KATHMANDU AREA CONTROL CENTER ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TARA AIR CRASH

THREE-PARTIES MEET

Kathmandu, 11 July; The government Monday convened a meeting of the Big Three-UML, Maoists and NC—to discuss the annual being presented by the majority communist government Friday.
On behalf of the government, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari briefed the leaders of the parties on the forthcoming budget at the residence of the prime minister..
Main opposition NC President Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel weren’t present; the party was represented by Dr. Ram Bharan, a former finance minister, Dr. Narayan Khadka and Narahari Acharya..
Maoist Chairman Prachanda, Vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara also attended..
A front of four terai parties has threatened obstruct budget presentation if six demands of Madesh aren’t addressed.
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KATHMANDU AREA CONTROL CENTER ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TARA AIR TWIN OTTER CRASH

Kathmandu, 11 July: A Twin Otter of Tara Air crashed 15 December 2010 over Okhaldunga because of inappropriate traffic information of Kathmandu Area Control Center and inadequate communications between pilots, a probe committee concluded.
Twenty-two passengers and crew members, were killed; 18 Bhutanese, an American of Tibetan descent and three crew members were killed after the plane crashed at Shrichaur Manednada in Okhaldunga.
The pilot descended to 8,500 from 10,000 feet in cloudy weather to avoid a helicopter approaching from an opposite direction from Ramechap.
A five-member investigation team headed by Modani Prasad Sharma submitted its report to Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwamarka Sunday.
The team formed 17 December 2010 suggested 14 safety measures ,including three suggestions that should be immediately implemented.
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MAHANTA THAKUR DISCHARGED

Kathmandu, 11 July: TMLP Chairman Mananta Thankur was discharged from hospital Sunday where he was admitted for a check-up after complaining of chest pain.
He was released five days after he was admitted.
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EU Rs. 2.2 BILLION GRANT
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Kathmandu, 11 July:- The European Union Sunday gave Nepal a Rs. 2.2 billion (22 million EURO) grant, according to the EU Delegation to Nepal through the finance ministry for peace related activities to be implemented by the Nepal Peace Trust Fund (NPTF).
The grant will support a multi-donor fund set up by the Government of Nepal to support the peace process.
In addition to the European Commission, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom as well as Norway and Switzerland contribute to the NPTF.

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A Rs. 0.6 billion has been already allocated for promotion of human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms.
The additional contribution to the NPTF is financed by the European Union Development Cooperation Instrument, and aims to build on the achievements in the consolidation of the peace process in Nepal, supporting and facilitating the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) of November 2006.
The activities under the three-year programme include providing compensation to conflict-affected and internally displaced persons and their families, as well as supporting their reintegration into society.
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NAC CHIEF ENGINEER HELD
Kathmandu, 11 July: Achyut Raj Pahadi, Chief of Engineering Department under Nepal Airlines Corporation, was arrested today [Sunday] at Tribhuvan International Airport on suspicion of his involvement in the cheating of 23 Indian nationals with job promise, The Himalayan Times reports.

The scam came to light after eight Indians, carrying fake appointment letters for the post of Aircraft Maintenance Technician, were detained at the Engineering Department on Friday and Saturday.

According to Metropolitan Police Range, the appointment letters had the signature of Pahadi on them. “We have arrested Pahadi and referred his specimen signatures to the Central Police Forensic Lab to verify authenticity. Results will be known within a week,” informed an investigator.

Employees at the Engineering Department have locked Pahadi’s office at the direction of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation out of fear that he could tamper with the evidence, informed Rajendra KC of Nepal National Employees’ Union.

Meanwhile, NAC today formed a seven-member probe panel, led by deputy general manager Raju Babu KC, and has given it three days to submit its report.

Eight Indian nationals paid up to Rs 3.2 lakhs each to the brokers — Om Prakash Yadav and Raju Pahadi — who are at large, said Inspector Kabit Katwal. They interviewed the job aspirants over phone or in person before issuing appointment letters at a hotel in Gongabu on July 7.

The victims have been identified as Turumalraj B Ekbote and Mrigendra Burma of Karnataka, Ashuthosh Raut of Orissa, Suresh Chelluboniya of Andhra Pradesh, Kaushik Biswash of Kolkata, and Tirmal Raut, Salbakumar and Chandrakath of Tamil Nadu.

During interrogation, the victims told the police that they were among 23 Indians who paid for the job. The office of national carrier has requested the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the case. DIG Birendra Babu Shrestha, airport security chief, said the victims were detained from the NAC office and handed over to the police after the appointment letters were found to be fake.

