CABINET TO DECIDE WEDNESDAY ON RE-EQUIPPING PEACEKEEPERS

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: Differences surfaced in the cabinet in the second session Tuesday evening to send logistics support to beleaguered Nepal Police (NP) peacekeepers with the UN in Sudan..
Ministers first demanded action against persons involved in irregularities logistics purchase, including armed personnel carriers, for NP peacekeepers with the UN in Darfur, Sudan.
The cabinet will meet again Wednesday for a final decision.
Discussions will be held with the attorney general and legal experts on procedures to be adopted before the cabinet meets Wednesday.
Parliament’s state affairs committee asked government t initiate action for misappropriation of Rs 300 million.
CIAA has also taken up the case.
UN has even threatened to send the Nepali peacekeepers home with their lives threatened without logistics support.
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DR BABURAM BHATTARAI CHALLENGES PRACHANDA REPORT

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: Maoist Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday challenged Chairman Prachanda’s political report with a note of dissent at the central committee meet that began Monday.
Eight members wrote notes of dissent, including Spokesman Dinanath Sharma.
The meeting continued Wednesday
The Maoist chief presented a five-point unified political report for adoption.
Prachanda will respond to points raised by committee members Wednesday..
Forty members presented their views Tuesday.
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NA FORMS COURT OF INQUIRY FOR

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: Nepal Army (NA) Tuesday formed a four-member court of inquiry to initiate court martial of Brig. Gen. Kiran Bajracharya for ‘serious breach of discipline’.
Brig. Gen. Hem Khatri heads the court.
Bajracharya, second in command in the office of Director General for Development and Construction, has been charged for lobbying with the prime minister and ministers against Maj. Gen. Naresh Basneyt whose term was extended for two years 26 Dec. 2010.
Basneyt, superior of Bajracharya, is chief of the Office of Development and
Construction.
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NC WOMAN LEADER

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: NC woman leader Haripiya Bhandari, 51, died
Monday in Dhangadi.
She was undergoing treatment for typhoid.
Bhandari was central member of Nepal Women’s Association—a NC affiliate.
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RHINO KILLED IN CHITWAN

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: A male rhino was shot dead Monday by poachers in
Chitwan National Park where the endangered animal is protected.
The poachers decamped with the precious horn.
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GITA RANA RE-ELECTED

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: Gita Rana was re-elected Chairperson of NPABSN by the fourth national convention in Janakpur Tuesday.
A 37-member working committee was elected.
Rana founded Galaxy Public School.
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SEIZED VEHICLE RETURNED TO MAOIST LAWMAKER

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: A stolen vehicle seized by police from former minister and Maoist lawmaker Khadga Bahadur Bishwamarka was returned
to him Tuesday.
The home ministry ordered Metropolitan Police Range to return
the seized Mitshubishi Pajero.
The vehicle was brought into the country illegally; this was
confirmed by Department of Transport Management.
The vehicle was returned immediately after Kathmandu Police Chief Ramesh Kharel went on leave.
Kharel started a crackdown in the capital to curb increasing criminal activities.
He was eventually replaced.
The home ministry promoted 25 DSPS to SP rank.
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SUJATA KOIRALA LEAVES FOR INDIA

Kathmandu, 5 Jan. Deputy Prime Minister and foreign Minister Sujata Koirala is leaving for India Wednesday.
She is scheduled to jointly inaugurate with her Indian colleague
S.M.Krishna a seminar on Nepal in the Indian capital.
Top party leaders, including Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Baburam
Bhattarai and NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh, are
participating in seminar.
UML will be represented by Pradip Geywali and Agni Kharel.
India has pushed ‘seminar diplomacy’ at a time when government formation,
the peace process and constitution drafting have hit roadblocks.
Nepali leaders have agreed unhesitatingly agreed to discuss domestic issues abroad in the presence of foreigners.
Former Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal, who has been adopting a strong anti-Maoist public stance even after retirement is also
attending the New Delhi seminar.
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NC READY FOR PAUDEL’S ALTERNATIVE





Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: - Nepali Congress (NC) central committee member Arjun Narsingh KC Tuesday said that his party was ready to give alternative to its prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel, if other parties accepted the NC leadership in the new government, The Rising Nepal reports.
Speaking at an interaction organized by Reporters Club, KC said that his party had kept all possibilities open provided that the NC leadership was acceptable to other political parties.
KC claimed that the NC was ready to announce another candidate from the party on the basis of consensus among the parties.
He said, "The NC wants to solve the issues relating to peace, constitution and power sharing in package based on consensus."
"NC is a democratic party and it will ready to accept democratic rules and regulation. But, we will not withdraw its candidacy until there is solution in package," he said.
CPN-UML secretary Pradeep Gyawali said that his party had not objected to NC’s prime ministerial runner Ram Chandra Poudel but only urged it to enter into a new

prime ministerial election process.
Gyanwali said that his party was ready to continue the existing coalition with entering the Maoists and added that the rotational system would be perfect alternative to end the ongoing political deadlock.
Gyawali said that the Maoists offered their support to different leaders for the premiership, which was not fair politics and would not help in reaching consensus politics.
He said, "All leaders are capable of being PM and the new PM will be elected based on consensus."
Maoist secretary C.P. Gajurel said that his party had rights to stake claim to the prime ministerial post in its capacity of the largest party in the parliament.
"Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai are equally capable for the post of PM," he claimed.
Gajurel said that his party was ready to give the name for PM on the basis of consensus and claimed that Maoist-led government to conclude the ongoing peace process and writing statute.
He said the Maoist combatants would not be handed over to any mechanism without clear roadmap.
"The peace process will be jeopardised if the UNMIN’s term is not extended," he said.


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RIFT DEEPES IN UCPN-M





Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: Intra-party rift has further deepened in UCPN-Maoist, the largest party, as nearly a dozen central committee members including Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday presented disagreement over the ‘refined political document’ presented by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in the second day of the central committee (CC) meeting, The Rising Nepal reports.
"Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai has registered a written disagreement over the main spirit of the political document presented by chairman Prachanda," Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma informed the reporters after the meeting at the party’s head office at Paris Danda, Koteshwor.
Prachanda had introduced the ‘refined and unified political and organizational document’ in the first day of the meeting on Monday. The document was an integration of the documents of Prachanda and another vice-chairman

Mohan Baidhya ‘Kiran’ as presented in the sixth extended meeting of the party held in Gorkha last month.
The integrated document was, however, approved by the CC meeting a few weeks back even when Dr Bhattarai had submitted his note of dissent. The present document was produced to elicit suggestions from the CC members for further improvement.
In his note of dissent, Dr Bhattarai mainly stressed on giving exclusive priority to making peace and constitution writing a success against the unified document that advocated preparing for people’s revolt in case the party’s efforts to conclude peace and constitution failed to yield fruit.
Spokesperson Sharma said around forty CC members commented on the chairman’s document. He added that the chairman would furnish his replies to the queries of the CC members over the refined document in the meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The CC meeting had on Monday adopted a five-point proposal on managing intra-party struggle, as per which the party leaders would make public their differences over the party’s political line through the party’s mouthpiece Bichardhara (set of ideas) to be published.


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NO HANDOVER OF MAOIST WEAPONS

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: UCPN (Maoist) leader CP Gajurel has said that the weapons of People´s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants will be with them till army integration in post-UNMIN situation, RSS reports.

The PLA will hand over weapons only after army integration concludes procedurally, he said speaking at an interaction Tuesday.

The Maoist party is serious on the peace process and constitution drafting, he said. If other parties try to hatch conspiracies against these crucial tasks, the Maoists will be compelled to go for a revolt, he said.

Replying to a query of journalists, he said that the Maoist party is open to all individuals.

At the program, Nepali Congress leader Arjung Narsingh KC said that his party will not withdraw its prime ministerial candidate unless the integration of PLA fighters, dissolve of YCL´s paramilitary structure and end "the politics of weapons".

