MAOIST PROPOSAL FOR UNMIN TENSUREEXTENSION REJECTED

Kathmandu, 6 Jan.: Ruling parties NC and UML at a summit of the Big Three Thursday rejected a Maoist proposal to extend the tenure of UNMIN in some form after 15 January.
Parties agreed to discuss the proposal internally and meet again for a decision.
British Ambassador John Tucknott Thursday held discussions with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal as the UN political wing in Nepal prepares to quit after three years of failed effort.
UN has blamed Nepali players and not itself for the failed processes to complete the peace process and complete constitution drafting.
PM Nepal said no need to consider alternative.
‘”The peace process should succeed for the Nepali people. This is our concern,” the British envoy said after the meeting pledging continued British support.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said after the three-partymeet alternative arrangement for UNMIN should be discussed.
“Two armies should be monitored, Nepal Army can’t be take off UNf monitoring,” Shrestha said.
US Ambassador Scott DeLisi held discussions with NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel Thursday.
‘There’s no alternative to making special committee active,” said NC leader
Paudel.
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PRSIDENTIAL RULE AND MAOIST REVOLT REAL
Kathmandu, 6 Jan.: United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Karin Landgren told the UN security council in a briefing the threat of a
Maoist people’s revolt remains amid fears of presidential rule.
She said this in her last Nepal report to the council as UNMN prepares to retreat 15 January.
“Now there is a real risk that the failure of the peace process will become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” the UN News Center said quoting Landgren Wednesday.



“There have at times been fears among many Nepalis over the prospect of a ‘peoples’ revolt’ and of the ‘president stepping in’, she told the council.
“There were also fears of the president stepping in, as recently called for by the vice-president, should the parties fail to find a way forward, or of an army-backed coup. Any such measures would sorely threaten peace and Nepal´s fragile democracy,” Landgren said.


“It is not clear what will happen after UNMIN withdraws.”



“This peace process can be brought to a close in two ways: satisfactorily, through the negotiated resolution of outstanding issues, or abortively, with one or more parties reneging on their solemn commitments,” she said.

She said UN can’t handover, as requested by government, monitoring –related UN assets.
“In numerous discussions with the government about the disposal of monitoring-related UN assets, UNMIN has set out the relevant UN administrative procedures,” Landgren told the security council.
“It is not an option for us to hand over monitoring-related UN equipment to the government without agreement between the government and UCPN (Maoist) on the nature and form of future monitoring.”
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SMALL PARTIES FOR DIRECTLY ELECTED EXECUTIVE

Kathmandu, 6 Jan.: Small parties in the constituent assembly (CA) Thursday suggested the executive, president or prime minister, should be directly elected.
They discussed a state structure Thursday, UML Charman Jhalanath Khanal said.
Twenty-eight parties discussed national recognition for parties getting three percent vote.
Small parties suggested supremacy of parliament, Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh said.
Big parties will present their views Friday.
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FORMER MAOIST FIGHTER HELD

Kathmandu, 6 Jan. Maoist combatant defector Suraj Tudu’ was arrested overnight from Panchagachi in Jhapa.
Two Italian and Chinese pistols with 11 rounds of bullets were recovered from him.
He was held while threatening people with extortion in the district.
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COLD WAVE KILLS 10 LIVES

Kathmandu, 6 Jan.: More than 10 persons have been killed in a cold
wave in terai districts from the east to the west in one week,
Radio Nepal said.
Flights have been affected.
Schools will be closed in the terai next week for at least seven days,
The cold wave has hit the hills and terai.
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RS 7 MILLION LOOTED FROM A TRADER

Kathmandu, 6 Jan. Rs. 7million was snatched from a businessman at Gyaneshwor Thursday afternoon.
Four motorcyclists decamped with the booty, according to eyewitnesses.
The money was looted from Pabin Sariya in front of Himal Hospital.
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PM, PRESIDENT MEET

Kathmandu, 6 Jan, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held political discussions on current issues with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav
Thursday.
The meet was routine.
The president also held consultations with Vice-president
Paramananda Jha.
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GANESH THAPA ELECTED

Kathmandu, 6 Jan.: Ganesh Thapa, President of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), was Thursday elected vice president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 24th session of the AFC in Doha elected Thapa as one of the four regional vice presidents of the football’s governing body. He defeated an Iranian rival 25 -20.
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