PRACHANDA WITHDRAWS CANDIDACY (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Friday withdrew his candidacy for prime minister in the 8th round parliamentary vote to elect Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s successor at a meeting between Maoists and UML leaders.
Both parties decided not to participate in the vote 26 September, Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Babruam Bhattarai said.
Bhattarai said repeated rounds of elections to elect a premier through majority didn’t yield results.
“This paves the way for change in parliamentary procedure for new process,” Bhattarai said.
“Majority lawmakers won’t participate on the vote, so nobody willget a majority,” the Maoist vice-chairman added.
Nepali Congress will have to join, he added.
A formal announced will be made by the speaker, Bhattarai revealed.
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NC 12TH GENERAL CONVENTION TO ELECT NEW LEADERSHIP

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: A new leadership to grab power following the death of Girija Prasad Koirala will be elected by the Nepali Congress 12th general convention beginning in the capital Friday.
The convention will adopt the party’s new policy, strategy, programmes by endorsing them to strengthen the organization.
NC will elect a 61 office bearers and central committee members, including president, general secretary and treasurer of a 85-member central working committee.
The remaining members will be nominated by the president after the party went for a collective leadership curtailing sweeping powers of the president.
Girija controlled the country’s oldest party, claiming to be a champion of democracy, with at iron fist.
The slogans of the party for the convention are is: Let’s institutionalize democratic republic after the party and Peace, Progress and democratic Constitutions after multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy was abandoned to opt for a republic which has run into rough weather.
The challenge for the party to institutionalize a democratic republic in a country where communists are the biggest political force; communist parties have a majority in parliament and the constituent assembly charged with drafting a constitution.
Acting President Sushil Koirala, three-time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Bhim Bahadur Tamang are the contenders for the presidency; Tamang characterizes his supporters as the ‘third force’ in the party divided between the Koirala or the establishment side and Deuba who led the NC (Democratic) after a split with Girija.
Prakash Man Singh is general secretary and Prabhu Narayan Chaudhary is treasurer in the Koirala panel.
Most members of the Koirala family are behind Sushil.
Bimalendra Nidhi is general secretary and Chitralekha Yadav is treasurer of the Deuba panel while Narahari Acharya is general secretary of the Tamang group.
Sushil Koirala is launching the convention at the open air theater.
The party split three years ago but hasn’t genuinely unified’ the unified party convention is being held for the first time..
Closed door session is being held at Bhrikutimandap while election will be conducted at the Nepal Academy complex in Kamaladi.
Sushil and Tamang don’t have a tainted past and are considered clean.
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the only surviving founding member of NC, called the party ‘nakkali’ or fake after it went republic and rejected an invitation to attend the convention.
“My presence in meaningless’ Bhattarai said in a makkali or fake party.
“Thank you for the invitation from the so-called republican Congress,” Bhattarai added.
But NC says Bhattarai is still a party member.
Altogether 3,100 plus delegates are participating as 1,000 police have been deployed for security.
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REPRESENTATIVES OF 15 COUNTRIES WELCOME FINAL UNMIN EXENSION

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: Chiefs of 15 diplomatic missions in the capital, including ambassadors, Thursday welcomed the final four-month extension of the tenure of MMIM without mandate change until 15 January 2011 according to the British embassy.
The British embassy issued a statement on behalf of Australia, Canada, Denmark, EU delegation, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the US
‘We urge the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to work determinedly and cooperate to take forward and enact the commitments they have given to the CPA and all associated documents,” the statement said.
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60,000 CANCER PATIENTS IN NEPAL

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: Nepal has 60,000 cancer patients out of which 20,000 die every year.
Seventy-five percent patients don’t have access to medicine, according to Nepal Cancer Relief Society.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

EC FOOD ASSISTANCE

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: European Commission Directorate General has offered World Food Programme (WFP) $1.14 million to feed 61,000 persons of Karnali in the mid-West.
An estimated 3.5 million in Nepal are underfed and undernourished.
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RBB CONVENES FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Kathmandu. 17 Sept.: Rashtriya Banijya Bank (RBB), a wholly government convened its first annual general meeting (AGM) Thursday after launch 45 years ago on 23 January 1966.
The meeting endorsed the report of the board of directors and annual reports of the last three years.
The AGM fixed salaries and benefits of board members while approving amendment of the memorandum of association and article of association.
The bank was converted into a company April 2006.
Nepal Rashtra Bank has handed over the bank’s management to a Nepali group under a financial sector reform project.
RBB recorded a Rs 2.01 billion net profit last fiscal year.
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DIVIDENDS, BONUSES ANNOUNCED