“It is a fraud case, not a matter of security threat to the TIA,” he said. Indians had arrived

in Kathmandu on June 19 after they were offered a monthly salary of Rs 22,500 along with

free food and accommodation ‘on behalf of the NAC.’
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‘CONSENSUS PRE-CONDITION FOR PM’S RESIGNATION





Kathmandu, 11 July: Minister for Information and Communications Agni Sapkota has said that it is the time to focus on concluding the peace process and drafting the new constitution rather than debating on the post of prime minister, The Rising Nepal reports.
Speaking at an interaction held by Reporter’s Club in the capital on Sunday, Sapkota said that the UCPN-Maoist as the largest political party has right to lead the government but NC-led government is acceptable if the party acts sincerely on peace and constitution.
However, Sapkota made it clear that the present Prime Minister will not resign from his post because it could only lead to a state of uncertainty. Consensus building on new national government is a prerequisite for the prime minister’s resignation, he said.
Sapkota said that the Maoist chairman was not in a mood to lead new government. He said that the party had not discussed making Dr. Baburam Bhattarai the new prime minister.
"Though the matter is yet to be discussed in the party, there will be no objection if vice chairmen Mohan Baidhya or Dr Bhattarai want to lead the next government," said Sapkota. Right now, the party chairman is not interested in the post, he added.
Minister Sapkota claimed that the peace process was not affected by the internal debate going on in the Maoist party.
He expressed his belief that the intra-party dispute would be settled by the Maoist central committee meeting. while will be decided to put in order the party congress.
Sapkota said that he had instructed the concerned authorities to check the rising smuggling of red sandalwood.
Nepali Congress leader Dr Minendra Rijal said that the Maoist and UML controlled government had failed to conclude the peace process and draft the constitution.
He demanded immediate resignation of the prime minister to pave way for consensus government as mentioned in the five-point pact.
He said his party would nominate either Sher Bahadur Deuba or Ram Chandra Poudel as prime ministerial candidate if other political parties agree with NC-led government.
Rijal alleged the Maoists were not walking on the path of peace and democracy. He aid the task of writing the new constitution will not complete until the Maoists give up their arms and turn away from the violent activities.
"The Maoists have refused to abide by the agreements made in the past, which is hindering the peace process and drafting of the new constitution" said Rijal.

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FAKE CURRENCY NOTE SMUGGLER ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 11 July: Iltaf Hussein Ansari, a notorious criminal known for his involvement in smuggling of fake Indian im. After the arrest of Yunus, Iltaf is considered to have operated the entire smuggling racket almost single-handedly until his arrest last week.

Police sources said, the 28-year-old Iltaf has an unassuming personality and is generally benevolent whether at his birthplace Prastuka VDC in Bara district or in the capital city Kathmandu. But his stature as a smuggler of fake notes kept growing in the last few years and more so after the arrest of Yunus. Yunus was in the news some months ago when he was shot at by an Indian contract killer at the Central Jail.

Another spectacular side of his persona as an underground criminal is that he would even tip off police and the authorities concerned about the movements of his rival smuggling gangs so as to make sure his sway in the smuggling arena. "He succeeded to weaken or finish off his rivals and also compelled international smugglers to depend on him," said officials.

According to investigating officials, Iltaf dominated the fake currency smuggling for the whole last decade and is also believed to have operated an illegal arms trading racket across the Indo-Nepal border.

Iltaf has been alleged to have masterminded the murder of one Balaram Putuwar, one of his gang members, four years ago in the capital on account of his personal rift with the latter. Besides the Putuwar murder, there are two separate fake currency smuggling cases of recent years lodged against him in Kathmandu and Lalitpur.

India has been putting forth the fake Indian currency smuggling as one of its most important trans-border issues with Nepal. Accordingly, Nepal has banned the circulation and possession of Indian currency notes in denomination of IRs 500 and 1000. Despite that, the volume of smuggling in fake Indian currency via Nepal has been steady.

Iltaf has reportedly been involved in currency smuggling since his teenage years and kept progressing in the illegal business dramatically. He was initially a close aide of Yunus but he parted his ways with him a few years ago. He is said to have made an awful lot of properties and owns houses in Jeetpur of Bara, Birgunj, Narayanghat and Kathmandu. His image in the Bara district is more of a philanthroper who donates money to local mosques and needy people.

Iltaf has a couple of nick names in the criminal world. He was pinned down as one Munna in the Putuwar murder. Lal Mahomed, the criminal who shot dead Putuwar as per Iltaf´s instruction, is now in the Birgunj jail.

