DETAILS OF INTEGRATION OF FORMER MAOISTS Kathmandu, 4 July: Integration of 3,123 former Maoist combatants into Nepal Army is beginning from seven cantonments and Nepal Army’s Bhatarput Training Center The process was delayed by several weeks without firm directives to the secretariat of a special committee for integration, resettlement and supervision, Coordinator Balananda Sharma said. Former fighters were confused with dissention and final split in UCPN Maoist with remaining more former combatants expressing a desire to opt for voluntary retirement instead of joining the state army. Nnnn PM SAYS 4-PARTY MEET POSITIVE Kathmandu, 4 July The three major parties together with the parties associated with the United Democratic Madhesi Front Tuesday held discussions on four agendas-- constitution, election, government and budget with a view to resolving the current crisis, The Rising Nepal reports. At the top leaders’ meeting held at UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s residence at Lazimpat, the ruling and the opposition parties, however, stuck to their positions- the ruling proposed that there should be a package deal whereas the opposition parties argued that first the government should step down. Nonetheless participating leaders remarked that the meeting ended in a positive note as the leaders engaged in an open discussion over the issues after a long interval. "The meeting has been positive," Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai made a brief remark when asked about the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha informed that the Maoist party proposed the other parties to start negotiations on the new constitution from the point where they had reached at the last hours of May 27, the day when the term of the Constituent Assembly had expired without promulgating the new constitution. "We proposed for making agreement on the content of and process for promulgating the new constitution first as formation of national consensus government under Nepali Congress party has already been agreed upon," DPM Shrestha said. He said that the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML did not show much interest in discussing about budget as they asked the ruling parties to focus on government change. DPM Shrestha said that the Maoist party was open to discuss on both revival of the dissolved CA or election to a new CA. "Our opinion is that fresh election is the best democratic option, and the opposition parties should take responsibility of constitutional and legal hurdles regarding the revival of the CA." Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Nepali Congress leader, commented that the discussions were positive although they could not draw any conclusion. He said the top leaders would meet again to find the common ground on the issues. He, however, did not mention when such a meeting would be held. nnnn ACUTE SHORTAGE OF ANTI-SNAKE VEMON Kathmandu, 4 July: With the start of monsoon season, cases of snakebites have increased across the nation. However, there is an acute shortage of anti-snake venom this time, The Rising Nepal reports. Cases of snakebites go up in June, July and August every year. The hospitals have already witnessed the increasing flow of the victims of the snakebites. After the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) directed to stop tender procedure to import the anti-snake venom , vaccine for snakebite was in short supply, Dr. G.D. Thakur, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services, said. The CIAA asked the Supply and Management Division under the Health Ministry on 26 June to stop the tender process stating that it suspected financial irregularities in the tender bid. According to Dr. Thakur, the EDCD had asked the division for vaccine procurement three months ago. However, the CIAA took control of the file at that time preventing all processes of procurement, he said. Presently, the CIAA has instructed the division to follow alternative way to procure the anti snake venom. It is a peak season of the snakebite. Most cases of snakebites occur in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Morang Jhapa, Saptari Udayapur, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Dang, Chitwan and Kapilvastu districts. Cobra and Karat spread terror in these districts during the rainy season. According to the record of EDCD, every year 100-200 people died of snakebite in Nepal. Among them, 90 per cent died before reaching health institutions. Many of the victims depend on shamans to treat the snakebite and meet untimely deaths. Only 10 per cent victims reach hospitals. Last year, the division had procured the vaccine paying IRS 207 for each vile. This year a tender that agreed to provide each vile of vaccine at IRS. 217 was accepted. However, in the tender the amount was mentioned in Nepali currency at about Rs. 400.. Due to the confusion about Indian Currency and Nepali Currency, a person had filed a case in the CIAA. The CIAA took time to investigate into the complaint and the vaccine supply was being delayed, Dr. Thakur stated. Last year, a total of 32,000 vile of anti snake venom were procured. However, Katmandu is free from poisonous snakes. Medics said that no case of poisonous snake-bite was recorded in Katmandu. The climatic condition of the valley is not appropriate for the poisonous snakes like cobra, they said. However, some