CLOSED DOOR SESSION OF MAOISTS BEGINS

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: A closed door session of the five-day 6th plenum of Maoists began Monday at Palungtar in Gorkha on the second day of the jamboree.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to dissolve the constituent assembly. Stepping of the gains achieved so far, move ahead with development and not mechanically replicating revolution, Chairman Prachanda told 4,000 plus delegates at the assembly during a 40-minute address. “We’ve learnt the science to force new unity on a new basis.”
The party will discuss and endorse party strategy to move ahead amid a prolonged political deadlock without abandoning its declared objective to establish a communist state.
“We’re discussing. The discussion should create basis for new unity. Through change, peace and a new constitution, we’ll not discourage people.
“We’re standing up against this tendency [to stoop to foreigners].
‘A great catastrophe is looming over the horizon. Final touches are being given to a counterrevolution. A final decision will be made of who’ll win or who’ll be defeated,” Prachanda warned.
Nnnn

UN SECURITY COUNCIL TEAM IN TOWN

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: A team of the UN security council working group on children and armed conflict led by Claude Heller arrived in the capital for a six-day visit Sunday.
The team will assess progress and challenges facing children, particularly disqualified and discharged Maoists this year amid reports Maoists have placed them in camps.
The team will verify if underage discharged former combatants have been rehabilitated.
The team will fly to Gorkha to meet the Maoist leadership busy with their plenum.
nnnn

SWISS DRUG TRAFFICKEER ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Swiss national Rolf Xaver Sanshdrich, 55, was arrested at TIA Sunday before boarding a flight for Bangkok.
Two packets of concealed refined hash [7 kg] was recovered
from his baggage.
The Swiss national’s latest visit to Nepal was his fourth,
according to investigating officials.
nnnn

TODDLER ABDUCTED

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Two-year-old Dipendra GC was abducted
from his home Chanai VDC-5, Kapilvasthu, Saturday night
apparently for ransom..
Two masked motorcyclists abducted the child from the courtyard of his house.
Parents said probable kidnappers demanded two million rupees ransom.
Nnnn

KAMAL SHAH DEAD

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Former minister of the panchayat era died after a long illness, the family announced Monday.
She was the daughter of Prime Minister Juddha Shumshere JB Rana and mother-in-law of Prabal Shumshere JB Rana, former Royal
Nepalese Ambassador to United Kingdom.
She was a former Chairman of Nepal Family Planning Association.
Komal Shah died 10 November, the family said.
nnnn



TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

WEEKLY AUCTION OF GOLD, SILVER STOPPED

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) announced the weekly Tuesday auction of gold and silver following the announcement of the annual budget of 2010/11 Saturday.
The central bank said this in an announcement Monday.
Government lifted the private import of the metals in the budget.
Local demand was met through weekly auction by the NRB.
Nnnn

NEPSE LOSES 2.07 POINTS

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Nepse lost 2.07 points Sunday one day after government announced the complete budget for the remaining eight of the fiscal year 20110/11.
The market closed at 423.35 points at the end of trading.
Altogether 111,875 shares of 83 companies worth Rs 27.15 million were traded n 1,528 transactions.
nnnn

KORMER KING, QUEEN ARRIVE IN NEW DELHI MONDAY; LIKLEY TO MEET PM SINGH

Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Former King Gyanendra and Queen Komal arrive in New Delhi from Mumbai Monday and will be in the Indian capital for two days, Janabhawana reports.
They will proceed to Shimla from New Delhi.
The couple arrived in Mumbai from Rajasthan where they
attended a wedding of a relative.
A programme has been arranged for a meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh; the meeting is likely to take place Tuesday.
The meeting wasn’t arranged before the couple departed for India.
Nnnn



EMAIL THREATS DOMINATE CYBER CRIME





Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: "Bloody NMC Members-you have failed a lot of students a lot of time in the NMC licensing exam. We have it. You ........ are playing with our future time and money. So be careful you idiots. Either cancel all these NMC licensing exam and provide registered medical license to all applicants immediately or we will ambush, take hostage, torture and finally kill you and your family members one by one. We will take Revenge for the trouble, you have given us. Just go to hell.", Purusottam Khatri writes in The Rising Nepal.
This was the (unedited) mobile SMS messages received by the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) members via mobile No. 9808957123 on 3rd November. The sender had identified itself as Anti NMC Force.
The doctors continued to receive SMSes until the police nabbed Dr. Sudhir Rajbhandari, 27, an inhabitant of Samakhusi, Kathmandu, on 16 November.
Rajbhandari who had pursued education in Russia had failed the NMC exams for eight times. Police arrested him on charge of sending the threatening SMSes to the doctors of Nepal Medical Council.
Similarly, in another noted crime scene, Prerana Poudel (name changed), a resident of Koteshwore, received porno SMS and threatening from different SIM cards.
She was receiving different porno SMS and threatening for the last one year and finally she lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Section of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD).
Soon after she lodged her complaint, the police also succeeded to nab Deependra Koirala, 30, of Chabahil, on 15 November for his alleged involvement in sending the obscene SMSs.
The police said that any persons who send any type of obscene, threatening and porno SMSs would be taken actions as per Electronic Transaction Act-2006 under which several types of cyber crimes are mentioned.
Under the Act as mentioned in the chapter no. 9 from serial no. 44 to 59, any activities that are committed via electronic means and internet, mobile phones, would be brought to legal actions under violation of cyber crime.
Within a year of the establishment of Cyber Crime Cell at the MPCD, Hanumandhoka, it has started registering complaints about the messages and images sent via electronic, Internet, mobile phones means.
According to Police Inspector and In-charge of the Cell, A.M Chandra Dhami, the cell has

