NEW DEFENCE MINISTER RULES OUR INDEPENDENT FORCE WITH MAOISTS

UML STANDING COMMITTEE MEETS TO DISCUSS DELAYED CABNET EXPANSION

Kathmandu, 17 March: UML standing began meeting Thursday morning to discuss the delayed expansion of the government led by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, who is also party chairman.
Khanal was elected government chief 3 February with Maoist backing
but only eight members of the cabinet—four each from UML and UCPN (Maoist) have been nominated.
Eleven positions for Maoists and eight for UML have been set aside in the council of ministers.
Khanal has come under fire in the party whose standing committee sent Bishnu Paudel to head the home ministry claimed by Maoists.
In an apparent bid to placate Maoists, Khanal appointed Paudel defence minister instead.
Maoist top leaders have been saying publicly the home ministry will come under their fold.
NC and smaller parties are attempting to form what has been called a ’democratic’ alliance against an emerging communist government with a majority in parliament.
Following high-level political discussions Surya Bahadur Thapa held with top Indian leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Mahnmohan Singh, three top Madeshbadi leaders flew for the Indian capital for a ‘political pilgrimage’ Wednesday on government invite.
MJF Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar. TMLP Chairman Mahanta Thakur and NSP Chairman Rajendra Mahoto are currently in the Indian capital.
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NEW DEFENCE MINISTER RULES OUT INDEPENDENT SECURITY UNIT WITH FORMER MAOIST COMBATANTS

Kathmandu, 17 March: New Defence Minister Bishnu Paudel from UML Wednesday for the first time ruled out creating a separate security unit with former Maoist fighters only.
“There can’t be an establishment of a separate force of fighters or mass integration,” Paudel told a public meeting in the capital Wednesday
“Fighters have to have to meet personal standards to be integrated in national security agencies. They can’t be integrated without meeting set standards of agencies.
‘Interim constitution and broad peace process are the guiding factors for integration. Integration will be conducted on that basis.
‘Spirit of the agreement is to integrate [Maoists0 in security agencies. Agreement will be on that basis.
‘Integration isn’t possible without meeting standards,” he said.
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda had in a secret seven-point controversial agreement agreed to an independent force to seal Khanal’s election as government chief.
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INDIAN ABDUCTOR OF DR. BHAKTAMAN SHRESTHA ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 17 March: Rohit Paliwal, an Indian abductor of Dr. Bhaktaman Shrestha, Chief of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital of Chitwan was arrested by police from an unspecified place Wednesday, police
The doctor was abducted be a group of seven eight months ago and released after 11 days after Shrestha’s family paid three kg gold in ransom.
Three others had been arrested earlier while three other suspects are absconding.
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1,300 NEPALIS GET TRAVEL DOCUMENTS IN KUWAIT

Kathmandu, 17 March: The Nepali embassy in Kuwait has prepared 1,300 one-way travel documents for Nepali workers after Kuwait government announced amnesty for illegal workers to return home, Kantipur reports.
Nearly 1,000 workers have collected the documents.
The amnestied have to leave by 30 June.
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INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SHIB SHANKER MENON GETS NEPAL RESPONSIBILITY

Kathmandu, 17 March: National Security Advisor Shib Shanker Menonhas been entrusted responsibility to end the latest ‘gap’ with Nepal government and resolve Maoist-India relationship, Naya Patrika reports.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Janata Dal United (JDU) Chairman Sharad Yadav held discussions Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The added responsibility came to light after the meeting.
Nepal-India relations and many other issues were discussed.
‘At the meeting, the prime minister was asked to improve relations with Maoists,” JDU Chief General Secretary KC Tyagi said Wednesday over telephone from New Delhi.
Menon was present at the meeting between Singh and Yadav.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘He [Krishna Prasad Bhattarai] is beyond comparison. He was unparalleled.”

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, The Kathmandu Post, 17 March)
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