DEUBA PREPARING TO OUST RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL

DEUBA FACTION IN NC PREPARING TO REMOVE RAM CHANDR PAUDEL AS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LEADER

Kathmandu, 18 June: Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is preparing to remove Ram Chandra Paudel as parliamentary party leader, Bal Krishna Adhikari reports in Naya Patrika.
If necessary, preparations are afoot to being a no-confidence motion against him in the parliamentary party.
Deuba Friday convened a meeting of lawmakers supporting him at his residence and discussed the matter.
Deuba said President Sushil Koirala would support him.
Deuba drew up the plan after to bring down Paudel through a no-confidence vote after the latter ignored Koirala’s direction.
Deuba had an understanding with Koirala in second week of Chaitra he would be parliamentary party leader when the president nominated a vice-president and general secretary.
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MORE THAN 500,000 COPIES OF MUNA MADAN SOLD

Kathmandu, 18 June: More than 500,000 copies of Muna Madanhave been sold so far, Gorkhapatra reports quoting Chief of Publication Department of Sajha Prakashan Damodar Prasad Koirala
Altogether 100,000 copies of the 25th edition was printed in 2065 three years ago.
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SC SUMMONS MAOIST LAWMAKER

Kathmandu, 18 June: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Constituent Assembly (CA) member Bal Krishna Dhungel to appear in the court on June 26, in the case filed by Sabitri Shresha, sister of Ujjan Kumar Shrestha who was murdered by Dhungel, The Himalayan Times reports.

A single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari also ruled the defendant to appear with written answers within 15 days.

The case was filed with the legal assistance of Advocacy Forum, a human rights organisation, on June 14, against a public statement of Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara to pardon Dhungel as per the Interim Constitution clause of 151.

The Okhaldhuga court had convicted Dhungel for life as punishment for the murder of Ujjan two years ago. However, the administration has not jailed him. Ujjana was murdered at Khaharedovan in Tarkerabari VDC-7, Okhaldhunga on June 24, 1998.

Dhungel represents the UCPN-Maoist and was elected as CA member from constituent region 2 in Okhaldhunga.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Chairman Dahal sent the PLA guards back to the cantonments as he wanted it. But we did not like the idea so we have not returned them. We won’t accept the personal decision of the chairman.”

(Maoist leader CP Gajurel, Republica, 18 June)
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NC RETHINKING FEDERAL SYSTEM





Kathmandu, 18 June: Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala Friday said that ethnicity-based federal system was not suitable for Nepal, The Rising Nepal reports.
Talking to a delegation of Newa: Swayatta Rajya Manka at his residence in Maharajgunj, Koirala said that the NC was not ready to earn cheap popularity by supporting caste-based federal system.
He said that the NC would rethink about the ethnic and caste-based federal system, which he said, some parties had raised for popularity.
He said that his party had clear vision on federal democracy and secularism.
On the occasion, the Newa team handed over a memorandum to Koirala and demanded to establish Newa autonomous state in new constitution.
Representatives of Newar communities Suji Bajracharya, Umesh Sthapit, Naresh Tamrakar, Bhimsen Das Pradhan and Newa: Jagaran Mancha coordinator Sujib Bajracharya were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the NC Friday condemned the police atrocity inside Sankardev Campus Thursday and said that it was against the humanitarian law.
NC press statement issued on Friday said that the party was serious about the beating up of the innocent students, teachers and employees of the campus.
It demanded that the government provide free treatment to the injured teachers, students and ordinary people.
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POLITICAL NEXUS KEY IN CABBIE’S RISE TO DON

Kathmandu, 18 June: How could a mere cabbie rise in less than a decade to an opulent status with numerous plots of land, at least half a dozen luxury cars, a bungalow and not less than 50 Pulsar motorcycles distributed to aides among his visible property, and huge assets believed to be stashed in this city and elsewhere?, Sundar Khanal writes in Republica from Biratnagar

Parashuram Basnet, who has been absconding for two weeks after engineering two consecutive attacks, on notorious jailbird Abhishek Giri at the District Court premises and on Republica reporter Khilanath Dhakal, is believed to have accumulated property worth hundreds of millions illegally, especially over the last four years, thanks to political protection for his crimes.
The 34-year-old from Dolakha has arrived at this mysterious affluence concurrently with numerous criminal cases to his credit. His very name is dreaded here because he has never been prosecuted for any wrongdoing. His group now has a finger in every worthwhile financial transaction, both public and private, and they ensure their stake by hook or by crook.

Basnet´s group operates in four layers, including a women´s taskforce. Each strata looks out for transactions pertaining to its respective ´level´. They have a list of businesses: realty transactions, government contracts, operation of smuggling channels, control of auctions, and extortion.

Officials and others in the know interviewed by Republica said Basnet´s group should have accumulated around 1 billion through their sway over financial activities not only in Morang district but across the eastern Tarai.

