GOVT. REFUSES TO PAY DEAR ONES OF THOSE KILLED IN CHITWAN BUS BOMBING SEVEN YEARS AGO; PARTY STEPS IN Kathmandu, 5 March: Ruling Maoists decided and said Tuesday said they’ll compensate loved ones of nearly 40 bus passengers killed in Bandarmude bus bombing seven years ago in Chitwan. More that 70 70 were injured, including soldiers of Riyal Nepal Army. Amik Serchan said this after a meeting of office bearers of the ruling at the residence of Party Chairman Prachanda. Government refused to pay a relief of Rs,6 million announced by the chairman who claimed he negodiated a deal with the prime minister, finance minister and peace minister before announcement in Chitwan. Serchan said the money will be paid from party savings, including money saved from the 7th general convention held in Hetauda last month. Maoists lead the government with five Madeshbadi parties. Nnnn CODE BEING ENFORCED BY GOVT. TO REGULATE MEETINGS WITH FOREIGNERS Kathmandu, 5 March The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is all set to introduce an amended Diplomatic Code of Conduct with an objective of bringing it in line with international standards, Kosh Raj Koirala writes in Republica . The Diplomatic Code of Conduct 2013, once endorsed by a cabinet meeting scheduled later this week, will bring under its jurisdiction the prime minister, ministers and other top leaders including officer-bearers of political parties and incumbent as well as former government official above the rank of gazetted first class. The code will not only make it mandatory for them to receive prior permission from MoFA but also require them to be briefed by MoFA officials on the tentative agenda the foreign dignitaries want to discuss with them. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said MoFA finalized the draft code of conduct submitted by a technical committee for cabinet approval. The committee formed under Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha included Home Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire, Foreign Secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai and Law Secretary Bhesh Raj Sharma. A meeting held at MoFA on Sunday finalized the new code for cabinet approval after a series of discussions and necessary revisions. MoFA in August 2011 had first introduced the Diplomatic Code of Conduct 2011 in the wake of controversy over the meetings of the prime minister, ministers and other senior government officials with foreigners. The new code also makes it mandatory for political parties to form a separate protocol section and keep records of matters that transpire at meetings with foreign dignitaries. The parties will be required to provide details of the things that transpire at meetings with foreign dignitaries, as and when demanded by the government bodies concerned. This code will be applicable to meetings with INGO officials also. Party leaders and former and incumbent government officials will now be required to take into consideration the protocol requirements of persons they are holding meetings with. Officials involved in the preparation of the code said the government is mulling a specific venue meant for former government officials to hold such meetings. However, the protocol issue won´t be applicable for courtesy calls and farewell calls. The new Diplomatic Code of Conduct likewise aims at restricting the movement of foreign diplomats based in Kathmandu. “Once the new Code of Conduct is brought into implementation, their movements would be regulated,” said a MoFA official involved in the preparation of the new code. nnnn Nnnn PM SAYS HE’LL QUIT IN THREE DAYS Former lawmaker and convicted murderer Balkrishna Dhungel accompanied the prime minister while arriving in the district in a Nepal Army helicopter. Kathmandu, 5 March: Prime Minsiter Baburam Bhattarai has said he is going to quit the government within the next three days, Maheshwar Chamling Rai writes in Republica from Udaypur.. While addressing a function here at a college here Monday, the prime minister also claimed that the new Constituent Assembly (CA) elections will be held by mid-June at any cost. He said forming election government under the sitting chief justice in the next three days has become a must for holding elections by mid-June. The prime minister also explained that leaders from major political parties decided to form CJ-led government as they couldn´t find a consensus prime ministerial candidate from among the political leaders despite their months-long efforts. Former lawmaker and convicted murderer Balkrishna Dhungel accompanied the prime minister while arriving in the district in a Nepal Army helicopter. The Supreme Court sentenced Dhungel with life imprisonment with property attachment for murdering a local during the Maoist insurgency but he roams the country free. Opposition parties have been demanding his arrest and implementation of the apex court´s verdict on the matter. However, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Badri Neupane ruled out any possibility of forming new government within a couple of days as a case against forming CJ-led government is sub judice in the Supreme Court and the court is scheduled to conduct hearing on the same case Thursday. He described the claims to form new government even prior to court verdict as a silly remarks by top leaders of major political parties. "New government can´t be formed prior to the Supreme Court´s verdict," Minister Neupane told reporters in Sarlahi, his home district. "Also, various other issues including resolution of disputes on the criteria of citizenship and voters´ namelist and amendment to constitutional provisions are essential before government formation." Neupane, who is also the chairman of Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party, also rubbished the claims to conduct elections by mid-June. "Time is not sufficient for holding elections by mid-June even if preparations are done day and night," he explained. He criticized the president for consulting only the leaders of the four major political parties. Nnnn