Nepal Today

Saturday, March 31, 2012

RUSSIAN ASSIST SOUGHT TO REVIVE JANAKPUR CIGARETTE FACTORY

COUNTRY’S SHORTEST
1
Kathmandu, 1 April: Ten-year-old Shital Pariyar of Darling-1 Malarani, Baglung, is only 23 inches in height, Nagarik reports.
She hasn’t gained height in the last three years as mother Prem Pariyar claims her daughter is the country’s shortest
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RUSSIAN ASSIST SOUGHT TO REVIVE
JANAKPUR CIGARETTE FACTORY
Kathmandu, 1 April: Janakpur Cigarette Factory (JCF) was established with Russian aid in 1964. And, the government is once again preparing to seek assistance from the country to revive the crisis-ridden public enterprise, Prithvi Man Shrestha writes in The Kathmandu Post.
The cash-strapped JCF has not been able to produce cigarettes for the last 10 months and has incurred a cumulative loss of Rs 800 million as of fiscal year 2009-10, according to Finance Ministry.
After receiving positive indication from the Russian ambassador about a month ago, the Ministry of Industry (MoI) has prepared a project proposal, under which the Russian aid will be sought for the installation of new machines and repair and maintenance of old ones.
The ministry has the forwarded the proposal to the National Planning Commission (NPC) for approval and the latter has sought Finance Ministry’s opinion on the proposal.
MoI Spokesperson Yam Kumari Khatiwada said the proposal was prepared after the Russian side expressed interest in extending aid to revive the once lucrative factory of the country. “The Russian ambassador assured support during his visit to the factory along with Industry Minister and secretary about a month ago,” she said.
The proposal was first prepared by the factory management itself and the ministry made necessary amendments to the proposal, according to Khatiwada.
The ministry has proposed a comprehensive reform plan for the factory which will require Rs 2.24 billion. Russia is expected to extend Rs 480 million in grants for machinery, infrastructure and repair, while the government will have to invest Rs 1.76 billion for voluntary retirement schemes (VRS), operation cost and provident fund for employees. As per the plan, the VRS scheme will require Rs 1 billion; operation cost needs Rs 520 million and provident fund Rs 240. A total of 550 out of 833 factory employees are expected to take retirement under the VRS scheme. The factory will make 70 new recruitments.
The proposal has stated that the implementation of the reform plan will yield an estimated benefit of Rs 3.54 billion, against the total cost of Rs 2.24 billion.
The factory has been incurring losses for the last few years. The situation has reached to such an extent that it has not been able to resume operations even after selling its lucrative property in New Baneshwor Kathmandu for Rs 722 million. The factory’s net worth is negative by Rs 705.5 million.
Three general managers recently appointed by the government have so far failed to revive factory although they were appointed under performance contract.
Now, the government has decided to send a MoI under-secretary to head the factory as temporary assignment until a new arrangement is made. The Public Enterprises Directorate Board is expected to make necessary arrangements to appoint new general manager at JCF through free competition.
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GOVT. FACILITIES FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS, VICE-PRESIDENTS AND PMs

FACILITIES FOR FORMER PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND PM
Kathmandu, 1 April: Government has decided in principle to extend housing and
vehicle facilities along with officials for formr special class officials, Keshab Khanal writes in Annapurna Post. quoting Minister for Physical Planning Hridesh
Tripathi.
Former presidents, vice-presidents, and prime ministers
will be provided government housing; those having houses won’t get the housing facility.
Cabinet approved a proposal of the home ministry.
Former president will be allocated a vehicle, 200 leers of petrol every month, a deputy-secretary, a unit chief and one official without rank along with security.
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MAOIST REBELS EFFORT CEMENTING TEAM
Kathmandu, 1 April: As a part of its campaign to form parallel structures, hard-line faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya has formed a five-member office bearers’ team to “run the faction in an effective way”. The faction, however, has not
publicised the team fearing that the establishment faction led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal may take action against them, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The team is also known as
the party headquarters. The Baidya faction has already deployed its
leaders to districts and party’s
State Committees to form parallel structures.
Members of the team include Baidya, General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, Secretary CP Gajurel, Standing Committee members Dev Gurung and Netra Bikram Chand. According to leaders, Baidya is the “undeclared” chairman of their faction, while Thapa is his deputy.
The Maoist party has a seven-member office bearers’ team led by Dahal. Three of the members belong to the hard-line faction.
Central Committee member Bharat Bam, loyal to Baidya,
confessed that they have formed
a five-member “core team” to chalk out the party’s future strategy. Another Baidya faction leader claimed that formation of the core team was part of preparations for forming a new party.
A meeting of office bearers loyal to Baidya on Saturday discussed about the agreement forged among political parties on Friday about moving the integration process forward. It interpreted the agreement as their party’s surrendering its policy. According to a leader, the meeting also discussed about forming parallel bodies of students, workers, and women, among many others. The hardliners are busy forming parallel organisational structures to implement their political line of revolt.
Though the hardliners are in
no mood to defect before May 27,
the extended deadline of the Constituent Assembly, the faction
is functioning as a separate party
with its own policy and organisational structures. Even though the
Baidya faction is functioning as
a party within party, leaders rule
out the possibility of a split before May 27.
“Dahal needs a united party to bargain with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML while we also need a whole party to launch a struggle from the streets,” said politburo member Hari Bhakta Kandel, close to Baidya.
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NC AWAITING IMP,EMENTATION OF FRIDAY'S AGREEMENT WITH MAOISTS SAYS RAM SHARAN MAHAT

NC AWAITING IMPLEMENTATION OF FRIDAY AGREEMENT

Kathmandu, 1 April: Senior NC leader Dr.,Ram Sharan Mahat said Sunday the main opposition is awaiting sincere implementation of Friday’s agreement with Maoists on integration of fighters and army for completion of the peace process.
He reminded in an interview past agreements weren’t implemented.
“Past experience has made us quite alert. Because of this reason this, we’re
awaiting implementation of this important decision
‘There are doubts and suspicions. But this should be looked at cautiously.
‘We feel this [Friday’s agreement] will be a watershed,” he told Deshantar Weekly.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“We seek cooperation, and just as we reject domination by others, we do not seek domination for ourselves.”
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(Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Nepal front-man in India government, The Kathmandu Post, 1 April)

WOMAN IN LALITPUR OBSERVES HER 4TH JHANKU

Kathmandu, 1 April: Mohan Maya Byanjankar observed her 4th jhanku Saturday according to Newari tradition at Chaysal in Lalitpur, Krishna Geywali reports in
Kantipur.
The jhanku after 10years was her 4th.
‘I am well. How are you,” she asked well-wishers and relatives.
Shee will be 100years after three months.
Her jhanku was celebrated when she after her birth 99 years, nine months and 9 days ago.
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FORMER KING OFFERS PUJA AT KAILALI TEMPLE SUNDAY

FORMER KING OFFERS PUJA AT GHODAGHODI TEMPLE IN KAILALI SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 1 April: Former King Gyanendra will offer puja and worship at Ghodaghodi temple in Kailali Sunday in Kailali .
He offered puja and worship at Naunadebi Bhagawati temple and Laxminarayan temple nearby in Dhangadi Saturday,
The former king was welcomed by Pancha Kanyas at Naunadebi temple.
He was warmly greeted and lustily by thousands of well-wishers as he walked to the temple in informal attire.
The former began his visit of the far-West Wednesday and returns to the capital Monday.
He is visiting the region for the first time after leaving Narayanhiti.
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SETO MACHINDRANATH CHARIOT BEING TOWED TO HANUMAN DHOKA SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 1 April: Seto Machindranath chariot will be towed to Hanuman Dhoka on the second day Sunday of a journey that will end at Lagon.
The chariot with the idol of Seto Machindranath was pulled to Ason from Teendhara Pathshala on the first day of the journey Saturday.
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EARTHDAY OBSERVED IN NEPAL WITHOUT HOUR-LONG POWER CUT

EARTH HOUR IN NEPAL WITHOUT POWER CUT

Kathmandu, April: Earth Hour was observed Saturday in Nepal without
putting off lights for one hour.
But the rest of the worldwide observed the day Saturday one hour in darkness to
Save The Planet by saving energy
In Nepal, candles were lit at Lumbini, the birthplace of The Buddha and rallies
were held in the capital.
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SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INTEGRATION CHAIRED BY PM MEETS SUNDAY

SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETS SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 1 April: A special committee for integration and supervision of former Maoist fighters headed by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai meets Sunday to discuss integration and voluntary retirement and related issues
The committee couldn’t complete discussions on agenda items at Friday’s breakthrough meeting,
Sunday’s meeting will discuss the integration of 6,500 combatants in Nepal
Army (NA), voluntary retirement of former PLA fighters and handover of Maoist
containerized weapons in remaining 15 cantonments and satellite camps by 12 April ahead of a 27 May headline to complete peace and a constitution.
The 9,900 plus Maoist fighters in camps will be given a second opportunity to
decide between integration and voluntary retirement; there are only 6,500 opening for fighters in NA.
All the 15 cantonments and camps have now to be vacated by 12 April for
handover to NA.
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SUSHIL KOIRALA ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PARTY DISPUTE

Kathmandu, 1 April: NC President Suhsil Koirala has formed a three-member
paned headed by Vice-chairman and parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel
to resolve an intra-party dispute over control of Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), the party’s student wing.
Two other members of the committee are General Secretaries Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Shitaula, both from the establishment faction.
The latest dispute in the NSU flared up after the establishment faction of the party formed a 101-member ‘jumbo’ committee to conduct a general convention and hold union elections.
Twenty-eight loyalists f senior arty leader and former Prime Minister Sher
Bahadur Deuba protested the formation and withdrew from the committee.
Another Koirala loyal group demanded immediate elections.
Deuba vehemently opposed Koirala’s decision to dissolve elected bodies
governing four fraternal organizations, including NSU, after their tenure ended charging the president for ‘dictatorial’ activities to dismiss elected bodies.
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TWO CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH

Kathmandu, 1 April: Two children aged 11 and seven years were burnt to death
Saturday when a cowshed stacked with hay in which they were playing caught fire at Lishanghu-9
in Sindhupalchowk Saturday..
The boy and girl were alone in the cowshed and carrying a lighter.
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GERMAN HELD WITH 22KG HASH AT AIRPORT

GERMAN HELD WITH 22KG HASH
Kathmandu, 1 April: German national Bernd Klien Htimidt was with 22kg hash before boarding a flight Saturday of the capital’s TIA for Qatar.
The haul worth million on rupees in the international market concealed
in his luggage was discovered during a custons check.
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PARDON FOR SERIOUS CRIMES WILL REST WITH VICTIMS
Kathmandu, 1 April: There was an agreement between parties Saturday to
reserve of final pardon or otherwise for serious crimes during the 10-year
insurgency on victims, Madhav Dhungel reports in Nagarik
The provision was incorporated in a report of a taskforce of three parties for
formation of commissions on truth and reconciliation and disappeared persons.
The provision was included following increasing pressure those committing
serious crimes such as murder after capture, rape, abductions disappeared, abduction and abductions won’t be pardoned.
According to the agreement, officials of the law ministry have been empowered
to include the provision in a bill.
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FOUR COMMIT MASS SUICIDE IN FAR-WEST
Kathmandu, 1 April: Police investigation into Friday’s incident where three persons were drowned and two went missing in the Chameliya River of Drachula shows that they committed suicide en masse, Baburam Shrestha reports in The Himalayan Times
from Dandeldhura.

