Nepal Today

41PARTIES ASKED TO SUBMIT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2012-01-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

41PARTIES ASKED TO SUBMIT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Election Commission in a notice published in
Gorkhapatra Saturday asked 41 political parties who didn’t comply
with earlier request to submit their income and expenditure statement fo three years from fiscal year 2065 to 2068 within 15 days.
The Commission asked parties to furnish reply why action shouldn’t
Be taken against them got no abiding by a legal provision.
The body named 30 parties for not submitting statements while statements of 11 other parties had shortcomings.
Most of the Madeshbadi parties in government haven’t submitted their financial statements.
Rashtriya Janashakti Party of Surya Bahadur Thapa is included in the list of 30 parties.
Nnnn

2 KILLED, 15 INJURED IN VEHICULAR ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. Two persons, including a five-year-old were killed and 15 were injured when a heavy vehicle fell 20 meters off a road at neighbouring Nukwakot Saturday.
The accident occurred a Kurini when the vehicle heading for the
capital veered off the road.
Nnnn

BHAGAT SINGH GROUP AGREES TO TALK WITH GOVT.

Kathmandu, 28 Jan, Bhagat Singh group of a terai armed outfit has
agreed to talk with government, an announcement said Saturday.
The group responded positively to government invitation for talks.
nnnn

FORMER KING EXTENDS NEW DELHI STAY

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Former King Gyanendra begins political
consultations n New Delhi Sunday, Bhuban Sharma reports in Naya
Patrika.
The former king was scheduled to return Friday and has extended his
New Delhi stay by one week.
Appointments have been fixed with Indian lawmakers.
nnnn

SMALL DEPOSITS INSURED IN ALL BANKS
Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: The depositors should be not confident that their up to Rs 200,000 deposit will now be secure, if they have deposited in any of the 31 commercial
Banks, The Himalayan Times reports.

Agriculture Development Bank Ltd (ADBL) became the last commercial to insure deposits of up to Rs 200,000 as it entered into an agreement with the deposit insurer Nepal -Deposit and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DCGC) today.

“With Agriculture Development Bank, the corporation’s deposit insurance coverage has reached all of the NRB licensed deposit collecting financial institutions,” pointed out chairman of the corporation Bhaskar Mani Gyanwali.

The corporation’s general manager Bhola Prasad Aharma Adhikari signed the

agreement with ADBL’s chief executive

Tej Bahadur Budhathoki on behalf of

their respective institutions for the

insurance of bank’s small deposits of up to Rs 200,000.

Small deposits of up to Rs 200,000 in the saving and fixed deposit accounts of natural person held in 31 commercial banks, 84

development banks, 73 commercial banks and two microfinance development banks has been insured since the scheme began in February 2011.

The deposits worth Rs 120 billion held

in these financial institutions will be

returned back to the respective account holders in case the financial institutions gets liquidated.

According to the regulation, in case of bankruptcy of a financial institution, a small depositor, who has a deposit of up to Rs 200,000, will be paid the total deposit amount and interest within 90 days from the date the institution goes under liquidation.
nnnn
EVEN AS POL PRODUCTS AREN’T EASILY AVAILABLE AFTER PRICE
RISE, NOC SAYS NO SMOOTH SUPPLY AFTER REDUCED PRICE
Kathmandu:28 Jan.: The state oil monopoly has warned that it cannot maintain smooth supply of petroleum products in the reduced price, The Himalayan Times reports.

“Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) cannot maintain smooth fuel supply, when it is incurring a loss of Rs 1.26 billion per month,” said secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supply Prushottam Ojha, in Finance and Labour Relation Committee of legislative parliament today.

The government has reduced petroleum prices — Rs 3 in a litre petrol, Rs 4 in a litre diesel and kerosene and Rs 85 in a cooking gas cylinder – following a week-long protest of students against price hike.

Earlier, on January 18, the government had hiked petroleum price — Rs 10 in a litre petrol, Rs 9 in a litre diesel and kerosene each and Rs 175 in a cylinder of cooking gas.

Global fuel price is rising following Iran conflict with US and European Union, so more difficult days are ahead, he warned. “Increasing fuel price in international market and strong dollar are hitting our fuel supply and making us unable to maintain normal supply without support to NOC.

However, Ministry of Finance indicated that the state treasury is not in position to bear billions of loss. “We are aware of the problem but we don’t have sufficient fund to support NOC,” said joint-secretary at the Finance Ministry Khum Raj Punjali. “The ministry has approved Rs 250 million to NOC to maintain smooth fuel supply yesterday.”

But our weekly loss comes to almost Rs 310 million, so the amount is not sufficient to maintain smooth supply, said director at NOC Ramesh Chandra Koirala.

Lawmaker Dr Tilak Rawal showed his dissatisfaction over responses of the government officials and urged the government to prepare for difficult days. “Iran factor will definitely hit us in coming days, therefore the government has to prepare for it,” he said, adding that, the country needs comprehensive policy for the fuel.”

“Temporary adjustments will not last for long, he added.

Lawmaker do not get gas cylinder !

Lawmaker Iqbal Ahamad became angry in front of the ‘irresponsible’ officials during the meeting in Finance and Labour Relation Committee as, according to him, he is not getting to buy a cylinder of cooking gas since last three days.

“I went to LPG dealers but they are not selling any cooking gas cylinder,” he said, adding that his children are going schools having bread and tea at a restaurant. “It is the benefit of price hike,” he asked the NOC officials. “NOC does not have rights to hike price, if it can’t maintain smooth supply.” However, NOC officials could not answer him as the meeting was adjourned till January 31 due to heated debate among the lawmakers on government and NOC’s failure in maintaining smooth supply.
, 28 Jan.: Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire on Friday said the new information policy prepared recently by the government under his panel is “more transparent and progressive.”, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Media reports said the government has issued a new classified information directive that restricts an individual, the media or any organisation from gaining 140 types of information, including those on big development projects, parliamentary decisions and major decisions of the government.
The Right to Information (RTI) Act 2007, however, restricts supply of only five category of information related to national sovereignty, security and judiciary.
The move has irked the Federation of Nepali Journalists and others alike. “The FNJ is seriously concerned about the classification of information which is a matter of shame for the nation,” the umbrella organisation of journalists said in a statement.
Ghimire, who led a committee that made recommendations for the directive, however said they have “tried to keep a freer regime when it comes to information dissemination.”
“Our recommendations are more liberal, transparent and information-friendly than the earlier ones prepared some three years ago,” he told the Post. “Some laws and acts of various ministries or government agencies have a provision of keeping confidential some information for some time and we simply followed that,” he claimed.
Former Supreme Court registrar Ram Krishna Timilsena said the move is against democratic values and will spoil the government’s image if it is not corrected immediately. “This classification goes beyond exceptions that we can have from Clause 3 (3) of the Right to Information Act,” he said. “Though the classification looks like it is in line with the law, it is actually in breach of the law.”
The Ghimire-led panel had held consultations with secretaries of various ministries and government agencies as it prepared the recommendations.
“It is not an attempt to hold back information, but we want to bring in a revolution in the information dissemination system,” Ghimire claimed. Article 27 of the RTI Act authorises the chief secretary to introduce the information classification in a bid to implement the Act in a more systematic way. The chief secretary and secretary of the respective ministry, an expert and RTI activists must be included in the information classification committee. However, the Ghimire committee had appointed former secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Mohan Banjade, as an expert of all the sectors while preparing the directive.
Meanwhile, RTI activists have rejected the government’s new directive. They said it was a politically motivated attempt to hide information of public interest to cover up corruption and criminal cases.
At a programme in the Capital, the activists said they will challenge the decision both in the courts and the streets, condemning it as “unnecessary control over people’s rights to information taken with ill intention.”
FNJ chairperson Shiva Gaule said the FNJ has communicated with the Prime Minister regarding the directive. “The PM has assured he will talk to the RTI activists and media representatives in a couple of days. We will be forced to take the case to court and the streets if our pleas are unheard,” Gaule said. The directive needs to be scrapped as its implementation will automatically leave the RTI Act and the National Information Commission (NIC) formed in 2007 defunct, said Chief Information Commissioner Binaya Kumar Kasaju.
Senior Advocate Tika Ram Bhattarai termed it a “polite version of a royal ordinance.” “It will encourage corruption and crime,” he said.
Move challenged in SC
A writ has been filed in the Supreme Court against the government’s decision to categorise 140 types of information as “classified.” In the petition filed on Friday, advocate Kamal Prasad Itani said the government has decided to classify information of agendas under consideration in the Cabinet, recommendations of the constitutional council, Cabinet recommendation for the post of ambassadors and treaties that Nepal signs with other countries.
Itani argued that the decision to classify such information is against the law and that it must be revoked. The defendants include the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Law and Justice, Parliament Secretariat, the Department of Information and Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire.
nnnn

SRING HAS ARRIVED WTH SHRIPANCHAMI

2012-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

SHRIPANCHAMI BEING OBSERVED

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Goddess of Learning Sarashwoti is being worshipped
Saturday at homes and temples since early morning to mark
Shripanchami on the first day of spring.
Toddlers are taught to read and write Saturday
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav will listen to chanting hymns from priests at 11.41 in the
morning at Hanuman Dhoka.
nnnn

NILAMBAR ACHARYA CALLS AN ALL-PARTY MEET
SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. Chief of the constitutional drafting committee Nilambar
Acharya has convened an all-party-meet later Saturday
to discuss a business schedule for promulgating a constitution,
Sunday’s deadline to resolve differences of themes for inclusion in a pasis law will abain the missed.
A December schedule was also missed.
The constitution has to be promulgated by 28 May.
Government isn’t sure the target date will be met,
The Office of the Prime Minister Friday registered a writ at the supreme court asking it to
review a decision of the court registrar not admit a
request of government and parliament asking for such an extensiosns.
Nnnn

REMAND OF POLICE OFFICER WHO ADMITTED KILLING HIS WIFE EXTENDED ANOTHER 15 DAYS

Kathmandu, 28 Jan. The remand of APF DIG Ranjan Koirala, who admitted
killing his wife Gita, was extended another 15 days Friday.
His statement was recorded at the office of the government attorney.
Nnnn

CORECTION

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Friday’s report said he request of the PMO to the supreme court was registered Saturday when yesterday in fat was a Friday.
The error is regretted.
nnnn

GHIMERE, MAINALI IN CAN

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Keshab Ghimere and Binod Kumar Mainali were appointed vice-chairman of Cricket` Association (CAN) by the board Thursday.
Thakur Prasad Pahadi and Uttam Kumar Karmacharya
were appointed secretary and committee members respectively.
CAN executive committee. Sanjeeb Pandey (Eastern Region), Ram Chandra Sharma (Central), Deepak Koirala (Western), Purna Lama (Mid-Western) and Bipat Ram Chaudhary (Far-Western Region) were nominated CAN executive members.

Sunil Man Amatya, Amrita Paudel and Dharma Sundar Bajracharya were appointed
committee members
nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

‘There’s no basis to put faith and trust in the good governance plan of the jumbo government that has protected the corrupt.’

(RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa, 28 Jan, Nagarik.)
“I learnt about the decision through the media. The cabinet took the decision on
its own to legalize the land transactions and the party
did not exert any pressure on that regard.”
(Maoist Chief Prachanada, Republica, 28 Jan.)
nnnn
PARLIAMENARY COMMITTEE RETURNS NAMES OF NOMINEES FOR
AMBASSADORS WITHOUT A HEARING
Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) on Friday refused to start a hearing process on 10 ambassadorial nominees, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The Cabinet on January 17 had recommended their names for 10 ambassadorial posts. Arguing that the decision was not inclusive, the Committee has asked the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to review it.
“We have instructed the government to make the selection of candidates more inclusive,” said PHSC Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung.
The Cabinet had decided to appoint six joint secretaries at the MoFA, along with four others, as envoys to 10 countries.
Out of the 10 candidates, Maya Kumari Sharma, proposed for Qatar, is the only woman candidate, while only Kaman Singh Lama, proposed for South Korea, represents the Janajati community.
Eight other candidates represent 'upper castes'. Shanker Das Bairagi (Geneva), Rudra Nepal (Australia), Mukti Nath Bhatta (Denmark), Bharat Raj Poudel (Pakistan), Paras Mani Ghimire (Myanmar) and Pralhad Prasai (Israel) are career diplomats who belong to 'upper castes'. Similarly, two of the four candidates recommended on the basis of political affiliations, are Brahmins--Ravi Mohan Sapkota (Russia) and Ram Mani Pokhrel (Belgium).
“The recommendations do not adequately represent women, Madehsi and Janajati communities. So we have asked the government to review the decision,” said Gurung.
The decision to allocate a large pie of the ambassadorial posts to the career diplomats had pleased the MoFA officials. But the PHSC rejection to begin the hearing process has disappointed them.
“We are really displeased," said a nominee. However, they are hopeful that Foreign Minister Narayn Kaji Shreshta, who is currently in Japan, will intervene in the matter. “Once the minister returns home, we hope he will intervene in the matter,” said the official.
nnnn

GUIDELINES ON FUND DISTRIBUTION LANDS NPC IN TROUBLE
Kathmandu,, 28 Jan.: A parliamentary committee on Friday formed a sub-committee to look into misconduct and gross negligence of the National Planning Commission (NPC) during implementation of budgetary programs on road development at the district level, Republica reports.

The sub-committee was formed after lawmakers alleged that the NPC had arbitrarily altered conditions on fund distribution for road projects, making it difficult for district development committees (DDCs) to apply for the sum.

The parliamentarians also claimed the NPC had been negligent while listing projects in the red book, as a project submitted by one district had fallen under the list of another district.

The Parliamentary Committee on Development has asked the three-member sub-committee to thoroughly look into the matter and submit a detailed report within a week.

"We will then decide on the issue," Jitendra Sonar, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Development and an MP representing Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party, said.

The NPC, an advisory body that formulates development plans and policies, had landed in hot water after it issued a controversial guideline on distribution of Rs 500 million aimed at supporting road development projects of various districts.

The guideline specifically said districts cannot implement projects that do not fall under the District Transport Master Plan and the District Development Plan.

"But there were no such conditions when the proposal was presented at the parliament for approval," Krishna Prasad Sapkota, an MP from Kavrepalanchowk, told the parliamentary committee hearing on Friday, questioning, "Who gave NPC the authority to make amendments to policies endorsed by parliament?"

This amended guideline, which was forwarded by the NPC to the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD), underwent further changes, as the ministry added another condition which prevented projects worth less than Rs 500,000 from being eligible for consideration.

The ministry has, however, said it had to include the clause as its internal policy does not allow distribution of sum of less than half a million rupees on road projects. "This was introduced to prevent dispersal of small amounts, impact of which could not be seen," Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, acting secretary of the MoLD, said.

But lawmakers argued that if this was the case, it should have been mentioned when the proposal was forwarded to the parliament for approval.

The lawmakers also claimed the NPC had been careless in listing the projects, as many projects proposed by one district had fallen under the list of another district.

For instance, six projects submitted by Kavrepalanchowk are mentioned in the government´s red book as projects of Bhaktapur and Sindhupalchowk, while three projects of Sindhupalchowk have been entered as projects of Kavrepalanchowk, according to Sapkota.

"Now the problem is that the local development ministry has already released budget based on inaccurate data," Sapkota said.

But Thapaliya said his ministry has already asked DDCs to freeze the amount that were mistakenly deposited in their accounts.
Nnnn

NC, UML REJECT MAJORITY VOTE IN SRC

Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Amidst reports that State Restructuring Commission (SRC) is taking decision on a number of contentious issues through majority votes, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have said they would not accept decisions taken through majority votes, Kosh Raj .Koirala writes in Republica.

During a meeting held between the two parties at Singha Durbar Friday afternoon, the two opposition parties reached an understanding that a proposal on a sensitive issue like state restructuring should not be made through voting. NC and UML leaders also conveyed their concerns to SRC members, according to leaders involved in the talks.

“We have learnt that the commission is taking decisions through majority votes. If this is true then such decisions won´t be acceptable to us,” said NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat. “The issue of state restructuring is not something that can be decided on the basis of majority and minority voting.”

Dr Mahat argued that SRC was formed to forge consensus among parties on issues concerning state restructuring. “We would have voted in the parliament itself if the decisions were to be taken through majority voting,” he added.

CPN-UML leaders also vowed not to accept a state restructuring proposal based on majority votes.

The eight-member SRC comprises Malla K Sundar and Stella Tamang from the UCPN (Maoist), Ramesh Dhungel and Sabitri Thapa from the NC, Bhogendra Jha and Sarbaraj Khadka from UML, and Krishna Hachhethu and Surendra Mahato from the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).

SRC members are reportedly sharply divided over the number of federal states and whether the federal states should be carved along ethnical lines and whether they should be delineated from north to south.

The reactions from NC and UML come in the wake of media reports that the SRC had taken decision on many crucial issues through voting when some members representing NC and the UML were not present.

The two-party meeting held after the Constitutional Committee (CC) meeting also discussed the stalled peace process and Maoist dilly-dallying over integration and voluntary retirement of Maoist combatants.

The two parties have decided to continue exerting pressure on the Maoist government to withdraw its controversial decision to legalize conflict-era land dealings arbitrated by the "people´s government".
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

GPVT. SEEKS REVIEW OF COURT ACTION

2012-01-27T04:15:00.001-08:00

GOVT. SEEKS APPEAL OF COURT ACTION

Kathmandu, 27 Jan..: Government Friday registered a writ at the supreme court Saturday even on a public holiday to review a decision not to extend the tenure of the constituent assembly after it express in the last week of May.
The court didn’t register the first appeals of the government and parliament which was rejected by the registrar of the highest court.
The assembly has been charged with responsibility drafting a constitution.
Chairman Subash Newang had said the court decision must be respected.
nnnn

MAOIST FIGHTERS TO BE SENT BACK IN THREE DAYS
Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Saturday directed a secretariat under a special committee to send back frmer gurrillas from 28 camps in another three days, Finance Minister Barshaman Singh Pun and aide of the government chef said.
A delayed meeting of a special committee chaired by the premier was held Saturday amid charges by opposition the government isn’t simultaneously integrating former combatants and bidding them farwell on a Maoist strategy. is all set to initiate the process to bid farewell to those combatants who opted for voluntary retirement during the regrouping process within three days.
During the meeting held Friday morning, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai directed his secretariat to initiate the process at the earliest to bid farewell to the combatants.
Nnnn
SOCIAL SECURITY TO ALL NEPALIS N 10 YEARS
Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The government’s national directorate committee on social security has proposed ensuring minimum social security coverage to the entire Nepali population in the next 10 years, Prithvi Man Shrestha writes in The Kathmandu Post..
The committee headed by National Planning Commission secretary Yubaraj Bhusal has prepared a draft of the national framework on social security that also seeks to ensure access to basis services for people irrespective of class, ethnicity, sex, age, disability and geographical location. The proposed framework calls for introducing social insurance programmes and their expansion and reducing the risk of poverty and deprivation by providing necessary resources and inclusion measures.
As per the proposed framework, social security for people would be provided in two ways — ground floor approach and first floor approach. The first approach seeks to provide access to minimum social security to all the people irrespective of class, ethnicity, area and religion. Minimum social security covers a basic package of ensuring rights and handing over of cash and goods as well as basic services. “The government should ensure basic social security through the use of the taxes it collects from the people,” suggests the proposed framework.
The second approach seeks to provide social security through the contribution of government agencies, the private sector, cooperatives and non-governmental organisation whose nature would be contributory and voluntary. “The role of the state remains as a regulator and facilitator in this approach,” states the draft.
A member of the directorate committee said that the ground floor approach was for universal access to basic social security, and the first floor for ensuring support from other sectors except the government which will reduce the burden on the state to provide social security to all. “The second approach is for those who can contribute to receive social security coverage,” said the committee member.
The proposed framework suggests starting providing social security to vulnerable groups and expanding the programme to higher income groups. Other strategies included in the proposed framework are making basic services accessible to all by making a special mechanism for targeted communities, preparing a sectoral work plan to implement the national framework and revising the current social security programmes.
Currently, there are several social security programmes including senior citizen pension, allowance for widows, child protection subsidy, child delivery benefits, school tiffin programme, programmes for Dalits and the disabled, endangered communities, aid for martyrs’ families, various scholarship programmes and provision of free treatment for targeted communities.
There is a social care programme for children and senior citizens and programmes like food for work, youth self-employment programme, and there are programmes offered by the Employees Provident Fund and the Citizens Investment Trust for employees of the organised sector. Since fiscal 2009-10, the government has also started collecting a 1 percent social security tax on the first slab of taxable income from all government and private sector employees.
As the new three-year interim plan also mentions ensuring minimum social security for all and talks about expanding the coverage by preparing a national guideline, the government formed the directorate committee to prepare a framework of short- and long-term result-based programmes on social security. After preparing a draft of the framework, the committee has been holding discussions with government officials, civil society, employee unions and Constituent Assembly members.
nnnn
STEM CELL TRANSPLANT PROJECT TO BE LAUNCHED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Binaytara Foundation (BTF) and the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System have partnered with B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Nepal, in a project to develop the country’s first Blood and Marrow stem cell Transplant (BMT) centre, The Rising Nepal reports.
Stem cell transplant is a standard procedure for the treatment of many types of blood cancer. The planned BMT center in Bharatpur will aim to serve not only the 30 million people of Nepal but also millions of people from neighboring India, a press release issued by BTF said Thursday.
The joint initiative by BTF and University of Illinois will facilitate the training of physicians, and support in the development of a modern blood bank. A block of 5 patient rooms at B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital has been allocated for the care of patients who will receive BMT.
University of Illinois Blood and Marrow Transplant Programme and Centre for Global Health will assist BTF’s efforts to work closely with staff in Nepal via telemedicine training programmes as well as hosting physicians from Nepal in Chicago, Illinois.
Prof. Damiano Rondelli, MD, a renowned BMT expert at the University of Illinois Hospital and collaborator of BTF, will head the project.
"After visiting the Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur with Dr. Binay Shah last May,

we immediately felt the challenge to help patients with blood cancer in Nepal. Many of these patients are in need of stem cell transplant but they currently don’t have this option. We are well aware of the many challenges that this project will face but we are fully committed to allow Nepal to achieve this goal," Dr. Rondelli said.
"It is like climbing a new Himalaya peak and we will get on the top. BTF and the University of Illinois Hospital resources are ready to succeed."
Recent World Health Organization reports suggest that deaths from cancer are increasing to epidemic proportions in developing countries.
At B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, 600 patients with leukemia, 110 patients with lymphoma, and 40 patients with multiple myeloma were diagnosed in one year alone, 2010.
"A BMT facility in Bharatpur, Nepal will serve thousands of patients from Nepal and neighboruing states of India,” a statement saud.
nnnn

OPPOSITION OBSTRUCTS SESSION FOR 5TH DAY

2012-01-27T03:42:00.000-08:00

PARLIAMENT SESSION DISRUPTED FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SESSION UPDATE
Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Parliament session was obstructed for the fifth consecutive session Saturday.
NC. UML and small parties protested a government decision to legalize seized asset during the insurgency.
The parties said obstruction will continue.
nnnn
TENURE OF SRC EXTENDED SEVEN DAYS
Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: The tenure of the state restructuring commission (SRC) was extended by one more week Thursday after there was no agreement in the body between parties on a federal structure.
The peace and constitution drafting process will be delayed because of differences between major parties.
Parties have until Sunday to resolve differences o themes to be ncluded in a constitution.
nnnn

EMBATTLED BHATTARAI GOVT. RESHUFFLES
ANNOUNCED PROJECTS IN NAME OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC PACKAGE
Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: : Undeterred even after its ‘first relief measures’ brought about five months ago fell flat, the government today [Thursday] introduced ‘Immediate Action Plan’ for what it called ‘a great leap forward, The Himalayan Times reports..

“The country has prepared the foundation for the economic growth in the first six months of the current fiscal year,” said Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai while launching the ‘Immediate Action Plan for Economic Development and Prosperity’ in the Capital today.

The ambitious plan has prescribed about one and a half dozen sectors, including agriculture, forestry, tourism, energy, physical infrastructure, rural infrastructure and urban development, investment promotion, international trade, promotion of domestic products and private sector, New Nepal Initiatives for the economic development.

“The government will launch four campaigns — investment promotion, economic growth with wider base, employment creation, and social security for its four priorities — peace, constitution, good governance and prosperity,” said Bhattarai.

“Though the country has challenges, with the optimum utilisation of available resources, we can move ahead in time-bound manner to boost the current sluggish economic growth by creating some half-a-million employments.”

“The government will mobilise one million volunteers — mostly the students — as national volunteers under the district development committees under New Nepal Initiatives,” said the prime minister, adding that the volunteers can select the districts.

“The government will request every citizen to donate one day’s salary and Non Resident Nepalis to donate $10 for the New Nepal Initiative Fund that will help create jobs and boost economic growth by investing on infrastructure.”

The government has vowed to invite foreign investment worth $1 billion in the next six months, read the government’s ambitious plan that has promised to increase contribution of the industrial sector to 10 per cent from current 1.4 per cent to the gross domestic production.

Similarly, the traditional agriculture will be modernised with stress on establishing chemical fertiliser industry and herbs processing centres and land reform programme that will boost the contribution of agriculture’s contribution to five per cent from current four per cent to the GDP, added the plan. “The government will also declare 2013 as Agriculture Year to promote the sector.”

The prime minister also promised that Nepal will sign Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with China, South Asian countries and at least five developed countries to build confidence of foreign investors, apart from requesting them to invest in second international airport, east-west railway and Kathmandu-Tarai fast track.

These infrastructures, including Sikta, Rani Jamara and Babai irrigation projects, have also been named ‘projects of national pride’.

The government has also highlighted 10 challenges, including corruption, lawlessness and bureaucratic delay, energy crisis, slow industrialisation, rising unemployment, lack of infrastructure, low economic growth, traditional agriculture system and low foreign investment, and has promised to fight them.

Similarly, the government has prescribed financial sector reforms, capital market, housing, millennium development goals, poverty alleviation, social security, respectable foreign employment and resource management for the economic development.

“Promoting these sectors will give a tremendous fillip to our endeavours to translate people’s aspirations into reality,” added Prime Minister Bhattarai.
nnnn

PM CONVENES MEETING OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE

2012-01-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

PM CONVENES MEETING OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: A meeting of the special committee for integration, supervisions and resettlement charged ex-officio by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is being
held Friday.
The premier has convened a meeting of the committee amid charges by the opposition aoiss leading the government are dillydallying in implementing the integration and retireeeeeeement of former Maoist fighters even after their preferences were recoded by the secretariat of the special committee.
China offered Nepal $20 million to complete the processes during the
four-hour visit Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
Nnnn

STUDENTS CONTINUING
PROTESTS AGAINST FUEL HIKE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Students affiliated with ruling and opposition parties are continuing
their protests Friday against a government decision to hike fuel prices even after
reducing prices of POL products Thursday succumbing to pressures.
Student rejected the decision to reduce massive hikes
and demanded restoration of original prices.
Movement of vehicles is being obstructed in front of campuses nation-wide and
students meet to discuss the second phase of their
protests after another round of talks with government.
Nnnn

OPPOSITION TO OBSTRUCT PARRLIAMENT SESSION

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Opposition said they will obstruct the scheduled session f parliament for the fifth successive time Friday.
There’s a standoff between government and opposition after a cabinet and Maoist decision
to legalize assets seized by then insurgents during a 10-year rebellion
Maoists Thursday rejected an opposition to correct the decision.
The move has worsened ties between ruling and opposition parties and obstructed the peae and constitution writing processes.
Nnnn

5 NDA MEMBERS ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Five members of the Nepal Defense
Army (NDA) were presented before the media
Thursday after their arrest.
They were involved in bombings and extortions in and around the capital, according
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Police Biswas, Pramod Kumar Mahato, Nirmal Lama, Jagat
Bahadur Thapa and Cham Bahadur
Thapa were nabbed.
They were directed by chief of NDA
Ram Prasad Mainali, according to police.
The group set off explosions at Thapathalii, New Road and exported money.
nnnn

ACTRESS SUSHILA RAYAMAJHI DEAD

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Actress Sushila Rayamajhi died
Thursday of cancer.
She was 55.
nnnn

PRESIDENT IN BARDIYA NATIONAL PARK

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: President Dr. Ram Narayan Yadav toured the Bardiya National Park Thursday after arriving in the afternoon.
He went on a hour-long jungle drive.
nnnn

MAOIST CHIEF ATTEMPING TO TOPPLE BHATTARAI WITH NC,UML SUPPORT
Kathmandu, 27 Jan : Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking support of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML to force Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai into resigning to pave the way for forming a national consensus government under his own leadership, Post B. Basnet writes in Republica..

Sources close to Bhattarai say Dahal at a recent meeting had asked NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel and UML leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal to create an environment for forming a national consensus government.

"I cannot directly demand his resignation. So you must create an environment to force him to step down," sources at Baluwatar quoted Dahal as telling UML leaders in a recent meeting.

On Monday, at a three-party meeting at Paudel´s residence at Boharatar, Dahal had proposed that a national consensus government should be formed and peace process should be concluded in a package.

"We are open to the idea of forming a national consensus government. All the issues should be settled in a package," a participant of the meeting quoted Dahal. Bhattarai was also present at the meeting.

Bhattarai faction says Dahal´s "duplicity" regarding the cabinet decision to legalize the conflict-era land transactions and the recent fuel price hike shows that he is seriously working to isolate Bhattarai inside and outside the party and topple the government.

"It was the chairman who forced the prime minister to legalize the war-time land transactions. Now he is not backing the government, and has put the blame on the prime minister, in an apparent bid to put the government in difficulty," said a leader close to Bhattarai.

The Bhattarai faction has also blamed Dahal for fomenting street protests against the government´s fuel price hike decision. The Maoist party´s own student wing is on the streets against the decision. "The prime minister had consulted the chairman before increasing fuel prices. And after the prices were hiked, Dahal backed the student wing that launched street protest. How can a party´s student union take to the streets without parent party´s nod?" said a leader from the Bhattarai faction.

The faction has also accused Dahal of holding several rounds of meeting with UML leaders including Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, KP Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal. Sources say Dahal had asked the UML leaders to play roles to topple the government. Few days back, Dahal, accompanied by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, had held talks with Khanal at the latter´s residence at Dallu.

It may be recalled that Dahal had promised to Baiyda to recall Bhattarai from the government, though Dahal latter denied having made any such promise.

The Bhattarai faction has also accused Dahal of taking tough stance on the integration process. "He has taken the stance that the voluntary retirement and integration process should go alongside. His strategy is to put the government in crisis," said the leader.

Bhattarai himself had told party cadres on Tuesday in Palpa that he is no longer getting support from the party leadership to run the government.
nnnn

________________________________________

NC DISPUTE WORSENING

Kathmandu, 27Jan.: Ongoing ´quiet´ efforts within the Nepali Congress (NC) to settle a bitter row, which surfaced between the establishment faction and a rival faction-led by Sher Bahadur Deuba following the dissolution of various sister organizations, has failed to yield
any positive results so far, Kosh RajKoirala reports I Republica.

Indications are the dispute persisting between the two factions is likely to get worse as a proposal developed by various senior leaders including Ram Chandra Paudel, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Arjun Narsingh KC on behalf of the party´s president, Sushil Koirala, for a bringing about a ´quiet settlement´ has failed to impress the rival faction.

The Deuba faction, after the proposal from the establishment faction reached them on Tuesday, called a joint meeting of the party´s CWC members and parliamentary party members for January 31 and a meeting of district committee presidents aligned to the Deuba faction for February 15, to exert pressure on the party establishment to accept a ´package agreement´ on all appointments.

