STATEMENT OF THE NEPALI MISSION IN NEW YORK

“The attention of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations is drawn to the recent news reports published in some media alleging Nepalese peacekeepers for Cholera outbreak in Haiti. While we deeply regret cholera outbreak and loss of lives in our brotherly country Haiti, we would like to state the following:
“Nepal has been contributing troops and police to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations since 1958 and during this period more than 80,000 peacekeepers have rendered their service in more than 40 UN Peacekeeping Missions. Currently, Nepalese peacekeepers are deployed in 13 different UN peacekeeping missions including Haiti. Troops and police peacekeepers are being rotated round the year and Nepal conducts a thorough and standard medical check-up of its troops and police before sending them to any Peacekeeping Missions.
“Since 1958, none of the host countries have reported any communicable disease including Cholera that could be linked to Nepalese peacekeepers. Similarly no Peacekeeping Missions currently deploying Nepalese peacekeepers in other 12 Missions have reported any communicable disease either.
“it may be recalled that United Nations has refuted the allegations in clearest terms, after several scientific lab tests carried out by United Nations, independent organizations and the Haitian government itself.
“The Permanent Mission of Nepal firmly rejects such baseless, malicious and unfounded reports put out by some media and individuals without any regard to the specific evidence to the country.”
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BIREN SHRESTHA PRADHAN GETS LIFE SENTENCE
Kathmandu, 19 Nov.: Biren Shrestha Pradhan was sentenced to life imprisonment by Kathmandu district court Friday with confiscation of his property for abducting and killing his student pupil Khyati Shrestha two years ago.

Justice Balendra Rupakheti ruled on the life sentence with confiscation of property on Biren Shrestha; accomplice Merina Shakya was awarded life sentence as well. as well.
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PM APPEARS BEFORE PARLIAMENTARY COMMTTEE
Kathmandu, 19 Nov.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said Frdayt he has directed the authority concerned to initiate the process for purchasing a wide-bodied aircraft for the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) in a transparent way after completing all rules and regulations, RSS reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs Committee of the Legislature-Parliament on Friday, the prime minister said that he was thinking to form a powerful body under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister to control corruption.

He said there was no alternative for the parties than to working together so as to complete the ongoing peace process and the constitution-writing process, and to meet the people's aspirations. The prime minister underscored the need of environment of trust among the parties to establish secularism and federalism in the country.

Nepal said that investigation was underway into the allegation leveled by the Indian government that the Maoists in Nepal imparted training to the Indian Maoists. Following a letter about the training dispatched by the Government of India to Nepal government, an investigation into the accusation has been initiated on his own efforts, he added.

He informed that the Indian side has also expressed worries for making public the letter that was sent secretly.

In the meeting, the lawmakers have drawn the attention of the prime minister towards the aircraft purchasing scam, the recent China visit by the Maoist combatants and 'military training' provided by the Nepali Maoists to Indian Maoists.

Similarly, they also drew the prime minister's attention towards his scheduled participation in the upcoming Conference on Protection of Tiger and financial irregularities reported under the subordinate bodies of the Forest Ministry.
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FIVE SUPREME COURT JUDGES RECOMMENDED

Kathmandu, 19 Nov.: Judicial council Friday recommended the names of five judges and lawyers supreme court justices.

The council Friday recommended the appointments of Baidyanath Upadhsya, Tarka Raj Bhatta, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Bharat Bahadur Karki and Kamal Narayan Das.

Upadhaya, Bhatta and Karki are chief judges at Patan, Butwal and Pokhara appellate courts respectively while Bharat Bahadur Karki is attorney general and Das is a legal practitioner.


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MAOISTS TO DISCUSS COMBATANT PARTICIPAION IN PLENUM WITH UNMIN

Kathmandu, 19 Nov.: The UCPN (Maoist) standing committee meeting Friday decided not to include the Maoist combatants in the plenum of the party to begin in Gorkha from November 21, RSS reports.

Informing reporters about the decision of the meeting held at the Party´s central office in Parisdanda, spokesperson of the Party, Dinanath Sharma said the combatants would not take part in the plenum as it has been publicized but those who are state committee members would attend.

Stating that the party´s attention was drawn by the letter of the United Nations Mission in Nepal in relation to the participation of combatants in the meeting, Sharma said this matter shall be discussed with UNMIN and the political parties.

The Standing Committee shall meet again at Palungtar of Gorkha on Saturday evening while the Central Committee shall meet on Sunday morning, it is stated.
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