COLD CLAIMS FOUR MORE LIVES IN DHANUSHA FRIDAY

COLD CLAIMS FOUR MORE LIVES IN DHANUSHA

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: A continuing cold wave claimed four more lives in Dhanusha Friday, fresh reports from the central district said Saturday.
Cold has claimed nine lives in the district.
The home ministry has officially confirmed 32 deaths so far, mainly in the the terai, although unofficial figures are higher.
Unofficial deaths have been put lat 40 in the cold spell described as the worst in two decades.
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NEPAL GOVT. CONDILES KIM JONG-IL’S DEATH

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ has condoled the demise of President of the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK),
Kim Jong Il who died on December 17.
Shrestha said that the Government of Nepal is shocked and saddened to learn about the sudden demise of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of DPRK and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army.
"At this hour of grief, on behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal and on my own, I would like to convey heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the DPRK," Shrestha said.
UCPN (Maoist) leading the Baburam Bhattarai government and Nepal Majdoor KIshan Party,
a splinter communist party based mainly in neighboring Bhaktaur separately condoled the deaths.
Reaction hasn’t come from other parties so far.
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MAN BATTERED TO DEATH IN NUWAKOT

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Sahila Tamang, 64, was killed after he was beaten by his neighbour in Urleni VDC-3 of Nuwakot district, RSS reports from Nuwakot..
Tamang was beaten by Sonam Thing of the same place when there was a debate in their transaction. Police arrested Thing the same night.
Police said Thing had gone to recover his money for the meat sold, and beat him up when Tamang was in alcoholic stupor. RSS
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PM ASSURES LOAD-SHEDDING TO END IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS
Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Prime Minster Baburam Bhattarai on Friday expressed commitment to end load-shedding in industrial areas, Shanker Acharya writes The Kathmandu Post reports from Parsa..
“It seems impossible, but it can be made possible we start work right
now,” he said, inaugurating the International Trade Fair in Birgunj, adding that the government will initiate the process to import power from India for the purpose.
Nepal Electricity Authority has already forecast 19 hours of load-shedding every day in winter. The prime minister also pledged taking policy initiatives to safeguard investment as security of domestic investment would only encourage foreign investment. Political change has no meaning without economic prosperity and job creation, he said.
Given the country’s economy increasingly depending on remittance and consumption, the PM Bhattarai stressed on the need for boosting exports. “Remittance alone cannot sustain the ballooning trade deficit,” he said. In order to promote export, Bhattarai said the government will operate special economic zone (SEZ) in partnership with the private sector and establish Birgunj as an export zone.
Referring to the integrated check post being built in Birgunj to facilitate customs clearance and trade, Bhattarai said the construction will be completed within the next two years. India
has been assisting construction of such check posts in different bordering points.
“In the near future, construction of a six-lane Birgunj-Pathaliya road will be initiated,” said Bhattarai. “Work for the Nijhgadh-Kathmandu fast track also will also begin soon.”
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GOVT. PREPARES TO WITHDRAW 150 CASES
Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: The government is all set to withdraw over a dozen cases involving more than 130 individuals accused of being part of serious crimes including murder, arson and robbery, Kamal Raj Sigdel writes in The Kathmandu Post..
The withdrawal process initiated in line with the four-point deal signed between the ruling UCPN (Maoist) and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) could come into effect at an “appropriate time”, a highly-placed government source said.
Three of the cases were forwarded last week to the Ministry of Law and Justice for withdrawal at the request of the Morcha. Nine other cases were processed at the request of the Maoist party immediately after PM Baburam Bhattarai assumed office in August.
Most of the accused are close to the ruling political parties, but some are also close to the main opposition Nepali Congress and the Chure Bhawar Party. The NC and the Chure Bahwar Party have recommended withdrawal of a robbery case involving nine individuals. The Makawanpur District court has already issued arrest warrants against these accused and one of them is in police custody.
The recent cases processed for withdrawals include two arsonists from Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik. In one of the two cases, Shyamlal Sharma and 40 other individuals have been charged with arson in Morang. The district court has already released the three in bail while the rest are at large.
An arson case in Mahottari involving 11 individuals including Rabindra Thakur is partly a political case as it happened during the 2007 Madhes uprising, said a senior government official. All 11 accused are at large as they still face police warrants.
The Morcha has recommended a robbery case from Nawalparashi for withdrawal. Filed by one Devendra Raj Kandel, the case involves 13 persons.
The Maoist party has several cases pending in different courts in Tanahun, Dhankuta, Dhanusa, Rasuwa, Makawanpur, Taplejung and Baglung districts (see table). Sources said the government could withdraw them immediately after or just before the formation of a national unity government. The cases are yet to be tabled in the Cabinet for a final decision.
Since the 2006 Jana Andolan, governments led by the NC, Maoists and the UML have withdrawn 500 cases involving over 1,500 individuals.
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