NO SENIOR PARTY LEADERS AT PRACHANDA-LED TASK FORCE

Kathmandu, 1 Dec,: Senior-most leaders of the Big Three weren’t present Wednesday at a meeting of the Prachanda-led task force to hammer out differences on 230 contentious points tobe included in a constitution to institutionalize a republic.
Chairman Prachanda was busy with the Maoist central committee that eets later Wednesday and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal flies for South Africa to attend a meeting of communist parties.
The task force will meet again Thursday morning.
The task force Wednesday discussed compulsory military training pushed by Maoists.
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SIX VEHICLES VANDALIZED IN KAILALI

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Six vehicles were vandalized in Kailali Wednesday morning as a one-day transport strike spilled into the second day Wednesday.
The one-day transport strike was called Tuesday to demand route permits to operate vehicles.
Vehicles are being escorted along highways by police Wednesday.
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NEW AIDS CASES DOWN IN NEPAL 25 PERCENT


Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: An estimated 64,000 persons have been infected with the AIDS virus in the country, according to National Center for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC).
“Out of this, only 16, 252 cases have been reported. Among them about 29 percent are women aged 15 to 49,” a statement said.
HIV infection is high in 30 districts in the mid-West, far-West and districts along national highways.
Of the infected, 29.4 percent are labour migrants and infection is their spouses in as high as 21 percent.
Migrant workers are most vulnerable to HIV transmission.
Only 4,509 persons are under anti-retroviral therapy provided free by government since 2004.
UNAIDS, coinciding with World AIDS day Wednesday, said Nepal
is one of at least 33 countries that achieved significant decline in
new HIV infections.
“But significant challenges remain in tackling the epidemic,” a statement said.
New HIV cases have dropped by more than 25 percent.
The theme of World AIDS Day 2010 is: Universal Access and Human Rights.
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RECOMMENDATION FOR ENLISTMENT ON BLACK LIST

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: A board of Rashtriya Banijya Bank (RBB) has decided to put businessman Chandi Raj Dhakal on a black list after failing recover one billion rules in loan and interest, Nagarik reports.
Bank CEO Janardhan Acharya said a letter has been forwarded to the Credit Information Center.
A request has been made also to put Zakir Hussein of Universal Leather, along with Dhakal, on the list.
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FATE OF THREE ABDUCTED NEPALIS IN ASSAM STILL UNKNOWN

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: The fate of three Jhapalis abducted in Assam by a group calling itself ULFA rebels is still unknown, RajuAdhikari reports in Bagarik from Jhapa.
They have gone missing for two months; one family has even paid
abductors ransom.
The police station in Jalukbar, Assam, said the three have been
killed.
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MAOIST COMPANY COMMANDR IN DOCK

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Company commander of UCPN (Maoist) in Chitwan-based Shaktikhor cantonment Tej Bahadur Lungeli has been arrested on charge of cheating, RSS reports from Shindhulimadi.
He is under police control for arbitrarily taking cash Rs 250,000 and
gold from a woman of Lampatar VDC-6 of Sindhuli, informed Police Inspector Gyan Kumar Mahoto.
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25 INJURED, TWO SERIOUSLY, IN MADRASSA SCUFFLE

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: More than 25persons injured in a clash that took place in Jaleshwor municipality Monday night while two of them are in a critical condition, RSS reports from Mohottari.
The clash ensued in connection with dispute on madrassa.
The brawl occurred at Dhabauli of Jaleshwor municipality-13 taking
up the issue of madrassa that has been in operation for the past
one-and-a-half years.
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10 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS
Kathmandu, 1 Dec,: It is 300,000 every month and counting. Although officially not declared, Nepal now has 10 million telecom subscribers, Ramesh Shrestha reports in The Katahmandu Post. .

Latest figures with all telecom companies in the country show that the number of subscribers crossed the magical figure of 10 million by mid-November.

With the subscriber base crossing the 10 million mark, over 35 percent of the population now has access to telecom service. This also speaks of the giant stride made by the telecom sector in Nepal amid the political turmoil. All the 3,915 Village Development Committees in the country now have been connected via telephone. It took the country nearly a century to achieve this milestone. However, the actual expansion of the country’s telecom service took place once the GSM mobile service was introduced in 1999 by the state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT). The rapid expansion of the mobile service was instrumental in bringing about the overall growth of the telecom sector. Of the total subscription base, GSM mobile has the largest market share. Both government and private players have contributed to Nepal’s success in the telecom sector. NT, the largest player in the domestic market, led the way and private players followed suit.

NT succeeded in expanding the telecom service and infrastructure to all parts of the country, while the private players played a key role in making telecom service affordable to common people.

The entry of private players like Ncell, United Telecom and others not only accelerated the expansion but reduced tariff and introduced new value added services. Such is the expansion: the country is adding 300,000 subscribers each month. “The number of subscribers has been growing by 300,000 every month,” said Sandeep Adhikari, assistant director at the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. “It clearly reveals that the total number has crossed 10 million by mid-November. As of mid-October, there were 9.92 million telephone subscribers in the country.” According to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the penetration rate is 35.37 percent of the total population as of mid-October. The penetration of mobile service alone is 30.61 percent. Of the six telecom service operators in the country, Nepal Telecom is the largest with a subscriber base of 5.65 million including 4.89 million mobile users as of mid-October. Ncell, the first private sector GSM mobile operator, has nearly 4 million subscribers. Ncell that appeared on the scene in 2005 is aggressively reducing the gap between it and the NT. It said it was adding around 200,000 new customers each month.

United Telecom that offers CDMA based telecom service has 542,676 subscribers. According to Adhikari, Nepal Satellite and Smart Telecom have 64,957 and 9,199 subscribers respectively. There are 4,968 users of STM’s telecom service and 1,742 users of other services like GMPCS in the country.

According to a report, if a country provides telecom service to 10 out of every 100 people, it contributes 0.8 percent to the GDP. “Increased purchasing power of the people, competition among telecom operators and cheaper technology are some of the major contributors to the growth,” said Ananda Raj Khanal, director of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. “The competition is expected to increase until telephones reach 50 to 60 percent of the total population, which will be achieved within the next two years.”

The surge in the subscription is all set to continue as two major players NT and Ncell have already announced their investment plans. NT is planning to add 5 million GSM subscribers in near future. Its closest competitor Ncell has already declared to invest US$ 100 million next year for the infrastructure expansion.

The expansion of telecom service has also opened new avenues for banking sector.

Some of the commercial banks are already in to mobile commerce while some are about to launch. Bankers say expansion of telecom service has opened new a medium for them to reach out to those areas that weren’t covered earlier
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BANK CEOs EXPLORE OPTIONS

Kathmandu 1 Dec.: Chief executives of banks and financial institutions that were irked over Nepal Rastra Bank´s (NRB´s) move to cap their perks and benefits have decided to explore all options, including legal action, to annul the central bank´s latest instruction. Milan Mani Sharma reports in Rrepublica..

During a meeting Tuesday, when the top honchos of the banking sector discussed ways to respond to a set of NRB guidelines issued on Friday, many of the bankers argued that the imposition of cap on their salary and incentives by the central bank has infringed the authority of the board of BFIs.

“Going by the existing laws, the board of directors of the banks and financial institutions is the authority to take a decision on such issues. By imposing the cap, NRB has made a mockery of the law,” said a participant of the meeting.

But bankers also assessed that they will need the board´s support to challenge the central bank and have decided to hold discussions with their respective boards in this connection.

Before they explore other options, bankers have decided to first request the central bank to review its decision.

“The central bank´s move clearly goes against its previous understandings in this connection. It will not help address concerns seen in the sector,” said a member of Nepal Bankers´ Association (NBA).

He told Republica that NBA would soon handover a grievance letter to the NRB as well. The bankers have argued that CEO salary was never a matter of concern in Nepal.

“No banks in Nepal have ever faced problems due to the salary of CEO. All its problems so far has to do with weaknesses in corporate governance,” said the NBA member. NBA has also noted that the central bank´s cap goes against the principle of risk management.

The central bank had imposed cap on CEOs perks and benefits on Friday, under which it asked BFIs to limit the annual salary and allowances of chief executives to less than 5 percent of the average employee bill of last three fiscal years or less than 0.015 percent of the company´s total assets, whichever is less.

The guideline was issued after some of the promoters, experts and lawmakers raised concerns over BFIs spending heavy amount on salary and benefits to the CEOs. Currently, the perks and salary of a CEO of a national level commercial bank ranges from Rs 500,000 to Rs 2 million a month.

Although the new rule does not affect existing perks and benefits, some of the CEOs said it could just be a starting point, and if not challenged now, the central bank could enforce it effective from any given date it might prefer.

Others, on the other hand, opined it would block innovation and entry of competent personalities in the industry. “How will a new bank attract competent chief executive with such a cap in place?” said another banker, adding that the move has checked expansion and growth of the industry.

Moreover, bankers said that the provision will hit the chief executives of development banks and finance companies the hardest.