Parbati Bhatta (22), her sons Sunil (5) and two-and-half-year old Anil and her brother’s daughter Sarita of Ranishikhar VDC in Darchula jumped into the Chameliya River and committed suicide all together.

Dead bodies of Parbati, Sarita and Sunil were recovered yesterday, while Anil is still missing. According to police sources, the possibility of finding the missing alive is very slim.

DSP Dev Bahadur Bogati said the bodies were handed over to the family members after post-mortem.

Clothes of Parbati and Sarita were found on the banks of the river. Cash and ornaments belonging to Sarita and Parbati were found at Parbati’s house.

Inspector Shyam Bahadur Saud said Tulasi Bhatta, who informed police about the incident, has been kept in Gokuleswor police custody.

Saud said Tulasi told police that Sarita and Parbati had illegitimate ties with local trader Dhanjit Thagunna (25).

Police suspect that Parbati and Sarita might have killed themselves by jumping into the river fearing that their illicit relationship with Dhanjit might be exposed one day.

In the wake of death of his wife and children Parbati’s husband Rajendra Bhatta, who has been working in India, left for home today according to police.

Tulasi said Parbati had invited her to stay with her on Thursday night saying that she was alone at her house. Dhanjit and Sarita were also at home when Tulasi got to Parbati’s home, Inspector Saud said, quoting Tulasi.

“I was raped by Dhanjit with the support of Parbati and Sarita,” Saud quoted Tulasi.

Tulasi told police that she had informed police after she managed to escape from Dhanjit.

Tulasi’s health check has been conducted at a local health centre. She had bruises on her body and blood around her private parts.

Police are preparing to lodge a case against Dhanjit. In the course, police also grilled some locals about the incident. DSP Bogati said Dhanjit was on the run after taking Tulasi’s mobile set. Manhunt to nab the absconding is on, police said.
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IN RARE CAPITAL RALLY UDMF SAYS NO CONSTITUTION SANS FEDERALISM
Kathmandu, 1 April:: Senior Madhesi and indigenous leaders have warned of taking to the streets if the new constitution does not guarantee identity-based federalism, Republica reports..

Addressing the first ever mass gathering organized by United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) at Tundikhel on Saturday afternoon, the Madhesi and indigenous leaders said they share common concerns and that they would work together for the realization of their goals.

Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Mahantha Thakur said the Madhesi and indigenous peoples will not accept the new constitution if it does not guarantee identity-based federalism. “We have joined hands as both the Madhesi and indigenous peoples have been made victims of discrimination,” said Thakur, adding, “If necessary, we will jointly launch a movement.”

Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, who is also the deputy prime minister and home minister, said the country would witness yet another movement if the new constitution is promulgated without dealing with the issue of federalism.



“I have reminded the leadership of major three political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML -- that there will be stringent protests if the issue of federalism is deferred,” added Gachchhadar. He also warned the three major political parties not to take their concerns lightly.

Similarly, Acting Chairman of MPRF-Republican Rajkishor Yadav said no force in the country can prevent Madhesi and indigenous peoples from securing their rights.
“We want to tell those who label us as anti-national that Madhesi and indigenous peoples have always been in favor of an integrated Nepal,” said Yadav.

Likewise, Sadbhawana Party (SP) Chairman Rajendra Mahato, who is also the health minister, said it took 22 years for them to make non-Madhesis understand their agony.



“Twenty-two years ago, our party had organized a mass gathering at the same place, but it was disrupted,” recalled Mahato.

TMDP-Nepal Chairman and Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav accused the major three political parties of being anti-federalist.

Speaking at the same function, Parshuram Tamang, a leader from indigenous group, expressed solidarity with the Madhes-based parties. “We want to assure that indigenous peoples are with the Madhesi parties in the struggle for identity,” said Tamang.

Malla K Sundar, an ethnic activist, urged Madhesi leaders to strongly raise their concerns in the Constituent Assembly (CA).



Leader of the United Tharu Struggle Committee Surendra Tharu said the Madhesi and Tharu peoples will not fight each other as both communities share the same agenda - a new constitution that guarantees identity-based federalism.

Central members and lawmakers of five Madhes-based parties associated with UDMF had participated in the mass gathering.

Thakur and Mahendra Yadav addressed the program in Hindi while Gachchhadar and MPRF-R Chairman Yadav delivered their speeches in Nepali. Mahato addressed the event in both Hindi and Nepali.
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TOURIST COACHES ON POKHARA-CHITWAN ROUTE
Kathmandu, 1 April : Tourism entrepreneurs are starting luxury coach services from next week on Pokhara-Chitwan-Pokhara route in a bid to facilitate travel between the two major tourism destinations. The services will begin from Monday. Tour operators said they have brought in luxury coaches for the purpose, Santosh Pokhrel writes in Republica..

Pokhara Chapter of Nepal Association of Tours and Travels Agents (NATTA) and Regional Hotel Association in Chitwan took the initiative after tourists and other stakeholders repeatedly requested for better services for intercity travel.

“Initially, two tourist coaches will operate on the route every day,” said Santosh Pokharel, first vice president of NATTA. The coaches will operate between Pokhara and Sauraha.

We will add more coaches if the volume of passengers increases, he added. Operators have fixed one-way fare at Rs 500 per person. Same rate will apply for both domestic as well as foreign tourists.

Tour operators in the city currently operate 18 tourist coaches on Pokhara-Kathmandu-Pokhara route, ferrying around 900 tourists every day. Likewise, entrepreneurs have also been operating five vehicles on Kathmandu-Chitwan-Kathmandu route every day.

They have now decided to link the two major tourist destinations after a large number of tourists visiting Chitwan avoided traveling to Pokhara in the absence of direct tourist bus service.

“Similar complaints were coming from tourists in Pokhara as well. Both Chitwan and Pokhara draw a large number of visitors, but in the absence of direct connectivity, we have not been able to encourage visitors to travel from one city to another,” said Pokharel.

Though a large number of passenger vehicles operate between Chitwan and Pokhara, the quality of service remains poor.

With the start of intercity luxury bus services, entrepreneurs in Pokhara believe they will be able to bring in at least 20 percent of tourists visiting Chitwan to the Lake City. According to records, Chitwan sees arrival of 250,000 tourists every year. Domestic tourists make up 40 percent of that number.

“It will enable entrepreneurs to design combined tour packages as well,” said Shankar Sainju, president of Hotel Association, Chitwan.

Just as entrepreneurs in Pokhara, hoteliers in Chitwan, too, are optimistic that with the launch of direct tourist coach service they will be able to attract a large number of tourists from Pokhara as well.

According to entrepreneurs, Pokhara lures more than 550,000 tourists annually, of which around 300,000 are foreigners.
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CARTEL, SYNDICATE AFFECT REVENUE COLLECTION
Kathmandu, 1 April: Finance Ministry is planning to begin strict monitoring of the Tatopani customs point to control the rampant smuggling prevalent from China, according to ministry officials, The Himalayan Timesreports.

The government has identified some dubious trends at the Tatopani customs point which will ultimately hurt the overall business scenario of the country, said director general at the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) Shanta Bahadur Shrestha.

Customs points are the major sources for most of the revenue fraud cases, he said. “Many cases such as under-invoicing, bogus trading and ‘carrying’ business have thrived in the trade from Tatopani customs.”

The practice of syndicate and cartel systems among importers and entrepreneurs at the customs points has been blocking the entry of genuine business firms, according to an official at the ministry.

Outlets and entrepreneurs in different parts of the country are importing under-invoiced goods through cartel with bogus importers from Tatopani customs, he said. “Nearly all the import from Tatopani customs is controlled by some 20 bogus importers and the trend is affecting genuine business practices.”

All the financial scams including fake Value Added Tax (VAT) bill, hundi and other revenue leakage cases are directly linked with the trend of importing under-invoiced goods with the help of bogus importers, the official claimed. DRI had, last year, discovered the nexus between Value Added Tax-registered importers and Permanent Account Number-registered wholesalers, firms and outlets to evade tax compliances.

The department had also revealed that most of the importers in Tatopani customs do not have their own trading business and only supply to traders in the valley and other parts of the country to escape from tax burden.

There are many business firms and outlets in the valley that import goods on contract to evade VAT and other taxes but the government authority is yet to curb such trends.

Meanwhile, finance minister Barshaman Pun today directed concerned officials at the Tatopani customs to curb commercial frauds from the customs point. He also discussed about the issue with local traders and asked them to help the government control revenue leakages.
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TSC LIFTS BUDASUBBA GOLD CUP IN DHARAN

UPDATE TSC LIFTS BUDASUBBA GOLD CUP IN DHARAN
Kathmandu, 31 March: Three Star Club (TSC) lifted the Budasubba Gold Cup in Dharan Saturday.
TSC defeated Manang Marsyangdi 1-0 in the final played
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UML CHAIRMAN KHANAL ATTENDS PARTY MEEETINGS
Kathmandu, 31 March: UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal Saturday attended meetings of parties Saturday.
He returned home from New Delhi Friday after undergoing prostrate gland surgery.
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MADESH MORCHA HOLDS PUBLIC MEET IN CAPITAL
Kathmandu, 31 March: Ruling Madeshbadi front Saturday based in the terai held
a public meeting— their first in the capital.
Speakers highlighted regional issues at the meeting.
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SUSHIL KOIRALA NOW SAYS CONSTITUTION WILL COME WITH NEW CONSENSUS
Kathmandu, 31 March: President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sushil Koirala, said the nation will get the constitution with federalism within May 27.

Talking to journalists at Janakpur Airport, on Saturday, he said, "The constitution will be promulgated within the slated timeframe as consensus has been forged among the major political parties."

NC president Koirala said the decision taken regarding the army integration and the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has given positive signal to forward the stalled peace process.

He decried federalism on the basis of ethnicity and said the parliamentary system with slight changes was the better option for the form of governance.

The NC president further said that the Maoist combatants' integration would be concluded within mid-April and the parties have already made understanding for this.
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ECONOMY MARRED BY
POLITICAL INSTABILITY SATS PRESIDENT
Kathmandu, 31 March: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has said the nation could not see stability and prosperity due to the failure to manage the country's politics, RSS reports.

Stating that India and China, Nepal's two close neighbours, have witnessed rapid economic growth in the period of the past seven decades, the President said, "Nepal has been pushed towards backwardness despite the rich natural resources and the reason behind it is just the political instability."

