MAOISTS FINALLY DECIDE TO JOIN GOVT (BREAKNG NEWS).

MAOISTS FINALLY DECIDE TO JOIN GOVT

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 March: Maoists finally decided to join the embattled government of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal who was elected 3 February with the support of UCPN (Maoist).
Maoist refusal tojoin the government after installing Khanal delayed the expansion of the four-member cabinet of UML nominees only.
Desperate to get into government after 22 months at any cost, the party standing committee Tuesday morning decided to join government even without grabbing the home ministry and amid opposition to an amendment by Khanal’s UML to a secret 7-point agreement between the chairmen of the two communist parties.
Under pressure from Khanal critics inside his party, the agreement was amended as the party also decided not to award the home ministry, described as a security-related ministry, to Maoists until the completion of the peace process.
Control of the home ministry would have given Maoists charge of Nepaal Police and Armed Police Force whose combined strength would be bigger than Nepal Army.
Chairman Prachanda, resigned 22 months ago as prime minister after a showdown with Nepal Army.
Maoists earlier twice refused to join the Khanal government charging UML of renegading of the agreement.
Maoists said they would only lend the government outside support to complete the peace process and proclaim a constitution by a 28 May deadline.
The Maoist standing committee will meet again Wednesday to select its government team, Deb Gurung said.
Maoists decided to join government less than 12 hours after Prahchanda said the party would take a bold decision to help Khanal expand government complete and foil attempts by foreigners and regressive forces at home to stop the UCPN (Maoist) from coming to power.
Khanal said his party would retain the home portfolio and asked Maoists to join government.
Maoists are joining the government even as they didn’t get a UML response to what was described as a ‘hazy’ interpretation of the amended 7-point agreement by the premier’s party.
Nnnn

SAARC GETS FIRST WOMAN SECRETARY GENERAL

Kathmandu, 1 March: Fathimath Dhiyana of Maldives will takeover as the first woman secretary general of the eight-nation SAARC Tuesday in 26 years.
She was attorney general
Dhiyana succeeds India’s Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma in the South Asian regional grouping whose members are: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
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MAOIST CHIEF PROMSES BOLD DECISION TO JOINGOVT.

PRACHAND PROMISES BOL DECISION ON GOVT. FORMATION

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Monday alerted people of a ‘bold and stunning’ decision to form a government with UML within one or two days.
He said this Monday even as Maoists confirmed UCPN (Maoist) and UML meet was inconclusive to expand the government of Prime Minster Jhalanath Khanal with only UML representatives.
’The decision will be another stunner,” the Maoist chief said in the capital .
Prachanda said the decision will be a ‘slap’ by people who ‘love the county’.
nnnn

RAMESH LEKHAK IN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Ramesh Lekhak NC has been appointed member of the main constitution drafting committee in the constituent assembly (CA).
He will takeover the vacant seat following the death of NC President Girija Prasad Koirala whose 1st death anniversary is being observed next month in Chaitra next month,
Manmohan Bhattarai of NC replaces Lekhak in the fundamental rights committee after his transfer
Nnnn


SHAKY GOVT. PLANS TO BRING NEW BUDGET IN NEW YEAR

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary Monday said the government –shaky and incomplete—is negotiating with parties to for ‘political consensus’ to announce an annual budget for the next fiscal year in Baishak or the end of the Q3 of the current fiscal year.
The attempt isn’t new but hasn’t been implemented so far.
He said this at a review of the half-yearly of implementation of the current budget.
Adhikari said projects to be implemented in the current fiscal year will be incorporated in the next budget.
Nnnn

Rs.. 1.13 BILLION LOAN TO NOC

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Govt. has released Rs. 1.13 billion as loan to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to import POL products from India.
The state monopoly says it is facing liquidity crunch amid heavy losses to import supplies as India limits exports to without settlement of dues.
Nnnn

MAOISTS,, CPN (MASHAL) MERGE

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Maoists and CPN (Mashal) announced a merger Monday.
The CPN (Mashal) led by Lilaram Acharya merged with Maoists.
Nnnn

MORE NEPALI WORKERS RETURN HOME FROM LIBYA

35 MORE NEPALI WORKERS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HOME MONDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The third batch of 35 Nepali workers are expected to fly back home from Libya Monday, manpower agents who recruited them there said.
The first batch of 62 workers who fled the north African state arrived Saturday ad a second batch of 84 workers returned Sunday.
A group of 150 labourers have reached China from the oil rich state en route home.
Workers said they fled Libya they were looted and their lodges were attacked during anti-government protests.
Many returnees said they went without food and water for nine days reporting their first meal was onboard a chartered flight home from Egypt.
nnnn


FORMER NAC CEO JAILED

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Former CEO of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was sent to jail Sunday after he failed to par a surety of Rs. 60 million slapped by a special court.
CIAA has charged him for financial irregularity in releasing Rs 57.3 million advance payment for purchase of two Airbuses from the European aircraft manufacturer.
Nepal’s state airline chose Airbus sidelining Boeing pushed by the US embassy in the capital, according to Wikileaks account.
Nepal Airlines hasn’t provided its bank account to Airbus which decided to refund the advance payment.
Nnnn

DR. HRISHIKESH UPADHAYA DEAD

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Dr. Hrishikesh Upadhaya,60, died Sunday.
He was central member of CPN (Samyukta) and was a progressive writer hailing from Bhadrapur.
nnnn



MAOIST TRADE UNION WOKING COMMITTEE DISSOLVED

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The central working of the Maoist a trade union led by Salikram Jamarkattel has been disbanded and a general convention organizing committee under his leadership has been formed, Nagarik reports.
Maoists have directed a parallel body formed by Vice-Chairman Badri Bajgain also be dissolved amid the group’s charges Jamarkattel sided with management to exploit workers.
Maoist standing committee ordered the dissolution and called for fresh election by Chaitra.
nnnn

MAOISTS FORMING VOLUNTEER FORCE

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Politburo member and Chief of Youth Mobilization Department Netra Bikram Chand said Maoists are forming a ’broader organization than YCL” to send volunteers to villages, Nagarik reports.
A people’s mobilization bureau will start a campaign 19 March as political training is being given.
The volunteers will be mobilized for construction and positive work.
Nnnn

SC QUESTIONS PERKS FOR FORMER PMs
Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the government and the

Parliament asking for a written reply within 15 days on a petition filed against the perks provided to former prime ministers and home ministers, The Himalayan Times reports.

The single bench of Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the notice and asked the court administration to give it priority. SC’s ruling came after the preliminary hearing held today on the petition filed by advocate Ram Chandra Paudel.

Paudel had filed the petition on Friday demanding a ruling against the government decision to provide perks such as vehicles, drivers and maintenance

expenses to former ministers. The petitioner argues that the government’s decision has given rise to leaders buying expensive vehicles and other amenities at the tax payers’ expense, use them while in power and

retain them even after they resign. “Such decisions

lead to bankruptcy,” warned the writ.

The petition states that the government took the decision arbitrarily although there were no such legal provisions.

The apex court, therefore, should intervene and

scrap the cabinet decision, the petition adds.

Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, on 6 December 2004, had decided to provide such perks to

former PMs and home

ministers.

The petitioner said the government was spending millions for former ministers and it was against the people’s right to equality. The petitioner pointed out that former home minister Bhim Rawal was using a vehicle worth Rs 10 million even after he left office.

Meanwhile, a Home Ministry source revealed that the government was providing a vehicle, 200 litres of petrol per month, a driver and maintenance expenses to each former PM and home minister. In addition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had decided to provide house rent, electricity, water and telephone expenses to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former home ministers Bam Dev Gautam, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Ram Chandra Paudel are also

enjoying government vehicles and other facilities. Even Girija Prasad Koirala enjoyed the perks while

he was PM.
Nnnn

NEPAL FACES ANOTHER DEFEAT

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The Mountain Alliance Initiative for Climate Change — Nepal’s bid to bring mountainous countries under one roof to tackle climate change issues — has hit a snag after it failed to get their support for a second time, Ramesh Prasad Bhusal writes in The Himalayan Times.

In June 2010, the Cabinet had decided to host a ministerial meeting of the mountainous countries from September 27-28. It was then postponed to October 5-6.

But the government had to cancel the move after it received poor response from invited countries. A decision was taken to host the meet in March this year.

According to officials at the Ministry of Environment, it is unlikely that the meeting would be held.

“It’s unlikely that we will host the meeting amid political instability,” said MoE Secretary Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi.

Former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had made an announcement to hold the meeting at the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in December 2009.

He had also urged the SAARC executive heads to support Nepal’s initiative during a meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan, in April last year.

The government had endorsed the initiative in May and designated the MoE to carry out

the task. A secretariat has also been established to coordinate the activities.

Following the Cabinet decision, the MoE had invited ministers from 50 mountainous countries to attend the meeting slated for October, but failed to receive confirmation from most of the countries, which led to the postponement.

Experts say Nepal cannot lead a group of countries with vested interests.

The officials in the ministry are also divided — for and against the alliance.
Nnnn

NA OPPOSES PLA GROUP INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Nepal Army (NA) has proposed setting up a separate directorate inside the Army for the integration of former Maoist combatants, according to highly placed sources, writes Phanindra Dahal in The Kathmandu Post.

The plan was conveyed to the political leadership including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung last month.

Nepal, in his capacity as caretaker prime minister had invited Gen. Gurung to Baluwatar on Jan. 30 and asked him to brief on the technical aspects and standard norms to be applied while determining the integration modality.

The proposal regarding the formation of a separate directorate for combatants was pitched in that meeting, confirmed a source at Nepal Army headquarters. The directorate will have four mandates: a) disaster preparedness, b) construction of road and development infrastructure, c) industrial security, d) nature conservation but not wildlife protection in national parks and wildlife reserves.

“We had stressed there be individual entry of combatants and that former fighters shouldn’t be entrusted with commanding responsibilities,” said the source. While agreeing on integration modality NA brass has urged NC and UML leaders to ensure that integrated fighters do not get access to weapons.

“Even if we induct them (combatants) in the new directorate, officers from the Nepal Army will command each unit and will have direct control of the weapons. We don’t want to risk misuse of our artillery,” added the source. The Army leadership is opposed to bulk integration of combatants saying that the time-honoured “honesty, impartiality and organisational integrity” of NA could be compromised by “politically motivated individuals.”

The new proposal from the Nepal Army comes following the official handover of Maoist combatants to the cross-party Special Committee effective from Jan. 23. Gen. Gurung along with heads of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force had attended the special handover ceremony organised at the third division cantonment site located at Shaktikhor Chitwan.

In a press meet on Jan. 28, Nepal Army Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chhetri had said the handover of Maoist combatants to the prime minister-headed Special Committee was an important step in the integration process.

Gen. Gurung had then said that the Army would abide by the decision taken by the political actors in regard to the integration and rehabilitation of combatants and always stand in favour of “solution” of the four-year old commitment.

The Army’s new proposal is yet to be referred to the Special Committee for discussion between Maoists and non-Maoist parties.

The integration debate going between three major parties has been stalled due to delay over Cabinet expansion.

Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal signed a seven-point deal ahead of the prime ministerial election on Feb. 3.

The commitment by the two leaders to form a separate security force for PLA combatants is under fire by Prime Minister Khanal’s own party and the main opposition Nepali Congress.
Nnnn

• MONEY
OPERATION HUNT FOR POACHERS
POST REPORTKathmandu, 28 Feb.: Concerned over the rampant killing of and trade in wildlife, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Sunday declared the launch of ‘Operation Hunt’ to combat the crime. The bureau has recently nabbed five rhino poachers, The Kathmandu Post reports.