argued that the change in climate could one day turn the valley into a suitable place for the poisonous snakes. The treatment of snake bite is available in free of cost in Nepal. As poor people fall prey to snake bite the government has provided free anti snake vaccine. Medics advised not to sleep in the floor in the monsoon season to avoid snakebite and fill up the holes of houses. Similarly, they urged to tie lightly just above the bite mark and visit health institutions as early as possible after they received a snake bite. Nnnn DETAILS OF PM, LAWYERS MEET Kathmandu, 4 July: To clear the confusion regarding the Supreme Court order, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today invited a dozen prominent lawyers to advise on what exactly the apex court wanted with regard to the budget the government would be bringing through ordinance, The Himalayan Times reports. Apparently, he wanted to know whether the SC order intended to allow a full-fledged or a downsized budget. “The apex court has said the government should go for Article 96 A(1) and (2) of the Interim Constitution as there is no way in which the government can bring a regular budget in the absence of parliament. It is clear that the government does not have the right to bring a full-fledged budget,” Prem Bahadur Khadka, President, Nepal Bar Association told reporters after the meeting. Advocates Ram Narayan Bidari, Surendra Mahato, Borna Bahadur Karki, Laxman Lal Karna, Yuba Raj Sangroula, Sapana Pradhan Malla had been invited. Attorney General Mukti Narayan Pradhan, Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Law Secretary Bhesh Raj Sharma also attended in the meeting. Stating that the government could not hold elections without amending the Interim Constitution and election laws and as the parliament did not exist to pass the amendments, the NBA President suggested that the government should not allocate budget for election and it should not seek other alternatives except those provided by the constitution and apex court. “The government must follow the court order,” Khadka said. “It cannot overstep the SC order because it has clearly said that there is no possibility of issuing a full-fledged budget by invoking Article 88 of the Interim Constitution without first attaining political consensus with other parties. Former lawmaker and advocate Sapana Pradhan Malla echoed Khadka. “The government does not have any alternative but to go for one-third budget as per the Constitution and the way suggested by the apex court. Former attorney general Sangroula advised the government not to impose new taxes and bring new programmes. Arguing that the apex court did not issue stay order barring the government from bringing a full-fledged budget, advocate Ram Narayan Bidari said the government need not be confused about bringing a full-fledged budget. “He also termed the apex court ruling not an order and therefore not binding,” another participant said. “Since it was not a decision, the government should not abide by it,” the participant quoted Bidari as saying. Vice President of NBA, Surendra Mahato and advocate Borna Bahadur Karki echoed Bidari. They suggested that since the apex court did not clearly direct the government to do or not to do anything, the government can exercise its regular power to bring the budget. Former Lawmaker and lawyer Karna also said since the court did not issue an interim order it was the right of the government to invoke Article 88 of the ordinance. FORMER BAR CHIEF THAPA REFUSES TO ATTEND Former President of Nepal Bar Association Shambhu Thapa refused to attend the meeting despite the Prime Minister’s invitation. Citing the reservation that the government did not consult lawyers before dissolving the CA and declaring new election, Thapa refused to attend. “Opposing the tendency of the government to consult lawyers after derailing the regular course, he did not attend,” Thapa’s closed aide said. Nnnn TWO EXTORTIONISTS ARRESTED Kathmandu, 4 July: Detectives have nabbed two members of an extortion racket that had stirred a wave of panic amongst Christians in the Valley, The Himalayan Times reports. The arrested are Binod Kumar Tamang (29) of Kathmandu and Ramesh Pariyar (23) of Gorkha. A special team caught them from Kalanki in the act of extorting from Sundar Thapa, chairman of Federation of Nepali Christians. Thapa, a native of Kaski, is also pastor of Samakhusi-based Ashish Church. Police said Tamang and Pariyar had repeatedly threatened to blow up the church and finish off his family if Thapa did not pay the extortion amount of Rs 2 million. The duo had also demanded extortion money from Devi Prasad Bhujel, pastor of Khumaltar Church and threatened him for refusing to meet their demand. They had threatened to detonate a bomb and kidnap many more pastors of Valley-based churches to serve their purpose. “They had made the Christian community panic through bombing, kidnapping and death threats. However, timely response leading to their arrest has thwarted any untoward incident,” an investigator said. Harried by threats of ‘serious consequences’ in the event of failure to meet their demands, the victims had turned to police for their physical and institutional security. Police have also launched a thorough investigation into their past criminal records. Tamang and Pariyar have been charged with attempted kidnapping and extortion. nnnn