THREE-PARTY SUMMIT

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: A summit of the Big Three Sunday morning discussed differences on contentious issues to be incorporated in constitution to be promulgated by 28 May to institutionalize a republic already declared.
A state structure was discussed.
Maoists are pushing a presidential system while NC and UML want a parliamentary form of government.
The meeting was convened by Chairman Subash Nemwang.
A meeting of all parties in the constituent assembly will meet Monday as time runs out to complete constitution drafting.
Amid fears a constitution may not be announced within the second deadline, major political players have concentrated their attention only on grabbing power in the last seven months.
The president has in a fresh bid asked parties to elect a government of national consensus by Friday as major Maoists, NC and UML claimed leadership of the new government.
A rotational government headed possibly for six months by one party has been suggested in a compromise formula.
There’s also am intra-party struggle to wrest leadership of the
government.
A struggle is on within the NC between factions led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel; Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai are in the race in the UCPN (Maoist) while UML Chairman Jhalanatah Khanal is attempting to takeover government leadership from Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The political situations fluid.
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MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: Maoist standing committee meets Sunday to discuss bringing Maoists under the command and control of a special committee headed by the prime minister.
Maoists have agreed to bring its former fighters under the
committee at a special function.
Government and Maoists Saturday signed a three-point agreement also to
to monitor arms at seven cantonments and an army barrack by Chhauni in the capital previously under UNMIN watch.
UNMIN withdrew from Nepal Saturday four years after coming to Nepala.
NC leader D Ram Sharan Mahat said the entire Nepal Army (NA)
can’t be put under watch of a successor mechanism of UNMIN
following the agreement between Maoists and the government.
Mahat said the agreement is not between parties but only an arrangement between government and Maoists.
A team of 64 of monitors from NA, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Maoist forces has been formed to monitor arms and armies.
UNMN has yet to handover entire monitoring responsibilities that may take at least seven days.
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SCHOOLS REOPEN IN DHANUSHA

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: Schools reopened Sunday is Dhanusha after three days of sunshine following an extended cold wave in the terai that has claimed more that 30 lives from the east to the west.
The sun brought relief to people especially in central terai.
Heavy snowfall has affected normal in the hills as well.
Internal flights have been arrested.
Hindus Saturday celebrated Makkar Shangrati heralding the
beginning of the end of winter.
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WHAT AFTER UNMIN?

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: A UN mission set up four years ago to oversee Nepal's post-war transition will close on Saturday, removing a crucial buffer between two armed factions deadlocked in a fragile peace process. AFP reports from Kathmandu..

The UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) was established in 2007 with a one-year mandate to supervise peace after a decade-long conflict between Maoist insurgents and state forces in which at least 16,000 people died.

But delays in implementing key elements of a 2006 peace agreement, including the integration of 19,000 former Maoist soldiers into the state security forces, meant its mandate had to be repeatedly extended.

Last September, the UN Security Council voted to close UNMIN after a final four-month extension, citing a lack of progress and saying the mission had been unfairly drawn into political battles between the parties.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said last month the peace process was "at a crossroads," but that it made little sense to keep UNMIN open "without any meaningful progress by the parties on political issues."

The United Nations has promised to remain involved in Nepal's peace process even after UNMIN's departure, but it leaves the country in a state of flux, with no government in place and growing divisions between the parties.

Sixteen rounds of voting in parliament have failed to produce a new leader since prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stood down last June, and the lack of leadership is hampering development in one of the world's poorest countries.

The process of drafting a new national constitution aimed at ending the historic social inequalities that were a major cause of the war -- another key tenet of the peace deal -- has stalled.

Sarah Levit-Shore, head of the Nepal office of the US-based Carter Center, which deploys monitors across the country, said citizens were frustrated and concerned.

"I think this is a fragile time for Nepal," she said. "It is critical for Nepal's political leaders to come together, refresh existing agreements and make new and very important agreements in advance of what is a very short constitutional deadline."

Analysts say the continued existence of the Maoist People's Liberation Army, whose soldiers were confined to camps around the country after the war, has added to a growing sense of public unease in the country.

The arrangement was intended as a temporary solution pending a merger of the PLA and the national army, but has dragged on because the Maoists and their political rivals have been unable to reach agreement on the issue.

A team of UN arms monitors conducts round-the-clock supervision of the PLA camps, where the Maoists' weapons are stored in sealed containers, and of a Nepal Army barracks on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

The monitors are scheduled to leave at midnight (1815 GMT) Saturday and a new team to be appointed by a cross-party committee of lawmakers will replace them.

Nepalese political commentator Prashant Jha argues that UNMIN has played a vital role in the peace process by acting as a symbolic deterrent against the resumption of violence.

"The impact (of UNMIN's departure) goes well beyond the technical aspects," he wrote in a column for Indian newspaper The Hindu on Friday.

"UNMIN leaves at a time when the most complex task of this process -- integration and rehabilitation of the former combatants -- has not even started.