Police have found few fake documents including a driving license. "We are investigating his travel details which should reveal his links with the international smugglers," said CIB officials.
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MAOISTS TRADE CHARGES ON RED SANDALWOOD SMUGGLING

Kathmandu, 11July 11: The formation of a high-level panel by the UCPN (Maoist) to probe allegations of the red sandalwood smuggling that the party rival factions have leveled against one another has created ripples in the party district committee in Sindhupalchowk, Dhruba Dangal writes in Republica from Sindhupalchowk.

A senior party leader in the district claimed that such accusations were a direct result of growing factionalism in the party.

“But whatever the reason, the illegal and anarchic activities in the party have come into the open. This will expose other illegal activities being carried out in the party,” said the leader requesting anonymity.

According to leaders, there is a triangular conflict among three different factions led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai.

Minister for Information and Communications Sapkota is close to Dahal, lawmaker Dawa Sherpa to Baidya and another lawmaker Raj Kumar Shrestha to Bhattarai.
Shrestha and Baidya have forged an alliance against Sapkota who also the in-charge of the party´s Tamsaling State Affairs.

The party formed a panel, led by leader Amik Serchan, to investigate into the trade in red sandalwood after Shrestha´s his wife Devi Khadka, who is the State Minister for Physical Planning and Works, accused Sapkota of “conspiring” to incriminate her husband in an attempt to “cover up his own involvement” in the trade.

“The conspiracy was hatched in a cowardly manner after facing defeat in the ideological front. We filed an application in the party to probe the issue and find the guilty,” he said.

But leaders close to Sapkota have accused Shrestha of operating the illegal trade by mobilizing his brother-in-law Bhim Prasad Parajuli in the trade. When asked to comment, Shrestha said, “He is my brother-in-law and also a party cadre. I don´t know if he is involved,” he said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had seized 1453kg of red sandalwood from Tatopani VDC of Sindhupalchowk on July 2.

The precious wood is smuggled from South India to Tibet via Nepali territory. Various groups get involved in the smuggling of sandalwood.

According to the police, the first group transports the wood from South India to Nepal-India border, the second group transports it to Kathmandu, the third group from Kathmandu to Tatopani on the Nepal-China border and the fourth group sells it in Tibet. It is said that each kg of red sandalwood costs Rs 9,000 in Tibet.

The red sandalwood has religious and medicinal values and is also used in making perfumes.
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MAOIST CHIEF READY TO SHARE POWER
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Kathmandu, 11 July: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is willing to shed some of his powers and allocate responsibilities to leaders on the condition that his deputies Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya support his line on peace and constitution, Kamal Dev Bnattarai writes in The Kathmandu Post.

Dahal is preparing to present the party’s bottomline on peace and constitution to the crucial Central Committee (CC) which meets July 13, while seeking the support of the Bhattarai and Baidya factions. However, the two factions are adamant that issues related to allocation of responsibilities be finalised before discussing the party’s bottomline on peace and constitution.

According to leaders, Dahal’s new proposal is aimed at breaking the newfound Baidya-Bhattarai alliance, which is said to be gradually weakening his position in the party. Despite sharp differences on the issues of peace and constitution Bhattarai and Baidya have stood together to end Dahal’s “monopoly” of the party.

“First, there should be agreement on the party’s future political course, mainly on issues of peace and constitution, Then, we can forge consensus on organisational issues,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun, a Dahal confidant. Dahal has prepared the party’s bottomline on peace and constitution in line to prepare the first draft of the constitution before Aug 31 and complete the fundamental task of the PLA’s integration process.

While the Baidya faction has opposed Dahal’s soft stance on integration of combatants and some contentious issues of the new constitution, the Bhattarai faction wants re-allocation of powers and responsibilities in the organisation. Despite sharp differences on ideological issues, the two factions have the same stand — that the party should first discussion reallocation of power among the leaders.

Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel, who is close to Baidya, said that issues related to organisational reshuffling should take place first. “We are discussing the allocation of responsibilities, but there is no agreement yet,” said Gajurel. “We should sort it out first.”

Bhattarai is demanding the post of parliamentary party leader as well as recognition as the party’s official candidate for the prime ministerial berth, while Baidya is demanding the post of head of the party’s organisation department with executive powers. Dahal has said he is ready to forward Bhattarai as the prime ministerial candidate but is not ready to name a new parliamentary party leader.

The Maoist Standing Committee has decided to hold the party’s long stalled Central Committee (CC) meeting from July 13. However, the SC meet could not finalise the CC agenda. Earlier on June 24, the Maoist CC meet was put off for preparations on the agenda for deliberations put forth by Dahal.
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