NEPAL GAYS TO CELEBRATE WILLIAM KATE WEDDING

MAOIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET CONTINUES

Kathmandu, 28 April: Maoist central committee meeting on two separate proposals of Chairman Prachanda and Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya on how to attain a communist state after 28 May resumed Thursday.
The extended meeting couldn’t be held Wednesday because of a strike on ethnic and other groups demanding a constitution by 28May with ethnic, regional and minority rights.
Prachanda has proposed ‘temporary suspension’ of a declared party policy of a people’s revolt while hard-line Baidya charged his boss for ‘surrender’ abandoning party policy.
Secretary CP Gajurel said Wednesday both proposals will be withdrawn without a vote; he said a policy adopted by the Palungtar plenum in Gorkha can’t be overturned.
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BP KOIRALA BHARATPUR CANCER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CLOSED DOWNINDEFINITELY

Kathmandu, 28 April: Following disputes between supporters of major parties on the appointment of the managing director chief of BP Koirala Cancer Memorial Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, the hospital was closed down indefinitely Thursday.
Sick have been denied treatment because of dispute over appointment between political parties.
Emergency services will be available.
A dispute has surfaced over the appointment of the successor of Dr. Bhaktaman Shrestha who was abducted last year; he was released in India after a ransom was paid to abductors.
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PANEL TO TALK WITH WORLD BANK

Kathmandu, 28 April: Government has formed a talks team for a dialogue with World Bank for a Rs. 3.46 billion loan and grant for the repair of the Jamara Kalariya irrigation project in Gulariya Kailali in the far-West.
Cabinet took a decision Wednesday.
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OMAN AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR BAN LIFT ON NEPALI WORKERS
DESTINED FOR OMAN

Kathmandu, 28 April: Oman Ambassador Sheikh Humaid Bin Ali Bin Sultan Al-Maani Wednesday asked Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to lift a ban on Nepali workers destined for the Gulf state imposed after outbreak of political disturbances there.
Khanal told the envoy the temporary ban had been lifted.
The ambassador hoped more Nepali workers will head for his country, Milan Raj Tuladhar, foreign advisor of the prime minister said.
The ambassador asked an honourary consul general be appointed to protect interests of Nepali workers in his country.
Oman Air hopes to double frequency of Oman Air flights between the two countries, the ambassador said.
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ROYALTY FOR NEPALI WOMEN TEAM TO CLIMB ANNAPURNA WAIVED

Kathmandu, 28 April: Government has waived a $3,200 royalty on a four-member all-Nepali women’s team attempting to scale the 7525 meters high Annapurna-IV this spring.
Nepali and foreign expeditions have to pay scaled climbing fees according to height of peaks to the tourism ministry to scale peaks in Nepal, including the 8848 meters high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest.
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NEPALI GAYS TO CELEBRATE WEDDINGOF PRINCE WILLAL WITH KATE

Kathmandu, 28 April: The Nepali gay community will celebrate the wedding of Britain’s Prince William with Kate Middleton with British Council support at the British embassy premises, Blue Diamond Society Director Sunil Baba Panta said.
The Society promotes and protects gay rights in Nepal.
William is second in line of succession to the British throne.
Eight third genders will perform puja while singing and dancing.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

INFLATION JUMPS TO 10.7 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 28 April: Inflation in mid-March jumped to 10.7 percent from 10.2 percent one month earlier in February, Nepal Rashtra Bank said.
Balance of payment (BoP) deficit widened to Rs. 11.30 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, the central bank said.
Foreign exchange reserve fell 4.4 percent to Rs 257.04 billion in mid-March compared to mid-July 2010.
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SHARE PRICES SLUMP TO A RECORD LOW

Kathmandu, 28 April: Share prices slumped to a record low in six years when the share index fell to 351.96 points Wednesday.
Nepal Telecom shares lost Rs 36 per unit,
Share prices plunged blow 400 points in December 2010.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“If promoters show vested interest n banking operations, how can we expect banks to function healthily?”