"Peace has held in Nepal because Nepali actors, including the Nepal Army and the Maoists, have behaved with restraint and responsibility, but UNMIN's exit will make this task more difficult."
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ILLEGALTRADE IN RED PANDAS





Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: The illegal trade of Red Panda, one of the world’s most endangered species, has been flourishing in Nepal in the recent years. A large number of Red Pandas have been trafficked from Makalu Barun National Park that spreads in Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu districts putting the existence of the species at a high risk, The Rising Nepal reports from Sankhuwasabha.
Makalu, Chepuwa, Hatiya and Tamku VDCs of Sankhuwasabha and Bung, Cheskam, and Gudal VDCs of Solukhumbu are the main habitats of Red Panda.
The East Foundation, an NGO, had initiated a campaign to control the smuggling of Red Pandas; however the campaign couldn’t be proved effective to control the trafficking.
Uttar Man Kulung, one of the locals of Solukhumbu Gudel-4, informed that the Red Pandas which were shy and loved quiet nature frequently entered the villages and damaged the crops.
The angry villagers also killed them to save their crops, he added. The villagers also made mats from the skins of the Red Pandas they killed.
A recent report showed that a dozen of Red Pandas were killed in Gudel VDC alone this year.
Many villagers were found unaware that the Red Panda was enlisted as endangered species.
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NCRS FLAYS DUBIOUS GOVT. DIRECTIVE





Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: - Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) has sternly flays the ‘dubious anti-tobacco directives’ made public by the government some days ago, The Rising Nepal reports.
Stating that the directives were endorsed against the public aspirations and needs, it urged all to stand against it.
The directives had created doubt about the control of consumption of tobacco products and reduction in tobacco related diseases, NCRS said.
The NCRS said that it was surprised by the directives which were the amended version of the directives of the MoHP and Parliamentary Committee.
The directives had made a mockery of the World Health Organization’s directions, Ishwor Shrestha, chairman of NCRS said.
"The directives were expected to prohibit consumption of tobacco products in public places. However, they mentioned only a few places as public places," he said.
As against the 75 per cent coverage of statutory health message in the cover of tobacco products, the directives made the provision of only 30 per cent coverage in black and white picture.
"The directives have been passed only to promote the tobacco companies," he said.
He accused the government of neglecting the public health issues.
According to the World Health Organization, around 17,000 people die every year due to tobacco consumption.
Saying that the issue was related with public health, the NCRS demanded amendment in the directives.

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DOUBTS TIA CAN HANDLE TRAFFIC IN NTY 2011
Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: The countdown is over. The nation officially welcomed Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) with a huge celebration yesterday [Friday]. While preparations have been on for a long

time, the question that lingers is — how prepared are we to welcome the targeted million visitors?, The Himalayaan Times reports.

One need not go far for an answer. Just visit Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the entry point for 70 per cent tourists visiting Nepal. The nation’s only international airport is struggling with inadequate infrastructure, lack of proper service and vigilance plus congestion in both the parking bay as well as the terminal.



Stretched beyond capacity

“The terminal is designed to handle 1,350 people at peak hours, but we have to adjust 2,500 to 3,000 people,” said Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, General Manager, TIA Civil Aviation Office. Shrestha says efforts are on to address such problems, like allocation of parking

bay and opening a new zone at the waiting room, among others. He said work has been done for safety and security enhancement like runway overlay, radar overhaul, installation of CCTVs, and new

X-ray machines. But there is a bigger problem — “airspace congestion”.



Flights every 1.5 minute

“We have reached saturation point,” he said pointing out the single runway and unfavourable topography. “At present there are 440 movements, more than 90 per cent of them during daytime. This means, every one-and-a-half minute, either a plane lands or takes off,” he said. Shifting movement to night hours could be an option he says. “The process of making the runway usable 24 hours is going on”.

Nepal Tourism Board is aware of these constraints.

“We have come up with suggestions to help manage extra arrivals by spreading passenger flow. Operating flights to Indian cities like Varanasi and Lucknow from airports in cities like Biratnagar and Pokhara is an option. We can also even off the flow by promoting religious tourism during off-season, and even making TIA capable of 24-hour service,” said Prachanda Man Shrestha, Chairman of NTB.

Lost baggage hassles

The problems at TIA, however, don’t stop with infrastructure. A day after he returned to Nepal, Som Bahadur Limbu had to make a trip to TIA again to retrieve his only luggage. “I couldn’t find it yesterday. Today, I found out my luggage had not been put on the conveyor belt.”

The conveyor belts are old and not equipped to handle the present traffic. “One of the belts (out of three) is out of condition.”

For Daphney Bongers from Holland, her three-week holiday in Nepal was ruined

because her luggage arrived two weeks late. Bongers had

a suggestion, “The area where

I had to look for my bags

was one big mess; they need to improve that place.”



Whitewashing only?

“They opened this new area, took photos and that’s it. Nothing has improved for NTY,” said a tourist police.

