SHER BAHADR DEUBA CONVENES MEETING OF CENTRAL LEADERS CLOSE TO HIM

SHER BAHADUR DEUBA CONVENES MEET WITH PARTY CENTRAL LEADERS
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Senior party leader and former Prime Minister
Sher Bahadur Deuba has convened a meeting Wednesday with senior central leaders close to him to discuss a meeting of district presidents sometime in February
Deuba called the meeting after a tour of districts of the West, mid-West and the far-West to establish himself as the second leader in the main opposition after President Sushil Koirala who was accused of dictatorial tendencies following the unilateral dissolution of elected office bearers of four sister organizations.
Deuba also charges the president for not honouring conditions he had with Girija Prasad Koirala to unite a divided party.
Deuba led the NC (Democratic) before unity.
The incumbent president denies any knowledge of the agreement.
Deuba is embroiled in a tussle for leadership with Vice-president Ram Chandra
Paudel, who is also parliamentary party.
nnnn

US SEEKS FOOTHOLD ON NEPAL-TIBET BORDER
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: The US embassy in Nepal has shown interest in the economic and social development of Tatopani, the entry point at Nepal-China border. In a meeting with government, industrial and business officials of the region, high-level officials at the embassy put forth such proposal for the development of the area, reports in The Kathmandu Post from Barabise.
The political and economic chief of the US Embassy, Timothy Trenkle, said that the embassy is interested to invest in the construction, agriculture, and hydropower sectors in the area. Trenkle also said that the embassy would seek help from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and USAID for the same.
Trenkle had collected information about the Nepal-China border and the development of the area during his meeting with the officials of Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) at Barabise. He further showed great interest in the transaction of goods from the border and the difficulties that the people have had to face for the same.

During the meeting, Sindhupalchowk CCI Chairman Rajendra Kumar Shrestha said that the area has prospects of hydropower, agriculture and industries. Therefore, he requested the US embassy to invest in development of the area.
In response, envoy Trenkle said that the US embassy would not be investing directly on the area but it would work through the organisations that run under the US dollar.
nnnn
FAREWELL FOR COMBATANTS IN ONE WEEK
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: A farewell programme for former Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement is all set to begin amid the protracted stalemate in the peace process and constitution-drafting processes, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The departure of 7,365 combatants choosing voluntary retirement could start next week, according to government and Maoist sources. The process that was supposed to commence early this month has been delayed due to differences within the Maoist party.
“There is no dispute in our party in releasing the combatants opting for retirement,” Maoist Politburo member Janardan Sharma told the Post on Tuesday. “Talks are on among major parties on the peace process and constitution drafting. I think the process of bidding farewell to former combatants will start next week.” The Maoist leadership, according to party sources, is keen to take ahead the farewell process to reaffirm the party’s commitment to peace and constitution. The main opposition parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—have been critical of the deadlock in the process and have blamed the Maoists for backtracking from the November-1 peace deal.
The hard-line faction led by Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya has been stressing that those combatants opting for voluntary retirement should no longer be confined to the cantonments. Commanders of the Maoist army, however, have said both the integration and farewell process should go simultaneously.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expedited consultations with the commanders to convince them for starting the farewell process. The commanders have been stressing that the exceeding 3,205 combatants among the 9,705 former fighters opting for integration should be discharged along with those choosing voluntary retirement.
Last week, the Cabinet had released Rs 1.97 billion to the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry for making the first installation payment to the combatants opting for voluntary retirement. The Special Committee Secretariat has decided to deposit the amount to be paid to each combatant as golden handshake by opening bank accounts in their names. “Bidding farewell to the combatants is a win-win deal for the party. The money withdrawn by the combatants will be useful even if the party adopts the line of revolt,” said a Maoist leader, adding that the army integration process will move forward once the dispute over rank is resolved at the political level.
The November-1 deal commits for integrating a maximum of 6,500 combatants by forming a new directorate in the NA. Commanders of the Maoist army have demanded that they be provided one major general, two brigadier general, eight colonel, 16 lieutenant colonel, 64 major, 120 captain, 96 lieutenant and 120 second lieutenant posts in the new directorate.
The Nepali Congress has rejected the Maoist call and said the NA will decide the rank by checking eligibility of each combatant after s/he completes the bridge course. The NC has maintained that the Maoist combatants will not get any rank senior to a major in the NA.
Maoist fighters opting for retirement
Cantonments Male Female Total
Ilam 509 212 721
Sindhuli 344 146 490
Chitwan 833 310 1,143
Nawalparasi 835 483 1,348
Rolpa 504 394 898
Surkhet 954 445 1,399
Kailali 840 526 1,366
Total 4,849 2,516 7,365
nnnn