A special squad deployed by the CIB apprehended poaching mastermind Kajiman Praja, 32, of Chitwan. He is said to have killed at least seven rhinos, taking away their prized horns, in the past year, according to DIG Rajendra Singh Bhandari. The CIB stated Praja and his henchmen had killed several rhinos for horns that can fetch millions of rupees in black market. Police said Praja, a poor guy from the backward Chepang community, has become a millionaire through the trade in wildlife.

Praja continued to remain on the most wanted list of Nepal Police for the past six years until the police tracked him down along with his two wives—Sanu Maya, 19, and Dil Maya, 30—and two associates from a Syanja guest house. They were subsequently brought to the Capital for an investigation.

DIG Bhandari, director of the recently established and successful CIB, said the bureau has initiated action against well-organised smugglers that have posed a threat to the country’s wildlife. The wildlife population has seen a massive decline of late.

“Most of the wildlife poachers are found to be well-organised and have links with rackets that have made Nepal a transit point for wildlife trade,” said Bhandari. “Our efforts will be concentrated on tracking down these poachers as well as men behind the scene that control the demand and supply of illegal animal parts.” One-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is an endangered mammal species protected in Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park in Nepal. The bureau also caught three tiger poachers—Shailendra Basnet and Deependra Chaudhary of Sarlahi and Jarsi Chaudhary of Parsa—with 15 kg tiger bones.
Nnnn

GOVT. WORRIED BY GULF, LIBYA PROTESTS
Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: As anti-government protests continue to spread like wildfire across Middle East and Gulf countries, the government is worried about the possible scenario when it may be required to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Nepalis working there, Kosh Raj Koirala reports in Republica.
“It would be difficult for the government to handle the situation if an event similar to Libya takes place in other countries where hundreds of thousands of Nepalis are working,” said the prime minister´s foreign relations advisor Milan Tuladhar.

Neither is the government in a position to afford a huge cost involved for evacuation, nor are the poorly-manned Nepali embassies in these countries equipped to handle such an unpleasant situation.

Joint Secretary Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson at Ministry of Labor and Transport, said the government recently sent US $30,000 from Foreign Employment Welfare Fund to Nepali embassy in Egypt for emergency expenses, including food and lodging. He said the government is also preparing to send additional amount for safe evacuation of some 1,985 Nepali nationals working in the troubled Libya.

“We have already spent over 20 million rupees. And it is likely that we will have to spend several millions more to bring all the workers from Libya to Nepal,” said an MoFA official, asking to be unnamed.

“You can imagine the situation if a similar event takes place in Gulf countries where hundreds of thousands Nepalis are working. Our economy will literally go bankrupt should we require to evacuate them,” added the official. “And do not forget that our economy is heavily reliant on remittance.”

According to rough estimates, there are some 500,000 Nepalis working in Saudi Arabia, 375,000 in Qatar, 30,000 in Kuwait, 25,000 in Oman and 120,000 in United Arab Emirates. While Bahrain has already witnessed trouble, there are fears that other Gulf countries could also witness similar anti-government protests as the wave of democratic movement spreads across the region.

The issue of bringing stranded workers back home is a very delicate one as death of a single Nepali national could trigger violence across the country. “It is the duty of the state to protect the lives of its citizens. But given the resources we have at disposal things will go well beyond our capacity if Libya-incident repeats in Gulf countries,” said a top government official.
nnnn

MORE NEPALI WORKERS RETURN FROM LIBYA

35 MORE NEPALI WORKERS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HOME MONDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The third batch of 35 Nepali workers are expected to fly back home from Libya Monday, manpower agents who recruited them there said.
The first batch of 62 workers who fled the north African state arrived Saturday ad a second batch of 84 workers returned Sunday.
A group of 150 labourers have reached China from the oil rich state en route home.
Workers said they fled Libya they were looted and their lodges were attacked during anti-government protests.
Many returnees said they went without food and water for nine days reporting their first meal was onboard a chartered flight home from Egypt.
nnnn


FORMER NAC CEO JAILED

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Former CEO of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was sent to jail Sunday after he failed to par a surety of Rs. 60 million slapped by a special court.
CIAA has charged him for financial irregularity in releasing Rs 57.3 million advance payment for purchase of two Airbuses from the European aircraft manufacturer.
Nepal’s state airline chose Airbus sidelining Boeing pushed by the US embassy in the capital, according to Wikileaks account.
Nepal Airlines hasn’t provided its bank account to Airbus which decided to refund the advance payment.
Nnnn

DR. HRISHIKESH UPADHAYA DEAD

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Dr. Hrishikesh Upadhaya,60, died Sunday.
He was central member of CPN (Samyukta) and was a progressive writer hailing from Bhadrapur.
nnnn



MAOIST TRADE UNION WOKING COMMITTEE DISSOLVED

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The central working of the Maoist a trade union led by Salikram Jamarkattel has been disbanded and a general convention organizing committee under his leadership has been formed, Nagarik reports.
Maoists have directed a parallel body formed by Vice-Chairman Badri Bajgain also be dissolved amid the group’s charges Jamarkattel sided with management to exploit workers.
Maoist standing committee ordered the dissolution and called for fresh election by Chaitra.
nnnn

MAOISTS FORMING VOLUNTEER FORCE

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Politburo member and Chief of Youth Mobilization Department Netra Bikram Chand said Maoists are forming a ’broader organization than YCL” to send volunteers to villages, Nagarik reports.
A people’s mobilization bureau will start a campaign 19 March as political training is being given.
The volunteers will be mobilized for construction and positive work.
Nnnn

SC QUESTIONS PERKS FOR FORMER PMs
Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the government and the

Parliament asking for a written reply within 15 days on a petition filed against the perks provided to former prime ministers and home ministers, The Himalayan Times reports.

The single bench of Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the notice and asked the court administration to give it priority. SC’s ruling came after the preliminary hearing held today on the petition filed by advocate Ram Chandra Paudel.

Paudel had filed the petition on Friday demanding a ruling against the government decision to provide perks such as vehicles, drivers and maintenance

expenses to former ministers. The petitioner argues that the government’s decision has given rise to leaders buying expensive vehicles and other amenities at the tax payers’ expense, use them while in power and

retain them even after they resign. “Such decisions

lead to bankruptcy,” warned the writ.

The petition states that the government took the decision arbitrarily although there were no such legal provisions.

The apex court, therefore, should intervene and

scrap the cabinet decision, the petition adds.

Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, on 6 December 2004, had decided to provide such perks to

former PMs and home

ministers.

The petitioner said the government was spending millions for former ministers and it was against the people’s right to equality. The petitioner pointed out that former home minister Bhim Rawal was using a vehicle worth Rs 10 million even after he left office.

Meanwhile, a Home Ministry source revealed that the government was providing a vehicle, 200 litres of petrol per month, a driver and maintenance expenses to each former PM and home minister. In addition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had decided to provide house rent, electricity, water and telephone expenses to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former home ministers Bam Dev Gautam, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Ram Chandra Paudel are also

enjoying government vehicles and other facilities. Even Girija Prasad Koirala enjoyed the perks while

he was PM.
Nnnn

NEPAL FACES ANOTHER DEFEAT

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: The Mountain Alliance Initiative for Climate Change — Nepal’s bid to bring mountainous countries under one roof to tackle climate change issues — has hit a snag after it failed to get their support for a second time, Ramesh Prasad Bhusal writes in The Himalayan Times.

In June 2010, the Cabinet had decided to host a ministerial meeting of the mountainous countries from September 27-28. It was then postponed to October 5-6.

But the government had to cancel the move after it received poor response from invited countries. A decision was taken to host the meet in March this year.

According to officials at the Ministry of Environment, it is unlikely that the meeting would be held.

“It’s unlikely that we will host the meeting amid political instability,” said MoE Secretary Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi.

Former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had made an announcement to hold the meeting at the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in December 2009.

He had also urged the SAARC executive heads to support Nepal’s initiative during a meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan, in April last year.

The government had endorsed the initiative in May and designated the MoE to carry out

the task. A secretariat has also been established to coordinate the activities.

Following the Cabinet decision, the MoE had invited ministers from 50 mountainous countries to attend the meeting slated for October, but failed to receive confirmation from most of the countries, which led to the postponement.

Experts say Nepal cannot lead a group of countries with vested interests.

The officials in the ministry are also divided — for and against the alliance.
Nnnn

NA OPPOSES PLA GROUP INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Nepal Army (NA) has proposed setting up a separate directorate inside the Army for the integration of former Maoist combatants, according to highly placed sources, writes Phanindra Dahal in The Kathmandu Post.

The plan was conveyed to the political leadership including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung last month.

Nepal, in his capacity as caretaker prime minister had invited Gen. Gurung to Baluwatar on Jan. 30 and asked him to brief on the technical aspects and standard norms to be applied while determining the integration modality.

The proposal regarding the formation of a separate directorate for combatants was pitched in that meeting, confirmed a source at Nepal Army headquarters. The directorate will have four mandates: a) disaster preparedness, b) construction of road and development infrastructure, c) industrial security, d) nature conservation but not wildlife protection in national parks and wildlife reserves.

“We had stressed there be individual entry of combatants and that former fighters shouldn’t be entrusted with commanding responsibilities,” said the source. While agreeing on integration modality NA brass has urged NC and UML leaders to ensure that integrated fighters do not get access to weapons.

“Even if we induct them (combatants) in the new directorate, officers from the Nepal Army will command each unit and will have direct control of the weapons. We don’t want to risk misuse of our artillery,” added the source. The Army leadership is opposed to bulk integration of combatants saying that the time-honoured “honesty, impartiality and organisational integrity” of NA could be compromised by “politically motivated individuals.”

The new proposal from the Nepal Army comes following the official handover of Maoist combatants to the cross-party Special Committee effective from Jan. 23. Gen. Gurung along with heads of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force had attended the special handover ceremony organised at the third division cantonment site located at Shaktikhor Chitwan.

In a press meet on Jan. 28, Nepal Army Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chhetri had said the handover of Maoist combatants to the prime minister-headed Special Committee was an important step in the integration process.

Gen. Gurung had then said that the Army would abide by the decision taken by the political actors in regard to the integration and rehabilitation of combatants and always stand in favour of “solution” of the four-year old commitment.

The Army’s new proposal is yet to be referred to the Special Committee for discussion between Maoists and non-Maoist parties.

The integration debate going between three major parties has been stalled due to delay over Cabinet expansion.

Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal signed a seven-point deal ahead of the prime ministerial election on Feb. 3.

The commitment by the two leaders to form a separate security force for PLA combatants is under fire by Prime Minister Khanal’s own party and the main opposition Nepali Congress.
Nnnn

• MONEY
OPERATION HUNT FOR POACHERS
POST REPORTKathmandu, 28 Feb.: Concerned over the rampant killing of and trade in wildlife, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Sunday declared the launch of ‘Operation Hunt’ to combat the crime. The bureau has recently nabbed five rhino poachers, The Kathmandu Post reports.

A special squad deployed by the CIB apprehended poaching mastermind Kajiman Praja, 32, of Chitwan. He is said to have killed at least seven rhinos, taking away their prized horns, in the past year, according to DIG Rajendra Singh Bhandari. The CIB stated Praja and his henchmen had killed several rhinos for horns that can fetch millions of rupees in black market. Police said Praja, a poor guy from the backward Chepang community, has become a millionaire through the trade in wildlife.

Praja continued to remain on the most wanted list of Nepal Police for the past six years until the police tracked him down along with his two wives—Sanu Maya, 19, and Dil Maya, 30—and two associates from a Syanja guest house. They were subsequently brought to the Capital for an investigation.

DIG Bhandari, director of the recently established and successful CIB, said the bureau has initiated action against well-organised smugglers that have posed a threat to the country’s wildlife. The wildlife population has seen a massive decline of late.

