BRAAHMINS CLOSE DOWN 16 DISTRICTS

MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE MEET CONTINUES

Kathmandu, 20 May; Maoist standing committee meeting continues for the second consecutive day Friday amid demands from NC and other opposition parties to conclude the delayed peace process by Tuesday 24 May as a pre-condition to extend the constituent assembly (CA) for the second time after 28 May.
Maoists will also begin consultations with parties seeking their support for a mixed force of Maoists and state security agencies proposed by the first standing committee meeting Thursday, Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said
Thursday’s meeting called for integrating 10,000 of 19,000 former fighters calling a Nepal Army proposal for such a force ‘positive’
The standing committee Friday will also discuss intra-party issues, including action demanded by Vice-chairman Dr, Baburam Bhattarai for an attempt on his life, Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said
Only eight days remain to promulgate a constitution
Opposition is opposed to a government proposal for another one-year extension by amending the interim constitution for the ninth time
The standing committee is attempting to address demands of the opposition for completing the peace by integrating and resettling former 19,000 camps housed in 28 camps and cantonments.
Parties are also demanding disarming combatants as well.
NC has pressed for bringing down paramilitary structures, including YCL. as another pre-condition.
These preconditions were set for conducting the April 2008 constituent assembly elections but Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala abandoned the pre-conditions which have now been revived after Maoists defeated NC in assembly and parliamentary elections
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula, in the Girija administration, overlooked and even tolerated the nation-wide entrenchment of YCL
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BRAHMINS CLOSE DOWN WEST NEPAL

Kathmandu, 20 May: Bhrahim Samaj strike Friday closed down 16 districts in the western region.
The Samaj is demanding equal treatment, enlistment as an indigenous group while opposing ethnic provinces.
Chetris and Brahmins, two largest ethnic groups, have been grouped in ‘other’ category in a government listing of castes against
Chetris have also held strikes ahead of the promulgation of a constitution.
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PM CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH PARTIES

Kathmandu, 20 May: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is holding discussions with Madesh parties to collect support for a government proposal to extend the constituent assembly (CA) tenure for one year after 28 May.
Khanal is also holding a dialogue with Rashtriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa, an aide of the premier said.
The government chief is intensifying consultations with parties to collect a required two-third majority in parliament to pass a bill for extension.
The government only has majority support in the legislature.
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CIAA IGP THAKURI QUIZZING ENDS

Kathmandu, 20 May: Quizzing of IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri by CIAA for his alleged involvement in a Rs.330 million scam to purchase armed personnel carriers (APCs) for Nepal Police peacekeepers with UN in Darfur, Sudan, concluded Thursday.
The lives of the peacekeepers have been threatened with the purchage of faulty APCs through a British-based company and their movement has been restricted.
CIAA is investigating whether IGP Thakuri released money for the purchase hastily.
The anti-graft body has been entrusted responsibility to prepare charge sheets.
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EASIER ACCESS FOR NEPALIS IN HONG KONG POLICE

Kathmandu, 20 May: Amid criticism they faced over the killing of Dil Bahadur Limbu, Hong Kong police has revised its rules to make it easier for minorities to join the force, Puran Basnet reports in Republica from Hong Kong .

From now on, those who have proficiency in languages in addition to Chinese and English will be prioritized for recruitment.
Rights workers fighting for minority rights have welcomed the move as a positive sign.

The new policy will come into effect from Saturday when preliminary selection will be held for a fresh intake of recruits.

According to the new rules, those with proficiency in Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, French, German, Japanese or Korean will receive additional grades.

"We did the reform to better the police service by taking in qualified people," Inspector Francis Cheung, chief of the recruitment department, was quoted as saying by a daily newspaper.

Nepalis and members of other minority groups possessing the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in Chinese are now eligible to apply for jobs with the police. Those who do not have the certificate, which is equivalent to the SLC, can sit for another exam approved by the government.

"The policy of prioritizing the intake of those proficient in foreign languages has opened the gates for Nepalis youths," said Ek Narayan Sharma, a solicitor.

According to Inspector Cheung, taking in people proficient in foreign languages will make it easier for the police to handle international events such as the Olympics and World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings.

A few years ago, Hong Kong police had a tough time dealing with a protest by Korean farmers during a WTO event.

The revision of recruitment policy by Hong Kong police, which has not taken a single foreigner since the territory was handed over to China in 1997, has come following the killing of Dil Bahadur Limbu by a policeman.

Two years ago, Limbu was shot dead by a Hong Kong policeman. During court proceedings in the case, the policeman testified that prior to the shooting Limbu spoke in Nepali, which he could not understand.

