28 SOCKET BOMBS HIDDEN BY MAOISTS FOUND IN BARDIYA

SCOTT BLATTER IN TOWN
Kathmandu, 6 March: Scott Blatter, Chief of FIAA , world soccer’s governing body, arrived in the capital Monday.
He came to attend a AFC football Asian region football tournament being
hosted by Nepal.
nnnn
ARMY ATTEMPTING TO DEFUSE 28 SOCKET BOMBS OF
INSURGENCY-ERA IN BARDIYA
Kathmandu, 6 March: A cache of 28 socket bombs hidden underground in
In a forest in Motipur VDC-7 , Bardiya, was discovered by police Monday.
Police suspect Maoists hid the bombs during the 10-year insurgency.
Nepal Army bomb disposal team is attempting to defuse the bombs.


AGRICULTURE MINISTER BLAMES SUPREME COURT OF BIAS AGAINST
MADESH YOUTH
Kathmandu, 6 March: Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister
Nandan Kumar Dutta warned Monday continuation
of what he called prejudiced and discriminatory attitude against Madhesh would take a serous toll on the nation’s integrity, unity and sovereignty.
of supreme court against Madeshi youth.
in Nepal Army.
“This kind of discrimination against Madhesh is not a
good sign, “ he told reporters Monday .
“The court that kept the case pending for nine years
could have been halted for three more months,” he said
referring to conviction and jailing of Communication
Minister Jayaprakash Prasad Guppta who is chairman of
MJFN Ganataktrik.
The portfolio of Minister Gupta who is serving a jail
sentence for corruption is being handled by Prime
Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
“It is against the tradition of coalition to take something
that belongs to others. This has hurt our sentiments,” the
minister said of the PM’s handling of the communication portfolio.
Maoists and a front of Madeshibadi are in a coalition government for more than five months.
nnnn

72 MAIDS REPATRIATED FROM UAE
Kathmandu, 6 March: The Nepali embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has repatriated 72 Nepali housemaids from the destination in the last 18 months, the Emirates 24/7 News reported, quoting an embassy
official, on Sunday, The Himalayan Tiimes says.

The exploitation of housemaids is increasing because they arrive illegally, said deputy head of mission, Deepak Adhikari, adding that illegal agent-based migration is rampant in the country. “It is mostly housemaids working for Indian employers who face exploitation and abuse,” he said. Of the total number of cases registered at the embassy, 80 per cent involved Indian employers.

According to UN Women, more than 7,000 Nepali women are currently working in the destination but the Department of Foreign Employment has a record of only 6,651 women since 2003-04.

Commenting on the abuse of housemaids, Adhikari said, “It is true that most housemaids who reported cases of abuse were working for Indian families.” According to him, the number of abuses in Indian families does not mean that they are bad employers. “It just reflects the proportion of Indians hiring maids from Nepal,” he added.

Statistics with the embassy also reveal that a majority of maids from Nepal are hired by Indian families living in the UAE. Maids from Nepal are polite, obedient and know how to cook Indian food. Therefore, they are preferred by Indian families. However, not all families treat them well.

The government opened the Gulf job market for women last June as illegal migration continued and created safety problems for thousands of women migrant workers. Still, everyday, about 60-70 women migrant workers reach Gulf countries through illegal agents via India.

Errant migrant workers to pay fines

The government is planning to adopt a new policy to control the illegal behaviour of migrant workers. Foreign Employment Promotion Board is considering a concept to fine migrant workers if they are found violating job contracts. Migrant workers have to pay the visa fee, air ticket or fees of other services if they want to terminate a job contract without any valid reason, said executive director of the board Sthaneshwor Devkota. They should return the costs incurred by the recruiting agency or the employer because they invest thousands of rupees on them, Devkota said. He did not disclose all the facts behind the policy but it is clear that the new policy wants to control political unionism among Nepali migrant workers in foreign job markets.
nnnn
NRB LAUNCHES SECOND 5-YEAR ACTION PLAN
Kathmandu, 6 March:Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) today [Monday] launched the second five- year ‘Strategic Plan’ for the period 2012- 2016. The plan contains NRB’s strategic priorities, objectives and action plans for the next
five years, The Hiimalayan Times reports.

Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada addressing the senior officials of

the central bank at a launching programme, highlighted the importance of the ‘Strategic Plan’ and urged

all NRB officials to implement the plan adopting proper integration, synergy and coordination among the departments. “NRB needs to be responsive to face challenges created by global integration, financial volatility and uncertainty in the international markets,” he said.

“In this complex environment, attaining the objectives of financial stability and macroeconomic stability is a growing challenge for the central bank,” he said, adding that there is a need for formulating annual programmes and allocating budget in line with the ‘Strategic Plan’ to serve the financial market and contribute in achieving the objectives enshrined in NRB Act. Deputy governor Gopal Prasad Kaphle praised the work done by the NRB officials involved in bringing out the plan and urged them to be proactive while implementing it.

Similarly, deputy governor Maha Prasad Adhikari noted that the plan is an outcome of consultative process involving the Board members, stakeholders and senior officials of the central bank and their contributions must be recognised. “Now the challenge is to ensure that all tasks are carried out as planned for which all officials are expected to work together,” Adhikari said. The ‘Strategic Plan’ contains NRB’s plans and actions for the next five years.

The strategic priorities, objectives and action plans are clustered into seven pillars, namely: Macroeconomic Stability, Financial Sector Stability, Foreign Exchange Management, Payment System and Mechanisms, Human Resources Management and Capacity Development, Infrastructure Development,Corporate governance and Customer Services, and Information and
Communications Technology.
nnnn











PARTIES AGREE TO WITHDRAW CRIMINAL CASES WHILE
DIFFERENCES CONTINUE ON OTHR SUBJECTS
Kathmandu, 6 March: Though major parties are as distant as ever on key political issues, they however, appear hand in hand as far as withdrawal of criminal cases are concerned against their
cadres and supporters, Kiran Chapagain writes in Republica..

A recent cabinet decision shows the government withdrew 425 criminal cases on the recommendation of UCPN (M), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Madeshi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and other ruling Madhesi parties.

A documents on case withdrawal accessed by Republica using Rights Information Act, showed the government withdrew criminal cases against 297 people as per the recommendation of the UCPN (M).

Similarly, criminal cases against 25 individuals were dropped as recommended by the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Nepal (MPRF). Likewise, cases against 13 individuals were dropped on the request of the CPN-UML and cases against 11 individuals were withdrawn as sought by the Nepali Congress.

Over 84 accused saw their cases withdrawn upon requests from more than one political party.

Majority of the withdrawn cases related to murder involving 117 individuals while attempted murder cases against 77 persons were also withdrawn.

Similarly, the government withdrew three abduction cases involving 27 people on the recommendation of the ruling UCPN (M), besides dropping robbery cases against 149 persons. The withdrawn cases also include arson involving 54 individuals. One case relating to arms and ammunition was also dropped upon a request from Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Law and Justice sent the cabinet decision of February 27 on case withdrawal to the Office of the Attorney General for implementation.

Cases withdrawn:

Murder : 117
Attempted murder: 77
Arson : 54
Robbery: 149
Abduction: 27
Arms and Ammunition : 1
Total : 425

