MAOISTS UNDER SPECIAL COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Former Maoist fighters of the third division at Shaktikhor, Chitwan, will be brought the command and control of a special committee headed by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal later Saturday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda will relinquish the command and control of the party over the fighters at a special programme in the cantonment attended by senior government officials and diplomats based in the capital.
Maoists had been hesitating to hand over the command for nearly four years.
The move, considered a forward movement in the peace process, comes after UNMIN quit Nepal after coming in January 2007.
There are 19,000 plus former combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps that were previously under UNMN watch.
Maoists are coordinating the transfer with the home ministry.
Maoist Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai opposed the transfer saying he wasn’t consulted by the party.
Security chiefs of all four government agencies have been invited.
Reports from Chitwan said bad weather has delayed the arrival
of invitees from the capital.
The prime minister landed at a helipad in Shaktikhor at 11.15.
Chairman Prachanda drove to Chitwan from the capital.
The transfer programme was originally scheduled to begin at 11.30 in the morning.
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DEADLINE TO FROM NATIONAL CONSENSUS GOVT. EXTENDED

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Friday night extended a five-day deadline to form a national consensus government until Wednesday.
The extension came at the request of parties in parliament on the initiative of the Big Three.
The first deadline expired Friday afternoon.
The president took the decision after receiving a written request.
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MAOIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET CONCLUDES

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: An emergency Maoist central committee meeting Friday decided to criticize Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and followers for defying party policy.
But the vice-chairman penned a note of dissent and said the party obstructed him from presenting his views.
The two-day emergency Maoist central committee meeting ended Friday.
The meeting was convened after Dr. Bhattarai boycotted this week’s political training camp in the capital for workers to prepare workers for a popular movement if a constitution isn’t promulgated by the 28 May deadline.
The vice-chairman opposed the party line of Chairman Prachanda and another Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya to go for a people’s revolt amid a fluid political situation.
The central committee decided to resume the training camps obstructed temporarily by Dr Bhattarai’s boycott; the camps will resume after 30 January.
The committee also decided to take dissenting opinion procedurally to the lower levels.
The committee criticized Bhattarai and supporters for boycotting the training camp in the capital.

KHANAL ATTACKER REMANDED TO 15-DAY CUSTODY

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Debi Prasad Regmi was Friday remanded to 15-day custody one day after he slapped UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal on the cheek at a public function in Itahari, Sunsari.
Regmi said he had no remorse.
A UML activist has filed a public offence case against Regmi.
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FOUR KILLED IN KAVRE ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Four persons died and several dozen passengers were injured Friday when a bus rolled a highway in Kavre.
The bus was hading for Nala from Banepa.
The bus rolled over the road while giving way to some motorcyclists,
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HIMANI BACK IN DOLAKHA

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Former Crown Princess Himani arrived back in Dolakha for the third time Friday to push the activities of a trust she heads
Dolakha has been the base of the activities of the Himani Trust—a registered NGO pushing social service.
She was hounded of the district by parties during her last visit saying she was pushing monarchy.
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