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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