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PRACHANDA-LED TASK FORCE MEETS

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Following the conclusion of the Maoist 6th plenum in Gorkha Sunday, a high-powered seven-member task force led by Chairman Prachanda resumed discussions Wednesday to suggest articles for incorporation in a constitution.
A report has to be submitted by 11 December to Speaker Subash Nemwang.
Meetings of the task force were put on hold for the plenum.
The task force Wednesday discussed fundamental rights and land reforms.
Maoists are pressing nationalization of land over ceiling opposed by other parties.
Top leaders of NC and UML are also members of the body to tackle differences on 230 contentious points covering eight themes for inclusion in a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic.
Not a single article of a proposed constitution has been drafted in six months since the elected two-year tenure of the constituent assembly (CA)was extended by one year; only six more months remain for a constitution to be drafted and promulgated.
Three major parties have busied themselves in the last six months only in retaining or grabbing power.
More then five after Maoists forced the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal 30 June, Maoists haven’t succeeded in entering Baluwatar; NC hasn’t succeeded in replacing Nepal either.
NC wants a leadership in the current coalition.
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MAOIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO MEET WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: A Maoist central committee also meets Wednesday after the conclusion of the party’s 6th plenum in Gorkha Sunday.
The committee is empowered to tackle differences that surfaced
in Gorkha—hence the importance of the meeting Wednesday.
Chairman Prachanda will present a report of the Gorkha jamboree to the committee.
The chairman and Vice-chairmen Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan
Baidya presented separate proposals for adoption to tackle the prolonged current political deadlock.
The party agreed generally to opt for a people’s revolt if the peace process isn’t concluded and a constitution promulgated.
The differences in the main opposition and the largest communist
party will be taken to a general convention if there’s no agreement in the centrl committee.
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NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS SUSHIL KOIRALA PROPOSAL

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: NC central working committee (CWC) will continue discussions for the fourth consecutive day Wednesday proposal of newly elected President Sushil Koirala’s proposal to appoint Ram Chandra
Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula vice-chairman and general secretary respectively.
The elected members of the CWC have opposed the nominations without understanding and consultations with other party leaders.
Opposition has come mainly from a camp led by three-time former
prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
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MINIMUM TEMPERATURE DIPS TO 5.5 DEGREES CELSIUS

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: With the progress of winter, minimum
temperature in the capital has dipped to 5.5 degrees Celsius.
Maximum temperature hovers around 22 to 23 degrees Celsius.
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NINE DISTRICTS IN EASTERN CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Federal Limbuwan Parishad demanding autonomy Wednesday forcibly closed down nine districts east of Arun river
Ten demands have been pressed.
Revenue collected from the region should be spent locally—one of the demands said.
Bus passengers on long and regional routes have been stranded.
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NO PLAN TO DECLARE INDIA MAIN ENEMY’ NARAYAN KAZI SHRESTHA





Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: - Vice chairman of UCPN-Maoist Narayan Kaji Shrestha Tuesday said that no proposal was brought in the recent plenum to declare India as its principal enemy, The Rising Nepal reports.
Shrestha made this statement while speaking at Reporters’ Club. The media had reported the plenum spent adequate time to discuss the issue.
"Our party has not declared India as its principal enemy and such proposal was not discussed in the recently held plenum, rather our party decided to fight against expansionism, hegemony and foreign interference against national integrity and sovereignty. What came out in the media was the distortion of the internal discussion," he said.
The plenum decided to launch campaign for peace and constitution and initiate dialogue to end political impasse, he said.
He objected the parliamentary secretariat’s decision to take action against the Maoist lawmakers regarding the incident of November 19 in the House.
He claimed the government was responsible behind the manhandling of Finance Minister.
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INCREASING CYBER CRIME THRAT IN URBAN AREAS





Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: - With the advancement of technology and communication system, cyber crime has been a major threat to the security of the people mainly in urban areas, The Rising Nepal reports.
The growing cyber and online crimes have been continuously encroaching privacy of the individuals and threatening their freedom of expression.
Anyone who could have the access to the internet could suffer from different forms of electronic media crime. More vulnerable to such threats and online harms are women and children.
Development in the information and communication technology signifies the aptitude of any nation; however, the same advancement in the communication system could be a threat for the society.
Although the Nepal government had formed certain laws to control the exploitation of electronic media; serious threat to the security of women in general is not covered fully by the law.
Sharing her experience, Gaurabi Bhattarai (name changed), a film actress, said that once she had become a victim of cyber bullying. One unknown person created a new Facebook account in her name and kept the animated profile picture where the offender pasted photo of her head in other’s body which was quite vulgar.
She says, "The picture was so offensive that I personally got troubled and tortured. During that period I couldn’t even concentrate on my work and passed through a big trauma."
Moreover, Karishma Manadhar, one of the popular film actresses, said that a person had been operating one Facebook account in her name. Though s/he hadn’t done any harm to her, still the person was uploading many of her personal photos that she never made public, she added.
Manadhar said, "Many times I have sent messages to the person and requested the account be deactivated, but s/he is not responding."
These are some stories of celebrities, but there are many school and college going girls who have been suffering from these forms of crime.
Priya Karki (name changed), a bachelor level student of environmental science in a reputed college of the capital, stated that around three months ago a person having a profile picture of Hollywood actor sent her a friend request in Facebook and she didn’t accept it.
On the second day, the person sent her a message via-face book again requesting to accept his request but she didn’t respond to his message this time either, said Karki.
Karki says, "After a few days, I got to know that the same person had created a new account by using my photo in a name of vulgar word and sent a friend request to all my friends and relatives who were already in my account."
Ananda Raj Khanal, director of Nepal Telecommunication Authority, said that as the access of internet and mobile phones was getting wider, the cases of exploitation and violation arose alarmingly.
Though the government had introduced Tele Communication Act-2053 and Electronic Business Act to restrict people to publish and display any materials that could defame the victims, the law itself was not relevant and insufficient to address the cyber crimes.
Stating that cyber crimes are alarmingly increasing, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG), said because of the lack of technical drawbacks, Nepal police was unable to control the cyber crime.
Informing that Nepal police had found five-six hacking cases of ATM and Debit cards in Nepal, he said that if the licensing of cyber café would be given under the authority of police then it would be easy for them to control cyber crimes.

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SAARC CLIMATE TALKS OBSERVER


Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: The 16th Conference of 194 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change kicked off here today [Tuesday] with a plea to commit and compromise for tackling climate change. As in the past, the speakers urged the countries to come up with specific and clear solutions to check degradation of the environment, Ramesh Prasad Bhusal reports in The Himalayaan Times reports from Cancun.

However, general opinion here is that the meeting is unlikely to come up with anything concrete. “I am not much hopeful. However, the meeting can be fruitful in keeping negotiations on track after they were derailed in Copenhagen last year due to the interruption by world leaders,” said Purusottam Ghimire, Chief Negotiator from Nepal.

Close to 15,000 participants, including government delegates from 194 Parties to the UNFCCC and representatives from business and industry, environmental organisations and research institutions, are attending the gathering in Cancun. Copenhagen had seen 30,000 participants.

“Climate change is an issue that affects life on a planetary scale. There are billions of human beings expecting you to work for humanity, “said Felipe Calderon, President of Mexico, addressing the opening session of the meeting.

It is learnt that 20 heads of government will be attending the closing session of the climate change talks on December 10. Last year’s meeting in Copenhagen was attended by more than 120 heads of government.

The Copenhagen meet had failed to forge consensus on climate change treaty with specific target to reduce carbon emissions to lower global warming.

“Warming of the climate system is now evident from increase in global average air and ocean temperature, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea-level, “said Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chief of Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific body to assess climate change signs.

The meeting held shortly after the plenary session decided to provide South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation the status of observer organisation in the climate talks. The proposal from Bhutan as the chair of SAARC was supported by India and Pakistan. Climate change was a major agenda in the 16th SAARC meeting held in Thimphu in April.
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NC CWC MEET AGAIN INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Twelve speakers at the NC central working committee (CWC) Tuesday continued their opposition to party President Sushil Koirala’s proposal to appoint Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula vice-chairman and general secretary respectively.
Discussions will continue for the fourth and possibly last consecutive day Wednesday.
Thirty-nine newly elected central committee members expressed their views.
Majority speakers urged for appointment of party office bearers through understanding.
Presidential nominations have to be confirmed by the CWC.
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PRESIDENT INAUGURATES TRADE FAIR

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Wednesday
launched the Western Region Trade Fair 2010 at Parasi in Nawalparasi.
The president called for an end to politics of arms while
inaugurating the fair where 200 stalls have exhibited produce of the region.
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BIJAYA KUMAR GACHEHDHAR TO HANDLE PM’S RESPONSIBILITIES

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of MJFD Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar will handle responsibilities of the prime minister in the absence of Caretaker government chief Madhav Kumar Nepal who left for Cambodia Wednesday to attend a conference of Asian political parties.
He returns in five days and will proceed immediately to Brussels to attend a conference of LDC states.
The grouping is chaired by Nepal.
The responsibilities assigned to Gachedhar by the president confirms the MJFD chairman is senior to another Deputy Prime Minister Sujata
Koirala of NC.
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NO PROGRESS IN CONSTITUTION IN SIX MONTHS

Kathmandu, 30 Nov. Not a single article of a constitution to institutionalize a republic has been drafted in six months after the elected two-year tenure of the constituent assembly (CA) was extended by one year 28 May.
A replacement of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned under Maoist pressure 30 June hasn’t been elected by parliament in 16 rounds of parliamentary voting.
In the last five months, three major parties have only concentrated their while attention either in grabbing power or retaining it.
Parties haven’t eliminated differences on 230 articles to be incorporated in a constitution.
Differences persist on eight themes.
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REPORT ON PARLIAMENT SCUFFLE SUBMITTED TO SPEAKER

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: A report prepared by parliament secretariat on
the scuffle in parliament during a failed government attempt to
present an annual budget in the legislature was submitted to Speaker
Subash Nemwang Tuesday.
The contents weren’t disclosed.
Maoists this month encircled Finance Minister Surendra Pandey
and mauled him and cabinet colleagues as he proceeded to the
rostrum to announce the budget.
Ruling parties demanded the speaker take action.
Nnnn

CORRECTION ON SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Maoist member of the special committee on army integration, supervision and resettlement Barsha Man Pun said his party has claimed the position of joint coordinator of the secretariat.
A demand was submitted at a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The demand will be taken up at the next meeting of the committee, Pun said Tuesday.
There was no agreement on the Maoist demand.
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PROF. S.D.MUNI THREATENS MAOISTS

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Prof. S. D.Muni who has retired from state university
Jawahrlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi and currently lives in Singapore Monday threatened Maoists.
‘Ranas and Shahs orchestrated the anti-Indian rhetoric in Nepal but failed to develop Nepal resulting in both the regimes getting wiped out.
‘It would be a big mistake if anyone thinks that they can remain in power for ever by fueling anti-Indian sentiments here,” he told a gathering at Reporters’ Club Monday.
It’s not the purpose of the write-up here to go into the accuracy of his claims why the Rana regime collapsed and monarchy was ousted.
But Muni, who acts as an emissary of the Indian government and has worked for it, has come to Nepal immediately after the Maoist
plenum in Gorkha where it was hotly debated whether India is the main enemy of Maoists.
Muni’s statement is a mere political rhetoric that has come at a time when India claims Maoists are training their Indian counterparts called Naxals in India—a claim denied by the Armed Police Force Chief.
There’s no academic veil to the threat.
Muni has probably been sent as an emissary by the government of his country to warn Maoists and feel their pulse.
No action has been taken by government against Maoists who hurled shoes at Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood in Solu.
He has been used by the federal government in the past.
He developed close contacts with Maoists in New Delhi and permitted a contact office of Maoists to be opened in the New Delhi University when he was there as a professor.
Muni, a Nepal ‘expert’, has very close contacts with Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in the Maoist camp and held discussions with Chairman Prachanda
Dahal quoted Prachanda as telling him: “Dahal told me that it [India is arch enemy of Maoists] was engineered by the media. However, he said that India has been creating hurdles to the Maoists party’s bid to come to power.”
The retired professor has been deeply involved in Nepali politics.
He had direct to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Baluwatar during the transition.
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EU GRANT

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: European Union (EU)Tuesday gave Nepal a grant ofassistance of 1,047,000 euros equivalent to Rs 100.15 million) through World Food Programme (WFP) no monitor and analyze food security and to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC).
The assistance is part of a 9 million euros assistance funded by the European Union and implemented by WFP in seven food insecure districts in the mid and far western development regions.