“Most of the wildlife poachers are found to be well-organised and have links with rackets that have made Nepal a transit point for wildlife trade,” said Bhandari. “Our efforts will be concentrated on tracking down these poachers as well as men behind the scene that control the demand and supply of illegal animal parts.” One-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is an endangered mammal species protected in Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park in Nepal. The bureau also caught three tiger poachers—Shailendra Basnet and Deependra Chaudhary of Sarlahi and Jarsi Chaudhary of Parsa—with 15 kg tiger bones.
Nnnn

GOVT. WORRIED BY GULF, LIBYA PROTESTS
Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: As anti-government protests continue to spread like wildfire across Middle East and Gulf countries, the government is worried about the possible scenario when it may be required to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Nepalis working there, Kosh Raj Koirala reports in Republica.
“It would be difficult for the government to handle the situation if an event similar to Libya takes place in other countries where hundreds of thousands of Nepalis are working,” said the prime minister´s foreign relations advisor Milan Tuladhar.

Neither is the government in a position to afford a huge cost involved for evacuation, nor are the poorly-manned Nepali embassies in these countries equipped to handle such an unpleasant situation.

Joint Secretary Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson at Ministry of Labor and Transport, said the government recently sent US $30,000 from Foreign Employment Welfare Fund to Nepali embassy in Egypt for emergency expenses, including food and lodging. He said the government is also preparing to send additional amount for safe evacuation of some 1,985 Nepali nationals working in the troubled Libya.

“We have already spent over 20 million rupees. And it is likely that we will have to spend several millions more to bring all the workers from Libya to Nepal,” said an MoFA official, asking to be unnamed.

“You can imagine the situation if a similar event takes place in Gulf countries where hundreds of thousands Nepalis are working. Our economy will literally go bankrupt should we require to evacuate them,” added the official. “And do not forget that our economy is heavily reliant on remittance.”

According to rough estimates, there are some 500,000 Nepalis working in Saudi Arabia, 375,000 in Qatar, 30,000 in Kuwait, 25,000 in Oman and 120,000 in United Arab Emirates. While Bahrain has already witnessed trouble, there are fears that other Gulf countries could also witness similar anti-government protests as the wave of democratic movement spreads across the region.

The issue of bringing stranded workers back home is a very delicate one as death of a single Nepali national could trigger violence across the country. “It is the duty of the state to protect the lives of its citizens. But given the resources we have at disposal things will go well beyond our capacity if Libya-incident repeats in Gulf countries,” said a top government official.
nnnn

MAOIST,UML TALKS INCONCLUSIVE

MAOIST, UML TALKS INCONCLUSIVE; OTHER DETAILS

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. Talks between UML and Maoists on the delayed expansion of the government led by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal were inconclusive Monday even though the party chaired by the government said the dialogue would be ‘final and decisive’.
UML Monday told Maoists it cannot handover ‘security-related ministry’ or the home ministry to Maoists who are also demanding full implementation of a secret 7-point agreement between the chairmen of the two communist parties propelling Khanal to power with Maoist help.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said after the inconclusive talks UML attempt to amend a 7-point agreement wasn’t acceptable and his party will meet to decide its position.
UML decided Sunday its party decisions would be the basis in a search for a ‘common ground’ to expand the four-member cabinet of UML representatives only.
Khanal defended his 7-point agreement with Chairman Prachanda and pushed his party’s standing committee, politburo and central committee not to obstruct his attempt by bringing Maoists aboard by allocating the home portfolio to Maoists.
But a faction led former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli have obstructed Khanal’s drive; Khanal is considered a hardliner communist in his party while Nepal and Oli are close NC which says the secret agreement must be scrapped.
The prime minister is under intense Maoist pressure to meet commitments pledged in the secret agreement as the largest communist party makes a desperate attempt to join government again after 22 months.
Khanal has been caught in a quicksand unable to expand a government in three weeks.
Khanal held discussions with Prachanda Sunday and sought cooperation in his attempt to expand government.
The Maoist strongman Sunday revealed his party was preparing to capture power through extra-parliamentary means.
“Because capitalist powers won’t listen to us and we won’t agree with their views, now there’s no alternative to capturing power. For this, hotels and industries will be turned into barracks.
“Final preparation has to be made for forcible state capture. If attempts are made to foil the peace process and promulgate a constitution, all factories, hotels, industries and professional centers will be converted into barracks..
“Nobody believed us when we said we’ll launch a people’s war,” he told a rally of Maoist workers in Lalitpur.
Meanwhile, Maoist Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya warned Monday in the capital his party’s support to government will be withdrawn if the 7-point agreement wasn’t implemented in totality charging UML for renegading of a commitment.
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SUB-COMMITTEE TO PUSH CONSTITUTION DRAFTNG

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Maoist Chairman was unanimously appointed coordinator of a five-member sub-committee to sort out differences on 75 contentious points in a constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May to institutionalize a declared republic.
The sub-committee has to report to the main constitution drafting headed by Nilambar Acharya by 14 March.
Only 89 days remain to meet the deadline to announce a basic law amid fears the second deadline may also not be met,
The sub-committee adopted its work procedures and agreed to hold discussions in camera every day.
Deb Gurung of UCPN(Maoist) , Bimalendra Nidhi of NC , Dr Prakash Lohani of RJP, Sapana Malla and several others have been designated invitees to the sub-committee.
The sib-committee was formed after a controversial supreme court ruling the tenure of constituent assembly (CA) can be extended indefinitely until a basic law is promulgated.
Nepal Bar Association (NBA) asked for a review of the verdict and said it’s studying the verdict.
Nilambar Acharya also said the verdict can’t be used as a ladder to extend a tenure fixed by the people.
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NEPAL, CHINA SIGN THREE AGREEMENTS

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Nepal and China Monday signed two grant agreements totaling Rs. 547 million to undertake projects agreed by the two countries.
Another agreement was signed by visiting Chinese Vice-commerce Minister Fu Ziyang and Finance Rasmeshwor Khanal for a $ 100 million soft loan for the construction 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A hydro plant.
China Exim Bank will extend the load.
China will help widen a section of the ring road around the capital from four to six lane.
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FIVE KILLED, 17 INJURED IN TWO VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Five persons died instantly and five others were injured overnight in a jeep accident at Pandabkhani in Baglung.
The jeep fell 200 meters off the road.
The jeep was ferrying volleyball players of a secondary school.
Twelve persons were injured, four seriously in a collision between two vehicles Monday morning at Jogimara in neighbourig Dhading.
A bus heading for the capital from Dharan collided with a vehicle heading for Chitwan.
Nnnn

MAOIST,UML TALKS INCONCLUSIVE

MAOIST, UML TALKS INCONCLUSIVE; OTHER DETAILS

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. Talks between UML and Maoists on the delayed expansion of the government led by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal were inconclusive Monday even though the party chaired by the government said the dialogue would be ‘final and decisive’.
UML Monday told Maoists it cannot handover ‘security-related ministry’ or the home ministry to Maoists who are also demanding full implementation of a secret 7-point agreement between the chairmen of the two communist parties propelling Khanal to power with Maoist help.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said after the inconclusive talks UML attempt to amend a 7-point agreement wasn’t acceptable and his party will meet to decide its position.
UML decided Sunday its party decisions would be the basis in a search for a ‘common ground’ to expand the four-member cabinet of UML representatives only.
Khanal defended his 7-point agreement with Chairman Prachanda and pushed his party’s standing committee, politburo and central committee not to obstruct his attempt by bringing Maoists aboard by allocating the home portfolio to Maoists.
But a faction led former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli have obstructed Khanal’s drive; Khanal is considered a hardliner communist in his party while Nepal and Oli are close NC which says the secret agreement must be scrapped.
The prime minister is under intense Maoist pressure to meet commitments pledged in the secret agreement as the largest communist party makes a desperate attempt to join government again after 22 months.
Khanal has been caught in a quicksand unable to expand a government in three weeks.
Khanal held discussions with Prachanda Sunday and sought cooperation in his attempt to expand government.
The Maoist strongman Sunday revealed his party was preparing to capture power through extra-parliamentary means.
“Because capitalist powers won’t listen to us and we won’t agree with their views, now there’s no alternative to capturing power. For this, hotels and industries will be turned into barracks.
“Final preparation has to be made for forcible state capture. If attempts are made to foil the peace process and promulgate a constitution, all factories, hotels, industries and professional centers will be converted into barracks..
“Nobody believed us when we said we’ll launch a people’s war,” he told a rally of Maoist workers in Lalitpur.
Meanwhile, Maoist Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya warned Monday in the capital his party’s support to government will be withdrawn if the 7-point agreement wasn’t implemented in totality charging UML for renegading of a commitment.
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SUB-COMMITTEE TO PUSH CONSTITUTION DRAFTNG

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Maoist Chairman was unanimously appointed coordinator of a five-member sub-committee to sort out differences on 75 contentious points in a constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May to institutionalize a declared republic.
The sub-committee has to report to the main constitution drafting headed by Nilambar Acharya by 14 March.
Only 89 days remain to meet the deadline to announce a basic law amid fears the second deadline may also not be met,
The sub-committee adopted its work procedures and agreed to hold discussions in camera every day.
Deb Gurung of UCPN(Maoist) , Bimalendra Nidhi of NC , Dr Prakash Lohani of RJP, Sapana Malla and several others have been designated invitees to the sub-committee.
The sib-committee was formed after a controversial supreme court ruling the tenure of constituent assembly (CA) can be extended indefinitely until a basic law is promulgated.
Nepal Bar Association (NBA) asked for a review of the verdict and said it’s studying the verdict.
Nilambar Acharya also said the verdict can’t be used as a ladder to extend a tenure fixed by the people.
nnnn


NEPAL, CHINA SIGN THREE AGREEMENTS

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Nepal and China Monday signed two grant agreements totaling Rs. 547 million to undertake projects agreed by the two countries.
Another agreement was signed by visiting Chinese Vice-commerce Minister Fu Ziyang and Finance Rasmeshwor Khanal for a $ 100 million soft loan for the construction 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A hydro plant.
China Exim Bank will extend the load.
China will help widen a section of the ring road around the capital from four to six lane.
Nnnn

FIVE KILLED, 17 INJURED IN TWO VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Five persons died instantly and five others were injured overnight in a jeep accident at Pandabkhani in Baglung.
The jeep fell 200 meters off the road.
The jeep was ferrying volleyball players of a secondary school.
Twelve persons were injured, four seriously in a collision between two vehicles Monday morning at Jogimara in neighbourig Dhading.
A bus heading for the capital from Dharan collided with a vehicle heading for Chitwan.
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UML TAKES FIRM POSITION AGAINST MAOISTS

Kathmandu, 27Feb.: UML standing committee Sunday decided to hold’ decisive talks’ with government ‘either today or tomorrow’ on government formation, General Secretary Ishwor Pohrel said.
He added,” Past party decisions will be the basis for a common ground,”
The party of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has apparently taken a firm position against Maoists who protested UML amendment to a secret 7-point agreement that propelled Khanal to power with Maoist support.
UML also decided to hold on to the home ministry demanded by Maoists.
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1,200 MORE NEPALIS FROM LIBYA AWAITING AIRLIFT

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: More than 1,200 Nepals workers have fled from Libya to neighbouring countries and are awaiting airlift home, manpower agents said Saturday .
The first batch of 62 workers were flown home Saturday from Egypt by a chartered flight.
Workers said they were looted, their houses torched and went without food for nine days before fleeing to Egypt.
Some reported drinking water and eating aboard the aircraft for the first time in nine days.
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PREPARATIONS FOR SHIVARATRI COMPLETED

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Preparations for Wednesday’s Shivaratri have been completed, officials of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said.
An estimated 400,000 devotees from home and abroad, particularly, have arrived to observe the holy day at Pashupatinath temple.
Sadus have started camping at the holiest shrine of Hindus at Pashpatinath,
Devotees will have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for entry into the inner sanctum of the temple.
Nnnn

