PROBE OF BUDDHA AIR CRASH BEGINS WITH CRASH SITE VISIT

PROBE TEAM BEGINS INVESTIGATION OF BUDDHA
AIR CRASH

Kathmandu, 30 Sept. A five-member investigation team began its probe Tuesday of a Buddha Air US-built Beech 1900D
aircraft crash that killed 19 passengers and crew Sunday by visiting
the crash site.
All 10 Indians, two Americans, one Indian and six Nepalis were killed
when the aircraft flying low smashed against a hill southeast of the capital’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIS) while landing on returning from an abortive mountain flight to view the lofty Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest.
The body conducted technical measurement and talked
locals and rescue workers on the first day of its work, an announcement said.
The Buddha Air’s crash was the private carrier’s first in 14 years.
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NEPALI DOCTORS TEMPORARILY CALL OFF MANIPAL MEDICAL COLLEGE STRIKE

Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Nepali doctors demanding equal pay
with their Indian counterparts have called off their strike with the festive season at the Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara.
All Nepal Progressive Health Worker’s Association said their demands haven’t been met and threatened resumption of the strike after the festive season amid threats by management to close down the college.
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PRACHANDA SAYS INTRA-PARTY DIFFERENCES
WON’T STALL PEACE PROCESS





Kathmandu, Sept. 29, UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Thursday said that he was effortful to make agreement with the other parties over contentious issues related to peace process before Dashain festival.
"Just yesterday I had held discussions with Nepali Congress president and I realised that we are near agreement to move forward and conclude the peace process, said Prachanda at a tea reception programme at Thamel.
The chief of the main ruling party pointed out at the need of agreement on modality of army integration, number, rank harmonisation, standard norms and rehabilitation package. "It would really give good news to all including the business community in the context of happy Dashain if we political parties could make agreement on these vital issues before the great festival."
He hoped that there would be agreement if the issue of state-restructuring could be finalised.
The chief of the largest party said that the package-deal with regard to conclusion of peace process would not be as proposed by any one party.
"If we cannot take concrete decisions to conclude peace process and constitution within two months, the country would plunge into a crisis," he said.
Prachanda dismissed that the intra-party dispute in his party would hamper the peace and constitution writing as he said that the discussions on vital issues were normal in any party.
Meanwhile, ambassadors of the EU countries met with Prachanda at his residence at Nayabazar.
During the meeting, the EU envoys enquired Prachanda about the state of the peace and constitution building process and the Maoist position in that regard.
Talking to the journalists after meeting, Danish ambassador Morten Jespersen informed that the discussions were focused on peace and constitution writing process. He said that the ambassadors of the EU countries assured Prachanda of continued assistance and support for the conclusion of peace and constitution building process.

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MADESHI FRONT FOR INDIVISIBLE NEPAL SAYS MINISTER GUPTA





Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta has said that the remarks of Defense Minister Sarad Singh Bhandari were uncalled for as they go against the principles and policies of the Madhesi alliance, The Rising Nepal reports from Rajbiraj.
The issue of nationalism is being projected by some political forces in the manner of the panchayat regime in a bid to show the failure of the present government, Gupta said.
Speaking at a gathering organised by Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Republican) here Thursday, Gupta said the Madhesi Front, composed of five Madhes based parties, is in favour of one Nepal.
The outcry over the so-called splitting of the nation has no meaningful purpose, he said.
The Front will not support any such view, he clarified.
He objected to the criticism made by Mohan Baidhya faction of the UCPN-Maoist, and by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of the four-point agreement as lacking a solid basis.
Minister Gupta added that these forces outside the government were venting their discontent over the formation of the present coalition.
He said that the issue of nationalism should never be used for partisan interests.
The objective of the Madhes movement was to establish an autonomous Madhes province, not to divide the country, he said.
It was a false propaganda to say that India was interfering with Nepal’s national unity, he said.
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