District Food Security Networks have been set up by WFP in close cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) in 61 out of the 75 districts of Nepal, the statement added.
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GOVT. LIFTS BAN ON GOLD IMPORT

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Commerce Ministry Tuesday lifted a ban on gold imports.
Commercial banks have now been authorized to import and sell the precious metal.
A ban was slapped nearly three months ago.
To meet local demand, Nepal Rashtra Bank organized a weekly auction which been discontinued after the presentation of the full annual budget.
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US MOVES AT DAMAGE CONTROL IN NEPAL

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: As in other capitals, US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi also moved fast Tuesday at damage control by leaked classified documents of US State Department.
“I cannot vouch for the authenticity of any one of these documents. But I can say that the United States deeply regrets the disclosure of any information that was intended to be confidential.
“For our part, the U.S. government is committed to maintaining the security of our diplomatic communications and is taking steps to make sure they are kept in confidence.
“We are moving aggressively to make sure this kind of breach does not happen again. And we will continue to work to strengthen our partnership with Nepal and make progress on the issues that are important for our two countries.
“We can’t afford anything less.” DeLisi said in a statement.
Reports said communications between the US embassy in Kathmandu and State Department—nearly 2,500-- have been leaked.
Section on Nepal is yet to be published.
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SOUTH ASIAN MICROFINANCE MEET BEGINS

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: A two-day first SAARC-level conference of microfinance began in the capital Tuesday.
The meet was launched by Finance Minister Suredra Pandey.
Altogether 290 participants, including 70 international delegates, have assembled for the meet.
‘During the conference key issues like sustainability and regulation of the microfinance institutions are likely to come to the fore. The conference will act as a learning forum where inter-country experience sharing will help policymakers and practitioners create significant guidelines for the sector,” an announcement said.
Nepal’s Microfinance Development center (MDC) and Institute of Microfinance (IoM) of Bangladesh are sponsors of the meet.
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PRADIP BIKRAM RANA APPOINTED MAJOR GENERAL
KATHMANDU: Pradip Bikram Rana was promoted to major general of Nepal Army Tuesday by the cabinet.
The tenures of Brigadier Generals Binod Basnet, Purna Chandra Thapa, and Umesh Kumar Bhattarai was extended by three years.
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THREE MORE HONOURARY CONSUL GENERALS
Kathmandu, 30 Nov. The cabinet Tuesday approved the appointments of three more honourary consul generals.
Sarika Khetan is the honourary consul general for Romania, Bhola Bikram Thapa of Bulgaria and Ameer Pratap Rana of Croatia,
Nnnn

VEHICLES VANDALIZED IN KAILALI
Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: A one-day strike by transporters of Karnali disupted normal life in Kailaili district Tuesday.
Strikers were demanding route permits for vehicles.




Nearly a dozen vehicles were vandalized.
Nnnn

REPORT BIASED SAYS AGGRIEVED JUSTICE
Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam today [MoOnday] termed a Justice Balram KC-led inquiry committee’s report ‘biased’, Ananta Raj Luitel reports in the Himalayan Times.

The KC-led panel was formed to probe Justice Bam’s alleged involvement in releasing abduction accused on bail—had indicted him for incompetence, and recommended action.

“This (report) is clearly biased and has crossed the terms of reference laid down by the Judicial Council,” Justice Bam told THT. “I’m not bound to accept this report, nor do I deserve the action the report has recommended.”

Bam’s remark came immediately after Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha today declined him the bench to hear cases. “This report is not acceptable as the committee was not authorised to initiate action against me as I am a sitting SC justice and a single judge’s inquiry cannot recommend any action against his equally competent counterpart,” Bam added. “This report is against the principle of natural justice.”

Justice Bam added that a committee under a justice who is equally competent to him could not test his competence and honesty. “This was also against the tradition of conducting inquiry,” added Bam, claiming that a three-member inquiry committee—comprising Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Khil Raj Regmi and Anup Raj Sharma—had investigated the controversial case of releasing drug peddler Robinson six years ago, and the case of releasing the dope peddler by then Justice Paramananda Jha (now the Vice President) was also investigated by the three member panel.

Justice KC has recommended termination to Bam and appellate court judges Hari Bahadur Basnet and Tej Bahadur Karki from services, charging them of incompetence as per Section 4 of the Judicial Council Act-1990.

“The investigation was beyond the jurisdiction as it was only given the authority to investigate Judge Karki’s involvement,” Bam clarified. He added that he was ready to face impeachment by a two-thirds majority in the parliament if there was any mistake on his part. But he claimed that JC does not hold the jurisdiction to punish him based on such a ‘biased inquiry report’. “I am ready to face a high level inquiry of a multi-member commission and even to test before the parliament,” he claimed. “It even did not give me chance to put forth my clarification.”

Stating that JC had formed the panel on July 15 giving it a mandate to investigate into Karki’s decision of releasing abduction accused, Bam said that the inquiry committee was not authorised to investigate his judgments. “The report is illegal,” Justice Bam added.
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NC CWC TO DISCUSS CONROVERSIAL PRESDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS

Kathmandu, 30 Nov. NC central working committee (CWC) Tuesday will continue discussions for the third consecutive day what has turned out to be controversial appoints of two office bearers by President Sushil Koirala.
Koirala announced his intention to appoint Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula vice-chairman and general secretary respectively.
Most of the 26 elected central committee members opposed Koirala’s appointment.
Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC, a former Koirala supporter, even warned the appointments without understanding will be unfortunate.
The appointments have to be ratified by the CWC, according to an amended stature limiting the previous unlimited powers of the president during the Girija era.
Sushil is unhappy with the amendment and wants to restore, amid opposition, the power of the president.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘Does democratization [of NA] mean opening up trade unions inside the barracks. Does it mean allowing military personnel to shout slogans on the streets and block vehicular movement.”

(Retired Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal, The Himalayan Times, 30 Nov.)

‘If peace and stability prevail in Nepal, it will have a bearing on this region. If political instability and anarchy continues in Nepal, it will affect the whole of Asia.”

(UML Foreign Department member Ydaya Raj Pandey quoting Chinese Vice-premier He Yong, Republica, 30 Nov.)
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SUJATA CLARIFICATION

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala on Monday said she did not pressure anyone to allow flights to Air Arabia. “I saw a story in Monday’s edition of The Kathmandu Post that accused me of pressuring Nepal Airlines Corporation to allow Air Arabia to operate flights in the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route and beyond. This allegation is baseless and fabricated,” she claimed, according to The Kathmandu Post.
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DETAILS OF SALARY, PERKS OF BANK LEADERS

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.:Following Nepal Rastra Bank’s much publicised move to cap the salaries and benefits of chief executive officers of banks and financial institutions, interest in how much they actually earn has grown.

According to details obtained by the Post, the top dogs pocket Rs 585,000 to Rs 25.24 million a year. Among the 27 commercial banks in operation as of the last fiscal year, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal’s CEO Sujit Mundul earns the most while the management chief of Nepal Bank Limited who was appointed by the central bank has the smallest salary.

It means that 27 CEOs have salaries ranging of Rs 45,000 to Rs 19,42,000 a month. Their monthly average salary stands at Rs 600,000 a month. These banks spent a total of Rs 210.55 million on their CEO’s salary in fiscal 2009-10. This amount does not include performance based pay and other perquisites such as expenses for vehicles and newspapers.

Among fully Nepali-owned banks, Radhes Pant, CEO of Kumari Bank, has the highest fixed salary. He gets Rs 1.04 million per month.

Although Standard Chartered Bank has the highest salary for CEOs, it is exempt from the central bank’s recently introduced guidelines as the chief is serving here under a technical service agreement (TSA) made with its parent bank.

As per the guidelines, the fixed annual compensation should be up to 5 percent of the total average expense for all employees over the last three years or 0.025 percent of the total assets the BFIs have maintained in the previous year, whichever is lower.

Bankers who have been opposing the central bank’s attempt to cap their salaries since the issue was floated are still crying foul. Kumari CEO Pant said such a rule could lead banks to hire more people and ramp up deposit collection and lending in order to increase staff expenses and assets so that CEOs could draw higher salaries.

“This will also discourage talent from entering the banking industry as top managers,” he said. When asked if his pay was higher than permitted by the guidelines, Pant said he would have to think about it.

Except for Standard Chartered Bank, other joint venture banks, Everest and Nepal SBI, pay their CEOs less than what most CEOs of private sector banks are getting.

Everest’s CEO P.K. Mohapatra gets Rs 106,000 a month. Likewise, the monthly salary of the CEO of Nepal SBI is Rs 117,000.

“Even if all other facilities such as accommodations are included, my salary does not come close to what some CEOs of Nepali private sector banks are getting,” said Mohapatra.

According to him, he does not get extra compensation from the parent bank Punjab National Bank in India except what has been written in the TSA. He, however, maintained that CEO salaries should be market driven and that the bank’s board should have the absolute right to fix them.

Government-owned banks and banks in which the government holds a stake pay less than private sector banks. They have been excluded from the central bank’s guidelines on salaries. KATHMANDU, NOV 29 -
Following Nepal Rastra Bank’s much publicised move to cap the salaries and benefits of chief executive officers of banks and financial institutions, interest in how much they actually earn has grown.