LIST OF CASES WITHDRAWN
Cases Main Accused (total number of accused) Parties which recommended withdrawals Court in which the cases are under consideration
Attempted murder Suni Chanda (15) others UCPN (M) Baitadi District Court
Murder Moshafir Mahato Koiri (7) CPN (UML), UCPN (M) and Sadbhawana Party Banke District Court
Abduction Sagir Khan (7) UCPN (M) Banke District Court
Murder Lal Bahadur Tamang (8) CPN-UML Taplejung
Attempted murder Khadga Nalbo (7) UCPN (M) Taplejung
Murder Suresh Paoudel (13) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Dacoit Baburam Gauli (3) UCPN (M) Dhadhing
Attempted murder Arjun Shahi (10) UCPN (M) Parbat
Dacoit/Theft Gunaraj Basyal (16) UCPN (M) Parbat
Murder Iman Tamang (16) UCPN (M) Dhading
Dacoit Rampure Shahi (60) UCPN (M) Humla
Dacoit Devendra Paudel UCPN (M)
Dacoit Ram Prasad Sigdel (22) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Dacoit Karnajit Budhathoki (4) UCPN (M) Humla
Murder Mahadev Yadav (5) UCPN (M) Siraha
Dacoit/Murder Hari Chuhan (27) UCPN (M) Siraha
Dacoit/Theft Karnajit Budhathoki (14) UCPN (M) Humla
Murder Madan Shakya (14) UCPN (M) Gorkha
Dacoit Pushpa Kamal Dahal (11) UCPN (M) Parbat
Murder Sunil Sah (7) UCPN (M), NC, CPN (UML), MPRF (D), MPRF (R), MPRF-Nepal, Backward Society, Sadbhawana Party Rautahat
Abduction Kedar Rai (9) Udyapur Peace Committee Udyapur
Abduction Jiban Niraula (11) UCPN (M), lawmaker Ram Bahaur Thapa Magar Udyayapur
Murder Mohan Lal Chaulagain (27) UCPN (M) Jumla
Murder Pulkit Mahato (4) UCPN (M) Dhanusha
Murder Manhari Paudel UCPN (M) Mahottari
Dacoit Ram Chandra Acharya (5) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Murder Dipak Tamang (2) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Murder Pemba Tshiring (5) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Dacoit Bhim Bahadur Bamjan (9) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Dacoit Dipesh Maden (4) UCPN (M) Tamplejung
Arson Shayam Lal Sharma (40) UCPN (M), MPRF (N) Morang
Murder Shiva Paudel (11) NC Chitwan
Murder Man Singh Buda (5) CPN-UML Baglung
Arms and ammunition Udaya Narayan Adgadiya Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav Siraha
Arson Indal Singh (11) MPRF-Nepal Mahottari
Arson Krishna Mohan Giri (13) MPRF-N, TMDP Nawalparasi
Murder Rabindra Thakur (11) MPRF (N) Mahottarai
Murder Mahendra Baniya (13) MPRF (N) Nawalparasi





















KATHMANDU, March 6: Though major parties are as distant as ever on key political issues, they however, appear hand in hand as far as withdrawal of criminal cases are concerned against their cadres and supporters .

A recent cabinet decision shows the government withdrew 425 criminal cases on the recommendation of UCPN (M), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Madeshi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and other ruling Madhesi parties.

A documents on case withdrawal accessed by Republica using Rights Information Act, showed the government withdrew criminal cases against 297 people as per the recommendation of the UCPN (M).

Similarly, criminal cases against 25 individuals were dropped as recommended by the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Nepal (MPRF). Likewise, cases against 13 individuals were dropped on the request of the CPN-UML and cases against 11 individuals were withdrawn as sought by the Nepali Congress.

Over 84 accused saw their cases withdrawn upon requests from more than one political party.

Majority of the withdrawn cases related to murder involving 117 individuals while attempted murder cases against 77 persons were also withdrawn.

Similarly, the government withdrew three abduction cases involving 27 people on the recommendation of the ruling UCPN (M), besides dropping robbery cases against 149 persons. The withdrawn cases also include arson involving 54 individuals. One case relating to arms and ammunition was also dropped upon a request from Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Law and Justice sent the cabinet decision of February 27 on case withdrawal to the Office of the Attorney General for implementation.

Cases withdrawn:

Murder : 117
Attempted murder: 77
Arson : 54
Robbery: 149
Abduction: 27
Arms and Ammunition : 1
Total : 425