The establishment faction had proposed to the Deuba faction to name the chiefs of Nepal Tarun Dal and Nepal Women´s Association, along with proportionate representation from the Deuba faction in all appointments to the party´s 32 various departments and its work performance committee.

However, the proposal worked out by senior leaders close to Koirala had suggested putting on hold the formation of the party´s parliamentary board and the pending nomination of five members to the party´s CWC.

The proposal hardly impressed the Deuba faction, which has remained seriously dissatisfied with the establishment faction for a long time.

"Since the establishment faction has not lived up to promises made in the past, we have sought a package deal on all appointments to be made in the party´s organization," said a senior leader close to the Deuba faction."We won´t compromise unless there is a ´package deal´ on all these appointments," the senior leader said.

The Deuba faction has demanded at least four of the five remaining CWC memberships including one joint general secretary and the immediate formation of the party´s parliamentary board, which is responsible for picking party candidates for national general elections and appointing the party´s zonal chiefs.

Koirala has picked only two from the rival faction-- Deuba and Bimalendra Nidhi--for nominated CWC members.

All CWC members close to Deuba have been snubbing the CWC meeting ever since Deuba resigned as a CWC member, citing strong dissatisfaction over Koirala´s move to dissolve various sister organizations of the party in September, 2011. Party President Koirala and Deuba have reached the point of publicly finger-pointing each other for the growing rift in the grand old party.

Party insiders say the Deuba faction´s move to snub the ´modest proposal´ from the Koirala faction and call a meeting of its own purportedly to exert pressure on Koirala for a ´package deal´ is likely to further worsen the row.

"The Deuba faction seems to have concluded that they can make the establishment faction bow further to its demands. But this move may put Koirala under pressure from his aides to take unilateral decisions about the sister organizations," said a NC leader on condition of anonymity.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

Related News

SAARC Secretary General Saeed resigns

NC leaders say no to presidential system

Six Nepalis rescued from Costa Concordia safe in Rome

UNESCO upset over new project at Lumbini

NC shows flexibility on system of governance

More on Political Affairs

Govt decision strains parties-Maoist relations further?

Govt announces programs for good governance

Dahal induces NC,UML to topple Bhattarai govt

Mahato's Sadbhawana Party splits again

No consensus govt under Bhattarai: Khanal

House obstructed for four days in a row

Govt likely to withdraw decision on conflict-era land deals

EC to probe parties' finances

Three-party meet deferred for Thursday

Govt inaffective as party played dual role: PM

Karki's agrement binned?

Officials seek mechanism for local governance

Government's relief program a fiasco

SRC seeks a week more

Breakthrough next week: PM

PM CONVENES MEETING OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: A meeting of the special committee for integration, supervisions and resettlement charged ex-officio by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is being
held Friday.
The premier has convened a meeting of the committee amid charges by the opposition aoiss leading the government are dillydallying in implementing the integration and retireeeeeeement of former Maoist fighters even after their preferences were recoded by the secretariat of the special committee.
China offered Nepal $20 million to complete the processes during the
four-hour visit Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
Nnnn

STUDENTS CONTINUING
PROTESTS AGAINST FUEL HIKE

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Students affiliated with ruling and opposition parties are continuing
their protests Friday against a government decision to hike fuel prices even after
reducing prices of POL products Thursday succumbing to pressures.
Student rejected the decision to reduce massive hikes
and demanded restoration of original prices.
Movement of vehicles is being obstructed in front of campuses nation-wide and
students meet to discuss the second phase of their
protests after another round of talks with government.
Nnnn

OPPOSITION TO OBSTRUCT PARRLIAMENT SESSION

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Opposition said they will obstruct the scheduled session f parliament for the fifth successive time Friday.
There’s a standoff between government and opposition after a cabinet and Maoist decision
to legalize assets seized by then insurgents during a 10-year rebellion
Maoists Thursday rejected an opposition to correct the decision.
The move has worsened ties between ruling and opposition parties and obstructed the peae and constitution writing processes.
Nnnn

5 NDA MEMBERS ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Five members of the Nepal Defense
Army (NDA) were presented before the media
Thursday after their arrest.
They were involved in bombings and extortions in and around the capital, according
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Police Biswas, Pramod Kumar Mahato, Nirmal Lama, Jagat
Bahadur Thapa and Cham Bahadur
Thapa were nabbed.
They were directed by chief of NDA
Ram Prasad Mainali, according to police.
The group set off explosions at Thapathalii, New Road and exported money.
nnnn

ACTRESS SUSHILA RAYAMAJHI DEAD

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: Actress Sushila Rayamajhi died
Thursday of cancer.
She was 55.
nnnn

PRESIDENT IN BARDIYA NATIONAL PARK

Kathmandu, 27 Jan.: President Dr. Ram Narayan Yadav toured the Bardiya National Park Thursday after arriving in the afternoon.
He went on a hour-long jungle drive.
nnnn

MAOIST CHIEF ATTEMPING TO TOPPLE BHATTARAI WITH NC,UML SUPPORT
Kathmandu, 27 Jan : Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking support of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML to force Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai into resigning to pave the way for forming a national consensus government under his own leadership, Post B. Basnet writes in Republica..

Sources close to Bhattarai say Dahal at a recent meeting had asked NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel and UML leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal to create an environment for forming a national consensus government.

"I cannot directly demand his resignation. So you must create an environment to force him to step down," sources at Baluwatar quoted Dahal as telling UML leaders in a recent meeting.

On Monday, at a three-party meeting at Paudel´s residence at Boharatar, Dahal had proposed that a national consensus government should be formed and peace process should be concluded in a package.

"We are open to the idea of forming a national consensus government. All the issues should be settled in a package," a participant of the meeting quoted Dahal. Bhattarai was also present at the meeting.

Bhattarai faction says Dahal´s "duplicity" regarding the cabinet decision to legalize the conflict-era land transactions and the recent fuel price hike shows that he is seriously working to isolate Bhattarai inside and outside the party and topple the government.

"It was the chairman who forced the prime minister to legalize the war-time land transactions. Now he is not backing the government, and has put the blame on the prime minister, in an apparent bid to put the government in difficulty," said a leader close to Bhattarai.

The Bhattarai faction has also blamed Dahal for fomenting street protests against the government´s fuel price hike decision. The Maoist party´s own student wing is on the streets against the decision. "The prime minister had consulted the chairman before increasing fuel prices. And after the prices were hiked, Dahal backed the student wing that launched street protest. How can a party´s student union take to the streets without parent party´s nod?" said a leader from the Bhattarai faction.

The faction has also accused Dahal of holding several rounds of meeting with UML leaders including Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, KP Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal. Sources say Dahal had asked the UML leaders to play roles to topple the government. Few days back, Dahal, accompanied by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, had held talks with Khanal at the latter´s residence at Dallu.

It may be recalled that Dahal had promised to Baiyda to recall Bhattarai from the government, though Dahal latter denied having made any such promise.

The Bhattarai faction has also accused Dahal of taking tough stance on the integration process. "He has taken the stance that the voluntary retirement and integration process should go alongside. His strategy is to put the government in crisis," said the leader.

Bhattarai himself had told party cadres on Tuesday in Palpa that he is no longer getting support from the party leadership to run the government.
nnnn

________________________________________

NC DISPUTE WORSENING

Kathmandu, 27Jan.: Ongoing ´quiet´ efforts within the Nepali Congress (NC) to settle a bitter row, which surfaced between the establishment faction and a rival faction-led by Sher Bahadur Deuba following the dissolution of various sister organizations, has failed to yield
any positive results so far, Kosh RajKoirala reports I Republica.

Indications are the dispute persisting between the two factions is likely to get worse as a proposal developed by various senior leaders including Ram Chandra Paudel, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Arjun Narsingh KC on behalf of the party´s president, Sushil Koirala, for a bringing about a ´quiet settlement´ has failed to impress the rival faction.

The Deuba faction, after the proposal from the establishment faction reached them on Tuesday, called a joint meeting of the party´s CWC members and parliamentary party members for January 31 and a meeting of district committee presidents aligned to the Deuba faction for February 15, to exert pressure on the party establishment to accept a ´package agreement´ on all appointments.

The establishment faction had proposed to the Deuba faction to name the chiefs of Nepal Tarun Dal and Nepal Women´s Association, along with proportionate representation from the Deuba faction in all appointments to the party´s 32 various departments and its work performance committee.

However, the proposal worked out by senior leaders close to Koirala had suggested putting on hold the formation of the party´s parliamentary board and the pending nomination of five members to the party´s CWC.

The proposal hardly impressed the Deuba faction, which has remained seriously dissatisfied with the establishment faction for a long time.

"Since the establishment faction has not lived up to promises made in the past, we have sought a package deal on all appointments to be made in the party´s organization," said a senior leader close to the Deuba faction."We won´t compromise unless there is a ´package deal´ on all these appointments," the senior leader said.

The Deuba faction has demanded at least four of the five remaining CWC memberships including one joint general secretary and the immediate formation of the party´s parliamentary board, which is responsible for picking party candidates for national general elections and appointing the party´s zonal chiefs.

Koirala has picked only two from the rival faction-- Deuba and Bimalendra Nidhi--for nominated CWC members.

All CWC members close to Deuba have been snubbing the CWC meeting ever since Deuba resigned as a CWC member, citing strong dissatisfaction over Koirala´s move to dissolve various sister organizations of the party in September, 2011. Party President Koirala and Deuba have reached the point of publicly finger-pointing each other for the growing rift in the grand old party.

Party insiders say the Deuba faction´s move to snub the ´modest proposal´ from the Koirala faction and call a meeting of its own purportedly to exert pressure on Koirala for a ´package deal´ is likely to further worsen the row.

"The Deuba faction seems to have concluded that they can make the establishment faction bow further to its demands. But this move may put Koirala under pressure from his aides to take unilateral decisions about the sister organizations," said a NC leader on condition of anonymity.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

STUDENTS REJECT REDUCED FUEL PRICES

2012-01-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

STUDENTS REJECT REDUCED PRICES FOR PRODUCTS AMID PROTESTS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Students Thursday rejected in talks with government an official
reduction of raised fuel prices demanding original prices should be restored.
Anti-government protests, they said, will continue.
Government succumbed to week-long pressure and reduced hiked prices to placate students.
Petrol price was reduced by Rs. 3 per liter, diesel and kerosene by Rs. 4 per liter
and cooking gas by Rs. 85 per cylinder.
Protesting students said the hike was unbearable.
Nnnn

OPPOSITION AGAIN OBSTRUCTS PARLIAMENT SESSION UPDATE
Kathmandu, Jan 26: Two largest opposition parties NC and UML obstructed legislature-Parliament session for the fourth consecutive session Thursday
Speaker Subash Nemwang adjourned the session until Friday.
nnnn
NSP Mahato Splits Again
Kathmandu, Jan 26: Sadbhawana Party led by Minister for Health Rajendra Mahato has split yet again with lawmakers Ram Naresh Raya and Gauri Mahato Koiri forming National Sadbhawana Party, greatway.onlne.com reports.
“The two lawmakers have registered an application to form a new party and have already been verified by Speaker Subash Nembang,” said Sudarshan Kuikel, assistant spokesperson at the Parliament Secretariat.
This is the second time after the election of the Constitution Assembly (CA) that the party has split. Earlier, Anil Kumar Jha and three other CA members broke away and formed Sanghiya Sadbhawana Party.
Now, the Mahato-led party has only three lawmakers, Mahato himself, Laxman Lal Karn and Saroj Kumar Yadav.
With the split of the party, the number of political parties represented in Parliament has reached 33 whereas the number was 25 after the CA election.
Nnnn

NC LEADER AGAIN CHARGES MAOSTS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan 26:: Nepali Congress (NC) Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that the (UCPN) Maoist party has backed from the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the seven-point agreement signed among the major political parties regarding the power-sharing, RSS reports.
Leader Poudel reasoned that the Maoist leaders’ reluctance to withdraw the land dealing transactions made by the people’s government has shown that the former rebel party is unwilling to complete the peace process.
Talking to media persons after the Legislature-Parliament meeting today, leader Poudel alleged the Maoist party of being back from the past agreements.
Poudel also ruled out the possibility of dialogue and consensus with the Maoist party saying that the latter was being back from its previous commitments.
Nnnn
MINISTER FINALLY RESIGNS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.:- Raj Lal Yadav, Minister without portfolio from MJF (G) of Communication Minster finally resigned Thursday.
He had been demanding leadership of a ministry by splitting the ministry of
agriculture and cooperatives.
.nnnn
ANOTHER NC LEADER HITS OUT AT MAOISTS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former Finance Minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat has accused the government of becoming a 'model' government in terms of promoting corruption and misconduct in the country, RSS reports from Butwal.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Nepal Press Union, Rupandehi in Butwal on Wednesday, former Minister Mahat accused the UCPN-Maoist, the ruling party, of causing obstructions in the peace and constitution drafting processes.

"The Maoist-led government should be toppled since it has betrayed the nation and the people", he said, claiming that the nation would not get a new constitution until and unless the Maoists become honest to the constitution drafting process.

The incumbent government formed with the vested interests of the Maoists and the Madhesi Front has made some 'unconstitutional' and 'objectionable' decisions and they should be scrapped at any cost, said the NC leader.
nnnn

LADY COMPANION OF DIG KOIRALA FLEES TO MALAYSIA

2012-01-25T22:46:00.000-08:00

LADY COMPANION TARA REGMI OF DIG KOIRALA FLEES TO MALAYSIA

Kathmandu, 26Jan. Tara Regmi, has fled the country to Malaysia,
Rajdhani reports.
Police are searching for the lady companion of DIG Ranjan Koirala.
who confessed killing his wife Gita
They have two sons and were living separately following differences.
Koirala is under custody.
nnnn

OPINION

PM BHATTARAI AND OUR STRATEGY FOR SURVIVAL

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is getting grief from across the spectrum for having suggested that Nepal risked being merged into either China or India if it failed to redefine its geo-strategic self-interest, Maila Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
Some have attributed pure diplomatic immaturity to the premier’s assertion. Others see a pronounced albeit misguided boldness in his attempt to contend with both powerful neighbors at the same time. Others still see a sense of insecurity transformed into a ploy to prolong his tenure in power.
Regardless of the motive(s), Maila Baje feels Dr. Bhattarai has made a positive and much-needed contribution to the national discourse. If such forthrightness had not come from the man on the top, it might not have left us scratching our heads with the intensity we are today.
Ever since Nepal – in the eminent historian Father Ludwig Stiller’s words – “passed definitely from the status of an insignificant state to that of a power in the Indian subcontinent”, stopping the juggernaut entailed utmost urgency for Qing China and British India. And this consisted of more than military means. As Nepal festered in domestic turmoil after its military defeats by China and British India, the two empires perpetuated their respective narratives in which Nepal was part of their historical inheritance. Manchu emperors, Sun Yat-sen and Mao Zedong all claimed Nepal as part of territories China lost to western imperialism.
To be sure, Nepal’s treaties with the People’s Republic of China have abrogated all past claims of Nepali vassalage to the Middle Kingdom and precluded the possibility of any resurrection of irredentist claims. But the historical and cultural legacies that feed the narrative are still very much alive among the Chinese, whose memory is legendary for its length in time.
Indians with a penchant for history have similarly been puzzled by the fact that Nepal managed to remain out of the formal British empire despite the East India Company’s decisive victory in the war. Indeed, if the Chinese shadow had not loomed so large on Governor-General Francis Rawdon-Hastings’ considerations before and after the Sugauli Treaty, the notion of a “limited war” would not have not existed. But for the Indians dominating the political security establishment in New Delhi, it is nonetheless intriguing that states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka – so distant from their version of Indianness – should be part of India but not Nepal.
As Nepalis continued to bicker, irrespective of the political system in place, this contested realm of overlapping orbits deepened among the Chinese and Indians. During times of peace, the fallout for us seems to have been calmer. During periods of tensions, greater convulsions have occurred. Sometimes, events have moved so fast that their impact on us has become quite inexplicable. The July 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship New Delhi signed with the Rana regime, for instance, was made utterly redundant merely by October that year, when Chinese communist troops moved into Tibet. A little over six months after Mohan Shamsher Rana thought his regime had attained some security vis-à-vis independent India, the Rana regime receded firmly in the dustbin of history. Not without the incongruity of the same Mohan Shamsher having become the first prime minister of democratic Nepal.
At other times, regional events have proceeded with greater placidity. With the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile in India in March 1959, Nepali democracy had virtually run its course – even before Nepal’s staggered first national elections had been completed.
For thirty years, the opacity and closed nature of the partyless system provided our two neighbors the kind of equilibrium they needed to calibrate their relationship. Whether Nepalis themselves would have volunteered to choose between full-fledged democracy and a sense of nationhood in the international community is debatable. That King Mahendra pushed us toward the latter course out of any consideration other than reinforcing his rule continues to be hotly debated. So is King Birendra’s Zone of Peace Proposal, which was prefaced by his 1973 interview with Newsweek that Nepal, consisting of three districts appertaining beyond the Himalayas, was not technically a subcontinental nation. King Gyanendra’s emphasis on developing Nepal into a transit hub between the two Asian giants continues to stir jeers of derision. Yet the Zone of Peace proposal has been gaining new interest, while the post-monarchy leadership has been touting the transit-hub model. If you really look for it, there is even a grudging admiration for King Mahendra’s notion of nationhood among his fiercest critics.
Put differently, Nepalis seem to like the way the country has survived in the international community with a distinct identity. Would the same have been achieved through the path of unshackled democracy and development? Probably. But the Cold War history of Asia, Africa and Latin America leaves us less sanguine. Other developing countries may have been liberated following the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War that really matters to us has never really receded.
Our unrelenting march towards national newness has been marred by a lack of clarity on things that really matter. Manifestations of this contested realm of overlapping orbits, Maila Baje, feels will become more apparent in the period ahead from both our neighbors. By illuminating our geo-strategic vulnerability in so stark terms, Dr. Bhattarai has permitted Nepalis of all ideological persuasions to ponder a new – to borrow a worn but still worthy phrase – strategy for survival. It is only with life, after all, that liberty and the pursuit of happiness can follow.
Nnnn

IN THEIR OWN WORDS AND DEEDS

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Being critical of others is easier than turning the cutting comments on one’s own peers. Rarely do political leaders decide to activate their critical faculties in public. If the critic continues to flock together with the long-time comrades-in-arm, the analysis-cum-conclusion becomes a confession, Trikal Vastavik writes in People’s Review.
The acute discrepancy in the principles proclaimed and the practices actually demonstrated in Nepal’s major political parties is the bane of democracy. Democratic principles have been dispensed with for all practical purposes and the practice of impunity in one of the most corrupt places on earth.
A senior member of the Maoist, Ram Bahadur Thapa calls for a “patriotic” government, which he says the Bhattarai team does not reflect. Why has the former minister come out so critically against his party chairman and government? Mohan Baidhya accuses his party boss Pushpa Kamal dahal of being incompetent and, therefore, irrelevant for party leadership.
The loud vows by political parties and their leaders of varied political strands to work for the “welfare of people”, “full-fledged democracy” and “rule of law” without discrimination that previously resounded the country now makes for a black joke.
What those in power presently are doing is nothing different from the script written by their predecessors? In fact, the existing crop excels the previous governments and regimes in utter failure to maintain rule of law, check corruption and give any kind of stability while the economy is the worst in the whole of South Asia.
If Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and his party chairman cannot convince their own party colleagues like Mohan Baidhya and Ram Bahadur Thapa about the quality of their endeavours, how can they expect Nepalis in particular and the rest of the world in general to take them, seriously for what they claim to stand for and deliver?
Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis need no convincing as they are already convinced that these “revolutionary” leaders care more for power and their pockets than the priorities they laid out for public consumption. People had suffered heavily from the “revolutionary” cadres for a decade of “people’s war” that claimed a16,000 lives and many more as injured and tortured, traumatized, intimidated, looted and deprived of livelihoods.
Many had to leave their home and hearth for food, shelter and work in these hard times of industrial sluggishness, steep unemployment and bad governance that fostered a culture of each- for- his-own-skin-and-survival. A few European governments and their front organizations, carrying religion as the main agenda, made merry then and are doing so with great éclat now, no matter what the Nepalis in general have undergone and continue to suffer precarious situations, the like of these “Good Samaritans” would never face in the own countries without an outright war.
What about the Nepali Congress? Party Chairman Sushil Koirala, who has never demonstrated any leadership quality, confirms that he does not have any to prove, which explains the rudderless manner in which the oldest existing party is drifting aimlessly. The ultra-conservative party’s record in office in the 1950s and since the 1990s does not have anything to inspire the people. Corruption incompetence marked much of its rule.
Ask Sher Bahadur Deuba about’s Koirala’s leadership? But then, one can also put the same question to Koirala himself about Deuba’s qualities. Deuba’s assessment of Koirala will match word for word Koirala’s assessment of the three-time former premier whose appetite for the chair is insatiable. And parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel is calculating all of NC decisions solely with his prime ministerial ambitions at the center-stage.
The Republic of Nepal, meanwhile, remains destitute of law and order. NC, served right, is now desperate but mute and keen to wriggle out of the morass of crisis it helped to create during and after 2006.
Many Maoist Party members, who used bamboo sticks to thrash their opponents, now lead a life of luxury through extortion and dubious trade. Having learnt of the practices that are supposed to have resulted in the “achievements” of the so-called people’s war, the cadres continue to “capture” land distributed to landless and refuse to vacate they forcibly occupied since up to 15 years.
Both NC and CPN (UML), who at one time termed the Maoists “terrorists” during the latter’s insurgency, have impotently compromised to the hilt. In November 2005, they embraced those who looted, tortured, maimed or killed their own cadres, teachers, journalists, civil society leaders and sympathizers. They brought aboard the vehicle of power and legitimacy the very ones who continue to act against the law of the land. They saluted and hailed two Maoist prime ministers even as the latter’s cadres continue to create havoc.
If the NC and the UML cannot protect their own party members and meekly accept or remain mute over atrocities against their party members and innocent voters not affiliated to any political group, does any sane mind expect of import from them?
The Tarai-based parties, which ironically like to call themselves “king-makers” in a republic, crave for cabinet berths and sources of money, have not come up with any concrete program for improving the living standards of the millions of Madheshi community, the anomalies existing in the community, the economic disparities, social ills, dalits, women, marginalized groups, superstitions, underemployment, need for reservations and preferences to the deprived groups, and such other issues that are also to be found aplenty in other communities as well.
Every few months, there is shortage of petroleum products and liquefied gas. Hoarders, black marketers and profiteers have a field day. Many of them are members of political parties. Those accused of serious crimes are defended vociferously by party leaders. If a court convicts an accused, leaders want the “rest of the sentence” to be commuted
Kidnappings, gang fighting, corruption, impunity, favoritism, nepotism and such other ills have afflicted the country so much that such wanton situation had never been witnessed since democracy was first ushered in 1951. Electricity interruptions are enforced routine, putting one part of the nation or the other under the blanket of darkness for nearly half of the time day in and day out.
After all, we live in the secular, republic of Nepal aspiring to have the kind of federal structure the like of which the rest of the world has not succeeded with, not even the countries funding such absurd and debilitating agenda.
nnnn

MADESH LEADER INJURED IN FIRING

2012-01-25T22:04:00.000-08:00

MADESH LEADER INJURED IN FIRING
Kathmandu,26 Jan.: An unidentified group opened fire at Siraha District Chairperson of Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic, Ram Charitra Saha last night [Wednesday], RSSreports from Lahan.

Saha, who received bullet injury on his body at around 1 PM, is being treated at Neuro Hospital in Biratnagar.

Saha is a local of Durgapur VDC-1 of Siraha.

The group made him target while he was asleep at the home of Udaya Narayan Mahato in Asanpur-6, said Area Police Office, Golbazaar.

Though police declined to disclose the reason behind the shootout, locals suspected that an unidentified person might have opened fire at Saha taking up his illicit relation with a woman of the same house.

Earlier too, locals had thrashed Saha at the home and warned him not to visit the house next time, said villagers.
nnnn

PM BHATTARAI ANNOUNCING ECONOMIC PACKAGE THURSDAY
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is
announcing a special economic package after cabinet approval
Thursday, Finance Minister Barshaman Singh Pun said.
The package was prepared by the finance ministry and aides of the premier during a two-day recess at Dhulikhel last week.
The package comes one day after Pun announced a rosy economic picture of the country under a Maoist government.
Nnnn
RAK AIRWAYS FLYING TO NEPOAL FROM UAE
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: RAK Airways is flying between UAE and Kathmandu from mid-February.
UAE’s national carrier is starting thrice weekly flights between
the Nepali capital and Ras Al Khaimah.
nnnn
RPP-N PICKETS TKANKOT NOC DEPOT
Kathmandu, Jan 26: Party workers of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) have picketed the Thankot depot of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Thursday morning so as to protest the shortage of petroleum products even amidst the hike of fuel
Prices, greatwayonline.com reports.
Following the demonstrations and protests, Nagdhunga- Kalanki road section has been obstructed, sources confirmed.
Only yesterday, thirteen student unions and eight youth associations had imposed a general strike against hike in petroleum prices.
The government had hiked the fuel prices effective from January 13 where the consumers have to pay Rs 175 in LP gas, Rs 10 per litre in petrol and Rs 9 per litre in diesel and kerosene.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“After intensifying interactions and meetings with the Baidya faction, he [Dahal] has started objecting to the government’s decisions instead of defending them.”
(Unidentified source close to PM Bhattarai, The Kathmandu Post, 26 Jan.)
“We are not getting complete support from the chairman in some issues, although he played a leading role in forming this government.”

(Devendra Poudel, PM’s Political Advisor in The Kathmandu Post, 26 Jan.)
nnnn

END INDIAN CONTROL DEMANDS FRONT

2012-01-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

END INDIAN CONTROL FRONT DEMANDS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: The Unified Nepal Nationalists’ Front has urged the Indian government to implement the UN Declaration to end the practice of controlling some of the geographical areas of Nepal, RSS reports.

The Declaration was endorsed by the United Nations Resolution 1514 in 1960 AD.

Referring to the UN Resolution and Declaration, the Front has also asked the Nepal government to demand the Indian government, for the Nepali territory.

'It is a blatant blow against freedom, sovereignty and human rights on the part of India to have colonized 57,736 sq. kms area across Mechi in the east and Mahakali in the west, which are yet to be returned to Nepal as per the Nepal-England Sugauli Treaty signed in March 4, 1816', stated in a press release issued by Front Chairperson Phadinda Nepal on Wednesday.
Nnnn
INDIAN WOMAN TRAVELING ON FORGED NEPALI PASSPOT ARRESTED
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Binita Chhetri, 16, of Kalimpong, India,
was arrested Monday by Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police
for going to the Gulf on a Nepali passport for work as a domestic help.
Kuwait deported her and was arrested on arrival at TIA.
Nnnn
MEDIA GOOGLE
"Politically indoctrinated Maoist fighter cannot hold the position of major
general on their tactics of threat and terror.”

(Retired Army Chief Gen. Rukmangud Katawal, The Himalayan Times, 26 Jan.)
nnnn
COOKING GAS SUPPLY DROPS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Cooking gas supply-demand mismatch seems to create shortage in the market, The Himalayan Times reports.

LP Gas Industry Association today claimed that Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has supplied them only one-third of the market demand in January.

“The state oil monopoly supplied 7,559 metric tonne of cooking gas by today, against the monthly market demand of 22,000 metric tonne,” general secretary Kush Prasad Malli said, adding that the short supply has forced general consumer to face scarcity.

“The association demands NOC to solve the problem immediately through diplomatic channel since Indian Oil Corporation — the sole supplier of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) — itself has reduced the supply,” according to the association. Ministry of Commerce and Supplies said that NOC has already discussed with its Indian counterpart to ensure the smooth supply of cooking gas.

A group led by board member of NOC and joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Rajiv Gautam is currently at IOC’s head office in Mumbai and they have discussed on the issue of smooth supply of cooking gas, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Deepak Subedi said, adding that the IOC has pledged to supply cooking gas from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, frequent disturbance in supply due to general strike and holidays has created problem to the NOC in maintaining smooth supply of petroleum products. It had supplied 406 kl petrol, 478 kl diesel and 134 kl kerosene in January 22. “NOC is supplying fuel according to demand,” he added.
nnnn
BIHAR WITHDRAWNG CASES AGAINST 11 MAOISTS
Kathmandu, 28 Jan,.:The state government of Bihar, India has decided to withdraw court cases against 11 Nepali Maoist leaders. Bihar Home Secretary Amir Subhani confirmed that the state government took a decision to this effect last week, Ram Kumar Kamat
writes in The Himalayan Times from New Delhi.

Maoist leaders Lokendra Bista, Kul Bahadur KC, Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, Kumar Dahal, Hit Bahadur Tamang, Shyam Kishor Prasad Yadav, Anil Sharma, Dilip Maharjan, Ranju Thapa, Suman Tamang and Min Prasad are facing charges in Patna District Court since 2004 for their alleged ‘involvement in anti-India activities’ and ‘conspiracy against the erstwhile regime in Nepal’. They were arrested in Patna. According to Subhani, the district magistrate of Patna will now have to write to state public prosecutor requesting him to initiate the final process of withdrawing the cases, following which the public prosecutor can seek court permission for the same. When asked how long it will take to withdraw the cases, Subhani said it would depend on the court but declined to comment on what grounds the Bihar government decided to withdraw the cases against them.

Patna’s Additional Public Prosecutor Mani Kant Jha, however, said over phone that once the district magistrate writes to public prosecutor, the court might take 15-60 days or even more to grant permission to withdraw the cases. The decision came weeks after Union Home Ministry wrote to Bihar government.

Advocate Mithilesh Kumar, who is representing the Maoist leaders, said a government prosecutor a few days ago had written to the district magistrate saying there were no problems whatsoever if the cases against 11 Nepali Maoist leaders were to be withdrawn. According to Kumar, the magistrate had then sought prosecutors’ opinion. The union government had written to Bihar government to this effect in the first week of October, days after Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai raised the issue before the Indian government during his India visit. Union Home Ministry requested the Bihar government to withdraw cases against the leaders by taking into consideration changed political scenario in Nepal and friendly relations between the two countries.

