3,000 MADESIS TO JOIN NA

3,000 MADESIS TO JOIN NA

Kathmandu, 19 Dec.::Leaders of Unified CPN-M and UDMF today agreed to begin induction of 3,000 people from Madhesi community into the Nepali Army,Prakash Acharya writes in The Himalayan Times..

A meeting of UCPN-M and UDMF leaders held at Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s residence in Baluwatar took the decision to this effect, according to Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (Nepal) Chairman Mahendra Prasad Yadav.

The meeting also decided to bring a bill on inclusion in the Parliament at the earliest. “We have agreed to endorse the issues at the next Cabinet meeting,” said Yadav, who is also the Minister for Irrigation.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and leaders of five Madhes-based parties were present at the meeting.

They also decided to provide citizenship certificates to the children of those who have got citizenship on the basis of their birth.

The UCPN-M and UDMF, in a four-point deal reached on August 28, had agreed for group entry of Madhesi people in the NA.

NORTH KOREAN TV REPORTS KIM JONG-il DEAD

Kathmandu, 19 Dec.: North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died Saturday on a train trip, a tearful state television announcer, dressed in black, reported Monday, Reuters reports from Seoul..

The announcer said that the 69-year old had died of physical and mental over-work on his way to give "field guidance."

He had suffered a stroke in 2008, but appeared to have recovered.

The reclusive state had begun the process of transferring power to his son Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s.
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