According to details obtained by the Post, the top dogs pocket Rs 585,000 to Rs 25.24 million a year. Among the 27 commercial banks in operation as of the last fiscal year, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal’s CEO Sujit Mundul earns the most while the management chief of Nepal Bank Limited who was appointed by the central bank has the smallest salary.

It means that 27 CEOs have salaries ranging of Rs 45,000 to Rs 19,42,000 a month. Their monthly average salary stands at Rs 600,000 a month. These banks spent a total of Rs 210.55 million on their CEO’s salary in fiscal 2009-10. This amount does not include performance based pay and other perquisites such as expenses for vehicles and newspapers.

Among fully Nepali-owned banks, Radhes Pant, CEO of Kumari Bank, has the highest fixed salary. He gets Rs 1.04 million per month.

Although Standard Chartered Bank has the highest salary for CEOs, it is exempt from the central bank’s recently introduced guidelines as the chief is serving here under a technical service agreement (TSA) made with its parent bank.

As per the guidelines, the fixed annual compensation should be up to 5 percent of the total average expense for all employees over the last three years or 0.025 percent of the total assets the BFIs have maintained in the previous year, whichever is lower.

Bankers who have been opposing the central bank’s attempt to cap their salaries since the issue was floated are still crying foul. Kumari CEO Pant said such a rule could lead banks to hire more people and ramp up deposit collection and lending in order to increase staff expenses and assets so that CEOs could draw higher salaries.

“This will also discourage talent from entering the banking industry as top managers,” he said. When asked if his pay was higher than permitted by the guidelines, Pant said he would have to think about it.

Except for Standard Chartered Bank, other joint venture banks, Everest and Nepal SBI, pay their CEOs less than what most CEOs of private sector banks are getting.

Everest’s CEO P.K. Mohapatra gets Rs 106,000 a month. Likewise, the monthly salary of the CEO of Nepal SBI is Rs 117,000.

“Even if all other facilities such as accommodations are included, my salary does not come close to what some CEOs of Nepali private sector banks are getting,” said Mohapatra.

According to him, he does not get extra compensation from the parent bank Punjab National Bank in India except what has been written in the TSA. He, however, maintained that CEO salaries should be market driven and that the bank’s board should have the absolute right to fix them.

Government-owned banks and banks in which the government holds a stake pay less than private sector banks. They have been excluded from the central bank’s guidelines on salaries.

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DELAY IN GOVT, FORMATION HITS TIFA DEAL

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Even though Nepal and the US finalized trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) some six months ago, the two sides have yet to ink the deal. This has lingered the chances of Nepal gaining favorable market access in the largest economy of the world, Republica reports.

Officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies said they had invited Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis for signing the agreement a few months ago. “But we have not got any response to this connection,” an official at the Ministry said.

Nepali Ambassador to the US Dr Shankar Sharma, meanwhile, disclosed to Republica that the US government was waiting for the formation of a new government in Nepal to ink the deal.

“The agreement is already finalized and the USTR office too is eager to complete the signing formalities. However, it has stayed the process because it wants the country to have the new government in place for signing,” Dr Sharma said over phone.

Once signed, TIFA is scheduled to replace bilateral Economic and Trade Agreement (ETA) that Nepal and the US signed in 1947. This will pave way for preferential facilities for Nepali exports in the US, as TIFA has, among others, provisions that facilitate Nepal to gain favorable market access in the US.
It recognizes the difference in economic and trading status between Nepal and US and commits to reduce tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.

However, the accord, being the framework agreement, does not make specific promises.

The agreement has seven articles related to trade, investment and technical assistance. It provisions establishment of commerce secretary-level Nepal-US Council on Trade and Investment (NSCTI) as a permanent mechanism that will meet at least once a year to work out means and ways to expand trade and investment.

The council is envisaged to serve as a forum for negotiation, monitor trade and investment relations, identify opportunities for expanding trade and investment, and sort out concerns and constraints related to trade and investment.

TIFA also incorporates US readiness to pledge technical assistance to Nepal for raising the country´s capacity to widen commodity base and increase exports. Under the agreement, US has expressed eagerness to support Nepal in product development and also extend assistance to build trade related infrastructure. Increasing US investment and transfer of technology is another crucial component of TIFA.

US is the third biggest market of Nepali commodities, after India and the European Union. However, the economic activities between the two countries had eroded sharply in recent years due to change in global trading regime and conflict and political transition in Nepal.

Nepal has received only nominal investment from US and its major exports like readymade garment have also collapsed over the years. As a result, bilateral trade between Nepal and the US stands very nominal with Nepal enjoying trade surplus of Rs 180 million.

Recognizing the weak business linkages between private sector players, despite decade-long trade ties between the two countries, TIFA envisages encouraging and facilitating contacts between enterprises and other private sector groups in each other territories.




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RETIRED GENERAL BALANANDA SHARMA APPOINTED COORDINATOR

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Retired General Balananda Sharma was appointed coordinator of the secretariat of the special committee for the integration, resettlement and supervision of armies.
Decision had been taken to establish the secretariat but its coordinator had not been appointed.
A special committee headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal met Tuesday morning before the departure of the premier flies for Cambodia.
Maoists were present at the special committee meet Tuesday.
The main opposition had been lobbying for the position.
Tuesday’s committee meeting, after a long delay, is positive for the peace process, Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta said, a member of the committee from MJFN said.
Maoist committee member Barsha Man Pun said Maoist claim to the post of coordinator continues and the matter will be taken up at the next meeting of the special committee.
He said the Maoist presence at the committee was confirmation of the party’s flexibility after the Gorkha plenum.
The meeting confirms Maoist were flexible after the
Hopes were created 19,000 plus former Maoist combatants would be brought under the chain of command of the committee after the main opposition agreed give up reins of control over the former guerrillas.
The special committee met after former PLA commandants attended the just concluded 6th Maoist plenum in Gorkha despite UNMIN and government opposition.
Government ministers said an estimated 1,200 combatants are confirmed party activists and no longer qualify for monthly government stipend and allowances after leaving 28 camps under UNMIN watch to attend
a party political meet.
Government hoped Maoist integration and settlement of fighters would be completed before the scheduled departure of UNMIN 15 January 2011.
A senior UN official arrives this week to review progress in
Integration and resettlement before the planned departure.
The prime minister also chaired a cabinet meeting before flying for Southeast Asia.
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PM NEPAL LEAVES FOR CAMBODIA DESPITE

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal left for Cambodia Tuesday despite a request by Speaker Subash Nemwang to lawmakers not to leave town as attempts are being made to convene a parliament session to elect Nepal’s successor and approve a budget enforced through ordinance by proroguing the legislative session.
The prime minister, after returning from Cambodia, leaves for Brussels after to attend a conference of least developed countries or LDCs.
Nepal is leaving for Southeast Asia to attend a conference of Asian and Pacific parties; KP Sharma Oki, another UML leader opposed to Maoists, left for the meet Monday.
Three Maoist leaders, Foreign Department Chief Krishna Bahadur
Mahara, Post Bahadur Bogati and Central Advisor Hukum Bahadur
Bogati are also attending the Cambodia parley.
UML Chariman Jhalanath Khanal leaves for South Africa
Wednesday.
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NEPALI MAULED BY INDIAN SSB JAWAN HOSPITALIZED

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: A local from Rautahat district who was seriously beaten up by Indian border security personnel has been taken to Birgunj, RSS reports from Rauahat.
Madan Prasad Chandrabanshi of Banjaraha VDC-7 was seriously injured when Seema Samraksha Baal (SSB) personnel beat him up on Sunday while tending his field near the border for wheat sowing.
It is said that Chandrabanshi has sustained seven bruises all over his
body and his left knee has been broken by SSB men.
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Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: A writ petition has been filed at the supreme court Monday demanding a halt to the entire work of voter registration and distribution of the voter identity cards, RSS reports.
Arguing that the election commission does not have the authority to distribute citizenship certificate cards, advocate Sunil Ranjan Singh and Rijhan Prasad have demanded that the apex court issue certiorari order to annul the work.
Acting Chief lection Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti and Commissioners Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Dr. Ayodhi Prasad Yadav have been named defendants in the petition.
It may be noted that the court has already issued an interim order on November 25 to halt the voter registration process until a decision is taken on a writ filed against it, arguing that distribution of voter ID cards without citizenship certificates in the Terai would allow non-citizens to acquire such certificates.
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NO PUBLIC BENEFIT FROM GOVT. INVESTMENT IN HEALTH

Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Minister for Health and Population Umakanta Chaudhari Monday said that the public did not benefit from the growing government investment in the health sector, The Rising Nepal reports.
While speaking at a three-day National Annual Review Workshop that kicked off here, Minister Chaudhari expressed his dissatisfaction that the people were deprived of government health facilities while the government had been increasing its budget in the health sector.
"The government’s budget allocation in health has been increasing every year but more and more targeted population has been deprived of the health services," he said.
The regional meeting will review the progress of the last fiscal year.
The minister pointed out lack of monitoring and supervision for the poor performance of health sector.
"Due to the lack of effective monitoring and supervision, the output in the sector is very nominal," he said.
He asked the divisional chiefs under the Health Ministry to be a more responsible while carrying out their duties.
Different types of communicable diseases have made the situation more complicated while non-communicable diseases are also increasing at an alarming rate, Minister Chaudhari said.
He said that he found it difficult to coordinate with the line ministries like Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Physical Planning and Ministry of Home to deal with various epidemics.
The government is preparing to decentralize the health services by establishing heart, kidney, cancer, and maternity hospitals in all regions, he said.
Dr. Yashovardhan Pradhan, Director General of Department of Health Services, said that though the existing budget had not been fully utilized.
Dr. Sudha Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, said that the government
had been spending around 1.5 billion rupees for free health schemes every year.
All Regional Health Directors said that the regional health institutions were suffering from lack of human resources which was the barrier for providing quality health services.
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MEDICAL INSURANCE MUST FOR MIGRANTS TO MALAYSIA

Kathmandu, 30 Dec.: The Malaysian government will make medical insurance mandatory for migrant workers beginning January 1, Malaysian Deputy Human Resource Minister Maznah Mazlan told Star, a Malaysian daily, The Himalayan Times reports.