The court had reissued non-bailable warrants against the Maoist leaders in September after their whimsical claims that they had been convicted and had been slapped with jail terms and heavy fines by the Patna court.
nnnn
Ncell POSTS 122 PERCENT REVENUE GROWTH
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Ncell has posted a 122 percent growth in revenue in fiscal 2010-11 in line with its fast expanding subscriber base, Ramesh Shrestha writs in The Kathmandu Post..
The telecom operator’s income soared to Rs 17.53 billion, up from Rs 7.89 billion in fiscal 2009-10, according to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). Last year, it added 2.7 million new users to its network.
The phenominal growth in revenue has been attributed to its aggressive marketing, re-branding exercise, launch of new services and infrastructure expansion.
Ncell is Nepal’s largest mobile service provider in terms of subscriber base and second largest in terms of revenue after Nepal Telecom (NT). With NT’s revenue growth slowing down, Ncell is likely to overtake the state-owned telecom giant as the largest revenue earner within a couple of years. This month, Ncell’s subscriber base surpassed the 7-million mark.
Ncell accounted for 38.64 percent of the total revenue in the telecom sector—up from 22.95 percent in 2009-10. Meanwhile, NT’s share in total telecom revenue declined to 58.20 percent from 72.88 percent for the corresponding period. NT earned Rs 26.40 billion in 2010-11 compared to Rs 25.05 billion in the previous year and added 1.27 million new subscribers.
Seeing its market share shrinking under Ncell’s onslaught, the state-owned company has speeded up work to add 10 million GSM lines. It GSM mega project received the go-ahead from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently. In mid-December 2011, the anti-graft body had directed the company to put on hold the tender process on suspicion of irregularities.
According to the NTA, the total income of the telecom sector grew 31.98 percent after a tremendous growth in the number of mobile users in the last fiscal year. Nepal’s telecom revenue surged to Rs 45.36 billion from Rs 34.37 billion in fiscal 2009-10.
Six telecom operators had added 4.23 million new subscribers during the last fiscal year. United Telecom Limited (UTL), the country’s third largest telecom operator, saw its revenue fall to Rs 1.16 billion from Rs 1.22 billion of 2009-10 despite a double-digit growth in its subscriber base. STM Telecom’s earnings also declined to Rs 122.6 million from Rs 164.9 million, while Nepal Satellite Telecom earned Rs 75 million in 2010-11, up from last year’s Rs 32.52 million.
Posting an excellent growth, Smart Telecom’s earnings increased to Rs 59.09 million in 2010-11. The figure was at Rs 0.56 million in 2009-10, the first year of its service operation.
The six operators paid a total of Rs 1.81 billion, equivalent to 4 percent of their total income, in royalties to the government in the last fiscal year, according to the NTA. Likewise, the operators have contributed Rs 907.30 million to the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund as required by the telecom law.
Income of telecom operators in the last three fiscal years
Operators 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09
Nepal Telecom Rs 26.40 b Rs 25.05 b Rs 20.48 b
Ncell Rs 17.53 b Rs 7.89 b Rs 5.66 b
UTL Rs 1.16 b Rs 1.22 b Rs 765.14 m
STM Telecom Rs 122.6 m Rs 164.9 m Rs 295.71 m
Nepal Satellite Rs 75 m Rs 32.52 m —
Smart Telecom Rs 59.09 m Rs 0.56 m —
nnnn
SRC CHIEF BEING WOOED BY MEMBERS
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Members of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) are trying to woo the commission’s Chairman Madan Pariyar, whose vote will be crucial in deciding the issue of political priority rights. In order to win his favour, commissioners on both the sides—those advocating for an 11-state model and those in favour of a six-state model—have pitched for a separate Dalit state, which Pariyar has strongly demanded. However, Pariyar holds no ‘strong opinion’ on the issue of priority rights.
This attempt seems to be part of the commissioners’ move to get their views on priority rights passed. Nominees of the UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhesi Morcha are for the rights, while those from the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML oppose them. A note of dissent presented by three members—Ramesh Dhungel, Sabitri Gurung and Sarbaraj Khadka—on the number of provinces has led to a map being prepared wherein a possible state for Dalits has been conceived. Besides six definite states, the proposed map includes a provision for the seventh one—a Dalit state. Based on cluster areas where Dalit population is high, or in a majority at the VDC level, three possible states have been identified—one in the Eastern Tarai (near Saptari and Siraha), another in the Western hills (near Parbat) and the other in Far West hills.
Meanwhile, an 11-state model, including a separate Dalit state was adopted through a majority in the commission. However, those advocating for the model—members proposed by the Maoists, Morcha and one from the UML—have not been able to finalise the map due to differences over delineation of borders of the states. Even their proposal has envisioned a Dalit state.
These 11 states are to take shape based predominantly on ethnic lines. The five members have failed to reach consensus despite extensive discussions. The members of the group, which registered a note of dissent advocating a 6/7 state-model, have drawn out a map where four states will have access to both northern and southern borders. Two states in the Tarai will have access to only a stretch of the southern border. The latter two states are said to have been agreed on by the three members in light of the residents of the Tarai region’s rigid demands for states only along the southern border.
nnnn

THREE PARTYMEET INCONCLUSIVE

2012-01-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

THREE PARTY MEET INCONCLUSIVE UPDATE

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: A brief meeting between the Big Three was inconclusive
Thursday morning.
Opposition parties have decided to obstruct legislative session
later in the day.
Maoist office bearers leading the government with Madeshbadi
parties urged government to ahead with a cabinet decision to implement decisions of parallel Maoist
governments to seize assets.
Nnnn

MORE DETAILS OF PRICE HIKE UPDATE

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: A Maoist meeting of office bearers Thursday asked government to reconsider a decision to hike prices of POL products.
A front of Madeshbadis parties in government also asked
Maoists Wednesday in consultative meeting to reconsider the price hike as anti-government protests swell.
Nnnn

EC TO PROBE PARTY FINANCES
Kathmandu, 26 Jan : The Election Commission (EC) is soon to begin investigations into the financial reports submitted by the political parties to see whether or not they have made full disclosures of their finances and have followed standard accounting and auditing practices as required by law, Gani Ansari writes in Republica.
A source at the EC told Republica on Wednesday that a committee headed by Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung has started studying the financial details furnished by political parties registered with the EC.

"The committee will consult experts and certified auditors while studying the financial details received from the parties," the source said, adding, "If the study finds the political parties not meeting standard accounting practices, the Election Commission will report the shortcomings to the parties concerned."

Officials who have seen the financial details submitted by the parties say that most of the parties seem to have prepared their financial statements just as a formality to escape possible action by the EC. For instance, 19 parties, including Nepali Congress, have submitted only partial financial details, thereby raising legitimate questions about how genuine the reports are.

Despite the existence of legal provisions that empower the EC to revoke the registration of any party that fails to submit its audited financial reports for three consequtive years, only 30 political parties submitted their financial details to the EC by the second week of January, and that too only after they got a reprimand from the EC. Similarly, 31 parties did not respond at all. There are altogether 77 parties that are supposed to abide by this legal provision and submit their reports to the EC every fiscal year.

Political leaders, who need to manage their parties´ finances, concede shortcomings in maintaining proper accounts.

Amik Sherchan, the Maoist party´s finance department chief, said the party central committee does not maintain details of financial activities at the district level as the district committees manage their incomes and expenditures independently.

“We are ready to clarify to the Election Commission about our party´s income and expenditures if the constitutional body wants to verify the financial reports we submitted,” Sherchan told Republica.

His party generated a total of Rs 83 million during fiscal year 2007/08 while it spent Rs 75 million during the same period.

Similarly, the country´s largest party earned a total of Rs 99 million during fiscal year 2008/09 from various sources and spent Rs 92 million the same fiscal year. In addition, the party generated Rs 114 million during fiscal 2009/10 and spent Rs 116 million the same year while its total income last fiscal year was Rs 132 million and expenditure Rs 128 million.

A pertinent question is, weather this level of income is enough to pay for over 80,000 whole-time cadres and mobilize another 200,000 organized members.

“Our party is not like the other, capitalist political parties; our cadres participate in programs organized by the party but while doing so they meet their own expenses,” stated Sherchan, defending the financial details the party submitted to the EC.

Similarly, the accuracy of financial details submitted by the CPN-UML is also questionable. The report shows that the party generated Rs 75 million in fiscal year 2007/08 alone, the highest in the last four years, and it spent 58 million the same fiscal year. CPN-UML generated a total of Rs 67 million during fiscal year 2008/09 from various sources and spent Rs 52 million that year.

Similarly, the party generated Rs 45 million during fiscal 2009-10 and spent Rs 27 million during the same period. Likewise, CPN-UML generated Rs 43 million in 2010-11 and spent Rs 26 million that fiscal year.

Member of the CPN-UML´s central audit commission Bishnu Bahadur Raut said that the income and expenditures of his party are very low because "communist parties are run with the help of cadres and well-wishers".

“While attending the party´s programs, our cadres bring their own rice, pulses and other food items and these expenses are not incorporated in our financial activities. That´s why it may seem our overall expenditure is very low,” said Raut. He also said his party was ready to clarify to the EC if there are any questions over its finances.

“We are ready to cooperate with the EC in this process as it will help the political parties make their financial activities more transparent,” Raut said.

The report of another political party, NC, is not only questionable but also incomplete as it has not submitted its income and expenditure statement for fiscal year 2010/11. It has sought two more months to finalize its statement. The NC collected Rs 16 million in fiscal year 2007/08 and spent Rs 17 million. It generated Rs 3.08 million in 2008/09 and spent Rs 4.01 million. Details provided by the NC show that the party ran a loss in two consecutive fiscal years -- 2007/08, 2008/09. NC generated a total of Rs 49 million in 2009/10 while it spent Rs 9.8 million.

Chief Secretary of NC Basanta Gautam said that the income and expenditures in the report submitted to the EC seem very low because the party has excluded financial activities at district level.

“Our party does not pay for any central leaders like the communit parties do; we just provide salaries to staff working at the central office,” said Gautam.

Gautam also pledged that they were ready to respond to the EC if the constitutional body has any queries regarding the financial reports submitted by NC.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

EC TO PROBE PARTY FINANCES
Kathmandu, 26 Jan : The Election Commission (EC) is soon to begin investigations into the financial reports submitted by the political parties to see whether or not they have made full disclosures of their finances and have followed standard accounting and auditing practices as required by law, Gani Ansari writes in Republica.
A source at the EC told Republica on Wednesday that a committee headed by Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung has started studying the financial details furnished by political parties registered with the EC.

"The committee will consult experts and certified auditors while studying the financial details received from the parties," the source said, adding, "If the study finds the political parties not meeting standard accounting practices, the Election Commission will report the shortcomings to the parties concerned."

Officials who have seen the financial details submitted by the parties say that most of the parties seem to have prepared their financial statements just as a formality to escape possible action by the EC. For instance, 19 parties, including Nepali Congress, have submitted only partial financial details, thereby raising legitimate questions about how genuine the reports are.

Despite the existence of legal provisions that empower the EC to revoke the registration of any party that fails to submit its audited financial reports for three consequtive years, only 30 political parties submitted their financial details to the EC by the second week of January, and that too only after they got a reprimand from the EC. Similarly, 31 parties did not respond at all. There are altogether 77 parties that are supposed to abide by this legal provision and submit their reports to the EC every fiscal year.

Political leaders, who need to manage their parties´ finances, concede shortcomings in maintaining proper accounts.

Amik Sherchan, the Maoist party´s finance department chief, said the party central committee does not maintain details of financial activities at the district level as the district committees manage their incomes and expenditures independently.

“We are ready to clarify to the Election Commission about our party´s income and expenditures if the constitutional body wants to verify the financial reports we submitted,” Sherchan told Republica.

His party generated a total of Rs 83 million during fiscal year 2007/08 while it spent Rs 75 million during the same period.

Similarly, the country´s largest party earned a total of Rs 99 million during fiscal year 2008/09 from various sources and spent Rs 92 million the same fiscal year. In addition, the party generated Rs 114 million during fiscal 2009/10 and spent Rs 116 million the same year while its total income last fiscal year was Rs 132 million and expenditure Rs 128 million.

A pertinent question is, weather this level of income is enough to pay for over 80,000 whole-time cadres and mobilize another 200,000 organized members.

“Our party is not like the other, capitalist political parties; our cadres participate in programs organized by the party but while doing so they meet their own expenses,” stated Sherchan, defending the financial details the party submitted to the EC.

Similarly, the accuracy of financial details submitted by the CPN-UML is also questionable. The report shows that the party generated Rs 75 million in fiscal year 2007/08 alone, the highest in the last four years, and it spent 58 million the same fiscal year. CPN-UML generated a total of Rs 67 million during fiscal year 2008/09 from various sources and spent Rs 52 million that year.

Similarly, the party generated Rs 45 million during fiscal 2009-10 and spent Rs 27 million during the same period. Likewise, CPN-UML generated Rs 43 million in 2010-11 and spent Rs 26 million that fiscal year.

Member of the CPN-UML´s central audit commission Bishnu Bahadur Raut said that the income and expenditures of his party are very low because "communist parties are run with the help of cadres and well-wishers".

“While attending the party´s programs, our cadres bring their own rice, pulses and other food items and these expenses are not incorporated in our financial activities. That´s why it may seem our overall expenditure is very low,” said Raut. He also said his party was ready to clarify to the EC if there are any questions over its finances.

“We are ready to cooperate with the EC in this process as it will help the political parties make their financial activities more transparent,” Raut said.

The report of another political party, NC, is not only questionable but also incomplete as it has not submitted its income and expenditure statement for fiscal year 2010/11. It has sought two more months to finalize its statement. The NC collected Rs 16 million in fiscal year 2007/08 and spent Rs 17 million. It generated Rs 3.08 million in 2008/09 and spent Rs 4.01 million. Details provided by the NC show that the party ran a loss in two consecutive fiscal years -- 2007/08, 2008/09. NC generated a total of Rs 49 million in 2009/10 while it spent Rs 9.8 million.

Chief Secretary of NC Basanta Gautam said that the income and expenditures in the report submitted to the EC seem very low because the party has excluded financial activities at district level.

“Our party does not pay for any central leaders like the communit parties do; we just provide salaries to staff working at the central office,” said Gautam.

Gautam also pledged that they were ready to respond to the EC if the constitutional body has any queries regarding the financial reports submitted by NC.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

WANTED NEPALI WOMAN DEPORTED FROM THAILAND
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.: Bangkok police on Tuesday nabbed Binita Pradhan, who was once the owner of AVCO International Pvt Ltd and Director of Cosmic Airlines, from Bangkok and subsequently handed her over to Nepal Police, Shreejana Shrestha writes in
Republica.

A team of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in coordination with Department of Immigration took her into custody from Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

“The Interpol Bangkok nabbed Binita Pradhan after Indian government gave a tip-off that she was hiding in Bangkok and subsequently deported her to Nepal,” said DIG Upendra Kanta Aryal, the chief of Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police.

The Indian government had issued a red corner notice against her and four others--the promoter of AVCO Sanjay Pradhan, Anup Pradhan, Madhav Shrestha and Dhiren Tamang--for duping Indians on January 5, 2012. She was deported by Bangkok police via Thai Airlines flight number TG319, at around 12:30 pm on Wednesday.

A CIB source told Republica that 40-year-old Pradhan and her partners have a loan of IRS 121.8 million at State Bank of India. Similarly, the Indian government has alleged Pradhan for not using the cash credit limit meant for a vehicle transaction in 2007-2009.

“She diverted the facilities of cash credit limit to other than the specified purpose,” the source added. She has been accused of taking around Rs 80.5 million from a number of people and not delivering them the cars.

There were reports that the company duped at least 167 people who either paid full or partial payments to get new cars. The owners of AVCO International Pvt. Ltd, including Pradhan, were absconding since then.

The AVCO International Pvt. Ltd was one of the two authorized dealers of the Korean carmaker Hyundai in Nepal.

Pradhan had issued a Letter of Credit (LC) from Machchhapuchhre Bank and imported Hyundai vehicles but didn´t pay back the credit of 167 vehicles to the bank. The bank put her name in the blacklist after that. She, however, had already collected a large chunk of cash from people assuring them that she would provide them new cars.

People who made full or partial payment had placed orders for vehicles like Santro GLS, i10 Magna/Asta/Sports, Santro GL, i20 Magna/Asta and i10 Era. It has been revealed that 66 cars, of the total 167, were ordered through AVCO Cosmic Automobiles in Nagpokhari, while the rest of the vehicles were ordered through AVCO Tinkune.

A team of high-level officials from Hyundai Korea came to Nepal last year following the news reports about the delay in the transfer of ownership of the vehicles to the people who had placed the orders. Hyundai Korea then removed AVCO International as its authorized dealer in Nepal.

According to DIG Aryal, there are more than 61 fraud cases registered against Pradhan at Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka. Pradhan, who is currently in police custody at Hanumandhoka, will be taken to Kathmandu District Court where the police will seek Pradhan´s judicial custody for investigation.

Though there are cases filed against her in India on fraud charges, it is unlikely that she would be sent to India as there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

“As per the legal law, we don´t need to send Pradhan to India even though there are fraud charges pending against her in that country. This is the issue to be resolved through diplomatic channel,”
said a CIB source.
nnnn

________________________________________

STUDENTS CONTINU PROTESTS AGAINST PRICE RISE

2012-01-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

STUDENTS TO CONTINUE PROTESTS AGAINST HIKE IN PRICES

Kathmandu, 26 Jan.; Thirteen student unions Thursday disrupted movement of government vehicles in front of campuses in the three districts of
the Valley opposing last week’s massive hike in prices of POL
products.
Student representatives are meeting Thursday to discuss Singha
Durbar-centered protests to continue their anti-government nation-wide agitation.
n
MAOISTS, FRONT TO BOLSTER ALLIANCE
Kathmandu, 26 Jan.:, The ruling coalition partners, UCPN-Maoist and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), Wednesday agreed to bolster their alliance at a time when the opposition parties had been obstructing the parliamentary proceedings, protesting some cabinet decisions, mainly the legalization of land deals made by ‘people’s revolutionary council’ during the decade-long armed conflict, The Rising Nepal reports
The ruling parties decided to hold discussions on Thursday morning with the opposition parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on House obstruction, according to Information and Communication Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta. The leaders would review price hike of petroleum products, he said, adding, that the Thursday’s cabinet meeting would decide on the matter while also calling a meeting of the Army Integration Special Committee to push the peace process ahead.
They made these agreements at a meeting held at the official residence of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai at Baluwatar.
"The meeting was held between the Maoist chairman and chiefs of the parties of the UDMF in the presence of the Prime Minister. It dwelt seriously on the issues related to the House obstruction, price hike of PoL products and accelerating the peace process," Minister for Information and Communications Gupta, who is also the chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Republic), informed the reporters after the meeting in the evening.
He said that the ruling parties agreed to do homework on reviewing the price hike of the petro-products in the light of financial status of the country and take appropriate decisions by a Cabinet meeting to be held on Thursday.
"In the context of House obstruction, we agreed to strike harmony with the parties representing in the Parliament and for this we will hold talks with parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML tomorrow in order to find a solution," Minister Gupta said.

He said that the ruling parties agreed to do homework for calling the AISC meeting Thursday and take decisions related to accelerating of the peace process.
"We concluded that both the sides (the Maoist and the UDMF) should get still more together and unified so as to held discussions with the other sides (opposition parties) and find solutions to problems," Minister Gupta said.
Nnnn

GOVT. PROJECTS 5% ECONOIC GROWTH
Kathmandu, 26 Jan. : The government has estimated that the country’s economy will post a growth of five per cent for the current fiscal year, Laxman Kafle writes in The Rising Nepal..
The government has projected five per cent economic growth in the productive price and 4.5 per cent in the basic price on the basis of the mid-term review of the annual budget of the current fiscal year, said Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun, while addressing a press conference organized by the Ministry to inform about the mid-term review of budget of the current fiscal year.
Similarly, the inflation is estimated at 7 to 8 per cent over the current fiscal year.
"The average inflation has come down to 8.2 per cent during the first five months of the current fiscal year from 9 per cent of the corresponding period of last year," Minister Pun said.
The deposit mobilisation of the banks and financial institutions has increased by 9 per cent during the review period.
The liquidity of the banks and financial institutions has increased by 18 per cent to Rs. 296.72 billion by the end of Mangsir as compared to the end of Asar.
Similarly, export of the country has increased by 11.5 per cent to Rs.30.6 billion while the import has increased by 15.5 per cent to Rs. 177.79 billion during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
The trade deficit has increased by 16.3 per cent to Rs. 147.73 billion and the balance of payment stood at surplus of about Rs. 61.19 billion.
The foreign reserve stood at Rs. 368.63 billion surplus during the five months of the current fiscal year.
"The foreign currency reserve will cover good import for 10.6 months and good and service import for 9.3 months," the Finance Minister said.
Similarly, the expenditure during the review period stood at Rs. 111.13 billion.
The government has spent around Rs. 89.63 billion under the current expenditure, Rs. 9.56 billion under the capital expenditure and Rs.11.92 billion under financial management.
Similarly, export of the country has increased by 11.5 per cent to Rs.30.6 billion while the import has increased by 15.5 per cent to Rs. 177.79 billion during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
The trade deficit has increased by 16.3 per cent to Rs. 147.73 billion and the balance of payment stood at surplus of about Rs. 61.19 billion.
The foreign reserve stood at Rs. 368.63 billion surplus during the five months of the current fiscal year.
"The foreign currency reserve will cover good import for 10.6 months and good and service import for 9.3 months," the Finance Minister said.
Similarly, the expenditure during the review period stood at Rs. 111.13 billion.
The government has spent around Rs. 89.63 billion under the current expenditure, Rs. 9.56 billion under the capital expenditure and Rs.11.92 billion under financial management.
According to Minister Pun, these figures in the above order account for 33.62 per cent, 13.17 per cent and 26.11 per cent of the allocated budget.
The capital expenditure significantly improved and increased by 13.17 per cent during the first six months of the current fiscal year as compared to the expenditure of the past three years.
The capital expenditure increased by 8.23 per cent, 9.16 per cent and 6.22 per cent during the fiscal year 2065/66, 2066/67 and 2067/67 respectively.
The government has projected that the capital expenditure and current expenditure would be over 90 per cent over the year.
The government has succeeded to collect around Rs. 111.3 billion revenue during the first six months of the current fiscal year against the targeted revenue of Rs.241.77 billion of the current fiscal year.
The revenue collection of the government stood at 98.32 per cent of the total target and increased by 21.57 per cent during the review period of the current fiscal year as compared to same period last year.
During the review period, the government has received around Rs.7 billion domestic loan against the target of Rs. 37.41 billion of the whole fiscal year.
According to Minister Pun, during the period the government received foreign assistance commitment of Rs. 44.25 billion.

He said that macroeconomic indicators were positive in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
He further said that the government has committed to increase the capital expenditure in the coming days to achieve the economic growth and targets of the budget.
Pun said that the current expenditure has slightly decreased during the review period due to the implementation of the economic directives of the government.
He assured that the economic growth of the country would increase in the coming months as almost all economic indicators were moving towards the positive direction.
Pun said that the government has focused on attracting the foreign and domestic investment along with concluding the peace process of the country.
He said, "We need around Rs.600 billion investment to achieve the double digit economic growth."
He also said that the government was planning to introduce economic packages for increasing the capital expenditure.
Highlighting the increment observed in the agricultural production, he said that the increase in agricultural production significantly contributed to achieving the economic growth targeted by the budget.
Krishna Hari Baskota, secretary at the Ministry of Finance, stressed the need of mega projects to increase the capital expenditure.
He pointed out the need of bringing the budget in time and use of effective technologies to achieve the target of the budget.
Dr.Yubaraj Khatiwada, governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), said that the price hike of the non-food items has led to a rise to the inflation.
He said, "The inflation will be less than 7 per cent if the price of non-food items in the country."
nnnn

MAOISTS FIRM AGAINST GOVT.

2012-01-25T19:44:00.001-08:00

THREE-PARTY SUMMIT BEGINS; MAOISTS TO STICK WITH GOVT. DECISION

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 Jan. A summit of the Big Three began Thursday as
office bearers of UCPN (Maoist) minutes earlier rejected opposition demands not to implement an unannounced decision of the cabinet to implement decisions of parallel Maoist governments during the insurgency to seize assets of people.
The decision of the party leading the government came 12 hours after a front Madeshbadi parties in government asked Maoists to come to an understanding with two biggest opposition parties NC and UML on the controversial issue.
The supreme court has also asked government agencies to put on hold implementation of the decision opposed by Madeshbadi coalition partners.
The Maoist decision will polarize politics as the major political
parties will mss a second deadline to resolve differences on themes to be included in a proposed constitution by 29 Jan.
The first 29 December deadline was also missed.
NC and UML with the support of 15other parties has rules out talks with government and a Maoists until the government decision is corrected.
The Maoist decision will certainly impact a scheduled meeting of
parliament scheduled later in the afternoon.
Three legislative sessions have been obstructed by the opposition.
nnnn

families refuse to pick up bodies for cremation in dang

2012-01-25T07:21:00.001-08:00

LOVED ONES REFUSE TO LIFT DEAD BODIES FOR CREMATION
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.:. Families of seven Tharus killed overnight in tractor accident inang refused to lift bodies of the dead for cremation,
Women were among the dead.
Loved ones are demanding compensation of Rs500,000 for family each
person killed from the tractor owner.
nnnn
NC LEADER MAHAT SAYS GOVT. PROMPTING CORRUPTION
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.:Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former finance minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat charged the government for promoting corruption and misconduct in the country on Wednesday.
, RSS reports from Butwal
Speaking at a press meet organised by the Nepal Press Union, Rupandehi in Butwal today, former minister Mahat also accused the ruling party, of causing obstructions in the peace and constitution drafting processes.

"The Maoist-led government should be toppled since it has betrayed the nation and the people", he said, claiming that the nation would not get a new constitution until and unless the Maoists became honest to the constitution drafting process.

The incumbent government formed with the vested interests of the Maoists and the Madhesi Front has made some
Nnnn

VIEWS OF PARTY LEADERS ON NEPAL-INDIA TIES
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Participants of an interaction here on Wednesday said that relations between Nepal and India was multidimensional and stressed on the need for developing it in a balanced way based on the proximity between the two neighbours, RSS reports.

Speaking at the interaction organised by Reporters Club of Nepal, they said the relations should be redefined as per the need of the hours.

At times it is still felt that India looks upon Nepal with the British colonialist attitude though two major political parties— the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal had come in to existence from India and the southern neighbor has played an important role for the establishment of democracy and provided crucial support during the various democratic movements, they said.

On the occasion, politburo member of the Unified CPN-Maoist Ram Karki said we should take the support of the two economically prosperous neighbors to conclude the task of peace and constitution writing process.

We first should identify our national interest and decide the kind of relations we should maintain with our neighbours, he added.

Similarly, central member of the Nepali Congress, Dr Narayan Khadka described the relations between Nepal and India as extensive and multi-dimensional.

A common perspective of Nepal and Nepalis on a foreign policy that would best suit to Nepal was yet to be decided, he said, adding that our foreign policy is guided on party-based policy.

CPN-UML leader Pradip Gyawali said there were both positive and negative aspects in the relations between Nepal and India. The relations are traditional, and like that between a big brother and small brother, he added.

Moreover, Mr Gyawali said the past relations based especially on culture needs to be changed and balance it with the neighbours as per the changed context.
nnnn

ONE KILLED IN POKHARA BOMB BLAST

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

ONE KILLEDIN POKHARA BOMB BLAST

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Raju Sunar, 25, was killed in a plastic bomb
explosion at godown of Crystal Light in the resort tow in the West,
A second bomb was defused by a. bomb disposal nit of security
agencies.
It wasn’t known who planted the bomb.
Proprietor Narayan Man Shrestha, has been arrested.
Nnnn

NO IMPROVEMENT IN PURBANCHAL UNIVERSITY PROTESTS EDUCATION MINIISTER

Kathmandu, 25 Jan : Minister for Education Dinanath Sharma on Wednesday said that no improvement would be seen in the Purbanchal University, until the people with bad intentions were removed from the University, RSS reports fro Itahari.

Minister Sharma, who arrived in Biratnagar to acquire information about the current situation of the University, said it was sad that the University, which is in the fourth place among the universities of the country, was in a mess.

Listening to the complaints of the locals over deteriorating condition of the University, he claimed that the place, where the University is situated, would be an important property of any federal state after the promulgation of the constitution by completing peace process at the earliest.

Minister Sharma stated that entire educational sector was in the doldrums due to the entry of unhealthy politics in educational and academic institutions and stressed on the efforts of locals to free the University from this situation.

He urged all to join hands to move ahead the University swiftly as the government has invested billions of rupees on it.

On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor at the University Prof. Maheshwor Man Shrestha demanded with the minister Rs. 250 million to run the MBBS classes started by the University.

Similarly, Chairman of the University Cooperation Committee, Lok Prasad Sangroula complained that the University is in a mess due to the lack of concern by the government as well as bad intention of some officials.

Chief of the University Hospital Dr. RK Singh familiarized the minister about the activities of the University.
nnnn

________________________________________

FURTHER DETAILS OF VALLEY CLOSURE

2012-01-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

FURTHER DETAILS OF VALLEY CLOSURE BY STUDENTS

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.; Students, including Maoists whose party is
leading a coalition with a Madeshi front, issued an ultimatum to government reduce massive hiked POL prices by 11 in the morning Thursday.
A scheduled meeting of student representatives couldn’t be held Wednesday to decide on second phase protests.
The strike Wednesday affected districts nationwide.
Several vehicles, including an Indian registered bus was
vandalized in neighbouring Patan.
A vehicle was damaged in an arson attack in Sindhuli and 12studens were injured in clashes in Janakpur during Danusha district closure.
Nnnn

40 DETONATORS RECOVERED N KHOTANG

Kathmandu, 25 Jan. Forty detonators were recovered by police while a field was being prepared for planting crops Wednesday at a village
in Khotang in the East.
Police suspect Kirat Janatantrik Workers’ Party for hiding the cache in the field.
Nnnn

MEETINGS AFFECTED BY VALLEY STRIKE UPDATE

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: A scheduled meeting of the main constitutional committee chaired by Nilambar Acharya also couldn’t be held Wednesday and will meet instead Friday.
A summit of the Big Three was also postponed until Thursday
morning.
nnnn

101-year-old twiws hope to live for another 5 years

2012-01-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

100-YEAR-OLD TWINS

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Ganesh Bahadur Karki and Jagkishore Karki, 101-year-old twins from Madhumara near Biratnagar expect to live another five years,
Khilnath Dhakal reports in Nagarik from Biratnagar.
Ganesh is hale and hearty while Jagkishore has been unwell for
sometime.
Nnnn

SARBENDRA PACHHAI LEADS BCN

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Sarbendra Pachhai has been elected board chief
of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) by the body’s 29thannualgeneralmeeting.’
A 11-member board was elected.
nnnn

SEARCH ON FOR ‘MISTRESS’ DIG WHO KILLED HIS WIFE
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Police are desperately searching for Tara Regmi, who was allegedly in a live-in relationship with Armed Police Force DIG Ranjan Koirala, who is accused of killing his wife Gita Dhakal on January 11, Shreejana Shrestha writes in Republica.
“We are frantically searching for Regmi who is said to be close to DIG Koirala so that we may get further details on the murder,” said a source at Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka.
Regmi, who owns a manpower company, is absconding since the arrest of Koirala, according to police sources.
Similarly, police on Monday interrogated at least five people suspecting their involvement in the murder of Dhakal in a bid to dig out details on how the murder took place.
Police interrogated two drivers, two body guards and a cook - all of whom were working with Koirala -- and released them on the condition that they would appear before the police as and when needed.
Though the police personnel have intensified their investigation in this case, they are yet to record Koirala’s formal statement even on the third day of judicial custody. Those involved in the investigation are facing difficulty to formally record his statement as he is still mentally unsettled.
“He seems lost and keeps staring out,”told a police officer from MPR, Hanumandhoka in condition of anonymity, adding, “Koirala needs some additional time for psychiatric help.”
None of Koirala’s relatives have visited him after he was detained by a joint squad of Metropolitan Police Crime Division and Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka on Sunday from Nagdhunga, Thankot.

________________________________________
a

MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW WITH NEW SCHEDULE FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

2012-01-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

MID-YEAR REVIEW OF BUDGET
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: A mid-term review of the annual budget for
fiscal 2011/12 is being presented Wednesday after its preparation by
the finance ministry
A special plan is being announced for capital expenditure after
only 14 percent of the earmarked development budget was released by government in six months.causing concern.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the released money may not
have been spent even though the annual budget was presented on time lthis year after nearly three years because of bickering between parties.
Nnnn
WOMAN HELD WITH BULLETS AT AIRPORT
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Nitina Bhul, 23, of Kanchanpur out was detained ths week at TAI before boarding a flight for Dubai.
Five bullets concealed in her suitcase were recovered.
nnnn
IDEOLOGICAL DEBATE WON’T SPLIT PARTY SAYS GENERAL SECRETARY THAPA
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: General Secretary of the UCPN-Maoist Ram Bahadur Thapa has said that the party would not break up just because of ideological debate, RSS reports .

