PM SAYS GOVT ON HIGH ALTYRT UNTIL 28 MAY

ITEMS BELOW WERE DELAYED IN UOLOADING BECAUSE OF POWER FAILURE.RGDS

PM SAYS GOVT.ON HIGH ALERT

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday said government has put forces on high alert until 28 May and reiterated attempts are being made to foil attempts to promulgate a constitution and conclude peace.
He said this in Gorkha while visiting his parliamentary constituency a day after a deadly bombng killed three persons and injured 12 others in the capital one day earlier.
The premier reiterated the claim for the second time in two days .
Bhattarai said the bombing was ‘terroristic’ and ‘counterrevolutionary’.
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POLICE SEAL INTERNATIONAL BORDER TO NAB MAN
WHO CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR KATHMANDU
BOMBING

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Police are on the hunt for ‘Debraj Lama ‘Bishwakranti’ who called reporters in the Nepali capital Monday
claiming responsibility for a bomb blast that killed three persons and
injured 12 others in the bloodiest Kathmandu explosion
He later withdrew his claim over telephone recorded by concerned
officials.
Authorities believe he’s hiding somewhere in the east and have sealed international borders with Tibet and India for his arrest.
The bomb went off at 1.11 in the afternoon at the gate of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) across the street south of Singha Durbar.
A woman vendor in front of the NOC said she thought a tire
exploded.
One person has been arrested.
Samkyuta Jatiya Mukti Morcha (SIMM) claimed responsibility.
Lama was arrested and then released several weeks ago in neighboring Dhading where’s he’s suspected of being involved last week on the bombng of a lower of Ncell.
Armed groups pushing regional demands while being involved in criminal activities like extortions have been involved in bombings in the capital for several years now.
They have bombed a church, the office of a Christian organization, Maoists and business houses.
Following Nepal’s political upheaval with the Narayanhiti royal palace massacre on 2001, bombings in the capital are regular occurrences.
Two persons died 1 September 2001 in an explosion set off by Terai Army and three were killed in the 23 May 2009 bombing of a church in Lalitpur and nobody was injured in a taxi bombing 12 June 2010.
Nobody was injured in the bombing of the office of United Mission to Nepal . a Christian outfit, in Thapathali.
Nobody was injured in the first pressure cooker bombing of 2012 in January in New Road.
The deadliest bombing in the capital amid widespread discontent and deep political rivalries between major layers who have filed to deliver promises and draft a constitution leading political uncertainty.
But hours after the blast, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai blamed said counterrevolutionaries out to foil peace and constitution drafting were responsible.
He said he’ll cling on to power. amid demands for his immediate resignation.
‘”I don’t have a history of retreating from the battlefield,” he told his radio listeners over Radio Nepal Monday night
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TEACHERS JOIN WORK

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Following a two-day closure of schools nation-wide, teachers Tuesday joined school to run classes smoothly.
Teachers put on pressure on government Sunday/ Monday to implement past assurances extend additional facilities to the teaching community.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Education Minister Dinanath Sharma assured an education act would be amended to meet demands.
Bhattarai and Sharma asked the strike be withdrawn.
But there were clashes between striking protestors and police in Banke.nnnn

RASHTRIYA JANAMORCHA BANDH CLOSES DOWN RAPTI, LUMBINI

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. A strike by Rashtriya Janamorcha, a communist splinter group, Monday closed down Rapti and Lumbini anchals inconveniencing people.
The party opposes declaration of a federation which has hit obstacles while demanding local elections that hasn’t been held for five years
Without such elections, representatives of the Big Three have been charged for siphoning off money from local bodies and colluding to share spoils.
Janamorcha is demanding appointment of locals for running bodies from village committees to municipalities.
Agreement on a federal structure to replace a unitary state has hit obstacles with major players now opposing establishment of federal units on ethnic basis.
The development should enthuse the splinter communist group.
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CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEET

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.; A meeting of the main constitution drafting committee chaired by Nilambar Acharya met Monday morning in the absence of Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
The committee met with representatives of NC and UML and will meet again.
Leaders of the Big Three were to brief the committee chaired b Nilambar Acharya on progress at a sub-committee chaired by Maoist Chairman Prachanda to resolve differences on themes to be included in a constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May.
Prachanda, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal have been given additional responsibility to workout details of an agreement between major players of integration of former Maoist fighters ins Nepal Army, formation of a truth and reconciliation commission and articles of a constitution.
After an inconclusive meeting of the three leaders earlier this week, the trio meet again Thursday.
The supreme court Wednesday begins to hear arguments for another extension of the tenure of the constituent assembly (CA) with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Speaker Subash Nemwang seeking another extension of the CA after 28 May.
The court registrar rejected requests of the premier and speaker even to register the requests after the apex court ruled present extension would be the last.
PM Bhattarai asked for a hearing even as he said after assuming office five months ago, a constitution wouldn’t be promulgated in six months; he said Monday peace and constitution would be completed y 28 May under his leadership.
But constituent assembly Chairman Acharya declared this week differences haven’t been resolved to meet the fresh deadline.
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NC UML ASK PM TO CONVENE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEET

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. Four members of a special committee, including Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat of NC and Bhim Rawal of UML,Tuesday asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to convene a meeting of the special committee on the integration and supervision of Maoist combatants.
The premier chairs the committee and he has been charged by four committee members of the opposition for delaying implementation of past recommendations delaying the peace process.
Othr members of the special committee are Dr Minendra Rijal of NC and UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel.
The request was submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The opposition members of the special committee charged the government chief for delaying the evacuation of 14 cantonments and satellite camps by former Maoist fighters 6,500 of whom are to be integrated in Nepal Army.
The premier’s office reacted immediately saying the charge will vitiate the atmosphere for understanding completed to complete integration and peace process.
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POET BHIM BIGAR DEAD

Kathmanndu, 28 Feb. Poet and lyricist Bhim Birag died Monday while undergoing treatment at a hospital
He was 77.
Birag was suffering pneumonia and meningitis.
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FRENCH CHOPPER TO JOIN FISHTAIL FLEET

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: A AS 350 B3 French helicopter joined the Fishtail Air fleet Sunday.
The chopper can attain a 23,000 ft height.
A AS 350 B2 will ne pressed into service several weeks later.
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AIR FARES TO INCREASE WITH HIKE IN PRICE OF AVIATION FUEL

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Private carriers Monday decided hike passenger fares coinciding with the increase in the price of aviation fuel
Thee increased fares will be enforced Thursday.
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APA SHERPA RECEIVES WORLD RECORD

Kathmandu, 28 Feb. : Apa Sherpa Monday received his Guinness Book of Records certificate for a record 21 ascents of the 8849 meters high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak.
Apa received the document from Craig Glenday whohanded over the certificate to Apa at a school in Sindhupalckowk whill eon a trek from Taplejung to the far-West to highlight the adverse effect of climate change on the Himalayan region.
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PRACHANDA NOT ATTENTING DELHI MEET OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

Kathmandu, 28 Feb.: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has conveyed his inability to attend the conference [of Nepal, India parliamentarians in New Delhi this week], The Kathmandu Post reports.
CP Gajurel, Krishna Bahaur Mahara and Hishila Yami (UCPN Maoist), Bimalendra Nidhi, Pradip Giri, Shekhar Koirala and Aftab Alam of NC, Pradeep Gaywali and Agni Kharel (YCP UML) Upendra Yadav (MJFN) and Akbal Ahmad Sah MJFG are on the tentativelist, The Kathmandu Post reports.
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