PRACHANDA ATTEMPTS TO APPEASE FORMER PLA FIGHTERS

PRACHANDA ATTEMPTS APPEASEMENT OF MAOIST PLA FLGHTERS

Kathmandu, 8 June: Nearly150 Maoist former commanders of seven divisions demanded ‘houourable integration’ and regretted division in the party leadership on their future at a meeting at a covered hall in the city outskirts Wednesday.
The meeting was convened by the party amid differences of the decision of the party boss and office bearers to disarm former fighters deputed for security duty of top leaders and return them to the 3rd division at Shaktikhor, Chitkhor.
Some leaders, including Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and other leaders backing him haven’t sent back former party fighters assigned responsibility for their personal security.
Government also provides them protection.
It has come to light not all 106 fighters returned to Tuesday where only 15 of 96 weapons verified weapons were handed over at the camp.
Chairman Prachanda Wednesday sought support for his initiative for disarmament and discharge of security responsibility amid protests from Baidya.
Military leader Barsha Man Pun said the former fighters sought explanation of modality, norms number and rank of fighters to be integrated during an eight-hour meet.
Pun said the party decision ‘will be acceptable”
Office bearers met separately at the Prachanda residence before the conclave with PLA commanders.
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34 ACCUSED IN SUDAN SCAM ASKED TO PRESENT THEMSELVES IN COURT IN 15 DAYS

Kathmandu, 8 June: A three-judge bench of a special court asked 34 accused in the multi-million rupee Sudan scam to present themselves in court in 15 days.
CIAA registered charges against 36 persons, including three former IGPs Tuesday at the court
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SHANKER POKHREL UML DEPUTY PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LEADER

Kathmandu, 8 June: Secretary Shanker Pokhrel was appointed deputy UML parliamentary party leader of UML leading the communist majority government of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal by the standing committee Wednesday,.
He replaces Bishnu Paudel who was appointed defence minister.
All UML ministers were relieved of party responsibilities by the standing committee
Paudel is close to anti-government faction led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Pokhrel was communication minister in the 21-month government of Nepal.
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