The medical insurance scheme will affect over four lakh Nepali workers in Malaysia. “It will definitely affect Nepalis, but we are not sure how. We are analyzing the policy,” said Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohamed Aftab Alam. “I will comment on it after consulting experts,” he told this daily over phone.

Malaysian government’s move comes in the wake of many foreigners leaving government hospitals with unpaid bills amounting to $ 6.7 million. As per the policy, even the old workers are required to get medical insurance done before renewing their work permits.

As per the insurance policy, each worker will have to pay annual insurance premium of $ 38 i.e. more than $ 3 per month. Average monthly earning of a Nepali worker in Malaysia is $ 175.

Authorities dealing with foreign employment term Malaysian government’s move a step in the right direction. “I welcome the policy which protects workers from health hazards,” said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, Director General at Department of Foreign Employment.

Nepal government sends workers for overseas jobs only after ensuring Rs 5 lakh medical insurance for them but illegal migrant workers obviously go without any insurance. “Malaysian government’s policy will include even them,” he said. However, he did not elaborate on the financial burden on the workers. “I cannot say more without analyzing risks and benefits,” he added.

Malaysia is among the top destination countries hiring Nepali workers. Of the 294,094 Nepali workers going abroad last year, 113,982 went to Malaysia. As many as 42,454 Nepalis have already found jobs in Malaysia in the first four months of the current fiscal year.
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INTRODUCTION OF NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST FOR MIGRANTS ro UK

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: A new English language requirement was introduced Monday 29 November 2010 for non-European migrants applying for a visa to enter or remain in the UK as the partner or spouse of a British Citizen or person settled in the UK, the British embassy said.
Applicants will need to show that they can speak and understand English to a basic level. They will usually meet this requirement by passing an English language test conducted through a UK Border Agency-approved test provider. The list of approved test providers and further guidance is available on the UK Border Agency’s website.

Applicants need to pass this language test before they apply for a visa and submit an original test certificate with their visa application.

It is also possible to meet the English language requirement by having an academic qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the UK which was taught in English. Applicants will need to supply the original qualification certificate with their visa application.

The new language requirement is intended to help migrants integrate into British society – to open up more opportunities, help prevent exploitation, and allow them to benefit from, and contribute more to their communities.

This new requirement does not apply to visitors or the spouses and partners of those in the UK on a temporary visa, such as workers and students under the points based system.

This requirement also does not apply to applications under Part 7 of the UK's Immigration Rules where the sponsor is a former Gurkha who has been granted indefinite leave on discharge from the British Army.
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MAOIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 29 Nov. An empowered meeting of the Maoist central committee meets Thursday in the capital after the conclusion of a main opposition 6thplenum plenum in Gorkha during the weekend.
The meeting couldn’t resolve intra-party differences of future party strategy to handle a prolonged political deadlock with `other parties.
The committee has been empowered to sort out internal party differences which the plenum couldn’t resolve—hence the importance of the committee meet.
Differences will be taken to a party general convention if the central committee can’t settle the disputes.
UML central committee also meets 14 December amid a prolonged political deadlock.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal accompanied by another Maoist critic KP Sharma Oli leave for Cambodia Tuesday to attend a conference of Asian political parties in the Cambodian capital.
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is also flying for South Africa to attend another conference even as Speaker Subash Nemwang asked lawmakers not to leave the capital amid attempts to convene a session of parliament to approve a national budget and elect Nepal’s successor.
Nepal has been a caretaker government head since 30 June.
Nepal held routine consultations with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Monday before flying abroad.
Nepal said he could cut short his foreign visit, if necessary, to be present at home to assist in a political breakthrough—an unlikely possibility.
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OPPOSITION TO SUSHIL KOIRALA IN PARTY MEET

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: A meeting of the NC central working committee (CWC) will continue for the third consecutive Tuesday amid opposition in the committee to appoint nominate office bearers by party President Sushil Koirala.
Koirala has proposed Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula vice-chairman and general secretary respectively amid widespread opposition.
Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC Monday urged understanding and warned a division in the committee though voting to confirm nominations will be disastrous for the party.
Committee members pressed for a secret vote if elections are held.
Fifteen CWC members spoke Monday after 11 members elected by the just concluded general convention presented their views Sunday.
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DISTRICT COURT BOMBED BY REBEL TERAI OUTFT

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: There were no casualties when the Janatantrik Mukti Morcha triggered an explosion by a planted bomb in front of the Rupedhaehi district court Monday.
Police helped evacuate the building following the explosion.
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WORLD POLO GETS UNDERWAY IN CHITWAN

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: The annual international World Polo Championship got underway in Meguali in Chitwan Monday.
The championship was launched 1985 by Jim Edwards, of Tiger Tops fame.
Eight foreign and local teams are participating.
The championship is back in Chitwan after it was held in Bardiya in 2009.
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NEPAL AIRLINES UNDER CIAA SCANNER


Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has summoned the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTA) Secretary Kishor Thapa, Joint Secretary Ranjan Krishna Aryal and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar over the issue of allowing Air Arabia to operate flights on the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route and beyond, Bhadra Sharma reports in The Kathmandu Post..

Civil servant unions at the NAC had filed cases against the secretary and chairman. “Following several complaints, the Commission summoned them,” a highly placed source at CIAA told the Post. The complaints registered with the anti-graft body say that their sole intention in allowing the international air company to operate on the said route was to cause bankruptcy of the national flag carrier and feed vested interests.

The unions alleged that this was tantamount to ‘handing over NAC’s fifth freedom right’ to Air Arabia. The fifth freedom right refers to the right to “enplane traffic at one foreign point and deplane it at another foreign point as part of continuous operations” also connecting the airline’s home base.

Air Arabia is scheduled to launch air service to Malaysia from its hub in Sharjah starting Dec.16. The airline has already started selling tickets for Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) directly through its “two official agents” General Sales Agents and City Express Travels and Tours even before a route agreement has been signed with the Ministry.

For NAC, Malaysia is one of the most important passenger destinations. The unions claim the logic behind this transfer of fifth freedom right is self-defeating. Financially, Malaysia is a cash cow for NAC.

On Sunday, CIAA dispatched separate letters directing the NAC officials to come up with all the original documents within a week. Sources close to the CIAA claimed the NAC had taken this decision following pressure from Deputy Prime Ministers Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Sujata Koirala and Tourism Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, among others. “Both the NAC chairman and secretary were visibly under pressure when I handed them separate letters,” said a CIAA official.

Reportedly, the Commission has been preparing to grill the tourism minister. Currently, NAC is left with only one Boeing after its Boeing 9AOB grounded in Hong Kong for months. “If the corporation does not revoke its decision, all of us 1,400 staffers will have no option but to be left jobless,” National Civil Servants Employer’s Origination Vice-President Nimanada Khanal said. Five years ago, the government had given similar rights to Qatar Airways but revoked that decision after criticism from all quarters and when the NAC faced a serious financial crisis.
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SUSHIL KOIRALA SEEKS SUPPORT FOR HIS NOMINEES

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: NC President Sushil Koirala Monday sought support for his nominees Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula in the central working committee (CWC) as price-president and general secretary respectively.
The second day’s consecutive meet got underway Monday afternoon.
There was widespread opposition to the nominations Sunday—even from persons who supported in presidential elections two months ago.
Even Sujata Koirala opposed the nominations that have to be approved by the CWC.
Sujata said she was assured nomination by Sushil as vice-chairman after withdrawing her nomination in favour of Prakash Man Singh as general secretary.
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13-POINT AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOCAL TIBET AND NEPAL OFFICIALS ALONG BORDER

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Local officials of Tibet and Nepal came to a 13-pont agreement Monday after two days of talks to improve relations on cross-border coopaeration.
Tibet officials agreed to release 100 containers every day with Chinese imports.
Tibetan officials apologized for mistreatment of Nepali traders in Tibet and along the border, state-owned Radio Nepal said Monday.
Talks were held at a resort in Sindhupalchowk.
Nepali side was led by Sindupalchowk CDO.
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TIBETANS IN NEPAL TO BE IDENTIFIED AS REFUGEES FOR US TRAVEL

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: USA has rectified a process to issue visas to Tibetan refugees in Nepal traveling as Nepali citizens, Kantipur reports.
The refugees were identified as Nepali citizens for a long time while issuing them visas for travel to USA.
The procedure was changed after Nepali objections.
The sources aid the US embassy will now specify the long-time residents in Nepal are Tibetan refugees on the request of the Nepalese government.
This was confirmed by Home ministry Spokesman Jaya Mukunda Khanal.
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POLICE SLAP BAL BAHADUR KC

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: NC central committee member and former minister Bal Bahadur KC has been slapped by police [day not specified], Naya Patrika reports.
He was returning home with his wife Rina after attending the wedding of the son of Dr Ram Sharan Mahat at the army officers’ club.
She was also slapped once.
KC entered the police office in the evening at Kamalpokhara and started hurling abuses at the police amid loud noises.
“What’s the difference between you and the YCL?” he asked them
He had lodged a complaint on local obstructions of his house construction.
The incident happened Friday night at 11, Tarun reports.
He hurled abuses at police such as mu.. and ma.. at the police in a drunken
state.
He was also bundled into a cell.
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POLICEMAN KILLED IN CLASH WITH STUDENTS (BREAKING NEWS)

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Policeman Arjun Kumar Singh was killed in a clash with students at a campus in Nawalparasi Monday.
Police were efforting to break locksat Oxford campus.
The town is tense after clashes broke out.
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PM REPEATS CALL FOR CONVENING PARLIAMENT SESSION

Kathmandu, 29 Nov,: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday repeated a call to convene a session of parliament in neighbouring Lalitpur.
The session should be convened to break a continuing political deadlock, he said
The government asked the president to prorogue a session of parliament to present a budge through ordinance after Maoist obstruction in parliament.
Nepal said his foreign visits won’t hinder talks to normalize a deteriorating political climate at home.
After returning from Russia last week, Nepal flies for Kampuchea Tuesday to attend a conference.
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INDIA TO LAY 70KM RAIL LINE IN NEPAL

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: India railway will execute a 70lm rail line project at an estimated cost of Rs 470 crore in Nepal as part of a move to strengthen ties between the two neighbouring countries, PTI reports from New Delhi.
The project includes gauge conversion between Jai Nagar and Janakpur spanning a distance of 30 km and laying a new Janakpur-Bardibas line connecting a distance of 40km,
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MOST WANTED ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Sunil Lama, 24, on the most wanted list of Nepal Police, was arrested during a raid on a house in the capital overnight.
Lama was nabbed with an Italian pistol.
He was wanted for murder and extortion.
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BOMB DEFUSED IN CAPITAL OUTSKIRT