Three major land plotting projects in Inaruwa Municipality of Sunsari district and Jhorahat and Jamuna Gachhi VDCs in Morang have been identified under Basnet´s ownership. He has bought several private buildings in the names of his aides. He reportedly invested in real estate the money gained through smuggling channels.

Most of the realty deals have involved threats and coercion against property owners. The purchase of a bungalow belonging to a doctor became the talk of the town last year as Basnet´s group coerced the poor man into selling the swanky edifice for less than 30 percent the expected price. The house is now registered in the name of Mukesh Budathoki, Basnet´s chief aide. Budathoki himself is now being treated at a local hospital under police custody, as an accused in the court attack case.

"Hardly anybody now dares to sell property without taking him or his men into confidence," said a local who recently sold a valuable plot and give 10 percent to Basnet´s group as commission.

Contract hijacker

A prominent contractor told Republica that his company has given Basnet at least Rs 120 million over the last few years for helping him secure lucrative contracts. "There are many contractors who have no choice but to keep him happy," he said.

Basnet´s group has been dictating to the entire contract bidding scene in the eastern Tarai-and lately even in hill districts like Bhojpur and Okhaldhunga. He has been seizing control of almost all contracts awarded to the private sector by government agencies including District Development Committee, District Irrigation Office, Department of Roads and Buildings Department.

Interviews with several construction entrepreneurs corroborate estimates that the wealthiest ´don´ of the country has already laid hands on a budget of over Rs 2 billion. "He literally decides who is to be awarded a given contract," said a construction entrepreneur.

Basnet established his hegemony over construction contracts after a former friend and notorious gangster Abhishek Giri was arrested on a murder charge two years ago. By then, the two had already fallen out over the sharing of commissions--worth Rs 2.5 million-for two contracts concerning a bridge in Dharan and a road in Rangeli VDC. Basnet´s continued feuding with Giri has been attributed to fears that his monopoly would end once the jailbird comes out.

According to sources, a district level CPN (UML) leader, during a stint in the District Construction Entrepreneurs Association, helped Basnet crucially in establishing his control over the contract business.

Illicit trade

Basnet made his first big money--around 3.2 million--some eight years ago from wood smuggling in collusion with the Maoists who had been prohibiting timber trade from community forests citing the insurgency. The cabbie-turned-gangster had approached them with a lucrative idea.

"He used that money to form his group and to develop ties with political leaders," said a former partner who declined to be named.

Between 2060 and 2063 BS, Basnet was used by the underground Maoists as an informant and supplier of arms. "He used to transport arms from India to Nepal," said a Maoist leader. Basnet established himself as a most notorious gangster by fighting YCL cadres after People´s Movement-2 and he sealed his notoriety further during the Madhesi agitation as his group was successful in combating the agitators.

For his most reliable income source, Basnet is said to have been working with one Ashikar Miya, who operates the entire range of smuggling activities from Jogbani to Biratnagar. He reportedly associated himself with Miya some three years ago as a Youth Force commander.

Properties not questioned

Parul Chhetri, a UML district committee member, challenges the legitimacy of property amassed by Basnet. "The government should probe his assets," he said. "Unless undue means are involved, a cabbie cannot earn that much within a few years."

Chhetri alleges that Basnet has been living his life of crime and wealth under direct protection from political leaders including those of his own party. "He has bought them vehicles and buildings and supports them financially in whatever way possible," he said.

"A simple property probe by the government is enough to end the anarchy he presides over," he added.

A clever and seemingly humble individual, Basnet has already turned toward laundering his riches through wider investments. He had major share in ´Nepal Bazzar´ supermarket under construction at Mahendra Chwok. He has also invested in schools and hotels. He has leased out some buildings.

Diversification of his property has engaged his top aides like Mukesh Budathoki, Manoj Khadka and Suman Kuinkel.

Basnet has reportedly kept a major chunk of his assets under the ownership of his two wives. During his stint in the city as a cabbie some 12 years ago, Basnet was much talked about for abducting a school girl and marrying after subjecting her and her family to pressure.

Strong voice against political protection

With rising public anger against Basnet, political figures here have mustered courage to flay their own party leaders for their covert links to him.

"I hereby claim that if Binod Dhakal, Amrit Aryal and Shiva Mandal, the district chiefs of the three major political parties-- CPN (UML), Nepali Congress and UCPN (Maoists)--stop protecting Basnet, the entire Basnet saga will end right away and he will surely be brought to justice," said Kedar Karki, district committee member of Nepali Congress and former central committee member of Nepal Students Union. He even claimed that Basnet had provided all three leaders regular funds as well as vehicles.




