RENEWED EFFORT TO COMPLETE CONSTITUTION DRAFTING FROM WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: With less than five months remaining to promulgate a delayed constitution to institutionalize a declared republic by 28May 2011, renewed efforts will begin Wednesday to complete the process.
Whips of all 27 parties in the constituent assembly (CA) will begin the effort.
This was agreed Tuesday at a meeting of 27parties convened by Chairman Subash Nemwang.
Earlier, a task force led my Maoist Chairman Prachanda tried to thrash out differences on 230 contentious issues to be included in the proposed basic law.
Differences persist on major issues including state structure amid concerns a deadline for promulgating a constitution may not be met for the second time
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LOAD-SHEDDNG UP AGAIN FROM WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: Weekly load-shedding will be increased from 56 to 74 hours from Wednesday as winter peaks, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)
announced Tuesday.
There will be 11 hour power cuts four days and 10hours three
days.
Meteorologists predict temperature will fall to around zero degrees Celsius in the next several days.
Twenty-seven days of minpachas still remain.
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64,000 HIV CASES

Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: It is estimated that 64,000 persons are infected with HIV in Nepal and 16,637 among them are living with HIV/AIDS, RSS reports.
This was informed lat an interaction on media sensitization here today [Monday].
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MORE DETAILS OF BIBEK SHAH’S EXPOSE ON NARAYANHITI PALACE ROYAL MASSACRE [EXCERPTS]

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: While studying in class 7 at Budhanilkantha
school, Dipendra Sarker shared his with me problem with me once.
‘My mother is unnecessarily trying to control me. Tell this to my
mother,” he said, according to Nagarik quoting the Maile Dhakheko Darbar written by Bibek Shah.
I couldn’t do anything on this.
The queen found out from some source Dipendra wrote love
letters to Supriya.
The queen probably discussed this with the crown prince.
Dipendra started liking Supriya from class seven.
We ADCs were aware he wrote love letters to other girls besides
Supriya.
The Queen didn’t like a marriage between Dipendra and Supriya
not for personal but family reasons.
They were close cousins.
Supriya was the granddaughter of the Queen Mother’s elder sister.
The Queen wanted the relations between Dipendra and Supriya
should be severed.
The Crown Prince wanted the relationship with the girl despite the
mother’s dislike.
The queen was firm against the marriage.
She would ask.: ”Is Supriya competent to be queen?” to the dislike of the Crown Prince.
“What does she think of herself?. What was she before? What was my mother before marriage? ” the Crown Prince would say that that young age.
Queen Mother Ratna approved the relationship and marriage between Dipendra and Supriya.
King Birendra was under double pressure from the Queen Mother and the Queen. [page 42].
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DEUBA CANVASSES SUPPORT WITH UML

Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: NC leader has started homework to form a government under his leadership, Nagarik reports.
He sought the support of UML at a meeting Monday evening with UML General Secretary Ishwor POkhrel.
The meeting took place at Pokhrel’s residence.
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INTERNATIONAL FILM WORKSHOP ON FILMS FROM JAN. 21





Kathmandu, 28 Dec.: - The Kollywood filmmakers and artistes, who always attract criticism from film critics as well as the public for their poor academic background and unwillingness to learn from others, are now trying to give a fitting answer to their critics by organizing a one-week international film workshop in Meghauli, Chitwan, in January next year, The Rising Nepal reports.
The Society of Film Directors Monday disclosed its plan to organize the international workshop at a press meet held here.
"We are going to organize this event to enhance the Nepali cinemas," said K. P. Pathak, chairman of the Society.
According to the Society, the workshop will be held from 21 to 27 January in a typical Tharu village of Meghauli near Chitwan National Park in Chitwan district.
The Society was mulling over organizing such an international film workshop for the past few years but was unable to realize it owing to the volatile political situation in the country, said Bimal Poudel, the programme coordinator.
According to the organizers, filmmakers from South Korea and India had confirmed their participation in the workshop while they were also expecting participation of at least one filmmaker from the northern neighbour.
Dong-bin Kim, noted filmmaker of South Korea, and K.N.T. Shastri from India would interact with the Nepali filmmakers at the workshop while Indian filmmaker Govind Nihalani would be another participant in the Meghauli workshop.
"We have made efforts to bring Chinese filmmakers through the Kathmandu-based Chinese Embassy," Pathak said.
The Society had already formed various committees and sub-committees both in Kathmandu and Chitwan to facilitate the workshop.
It had also structured the workshop according to which the international participants would watch the Nepali films and would discuss about various components of the films and their inclusion in Nepali movies while the local participants would do the same by watching the foreign participants’ movies.
Similarly, the participants would exchange ideas about the latest know-how and trends of filmmaking as well as the marketing practices of the cultural products in the world.
A small number of film directors present in the press meet lauded the initiatives of the Society to hold the international workshop on movies. However, they also suggested that the week-long workshop to be participated in by the international experts should be structured carefully so that it would be fruitful to all.
"I am very happy that the Society is organizing a useful workshop on film where we can learn something new about filmmaking. However, I would like to advise the organizers to focus more

on the structure of the workshop," director Yadav Kharel said.
Filmmakers Laxmi Nath Sharma, Deepak Rayamajhi, Narayan Puri, Bishwo Basnet and Yuba Raj Lama and chairman of Film Development Board Nepal Amar Giri expressed their happiness over the society’s preparations to hold the workshop and wished success of the workshop.
Although the Society received appreciation from all filmmakers, artistes and well wishers of Nepalese movies for its move to hold the workshop, the organizers looked worried when Giri informed at the press meet that the Finance Ministry was not going to allocate any budget for the workshop.
Organisers said that they needed 2.3 million rupees for the workshop.
The Society said that it had approached the finance ministry through the FDB for the budget but all their efforts went in vain when the ministry officials refused to provide any help.
"It is a testimony to the indifferent attitude of the government towards the film industry," Pathak argued.
FDB that has a small budget amounting to around 25 million rupees cannot allocate budget exceeding three hundred thousands rupees in total for organizations related to movies, said Giri.
However, the Society looked confident to hold the workshop with the support of the private and other organizations.
Despite failing to get any budget from the Finance Ministry, the organizers committed to hold the opening of the workshop in a grand manner.
"We have plans to invite the prime minister or Constituent Assembly Chair to inaugurate the workshop," informed Pathak.
The society has expected 50 to 60 participants including technicians, script writers and film critics in the workshop.
All those interested in the workshop could register their names within 10 days from today onward, informed Poudel.
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