ANTI-CHINA PROTESTS BY TIBETANS FOILED

THREE PARTIES FORM TASK FORCE FOR INTEGRATION

Kathmandu, 11: The Big 3—Maoists, NC and UML—Thursday agreed to form a task force to suggest a time-bound integration schedule for 19,000 plus former Maoist fighters with five days.
Integration is expected to be completed in the next 50 days
A secretariat of a special committee for integration, resettlement and supervision headed by the prime minister will prepare the schedule.
The special committee chaired by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal met for the first time earlier Thursday and will meet again Friday; a summit of Maoists, NC and UML was held ahead of the special committee meet.
The summit decided to request the special committee to recruit manpower for deployment at cantonments for fighters’ management but the special committee didn’t come to an agreement on the directive of the summit attended by top party leaders.
‘Unfortunately, Maoist side has moved back slightly. A decision couldn’t be taken on the agreement,” Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat of NC said after the special committee meet.
Monitoring teams of the three security agencies of government and PLA are keeping a vigil on Maoist weapons at seven cantonments nation-wide and the arms of Nepal Army (NA) at Chhauni barrack in the capital. After UNMIN quit Nepal 15 January after a failed four-year mission.
Without vehicles and personnel, the joint teams have been limited mostly to cantonments without visiting 27 satellite camps where Maoists are housed.
NC has said constitution drafting can’t proceed without completion of the peace process with the integration and resettlement of former Maoist combatants.
A constitution has to be promulgated by 28 May.
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ANTI-CHINA PROTESTS FOILED BY HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE

Kathmandu, 11 March: Heavy presence of police armed with sticks foiled anti-China protests Thursday at Naxal and the Chinese embassy on the anniversary of Chinese takeover of Tibet,
The old Chinese embassy is located at Naxal were China maintains offices.
Riot police were deployed at strategic road approaches of the embassy and Naxal to stop the ritual annual protests by the Tibetan refugees.
Reporters and cameramen were waiting at Naxal.
Refugees were pinned down at the Tibetan refugee center in Jawalakhel, Baudhanath and Syambhunath with large Tibetan communities, a policeman told your blogger.
They weren’t allowed to enter the inner city, he said.
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JIMMY CARTER TELEPHONES PM, PRACHANDA

Kathmandu, 11 March: Former US President Jmmy Carter in telephone conversations with Prime Minster Jhalanath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda Thursday inquired about the delayed peace process and constitution drafting.
President Carter congratulated Khanal on his recent appointment as prime minister, the government chief’s press aide said.
In a 10-minute conversation, the former president also asked Chairman Prachanda on the progress in completing the peace process and constitution drafting, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Maoist government tam Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.
Carter Center maintains an office in Nepal.
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VISITING BRITISH MINISTER MEETS PRACHANDA

Kathmandu, 11 March: Visiting British Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan held discussions with Maoist Chairman and discussed the delayed peace process and constitution drafting.
Duncan told Prachanda Great Britain is doubling its development assistance to Nepal in the ext four years.
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KHAGENDRA THAPA MAGAR MAY LOSE TTLE AS WORLD’S SHORTEST MAN

Kathmandu, 11 March: Junrey Balawing of Zamboanga del Norte. Philippines, who is just 22 inches high, is set to become the world’s shortest man when turns 16 in June, agencies report from London.
According to the Sun, the 17-year-old who is tinier than a one-year-old, will take the title by smashing five inches off the current record.
“If I were the smallest man in the world, it would be very cool,” thr tabloid quoted Balawing, as saying.
The current titleholder in Nepal’s Khagendra Thapa Magar., whoo is 26.4 inches tall.
A Guinness World Records spokesman confirmed that hey would be considering Balawing’s claim.
“We are looking to review the claim when Jurney Balawing,18, which is when candidates for this title can officially apply for the record,” the spokesman said.
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