MAOIST BAIDYA CAMP HOLDS RIVALTRAINING CAMP IN MORANG

BAIDYA FACTION IN UCPN (MAOIST) HOLDS PARALLEL TRAINING CAMP IN MORANG

Kathmandu, 12 Sept.: Amid deep and public differences in UCPB (Maoist) leading the Maoist/ Madeshbadi majority coalition, First Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya faction held a separate training camp at Morang Sunday.
‘We’ve lagged behind in holding meetings. Ow wel’’ conduct meetings nation-wide,’ Secretary and Comander of the eastern region CP Gajurel of the Baidya camp said.
Such camps have been held in other districts as well.
Public differences have emerged between establishment factions of Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Baidya group in issue of handover of keys to containers to a government special committee.
The special committee in headed ex-officio by the prime minister.
The containers have 3,200 insurgency-era weapons of Maoists
Baidya faction opposes weapons handover without conclusion of the peace process as the group boycotts the Baburam Bhattarai government.
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NEPALI DOCTORS STRIKE IN ,MANIPAL MEDICAL COLLEGE DEMANDING EQUAL PAY

Kathmandu, 12 Sept. Nepali doctors at Pokhara’s Manipal Medical College went on a strike Sunday demanding
The College is owned and run by Indians.
Nepali doctors said they’ve been demanding equal pay with Indian colleagues for fo`ur years.
Nepali doctors allege they’ve been discriminated against.
“Equal pay for equal work is our only demand,”Dr. Krishna Koiala said.
Thirty-six Nepali and two dozen Indian doctors work at the hospital.
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ASHOK KUMAR AGRAWAL RE-ELECTED

Kathamandum 12 Sept.: Ashok Kumar Agrawal has been re-elected Chairman of Nepal Overseas Export Import Association.
Agwawal was re-elected Sunday at the Association’s 34th general meeting.
A 20-member working committee was also formed.
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HOME MINISTRY ORDERS RETURN OF SEIZED ASSETS

Kathmandu,12 Sept.: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all regional administration offices to immediately start implementation of the government´s decision to return the property seized during the insurgency, Republica reports.

According to a senior official at the ministry, the ministry issued circular Friday to all five regional offices following the property return decision of the government.
"The ministry has written to the regional offices to direct the district administration offices under their jurisdiction to enforce the decision," said the official requesting anonymity, "The ministry will prepare a more specific plan of action to implement the decision and send the plan to the regional offices."

The Maoist-led government on Friday while announcing a relief package decided to return private and public property seized by the Maoist party during the conflict.

Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) Kailali in-charge Hari Gyawali has vowed to not return properties seized during the conflict until alternative arrangements are made for party cadres who have been tilling the seized lands in the district for years, according to our correspondent Dil Bahadur Chhatyal.

Gyawali has also warned the government of confrontation if the government uses force to return the properties.

"We obtained the land in return for blood. We cannot return the land unless revolutionary land reform is introduced," Gyawali said, "The government will face confrontation if the government resorts to forceful measures."

The government has decided to return the seized properties to their rightful owners within three months in a bid to gain confidence of the political parties and to fulfill the obligations stated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of November 2006 that ended the decade long Maoist insurgency.

The government has made no alternative arrangements or announced any plans to bring about scientific land reforms as sought by Gyawali but has promised to form a high-level commission to resolve problems that might emerge while implementing the decision.

Claiming that the government took the decision without necessary preparations, Gyawali said, "Squatters, Kamaiyas and the family of martyrs have been using the [seized] lands. We will not return the land to the landlords until revolutionary land reform is introduced."

According to Kailali state committee member Sundar Regmi, Maoist cadres have around 2,000 bighas of land owned by 147 families in the district. The district has the largest area of land seized by the Maoists. But even the victims of land seizure are not much optimistic about getting their lands back.

"Baburam [Bhattarai] is a good prime minister but we have doubts if the decision will be implemented," said secretary of the Conflict Affected Families Ganesh Malla. Seven bighas of land owned by Malla has remained under Maoist control for the last ten years.

The decision to return the seized properties is the fourth one since November 2006. The Maoist party has faltered in implementing its written commitment thrice. And the conflict-affected people are doubtful if the decision would be implemented.

"There were many agreements, including the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, to return the seized properties. However, our properties still remain under Maoist control. How can we rest assured that our lands would be returned," said Malla.
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MADESHBADI PARTIES WANT AMENDMENT IN BUDGET OF PREVIOUS GOVT.

Kathmandu, 12 Sept.: Leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) said on Sunday that the annual budget must be amended before it is endorsed by the legislative parliament, Republicareports.

They were responding to the statement of Finance Minister Barshaman Pun who has been publicly saying that the budget of the current fiscal year would be endorsed without any amendment.

Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R) Co-chairman Rajkishor Yadav said the budget in its current form is not acceptable to them. “There must be an amendment in the budget as per the four-point agreement reached between UCPN (Maoist) and UDMF,” Yadav told Republica.

The text of the four-point agreement signed by Maoists and UMDF leaders at the eleventh hour of the prime ministerial election reads: “The budget of current fiscal year will be amended. In this context, the commitments of the then government and the demands raised by Madhes-based political parties will be kept in mind for improvements in the budget.”

Asked, if the UDMF would back out of its earlier stance on the budget, Yadav said, “We will not step back to let others retain the power and positions.”

Vice-chairman of Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna was for amending the budget to incorporate the UMDF demands. “We will put forward our views regarding amendments to the budget during discussion on the budget in parliament,” Karna added.

Jitendra Dev, Spokesperson of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), said the budget could be amended.

However, he said after a meeting of the UDMF within a couple of days, it would make its stand clear.

UDMF has demanded that the government allocate Rs 5 million to establish schools after the names of each of the 52 martyrs of the Madhes movement in their respective districts and Rs 20 million for the treatment and rehabilitation of those injured during that movement.

UDMF had demanded allocations for the construction of postal roads and the proposed East-West Railway in the Tarai. It has also asked the government to provide a budget for establishing universities in the Tarai region and for subsidizing the import of chemical fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.
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