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.
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“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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