HIRED INDIAN KILLER BEING CHARGED FOR MURDER

MANMEET SINGH BEING CHARGED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

Kathmandu, 10 April: Indian contract killer Manmeet Singh is being
charged at Sunday at Kathmandu district court for a more serious charge
attempted murder charge.
He’s under judicial custody as police prepare the charge for a failed attempt to shoot dead Nepali media tycoon Yunis Ansari at the high security Central Jail in the capital last month.
Singh entered the jail, went past security checks, and shot and injured Ansari whose father has blamed official Indian security agency for the attempted murder.
Nobody has taken responsibility for the shooting as in the past when Indian criminal gangs claimed responsibility for the murders of RPP lawmaker Mirza Ali Bain and media tycoon Jamin Shah last year.
Singh reportedly met French serial killer Charles Shobraj more than a dozen times in Central Jail before the failed shooting
Shobraj, serving a sentence for murdering American and Canadian backpackers, is also being charged for Ansari’s murder attempt.
Singh has already been charged for s less serious charge of illegal weapons possession.
Nepali police have come under heavy criticism for security lapses amid
judicial investigation for involvement in the attempted murder.
Ansari has been charged for dealings in counterfeit Indian currency notes and drugs.
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SECOND SUMMIT OF MAOISTS, UML SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 10 April: UCPN (Maoist) and UML- two ruling party
communist giants—hold second round summit talks Sunday—second in two days—to continue discussions on a common minimum programme (CMP), formation of a
high-level political mechanism (HLPM) to run government, budget and
government expansion.
Two months after Jhalanath Khanal was installed prime minister 3 February
with Maoist support after the Khanal, who is also UML chairman, and Maoist Chairman Prachanda signed a 7-point secret government, the eight-member cabinet of Maoist and UML representatives, remaining members of man expanded government haven’t been appointed.
The meeting comes Sunday amid Maoist charge UML is attempting to
unilaterally run government.
The 7-point agreement—opposed by influential members in UML including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal—envisages formation of the HLPM and a CMP.
Maoists Saturday were positive on a complete budget to be presented 3 May after opposing it saying UML has rescinded on a decision to present a
supplementary budget.
A complete budget is being presented incorporating policies of the two
parties and MJFN which has also agreed join government.
A Maoist standing committee meeting Saturday that discussed four subjects after the Khanal, Prachanda summit was inconclusive.
Maoists have been demanding the home ministry delaying government expansion.
Prachanda and Khanal will discuss sharing of the ministry delaying government expansion and the budget.
Meanwhile, UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel warned Saturday
the two-month Maoist/UML coalition could break if Maoists aren’t serious on the peace process.
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OPTIONS FOR A CA

Kathmandu, 10 April: Speaker Subash Newang, who’s also chairman of constituent assembly (CA) Saturday asked parties to resolve differences and
promulgate a constitution within the 28 May deadline.
NC President Sushil Koirala said Saturday a basic law can be drafted by the second deadline if political parties are serious and implement past agreements.
A constitution is unlikely to be promulgated again by the end of May.
Party leaders have been floating suggestions, including election for a CA with a fresh
mandate.
A two-month extension was first suggested by Chairman Prachanda; another extension of the tenure has also been suggested.
Another suggestion is to promulgate a basic law incorporating agreementson articles reached so far.
Parties haven’t adopted official positions.
RPP-Nepal has demanded fresh CA elections.
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LIFE RETURNS TO NORMAL TERAI

Kathmandu, 10 April: Life returned to normal in terai Sunday after Tharuwat Rajya Parishad Saturday called off an indefinite strike demanding abrogation of a
four-point agreement between Maoists, UML and MJFN describing the south bordering India as ‘Madesh Pradesh’.
Tharus don’t consider themselves Madeshis.
People thronged to markets as the strike was withdrawn to facilitate celebrations of New Year 2068 and Chaite Dashain.
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NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 10 April: NC central committee meets later Sunday.
Three-Time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba presents a report on minimum political programme acceptable to the party and
Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel presents another report on n acceptable .
The party will also take up a suggestion of a committee headed by General Secretary Prakash Man Singh to dissolve the dysfunctional Nepal Students’ Union (NSI) splintered in two groups between supporters of Deuba and President Sushil Koirala.
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CABINET EXPANSION DELAYS INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER’S VISIT

Kathmandu, 10 April: Not only has the delayed cabinet expansion affected the peace and statute drafting processes, it has also pushed Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna’s visit farther, Lekhnath Pandey reports in The Kaathmandu Post. .