Addressing a training program for the party cadres here today, he said, "In fact ideological debate is the basis of party unity".

Stating that the UCPN-Maoist would move ahead with honesty in order to fulfill the national task of peace and constitution, Thapa said, "however, any obstruction created by the Nepali Congress and the UML in this regard would be dealt with."

He also accused the Nepali Congress of playing a spoilsport by trying to create problem in the already agreed issue of form of governance.

The UCPN-Maoist general secretary emphasized that restoration of peace was not possible until and unless the oppressed and exploited workers, farmers, women and the minority ethnic groups are not empowered.

Some one thousand party cadres from Kathmandu attended the training imparted by politburo members Hitman Shakya, Nawaraj Subedi and central members Narayan Dahal, Jhakku Subedi, Ghanashyam Sharma and others.
nnnn
PRIVATE SCHOOLS CLOSED DOWN IN CHITWAN
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Teachers associated to Private and Boarding Schools Organization (PABSON) have announced shutdown of all private schools operating in Chitwan from today [Wednesday], RSS reports from Chitwan.

The private school teachers, who have been demanding salary hike to the level that the government increased for public school teachers in the past, called for the shutdown citing their demands remained unaddressed, informed Chairperson of Teachers' Union of Institutional Schools, Keshav Pathak.

Though it was agreed to provide salary a month ago, the demand has not been addressed yet, he added.

A meeting that took place in the presence of District Education Officer on Tuesday also ended inconclusively.
Nnnn

INTERVIEW

TOURISM SECTOR NEEDS WELL-TRAINED MANPOWER SAYS
PRAYAG RAJ SAPKOTA
Pragya Raj Sapkota is the general manager of E-Tour Channel.com, a new but recognised travel company handling luxurious clients. Sapkota has joined the tourism sector since 1999 undergoing a tourist guide training from the then Hotel Management and Tourism Training Centre (HMTTC). Prior to joining E-Tour Channel, Sapkota worked with various travel companies such as Nebuti Travels and Sita World Travels.
Born in 1972 in Chitwan, Sapkota is among few well-trained hands in the Nepalese tourism sector. He completed his Masters of Tourism Studies (MTS) from Kathmandu Academy of Tourism & Hospitality (KATH) College in 2006.
The promising and active tour operator talked to Ballav Dahal of
The Rising Nepal on different issues concerning the country’s tourism sector:Excerpts:
How do you see the present situation of the country’s tourism industry?
The tourism business has been moving towards a positive direction. It is encouraging to note that tourist arrivals to the country soared by about 22 per cent in 2011 as compared to the previous year. I think, the ongoing peace process in the country deserves the credit for such a remarkable growth. The efforts made by individual companies towards tourism marketing and promotion have also contributed immensely to the revival of the tourism sector.
Apart from this, the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) was helpful for boosting this sector. Although the national tourism campaign could not meet its target of bringing in one million tourists, it played a vital role in changing the previous negative perception of the international community towards Nepal as an exotic tourism destination. The event has conveyed a message to the international arena that the country has now become a happening destination and the visiting tourists have not been facing any difficulty here.
Our company’s business also grew considerably. We are hopeful that the business will keep growing during this year as well.
How has your company become successful in expanding the business within a short period?
One of the reasons is that we offer something different to our clients. We also have adopted the strategy of exploring the major tourist generating countries in various parts of the world. We do not get involved with any unhealthy business practice. This means we do not try to grab the business of other companies. There are more than 1,500 travel companies in operation in the country.
We identify the potential markets and establish relations with those agents who have yet to sell Nepal but are interested in doing so. We organise familiarisation trips for them to Nepal and make them familiar with all the tourism products available here. We empower and encourage them to include Nepal in their itineraries.
Besides, we have begun handling backpackers as well. Such clients explore various parts of the country and promote them through their words of mouth. They contribute to bringing in deluxe clients, as they share their experiences with their friends and relatives. They have explored such places where neither the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) nor other agencies have reached. We can find a lot of such tourists highlighting Nepal through the facebook and other social media. In my opinion, the government should come up with a plan to give incentives to such visitors by not charging entrance fees.
I think, the word-of-mouth promotion is the most effective way of highlighting any destination. At present, we receive a lot of recommended clients. We hope to get many more even in the days ahead.
The government has announced the Visit Lumbini Year 2012 (VLY 2012) and the Tourism Vision 2020 in order to give a boost to the country’s tourism sector.
This is a good initiative. But what is lacking is the infrastructural development in the country. We do not have good road transportation system. Domestic air network is also not very satisfactory.
The country’s only international airport—Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)—has been getting congested. The facilities and services at this airport are not up to the mark.
The government has aimed to attract 2 million international tourists annually by 2020. This means we will receive about 5,479 tourists per day and we need 182 big buses for handling them. If we take those tourists to the sightseeing spots like the Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath, we do not have sufficient parking spaces.
Under the heading of conservation fee, the sightseeing spots charge fees from tourists. But we cannot find such amounts being utilised for the same purpose. It is also sad to mention that the most essential facilities like toilets are not available even in the sightseeing spots. The garbage of the Kathmandu Valley has not been managed properly. This is really a matter of shame for all of us.
Another negative tendency is that when the inflow of tourists starts increasing, hoteliers raise room tariffs. Instead of increasing tariffs, they need offer additional facilities and services for which they could make extra charges.
How have you assessed the government’s policies related to tourism?
Many of such policies are not very practicable. In Nepal, about 20 per cent companies have controlled almost 80 per cent of the total business. Those who are in minority seem to have influenced the policies.

ists. But we cannot find such amounts being utilised for the same purpose. It is also sad to mention that the most essential facilities like toilets are not available even in the sightseeing spots. The garbage of the Kathmandu Valley has not been managed properly. This is really a matter of shame for all of us.
Another negative tendency is that when the inflow of tourists starts increasing, hoteliers raise room tariffs. Instead of increasing tariffs, they need offer additional facilities and services for which they could make extra charges.
How have you assessed the government’s policies related to tourism?
Many of such policies are not very practicable. In Nepal, about 20 per cent companies have controlled almost 80 per cent of the total business. Those who are in minority seem to have influenced the policies.
We are lucky enough to have the number one tourism products. But our existing policies are insufficient to manage such products. If we look at the tourism itineraries being sold by most of the tour operators, they are classical. We need to diversify this sector by offering incentives to entrepreneur

The government has announced the Visit Lumbini Year 2012 (VLY 2012) and the Tourism Vision 2020 in order to give a boost to the country’s tourism sector.
This is a good initiative. But what is lacking is the infrastructural development in the country. We do not have good road transportation system. Domestic air network is also not very satisfactory.
The country’s only international airport—Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)—has been getting congested. The facilities and services at this airport are not up to the mark.
The government has aimed to attract 2 million international tourists annually by 2020. This means we will receive about 5,479 tourists per day and we need 182 big buses for handling them. If we take those tourists to the sightseeing spots like the Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath, we do not have sufficient parking spaces.
Under the heading of conservation fee, the sightseeing spots charge fees from tourists. But we cannot find such amounts being utilised for the same purpose. It is also sad to mention that the most essential facilities like toilets are not available even in the sightseeing spots. The garbage of the Kathmandu Valley has not been managed properly. This is really a matter of shame for all of us.
Another negative tendency is that when the inflow of tourists starts increasing, hoteliers raise room tariffs. Instead of increasing tariffs, they need offer additional facilities and services for which they could make extra charges.
How have you assessed the government’s policies related to tourism?
Many of such policies are not very practicable. In Nepal, about 20 per cent companies have controlled almost 80 per cent of the total business. Those who are in minority seem to have influenced the policies.
We are lucky enough to have the number one tourism products. But our existing policies are insufficient to manage such products. If we look at the tourism itineraries being sold by most of the tour operators, they are classical. We need to diversify this sector by offering incentives to entrepreneurs.
Despite being a multi-faceted sector, tourism in Nepal has yet to create benefits for the farmers and the rural people. This industry will flourish only when such people feel that it is their industry.
We need to bring the TIA into operation for 24 hours. A lot of international tourists coming to Kathmandu via New Delhi have been facing difficulties in the absence of flights during the night.
The government needs to focus on producing well-trained manpower required for this tourism sector. The government should think of protecting the country’s tourism products even for the generations to come.
Nnnn

PM, MAOIST CHIEF WELCOMED IN PALPA WITH BLACK FLAGS
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Students, who are protesting against the hike in fuel prices, have greeted Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal with a black flag in the Tudhikhel of Palpa on Tuesday afternoon.
The duos have reached in Palpa to address a training programme for the Maoist cadres, sources confirmed.
Nepali Congress aligned Nepal Students Union (NSU), CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) and All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary Sixth (ANNISU-R) showed black flag to PM Bhattarai and Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi this afternoon.
They have been greeted with black flags upon student’s demand to roll back the government’s decision on the hike in fuel prices—Rs 175 in LP gas, Rs 10 per litre in petrol and Rs 9 per litre in diesel and kerosene– and provide the petroleum products to students and the lower class, in a subsidised price.
Normal life in Palpa is thrown out of gear today due to a day-long strike called by the association of different student unions protesting against the hike in fuel prices.
Bhattarai and Dahal reached to Palpa by a helicopter.
Student leaders criticised PM Bhattarai, who has been using the Nepal-assembled Mustang as his official vehicle, for flying to the district in a helicopter. They also accused the government of doing injustice to the common citizens by hiking the price of petroleum products.
nnnn

SHER BAHADR DEUBA CONVENES MEETING OF CENTRAL LEADERS CLOSE TO HIM

2012-01-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

SHER BAHADUR DEUBA CONVENES MEET WITH PARTY CENTRAL LEADERS
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Senior party leader and former Prime Minister
Sher Bahadur Deuba has convened a meeting Wednesday with senior central leaders close to him to discuss a meeting of district presidents sometime in February
Deuba called the meeting after a tour of districts of the West, mid-West and the far-West to establish himself as the second leader in the main opposition after President Sushil Koirala who was accused of dictatorial tendencies following the unilateral dissolution of elected office bearers of four sister organizations.
Deuba also charges the president for not honouring conditions he had with Girija Prasad Koirala to unite a divided party.
Deuba led the NC (Democratic) before unity.
The incumbent president denies any knowledge of the agreement.
Deuba is embroiled in a tussle for leadership with Vice-president Ram Chandra
Paudel, who is also parliamentary party.
nnnn

US SEEKS FOOTHOLD ON NEPAL-TIBET BORDER
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: The US embassy in Nepal has shown interest in the economic and social development of Tatopani, the entry point at Nepal-China border. In a meeting with government, industrial and business officials of the region, high-level officials at the embassy put forth such proposal for the development of the area, reports in The Kathmandu Post from Barabise.
The political and economic chief of the US Embassy, Timothy Trenkle, said that the embassy is interested to invest in the construction, agriculture, and hydropower sectors in the area. Trenkle also said that the embassy would seek help from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and USAID for the same.
Trenkle had collected information about the Nepal-China border and the development of the area during his meeting with the officials of Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) at Barabise. He further showed great interest in the transaction of goods from the border and the difficulties that the people have had to face for the same.

During the meeting, Sindhupalchowk CCI Chairman Rajendra Kumar Shrestha said that the area has prospects of hydropower, agriculture and industries. Therefore, he requested the US embassy to invest in development of the area.
In response, envoy Trenkle said that the US embassy would not be investing directly on the area but it would work through the organisations that run under the US dollar.
nnnn
FAREWELL FOR COMBATANTS IN ONE WEEK
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: A farewell programme for former Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement is all set to begin amid the protracted stalemate in the peace process and constitution-drafting processes, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The departure of 7,365 combatants choosing voluntary retirement could start next week, according to government and Maoist sources. The process that was supposed to commence early this month has been delayed due to differences within the Maoist party.
“There is no dispute in our party in releasing the combatants opting for retirement,” Maoist Politburo member Janardan Sharma told the Post on Tuesday. “Talks are on among major parties on the peace process and constitution drafting. I think the process of bidding farewell to former combatants will start next week.” The Maoist leadership, according to party sources, is keen to take ahead the farewell process to reaffirm the party’s commitment to peace and constitution. The main opposition parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—have been critical of the deadlock in the process and have blamed the Maoists for backtracking from the November-1 peace deal.
The hard-line faction led by Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya has been stressing that those combatants opting for voluntary retirement should no longer be confined to the cantonments. Commanders of the Maoist army, however, have said both the integration and farewell process should go simultaneously.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expedited consultations with the commanders to convince them for starting the farewell process. The commanders have been stressing that the exceeding 3,205 combatants among the 9,705 former fighters opting for integration should be discharged along with those choosing voluntary retirement.
Last week, the Cabinet had released Rs 1.97 billion to the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry for making the first installation payment to the combatants opting for voluntary retirement. The Special Committee Secretariat has decided to deposit the amount to be paid to each combatant as golden handshake by opening bank accounts in their names. “Bidding farewell to the combatants is a win-win deal for the party. The money withdrawn by the combatants will be useful even if the party adopts the line of revolt,” said a Maoist leader, adding that the army integration process will move forward once the dispute over rank is resolved at the political level.
The November-1 deal commits for integrating a maximum of 6,500 combatants by forming a new directorate in the NA. Commanders of the Maoist army have demanded that they be provided one major general, two brigadier general, eight colonel, 16 lieutenant colonel, 64 major, 120 captain, 96 lieutenant and 120 second lieutenant posts in the new directorate.
The Nepali Congress has rejected the Maoist call and said the NA will decide the rank by checking eligibility of each combatant after s/he completes the bridge course. The NC has maintained that the Maoist combatants will not get any rank senior to a major in the NA.
Maoist fighters opting for retirement
Cantonments Male Female Total
Ilam 509 212 721
Sindhuli 344 146 490
Chitwan 833 310 1,143
Nawalparasi 835 483 1,348
Rolpa 504 394 898
Surkhet 954 445 1,399
Kailali 840 526 1,366
Total 4,849 2,516 7,365
nnnn

STUDENTS CLOSE DOWN VALLEY

2012-01-24T21:22:00.000-08:00

STUDENTS CLOSE DOWN VALLEY

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.; Thirteen student unions, including Maoists,
closed down three Valley districts Wednesday protesting last week’s government’s decision to hike prices of POL products without
promised subsidies.
The students on anti-government protests also closed down Parbat and districts causing conveniences.
The unions threatened even more severe second phase protests from Thursday if corrective steps aren’t forthcoming by Wednesday.
Prime Minisrr Baburm Bhattarai has invited union leaders for talks to end an impasse as government says demands won’t be considered.
Students have been holding phased protests.
Nnnn

PARTY MEETINGS AFFECTED BY STRIKE

Kathmandu, 25 Jan,.: Party meetings affected have been affected by Wednesday’s Valley strike where students are protesting in front of campuses and street corners and vantage points.
A scheduled standing committee meeting to discuss and prepare for a national representative council meeting in February was postponed.
A meeting of the Big Three to discuss a prolonged political deadlock over
goverment’s attempt legalize Maoist seizure of people’s asses during the 10-year insurgency is also likely to be affected.
Nnnn
GOVT. MULLS PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF TIBETAN REFGEE ISSUE
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: The government is planning to settle the Tibetan refugee problem permanently, sources said, The Himalayan Times reports.

After the whirlwind visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao early this month, the government realised that the Tibetan refugee issue might jeopardise the Nepal-China relations if it remained unresolved.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is mulling over collecting details of all Tibetans taking refuge in Nepal and issuing them new identity cards, the sources said.

The government has no record of the Tibetan refugees in Nepal. MoHA officials estimate over 60,000 Tibetans are taking asylum here.

In 2001 survey, as many as 18,000 Tibetans exiled from China’s Autonomous Region of Tibet were taking refuge in the country.

“The government has no record whether the number of refugees has gone up or down,” said a MoHA official.

“The situation has made it more difficult for us to identify the Tibetan refugees.”

As a result, the government reportedly arrested even non-Tibetans during Jiabao’s visit on the suspicion of possible self-immolation or anti-Chinese demonstrations for Free-Tibet-Movement.

Before departing for Japan for health-check up, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said, “We must settle the Tibetan refuge issue . I am discussing the matter with concerned stakeholders.”
Nnnn

KARKI’S SECOND APPOINTMENT AS AMBASSADOR YET TO BE ACCEPTED BY INDIA
Kathmandu, 25 Jan : The agrement of Ram Karki, Nepali ambassador-designate to India, has not come even after nearly two months since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) sent his agrement to the southern neighbor for approval, Republica reports.

The ministry sent Karki´s agrement to India on November 27, 2011.

Sources at the MoFA said they have taken the delay as unusual because India had sent agrement of two immediate previous Nepali ambassadors in less than a month´s time.

Knowledgeable sources at the ministry said India had sent back the agrements of former ambassador Rukma SJB Rana within a month while it took less than two weeks for the southern neighbor to approve the agrement of former ambassador Durgesh Man Singh.

"Though three months time is standard in diplomatic convention to get agrements approved by any country, it is unusual in Karki´s case considering the time taken for approving the agrements of two immediate previous ambassadors," said a senior official at MoFA.

Sources familiar to diplomatic practices said that host countries generally consult their home ministries, security agencies and even intelligence about the ambassador-designate before approving agrements. And, this process often takes time.

Sources said India might have taken time to get clearance from its home ministry and security agencies on Karki´s agrement as he has strong connections in India and his wife works there.
Nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

CHINA APPOINTS CONTRACTOR FOR LARCHA DRY PORT

Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: The Chinese government has appointed Beijing Real Estate Company as the contractor to build the Larcha dry port and other necessary infrastructure. It has also pledged over Rs 1 billion (RMB 860 million) to meet the cost of project, Prabhakar Ghimere writes in Republica.
Seeking consent of the Nepal government, the Chinese government has sent a draft agreement to implement the project to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently.

The draft agreement, which contains project cost, responsibility of Nepal government and contracting agency, has been sent to MoF, which is said to be studying the draft," a high level source at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) told Republica on Tuesday.

The Chinese government a couple of years had agreed to support construction of Larcha dry port, upgrading of around 6 km road linking Larcha with Tatopani customs, and construction of a new bridge over Bhotekoshi at Tatopani customs. The Chinese government had then announced to provide RMB 20 million (around Rs 270 million rupees) for the construction of dry port.

"China has this time announced a financial assistance of around one billion rupees to complete the entire project - upgrading a road link between Tatopani and Larcha, construction of a bridge over Bhotekoshi along with construction of Larcha port," the source said.

The source said a formal announcement of the date on which the actual work on the project will begin will be announced once a formal agreement between the Nepal government and the contractor is signed.

That is, after securing approval from MoF, the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) and the Ministry of Law and Justice. The project has to be completed within 26 months since the start of the work.

WB, India requested for DPR Chandani-Dodhara dry port

Meanwhile, the government has requested the World Bank (WB) and the Indian government for their support to conduct a Detail Project Report (DPR) for the construction of the proposed dry port in Chandani-Dodhara area of the Kanchanpur district.

"The requests have been made after a preliminary study conducted by our expert group found that one dry port is feasible as well as necessary for the Far-Western Region to promote trade in the region, which is also the most backward region of the country," said Sarad Bikram Rana, Executive Director of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB).

Rana said we have recommended to construct a dry port in Dodhara-Chandani area - the first in Far-Western Region.

"There is enough business potential for the proposed dry port in Dodhara-Chandani area. Apart from helping Nepal´s international trade, it can also boost trade between India´s Uttarakhand and other states including West Bengal," added Rana.

A preliminary study has estimated the cost of the project, which will be spread over 12 bigahas and can accommodate 300 containers, at around Rs 1.5 billion.

Nepal-India RSA on Feb 23-24

Nepalese and Indian officials will meet on Feb 23-24 in Kathmandu to review the existing Railway Service Agreement (RSA) in order to pave the way for movement of rail cargos between any Inland Container Depots (ICDs) or Integrated Check points (ICP) in Nepal and additional sea ports in India.

A joint-secretary level meeting, which was scheduled for Jan 23 and 24, was postponed for a month on the request of
Indian side.
nnnn

________________________________________
FUEL TO BE IMPORTED FROM ANOTHER REFINERY
Kathmandu, 25 Jan.: Ministry of Commerce and Supplies is mulling to import fuel from another state-owned refiner of India apart from the Indian Oil
Corporation (IOC), The Himalayan Times reports.
.

The ministry is proposing to import fuel from Numaligarh Refinery, minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta said. “The ministry has initiated talks with the refinery and it is ready to supply petroleum products to Nepal if, the Indian government allows it to.”

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is till date the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) at present and the agreement between them has to be revised in April, when the state oil monopoly is planning to ask the sole exporter to let NOC import fuel from other refinery too.

The primary concept of the government is to construct petroleum pipeline from Assam-based refinery of Numaligarh Refiner to Jhapa to import fuel, minister added.

Numaligarh Refinery is a company having shares of Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Government of Assam and Oil India Ltd. The BP Corporation has 61.65 per cent share, Government of Assam has 12.35 per cent share and Oil India has 26 per cent share in the refinery, according to its official site.

However, Bhatta clarified that the government is not seeking the option of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). “The government wants to renew the agreement between IOC and the state oil monopoly and add one more exporter that will help Nepal import petroleum products smoothly.

The government will also accelerate the process of pipeline construction from IOC’s Raxaul depot to Amlekhgunj depot of NOC, according to him.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has directed the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies to smoothen the supply of petroleum products and introduce relief programme immediately. “People are complaining of difficulties due to shortage and price hike of petroleum products,” he told Bhatta to address the problem immediately.

During the meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar, Bhatta briefed Prime Minister about petroleum prices and supply situation and the relief package he is bringing soon.

No rollback !

KATHMANDU: minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta said that the government is not rolling back from its decision of hiking petroleum products prices. “Political parties are over-politicising the issue,” he said, lamenting that he was forced to be a scapegoat in the price hike decision since the country could not bear Rs 2 billion loss every month. The price hike was a must, he said, adding that he was even blamed by his own partymen for hike. “The ministry will introduce relief package to the students but will not revoke its price hike decision,” he added. Similarly, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai also supported the minister. “The government is preparing to bring relief package for the poor and students, who is residing in the capital rather than revoking the price hike,” the premier said at the 47th anniversary of Rastriya Banijya Bank in the capital today morning. But, student leaders from different political parties are putting pressure on government to revoke the price hike decision. They urged to end syndicate and cartel, control leakages of petroleum products and adopt scientific approach to adjust price of petroleum products.
nnnn

NINE JEEP PASSENGERS INJURED

2012-01-24T00:28:00.001-08:00

NINE JEEP PASSENGERS INJURED
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:.:Nine jeep passengers were injured in a crash with a
bus near Ghorai in Dang Tuesday
The hired jeep was heading for Rukum from the far-West district.
nnnn
MULTILATERL AID FOR FORESTRY PROJECT
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:: Representatives of Nepal UK,
Switzerland and Finland signed a joint US$ 62 million funding agreement
Monday to implement the multi stakeholders’ forestry project.
for inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and tackling climate change
The programme will continue until March 15, 2015.
Government of Finland has delegated the administration of its funds for
the programme to the Embassy of Switzerland.
The programme covers 23 districts across the country.
nnnn
BRITISH ENVOY, PAUDEL MEET
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:Nepali Congress (NC) Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Nepal, John Tucknott held a meeting this [Tuesday] morning, RSS reports.
At a meeting held at Poudel residence Baniyatar, matters related to the ongoing peace process and constitution-drafting were discussed.
On the occasion, Ambassador Tucknott enquired leader Poudel about the deadlock surfaced in course of peace and statute-drafting processes including the integration and management of Maoist ex-fighters.
In response, leader Poudel said the current political stagnation has emerged when Maoists do not show any seriousness in implementing the agreements signed by them.
However, political outlet will be explored through discussion, consensus and dialogue among the parties, Poudel added.
nnnn

WILD BOAR TERROR IN KAWASOTI
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: Local residents dwelling in the Kawasoti area of Nawalparasi district have been living under terror with the wild boars emerging from the adjacent forests to hunt their feeds in the local villages, RSS reports fro Kawasoti..

The wild boars entering Amraut, Banjaria, and Sukrauli VDCs destroy the food crops during the night time, locals complained.

Sometimes, the wild beasts also arrive during the day from the Buddha Community Forest and destroy the food crops in the villages, said Anil Yadav, local resident of Ghinaha, Sukrauli VDC.

The villagers had chased away a crowd of beasts in Ghinaha village on Monday afternoon.

The villagers have already lodged complain to the police, said the villagers.
nnnn
RAJBIRAJ HUNGER STRIKE CONTINUES
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:: A hunger strike organized by the Water Users Coordination Committee of Koshi Pump Canal Irrigation System putting forward four-point demand, is on its third day, RSS reports from Rajbraj

We were obliged to stage fast-unto-death when the sides concerned did not pay any heed to our demands, informed coordination committee chairperson Surendra Prasad Yadav.

Among the demands put forth by the Committee include reviewing decision over the renewal of the original documents submitted to Koshu Pump Chandra Canal Irrigation Management Division, arrangement of qualified technical human resource as per quota and budget allocation for broader scheme.

Among those staging hunger strike, the health condition of coordinator Jageswor Yadav and Kusum Lal Roy is said to be deteriorating.
nnnn
FATF WARNSNEPALOF BLACKLISTING
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — a global anti-money laundering agency — has warned Nepal to implement its commitments in fighting against the flow of dirty money or will be black listed, The Himalayan Times reports.

During a meeting of FATF/Asia-Pacific Regional Review group’s face-to-face meeting last week, the global body has threatened Nepal to black list, after the country failed to fulfil its past promises on deadline.

Nepal had promised to update the Acts and laws against the flow of dirty money and ratify remaining two UN conventions — Mutual Legal Assistance Bill and Extradition Bill that are still in the parliament — by the end of 2011, but could not walk the talk forcing the regional meeting to propose some two dozen reforms.

“The meeting proposed some 22 reforms, but we agreed on three reforms — legal reform, strengthening of Financial Information Unit (FIU) under the central bank and strengthening of banking reports — for the time being as the country is passing through a transition phase,” according a participants at the meeting that took place in Sydney, Australia.

Nepal — led by secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Trilochan Uprety — has presented its progress report in the meeting. Central bank deputy governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, secretary at the Ministry of Law Bhesraj Sharma, three joint secretaries of the Finance Ministry and FIU’s deputy director Hari Prasad Nepal took part in the meeting. Out of the four conventions prescribed by the global anti-money laundering agency, the parliament has already ratified two UN Conventions — International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism-1999 and UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime — in June, 2011.

The FATF Plenary and Working Group Meetings on October 24-28, 2011 in Paris, France had broadly discussed on July, 2011’s 14th annual meeting of Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering report and forwarded the progress report to the FATF plenary for further discussions.
Nnnn

AMERICAN HELD WTH HASH
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:: Narco police in coordination with US authorities arrested Kristian Peter Stiegler (45), an American national, from his rented room in Swoyambhu with 1,140 gramme of hashish last week, The Himalayan Times reorts.

DIG Yadav Raj Adhikari, chief of the Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit, said Stiegler and his sister in New Orleans had been involved in the international drug trade for the past two years.

‘’Stiegler used to send hashish to the woman via airmail in the form of parcels and the woman used to distribute the drug in black market for a hefty sum,’’ DIG Adhikari informed.

This came to the fore after two investigators from the US Drug Enforcement Administration arrived in Kathmandu to cooperate with the NDCLEU to bust the racket.

SSP Nawa Raj Silwal said they busted the international drug racket after authorities in Dubai intercepted two separate parcels containing the hashish that Stiegler had sent in the name of his sister.

Steigler has admitted to his involvement in hashish smuggling to the US and Europe via courier service.

“It shows that international drug operators are active in Nepal in different garbs. We have intensified vigil on suspects shuttling between Nepal and other countries,’’ SSP Silwal further said.

Stiegler has been charged under the Narcotic Drug (Control and Punishment) Act.
nnnn
SRC FACES HURDLE
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: - The State Restructuring Commission (SRC), which was supposed to present its report on Tuesday, remains sharply divided over political priority rights for dominant communities in each state, The Katahmandu Post reports.
In a meeting on Monday, SRC members also decided to leave the naming of the states to the states themselves.
On priority rights, two Maoist nominees in the commission, along with two Madhesi Morcha nominees, voted for granting priority rights to dominant groups in each state, while NC and UML nominees remained opposed--leaving the SRC divided.
The members are also equally divided on the issue of residual power, which arbitrates disputes between states. While nominees from the NC and the UML want a committee at the centre with the power to resolve the disputes, Maoist and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha nominees want the states themselves to take a call on it. On both these issues, the vote of the commission's Chairman Madan Pariyar will be decisive.
The SRC has voted for granting special rights to women reprensenting ethnic, indigenous, Dalit, Muslim and Madhesi communities.
Members also remain divided on the political priority rights. Maoist and Morcha nominees have pitched for the rights, while those from the NC and the UML are against it.
NC and UML nominees have registered a note of dissent and proposed special rights to Bahun and Chettri women below poverty, alongside Dalits, Muslims and Madhesis.
Political parties have decided to extend the SRC's tenure by a week, after members requested Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to extend the term.
Bhattarai will hold talks with Speaker Subas Nembang on the extension, PM's personal aide Bishwodeep Pandey said.
The Commission is yet to resolve a number of issues, and sources say a revision is likely to take place on some issues, which have already been approved through a majority vote. After a long-drawn-out debate, the major parties had finally formed the eight-member SRC on November 23 to recommend to the Constituent Assembly the best possible federation model for the country. As for the number of provinces, 11 states have been endorsed by a majority vote.
nnnn
IRD GETS TOGH WITH FIRMS
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has suspended bank accounts, businesses and fixed assets of more than 100 firms for not paying taxes as part of its crackdown on tax delinquency, The Kathamandu Post reports.
The IRD started its recovery drive on Jan 15 after outstanding tax dues began piling up for a long time and reached more than Rs 24 billion. According to the IRD, outstanding income tax and excise duty amount to Rs 20 billion and the rest consists of VAT and TDS (tax deduction at source).
The IRD said it seized fixed assets including land and buildings of 20 firms. “As these firms owe around Rs 130 million in VAT and income tax, we seized their properties,” said Tulasi Sedai, director at the IRD. Some of the firms whose assets have been confiscated are Ashok Textile and its subsidiaries Nepal Business Company, Mayur Biscuit and Food Industry, and Biratnagar Jute Mills.
Sedai said that these firms had tax dues going back three years. “If they continue to refuse to pay taxes, we will auction off their properties.”
The Inland Revenue Office, Area No 1 of Kathmandu has suspended the bank accounts of 10 firms in Kathmandu for not paying income tax and VAT.
The department has also suspended the bank accounts of two firms listed at the Big Taxpayers’ Office (BTO). They owe the government Rs 250 million, according to an IRD official.
“We have given seven days’ notice to eight other firms listed at the BTO to clear their dues,” said the IRD official, “Each of these companies owes the government at least Rs 10 million in VAT.”
IRD Director General Tankamani Sharma added that the department would focus on taxpayers listed at the BTO as Rs 8 billion remains to be collected from them under several headings, including Rs 4 billion in income tax.
The official also said that the Inland Revenue Office, Lalitpur had suspended the bank accounts of six firms as they had not paid Rs 35 million in taxes to the government. The IRO, Lalitpur has written to different government agencies not to pay what they owe to six other firms as they have not paid their taxes.
The Kathmandu Inland Revenue Office, Area No. 3 has frozen the bank accounts of another 17 firms. These firms collectively owe Rs 5 million in income tax and Rs 19 million in VAT.
The Kathmandu Inland Revenue Office 2 has also suspended the bank accounts of seven firms for their outstanding tax payments amounting to Rs 7 million. The Bhaktapur IRO has directed 20 firms to clear their liabilities within a week, warning them that it would suspend their bank accounts if they continue to defy its directions. All of them have tax liabilities worth more than Rs 10 million each. According to Sedai, a firm paid Rs 64 million in back taxes after the Bhaktapur IRO suspended its bank accounts.
Sharma said that until the delinquent firms clear their tax dues, the penalty charged against them will be continued. “We showed patience for many years, but it won’t happen now,” added Sharma. IRD officials said that since the start of the campaign, some 20 firms which had been delaying clearing their taxes paid up this week.
According to IRD officials, firms in Kathmandu, Chitwan, Hetauda, Biratnagar, Simara and Pokhara, among others, have been punished during the tax recovery campaign.
Sharma said that there were more than 1,000 taxpayers who owe in excess of Rs 1 million each in income tax and excise duty. The number of taxpayers who have not paid TDS and VAT is greater, according to Sharma.
Nnnn

127 NEPALIS BEING DEPORTED FROM QATAR

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: More than 100 Nepali workers are being deported from Qatar for calling a strike against low pay, Om Astha Rai writes in Reopublica.