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: A socket bomb wrapped in a plastic bag was defused by a a police bomb disposal unit at Jorpati near Baudha Sunday.
A leaflet, stamp and donation pad of Rashtriya Mukti Sena Nepal (Nationalist) was recovered.
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YCL CAMP RAIDED

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Seven persons were overpowered by police Sunday night during a raid on a YCL camp at Tunaldevi in the capital.
The raid was conducted amid complaints of abduction for ransom.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

BUDDHA AIR TO START DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LUCKNOW

Kathmandu, 29 Nov. Private operator Buddha Air will begin thrice
weekly flights between Kathmandu and Lucknow, the capital of
Utter Pradesh from 7 January.
The one-way fare for flights on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday will
be Rs. 5,600,
India is the second foreign destination of the airline after Bhutan.
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FOREIGN ENVOYS URGE MAOISTS TO TOE LINE

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: The ambassadors representing the UN Security Council (UNSC) members have stepped up consultations to send a collective message to the political parties in Nepal. They have particularly a strong message for the Maoists. Last Monday, German Ambassador Verena Gräfin von Roedern, the newly elected non-permanent member, called on the Maoist party to detach itself from the combatants, a position that has already been voiced by the American and British envoys here, The Kaathmandu Post reports.

“On the political front everybody is worried that UNMIN leaves without there being a set-up to take over certain responsibilities regarding the arms and armies,” said a Western diplomat.

“If not now, when?” said another diplomat. With this close to the two very important deadlines—UNMIN’s exit after Jan. 15 and statute drafting by May 28—there is a growing sense among the UNSC members that Maoists as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly has to take the lead.

“While the statements are aimed at the Maoists—as they’re the ones who have to meet their CPA and subsequent commitments to separate the PLA from the party—it is also clear that flexibility is required on all sides to allow the integration and rehabilitation process to begin,” said one Western embassy official referring to the statements issued by the American, British and German ambassadors.

“No one should be surprised that the ambassadors have commented on the importance of this very current issue—the international community has repeatedly urged all the parties, including the UCPN (Maoist)—to take concrete steps to consolidate peace including through the demobilisation of all paramilitary groupings,” said a spokesperson for the British Embassy The international community has concluded that without the Maoists dissociating themselves from the combatants, the trust deficit cannot be overcome to further the peace process.

Last Saturday, 14 heads of diplomatic missions including three UNSC members issued a statement calling for the parties to prioritise the peace process, especially integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist combatants.

Lack of progress on the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants and assessing the structure of the Nepal Army are central and urgent than ever before in light of UNMIN’s scheduled departure on Jan.15, read the statement issued to mark the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The Maoists had agreed with the parties to complete the integration and rehabilitation of its combatants within six months in the seven-point agreement signed on June 25, 2008. Following this, the Interim Constitution was amended to allow the formation of a Maoist-led majority government.

“The country will not bear any responsibility for verified combatants who have not been integrated or rehabilitated after six months,” stated the agreement.

But two and half years later, the international community finds the continuing use of combatants as a bargaining tool untenable.

“Don’t the Maoists realise that holding onto the combatants for so long is bound to make it a political liability?” said the Western diplomat. While the United States, Britain and other members of the international community

say that they will continue to extend their support beyond UNMIN’s

departure, but the uncertainty about the post-UNMIN scenario is making them apprehensive.
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CHINA SAYS SORRY FOR MISTREATMENT OF NEPALI TRADERS
Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Chinese authorities have pledged to stop “increasing harassmet" on Nepalis in the Tatopani border area in Sindhupalchok, The Kathmandu Post reports from SIndhupalchowk. .

During bilateral talks held here on Sunday, Chinese representatives assured the Nepali side that such incidents will not be repeated and that other border problems would be resolved amicably.

The Chinese team led by How Bin, the Regional Political Chief of Kuti state, said the Chinese side is ready to address demands made by the Nepali side. They also apologised for incidents when locals of Khasa, Tibet, misbehaved with Nepalis.

Last week, Khasa locals allegedly extorted Rs. 2,800 from Nepali students visiting the area for jaywalking.

"The Chinese team apologised on behalf of the locals over the matter and assured such activities would not ne repeated in the future," a Nepali official attending the meeting quoted Chinese delegates as saying. Chief District Officer Harikrishna Upadhyay, who led the Nepali team, said the Chinese authorities agreed to allow 120 containers of goods to be transported every day.

"We asked them to stop keeping Nepalis under surveillance by entering Nepali territory and also stop preventing Nepalis from taking photographs in the border area," Upadhyay said.

The Chinese side said they would decide on allowing photography only after consulting with the higher authority.

In Sunday's talks, the Nepali side said the problems arose of late in the border area as some Chinese nationals smuggle medicinal herbs and US dollars in the area.

The Chinese representatives expressed concern over parking of Nepali containers in the Miteri bridge and over visits to the area by high-level Nepali officials without informing the Khasa administration.

Of late, Chinese security personnel and people in Khasa have been allegedly harassing Nepali nationals in the border area on various pretexts. According to locals, the harassment is on the rise.

However, a spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu denied the allegations.

Nepali locals claim that Chinese security personnel and locals manhandle Nepalis, extort them in the name of imposing fines and create unnecessary hurdles in the trans-border activities.

"Chinese security personnel enter Nepali territory and harass Nepali people," a local said. He claimed that sometimes the security personnel go to as far as Larcha, about five kilometers into the Nepali territory from the border, and misbehave with Nepalis. Chief at the Kodari Immigration Office, Bijaya Poudel, admitted to the increase in the harassment meted out by Chinese authorities in the area. Some Chinese nationals reportedly tried to manhandle Poudel last week over a smuggling issue.
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GOVT. DENGUE DEATHS DON’T MATCH MECIA CLAIMS





Kathmandu, 29 Nov.:- The government Sunday said it had so far the record of the death of only five people by dengue, a revelation that exposed its poor inventory system, The Rising Nepal reports.
Various media outlets reported that at least 25 people lost their lives in the last five months due to the dengue fever.
A parliamentary task force ‘dengue disease control and investigation’ formed by Committee on Women Children and Social Welfare of Legislature-Parliament enquired with health authorities about the government’s steps to combat with the disease.
The authorities said that they had so far known that only five people were killed by dengue this year.
The task force visited Bir Hospital and Teaching Hospital last Friday and found two died of dengue in Teaching Hospital and one in Bir Hospital.
"The government is sorely lacking the record of deaths by dengue," said CA member Binod Pahari, coordinator of the task force.
He said that there might be several death cases of dengue in various hospital of Kathmandu but they did not come in government record.
In Chitwan alone, 14 died of dengue and they were not included in the record.
Some few days ago, the task force held discussion with Minister for Health and Population Umakanta Chaudhari, health secretary and Director General of Department of Health Services.
During the discussion Minister Chaudhari had said that the ministry would allocate special budget to contain the infectious disease but faced difficulty to coordinate with other Ministries to check dengue.
On October 29, the parliamentary committee directed the Ministry to launch special campaign in coordination with Ministry of Local Development and the Ministry of Finance to control the disease.
It also asked for emergency budget to control the disease and to form effective network for conducting awareness programme to deal with the deadly disease.
Dr. G D Thakur, director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said that the awareness generating programmes were being conducted in various parts of the nation.
He said that the security forces organised ‘search and kill’ campaign while around 222 dengue affected people received treatment in Teku Hospital.
Sensing that the government was not serious about the public health matter, the task force instructed the Ministry to make special preparedness, to point out a focal hospital for dengue and provide free health service to the dengue patients.
Around 10 dengue patients are still receiving treatment in Teku hospital.
Most of them are from Butwal and some a few from Kapilvastu, said Dr. Basu Dev Pandey, focal person for dengue.
Dr. Pandey added the spread of dengue had been slowly halted in Butwal while it spread faster in Kapilvastu district.
Dr. Senendra Raj Upreti, deputy health secretary, said that they would investigate all hospitals and submitted the deaths record to the task force soon.

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POVERTY RAGES IN LDCs AS RICH DON’T MEET AID LEDGES





Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: - Rich nations failed to live up to their aid commitment for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as the latter continue to plunge into the vicious cycle of poverty, The Rising Nepal reports.
"The LDCs received only USD 37 billion out of committed USD 60.7 billion in 2008," said LDCs Report 2010 released here Sunday.
The report said instead of poverty reduction, the number of people below poverty line ($125) has risen to 421 million in the LDCs, slowing down the progress towards achievements of the Millennium Development Goals
"Even as global economic growth accelerated in the first decade of the millennium, the LDCs remained marginal in the world economy owing to their structural weaknesses and the form of their integration into the global economy," said the report entitled ‘Towards new international development architecture,’ prepared by UNCTAD.
A number of LDC-specific international support measures have been devised to promote the economic development of these nations, but the UNCTAD study concludes that they have had largely symbolic, rather than practical, development effects.
In the majority of cases, the report contends, they have not promoted the development of productive capacities, and the lack of these capacities is the key source of the structural economic weaknesses of LDCs.
The report says LDC governments must play stronger roles in creating favourable conditions for capital accumulation, technological progress, structural transformation -- especially a shift away from LDCs´ dependence on commodity exports -- and the creation of productive jobs that are vital for substantial poverty reduction.
It calls for the creation of a new international development architecture (NIDA) for the LDCs aimed at: a) reversing their marginalisation in the global economy and helping them in their catch-up efforts; (b) supporting a pattern of accelerated economic growth and diversification which would improve the general welfare and well-being of all their people; and (c)

helping these countries graduate from LDC status.
The Report argues that these objectives can be achieved if there is a paradigm shift that supports new, more inclusive development paths in LDCs.
Making public the report, National Planning Commission vice-chairman Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel said that the role of state had increased in the wake of financial crisis.
"There is urgency to invest on physical infrastructure development, productive sector, and diversification of trade to increase economic growth," he added.
He pointed out unified and coherent voice among the LDCs.
On Nepal’s MDGs progress, he said that the country scored gains in social sector such as literacy and health but failed to make headway in employment generation and physical infrastructure development.
UNDP Nepal coordinator Robert Piper said that United Nations was committed to empowering the LDCs.
Presenting the report Professor Bishwanath Tiwari said that the LDCs witnessed slow progress in the poverty reduction, which hampered them to achieve MDGs.
He noted that there was lacking viable institution to enable the LDCs to create sound and visible technology.
There are 49 countries including Nepal under LDCs category. The United Nations categorises them as LDCs based on the criteria such low income, human assets weakness and economic vulnerability.
The 4rth UN Conference on LDCs will take place in Turkey next year.
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NC CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS IN APPOINTMENT OFFICE BEARERS