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NUMBER OF ARMED OUTFITS DRASTICALLY DOWN

Kathmandu, 18 June: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has claimed that the number of armed outfits operating across the country has significantly come down, thanks to the government’s operations against the groups that were launched nationwide one-and-a-half years ago, Anil Giri writes in The Kathmandu Post.
While there were 108 groups earlier, only 26 of them are active now. According to MoHA Joint Secretary Sudhir Shah, who is also in charge of the Peace and Security Division at the ministry, only 10 armed outfits are active in the eastern hilly region while 16 are still operating in the Tarai and Madhes belt.
The revelation was made on Thursday evening in a meeting of the Central Security Committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara. The committee comprises top security officials from Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department.
“The meeting instructed the security agencies to work vehemently against the remaining outfits,” Shah said. According to him, a massive ‘crackdown’ on the armed outfits will continue. A district level leader of the Akhil Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh group), Jeevan Tyagi, aka ‘ Indrajeet’, was arrested in Sitamadi in India on Thursday. Process is underway to hand him over to Nepal. “This means we are continuing our efforts to bring down the number of such outfits,” he added.
“Some commanders of these outfits were killed during the operations while others did not dare challenge the government’s drive,” Shah said. According to him, most of the armed outfits were engaged in extorting people. The meeting also decided to launch a crackdown on “a network of small arms traders” and instructed the security agencies to find out their nexus with the outfits. “According to our data, more than 200 small weapons of various categories were confiscated within a year,” Shah said.
The committee also reviewed the political situation and decided to take precautions to avert untoward incidents.
“The joint Madhesi Morcha, a loose alliance of Madhes-based parties, is likely to take to the streets in the Tarai, which could affect the entire nation, including Kathmandu. The meeting instructed the security agencies to take measures to ensure that normal life is not affected. Also, we have some credible intelligence inputs saying that some armed outfits could create trouble in the meantime,” he said.
The meeting also decided to provide additional security to Maoist leaders in the absence of the PLA. It further decided to upgrade security arrangements in the private sector by providing trainings to the private security agencies.
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MAOIST RIFT MAY DISGRACE NEPAL

Kathmandu, 18 June: Difference of opinions among the leaders of the Unified CPN-Maoist might put the country to shame, Kuvera Chalise writes in The Himalayan Times.
Nepal is struggling to escape blacklisting by Financial Action Task Force, a global anti-money laundering agency, with two UN Conventions the country yet to ratify. The sooner the Conventions are ratified, the better the chances are for the country to avoid getting blacklisted.

But Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara today [Friday] stopped short of registering the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime at the Parliament Secretariat following pressure from his party, the UCPN-M.

Maoist leaders, however, gave differing views for not registering the UNCATOC. “We are studying the Convention. It will be registered only after we completely assess its

possible consequences,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, adding, the party was also gauging the provisions of reservations in the Convention.

But standing committee member Dev Gurung ruled out the need to get the Convention ratified. “It’s not necessary for the country,” said Gurung. “Since we don’t have any terrorism problem, like say al-Qaeda, we don’t need to ratify the Convention. Instead, there will be threat of our national security getting weaker if we ratify the Convention.”

According to Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel, Home Minister Mahara was ready to register the bill but he didn’t do so at the last moment.

A source at the Ministry of Home Affairs told this daily that the ministry was all set to register it today. “The ministry kept the parliamentary officials waiting till late hours but informed them in the evening that it was registering the Convention,” said the source. Sources claimed that Mahara might take rather ‘unusual’ route to get the Convention registered. “Another minister might register it, as it is key to fulfil the FATF’s recommendations to save the country from getting blacklisted,” added the sources.

Nonetheless, the Ministry of Finance today registered the UN Convention on Suppression of Financing of Terrorism. “The UN Convention on Suppression of Financing of Terrorism will be most probably ratified on Sunday,” said Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota. “Had the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime been registered today, both would have been passed on Sunday lessening the chance of country being blacklisted by FATF.”

A country needs to fulfil 40 plus nine recommendations of FATF to comply with the international Anti-Money Laundering practice. Its purpose is to ensure the adoption, implementation and enforcement of internationally accepted anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards laid down in the FATF’s 40 plus nine special recommendations.

“Nepal has recently ratified UN Convention on Combating Corruption, amended Anti-Money Laundering Act and approved a separate department to look after Anti-Money Laundering,” said Baskota adding, “But it has still not escaped the possibility of getting blacklisted. We still have to take stock of 36 recommendations.” If Nepal ratifies these two UN Conventions and two additional bills — Mutual Legal Assistance Bill and Extradition Bill — by June 21, it still has a chance of escaping the blacklisting. The plenary meeting of FATF in Mexico on June 20-24 will go through Nepal’s progress and decide on Nepal’s fate.

Earlier, a regional review meeting of FATF in Macau on May 13 had asked Nepal to submit a progress report by June 21.

Nepal in the Macau meeting had requested for an extension of deadline.
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