FILM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THURSDAY Kathmandu, 25 April: The Seventh Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival-2013 is going to be held here from April 25. At a press conference organised by the Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) here today, it was informed that the festival is going to be held from April 25-28 at the City Hall and Nepal Tourism Board at Exhibition Road in the capital, RSS reports.. The IFA is the organizer of the festival and the festival is to be held under the slogan 'Equal access and participation of Indigenous to communication'. A total of 27 films, documentaries and music videos of abroad including Australia, Germany, India, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russia and America will be screened in the festival. Similarly, 23 films and music videos of different languages of Dhimal, Chepang, Gurung, Magar, Rai, Limbu, Newar and Tharu communities have been selected for the festival from Nepal. The first, second and third winner of the film festival will receive golden drum, silver drum and bronze drum respectively. An encouragement award under 'Nepal Panorama' will be given away to a film made by indigenous communities. Director of the Festival, Sanjog Lapha Magar, said that food items of indigenous communities including Rai, Tamang, Newar and Magar will be put on display in the festival. nnnn CAPITAL’S THURSDAY MORNING TEMPERATURE 16 DEGREES CELSIUS Kathmandu, 26 April; Capital’s Thursday morning temperature at eight was 16 degrees Celsius. Mercury is expected to rise to 28 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. Nnnn “POOR POLITICAL PLAY’ADVERSELY AFFECTING PEOPLE’S LIVES SAYS MAOIST CHIEF Kathmandu, 25 April: UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Wednesday said that the Constituent Assembly (CA) election was a must to lead the country towards prosperity. Unveiling the statue of Setu BK, who lost her life during the People’s Movement here, chairman Prachanda, on the occasion of Democracy Day urged everyone to commit on institutionalizing the achievements gained seven years ago from the sacrifices of thousands of Nepali people. “It is sad and unfortunate that the achievements we gained through the People’s war and the People’s Movement have gone astray in the later years,” he said, and added that all political parties should make collective efforts for promulgating new constitution. Urging all the political parties to support the current government to hold CA election successfully, chairman Prachanda said that the future of the country depended on the success of second CA polls. He said that Nepal was lagging behind in development in the absence of political stability and stressed on the need for stronger economic policies for prosperous Nepal. “The Nepali people, despite being hard-working and living in a country with abundant natural resources, are living lives of lower standards due to poor political play,” he said. Chairman Prachanda said that support from both neighbouring countries China and India were necessary for holding CA election in the country. “The cooperation with two neighbours is essential to conclude the peace process, write a new constitution and develop the country,” he said, informing that he would prioritize discussion about construction of big hydroelectricity projects, development of Lumbini, mid-hill highway and urban areas during his visit to India. He said that the Chinese side had expressed their willingness to start big projects in Nepal during his recent visit to China and added that they could generate employments for thousands of Nepali people. UCPN-Maoist vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Hisila Yami and other party leaders were also present in the programme, The Rising Nepal writes. The newspaper adds from Banke: Banke, Apr 24: Nepali Congress (NC) president Sushil Koirala Wednesday expressed hope that all the political parties in the country would be convinced to take part in the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. Addressing the party cadres meeting in Nepalgunj, he reiterated that he would put maximum efforts till the last minute to persuade the disgruntled political parties that were opposing the election process. “It is essential that all the political parties to participate in the CA poll as the country would plunge in a deep crisis in the absence of election,” said Koirala, who is also the current coordinator of the high-level political committee, expressing his hope that the unsatisfied parties including CPN-Maoist would eventually participate in the election as the talks were underway with them. He also directed the party cadres to create election environment in all nooks and corners of the country. Stating that the role of party cadres was important in making NC as the largest party through CA election, he urged the party cadres to engage in the election process with much enthusiasm and vigor. Koirala blamed UCPN-Maoist for the failure to promulgate new constitution from the past CA. “The demands raised by indigenous leaders would be addressed in the party,” he said, claming that there was no grave division and dispute within the NC about the issues related to indigenous as in other political parties. He hinted that the NC could form alliance with CPN-UML in limited election constituencies. Meanwhile in Kathmandu, NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that democracy would come under serious threat if the country failed to go for the CA election. Speaking at a programme organized by the Reporter’s Club Nepal, he said that the CA election would be held in November at any cost as the failure to hold it would lead the political parties, Chief Justice and the Election Commission (EC) officials to fall from the eyes of Nepali people forever. “The derailed democracy after the dissolution of CA will come to the track after another CA poll,” said Sitaula, and added that the EC officials and government should speed up the election process to announce the CA election date for November. He refuted on forming alliance with any parties during the election stating that there were no discussion within the party regarding the issue. He however said that the NC would lead the democratic forces. nnnn .