ANFA SEEK POSTPONEMENT OF TOURNAMENT Kathmandu, 29 May: ANFA has sought permission of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in writing postponement of U-22 Asia Cup Qualifiers in the capital From 2 ro 10 June. ANFA, the national soccer governing body, sought postponement citing political instability created by latest political developments. Nnnn PM., PRESIDENT ATTEND SPECAL PROGRAMME TO MARK 5TH REPUBLIC DAY Kathmandu, 28 May: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattsrai and President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav attended a special programme at Army Pavilion to mark the 5th Republic Day. The programme was organized by Nepal Army. Celebrations one day after Prime Minister Bhattarai called fresh elections for the CA without promulgating a constitution institutionalizing a declared were low-key even as the government declared Monday a national day. Foreign diplomats were invited. Prime Minister Bhattarai said from Tundikhel fresh CA elections were the consequences of differences between progressives and status quoists. Reports are coming of effigies of the premier and party boss Chairman Prachanda being torched by angry people who came out of streets in various parts of the country, including Dhangadi. Nnnn FIVE PARTIES DECIDE TO ASK PRESIDENT TOPUSH MAOISTSFORM A NATIONAL CONSENSUS GOVT. Kathmandu, 28 May: A meeting of give parties, including NC and UML, Monday decided to ask President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Monday to push Maoists to form a government of national unity. The parties met at the NC office Monday and decided to continue discussions Tuesday. . They will try to develop a common approach Tuesday. The parties Sunday night met the president Sunday and asked him to correct anullegal Maoist decision to call elections 22 November. Nnnn UML FORMER LAWMAKER PASANG SHERPA TO QUIT Kathmandu, 28 May: Former UML lawmaker Pasang Sherpa aid Monday he’ll formally quit the party Tuesday, He is dissatisfied with the party’s attitude to janajati politics. Nnnn NC AND UML AT SEPARATE MEETINGS CALL FOR PM’S RESIGNATIONS Kathmandu, 28 May: NC and UML at separate meetings Monday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. Parties have said Premier Bhattarai’s call for fresh elections to renew mandate of CA was illegal and unconstitutional while demanding a national consensus government. nnnn MAOISTS AND PM BHATTARAI HAVEN’T LEARNT THE LESSON OF THE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS Kathmandu, 28 May: It appears UCPN (Maoist) and the establishment haven’t learnt the lesson of the last four years. A constitution should be a consensus a document that should incorporate the wishes of the majority of the people though consensus. The lesson of the last four years is a constitution can’t be promulgated by a body that is freely and elected that represents a broad section of society. The CA that broadly represented Nepal and Nepalis couldn’t promulgate a constitution in four years for many reasons, The unwieldy assembly of 601 members later handed over responsibilities to four or five party leaders to formulate a constitution that would guide the destiny of Nepalis. Had the CA that died a natural death after failure to deliver only one objective, it would have slapped a basic law on the country and citizens written by a handful of leaders, approved by top leaders and some foreign countries without the knowledge of assembly members. The party leading the government and its leadership want to repeat that failed experiment in constitution drafting but with the stated declaration by getting a two-third majority in the 22 November election and impose the party’s will on the nation. The thinking and declared goal of Maoists are dangerous and autocratic. It is now be difficult for any party to get a two-third majority in an elected assembly/parliament; no party in recent elections has received that majority in free and fir elections so far. Maoists are now badly exposed and divided and it will be impossible for the UCPN (Maoist) to gain the objective just to make it wasy for them towrite and promulgate a constitution. The effort in the next six years will be a drain on the national exchequer as well to satisfy the whim and fancy of a party and some of its leaders. Nepali society is so divided mainly between the isms and regions, no party can get a twi-third majority in free and fair elections. To ensure free election, effort should start now for an impartial vote which shold be conducted by an impartial body; it certainly shouldn’t be conducted by individuals and parties contesting the vote. The difference between parliamentary and assembly election has to be understood. Parliamentary election seeks a majority for a party to form a government and impkement the winning party’s policy and programmes; a party can’t impose its Will on the entire nation by a two-third majority vote. Nnnn YASHO RAJYA LAXMI DEAD Kathmandu, 28 May: Yasho Rajya :Lammi died, her family announced. She is wife Karan Singh, topfunctionaryof ruling Indian National Congress, Yasho Rajya Laxmi was daughter of Sharada Shumshere JB Rana and granddaughter of Mohan Shumshere JB Rana, the first prime minister after 2007. nnnn