PRACHANDA LEAVES FOR BEIJIING SUNAY

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Maoist Chairman leaves for Beijing Sunday evening from Shanghai where he arrived Saturday to attend the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Expo,
He’s expected to have discussions with government and senior officials of the Communist Party of China in the Chinese capital.
Schedule for the meetings wasn’t finalized before the Maoist leader flew for China.
Prachanda is accompanied by Foreign Department Chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara and politburo member Agni Sapkota.
He held a two-hour discussion with Hao Peng, Vice-minister of the Foreign Relations Department of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai Saturday.
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NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE RESCHEDULED

Kathmandu, 24 Oct. The first meeting of the newly-elected NC central committee will now be held 28 October.
The meeting was scheduled for 29 October by an informal meeting of the central committee.
Newly-elected Prakash Man Singh announced the rescheduled date on the direction of President Sushil Koirala.
Sixty-four office bearers and central committee members were elected by the 12th general convention,
Koirala hasn’t nominated remaining 21 members to the committee as top leaders lobby for important posts in the second largest party.
The new president has rejected demands by three-time former Prime Minister SherBahadur Deuba for important positions in the party for his supporters.
Koirala defeated Deuba in the contest for the presidency and the Deuba panel won 29 seats in the election.
The two top leaders contested the presidency.
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PARTIES TO CONSIDER EXTENSION OF PRACHANDA TASK FORCE TENURE

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Twenty-seven parties in the constituent assembly (CA) will hold discussions Sunday to discuss a request to extend the tenure of the task force which was scheduled to submit its report to Chairman Subash Nemwang the same day.
The task force consisting of top party leaders was given 12 days to consider 230 contentious points that have delayed the drafting of a constitution.
Fundamental differences remain between parties on the nature on structure of government, legislature, judiciary, federalism and other topics.
The Maoist chief is in China for four-day visit.
Sunil Prajapati of Nepaal Majdoor Kishan Party said a request will be made to the parties to extend the task force tenure.
A schedule to complete drafting a constitution is the next seven months will have to be rescheduled for the 13th time.
A constitution couldn’t be promulgated by the CA within the two-year mandate and no progress has been in five months after its mandate was extended 28 May.
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82 BHUTANESE FLY FOR UNITED KINGDOM

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Eighty-two Bhutanese refugees from camps in Jhapa and Morang have been resettled in the United Kingdom, the home ministry said.
United Kingdom is the latest country to accept the refugees.
Most of the 36, 618 refugees have been resettled in USA.
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UML CHARGES MAOISTS FOR MURDER OF ITS ACTIVIST

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Governing UML party Saturday charged UCPN (Maoist) for the murder of its Dhading activist, Shiba Thapa Magar.
The charge was leveled in a statement issued Saturday by party secretary Yubaraj Geywali/
He condemned the shameless repeated political murders by UCPN(Maoist) of political party leaders who descried the murder.
The party demanded action against the guilty and compensation for the family of Magar murdered 18 October.
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NARAYAN KAZI SHRESTHA BUSY IN MEETINGS

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha Saturday held separate discussions with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
The informal talks were held as Party Chairman Prachanda was away in Shanghai.
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ARMY CHIEF RETURNS FROM SOUTH KOREA

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Army Chief Gen. Chatraman Singh Gurung retruned home Saturday night from South Korea where he attended a conference of Army Chiefs of the Asia and the Pacific to discuss security concerns in the region and strategies.
The conference was sponsored by USA and South Korea,
The visit was his fourth foreign trip in two years.
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WORLD ASSOCIATION OF PRESS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TOWN

Kathmandu, 24 Oct. Fourteen members of the executive committee of World Association of Press Council (WAPC) arrived Saturday
The delegation will attend a meeting organized by Press Council Nepal.
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RUSSIAN TOURIST SERIOUSLY INJURED

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Russian tourist Elagi Ariea, 29, was run over by a bus near the old bus park in the capital Saturday.
He is undergoing treatment for serious spinal and left arm injuries at the B&B Hospital.
The driver and helper have been arrested.
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ONE DIES OF DENGUE AT TEKU HOSPITAL

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Hira Lal BK, 27, died of dengue at Teku Hospital Friday, doctors said.
He was referred there from Butwal where the disease has broken out.
Forty-three confirmed cases have been reported in and around the town.
A specialist team reached Butwal from the capital Saturday to assist local doctors.
Patients have been referred to Chitwan and the capital.
An epidemic also broke out earlier in Chitwan.
The first case of dengue was reported in Nepalgunj 2006.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Only after that period [return of UNMIN] the country will get a new prime minister and constitution writing will gain momentum.”