CAMBODIA PEACE CONFERENCE ON NEPAL PUT OFF

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: A three-day peace conference on Nepal in Cambodia capital from Wednesday sponsored by the Cambodian government and Asian political parties have been put off indefinitely.
Prime Minister Jhalanatah Khanal, Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC President Sushil Koirala were scheduled to attend.
Khanal decided to skip the meet because of delay in expanding his government after election as premier 3 February.
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TWO ARRESTED WITH 41 DETONATORS

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Two persons were arrested with 41 detonators at Nagdhunga with 41 detonators Saturday.
Bharat Ram Yadav and another person were nabbed at the entry point into the Valley from the western end of the Valley.
The bus driver and his help have been arrested.
Nnnn

SIX NAXALITES KILLED IN BIHAR

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Six Naxalites were today [Saturday] gunned down by
security forces during a five-hour encounter in Majhidih village [across the [Nepal-India border] in Bihar’s Banka district, police said according to a PTI report from Banka.
About twelve heavily-armed Naxalites, who were holed up in a house, opened fire on CRPF and SAP jawans after being asked to surrender.
The encounter lasted for two hours.
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UML STANDING COMMITTEE MEET SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: UML standing committee meets later Sunday to discuss delayed expansion of the four-member cabinet of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
Khanal and Maoist Prachanda agreed ’in principle’ to expand government.
Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Addhikari said Saturday the delayed government expansion could take place Sunday after the Khanal/Prachanda talks.
nnnn,

1,200 MORE NEPALIS FROM LIBYA AWAITING AIRLIFT

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: More than 1,200 Nepals workers have fled from Libya to neighbouring countries and are awaiting airlift home, manpower agents said Saturday .
The first batch of 62 workers were flown home Saturday from Egypt by a chartered flight.
Workers said they were looted, their houses torched and went without food for nine days before fleeing to Egypt.
Some reported drinking water and eating aboard the aircraft for the first time in nine days.
nnnn

PREPARATIONS FOR SHIVARATRI COMPLETED

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Preparations for Wednesday’s Shivaratri have been completed, officials of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said.
An estimated 400,000 devotees from home and abroad, particularly, have arrived to observe the holy day at Pashupatinath temple.
Sadus have started camping at the holiest shrine of Hindus at Pashpatinath,
Devotees will have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for entry into the inner sanctum of the temple.
Nnnn

CAMBODIA PEACE CONFERENCE ON NEPAL PUT OFF

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: A three-day peace conference on Nepal in Cambodia capital from Wednesday sponsored by the Cambodian government and Asian political parties have been put off indefinitely.
Prime Minister Jhalanatah Khanal, Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC President Sushil Koirala were scheduled to attend.
Khanal decided to skip the meet because of delay in expanding his government after election as premier 3 February.
nnnn

TWO ARRESTED WITH 41 DETONATORS

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Two persons were arrested with 41 detonators at Nagdhunga with 41 detonators Saturday.
Bharat Ram Yadav and another person were nabbed at the entry point into the Valley from the western end of the Valley.
The bus driver and his help have been arrested.
Nnnn

SIX NAXALITES KILLED IN BIHAR

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Six Naxalites were today [Saturday] gunned down by
security forces during a five-hour encounter in Majhidih village [across the [Nepal-India border] in Bihar’s Banka district, police said according to a PTI report from Banka.
About twelve heavily-armed Naxalites, who were holed up in a house, opened fire on CRPF and SAP jawans after being asked to surrender.
The encounter lasted for two hours.
Nnnn

UML STANDING COMMITTEE MEET SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: UML standing committee meets later Sunday to discuss delayed expansion of the four-member cabinet of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
Khanal and Maoist Prachanda agreed ’in principle’ to expand government.
Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Addhikari said Saturday the delayed government expansion could take place Sunday after the Khanal/Prachanda talks.
nnnn,

PRACHANDA BRIEFS KHANAL ON MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE DECISION

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: The Maoist Chief Prachanda Saturday during a terse 20-minute meet briefed Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal on the outcome of his party’s Friday standing committee meeting that UCPN(Maoist) would not to join the government but lend it outside support.
They agreed in principle to expand the government soon without being embroiled in sharing of ministerial portfolios, Surya Tapa, an aide to the premier said.
Maoists are demanding the home portfolio besides strict implementation of a secret 7-point deal.
The largest communist party decided a UML central committee decision to amend a secret 7-pointdealbetween the chairmen of the two communist parties wasn’t acceptable and an explanation of the premier’s party was ambiguous.
Khanal was elected 3 February with Maoist support but he hasn’t succeeded to expand the four-member government consisting on only UML representatives.
The premier said Saturday serious discussions are being held with parties for the expansion of government which will be concluded soon without going into details.
“We’ll reach a conclusion soon,” Khanal said in Lalitpur sounding a positive note.
UCPN (Maoist) is putting intense pressure on Khanal to implement the accord opposed by a faction in the party close to NC which has also opposed the agreement.
Analysts are already predicting the government may not last long,
Immediate Maoist strategy seems to be to support the Khanal government while attempting to gain maximum advantage.
Constitution drafting and completion of the peace process have been obstructed with the delay in government expansion.
Meanwhile, Chairman charged ‘national and foreign conspirators’ for blocking Maoist entry into government.
“The conspiracy started the moment I started speaking in parliament” on 3 F February, he said in the capital. ”The same conspirators who conspired for seven months are again active.”
He accused ‘imperialists’ for buying rival parties whom he called ‘sheep’ while claiming his party was a ‘lion’.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari said categorically in Butwal Saturday cabinet will be expanded Sunday after ‘positive talks’ between the prime minister and Prachanda.
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62 NEPALIS AIRLIFTED FROM LIBYA

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: The fist batch of 62 Nepali workers in Libya were lifted home Saturday by a chartered flight.
The Nepali embassy in Egypt and manpower agencies are attempting to fly home more than 500 workers who have crossed over to Egypt from LIbwa where anti-government protests continue amid a government crackdown.
An estimated 4,000 Nepalis are working in Libya.

HEAVY SNOWFALL IN RUKUM, HUMLA

Kathmandu, 26 Feb. Heavy snowfall in 12 VDCs in north Rukum have pinned down villagers to their homes since Friday,
Heavy snowfall in neighbouring Humla have disrupted flights,
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NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS 3 MARCH

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: NC central committee meets 3 March as part decided not to join the government while opposing the 7-point agreement between the chairmen of Maoists and UML that propelled UML Chairman Jhalanatah Khanal to power with Maoist support.
Top party leaders have called for the abrogation of the agreement which they said is against the constitution and the peace agreement between seven parties and Maoists.
The committee will also discuss appointment of office bearers.
The Deuba faction has opposed appointments of Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Shitaula as vice-president and general secretary respectively
The appointments by President Sushil Koirala have to be approved by the committee which almost equal members of Koirala and Deuba supporters.
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SIX MORE NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPOINTED

Kathmandu, 25 Feb. Six central committee members were appointed Saturday by President Sushil Koirala to the central committee and he can sill appoint five more members to strengthen his hold on the party.
Dilli Ram Regmi, Keshab Budhathoki, Rajan Prasad Pant, ram Chandra Tiwari, Laxmi Rai and Mina Subba were nominated.
The nominations came ahead of a committee meeting next month.
There are now 80 members in the central committee.
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LAXMAN KARNA IN SUB-COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Laxman Lal Karma of NSP will represent Madeshbadi parties in sub-committee under the main constitution drafting committee to discuss 80 contentious issues to be incorporated in a constitution.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda heads the sub-committee that has to submit a report to the main constitution drafting committee by 14 March.
Ram Chandra Paudel of NC, Madhav Kumar Nepal from UML and Kalpana Rana of CPN (United) are other members.
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INDIAN GOVT. SPONSORING SEMINAR ON NEPAL

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: Indian government is conducting an ‘extensive seminar’ on Nepal’s internal matters, Naya Patrika reports.
The peace process, constitution drafting, resettlement and integration will be discussed.
A four-day seminar being held at Varanasi 3 March will also discuss ‘special relationship’ between the two countries.
The seminar will discuss whether ‘Increasing anti-India sentiments in Nepal is reality or fiction”.
The Indian foreign ministry is conducting the seminar to be attended by major parties, intellectuals and journalists who were invited Friday.
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FIFTH CENTURY HUMAN REMAINS RECOVERED IN MUSTANG

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: Twenty-seven fifth century human remains have been recovered from caves in Upper Mustang during search and research, Gorkhapatra reports.
The search stared at camps at 13,500 ft. 2008.
Foreign experts confirmed the remains predated to the fifth century.
Archaeological Department, NGOs and foreign archaeologists are involved in excavation.
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EAST DOOR OF PASHUPATI NATH TEMPLE TO CLOSE DURING SHIVARATRI






Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Owing to delay in repairing the damaged steps and cracked walls, the east side door of the Pashupatinath Temple will remain shut for this year’s Mahashivaratri, The Rising Nepal reports.
The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has accepted that delay has been caused which has made it unable to complete the repair works of the eastern door till the Mahashivatrati day, as promised by it earlier.
The Hindu festival of Mahashivaratri is approaching near but the task of repair at the Pashupati area has been delayed. This year the Mahashivrartri festival falls on the 2nd of March.
Some time ago, PADT claimed that damaged steps at the eastern part of the holiest temple of Hindu will be completed till Mahashivatarti.
Organising a press meet on Thursday, PADT informed that the eastern door will not open on the day of Mahashivaratri as the repair works will take another four to five months.
Sushil Nahata, member secretary of PADT, said that repair works were going on. PADT alone could not maintain the temple properly, he said.
"We have been forced to change the entry and exit routes for the devotees during the Mahashivratri," said Nahata.
Some months ago, the then Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, directed PADT to repair the damaged parts immediately but PADT did not start the repair saying they needed to carry out field survey to start the maintenance works.
The Pashupatinath temple is one of the most famous of Hindu site. There is a need of urgent repair, but PADT has delayed the start of repair works citing various reasons. The rodents inside the temple and leakage of water have weakened the foundation of the temple and some cracks at other houses and walls near the temple have also appeared.
The soil erosion underneath the temple caused by rats has weakened the foundation of the temple. However, no significant repair has been carried out for the last 50 years.
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KMC TO ACT AGAINST DEFAULTERS

KATHMANDU, 26 Feb.: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has warned of halting transaction of those who refuse to pay house and business taxes, RSS reports.

KMC issued this warning after its revenue collection fell sharply as a result of tendency of being apathetic to pay tax among many metropolitan dwellers.

KMC Tax Officer Ram Prasad Poudel said the habit of showing negligence to pay tax is increasing because KMC hasn´t become tougher. "Thus, we have to take this step to bring them under tax net," he said.

Even though the Clause 165 of Local Self-Governance Act 2055 grants the right to municipalities to halt house, land and business transactions, KMC hasn´t swung into action in accordance with the law as of now.

Door-to-door campaign launched by KMC from Feb. 13 is its effort to bring all under tax net. Under the drive, KMC´s tax officer writes tax defaulters, urging them to pay tax within 15 days. If its first letter is ignored, KMC´s Tax Division Chief writes second letter urging them to pay tax within 10 days.

In case the second letter goes unheard and people don´t pay tax within the deadline, KMC´s Chief Executive Officer sends letter to them with the deadline of three days. "If the last warning is brushed off, we will halt land and house as well as business transactions," said Poudel.

KMC has targeted to collect Rs. 40 million through land, house and business taxes.

