARY DEAD

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: Former Minister and Chairman of CPN (Marxist) Prabhu Narayan Chaudhary, 68, died of a heart attack at a hospital in the capital Tuesday.
He left behind a wife, two sons and four daughters.
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DRIVER MISSING AFTER BEING TOSSED IN RIVER

Kathmandu, 15 Sept. A driver went missing after an angry crown tossed him into Bheri river when a vehicle he was driving killed a boy in Surkhet Monday.
Three persons have been detained for investigations.
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UML POLITBURO MEET 20 Sept.

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: UML politburo meeting has been scheduled for 20 September.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel agreed to convene the meet.
The powerful body is meeting amid calls by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari and KP Sharma Oli for a change in party position to stay neutral in elections for prime minister.
The three influential party members are pressing Jhanal to change party position to stay neutral and vote for NC candidate Ram Chandra Paudel.
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UML BLASTS BAN, LANDGREN

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: UML which is leading a coalition, in a statement Tuesday, blasted UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon and UNMIN Representative Karin Landgrenon the UN version of the current political situation in Nepal.
Ban, in a report to the security council, said the mandate of the UNMIN should be decided not by the caretaker government but its successor
Landgren, in a 7 September report, said UML by staying neutral in voting for prime minister, was a stumbling block to government formation.
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US ASSISTANCE TO CURB TRAFFICKING

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: USAID Tuesday offered Nepal $6.8 million for the next five years to curb trafficking of persons in six districts, US embassy said.
Asia Foundation and 11 partners who will contribute additional finds will implement the project.
An estimated 15,000 women and girls are trafficked to India every year.
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JUCDICAL COUNCIL CLEARS SEVEN JUDGES

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: A meeting of the judicial council chaired by Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha Tuesday decided to continue probes of four judges and cleared seven other judges.
Their names weren’t released.
The meeting studied a report of supreme court justice Top Bahadur Magar who conducted a six-month probe and presented it to the council.
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SEVEN TIBETANS ARESTED

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: Seven Tibetans illegally entering Nepal overland from Tibet were arrested by police in Dolakha Tuesday.
A Nepali teacher allegedly helping them was also arrested.
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REBEL GUNNED DOWN IN SARLAHI

Kathmandu, 15 Sept. Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha leader Bikram was killed in an encounter with police along Bagnati river in Sarlahi Tuesday.
Six rebels escaped.
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STEEL PLANT BOMBED

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: Two out of four bombs planted at Guenwenka Steel Plant at Gorbaniyain Rupendhaehi Tuesday night damaged four security posts.
There were no human casualties.
A terai rebel outfit claimed responsibility.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

BIG CHINESE INVESTMENT IN NEPAL

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: China wants to invest in Nepal’s unrealized hydropower potential in “a big way”, utilizing its huge foreign currency reserves. Already, Nepal is among the top recipients of Chinese aid, second only to North Korea, according to the Chinese Embassy., The Kathmandu post writes.

A 47-member team of Chinese entrepreneurs, hydropower experts and power developers arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday to attend a high-level conclave organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will inaugurate the three-day “brainstorming session,” which Nepal’s top bureaucrats, policy makers and entrepreneurs will attend.

“Investment in Hydropower” will be the 11th initiative in the Nepal-China non-Governmental Cooperation series started in 1996 during the visit of then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to China.

Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel, Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai, Energy Secretary Shanker Koirala and entrepreneurs from the Nepali hydro power sector will participate in the conclave. Nepal and India had orgainsed such a conclave

for two consecutive years after Jana Andolan II in 2006, with Nepal Electricity Authority and Power Trading Corporation of India as the lead agencies.

During the three-day segment, entrepreneurs and experts from both sides will give their perspectives on Nepal’s policy and investment opportunities on hydropower, and more importantly, how China can help the hydro power sector in Nepal.

Quan Zhezhu, vice-minister of the United Front Work of CPC Central Committee (UFW) and party secretary of All China Federation of Industries and Commerce (AFIC) will lead the Chinese delegation. Representatives from Snap Power Company, Sino Hydro and Dtang Company are interested in investing in the hydro sector in Nepal, said a government official.

Kumin and Xian provinces that have extensive experience in developing hydropower and grid extension are also in the Chinese delegation.

