SUSHIL KOIRALA ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: Newly elected NC President Sushil Koirala was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital for observation and treatment immediately after is election was officially proclaimed Wednesday morning.
Doctors advised Koirala to continue treatment at hospital.
He fell sick after heavy campaigning during the five-day 12th party general convention that concluded Tuesday.
nnnn

PARAS SHAH IN MUSTANG

Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: Former Crown Prince Paras Shah Tuesday morning suddenly flew for Mustang, RSS reports from Parbat.
He reached Jomsom at 10 in the, arriving with a group of 19 persons in two helicopters.
He’s offering puja and prayers at Muktinath temple.
Nnnn

MURDER CHARGE AGAINST MAOIST YCL LEADER REGISTERED

Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: Cases have been filed at the Rupendhaehi district court against Kharindra BK alias Sujit BK and others accused in the murder of Prachanda Thaiba, RSS reports from Butwal.
Thaiba, a member of the Youth Force affiliated to the CPN (UML) was shot dead in Butwal two years ago,
BK, who is a member of the Young Communist League (YCL), the youth wing of UCPN (Maoist) is the prime accused in Thaiba’s murder.
The accused were presented in the court on 20 September but their statements couldn’t be taken due to lack of time. Cases have been filed against Sujit BK, Lok Bahadur Gurung of Thutipepal, Padshari VDC-5, Rupandhaehi district, Man Bahadur Pun of Goltakuri VDC-5,Lekhnath Neupane of Motipur-1 and Hari Narayan Pantha of DudrakshyaVDC, Rupendhaehi district.
Among the five accused, Neupane and Pantha are absconding. Cases have been filed against them under the murder and possession of illegal arms and ammunition case.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Nepali people may have to launch an effective struggle for once against parliamentary system.”

(Maoist standing committee member Netra Bikram Chand, Janadesh, 21 Sept.)
Nnnn


MAOISTS OBSTRUCT INDIAN INVESTMENT IN POWER SECTOR
Kathmandu, 21 Sept,: The UCPN (Maoist) on Tuesday made public its policy on water resources that could have far-reaching implications for Indian interests in Nepali natural resources, Pragati Shahi reports in The Kathmandu Post.
The Maoists have called on the government to stop the anticipated agreement between the government and Indian ventures on project development. They have said any major decision on Nepal’s water resources should be taken by the next government and in consultation with all stakeholders.

The Maoist policy comes in response to the preparations being made by the government to issue generation license to some joint ventures (JVs). According to officials, the Ministry of Energy (MoE) is in the process of finalising its negotiations to sign a project development agreement (PDA) for Upper Karnali (300 MW), Arun III (402 MW) and Tamakoshi 3 ‘A’ (880 MW) within a week with Indian ventures.

Upper Karnali is being built by an international consortium led by India’s GMR Infrastructure limited, Arun III by Satluj Jal Vidhyut Nigam, and Tamakoshi 3 ‘A’ by Norwegian SN Power. After the PDA is approved, the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) will issue generation license for these projects.

“All activities related to the development of these hydro projects should be shelved for now as the projects are being built against national interests,” said Lila Mani Pokhrel, a central committee member of the Maoists and in-charge of the party’s Water Resources and Energy Department. “The projects should be undertaken after consultation with all the concerned stakeholders, including the parliamentary body before construction starts.”

Anup Kumar Upadhaya, MoE joint secretary, confirmed that the ministry is in the initial phase of negotiation for the PDA. “Any potential developer can submit proposals for suitable projects, and there is no policy to issue licenses to Indian companies only,” said Upadhaya.

It may be noted that some of these projects were awarded to Indian-Nepali JVs by the Maoist-led government. The Maoists have targeted Chainpur Seti, Upper Karnali SCT-1, Budhigandaki, Dudhkoshi, Likhu and Fulkot among others.

“We are totally against export-based hydro power projects in the country,” Pokhrel said. “The government has awarded most of the viable and feasible projects to India while projects which are difficult to construct are being developed by local promoters and government.”

Meanwhile, Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma expressed ignorance of the issue and added that the announcement of the party’s Water Resources and Energy Department didn’t reflect the party’s position.
nnnn

MAOISTS CLAIM SECRETARIAT LEADERSHIP


Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: Maoist have proposed the name of its military commander Nanda Kishore Pun to head the secretariat under a special committee for the supervision, integration and resettlement of Maoist combatants, Kantipur reports.
‘As one of the chief participants of the peace process, our claim for the leadership of the secretariat is normal. Because it will represent the entire PLA, when we lead secretariat that will have the command and control of PLA, it will also be easy to push the process as the,” Pun said.
nnnn