Addressing an interaction programme organised by the Reporters Club Nepal on its 14th anniversary at the Rastrapati Bhawan on Saturday, President Yadav stressed on the need of adopting democratic practices as exercised by India so as to see a great leap in the economic sector.

The development of the country was obstructed due to several political fluctuations and now the Nepali people have a desire for lasting peace and political stability, he stressed.

The President said he has been alerting the top leaders of political parties not to divert the country away from the democratic course facilitated by the different pacts including the 12-point agreement and the seven-point deals, stressing the need to forge consensus and collaboration among the four main political parties.

He made it clear that the path of democracy, nationality and socialism propounded by popular leader the late BP Koirala would make development possible in the country.

Noting that all should be cautious towards the disintegration of the country that might come in the name of federalism, the President said, "All the indigenous nationalities, religions and cultures are the heritage of the country, and the cohesion among them should not be jeopardised."
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MEDIA GOOGLE
“.. there are three films whose script I have okayed. I am meeting tow more directors. I am okaying those scripts as well. This year, I will be orking(pn these films).. so next year would b a king of comeback.)

(Manisha Koirala, PTI report of 29 March reproduced in The Himalayan Times, 31 March)
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drafts submitted to three parties

DRAFTS SUBMITTED TO THREE PARTY LEADERS
Kathmandu, 31 March: Amid protests of victims of conflict, a three-member party task force formed Friday submitted to party leaders Saturday draft bills of commissions for truth and reconciliation and the disappeared persons
The document will finally e sent to the law ministry by government for review and presentation to parliament for approval.
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NC READY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO PAUDEL SAYS ARJUN NARSINGH KC

KC OF NC ALSO SAYS PARTY READY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO PAUDEL

Kathmandu, 31 March: Nepali Congress (NC) Central Committee member Arjun Narsingh KC stated that the party would provide alternate for Ram Chandra Paudel if NC's leadership is assured by other parties. Speaking at the face to face program of Reporters Club, Nepal on Tuesday in the capital, KC said " Congress has kept itself open to possibilities. It is ready to discuss on providing alternate to its present candidate if other parties are ready to accept its leadership in the new government, Chitra Raj Bhandari writes in Reportersnepal.com."

Reminding that Prime Ministerial candidacy of Ram Chandra Paudel was decided on the basis of consensus rather than his position of parliamentary party leader, KC claimed that the party will once again provide another candidate on the basis of consensus.

He ruled out the possibility of rolling back the candidacy unless the issue of peace, stature drafting and power sharing in the new government were agreed in a package. " Nepali Congress is a democratic party and it will accept the results if its Prime Ministerial candidacy is voted out in the parliament. But we will not roll it back unless a package deal is reached on core issues between parties" said KC at the occasion.

Terming the proposed rotational leadership as the product of lust for power of political leaders, he stated that NC was ready to move ahead by incorporating UCPN Maoist in the present democratic coalition while speaking at the program presided by the Club's President Rishi Dhamala.

Another speaker at the program, UCPN Maoist Secretary C P Gajurel ruled out the possibility of handing over the containers of their arms and ammunition containers to government before the task of combatant integration and rehabilitation is concluded.

" The arms will be handed over after we enter a process. The Maoists will not hand over arms without a roadmap" said Gajurel. Claiming that UNMIN's term extension was backed by the constitution itself, he said that the Maoists would knock on the doors of the apex court if their demand to extend UNMIN's term was not met through political dialogue.

Stating that the Maoist will also lay claims on the leadership of the new government, Gajurel said that leaders other than Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Bhattarai, could also be forwarded as the Prime Ministerial candidate from the party.

CPN UML politburo member Pradeep Gyanwali while stating that UML did not had any objection to support the Prime Ministerial candidacy of Ram Chandra Paudel, urged Nepali Congress to enter new process. Like NC leader KC, Gyanwali also stressed on the need to continue the present coalition while making space for the Maoists in it.

Claiming that the rotational system to be a perfect alternative for ending the present political deadlock, he accused the Maoist of plotting split into other political parties by pointing out prime ministerial candidates in them.

He said that rumors surrounding UML Chairmam Jhalnath Khanal's claim on the leadership were triggered by the Maoists. " The Maoist lack sincerity. It has assured Jhalnath Khanal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sujata Koirala, and madhesh based parties for the same post. It is not honest in this matter" said Gyanwali.

Gyanwali stressed on sending UNMIN back and on strengthening special committee to conclude the peace process.
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ONE KILLED, 13 INJURED IN DHADING BUS ACCIDENT
Kathmandu, 31 March: One person died and another 31 were injured Friday in a bus accident at Jogimara, Dhading.
The bus was bound for Udayapur from the capital.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
“.. there are three films whose script I have okayed. I am meeting tow more directors. I am okaying those scripts as well. This year, I will be orking(pn these films).. so next year would b a king of comeback.)

(Manisha Koirala, PTI report of 29 March reproduced in The Himalayan Times, 31 March)
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BOMB BLAST DAMAGES TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICE AT MOHOTTARI DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS

BOMB BLAST DAMAGES TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICE AT MOHOTTARI DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS
Kathmandu, 31 March: A powerful bomb explosion extensively damaged the Mohottari traffic police office in district headquarter Jaleshwor.
Saturday morning at Jaleswor.
There were no human casualties.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
“The hours-long load-shedding, repeated strikes and political and policy uncertainties are enough to discourage foreign investors.”
(Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takashi, The Kathmandu Post, 31 March)
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NC'S KRISHNA PRASAD SHITAULA ASKS PM BHATTARAI TO QUIT AND MAKE WAY FOR NC-LED GOVT.

NC’s KRISHNA PRASAD SITAULA ASKS PM BHATTARAI TO QUIT AND MAKE WAY FOR NC-LED GOVT.

Kathmandu, 31 March: Krishna Prasad Sitaula , general secretary of main opposition NC, Saturday laid claim to a government immediately even before 27 May before the 28 May deadline to conclude the peace process and constitution drafting.
Sitaula laid the claim even as Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has repeatedly said he will led a government that will complete peace and constitution.
“… Maoist party has also proposed us to join the current government after vacating the cantonments. The NC is yet to discuss this issue,” Sitaula revealed.
He said Bhattarai should immediately make way for a government led by NC.
“Baburamji should quit after the army integration process completes. The process should be completed within seven days. All the work related to the integration process may not be completed within seven days. But the government should quit shortly.
“Yes. Before May 27, I have confidence that NC –led unity government will be formed and it will promulgate the constitution by May 27 May. NC’s government will hold general elections,” Sitaula told The Kathmandu Post Saturday.
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TEXT OF THE INTERVIEW
Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula is one of the key negotiators involved in all ups and downs of the peace process since its very beginning when the then rebel Maoists and the Seven-Party Alliance inked the historic 12-point agreement in 2005 to end the 10-year conflict and replace the monarchy with a republic.
Sitaula, who worked closely with late Girija Prsasad Koirala in bringing the former rebels in mainstream politics, is equally active in completing the unfinished business of the peace process. Kamal Raj Sigdel and Bhadra Sharma of The Kathmandu Post caught up with Sitaula right after a crucial three-party meeting on Friday afternoon that made a new breakthrough in the peace process. Excerpts:
The parties were supposed to make a major breakthrough on army integration today. What did the three-party meeting decide?
Today, the major parties have agreed to formulate two bills relating to Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappeared Commission on consensus basis. We agreed on formulation of bills and will sit for the next round of talks tomorrow.
What was agreed on integration?
It was just a reiteration of what was already agreed. The integration process will now advance in accordance with the seven-point deal. We have agreed that the Special Committee will again provide opportunity for the remaining cantoned combatants to opt for voluntary retirement. A group has already left the cantonments in line with what we agreed in the seven-point deal. Out of the rest, a maximum of 6,500 will be integrated in the Nepal Army based on their individual qualifications. NA will fix their ranks. The government will take both the arms and cantonments under its control. The SC will take decision in this line and army integration process will be completed very soon.
Have you agreed to any time-bound action plan?
Tentatively, we’ve agreed that vacation of the cantonments, initiation of integration process and the act of referring the combatants to the Army and handing over of weapons to the government will be completed within seven to 10 days.
How did you sort out the contentious issue such as rank harmonisation?
Let me make it clear that we are not for rank harmonisation. There is no such term in any agreement so far. It is rank determination and the Army will take a call on that based on its standard norms.
So, do you mean that the Maoist leadership agreed to complete the integration process without rank determination?
Yes. They have agreed to complete the peace process for which the seven-point agreement was signed. There is no political understanding to offer top post to the combatants. The NA will fix their ranks as per its criteria. Rank fixation is purely a matter concerned with the NA and we don’t have expertise on that. We do not know whether the Maoist combatants are eligible for the post of constable or general in the NA.
However, we can discuss if the Army comes across any dispute or difficulty during the integration process. Political decisions on recruitment of army is not accepted anywhere in the world.
Was not rank a major issue of haggling ?
It was not an issue. The Maoist leadership had already agreed to move on. But the media was raising it in vain.
What exactly was stalling the integration process for the last four months since the seven-point deal was signed?
It’s purely because of the Maoist intra-party rift, the Baidya faction’s opposition.
But the intra-party rift in the Maoists has not been resolved yet. How can you assure that the integration process will now complete?
It seems the Maoist leadership has come up with courage to end the peace process. We can guess that as well.
If you look backwards, the seven-point deal brought similar optimism but it remained unimplemented, as you said, with the problem within the Maoists, mainly the Baidya faction’s opposition. How can you assure there won’t be any more hurdles?
We believe the Maoist chairman will persuade them. If you look at Nepali Congress, when Shusil da signs a deal, we also respect it. There is no ideological difference among the Maoist factions but it is more a tussle for power among the leaders. Had not Kiran proposed Baburam Bhattarai as prime ministerial candidate? Prachandaji accepted the proposal only after Dhobighat alliance. We should not pay more attention to their internal conflict. We want to deal with chief of the concerned party and that’s it.
When you compromise and take a decision, you never expect you will be praised by all. There will be critics. All the agreements that we signed so far beginning with the 12-point pact have courted controversy in each party, as these documents were not of any specific party. That is the nature of agreement too.
What do you think triggered the Maoist leadership for this ‘courage’?
Time is running out fast. Leaders have felt both pressure and realisation of their responsibility.
Is this development a part of larger give and take, which also includes agreements contentious issues of the new constitution, for example, forms of governance?
There is no such deal. We all have agreed to concentrate on the constitution writing once the integration process reaches an irreversible stage. However, the parties have been discussing formally and informally at the dispute resolution committee, constitutional committee and other forums on constitution writing as well.
Until recently, the Maoist leaders were firm on their stance that both
peace and statue should go parallel.
Have they given up?
They have neither given up nor stuck to their position. It all depends on how you interpret the developments. In fact, both are progressing.
Both the army integration and the statute writing are reaching an irreversible point. We will be promulgating the new constitution by May 27 and by then the army integration will not have completed completely. The issues such as rank determination will take time.
What has been agreed on government formation? Will the incumbent government continue?
Baburamji should quit after the army integration process completes. The process should be completed within seven days. All the work related to the integration process may not be completed within seven days. But this government should quit shortly.
Does that mean the Bhattarai-led government will be replaced before May 27?
Yes. Before May 27. I have confidence that NC-led unity government will be formed and it will promulgate the constitution by May 27. NC’s government will hold general elections.
However, the Maoist party has also proposed us to join the current government after vacating the cantonments. The NC is yet to discuss this issue.
Given the timeframe and the contentious issues, don’t you sound little overconfident when you say parties can deliver constitution before May 27?
We can do it. There are only five issues to be resolved in constitution writing. Of them, leaders have sorted out issues related to judiciary. I firmly believe that the parties will adhere to what judges suggested the other day.
On federalism, there will be 7 to 8 provinces, perhaps seven. Bordering and naming of the provinces is a little bit difficult issue but this too will be sorted out. On forms of governance, the leaders will discuss. NC has been proposing
the parliamentary system but the Maoist party is firm on directly elected presidential system.
UML is in favour of directly elected prime ministerial system. UML’s proposal is not so good. Directly elected president is better than what the UML has proposed.
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COUPLE KILLED IN BAITADI BOMB BLAST

