MAJOR SHIFT IN US MILITARY POLCY IN NEPAL EVEN UNDER MAOISTS

DIVIDED FAR-WEST UNACCEPTABLE SAY NC LAWMAKERS
Kathmandu, 8 Feb.:: Seven Constituent Assembly members of the Nepali Congress have appealed to all concerned to stand for the integrity of the far-western region, RSS reports.

Issuing a joint press release here on Wednesday, the seven CA members have expressed grave concern over the majority report of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) that proposed for the secession of Kailali and Kanchanpur districts from the far western region.

Taking the report proposed by minority members of the SRC positively, they however expressed discontent over the separation of Kailali district from the present status.

All nine districts in the far western region must be unified for the integrated province in order to ensure the rights of indigenous nationalities, dalit, women and Rautes, community on the verge of extinct.

The joint press statement was released by Ramesh Lekhak, Ishwori Neupane, Devraj Joshi, Arzu Deuba Rana, Chandri Ram Tamata, Maha Nepali and Kalpana Sob.
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MAJOR CHANGE IN US NEPAL MILITARY POLICY
Kathmandu, 8 Feb.: In a major shift in Nepal military policy, US has lifted financial assistance for Nepal Army (NA) imposed after royal rule
Washington limited times to humanitarian affairs only after royal rule

The shift came even as U.SA kept Maoist on its terrorist list; Maoists are leading the government
“The United States is committed to assist in making the new Nepal Army Directorate effective in its important mission and we are pleased to announce we will provide approximately $2 million USD (NRs 155 million) this year to equip and train the NA Directorate,” an embassy statement said Tuesday.
Nearly 6,500 former Maoists are being integrated in NC under a directorate on guard duty at forests and other sectors.
The embassy said developments in integration and resettlements were
;a historic moment in the Nepal’s peace process’.

The statement welcomed the political leader’s contribution in the peace process.
The embassy said US will also work with the Ministry of Defense and NA
to identify and coordinate the specific needs during the integration process
of the PLA combatants into the NA.
“The former Maoist fighters and their new Nepal Army colleagues
will, we hope, become one team working to build Nepal’s future through disaster mitigation, infrastructure support and protection of nation’s natural resources,” US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi wrote on his
Facebook website.
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AT LEAST 22 KILLED BY ILLICIT LIQUOR IN INDIA
Kathmandu, 8 Feb.: Officials say at least 22 people have died and more are sick after drinking toxic bootleg liquor made from cough medicine in eastern India. AP reports from Bhubaneswar.

A hospital administrator in Orissa state said the farm laborers fell ill in the past two days after drinking the brew. Bhubananda Maharana also said Wednesday that another 31 workers were being treated for symptoms of liquor poisoning.

India's poor often buy cheap bootleg liquor made of syrups and medicines that are spiked with methyl alcohol and other industrial spirits to give it a kick.

Orissa's top elected official has ordered an inquiry.

Government spokesman S.K. Panda also said two pharmaceutical companies that produced the cough medicine have been sealed.
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