(Spokesman and Communication Minister Shanker Pokhrel, Republica, 24 Oct.)

“India knows all the habits of Maoists. A teacher knows the weaknesses of a student.”

(Narayanman Bijukakchaya, Kantipur, 24 Oct.)
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BOYS MURDERED OVER SCHOOL MANAGEMENT DISPUTE
NEPALGUNJ, Oct 24: A dispute over the management of Indrapur-based Nepal Rastriya Primary School´s fund had led to the murder of Kapil Dwivedi and Liladhar Bhatta three weeks ago in Banke, Kapil´s father and principal of the school Sanjaya has claimed.

According to Sanjaya, Suresh Burma, chairman of the school management committee, had spent Rs 87,000 professedly to construct the compound walls of the school. Dinesh Gautam reports in Republica from Nepalgunj.
Suresh later demanded more money without submitting the expenditure details. When Sanjaya, the ex-officio member secretary of school management committee (SMC), refused, an infuriated Suresh publicly manhandled the Sanjaya.

Still not satisfied, Suresh hatched a deadly plot to kidnap and murder his son Kapil. On September 30, some goons hired by Burma kidnapped Kapil and his friend Liladhar. Both students were later found brutally murdered.

"Burma warned me of dire consequences whenever I asked him for details of the expenditure," Sanjaya said. "Instead of submitting the details, he asked for more money. I refused. This eventually led to the murder of my son and his friend." Police have arrested eight persons in connection to the murder, while Burma is still at large.

Fearful principals

In over half a dozen schools in Banke, school management committee presidents have long been threatening principals. As a result, some principals have sought transfers to safer places, while others have made up their minds to resign.

Ahamad Ali, principal of the Chotihalbaldoli-based Nepal Rastriya Primary School, was beaten up by SMC chairman Sabir Khan only last month. Khan had also thrashed three other teachers who tried to protect the principal. "I don´t intend to work at this school anymore," Ali said. "Khan said he would still walk free if he murders me." Regular exams have been affected after Khan manhandled Ali.

Meanwhile, the family of one of two murdered students, Kapil, has said they are still fearful as the prime accused of the crime, Burma, is still at large. Kapil´s family members have even accused police of not investigating into the crime sincerely.

"The main accused is still enjoying impunity. A police constable is found to have links with those involved in the crime," said Yagya Nidhi Adhikari, Kapil´s uncle. A police constable, Sakir Ali Behana, was found to have links with Meraj Ahamad Sai, who is among eight arrested so far. Kapil´s family has also accused police of protecting Behana.
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SETBACK AS TURF WAR RENEWS

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.:The proposed expansion plan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has been put on hold for the time being as the turf war over the staff composition has begun anew between different ministries. The expansion plan which is aimed at accommodating the increasing scope of foreign policy engagements inside and outside the county received a setback as two line ministries, Ministry of General Administration (MoGA) and Ministry of Finance (MoF), objected to MoFA’s Organisation and Management report. Anil Giri reports in The Kathmandu Post. .

The plan would have seen more recruitments in MoFA as well as existing missions and divisions in and outside the country. The draft of the plan, which is under consideration of MoGA and MoF, has failed to garner the support from these two ministries.

Two other ministries - Ministry of Commerce and Supply (MoSC) and Ministry of Home Affairs ( MoHA) - have sought their presence in Nepali missions abroad with deployment of their officials as Economic Consular and Visa Consular.

The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management ( MoLTM) has also sought that the post of designate Labor Attaché should come under the ambit of diplomatic service and that its official should get the opportunity without any bias. As Nepal becomes party to WTO, the MoSC has demanded a position of economic consular in Nepali mission in Geneva.