COUPLE KILLED IN BAITADI BLAST
Kathmandu, 31 March: A Baidadi couple died when a bomb exploded morning at their home in Katouj Paani-2, Baitadi, Saturday.
Dan Bahadur Bhat and wife Lalmati were killed.
.Kamala Bhat was injured in the blast.
Other details are awaited.
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SOME HOPE HAS DAWNED AMID UNCERTAINTY

SOME HOPE HAS DAWNED; UNCERTAINTY STILLL CONTINUES
Kathmandu, 31 March: April 12 is deadline that may decide whether the twin process of peace completion and constitution will be concluded by the magic 27 May deadline.
Three parties took two major decisions Friday.
They first initiated a move to form South African model truth and reconciliation commission and another on disappeared persons.
The parties met in the evening the same day and agreed to handover containerized under UNMIN watch, send 6,500 former Maoist fighters opting to join Nepal Army (NA) to camps to begin their entry into a state army they failed to topple in a 10-year insurgency.
In addition, former fighters from among 9,900 plus combatants in remaining 15 cantonments and satellite camps will also be sent home after choosing voluntary retirement
“The process will begin tomorrow (Saturday),” Dr, Ram Sharan Mahat of main opposition NC and a a member of a special committee on integration the said Friday following a breakthrough agreement,
‘The cantonments will have been handed over to government by 12 April,” said Balananda Sharma, coordinator of the special committee.
The 9,900 plus former fighters are at seven cantonments and satellite camps after 13were closed down with the departure of 19,000 plus PLA guerrillas.
“The door has been opened for parties to concentrate on the constitution.
by making the decision of the special committee the basis, Maoist Chairman Prachanda said..
“Another thought will invite serious trouble,” warned Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
Kamal Thapa was skeptical at a function sponsored by Reporters’ Club.
.
“People aren’t hopeful a constitution will be promulgated. Player and tendencies are the same,” he said.
“A big step has been taken in the peace process today [Friday},”
Prime Minister Bhattarau added. ‘Now the peace process will
move ahead; there’ll be no retreat.”
Former Prime Minister and UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said: ‘Hope has dawned with latest developments.”
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BANKS URGED TO REDUCE INTEREST RATES


Kathmandu,31 March:
Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry Friday urged the banks and financial institutions to reduce their interest rates to mobilize the growing deposits, The Rising Nepal reports.
NPC vice-chairman Kshetry said this while inaugurating the 2nd general convention of the Nepal National Employees’ Organisation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
He, however, said that the banks and financial institutions did not decrease the interest rates in a way that came in the notice of the people.
They even decreased the inter-bank interest rates and claimed reducing it gradually, he said.
He further said that they should reduce the interest rate after increasing the deposit significantly because they increased the interest rates during the liquidity crunch last year.
The increased interest rates affected the investment in the country, he said and added that the investment of the banks would be increased if the interest rates were reduced, he said.
Saying that the Investment Board failed to work effectively although it was established two years back, he said that it was now effortful to increase the investment in the country for achieving the desired economic growth of the country.
Kshetry said that the country was likely to achieve the economic growth as per the projected by the budget. "The increase in the agriculture production, improvement in the good governance and others economic indicators will contribute to achieve expected the economic growth."
He said that current economic growth would not be enough for the development of the country because the neighboring countries were securing in double digit growth.
He asked the employees of the NRB to be dedicated for enhancing the capacities regulating bodies of the banking sectors.
Governor of the NRB Dr.Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the NRB was effortful to establish the good governance in order to strengthen the banking sector.
He said that the NRB would not let the individuals and institutions involved in the financial crime go scot-free.
Dr. Khatiwada further said that the financial sector was gradually improving from the critical situation of last year.
He said that the NRB management was effortful to address agreement signed between the unions last year.
Last year, the management and the unions agreed on various points relating to institutional reform, good governance and facilities for employees, among others.
He said that the employees and the management were equally responsible for the capacity enhancement and good governance in the institution.
Rajan Adhikari, vice-president of the Nepal National Employees’ Organisation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) asked the management to implement the previous agreement soon.
He committed that they were ready to coordinate with the management in order to establish the good governance and strengthen the capacities of the central bank.
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DETAILS OF FRIDAY’S SPECIALCOMMITTEE MEET ON INTEGRATON
Kathmandu, 31 March:
A meeting of the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of the Maoist Combatants Friday decided that the Nepal Army would take the responsibility to manage the former combatants and their weapons by April 12, The Rising Nepal reports.
According to the committee, the handover process of combatants will be concluded within 13 days.
The major political forces had agreed to integrate 6,500 combatants in the Nepal Army (NA) after they underwent a selection and regrouping process. During the regrouping process, 9,705 combatants were chosen for the integration process. The NA would select the 6,500 combatants for integration.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of prime minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Members of the Special Committee and UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel, Bhim Rawal, NC leader Dr. Ram Saran Mahat, Dr. Minendra Rizal, Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun, lawmaker Jitendra Dev, chief secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and others were present in the meeting.
After the meeting, committee member and Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said that the committee decided to conclude the hand over process within 13 days.
He said that the handover to the Nepal Army would be concluded within April 12 and integration process would be started.
NC leader and committee member Dr. Ram Saran Mahat said that the handover would be concluded within 13 days and integration will be started in line with the 7-point deal inked by major political forces.
He said that the combatants would find a chance to accept the voluntary retirement package and added that the post for the combatants would be identified as per the seven point deal.
He said that only 6,500 combatants would be integrated in the NA.
Dr. Mahat said that the NA would start the integration process after the handover of the combatants.

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FORMER KING OFFERS PUJA AT KAILALI TEMPLES

FORMER KING OFFERS PUJA AT TEMPLES IN KAILALI
Kathmandu, 31 March: Former King Gyanendra Saturday offered prayers and puja at Nainadebi Bhagawati and Laxminarayan temples in Kailali
The former king spent five hours in Mahendranagar offering puja and worship Siddhinath temple and holding discussions with supporters Friday in Mahendranagar.
He started a visit last week of Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in the far-West for the first time after declaration of a republic.
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SRC REPORT SENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE
Kathmandu, 31 March: Chairman Subash Nemwang of constituent assembly (CA) Friday sent a report of the government-nominated state reorganization commission (SRC) to the main constituent assembly (CA) headed by Nilambar Acharya.
A report of was sent after the CA completed an extend five-day debate of the commission report.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
“Nepal should become a bridge not a barricade between the two countries. Then only our dream of developing country will come true.”
(PM Baburam Bhattarai, The Kathmandu Post, 31 March)
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NEW DELHI NO TO RAM KARKI AS AMBASSADOR TO INDIA
Kathmandu, 31 March: An official word from New Delhi or Kathmandu is yet to come, but it will not be wrong to now conclude that proposed ambassador to India Ram Karki has probably been rejected by the South Block, Mahesh Acharya reports in The Kathmandu Post..
There are a number of theories behind the supposed Indian disapproval of Karki. That Karki’s past ‘support’ the Gorkhaland movement and that his wife is an Indian citizen and is holding a government job in Sikkim have been much discussed.
Indian official sources, however, have not confirmed any of these. They have rather obliquely hinted at a case related to Karki in Delhi High Court a decade ago.
Interestingly, documents obtained by the Post do not establish the court theory either. The documents show that the court did not convict Karki when he was arrested in Delhi in 2002 during the height of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. The status report at the Special Cell of the Indian police that submitted an intelligence report to the court also does not confirm his alleged links with Indian Maoists.
The Reality
The Special Cell detained 13 activists—nine Indian and four Nepalis—from Triveni Kala Sangam at Mandi House in New Delhi when they were holding a meeting in 2002. The detained Indian citizens were notable human rights activists and senior journalists, such as Anand Swaroop Verma, Gautam Naulakh and Pankaj Singh. Among Nepalis were Karki, Maheshwor Dahal, Aditi Shah and Motiprasad Rijal.
Quoting details given by the erstwhile Royal Nepal Embassy, the Special Cell had mentioned that Partha Chettri, aka Ram Karki, is “an intellectual with ultra left leanings with contacts with Maoist Supremo Prachanda”, while Karki was an active member of the banned Akhil Bharatiya Nepali Ekta Samaj.
Though the Cell claimed that the activists were holding a secret meeting, a press note issued by Anand Swaroop Verma on behalf of India-Nepal People’s Solidarity Forum had said they were holding an open meeting to discuss human rights situation in Nepal.
“There have been grave violations of human rights after emergency was imposed in Nepal and foreign interference is increasing in the name of Maoism in South Asia. To retaliate this, we were planning to hold a large meeting on August 3,” the press release said.
The detained activists were then taken to the Special Cell at Lodhi Colony, where the nine Indians were released after interrogation. The incident invited widespread criticism in India. Though the Indian activists were released after a few hours of detention, the four Nepalis were taken to the Foreign Regional Registration Office. They were served a ‘Quit India Notice’ and handed over to the Banke district police at Rupaidah check oost on the Nepal-India border in Uttar Pradesh the next day.
After news of their deportation appeared in newspapers, Verma filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the Delhi High court seeking the whereabouts of his four Nepali colleagues.
Sherab Shenga, Ram Karki’s wife, also filed a similar petition where she claimed that she married Karki according to Hindu rites in 1994 and that “he could have applied for the Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (c ) of the Indian Citizenship Act, but in view of the status of Nepalis under the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, there was no need for him to do so.”
After the petitions were filed, the court issued a show cause notice to the Indian government and directed that until the next date of hearing, the four persons named in the petition would not be deported. However, the court, while issuing the stay, was unaware of their deportation a day after the detention.
On behalf of the government, a status report with the name and signature of the Assistant Commissioner of Special Cell Rajbir Singh was submitted to the court. The Cell informed the court that the activities of the four Nepali nationals were detrimental to the interests of India and hence they were deported to Nepal.
After the government’s reply, the court delivered a verdict on August 8, 2002. As both the petitions had been filed with almost identical relief, the bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and RS Sodhi addressed the matter by the common judgement.
The court disposed of the petitions, arguing that the deportation of the Nepalis did not violate the law. However, it directed the government to make serious endeavours to get information on the whereabouts of the petitioner’s husband from Nepali government and inform her.
‘Karki in Delhi’
While the agreemo case created a brouhaha, it is learnt that Karki himself came to Delhi to know about the ground situation. Though high level Indian political sources confirmed this report, they did not divulge details. Efforts to have Karki clarify on this matter failed despite attempts. Meanwhile, the Post has learnt that Karki had telephoned some Indian figures close to him to inquire on the matter after ‘he reportedly heard about New Delhi’s preparation to disapprove his appointment.