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Amid opposition to NC President’ Sushil Koirala’ s proposal to appoint Ram Chandra Paudel party vice-president and Krishna Prasad Shitaula general secretary, the central working committee (CWC) continues discussions for the second consecutive day Monday.
Most of the 11 speakers Sunday opposed the president’s proposal.
Opposition came mainly from the camp of three-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who considers himself the second ranking leader in the party after Koirala.
Paudel, the incumbent current vice-chairman and leader of the parliamentary party, is Dueba’s main rival.
Deuba has been demanding proportionate representation for his supporters in the central committee; he’s pushing for seats in the powerful commensurate to the vote he collected in the Kathmandu general convention two months ago.
Koirala defeated Deuba in the presidential race and his nominees were elected general secretary and treasurer while a Deuba loyalist was elected treasurer.
Koirala is seeking to strengthen his grip over the party by appointing 20 supporters.
The appointments have to be approved by the CWC, according to an amended party statute.
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SPEAKER BEGINS DISCUSSIONS TO CONVENE
PARLIAMENT

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Speaker Subash Nemwang has begun consultations with major political parties to convene a session of parliament
after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav prorogued it earlier this month
to promulgate a budget of 2010/11 through ordinance amid
Maoist opposition.
Nemwang held discussions with NC and UML leaders Sunday and lwhhips of major parties.
He asked lawmakers not to leave the town as consultations intensify to convene the legislative session to approve the budget and elect a prime minister.
The country is administered by Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal since 30 June after resigning on Maoist pressure.
Nepal’s successor hasn’t been elected even in 16 rounds of parliamentary vote.
Nepal’s donors have been pushing for decisive elections to conduct urgent business with the government.
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NEPAL ALSO FIGURES IN WikiLeaks

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: Nepal also figures in the WikiLeaks which the US State Department is desperately trying to plug.
The exposures have embarrassed Washington which says risks lives.
Some of the 250,000 confidential US diplomatic cables leaked Sunday relate to Nepal.
It’s believes 2,600 documents relate to Nepal; the Nepal section hasn’t been leaked yet.
The leaks are being released phase-wise.

According to the website, the dossier has 2,278 memos sent by the US Embassy in Kathmandu to the US State Department. Eighty-four of those memos were labeled secret and 1,399 confidential while remaining 795 are unclassified.





“The documents will give people around the world an unprecedented insight into US Government foreign activities.

“The cables, which date from 1966 to February 2010, contain confidential communications between 274 embassies in countries throughout the world and the State Department in Washington,” it added.

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COMEBACK OF CONEDIAN SANTOSH PANT

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: A household name once because of his much loved serial “Hijo Ajaka Kura” (HAK), actor Santosh Pant is back in the limelight again with the same series after a gap` of four years, Dikshya Karki writes in Republica.

Originally broadcast every Friday at 9 PM from Nepal Television (NTV), the series is now aired through Kantipur Television every Friday at the same time.

Seven episodes of the serial have already been telecast, and the team is busy shooting for the eighth episode. Rehearsing the dialogues with his crew, Pant was busy on the sets of the series on Wednesday. The fine actor, who has stepped into his fiftieth year, directs the serial, scripts it and acts in it as well. As Mahendra Nakarmi, chief assistant director of the serial briefed him on the shots to be taken, he listened attentively and gave his own inputs.

“We aired 565 episodes of the show and it ran for more than a decade,” Pant recalled, sitting down comfortably on a wooden chair and holding up his face for makeup artist Amrit Maratha. His face was dabbed with foundation. A white tone was added to his eyebrows and moustache. The area around his eyes was shaded with a dark hue.

“I’m enacting the role of a 70-year-old man in this episode,” he clarified. His character has an ailing wife at home and all his children are abroad.

As an actor who likes to experiment with his roles, Pant has donned on the roles of a Marwari businessman and a Constituent Assembly member for earlier episodes of the series. Starting as a performer at the tender age of three, Pant has spent 47 years in the Nepali acting scene.
A household name once because of his much loved serial “Hijo Ajaka Kura” (HAK), actor Santosh Pant is back in the limelight again with the same series after a gap of four years.

Originally broadcast every Friday at 9 PM from Nepal Television (NTV), the series is now aired through Kantipur Television every Friday at the same time.

Seven episodes of the serial have already been telecast, and the team is busy shooting for the eighth episode. Rehearsing the dialogues with his crew, Pant was busy on the sets of the series on Wednesday. The fine actor, who has stepped into his fiftieth year, directs the serial, scripts it and acts in it as well. As Mahendra Nakarmi, chief assistant director of the serial briefed him on the shots to be taken, he listened attentively and gave his own inputs.

“We aired 565 episodes of the show and it ran for more than a decade,” Pant recalled, sitting down comfortably on a wooden chair and holding up his face for makeup artist Amrit Maratha. His face was dabbed with foundation. A white tone was added to his eyebrows and moustache. The area around his eyes was shaded with a dark hue.

“I’m enacting the role of a 70-year-old man in this episode,” he clarified. His character has an ailing wife at home and all his children are abroad.

As an actor who likes to experiment with his roles, Pant has donned on the roles of a Marwari businessman and a Constituent Assembly member for earlier episodes of the series. Starting as a performer at the tender age of three, Pant has spent 47 years in the Nepali acting scene.
After HAK was shelved by NTV following, as Pant likes to refer to as the decision of the NTV management, he ventured into other small screen projects. He hosted “Anautho Pratibha” and a drug awareness related program-“Say No To Drugs”. Both programs were successful in their own right, but Pant remained shadowed.

“Audiences know me from HAK, and I had to be back,” he said. Pant was also encouraged by the program production team of Kantipur Television.

Being one of the veterans in the comedy genre, Pant is very vocal about the current trends in the Nepali comedy scene.

“I’ve always been against loud acting. We’re comedians, not clowns. Our work demands situational comedy, not the interplay of exaggerated expressions and dialogues,” he put in.

He termed HAK as a reflection of the socio-political discrepancies that exist in Nepal.

“The serial isn’t aiming for mere entertainment but using satire and humor to change the system.” He exemplified the success of this endeavor. “Recently in an episode, the issue of unreasonable taxi fares was discussed. The very next day, we were happy to read news about a dozen taxi drivers being arrested on the charge of cheating,” he said.

The same old cast of the serial has been given continuity in the new episodes as well.

“Our cast was never apart. Professionally, we might’ve been separated but we share great personal relationships. And when the idea of reviving the serial came along, my crew was more excited than I was,” he shared.

The cast ensemble includes Rama Thapaliya, Radhe Shyam Satyal, Sabin Shakya, and Narendra BC, among others.

When the shooting of the particular episode began, the flamboyant star spontaneously hunched his back, wrinkled his forehead and dragged his feet awkwardly. He was already so much into the character that he appeared to have aged gracefully just in a few minutes.

Improvising on the dialogues, he delivered several shots on target. When the shooting wrapped up after 45 minutes, Pant did not show a bit of tiredness and actively planned the next shot at the Nepal Electricity Authority office.

Discussing his work, he emphasized that he had no regrets about being an actor. And that he found it more challenging and enriching to be able to act and direct side by side.

“I feel immortal. Someone who is rich will only get to enjoy this life and be forgotten after he’s dead. But I believe people will remember me even after 100 years. Acting has bestowed on me this gift,” he proclaimed.

Besides gracing the small screen, Pant has also been signed by director Manoj Babu Pant for his film “Cashmere Galbandi.” He will be enacting the lead role in the film of a Dalit individual who has been suppressed by the society.

This particularly recorded episode of HAK, by the way, will be telecast this Friday at 9 PM on Kantipur Television.
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IMPORTERS DIVERT CARGO IMPORT TO KOLKATA FROM TIBET
Kathmandu, 29 Nov: Importers of electronic goods from China have started diverting their consignments from Tatopani to Kolkata and receiving them via India, as sharp rise in transportation cost and damages to the goods caused by poor road conditions made importing via Kolkata cheaper than Tatopani, Prabhakar Ghimere reports in Republica.

"In recent months, cost of overland transportation of goods from Guangzhou -- the major supply point in China -- has increased sharply.
This has made cost of importing through ship via Kolkatta some 40 percent cheaper than importing via Khasa," Durga Lal Shrestha, the president of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Traders Association told Republica.

According to the association, fare for transporting goods from Guangzhou to Kolkata and from Kolkata to Kathmandu totals to around Rs 275,000 per container. Whereas transporting the same from Guangzhou to Khasa and from Khasa to Kathmandu totals to Rs 365,000.

"Actually, transporting goods from Guangzhou to Khasa is cheaper than Guangzhou to Kolkata. However, as transporters operating along the Tatopani-Kathmandu route are charging exorbitant rates, the overall cost of doing business via Khasa has become impractical," said Shrestha.

Records show, importers can receive a container of goods in Kathmandu from Kolkata by paying Rs 100,000, whereas the cost of transporting a container from Khasa to Kathmandu could go up to Rs 250,000. Interestingly, distance between Khasa and Kathmandu is about a third of distance between Kolkata and Kathmandu.

"The problem has to do with syndicate of transporters. Unfotunately, Commerce secretary who makes big speeches on trade facilitation has done nothing to stop this evil, despite heading the Competition Board," Shrestha added.

Apart from the cost factor, traders say imports from Kolkata have less chances of breakage and damages to goods apart from low cost.

"Electronic goods are fragile and prone to breakage and damages. Hence, traders are switching to Kolkata port for safer delivery of goods," said Shrestha.

As a result of this shift, import of electronic goods, which used to make major chunk of imports from Khasa, has dropped significantly to 5-10 percent.