MoFA sees these requests from other ministries as a ‘gross encroachment’ on its diplomatic domain. MoSC and MoLTM have demanded their fair share in postings in Nepali missions, in writing. “We need approval of such expansion from the Administrative Restructuring Commission (ARC). It has directed us not to create additional posts until the country comes up with a new state restructuring policy. So, for the time being the expansion plan is on hold,” said Under Secretary at MoGA Ram Prasad Ghimire.

MoF declined to allocate additional budget to MoFA. The Ministry wants to add three more political divisions to the existing seven, a separate MoFA desk at President Office and two more joint secretaries in the Nepali missions in Washington and London.

The proposal highlights the need for a new Consulate General’s Office in New York. Altogether, the plan will require an addition of 19 gazetted and non-gazetted officials.

MoFA officials said MoGA demanded the additional post of Joint Secretary at MoFA. “The ministries want to make our missions multi dimensional and encroach on our domain by demanding extra posts for non-diplomatic services,” a MoFA official said.
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GOVT TO BRING BUDGET WITHOUT POLICY PROGRAMME; MINISER PANDEY
The government has just over three weeks before crunch time when it will have used up one-third of last year´s actual budgetary spending and will not even be able to meet recurrent expenses.

Despite such a situation, neither has the government managed to win the confidence of the opposition nor have the parties in opposition shown enough sensibility to allow announcement of a budget.

This state of affairs, meanwhile, has exposed the country to serious fiscal deadlock. Milan Mani Sharma of Republica caught up with Finance Minister Surendra Pandey to ask him about the steps the government is taking to avert the looming crisis. Excerpts:

What is the government doing to avert a possible crisis?

We have decided to announce the budget by mid-November. We have no other option because the country will face a serious financial crisis if it does not get a buget by the next three weeks. The government will not have a budget to meet even basic expenses, leave aside fulfilling the development aspirations of the people. We are planning to present the budget in parliament soon.

But will it get parliament´s endorsement ?

The situation has left us with no other choice. Instead of worrying about the outcome, we are working out ways to build a political understanding to get it through parliament. When the prime minister resigned, we had chosen not to announce the budget because we believed that that was the new government´s legitimate and moral right. But unfortunately, repeated failure by parliament to elect a new PM has forced us to take a course we had preferred not to take months ago.

What have you done to pave the way for announcing the budget?

We are holding repeated talks with the senior leaders of major political parties. We have informed lawmakers about the crisis that will surface in the absence of the budget. I have personally submitted papers to the speaker, highlighting the gravity of the situation. He has circulated them to all 25 political parties in the legislature-parliament. All senior political leaders and parties are aware of the trouble we are in.

Everyone knows that if the country does not get a budget by mid-November, it will seriously derail the political process. It will put a brake on the normal operations of the government, parliament, the market and development work, among other things. Government staff, police and other security agencies, constituent assembly members and ministers will not get their salaries. Worse still, it will hurt social security schemes like payment of senior citizen allowances and hit social inclusion programs especially targeted at women, dalits and ethnic groups. Hence I am confident the political leaders will act sensibly.
The UCPN Maoist recently floated the idea of a ´technical budget´, urging the government not to unveil its policy and programs. What is your response to that?
We are ready to forgo the announcement of policy and programs, as the Maoist have demanded. However, we cannot agree to the proposal of a ´technical budget´ because it is not compatible with existing legal provisions. The budget is a national document and is backed up by a number of legal texts like the Finance Bill. We cannot just announce the budget and leave the supporting legal documents unannounced. Besides, parliamentarians might raise questions over the budget, and as finance minister it becomes my duty to respond to them. The Maoists will have to forgo their stance for a ´technical budget. Politically, I feel ´no policy and program´ and ´only budget´ will be a meeting point between government and Maoist stances.

In that likely scenario, what can people expect from the new budget?

