MAOIST CHAIRMAN LEAVES FOR NEW YORK 5 NOV TO MEET UN CHIEF

MAOIST CHIEF TO LEAVE FOR NEW YORK 5 NOV.FOR MEET WITH IN CHIEF BAN KI-MOON

Kathmandu, 27 Oct.: UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is heading for New York on November 5 to hold a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon about the broader development of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, The Kathmandu Post reports..
According to Minister for Culture Gopal Kirati, Dahal's meeting with Ban has been scheduled for November 7 and the two will discuss about various issues related to the development of Lumbini. Dahal's trip also aims at garnering the international support for the development of Lumbini.
Recently, Lumbini Development National Directive Committee chaired by Dahal has decided to develop a broader Lumbini development master plan. The Maoist-led government had appointed Dahal as the committee's chairman.
Lumbini, the historic site in Rupandehi district, some 300 km southwest of Kathmandu, was enlisted in the World Heritage Site in 1997. In recent days, the Maoist chairman has shown special interests for the development and promotion of Lumbini. According to Minister Kirati, during the meting with the UN secretary general, Dahal will request him to lead the Broader Lumbini Development International Committee. The Cabinet meeting has recently decided to reshuffle the committee and request Ban to chair it. During his meeting with then Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal on May 8, 2011 in Istanbul, Ban had reaffirmed his support for efforts in close cooperation with Unesco for the promotion of Lumbini.
However, Minister Kirati said that there is a need of a broader master plan that will cover the surrounding districts as well. Kirati said the greater master plan includes Rupandehi, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi districts and the Dahal-led panel will prepare the master plan with the help of experts.
Earlier, Dahal's initiative to bring in an investment of USD 3 billion from the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation was dragged into controversy. Dahal is the co-vice-chairman of the APEC. However, Dahal is making efforts to take the assistance of APEC for the development of Lumbini. The government has requested APEC representatives to register their organization in Nepal so that it can legally help for the development of Lumbini, said Kirati.
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TU DRAWS STUDENT FLAK FOR DOGING UNION ELECTION
Kathmandu, 27 Oct.: Students unions affiliated to various political parties today [Wednesday] accused Tribhuvan University (TU) of not paying enough attention towards holding Free Students Union (FSU) election, The Himalayan Times reports.

They said that TU was busy holding discussions on introducing a new calendar to maintain regularity in academic sphere and examination system, but their demands were never addressed.

The tenure of FSU had expired on March 20, but the date for election remained uncertain after the students unions remained divided over electoral process.

TU extended the tenure of FSU members for an indefinite period on March 18.

As per the TU Act, FSU election should be held on February 26.

Nepali Congress’ sister wing, Nepal Student Union (NSU), was adamant on post electoral system while other unions had floated proportional electoral system.

Madhab Dhungel, president, All Nepal National Free Students Union, aligned to CPN-UML, said that they had been repeatedly urging TU to determine a fixed date for election, but varsity remained mum.

He said, “If the TU delayed to fix a new date for FSU election this year as well, we would not be able to hold election.”

Ramesh Malla, vice-president, All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary, aligned to ruling UCPN-Maoist, said that TU was not taking initiative to hold election.

He said, “TU officials believe in political bargain, therefore, they never take risk to interfere in such issues.”

“The tenure of Rector and Registrar is going to end in mid-November, therefore, there is no chance of declaring FSU election before the appointment of new officials,” he said.

Nain Singh Mahar, vice-president, NSU, also echoed the same.

He said, “The newly appointed officials in TU are less bothered about issues such as FSU election.”

Students unions affiliated to various political parties are going to hold a meeting after Tihar to put pressure on TU administration.

Meanwhile, Prof Hira Maharjan, Vice-Chancellor, TU, said that nothing was possible without consensus among students unions.

He said, “There are differences among students unions regarding the electoral system, otherwise, we have no problem in holding election.”

He also reiterated that TU would be calling all-students unions meeting after Tihar to evolve consensus on electoral system and announce election.
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CA POLL BILLS STILL UNDER WRAPS
Kathmandu, 27 Oct.: More than three years have passed since the historic Constituent Assembly elections, but an ugly truth continues to mar the landmark event, Ananta Raj Luitel writes in The Himalayan Times.

One-and-a-half-years have elapsed after the expiry of the CA’s original tenure, but 1,667 of the 3,600 candidates, who contested the April 19, 2008 polls, are yet to submit their poll expenses to the Election Commission despite the latter’s repeated requests, according to a source.

Interestingly, election laws have it that candidates should furnish their expenses within two months of an election.

“Despite our repeated requests in writing, the parties concerned are yet to respond,” Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neelkantha Uprety says.

The constitutional body has been checking whether the poll candidates spent funds within the ceiling.

“Instead of assisting us by directing their cadres to cooperate, the central offices of many parties have demanded the list of candidates, who did not furnish the details of the expenses,” Uprety laments.

“We will ask them to cooperate once or twice. If they do not heed, we will make public the names of the rule violators so that the voters get to know their true colours.”

EC records show that Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidates are on top when it comes to keeping the election bills under wraps.

UCPN-Maoist, Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, Janashakti Party, Nepal Communist Party (Unified), Nepal Communist Party (ML), Tarai Loktantrik Party, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Tamsaling Nepal National Party, Nepali Janta Dal and Jana Morcha candidates are not lagging much behind, besides independent lawmakers.

RPP candidates flouting the laws include Amrit Rajthala, Dev Bahadur Thing and Surendra Prasad Jaisawal. Independent CA members Baban Singh, former land reforms and management minister Prabhu Sah and Mohammad Aftab Alam of the Nepali Congress have not come clean. Madan Thapa Magar, Rukmai Basnet and Badri Raj Tiwari, candidates from Kathmandu constituencies, have also not furnished the details of the expenses.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Chairman of the NWPP, says lack of proper coordination between central and local committees may have given rise to such a situation. “I will discuss the issue with my comrades in districts,” Bijukchhe goes.

While Kiran Giri, spokesperson for the Janashakti Party, says, “We directed the candidates concerned to furnish the expenses right after the polls after the EC approached us.”
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