FORMER LAWMAKERS ARRESTED FOR PICKETING CA BUILDING

25 FORMER LAWMAKERS ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 24 May: Twenty-five former lawmakers picketing the International Convention Center where constituent assembly and parliament sessions are held were arrested Tuesday morning by police.
Police said the former lawmakers defied prohibitory orders around the Chinese-built complex.
The former lawmakers have been staging continuous sit-ins for 17 days demanding promulgation of a constitution by a 28 May deadline.
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PRESIDENT, PRACHANDA MEET

Kathmandu, 24 May: Maoist Chairman Prachanda and a concerned President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav held discussions on the current uncertain political situation Tuesday morning.
The Maoist chief briefed the president on the peace process, constitution drafting, extension of the constituent assembly tenure and integration of Maoist former combatants,
The meeting comes soon after the ceremonial president ruled out imposition of presidential rule saying there was no provision for it in an interim constitution.
Prachanda quoted the president as saying the head of state hoped for national understanding
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MAOISTS WITHDRAW WEDNESDAY’S ANNOUNCED PUBLIC MEETINGS

Kathmandu, 24 May’ Maoists said they have withdrawn Wednesday’s nation-wide awareness public meetings that were to be addressed by central leaders because of political uncertainty.
The meetings were called to protest border incursions in the south as well.
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CPN MAOIST NEPAL BANDH

Kathmandu, 24 May: Normal life was disrupted Tuesday by another Nepal bandh.
The fresh strike was called by CPN (Maoist) of Matrika Yadav; a breakaway group of UCPN (Maoist)
FNCCI and other organizations are protesting the strike by launching anti-strike rallies.
Yadav Maoist faction is demanding promulgation of a people’s constitution and even abrogation of unequal treaties with India.
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BAN KI-MOON ASKS KEY PLAYERS TO SHOW LEADERSHIP

Kathmandu, 24 May: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked key ‘political players’ to show leadership and compromise to preserve the peace process and complete constitution drafting.
”The Secretary-General underlines that it is now more than ever incumbent upon the key political players to show leadership and carry out the necessary compromises to preserve the peace process and complete the drafting of the new constitution,” a statement released in New York by his spokesman said Monday.
The reaction came five days ahead of the expiry of the tenure of a constituent assembly (CA) that won’t miss a second deadline in three years Saturday 28 May to proclaim a constitution by drafting a basic law to institutionalize a declared republic.
Main opposition NC and allies for the second consecutive day Monday obstructed government attempts to register a bill in parliament to amend for the 9th time an interim constitution to extend the assembly for one more year after 28 May.
The UN chief also expressed concern with the delay in forging a consensus for integration and rehabilitation of 19,0000 plus former Maoist combatants.
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LOAD-SHEDDING REDUCED BY FURTHER 90 MINUTES

Kathmandu, 24 May: Load-shedding was reduced by another 90 minutes from Tuesday by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).announced with the approaching monsoon.
NEA was enforcing a daily ten- and- a half-hour power cut inconveniencing people.
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SPEAKER NEMWANG HOSPITALIZED

Kathmandu, 24 May: Speaker Subash Nemwang was hospitalized Monday evening
He fell sick after while presiding over a parliament session.
Nemwang is a diabetic and suffers blood pressure.
The speaker was rushed to hospital overnight after vomiting
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CHINESE NATIONAL CONVICTED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING

Kathmandu, 24 May: Chinese national Wu Lixiang was convicted Monday by a full bench of a special court for money laundering.
Wu’s $1 million deposit at a branch of Nepal Bangladesh Bank (NBB) was seized; the money was deposited in Wu’s account by Asim Khatri Chetri of Tarala International from USA.
A case was filed against Wu by department of revenue Investigation 28 February.
The Chnese national claimed the money was payment for services provided to Nepal Army and Nepal Police.
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KRISHNA POKHREL HEADS GREECE CHAPTER OF NRNsS

Kathmandu, 24 May: Krishna Pokhrel has been elected chief of Association of Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Greece chapter.
He heads a 19-member team elected by a first national convention 16 May.
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NC OBSERVES RASHTRYA SAMATA DIBAS

Kathmandu, 24 May: Main opposition NC is observing Tuesday as Rashtriya Samata Dibas to discourage to discourage untouchabilty and other social ills.
A recent party general convention took a decision to observe such a day.
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