No high official from India has visited Nepal since Jhala Nath Khanal became prime minister on February 3.

The UML-Maoist coalition sees Krishna’s visit as an event that will not only change the negative public perception of ties between the Khanal-led government and New Delhi, but also expects it to boost relations between UCPN-Maoist and the Indian government.

Education Minister Ganga Lal Tuladhar re-extended the invitation to Krishna to visit Nepal “at the soonest” when he was in Delhi to attend an LDC conference in mid-February.

“Earlier, we had expected Krishna’s visit in mid-March,” said Milan Tuladhar, foreign affairs adviser to the PM. “But it did not take place due to various reasons, including delay in cabinet expansion and in naming the foreign minister.”

Sources at PMO and Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government has been trying to schedule Krishna’s visit for mid or late April, but neither the Indian embassy in Kathmandu nor South Block is keen on it.

To persuade the Indian government, the incumbent communist coalition has even assured South Block that it will assign a separate minister to handle the foreign ministry.

“Absence of foreign minister might be one reason behind his reluctance,” Tuladhar said, “But we have already conveyed we won’t have a problem assigning a minister to look after the foreign ministry during his visit.”

According to protocol, during the official visit of the foreign minister of one country, the host country’s counterpart must be there for bilateral talks and agreements and host a reception in his/her honour.

Krishna’s Nepal visit will be immediately followed by Khanal’s visit to India, as he has a standing invitation from the Indian prime minister. When Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood called on him two weeks ago, Khanal asked him to ensure Krishna’s early visit as that would pave the way for his own visit to India. According to sources, Khanal wants to embark for New Delhi before the statute deadline ends on May 28. But, as former foreign minister Sujata Koirala had invited Krishna, the government wants his visit to take place first.

“The prime minister wants to go to New Delhi before leaving for Turkey,” a source at PMO said. Khanal is heading for Turkey early next month to chair the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC) slated from May 9 to 13 in Istanbul.
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NAGASAKI, HIROSHIMA MAYORS TO VISIT NEPAL

Kathmandu, 10 April: Mayors of two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are arriving in Nepal next month to take part in Gautam Buddha International Peace Award felicitation ceremony, according to officials at Ministry of Culture, Kosh Raj Jpshi reports in Republica.

Dr Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima and Tomihisa Taue of Nagasaki are set to arrive in Kathmandu on May 15 to receive the award jointly conferred on them by the government in recognition of their significant contributions to peace and non-violence.
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Moda Raj Dotel said the ministry had extended separate invitations to them to take part in the award felicitation ceremony on May 17 on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. "They have confirmed their visit accepting our invitation," he said.

The mayors will stay in Lumbini for two days before flying back to Kathmandu on May 18. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to confer the award comprising a gold medal, certificate of award and a cash prize of US $50,000 ($25,000 each) on two mayors amidst a special function to be held in Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha.

A cabinet meeting held on January 13 had decided to confer the award jointly on them upon the recommendation of Gautam Buddha International Peace Award Management and Selection Committee. The five-member Selection Committee is chaired by former UN Assistant Secretary General Kul Chandra Gautam.

The two mayors have led the "Mayors for Peace" movement involving more than 4,000 municipalities in the world, including two-third of all Japanese municipalities. They have been ardent advocates of nuclear non-proliferation, reduction of military expenditure and disarmament. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were completely destroyed by atom bombs during the World War II.

The cabinet meeting had also decided to posthumously honor former UN Secretary General U Thant for his contribution in making the birthplace of Lord Budhha known to the world and highlighting the importance of Buddha´s teachings for international peace and understanding.

Secretary Dotel said they had invited U Thant´s daughter Daw Aye Aye Thant to receive the honor. "However, she has expressed her inability to come to Nepal due to her pre-scheduled program," he said.

The award instituted by Nepal government in the year 2010 is given every five years to recognize and honor individuals and institutions around the world that have made significant contribution to peace and non-violence through the messages of Lord Buddha.

Officials at the ministry said then minister for culture Dr Minendra Rijal had extended invitation to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to attend the function. "Though Secretary General Ban said he is eager to visit Nepal within this year, he has not fixed the date for visit. We have requested him to try his best to visit Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti," said a senior official at the ministry.
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