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DEUBA SUPPORTERS INJURED IN CLASH
Kathmandu, 31 March: Around a dozen Nepal Student Union (NSU) leaders close to Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba were injured when the police used force to disperse the students who were trying to padlock the NSU central office on Friday, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the NSU cadres after they marched towards their central office for the padlock as part of their protest against the party’s decision to form a general convention preparatory committee. NSU leaders from the camp are protesting saying that the committee was formed unilaterally and against the union’s statute.
The NC on March 18 formed a 101-member committee, with 73 members from the establishment faction, and a three-member election committee for holding the general convention of the student body. Twenty-eight leaders from the Deuba camp have resigned from the committee.
According to former NSU Vice-president Nain Sigh Mahar, police intervened in the rally of over 300 students while it was about to reach the central office. He claimed the police were prepared to obstruct as wanted by the establishment faction.
“We have come to know that President Sushil Koirala had asked the government authorities to stop the padlocking,” said Mahar. The injured include former General Secretary Jit Jung Basnet, Deputy General Secretary Saroj Thapa, Sunita Pokharel, Santosh Shrestha, Sanjay Prajapati, Tika Dahal, Sanjay Prajapati and Surendra Shrestha. Basnet and Surendra were seriously injured in the head. All of them are receiving care at Kathmandu Model Hospital.
However, police said they were compelled to use force as the two factions were likely to clash. “One side was preparing to padlock the office while the other was ready to retaliate. Therefore, we had to use force to avert a clash,” said DSP Dhiraj Pratap Shah.
Basnet said their protests would continue until the present committee is not dissolved. He also demanded formation of a new committee with proportional representation from both factions.
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Friday, March 30, 2012

CHAITE DASAIN, RAM NAWAMI BEING OBSERVED

CHAIRE DASAIN, RAM NAWAMI BEING OBSERVED
Kathmandu, 31 March: Devotees are also observing Chaite Dasain
and Ram Nanawami Saturday.
Devotees have offering puja and worship at temples in and outside the capital from early morning.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
‘So far, we raised our concerns from Madesh, but this time we are declaring our stance from the capital city.’
(Atmaram Sah, MJF-Republican General Secretary addressing first public meeting in capital of front of Madeshbadi parties in government, Republica, 31 March)
“There was a parliament in which Lal Bahadur Shahtri resigned[from post of railway minister] following a train accident. I would like to sacrifice anything for such a parliament, but how will I respect parliament on present days.”
(Arvind Kejriwal, member of Team Anna, Republica, 31 Republica.)
“It was like looking at the world from atop the chariot (Seto Machindranath) Now everybody says the chariot has shrink. Houses are now tall; height of the chariot
hasn’t shortened.”
(Gyan Singh Maharjan who has traditionally assembled the chariot, Nagarik, 31 March)
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CDS OPERATION DELAYED BY LUKEWARM RESPONSE
Kathmandu,31 March: The absence of depository participants (DP) and company listings has delayed the operation of Nepal’s first central depository system (CDS) in spite of it being all ready to start business, The Himalayan Times reports.

“We are ready to start dematerialising shares by the beginning of next month, however, it cannot be done if no listed company registers their securities with

us and if there are no depository participants to hold the demat account of investors,” said chief executive of CDS and Clearing Subodh Sharma Sigdel, at a press meet here today.

The Immediate Action Plan designed by the finance ministry had directed the company to begin operations by mid-April. The capital market regulator recently provided licence to one merchant bank — Civil Capital –– to work as a depository participant but it is yet to apply for membership at the company.

There are nine more companies that have applied for the licence of depository participants including merchant banks, financial institutions and a brokerage firm. Central depository system will dematerialise the physical scrips and make the transfer, clearing and settlement of shares faster and hassle free.

But CDS requires depository participants who will hold the investor’s records in a dematerialised form. They will act like a bank for the securities while the company is going to be the clearing house which will settle the account after each share transaction.

The chances of listed companies voluntarily coming and getting their securities registered at CDSC seems slim. Companies have to pay as high as Rs 500,000 to get their shares registered without any direct benefit for them.

“We are trying to communicate with the companies that coming into CDSC’s system will reduce their share-handling cost substantially due to dematerialisation,” pointed out Sigdel, adding, a company has to pay about Rs 100 to print one share certificate, at present, but after CDSC, printing will not be required.
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GOVT. MAKING ILLEGAL APPOINTMENTS
Kathmandu, 31 Government has also made an illegally appointment in Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB), Kiran Bhandari reports in Nagarik.
The government has been deliberately making such appointments in the finance ministry and bodies under it.
Cabinet Thursday nominated former secretary Ram Hari Aryal board member of NRB.
‘Aryal doesn’t have qualifications fixed by NRB. Nominations are being made haphazardly.’ An official said such appointments ae being made extensively.
‘Aryal doesn’t have expertise in seven subjects specified by NRB. What kind of proposal did the finance minister, finance secretary and chief secretary
present at the cabinet? What is the basis of the prime minister’ appointment?” he asked.
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HERBO RAIDED; PROMOTERS ELUSIVE
Kathmandu, 31 March: The Central Investigation Bureau of the Nepal Police raided the New Baneshwor-based head office of now-defunct Herbo International Pvt Ltd,
The Himalayan Times reports.

It seized documents, CPUs, expired A/C payee bank cheques and CDs for investigation, while promoters of the illegal network business remained as elusive as ever.

A CIB team under DSP Om Adhikari raided the Herbo office based on complaints that the network business had defrauded people of millions of rupees.

The raid follows Wednesday’s Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the government ban on network businesses.

Immediately after the ban, the Supreme Court had issued a stay order one-and-a-half-years ago, allowing network businesses like Herbo International to remain in operation.

Herbo had been involved in the trade of products ‘purely manufactured’ from Nepali herbs found in the high Himalayan regions since April 14, 2005.

The company had managed to expand it network not only in Nepal but also in India, Singapore and Malaysia.

The company is found to have cheated thousands of people, promising them hefty commission for expanding the network business.

Promoters of the network business, including Kumar Lal Shrestha have been absconding after the apex court verdict.

CIB Chief, DIG Upendra Kant Aryal, said they have launched a manhunt for the promoters.
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CHAIRMAN NEMWANG SEEKS DETAILS; IMPOSTER SITS FOR SLC EXAMINATIONS ON BEHALF OF MAOIST LAWMAKER

CHAIRMAN NEMWANG REQUESTS DETAILS;IMPOSTER APPEARS FOR MAOIST LAWMAKER IN JUST CONCLUDED SLC EXAMINATIONS

Kathmandu, 31 March: Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang
has ordered an investigation into reports an imposter appeared for all the papers in the just concluded SLC examinations from a center in Rautahat on behalf of Maoist lawmaker Prem Bahadur Lama
The Office of the Controller of Examinations has been asked for details in writing, Spokesman of CA Mukunda Sharma said..
Daughter of UML lawmaker Kiran Kumari Ray appeared for the annual
examination last year; no action was taken against her either by CA/parliament or the party.
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BRITISH FIELD MARSHAL SIR JOHN CHAPPLE ARRIVES SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 31 March: British Field Marshal Sir John Chapple arrives Sunday
to attend a meeting of the the forum on sustainable education for the environment and community, which is being organized by the National Trust for Nature
Conservation (NRNC), the British embassy said.
The NTNC is the predecessor of King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation.
Chapple is a career soldier who served with the Brigade of Gurkhas from
1954, rising to become Chief of the General Staff in 1988.
Chapple also served as a former trustee of the World Wildlife Fund (1988-1993) and president of the Zoological Society of London (1992-1994).
He’ll hold discussions with Army Chief Gen. Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.
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SETO MACHINDRANATH BEING TOWED SATURDAY

SETO MACHINARANATH BEING TOWED SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 31 March: The extended festival season begins Saturday in the Valley first as the a chariot with Seto Machindranath is being towed through the capital from Sanskrit Pathshala to Lagon through Ason, Indrachowk and Lagon.
The journey to Lagon in likely to take three days.
The chariot will be rested during the nights at Ason and Hanuman Dhoka before the journey of the Goddess of Rain ends at Lagon.
The Bisket Jatra then begins in Bhaktapur
Coinciding with the Nepali New Year 13 April.
The extended festival season in the Valley ends after Rato Macindranath is pulled from Pulchowk to Jawalakhel in another chariot.
The monsoon will begin with the end of the Rato Machindranath jatra , described as the country’s longest.
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MMC MEETS THREE STAR CLUB IN 14TH BUDASUBBHA GOLD CUP FOOTBALL FOURNAMENT FINAL

Kathmandu, 31 March: Madesh Marshyangdhi Club (MMC) meets Three Star Club in the final of 14th Budasubbha Gold Cup Football Tournament in Dharan Saturday.
MMC and Three Star Club are both two time champions.
The winner will collect a Rs.250,000 prize money and the supper-up Rs150,000.
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JAPAN LIKELY TO RESUME ODA TO NEPAL
Kathmandu, 31 March : The Japanese government is considering resumption of official development assistance (ODA) to Nepal, claimed Radhesh Pant, chief executive of the Investment Board, a three-and-half-month-old body that acts as a facilitator for investors planning to enter Nepali market, Republica reports.
Pant told a investment promotion seminar in Kathmandu Friday that the commitment was expressed during his recent trip to Japan.
Japan provides ODA in terms of bilateral aid, in which assistance is given directly to developing countries, and multilateral aid, which is provided through international organizations, the website of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) says. Nepal has been denied this assistance since 2001 through which around 50 projects, ranging from energy, communications, transportation and hydropower to health, education, agriculture and drinking water were implemented.
“Japan stopped providing ODA due to fear of unpredictable political situation in Nepal. And it cannot be extended until there is improvement in the political climate,” Kunio Takahashi, Japanese ambassador to Nepal, told a seminar on investment promotion held in Kathmandu on Friday.
Citing fluid political situation as one of the primary reasons that was stalling entry of foreign investment in Nepal, the Japanese ambassador urged all to work toward building a political consensus. “This could unleash imaginations, ideas and recommendations to attract foreign investors to Nepal,” he said.
Renowned Japanese Professor Ryokichi Hirono of Seikei University, who was a keynote speaker at the event said every country that strives to attract foreign investment should focus on four key areas of ensuring political and policy stability, raising investment in human capital, formulating sound government policies for private sector, building efficient and clean bureaucracy.
“Although liberal international trading regime is also necessary to lure foreign investment, this is sometimes beyond any country´s reach to change,” the professor said.
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118 HELD WITH FAKE PASSPORTS IN 2 MONTHS
Kathmandu, 31 March: The Department of Immigration (DoI) has seized 118 fake Nepali passports in the last two months alone, indicating that handwritten passports continue to be misused both by Nepali nationals and foreigners, Shreejana Shrestha writes in Republica..