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WADHWA TO COUGH UP GOVT. DUES

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: Beleaguered owner of Nepal Recreation Centre (NRC) Rakesh Wadhwa has expressed willingness to clear all the government dues provided that it creates a “conducive environment” for him to come to Nepal, Sangam Prasain writes in The Kathmandu Post..
Wadhwa, who has been absconding for the last four months following an arrest warrant for non-payment of royalties by his casinos, said this to leaders of the trade unions at Casino Nepal who had gone to New Delhi to persuade him to clear the outstanding payments.
“If the government creates a conducive environment for me to return to Nepal, I will pay the money owed,” one trade union leader quoted Wadhwa as saying. With trade unions affiliated to the UCPN (Maoist) controlling some of Wadhwa’s casinos, he also sought non-interference from them in management.
The presidents of the four trade unions at Casino Nepal had travelled to New Delhi to talk with Wadhwa in the second week of February. “We held five rounds of meetings with Wadhwa in New Delhi,” said another union leader. With closure of the casinos looking imminent, union leaders had taken the initiative to persuade Wadhwa to honour the government directives.
It is still not clear whether Wadhwa’s “willingness” to clear the dues is genuine or a time-buying ploy. Earlier, he had disowned responsibility to clear the royalty dues and had instead said that the hotels should pay them as they had been issued the casino licenses.
Currently, the future of eight casinos including four of Wadhwa’s hangs in the balance. The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) has already recommended action against them to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) for defaulting on their royalty payments. However, MoTCA has been without a minister due to delays in the expansion of Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s cabinet, preventing it from making any move. After Wadhwa spoke of his “willingness” to pay his dues, union leaders of the casinos started lobbying with the government and lawmakers to offer him an olive branch. They have met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, tourism secretary Kishore Thapa and revenue secretary Krishna Hari Banskota.
“With the casinos providing employment to more than 8,000 people, their closure would hit all of us,” said a trade union leader. However, it is not clear whether the government would withdraw action against Wadhwa if he pays up.
Wadhwa’s NRC runs four casinos. Among them, Casino Everest and Casino Tara have been given a clean chit by the DRI. However, the other two, Casino Nepal and Casino Anna, have not paid any royalties or dues for the last few years and owe the government Rs 244 million. Recently, Wadhwa sold 50 percent of his stake in Casino Anna to two Indian buyers.
After the DRI’s recommendation for action, MoTCA had asked the eight casinos to furnish clarification within Feb. 27. The DRI said Casino Venus and Casino Rad paid around Rs 5 million of their outstanding dues by the deadline.
With the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee(PAC) taking a tough stance against the casinos for defaulting on their dues to the government and allowing Nepalis to enter their premises, MoTCA is currently giving the final shape to the casino guidelines. However, there are differences among the stakeholders over whether Nepalis should be allowed to enter the casinos or not. The draft of the guidelines has a provision to allow entrance to Nepalis falling under the big taxpayer category.
“The guidelines are almost ready, but different opinions over allowing Nepalis to play in casinos have stalled progress,” said a senior MoTCA official. “Except for the entry of Nepalis, other parts of the guidelines have been completed.”
The ministry will submit the draft of the guidelines to the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry on Sunday for their suggestions and recommendation.
As per the proposal, the DRI will make available a list of big taxpayers eligible to play in casinos. The gambling houses are required to issue membership to them who will have to pay an entry fee of Rs 5,000 for a 24-hour pass.
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NEPAL LOSES PRSIDENCY OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO QATAR

Kathmandu, 26 Feb. Nepal lost the presidency Friday of the 2011 presidency of the UN general assembly to the tiny but rich state of Qatar; a secret vote to choose the Asian candidate by a caucus in New York UN headquarters was to be held but Nepal withdrew its candidacy at the last moment,
The final election will be held in September when the assembly meets in the third week of September.
Nepal withdrew the candidacy when it was certain the Himalayan state would lose the caucus vote in the 53-nation grouping
Retired UN employee Kul Chandra Gautam lost to Qatar’s Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
Nepal was contesting against Qatar that succeeded in a bid to host the football world cup; the country, without much international clout, put up by the candidacy at a time when there was no effective government since 30 June 2010 when Prime Minister Madhab Kumar Nepal resigned under Maoist pressure.
His successor Jhalanath Khanal hasn’t .assembled a full government when after his election 3 February with Maoist support.
In the international arena, a sense of uncertainty prevails with likely possibility of a complete communist takeover.
Nepal was contesting the presidency for the first time; it was routed in elections for the membership of the non-permanent seat of the security council earlier.
Nepal was twice member of the council—the first time in the panchayat era.
The loss indicates the fall of Nepal’s stature in the world.
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FIRST GROUP OF NEPALI WORKERS FROM LIBYA MAY ARRIVE SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: The first group of about five dozen Nepali workers from Libya could be airlifted home Saturday by a chartered flight, a according to officials.
The workers crossed over to Alexandria from Libya this week for their homeward journey.
A group of 562 Nepalis arrived in the port city of Alexandria this week, according to foreign ministry officials.
Another group is expected to return via China.
As anti-government swell in Libya, government has started a crackdown. An estimated 4,000 Nepali workers are in Libya.
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MAOISTS FORM DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 26 Feb.: A five-member disciplinary committee was formed by the Maoist standing committee.
The committee is headed by Post Bahadur Bogati.
The committee will oversee the strict implementation of a party of conduct.
The disciplinary committee was formed as Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai publicly challenges the establishment faction led by Chairman Prachanda.
A gag order has been issued against Bhattarai not to discuss intra-party differences in public.

MAOISTS REJECT UML OFFER TO RETAIN HOME MINISTRY; WON’T JOIN GOVT.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Maoists Friday rejected a UML suggestion to break a deadlock in government expansion and decided not to join the government of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal elected three weeks ago 3 February by parliament with Maoist support.
Khanal held inconclusive discussions with top Maoist leaders for the
third successive time in three days with asking them to join government and help expand government.
The prime minister asked Chairman Prachanda to join government while he’ll head the home ministry demanded by Maoists.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said his party rejected the UML decision to amend the 7-point agreement and keep the home ministry portfolio..
“Talks weren’t positive,” Shrestha said.
He said Maoists can’t accept the UML decision to amend the 7-point agreement and keep the home portfolio.
Khanal hasn’t been able to expand his four-member cabinet formed
3 February.
Maoists standing committee later officially decided not to join government immediately.
The committee decided not to join government until an environment is created for implementing a controversial 7-point agreement between Khanal and Prachanda.
But the party decided to support the government until it works for completing the peace process and constitution drafting, Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said.
Sharma said his party isn’t satisfied with the UML central committee decision to amend the agreement and its renewed explanation of the amendment.
UML hasn’t implement the 7-point agreement, the Maoist standing committee decided.
Maoists will lend outside support to the Khanal government, the standing committee decided.
Maoist standing committee met Friday afternoon to discuss official party position following inconclusive talks with UML.
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SUB-COMMITEEE TO ATTEMPT TO PROMULGATE A CONSTITUTION

Kathmandu. 25 Feb. A sub-committee to be headed by Chairman Prachanda was formed Friday to discuss and resolve differences on 80 contentious topics to be included in a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic.
The main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya formed the five-member committee.
Other members of the sub-committee are Madhav Kumar Nepal from UML, Ram Chandra Paudel from NC, Kalpana Rana from CPN (United); the fifth member will represent Madeshbadi parties.
The sub-committee will report to the main committee by 14 March.
Prachanda earlier headed a task force of all parties in the constituent assembly to iron out differences on a proposed constitution; it reached agreement on 127 topics.
The sub-committee will adopt its own work procedure and formally appoitt Prachanda coordinator.
A constitution has to be promulgated by 28 May.
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EMIR WELCOMES PRESIDENT IN KUWAIT

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Kuwait’s Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Aal-Sabha welcomed President Dr Ram Baran Yadav when he landed at the emirate for a three-day official visit Friday.
The president returns home Sunday.
The president heads a 14-member delegation; his daughter is in the team.
Foreign Secretary Madan Bhattarai is accompanying the president,
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NEPAL PLACED FOURTH IN ACC T20 WOMEN’S CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Kathmandu, 25 Feb. Nepal was placed fourth in the ACC T20 women’s cricket tournament after losing by 13 runs to Thailand Friday in Kuwait.
Nepal topped Group by beating Thailand in group matches.
Nepal lost to Hong Kong in the final for the second successive time.
chasing a target of 77 runs.
Nepal was defeated by bad batting after bowling out Thailand for 76 runs on 17.5 overs.
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GOVT. OFFICES CLOSED DOWN IN NARAYANI ANCHAL; WITHDRAW PROTEST

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Striking government in Narayani anchal Friday withdrew their three-day indefinite protest following an agreement with government which agreed to compensate the family of a slain government employee.
Government also agreed to provide employment to a member of the employee’s family.
Government officials closed down government in a;; districts in Narayani anchal Friday for the third successive day.
They were protesting Tuesday’s murder of revenue official Mohan Thapa in Bara Tuesday.
Officials went on protests from Wednesday.
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NC ACTIVIST KILLED IN SIRAHA

Kathmandu, 25 Feb. NC activist Mohommad Achub died while being rushed to Lahan for treatment in Sihara Friday.
Another person was injured in the violence.
The district is tense after abduction this week of Ayush Shah whose whereabouts is still not known.
Violence continues in the terai unabated.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“People have responsibility to all parties to unitedly run the country, run government and institutionalize democracy. But parties are embroiled in disputes. This will push the country to additional problems.”

(President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Gorkhapatra, 25 Feb.)

‘In the past, everybody was afraid of YCL, but not anymore. So we are planning to constitute a new force.”

(Maoist leader CP Gajurel, The Kathmandu Post, 25 Feb.)
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INDEFINITE EXTENSION BY SC OF CA TENURE TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION OPPOSED BY LAWYERS; NBA STUDYING SC VERDICT

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Legal and constitutional experts have expressed serious disagreement with the latest verdict of the supreme court the tenure of the constituent assembly (CA) will continue until a constitution is promulgated, Gorkhapatra reports.
Nepal Bar Association (NBA) will make a detailed study of the decision.
The court has the responsibility to interpret the constitution. Lawyers and constitutional experts said the apex court has attempted to amend the constitution through the verdict creating legal anarchy.
They asked the court to correct the decision immediately.
‘The verdict of the supreme court is very serious. It encourages the CA not to promulgate the constitution in the deadline,” NBA General Secretary Advocate Bijaya Prasad Mishra said. ‘The NBA will conduct a detailed study of the decision taking it seriously.”
‘Instead of saying the constitution should be promulgated within the deadline, It’s wrong to say the constitution drafting be completed anytime. This is a wrong interpretation of the constitution. Anarchy wilf be invited in the country if the tenure of a body formed by people for a specified period continues indefinitely. This is against the right of people to vote,” said constitutional expert Dr. Bhimarjun Adhikari.
“The supreme court has rejected the accepted principle that election is the fundamental basis of democracy,” Advocate Tikaram Bhattarai said.
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PM’S CAMBODIA VISIT CACELLED

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: The prime minister’s foreign first foreign visit has been affected with the delay to expand his government.
Jhalanath Khanal won’t be going to Cambodia to attend a 1 March peace meeting sponsored by the Cambodian government and International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), his foreign relations Advisor Milan Tuladhar said.
Khanal hasn’t been able to expand his four-member government of UML nominees after election 3 February secured by a secret 7-point agreement between the chairmen of UML and UCPN(Maoist).
The agreement has been challenged by a section on the UML and 14 other parties, including the NC.
Top UCPN (Maoist) and NC leaders were also invited to the Cambodia conference.
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MAOIST STANDING COMMTTEE MEETS FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Maoist standing committee which couldn’t meet Thursday as scheduled is meeting Friday.
The meeting is discussing UML amendment to a secret 7-point agreement between Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Chairman Prachanda propelling Khanal to Singha Durbar 3 February with Maoist support.
Maoists have opposed the amendment and asked Khanal’s party to publicly spell out the contents of what has been called ‘ambiguous’ change.
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PRESIDENT FLIES FOR KUWAIT

