SITUATION MURKY AND UNCLEAR AS MAJOR PLAYERS MEET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO FINALIZE A CONSTITUTION By Bhola B Rana Kathmandu, 26 April: Leaders of the Big Three and Madeshbadi Morcha meet again Thursday afternoon to force consensus in form of governance, a federal structure and other issues directly related to drafting a constitution. Leaders of the UCPN (Maoist), NC. UML and the Madeshbadi front Wednesday empowered their leaders to fine tune details of a constitution amid charges deals were being struck within confines of closed doors of private homes and party offices offices and not in the constituent assembly (CA) where discussions should take place. Main opposition NC is no longer talking of returning seized assets my Maoists during a 10-year insurgency as a pre-condition for peace and constitution. The party gave up the demand and pre-condition before CA elections won by Maoists; NC renewed the demand after it was routed in the vote and reduced to status of the second largest party. People and journalists are in the dark about details being worked out to promulgate a constitution as parties ot two more days Wednesday to seek consensus on a basis law. The CA was scheduled to meet Thursday to begin voting on articles of a constitution without a consensus, Differences have developed around an elected executive president pressed by Maoists—now being opposed by the NC and even UML who appear to be coming closer as UCPN (Maoist) and Madeshbadi Morcha come closer. The status, to say the least, is unclear and murky. Nnnn MAOIST ESTABLISHMENT ALSO MATCHING BAIDHAYA INITIATIVE Kathmandu, 26 April: Following the footsteps of the hardliner faction, the establishment faction of the UCPN (Maoist) has made preparations to form an organization of former and disqualified combatants, Kiran Pun writes in Republica.. The party establishment faction led by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a national gathering of former and disqualified combatants on Friday for the purpose. "Former combatants will be mobilized in productive sectors and for struggle," said Nirmal Mahara, ex-PLA brigade Vice-commander. The establishment faction´s decision comes merely a day after the hardliner faction formed People´s Volunteer Bureau. The hardliner faction formed a 17-member bureau on Tuesday under the leadership of leader Netra Bikram Chand with long-term plan to develop the bureau into a new People´s Liberation Army. Besides, the hard-line faction led by Maoist Vice chairman Mohan Baidya has already formed an organization of ex-PLA organization under the leadership of former division vice- commander Nep Bahadur Kunwar Magar. According to leaders from the establishment faction, the retired and disqualified combatants and those taken out of PLA to form YCL in 2006 will participate in the gathering. "The organization of ex-PLA will be more powerful than the Young Communist Legaue. However, it will not have a military structure," said a brigade commander who recently took voluntary retirement. PLA sources told Republica that PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun is likely to lead the organization. If that happens, he will be chosen unanimously. But if other names are proposed for the leadership, the power equation among Dahal and other deputy commanders will play a decisive role. "The party will take a decision on who should lead the organization. But the possibility of Pun becoming the chief of the organization is very high. Similarly, Chandra Prakash Khanal is likely to be Pun´s deputy while Tej Bahadur Oli is likely to get third position in organization´s hierarchy," said a division commander. Nnnn HIV-AFFECTED KIDS TO GET Rs 1,500 A MONTH Kathmandu , 26 April: Children under the age of 18 living with HIV/AIDS will receive Rs 1,500 per month from June this year following donor agencies’ commitment to provide funds, an official of a government agency said, Arjun Poudel writes in Republica. There are an estimated 24,000 children living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal but only 2,200 children spread across nine districts will receive the money over the next five years, according to National Centre for HIV/AIDS and STD control (NCASC). “The government cannot run the program across the country at once. So, we have given priority to the highly affected nine districts,” said Dr Kk Rai, director of NCASC. He said proper monitoring will be carried out to ensure money is utilized in education, health and nutrition of those children. Surveillance officer at NCASC Deepak Karki and further decisions will be taken as per the impact of the program. Officials said government and the donor agencies agreed to provide financial assistance to the children of the most affected districts as per the need of the affected children. The Global Fund, the major donor in HIV/AIDS will provide around Rs 200 million to the government. According to Gokarna Bhatta, coordinator of Global Fund’s Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) affected children who are deprived of basic rights will benefit from the program. “Due to poor health, affected children lag behind in overall performance,” he said. “They need special care and support program and need additional nutrition as well.” nnnn