According to a data obtained by Republica from DoI, 67 people, including 11 Indian nationals, were found in possession of fake Nepali passports in January, 2012. DoI officials had also arrested a Sri Lankan national in January at the Tribhuvan International Airport for using fake passport.

“The trend of using fake passports is on the rise,” said Sudhir Kumar Shah, director general at DoI. He informed that most of those arrested for possessing fake passports had tampered with the original photographs.

“The trend is on the rise as those using such passports are mostly illiterate and unaware about the consequence of such a grave offence.” Most of those arrested were workers who had returned from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, 51 people were arrested for using fake passports at TIA in February alone. Of them six were Indian and two Chinese nationals. The two Chinese were arrested in possession of fake Japanese passports.

This is the second time DoI officials have arrested Chinese nationals for possessing fake passports. Prior to this, DoI officials had arrested seven Chinese nationals for possessing fake passports.

A DoI official said that the Chinese nationals are in police custody. Likewise, DoI has already filed cases against those found possessing fake passports at the Kathmandu District Court.
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________________________________________

UPDATE MAOIST UNIONS SPLIT

FORMER KING OFFERS PUJA, WORSHIP AT TEMPLE IN
MAHENDRANAGAR UPDATE

Kathmandu, 30 March: Former King Gyanendra Friday offered puja and worshipped at the temple in Mahendra and drove back to Dhangadi Friday.
The former king walked to the temple from the Mahendra town outskirt to the temple and was greeted by thousands of supporters
He was escorted to Manendranagar by motorcycles as he drove from Dhangadi to Mahendranagar.
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UPDATE MAOIST UNIONS SPLIT

Kathmandu, 30 March: A national meet of Maoist workers in the capital meet Friday announced the formation of a parallel union in the capital.
The split comes at a time when the Mohan Baidhaya faction of (UCPN Maoist); has launched a national struggle campaign with 11 other splinter parties against the establishment of Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
Maoist unions have now formally split with the national met Friday in the midst
of the anti-party and anti-government of the dissident group.
General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa attended the Kathmandu meet.
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FORMER MAOIST FIGHTERS ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INTEGRATION AND RETIREMENT BY 12 APRIL

MAOIST FORMER FIGHTERS GIVEN UNTIL 12 APRIL TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INTRGRATION AND RETIREMENT

Kathmandu, 30 March: The special committee Friday gave 9,900
former Maoist fighters until 12 April to decide between integration and voluntary retirement until 12 April.

Maoist weapons in containers will be handed over to government by then
The committee meets again Sunday to pursue agenda discussed Friday.
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1ST SAARC SANITATION CONFERENCE IN NEPAL
Kathmandu, 30 March: The fifth South Asian Sanitation Conference is to be held for the first time in Nepal, RSS reports from Lalitpur.

The fifth South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) is to be held for the first time Nepal with an objective of formulating policies and programmes by the governments of concerned countries by discussing and consulting with stakeholders on the sanitation of South Asia.

The NGO Fresh Water Action Nepal will organise the conference which will be participated in by representatives of all the countries including Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and stakeholders of all countries.

The first conference was held in Bangladesh in 2003 and the fourth conference in Sri Lanka.

The conference will be held in November 2013 in Kathmandu.

As per government statistics, Nepal has 50 percent population within reach to sanitation and the target is to reach cent percent by 2017.
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FOUR LIMBUWAN GROUPS MERGE

FOUR LIMBUWAN GROUPS MERGE
Kathmandu, 30 March: Four Limbuwan Groups announced their merger in
Damak Friday.
Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parisad, Limbuwan Rajya Parisad, Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parisad(Revolutionary) and Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Ekkikrit Limbuwan have merger.
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RESIDNT AMBASSADOR OF MYANMAR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT
Kathmandu, 30 March: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has received letters of credence from the ambassadors of Myanmar and Nigeria to Nepal, RSS reports.

Ambassador of Myanmar Aye Khaing and Ambassador of Nigeria Oyebola Kuku presented their credential letters to the President amidst a special ceremony at the Presidential residence in Sheetal Niwas on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khaing is a residential ambassador for Nepal while Kuku resides in New Delhi with concurrent accreditation to Nepal.

Chief of Army Staff Chhatraman Singh Gurung, Secretary at the Office of President Baman Prasad Neupane and Foreign Secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai were also present on the occasion, it is learnt.
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THREE DEAD IN BAITADI, MINOR MISSING

THREE DEAD, MINOR MISSING IN BAITADI
Kathmandu, 30 March: Three people were found dead while a minor has been missing at the Chamelia River in Baitadi district on Friday, RSS reports from Baitadi.

Barbati Bhatta (22), Sarita Bhatta (16) and Sunil Bhatta (5)of Ranishikhar VDC-4 are among the deceased. The bodies were found flowing on the river, according to Area Police Office, Gokuleshwor, Darchula. However, three-year-old Anil Bhatta, has been missing.

Police said Dhanbir Thagunna of Ranishikhar VDC-4 had taken them from house at 3:00 am on Friday.

Police have suspected that they might have killed and thrown in the river.

Police have launched a manhunt for Thagunna who is at large after the incident.

Further investigation regarding the incident is underway and the bodies are kept at local Primary Health Center for postmortem, said Laxman Khadka, In-charge of the Area Police Office, Gokuleshwor.
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MAOIST INTEGRATION TO BE COMPLETED BY 12 APRIL ASSURES
MAOIST CHIEF
Kathmandu, 30 March: : The leaders of different political parties have vowed to issue the new constitution within the stipulated time by restoring peace in two months, RSS reports.



Speaking in the felicitation programme organised on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of Reporters' Club Nepal here in the Capital on Friday, they stressed on the need to build an understanding among the parties on constitution writing as the peace process is materialising.



On the occasion, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai said decision has been taken to send the bill on the truth and reconciliation commission and the bill on finding the status of the disappeared to the Parliament after discussion, and also to complete the army integration task within April 12. He reiterated that there will be no backtracking from the peace process now.



Noting that the contentious issues of the constitution should be resolved through understanding and agreement, the prime minister urged the leaders of all the political parties to come to a compromise giving up their intransigence.



UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the works related to army integration would be completed within April 12 and the constitution writing could be accomplished on that basis.



"A difficult path has to be negotiated to conclude the 12-point accord and to complete the constitution-writing by ending the transition," Dahal said, adding that as the leader of the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, he has both challenges and opportunities before him for reaching to the destination even by making compromises.



Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala blamed that the leaders were lingering the peace and statute drafting processes by giving only verbal assurances to the people.

He also warned against creating federal provinces on ethnic line as doing so could be harmful to the nation.



Similarly, senior leader of the CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal said the constitution writing task would proceed ahead with the conclusion of the army integration. He reiterated that the constitution could be promulgated within the deadline if all the political parties adhered to the past agreements.



Speaking at the same occasion, Constituent Assembly chairman Subas Nembang stressed on unity and understanding among all the political parties given the possibility of issuing the constitution within May 27 even by amending the Interim Constitution and cutting short the constitution formulation process.
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UML CHAIRMAN KHANAL RETURNS HOME FRIDAY AFTER PROSTRATE PROCEDURE OPERATION

UML CHAIRMAN KHANAL RETURNS HOME FRIDAYAFTER NEW DELHI PROSATRATE GLAND OPERATION
Kathmandu, 30 March: CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal who went to New Delhi, India in course of medical treatment returned home on Friday, RSS reports.

Talking to media persons upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, UML chairman Khanal said that his India visit was completely for medical purpose and he held no political meetings there.



Stating that he has taken the Supreme Court's verdict on the Constituent Assembly term as a usual one, leader Khanal expressed his hope that the peace and constitution drafting processes would conclude within the slated time.

"Though doctors have suggested me not to exhaust myself, I would regularly attend the meetings related to peace and constitution drafting processes, he said.

He said that though his trip was totally for health checkup, he had attended a programme at the Jodhpur University.

Khanal underwent a prostate gland surgery in New Delhi on March 26 and was discharged from hospital at 9:00 am today [Friday]
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ID CARDS DISTRIBUTED TO 1.215 FREED KAMAIYAS
Kathmandu, 30 March:The Freed Haliya Rehabilitation and Monitoring Taskforce has so far distributed identity cards to 1,215 freed Haliya (previous bonded labourers) households.
The taskforce started distributing identity cards to the previous bonded workers since October 31, 2011, RSS reports.

Among the card recipient families are 147 in Darchula, 252 in Baitadi, 223 in Kanchanpur, 119 in Bajhang, eight in Surkhet, 89 in Surkhet, 69 in Kailali, 54 in Jajarkot, 43 in Humla, 56 in Achham, 130 in Doti and 79 in Dadeldhura, according to the taskforce.

Taskforce Coordinator Hariram Sripaili informed public that red identity card was given away to those having no house and land, brown one to those having house but no land, green ID card to those having land but no house and white card to those having both house and land.

The immediate plan is to address the problems related to residence, livelihood, education, health and inclusion based on the district-wide data following the handover of identity card.

