Nepal Today: January 2011

NINE NEW NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

BY BHOLA B. RANA

Kathmandu, 1 Feb. Nine persons have been nominated central committee (CC) members by NC President Sushil Koirala Monday evening as Sher Bahadur Deuba pushed the party to nominate him the party candidate for prime minister.
Election is being held Thursday.
Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Narahari Acharya, Bimalndra Nidhi, Padma Narayan Chaudhary, Lila Koirala, Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Dil Bahadur Gharti, Gopal Pahadi and Farmullah Mansur were elected committee members one day before candidates before candidates file nominations for government in parliamentary elections.
Deuba is pushing his candidacy after parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel failed to get elected in 16 rounds of extended vote in nearly six months.
Koiala had nominated only Deuba central committee member after his election as president and he can nominate 10 more persons.
Analysts said Sushil nominated 10 committee members to strengthen his control over the party and dilute Deuba’s influence.
A central committee meeting was indefinitely postponed after the Deuba faction opposed Koirala’s proposal to nominate Paudel vice-president and Krishna Prasad Shitaula general secretary.
Following party presidential elections last year, Koirala and Deuba factions are almost equally represented in the CC.
Koirala continues to push Paudel’s candidacy for prime minister against Deuba in the party.
The president is now expected to convene the party CC meet with his hands strengthened in the body with the appointments of loyalists.
Nidhi is the only open supporter of Deuba.
There are now 74 members in the CC.
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CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS STATE STRUCTURE

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: A 63-member main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya Tuesday held inconclusive discussions on the future form of a state structure amid differences on it between Maoists, NC and UML—the three largest parties in the constituent assembly (CA).
Dialogue will continue despite differences of a state structure.
oDiscussions start as all parties in the CA decided to empower and activate the committee to complete a draft of a proposed constitution for
promulgation by the second 28 May 2011 deadline.
Without any business, the committee met for the first time in eight months Monday after it received reports of seven thematic committees with differences.
Earlier, a business advisory committee of the CA amended rules for Ca to activate the drafting committee.
Acharya said the committee will prepare a draft of a constitution while attempting to eliminate differences on contentious issues to be incorporated in a basis law.
There was agreement on 129 issues in a constitution at
a task force headed by Maoist Chairman Prachanda while differences persisted on more dive dozen topics.
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CAN INFO-TECH 2011

Kathmandu, 1 Feb. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday
launched the weeklong 17TH CAN INFO-TECH 2011 fair at Bhrikuti Mandap Tuesday.
Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) is organizing the promotional fair.
There are 300 stalls at the fair.
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UML CC MEET STARTS

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: A crucial meeting of the UML central committee (CC) began Tuesday one day before candidates register names for Thursday’s first round election of prime minister.
The CC meet begins amid deep difference in the ruling party on the
election.
There was no agreement Monday between the Big Three on a consensus candidate for prime minister even as Maoists, NC and UML agreed to continue a dialogue.
The committee meet began amid differences in the party with a faction ledd by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli opposing aan establishment to support the candidacy of Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
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PRESIDENT IN NEW DELHI

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, currently on a 10-day official India visit, arrived in New Delhi Monday.
Top Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President of the ruling Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi will hold political discussions with Dr.Yadav who is only a ceremonial head of state at a time when Nepal is in deep political crisis.
The country is being ruled by a caretaker government for more than seven months.
The president, who is also on a religious pilgrimage with members of his family, was welcomed only by Satish C. Mehta, head of the Nepal desk at the Indian foreign ministry, and other administrative officials.
of touring
DP Tripathi, president of Nepal Democratic Solidarity Committee, launched to oust the royal regime, hosted a dinner for the visiting president.
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COURT STAYS OPENING OF PASHUPATINATH TREASURY

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: A one-man bench of the supreme court Monday
issued an interim order to the government not to open the Shree Bhandar, the treasury of Pashupatinath temple, until a final order.
The order was issued by justice Girish Chandra Lal.
The cabinet nearly one month ago decided to open the treasury and exhibit the still unknown valuables there for public viewing by preparing an inventory at a museum and other places.
The valuables here are offerings to the holiest Hindu temple in the country.
The court was responding to a request filed by Bharan Jangam who pleaded Hindu sentiments would by hurt breaking open the treasury.
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TMDP-N RECOGNIZED

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: The Election Commission Monday gave official recognition to Terai Madesh Democratic Party-Nepal (TMLP-N).
The party which split from TMLP is headed by Local Development Minister Mahendra Prasad Yadav.
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ICRS, NA AGREEMENT

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Nepal Army (NA) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the continued running and maintenance of physical rehabilitation centers in Kathmandu and Pokhara for victims of landmines.
The extension of the MoU was the third.
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NAC DIRECTOR FREED

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Director Mayor Shumshere Rana Monday was released on a surety of Rs 1.5 million.
Rana has been charged for misappropriating Rs 5.7 billion in a deal with Airbus to purchase two aircraft.
Rana and several other NAC executives have denied the charges.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Kathmandu, 1 Finance ministry Monday released Rs 1.30billion to the cash-strapped Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) amid shortage of POL
Products.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has regulated exports of POL
products amid NOC’s delay in settling dues for imports from the Indian state monopoly.
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COMBATANTS DON’T BELONG TO MAOISTS; PM

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday rejected the claim by Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda that the Maoist combatants were under their party and said they belonged to the chain of command of the Army Integration Special Committee, The Rising Nepal reports.
"Maoist combatants have come under the control of special committee," PM Nepal said while addressing a function organised by Municipalities Association of Nepal in the capital.
PM Nepal said that the combatants would be integrated and rehabilitated as per their interests, abilities and capacities.
He emphasised that the peace and statute writing processes should be concluded as early as possible for the consolidation of loktantra.
"During the transition, all parties should form a common viewpoint to accomplish the works relating to the state restructuring. It should be carried out by respecting national integrity, sovereignty, geography, culture, and language as well as establishing the ownership of the people to this task," he said.
The restructuring map should be clearly sketched by coordinating in administrative, organisational and economic aspects among centre, province and local units, he said and added that there should be a common standpoint on the proposed federal structure of metropolitan governments and autonomous metro cities.
He also complained that there was no uniformity in the public participation and budget allocation at the local level because the local elections had not been held for a long time.
PM Nepal mentioned haphazard construction of houses in Kathmandu metropolis hit rivers, drains, and roads.
National Planning

Commission vice-chairman Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel said that the change in the structure of the state and form of governance following the political changes should be embraced which, he said, should be taken as a challenge as well as an opportunity.
Dr. Pokharel said that they had imagined a prosperous and just Nepal under federal set up.
Lawmakers Ratna Gurung and Krishna Prasad Sapkota said that local bodies should be systemized and attention should be given to the developments of villages.
The programme entitled ‘the proposed autonomous metropolis government and metro cities’ was chaired association chairman Dor Mani Poudel.

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IC CRINCH WORSENS

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Rapid rise in demand for Indian currency (IC) propelled mainly by widening trade deficit with India and a surge in demand to finance illegal gold imports has further worsened the long running shortage of IC in the local market, Milan Maani Sharma reports in Republica.

IC has been in short supply for some time, but traders said the situation has aggravated since last two month as illegal imports of gold from India has increased alarmingly. Higher demand of IC in the local market, according to traders, has fuelled exchange rate of IC in informal market has jumped to Rs 163 per IRs 100 -- three rupees higher than the official rate fixed by the central bank.

As per the Nepal Rastra Bank´s directives, banks are allowed to provide exchange facility of up to IRs 25,000 in a day or maximum of Rs 200,000 in a month to a party. But on Monday Republica found a number of clients approaching senior bank officials to get just a few thousand IC.

Bankers said they are facing difficulty to deal with soaring demand as the central bank itself has tightened IC supply. Some of the bankers complained NRB is presently issuing as less as IRs 200,000 a week, whereas demand runs in millions.

NRB officials refused to talk about the issue, but sources said that the latest spate of IC shortage surfaced particularly after gold dealers started relying heavily on supply made from India.

In a bid to pressure the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to allow them to import gold directly, gold dealers, who have been protesting the policy of allowing commercial banks to import gold and sell them at the local market, are deliberately buying only five kg gold per day from the banks whereas the daily demand, according to Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association (Negosida), stands at 25 kg.

Despite such a huge supply mismatch, consumers say there is no shortage of gold in the market.

"Clearly, supply from India is bridging the gold deficit. We estimate some 15 to 20 kg is presently entering Nepal everyday through informal channel," said Negosida President Tej Ratna Shakya.

If the association´s claim is anything to go by, then as much as IRs 39 million is flying away from the country everyday.

Apart from gold, concerned officials said that the informal trade has grown for almost all products. Growing use of credit cards by visiting Indian tourists and soaring trade deficit too have affected normal supply of IC.

Sources said the central bank has recently increased inspection in major trading hubs along the border to dig out facts about latest spate of IC shortage.

