NEPAL, INDIA SECURITY TALKS BEGIN

THREE-PARTY SUIMMIT GETS UNDERWAY

Kathmandu, 6 April: A summit of the Big Three-Maoists, NC and UML—
got underway at Singha Durbar.
They’re discussing the delayed peace process, constitution process and other national issues.
NC has rejected a request by ruling Maoists and UML parties to join government and has opted to stay in the opposition.
The two communist parties have a majority in the 598-member
legislature/constituent assembly.
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CHIEF JUSTICE RAM PRASAD SHRESTHA STOPS HEARING CASES

Kathmandu, 6 April: To establish a precedent, Chief Justice Ram Prasad
Shrestha stopped heading cases Tuesday ahead of his superannuation one month later.
Shrestha has asked Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to convene a meeting
of the council to immediately name his replacement not to create a void in the
apex court.
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TRADER KILLED IN CHITWAN

Kathmandu, 6 April: Bharat Ghimere, manager of a petrol pump, was shot dead by a group of five to six people in Ramnagar, Chitwan, Wednesday morning.
Irate locals disrupted movement of vehicles along a highway in
protest.

ARMY CHIEF BEGINS CONSULTATIONS WITH TOP US MILITARY
BRASS IN WASHINGTON

Kathmandu, 6 April: Army Chief Gen Chatraman Singh Gurung began consultations with top US military brass in Washington by holding discussions Monday with
Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. Director of Strategic Plans and Policy.
He held separate discussions with Lt. Gen. William Troy, Director of Army Staff.
They discussed sharing straining programmes, Nepal Army Public Relations Directorate said.
USA, amid Indian opposition held build a ranger battalion, train and equip it during a 10-year Maoist insurgency.
US military assistance was suspended after the royal takeover in 2005.
Washington has been pressing the army to act against violators of right
abusers during the insurgency as a pre-condition for resumption of military assistance.
The army chief returns 10 April after consultations with US and UN officials.
Gen. Gurung is in USA after the recently rarel Nepal visit of Chinese Army Chief Gen. Chen Bingde when Beijing announced non-lethal military assistance to the Himalayan state bordering Tibet.
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NEPAL, INDIA SECURITY TALKS BEIGIN IN PUNE, INDIA,
WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 6 April: Bilateral Nepal, India security talks begin in Pune, India Wednesday—the first such dialogue in 16 months, Nepali sources said.
Resumption of military supplies suspended after the 2005 royal takeover will be discussed.
Nepal will raise the insurgency in the terai along the 1,700 km open Nepal-India border as leaders of armed groups take shelter across the border mainly in the states on Uter Pradesh and Bihar.
The 15-member Nepali team is led by Hari Kumar Shrestha—joint secretary at the foreign ministry and consists of representatives of four state security
agencies, including Nepal Army.
The held separate discussions Monday in New Delhi with Army Chief VK Singh and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
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RHINO COUNT BEGINS IN CHITWAN

Kathmandu, 6 April: A census of the endangered one-horned rhino began
in the Chitwan National Park Tuesday from Bhanu Khola.
Altogether 435 rhinos were recorded in Chitwan, 55 in Bardiya National Park and five n Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in a 2008.
Outside Nepal, the species is found in Assam, India, in South Asia.
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