Immigration Department of Qatar has recently held a total of 127 Nepali workers for refusing to work.

Strike by workers is considered a serious offence in Qatar. Foreign workers deported from Qatar for going on strike by halting work are generally deprived of gratuity and other facilities.

The arrested Nepali workers have been kept at a deportation centre since January 18. The Immigration Department of Qatar is arranging air tickets for deporting all the arrested workers to Nepal, according to the Nepali embassy in Qatar.

"We have been kept inside a jail-like house for almost one week now. We are not allowed to go anywhere else," Madhav Pokharel, one of the workers kept at the deportation centre, told Republica over phone. "Two Qatari policemen are always keeping an eye on us."

Pokharel, who hails from Simara-8 of Bara district, reached Qatar in a group of 11 Nepali workers on January 14.

"Once in Qatar, we were told that our basic salaries would not be as much as promised by the manpower agency in Nepal," Pokharel said. "We, therefore, collectively refused to work for almost 200 Qatari riyals less than the promised salary."

A supplier company, which hired Pokharel and other 10 Nepali workers, had already had 116 migrants from Nepal. Some of them had been working for that company for as many as five years.

"When we refused to work for low pay, other Nepali workers who were already there also joined us," Pokharel said. "However, instead of listening to our concerns, the company threw us into this house."

Pokharel said they had reached Qatar to work as construction workers through Adventure Manpower Company of Sitapaila in Kathmandu.

According to Surya Nath Mishra, Nepal´s ambassador to Qatar, the embassy immediately after the workers stopped work had asked them to sort out problems through talks instead of going on strike. "But they did not listen to our suggestions," Mishra told Republica.

"Had they at least approached the embassy before going on strike, we could have helped them. They would not have to face deportation. We cannot do much at this point as going on strike is a serious offence under Qatari laws," added Mishra.
nnnn

US AMBASSADOR MOVED FROM NEPAL TO UGANDA

2012-01-23T23:38:00.000-08:00

US AMBASSADOR MOVED FROM NEPALTO UGANDA
Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: US President Barack Obama has moved US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H
DeLisi to r to Uganda, a White House statement said.
DeLisi has been ambassador to Nepal since March 2010.
Nnnn

CHINA EYES WEST SETI

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.:Exim Bank of China has sent an initial positive response for the development of 750-MW West Seti Hydropower Project, Republica reports.

"We have received a letter expressing Exim Bank´s interest on West Seti. The bank has asked us to forward it a detailed project report (DPR) of the Projejt," a senior MoF official told Republica. He added that the ministry has already communicated with Ministry of Energy for forwarding the DPR to the Chinese lender.

Ministry of Finance (MoF) had approached the Chinese government seeking credit line for the development of West Seti along with Budi Gandaki Hydropower Project (600 MW) and Nalshyagugad Hydropower Project (400 MW) few months ago.

According to official records, harnessing the potential of the West Seti -- a large storage project -- is estimated to cost $1.60 billion. MoF had approached the Exim Bank of China for the loans investment after efforts to develop it with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank failed.

The MoF, however, has not received any response on Budi Gandaki and Nalshyagugad. Development of those projects is estimated to cost $1.70 billion and $400 million respectively.

"It is too early to predict how the further development on West Seti will transpire," said the source.

Normally, Exim Bank evaluates the development project as rigorously as any lender, mainly concentrating on the rate of return and other financial parameters to be assured its loans will be repaid. If satisfied, it will then start negotiations with the government over matters like government´s counterpart fund, grace and repayment period, and rates of interest, among others. Even if things moved ahead smoothly, officials said the process could take some 6 to 12 months to give clear picture.

The government had floated West Seti for Chinese loans investment after West Seti Hydropower Limited (WSHL), a company promoted by Australia´s Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC), failed to manage the funding despite 10 amendments to the agreement over the last 14 years. The government had issued construction license to WSHL on June 27, 1997 and revoked it on July 27, 2011.

The company repeatedly sought extensions and had last asked for a grace period on Dec 24, 2010 to rope in investors, but the government did not oblige. SMEC had banked on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC) for financing. But both the lenders had pulled out, citing lack of good governance and investment-friendly environment in Nepal.

SMEC invested over $31 million in the project over the last decade as a major promoter but stopped funding office operations since August, 2010 after CMEC and ADB refused to invest in the project.
Nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

PRACHANDA PUSHES PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Kathmandu, 24 Jan : UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Monday pointed out at the need of an offensive debate for a directly elected presidential system, The Rising Nepal reports..
The former Prime Minister urged the progressive and change-loving intellectuals to initiate the campaign in order to make the people aware of the fact that form of the governance was interlinked with the people’s aspirations for change, development and prosperity.
The chief of the main ruling party blamed the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, for backtracking from the previous agreement on the issue and preventing any option to empower the people.
"The other side (NC) has stepped back from previous compromise on form of the governance. After much compromise in the dispute resolution sub-committee of the Constitutional Committee, we were near agreement for an executive presidential system. It is high time for the intellectuals that they initiated offensive discussions for an executive presidential system," Prachanda observed speaking at an interaction on Form of Governance in Future Nepal organized by New Light Research and Publications.
He argued that presidential system was needed for the sake of the sovereignty of the people and the country and territorial integrity. "A presidential system will not herald a people’s democratic system, but rather it will be a bourgeoisie democratic system. The old parliamentary parties need not harbor unnecessary apprehension

"Even the debate in the media over the form of the governance is cheap. A serious matter such as it is has been concentrated on who is the prospective candidate for the post," Prachanda said.
He questioned how a president directly elected by the people would be undemocratic. "Presidential system will be a departure from the negative legacy since the Sugauli Treaty (between Nepal and British-India government)."
Presenting his concept paper, left intellectual Dr Dilli Raj Khanal stressed on a presidential system arguing the system would safeguard national integrity; ensure stability, development and progress.
Commenting on the paper, Minister for Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Gopal Kiranti said that a presidential system would, besides other things, free top leaders from hyperextension as they would not have to concentrate on how to topple and form a government.
Prof Lok Raj Baral spoke for a directly elected executive presidential system. "I was for a mixed system, but now I am for an executive presidential system for the sake of dynamic stability, stability with progress."
Gandhi has labeled parliamentary system as an infertile woman and our history has proved the same although we never had a fully parliamentary system, he observed.
Referring to the present stagnation on peace and constitution owing to differences of the parties over the form of the governance, he said, "If this status quo persists, revolution is inevitable and nobody knows what will status the present political forces will have in future."
Bishwo Bhakta Dulal, Maoist leader, said because of the interest of the foreign forces and the Palace, not a single government was able to work its full term in the last 61 years, whether it is parliamentary system or Panchayat system.
Dr Arjun Karki, a civil society leader, said that no leader could become a national leader in the past due to weaknesses of ruling system.
"As a student of development, I would advocate for directly elected presidential system for stability and development," he said.
He argued that the president should be given the right to choose the ministers not necessarily from among the lawmakers.
Nnnnn
NO BREAKTHROUGH IN
PARTY TALKS

Kathmandu, 24 Jan : UCPN-Maoist and its coalition partner United Madhesi Democratic Front Monday held a meeting to discuss the land deals carried out by parallel Maoist government during the insurgency period, The Rising Nepal reports.
The Front leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, had been criticizing the government decision to recognize the land deals.
After the meeting, Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said that the decision obstructed the peace and constitution tasks.
The deals were against the law, he said, adding that DPM Gachchhadar opposed them.
The Prime Minister also admitted procedural flaws in the deals, Gupta said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and ruling UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Monday gave a positive indication to the opposition parties that the government decision on legalizing the land deals by parallel government during Maoist insurgency would be annulled.
The big three parties, UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, held a meeting at NC vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel’s residence in Boharatar, where ruling leaders tried to convince opposition leaders and demanded three days’ time for that.
During the meeting, PM Bhattarai and Prachanda said the decision would be annulled after consultations within the party and with other stakeholders.
The leaders discussed possible solution to end the current political stalemate. The meeting could not arrive at any consensus but they agreed to continue the dialogue to end the impasse.
After the meeting, Prachanda informed journalists that the next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, would succeed to break the political stalemate.
During the meeting, ruling and opposition leaders put their perspectives on current political matters, concluding peace process, writing constitution, forming the national consensus government and land deals of the insurgency period.
After the meeting, CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal told reporters that he was hopeful that the government would correct its decision as there was no alternative to concluding the peace and constitution writing processes.
Paudel said that the Maoist leaders told the meeting they would reconsider the decision after holding meeting with the coalition partners, especially the Madhesi Front and within the Maoist party.
"We will sit again on the issue Wednesday," Paudel informed.
The meeting was held at a time when the major parties had not been able to undertake formal talks on peace process and constitution-making.
At the meeting, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Prime Minister Bhattarai, NC president Sushil Koirala, NC leaders Paudel and Krishna Sitaula, UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were present.
Opposition parties have been obstructing the parliament demanding withdrawal of the government decision to legalize the land and property deals made by the Maoist parallel government
Nnnn

NOBODY INKIRED IN BOMB EXPLOSION INSIDE A DANG BUS

2012-01-23T22:00:00.001-08:00

NOBODY INJURED IN BUS BOMB EXPLOSION

Kathmandu, 24 Jan. Nobody was injured in a when a bomb
Planted in the rear of a bus exploded while passengers were
boarding for Rukum from Tulsipur, Dang, Tuesday morning.
It wasn’t known who planted the bomb.
Bombings at public places in of far-West district by armed
outfits have become frequent
nnnn

TWO KILLED, 10 INJURED IN NAWALPARASI BUS ACCIDENT

Kathmandu, 24 Jan. Two persons, including a woman, were
killed and 10 others were injured overnight at Danda in Nawalparasi
One person was killed and his companion was injured in a
private car accident at Tehrathum district headquarters Tuesday morning,
nnnn

STUDENTS CLOSE DOWN GULMI, PALPA

Kathmandu, 24 Jan. : Student unions protesting massive hike in
prices of POL products closed down Gulmi and Palpa districts in the West Tuesday.
Maoists aren’t participating in Palpa protests where the UCP (Maoist) are conducting a political training for two district state bureaus.
Party Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai, who is party vice-chairman, are participating in the training camp.
The party leading the government s discussing two rival political proposals for adoption amid deep internal differences even threatening a split which has been temporarily avoided
The party agreed to conduct affairs collectively through
unanimous decision of seven office bearers while taking
differing proposals for adoption to lowest party bodies.
The establishment of the chairman along with the premier were charged for unilaterally imposing policies and programmes without discussion.
Students are holding torchlight processions in the capital Tuesday afternoon against the price hike.
After a breakdown in talks with the government Monday, students said they will hold dialogue only with government on price reduction
Nnnn
SONAM LOSHAR BEING CELEBRATED

Kathmandu, 24 Jan,.: Soman loshar is being celebrated by the
Tamang community Tuesday.
The Mahayana Buddhist community is celebrating the day as
their new Year.
A three-day festival is being held at the Open Air Theater.
Government declared Tuesday a public holiday.
nnnn

PM BHATTARAI, SUSHIL KOIRALA MEET INCONCLUSIVE

2012-01-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

PM BHATTARAI , SUSHIL KOIRALA MEET INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: A meeting Monday between Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai and NC President Sushil Koirala to beak a deadlock over government’s failed attempt to implement a government decision to legalize seized assets during a 10-year Maoist insurgency failed.
Koirala rejected a Bhattarai at the former’s residence early Monday to
cooperate to run obstructed house proceedings smoothly.
The chief of the main opposition told Bhattarai to state publicly and officially a decision has been rescinded, a Koirala aide said.
Bhattarai launched consultations with opposition leaders Sunday to remove hurdles for peace ad constitution drafting.
Supreme court has issued an interim order not to implement a decision and
Maoist coalition partners of the terai also decided the decision can’t be
implemented.
Nnnn

UML FIXES DATES FOR POLITBURO MEET

Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: A meeting of CPN-UML´s standing committee
Monday decided to hold a party politburo meet 8/9 February.
The meeting was held ahead of a national representative council meeting.
in February.
The standing meeting was convened to discuss correct issued, Chairman Jhalanatah Khanal’s amended political paper to be presented at the council meeting,
party reinforcement and other issues.
The party opposed a government decision to legalize seized assets by
Maoists during the insurgency.
Nnnn

TWO ELECTRCUTED IN PARBAT, 10 BURNT
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: Two persons were charred to death and 10 others
were burnt at Deurali VDC-4 of Parbat district on Monday morning.
Two were electrocuted due to high voltage, police informed.
nnnn
DACOIT KILLED IN MOHOTTARI
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: A dacoit was killed and two others were injured in villagers' retaliation last night in Mahadaiya Tapanpur VDC of Mahottari district, RSS reports from Bardibas.
A man of around 25 years old was killed in the retaliation when the dacoits broke into the houses of locals Ramdhyan Yadav and Dinesh Yadav. Identity of the murdered has not been ascertained yet.
Ram Ekwal Paswan, 45, and Jaya Prakash Paswan, 40, of Devdiya VDC of Dhanusha were seriously injured in the incident.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Mahottari, Kedar Khanal said the two are receiving treatment in Janakpur Zonal Hospital.
The gang of dacoits looted properties worth Rs 500,000 and left the local Dharohi Devi Yadav injured by attacking with spears.
Nnnn

PM KHANAL ASSIST FOR JOURNALISTS
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal has announced to provide Rs 50,000 for the building construction of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Ilam Chapter, RSS reports from Ilam.
Khanal pledged to provide the amount for FNJ building after returning to the district headquarters by donating land for Ratna Kumar Bantawa Polytechnic Institute in Sankhejung of Ilam.
The FNJ building construction that was started three years ago is yet to be completed. The journalists of Ilam have been seeking support from different personalities and organisations for the completion of the building.
So far, the district development committee, Ilam, has pledged to provide Rs. 600,000, said FNJ, Ilam Chapter chairman, Umesh Kumar Gurung.
Earlier, Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang had also provided Rs 70,000 for the same purpose.
Khanal and Nembang are the lawmakers from Ilam district.
nnnn

SIX MEMBERS OF A FAMILY WAITING TO CATCH A BUS TO CAPITAL KILLED IN CRASH IN SUNSARI

2012-01-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

SIX MEMBERS OF A FAMILY KILLED IN SUNSARI
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: Six members of a family waiting to catch a bus to the
capital were killed when a speeding overturned at Pakali of Sunsari district Monday morning
Women and children were among the killed instantly and while
undergoing treatment at hospital.
Among the dead are Krishna Raut,,67, his wife Tara, 62, elder son
Baburam, 42 and daughter-in-law Sarada, 32.
Daughter Kamala, 28, and grand daughter Silu KC, 7, were also killed.
The truck has been seized but the driver is absconding,.
Nnnn
5TH PERSON ARRESTED IN ABDUCTION OF SHANGHAI
Kathmandu, 23 Jan : Aarju Subba, an aide of NSP (D) chairman and lawmaker Shyan Sundar Gupta, was arrested Monday with Rs 3.5 million from the capital
Gupta has been arrested and charged for abduction for ransom of businessman and industrialist Pawan Sanghai.
Gupta’s ,remanded by extended Moday to prepare charges against him,
Subba is the fifth person to be arrested in the case.
nnnn.

ANTI-GOVT.PROTESTS AGAINST POL PRODUCT PRICE HIKE
Kathmandu, 23 Jan : Thirteen student organizations, including Maoists, continued anti-government protests Monday against this week’s massive hike gheraoing
the head office of state monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in prices of and demanded reduction and subsidies.
A meeting was scheduled later Tuesday between government and student union
representatives.
The protests were peaceful.
Students are on phased protests and have threatened a Valley strike if
the decision isn’t corrected as government takes a stiff stance.
.Students presented a memorandum to the NOC management.
Protestors show down Rupendhaehi and ant-government street protests were reported from other parts of the country.
Nnnn

.RIM BEHIND BAIDHYA SAYS A CLAIM
Kathmandu, 23 Jan: General Secretary of the CPN-Masal, Mohan Bikram Singh has accused that UCPN-Maoist Senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidhya was acting on the direction of the international communist organisation, Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM), RSS reports from Chitwan.
Speaking to the media in Bharatpur of Chitwan on Monday, Singh said that the Baidhya faction has created problems in institutionalising republic by obstructing peace and constitution writing processes.
Singh said although the prime minister tried to work in favor of peace and constitution, it was insincerity on the part of Baidhya not to allow him to work for the country and people on the RIM’s directions.
He said peace and constitution writing were shadowed owing to the UCPN-Maoist’s internal wrangling, and pointed that there was a possibility that Nepal will be declared as a failed state if the constitution was not issued on time.
Although capturing photos of Singh, who is semi-underground, was prohibited in earlier press conferences, this time cameras of TV and newspapers were allowed.
Nnnn
SUPPLY OF POL PRODCTS STILL ERRATIC
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: The public sector entity—Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC)—is finding it hard to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products even after a hefty hike in the prices on Wednesday, Sangan Parsais reports in The Kathmandu Post.
Petroleum dealers’ demand for more commission, interruption in the supply due to delay in timely payments to the Indian Oil corporation (IOC), heavy NOC losses incurred in the past and increased demand of diesel due to extended load-shedding hours continue to worsen the fuel crisis. The NOC fears the shortage of diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is likely to worsen in the next few days, while it says petrol supply is expected to be normal by Tuesday.
On Sunday, the debt-ridden NOC said that despite the price hike, the supply could not be resumed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as dealers demanded a bigger commission and refused to distribute fuel. The issue was however, settled late on Sunday.
Petroleum dealers were demanding an additional 70 paisa and 80 paisa on every litre of petrol and diesel respectively. The dealers agreed to resume supply from Sunday evening after the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies agreed to address their demand by forming a separate committee.
NOC officials said the reason behind the short supply of diesel was its spiralling demand in the face of increased load shedding hours, while inadequate import of LPG in December led to a short supply of LPG. According to NOC’s supply reports, 478,000 litres of diesel were supplied to Kathmandu Valley on Sunday—a normal supply if the Capital does not witness panic buying. “The NOC had reduced supply of LPG in December in a bid to reduce its losses. As a result, there was a shortage of the cooking gas in the market in January,” said NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Prasad Dhungel. The supply is feared to get worse in February as the IOC, the sole supplier of petroleum products, has reduced LPG deliveries due to a crude oil shortage at its Barauni refinery in Bihar.
What’s fuelling the crisis
• Dealers' demand for more commission
• Supply interruption due to delay in timely payments to the IOC
• NOC losses incurred in the past
• Increased diesel demand due to extended load-shedding hours
nnnn

MINISTERS ASKED TO FOCUS ON DEVLOPMENT
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday directed ministers to focus seriously on implementing development projects. He also termed progress in the projects “disappointing so far.”
Addressing a meeting of the National Development Problems Solution Committee held at the National Planning Commission (NPC), the Prime Minister said it was disappointing that only 14 percent of the budget allocated was released for capital expenses in six months, Thee Kathmandu Post writes.
The meeting chaired by the PM had been called to review progress in the development budget in the first four months of the current fiscal year. During the four months, the country had witnessed only six percent of capital expenditure.
As most of the projects recorded progress below 50 percent than the target, Bhattarai also directed ministers to study the projects recording below 50 percent progress by devising a policy of reward and punishment.
During the interaction, some ministries reported that they are yet to get NPC approval for some of their top priority projects.
The government has categorised 283 projects as P1 projects in the current fiscal year, while only 228 had reported their progress in reports.
The PM also stressed on the need to expand investment in the agriculture sector that has witnessed slow investment of late.
The ministers attending the meeting pointed out to the delay in budget release, lack of qualified and technical human resource, frequent transfer of employees, lack of inter-ministry coordination, absence of VDC secretaries, problems of awarding compensation to land acquired while constructing and widening roads and lack of doctors and health workers as obstacles to the development projects.
The ministers also put forth specific problems facing the ministries they are heading. According to an NPC official who attended the meeting, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun apprised the gathering of the latest status of capital expenditure. “Capital expense in the development projects is only one-third, while foreign currency reserve was Rs 370 million.”
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bistamagar stressed on the need for a new radar at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
NPC Vice-Chairman Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry said similar meetings will be held within one month of the expiry of four months of a fiscal year. Earlier, the meeting used to be held in a gap of one-and-a-half years.
nnnnN
LDCs PRIORITIZE AGRO PRODUCTS
Kathhmandu, 23 Jan.: A two-day meeting in Geneva will focus on how poor countries can gain more lasting value from their exports of agricultural products and natural resources, The Himalayan Times reports.

The third annual UNCTAD Global Commodities Forum will attract government ministers, academics, development economists and business leaders in the field of commodities.

Since 2002, the number of countries whose commodity exports represents more than 60 per cent of merchandise exports has risen from 85 to 91. Commodity prices increased considerably over that period. Yet climbing commodity prices appear to have had limited positive impacts on living standards in exporting countries.

Many commodity dependent developing countries (CDDCs) are also classified as LDCs, and even during the global economic boom, rates of extreme poverty in LDCs declined only from 58 per cent in 2002 to 53 per cent in 2007 — and this was before the world food and financial crises.

The World Bank estimates that the recent resurgence in food prices, which in 2011 reached levels approaching their 2008 peaks, has pushed an additional 44 million people worldwide into extreme poverty. While a part of the increase in the number of CDDCs to 91 is due to the rising prices of commodity exports, it also indicates that the commodities boom generally has not resulted in a diversification of economic production and exports, recommended by economists.

Diversification is recommended in part because commodity prices are historically volatile, leaving these nations vulnerable to sudden drops in the prices of their major exports – or to sudden price increases for commodities they must import, on which they are also often heavily dependent.
nnnn
LISTED FIRMS FAIL SHAREHOLDERS
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: The financial institutions that are considered to be compliant on following rules are not unable to conduct annual general meeting on time, Dikshya Singh reports in The Himalayan Times .

Only 23 financial institutions have conducted the annual general meeting within the mid-December this fiscal year, of which 13 are commercial banks.

“The regulations require the financial institutions to conduct AGM within five months of the completion of fiscal year, but they can request three months extension period,” said spokesperson for Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Bhaskar Mani Gyanwali.

The regulation requires financial institutions to publish the audited financial report and detailed balance sheet including long-form audit reflecting the institutions’ actual health.

“Since getting the balance sheet audited by internal and external auditors take time financial institutions find it difficult to hold AGM on time,” he pointed out.

The annual event also elects new board of directors and is a forum to inform the shareholders of future and previous activities. For the public companies like financial institutions, AGM is the perfect platform for the minority stakeholders allowing them to voice their opinions regarding the company’s decisions and workings.

“The central bank takes action and reduce the facilities being meted out in case they fail to conduct AGM on time,” Gyanwali said, adding that financial institutions owe their shareholders and depositors to conduct the AGM on time but they prefer to postpone and make situation difficult.

The companies try to avoid being lashed out in the public for not performing well as per their incredulously high expectations. The shareholders are never satisfied with the amount of dividend being distributed by the companies. This year Nabil Bank had to postpone its AGM due to differences with shareholders.

The late AGM means the shareholders do not get the adequate information regarding the companies they have invested in on time. The stale information and statistics are of no use to the investors in investment related decision making.

Last fiscal year also less than 30 financial institutions conducted AGM within the stipulated time of five months. Despite the extension of three months less than half of the financial institutions failed to hold these mandatory meetings on time.

The financial institutions are considered relatively transparent in their dealings due to tight regulatory rein of the central bank on publication of financials and holding AGM.

The case of other public companies listed in Nepal Stock Exchange is worse as only six companies belonging to real sector have conducted AGM within the stipulated time.

To increase compliance from the public limited companies, the capital market regulator — Securities Board of Nepal — is introducing the provision of penalising the defiant public limited companies in the amendment of Securities Act.

“The current provision allows monetary penalty but the conditions attached to it are quite harsh thus Sebon refrains from fining the companies,” according to the director at Sebon Niraj Giri.

If the regulator slaps monetary fine to the companies then according to the rule, all of the promoters are disqualified to hold the position of director or be appointed on managerial posts in any of the public limited company for next ten years, which according to the regulator is an extreme punishment.

“The companies do not understand that by being compliant to the regulators they are promoting the goodwill of their own institutions,” he lamented.
Nnnn
MAOIST CHAIRMAN SWINGS TO PARTY HARDLINERS AFTER INTERNAL PRESSURE
Kathmandu, 23 Jan.: Leaders from the non-Maoist parties at the Constitutional Committee (CC) of the Constituent Assembly (CA) have expressed disappointment after UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal reportedly disowned the previous agreements reached at the dispute
resolution subcommittee, Tirtha L.Bhual writes isn Republica

CC members from the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, among other parties, expressed concern as Dahal at the CC meeting on Sunday insisted that some of the issues reportedly agreed at the subcommittee require further deliberations. Dahal himself heads the CC subcommittee.

When lawmakers from other parties at the meeting complained that Maoist members had backtracked from the past agreements, Dahal argued that CC members were free to discuss the proposals tabled by the subcommittee.

“Today (Sunday) the coordinator (Dahal) himself expressed reservations over some of the issues that had already been settled at the subcommittee,” NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel told media persons after the meeting at Singha Durbar on Sunday. “His response has further worried us as he demanded more deliberations on issues that have already been settled.”

According to Paudel, Dahal disowned the agreements on keeping the new constitution silent on land ownership and property ceilings. Likewise, the Maoist lawmakers have stood against the decision to keep the new statute silent on conscription.

Lawmakers said Dahal´s response at the meeting took them by surprise. Earlier, though hardline Maoist lawmakers frequently stood against the subcommittee decisions, Dahal would pacify them.

“It was surprising for us because Dahal, who merely three weeks ago, had said in public that the subcommittee settled all the remaining disputes, except for a few, presented himself as a Maoist leader and not as the subcommittee coordinator,” said a NC leader.

Change in Dahal´s stance at the CC meeting on Sunday has been construed as a significant policy shift as it was only last week that Dahal wrapped up the party´s prolonged central committee meeting by accommodating the party´s hardline faction´s views.

Agni Kharel of CPN-UML described Dahal´s response at the meeting “most disappointing”. He said such a response from top leaders would hinder the statute drafting process.

“The constitution writing process will move ahead only if the coordinator and members of the subcommittee stand by their decisions,” Kharel told Republica. “But the task will be seriously hampered if the coordinator himself raises questions over the past decisions.”

Some of the participants at the meeting construed Dahal´s move fashioned in counter NC´s stance on the system of governance. Maoist leaders have been accusing NC of backtracking from a previous understanding to adopt a mixed model of governance.

CC member Khimlal Devkota of the UCPN (Maoist), however, denied the allegations. According to him, the issues at the subcommittee were categorized under three groups-- those settled, those that needed discussions at the CC and others unresolved. He claimed that it was NC that backtracked from previous agreements and not the UCPN (Maoist).
nnnn

MAOIST PARTY INCOME INCREASES 58 PERCENT IN 4 YEARS
Kathamndu, 23 Jan : Financial statements of the UCPN (Maoist) reveal that the party´s income has increased by 58.4 percent to Rs 132 million and expenditure by 64.3 percent over the last four years, Kiran Pun writes in Republica..

Leaders said the major sources of income for the party are levies paid by party members, including lawmakers and ministers, and donations from those from outside the party.

The income and expenditure details of the past four years submitted by the UCPN (Maoist) to the Election Commission (EC) shows that the party had surplus income for three years, except for the period between 2009 and 2010 which saw a deficit of over Rs 2.7 million.

Amik Serchan, who is the party´s finance department chief, stated 2009 was a year of deficit as the party constructed and renovated buildings for its offices.

The details submitted by the party to EC, however, do not include the donations raised and the amount of money spent during the CA elections.

Officials at the party head office said all the branches of the party submitted the income and expenditure of the party during the CA election immediately after the polls.

Sherchan attributed the increase in the party´s income to merger of various small leftist parties with his party.

“The leaders of the small parties also donated to the party in cash and kind. Also, the membership fees led to an increase in the party´s income,” said Serchan.

The UCPN (Maoist) levies the party cadres for membership renewal and monthly charges.

Of the total money collected, the district committees keep 40 percent and the state committees 40 percent, while the rest of the 20 percent goes to the party headquarters.