Despite the tightening of supply, the central bank is still facing difficulty maintaining its IC reserve. Records show, IC reserve has dipped by more than 5 billion even though NRB has already bought IRs 46.53 billion by selling US$1.20 billion to finance the trade deficit, which stood as much as Rs 87 billion over the first five months of 2010/11.
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BIG THREE MEET AGAIN SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Amid faint chances of a breakthrough, the Big Three meet again Saturday to discuss assembling a national unity government and integration of 19,000 former Maoist combatants in state agencies along with their resettlement.
Extended bilateral and trilateral meetings between Maoists, NC and UML have been inconclusive; the parties meet as parliament holds elections to elect a successor of Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned 30 June 2010 under Maoist pressure.
When the three-phase vote is held Thursday, Nepal will have held office for more than seven months.
Analysts expect a result in fresh voting for al government after amendment to a parliamentary procedure to elect a government banning lawmakers from voting against a candidate; legislators can only vote in favour of a candidate and they cannot absent themselves from the vote or stay neutral.
A tripartite meeting is being held Saturday as Maoist standing committee Friday rejected pre-conditions of NC and UML for a Maoist-led government.
The two parties pushing a democratic/left front
demanded the completion of a delayed peace process to accept a
Maoist-led government.
The ruling parties also said they don’t feel ‘secure’ only with the ceremonial transfer of the chain of command and control of the fighters from the party to a special committee headed by the prime minister.
An informal task force of the three parties that conducted
inconclusive talks Friday on Maoist integration and modalities for assembly in state agencies will report to the summit Saturday.
The body Friday discussed the number of fighters for integration, a procedure for it and how to handle stored Maoist weapons.
NC and UML insist a Maoist-led government is acceptable only after preparation of a modality for fighter integration.
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LESS THAT FOUR MONTHS REMAIN TO PROMULGATE A CONSTITUTION

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Less than four months remain to promulgate a
constitution to institutionalize a declared republic.
The basic law has to be met by the second extended deadline of 28 May 2011.
Chairman of the main constitution drafting committee Nilambar Acharya said this week ideological differences between main parties in the constituent assembly are making his task challenging.
In fresh developments, seven of 11 thematic committees sent their reports with differences of contentions to the committee.
All 28 parties in the assembly have agreed to activate the committee to complete a draft amid strong concerns a constitution won’t meet the second deadline.
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ARMY REJECTS GROUP INTEGRATION OF FORMER MAOISTS

Kathmandu, 29 Jan. Nepal Army (NA) Friday rejected group integration of 19,000 plus former Maoist fighters in the state army as their integration, resettlement and supervision gain national and international after UNMIN withdrawal and the transfer of their command and control from the party to a special committee headed by the prime minister.
“There’s no mention of group entry in the interim constitution and in any agreement between Maoists and government. There can’t be any group integration of Maoists,” Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chetri said
‘The army doesn’t have a separate view,” he said when asked on how to handle the former communist fighters. “Let there be a modality at the political level.”
“The special committee has already started work of integration. Let it come to a decision. The nation belongs to all. Let’s not attempt to influence the work of the special committee formed constitutionally and the secretariat formed under it,” Chetri said the future of the fighters should be decided by the committee.
He called the interim constitution, the peace agreement between parliamentary parties and Maoists, the agreement to monitor armies and weapons and agreements between Maoists are the official documents to handle the combatants.
“It’s said to make election free and fair, Nepal Army was monitored.
“It’s meaningless to have two separate units when NA came under a Maoist-led government and Maoist defence minister”
The spokesman said NA isn’t being monitored by the special committee.
“The special committee hasn’t put the NA under its watch. Only weapons kept at Chauni in a container are being monitored,” he said.
Following UNMIN withdrawal 15 January, teams of three state security agencies and PLA are monitoring Maoist weapons and cantonments and Chauni.
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MAOIST OBJECTION

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Maoists Saturday immediately ‘seriously objected’ to the NA statement.
Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said NC wasn’t the body to talk on integration.
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CAR OF LEGISLATOR VANDALIZED
.
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: A car parked at the home of lawmaker
of Gayatri Shah from Janata Dal was vandalized and badly damaged overnight.
She blamed followers of her party, facing a split, for the attack.
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ARMY TEAM LEAVES FOR INDIA

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: A team of Nepal Army (NA) led by Maj. Gen. Daman Bahadur Ghale flew for India Friday on an eight-day visit.
The team of an inspection visit will be in New Delhi, Lucknow,
Bareilly, Ranikhet and other formation headquarters to study
administrative training and welfare schemes of the Indian army.
The delegation will call on Army Chief VK Singh who just
concluded a Nepal visit.
NA called the visit routine adding such visits have enhanced NA’s know-how.
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BAGLUNG DECLARED LANDMINE FREE

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Baglung district was declared landmine free Friday by Nepal Army (NA).
The NA placed 418 landmine around military installations in the district during the 10-year people’s war.
British Ambassador John Tucknott was present during the declaration ceremony.
De-mining operations have to be completed at 15other points nation-wide to make the country landmine free.
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DR. HARSHA BUDAMAGAR DEAD

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Dr. Harsha Budamagar, an academic of the Magar community, died Friday of diabetes and high blood pressure.
He was 83.
He authored several books on the Magar community.
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TWO TERAI GROUPS MERGE

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Akhil Terai Mukti Morcha of Jai Krishna Goit and Samyukta Janatanrik Mukti Morcha led by Sagar have announced a merger.
Sagar has been nominated politburo member and organization chief of the united group, an announcement said.
Goit group is one of the most violent in the terai.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

INFLATION SLIPS

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Inflation on measured by measured by consumer price index fell to 9.6 percent in mid-December from 10.2 percent compared to the same period the previous year, Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) said.
Inflation in the capital was 14 percent.
Food prices rose 15 percent while vegetable prices soared 33.7percent and sweets 56.6 percent.
The country’s balance of payments fell to Rs 3.35 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared Rs 14.5 billion in the same period the previous year with a decline in trade deficit and increased remittance.
Lending by commercial banks to private sector was only Rs 23.98 billion compared to Rs 52 billion in the five months the previous year with deposits falling in commercial banks and a continued financial crunch.
Remittance flow increased Rs. 10 billion during the review period to Rs. 96.58 billion.
Trade deficit fell one percent to Rs. 127 billion and exports increased 8.5 percent to Rs. 27.25 billion.
Gross foreign exchange in md-December was $3.67 billion.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘No matter what colour it is, the cat has to kill the rat.”

(UML Secretary Yubaraj Geywali hinting in The Himalayan Times
the party may change official stance and vote for the candidacy of Prachanda as prime minister, The Himalayan Times, 29 Jan.)

“Most of the small arms are with hooligans and well-organized criminals in the capital, and getting hold of them has become a major challenge.”

(Kathmandu’s new police chief SP Pushkar Karki, The Kathmandu Post, 29 Jan.)
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PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH UNIFIED NATION

Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Various speakers at an interaction Thursday appreciated the contributions made by Prithvi Narayan Shah in uniting Nepal as one kingdom, The Rising Nepal reports.
They said that the words of wisdom given by Shah should be taken as a core element while restructuring of the country.
Various intellectuals said that Shah wanted unity among all castes and federalism would disintegrate the nation and invite cultural war.
Presenting a paper work, Ramesh Kumar Dhungel, representative of Nepal and Asia Research Center, Tribhuvan University, said that unification campaign of Shah was productive in preserving the culture of the country.
"Shah always gave direction to preserve the culture of our country," said Dhungel.
Citing various examples Dhungel said that the practice of calling Lamas to the palace while marking rituals was a glaring example that Shah was in favor of unity among all the indigenous groups.
He said that lack of homework before entering the country into a federal states could be catastrophic.
"Federalism can disintegrate our country and heighten cultural war," said Dhungel.
Dr Surendra K.C said that the unification of Shah to discriminate the indigenous people was bogus. "All the castes of our country have been living in harmony for the several centuries and it continues till date," said K.C.
Pesal Kumar Niraula, history expert, said that federalism should not be based on caste system.
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MAOISTS REJECT PRE-CONDITIONS TO FROM GOVT. UNDER ITS LEADERSHIP

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: A hastily convened meeting of Maoist standing committee Friday rejected mainly NC and UML for a consensus government under the leadership of the main opposition.
The meeting concluded government formation and peace process aren’t interrelated, party sources said.
The committee also decided to continue efforts to push a government headed by Maoists.
NC and UML have said a Maoist-led government isn’t acceptable until Maoists complete the complete the peace process even as the party ceremonially handed over the transfer of the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus former combatants to a special committee for integration, resettlement and supervision headed by the prime minister.
Maoists concluded government formation and the peace process aren’t interrelated.
Following failure to assembly a national consensus government, parliamentary election is being held 3 February to elect a government through majority vote.
The Big Three have staked leadership of the majority government.
Speaker Subash Nemwang predicted in Pokhara Friday the fresh
vote will be conclusive.
Parliamentary procedures have been amended to prevent a staggered vote following 16 rounds of election to elect a successor of Madhav
Kumar Nepal who resigned 30 June 2010.
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THREE PARTY TASK FORCE MEET INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. A meeting of a task force of the Big Three
at a hotel in the capital Friday to discuss integration of Maoist former combatants and even government formation was inconclusive.
The details of the meet will be presented to a summit of the Maoists NC
NC and UML Saturday.
The body was formed informally by the three parties Thursday to break a prolonged deadlock.
Two members each of three parties are in the task force.
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NC LEADER DEAD IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: NC general convention member Phanindra Raj Rajbhandari of Gulmi was found dead Friday in a hotel room at Sunddhara in the capital with head injuries.
Uma Basnet, with whom he was sharing the room, has been detained for investigation.
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HIMANI TRUST WORK EFFECTIVE

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: The first phase of the social service activities
of Himani Trust at Namdu in Dolakha has been effective, Pawani Shah of the Trust said in Lalitpur Friday.
Former Crown Princess Himani Shah launched the trust four months
ago as an NGO.
The trust is concentrating its activities in Namdu village in the central district.
A health camp, drinking water project and other activities have been organized.
Norvic Hospital participated in a free health camp.
The former crown princess wasn’t present at a news conference.
She is planning to donate an ambulance to the village, Shah said.
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PRESIDENT PARTICPTATES IN KOLKATA FUNCTION

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Friday participated in an anniversary function of a medical college in Kolkata from where he graduated.
Yadav began a 10-day official India visit Thursday.
He’ll hold political discussions with top Indian leaders in New Delhi before returning home next Saturday.
The visit is official, political and a pilgrimage.
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ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS CLOSED DOWN IN PARSA

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Private school management Friday closed all schools in Parsa central terai.
They were protesting Thursday’s planting of a bomb in Birjung.
Nobody was injured.
A bomb disposal unit of Nepal Army defused the socket bomb.
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INDIA UNILATERLLY DIGGING TRENCH ALONG BORDER IN THE FAR-WEST

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: India has begun digging a trench unilaterally along 5 km stretch of no-man’s land across the Indo-Nepal border along Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in the far-West, Radio Nepal reports.
A trench has been constructed south of Dudhuwa national park that stretches across the border.
The no-man’s land is out of bounds for construction and development activities for nationals of both neighbouring South Asian states.
Unilateral construction along the open border is against accepted international norms.
The unilateral constructions of dams and embankments causes annual flooding during the monsoon.
Such construction continues unabated.

