PRACHANDA-LED SUB-COMMITTEE MEET PUT OFF

PRACHANDA-LED SUB-COMMITTEE PUT OFF AT LAST MOPMENT

Kathmandu, 13 June: A scheduled meeting of a Prachanda-led sub-committee to sort out differences on topics to be incorporated in a proposed constitution didn’t; meet as scheduled Monday.
The meeting was cancelled at the last moment at the request of Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
The meeting was called to discuss appointment of three bodies to take up differences on major issues such as a proposed federal state and election processes.
The main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya has mandated the sub-committee to sort out differences on themes to be incorporated in a basic law.
The empowered five-member sub-committee has representatives of major parties.
The tenure of the constituent assembly which has to promulgate a constitution was extended 29 May by another three months.
Parties are attempting to finalize a first draft in the next two and half months.
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ONE PERSON SUSPECTED FOR ASSAULTING JOURNALIST ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 13 June: Manoj Rai was arrested Monday in Morang by police for suspected involvement in a deadly attack last week in Biratnagar on journalist Khilanath Dhakal.
A report prepared by a team of journalists claimed Youth Force, a youth wing of the UML leading the government, attempted to murder Dhakal.
The party has also been accused of protecting district leaders suspected for involvement in the assault.
Rai was picked up from a campus in Biratnagar.
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UNDER PRESSURE, DAHAL CALLS SC, CC MEETINGS
Kathmandu, 13 June: As the divided party leaders engage in a blame game on key issues related to the peace and statue writing processes and unresolved internal issues, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a series of meetings to sort out the growing differences, The Kathmandu Post reports.
To come to an understanding on consentaneous issues—implementation of the five-point agreement, peace process and intra-party rift—the party on Sunday called meetings of the party’s Standing Committee and the Central Committee for June 15 and 24 respectively.
Leaders said the meeting will focus mainly on the peace process, implementation of the five-point deal signed by the three major political parties, power sharing and inter-party struggle.
Dahal was forced to call the meetings as the hardliner faction of the party led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya has come down heavily on the Dahal faction. In a recent document, the Baidhya faction has levelled serious charges on the party chairman, including his “attempt to maintain relations with the Indian intelligence.”
Sources said three leaders—Dahal, Baidya and another Vice-chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai—are working hard to push their agendas in the meeting.
“The Standing Committee will just set agendas for the meeting,” said party Spokesman Dinanath Sharma. Both the faction wants to push their own respective lines in the meeting.
The Dahal faction is planning to address the rift by adopting any means of compromise at least for the promulgation of the constitution and completion of the peace process. However, the Bidya faction wants to expedite the peace process in a package, but will in no way “surrender the Maoist army.”
“In a report presented in a party meeting, our chairman never said that the weapons must be handed over,” CP Gajurel, a leader close to Baidya, said. “As such, we have not sent back combatants providing us security.”
Contrary to the spirit of the five-point deal, some leaders close to Baidya have not yet sent back PLA combatants deployed to provide security to Maoist leaders.
Leaders close to the Bhattarai faction said the main agenda of the meeting will be power sharing as per the five-point deal. “The prime minister should quit as mentioned in the five-point deal. Being a signatory, the prime minister should be responsible in bringing about an understanding,” said Ram Karki, a leader close to Bhattarai.
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SOME 100‚000 ILLEGAL NEPALIS MIGRANT WORKERS’ EMPLOYMENT AT RISK
Kathmandu, 13 June: Malaysia — one of most preferred destinations of Nepali migrant workers — is stopping hiring foreign worker from July 1 to implement its plan to legalise illegal migrant workers, The Himalayan Times reports.

“The action could affect about 100,000 Nepalis working illegally in the country,” said general secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies Kumud Khanal. “There will be no new hiring for the time being,” he said, adding that and the old workers will be slowly phased out.

Nepal should talk to the Malaysian to retain Nepali workers. “We have to find the ways to legalise our workers by issuing new passports and work permit to them,” he suggested. Nepalis working illegally in Malaysia do not have valid work permit and passport. So they cannot apply for legalisation process that starts next month. “If the government acts today, we can protect around 100,000 jobs, Khanal said, suggesting the government to empower Nepali embassy in issuing work permits and passports to illegal migrants. “It will give them legal status and they can apply for the legalisation process.”

Similarly, Malaysian government’s decision to stop hiring new migrant workers will affect Nepali outsourcing sector from next few month. “Though the ‘no-hiring’ period is not fixed yet, Nepal will have to find some other destination to send some 6,500 Nepalis, who have been flying to Malaysia per month in an average currently,” he said.

Around 500,000 Nepalis are working in Malaysia in construction, plantation and factories, whereas Nepalis involvement in service, domestic helps and caregivers is limited to some thousands only.

According to Bernama — the official news agency of Malaysia — Malaysia is legalising its two million illegal migrants in next few months. Those who do not meet legalisation criteria will be deported as mass amnesty. The malaysian cabinet decided on June 22 to legalise migrant workers. “We are freezing all foreign workers applications from July 1,” Bernama has quoted Malaysian deputy home minister Lee Chee Leong. “It will for few months.”
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