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: President DR. Ram Baran Yadav flew for Kuwait by a special aircraft of Kuwait government Friday morning for a three-day visit.
Prime Minister Jhalanatah Khanal gave him a ceremonial sendoff at the airport.
Khanal held discussions with the president Thursday before departure.
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BRITISH QUEEN VISITS GURKHA UNIT IN UK

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth visited Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, England, Thursday, AP reports from London.
During the visit, the queen inspected the 36 Engineer Regiment and the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers as well as meeting regimental families and commissioned three Gurkha late entry officers.
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CHARLES SHOBRAJ SEEKS 7M EURO COMPENSATION

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: French national Charles Shobraj who has been serving a 20-year jail term in Kathmandu for murdering an American tourist in 1975,has sought a compensation of seven million euros from Nepal for his ‘unlawful imprisonment and violation of rights’, Republica reports.
Shobraj’s lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre wrote to the President and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Tuesday requesting that the jail term be dismissed and he be paid compensation for the unfair trial.
A source at the PMO confirmed receipt of the letter, but said the office has taken the letter very lightly, as it is only the judiciary that can review its own decision.
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AFGHAN POLICE TEAM IN TOWN

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: A tam of senior Afghan police officials led by Gen. Abdul Rahim Shuja, head of legal department under interior ministry, is in the town.
The team held talks with IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri Thursday and visited the central police museum and Amar Prahari Smarak.
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REVENUE COLLECTION UP 14.2 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Revenue collection for the current fiscal year until mid-February reached Rs.107.67 billion—up 14.2 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
Rs. 20.66 billion was collected as customs duty, Rs.34.35 billion in VAT, Rs 15.11 billion excise duty, Rs. 21.35 billion in income tax, Rs.1.82 billion as registration fee and Rs. 1.88 billion vehicle tax.
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NEPAL, INDIA TRADE TALKS IN NEW DELHI

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Nepal, India trade talks will beheld in New Delhi 28 February to 1 March.
Officials of the two countries will discuss trade, tariff, transit issues and review implementation of a 2009 trade treaty.
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KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI STILLIN ICU

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, 87,is still undergoing treatment at ICU in Norvic Hospital where he was admitted 10 days ago for treatment of chronic bronchitis, conjunctive heart failure and chronic renal failure.
Dr. Shyam Bahadur Pandey said Bhattarai will be hospitalized for several more days before release.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘Arrogance, ego, and a hunger for power are obvious excuses. I believe that was the motivation for the late GP Koirala, who would dive in a mud muddle for a compliment the way a beggar would dive for a dropped Rs 5000 mote.”

(Lucille Bolduc, reporter, 25 Feb.)
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NEPALIS UNDER STRICT WATCH IN AUSTRALIA

Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: Students from Nepal, South Asia and Africa are under watch in Australia, Rishi Acharya reports from Sydney in Nagarik.
The students with student visas are being watched at he airport after reports that were arriving with fake passports and entry permits.
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NEPALIS STRANDED ON EGYPT BORDER
Kathmandu, 25 Feb.: The Nepali workers, who were evacuated from Libya, have reached Sallum, an Egyptian border city with eastern Libya, but are stranded there after their employer’s agent, who had promised their safe journey to Egyptian capital Cairo and from there to Nepal, fled the scene, Lekhnath Pandey reports in the Himalayan Times.

At least 562 Nepalis employed by South Korea’s A-One Construction Company were

rescued and transported to Sallum from Libya on Wednesday in eight trucks.

But, the already suffering Nepalis faced a setback when their employer’s agent

Me Yo, a South Korean national, left Sallum.

“Earlier, the (South) Korean company had promised to bear the entire cost of taking the migrant workers to Cairo, which is 800 km east of Sallum. The company had also promised airfare to Nepal from Cairo,” Nepali Ambassador to Egypt Shyam Lal Tabdar told The Himalayan Times over phone from Cairo. “But all of a sudden, the company’s agent ran away. We have asked the government to assist

us to rescue Nepali workers at

the earliest.”

The government, in a bid to carry out a prompt rescue operation, today formed an inter-ministerial rescue cell comprising officials from foreign, home, finance and labour ministries.

As per a decision taken by the rescue cell today, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management will bear the travelling, food and lodging cost of the stranded workers until they reach Cairo. MoLTM has also decided to seek help from Nepal Foreign Employment Association to bring the workers from Cairo to Nepal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is co-ordinating the rescue bid, in a statement, said it had directed its embassy in Cairo to co-ordinate with the United Nations, the Egyptian government and aid agencies to rescue Nepali workers from Libya.

Tirtha Raj Aryal, first secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Cairo, has already reached Sallum to make visa arrangements for the stranded Nepalis’ safe entry into Egypt. Egypt has agreed to provide free transit visa to already stranded and other Nepali workers who might be coming from Libya in coming days.

The Nepali Embassy in Egypt, however, doesn’t have exact figure of Nepalis working in Libya. However, according to MoLTM, up to 3,024 Nepalis were working Libya. Among them, some 1,300 are in Tripoli, the capital of Libya.

“We don’t have any information about their whereabouts and condition. Nor are we in

a situation to visit Libya to rescue them,” said Tabdar.

“If they could manage to contact us or reach the Egyptian border, we can help them.”

Sadly, the Nepali Embassy in Cairo, which is commissioned to look after about a dozen countries, including Libya, is short of staff with only ambassador Tabdar and first secretary Aryal stationed there.

Meanwhile, a team of Nepali outsourcing agencies, associated with business in Libya, led by President of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies Som Lal Bataju, reached Cairo today. The team will co-ordinate with the Nepali Embassy to bring the Nepali workers home safely.
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PARLIAMENT RATIFIES UNCAC UNANIMOUSLY





Kathmandu, Feb. 24 - The Legislature Parliament Thursday ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Liladhar Upadhaya reports in The Rising Nepal.
The meeting of the Parliament unanimously approved the ratification proposal tabled by the government through voice votes.
Parliamentarians expressed hope that the nation would make a significant progress in corruption control with the ratification of the convention at a time when the nation was in the Transparency International (TI) list of corrupt countries.
"The endorsement of the UNCAC obliges the nation to act against corruption more strongly. We should amend the extradition treaty and other national legal provisions for the effective implementation of the convention," constitutional law expert and joint secretary of the Parliament Tek Prasad Dhungana said talking to The Rising Nepal.
CPN-UML lawmaker Pradeep Gyawali said that the efforts on containing corruption could not be effective just by ratifying the international convention until the nation improved its legal system and corruption control mechanism.
He said that political willpower and transparency within the political parties were needed to take a leap forward in controlling corruption.
UCPN-Maoist lawmaker Ek Raj Bhandari questioned the implementation aspect of the convention. "We have a practice of electing even the proven corrupt as people’s representatives."
Ramesh Lekhak of Nepali Congress said a new hope for good governance was raised with the ratification of the UN Convention. He said that the anti-corruption bodies like Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) should be empowered along with the improvement of corruption related laws.
Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of Rastriya Janashakti Party questioned the effective implementation of the provisions of the UN Convention as the political parties have the tendency of encroaching law and order when they held power.
Ram Nath Dhakal of CPN-UML said that the private sector, NGOs, Nepal Army and judiciary should also come under scanner for their wrongdoings.
Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha, Nandan Kumar Dutta of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Nawaraj Koirala of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, among others, said that the ratification of the treaty was a positive step for corruption control.
A total of 148 countries around the world have already ratified the UNCAC.
Nepal signed the Convention on December 10, 2003 and the Interim Parliament has already passed a resolution on it.
The UNCAC is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument. In its 8 Chapters and 71 Articles, the UNCAC obliges its States Parties to implement a wide and detailed range of anti-corruption measures affecting their laws, institutions and practices.
These measures aim to promote the prevention, criminalisation and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, technical assistance and information exchange, and mechanisms for implementation.
Responding to the queries raised by the parliamentarians, Minister Bishnu Paudel said that the nation would be able to combat corruption by criminalizing it.
He said that the existing legal provision would be improved and the anti corruption state mechanism would be empowered by making laws.
The Parliament will sit next on Monday.
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SCHEDULED MEET OF MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE NOT HELD; OTHER DETAILS

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: A scheduled meeting of Maoist standing committee to decide its official position on a secret and controversial agreement between UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal,who is also prime minister, and his Maoist counterpart Prachanda wasn’t held Thursday.
The meeting was to adopt an official Maoist position on a seven-point agreement negotiated secretly by Khanal and Prachanda 3 February without UML party approval.
Khanal’s election as prime minister was secured by the secret.
The new government assured the home ministry to the Maoists now being opposed by top UML leaders.
Khanal’s government expansion plans have been obstructed as a result.
A meeting of the Big Three to expand government and NC participation was rejected by NC which has decided to remain in opposition.
The next tripartite meeting will be held Saturday.
The political atmosphere has been clouded with the seven-point agreement.
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AIRCRAFT COMES TO FLY PRESIDENT TO KUWAIT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Kuwait sent a special aircraft Thursday to fly President Dr. Ram Baran Yadan to the emirate Friday begin a three-day visit.
The president is attending the 50th anniversary of the independence of the emirate.
The head of state leaves as the Gulf and North Africa are embroiled in a political crisis and internal political ncertainty.
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NEPAL KNOCKED OUT OF ACC T20 WOMEN’S CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Hong Kong knocked out Nepal for the second time in the ACC T20 Women’s cricket tournament in Kuwait Thursday.
Nepal was bowled out on 16.5overs after Hpng Kong set a 97 run chase.
Nepal will play Thailand for third place Friday..
Thailand was defeated by China is the other Group A semi-final.
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OPINIONS

DEMOCRACY, DISCONTINUITY AND DECEIIT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: In the cacophony gripping the latest commemoration of our quintessential February ritualism, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai’s voice seemed to make the most sense. “With the country already having been declared a republic,” our national dissenter in chief observed, “celebrating Democracy Day is irrelevant.”, Maila Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
Come to think of it, it’s far worse than irrelevant. If you pursue the vision of the votaries of New Nepal all the way through, it’s outright hypocritical. The prevailing storyline today is that the democracy that dawned on that February morning in 1951 was merely a restoration of an autocratic monarchy.
Every popular struggle since has been against successive monarchs’ refusal to announce elections to the constituent assembly – the cornerstone of the promise of the heady morn – according to the fable so assiduously constructed after the April Uprising. Today, if Nepalis finally find themselves saddled interminably with such an assembly, it is only after they had vanquished the monarchy.
But history, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, has many cunning passages, corridors and issues, making sense of which involves a perception not only of the pastness of the past but of its presence.
If mere intentions were worthy of commemoration, Maila Baje feels going back to Padma Shamsher Rana’s still-born reformist constitution – a response to the contagious freedom movement of the times – might have been more sincere. Celebrating the National Movement of 1842, in which the army-backed nobility pushed King Rajendra to restrain Crown Prince Surendra, would have better illustrated the depths of the Nepali quest for change.
There were those who pronounced the Delhi Compromise – the heart of Democracy Day – a betrayal. These people included members of the Nepali Congress, which supposedly spearheaded the democracy movement. Together with the communists, these dissidents might have been able at least to mount a symbolic resistance aimed at redirecting history. But the dominant political class driving the preponderant party chose to memorialize its own version of history.
Even there, the scale with which compromise has prevailed over conviction has been striking. The Nepali Congress has always claimed how it brought back a king that had fled to Delhi. That assertion has not been able to hide its pain at having had to sign the dotted line in New Delhi and to serve under the very prime minister it purportedly overthrew.
The communists were locally too miniscule to challenge the Delhi Compromise. Their newly ascendant Chinese ideological soul mates might have stepped to help in. But, then, that was precisely what pressed the advocates of compromise. Amid the political and military pressure to maintain the Delhi Compromise, the communists’ torpor led them to produce some of the strongest royalist collaborators.
But why have the Maoists – hitherto the loudest advocates of collective national discontinuities – acceded to Democracy Day? They could have taken a stand against public observations. Better still, they might have energetically disrupted celebrations to bolster their credentials. Revolt or peace, after all, the vision of each Maoist camp is aimed at correcting the ills of traditional democracy.
But, then, who better knows the promise inherent in compromises? Didn’t Dr. Bhattarai, in the aftermath of the Narayahity carnage, write how Nepalis would always highly rate the contributions of King Birendra and all of his predecessors – all in an effort to isolate and illegitimize the new monarch? And more germane to our times, didn’t he advocate a cultural monarchy as King Gyanendra had pretty much made up his mind to pack his bags?
Nikita Khrushchev is a name Dr. Bhattarai would probably not want to hear, considering the parallels the late comrade has evoked within the Maoist party. But it would be instructive here to recall what Jawaharlal Nehru had once conveyed to the Soviet leader. Because, deep down, Dr. Bhattarai, like most current drivers of change, know that you don’t change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall.
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SLOPPY LOBBYING


Kathmandu, 24 feb.: She pleaded, pouted, patronized, fumed and fretted before giving in to her actual character. Lest you still do not recall her, it was Karin Landgren. She went to the extent of collecting gutter information to brief her boss Ban Ki-moon who does the church proud for his related roles, Trikal Vastavik writes in People’s Review.