Similarly, CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gywali said that the perception that Nepal´s peace process will be trapped after UNMIN´s departure is wrong.

He said that the Maoist party shouldn´t escape from the peace process and statute drafting and go for a revolt. The Maoist leadership is acceptable after the party gives up "the politics of weapons", he said. KATHMANDU, Jan 4: UCPN (Maoist) leader CP Gajurel has said that the weapons of People´s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants will be with them till army integration in post-UNMIN situation.

The PLA will hand over weapons only after army integration concludes procedurally, he said speaking at an interaction Tuesday.
The Maoist party is serious on the peace process and constitution drafting, he said. If other parties try to hatch conspiracies against these crucial tasks, the Maoists will be compelled to go for a revolt, he said.

Replying to a query of journalists, he said that the Maoist party is open to all individuals.

At the program, Nepali Congress leader Arjung Narsingh KC said that his party will not withdraw its prime ministerial candidate unless the integration of PLA fighters, dissolve of YCL´s paramilitary structure and end "the politics of weapons".

Similarly, CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gywali said that the perception that Nepal´s peace process will be trapped after UNMIN´s departure is wrong.

He said that the Maoist party shouldn´t escape from the peace process and statute drafting and go for a revolt. The Maoist leadership is acceptable after the party gives up "the politics of weapons", he said.
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PESTICIDES IN FOOD ITEMS

Kathmandu, 5 Jan.: A World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored study conducted by the government´s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) in coordination with Vimta Lab, Hyderabad, India, has concluded that rice, pulse and vegetable consumed in Kathmandu Valley contain high level of pesticide hazardous to human health, Republica reports.

The study clearly indicates the alarming threat posed by pesticide residue present in the food consumed by Valley residents.

Among the diets studied, green-leafy vegetable samples from retail stores in Lalitpur, vegetables from retail stores in Bhaktapur, and samples of rice, pulses and vegetables from Kathmandu were found containing high level of pesticide residue. According to the DFTQC, 15 food samples were taken from different locations based on the local food consumption pattern.

“None of the samples were free from pesticide contamination. They were contaminated with one or the other of the 10 varieties of pesticides,” the report revealed.

The study was undertaken using the tool of Total Diet Study (TDS) to evaluate the risks posed by food contaminated with pesticide. The detected pesticides were endosulfan, chlorpyriphos, malathion, parathion-methyl, and profenophos. Similarly, cypermethrin, fenvalerate (RR+Ss), lambada-cyhalothrin and permethrin were also found in most of the food samples.

“Parathion-methyl and cypermethrin were the most common pesticides found in almost all food samples,” the report further says.

In recent years, pesticide use has incresed markedly across the country. Endosulfan is used to give a polished appearance to vegetables like tomato, brinjal, and mustard leaves. A blend of pesticides is also applied on different vegetables and tea. Some insecticides are applied on the fish to keep flies away during display at shops.

“This is the pilot study conducted only in the Kathmandu Valley. We are planning to conduct a massive awareness program across the country,” Director General of DFTQC Jiwan Prabha Lama, said. "The pesticides found in the food we consume are hazardous to human health." She also said that DFTQC will conduct national-level survey in the near future.

The improper and excessive use of pesticide is dangeous to the health of consumers. It may lead to acute food poisoning with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness and numbness, the report says. In severe cases, the victim may even have difficulties in breathing, blurred vision and convulsion. Prolonged consumption of vegetables with excessive pesticides may also damage the nervous system or other organs such as liver and kidneys. Some pesticides may be transferred unknowingly to infants through breast milk thereby affecting development of the baby.

The samples tested by DFTQC were further analyzed at Vimta Lab, Hyderabad, India. The food samples were analyzed for 97 types of pesticides as per the EU protocol for pesticide residues in foods.

According to the DFTQC, the main purpose of the study is to protect diets from chemical contaminants by monitoring exposure levels to the general population over time. The report further says that improper use, more importantly use of banned pesticides, is one of the key problems affecting the health of Nepali consumers.
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