The government had announced Haliya liberation on September 2008 with a comprehensive plan to scrap Haliya system, enforce Haliya Labour Prohibition Act, rehabilitate freed Haliyas, provide them with 10 ropanis of land in mountain region and 10 kattha in Terai for residence, among others.
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UNIONS AFFLIATED TO MAOIST BIDHYA FACTION HOLD NATIONAL MEET

UNIONS OF BIDHYA FACTION HUDDLED IN NATIONAL MEET
Kathmandu, 30 March : National Conclave of Workers’ Union close to Bidhya faction of the UCPN (Maoist) is kicking off at Dojo Hotel in Nayabazaar in Kathmandu
Today [Saturday], Greatwayonline reports..
It is learnt that UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya and Central Committee Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa are attending the gathering.
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BHAKTAPURL DISTRICT ELECTION OF SPLINTER PARTY OFFICE BEARERS

RSPP DISTRICT MEMBERS ELECTED

Kathmandu, 30 March: Bhaktapur District convention of the Rastriya Shakti Prajatantra Party (RSPP) has today [Saturday] elected a 17-member new working committee under the chairmanship of Surendra Pratap Shah, RSS reports from Bhaktapur.
The election concluded this morning elected Chandan Krishna Shrestha, Surendra KC, Krishna Bahadur Mahat, Ram Bhakta Pakka, Sanu Prasad Ban, Nar Bahadur Thapa, Shankar Lamichhane, Jay Bahadur Karki, Kuber Khatri, Ratnaman Chandyo, Manakram Thapa, Bidur Khadka, Rudra Bahadur Khadka, Nar Govinda Shankhadev, Rameshwor Thapa and Laba Kumar Karki as members of the working committee.
In the election held for the post of chairman, Shah got 46 votes whereas his rival, Uttam Giri, received 19 votes.
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UPDATE SUB-COMMITTEE MEET CHAIRED BY PM BEGINS

UPDATE SPECIAL SUB-COMMITTEE MEET BEGINS

Kathmandu, 30 March: A meeting of the sub-committee chaired by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for integration of former Maoist fighters in state army began Saturday.
Procedures to be adopted for a second survey of voluntary retirement or integration of remaining 9,900 fighters in 15 cantonments and satellite camps and handover of Maoist weapons to government by end of 12 April will be discussed, Finance Minister and Maoist spokesman Barshaman Singh Pun said.
The committee will take up three agenda items.
A second survey is being taken as there are only6,500 openings for former fighters in Nepal Army.
A meeting of the Big Three just concluded
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BIG THREE FORM TASK FORCE TO SUGGEST CONCEPT FOR TRUCH RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

BIG THREE FORM TASK FORCE FOR TWO COMMISSIONS

Kathmandu, 30 March: A three-member task force of Khim Lal Devkota (UCPN Maoist), Ramesh Lekhak (NC) and Agni Kharel (UML) was formed by theBig Three Saturday to prepare a draft concept for commissions on truth and reconciliation and disappeared persons.
The major parties had so far only agreed in principle for only to form such bodies.
which still haven’t been formed as government unilaterally grants amnesty to persons charged for serious crimes during a 10-year insurgency.
Persons affiliated with the party heading the government have mainly benefited.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist Chairman Prachanda, NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel and other leaders attended the meet.
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SEVEN PILGRIMS KILLED, EIGHT INJURED IN SALYAN JEEP ACCIDENT

SEVEN PILGRIMS KILLED, EIGHT INJURED IN SALYAN
JEEP ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 30 March; Seven pilgrims from Srinagar, Salyan, died Friday when a jeep Friday fell 300 meters off a highway in the far-West district.
Eight were injured.
The pilgrims were going to Khairavang for puja at a temple from Srinagar, police said.
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TEXTBOOK SHORTAGE LIKELY THIS YEAR AS WELL
Kathmandu, 30 March: The claim made by educational stakeholders that the students of various parts of the country are likely to face textbook shortage even during this year has turned out to be true as the Janak Education Materials Center (JEMC) is yet to print some 5.2 million units of textbooks, Manjima Dhakal writes in The Rising Nepal..
The center has a target to print 19.7 million units of textbooks for this year.
Earlier, the JEMC and the Ministry of Education (MoE) claimed that this year the textbooks would be available in time. However, with just two weeks of the start of new academic session, the center has backtracked from its commitment.
Arjun Bilash Panta, publication department chief of the center, said it has already dispatched textbooks to remote areas and would complete the printing by the third week of Baishak.
It shows clearly that this year also the textbooks will not available in time.
Panta informed that now the center failed to operate its printing press round the clock in the lack of printing paper. Now, it has opened Letter of Credit as per the demand of the printing papers. From Sunday, JEMC will operate its printing press for 24 hours.
The center claimed that now it had been printing around 100,000 textbooks each day to meet its target of 1, 9700000 copies of textbooks.
Some 26 tons of paper is needed to publish 100,000 units of textbooks, production technician said
If printing goes in the current pace the center will only print around 1,500,000 textbooks before the start of the academic session. The textbook crisis will be witnessed this year too.
Sajha Publications, the distributors of JEM textbooks, had failed to dispatch textbooks to several districts just ahead of the start of the academic session.
Suprabhat Bhandari, chairman of the Guardian Association, said the monopoly of JEMC and Sajha Prakashan in the publication and distribution of textbooks is the main reason behind the crisis of textbooks shortage.

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POOR RIGHTS INDEX RECORD FOR NEPAL





Kathmandu, 30 March:
Nepal is ranked 102nd out of 130 countries with a poor score of 4.4 out of 10 in the International Property Rights Index (IPRI) 2012, The Rising Nepal reports.
Nepal has scored 3.2 in Legal and Political Environment (LP), 5.9 in Physical Property Rights (PPR), and 4.1 in Intellectual Property Rights (IPC). With this score, the country lies on the 4th quintile out of the five quintiles, according to the IPRI), a publication of the Property Right Alliance (PRA) based in Washington DC.
Gender equality in property rights is another important aspect of the report which highlights the disparities in property rights between men and women. This is more striking in the developed countries, the report said.
As per the report, in the context of Property Rights and Gender Equality, Nepal ranks 68th this year along with Zambia and Uganda.
Nepal’s IPRI score has improved in the last two years with an increase of 0.4 in score in 2011. The country’s score earlier had been a stagnant 4.0 from 2008 to 2010. LP has had trouble increasing due to decreases in its subcategories of rule of law, political stability and control the corruption, the report said.
Sambriddi, The Prosperity Foundation, is the partner think tank in Nepal for PRA. This has been releasing the IPRI in Nepal since 2011, which is one of the most comprehensive international measurements of property rights around the world.
The IPRI scores and ranks each country based on 11 factors reflecting the state of its Legal and Political Environment (LP), Physical Property Rights (PPR) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
During the release of the report, economists and business leaders called for ensuring the peoples’ rights to property as legally and politically for the country’s economic development.
Senior economist Dr. Bhola Nath Chalise said that the economic prosperity of the country will not be achieved until the state ensures the people’s rights to property.
The people’s rights to property have not been ensured and protected in the country due to political instability, he said.
He underlined the need for the government to protect the property of the people legally and politically.
Another economist Dr. Chiranjivi Nepal called for ensuring the people’s rights to property as a fundamental right, which alone could play a crucial role for the economic development.
Most of the countries who have become successful in achieving he economic development only through ensuring the people’s rights to property, he said.
He blamed that the State had failed to ensure the people’s rights to property even after the political changes.
Suresh Kumar Basnet, president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC), said that the investments and economic activities will be affected without protecting the people’s rights to property legally and politically.
He said that ensuring the property rights as fundamental rights is necessary to increase investments and accelerate the process of economic development in the country.
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Thursday, March 29, 2012

PARTIES MAKE FINAL EFFORT TO COMPLETE PEACE, CONSTITUTION

PARTIES MAKE FINAL EFFORT TO COMPLETE PEACE,CONSTITUTION

Kathmandu, 30 March: Parties are holding last-minute discussions to complete the delayed peace and constitution drafting processes after the supreme court backed
a decision of the registrar’s office not to register requests of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattaraai and Speaker Subash Nemwang to review a November 2011 judgment
which ruled the present constitution assembly (CA) will be the last..
The Big Three ar holding discussions and a special committee chaired by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for the integration in Nepal Army (NA) of 6,500 former
rebel fighters is also held Friday.
A secretariat of the committee Thursday, amid Maoist differences, finalized
a modality with a work schedule for integration of fighters.
The report is being presented at the secretariat for approval of the special committee Friday.
The secretariat couldn’t meet Tuesday’s deadline to complete the suggestions
as Maoists pressed for relaxation of military rules and regulations to facilitate their into the state army the PLA fighters failed to dislodge in a 10-year insurgency.
Opposition has rejected calls for amendments or relaxations of a 7-point
agreement which is the framework for follow-up agreements.
Differences between parties haven’t been resolved o five major issues to draft a constitution.
Completion of integration is a pre-condition of opposition to complete drafting a constitution.
Debate also resumes Friday for the fifth day at the constituent assembly on a federal structure to replace a unitary state.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is theonly major politician who’s confident
The twin processes will be completed by the 28 May deadline by a government under his leadership.
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CAPITAL’S MINIMUM TEMPERATRE FRIDAY ;11.5 DEGREES CELSIUS

Kathmandu, 30 March: Minimum temperature recorded Friday morning in the capital was 11.5 degrees Celsius
Mercury is expected to shoot up to 31 degrees in the afternoon.
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MAOIST BAIDHAHYA FACTION TOURING COUNTRY SPREADING
ANTI-PARTY, ANTI-GOVT. MESSAGE

Kathmandu, 30 March: UCPN Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel said the party establishment is conspiring to revive the 1990 constitution even by splitting the party—an attempt which should be thwarted, Nagarik reports from Jhapa.
“Prachanda is attempting to revive the old constitution even by splitting the party.
There’s no alternative for us but to launch a struggle against it.” Gajurel, who is now Chief of the United National People’s Movement Committee said.
In Chitwan, UCPN (Maoist)General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa charged the party establishment in guided by foreigners.
“It’s clear the establishment faction which didn’t agree with the central committee decision is guided by other power centers,’ Thapa told journalists after he addressed a closed party session.
He charged the establishment wasn’t serious on completing the peace and constitution processes.
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FORMER KING TO OFFER, PRAYER, PUJA AT SHIDDHANATH TEMPLE IN MAHENDRANAGAR FRIDAY

FORMER KING TO OFFER PUJA, PRAYERS AT SHIDDHANATH
TEMPLE IN MAHENDRANAGAR FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 30 March: Former King Gyanendra will offer prayers and puja at the
Shiddhanath Temple in Mahendranagar Friday.
He was lustily cheered by hundreds of supporters and welcomed with familiar ‘Rajo Ahau, Desh Bachau” slogans as soon as he alighted a regular commercial to Dhangadi from the capital.
His visit to the far-West is the first after becoming commoner.
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ANNAPURNA FINANCE UPGRADE TO DEVELOPMENT BANK

Kathmandu, 30 March: Pokhara-based Annapurna Finance Ltd. Launched 19 years ago will be upgraded to a category B development bank with permission received from Nepal Rashra Bank.
The upgraded bank will be named Kailash Bank.
The finance company has a paid-up capital of Rs.704.3 million.
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NEPSE INDEX AGAIN SLIPS BELOW 300 POINTS

Kathmandu, 30 March: Nepse index Thursday again fell below the 300 point index
The market lost 1.25 points and closed at 298.89 points at the end of five—day trading
Shares of Nepal Telecom, which just announced divided, lost 7.05 points in share trading.
Altogether 9,961 shares were traded in 1,109 transactions Rs.17.2
million.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Since Parliament is the supreme lawmaking body, the apex court does not have the right to direct it. I cannot say whether Parliament has right to supersede the SC judgment, but it does have the right to decide on its own and take appropriate decision.It’s
Parliament’s prerogative to seek a fresh mandate.”