NINE NAXALS KILLED

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. Nine Naxals or Indian Maoists were killed in a
shootout at a national park in Jharkhand in north India with police., radio reports said Friday.
No police casualties were reported.
A huge cache of weapons and explosives were recovered,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has admitted the Naxal problem is India’s worst internal security problem.
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RENEWED DRIVE TO PREPARE DIGITALIZED ELECTION ROLL

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: A renewed drive has been initiated by the National Election Commission to prepare a digitalized election roll with photographs and finger prints.
Teams are being to sent to all 4,000 VDCs, the Commission said.
Arrangements have been made by the Commission to collect at the district election offices details of persons from municipalities and VDCs if names weren’t included in a previous drive.
There was opposition and obstruction to the first drive last year, especially in the terai.
The Commission hopes a new election roll will ensure free and fair elections by minimizing vote tampering.
National parliamentary election should be held after a constitution is promulgated to replace the interim constitution.
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FIVE HOURS SET ASIDE TO FILE NOMINATIONS

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Five hours have been allocated for candidates to file their nominations for elections for prime minister 2 February.
Candidates have to file nominations from 11 in the morning to four in the afternoon.
Final list of candidates will be announced after four in the afternoon the same day.
First round of three phase voting will be held 3 February.
The Big Three have staked claims to lead a government.
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DHARAN MUNICIPALTY CELEBRATES 5OTH YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT
Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Speaker Subash Nemwang will Friday will launch celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Dharan municipality.
Dharan is a hill town in the eastern region.
Nemwag hails from Ilam.
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9.23% TRANSPORT FARE HIKE RECOMMENDED

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: A 9.23 percent transport fare hike is being imposed by the government at an unspecified date.
The Department of Transport Management forwarded the suggestion to the ministry of labour and transport Wednesday.
Transport entrepreneurs had been demanding a 13 percent increase.
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TWO NEPALI CHILDREN BURIED ALIVE

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Two Nepali children were buried alive when they were digging for sand in India across the border in Darchula district in the far-West.
Radio Nepal reported their deaths Thursday night.
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CALL TO SLASH PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: An Administration Restructuring Commission (ARC) has recommended reduction in the number of public holidays.
A report was delivered to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday.
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ANOTHER SPLIT IN RASHTRIYA JANAMORCHA

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Min Nath Devkota, Bagmati Chief of Rashtriya Janamorcha Nepal (RJN) disassociated himself from the mother party led by Chitra Bahadur KC Thursday in the capital.
Devkota also announced the formation of Nepal Communist Party 9Marxist-Lennist) with a team of 31 central members.
A group led by Dil Ram Acharya defected from the party last June.
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BIRGUNJ TERRORIZED

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Birgunj residents were terrorized Wednesday when a group planted a socket bomb in a class room of Alpine Secondary School at Shripur.
The school was shut the whole day Thursday.
Management of schools have called for a closure of all schools in the district Friday to protest the incident.
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SPORTS

ENGLISH COACH FOR NEPALI SOCCER TEAM

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. 28: England’s Graham Roberts, 51, has been appointed coach of Nepal’s national soccer team by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
Roberts arrives in the capital Friday.
Nepal is preparing for April’s AFC Challenge group matches in Kathmandu.
The former English national player was coaching the Pakistani national team.
Roberts has played for Tottenham, Chelsea and Scottish Club Rangers of the English Premier League.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘The country has been reeling under a state indecision as the lawmakers have tried to keep their political supremacy forgetting their main responsibility. There will be multi-dimensional conflict in the country if new constitution is not promulgate on time.”

(Rights activist Krishna Pahadi, Republica, 28 Jan.)

‘He [prime minister] flouted a proposal in haste without an internal consultation. Our party has never taken such a decision [to let Maoists lead a government’

(UML leader KP Sharma Oli, The Kathmandu Post, 28 Jan.)
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INFORMAL TASK FORCE FOR MAOIST FIGHTER INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. The Big Three have formed an informal task force of senior party leaders to prepare a concept for the integration of former Maoist fighters, Nagarik reports.
The task force will work quietly without much fanfare.
Maoists, NC and UML formed the task at a meeting in a hotel Thursday.
Barshaman Pun and Krishna Bahadur Mahara from Maoists, Ram Sharan Mahat and Krishna Sitaula of NC and Ishwar Pokhrel and Bhim Rawal represent UML in the body, according to Republica.
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ASIAN TIGER RESERVES HAVE GREATER POTENTIAL

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: - The tiger reserves of Asia could support more than 10,000 wild tigers – three times the current number – if they are managed as large-scale landscapes that allow for connectivity between core breeding sites, a new paper from some of the world’s leading conservation scientists finds, according to The Rising Nepal. This was stated in a press release issued by the WWF Thursday.
The study, co-authored by WWF scientists, is the first assessment of the political commitment made by all 13 tiger range countries during the historic tiger summit of November 2010 to double the tiger population across Asia by 2022.
"A Landscape-Based Conservation Strategy to Double the Wild Tiger Population" in the current issue of Conservation Letters, finds that the commitment to double tiger numbers is not only possible, but can be exceeded. However, it will take a global effort to ensure that core breeding reserves are maintained and connected via habitat corridors.
"In the midst of a crisis, it’s tempting to circle the wagons and only protect a limited number of core protected areas, but we can and should do better," said Dr. Eric Dinerstein, Chief Scientist at WWF and a co-author of the study.
Wild tiger numbers have declined from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to as few as 3,200 today due to poaching of tigers and their prey, habitat destruction and human/tiger conflict. Most of the remaining tigers are scattered in small, isolated pockets across their range in 13 Asian countries.
"Tiger conservation is the face of biodiversity conservation and competent sustainable land-use management at the landscape level," said study co-author Dr. John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. "By saving the tiger we save all the plants and animals that live under the tiger’s umbrella."
The authors found that the 20 prioritised tiger conservation landscapes with the highest probability of long-term tiger survival could support more than 10,500 tigers, including about 3,400 breeding females. They also looked at historical examples to prove that a doubling or tripling is possible using large landscapes.
In the jungles of lowland Nepal, tiger numbers crashed during civil conflict from 2002 to 2006. However, tigers did not disappear because Nepal and India’s tiger reserves are linked by forest corridors, which allowed for replenishment from India.
In the Russian Far East tigers, almost disappeared in the 1940s but the region was re-populated by tigers moving in from northeastern China. Recently designated habitat corridors across the Sino-Russia border are helping tigers re-establish themselves in China’s Changbaishan mountains, where they had disappeared in the 1990s.
In India’s Nagarahole National Park, tiger

numbers are "healthy and resilient" because the park is connected to other reserves in the region. Tigers number almost 300 in this large landscape of connected parks and reserves.
In contrast, the authors point to two of India’s premier tiger reserves to show how lack of connectivity can preclude tiger population recovery. Tigers disappeared from Sariska and Panna tiger reserves in 2005 and 2009 due to poaching and were not able to re-colonize because these reserves were not connected to other reserves through habitat corridors. Consequently, wild tigers had to be translocated into these reserves to attempt to re-establish populations.
Besides poaching and habitat loss, the $7.5 trillion in infrastructure projects like roads, dams and mines that will be invested in Asia over the next decade threatens tiger landscapes. A focus only on core sites and protected areas like reserves, instead of larger landscapes, could be seen by developers and politicians as a green light to move forward with harmful infrastructure projects outside of core sites.
"Without strong countervailing pressures, short-term economic gains will inevitably trump protection of the critical ecosystems necessary for sustainable development," said Keshav Varma, Program Director of the Global Tiger Initiative at the World Bank.
The authors insist that conservationists and governments must be involved in helping design infrastructure projects to mitigate their impacts on tigers both inside core sites and in current and potential forest corridors. A recently built oil depot in India’s Terai Arc, for example, severed a vital elephant and tiger corridor. Conservationists are now in litigation to remove the depot. Early intervention could have avoided this.
"Following the St. Petersburg Declaration, Nepal has committed to the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers across our country by 2022," said Deepak Bohara, Nepal’s Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation. "This analysis shows that it can be done, not just in Nepal, but, if done right with careful study and planning, across the entire tiger range."