succeeded to resolve more than 90 per cent of the complaints registered by the victims. In the fiscal year 2009/10 and 2010/11 B.S., they registered 20 and 11 cyber crime related complaints respectively.
Dhami said that most of the cyber crime complaints were about email threats, phish-ing, imposter, especially in Facebook website.
The advancement in information and communication technology (ICT) is growing overnight in the world. But the Nepal police have not been much able to keep update with the latest technology and in generating well trained manpower to fight latest ICT related crimes.
"Public awareness and behavioural changes and approaches in using the internet should be effectively launched to control cyber crimes," inspector Dhami said.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and chief of MPCD, Hanumandhoka, Rana Bahadur Chand told that the division was doing severe homework about an idea of keeping strict details of the internet users and or of issuing Cyber ID cards for internet users in the cyber cafes.
SSP Chand said that rising trend of viewing pornographic sites in the Interest could be controlled if the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) strictly monitored and issued order to check the activities to Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPN).

Nnnn

NEPAL CONCERNS INDIA
Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has said developments in Nepal were of concern to India as it shares an open border of around 1750 kms with Nepal, The Himalayan Times reports from New Delhi..

Addressing a seminar on ‘Challenge in India’s Foreign Policy’ at National Defence College here today, she said Nepal was passing through a period of political uncertainty and the consensus required for concluding the constitution drafting process was still elusive.

“Even as we engage with political parties to resolve the outstanding issues, we are continuing and expanding our economic, commercial and infrastructural linkages with Nepal, which contribute to economic and social development of Nepal,” Rao added.

She maintained that India’s interaction with Nepal and the two-way traffic of Indo-Nepal relations had proceeded in a relatively unhindered manner.

She noted that the issues of security cooperation on the open border, tackling common threats like fake currency and arms smuggling and criminal elements who operate along the border were matters of mutual concern.

She said India was in favour of developing mutually-beneficial relationship with its neighbours as ensuring peaceful, secure and stable neighbourhood was at the core of its foreign policy.

“An article of steadfast faith in our foreign policy has been to ensure a peaceful, secure and stable neighbourhood, so as to safeguard peace, security and development within our own borders and it is with this perspective that India is developing a mutually beneficial relationship with her neighbours,” Rao added.

She said India’s growth and prosperity had a beneficial impact on the region and there was a need to build closer connectivities in trade, communication and other networks of interaction among ‘ourselves and our neighbours.’

“At the same time, instability and centrifugal forces such as those arising from religious extremism and terrorism in our neighbourhood can and do threaten our own security and development,” she maintained.
Nnnn

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION TRIGGERED AGNI AIR CRASH KILLING 14
Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: The investigation commission constituted to look into the August 24 crash of Agni Air in Makawanpur district said that the fatal incident occurred due to technical anomalies.

In a report submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation on Sunday, the probe commission said the accident was caused due to spatial disorientation of the flight crew in Instrument Meteorological Condition (IMC), after loss of attitude indication (AI) because of loss of total battery power causing the aircraft to go into an uncontrolled dive to the ground.

Fourteen people including three crew members were killed in the accident when the Dornier 228 aircraft nosedived at a paddy field in Bastipur of Shikharpur VDC in Makawanpur district while returning to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after failing to land in Lukla Airport due to bad weather conditions.
According to Kumar Prasad Upadhyay Chalise, the coordinator of commission, the tripping off line of both generators and their failure to come back on line, use of out of date check list for double generator failure, early extension of landing gear against check list recommendation and depletion of batteries due to continuous operation of hydraulic pump are other contributing factors for the accident.

The government had formed a five-member commission to look into the fatal accident of the passenger aircraft.

The commission has made nine safety recommendations to the authorities concerned for the enhancement of safety and prevention of such accidents in future.

It suggested the Agni Air to revise its flight crew training policy, procedure and curriculum to include leadership, crew coordination and threat and error management, and asked the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to make its safety oversight function more thorough and effective.

