ANOTHER ATTEMPT IN PARLIAMENT TO PASS THREE BILLS RELATED TO ANTI -MONEY LAUNDERING

ANOTHER ATTEMPT IN PARLIAMENT FRIDAY TO PASS
THREE CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-LAUNDERING BILLS
Kathmandu, 17 Feb.: Another attempt will be made Friday in parliament to pass three government bills related to anti-money laundering,
including an extradition treaty.
The passage of the bills is in Friday’s parliamentary agenda
A hand-line faction in the party leading the government obstructed the passage of the bills.
Opposition parties Thursday urged passage of the bills with amendment to escape international blacklisting of the country.
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20, OOO CHICKENS DEAD IN DHADING AS BIRD FLU DETECTED IN CAPITAL AND EAST NEPAL
Kathmandu, 17 Feb.: More than 20,000 chickens have died of unidentified disease in Naubise VDC’s Dharke and surrounding areas in the past one week, The Himalayan Times reports from Dhading..

Livestock Development Officer Dr Shivaji Prasad Das of District Livestock Service Office said chickens had been dying but since the farmers kept mum more chickens could not be prevented from dying. It was only yesterday that a team including Dr Das went to the incident site. It sent dead chickens for tests to Kathmandu’s Central Livestock Disease Control Laboratory today. According to Dr Das, test report will be out in three days.

In the poultry farm owned by Ram Koirala of Dharke 3,500 died within two weeks. In Salikgram’s farm 3,000 fowls have died. Thousands of chickens have died in other farms as well. Farmers estimate that they have lost more than Rs 50 lakhs.

Ram Koirala, Proprietor of Dharke-based Ram Laxman Poultry Farm, said, “We had taken the chickens to Kathmandu’s Gauri Shankar Vet Farm as soon as we found out they were suffering from some disease. The vets there said chickens suffered from Ranikhet disease.” Farmers are worried that chickens are dying even after treatment of Ranikhet disease.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet decided today to declare three districts of eastern region — Ilam, Sunsari and Jhapa — as bird flu affected areas and directed the government agencies to adopt effective measures to control the disease.
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INTEGRATION OF FORMER PLA TO BEGIN MID-MARCH
Kathmandu, 17 Feb.: After the release of Maoist combatants who had opted for voluntary retirement last week, major political forces have made an informal understanding to settle all disputes regarding integration by the end of February, and begin formal process of integration by mid-March, The Himalayan Times reports.

Ruling UCPN-Maoist party and opposition Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, along with Madhesi alliance, agreed to accelerate the task of managing remaining combatants who have a wish to join the national army. Following the release of 7,365 combatants last week, 9,705 remain in cantonments.

According to sources, once the major parties reach an understanding on the highest rank to be awarded to PLA fighters, finalise the terms of references on their bridging course and duration of their professional course after joining the army the integration could begin under the aegis of the Nepali Army.

Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat said he had no knowledge if such an understanding had already been reached. “Maoists have created confusion by raising the issue of rank determination that was resolved with the seven point agreement.”

The seven-point agreement between major political forces reached on November 1 vaguely mentions that the rank determination would happen without affecting the professionalism of the national army. Non-Maoist parties claim an agreement was reached that combatants will not get a rank higher than major, while Maoists are adamant that at least one of their commanders becomes brigadier general after integration.

The army has fixed 1996 as the cut-off date on rank determination and argued that soldiers enlisted 17 years ago have so far only risen up to the rank of major.

“Once the issue of rank is settled, the integration process will gain pace,” said a source close to the Maoists.

Maoists leaders, particularly Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, have been holding discussions with the army leadership on how to take forward the process in a way acceptable to all. On Tuesday, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Chhatra Man Singh Gurung had called on the PM, when he assured him that the army would accept any decision taken by all political parties.

It is learnt that Gurung expressed commitment to integrate 6,500 combatants in the proposed non-combat directorate and shorten the bridging and regular training for the combatants to be integrated in the army. Nepali Army Spokesman Ramindra Chhetri said he was ‘not aware’ of recommendations made to the government.
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PRESIDENT ARMY CHIEF MEET

Kathmandu, 17 Feb.: President Ram Baran Yadav held consultations with Army Chief Gen. Chatraman Singh Gurung Thursday.
The meeting comes soon after Gen. Gurung suggested , in a flexible approach, mass integration of 6,000 former PLA fighters in Nepal Army (NA).
Following the evacuation of 28 cantonments and satellite camps for
the first time in five years this month by 7,200 fighters, 6,500 combatants are awaiting integration in the state army.
The president Thursday asked for details of the army chief’s latest suggestion to the prime minister for the integration of fighters, Surendra Paudel writes in Nagarik.
“It’s learnt the army has proposed quite a flexible approach for integration. Has Nepal Army reviewed its old stand?” a source said quoting the president
The president and the army chief held 30-mnute discussion during a
regular meet two days after a meeting between Gen. Gurung and the prime minister.
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