The party raises Rs 10,000 from each of its lawmakers, and Rs 12,000 from parliamentary committee chiefs and government ministers per month. Altogether, the party raises Rs 30 million from lawmakers alone.

nnnn

________________________________________

GOVT. RETRACTS DECTION TOLEGALIZE SEIZURES
Kathmandu, 23 Jan. : Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Sunday said he would not now implement the cabinet’s decision of legalizing the transactions of lands and properties conducted by Janasatta Maoist-run administration during the conflict period. The Rising Nepal reports.
PM Dr. Bhattarai gave this assurance to the opposition parties after they continued to disrupt the parliament over the government’s move to legalise the ‘illegal’ deals made under the Maoist-led parallel government.
He met with Nepali Congress parliamentary leader Ram Chandra Poudel and CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal at his office Singha Durbar this morning and committed to respect their concerns...
According to PM’s aide Bishwodeep Pandey, PM told them that the government would not immediately implement the January 12 decision of the cabinet following the protest opposition parties and Supreme Court’s stay order against the implementation of the decision.
He also talked about the peace process and constitution write during the discussion with oppositions leaders.
The NC and UML leaders asked PM to revoke the decision, Pandey informed.
Talking to media persons, Poudel said that they demanded that the government should withdraw the decision.
UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was also present at the meet.
He also called to NC president Sushil Koirala and reached UML leader KP Oli’s residence at Balkot of Bhaktpur to take them in confidence.
Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai and Oli held talks at the latter’s residence at Balkot this evening.
During the around 50 minutes meeting, the two leaders discussed about peace and constitution, the unilateral decision taken by the government, matters relating to the landless settlers, said Mr Oli talking to reporters following the meeting.
Leader Oli also said that they discussed about the shortening the transition and completing the peace and constitution writing process on time.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai pledged to move ahead based on a consensus henceforth and expressed the eagerness to complete the new constitution by May 28.
In response to the concern expressed by Mr Oli over the recent decision of the Government to legalize the decisions taken by the people’s government during the conflict, Dr Bhattarai said as the Supreme Court had already announced its verdict in this regard, it should not be made a matter of dispute.
However, Dr Bhattarai did not clear agree to rectify the wrong decisions taken by the Government so far. "He did not give a clear reply, he just tried to play out time", Oli said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister did not respond to any queries from the media persons present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition United Democratic Madhesi Front decided to stand against the cabinet decision legalise the lands deals made during the insurgency.
Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum- Democratic spokesman Jitendra Dev said that the meeting arrived at the decision that the cabinet decision should be terminated.
"This decision has created uneasy situation and affected the peace and constitution writing processes," he said.
He said that this problem should be resolved on the basis of consensus among the parties.
The meeting also pointed out the implementation of the four-point deal struck between the UCPN-Maoist and the front.
It also concluded that the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar to India successful.
Nnnn

PRACHANDA SEES CONSPIRACY AGAINST PEACE,
CONSTITUTION
Kathmandu, 23 Jan : UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Sunday said that hatching of conspiracy against peace and constitution writing process had started again, The Rising Nepal reports.
"A serious conspiracy has again been hatched against peace and constitution. The rightist forces are bent on entrapping the Maoists and they are plotting for the same, but we will not sign a blank cheque," Prachanda said speaking at a programme in the capital city.
The chief of the main ruling party stressed that his party would not make any agreement that would result in the reduction of the people’s rights and that led to completion of peace process but to pro-people constitution.
"The parliamentary parties are for completing the peace process unilaterally and reviving the 1991 constitution," Prachanda blamed. Referring to their stance on parliamentary system, Prachanda also accused ‘old parliamentary parties’ of desirous to play the game of majority and minority and then the horse trading.
The chief of the largest party observed that the parliamentary parties stood against the peace and constitution after he proposed for a directly elected presidential system in the sub-committee formed to resolve the differences over the new constitution. "Conspiracy against peace and constitution started when I stressed on executive presidential system."
Referring to his recent talks with Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, the Maoist chairman said that NC would not accept am nationality based federation. "There is a serious debate on state restructuring and the NC is for making federal units in such a way that each state stretched from north to south."
nnnn

PM BHATTARAI RETRACTS GOVT. DECISION UPDATE

2012-01-22T02:41:00.000-08:00

PM BHATTARAI RETRACTS GOVT. DECISION UPDATE
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai assured top leader of the
Big Three Sunday morning government won’t implement a decision to legalize a
decision to legitimize decisions of Maoist parallel governments to; seize assets durilng the 10-year insurgency.
The move has been opposed by 17 parties.
Bhattarai took the decision even as he and party Chairman defended the decision in Chitwan Saturday.
The government chef asked parties to cooperate to write a constitution and conclude the peace process.
Opposition Sunday obstructed parliament for the third successive time Sunday protesting the government decision and asking the ruling parties to correct the official decision.
Nnnns
.DIG KOIRALA ARRESTED, CONFESSES KILLING WIFE
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: APF DIG Ranjan Koirala confessed to killing his
wife who had gone missing, Kantipur FM reports.
Koirala has been taken to Kathamandu district court after his arrest from Thankot Sunday.
nnnn
PROTESTS CONTINUE AGAINST PRICE HIKE
Kathmandu, 22 Jan. Student protests against government hike in prices of POL continued in the capital and rest of the country Sunday.
A vehicle was vandalized in the capital.
Protests were held in front of government campuses in the capital for one hour from nine in the morning.
Nnnn

UML CHIEF KHANAL SPEAK
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.:: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has said his party was not against the peace and constitution drafting process, RSS reports from Ilam..
Speaking in a news conference organized by the Press Chautari, Ilam chapter this morning, he said the UCPN (Maoist) being the largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA) should play an important role in concluding the peace process and the constitution writing.
The UML chairman also called on the Maoist to honestly implement the past agreements with other parties. Khanal said accomplishing the task of peace and constitution writing in the remaining four and half months’ time is the need of the nation.
nnnn
MEDIA GOOGLE
"He is a very good friend of mine so the meeting with him was personal, not an official one.o say that it would have been alright to officially meet Menon at his office.
Even if it had been an official meeting, it would not have mattered as Menon is a very important person of the Indian government. One should not think that only ministers and deputy prime ministers are seniors. We should hold some meetings rising above the issue of protocol."
(Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, The Kathmandu Post, 22 Jan.)
nnnn

14 SATELLITE CAMP CLOSURE RECOMENDED
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: The Secretariat of the prime minister-led Special Committee has suggested vacating at least 14 satellite cantonments sites housing the former Maoist combatants by bidding farewell to those opting for voluntary retirement, Phanindra Dahal writes in The Kathmandu
The proposal recommends relocating the combatants choosing integration into seven main and seven satellite cantonments after the farewell process is carried out. Currently 9,705 combatants opting for integration and 7,365 combatants choosing voluntary retirement live inside the seven main and 21 satellite camps located across the country.
Maoist representatives have registered their reservation on the proposal prepared by the Secretariat last month. They have obstructed the farewell process stressing that issues like rank determination and bridge course should be settled at the political level before dealing those “technical issues.”
The proposal backed by the non-Maoist representatives of the Secretariat recommends continuing one main and one satellite cantonment in seven places for combatants opting for integration.
The proposal says each of the camps can accommodate 500 to 750 combatants and recommends that the government hire buses for shifting the combatants to the selected camps. If the recommendation is endorsed by the Special Committee, satellite camps located in Yaangsila and Danabari under the First Division of the PLA, Ilam will be vacated.
Similarly, Belsot and Ranibas under the Second Division (Sindhuli), Bhutaha and Rashauli under the Third Division (Chitwan) and Saina Maina and
Ramnagar under the Fourth Division (Nawalparasi) will be vacated after the discharge process.
Satellite cantonments located in Masina and Gairigau under the Fifth Division (Rolpa), Gumi and Kholtepani under the Sixth Division (Surkhet) and Gorange and Sahajpur under the Seventh Division (Kailali) will be non-existent.
Discussions are going in the Special Committee Secretariat that the land housing the camps can be handed over to the government or the rightful owners.
The proposal submitted to the Special Committee on December 21 states that the satellite cantonments should be handed over to the Nepal Army (NA) or the Armed Police Force (APF). The cantonments and installations inside them, if located in barren land, can be presented to the NA or the APF.
The Secretariat has recommended that the Special Committee ask each of the seven main cantonment sites to furnish details of the land, houses, electricity and drinking water inside it.
It also recommends that the government acquire weapon storage containers once the process of integration of combatants into the NA progresses.
nnnn

22 FAMILIES WAITING FOR TO COLLECT BODIES OF LOVED ONES
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Nearly 70 bodies of Nepali migrant workers are waiting in various Gulf countries and Malaysia to be repatriated back to Nepal. Most of these countries require exit visa even for a body, RGOshan Sedhan writes in The Kathmandu Post..
Statistics at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) show that 50 bodies are awaiting exit visa from Saudi Arabia, while 20 bodies are lying in Malaysia, the UAE and other countries.
The Saudi Arabia law bars repatriation of corpses without the no-objection certificate from the government while others are awaiting court’s order to that effect, according to Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB).
Sthaneshwor Devokta, the executive director of FEPB, said hurdles in bringing the bodies include anonymity of employers, police cases and court cases faced by the workers before death.
“The legal process to bring a corpse home is complicated and it delays the process,” said Devkota. It is mandatory for respective employers to take ownership of the body before getting the government’s permission for repatriation.
Many migrant workers leave their original employer due to various reasons. This puts them in a legal limbo as labour laws in most of these countries forbid change in employment without permission from the original employer. “Besides bodies of workers who were illegal, corpses of those killed in road accidents face a lengthy legal procedure for repatriation,” said Devkota.
According to MRC, workers’ own faults or ignorance expose them to greater risks. The MRC is responsible for bringing home the body of a migrant worker.
According to officials, it costs around Rs 150,000 to bring a body from Malaysia, Qatar and the UAE, and around Rs 500,000 from Korea.
The latest report of the Department of Foreign Employment shows most deaths occur due to murder, suicide, road accident and workplace accident.
Stakeholders say amendment to the law governing migrant workers in host countries, proper orientation to workers before their foreign trip and legalisation of illegal migrants can benefit the foreign job seekers.
nnnn

PARLIAMENT SCHEDULED TO MEET SUNDAY; OPPOSITION THREAT TO BOYCOTT IT

2012-01-21T17:45:00.001-08:00

PARLIAMENT SCHEDULED TO MEET SUNDAY AMID OPPOSITION THREAT TO OBSTRUCT IT
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Parliament session which has been disrupted consecutively by two largest opposition parties NC and UML
protesting a government and Maoist decision to legalize and register seized assets during a 10-year Maoist insurgency is scheduled
to meet again Sunday.
The opposition parties have threatened to disrupt legislative proceedings until government and Maoists leading the
government correct the 12 January decision and provide details of the government decision in parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister opposed the government and Maoist decision Saturday immediately after returning from India and denied knowledge of the cabinet decision.
Speaker Subash Nemwang Friday also asked Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattrai to give a statement in parliament regarding the decision to run parliament smoothly.
Meanwhile the premier denied in Chitwan Saturday the
decision violated the interim constitution and prevailing laws and acts.
Bhattarai was speaking at a function to mourn the death of party leader Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha.
The government chief, who is also party vice-chairman, asked parties not to politicize the issue and sit down for
a dialogue with government.
“We are resolute in our decision to legalise land transactions carried out by People’s Government during the period of People’s War, and the oppositions instead of supporting our pro-people agendas, are creating hassles
inside the House,: Party Chief Prachanda said while addressing the
same meeting.
“Legalising the transactions of the land during the insurgency is just a dream of the Maoist that would never be fulfilled. We are not scared of insurgency anymore. If they want to go back into hiding we would not stop them,” NC President Sushil Koirala said.
Politics is once again polarizing at they got together four months ago to conclude a peace process and promulgate a delayed constitution.
Nnnn
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 1.2 DEGREES CELSIUS
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Minimum temperature recoded in the capital in
the last 24 hors was 1.2 degrees Celsius.
Mercury is expected to rise to 17 degrees Celsius in the afternoon Sunday.
nnnn

SIXTH ABDUCTION FROM SIRAHA IN ONE MONTH

2012-01-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

SIXTH ABDUCTION IN ONE MONTH FROM SIRAHA
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Ram Karan Das, 35, a technician of Lachayaniy-9 , Siraha was abducted Friday for ransom of Rs.400,000, Nagarik
reports.
Das has been abducted across the order to India.
This is the sixth abduction from Siraha in one month
Das was abducted immediately after the release of Sanyaja Singh Kori
of Chandrodayapur-2.
nnnn
DPM GACHEDHAR RETURNS HOME FROM INDIA
Kathmandu, 22 Jan. Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar returned home Saturday after a four-day India visited.
Gachedhar, who; is also home and defence minister, held discussions
with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, opposition leaders and senior officials
He discussed security and other issues, including resumption of suspected military arms and ammunition supplies, with Indian leaders and
and officials.
Gachedhar opposed a cabinet decision and said it can’t be
implemented.
He even denied knowledge of the cabinet decision.
nnnn
MEDIA GOOGLE
“PM Bhattarai’s remarks that Nepal need to merge either with the China or India, if she fails to exercise her autonomy, is against the country’s sovereignty, national independence and national integrity.”
(Majdoor Kishan Party Chief Narayanman Bijukakchaya, The Himalayan Times, 22 Jan.)
“We fought two world wars for foreigners. We will fight in our own soil now,” said Gurung. Promulgation of a new constitution by Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist in our favour is not possible. So, we have to fight for our rights,”
(Indigenous group leader Prithvi Subba Gurung, The Himalayan Times, 22 Jan.”
nnnn
HOSPITALS VULNERABLE TO HIGH INTENSITY QUAKES
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Not a single hospital in Kathmandu Valley will function if a Modified Mercallie Intensity (MMI) IX level earthquake hits Nepal, according to the Health Ministry, The Himalayan Times reports.

The impact of MMI IX will damage buildings beyond repair and even cause them to collapse unless modern designs are adopted.

If MMI VIII were to be considered, 80 per cent of hospitals would be rendered completely non-functional posing life threats to medical staff and patients. The remaining 20 per cent will not pose threat to life but would be dysfunctional for a long time.

The ministry had carried out structural and non-structural study of seismic vulnerability and hospitals in Kathmandu with World Health Organisation and National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal from 2002 to 2011.

Various assessments showed the urgent need to take action to mitigate vulnerability and safeguard hospital functionality after disaster.

The study examined Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Birendra Army Hospital, Civil Services Hospital, Patan Hospital, Bir Hospital, and Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital and Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, among others.

Dr Sinendra Raj Upreti, chief of the curative service division at the ministry said almost all the hospitals built 15 years back are structurally very vulnerable.

He said the proliferation of private hospitals had further complicated the problem and given rise to haphazard construction of potentially unsafe structures.

“To safeguard hospitals, structural and non-structural retrofitting works must be undertaken so as to reduce the vulnerability of existing hospitals,” said Upreti.

He said the diverse and complex nature of control of hospital development, which is split among so many ministries, has hampered development of a unified approach for building safe hospitals in the country.

He informed that the health ministry has allocated Rs 20 million for retrofitting hospitals in the Valley this year.

Currently, WHO is the leading coordinating agency for hospital safety.

A 2004 study by UNDP ranked Nepal as the 11th ‘most at risk country to earthquakes’ and the 30th with respect to floods. Kathmandu is one of the few cities in the world that is highly prone to earthquake.
nnnn

DETAILS OF PRACHANDA. MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL REPORT

Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: At a time when big opposition parties—the CPN-UML, and the NC—along with some fringe parties are mulling over the change of man at helm, the senior leader of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal met UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at the latter’s new residence in Lazimpat in the Capital on Saturday morning, The Hiimalayan Times reports.

During the meeting which reportedly lasted for an hour this morning, the former prime ministers duo discussed about the contemporary political issues including formation of a national consensus government, stalled peace and statute drafting processes, among others, informed Dahal’s personal aide Sameer Dahal.

Only on Friday, the 17 parties have mulled over replacing the incumbent coalition government without further delays citing that the present Maoist-led government is obstructing the impending tasks of peace, statute.

Talking to media persons UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said, “We are left with no alternatives than to replace this government with a national consensus government.”

Meanwhile, Maoists have been saying that Bhattarai-led government should not leave the helm, until the party pops up with a new strategy.

UML leader Nepal on the same occasion had urged the Maoist chair to take initiative in withdrawing the government’s recent decision to legalise land and property transactions carried out by the Maoist’s so-called ‘people’s government’ during the decade long armed conflict and provide momentum to the dillydallied peace and constitution drafting process.

Maoist chair Prachanda also said that he was consulting with the Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai over the matter and ensured to resolve the land related issue at the earliest.
Nnnn

STATE STRUCTURE DENIES DEAL ON MODEL
Kathmandu, 22 Jan : At a time when Maoists have been accusing the Nepali Congress of (NC) of backtracking from the agreement on system of governance in the dispute resolution subcommittee, coordinator of the taskforce under the subcommittee Laxman Lal Karna said Saturday that no such agreement has been
Reached, Republica reports.

Karna said they had presented a “mixed model” of governance as an alternative. Karna, who belongs to the Sadbhawana Party, told Republica that they tried to find a “middle path” after the UCPN (Maoist) and the Nepali Congress refused to budge from their respective stances.

“We had presented a mixed model of governance as an alternative. But there had been no unanimous decision on the issue as NC expressed its reservation over the model,” said Karna told over phone from Birgunj.

Maoist leaders, especially those from the hardline faction, have lately revived many of the issues already settled in the Constitutional Committee, accusing NC of backtracking from the agreement on system of governance.

Agni Kharel, who represents CPN-UML in the taskforce, said the proposal was prepared by the taskforce but not finalized by the subcommittee. “The argument that Nepali Congress backtracked from the agreement makes no sense as it was never endorsed by the subcommittee,” he said.

Maoist Chairman Dahal had then told the taskforce that the issue would be settled by leaders of the major parties.

The taskforce comprised of Kharel and Sapana Pradhan from CPN-UML, Radheshyam Adhikari from NC and Khim Lal Devkota from UCPN (Maoist). “We had proposed a system under which the president would have limited powers while the prime minister elected by parliament would have extensive executive powers,” he added.

Adhikari said they had discussed various possible alternatives. “I had clarified NC stance on the system of governance. But my colleagues agreed to present an alternative model on condition that NC´s on the issue would be mentioned while handing over the report to the subcommittee,” he said.

However, Maoist leader Devkota claimed they had prepared the document on system of governance through consensus.

“We had presented a mixed model of governance through consensus between all the parties. It is the NC that has backtracked from its position on the system of governance,” he said.
Nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

NT GETS CLEAN CIAA CHIT
Kathmandu, 22 Jan : The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has found no foul play in the Nepal Telecom´s (NT) tender process to add 10 million mobile lines and has given the operator a clean chit, asking it to go ahead with the plan, Republica reports..

Suspecting irregularities about three months ago, the anti-graft body had directed the NT to put the project on hold till it completes its investigation. Spokesperson for CIAA Ishwori Prasad Paudel said, "We have given the clean chit to NT and have instructed the operator to go ahead with their plan."

NT was preparing to call a global tender for the mega project to address the demand till 2015.

CIAA has also given its nod for the procurement of 2 million IP CDMA lines. In its instructions, CIAA has asked the operator to complete the project on time and within the estimated budget. The IP CDMA project worth $ 32 million was put on hold for more than a year because by CIAA.

NT is targeting to distribute IP CDMA in rural areas to provide better voice and data access to its customers. NT had awarded the tender to China-based telecom solution provider Huawei.

State-owned operator has not been able to issue new SIM cards for last few months after its stock depleted and it was not able to implement its procurement plans following investigations by CIAA and Public Accounts´ Committee (PAC).

One of the board members of NT said that NT is suffering because of complications in government procedure.

"CIAA holds up our projects for months in the name of investigation, which is seriously hampering our business," the member said. He further said if CIAA had not instructed to hold the project, NT would have been able to distribute new SIM cards. NT is facing severe shortage of new SIM cards for past few months. NT was distributing 200,000 SIMs per month on an average.

Following the CIAA clean-chit, NT is preparing to finalize the deal with vendors this week. NT officials said they will finalize the MoU for IP CDMA this week and will also speed up the project for 10 million mobile lines. NT has been doing groundwork to add 10 million new lines in its GSM network from last year.

The largest operator had lost its leadership in GSM segment more than a year ago to private operator Ncell. According to the latest statistics of Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), NT has a total subscribers base of 7.04 million out of which 5.42 million are
GSM subscribers.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

GOVT.BODY PLAN FOR SALARY , PERKS FOR PASHUPATINATH PRIESTS, CARETAKERS
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: A government-commissioned committee has prepared a regulation recommending to the government to provide salaries and perks to priests and caretakers of the Pashupatinath temple, The Himalayan Times reports.

The seven-member panel formed on November 2 under the coordination of Sushil Nahata, member-secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), will submit its report to the government tomorrow.

“We have finalised the draft of the regulation and will submit it the government tomorrow,” said Narottam Vaidya, PADT treasurer and a member of the committee tasked with drafting the regulation based on previous reports and a Supreme Court verdict that had directed the authorities to keep records of income at the shrine, a UNESCO world heritage site, in a transparent manner.

“The draft has suggested to the government to deposit all of the shrine’s income in the bank and pay handsome salaries and perks to the temple’s priests and caretakers,” Vaidhya said.

He, however, refused to divulge the package meant for about two dozen priests and caretakers of the temple.

Besides daily regular offerings, devotees donate Rs 1,100 to Rs 1.1 million for special puja and precious metals like gold to the temple.

Citing the absence of a record-keeping system, reports often point that the temple staff use these offerings as their own. In the last fiscal year alone, the recorded income of the PADT stood at Rs 273.7 million.

“We will take caretakers, Bhandaris and priests into confidence to make the income transparent with due regard to existing culture and tradition,” PADT officials said.

“The regulation will come into effect within two months once the Cabinet approves it.”

“We had issued receipts for offerings in the past, but that system did not work as the temple staff did not cooperate,” Vaidya further said.

He appealed to the priests and the caretakers to cooperate with PADT this time around by maintaining the record of special offerings in a transparent manner.
nnnn

INDIAN MAOISTS OR NAXALS KILL 13 POLICEMEN
Kathmandu, 22 Jan.: Police say suspected Maoist rebels triggered a landmine explosion, killing 13 policemen in eastern India on Saturday, AP reports from Patna.

Police superintendent G. K. Rath said at least two other policemen were injured in the explosion that blew up their mini-bus in Jharkhand state today.

He said the policemen were returning from a search operation in a remote, densely forested region when the blast occurred.

The rebels have been fighting the government for more than four decades, demanding land and jobs for landless farmers and the poor.
nnnn

RAM NARAIAN PRADHAN DEAD

2012-01-21T04:04:00.000-08:00

RAM NARAIAN PRADHAN DEAD
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Senior and ailing journalist Ram Naraian Pradhan.
died Friday night at a hospital where he was on dialysis.
He was 73.
Pradhan is survived by a wife, son and daughter.
The son and daughter also aren’t well.
Your blogger was a friend of Pradhan who worked briefly with Nepali Congress led government when it was installed in government after Nepal’s first parliamentary elections in 1959.
Ram and your blogger developed close , friendly and professional ties when Pradhan worked in the information sectionof the then USIS with American embassy.
The USIS in New Road then was headed by Tom Dove, Kent Obee who rose to top positions on the US agency
Ram quit USIS and started writing for The Motherland, a daily independent English newspaper published by Manindra Raj Shrestha.
Padhan then moved to the national news agency RSS from Motherland and was founding editor of The Himalayan Times before retiring.
Will miss you, Ram.
Nnnn

SOLDIER INJURED WHILE DEFUSING BOMB
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: A soldier was injured Saturday while defusing a bomb at a grocery shop in Gaur, Rautahat
The soldier received leg injuries.
The bomb was planted by a terai armed outfit.
nnnn
10 QUINTELS HASH SEIZED IN PARSA
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Police arrested an Indian national and seized 10 quintals of marijuana from different areas of Parsa district, RSS reports from Parsa.

A team of police led by inspector Mukti Narayan Chaudhary seized six quintals of marijuana from Nirmalbasti VDC this morning.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabindra KC said other smugglers have managed to escape from the scene though the police opened four rounds of fires.

Similarly, Mukhtar Azad was held with one quintal marijuana from Pasaunibhatha VDC of Parsa district last night. Likewise, 80 kilogram of marijuana was seized from Nichuta of the district.

Similarly, a separate team of the Armed Police Force seized two quintals marijuana from Janakitol of Parsa on Saturday morning.
nnnn
TWO NEPALIS LOOTED ON NEPAL-INDIA BORDER
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.:Yet again, two Nepalis have been looted at India's Rupaidiya bazaar of Nepal-India border, RSS reports from Nepalgunj.

Rs 45,000 of Prakash Regmi hailing from Surkhet district was looted at the Rupaidiya bazaar while returning Nepal from India.

Two youths drugged him and looted the money he had collected for treatment of his mother.

Similarly, Ru Bahadur Rana of Hariyali, Gulmi was looted while coming to Nepal from India.

Rs 42,000 Indian currency was looted from him.
nnnn
GOVT, BEGINS TALKS WITH MOST FEROCIOUS TERAI ARMED OUTFIT GROUP
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: The All Tarai Liberation Front led by Jaykrishna Goit waging armed struggle in Tarai for eight years came to the negotiation table with government today [Saturday], RSS reports from Rajbiraj.

Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Satya Pahadi has led by government side while vice-chairman of the Front Ajay Kumar Yadav also known as Ajit Singh led the Front.

The talks began at 1:00pm at the meeting hall of District Development Committee, Rajbiraj.

Active in leftist politics for long, Goit had protested in the Maoist party and began armed struggle in Tarai eight years back.

JAPAN CAN’T MAKE NEPAL’S MEDIA POLICY SAYS CONCERNED MINISTER GUPTA
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Minister for Information and Communications, Jayprakash Prasad Gupta has said no foreign country could formulate media policy for Nepal, RSS reports from Kanchanpur.

Minister Gupta said this at a time concerns were raised saying an international organization was formulating Nepal's media policy.

"The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was consulted only for suggestion on media policy," he said, adding that the foreign agency could not make media policy here.

In another context, Minister Gupta said the Madhesi Morcha would not accept the federal state linking north with south as proposed by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. He stressed that entire Madhes should be linked while devising federal states.

He urged the agitating armed groups to come to negotiation table to solve the problems.
nnnn
WORKER KILLS MILL OWNER IN BHAKTAPUR
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Owner of the Ranjit Rice Mill based in Inachowk of Bhaktapur Municipality was murdered by the mill's worker on Friday night, RSS reports from Bhaktapur.
Ganga Sagar Ranjit, a permanent resident of Bhaktapur Municipality-7 was murdered by the mill's worker, a Tarai-based citizen, after hitting with a wooden plank, said police inspector Rupak Khadka of Police Range, Bhaktapur. It is learnt that the alleged murderer was recruited just a week ago.
Police said search for the alleged is underway. Detail information about the alleged has not been ascertained yet, according to police.
Nnnn

INFLATION SLOWS
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.:: Though the price rise has seemingly abated — according to the central bank — the mammoth rise in fuel prices will be burning a huge hole in the pockets of householders driving the inflation up few notches in the coming months, The Himalayan Times reports.

The inflation has come down to 7.5 per cent in the fifth month of the current fiscal year, according to the central bank. “The rate of rise in general price level seems to have mellowed down near the targeted rate of seven per cent for the time being despite the festive season during the fifth month, when the market witnessed a sharp price rise,” pointed out Economist Dr Chiranjibi Nepal.

However, Nepal Oil Corporation’s (NOC) steep fuel prices hike on Thursday will make achieving target general price rise rate Herculean task for the monetary authority.

“The latest sharp rise in the fuel prices will lead to prices of commodities and services to go up by minimum of 20 per cent in the coming months,” he added.

The price of petrol went up by Rs 10 per litre, diesel and kerosene’s price have increased by Rs 9 per litre and LP Gas’s price is up by Rs 175 for a cylinder pushing the household budget up.

Diesel being the fuel for mass transportation will lead to increase in transport cost ultimately increasing the prices of goods; kerosene and cooking gas being the stove-burner for the householders has more direct effect on the budget of householders in a form of increased kitchen expense, he explained.

The year-on-year inflation as measured by the consumer price index increased by 7.5 per cent in mid-December 2011 compared to 9.6 per cent of a year ago, according to the fifth month report that has overlooked the festive season, when the people had to bear the burnt of price rise of essential products. The national rate of price rise stood at 8.5 per cent a month before.

“The coming months — starting mid-January — will see the impact of the fuel price hike which might not be favourable,” admitted spokesperson of the central bank Bhaskar Mani Gyanwali.

The better agriculture output and easier supply situation seem to have tamed the food and beverage inflation to some extent for the time period, he said, adding that the general price level is stable for the price rise in neighbouring countries has also moderated.

During the period, food and beverage price went up by 7.1 per cent and non-food and services price increased by 7.8 per cent against the corresponding period of last year that had also seen index of food and beverage group increase by 15.2 per cent and index of non-food and services group has went up by five per cent.
nnnn
NEPAL HAS RECORD FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVE
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: The remittances inflow has seen almost eight times increase in five months to Rs 133.19 billion from Rs 17.7 billion in the current fiscal year, The Himalayan Times reports.

“Workers’ remittance increased by 37.9 per cent to Rs 133.19 billion in the fifth month of the current fiscal year,” according to the central bank that claimed that the increase has seen a growth of 11.3 per cent during the same period of last fiscal year.

On a monthly basis, the remittance inflows increased by 9.7 per cent in mid-December compared to the value of the a month ago of the current fiscal year.

In US dollar terms, the remittance inflow increased by 30 per cent to $1.72 billion compared to a growth of 14.2 per cent during the same period last fiscal year, revealed Nepal Rastra Bank’s five month’s data.

The increase in the remittance inflow will be equal to over 20 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief — released after the fifth meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva — projected that the small and low-income countries like Nepal tend to receive more remittances as a share of their gross domestic product (GDP).

Despite the global economic crisis that has impacted private capital flows, remittance flows to developing countries have remained resilient, posting an estimated growth of eight per cent in 2011,” it said, adding that remittance flows to all developing regions have grown this year, for the first time since the financial crisis.

Though the remittance costs continue to remain high, especially in small nations like Nepal, where remittances provide a life line to the poor, according to the World Bank, there is a pressing need to improve data on remittances at the national and bilateral corridor level to more accurately monitor progress towards the ‘5 by 5’ remittance cost reduction objective.

According to the central bank, under transfers, pension receipts, however declined

by 19.6 per cent to Rs 10.93 billion.

“Similarly, under the financial account, foreign direct investment (FDI) flow recorded Rs 3.20 billion compared to Rs 3.58 billion in the same period a year ago,” the central bank said, adding that the growth in remittance inflow also pushed the gross foreign exchange reserves by 35.4 per cent to Rs 368.63 billion from a level of Rs 272.15 billion at mid-July 2011, against the declined of two per cent to Rs 263.43 billion during the same period last fiscal year.

There has been no significant changes in the export-import situation as the country exported Rs 30.06 billion worth merchandise and imported Rs 177.79 billion worth merchandise in five months.

“The exports rose by 11.5 per cent against an increase of eight per cent to Rs 26.96 billion during the same period of last fiscal year, whereas the merchandise imports increased by 15.5 per cent to Rs 177.79 billion against 1.6 per cent to Rs 153.97 billion during the same period of the last fiscal year,” the central bank said.