The new budget will focus on infrastructure development, including development of hydroelectricity to end power outage. Basically, my aim is to make sure that the country produces at least 1,000 MW of electricity within the next five to six years. We will also expand social security schemes and increase subsidy for agriculture. There will be a special program on education so that all Nepalis can graduate at least from secondary school. It will also pledge special incentives for commercial livestock farming and export industries, among other things. It will also take a new approach to bring new aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation.
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MOST WANTED BY POLICE ON PAYROLLOF NID

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: Meraj Ahamad Shahi, planner of abduction, murder and extortion, is a regular employee of national investigation department (NID), Nagarik reports.
He was arrested after the abduction and murder 27 September of two students at Nepalgunj-15.
During investigations it’s come to light be was regularly providing information to NID.
He was released four years under political pressure even as he was being investigated for murder.
He was involved in six abductions and murders.
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GOVT TO FORM BODY TO REGLATE ADOPTION

Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: As an effort to regulate the inter-country child adoption, the government is going to set up an independent body to handle the adoption related issues by amending the existing law in Nepal, Santosh POkhel reports in The Himalayan Times..

The decision comes at a time when the countries regularly adopting orphans from Nepal halted inter-country child adoption indefinitely citing irregularities, especially use of falsified documents. Amid growing allegations of child trafficking and falsification of documents, the USA, on August 6, had indefinitely suspended child adoption programme also from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain.

“We have forwarded a proposal to this effect to the Cabinet for the approval seeking an independent body,” said Mahendra Shrestha, secretary at the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare. “In line with the Hague Convention on Adoption, an independent regulating body is mandatory to deal with the issues related to child adoption.”

With a new amendment in the law, the government will strictly rein in the Children Homes that provide children for adoption. After the amendment, only those homes or orphanages operating for more than five years will be eligible to provide children for adoption. “The amendment to the existing law is to control the possibility of the child trafficking in the name of protection,” added Shrestha.

According to a ministry source, the new body will have the authority to probe the documents.

In the meantime, American Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala, today urged the government to ratify the law and implement the Hague Convention on Adoption, which was meant to protect the rights of the children and the families involved in inter-country adoption.

Following the report by the Hague Conference on Private International Law in February, which had accused Nepal’s adoption system of widespread abuse, many western countries have been pointing finger at the adoption scene in Nepal.

After finding some fraud cases of fake civil documents — such as the children’s birth certificates were changed or fabricated — the US embassy in Kathmandu is learnt to have conducted investigations on its own.

Children homes reportedly collect US$ 5,000 from each child on the completion of the adoption, whereas the prospective parents should pay US$ 3,000 as revenue to the government of Nepal. “We will leave no stone unturned to send the genuine orphans for adoption,” said Shrestha.
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APF SETS UP HIGHWAY SECURITY POSTS





Kathmandu, 24 Oct.: The Armed Police Force (APF) has set up highway security posts along the Banke section of the East-West Highway to curb possible robbery, looting, snatching and other criminal activities during the festival period, The Rising nepal reports from Banke..
The highway security posts have been set up from Kohalpur of Banke to Imiliya of Dang district. Altogether five security posts have been established by the Bageshwori Battalion of the Armed Police Force, Superintendent of Police (SP) of APF Man Singh Mauni said.
For controlling the illegal activities along the highway, APF has alone deputed 52 security personnel within the 54 kilometers distance of the Banke section of East-West Highway. According to APF, these highway security posts and ambulance services would be vacated after Deepawali and Tihar.
With the set up of highway security posts, the armed police force has witnessed increase in criminal activities and illegal smuggling of different items during the festival time. SP Mauni said that it was for very first time that APF had set up highway security posts in this section of the East-West Highway.
APF expected that with the set up of police posts, the night time smuggling and illegal trade would decrease sharply.
Apart from setting up the security posts, APF has also intensified mobile patrolling team in the highway.
Highway security personnel, especially of the Bageshwori and Tripura Batallions have brought into operation an ambulance services as per the instruction of the APF Headquarter, Halchowk. Jham Bahadur Malla, Inspector of Tripura Battalion, said that the ambulances was being operated with the aim to impart speedy service during the time of any road accidents.
However, the locals have requested the APF Battalions to set up the police posts and permanently to that the criminal and illegal activities along the Banke section of the Highway could be controlled effectively.
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