MAOISTS STAKE CLAIM TO FORM GOVT. UNDER PRACHANDA

Kathmandu, 16 Jan. A Maoist standing committee meeting Sunday staked a claim to form a government under Chairman Prachanda after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav asked parties to assemble a national consensus government by Friday.
The committee concluded an agreement between government and Maoists Friday to being Maoist armies and weapons under supervision and monitoring by a special committee headed by the prime minister was positive.
The standing committee didn’t take an immediate decision to determine an exact date to bring its combatants under the special committee.
The party office bearers were empowered to take a decision delaying the important process.
The party decided to continue with Monday’s political training camp to prepare cadres for a mass movement to launch a people’s movement earlier decided by the central committee if a constitution isn’t promulgated by 28 May to institutionalize a declared republic.
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MAOIST FAREWELL FOR UNMIN

Kathmandu. 16 Jan.: Maoists held a reception Sunday to bid farewell to UNMIN and its officials four years after the UN political wing came
to Nepal in January 2007 following a peace agreement in 2006 in New delhi.
UNMIN between Maoists and parliamentary parties.
UNMIN Representative Karin Landgren and her boss Samuel
Tamrant who arrived from New York to close down operations were present.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda recalled UNMN was invited by all parties, including Maoists, but regretted other parties didn’t agree to a
further extension of its mandate as requested by Maoists.
Landgren paid a farewell call on President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Sunday.
Government significantly didn’t organize any farewell for UNMN and departing officials.
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AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN UNIQUE TRIANGULAR FLAG (DEVELOPING STORY)

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: Maoists, NC and UML Sunday agreed to continue with the unique two triangular national with the sun and moon.
The flag is a Hindu symbol.
The agreement came at a meeting brokered by constituent assembly chairman Subash Nemwang.
Maoists has suggested a replacement flag to reflect change in Nepal after 2006.
NC and UML opposed the Maoist demand.
A meeting of all parties in the assembly has been convened Monday to discuss constitution drafting.
The agreement on the flag will be present for approval.
There was no unanimity in granting national status to parties who collect three percent vote in national elections, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said.
Such a provision exists.
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HEAVY SNOWFALL IN HILLS

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: Heavy snowfall was recorded in the hills Sunday, reports filtering in said.
More tan two feet snow was recorded Manang district headquarter Chame.
People were restricted to their homes by heavy snowfall.
Heavy snowfall was recorded in Lamgunj, Bajura, Rasuwa, Dolakha
and other districts.
Jiri in Charikot in Dolakha recorded their first snowfall Sunday in three years.
Kathmandu received a drizzle accompanied by hail.
Snowfall was recorded in surround Valley hills of Nagarkot, Daman and
Phulchoki bringing down temperature.
The sky was overcast the whole day.
The rain is the second winter rain.
The capital’s residents flocked to Nagarkot to play with snow.
Light snowfall was recorded in the capital’s eastern suburbs, including Gokarna and Changhunarayan.
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FARCICAL PROCESS SAYS INDIAN NEWSPAPER EDIT

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: A prolonged attempt to elect NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel was farcical, said an Indian newspaper close to the Indian government Friday.
“With the Nepali Congress withdrawing from the 17th round of prime ministerial elections, Nepal’s constituent assembly can now abandon what has become a farcical process to form a new coalition government.
‘This provides good opportunity for all stakeholders to start afresh and build consensus. Nepal has been without an effective government since June last year.
“Thanks primarily to inflexibility on the part of NC and the Maoists, 16 rounds of voting couldn’t end the impasse,’ Times of India said in an edit headlined ‘Build Consensus’.
The newspaper reflects official Indian government thinking.
“The mission (UNMIN),which monitored Maoist arms and camps following the 2006 peace agreement played a crucial role as an intermediary between the Nepal Army and the guerrillas.
‘However, frustrated by unfulfilled pledges, it no longer feels the
need to stay on,” the newspaper said on UN withdrawal from Nepal
after four years.
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