However, the central bank claimed that Balance of Payment (BoP) has recorded the highest ever surplus of Rs 61.19 billion during the five months of the current fiscal year compared to a deficit of Rs 3.76 billion during the same period of last fiscal year, though the trade deficit has not seen any narrow down.
nnnn
OLD ALLIANCE ATTEMPTING TO REVIVE PAST AS BHATTARAI GOVT. FALTERS; OPPOSITION WILL HAVE TO GET SUPPORT OF KINGMAKERS MADESH
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: The two main opposition and 15 other fringe parties are mulling replacing the current coalition government without further ado, Bhadra Sharma, Kamal Deb Bhattarai write in The Kathmandu Post.
In a joint meeting of the 17 parties on Friday, leaders concluded that replacing the government is the only way to break the current stalemate and avert an impending disaster.
Tabled by the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, the proposal, however, does not say clearly whether the new equation will be formed under Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai himself or under any other leader from the Maoists (Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal) or from non-Maoist parties.
As a sizable chunk of opposition leaders are still not convinced that a non-Maoist government could help take ahead the peace process, chances of parties agreeing on finding a replacement from within the Maoists are high.
The leaders said that though Dahal, who is still the kingmaker, appears as a convincing candidate to replace Bhattarai at the moment, chances of Bhattarai continuing or finding a non-Maoist leader, for instance from the NC, cannot be ruled out.
“We now have no alternative to replacing this government. It is time we brainstorm the alternatives,” UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal told the meeting.
Leaders close to Dahal said the Maoist chief is also convinced that replacing the current government is the best way out, but that would be possible only after February 13 when the Maoist party completes its orientation programme across the country.
“Change in the government is the best card for the chairman (Dahal) to placate the hardline faction of the party and the opposition parties as well,” said a leader close to Dahal. “But we have to wait till February 13.”
Maoist leaders said they will try to keep the Bhattarai-led government going for the time being, until the party prepares itself for a "bold step."
In order to make the current government stay, the Maoist party is likely to agree to bidding farewell to Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement. “We will not go back on our position and are ready to release the combatants," Politburo member Haribol Gajurel said.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the 17 parties urged the NC and UML leadership to go ahead only after analysing the future strategy of the Maoist party and by taking other parties into confidence.
The meeting also concluded that the government and the Maoist party breached past peace agreements with its decision to legalise war-time decisions on land ownership transfers.
On Saturday, NC is scheduled to hold discussions with the Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha (SLMM) on a wider range of issues, including the next government and the peace and constitution writing processes. “We are scheduled to talk with leaders of the Madhesi Morcha to discuss the wider issues,” said NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC.
Most of the Madhes-based parties are not satisfied with the performance of the present government.
nnnn
NEPAL PRESSES INDIA FOR NEW AIR ROUTES
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Nepal plans to ask India for development of Trans-Himalaya 2 airspace connecting Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe and three other cross-border airspaces in view of the increasing air traffic demand in Nepal, Sangam Parsain writes in The Kathmandu Post.
A meeting has been planned between Nepal and India that will bring together planners and the concerned stakeholders to discuss opening additional air routes.
A highly placed source at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) said that Nepal would propose opening three cross-border airspaces from Janakpur, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.
Similarly, for aircraft entering Nepal’s air space, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) will propose Biratnagar (in the eastern region), Bhairahawa (in the western region) and Nepalgunj (in the mid-western region).
Currently, Nepal has three incoming air routes—Simara, Kakkarbhitta from Paro in Bhutan and the Nonim air route from China. The Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi (L626) is the outgoing air route for international flights. The L626 route has been operational since November 2009. It took nearly seven years for the airway to be opened. The proposed meeting will discuss opening new airspaces to ease traffic congestion, enhancing information transmission, traffic regulations, emergency recovery of aircraft during accidents and automatic message switching system in Nepal’s aviation sector.
“The move to open cross-border airspace is directed at benefiting Nepal’s domestic airlines aspiring to serve Indian cities,” an MoTCA official said. Currently, Buddha Air flies to a number of cross-border destinations in India and plans to connect other neighbouring markets.
Likewise, Trans-Himalaya 2 airspace (Hong Kong-Kunming-Guwahati-Kathmandu) which is one of the lucrative routes for Nepal, is a top priority on Nepal’s agenda for the meeting.
If the route is opened, it will be the shortest way from China and the Far East to the Middle East and Europe. The air distance from Kathmandu to Hong Kong will also be reduced. Implementation of this airspace will allow international airlines to fly over Nepali airspace, which means savings in fuel and distance for carriers flying this route and revenue for Nepal.
The route will help environment protection with less carbon emission. It will help reduce congestion of westbound traffic flows across the Bay of Bengal. “The airspace was discussed during Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s visit to Delhi,” said Suresh Acharya, joint secretary at the MoTCA. According to him, India was positive about opening the route. “The government has written to the Indian government and the India civil aviation authority to discuss the proposed route and is waiting for their response,” Acharya said.
According to CAAN, Nepal has proposed three air routes—Himalaya 1 (Bangkok-Kolkata-Nepalgunj-Indek in Pakistan), Himalaya 2 and Himalaya 3—at different ICAO meetings and other forums. Among them, the most beneficial route is Himalaya 2, but it requires much effort by Nepal to get India and China to agree.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has kept Himalaya 2 as a future requirement. “With regard to permission from the Chinese side for Trans-Himalaya 2 airspace, separate discussions need be held with the Chinese government,” Acharya added.
According to the stats issued by Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), international flight movement through Kathmandu has surged 17.79 percent in the first nine months of 2011. TIA handled 16,466 international flights in 2011 compared to 13,978 during the same period in 2010.
Nnnn

MADESH LEADERS DIVIDED OVER COALITION PARTNER MAOIST ATTEMPT TO LEGALISE SEIZURES
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.:Leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) are divided over whether to oppose or defend the recent government´s decision to legalize conflict-era property transactions, Gani Ansari writes in Republica.

While the ministers representing the Madhesi alliance have defended the decision, others from the alliance have opposed it.

Health Minister and Chairman of Sadbhawana Party (SP) Rajendra Mahato said no one should criticize the government without understanding what the decision entails. Mahato, however, refused to elaborate.

Similarly, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Dan Bahadur Chaudhari from the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (Nepal) claimed that the government decision is not meant to legalize conflict-era property transactions.

“The government has only decided to waive fees while registering such lands [at the Land Revenue Office] with consent from the concerned stakeholders,” argued Chaudhari, accusing the main opposition parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of trying to obstruct the peace process and constitution writing on the pretext of protesting the government decision.

Environment Minister Hemraj Tated also from the UDMF said the issue should not be blown out of proportion.

But UDMF leaders have stood against the government decision.

Vice-Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R) Rajkishor Yadav vented ire over the decision, saying the Madhesi alliance would not accept the government decision. “If the government legalizes conflict-era property deals, we will be under compulsion to legalize other decisions taken by the so-called “people´s government”,” argued Yadav.

He said they would raise the issue in the Madhesi alliance.

Similarly, Vice-chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Brikhesh Chandra Lal said the decision is against the spirit of the peace process. “If the government must clarify what the decision is all about,” opined Lal.

Vice-chairman of SP Laxman Lal Karna also said the government can not take such a decision without amending some existing laws. “If the government has taken such a decision, it is against the existing laws,” added Karna.

Meanwhile, sources at the Ministry of Law and Justice claimed that the Ministry of Land Reforms did not consult the law ministry officials though the issue in question was purely a legal one. It is a general practice for any ministry to turn to the law ministry for advice before taking any such proposal to the cabinet.

“The government should have consulted us to determine if such a decision would confirm to the existing laws,” the source added.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

SAARC SECRETARY GENERAL RESIGNS BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS AT HOME IN MALDIVES
Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: The Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Dhiyana Saeed has decided to resign the post amid allegations from senior Maldivian officials that she was siding with anti-government forces in the ongoing political crisis that has lately engulfed the island nation, Kosh Raj Koirala reports in Republica..

Maldivian media reported that Dhiyana publicly announced to submit her resignation on Friday to Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem, who is also the current chairperson of SAARC Council of Ministers.

The move comes after the government expressed outrage over her remarks against the arrest of the country´s Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

Responding to her criticism against the government´s move to arrest the judge and opposition party leaders, Maldivian President´s Press Secretary Mohammad Zuhair had alleged that Saeed´s stating her “personal and private position” on TV “clearly contravened the SAARC Charter”.

“I did not interfere with any internal affairs of the Maldives and I will submit my resignation today,” a local newspaper quoted Saeed, who is the youngest and the first female SAARC Secretary General, on Friday.

Niranjan Basnyat, Director at SAARC Secretariat on behalf of Nepal, however, said they do not have any official information about Saeed´s resignation. “We may possibly know about the developments, if any, by Monday," he said.

According to online edition of local Haveeru newspaper, Maldivian government and Secretary General Saeed were at odds over the legality of the arrest of Chief Judge Mohamed, who along with senior opposition party leaders was arrested last week by Maldivian authorities.

Saeed had publicly accused the government of ignoring existing laws of the country and called parliament to oppose the ruling body during a press conference.

“The government does not have the authority to say we will act on this article and this article does not exist for us,” the newspaper quoted Saeed as claiming during the press conference that was aired on Jumhoree Party leader Gasim Abrahim´s VTV on Wednesday night.

“This is not something we can pick and choose.”

Saeed had assumed her post as SAARC Secretary General in March, 20011. She was the second Maldivian to be appointed to the post after Special Envoy to the President Ibrahim Hussein Zakee.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

PM WEN’S VISIT TAKES RELATIONS TO NEW HEIGHT SAYS PM
BHATTARAI

Kathmandu, 21 Jan , Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Friday said that the ties between Nepal and China were broadening in the recent days, Rising Nepal reports.
Addressing the Chinese Spring Festival-2012, organized to mark the Chinese New Year here, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai reiterated that China was a good friend of Nepal.
"Our mutual ties are very deep as always in the past," he added.
He said that the recent visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had given a new height to the bilateral relations between Nepal and China.
Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai appreciated the support of China for the development of Nepal.
He said China was continuously supporting the development of Nepal’s education, tourism, infrastructure and health sectors.
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai also extended his greetings to the government of China and Chinese people living all over the world.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yang Houlan also reiterated that he was happy to see both Nepali and Chinese people together in the festival as brothers and sisters.
Saying that Wen’s visit to Nepal was successful, envoy Yang added that premier Wen was happy regarding his recent visit to Nepal.
Admiring the hospitality provided by Nepal’s side during Wen’s visit, envoy Yang expressed his confidence that Nepal and China would give continuity to the close friendship featuring more cultural exchanges.
Meanwhile, RSS adds, Prime Minister Bhattarai said the Government formed a task force to make a study of the calendars used by all the linguistic groups and concrete decision regarding this would be taken after the task force submited its report.
PM Bhattarai said this while receiving a memorandum from the Duk Lhochhar New Year 2848 Celebration Coordination Main Committee. It demanded to fulfill its four-point demands that include making arrangements for broadcasting the programmes in the Tamang language being
transmitted through regional broadcasting from the central broadcasting of Radio Nepal and giving national recognition to the Tamang Calenda.
Committee Coordinator Kumar Yonjan Tamang told journalists after the committee’s meeting with the prime minister that the prime minister said the calendars and the festivals of all the linguistic and ethnic groups were national assets and the Government has adopted the policy of respecting them all.
Nnnn

PM TO TAKE INTIATIVE SUNDAY TO END STALEMTE

Kathmandu, 21 Jan. : Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Speaker Subash Nembang this evening discussed the stalemate seen in the Legislature-Parliament in the wake of the main opposition parties and other fringe parties boycotting the parliament meeting, RSS reports.
In the meeting that took place at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar, the Speaker drew the attention of the Prime Minister towards obstruction of the proceedings of the Legislature-Parliament by the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress and the opposition party, the CPN (UML), in protest against the Government’s decision to validate the decisions taken during the conflict period by the People’s Government of the then CPN (Maoist).
The decisions of the People’s Government related to sale and purchase of land, land transfer deeds and division of property, among others.
In reply, Prime Minister Bhattarai said initiatives would be taken to resolve the stalemate in the Legislature-Parliament by coming Sunday and assured that the seven-point agreement signed among the major parties on November 1, 2011 would be adhered to in letter and spirit, according to Bishwadeep Pandey, the prime minister’s aide.
nnnn

ITEMS BELOW WERE DELAYED IN TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE
OF LOAD-SHEDDING

OPPOSITION OBSTRUCTS PARLIAMENT SESSION

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Opposition parties NC and UML Friday obstructed parliament for the second day charging a 12 January cabinet decision to to certify decisions of parallel Maoist government bodes during a 10-year communist insurgency was illegal.
Maoists launched the anti-government rebellion charging the then government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
and his home minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was later elevated to government chief by NC, for grave repression of rights, suppression and excesses.
Speaker Subash Nemwang adjourned legislative session until Sunday; no business was conducted Friday.
The opposition parties demanded a statement from government on the cabinet decision and vowed to continue obstruction indefinitely without a correction of the government order
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai returned to the capital from Dhulikhel where he was on a retreat and discussed the latest government crisis with
Nemwang
NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel warned the legislative session will continue until the government is corrected,
Sixteen parties in parliament also decided to
obstruct parliament session on the issue.
Opposition party leaders charged Maoists have been avoiding meetings of bodes discussing peace and constitution
“There’s a feeling the country is heading towards
a rebellion,” charged former Premier and UML
leader Madhav Kumar Nepal
‘Time is being wasted. They (Maoists) don’t come
to attend meeting of the constitutional committee,”
said Dr.Prakash Chandra Lohini, Vice-chairman of Rashtriya Janashakti party.
nnnn

MADESH MINISTER GUPTA BLAMES OPPOSITION FOR STALEMATE

Kathmandu, 21 Jan.: Minister for Information and Communications, Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta has said the constitution would not be ready until the peace process concluded, RSS reports from Rajbiraj.
Speaking in course of inspecting the projects carried out with the money sanctioned from the MP’s Development Fund in Constituency Number 2 of Saptari District today, he said the Madhesi people would not be empowered if the peace process and constitution writing were not completed.
"It was with this kind of situation emerging in the country that the United Democratic Madhesi Front forged a deal with the UCPN (Maoist) to join the Maoist-led Government," he said.
The Information and Communications Minister also opined that it would be difficult to conclude the peace and constitution writing processes by sidelining the UCPN (Maoist), the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, in the present context.
He said the power-centric politics adopted by the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) in such a situation would push the country further towards stalemate.
Minister Gupta who is also the chairman of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republican) accused the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML), among some parties, of not being positive on the political empowerment of the Madhesi people and also warned that the Madhesis would not hesitate to burn the new constitution if it does not take into account the aspirations of the Madhesi people.
Nnnn

13 STUDENT UNIONS HOLD NATION-WIDE PROTESTS
UPDATE

Kathmandu, 20 Jan. : Thirteen student unions, including Maoists, Friday held nation-wide protests nation-wide in front of campuses opposing this week’s massive hike in prices of POL products,
In the capital, students clashed with
police in front of RR Campus and a government
vehicle was torched.
Examinations there were disrupted.
Nnnn

GACHEDHAR DISCUSSES NEPALWITH INDIAN LEADERS
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar , who is also home and defence minister, held consultations with Indian main opposition party leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Chief Rajnath Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party in the
India capital on Friday.
He also held discussions with Mulayam Singh, who is chairman of Samajvadi Dal.
The second man in government discussed internal political and bilateral issues with Indian leaders in and out of government.
Nnnn

________________________________________

$20M SOUTH KOREAN GRANT FOR LUMBINI

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: The Government of the Republic of Korea has agreed to provide two millions US dollars in grant assistance to Nepal for the master plan for the Lumbini World Peace City Preservation and Development RSS reports.

A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed and exchanged between the two governments on Thursday, states a press statement released by the Ministry of Finance.

The main objectives of the project are to contribute to respecting the outstanding universal value of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, to conserve the cultural and historic environment and cultural heritages in a more proper way, to present metaphysical foundation templates for the use in design of the Lumbini World Peace City, to create Lumbini as world peace city, a city of Buddhist teaching and learning, among others by sharing Korea´s experience and knowledge.

The project would be implemented within a period of one and half years from the date of its commencement.

Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) would be the implementing agencies for the project on behalf of Nepal and Korea, respectively.

The MoU was signed by Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Banskota and Korean Ambassador to Nepal Mr. IL-Doo Kim.
Nnnn

________________________________________

SEVEN PRISONERS MISSING FROM BHIMPEDHI PRISON

2012-01-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

SEVEN PRISONERS MISSING FROM BHIMPEDHI PRISON

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Seven Indian nationals detained for investigation
have gone missing from Bhimpedhi prison overnight.
They were detained to investigate drugs related charges.
The prisoners went missing at four in the morning Friday.
Five security guards have been detained for investigation
There was no sign on a jailbreak.
nnnn

DENMARK ASSUMES EU PRESIDENCY

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Denmark has assumed the EU presidency in
Nepal from 1 January, an announcement said.
The Scandinavian country will represent EU member countries in a non-European country.
Nnnn

NC, UML MEET AGAILN FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Main opposition NC and UML meet again Friday for the second consecutive day, UML Vice-chairman Bamdeb Gautam
said.
The parties are discussing secret and unannounced government decision to formalize seizure of assets during the 10-year insurgency by Maoist parallel governments.
NC and UML Thursday asked Maoists and government to rescind the
decision.
Madeshbadi arties are in government with Maoists.
nnnn

MAOISTS ENDORSED 12,000 LAND DEALS
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: The UCPN (Maoist)’s Revolutionary Council brokered more than 12,000 land and property deals in five mid-western districts during the insurgency, a Maoist source said, Janak Nepal writes in The Kathmandu Post from Nepalgunj..
Many of these transactions took place under duress, wherein the sellers were unsatisfied with the price they received for their pieces of land and houses. During the insurgency, the districts of Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Jajarkot and Kalikot were well-known Maoist strongholds, and the party had apparently proscribed the people of these districts from having recourse to the land revenue offices whenever they wished to sell a piece of land or their house. It was made mandatory that all the dealings pertaining to the sale of properties take place under the Maoists’ supervision. The party charged Rs 500-700 per transaction, raking in more than six million rupees.
The government recently decided to give legitimacy to the Maoist-administered property dealings, and already people from different quarters have raised their voice of dissent saying that the move had followed pressure on the Maoist party from the people left without the government-issued property ownership documents.
Maoist Politburo member Haribhakta Kandel said the people were not in a state of visiting the district headquarters to obtain property ownership documents from
the land revenue office during the insurgency and urged everyone not to take the government decision otherwise.
“The rural regions were under the Maoist rule during the insurgency. The property dealings that took place with the Maoist party as the witness, therefore, should not be misconstrued by anyone.
The party-issued property ownership documents should get legitimacy. This will assist the ongoing peace process.”
In Kalikot, the Maoists had set up two councils to oversee property dealings during the conflict. Karna Bahadur Bhandari, former council chairman, said the party had issued 150 land registration documents in the north-western VDCs of Kalikot, including Mehelmudi, Mumra, Syuna, Sipkhana, Phukot, Malkot, Rupsa, Kumalgaon and Lalu. Similarly, 153 land registrations were documented by the Maoists in the eastern Kalikot VDCs and some parts of Jumla district. Kalikot District Land Revenue Office, meanwhile, has no statistics whatsoever on the property dealings or registration that took place under Maoist supervision.
In Salyan, the Maoists had issued as many as 500 land ownership documents in one VDC alone. In some cases, it has been found that the actual property owner was either kept in the dark or forced to sell off their land and house. It has been learnt that the Maoists issued around 5,000 property ownership documents in the district.
“I never agreed to sell my land but I was told that the transaction had already taken place. I never received any money,” complained Bhimi Chalaune of Chande VDC.
Kriti Bahadur Basnet of Shibaratha VDC said that the Maoists captured his house and handed him some papers that read his property has been sold. “They have not returned my house. They tell me that it has already been sold.”
Claiming that the Maoists forced the people to sell their properties during the insurgency, Damodar Sharma, vice chairman of CPN-UML, Salyan, said that providing legitimacy to such dealings cannot be accepted.
“Many people were forced to sell their properties at low prices and leave their villages. Who is going to consider such cases?”
Rolpa district leadership of the Maoists has, meanwhile, urged the party to grant legitimacy to around 2,000 land ownership documents issued by the Maoist Council during the conflict. “After the government asked for the details of property dealings, we are studying if there are any more cases,” said Raj Kumar Kakshapati, joint in charge of the UCPN (Maoist), Rolpa.
Rolpa District Revenue Office, however, said it cannot give recognition to the property dealings carried out by the Maoists.
“We’ve received many applications in this regard in the past and we’ve been referring them to the higher authority, as it is not under our jurisdiction to decide such cases,” said Hemraj Acharya of the office.
In Jajarkot, complaints are rife among many who bought properties during the insurgency. Without the government-issued property ownership documents, they said, they do not have the real right over the land they had bought.
Tej Bahadur Chand of the District Land Revenue Office said that in such cases the sellers could easily procure the ownership documents for their undocumented sold properties merely by writing application to the office telling that the ownership papers were lost.
In Jajarkot, the Maoists issued more than 1,000 property ownership documents, said Pratap Jaisi, Maoist district secretary.
(With inputs from Tularam Pandey, Biplav Maharjan, Kashiram Dangi and Bhim Bahadur Singh)
Nnnn
GACHHADAR MEETS INDIAN OFFICIAL BREACHING PROTOCOL
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: In what is being seen as a “breach of protocol”, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar met an Indian bureaucrat of the Minister of State level at the latter’s office in New Delhi on Thursday, Mahesh Acharya writes in The Kathmand Post from New Delhi.
Gachhadar who also holds the Home and Defence Ministry portfolios went to South Block—India’s government secretariat which houses the offices of the Prime Minister, Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Ministry—and met India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. Surprisingly, Gachhadar held one-on-one discussions with Menon for about one hour, while members of his delegation were kept outside, according to knowledgeable sources. High-level officials of all the security agencies of Nepal are accompanying Gachhadar on his four-day sojourn.
“After a brief introduction of the security officials with Menon, Gachhadar held one-on-one discussions with him,” a source said.
Foreign affairs experts have interpreted this meeting as a serious breach of protocol. An Indian foreign affairs analyst, who did not want to be named, said the official of the visiting country is to be equally blamed as that of the host country for such kind of an “embarrassing situation”.
Repeated attempts to contact Indian officials to have them comment on the meeting failed.
The Former Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gopal Thapa, said such meetings which ‘violate’ the protocol have tarnished the country’s image in the international arena. “The Vienna Convention does not allow a person of the Deputy Prime Minister level to meet a person who is holding a position lower than him in another country at the latter’s place,” Thapa told the Post from Kathmandu.
“However, Nepali leaders are often seen insisting on meetings with lower-level officials in other countries. In that situation, India cannot reject such a request though they know it will be in breach of protocol,” he added.
Former Indian ambassador to Nepal Dev Mukherjee, however, said, “National Security Advisor is a special person in the country. Though he is of the Minister of State level, meeting with him should not be reciprocated with the protocol concerning as that of a government minister,” he said.
India bats for early Extradition Treaty
In a meeting with Gachhadar, Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram underscored India’s wish to sign the pending Extradition Treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance at the earliest. Chidambaram was positive on doing the needful soon on a pending request of the Nepal government to better equip and train Nepal Police, according to Nepali officials who attended the meeting.
Nnnn

PARKLIAMENT SCHEDULED TO MEET FRIDAY; LIKELY TO BE BOYCOTTED BY OPPOSITION

2012-01-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

PARLIAMENT SCHEDULED TO MEET FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Parliament is scheduled to meet Friday
amid declaration by opposition parties NC and UML Thursday they’ll go on anti-government protests to press government to; correct a decision
to formalize seizure of assets and register them at government offices.
The government decision effectively implements decisions of parallel Maoist governments during the insurgency to seize assets of opponents and so-called feudals even after an agreement with parties to return properties to complete the peace process.
The two parties boycotted the last session of the house when news of the government decision was published by a newspaper.
Government hasn’t announced the decision officially.
NC and UML have opposed the
Bhattarai government decision even as they legalized stolen cars by
Maoists during the war.
Nnnn

STUDENTS TO PROTEST PRICE HIKE

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Students, including Maoists, are holding an
hour-long protest Friday in front of campuses in the Valley to protest
this week’s hike in prices of POL products—the second in two months,.
State monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said it’s still in the red after the hike.
Thirteen student organizations Thursday announced phased protests threatening closures, gheraos and sit-ins if a decision isn’t corrected by 10 in the morning Friday.
Sunsari was forcibly closed down Friday.
nnnn

UML KOSHI ANCHAL WORKERS’ MEET

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is scheduled to launch a launch a meet of workers of Koshi anchal in the eastern
region Friday in the presence of top party leaders.
The second biggest opposition party has been conducting such regional meetings in an effort to make it the largest political organization; it’s the third biggest party now.
The party announced a four-member dialogue team headed by
former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to bring like-minded parties to unite communists.
nnnn

AMER KHAN APPOINTED ETIHAD AIRWAYS GENERAL MANAGER

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Amer Khan has been appointed area general manager of Etihad Airways for Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, an
announcement said.
Khan will be based in Karachi.
The national carrier of UAE operates direct flights to
Nepal from the Gulf emirate.
Nnnn

MINISTER WITH THREE PRIVATE NUMBER PLATES IN
HIS SEIZED GOVT. VEHICLE

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Energy State Minister Suryaman Dong was found three private number plates Wednesday in a Prado vehicle provided by
Chameliya Hydro Power Company, Nagarik reports.
The vehicle was seized by officials of Nepal Electricity
Authority (NEA) Wednesday.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

‘Where’s the money seized [by Maoists] from the people under threat and dress? We’ll conduct an investigation.”

(NC President Sushil Koirala, Nagarik, 20 Jan.)
nnnn.

INDIAN PM SINGH PAYING OFFICIAL NEPALVISIT MARCH/APRIL

2012-01-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

INDIAN PM SINGH TO PAY OFFICIAL NEPAL VISIT MARCH/APRIL
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: India Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh is paying an official visit of Nepal sometime in March or April, Surendra Paudel writes in Nagarik
Singh revealed his travel plan during a meeting with Deputy Prime
Minister Bjaya Kumar Gachedhar in New Delhi Wednesday
“The visit of the prime minister is now certain.” Gachedhar told Nagarik
Gachedhar, who holds the home and defence ministry portfolios, has
been holding consultations with senior ministers on bilateral issues.
Gachedhar, who began a India visit Tuesday, returns home Friday.
The second man in government held security consultations with top Indian government leadership after Saturday’s four-hour Nepal visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
Beijing offered massive financial and security assistance during the visit.
China and India compete for influence in Nepal which New Delhi considers as its backyard.
nnnn

MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FRIDAY MORNING 3 DEGREES CELSIUS

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Minimum temperature Friday morning was 3
degrees Celsius
The mercury is expected to rise to 17degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
nnnn

RPP-NEPAL PROTEST

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: RPP-Nepal this week decided to launch a pressure campaign to push local elections.
The party also is demanding constitutional monarchy and a Hindu
state.
RPP-Nepal decided to conduct phased week-long protests from 17 March.
A memorandum with demands will be presented to the prime minister,
VDCs and municipalities will be gheraoed and on the last day of the phased pressure campaign, all VDCs will be padlocked.
nnnn
APPA SHERPA LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENT DEGRADATION

Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Appa Sherpa, who has climbed the 8848 meters
for a record 21 times, Tuesday started a four-month Mechi-Mahakali
trek to highlight the adverse impact of climate change on the Himalayan environment.
The Great Himalayan Trail was launched from Taplejung.
Appa, now based n USA, is an ambassador to spread the message of the degradation of the Himalayan environment to save it.
Nnnn

PRAHANDA MOVES TO LAZIMPAT

Kathmandu, 20 Jan. Maoist Chairman Prachand moved into a house n Lazimpat
near Shangri-la Hotel in Lazimpat with his family Thursday from Naya Bazzar.
It wasn’t known if the Maoist Chief ought the house or the party provided like the vaated building in Naya Bazzar.
NC President Sushil Koirala, who hails from Nepalgunj, also lives in a rented house in the capital.
UML Chief Jhalanath Khanal and his second in command Madhav Kumar Nepal live in their houses.
The new Prachanda residence is next to the Indiana, Japanese, Israeli, Pakistani and Japanese embassies.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Despite protest it is only this deal that has given momentum to the peace and statute-writing processes that were stalled for long,”

(Communication Minister Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta, The Himalayan Times, 20 Jan.)
nnnn
FOREST MINISTER LIES
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Muhamad Okil Musalman is the forest minister but he barely knows tree is known by its fruits, it seems, The Himalayan Times reports.

Forest Minister Muhamad Okil Musalman, who has been in the news for some time for all the wrong reasons, has his own way of shirking responsibilities. The minister, who is accountable not only to people but also to the committees formed by Parliament, has been playing truant for quite some time, and this time around he lied through teeth to avoid a meeting of Committee on Natural Resources and Means on the pretext that he was out of station. Today morning, parliamentarians kept on waiting for Minister Musalman at the committee office in Singha Durbar where he was supposed to brief the lawmakers on rampant deforestation in the districts and a report on implementation status of forest conservation. Musalman neither appeared before the committee nor considered necessary to inform why he was not there.

When Director General of the Department of Forests Brajkishore Yadav rang up the minister, he said he was out of the Valley. But when Musalman’s personal assistant Shiva Aryal was called up, he spilled the beans; he said the minister was very much in Kathmandu. “This is not the first time that the minister has disobeyed the committee. He failed to turn up last time also. The meeting was scheduled today morning as per his request and he is nowhere to be seen,” said committee Chairperson Shanta Chaudhary. According to the minister’s PA Aryal, the minister was sick. “He is in Kathmandu but he could not attend the meeting due to his health condition,” he said.

The lawmakers later requested the chairperson to initiate action against the minister and direct the ministry to furnish clarification. “The ministry has failed to implement our directives to curb deforestation. We have summoned him on Sunday morning,” said Chaudhary.

Forest ministry officials say Minister Musalman is a pain in the neck for his idiosyncrasies. “We hardly know where the minister goes and what he does,” said the officials who call the forest minister dead wood. Musalman has failed to abide by a directive from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority while his attempts to remove member secretary of National Trust for Nature Conservation have been challenged twice at the Supreme Court.
nnnn
POLICE BRING DOWN HUTMENTS AROUND
PASHUPATINATH AMID CURFEW
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Clamping a curfew in and around the UNESCO world heritage site of Pashupatinath last night, Pashupati Area Development Trust, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Nepal Police torched hundreds of illegal huts along the Gaushala-Bhubaneshwori stretch, The Himalayan
Times reports.
According to PADT, the encroachment upon the government land that started with the backing of major political parties during the Maoist insurgency has only increased in recent years. The authorities reportedly burnt 259 huts to ashes after notices issued in the last three years to vacate the site ‘went in vain’.
“We demolished the huts built in violation of the law and heritage site norms after repeated notices to vacate the area went in vain,” PADT treasurer Narottam Vaidya said. The vendors, who had been living at the site without paying any rent or taxes, said their stay was legal as they had registered with the Bankali Bazaar Management Committee 11 years ago, while PADT and the Kathmandu District Administration Office said the huts were illegal.
The vendors, who used to sell clothes, foodstuffs, flowers and puja ingredients, have warned of a protest tomorrow in front of PADT to press it to provide them with alternatives.
nnnn

MAOIST CHIEF CALLS FOR COMPROMISE ON C;ONSTITUTIO;N, PEACE
Kathmandu, 20 Jan.: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal conceded at a closed-door party meeting on Thursday that he made a mistake in compromising with the parliamentary parties on the issues of peace and constitution, and pledged he would no longer enter into any such consensus against the party´s fundamental principles, Post.B. Basnet/Kiran Pun report in Republica.

"The parliamentary parties humiliated us and tried to force their way through the peace and constitution drafting process, knowing full well that we were deeply divided. And that´s why we have taken a tough stance now," a Maoist leader quoted Dahal as saying during the cadre orientation program held at Khanna Garments.

Dahal said that after the NC and UML pushed hard on PLA integration and constitution drafting issues and sought compromises one after another, he asked party leaders including Janardan Sharma and Nanada Kishor Pun to speak up for "dignified integration" and a directly-elected presidential system of governance.

"And the strategy has really created panic in the NC and UML," a leader quoted Dahal as saying.

The leader of the former rebels also admitted that he has seriously violated the party´s fundamental principles while making compromises over peace and constitution drafting.

"There have been concessions on some issues, but it´s wrong to say I have compromised on all issues, violating the party´s fundamental principles. In fact, the most important issues are yet to be resolved," a participant quoted Dahal as further saying.

He told bemused cadres that the party is united on pushing for a "pro-people constitution that is anti-imperialist and anti-expansionist in nature" and fomenting an urban insurrection if the party fails in its endeavor.

The party began the cadre-orientation program Thursday and this will continue over the next two weeks. The objective is to inform cadres about the party´s latest strategy in the wake of the just concluded CC meeting.

At the program, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya told the cadres that the basis of party unity is twofold: To frame the constitution of a "people´s federal democratic republic that is anti-materialist and anti-expansionist in nature", and to prepare the ground for a revolt.