(Attorney General Mukti Narayan Pradhan, The Himalayan Times, 30 March)
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LAWMAKERS DON’T FOLLOW LAW
Kathmandu, 30 March: There are lawmakers breaking laws by sending fake examinees to sit for their SLC exams, but they have never been brought to book — a trend that not only speaks about state of impunity but also bespeaks a situation of absolute
Lawlessness, The Himalayan Times reports.

CPN-UML lawmaker Kiran Kumari Ray during SLC exams last year was found to have sent her daughter to take mathematics test (on March 28, 2011) on behalf of her in Sarlahi.

Exactly after a year, 25-year-old Sahitya Lama was arrested yesterday for writing economics paper for Maoist lawmaker Prem Bahadur Pulami in Rautahat.

While police showed promptitude to arrest Lama, no one knows what action lawmaker Pulami is liable to.

UML’s Ray was quizzed by her party’s disciplinary committee following media reports of her offence. Amrit Bohora of UML’s disciplinary committee told this daily that the party let her go after issuing a warning.

When Sarlahi SP Ram Prasad Shrestha was contacted to shed light on Ray’s case, Shrestha said a police team had been sent to the exam centre, where the malpractice was reported, the following day, but neither Ray nor her daughter showed up.

And the case was consigned to oblivion. CPN-UML was in power then.

Now when the Maoists are at the helm, a similar case involving their lawmakers has come to light.

But Lama, who is said to have taken earlier six exams for lawmaker Pulami before he was arrested yesterday, is just a small fry.

And even another Maoist lawmaker Kumari Moktan’s sister was found to have sent a fake examinee to sit for her exam yesterday.

Interestingly, Speaker Subas Nembang, who in capacity of the chairman of the Constituent Assembly is the custodian of Constituent Assembly members, flaunted ignorance about Ray’s case.

According to Education Act 1971, a person appearing in examinations on behalf of others is liable to a fine and six months in jail or both. Nonetheless, the law is silent on what action should be taken against those who send fake examinees to write their exams.

What advocate Bal Krishna Neupane suggests is: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority should probe and file a case against the lawmakers in question, which will ultimately hand them automatic suspension.
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ANOTHER TRADE OUTLET WITH TIBET TO BE OPENED
SOON IN RASUWA
Kathmandu, 30 March: Jilong, one of the six trading points with China, is soon going to be operational for overland cargo movement, The Himalayan Times reports from Rasuwa.
According to Nepal–China Bilateral Agreement there are six different trading points along the two countries for overland trade. However, apart from Tatopani–Lhasa, the other border points have nominal border trade.
Rasuwa-Jilong, Hilsa (Humla)-Pulan, Olangchunggola-Riwuand, Kimathanka-Chentang, Nechung (Mustang)-Lizi are the other five border points between Nepal and China which currently have nominal border trade.
“The Chinese government has been developing infrastructure for a full fledge overland trade movement in other remaining border points,” said joint secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya and also added that Rasuwa–Jilong will be the next trading point after the Tatopani customs.
“Besides overland cargo movement, Rasuwagadi will help minimise cargo traffic at Tatopani,” he said. China is providing assistance and technology for construction of a dry port in Tatopani and it will help ease the traffic there.


MAOIST CHIEF BACKS PM IN PARTY DISPUTED
Kathmandu, 30 March : Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stated that the radical faction´s demand for immediate resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and the intra-party conflict in the Maoist Mithila state are primarily responsible for throwing the party into the current state of
Disarray, Post B. Basnet writes in Republica.e.

“As per the decision and directive of the central committee (CC), the party leadership can only expedite the process to form a national consensus government. On the other hand, pressing for dissolution of the current government without any plausible option of forming a national consensus government would naturally invite an allegation of the party being extremely irresponsible toward the people, peace and constitution drafting,” reads the political document presented by Dahal at the meeting of the CC members loyal to the party establishment on Wednesday.

The Maoist chairman has also objected to the various allegations leveled against the Bhattarai-led government by the hardliners.

“It is clear that demanding dissolution of the government led by the party, terming it anti-national, anti-people is not only a straight violation of CC decisions, but also against the basic political norms and values,” states the document.

The document states that the grave allegations leveled against each other by rival factions in the Mithila state is another reason that has prevented the party leadership from formulating cadre-orientation program in Mithila.

Dahal has accused that the formation of a struggle committee and a political front by the leaders of the Baidya faction to carry out separate programs has violated the party decisions and adversely affected the party unity.

The Maoist chairman has stated that the reason behind the current intra-party crisis is the result of difference of opinion on the tactical line of the party on how to drive the revolutionary process ahead.

According to him, the leaders of the Baidya faction have been expressing “leftist capitulationism” in the form of “revolutionary jargons” in politics and “petty bourgeois impatience and anarchy” within the party organization.

In the document, Dahal has refrained from attacking Baidya directly and instead refers to the faction as “pro-Kiran comrades.”

The document points out the need for formulating programs to mobilize the full-timers, reactivate the YCL, ethnic and regional fronts, and organize the ex-combatants in
favor of the party´s causes.
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SKIPPING PROVISION MUST TO PROMULGATE CONSTITUTION BY 27 MAY

Kathmandu, 30 March : With the Supreme Court upholding its verdict on CA term extension, it has become certain that the CA must skip some of the crucial constitutional as well as procedural provisions to promulgate the new constitution by the May 27 deadline, Tirtha B. Bhusal writes in Republica.

As of now, the Constitutional Committee, which is entrusted with preparing the first integrated draft report of the new constitution by incorporating all the draft reports of the 11 thematic committees, is struggling to resolve some of the key thorny issues such as the system of governance, judiciary and federal system to be incorporated in the new constitution.

The major tasks the CA is yet to accomplish include resolving disputes, preparing an integrated draft, seeking public feedback on the draft and holding deliberations on the draft in the full CA house.

The draft will then be forwarded to CC for finalization by incorporating public feedback. After incorporating public feedback, the drafting committee will prepare a draft in the form of a constitution bill to be tabled in CA for approval.

CA members will then be allowed to register their amendments (if any) and there will be clause-wise deliberations over the draft and amendments.

Moreover, Article 70 of the interim constitution requires consensus on all the provisions. In the event of failure to forge consensus, the parliamentary party leaders of the political parties represented in the CA shall hold mutual consultations in order to reach consensus on the disputed issues. As per the constitutional provision, the leaders will be given a 22-day timeline to resolve the disputes.

The constitutional provision will be invoked even if a single lawmaker questions or disagrees with any one of the proposed articles. However, the constitution bill may finally be past by two-thirds majority in the CA.

Officials at the CA secretariat said amendment to Article 70 of the interim constitution has become imperative because it is next to impossible to abide by the provision owing to time constraints.

“I have time and again urged the top leaders to take initiatives to amend the provision and they are positive,” Speaker Subas Nembang told Republica.

Officials at the secretariat, however, are dismayed at the political leaders´ apathy.

According to officials, preparation of the integrated draft by technical experts would require one month. “At least, we must allocate 15 days for drafting. We can do it in two weeks only if a team works round the clock without disputing,” Legal Advisor at the CA secretariat, Tek Prasad Dhungana, who is closely involved in the constitution writing process, told Republica.

He said preparing the integrated draft would be very monotonous and time consuming task. “We can´t afford to work in haste because a minor slip may cause constitutional ambiguity in future,” he explained.

Some other top officials, however, see very less possibility of creating such an environment given the working style of the political leadership.

Leaders are lately mulling an alternative with regard to reaching out to the people. Officials said they are planning to publish the first integrated draft in major national dailies simultaneously and circulate booklets. Officials said the idea has convinced leaders because the lawmakers had already fanned out across the country before preparing the preliminary draft report seeking public feedback on the new constitution.

Officials believe that the issue of whether the CA will be able to promulgate the new constitution largely depends on top political leaders´ ability to move ahead through consensus.

“If they keep aside their differences and express readiness to work jointly through mutual trust, the matter of procedural tasks will no longer remain a problem,” said the official. “But that is the big deficit ailing our leaders.”
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AGREEMENT ON MAOIST INTEGRATION LIKELY FRIDAY
Kathmandu, 30 March: Come Friday, the peace process could see a breakthrough and the Maoist combatants will vacate the cantonments by mid-April, according to negotiators across party lines, Phanindra Dahal writes in The Kathmandu Post..
A part of the broader cross-party deal will also lead to the formation of a national unity government under Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and finalise the constitution by mid-May. The Special Committee is likely to make the deal public on Friday morning.
The positive developments come a day after the Supreme Court asserted that the May 27 deadline of the Constituent Assembly is final. Parties reached the understanding after Maoist negotiators agreed to the standard norms of the Nepal Army for integration of their combatants, as envisaged in the seven-point deal. Non-Maoist parties, including the CPN-UML, demonstrated some flexibility in accepting the integration proposal the Army floated in February.
The issue of ranks, a major bone of contention, will now be determined by the Army as per its own standard norms. “Rank is no longer a problem now. If any problem does arise during the process of determining ranks, it will be sorted out at the political level,” said a key NC negotiator. "I expect a beakthrough, barrring last-minute hitches."
Leaders said the Special Committee would offer yet another opportunity to the 9,713 combatants to opt for voluntary retirement and this process would begin either by Sunday or Monday. “We have estimated the number of combatants to for integration will not exceed 6,000,” said another NC negotiator. “We expect the cantonments to be vacated within the next 10 days. Within that period the arms stored in cantonments will come under the Army's control.”
A Maoist leader concurrd that there is now a deal. "The integration process will take momentum now. We have agreed to move ahead as per the standard norms of the Nepal Army," said the party's Politburo member Chandra Prakash Khanal "Baldev."
Prime Minister Bhattarai on Thursday afternoon invited Khanal for discussions on finalising the integration action plan in his office in Singha Durbar.
According to a Maoist leader, there is an agreement to confer a post of colonel to the combatants in the proposed general directorate of the Army. The final decision on the ranks will be made in a three-party meeting slated for Friday morning.
Parties have agreed that all combatants eligible for integration will have to take a five-month-long basic training and seven-month-long rank specific training before their deployment in the Army. The Army team will start the screening process within a week of striking the deal.
Selection of combatants and the process of awarding voluntary retirement package to those switching over their interest or failing to meet the standard norms will be carried out hand in hand. "We can dispatch technical teams to bid farewell to those deciding to go for retirement within a week,” said a Special Committee member.
Parties are also close to consensus on appointing a Maoist representative to monitor the process of selection of combatants. The Maoists had demanded representation in the government's mechanism that will screen the combatants at the Army barracks.
Earlier, the Special Committee Secretariat had missed Tuesday's deadline to forge consensus on the action plan on integration. The PM postponed the Special Committee meeting after the secretariat failed to forge consensus.
“We have almost forged consensus on the action plan. We will give it a final touch ahead of the Special Committee meeting scheduled for 12 pm,” said secretariat member Sanandan Prasad Kurmi. Opposition leader Ram Sharan Mahat said he is optimistic that the Special Committee meeting will yield a positive outcome.
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