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POLICE DATA BANK TO FIGHT CRIME
Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Metropolitan Police will soon set up a 'central data bank' in an effort to strengthen intelligence-led policing in the crime-ridden Valley, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Office (MPCO) is preparing to establish a central data bank that will maintain records of the people visiting the Capital, passport numbers, telephone numbers and driving licences to keep vigil of suspects. In view of the tourists' involvement in crime, including smuggling of contraband drugs and counterfeit currency, the MPCO plans to keep detailed records of outgoing and incoming tourists.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Surendra Bahadur Shah at the MPCO said the establishment of the central data bank was essential as the police did not have easy access to the information maintained by other authorities. "It is one of the basic components of intelligence-led policing without which the police cannot identify suspects among millions of people. Metropolitan police in the developed world have been practising this," Shah said. The MPCO will ask departments of Immigration and Transport Management as well as travel and tourism entrepreneurs, among others, for records. It will seek support of the ministries of Home Affairs and Finance in building infrastructure required for the data bank. "Implementing the plan will cost a lot of money. An efficient network between police and other authorities needs to be established for sharing the record," Shah said.
As instructed by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Arjun Jung Shahi, DIG Shah, who is considered knowledgeable about security policy-making and planning, is actively involved in making the plan a success.
Police said the data bank will strengthen intelligence-led policing that gained momentum the world over following the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US.
A robbery at the Jawalakhel branch of Standard Chartered Bank, coupled with the security agencies' inability to nab criminals on the run, compelled the police to review their plan. The police are said to have consulted with financial institutions, entrepreneurs and representatives of diplomatic missions before formulating the plan.
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FURTHER DETAILS ON SIHARA MURDER OF GIRL STUDENT WITH CORRECTION

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Punam Kumari Singh, an upper caste girl, was stabbed to death at Chandraudaipur in Siraha at 7.30 in the morning Thursday as she was cycling to school, fresh reports said.
She was brought down from her bicycle and stabbed by Santosh Chaudhary, from a lower caste Tharu caste family who handed him over to police.
He was hiding at home following the stabbing incident.
The murder took place not in Chandranighapur as reported earlier.
Singh and Chaudhary were class mates.
Nnnn

SHARADHAYA OF 601 LEGISLATORS CONDUCTED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: A bhramin of Sharma descent Thursday conducted a public communal sharadhya [an annual ritual for the dead] at Narayanghad in Chiwtan amid cheers of a large crowd.
He conducted similar rituals twice in the far-West, including
Nepalgunj.
Sharma will repeat the ritual in front of the CA building, he said.
The date for the ritual in front of CA building in the capital hasn’t been announced.
The irate Sharma was protesting what he called the unconstitutional
extension by one year by legislators by one year of a two-year elected tenure.
Only four months remain to promulgate a constitution amid fears and concerns the second deadline won’t be met either.
Chairman of the constitution drafting committee Nilambar Acharya said
Thursday ideological differences between parties were making his task ‘challenging’.
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PM ELECTION 3 FEB.

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Parliamentary election for prime minister to held 3 February on majority vote in three phases after parties couldn’t elect a consensus candidate to succeed Madhav Kumar Nepal who continues in office even after resigning 30 June 2010.
Speaker Subash Nemwang Thursday read out a communication from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav who said the vote will be conducted by majority vote under article 38(2) of the interim constitution.
The president left for a 10-dayofficial visit of India Thursday before leaving.
The election will be held in three phases, according to schedule worked out by parliament’s business advisory committee.
Candidates will register their nominations 2 February.
The candidacies of all contestants will be put to vote in rounds of voting.
If no candidate garners a majority, second round voting will be conduced 5 February.
If no lawmaker collects again collects a majority, voting in the 599-member parliament will between two candidates collecting the most votes 6 February.
No lawmaker can now abstain in voting or remain neutral as in the past, according to an amended parliamentary procedure for election of a government head.
The procedure was amended after 16 rounds of inconclusive election.
Parliament adjourned Thursday until 2 February.
Nnnn

VICE-PRESIDENT ENTRUSTED PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Vice-president Parmananda Jha has been entrusted presidential responsibility in the absence of President Dr.Ram Baran Yadav who began a 10-day India visit Thursday, according to an announcement of the president’s official residence.
The responsibilities were handed lover amid a prolonged political crisis at home.
Prime Minster Madhav Kumar Nepal held political discussions with the president before his departure.
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PM RESHUFFLES CABINET

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday reshuffled his caretaker government exchanging portfolios of ministers of his party UML with defectors of TMLP.
Industry Minister Mahendra Prasad Yadav was appointed minister for general administration while Ravindra Shrestha was transferred to the industry ministry.
Dan Bahadur Kurmi has been transferred to the local development ministry as state ministerwhile Jit Bahadur Darji has been appointed state minister for industry.
After the premier didn’t accept resignations of ministers from four ministers of TMLP, they returned to government Thursday to strengthen what has been called a left/democratic alliance.
The reshuffle comes before election for a prime minister next week.
TMLP ministers resigned after Nepal didn’t sack four TMLP cabinet and junior ministers who defected and formed a new party.
The party had demanded the resignations.
TMLP charged UML, leading the shaky coalition government, engineered the defections and split.
nnnn

BIG THREE MEET AGAIN INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The Big Three will meet again Saturday after an inconclusive meeting of Maoists, NC and UML Thursday at a hotel in the capital.
The parties held bilateral and trilateral talks on assembling a consensus government and integration of former Maoist combatants.
Discussions centered mainly around integration of 19,000 plus Maoist former combatants in state security agencies.
Modalities, norms of integration and the numbers to be assimilated were discussed.
NC and UML have been insisting a Maoist leadership of government can’t be accepted until completion of the peace process even after a ceremonial transfer Saturday of the chain of command and control of the former fighters from the party to a special committee headed by the prime minister.
“It won’t be difficult to accept leadership of Maoists,”: NC leader Dr.
Ram Sharan Mahat said after an atmosphere is created.
He called for ‘creating an atmosphere ‘ for a solution search’.
UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel demanded from Maoists a ‘clear position’ on the peace process and constitution drafting.
‘Differences weren’t many informal and informal talks,” Maoist military leader Barsha Man Pun said admitted admitting the dialogue was inconclusive.
Maoists presented proposals for integration in groups ad even formation of a separate in the Nepal Army on equal basis, according to Pun
nnnn

GIRL STUDENT STABBED TO DEATH IN SIRAHA

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Puman Kumari Singh, a girl high school student was stabbed to death by another student, Shanta Chaudhary, as she was cycling to school Thursday at Chandranighapur in Siraha.
Chaudhary has been arrested by police.
One person was injured in police firing when police fired and lobbed teargas shells to irate crowd that attempted to attack Chaudhary’s house and disrupted movement of vehicles on a highway.
nnnn

STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSED FOR THIRD SUCCESSIVE DAY

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse), the country’s sole stock exchange, remained closed for the third consecutive day on the third and last day on weekly trading Thursday.
The exchange was expected to resume normal business Thursday following negotiations between striking employees and Nepse management in the presence of government officials Wednesday.
Protestors pressing nine demands said they didn’t receive written assurances their demands for increased salary and perks had been met.
nnnn

3 STAR AND MANANG/ MARSHYANGDHI IN FINAL OF AHA GOLD CUP

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Manang/Marshyangdhi and 3 Star Club will meet in the final Saturday in Pokhara of the Aha Gold Cup.
The winter will collect a prize money of Rs 200,000.
In the last semi-final, 3 Star defeated rival team by 1-0 in extended play time.
Nnnn

LEST WE SLIP INTO A SLAP FEST

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.CPN-UML chairman Jhal Nath Khanal was stoic about the slap heard across the state, but the political class is drawing all manner of lessons. The people, for their part, are lionizing Devi Prasad Regmi for giving such force to their frustrations. In detention on a public-offense charge, he has seen a surge in moral and material support, Maila Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
Khanal and his fellow politicos made Nepalis believe that they were the best people to take care of us. Or, at least, better than the rest. Enough people took to the streets in the spring of 2006 inspired by a nebulous vision of newness.
King Gyanendra had wanted a little over a year and half more to complete his agenda of handing over power to an elected government capable of building peace and stability. How many of the far more numerous Nepalis who had stayed home during those tumultuous 19 days did so because they refused to buy into a palpably contrived alliance between the mainstream parties and the Maoist rebels will never be known. But the people who did come out led their leaders, who had seemed ready to accept the first royal overture.
In a sense, our politicos are mere reflections of us, equipped with the same fantasies, fears and foibles. But there seems to be something more. For all the arrogance and indifference so famously attributed to them, it is hard not to admire the vicissitudes these individuals are capable of bearing. (Between Singha Darbar and Nakkhu, UML leader Pradeep Nepal once described his tribe as being precariously perched.)
It is hard to believe that even the seemingly most abominable specimen really entered public life with a malignant motive. Are they prone to aggrandizing themselves before others? More likely than not. But deliberately destroy the nation? Come on.
As any sovereign people, Nepalis are free to harbor expectations. But if a politician – to use that worn adage – promises to build a bridge where there is no river, the people cannot be expected to go far with a gullibility defense. When leaders who had long insisted that a constituent assembly would only open a Pandora’s Box came around to supporting the Maoists on that count just because of the assertiveness of one monarch, we surely could have asked them for at least two more good reasons.
Today the box continues to spew all kinds of things, with control slipping away from the ruling class. For them, prolonging the day of reckoning has become the measure of progress. Nepal Workers and Peasants Party chief Narayan Man Bijukchhe, who sees presidential rule as the only way out, insists the leadership does not want to say so openly for fear of admitting their collective failure. Surely even Bijukchhe – and his college pal, President Ram Baran Yadav –knows we cannot keep going on knocking the head of state’s doors every few years without expecting to inaugurate a new blame game.
As an individual, Devi Prasad had every right to be angry at this hopelessness. Not everybody has it in him or her to smack the leader of a major political party. But the cheerleading is getting scary. The national putrefaction is systemic, only feeding on the individual predilections and prejudices of leaders. In their collective wisdom, the people are expected to redeem them.
If the minister who slapped that government official or the legislator who slugged the finance minister is moving scot-free, the outrage should not be allowed to inaugurate an all-round slap fest, therapeutic though it might seem. There are enough of those outside our borders who want prove how failed we have become as a state. The least we could do is to avoid becoming a collective failure in spirit.
Nnnn

