RULING FRONT TO CONFRONT 19 PARTIES Kathmandu, 4 June: Ruling coalition parties and fringe parties at a meeting in Baluwatar Monday decided to counter moves of 19 parties, including NC and UML, ro countermoves to overturn a decision to hold constituent assembly (CA) elections 22 November and automatic dissolution of the assembly. Supporters of the government decided to hold meetings with diplomatic representatives explaining the government position as well. Meanwhile, NC President Sushil Koirala asked President DR. Ram Baraan Yadav. Front members of the Broader Madesh alliance led by Upendra Yadav alsoput pressure on the head of state Monday urging his to sack Prime Minister Baburam Bhatarai. One terai front is aligned with Maoists and the other opposed. MORE PARTIES ‘DECEIVING’ FORMER KING NOW INCITING PRESIDENT RPP-N CHAIRMAN KAMAL THAPA SAYS Kathmandu, 4 June: : Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Kamal Thapa, has said a government to hold elections should be formed immediately, RSS reports. At an interaction organized at the Rafat Media Club here on Sunday, Chairman Thapa said the present crisis could be resolved if an independent government was formed under the chairmanship of incumbent or former Chief Justice to hold election. The political parties had no option but to form a small government, comprising experienced and independent persons. He further said the parties which deceived king are now prodding the President for unconstitutional move. Chairman Thapa was of the view that the Constituent Assembly was dissolved due to Maoists' election maneuver to capture state authority, and the new authoritarian tactic of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in the name of democracy. He commented that the country at present was retraced to the situation as that of 2047BS. With the dissolution of the CA, the announcement of republic is automatically cancelled, he argued. nnnn DEMAND FOR RESIGNATION OF CARETAKER PM ILLOGICAL SAYS MINISTER Kathmandu, 4 June:: Minister for Industry, Anil Jha, has said it was illogical to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, RSS reports. At a discussion programme organized in the capital on Sunday, Minister Jha said it was sheer stupidity on the part of some leaders who demanded Prime Minister's resignation because the Interim Constitution had nowhere mentioned that the caretaker government must step down. However, General Secretary of the CPN-ML, CP Mainali said although the Prime Minister does not want to step down, the constitution has clearly mentioned about the formation of government on political consensus, and President could call for this. Therefore, the Prime Minister can be relieved from the post, he argued. If the political consensus is adopted to remove political difficulties, it was the Nepali Congress' turn to lead next government based on five-point agreement. On the occasion, UCPN-Maoist standing committee member Haribol Gajurel said no one could dissent on the proposal of government formation and party unity. Moreover, Nepali Congress leader Gopal Man Shrestha said his party believes that Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai would step down within a week and pave way for building consensus. nnnn DISCHARGED FORMER MAOIST FIGHTERS AGAIN WARN GOVT. Kathmandu, 4 June: The discharged former combatants of the Unified CPN (Maoist) have warned of launching vigorous protest against the government, demanding their rights be guaranteed, RSS reports. Some 4,008 Maoist combatants were declared disqualified during the verification carried out by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Chairman of the Disqualified People's Liberation Army Nepal, Sagar Limbu, organized a news conference here today and said they had decided to organize protest programmes as the government never heeded their demands despite frequent dialogues. It may be noted that the former PLAs submitted an 11-point memorandum to Minister for Peace, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, and held talks with the government in the past. The former Maoist fighters have also demanded the government to remove the 'disqualified combatants' tag on them, withdraw all false charges against them, ensure educational and economic relief, and to make necessary arrangements for the management of the disabled combatants, among others. Nnnn MORE THAN 160,000 WORKING AS DOMESTIC HELP ABROAD Kathmandu, 4 June:: The number of Nepalis working as domestic helps abroad has crossed 160,000. This information was shared in the interaction programme titled 'Empowerment of Migrant Domestic Workers and Promoting Their Security and Rights' organized here on Sunday. The programme was organized by the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), RSS reports. Similarly, there are 8,600 Nepali women and 50 men working as domestic helps in Lebanon alone. Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment, Purna Chandra Bhattarai said home work is being done to open Nepali embassies in Bahrain, Lebanon and Oman. He called for cooperation from all sectors- the government and the private sector- for resolving the problems faced by the Nepali migrant workers. Under Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Krishna Dawadi and Section Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bishal Bhattarai said the problem faced by the Nepali migrant workers abroad was serious and needed urgent action. Dr Ganesh Gurung presented a working paper on the occasion. Different labour union leaders including Sita Lama, Meena Gurung, Rajendra Shrestha and Sushila Shrestha commented on the working paper and elucidated the problems faced by the Nepali workers abroad. nnnn