JEWELRY SHOPS CLOSED FOR THIRD DAY Kathmandu, 14 June: Jewelers closed down shops nation-wide for the third consecutive day Friday demanding withdrawal of charges of malpractices against three traders in the capital. The traders said charges are unsubstantiated abd demanded they be withdrawn. Traders have threatened not to lift gold from Nepal Rashtra Bank and starve the market.. Nnnn . UPDATE JLPM WELCOMES ELECTION AANNOUNCEMENT Kathmandu, 14 June: Parties behind the government started discussions tocraeate atmosphere for elections and constituents of a high-level political mechanism (HLPM) welcomed Thursday’s decision to hold elections 19 November. The parties of the mechanism are attempting to convince parties opposing elections to join the second assembly vote. UML’s Raghuji Pant said Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar will now take over the the rotating chairmanship ofr on month from UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal. Nnnn WHITER UCPN MOISTS? Kathmandu, 14 June:: Most leaders at today’s [Thursday’s] UCPN-M central committee meeting sought the political document and the amended statute of the party, endorsed by the party’s national congress in Hetauda, The Himalayan Times writes.. The central committee meeting of Unified CPN Maoist that began last Sunday was stalled for three days for group discussion on the documents presented that day. Most speakers focused on the party’s organisational policy whether to turn the cadre-based party into mass-based one. “Ours is a cadre-based party but we need the masses to ensure victory in elections,” a central committee member quoted leaders as saying. He further said the leaders demanded that the party should find an appropriate procedure for managing new entrants in the party. They also demanded the party’s political document and amended statute so that they could find ways to achieve the party’s goals. The leaders today criticised the organisation strengthening document presented by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, saying it was more frustrating than encouraging. “Mahara has started writing his document from disappointing issues of the party which will spread frustration among the party rank and file,” commented Navaraj Subedi. Addressing a press briefing, party spokesman Agni Sapkota said speakers urged the leadership to move ahead by learning from mistakes of the past and understand that the party had failed to achieve its goal due to weak implementation even though the line was appropriate. Ram Karki from International Bureau warned Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that he could plunge the party into the sea if he failed to come up with an appropriate party line. Tomorrow, the top leaders are expected to address the queries raised today. nnnn