Hot-air balloon blasts quickly

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: After creating a lot of hullabaloo, the jumbo-size 601-member Constituent Assembly missed its two-year deadline last summer for formulating a new Constitution. The very ones responsible for fixing the deadline arrogated for themselves the right to extend the deadline by another one year, promising to accomplish what they could not in the previous couple of years. Now they are talking of yet another extension, Trikal Vastavik writes in People’s Review.
Subhash Nemwang, who chairs the CA, cried hoarse day in and day out that the Constitution would be ready on time. However, he changed the tune and shifted the tongue a few months before the arrival of the deadline, saying that the task could be completed “if the major political parties cooperated”. In the process, he began to carry drastically less weight than previously. Some of his own party members at CPN (UML) have been critical of him.
An undertaking like the drafting of a Constitution, at a time when political leaders are promising everything to everyone inclusively and exclusively, the going is not going to be great. Some party leaders are already expressing their doubts over the Constitution-making task being able to meet the revised deadline. The late Laxman Aryal had declared that a Constitution could be drafted within 15 days. He did not mention that amendments to such Constitution could be effected within weeks after weeks. In the past two years, there has been an amendment to the Constitution every four months or so.
Little wonder then that the past has been pulverized, the present is being cheated in the name of transition where impunity rules and the future is rendered far worse than earlier suspected. Most worrisome is that there is little room for space for free, independent and extensive discussions in the cross-section of society to echo public voices and reflect their aspirations. Today, the country is heading towards the very direction that the major parties had vowed to avoid. Nepali had been promised restoration of law and order; revival of peace; and effective control of corruption. The actual product has been painfully different, and things are heading back to square one.
The much-touted secular, federal and republican nature and structure of the state of Nepal risks being grounded to a halt for all practical purposes, i.e. if the major parties (Maoists, Nepali Congress and UML) do not introduce a drastic change in their style of operation that reeks of constant scheming focused on sheer power.
Federalism, in practice, constitutes a combination of unity and diversity seeking to address issues raised in a country with deep-seated cultural, religious and linguistic differences. Although it pledges to main a harmonious balance between local autonomy and national unity, its record of maintaining equilibrium is mostly poor in developing countries.
Nepal’s 1990 Constitution, formulated by representatives of almost all the existing major political groups, was scrapped in the manner of Chengiz Khan’s marauding hordes that swept away everything on their path in the less civilized age. A non-elected parliament—it was “revived” by a monarch denigrated and demonized by the parties clamoring for an Interim Constitution—issued a dictat to its successor, but elected, parliament for abolishing monarchy and announcing the state as secular and federal. The unjustified and unseemly rush with which work was subsequently carried out opened a Pandora’s Box, whose repercussions were immediate and threatened to sustain for generations to come.
The method employed in announcing changes in the structure of political system simply to serve the personal prejudices of some individual politicians and extraneous interests sowed the seeds of discord. It was open invitation to chaos and prescription for creating a grave vacuum. This explains why constant compromise is sacrificed for the benefit of expediency. Militant outfits in the past four years have had an upper hand on numerous occasions, as impunity gained ground all over. The burden of the excessive baggage thus piled up is bound to take a heavy toll, sustaining as it does self-inflicted wound, fallacies and political paralysis.
Political scientists upholding pluralism recognize political parties as an essential instrument of democracy. The United States Constitution drafted by the Philadelphia Convention 225 years ago, when Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great was vigorously well into his national unification campaign in Nepal, is hailed as a model of draftsmanship, of linguistic elegance, of brevity and of high grade clarity. Envisaging unity into diversity of the nation, the 4,000-word document promoted, as defined by Abraham Lincoln, a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Nepal’s experiment takes a different course that brooks no decent discourse.
Federalism requires a democratic culture for success. Most countries do not have a federal system and many of those that went for it had to regret bitterly for taking the plunge without giving due thought to its pros and cons. Dr. Bhimarjun Acharya, a republican to the core, has raised a series of issues concerning federal structure that some INGOs are keen to bury under the weight of agenda pushed through the NGOs that they patronize so lavishly. A number of INGOs, investing billions of rupees, are sore with the most prominent constitutional expert in the country.
One, therefore, cannot effectively question the validity of RPP Nepal’s campaign that collected two million signatures in support of its proposal for a referendum on whether Nepal should be a federal republic and secular or a constitutional monarchical Hindu state.
In Nepal, we have charlatans who pretend to possess expertise on federalism and all such features that have succeeded in a few countries, failed in most countries that went for it and got rejected in most parts of the world. A few Tribhuvan University teachers, never known for taking regular classes, are going around wearing the tag of experts on federalism. One has only to go through the M.A. Political Science course of study for an indication on the extent of the so-called expertise the chaps have actually acquired on federalism.
But then all their sponsors and patrons want is a front for pushing dubious agendas through puppets that become pliant for a pocketful of dollars they could not dream of earning from their university jobs. This does not explain why the Central Department of Political Science, desperate for a decent number of student enrollment, has waived the earlier stipulation that only students with political science as a major at the Bachelor’s level, become eligible for the course and candidates with third division in M.A., too, can apply for Ph.D. study!
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THREE PARTIES LAST BID TO ASSEMBLE CONSENSUS GOVT.

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The big three parties said they’ll make a last effort Thursday to assemble a national government even as Maoists, NC and UML failed to meet a second presidential deadline to from such a government Wednesday.
Following Saturday’s transfer of the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus Maoist former combatants from the party to a special committee for integration, supervision and resettlement headed by the prime minister, the Big Three Wednesday discussed modality for integration and the number of fighters to be integrated in state security agencies.
NC and UML leaders said they don’t feel completely secure with only a ceremonial transfer of fighters to the special committee.
For an acceptable Maoist-led government, the two ruling parties have set a pre-condition of complete and secure transfer of the chain of command and control
Parliament, which has adopted a new procedure to elect a government chief after 16 rounds of inconclusive voting more than six months, meets Thursday to elect a majority government.
Madhav Kumar Nepal continues to be prime minister even after resigning 30 June 2010 under Maoist, NC and internal UML pressures.
World capitals have been calling for the installation of a new government to conduct urgent pending business.
The president is now expected to ask parliament to form a majority government.
Nnnn

PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR INDIA VISIT

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, accompanied by a 17-member delegation, leaves for his second 10-day India visit Thursday after being appointed the head of state.
The visit is ‘official’ in diplomatic parlance.
Culture Minister Dr Minendra Rijal is the accompanying the president as government representative.
The president has visited only India and China after assuming office.
He’ll launch the visit from Kolkata where the president will attend the 177th founding day of Calcutta Medical College from where he graduated.
In New Delhi, Dr. Yadav will hold discussions with political leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President of the
ruling Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi.
Dr Yadav will hold talks with Defence Minister K.Anthony.
He will be the chef guest at the annual convocation of his alma mater
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigadh, 4 February.
The visit is also a pilgrimage as the president visits temple in Haridwar and Tirupati.
Nnnn

ONE DEAD IN DHANUSHA CLASH

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: A top leader of Janatantrik Mukti Morcha
(Rajan Group) was killed in an encounter with police in Dhanusha
Thursday.
Dipendra Kumar Jha, general secretary of the armed outfit was killed, local
administration sources said.
Jha was killed at 4.30 in the morning when police returned fire.
A motorcycle, pistol, mobiles and bullets were recovered.
nnnn

BBC NEPALI SERVICE BEING AXED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: BBC Nepali service is being axed in an
austerity drive, reports from London said.
The BBC World Service has sad it will close down five of its language services, in a move that will reportedly lead to hundreds of job
losses as the publicly-funded broadcaster seeks huge savings, AFP said.
… the World Service will stop short-wave broadcasting of another sis radio services from March 2011—Hindi, Indonesian, Karzyg, Nepali, Swahili and Great Lakes service for Rwanda and Burundi, Reuters reports.
nnnn

PL SINGH ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

Kathmandu, 27 Jan. Former Kathmandu mayor and NC leader PL Singh was admitted to hospital for treatment and observation t Norvic Hospital
Tuesday.
He’s been admitted to the hospital’s general ward.
Nnnn

CIAA REQUEST TO GOVT.

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: CIAA Wednesday asked the government through letter
to annul the appointment of four members of the management
committee of Grameen Awas Company Ltd.
The anti-corruption watchdog wrote a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and Ministry of Physical Planning ad Construction.
Nnnn

NEPSE TO RESUME BUSINESS THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse), the country’s sole exchange, is to resume business Thursday after a two-day forced closure by agitating employees demanding increased pay and perks.
Thursday is the last day of weekly five-day trading.
Employees reverted to a strike protesting past assurances of last December weren’t implemented.
Management and employees reached an agreement late Wednesday afternoon.
Employees were pressing nine demands.
nnnn

THEMATIC REPORTS SENT TO CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: - As a crucial step forward in the constitution making process, the 106th meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) Wednesday sent preliminary drafts and reports of seven thematic committees of the CA to the Constitutional Committee, the key committee to draft the new constitution, Liladhar Upadhaya reports in The Rising Nepal.
The meeting endorsed the proposal in this regard tabled by CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang through majority voice votes. The proposal incorporates the CA Full House’s directions and suggestions on the reports of the thematic committees.
The CA is yet to forward the report of the CA thematic committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power as the political parties are still indecisive on forming the state restructuring commission.
However, the political parties are yet to forge consensus on 83 out of 210 contentious issues of different thematic committees in the constitution making process.
As per the consensus among the political parties, the CA has decided to forward the reports of thematic committees with the compilation of differences filed by the political parties and CA members.
These reports have

given business to the Constitutional Committee to prepare a preliminary draft of the new constitution.
The CC has been out of business for the last several months. Only three thematic committee reports were with the CC before this.
The reports of the committees which are forwarded to the CC today include: Committee for the Determination of the base of Cultural and Social Solidarity, Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, Committee for Determination of Structure of the Legislative Body, Committee for the Determination of System of Government, Judicial Committee, National Interest Preservation Committee and the Constitutional Committee itself.
However, some CA members recorded their reservations on some issues including language and technical aspects in today’s meeting before tabling the proposal for the final approval by the CA chair.
CA members Usha Kala Rai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Najir Minya, Jitendra Sonar, C.P. Mainali, Barshman Pun and Pasang Sherpa, among others, drew the attention of the CA chair in today’s meeting on several issues of different thematic committees.
The CA chair asked them to sit down as their reservations would be recorded and forwarded to the CC.
The CA has 11 thematic committees, including the Constitutional Committee, to work on the constitution drafting process.