In Nepal, reactions to the chief of the now-dissolved United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) were swift and stinging. The government and most political parties were sharp in their criticism of the Landgren brief that spoke of chances of presidential rule and army coup in Nepal.

Landgren was reduced to near tears to be packed off from Nepal where she led a lifestyle she dreamt of and basked in the limelight she was showered on by the news media, thanks mostly to the favors done to and favors sought from editors and broadcasters. NGO specialists and "political analysts", serving as consultants to UN units of various forms, regretted that UNMIN was not given yet another extension.

Some of these "voices of the people" write regularly for newspapers, pushing the agendas of the foreign hands that feed them. Quite a few leaders of civil society had their family members or those of their relatives serving as UNMIN staff. Much of that is now over. UNMIN in another incarnation, however, continues. The countries that have set up a basket of funds push a variety of interests and agendas that they want left nursed. So they use any means and pretext to continue with their overt and covert activity.

A number of writers contributing to some of the prominent newspapers in Kathmandu are known to have written frequently on the issues close to UNMIN's chest. Journalists who obtained special assignments were also keen to boost the UNMIN's cause whether the government of "ganatantrik, loktantrik" Nepal agreed with UNMIN's activities or not. It was their way of expressing thanks for the benefits they had personally procured or managed for their friends and relatives.

Some Maoist MPs were known to have been in regular contact with the desperate Landgren to discuss on the prospects of UNMIN's extension in Nepal. Officially, UNMIN was supposed to have been an agency invited by the government of Nepal. But it was for everyone to see that, once it pitched its camp here, the UN unit was reluctant to leave even after the hosts had made it loud and clear that the hospitality was over after mid-January.

In fact, prior to UNMIN's arrival in Nepal, there was a big debate as to whether it should be invited in the first place. Self-styled civil society leaders and party mouthpieces trumpeted the virtues of such an agency operating in Nepal for peace, stability and everything else. What actually happened was that the referee began to function like an extra player for one of the sides.

Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) had exhibited great enthusiasm in inviting UNMIN but by the second year of the UNMIN presence, the leaders of these two parties began expressing serious questioned about the way it functioned. By mid-2010, NC and UML leaders openly criticized UNMIN for tilting toward the Maoists.

Such criticism did not shake UNMIN bosses much, believing that the largest party in the Constituent Assembly and the main opposition in parliament, CPN (Maoist) would stand firmly on its side. Similarly, "civil society" members that it had patronized would come to its defense.

Editors of two prominent daily papers were once assuring Landgren that "in Nepal, miracles happen but at the last moment". Like a drowning woman, the UNMIN chief clung to such overestimated assurances. Toward the end, she stepped up the frequency of her meetings with Maoist leaders and MPs. Landgren's desperation was also indicated by her statement that decisions in Nepal were made "at the last moment".

When Landgren finally realized that the last embers of her hope had dried up and any semblance of government support to her cause had evaporated, she dropped hints that she was being "promoted" and posted to Burundi. She got publicized the "promotion". The way she sank after failing to have UNMIN's stay in Kathmandu, one would be extremely reluctant to read her as being happy to leave Nepal.

The UNMIN boss was haughty and began to believe that she and her unit were indispensable to Nepal and the Nepalis. She assessed herself as the No. 2 most important foreign face circulating in Kathmandu, next to Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood. Coincidentally, both Landgren and Sood leave the capital of Pashupatinath far from happy.

In Burundi, however, Landgren's "promoted" status is not going to fetch her the comfort, ease and limelight she had for the asking in Nepal, which might be the reason why she expressed deep frustrations over her having to leave here. When individual likes and habits mix up with professional job, you get the type of the Landgren performance. Now, we understand better why a promoted Landgren was so sorry to say goodbye to Nepal.

Nepalis, however, have no regrets. The few who served UNMIN's or foreign governments that particularly provided funds to keep it afloat, find the going regrettable. Self-interest, it is said, is the best interest for such people who, predictably, are seen making prophesies of all kinds that the peace process is heading toward a failure.

This writer strongly feels that whether stability will return in Nepal or not in the near future will, either way, not be attributed to UNMIN's departure. UN bureaucrats are rarely known for top-level intelligence. Many experts from the countries that contribute to UN coffers the most have always held dim views of an average UN bureaucrat. They assert that the best of talents of the major powers in the West rarely join a UN job.

Moral of the lesson: Don't begin believing in what you are not. Inflated ego burst quickly and those who do not realize it on time suffer depression. For Sood, the Nepal assignment was a prized posting. For the Maoists, UNMIN was a friendly, supportive referee. For many journalists and civil society leaders, UNMIN was a source of regular income. For much of the world, UNMIN offered a valuable lesson at the expense of Nepal regarding the consequences of having a UN body drop in to have an extended and overbearing presence.
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MAOIST STANDING TO ADOPT OFFICIAL POSITION TOWARDS GOVT. THURSDAY; OTHER DETAILS

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Maoist standing committee will adopt its official party position Thursday on an amended 7-point secret and controversial agreement with Prime Minister and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal who was elected government chief 3 February.
Maoists Wednesday asked UML for further clarifications on the party’s ‘hazy’ amendment to the agreement which Maoists are insisting must be implemented.
Maoists expressed dissatisfaction with the amendment after seeking clarifications from UML Wednesday following changes from within UML.
“Further doubts have been created by the UML central committee decision,” Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said.
Before the committee meeting, Khanal again held discussions with his counterpart from UCPN (Maoist).
Khanal said after the talks,” Discussions were positive and government will be expanded. I attempted a clarification. I feel they are clarified.”
‘They have attempted to clarify it. Some aspects can be interpreted differently. Our official party position will be clear after the committee meeting,” Prachanda said.
The prime minister is pushing the deal with Maoists amid stiff opposition from a faction in his party led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP, Oli amid charges of polarizing national politics between communists and democrats,
UML central committee Tuesday amended the Khanal/Prachanda agreement that propelled the UML chairman to power in Singha Durbar. Amid opposition in UML and Maoist decision not to immediately join government, Khanal hasn’t been able to expand a four-member cabinet in three weeks.
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PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR KUWAIT FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is beginning a three-day Kuwait visit Friday as revolt against regimes that spread from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and even spread to the Gulf.
The first president is leaving for his third foreign visit on invitation of the emir of Kuwait.
Dr.Yadav will participate in the 50th independence day of the emirate, its 20th liberation day from Iraq and the emir’s accession to the throne.
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PM CONDOLES NEW ZEALAND DEATHS

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has condoled the deaths of at least 75 persons in a devastating New Zealand earthquake in a message to his counterpart.
More than 300 others are missing, fresh reports said.
Billions of dollars in damage has been reported.
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THREE-PARTY SUMMIT THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: A summit of the Big Three is being held Thursday—the first such meeting between Maoists, NC and UML with the election of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
A majority communist government is emerging as NC has decided to stay in the opposition.
Maoists have decided to lend the government outside support as they decide
whether to join the government or not.
An uncertain situation prevails amid fears the second 28 May deadline to promulgate a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic may o be met.
The talks are being held at the peace ministry.
The integration of former Maoist combatants, constitution drafting and other issues will be discussed.
The Big Three Wednesday decided to form a sub-committee in the main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya to discuss 80 contentious issues for inclusion in a basic law.
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HOUSES ON ENCROACHED NEPALI LAND DEMOLISHED

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: More than a dozen houses constructed on land encroached by Indians at Maheshpur-4 in south Jhapa have been demolished by Nepal Police and armed Police Force (APF), Radio Nepal sad,
India’s SSB were by notified by Nepal, state radio said.
Indians from across the border encroached and constructed the illegal hutments.
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ASIAN GROUP MEETS 25 FEB. TO SELECT CANDIDATE FOR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENCY

Kathmandu, 24 Feb. The Asian Group meets in New York 25 February to select its candidate for the presidency of the UN general assembly in September.
Nepal has fielded Kul Chandra Gautam—a retired UN employee.
Government didn’t withdraw his candidacy in favour of Qatar.
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ISRAELI WOMEN TRAFFICKER ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Cameron Hein, an Israeli woman trafficker, was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport Wednesday before boarding a flight for Bangkok with contraband hashish.
Eleven kg hashish was recovered from her.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY


INFLATION TOUCHES 11.3 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Inflation touched 11.3 percent in six months of the current fiscal year 2011/12 ending mid-January with increased transport, petroleum and food costs, according to Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB).
“Prices of vegetables, meat and food products have risen pushing overall inflation by double digit,” central bank Spokesman Bhaskar Mani Geywali said.
Vegetable process soared 67.4 percent as fruit spice prices increased 26.7 and 22.6percent respectively.
Prices of cereal grains and related products, meat and fish and milk and eggs increased 15.5, 9.5 and 14 percent respectively.
Wholesale price of petroleum and coals jumped 17.9 percent.
Overall balance of payment (BoP) deficit in the review period was Rs 4.43 billion compared to Rs. 15.64 billion the same period the previous year.
The current account deficit was Rs 3.53 billion compared to Rs 25.07 billion in the same period last year.
Freight on board (FoB)-based merchandise trade deficit dropped 3.3 percent to Rs 147.99 billion—deficit grew by 60.7 percent in the same period last year.
Service account deficit declined 28.5 percent to Rs.5.26 billion compared to 6.8 percent last year to Rs. 7.35 billion.
Net transfer account registered a 12.8 wroth to Rs 146.71 billion.
In the period under review, Rs 4.46 million direct foreign investment was recorded compared to only Rs 966 million the same period the previous year.
Merchandise exports increased 5.9 percent to Rs 32.63 billion while merchandise imports declined 1.6 percent to Rs 185.83 billion.
Exports to India jumped 9.7 percent compared to a 4.1 fall last year.
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CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEETS

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: The main constitution drafting began meeting Thursday under chairmanship of Nilambar Acharya,
The meeting is expected to form a sub-committee to iron out differences on 80 contentious topics to be included in a proposed constitution.
The Big Three agreed to form such a sub-committee Wednesday.
Constituent assembly Chairman Subash Nemwang has said even if a constitution is drafted, there’ll be no time to take it to the people for discussion as envisaged.
The process has to be shortened, he suggested.
Eight weeks was set aside for public discussion; suggestions from people were to be incorporated in the final draft of the basic law.
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NESPE INDEX FALLS BELOW POINTS

Kathmandu, 24 Feb. Nepse index fell below 400 points and market closed at 398.5 points at the end of trading Wednesday.
The sensitive index fell 0.74 points and float index dropped 0.25 points.
Except hydropower subgroup, share prices of companies of all subgroups fell.
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SPORTS

NEPAL MEETS HONG KONG

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Nepal plays defending champion Hong Kong in the semi-final of the ACC T20 women’s cricket championship in Kuwait Thursday.
Nepal toped Group B defeating Thailand, UAE, Malaysia add host Kuwait.
Hong Kong beat Nepal in the last edition of the championship.
China will play Thailand in other Group A semi-final after beating Singapore in the last group match Wednesday.
The second semi-final is also being played Thursday.
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MEDIA GOGGLE

“The present administrative structure of the judiciary and its working procedure should be maintained. If it’s changed, an independent judiciary can’t be kept alive.”

(Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha, Nagarik, 24 Feb.)

“In the present context, nobody but communists can be the biggest patriots.”

(UML leader Pradip Nepal, Annapurna Post, 24 Feb.)
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KP OLI BOYCOTTS PM RECEPTION

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: UML leader KP Sharma Oli didn’t attend a dinner meeting organized by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal at Baluwatar for UML leaders Wednesday, Annapurna Post reports.
Oli was denied entry to the official residence of the prime minister the day he was installed.
The dinner was organized after the meeting of the party central committee and as central leaders prepare to visit districts.
Former Prime Minister MAdhav Kumar Nepal was present.
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500 NEPALIS RESCIUED FROM LIBYA





Kathmandu, Feb. 23 - The government has made preparations to rescue about 500 Nepali citizens from Darnah of Libya after disturbances there intensified. Details of Nepali nationals, reported to be around 3000, were being collected, Ram Prasad Dahal writes in The Rising Nepal.
Deputy spokesperson Harish Chandra Ghimire of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) informed The Rising Nepal Wednesady that the Foreign Ministry of Egypt has assigned its liaison officer to facilitate the rescue process.
"I just got the information that the Foreign Ministry of Egypt has given this responsibility to its officer to help us in the rescue," he said.
The Cairo-based Nepali mission is taking necessary steps to bring back Nepalese affected by the ongoing unrest in Libya.
The Foreign Ministry of Egypt has also given a positive response the Nepali mission in Cairo to issue temporary entry visas based on travel documents to Nepali citizens who would come back to Egypt from Libya.
Earlier, the Nepali mission had requested to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for help in issuing temporary entry visas to Nepali citizens.
Libya and Egypt share a common border and it takes nine hours to travel form Libyan capital Tripoli to the Egyptian capital Cairo by road. The travel costs approximately US $ 500 per head.
MoFA also directed its Cairo mission to send details of budget needed to rescue the 500 citizens as soon as possible.
"Tomorrow, the mission would send the details. Soon after that, we will arrange the budget," Ghimire said.
"As soon as they come to Cairo, they will be airlifted to Kathmandu." Nepalese in Libya are mostly working as construction or industrial labourers. MOFA also informed that the government was concerned over the violent protests taking place in Libya, and said as of now, no casualty of Nepali nationals has been reported yet.
"We are constantly receiving feedback from our Cairo based mission and other sources about the condition of Nepali citizens. We have already initiated shifting affected Nepalis from Libya to secure places, particularly Egypt," Ghimire said, adding, "MoFA, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, foreign employment agencies, Libyan employment agencies and the Nepali mission in Cairo are working closely."

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SPECIAL COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT PKAYS ACTION PLAN

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: The UCPN (Maoist) has finally agreed to part of a plan of action that enables the secretariat under the Special Committee to seek a budget from the Nepal Peace Trust Fund (NPTF) and acquire the required human resources, Republica reports.

According to Dr Dipak Prakash Bhatt, a secretariat member, the secretariat on Monday unanimously endorsed the plan of action, excluding a proposal on setting up a situation center, and forwarded it to NPTF, a government-managed multi-donor fund.

The situation center is a mechanism conceived to serve as a focal point to which arms and army monitors deputed at the cantonments are supposed to report.

Though prepared some months ago, the plan had been in limbo after Maoist representatives at the secretariat said they needed a directive from their leadership for its endorsement. NPTF is also unable to release the budget it is supposed to provide to the secretariat, for lack of a consensus plan of action. As a result, the secretariat is without a budget even to pay salaries to the arms and army monitors deployed at the cantonments and to cover day-to-day expenses for monitoring work.

With the latest development, the secretariat will have a staff of 23, including a joint-secretary and two under-secretaries, and will set up a fully functioning office.

The plan could not be endorsed in its totality as the Maoist representatives continued to have reservations on establishing a situation center that will remain open round the clock to receive reports from the cantonments.

"We maintain that a decision on the kind of mechanism for reporting should be taken before setting up a situation center," said Chandra Prakash Khanal, a Maoist representative on the secretariat.

The Maoists have also floated an alternative to the situation center. "We are discussing personal assistants for secretariat members and they will also work as a focal point for reporting. The situation center may not be needed," said Khanal

PLA not getting salary

The Cantonment Management Office has not been able to pay the salary of most PLA members due to lack of an independent observer to monitor salary distribution, following the departure of UNMIN on January 15.

"The existing guidelines on distribution of salaries to the PLA require us to pay salary to the PLA in the presence of an independent observer. Before its withdrawal, UNMIN used to play that role. A ministerial decision is needed to designate another observer but we do not yet have a minister at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction," said an official at the Cantonment Management Office.

Government officials have already reported this problem to Maoist representatives at the secretariat of the Special Committee, a government-formed body in command of the PLA.

"The PLA in some cantonments have not been paid their salaries for the past two months while the entire PLA has been without salary for the month of Magh," said Khanal.


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CA EXTENSION DATE IRREVOCBLE
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Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Delivering its verdict on the row over legality of the decision to extend tenure of the Constituent Assembly (CA) by a year, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that the Interim Constitution has not set any mandatory deadline for the completion of constitution drafting process, The Kathmandu Post writes..

A special bench of SC justices Balaram KC, Girish Chandra Lal and Prakash Wasti said since the endorsement of the “document of compromise” from the 601-member assembly was not an easy task, the term extension should not be taken otherwise. The verdict is in response to a writ filed last year claiming that CA had a fixed two-year deadline and its the last minute extension by amending the constitution was illegal.

“The two-year deadline for drafting the new constitution mentioned in Article 64 is not a mandatory provision, but a directory one,” states the full text verdict released last week. “If we accept the petitioners’ argument, the process of constitution writing will come to an end. Such notion will not only backpedal the constitutional development process, but will also create chaos in the state affair.”

Critics of CA extension, however, have registered their reservation about the court’s ruling maintaining that the decision was “out of context”. “It is a wrong verdict because we can’t just simply say the Constituent Assembly should continue as long as the earth exists in the universe,” said Constitutional Lawyer Bhimarjun Acharya. “The parties should have taken people’s consent through an election or referendum if they want to extend the Constituent Assembly deadline.”

Lawyers Bijay Raj Shakya and Kamlesh Diwadi had filed the petition demanding nullification of the term extension and return of allowances and salaries drawn by the lawmakers within the extended duration. The court, however, rejected this demand maintaining that there is no alternative to drafting the new constitution through CA. The court said the constitution drafting can’t be completed in haste without give-and-take on key issues like forms of governance and state restructuring.

The court has also upheld the Article 82 of Interim Constitution that says the work of the Constituent Assembly will cease once the new constitution is endorsed. In doing so, the special bench has said Article 64 of the constitution should be analysed after the “constructive, purposive and harmonious interpretation” of the preamble, Article 82 and Article 33 (d). The apex court has stressed the need for urgency to complete constitution drafting and has cautioned that the dissolution of CA would bring in constitutional void and chaos in the country. “The death of the Constituent Assembly is not the solution of the problem. So initiative and pressure from all the quarters for drafting of the constitution will be positive step.” The court can’t scrap the CA’s extension and end the current constitutional regime, adds the verdict.
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JUDICIARY TO ISSUE BLACKLIST OF ABSCONDERERS

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.To address rising impunity, the judiciary has come up with a plan to crack down on the estimated 300,000 convicted criminals who are still on the loose. Officials said that the names of those eluding justice along with the fines and prison terms fixed for them would be posted on the Supreme Court’s (SC) website by mid-July, Kamal Raj Sigdel writes in The Kathmandu Post.
All courts across the country are currently working with SC’s Judgment Execution Directorate (JED) to prepare a database of court judgments that are awaiting implementation. “Around 40,000 names have been registered so far, which means we are almost halfway through,” said JED Director General Mahendra Nath Upadhyaya. “We are hopeful of publishing the list by mid-July through different outlets,” added SC Registrar Ram Krishna Timilsena.
Over 100,000 court verdicts are unimplemented, leading to impunity for an average of three lawbreakers in each case and around 300,000 in total. Of them, only 300 have been arrested and sent to jail while around Rs. 200 million in fine has been collected in the last one year, according to JED’s latest statistics. SC’s annual report released on Monday stated that it is yet to raise Rs. 3.99 billion in fines and implement a total of 79,879 years of prison sentences issued against thousands of convicts.
Officials are hopeful that there will be significant progress in addressing impunity issues once the database is prepared. JED plans to make two types of blacklists: a simple list of defaulters which will be accessible to everyone, and an advanced list of defaulters containing detailed information to be made available to a certain number of government offices that serve or deal with a large number of clients. According to the plan, government offices with access to the database will refuse services to those clients who appear in the blacklist. “This will hopefully help us collect unpaid fines and arrest absconding convicts,” said JED Director Rajendra Kumar Acharya.
For the last one year, JED has been “manually” sharing the list of defaulters with certain government offices which have cooperated with the court in arresting absconding convicts.
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DEFORESTATION PROBE PUTS 100 UP A TREE
Kathmandu, 24 Feb. “There can be neither civilisation nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe,” Anton Pavlovich Chekhov had said way back in 1888. To save us the horror, a commission formed to investigate into reported rampant deforestation and corruption has recommended the government to initiate action against more than 100 officials, Ramesh Prasad Bhusal writes in The Himalayan Times.

Following mounting pressure in the wake of media reports and estimation by the parliamentary committee on natural resources on means that the country witnessed the worst deforestation in the last 30 years in 2010, the government had formed a Judicial Commission headed by former Judge Govinda Prasad Parajuli on July 12.

According to sources, the Parajuli-led commission has recommended action against more than 100 people — ranging from forest guards to high-level officials at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and the community forest users’ groups.

In a confidential report handed over to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal today, the commission has recommended action against district forest officers from Panchthar, Bara, Dadeldhura, Kailali, Surkhet, Ilam, Udayapur, Sarlahi and Sindhuli districts, which were said to have witnessed the worst deforestation.

However, members of the commission refused to disclose the content of the report. But sources said more than 200 people — ranging from forest guards to former forest minister Deepak Bohara — were interrogated during the investigation and about 100 names have been recommended for action.

“The prime minister has expressed his commitment to implement the commission’s recommendation,” said PM Khanal’s press adviser Surya Thapa.

The 360-page report has tried to find out lapses in policy, system, legal aspect and irregularities in tree felling, wood trading and distribution.

“It is a very a sensitive issue as involvement of even high-level authorities has come to light. The chain of corruption is very strong, which needs to be broken at the earliest to save the forests,” said a source seeking anonymity.

The five-and-a-half months investigation was carried out by conducting on-field visits in more than 12 districts. “Bureaucrats’ involvement in corruption has been seen in many cases and almost all actors in the forestry sector are directly or indirectly involved in irregularities,” added the source.

“We have submitted the report to the prime minister and the ball is in the government’s court,” said Parajuli.

Officials at the ministry said the document has not been disclosed to anyone at the ministry. “I don’t have any idea about the content of the document, as it was not shown to me, but I was invited to the Office of the Prime Minister during the handover ceremony,” said Yubaraj Bhusal, Secretary, MoFSC.
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