SECRETARY TILAK RAM SHARMA BY CABINET; OTHER DETAILS

SECRETARY TILAK RAM SHARMA TRANSFERRED
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: The government has condemned the bomb blast that took place in front of Nepal Oil Corporation head office at Babar Mahal on Monday afternoon and directed the Home Ministry to mete out punitive measures on the criminals involved in the inhuman act, RSS reports.
The meeting of the Council of Ministers urged the concerned ministry to ensure medical treatment of those injured in the explosion, said Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Hridayesh Tripathi.
Similarly the Cabinet decided to provide incentives to the employees at the Office of the Auditor General, Kaushitosh Khana and DSA Implementation Fund and Account Control Office from the current fiscal year.
Talking to reporters following the meeting, Minister Tripathi further said some of the employees belonging to the non-gazetted level in the agriculture, account, administration, foreign and engineering services would be promoted.
Moreover, the meeting transferred Secretary at the Ministry of General Administration Tilak Ram Sharma to the Regional Administration Office, Hetaunda and bringing Dharanidhar Koirala from the Office to the Ministry.

As per the Cabinet decision, the chairman and members of the Power Tariff Fixation Commission would get remuneration and new office buildings would be built for the district development committees of Dolakha and Tanahu.

Likewise, Sanjay Thapa of Nepal Army would be promoted to the post of colonel.

The cabinet today also decided to give Nepal Madhesi Employees' Organization Rs 500,000 for holding its annual general convention.

The Ministry of General Administration would fully abide by the rules and work procedures while transferring employees hereafter.

Minister Triphati further said a decision was taken to formulate a work procedure on transfer of the civil servants as per the report of a committee formed on February 16.
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UML LEADER OLI SAYS WRONG ARTYLEADING GOVT.
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: CPN-UML Standing Committee member KP Sharma Oli has said that the task of peace process and constitution writing now remains stranded as a result of the government formed under the leadership of the 'wrong' party, RSS reports from Dhankuta..

Addressing a mass meeting organized by the party at Hile of Dhankuta on Monday, he said the Maoist party did not meet the requirements to lead a government, and as a result now there are problems in the peace process and constitution drafting.

The dual character of the Maoist party is creating problems in the two major task of the moment, he added.

He also accused the Maoist party of distributing cash to its cadres by first instigating the former combatants and YCL cadres to revolt and then acting of holding talks with them.
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PM SAYS PEACE PROCESS WILL CONCLUDE MID-MARCH
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said the peace process would conclude within mid-March, RSS reports from Lalitpur.
Inaugurating the 21st Council of the District Development Committee, Lalitpur, here on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai said homework to conclude peace process within the middle of this March was underway.
"Peace process, stalled for long, has taken stride; disqualified fighters seen farewell; and internal works for army integration was going on," he said, assuring the completion of army integration process within some weeks.
Similarly, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai claimed that the constitution will be promulgated within three months reasoning that the parties have made consensus in spite of disputes on the constitution drafting process. They were to conclude the remaining issues as form of governance and electoral system soon, according to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister urged the political parties not to criticize the government unnecessarily.
The works in the local bodies become prompt and smooth after the conclusion of the twin tasks of the peace process, and constitution writing, he added.
On the occasion, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said political parties were in need of consensus to conclude the peace process and constitution writing within few days.
The discussion was underway to adopt alternative measure to the political mechanism in the local bodies as it would be muddled to hold election in the local bodies right now, he added.
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STUDENTS AGREE ON UNION ELECTIONS MID-APRIL
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: A meeting of various thirteen student unions including the All Nepal National Independent Student Union (ANNISU), Nepal Student Union, All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), and Madhesi Students' Forum has agreed to hold FSU elections within Mid April, RSS reports.

According to ANNFSU Chairman Madhav Dhungel, his organisation (affiliated to the CPN-UML) was for mixed electoral system while the ANNISU (affiliated to the UCPN-Maoist) was for proportional election and the Nepal Students' Union (affiliated to the Nepali Congress) for the direct one. The next meeting would decide about the electoral system, he added.

Similarly, NSU leader Kundan Kafle said they have also agreed to intensify the demand with government to revoke the petroleum price hike.

Meanwhile, the NSU submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai demanding the election of free students' unions in the universities.

The NSU drew the Prime Minister's attention towards the problems in the education sector while also urging the Prime Minister not to federate country based on ethnicity.

On the occasion Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai assured that he was committed to fulfilling the students' demands.
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YCL COMMANDEER VEHICLES AS THREATENED
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.:: Cadres of YCL, Nawalparasi, a sister organisation of the UCPN-Maoist, have impounded two vehicles of fourth division of the combatants, RSS reports from Kawasoti.

According to Chairman of YCL, Nawalparasi, Padam Bahadur KC 'Jujharu', YCL cadres, who are in agitation demanding economic package and promotion of one level, have seized a vehicle (Ba 0001 A 69) of Basanta Memorial Brigade, Ramnagar, and another vehicle (Na 1 Cha 4067) of Paribartan Memorial Brigade, Kawasoti.

Similarly, cadres of YCL have also seized a vehicle (Lu 1 Cha 3702) of central member Bhakti Thapa in Butwal.

Chairman Jujharu said vehicles were seized as per the decision of giving continuity to the agitation until their demands were assured.

The seized vehicles will be released on March 3. Jujharu further said the vehicles were seized as per the programme of impounding vehicles used by Maoist in Abadh, Magarat, Tharuwan and Tamuwan States.
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KAMALTHAPA DEMANDS PROBE ON WEALTH OF NEW PARTY LEADERS
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.: Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) Kamal Thapa has said that a separate commission should be formed to carry out investigation of properties of those, who are in high ranks after the people's movement in 2006, RSS reports from Damak.

Thapa blamed that leaders, who are in high ranks especially with regard to political status, have committed corruption and added that only a Property Investigation Commission could decide on it.

Talking to media persons at Damak of Jhapa on Monday morning, Thapa said corruption committed in different pretexts such as ration allowance of combatants of the UCPN-Maoist has defamed the country in the world.

In another context, he said his party seeks for giving a place to monarchy in one or the other way in the new constitution.

Thapa arrived here to address the Mechi zonal cadres gathering started at Damak from Sunday.
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DHADING FIRE DAMAGE ESTIMATE RS 40 MILLION UPDATE
Kathmandu, 27 Feb.:Property worth more than Rs 40 million was gutted in a fire that broke out in Sagarmatha Foam Factory at 9 this morning, RSS reports from Gajuri.
Area Police Office, Khanikhola, said all materials of the factory were gutted in the fire.
The fire was taken under control after two hours with the help of locals, police, and a fire brigade from the capital. No human casualty was reported in the fire.
Cause of the fire has not been confirmed yet. Police Inspector Chandra Singh Lama said they faced difficulties to douse the fire as the fire was intense due to mattress, raw materials, and other combustible plastic goods. RSS
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