Nnnn

UN TO HAND OVER EQUIPMENT

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The United Nations has informed the government that it will hand over all arms monitoring equipment and logistics earlier used by UNMIB to monitor the peace process to the government as a gift, Republica reports.
The UN wrote a letter to the government on this effect on Monday and asked the government to name the official who will sign on a memorandum of understanding of behalf of the government, sad Bishnu Nepal, a joint secretary at the at the Ministry of Pace and Reconstruction….
Nnnn

WIFE OF EX-INDIAN ENVOY DEAD

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Nalini, wife of former Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, died on Wednesday, The Himalayan Times reports from New Delhi.
She was 63.
She was suffering from pneumonia.
Mukherjee served as the Indian Ambassador to Nepal from 2004 to 2008.
(Note: Mukherjee was ambassador during the royal regime and was appointed high commissioner to United Kingdom after completing his Nepal assignment. He was member of the Gang of Three—ambassadors from India, USA and UK, who publicly took on the royal regime flouting diplomatic etiquette. Published reports then said the wife of the Indian envoy in Nepal was involved in a shop-lifting incident at a department store in the capital. The entire affair was hushed up.)
nnnn

THREE PARTIES LAST BID TO ASSEMBLE CONSENSUS GOVT.

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The big three parties said they’ll make a last effort Thursday to assemble a national government even as Maoists, NC and UML failed to meet a second presidential deadline to from such a government Wednesday.
Following Saturday’s transfer of the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus Maoist former combatants from the party to a special committee for integration, supervision and resettlement headed by the prime minister, the Big Three Wednesday discussed modality for integration and the number of fighters to be integrated in state security agencies.
NC and UML leaders said they don’t feel completely secure with only a ceremonial transfer of fighters to the special committee.
For an acceptable Maoist-led government, the two ruling parties have set a pre-condition of complete and secure transfer of the chain of command and control
Parliament, which has adopted a new procedure to elect a government chief after 16 rounds of inconclusive voting more than six months, meets Thursday to elect a majority government.
Madhav Kumar Nepal continues to be prime minister even after resigning 30 June 2010 under Maoist, NC and internal UML pressures.
World capitals have been calling for the installation of a new government to conduct urgent pending business.
The president is now expected to ask parliament to form a majority government.
Nnnn

PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR INDIA VISIT

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, accompanied by a 17-member delegation, leaves for his second 10-day India visit Thursday after being appointed the head of state.
The visit is ‘official’ in diplomatic parlance.
Culture Minister Dr Minendra Rijal is the accompanying the president as government representative.
The president has visited only India and China after assuming office.
He’ll launch the visit from Kolkata where the president will attend the 177th founding day of Calcutta Medical College from where he graduated.
In New Delhi, Dr. Yadav will hold discussions with political leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President of the
ruling Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi.
Dr Yadav will hold talks with Defence Minister K.Anthony.
He will be the chef guest at the annual convocation of his alma mater
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigadh, 4 February.
The visit is also a pilgrimage as the president visits temple in Haridwar and Tirupati.
Nnnn

ONE DEAD IN DHANUSHA CLASH

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: A top leader of Janatantrik Mukti Morcha
(Rajan Group) was killed in an encounter with police in Dhanusha
Thursday.
Dipendra Kumar Jha, general secretary of the armed outfit was killed, local
administration sources said.
Jha was killed at 4.30 in the morning when police returned fire.
A motorcycle, pistol, mobiles and bullets were recovered.
nnnn

BBC NEPALI SERVICE BEING AXED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: BBC Nepali service is being axed in an
austerity drive, reports from London said.
The BBC World Service has sad it will close down five of its language services, in a move that will reportedly lead to hundreds of job
losses as the publicly-funded broadcaster seeks huge savings, AFP said.
… the World Service will stop short-wave broadcasting of another sis radio services from March 2011—Hindi, Indonesian, Karzyg, Nepali, Swahili and Great Lakes service for Rwanda and Burundi, Reuters reports.
nnnn

PL SINGH ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

Kathmandu, 27 Jan. Former Kathmandu mayor and NC leader PL Singh was admitted to hospital for treatment and observation t Norvic Hospital
Tuesday.
He’s been admitted to the hospital’s general ward.
Nnnn

CIAA REQUEST TO GOVT.

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: CIAA Wednesday asked the government through letter
to annul the appointment of four members of the management
committee of Grameen Awas Company Ltd.
The anti-corruption watchdog wrote a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and Ministry of Physical Planning ad Construction.
Nnnn

NEPSE TO RESUME BUSINESS THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse), the country’s sole exchange, is to resume business Thursday after a two-day forced closure by agitating employees demanding increased pay and perks.
Thursday is the last day of weekly five-day trading.
Employees reverted to a strike protesting past assurances of last December weren’t implemented.
Management and employees reached an agreement late Wednesday afternoon.
Employees were pressing nine demands.
nnnn

THEMATIC REPORTS SENT TO CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: - As a crucial step forward in the constitution making process, the 106th meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) Wednesday sent preliminary drafts and reports of seven thematic committees of the CA to the Constitutional Committee, the key committee to draft the new constitution, Liladhar Upadhaya reports in The Rising Nepal.
The meeting endorsed the proposal in this regard tabled by CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang through majority voice votes. The proposal incorporates the CA Full House’s directions and suggestions on the reports of the thematic committees.
The CA is yet to forward the report of the CA thematic committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power as the political parties are still indecisive on forming the state restructuring commission.
However, the political parties are yet to forge consensus on 83 out of 210 contentious issues of different thematic committees in the constitution making process.
As per the consensus among the political parties, the CA has decided to forward the reports of thematic committees with the compilation of differences filed by the political parties and CA members.
These reports have

given business to the Constitutional Committee to prepare a preliminary draft of the new constitution.
The CC has been out of business for the last several months. Only three thematic committee reports were with the CC before this.
The reports of the committees which are forwarded to the CC today include: Committee for the Determination of the base of Cultural and Social Solidarity, Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, Committee for Determination of Structure of the Legislative Body, Committee for the Determination of System of Government, Judicial Committee, National Interest Preservation Committee and the Constitutional Committee itself.
However, some CA members recorded their reservations on some issues including language and technical aspects in today’s meeting before tabling the proposal for the final approval by the CA chair.
CA members Usha Kala Rai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Najir Minya, Jitendra Sonar, C.P. Mainali, Barshman Pun and Pasang Sherpa, among others, drew the attention of the CA chair in today’s meeting on several issues of different thematic committees.
The CA chair asked them to sit down as their reservations would be recorded and forwarded to the CC.
The CA has 11 thematic committees, including the Constitutional Committee, to work on the constitution drafting process.

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UN TO HAND OVER EQUIPMENT

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The United Nations has informed the government that it will hand over all arms monitoring equipment and logistics earlier used by UNMIB to monitor the peace process to the government as a gift, Republica reports.
The UN wrote a letter to the government on this effect on Monday and asked the government to name the official who will sign on a memorandum of understanding of behalf of the government, sad Bishnu Nepal, a joint secretary at the at the Ministry of Pace and Reconstruction….
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WIFE OF EX-INDIAN ENVOY DEAD

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Nalini, wife of former Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, died on Wednesday, The Himalayan Times reports from New Delhi.
She was 63.
She was suffering from pneumonia.
Mukherjee served as the Indian Ambassador to Nepal from 2004 to 2008.
(Note: Mukherjee was ambassador during the royal regime and was appointed high commissioner to United Kingdom after completing his Nepal assignment. He was member of the Gang of Three—ambassadors from India, USA and UK, who publicly took on the royal regime flouting diplomatic etiquette. Published reports then said the wife of the Indian envoy in Nepal was involved in a shop-lifting incident at a department store in the capital. The entire affair was shushed up.)
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NO AGREEEMENT ON NATIONAL CONSENSUS GOVT. (DEVELOPING STORY)

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The Big Three Wednesday again agreed to continue discussions to forge a national consensus government even as they failed to assemble it by the second extended presidential deadline Wednesday.
Maoists, NC and UML agreed Wednesday to attempt again to form such a government before parliament meets Thursday.
The three parties held inconclusive discussions at Gokarna Resort to attempt a political breakthrough.
All three parties have claimed the leadership of a national government.
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GOVT. GRANT FOR NOC

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The cabinet Wednesday gave Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) a Rs.1.3 billion to import POL products fro India which threatened to disrupt exports of pending dues weren’t settled.
The badly managed state monopoly accused is accused of rampant corruption.
The government dole is a bail out which won’t resolve the NOC’s
management problems.
A published report said recently ministers and officials are
fleecing the Corporation by taking free POL products.
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STOCK EXCHANGE EXPECTED TO RESUME BUSINESS THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The country’s only stock exchange is expected to resume business Thursday after a two-day closure.
An unwritten agreement as reached Wednesday between
management and workers of Nepse.
Finance ministry officials were witness to the agreement.
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MIN PACHAS ENDS

