UML GEARS UP FOR SHOW OF FORCE Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Gearing up for show of strength in the ongoing anti-government protests, CPN-UML has instructed the party´s rank and file to prepare for massive protests in Kathmandu on Tuesday and February 9, reports Republica.. Addressing a gathering of UML cadres in the party headquarters in Balkhu on Sunday, top leaders explained that agitation against the present government had become necessary “to stop the Maoists from imposing a totalitarian rule”. Dismissing claims that the opposition alliance´s agitation is aimed at removing Baburam Bhattarai from the prime ministerial position, top UML leaders claimed that the anti-government agitation is aimed at thwarting the ruling UCPN (Maoist)´s plan to impose totalitarian rule by creating constitutional as well as political crisis. The party´s top leaders, including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, Bamdev Gautam and Shankar Pokharel claimed that they had no option other than intensifying protests as the ruling UCPN (Maoist) has “always betrayed other parties in the name of settling issues through dialogues”. Nepal said the opposition parties tried their best to settle the issues through dialogues and cooperation but “the Maoists were never sincere and honest”. “Now we either have to surrender to the Maoists and remain a mute spectator or face them boldly,” said Nepal. Oli argued that it was high time to fight against the Maoists to institutionalize achievements of the people´s movement 2006. “Maoists are clearly against democratic institutions in the country. They did not want a new constitution because they wanted to create constitutional and political void to create grounds for totalitarian rule,” said Oli. “Baburam Bhattarai has turned all crucial constitutional bodies dysfunctional because he wants to impose arbitrary rule.” Vice-Chairman Gautam called one and all to join the opposition alliance´s agitation to “stop the country from falling into the hands of Maoists, who want to impose totalitarian rule”. Pokharel said the party is mobilizing five fronts of the party for the movement. According to him, central committee members, central departments, valley coordination committee, the party´s liaison coordination committees and professional and social organizations affiliated to the party would come together to protest against the current government. Nnnn ATORNEY GENERAL DEFENDS CONTROVERSIAL ACCTION Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: At a time when Attorney General (AG) Mukti Pradhan is under fire for halting investigation into murder of Dailekh-based journalist Dekendra Thapa, Pradhan has defended his move in the Supreme Court (SC), Gani Ansari writes in Republica.. Responding to the apex court´s order to furnish clarification, Pradhan on Sunday claimed that his move is in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) 2006 and the interim constitution. In his written clarification to the SC, the attorney general has acknowledged that he had sent letters to Dailekh District Attorney´s Office and District Police Office instructing them not to proceed with recording statements of the five accused of Thapa´s murder. "I sent the letter in accordance with the CPA, interim constitution and international laws," Pradhan said in his clarification. He has maintained that article 33 (s) of the interim constitution and point 5.2.5 of the CPA allows him to do so. Article 33 (s) of the interim constitution states that a high level Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will be formed to investigate into gross violations of human rights and crimes against humanity during the course of the armed conflict. Similarly, the CPA states that both the parties agree to form TRC to conduct investigation into cases of human rights violations during the conflict. Pradhan, who is the chief legal advisor to the government, has argued that the case of Thapa can not be resolved under regular criminal laws stating that it falls under the jurisdiction of TRC. Pradhan´s argument is contradictory to the SC order which states that the interim constitution has not guaranteed that action as per existing laws would not be taken against those accused of human rights violations during the insurgency. Defending his move to obstruct the ongoing investigation, the attorney general has said that a similar practice has been exercised in about 25 countries across the world. The SC on January 19 had ordered Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and AG Pradhan to appear in court within seven days to furnish clarification over the contempt of court charge. Bhattarai is yet to furnish his clarification. Terming the attorney general´s move illegal, the SC on January 16 had ordered the Office of Attorney General not to obstruct the ongoing investigations into Thapa´s murder. The SC had also ordered Dailekh District Police Office and the District Attorney´s Office not to halt investigations and to inform the apex court if there were any hurdle. Nnnn PRACHANDA SAYSHIS PARTY NEEDS NEW STRAREGY AND