TWO MORE LAWMAKERS SOLD DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

DIPLOMATS LEAVE ON WEEKEND TOUR OF FAR-WEST

Kathmandu, 24 June: A group of ambassadors and heads of mission, accompanied by their spouses, flew for Nepalgunj Friday on a three-day weekend tour conducted by the foreign ministry of some scenic spots in two far-West districts.
The envoys will view the scenic Rara Lake in Mugu and tour Bardiya National Park, the home of the endangered and protected tiger.
Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan who assumed official responsibility Monday has joined the tour on his first outing outside the Valley.
The annual programme has been resumed after it was suspended during the period the 10-year-insugrgency,” said Chief of Protocol Muktinath Bhatta..
Foreign Secretary Madhav Kumar Bhattarai, who is retiring, is accompanying the group.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Every case attached to a security issue is politicized. Consequently, enforcement of law has suffered.”

(Dolaka CDO Ganesh Bhattarai speaking at a two-day central region security review meet that concluded in Dolalghat Thursday, The Kathmandu Post, 24 June)

‘I didn’t become prime minister just to hang my portrait on a wall.”

(Radio Nepal quoting PM Khanal in its 1 PM news broadcast 24 June).

“The commission [public service] has written to the chief secretary and home secretary asking how the promotion [of DIG Kuber Singh Rana to AIGP] was effected unconstitutionally and illegally.”

(Commission member Tika Dutta Niraula, Kantipur, 24 June)
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TWO MORE LAWMAKERS SOLD DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

Kathmandu, 24 June: Police confirmed two more lawmakers sold their diplomatic passports, Naya Patrika reports.
UML lawmaker Naradmuni Rana and Shibapujan Yadav of MJFN led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yavad sold their red passports.
Nepal Police and Australian embassy confirmed two persons traveling on their passports are currently in Australia.
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12 FREE TIBET ACTIVISTS IN POLICE NET
Kathmandu, 24 June: Police last night [Thursday] intervened in a Tibetan exiles’ condolence meeting in Bouddha and rounded up 12 Free Tibet activists. The crackdown came when the exiles were holding a candlelight vigil on the Bouddhanath Stupa premises to wish for eternal peace to Phuntsok (21) and protest the Chinese excesses, The Himalayan Times reports.

The Buddhist monk had immolated himself near the Kirti monastery in Amdho, eastern Tibet, on March 16 in protest of the Chinese rule in Tibet. The incident sparked a wave of protests in Tibet, prompting the Chinese military to crack down on Free Tibet activists.

Those detained in yesterday’s crackdown are Lopsang Sherpa, Wangdi Gurung, Gato, Yote Lama, Tenzing Lama, Thendup Chhiring, Thumten Ghyamchho, Gyalchhen, Dorjee Chhiring, Rabygyal, Tenzing Phinchow and Dorjee Lama. Of them, Wangdi and Thendup are Nepalis.

DSP Shyam Lal Gyawali said police had to intervene after the Tibetan exiles sporting headbands and t-shirts reading ‘Free Tibet’ tried to stage an anti-China protest.

“We have charged the Free Tibet activists under Some Public Offences Act for their involvement in disturbing peace in the society,” Gyawali said.

Nepal, home to more than 22,000 Tibetan exiles, adheres to ‘one-China Policy’ and has vowed not to let its soil be used against its neighbours.
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