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: Unilever Nepal board has recommended a Rs 560 dividend per share for shareholders while approving distribution of Rs 500 as interim dividend from the final dividend for fiscal year 2009/10.
Sanima Bikash Bank announced a 10percentcash dividend from its profit for the fiscal year 2009/10 while NMB Bank announced a 10 percent cash bonus and 10 percent bonus shares.
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UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON UNMIN

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions in particular 1921 (2010), and the statement of its President of 5 May 2009 (S/PRST/2009/12),

Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Nepal and its ownership of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and subsequent agreements,

Recalling the signing on 21 November 2006 by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the stated commitment of both parties to find a permanent and sustainable peace,

Acknowledging the strong desire of the Nepalese people for peace and the restoration of democracy and the importance in this respect of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and subsequent agreements by the relevant parties,

Expressing its continued readiness to support the peace process in Nepal in the timely and effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and subsequent agreements, in particular the 25 June 2008 Agreement, as requested by the Government of Nepal,

Noting that the deadline for the promulgation of the new democratic constitution of Nepal has been extended to 28 May 2011,

Expressing concern at the recent tensions in Nepal,

Calling on all sides to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiation and noting in this regard the agreement between the caretaker Government of Nepal and the political parties reached on 13 September 2010 namely (i) documents prepared in the Special Committee will be finalized soon with an understanding to forge ahead the peace process and the agreed documents will be implemented; (ii) the combatants of the Maoist army will be brought under the Special Committee and their total profile will be submitted to the Special Committee without delay; (iii) the remaining tasks of the peace process will be started from 17 September 2010 and will be completed by 14 January 2011; and (iv) the wish of the parties that the tenure of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) shall be extended for four months as the last extension,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 2 September 2010 on UNMIN (S/2010/453),

Recalling the completion of two phases of the verification process, welcoming continuing assistance with the monitoring of the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides in accordance with resolution 1740 (2007) and in line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, noting the importance of a durable long-term solution and the need to address outstanding issues, including agreeing the modalities for the conclusion of UNMIN’s presence in Nepal, without further delay,

Welcoming the completion of the discharge process for disqualified Maoist army personnel as agreed in the 16 December 2009 action plan for the discharge and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel disqualified as minors agreed between the Government of Nepal, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations, and calling upon all parties to continue implementing this action plan, with the appropriate monitoring and reporting activities, in accordance with resolutions 1612 (2005), and 1882 (2009),

Recalling that with the successful holding of the Constituent Assembly elections, some of the elements of the mandate of UNMIN as set out in resolution 1740 (2007) have already been accomplished,

Taking note of the letters to the Secretary-General of 14 September from the caretaker Government of Nepal (S/2010/474) and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which request a final extension of the mandate of UNMIN until 15 January 2011,

Recognizing the need to pay special attention to the needs and the role of women, children and traditionally marginalized groups in the peace process, as mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and resolution 1325 (2000),

Recognizing the need to address impunity and to promote and protect human rights, and to strengthen the capacity of independent national human rights institutions in accordance with international principles,

Recognizing that civil society can play an important role in democratic transition and conflict prevention,

Expressing appreciation for the contribution of the Secretary-General’s Representative and the efforts of her team in UNMIN, and the United Nations Country Team, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which is monitoring human rights at the request of the Government of Nepal, and stressing the need for coordination and complementarity of efforts between the mission and all the United Nations actors in the mission area, particularly in order to ensure continuity, as the mandate comes to an end,

1. Decides in line with the request from the Government of Nepal to renew the mandate of UNMIN as established under resolution 1740 (2007) until 15 January 2011, taking into account the completion of some elements of the mandate and the ongoing work on the monitoring of the management of 3 arms and armed personnel in line with the 25 June 2008 Agreement among the political parties, which will support the completion of the peace process;

2. Decides further, in line with the request from the Government of Nepal that UNMIN’s mandate will terminate on 15 January 2011 after which date UNMIN will leave Nepal;

3. Calls upon all parties to take full advantage of the expertise and readiness of UNMIN, within its mandate, to support the peace process to facilitate the completion of outstanding aspects of UNMIN’s mandate by 15 January 2011;

4. Calls upon the Government of Nepal and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to implement both the agreement reached on 13 September 2010 as well as a timetabled action plan with clear benchmarks for the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel, with the support of the Special Committee for the supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel, and its Technical Committee;

5. Calls upon all political parties in Nepal to expedite the peace process, and to work together in a spirit of cooperation, consensus and compromise in order to continue the transition to a durable long-term solution to enable the country to move to a peaceful, democratic and more prosperous future;

6. Requests the parties in Nepal to take the necessary steps to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of UNMIN and associated personnel in executing the tasks defined in the mandate;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council by 15 October, following high-level discussions between the UN and the caretaker Government of Nepal and the political parties, on the implementation of the 13 September agreement between the caretaker Government of Nepal and the political parties;

8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

[Resolution 1939 (2010) adopted by the UN Security Council at its 6385th meeting, on Sept. 15 concerning the extension of UNMIN’s tenure]
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Unaudited budget on rise in local bodies

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: The Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) is plagued with the problem of unaudited budget, which has been going up each year. This year it reached Rs 4.11 billion against Rs 3.76 billion last fiscal, The Himalayan Times reports.

