FRANTIC EFFORT TO MEET FRIDAY'S DEADLINE TO RESULVE DIFFERENCES ON CONSTITUTION

FRANTIC EFFORT TO MEET FRIDAY’S DEADLINE TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES
Kathmandu, 29 Dec.: A task force of Laxmi Lal Karma under a Prachanda sub-committee to resolve differences on themes to be settled for inclusion in a constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May began last minute work Thursday.
The tenure of the Prachanda sub-committee ends Friday and differences remain to be sorted in 14 themes still.
The Karna task force has to report to the Prachanda sub-committee
Friday to meet a deadline amid assurances a constitution will be promulgated by 28 May
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DISQUALIFIED FORMER MAOIST FIGHTRS CLOSE DOWN NINE FAR-WEST DISTRICTS
Kathmandu, 29 Dec.: Former Maoist fighters disqualified by UNMN which withdrew from Nepal 15 January Thursday closed down nine districts of the far-West pressing demands.
They’ve threatened to close down districts in four other regions if their demands aren’t addressed.
The former fighters of the ruling UCPN (Maoist) charge they have been given a raw deal by both the party and the government.
Their demands aren’t addressed in the package t conclude the peace process, the former fighters say.
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STRIKE ON BEHALF OF DALITS WITHDRAWN
Kathmandu, 29 Dec. :A nation-wide strike by a struggle committee Thursday withdrew nationwide protests opposing the murder of a Dalit boy in Kalikot this month.
The boy was killed by a person from a perceived higher class after the entered a personal kitchen to light a cigarette.
Phased protests were to begin Thursday was withdrawn after Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai agreed to meet five demands of the struggle committee.
The committee had threatened to disrupt the movement of vehicles Thursday in the first phase of a protest.
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION ASSISTANCE FOR UNHCR
Kathmandu, 29 Dec.: The European Commission recently gave UNHCR Rs.330 million to conduct its programme for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
“We are profoundly grateful for this generous donation which is a clear sign of the strong commitment of the European Commission towards the cause of the refugees,” said Mr. Stephane Jaquemet, the UNHCR Representative in Nepal.

“This important contribution comes at a crucial time when we are in the process of closing down some of the refugee camps and hopefully introducing development projects to benefit both refugees and host communities in Jhapa and Morang districts.:

"The fate of refugees, in Nepal and all over the world, is a matter of particular concern for the European Union, and we are glad to be able to cooperate with professional implementing partners like the UNHCR which is, alongside other organizations in this project, obtaining a remarkable success in its programme for the refugees from Bhutan in Nepal" said Gérard Van Driessche, Chargé d'Affaires, EU Delegation to Nepal.
There are less that 55,000 refugees at the camps now from 108,000 nearly two decades ago.
Most have been resettled in third countries, mostly in USA.
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