It further suggested making the Air Navigation Services Standard Department more capable to carry out effective safety oversight of Air Traffic Service system.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarat Singh Bhandari directed the concerned bodies to work as per the recommendations of the commission.
Nnnn

NO PASSPORT ACCESS TO DEFAULTERS

Kathmandu, 22 Nov : Bank loan defaulters, money launderers and individuals facing criminal charges such as human trafficking, kidnapping and drug dealing will lose their passports once the new passport regulations that got the final nod from the cabinet on Sunday comes into effect, Republica reports.

"The regulations give power to revoke passports issued to such individuals if concerned authorities ask so," said an official about the new provision in the regulations.

The regulations state that the ministry will also deny passports to those who have been accused of criminal offence but their cases are sub judice in courts.

This is the first time the government has introduced such regulation on passports.

“Such individuals will enjoy their rights to possess passport once they are acquitted of the charges by a competent authority," the official said.

The government amended the old passport regulations to update it in light of its efforts to introduce machine readable passport (MRP).

Meanwhile, another small consignment of MRP has arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday. This is the second consignment the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received from French security printer Oberthur Technologies.
nnnn

APF CGUF DENIAL
Kathmandu, 22: Inspector General of Nepal Police Sanat Kumar Basnet has refuted media reports saying that Armed Police Force (APF) found no evidence to substantiate Indian allegation that Nepali Maoists gave training to Indian Maoists, Republica reports.

APF issued a statement Sunday to refuting the news after Basnet was dragged into a controversy after he told Sajhasabal program of BBC World Trust that APF "has not found evidence" to substantiate the Indian allegation.

“The reports were distorted,” APF said in the rebuttal. “He [Basnet] had said that he read news and there was no evidence when he was asked about Indian claim that Nepali Maoists gave training to Indian Maoists.”

APF further said that Basnet had further added that “it was not his job to say whether the Indian allegation was right or wrong”.
(Note: The statement of the AFP IGP is recorded on TV channels. His statement of no Nepali involvement in training Naxals has embarrassed Nepal government and India. Bhola Rana)
Nnnn

DAHAL, BAIDYA FUTURE LINES
Kathmandu, 22 Nov.:
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya are inching closer in terms of their future ideological lines. However, another Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai (BRB) still has wide fissures with Dahal and Baidya, The Kathmandu Post reports from Gorkha. .

Despite his closeness to Dahal about ‘principal enemy’ and future ideological line of the party—two most contentious issues in the Maoist party—Baidya has snubbed Dahal’s proposal to merge two documents before the plenum that kicked off on Sunday. However, leaders close to Baidya say there is a possibility of merger of the two documents at the end of the plenum if Dahal covers the issues raised by Baiyda. Baidya insisted that he would not compromise with Dahal until the latter mends his ways. While, leaders close to Bhattarai such as Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Ram Karki reject the merger of Bhattarai’s document with Dahal’s outright.

“I am closer to the Chairman than Baburamji. However, I fear Dahal might forget the revolution and choose to maintain the status-quo,” Baidya told the Post before the inauguration of the plenum. The Baidya faction says Chairman Dahal has failed to implement the decision taken by the Kharipati Plenum four years ago. The meet had decided to establish a People’s Federal Republic rather than a democratic order.

“My main complaint with the Chairman is that he never paid attention to implementing the decisions taken by previous plenums,” said Baidya, indicating that Dahal had failed to make preparations for a revolt. He clearly said that a democratic and progressive constitution could not solve genuine issues raised by the Maoists during their 10-year war with the state.

However, Bhattarai has sharp differences with both Dahal and Baidya on numerous issues including the principal enemy and the party’s future ideological line. Leaders close of Bhattarai say there are not any chances of Dahal and Baidya coming up with a single proposal.

Baidya and Dahal say the principal enemy is the combination of internal regressive forces and India, while Bhattarai states it would be unwise to declare India as an enemy. “There should be an agitation, not a war, against foreign forces to preserve national independence,” said politburo member Ram Karki. “We may forward differences to a General Convention if they are not settled at the plenum and there is no possibility of merger of different ideologies at his meet.”

Baidya said the party should not accept a democratic and progressive constitution as lobbied by the Bhattarai faction, which, however, reasons there is no alternative to promulgating a progressive statute from the CA. While, Baidya sees any chance of promulgating a new constitution from the CA is almost over.

Barsa Man Pun (close to Dahal)

The plenum will give suggestions on peace process and constitution drafting. We will discuss all the three documents while the Central Committee will synthesise them for a uniform view. However, we will strive to prepare a single document.

Netra B Chand (Baidya group)

Our main focus is to make the UCPN (Maoist) a real and original communist party. This plenum will give a way out to the current political deadlock. We will prepare both short-term and long-term action plans to accomplish the revolution envisaged by our party.

Top B Rayamajhi (close to BRB)

We should carve an objective and scientific policy and strategy to accomplish the tasks related to peace and constitution. This plenum will take a concrete decision to end the political deadlock and give a way out to the political mess. There is no possibility of a split of the party. We will try to settle all the disputes at the plenum and if that turns impossible we will forward the contentious issues to the General Convention.
nnnn