Ministry officials declared the report today [Thursday] at the conclusion of the region-wise workshop of local government heads of the central region.

Secretary Krishna Gyawali, MLD directed all the chief district officers, local development officers and mayors of the central development region to take steps to clear up accounts. He also warned them with strong action if they continued with illegal practices and irregularities at the local level.

According to the report presented at the concluding workshop of local bodies, Rautahat, Dhanusha, Bara, Saptari and Sarlahi have the highest unaudited budgets, while Bhojpur, Kalikot, Dailekh, Surkhet and Doti have made no attempt to provide documents for the unaudited budget.

MoLD Joint-Secretary Dinesh Thapalia noted the success of Kathmandu District in clearing 95 per cent of the unaudited budget. He added that will power was key to successfully clearing the audit. Referring to the security situation in the Tarai, Thapalia raised questions on the validity of the report, which mentions that all developmental activities were carried out efficiently.

Local bodies were also blamed for being involved in financial irregularities regarding the budget that was to be frozen last fiscal year.

The ministry has already organised region-wise workshop to evaluate the progress and monitoring of programmes conducted in the year 2009/10.
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Hitler's car gift to Nepal king to get a new life

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: A car said to have been a gift from Adolf Hitler to a Nepali king will be repaired and used to drive visitors around the grounds of a palace museum, a government official said on Thursday, according to a Reuters report..

The 1939 Mercedes Benz was presented by the Nazi leader to King Tribhuvan, grandfather of Nepal's last King Gyanendra, deposed two years ago.

It has been stored at an old palace garage for more than five years, after being abandoned by an engineering college that had been using it for classes.

Authorities said the doors, seats and bonnet were damaged.

Mod Raj Dotel, a Ministry of Culture official, said the equivalent of $537,000 (£343,973) was being sought from the government to restore both the car and a chariot once used by King Tribhuvan.

"The idea is to repair them so visitors can drive in the car and ride the royal chariot", Dotel told Reuters.

"This will be more attractive to visitors and will also give people a feel of the political change the country has undergone."

In 2008, a specially elected assembly dominated by Maoist former rebels overwhelmingly voted to abolish the 239-year-old monarchy, turning the majority-Hindu nation into a secular republic.

Gyanendra's pagoda-roofed palace has since been made into a museum.
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FOREIGN MINISTRY REVAMP

Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: To cope with the increasing scope of foreign policy engagements inside the country and outside, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is recommending expansion of its presence, while also adding more personnel to the existing missions and divisions, The Kathmandu Post reports.
In its new ‘Organisation and Management Report’, which is yet to get a final nod from the Cabinet, mandarins have suggested giving a fresh look to this tiny but sophisticated service. Joint Secretary at MoFA Dhanajaya Jha, who is also the division head of Europe, America, West Asia and Africa, is leading a team where officials from the Ministry of Finance and General Administration are the members. Besides the recently set up Central Passport Office, the report suggests adding three more divisions in the offices—West Asia, Africa and SAARC to be headed by Joint Secretaries.
After the addition, the number of political divisions would reach 10. “That obviously means we would need more personnel,” deputy spokesperson at MoFA, Harish Chandra Ghimire, said. A separate desk to look after foreign affairs at the President’s Office has also been proposed.
The report also suggests adding two more joint secretaries in the Nepali mission in Washington and London in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Mission. The proposal also points out the need to open up a new Consulate General’s Office in New York given the pressure of trade, commerce, visa and other consular matters. The report also advises the government to take a lead to open up new missions in line with the growth of Nepali presence, engagement, and investment within SAARC nations, Singapore, Oman and Spain. “This revamp has been necessitated by the growing Nepali diaspora in the US and Europe,” said Ghimire.
Brazil to open mission
Meanwhile, South American giant, Brazil, has decided to open a mission in Nepal, said MoFA officials. President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to set up a mission here in July, according to an official. “We are hoping for more reciprocity from other countries. Canada and South Africa are likely to take similar initiative soon,” the official said. (PR)
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WORST LOGGING YEAR
Kathmandu, 17 Sept.: Nepal experienced the worst deforestation in the last three decades, a government report said on Wednesday, The Kathmandu Post reports.
A final report prepared by the sub-committee formed under the National Resources and Means Committee said the rate of forest denudation in 2008/09 was among the worst after 1979.
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