LIST OF CASES WITHDRAWN
Cases Main Accused (total number of accused) Parties which recommended withdrawals Court in which the cases are under consideration
Attempted murder Suni Chanda (15) others UCPN (M) Baitadi District Court
Murder Moshafir Mahato Koiri (7) CPN (UML), UCPN (M) and Sadbhawana Party Banke District Court
Abduction Sagir Khan (7) UCPN (M) Banke District Court
Murder Lal Bahadur Tamang (8) CPN-UML Taplejung
Attempted murder Khadga Nalbo (7) UCPN (M) Taplejung
Murder Suresh Paoudel (13) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Dacoit Baburam Gauli (3) UCPN (M) Dhadhing
Attempted murder Arjun Shahi (10) UCPN (M) Parbat
Dacoit/Theft Gunaraj Basyal (16) UCPN (M) Parbat
Murder Iman Tamang (16) UCPN (M) Dhading
Dacoit Rampure Shahi (60) UCPN (M) Humla
Dacoit Devendra Paudel UCPN (M)
Dacoit Ram Prasad Sigdel (22) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Dacoit Karnajit Budhathoki (4) UCPN (M) Humla
Murder Mahadev Yadav (5) UCPN (M) Siraha
Dacoit/Murder Hari Chuhan (27) UCPN (M) Siraha
Dacoit/Theft Karnajit Budhathoki (14) UCPN (M) Humla
Murder Madan Shakya (14) UCPN (M) Gorkha
Dacoit Pushpa Kamal Dahal (11) UCPN (M) Parbat
Murder Sunil Sah (7) UCPN (M), NC, CPN (UML), MPRF (D), MPRF (R), MPRF-Nepal, Backward Society, Sadbhawana Party Rautahat
Abduction Kedar Rai (9) Udyapur Peace Committee Udyapur
Abduction Jiban Niraula (11) UCPN (M), lawmaker Ram Bahaur Thapa Magar Udyayapur
Murder Mohan Lal Chaulagain (27) UCPN (M) Jumla
Murder Pulkit Mahato (4) UCPN (M) Dhanusha
Murder Manhari Paudel UCPN (M) Mahottari
Dacoit Ram Chandra Acharya (5) UCPN (M) Tanahun
Murder Dipak Tamang (2) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Murder Pemba Tshiring (5) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Dacoit Bhim Bahadur Bamjan (9) UCPN (M) Rasuwa
Dacoit Dipesh Maden (4) UCPN (M) Tamplejung
Arson Shayam Lal Sharma (40) UCPN (M), MPRF (N) Morang
Murder Shiva Paudel (11) NC Chitwan
Murder Man Singh Buda (5) CPN-UML Baglung
Arms and ammunition Udaya Narayan Adgadiya Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav Siraha
Arson Indal Singh (11) MPRF-Nepal Mahottari
Arson Krishna Mohan Giri (13) MPRF-N, TMDP Nawalparasi
Murder Rabindra Thakur (11) MPRF (N) Mahottarai
Murder Mahendra Baniya (13) MPRF (N) Nawalparasi





________________________________________



MAOIST CHIEF ASSURES YCL PAYMENT FROM SUNDAY
Katthmandu, 6 March : Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday assured the disgruntled members of the Young Communist League (YCL) that the party will begin from Sunday the process of distributing relief packages to them on par with PLA members, and also pledged to show the PLA´s financial accounts as per
their demands,, Kiran Pun writes in Republica.

The embattled chairman of the Maoist party made such a pledge to the YCL on Monday in the presence of party leaders Netra Bikram Chand and Janardan Sharma, who have been tasked with holding talks with the YCL to address their problems.

"The chairman told us that he will hold a meeting with us in the presence of the top office bearers and seven division commanders of the PLA on Thursday to finalize the size of the relief packages and show the finances of the PLA on Thursday and begin the distribution process from Sunday," said Dilip Prajapati, chief of the YCL Newa State, after participating in the meeting.

Maoists had recruited the best of the PLA into the YCL in 2007 in an apparent bid to foment "urban insurrection" for "state capture", and instead sent the youths picked up from various places inside the cantonments.

They have been demanding that the party provide them relief packages on par with the PLA members, who opted voluntary retirement with hefty paychecks or await jobs at the Nepal Army (NA) directorate, and show the money collected from the PLA personnel (Rs 1,000 each PLA personnel every months).

YCL leaders say around 3,500 PLA members are still working for the YCL, while the rest either went abroad for employment or broke relations with the party or joined other political parties.

It is still not clear how the party will fund such relief packages that will total billions of rupees, but Asal Khadka, YCL vice-coordinator at Magarat state, said the party can distribute the two billion rupees collected form the PLA which was meant for YCL.

The YCL members had long been accusing the party leadership and the PLA commanders of embezzling the money collected purportedly for the YCL. They had threatened to encircle Dahal´s residence indefinitely from Tuesday onward if their demands were not
addressed.
nnnn



________________________________________