(Nepal Rashtra Bank Governor Dr. Yubaraj Khitawada, Republica, 28 April)
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NEPAL ARMY CONSIDERING SENDIG TROOPS TO IRAQ UNDER UN FLAG
Kathmandu, 28 April: The Nepali Army is considering sending its troops to restive Iraq to become a part of the ‘stationary force’ under the United Nations, a highly placed source, The Himalayan Times reports.

The UN had asked Nepal to commit around 222 personnel –– including 35 personnel for mobile units –– for deployment in Iraq around four months ago.

The Nepali Army, however, had previously remained undecided after it was unable to ascertain whether the request came from the UN or western invading force –– the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as some NATO members, especially Australia, had been actively lobbying for the cause.

Although the army is certain to agree to send troops to Iraq, it is very unlikely that it will contribute troops to mobile units, keeping in mind the safety of its personnel.

The development comes just weeks after Nepali Army chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung discussed the army’s possible involvement in UN peacekeeping missions, including in the United Nations Assisstance Mission in Iraq, with UN Under Secretary-General for Department of Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe in New York.

“The army is now clear that its troops will be deployed under the UN,” the source said. “We are working out the details.”

Ramindra Chhetri, the army spokesperson, confirmed that the UN had made the request, but refrained from commenting further.

“We are in touch with the UN through official channels–– Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence,” a senior army officer said. “We are positive about the request, but it will be premature to give a timeline.”

However, the government is yet to have its say on the issue. “We have been approached from different quarters, but we are yet to decide,” said Dhananjaya Jha, Middle East and Europe-America Division chief at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nepal, which began contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions from 1958, currently has a quota of 5,000 personnel for deployment in UN peacekeeping missions. Currently, around 4,200 Nepali security personnel, including those from Nepal Police and Armed Police, are deployed in various parts of the world.
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PM POLITICAL AIDE SAYS MAOISTS AND NC OBSTACLES





Kathmandu, 28 April: CPN-UML politburo member and Prime Minister’s chief political advisor Prakash Jwala Wednesday said that the extremist thinking of UCPN-Maoist and Nepali Congress posed as obstacle to the timely conclusion of the peace and statute writing processes, The Rising Nepal reports.
"The peace and statute writing processes suffered a setback owing to the extremist attitudes of Maoists and the NC," Jwala said at an interaction in the capital.
The UML leader admitted that it was a political mistake to hold the Constituent Assembly election without concluding the peace process.
He, however, said that the peace and statute writing processes should be taken simultaneously and the constitution should be promulgated before the conclusion of the peace process.
Jwala called for settling the issues of modality and relief package for the integration and rehabilitation before May 28.
"We must be able to sort out the disputed issues of the new statute prior to May 28. Failing to do so means to invite further chaos in the country," he warned.
On the postponement of UML central committee meeting, he said that the meeting was put off because of the convention of the party’s sister organization.
"The meeting was not deferred because the party’s chair fell in minority. To the date, the chairman’s political document has not been rejected in the meeting," he added.
Nepal Sadbahwana Party co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna claimed that the peace and constitution writing processes could

not be concluded within May 28.
Karna said that the Mahdesi parties would not accept the issuance of the constitution draft with major differences listed in the annexes.
Meanwhile our Biratnagar Correspondent adds that CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli Wednesday said that the peace and statute writing processes could be concluded in time if all the parties worked seriously to accomplish the historic tasks.
"If the parties refrain themselves from playing the musical chair and focus on the constitution making seriously, it could be promulgated within May 28," said Oli, talking to the media people at Biratnagar airport.
He said that the people were sad as the government could not get a full shape.
"The people are frustrated as the government could not take the shape of a national consensus. As a result, the government could not work effectively for peace and statute writing," added Oli.
He said that new statute should not be promulgated on installment basis.
Oli, an arch rival of Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, said, "If PM Khanal fails to act as per his commitments, he should tender resignation for his post."
Giving the example of former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, Oli said that Khanal should also quit like former PM Nepal did following his failure to accomplish the national tasks of peace and constitution writing.
Oli came to Biratnagar to meet an UML cadre injured by the Maoists.

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