Kathmandu, 26 Jan. Min Pachas or 50 days of extreme winter ended Monday.
The popular belief is even fish feel the pinch of extreme cold
during the 50 days of Nepal’s peak winter season.
The minimum temperature in the capital is hovering around 2 to 3 degrees Celsius—toes and fingers are numb though.
The temperature hasn’t fallen below zero degrees Celsius so far.
Parts of the capital experienced light snowfall for the first time in
four years.
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PM IN SUMMIT OF BIG THREE

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is attending a meeting of the Big Three in Gokarna Wednesday morning.
A summit of the Maoists, NC and UML began talks at resort there ahead of a second presidential deadline to assemble a national consensus government by late Wednesday afternoon.
A five day inter-party effort to form such a government has been unsuccessful.
Amid rigid stances of the Big Three, an outlet is unlikely to be found in Gokarna resort.
PM Nepal opposes a Maoist–led government.
NC and UML continue to oppose such a Maoist-led government even after Saturday’s transfer of the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus former Maoist combatants to a special committee headed by the prime minister.
Maoists are represented in that committee.
NC and UML say details of the command transfer haven’t been worked out as yet to ensure effective transfer.
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US CALLS FOR CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT

Kathmandu, 26 Jan. US State Department Spokesman Philip J. Crowley Tuesday called for the delayed drafting a constitution and government formation.
“We did welcome over the weekend a clear progress where there’s an agreement in Nepal to transfer command and control of Maoist forces to a special commission. This is an important step in the peace process, but now Nepal needs to move ahead with the rest of the process which involves a new constitution and formation of a government, Crowley told a regular press briefing in Washington.
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STOCK MARKET CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The country’s only stock exchange was closed down for the third time in one year by agitating staff of Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) Tuesday by closing down the server.
Employees are demanding implementation of past assurances.
The exchange was closed down for several weeks last year pressing demands which haven’t been met, Nepse staff said.
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MAOISTS CLAIM THEY ARE FLEXIBLE ON INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The UCPN (Maoist) on Tuesday said the party is flexible on the integration and rehabilitation of combatants of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Maoist position comes after two major ruling parties—the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML—said they can consider a government led by the Maoists once the party comes with a clear roadmap on the modality of integration and rehabilitation, The Kathmandu Post reports.

In two-party talks held in Singha Durbar on Tuesday, NC and UML leaders agreed that they cannot accept a Maoist-led government until the integration and rehabilitation process commences. “They should come forward to implement outstanding issues related to the peace process—mainly integration and rehabilitation—in order to claim the leadership,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

The two parties welcomed the Maoist decision to hand over the combatants to the Special Committee, but said that it is not sufficient to create an atmosphere where the Maoists could lead a government. “They (Maoists) have not yet reached a stage in the peace process that will make us all comfortable to accept their government. They can lead the government after the combatants are regrouped and after the integration and rehabilitation process starts,” said UML leader Pradip Gyawali.

“We are ready to demonstrate more flexibility to forge consensus on the modality of integration and rehabilitation,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun. “The combatants will be regrouped based on their choices once the parties agree on the modality and package.”

“We can’t impose the number of combatants to be integrated into the security forces from the top level,” Pun added. Maoist leaders argue that the number of combatants to be integrated into security agencies will come down if the Special Committee offers an attractive package on rehabilitation and voluntary retirement.

Coordinator of the Special Committee Secretariat Balananda Sharma said agreement on the modality and packages would create the basis for regrouping the combatants and hence there needs to be larger engagement among the parties to forge consensus.
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NA DRAGS FEET OVER WELFARE FUND

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Even a month after a ministerial-level decision to form a high-level taskforce to regulate and manage the Nepal Army Welfare Fund, such a mechanism has not taken full shape owing to the “reluctance” of the national army to send its representatives, Bikash KC reports in Republica.

Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari, on December 22 last year, decided to form the taskforce, which has been mandated to submit a draft “Working Procedures and Directives” for the army fund, review and revisit the present status of the fund and recommend depositing the money in safer financial institutions, all within two months of the taskforce being formed.

The eight-member taskforce comprises five members from the government and three from the NA. While those representing the government are the defense accounts controller -- who is also coordinator to the mechanism, a joint-secretary at the National Security Council, an under-secretary, and the legal and accounts officers at the Ministry of Defense, NA has to send one representative each from the Directorate of Welfare Schemes, the Planning Directorate and the Legal Department.

A knowledgeable government source conceded that NA has not sent its three representatives so far and added, the taskforce will not be able to fulfill its mandate within a given timeframe due to the army´s lack of cooperation.

“The inclination of the NA not to send its three representatives indicates that it is not ready to cooperate, fearing that a real picture of the fund might emerge,” the source told Republica.

A highly-placed source at the MoD said Minister Bhandari has recently returned from her India visit and discussions will be held with her regarding the issue.

Amid claims of irregularities at the fund, the Office of the Auditor General (AG) has also specifically pointed to non-transparency in its annual report on the fund. The fund (as per the AG office) has currently swelled to Rs 18 billion.

Although Welfare Fund Regulations have a provision that NA can incur expenditures only from the interest received against the fund deposit, the AG report found that NA had flouted this by overspending about Rs 300 million.

Likewise, the AG office has also pointed out lack of transparency in the reimbursement process from the UN, deposit transactions, collection of interest and selection of financial institutions to deposit the fund amount.

NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, upon our making an initial telephone contact, said he would find out about the matter and give his comment. However, later on, he was not available on the phone despite repeated attempts by Republica.

Meanwhile, a sub-committee of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday issued directives to NA to accomplish the task of drafting the working procedures and directives for the welfare fund within three months.

NA, on the occasion, assured PAC members that such a taskforce has been formed and it would prepare the draft within the given timeframe.

The fund is accumulated by deducting a maximum of 22 percent per person per month from the allowances received from UN peacekeeping missions. Each person deputed on such missions generally draws a monthly allowance of US$ 1,025. Likewise, NA deducts 5 percent per person per month from military observers.
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DEADLINE TO FORM CONSENSUS GOVT. ENDS WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: A second presidential deadline to assemble a national consensus government ends Wednesday with its formation unlikely.
Talks between parties to assemble such a government have been inconclusive after President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav extended the first deadline Friday.
The Big Three-- Maoists, NC, UML – are making a final effort to get together a consensus at a meeting in Gokarna before the legislative session begins Wednesday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda reiterated a claim Tuesday that as the largest party UCPN (Maoists) should lead a government.
Prachanda said a NC candidate was elected president, a UML candidate laws the speaker of parliament and a Maoist should lead the government for power balance.
NC and Maoists claimed leadership of the government Tuesday in a failed attempt to forge an agreement on government formation.
The president will ask parties to from a majority government if final efforts to form a consensus government are inconclusive Wednesday.
Parliament, by majority vote Tuesday, approved a motion tabled my Maoist lawmaker Ek Raj Bhandari amending parliamentary procedure to remove hurdle in electing a government chief.
A successor of Madhav Kumar Nepal, who resigned 30 June 2010, hasn’t been elected even after 16 rounds of voting.
Small parties opposed the amendment.
Following the amendment, lawmakers will have to compulsorily cast their ballot for a prime ministerial candidate without an option to cast a negative vote.
A prime ministerial candidate must secure a majority vote.
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CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE BEING ACTIVATED

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: All reports of seven subject committees of the constituent assembly (CA), with differences, will be sent to the main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya.
Chairman Subash Nemwang has convened a meeting of the CA Wednesday.
The meeting is expected to approve a proposal to send the reports to the constitution drafting committee.
There are differences between parties on 83 topics.
The parties have agreed to activate the drafting committee with nearly
four months remaining to promulgate a constitution by the second
extended deadline of 28 May 2011 to promulgate a basis law to institutionalize a republic declared by a self-appointed unelected parliament.
There are fears the second deadline may also not be met as
differences persist between major parties differ on major issues for
incorporation in a proposed constitution.
The Big Three differ of the fundamental issue of a state structure.
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ANOTHER DEADLY SHOOTING IN SARLAHI

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Ramati Debi Yadav, 55, was shot dead by un unknown group Tuesday at Haajariy-6 in Sarlahi.
Violence continues unabated in the terai where armed groups described as ‘criminal’ by security agencies are active.
Yadav was shot and injured in her home.
A woman of Muslim origin was shot dead in the district two days
earlier.
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ABDUCTORS OF DR. UPENDRA DEVKOTA’S DAUGHTER RECEIVE HEFTY SENTENCES

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Krishna Charan Rai and Siddhartha Lama have been sentenced by the Kathmandu district court to 22 years imprisonment and a Rs 2.6 million fine each for the abduction two years ago of Megham
the daughter of famed neurologist Dr. Upendra Devkota.
The school girl was abducted from the northern suburb of the capital.
Dr.Devkota paid a Rs. 130 million to secure the freedom of his daughter.
Accomplices Hem Bahadur Magar and Raju Lama were sentenced
to 15 and 13 years imprisonment respectively and were slapped a Rs. 175,000 fine each.
Three other suspects are absconding.
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NO INDIAN SUPPLY OF LETHAL WEAPONS TO NA

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: India hasn’t supplied lethal weapons to Nepal recently, according to Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari.
“There have been no talks on supply of lethal weapons with India
at present,” she told Republica in New Delhi.
The newspaper also quoted her as saying there is ‘no immediate plan’ to purchase military hardware for Nepal Army (NA) from India.
“There has been no progress on that front at present.’ Adding talks were ongoing to import lethal and non-lethal weapons.
The comments come immediately after jus concluded visit on the Indian army chief to Nepal when resumption of weapons supplies suspended during the royal regime in 2006were suspended.
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NA OFFICERS IN CUSTODY

Kathmandu, 26 Jan. : Eight Nepal Army (NA) officials, including a Brigadier General, who had started a political lobbying against the term extension of their senior official were brought under a court martial process on Tuesday, The Rising Nepal reports.
Nepal Army interrogation and additional verifications were initiated by keeping them under Military custody.
On Monday, eight Nepal Army officials, including BG Kiran Bajracharya, Lieutenant Colonel Premesh Kumar Chhetri, Majors Kiran Shrestha, Pankaj Thapa, Ram Sagar Yadav, Dhruba Pandit, Govinda Mainali, and Captain Rajesh Chhetri were brought under military barracks for violating military discipline and chain of army command.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, Ramindra Chhetri, Brigadier General and spokesperson of the Nepal Army and director of the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), said, "They are currently kept in military barracks under custody for interrogation and verifications for their lobbying."
By Tuesday, actions would be initiated against them by the court martial board for finding out their details of their political lobbying rather than abiding by army discipline and chain of command.
BG Chhetri said military interrogation and investigation would continue till details and legal actions to be taken against them were confirmed.
"The eight officials have been charged of transgressing military discipline by lobbying against a senior official," NA Spokesperson Rabindra Chettri informed.
Bajracharya, along with the NA officials, had met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari and lobbied against the term extension of Major General Naresh Basnet, chief of NA Directorate of Development and Construction.
They have been taken under custody as per the directives from the military court.