IDEA Kathmandu, 28 Jan.:: UCPN-M Chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka ‘Prachanda’ said that his party need new strategy and idea for the upcoming general convention, Shivaraj Bhatta writes in the Himalayan Times from Dhangadi... He made the statement while inaugurating the fourth district conference of the party in Dhangadhi on Sunday. Former Prime Minister Dahal said that the party needs new strategy in conjunction with idea for the upcoming general convention. “This general convention has long term importance”. A pool of people were seen in the conference. On the occasion, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai who is also one of the Vice-chairmen of the UCPN-M accused the opposition parties Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML of being a stumbling block to garner the consensus. “NC and UML are the main barricade to give a way out to the existing deadlock, the deadlock should be detached at the earliest”, Bhattarai said. UCPN-M leader Bhattarai said that there is no alternative to Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and also blamed NC and UML for the being a hurdle for the same. “NC and UML don’t want fresh polls, they are scared of elections”, PM Bhattarai said. He further said that the country will get a way out from the existing political and constitution hurdles at the earliest and requested all the cadres not to be saddened. Bhattarai accused the media of twisting his statement that the war-era crimes should be resolved by forming the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in a wrong way. He went on to say that his party is committed to guarantee the security of the journalists and further made it clear that UCPN-M and the government are serious and sensitive towards it. Deputy Prime Minister and one of the Vice-chairmen of the party Narayan Kaji Shrestha also spoke in the programme. Nnnn SSP TO FACE MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE Kathmandu, 28 Jan.:: The Nepal Police Headquarters yesterday forwarded investigation files on suspended SSP Rabi Raj Shrestha, allegedly involved in smuggling of foreign currency abroad, to the Department of Revenue Investigation, The HImalayanTImes reports.. The files, accompanied by evidences, were forwarded to DRI to further legal proceedings, said a source at the headquarters. DRI Deputy Director Damodar Regmi said they have received the files, adding that competent authority will soon launch an investigation into foreign currency laundering. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), tasked with carrying out investigation into the smuggling of foreign currency via Tribhuvan International Airport and collecting evidence, had submitted its report to the NP headquarters a few days ago. SSP Shrestha, the deputy security in-charge at the airport, was suspended for three months on October 31 to facilitate further investigation into the incident of October 5 when undeclared currency notes worth Rs 12.4 million were seized from Indian citizen Binod Kumar Soni when the latter was about to board a flight bound for Dubai. A police source said the headquarters was trying to extend Shrestha’s suspension for another three months citing that the investigation was yet to be completed. The first three-month suspension will expire tomorrow. SSP Shrestha’s driver, head constable Shobhit Karki, had helped to get currency of nine countries through the 12-tier security checkpoint for Soni. Mystery surrounding the involvement of SSP Shrestha was unravelled after head constable Karki revealed that he was following his boss’s order. Call Detail Records also showed his long-time connection with Soni and other alleged smugglers. Kathmandu District Court had sent Karki to jail after he failed to post a bail amount of Rs 2.41 million as sought by the DRI last week. “The DRI, I think, will find enough grounds to implicate SSP Shrestha and recommend legal action when Rs 2.41 has already been sought from his driver who just followed his instruction,” a police investigator said. ASI Hirakaji Kumal had also given statement about the involvement of SSP Shrestha. If convicted, SSP Shrestha will face dismissal, demotion or other departmental actions as per Police Act and Regulations. Nnnn SCREENING OF BADHSHALA BANNED Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: The Ministry of Information and Communications have banned the screening of Nepali movie " Badhshala " saying the contents of the film shows misuse of Nepal Army uniform, The Himalayan Times reports. The Ministry sent a letter sent to Nepali Cinema Development Board, directing to ban the movie. Earlier, the Nepal Army had drawn the attention of the Information Ministry towards the film saying that " Badhshala ' is against the Film Production, Broadcasting and Distrubution Act. "As the film was produced without informing the concerned bodies, the ministry has been requested not to provide permission for screening the movie and to stop the screening even if the theatres have been given permission," the Information Ministry said in the letter. nnnn