“China wants to engage its state owned companies in Nepal’s hydro power sector, utilizing its huge foreign currency reserve. This is a clear indication that China wants to extend its quick growth to Nepal to tap our hydro power potential,” a senior Foreign Ministry Official said. Export and Import Bank of China (EXIM), Gezhouba Company, the builder of Three Gorges Dam are also interested in investing in Nepal, said sources.

The Upper Trishuli ‘A’ project, which receives US $ 89.23 million soft loan from China, is the only ongoing hydro power project funded by the Chinese government. Nepal has been asking China to build a 400-MW Nasyalgadh in Jajarkot district, “which is under consideration from the Chinese side.”

In a view to strengthen cooperation in hydro and broader trade and investment sectors, Nepal and China signed a strategic Compressive Economic Partnership Agreement during Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s visit to China last December.

“China seems keen to mobilise its vast foreign currency reserve as well as generate revenue for the state owned companies,” said a government officials. “That also signifies its growing assistance to its close neighbours.”

It’s no secret that China has long been interested in mega projects in Nepal, just as it is elsewhere, say officials. “They have asked Nepal to ease up procedural hurdles, such as expediting the tedious bidding process which slows down the projects.”

There is also the possibility of joint Sino-Indian efforts in developing Nepal’s hydropower sector, he added. West Seti can be taken as an immediate example. India will not step in to oppose the Chinese move should the Chinese show interest.”
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“An eagle flies high in the sky. Sometimes it’s on the ground, like a chicken which can’t fly in the sky..
“

(Chairman Prachanda compares his party with an eagle, Annapurna Post, 15 Sept.”

‘They’re even raped. But there’s no place to lodge a complaint. When go to a place and lodge a complaint we’re bracketed as males against whom rape charges aren’t accepted.”

(Third gender Meghana Lama, Janaastha, 15 Sept.)
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SHORT SKIRTS TO BE BANNED

Kathmandu, 15 Sept,: Short skirts are to be banned in colleges with their growing popularity, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Skirts are being banned by government because of aberrations they could create in society.
A dress code in being prepared by a government appointed education management office.
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MONARCHY COULD STAGE COMEBACK; KHUM BAHADUR KHADKA

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: Khum Bahadur Khadka, who joined the staunch anti-monarchist Sher Bahadur Deuba camp in NC, said monarchy could state a comeback.
“There are many possibilities. Can’t predict anything. Leaders have to improve their character. Leaders of all parties must assemble at one place and form a government of national unity or majority government according to the mandate given by people and give the nation an outlet.
“If this behaviour continues, it won’t last. Leaders have to change their character. Give people peace,” Khadka told Dhristi in reply to a question whether a republic will be sustained.” People won’t tolerate this uncertainty and lawlessness. Anyone can be abducted anytime. Weapons have like yoyos of children.”
Khadka said,” It was a strategic mistake to go for a republic before constituent assembly elections.”
He hit out at Girija Prasad Koirala.
“Who else, but Girija Prasad Koirala. Why take the name of others when the leader is the villain. Girijababu was behind it,” Khadka said in reply to a question who was the villain who brought NC to the present dismal position.
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UK RESUMES CITIZENSHIP DISTRIBUTION

Kathmandu, 15 Sept.: As the UK government has decided to resume the citizenship to those who had been holding British Overseas Citizenship (BOC), the Nepalis living in Hong Kong thronged the office of the UK Consul General on Tuesday, Republica reports from Hong Kong.
The process was stalled three months ago.
As estimated 2,000 British citizenship seekers, including 530 applicants who have already been waiting for a decision, will benefit from the new provision that began on September 6.
‘The resumption of the process will make it a lot easier for those Nepalis who had been missing out on an earlier occasion to obtain British citizenship,” said Hong Kong Consul General Binod Upadhaya.
Children of British soldiers born in Hong Kong were provided with British National Overseas (BNOs) before the UK officially handed over Hong Kong to China in 1997. Nepalis with BOCs are entitled to receive British citizenship.
The dispute over obtaining British citizenship surfaced after Nepalis, possessing Nepali citizenships , submitted documents stating that they took Nepali citizenship by ‘mistake’.
Following the incident, the British embassy has asked its Nepali embassy to verify the documents prior to lodging applications, BOC holders can’t retain Nepali citizenship.
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