Though the court and a higher court ruled that the killing was lawful, it angered the Nepali and other minority communities. Ever since that indicent, police have been encouraging the participation of Nepalis in informal programs, apparently to win hearts and minds among them.
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will also begin consultations with parties seeking their support for a mixed force of Maoists and state security agencies proposed by the first standing committee meeting Thursday, Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said
Thursday’s meeting called for integrating 10,000 of 19,000 former fighters calling a Nepal Army proposal for such a force ‘positive’
The standing committee Friday will also discuss intra-party issues, including action demanded by Vice-chairman Dr, Baburam Bhattarai for an attempt on his life, Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said
Only eight days remain to promulgate a constitution
Opposition is opposed to a government proposal for another one-year extension by amending the interim constitution for the ninth time
The standing committee is attempting to address demands of the opposition for completing the peace by integrating and resettling former 19,000 camps housed in 28 camps and cantonments.
Parties are also demanding disarming combatants as well.
NC has pressed for bringing down paramilitary structures, including YCL. as another pre-condition.
These preconditions were set for conducting the April 2008 constituent assembly elections but Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala abandoned the pre-conditions which have now been revived after Maoists defeated NC in assembly and parliamentary elections
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula, in the Girija administration, overlooked and even tolerated the nation-wide entrenchment of YCL
Nnnn


BRAHMINS CLOSE DOWN WEST NEPAL

Kathmandu, 20 May: Bhrahim Samaj strike Friday closed down 16 districts in the western region.
The Samaj is demanding equal treatment, enlistment as an indigenous group while opposing ethnic provinces.
Chetris and Brahmins, two largest ethnic groups, have been grouped in ‘other’ category in a government listing of castes against
Chetris have also held strikes ahead of the promulgation of a constitution.
nnnn

PM CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH PARTIES

Kathmandu, 20 May: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is holding discussions with Madesh parties to collect support for a government proposal to extend the constituent assembly (CA) tenure for one year after 28 May.
Khanal is also holding a dialogue with Rashtriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa, an aide of the premier said.
The government chief is intensifying consultations with parties to collect a required two-third majority in parliament to pass a bill for extension.
The government only has majority support in the legislature.
nnnn

CIAA IGP THAKURI QUIZZING ENDS

Kathmandu, 20 May: Quizzing of IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri by CIAA for his alleged involvement in a Rs.330 million scam to purchase armed personnel carriers (APCs) for Nepal Police peacekeepers with UN in Darfur, Sudan, concluded Thursday.
The lives of the peacekeepers have been threatened with the purchage of faulty APCs through a British-based company and their movement has been restricted.
CIAA is investigating whether IGP Thakuri released money for the purchase hastily.
The anti-graft body has been entrusted responsibility to prepare charge sheets.
nnnn

EASIER ACCESS FOR NEPALIS IN HONG KONG POLICE

Kathmandu, 20 May: Amid criticism they faced over the killing of Dil Bahadur Limbu, Hong Kong police has revised its rules to make it easier for minorities to join the force, Puran Basnet reports in Republica from Hong Kong .

From now on, those who have proficiency in languages in addition to Chinese and English will be prioritized for recruitment.
Rights workers fighting for minority rights have welcomed the move as a positive sign.

The new policy will come into effect from Saturday when preliminary selection will be held for a fresh intake of recruits.

According to the new rules, those with proficiency in Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, French, German, Japanese or Korean will receive additional grades.

"We did the reform to better the police service by taking in qualified people," Inspector Francis Cheung, chief of the recruitment department, was quoted as saying by a daily newspaper.

Nepalis and members of other minority groups possessing the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in Chinese are now eligible to apply for jobs with the police. Those who do not have the certificate, which is equivalent to the SLC, can sit for another exam approved by the government.

"The policy of prioritizing the intake of those proficient in foreign languages has opened the gates for Nepalis youths," said Ek Narayan Sharma, a solicitor.

According to Inspector Cheung, taking in people proficient in foreign languages will make it easier for the police to handle international events such as the Olympics and World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings.

A few years ago, Hong Kong police had a tough time dealing with a protest by Korean farmers during a WTO event.

The revision of recruitment policy by Hong Kong police, which has not taken a single foreigner since the territory was handed over to China in 1997, has come following the killing of Dil Bahadur Limbu by a policeman.

Two years ago, Limbu was shot dead by a Hong Kong policeman. During court proceedings in the case, the policeman testified that prior to the shooting Limbu spoke in Nepali, which he could not understand.

Though the court and a higher court ruled that the killing was lawful, it angered the Nepali and other minority communities. Ever since that indicent, police have been encouraging the participation of Nepalis in informal programs, apparently to win hearts and minds among them.
nnnn



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