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Singapore Police gurkhas charge government of being apathetic

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Nepali Gurkhas retired from Singapore Police today [Tuesday] criticised the Nepali government of being apathetic towards the problems they face on account of the Singapore government’s discrimination against them, according to The Himalayan Times.

Singapore Pensioner’s Association informed that absence of a treaty between Nepal and Singapore on Gurkha recruitment had forced them to endure injustice.

According to the Association, Nepali Gurkhas are paid very low pension compared to their Singaporean counterparts. The widows of retired Nepali Gurkhas from Singapore do not have pension rights. Besides, Nepali Gurkhas are also discriminated in terms of inflation allowance and health insurance. Furthermore, children of pensioners are not allowed to pursue further study and join the Singapore police after their fathers retire.

Speaking at a press meet, Chairman of the Association Hari Dwaj Gurung said that despite the association’s efforts and request to both Singapore and Nepali governments, both had turned a deaf ear. A delegation of the association had submitted a memorandum to the Home Ministry in Singapore and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal.

Vice Chairman of the Association Netra Gurung, underscored the need of a new recruitment treaty between Nepal and Singapore, which would help address the problems faced by Nepali Gurkhas in Singapore

Gurkha Contingent of Singapore Police Force was founded in 1949. Singapore was then a colony of Britain. Before the First and the Second World Wars, British Gurkha soldiers were stationed in Singapore. The British recruit one group of Gurkhas for the UK army and another for Singapore Police Force. There are around 2,000 Nepali Gurkhas in Singapore police.

Six months ago, the Supreme Court had directed the government to initiate a treaty with Singapore regarding benefits for Nepali Gurkhas working there but no step has been take on this issue so far
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NC, UML REJECT MAOIST-LED GOVT.

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: NC and UML—two of the Big Three- Tuesday rejected a government led by main opposition Maoists with only 24 hours remaining before a second presidential deadline ends Wednesday to assemble a government of national consensus.
UML leader Pradip Geywali said Tuesday Saturday’s transfer of the chain of command and control of 19,000 plus Maoists in 28 cantonments and satellite camps under previous watch of departing UNMIN to a special committee for monitoring, integration and resettlement headed by the prime minister was inadequate.
The command laws handed over to the committee from the party.
NC and UML asked Maoists to cooperate informing a government under another party as NC reiterated a claim to lead a government to replace an administration led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned 30 June 2010.
If a consensus government isn’t assembled by Wednesday the president will ask parliament to form a majority government.
Parliament meets later Tuesday to approve an amendment to parliamentary procedure to ensure a conclusive vote after 16 failed attempts to find a successor of the Madhav Kumar Nepal government.
Maoists, as the largest party, have been pushing a government led by Chairman Prachanda.
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NINE DEAD INGORKHA BUS ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: At least nine persons died and 22 were injured, 10 seriously, when a local bus plunged 50 meters off a narrow road in the district Tuesday afternoon.
Eight passengers died on the spot.
Some of the seriously injured have been rushed to the capital for treatment.
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NEPAL’S FIRST OLYMPIAN DEAD

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Ganga Bahadur Thapa, 84, Nepal’s first Olympian, died Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital for high blood pressure.
He participated in the 18th Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
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NEPAL, EU MEMORANDUM

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Nepal and EU signed a 60 million euro memorandum of understanding (MoU) Tuesday for continued assistance by the Union to EU is a major development partner of Nepal.
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KHANAL SLAPPER FREED

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Sunsari district administration Monday released Debi Prasad Regmi on a Rs 1,000 bail after apologizing for slapping UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal in the district at a public function last week.
The incident was the first incident of its kind in the country.
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AISC to add three more members

Kathmandu, Jan 24 - The meeting of Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Monday decided to add three more members to its six-member special mechanism formed to monitor and rehabilitate the Maoist combatants in the aftermath of UNMIN’s departure.
The decision came in response to Madhesi parties that had been insisting that the mechanism lacked the Madhesi representatives.
The meeting also discussed the action plan on the rehabilitation and integration of the combatants.
Talking to the media people, UCPN-Maoist leader Janardhan Sharma said that the meeting decided to include three members in the special mechanism in consideration with the dissatisfactions of Madhesi parties.

He said that they decided to hold talks with top leaders and the people of different walks of life in regards to the modality of the integration and rehabilitation.
Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum leader Jaya Prakash Gupta said that the next AISC meeting would be held within one or two days after the major parties struck consensus on the modality of the integration.
The government has unveiled its action plan in which it sought first to fix the number of combatants to be integrated into the state’s security agencies and then proceed with the plan, and rehabilitation package for them.
During the meeting, Nepali Congress representatives expressed their regret for not mentioning the contributions of late Girija Prasad Koirala at the handover ceremony of combatants in Shaktikhor.
Late Koirala had a played vital role in the peace process but sadly his name was not uttered during the function, they complained.

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PM POLL WILL END INTHIRD ROUND

KATHMANDU: A five-member panel formed to draft amendment to the Parliamentary regulations has suggested that the Parliament should conduct the prime ministerial election only for three rounds.

The draft proposal, prepared by the panel led by Maoist CA member Ekraj Bhandari, was tabled at today’s House session for approval. The proposal is expected to be endorsed during tomorrow’s House session.

The panel is hopeful that with the amendment to the regulations, the Parliament will be able to elect a prime minister on majority basis under the Article 38 (2) of the interim constitution.

The parties had agreed to amend the Parliamentary regulations after the House failed to elect a prime minister even after 16 rounds of elections.

The new provision has it that if there is only one proposal (for the prime minister) under the Article 38 (2) of the interim constitution, the candidate has to garner majority votes from the existing strength of the Parliament. But failure to secure majority votes will enable the Speaker to end the election process. However, the lawmakers will be allowed to vote either in favour of or against the candidate.

In case of two proposals, both will be tabled together in the House for decision. The lawmakers are required to vote only in favour (not against) of one of the candidates. Hence, one of the two candidates getting majority votes will be elected as PM. If both the candidates fail to secure majority votes, the Speaker will scrap the election process and call for a fresh one.

If there are three or more than three proposals, all will be tabled together for decision. If none of the candidates gets majority in the first and second round of election, only first two candidates securing highest numbers of votes will remain in the race for the third time. Keeping in mind the December 17 verdict of the Supreme Court, lawmakers cannot stay neutral nor can they remain absent.

The Parliament had failed to elect a new prime minister even after 16 rounds of polling, as the then Parliamentary regulations allowed lawmakers either to stay neutral or remain absent during the voting.

Agni Kharel, one of the members of the five-member panel, said new provision would help elect the prime minister.
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Why Maoists didn't hand over PLA flag

Kathmandu, 25 Jan 24: The UCPN (Maoist) on Saturday changed its mind about handing over the PLA flag to Prime Minister Madhav Nepal at the eleventh hour because flag handover would have meant PLA´s surrender or defeat, Kiran Chapgin reports in Republic.

The initial plan was that the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal would hand over the PLA flag to Prime Minister Nepal to mark the transfer of the chain of command of the PLA to the Special Committee at the handover ceremony held at Shaktikhor, Chitwan on Saturday.

Accordingly, the Shaktikhor handover ceremony itinerary sent to invitees, including foreign dignitaries, included the flag handover ceremony as well.

But this particluar event was dropped at the eleventh hour after the Maoist chairman objected to it and threatened to cancel the whole function if Prime Minister Nepal insisted on flag handover.

Prime Minister Nepal bowed to the demand even without consulting other Special Committee memebers given the sensitivity of the issue and its potential to spoil the whole function, according to a Baluwatar source. "I came to know that the flag handover event was dropped at the eleventh hour," said Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, who was among those who finalized the ceremony itinerary.

It is believed that someone from the international community alerted the Maoist leadership and informed it about the symbolism of handing over of the PLA flag after going through the itinerary or at the eleventh hour itself. It is customary in war situations that the defeated army hands over its flag to the victor army.

Mahat, who is also a Special Committee member, told Republica that he, during the Special Committee meeting on Monday, asked the prime minister as to why the flag handover was dropped at the eleventh hour.

"The prime minister told me that he took the decision to salvage the combatant handover process," said Mahat.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal, who was also the memebr of the handover ceremony arrangement committee, had prepared the itinerary, which was agreed by Maoist leader Barsa Man Pun.

"To us, signing a statement announcing the hand over of the PLA to the Special Committee was important than turning in the flag. So we opted to sign the statement," said Pun, who asked not to blow up the issue.
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