TRANSPORT STRIKE CALLED OFF

TRANSPORT STRIKE WITHDRAWN

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: A strike of transport entrepreneurs pushing 41 demands was withdrawn after successful talks between government and transporters.
Entrepreneurs were pressing 41 demands and they opposed transport facilities awarded by government to groups like Badis for their social uplift.
The talks broke down in the afternoon but resumed after the government released 14 transport workers to facilitate talks.
The entrepreneurs enforced nation-wide transport strike Thursday; the strike was withdrawn Friday as people were inconvenienced.
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ANOTHER SEVEN-DAY ARREST WARRANT AGAINST UML YOUTH LEADER

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: A Morang district court single bench Thursday issued seven-day arrest warrants against 15 persons, including UML Youth Force defiant leader Purusottam Basnet.
Mukesh Budathoki and Denanandan Yadav were sent to judicial custody.
Basnet is the main accused in the attack of a prisoner while being presented in court.
They’ve been accused for attacking Abhishek Giri while he was presented in court earlier this year; Giri has been charged for murdering business partner Karan Yadav.
Fourteen accused, including Basnet, are absconding even after arrest warrants were issued 70 days ago.
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BANK OF ASIA NET PROFIT UP

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: Bank of Asia registered a Rs. 266.582 net profit in fiscal year 2067/68 that ended mid-July.
The Bank registered a Rs.207.905 net profit the previous fiscal year.
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BHACHU KUMAR KAFLE ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NOC

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: Bachu Kumar Kafle has been appointed acting managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) by commerce and supply ministry pending another arrangement.
Kafle replaces Digambar Jha who was sacked by government.
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GLOBAL BANK ANNOUNCES 12 PERCENT DIVIDEND

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: Global Bank announced a 12 percent dividend for shareholders from its 2067/68 fiscal year profit.
The Bank announced a 5.35 percent cash dividend 6.67 percent bonus share.
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MAOISTS TO DISCUSS PEACE PROCESS

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: The UCPN (Maoist) is holding a meeting of the party´s top office bearers on Friday morning to chart out a strategy for a Maoist-led,
consensus government and discuss ways to settle contentious issues of the peace process so that the party would have bright chances of leading a consensus government, Post N. Basnet in Republica.

“The party wants to settle a few issues involving the peace process now, which will convince the Nepali Congress (NC) to accept a Maoist-led government,” said a leader close to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

But the party hard-line faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya is likely to object to the discussions on the integration process, and demand a standing committee or even a politburo meeting, if necessary, to take up the issues.

“There is no formal committee of the top office bearers. So the issue should be discussed at formal committees,” said a leader close to Baidya

The party hard-line faction has accused Dahal and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai of deciding the party´s moves by analyzing the current political scenario in their own way.

On Tuesday, during a meeting of the party top office bearers, Chairman Dahal had proposed that the party immediately take some decisions on the issues of integration so that all other political parties including the NC would lend their support to a Maoist-led government. But party Secretary CP Gajurel had demanded a meeting of the standing committee to take a decision on the integration process. According to sources, party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa had also objected to the chairman´s proposal.

“The integration and rehabilitation of the PLA is a serious issue. We cannot take any hasty decision on the issue just for the sake of leading the government. We cannot surrender,” said a leader close to Baidya.

There are sharp differences between the Maoists and other political parties on the mandate of the proposed mixed force to be created after integrating the combatants, as well as the number, rank harmonization and the leadership of the proposed directorate under the Nepal Army (NA).

While the NA wants to use the proposed unarmed mixed force for the purpose of relief-and-rescue operation, the Maoists have construed that acceptance of the proposal would be a “surrender.”

On the issue of the peace process, Dahal has the backing of Bhattarai and together they command a majority in most of the top level committees. “But the issues raised by Baidya would certainly put the party leadership in a morally difficult position.

He is likely to put up stiff resistance if the party becomes too flexible on the integration process just for the sake of leading the government,” said a senior leader of the party.
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