MUSLIMS ANNOUNCE SEPARATE PROTESTS Kathmandu, 16 May: National Muslim Federation announced nation-wide protests from Wednesday demanding a commission to determine places with less than 500 Muslims conservation areas. Muslims also demanded recognition of their minority status. nnnn RELAY HUNGER STRIKE FOR UNDIVIDED FAR-WEST Kathmandu, 16 May:: The relay hunger strike organized by the Far-west Awareness Forum calling for establishing an undivided Far-west region while federalizing the country has entered the 18th day on Wednesday, RSS reports from Belauri. The office-holders of the Forum are on a relay hunger strike in front of the District Administration Office, Kanchanpur since April 29 with the start of the popular movement in the Far-west region demanding the establishment of an undivided Far-west region in the new federal set-up. The Forum organized the hunger strike in protest against the 10-province model proposed by the UCPN (Maoist). The federal model proposed by the Maoist party envisaged carving out separate province called Tharuhat by separating the districts of Kailali and Kanchanpur from the far-west region. Different organizations including the Forum launched a popular uprising against this proposal and have been calling for retaining the present geography of the region while federalizing the country. Nnnn PARAS GHIMERE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO MYANMAR Kathmandu, 16 May: Career diplomat Paras Ghimere has been appointed ambassador to Myanman by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. Ghimere replaces Guna Laxmi Sharma, a political nominee. Nnnn SIMRIK AIR GETS FOURTH CHOPPER Kathmandu, 16 May: A AS350B3e helicopter Tuesday jointed the fleet of Simrik Air which how has four choppers. The European manufactured six-seater chopper will begin flights Thursday. nnnn