Nepal imports wide range of electronic goods including computers and their parts, calculators, television sets, radio sets and their accessories, electronic conductors and air conditioners from China.

Trade balance between China and Nepal has always remained unfavorable to Nepal and the volume of trade deficit has only grown over the years. Figures at the Trade and Exports Promotion Center (TEPC) show that Nepal suffered a trade deficit worth Rs 31 billion in 2009/10 with China. It was Rs 21.5 billion a year earlier.
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MAOIST GORKHA PLENUM REVIEWED

Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: The UCPN-Maoist’s extended meeting, which ended without a decisive document, has prolonged ideological struggle within the party, indicating that the Maoists have not really changed since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord and that peaceful resolution of political conflict remains a challenge, Ajaya Bhadra Khanal writes in The Himalayan Times.

Under attack from both Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidhya, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has tried to fend himself and found it extremely difficult to promote peaceful resolution of political differences against party workers’ wishes to violently commandeer powers of the state.

Maoist dreams, once exemplified by Prachanda, that their goals could be peacefully achieved, have shattered, with many cadres losing faith in the current political negotiations.

Although the extended plenum has sought to cover up the differences in the top leadership with the fig leaf of “re-unity,” the Central Committee will find it difficult to resolve the issues raised in separate documents presented by party Vice Chairmen Mohan Baidhya and Dr Baburam Bhattarai in sharp contrast to the one brought out by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

In the history of Unified CPN Maoist, this is the first such extended meeting in which the chairman’s political document has not been passed unanimously from the House. The party is yet to finalise its principal contradiction and assessment of the developments since the Chunbang meeting.

It all shows that the Maoists continue to be a house divided. How can they continue to demand the formation of a consensus government when the party itself has failed to arrive at a consensus within its leadership?

Prachanda’s primary effort, which has been partly successful, was to prove that he is still the sole leader inside the UCPN-M. However, he is torn between expectations of democratic forces in the country and wishes of orthodox ideologues inside the party.

The central issue is the Maoists’ commitment to peaceful and democratic means of resolving political differences. The Maoists once believed that they could easily impose their ideological preferences through peaceful means, but now the Maoists are divided on how to move forward.

As a result, the party leadership has retained the idea of a “people’s revolt” as the ultimate weapon of their movement. The idea of revolt flies directly in the face of a democratic polity since this means an armed revolution. If this is the ultimate aim of the Maoists, why go through the subterfuge of democracy, parliament, constitution making and the like? If the Maoists are not serious about a democratic republican government, then why should the other parties like the UML and the NC collaborate with a party which is so evidently against democracy to form a government?

The plenum has also failed to come out with a concrete plan for the demobilisation and integration of the PLA, the single most important sticking point for the complete integration of the Maoists in the political mainstream of Nepal. Without this there can be no question of the Maoists forming government with democratic forces.

The only way forward, at this stage is for all the political parties to engage in confidence building measures and allow an open public debate. After all it is not a question of what the parties want.
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NO SALARY OF MAOIST COMBATANTS IN GORKHA

Kathmandu, 28 Nov.: Deputy Prime Minster Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar said government will stop allowances, salaries and rations of Maoist combatants who attended the party plenum that ended in Gorkha Saturday.
‘Government cannot look after cadres of any political party,” Gachedhar said in Biratnagar Saturday. “Government has told this to Maoists. Government is stopping salaries, allowances and ration of combatants who attended the plenum.”
“The government has to pay their salaries and allowances and they work for the Maoists?
How can the government pay PLA fighters salaries and allowances if the fighters work for Maoists?
How can we integrate those combatants who participate in the party’s meeting as party cadres be integrated in security agencies?” she asked reporters in Biratnagar Saturday.
“What remains is its formal announcement,” she said claiming Maoists had withdrawn from the 12-poin peace agreement between seven parliamentary parties and Maoists four years ago.
‘The day the combatants went to Palungtar, the road has been opened for Nepal Army (NA) to conduct all military activities.
“They have no right to facilities given by the state.
“(NA) also has the right to also resume the recruitment process and other duties if Maoists combatants can be paraded at their plenum venue,” Surya Bahadur Thapa said Saturday Damak while imparting ideological training to activists of Rashtrya Janashakti Party (RJP) in Jhapa.
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NEPSE SLIPS 5.20 POINTS

Kathmandu, 28 Nov.: Nepse slipped 5.20 points at the end of five-day weekly trading Thursday.
The market opened at 423.36 points Sunday and closed at 416.15 points Thursday.
The announcement of the annual budget for the remaining eight
months of the fiscal year 2010/11 didn’t boost or stabilize stock market prices.
Although 50,235 shares of Nepal SBI Bank were traded for Rs 34.05
million during the week.
In two bulk transactions, 38, 718 and 9,662 shared exchanged
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KIN OF MARTYRED SPEAK
Kathmandu, 28 Nov.: After the sixth UCPN-M plenum concluded, Maoist Chairman Prachanda met jointly with the families of martyrs and disappeared people only to be criticised severely for the leadership’s increasingly luxurious lifestyle and for belittling the contribution of martyrs, The Himalayan Times reports from Palungtar. .

Families of persons disappeared during the bloody conflict criticised Maoist leaders for not paying attention to their plight.

Samudri Gandharva, who received a message about her son’s death some days ago after eleven years, asked Prachanda, “Why has the message about my son’s death reached me so late when he was killed in 2061 BS.” She warned, “My son’s sacrifice should not go in vain.”

She fell unconscious while talking to Prachanda. Before falling unconscious, Samudri asked Prachanda to expedite the process for drafting the constitution and bringing lasting peace in the country. The families of martyrs and persons disappeared during the insurgency asked Prachanda to pay heed to their troubles too. “We wept once on the loss of our family members. Don’t make us burst into tears frequently,” a martyr’s family said.

Samudri’s son Bikash Gandharva was declared martyr by the conclave today at the end of the closed session. Bikash had joined the Maoist armed force around 12 years ago .

According to UCPN-M’s Limbuwan Rajya Samiti in-charge Gopal Kirati, Bikash was wounded severely in the Maoist attack on Bhojpur on Jestha 1, 2061 BS. He died while undergoing treatment in India.

“The message of Bikash’s death was not delivered to his family due to some problem in commutation,” said Lok Prasad Banjara, member of the information and communication sub-committee of the plenum. A letter of self-criticism for not delivering the message of Bikash’s death to Tamuwan Rajya Samiti where Bikash’s family lives, was read out at the end of the closed session. Politburo member Hitkaji Panday said the plenum declared him a martyr of the people’s revolution.

Resham Bahadur Panta, father of disappeared Dipendra, criticised Maoist leaders for not paying attention to finding the whereabouts of his son. “You did nothing while at the helm,” Resham pointed at Prachanda.

Consoling family members of the disappeared and martyrs, Prachanda said the revolution was not complete. “When our revolution succeeds, all your wishes will be fulfilled.”
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NEW ELECTORAL PROCESS IN QUANDRY

Kathmandu, 28 Nov An ambitious plan of the government to introduce new electoral roll and use the data collected by Election Commission (EC) for National Identity Card (NID) has been dragged into controversy following a series of disputes, Bimal Gautam writes in Republica..

The plan that hit a snag mainly after the protest from Madhes-based political parties has faced yet another complication with donor agencies raising serious concerns on the matter following the Supreme Court order asking the EC to stop the registration drive.
he SC order apart, the EC´s move to collect new electoral roll without the evidence of citizenship, the government´s plan faces mainly three complications.
First, the donor agencies, who have already decided to invest nearly Rs 120 million in the new voters´ registration process, have expressed serious concern over the SC order; second, the Madhes-based parties´ reaction protesting the court´s order; and third, the government´s seriousness about its commitment to implement the new voters´ registration process.

On Friday, representatives of various donor agencies met Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety and expressed their concern over the matter.
"Donors agencies have shown their serious concern over the matter. They said they will continue their support to EC even if it faces problems due to non-cooperation from various quarters," said Uprety, adding, "They however, want the complications to end at the earliest."

Apart from donor´s support, the government has already decided to invest Rs 200 million from the state coffer for the new voters´ registration process that requires voters´ photograph and fingerprint. For the first time in its history, the commission has decided to introduce new electoral roll with voters´ photograph in a bid to minimize bogus voting in future.
• Donor agencies concerned about the disputes
• We won´t use EC´s data if it collects electoral roll without the evidence of citizenship: MoHA
• We won´t initiate the collection drive until the next decision of SC: EC Chief
The plan faces further complication with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) deciding not to use the EC´s data for National Identity Card. The MoHA has said that it found the commission´s decision to collect new electoral roll even without the evidence of citizenship unacceptable.

"We are alarmed by the EC´s decision to collect voters´ registration without the evidence of citizenship. Even SC has ordered a stay on the EC´s collection drive. We wont accept EC´s data if it collects voters´ registration without citizenship," said an official at the MoHA on condition of anonymity. He, however, clarified that the ministry has adopted a wait and see position on the issue until the next SC decision and the EC´s subsequent move.

The Madhes-based parties, on the other hand, in blatant violation of respect towards independent judiciary, publicly announced that they would protest the Supreme Court order unless it corrects its decision. Madhes-based parities also criticized SC for being influenced by the government and other political parties while issuing the stay order on the matter.

The EC´ stance on compulsory citizenship for voters´ registration was changed following disputes and intermittent disturbances, especially by Madhes-based parties, during the registration process in the Tarai districts.

The SC on Thursday said only Nepali citizens enjoy the right to participate in the voting process, meaning one should have acquired Nepali citizenship to enjoy voting rights.

"We have taken SC´s decision positively and it is our duty to abide by the court´s order," said Acting Chief Election Commissioner Uprety, adding, "We won´t initiate any process in this regard until the final decision of the SC." Uprety also demanded the removal of ambiguous provisions in the law which, according to him, led the commission to take the decision to collect electoral roll without the evidence of citizenship.

The EC on November 3 had decided to accept identification documents other than citizenship certificate for registration in the voters´ list. The EC had decided to accept land ownership certificates and documents issued by academic institutions, among others, as identity citing that the existing laws permitted them to do so.

Data and other particulars collected for the electoral roll are expected to help in developing the NID, which will gradually replace the traditional citizenship card.
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