He said he receives 12 to

13 complaints from tourists every month and most of

them are related to service. According to him “rude people” and “no help received” are

the common remarks in

feedback forms .

What ails only int’l airport?

• Inadequate infrastructure, lacks quality service, vigilance and there’s too much congestion

• Can’t handle peak hour arrivals

• Single runway, unfavourable topography

• Airspace congestion — 90 per cent of 440 movements happen in daytime. There’s either a landing or take-off every 1.5 minute

• One conveyor belt out of three is out of order

• Twelve to 13 complaints from tourists in a month, mostly related to service. ‘Rude people’, ‘No help

received’ are the common remarks in tourists’

feedback forms.
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MAOIST FACTIONS STAKE CLAIMS TO KEY POSITIONS

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: The three Maoist factions have finally proposed their own long lists of leaders for key party positions as the Maoist party is poised to reshuffle responsibilities among the leaders, Post Bahadur Basnet writes in Republica.

The three factions -- led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai -- put forward the lists during a meeting of the five-member taskforce formed to settle the issue of dividing responsibilities among the party leaders.

The taskforce, headed by party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, includes Barshaman Pun, Netra Bikram Chand, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Giriraj Mani Pokharel.

According to sources, Pun, who is the representative of Dahal faction, proposed Haribol Gajurel, Agni Sapkota and Lokendra Bist as the new Standing Committee members. Similarly, Rayamajhi, who is from Bhattarai faction, proposed Ram Karki, Devendra Paudel and Nawaraj Subedi, while Netra Bikram Chand, from the Baidya faction, proposed Hitman Shakya, Hari Bhakta Kandel and Pampha Bhusal.

“The Standing Committee meeting on Sunday will deliberate on the names and may co-opt the new members in the party apex body,” said a senior Maoist leader.
Dahal faction is the strongest in the standing committee and has argued that the disputes over party responsibilities should be settled by the committee. But Bhattarai and Baidya factions have insisted that the party politburo should take up the task. “Politburo is the political committee. So it should settle the division of work,” said a leader close to Bhattarai. Dahal faction is weak in the party politburo.

Similarly, Bhattarai faction has staked claim to the leadership in the party front that includes leadership in parliament, while Baidya faction has vociferously demanded their “rightful share” in the People´s Liberation Army (PLA).

Sources said the relations between party office secretary Shakti Basnet and PLA Deputy Commander Janardan Sharma, close aides to Dahal, have soured after their names were not proposed from that faction.

Similarly, Bhattarai faction has accused Dahal of breaching the party´s agreement with the CPN (United) that Subedi would be inducted into the standing committee.

Similarly, Shashi Sherchan is likely to be inducted into the standing committee as all the three factions are positive about him.

The party is also expanding the current 48-member politburo and 148-member Central Committee (CC). As per the party statute, one third of the CC would be the politburo, and one third of politburo would be standing committee. The three party factions have floated their own lists for politburo and CC.

The party has so far been unable to settle the overdue task of reshuffling responsibilities due to sharp divisions between the three party factions.

The standing committee meeting will also take decisions on issues including government formation.
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UNMIN OWES CAAN RS. 20M

Kathmandu, 16 Jan.: UNMIN’s tenure expired on Saturday, but the UN mission is yet to pay nearly Rs. 20 million to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for using airports in Nepalgunj and Pokhara, J.Pandey and Lal Prasad Sharma report in The Kathmandu Post from Nepalgunj and Pokhara.

According to CAAN Nepalgunj office, UNMIN has not yet cleared the rent bill of Rs. 19.6 million for using the hangar at Rajha Airport. “It partially paid the amount for landing and parking but it has not paid any amount as the rent for using the hanger,” said Suresh Ajad, CAAN’s Nepalgunj chief.

The CIAN office said that UNMIN had agreed to pay Rs. 918,000 per month for using the hanger that accommodates four twin otters.

Ajad said that UNMIN refused to clear the bill, saying that the government should pay it as per the agreement. “The government agreed to pay the bill for the using hangar as per the agreement before UNMIN’s arrival,” he quoted a UNMIN official as saying.

Similarly, in Pokhara UNMIN still owes about Rs. 280,000 to Pokhara Airport in landing and parking fee of its aircrafts.

“The UN mission has to pay Rs. 283,460 to Pokhara Airport,” said Narendra Bahadur Thapa, CAAN Pokhara chief.

“We have apprised the CAAN central office of the matter. We have not yet informed whether the mission cleared the remaining bill or not,” Thapa added.

When asked, UNMIN Spokesman Kosmos Bishwokarma said, “It is not our understanding that the UN owes any rent for use of this property, which was provided by the Government of Nepal under the Status of Mission Agreement.”

“However, the small liquidation team that will remain in Nepal to complete outstanding administrative matters is already in contact with CAAN and other Nepalese authorities.” UNMIN will fulfill its legitimate financial obligations before the team leaves Nepal, he said.
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