"The political line of federal democratic republic [forged by the Chunbang meeting] is no longer relevant. We have agreed to move beyond that, to a people´s federal democratic republic [the line passed by the Kharipati meeting]," a participant quoted Baidya as saying.

He called on Dahal to remain committed to the communist movement in Nepal and effect a revolution.

"Don´t try to become a statesman as the parliamentary parties urge you. Become the leader of the proletariat to lead a revolution," a participant quoted Baidya as telling Dahal.

Prime Minister Babauram Bhattarai, who ranks third in the party hierarchy, stated that the party will put in efforts to frame a pro-people constitution, and if that fails the party will naturally opt for a revolt to capture state power. He also told the cadres that he is ready to resign from the government whenever the party decides to recall him.

"But we should not quit the government front without a better options," a leader quoted Bhattarai as saying.
Nnnn

________________________________________

1,700 VAT EVADERS OWE RS 4B
Kathmandu, 20 Jan : In yet another revelation of VAT evasion, Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has found around 1,700 small and medium enterprises of evading Rs 4 billion, Prabhakar
Ghimere writes in Republica..

Tanka Mani Sharma, IRD director general told Republica that of the total 1,700 firms investigated, 560 firms have an annual turnover of over Rs 5 million each, whereas the remaining have a turnover of Rs 2 million.

Out of the 560 enterprises with annual turnover of more than Rs 5 million each, 300 are based in the capital.

Sharma said over Rs 8 billion worth of transactions carried out by a total 1,700 companies didn´t fall under the VAT and other tax purview. “Of the total Rs 8 billion, it is estimated that 560 firms owe around Rs 5 billion,” Sharma added.

As per the existing rule, business enterprises with an annual turnover of more than Rs 2 million must register for VAT.

“We found that these firms have either not registered for VAT or have simply evaded VAT. Most of the companies under investigation have not registered for VAT making the state suffer a revenue loss of around Rs 4 billion in VAT, Income Tax, Excise Duty, among others,” Sharma said.

The companies being investigated only have Permanent Account Number (PAN).

Meanwhile, IRD has settled 468 cases of the total 518 cases so far for evading more than Rs 10 billion in VAT. “We have extracted Rs 4 billion in tax from the 468 companies,” said Sharma.

A couple of months ago, IRD had set a timeline to complete investigation of 49 cases by mid-Dec, 41 cases by mid-Jan and 15 cases by mid-Feb.

Meanwhile, the talks between agitating brick producers and IRD officials on Thursday ended inconclusively with both sides refusing to budge from their respective stances. Brick producers have refused to register for VAT.
Nnnn

FURTHER POWER CUT LIKELY

2012-01-19T08:09:00.001-08:00

FURTHER POWER CUT LIKELY
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The nation is likely to face increased load shedding hours as Mid-Marsyangdi Hydel Project is to be closed for three weeks upon the cause of repair and maintenance after January 29, RSS reports from Lamjung.
The repair was needed as there was problem in the project dam site and power house posing danger of accident, said project chief Ram Kumar Yadav.
The German consultant company had suggested maintenance last year but had been stalled so far.
Maintenance needs to be done as more sand has accumulated than expected in the project dam site and the reserve needs to be fully emptied, he said.
Recently, the Nepal Electricity Authority has been enforcing load shedding for 14 hours a day.
nnnn

COUP SMASHED IN BANGLADESH
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The Bangladesh army said Thursday it had foiled a plot last month by some "religiously fanatic" Islamist officers to overthrow the elected government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, AFP reports from Dhaka.

"We have unearthed a heinous conspiracy to overthrow the democratic government through the army," army spokesman Brigadier General Masud Razzaq said in a written statement.

"The attempt has been thwarted with the whole-hearted efforts of army soldiers," the statement said, adding that the plot had been fomented by Bangladeshi expatriates in touch with "religiously fanatic army officers".

Hasina´s government, which came to power in early 2009, made changes in June last year to bolster the secular character of the Bangladesh constitution, although Islam was retained as the state religion.

The move sparked a series of angry protests by Islamic activists in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, one of the world´s poorest countries with a long history of coups and counter-coups.

Razzaq told local media that the plot involved up to 16 Islamist officers, both active and retired, raising fears about the prevalence of hardliners in the upper ranks of the 140,000-strong military.

Two retired officers including a colonel have been arrested and will be presented before a court of inquiry set up on December 28, while an alleged "co-planner" called Major Syed Ziaul Haq, a serving officer, is on the run.

Syed Ashraful Islam, the spokesman of the ruling Awami League party and an influential minister, said anyone found guilty would be handed "exemplary" punishment.

"There is no room for conspiracy in the army. Those who are involved in such conspiracy will be given exemplary punishment," he told reporters.

Giving details about the alleged plot, Razzaq said that Ziaul had circulated emails to different serving officers detailing a plan to overthrow the government on January 9-10.

The outlawed Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir, banned in Bangladesh in 2009 after it was linked to a car bomb on a politician, was accused of helping to circulate the messages.

There were rumours online late last month about a foiled coup attempt after the nation´s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia accused the government of "incidences of disappearances" in the army.

The army hit back, terming the allegations "provocative and misleading".

Dhaka University professor Imtiaz Ahmed, a security expert, told AFP that "we´ve been hearing the rumour of a possible coup for the last couple of weeks. It appears that they handled the situation quite well."

He said it was important the armed forces "seriously dig into the matter as to how much the Islamists were involved, in which capacity and how big was the penetration."

Bangladesh has a history of bloodshed and political violence since gaining independence in 1971.

The country´s first president was assassinated during his overthrow by the army in 1975 and Bangladesh was run by the military dictator again from 1982 to 1990.

Democracy was restored in 1991, but street battles between Zia and Hasina´s supporters prompted the army to step in again in January 2007.

The government of Hasina, who came to power in 2009, was hit by a military rebellion later that year when 57 army officers were killed by renegade border guards.

The spokesman said the army has set up a court of inquiry on December 28 to try the alleged coup planners.
Nnnn

WOMAN SHOT DEAD IN BANKE

2012-01-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

WOMAN SHOT DEAD IN BANKE
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: A woman died when a gang of criminals opened fire at her in Holiya of Banke district, RSS reports from Banke.

Nahana Yadav, 52, of Holiya-2 died after the gang arrived here from the border area of India attacked her.

A police team led by Superintendent of Police, Bikram Singh Thapa arrested two among the assaulters from the site.

The group, which frequently used to carry out looting in the village, is said to have targeted the family of local Bahadur Yadav.

The group opened fire at Bahadur's wife Nahana while she was running away from them, last night.

Earlier, the villagers had filed complaints against the looters with the Indian Police.
nnnn

HOUSE COMMITTEE CALLS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has said local bodies' election could be held if consensus was forged among the senior leaders of the major political parties, RSS reports.

However, he said the first priority of the nation is peace and constitution writing and if other issues were taken up in the middle of it, the peace process would be disrupted.

Speaking at a meeting of the Development Committee under the Legislature-Parliament in Singha Durbar on Thursday, the Minister for Local Development stressed on the need of forging an understanding among the political parties saying that the election is the best alternative after scrapping of the all-party mechanism formed to run local bodies.

He said, "The government will undertake necessary initiation for the local bodies' election after May 27 once the tasks for the peace and constitution writing process were concluded.

Lawmakers, Purna Kumar Serma Limbu, Jivanprem Shrestha, Durga Linkha, Krishna Prasad Sapkota, Padma Aryal, and Taranarayan Shrestha among others, stressed on the need of holding the election at the earliest at the absence of the all-party mechanism.

The lawmakers said local bodies could not be run effectively just by local government employees after the dismissal of the all-party mechanism and suggested for finding alternative solution to this.

The government had decided to dissolve the all-party mechanism with effect from Wednesday as per the directive of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) following reports of corruption and irregularities by such a mechanism at the local level.

At the meeting, the Committee Chair Jitendra Prasad Sonal directed the Ministry of Local Development to look for an alternative to the all-party mechanism and fix a date for the local elections.

Currently, the Local Development Officer at the DDC and the Executive Officer at the Municipality have been assigned to assume the responsibilities of the all-party mechanism at the local bodies.
Nnnn
ABDUCTED AND KILLED IN SINDHUPALCHOWK
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Yam Prasad Timalshina, 55, was murdered Wednesday after abduction in Sindhupalchowk
His body was found Thursday in Baharabishe, police said.
Nnnn

20 MILLION BRITISH POUND STERLING ASSISTANCE TO CONCLUDE PEACE

2012-01-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

20 MILLION BRITISH POUND STERLING ASSISTATANCE TO CONCLDE PEACE PROCESS
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: United Kingdom extended a 20 million British
pound sterling equivalent to Rs.2.5 billion rupees to conclude a delayed peace process.
Visiting Secretary of Secretary of State for International Development Mitchell promised the contribution at a meeting with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in Dhulikhel where he’s on a retreat.
The money will be channeled through a Peace Trust administered by the government.
nnnn

SUPREME COURT STAYS GOVT. DECISION TO LEGALIZE SEIZURES

2012-01-19T07:21:00.001-08:00

SUPREME COURT STAYS DECISION OF GOVT. TO LEGALIZE SEIZURES DURING INSURGENCY
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: A single bench of Supreme Court Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi Thursday issued an interim order staying an unannounced
cabinet decision to legitimize decisions of seizure of assets by Maoists during the 10-year insurgency.
The decisions were taken by parallel governments during the 10-year insurgency and Maoists in an agreement with parties had agreed to return the seized properties to conclude peace and constitution drafting.
The court, acting of a writ decision to nullify the cabinet decision,
asked both sides to appear before it n 15 days for hearing by a full
bench.
Lawyers of the Democratic Lawyers Association had moved the apex court Tuesday to overturn the cabinet decision opposed Thursday by opposition parties NC and UML..
The parties warned the government will be boycotted in a joint
statement after the meeting.
The two parties said they will build up a coalition on the issue against the government.
They asked Maoists to correct the decision.
Nnnn
DEUBA SAYS PEACE PROCESS STALLED
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: :Senior leader of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the impending tasks in peace process and constitution drafting have been stalled due to the UCPN-Maoist, RSS reports from Kailali.

Addressing a news conference in Dhangadhi today, Deuba urged Maoists to remain responsible and complete the twin tasks-- peace process and statute drafting-- in slated time frame.

He further said the seven-point Peace deal inked between Maoists and non-Maoist actors should be implemented at any cost.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the non-implementation of the agreements from the Maoists side.

On the occasion, Deuba claimed that the new constitution would be promulgated on May 27 at any cost as the verdict of the Supreme Court has created obligatory situation to complete the peace process and write constitution.

In a separate context, leader Deuba said the disputes in the party were not resolved yet and added it was responsibility of party president to end the party disputes.
nnnn

GACHEDHAR HOLDS TALKS WITH INDIAN COUNTERPART

2012-01-19T06:38:00.001-08:00

NEPAL, INDIA HOME SECRETARY TALKS CONCLUDE

Kathmandu, 19 Jan. Home secretary level two-day Indo-Nepal talks on
security and other issues concluded in New Delhi Thursday,
The talks at the levels was the first in more than two years.
Nepal’s Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana and his Indian counterpart
R.K. Singh.led the two delegations.
The two South Asian nations agreed to take strong measures
to control cross-border crimes and dugs smuggling.
Other issues also figured in the talks.
India is a safe sanctuary for criminal activities by terai-based armed lrebel groups while India says the open 1,700km border home is used by Pakistan for anti-India activities.
New Delhi makes the claim even as it shares a long and sea border
with Pakistan.
Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, who is also in the India capital discussed security issues with his Indian counterpart P.Chidambaran Thursday.
Gachedhar is also home and defence minister.
Nnnn

DPM SHRESTHA UNDERGOES OPERATION IN JAPAN

2012-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SHRESTHA OPERATED IN JAPAN

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister an Foreign Minister
Narayan Kazi Shrestha Thursday underwent an operation at Hokkaido University Hospital in Japan.
He’ll have to spend two weeks in hospital, Radio Nepal said
Shrestha was suffering spinal and neck problems.
A published report said he was suffering degeneration of the bones.
Nnnn

OPINION

CHINA PLAYS NEPAL CARD

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: One striking aspect of Premier Wen Jiabao’s abbreviated visit to Nepal was his professed expectation that Nepal’s relations with India would continue to grow in the days ahead, Maila Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
To be sure, the assertion was revealed to the public indirectly. But since it has not been contradicted, the sentiment can be assumed to be one both Beijing and Kathmandu want disseminated in the aftermath, Maila Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
At one level, you could argue that such a candid expression of goodwill on Wen’s part would be conducive to boosting the kind of stability that has eluded Nepal for a long time. Moreover, no country would question another’s sovereign right to conduct relations with a third nation as it wished.
And have not we heard countless Indian leaders go on the record that they were entirely satisfied with Nepal’s growing relations with China?
The Chinese have been particularly adept in transforming this accepted practice of international behavior into a tool of foreign policy. It is not hard to see how the longer the Indians and others are preoccupied with deciphering the motives and intentions of the Chinese in Nepal, the better it is for the mandarins up north.
You do not have to be an incorrigible cynic to see the depravity inherent in Beijing advising a government led by a party that has so strenuously flaunted its northern tilt with abandoned while spewing anti-Indianism for several years now to pursue greater ties with India. One can only imagine the heartburn among the hardest liners among the Mohan Baidya camp.
The circumstances and schedule of Wen’s visit amply underscore that it was one the visitor was anxious to make. That he was intent on doing so to send a message to audiences beyond Nepal was equally clear. Normally, visiting Chinese dignitaries have included Nepal in a wider regional itinerary or in terms of countries with which they believe they share civilization or traditional ties. From Beijing’s perspective, it suffices that the visit took place at all.
The pledges of Chinese assistance that made international headlines may be of limited purposes here. Foreign assistance that comes with no strings attached – touted as the singular tenet of Chinese benevolence – tends to cuts both ways. The donor can delay projects or disbursements or quietly pull out altogether on grounds that may not be anticipated or often explicable to the recipient.
What Nepalis and others should perhaps focus on is the basis for pursuing bilateral relations that Wen’s visit has provided to the next generation of China’s leadership, which is to begin ascending power at the party congress later this year.
Many key factions – including the ‘princelings’ (scions of former PRC leaders and officials) and the ‘neo-comms’ – are likely to bring a neo-Maoist approach to the helm over the ensuing years as they continue to dominate the levers of power. The Communist Youth League led by President Hu Jintao is unlikely to be able to challenge any broadening of such an alliance. The voice the People’s Liberation Army has acquired in China’s policies concerning its periphery has been ringing a disproportionate echo on matters concerning Nepal.
Those dwelling on – and denigrating – Nepal’s brazen flaunting of the so-called China card always sought to deny the fact that any game by definition requires a full-fledged partner willing to play on the established terms. Today those critics find themselves forced to contend with the meaning and motives of China’s Nepal card.
Nnnn

MESS, CRISIS AND WORSE

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Most large political parties face a crisis of credibility atop a crisis of confidence. This explains why they are scared to hell as to how voters would receive them the next time they go pleading for support, Trikal Vastavik writes in People’s Review.
Nowhere in the world has a Constituent Assembly’s tenure been extended. Noted constitutionalists in Nepal have been speaking against the extensions that the CA has been seeking and getting despite the fact that its tenure expired nearly two years ago.
Power and only power is the target of the major political parties that are responsible for the mess that the country is in today. We have had five prime ministers, from Girija Prasad Koirala to Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal and, currently, Babu Ram Bhattarai.
They came; they chaired; and they left, leaving behind most unremarkable legacies and yet angling for another round at the post of power. If noted at all, it was for the unbridled impunity that has engulfed the entire nation as a gift of the new dispensation.
The commonality among them was that they all promised many things to many people in “New Nepal”. They also shared another common feature: they could neither ensure law and order nor check rampant corruption, earning for the republic of Nepal the most unenviable tag of “South Asia’s second most corrupt practices”.
Foreign heads of government and state do not pay visits to this country any longer. More foreign dignitaries visited this country during the bad old days of the partyless panchayat years than in the post-1990 period. The last six years have witnessed a virtual draught in this respect.
Queen Elizabeth paid a state visit in 1961, shortly after King Mahendra’s “coup”. A quarter of a century later, she again paid a state visit in 1986 when the pachas were celebrating the silver jubilee of the partyless polity.
Both King Mahendra and King Birendra paid state visits to many foreign capitals, including all the five Veto Powers of the UN Security Council. US President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Johnson received King Mahendra and Queen Ratna whereas President Ronald and Rosalyn Reagan received King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya. King Birendra was the foreign head of state to China who paid the highest number of visits by any foreign head of state to that communist country.
The foreign policy success was also indicated by the fact that 116 countries supported King Birendra’s Peace Zone proposal. It is a sad commentary on the existing state of Nepal’s foreign policy conduct. With the present crop of democratic, progressive and revolutionary leaders, Nepalis do not need other detractors to shoot down the country’s international image.
Surely, people had expected the republic of Nepal to achieve much more than what the now-discounted monarchy had achieved all along. It all began with utter failure to win a seat on the Security Council as an elected member, something Nepal had accomplished during the bad old days of “autocracy”.
Then there was this worthless exercise in trying to get an ex-UN bureaucrat, who spent all his prime working outside of Nepal, elected to preside over the UN General Assembly. Any sane mind could have seen the situation loud and clear except the candidate and his blind backers. The result: a drubbing from whose sting any Nepali with pride is to fully recover from.
Why is it that the first president of the republic of Nepal does not get invitations to prominent world capitals? Why is it that the five premiers of the “New Nepal” never got any notable invitation from abroad, except from our traditional friends on the south and north? Even here, things have gone amiss. Jhala Nath Khanal, of the UML, could not pay pilgrimage to New Delhi, despite his desperate efforts. Making and official trip to Beijing has also proved to be an arduous proposition.
For decades the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and UNCP (Maoist) in their various incarnations used to speak of the derailment of their efforts at formulating a Constitution by a Constituent Assembly, their actions in the past three and a half years have clearly shown that they neither have the vision nor capacity to render the very task they themselves vowed to get accomplished for more than 60 years.
Talking is one thing, doing is something else. Although the late Rishikesh Shah contributed to the drafting of the panchayat Constitution that went on to create a partyless polity which lasted for almost 30 years, he changed his attitude toward monarchy when things did not go the way he perceived. In the 1980s, he began exhorting people who called on him at his residence: “We should finish off the Thakuri rule.”
Some in the audience used to remind him that he, too, was a Thakuri after all. Shah used to grudgingly laugh the comments away but developed the habit of repeating the same especially in the course of the 1989 movement for restoration of democracy.
Shah had aspired for the prime minister’s chair, which he never got. King Birendra found the mercurial scholar/politician/human rights activist “unreliable” for his purpose and concerns. During King Mahendra’s rule, Shah’s “Heroes and Builders of Nepal” found its way as a compulsory English textbook. Most people have never heard of the book that was hailed at one time and is not even mentioned for the last 20 years and more.

Flip-flop is the trade mark of Nepali politics. Initially, some NC leaders were for a confederation with India and some of its leaders had even suggested that India should handle Nepal’s defense and foreign policies. The party that boasts of having led “all democratic” movements in Nepal was also responsible for banning Nepal Communist Party in the 1950s.
It was Tanka Prasad Acharya, whose government introduced public service commission, initiated periodic planning and saw Nepal’s formal entry as a member of the United Nations, that the ban on the Communist Party of Nepal was lifted. Instead of reconciling to the move, NC B.P. Koirala and his party members saw it as a “palace move to use the communists for its own interests”. They also saw it wrong that the communists held their first major gathering after the lifting of the ban at Fora Durbar. The ghost of Damodar Shumsher bears witness to this.
With such background and consistent pattern like a leopard never changing its spot, these parties do not learn and Nepalis continue to burn their fingers as a result. The worse is, therefore, yet to come.
nnnn

NC, UML DISCUSS MAOIST ATTEMPT TO SEIZE ASSETS

2012-01-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

NC, UML LEADERS MEET

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Leaders of two main opposition parties
NC and UML Thursday discussed government’s officially
unannounced decision to enforce decisions Maoist parallel
governments during a 10-year insurgency to enforce decisions such as land acquisitions, personal and even legal disputes
Party leaders earlier threatened government boycott and street protests if the decision isn’t corrected.
The Maoist government took the decision even as they agreed to retun seized assets in an agreement with parties while extending a tenure of the constituent assembly until the end of May,
The two biggest opposition parties also decided to take up the government with Madeshsbadi parties in government later Thursday.
Nnnn

STUDENTS THREATEN VALLEY CLOSURE 25 JANUARY

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Thirteen student unions warned they will
close down the Valley25 January if government doesn’t correct a decision to hike prices of POL products within 24 hours.
The unions, including Maoist, Thursday drew up detailed protests at a meeting in the morning.
Nnnn

TRIPLETS BORN

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Maya Kharel, 27, has given birth to triplets at a hospital in Butwal.
The mother and male babies are all well.
Maya was admitted to hospital Friday but the births were kept a
secret until Wednesday.
The mother gave birth for the first time,
Nnnn

FOUR DIE OF COLD

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Four persons died on cold in Taplejung and Rukum in the current cold wave.
Jas Bahadur Limbu,70, of Ambegydied-3 and a woman died in
Taplejung.
Two died in Rukum as well.
Nnnn

3.6 PERCENT GDP GROWTH PREDICTED

Kathmandu, 19 Jan. Nepal’s economy will grow by only .6 percent in the current fiscal year, World Bank Global Economy Prospects 2012 said.
In Nepal, remittance from workers accounted for 9.6 percent of foreign currency reserve.
Countries like Nepal, heavily dependent on foreign assistance, could be hit hard if overseas development assistance was cut amid fiscal consolidation in high income countries, the report said.
nnnn

FURTHER DETAILS OF DEADLY DHANKUTA FIRE THAT KILLS FIVE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY

2012-01-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

MORE DETAILS OF DHANKUTA FIRE
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: All five members of a family died when a house run as a hotel caught overnight at Rajarani VDC in Dhankuta.
The fire was doused in two; hours.
Nnnn
STUDENTS GIVE 24-HOUR ULTIMATUM TO RETRACT PRCE HIKE DECISION UPDATE
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: A meeting of 13 student unions Thursday
gave the government a 24 hour ultimatum to correct a government decision to hike prices
This was announced by Maoist student leader Himal Sharma.
Nnnn

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE MEET INCONCLUSIVE
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: A meeting of the main constitution drafting committee to draw up a constitution chaired by Nilabar Acharya was
inconclusive Thursday,
The committee met to approve recommendations of a Prachanda sub-committee tasked with responsibility to resolve differences on
themes for inclusion in a basis law.
Difference have to be resolved in another 10 days or 29 January.
Without unanimity between major political players, articles for a constitution will have to be adopted by a majority two-third vote.
The process in the 600-member constituent assembly will be
cumbersome and will required two-third majority could be
elusive to promulgate a constitution by the fresh 29 May
deadline.
Main opposition Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel said after Thursday’s meet a section of Maoists renegaded on agreements on themes on which thre was agreement at the Prachanda sub-committee.
The Maoist chief absented himself from Thursday’s meet.
nnnn
/
ytmeeting was xNikons
INCONCLUSIVE
PRACHANDA LWAS NOT PRESENT DIFFERING OPOSITIONS Paudel s aid.
24-hour ultimatum HImal Shrma lof Maoist said
Agreement by 15 Maghof dhankuta fire
TWO; HOUR
No reason Nt knwn how
Rajrani HOtekl in Dhankua
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Main coctitution drafting
MEDIA GOOGLE
"One of the agendas of my visit is to remove misunderstanding and doubts if any at the highest political level, [between the] governments and prime ministers of
both countries."
(DPM Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, Republica, 19 Jan.)
“Although the visit was not a long one, it was fruitful. The
Chinese premier and the Chinese people were really moved by these [security for Premier Wem Jiabao] efforts “
(Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan, The Kathamandu Post.)
nnnn

DARFUR SCAM ACCUSED HELD
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The local agent of a London-based firm that had supplied substandard Armoured Personnel Carriers to the Nepal Police mission in Sudan today landed, The Himalayan Times reports

in jail again, but for a different reason.

Police arrested Shambhu Bharati of Bhagwati Traders for manhandling on-duty police personnel during a security check.

SP Rajendra Shrestha, chief of the Kathmandu Police, said Bharati abused police personnel carrying surprise checks on vehicles as part of the two-week-long Valley Special Security plan, in Hanumansthan.

“Bharati was driving a car (Ba 5 Cha 3953). He did not cooperate with on-duty personnel and tried to intimidate them,” DSP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, spokesperson for Kathmandu police, said.

“Bharati, who identified himself as a ‘trusted man of Nepal Police’, threatened to sack the policemen,”he said. Bharati has been charged under the Public Offences Act.

Meanwhile, District Administration Office Kathmandu, has remanded him to six days in judicial custody to press charges against him.

Bharati is one of the 35 people, including 34 police officials, indicted in the Darfur scam. He was released on bail.
nnnn
GURKHAS SADDENED BY CUTS IN BRITISH ARMY
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Gurkha veterans in Nepal spoke of their sadness and sense of injustice today at Britain's decision to axe 400 jobs in the brigade as part of a wave of defence cuts, AFP reports from Kathmandu.

The Ministry of Defence has announced redundancies among 2,900 British army jobs going along with 1,000 air force and 300 Royal Navy positions as Britain's coalition government takes further steps to slash a record deficit.

"When they needed troops for battle, the UK government recruited hundreds and thousands of Gurkhas but they have decided to cut numbers in the name of reducing defence expenditure," said Gajendra Isbo, of the Kathmandu-based Gurkha Army Ex-Serviceman's Organisation.

"The decision to reduce the numbers is unfortunate and a great injustice."

The steep cuts to the Gurkha brigade, which has been part of the British army for nearly two centuries, follow a series of setbacks in recent years including a battle over pensions.

"We are saddened by this decision," Isbo added. "Downsizing is just like punishment. We hope the British government corrects the decision."

Around 3,500 Gurkhas recruited from Nepal currently serve in the British army, including in Afghanistan, and they have their own brigade.

About 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World War I and World War II and more than 45,000 have died in British uniform. They have a reputation for ferocity and bravery and are known for their distinctive curved Kukri knives.

"The Brigade of Gurkhas has been growing in size since modernisation in 2007 which also allowed them to serve for 22 years instead of 15," a statement from the British Embassy in Kathmandu said.

"This reduction in numbers has therefore been anticipated for some time."

Defence minister Philip Hammond said yesterday that the government had "no choice" but to axe the posts as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) after the previous Labour government overspent on defence.

He said the Gurkha cuts would only affect those with six years' service or more.
nnnn
PLAN TO ATTRACT RS.500B INVESTMENT
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The government is planning to attract some Rs 500 billion worth investment under the ambitious Nepal Investment Year 2012-13 campaign, The Himalayan Times reports.

“We are preparing a detail study of 50 mega projects,” Investment Board chief executive Radhesh Pant, said here today. The Board — that looks after only mega projects of above Rs 10 billion — has been actively working out on policy reforms and harmonisation, and preparing at least 50 project profiles that will bring some Rs 500 billion in the country that has been witnessing a sluggish growth since last three fiscal years. “The foreign investments will help propel economic growth,” he added.

“Large scale investment is crucial for economic growth,” said Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Suraj Vaidya.

“For growth of about eight per cent, we need 40 per cent of the gross domestic production (GDP) to go in the investment but our savings rate is very low,” he said, reasoning for the foreign investment. Despite various challenges, Nepal Investment Year will be a turning point to mobilise investment — both local and foreign — for the economic development, Vaidya said. “The campaign will help bring business and economy into the forefront and help initiate in garnering broad consensus on investment related policies and issues.” Nepal Investment Year will show the international investors that Nepal has investment-friendly environment and also identify its strong points as a potential investment destination.

The umbrella organisation of the private sector claims that it will also help identify the potential investors and network with them, apart from help Nepali investors connect with foreign investors.

As the global competition for investment is becoming more rigorous, the international investors seek incentives, Vaidya said, adding various countries have declared special incentives to lure foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as investors are choosy and capital is mobile.

The FNCCI will help the board work for the improvement in the investment climate, though the investment climate has improved in recent years, he added.

However, the political ownership is a major challenge, according to private sector. The Board might help create political consensus among the political parties to minimise the risk, as frequent changes in governments and of governments lead to policy instability and due to lack of ownership of the national campaign, the plans, promotion and marketing of the country might get hit. The FNCCI has planned mega show — international investment conference — in 2013, investment portal as FDI information centre and hopeful of agreement of at least 10 mega projects within the event period, to support the national campaign that has envisioned to double the investment size, become one stop service to investors, increase domestic investment and FDI, bi-lateral, and multilateral aid in infrastructure sector like energy, road, irrigation and social service sector.

The Board has also formed Investment Promotion sub-committee led by Vaidya; Investment Project Identification sub-committee led by Pant; Act, Rules and Policies Revision sub-committee led by National Planning Commission vice chair Deependra Bahadur Kshetri to make the Nepal Investment Year a great success.

FNCCI priority

• Water and water related projects

• Agriculture and Agri

processing industries

• Infrastructure

• Tourism

• Services

• Mine and Minerals based industries
nnnn

HOUSE FUZZED OVER GUPTA
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: With no legal provision at its disposal to act against lawmakers involved in criminal activities, the parliament is at a loss about how to suspend Shyam Sundar Gupta, who is in police custody for masterminding the abduction of a businessman, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The parliament has authority to suspend only those lawmakers who are charged with corruption by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). However, after police found out the former minister’s direct involvement in kidnapping Pawan Sanghai, the parliament has stepped up efforts to amend its rules to allow immediate suspension of Gupta.
Speaker Subas Nembang has held consultations with leaders of major political parties and reportedly received their support in introducing a provision in the Parliament Rules of Procedures-2008 to take action against any lawmaker facing criminal charges.
“We have issued a notice and decided to block the salary and other allowances of Shyam Sundar Gupta,” Nembang said.
“There is no legal provision to punish a lawmaker involved in crime. We are now preparing to introduce some to address this loophole.” A taskforce formed by the parliament earlier this month to make recommendations on the amendment of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedures is currently looking over the issue.
Officials at the Parliament Secretariat feel the legal leverage on lawmakers involved in criminal cases will discredit the entire parliamentary system. The current law does not
recommend scrapping the membership of or suspending a lawmaker involved in crime.
Article 65 (C) of the Interim Constitution states that a person must not have been punished for any criminal offence involving moral turpitude to be eligible for a member of the CA.
nnnn
INCLUSIVE BILL MAY MEET OPPOSITION
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The much-talked about inclusive bill continues to face hiccups. After senior bureaucrats, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is likely to oppose some provisions incorporated in the bill already okayed by a Cabinet
Committee, Pranab Kharel reports in The Kathmandi Post..
Among others, the categorisation of Brahmins and Chhetris as “others” is under scrutiny. The bill doesn’t clearly mention as to whom it qualifies with the term “backward groups”, to whom it aims to guarantee 48 percent reservation in government jobs, said a senior PSC official on condition of anonymity.
The official said Brahmins and Chhetris cannot be categorised as “others” and the government should clarify as to who constitutes Dalits and Madhesis. The PSC recommendation would be along those lines, he said. The bill, he stated, should have a clear strategy on uplifting marginalised groups such as Rautes. “One cannot classify Newar and Raute under the same category.”
Asked how the PSC would treat the bill, the official clarified that the commission is consulting now. “However, the bill will see some changes following our recommendations,” the official expressed confidence.
The government would table the bill in the parliament only after inputs from the PSC. The Bill Committee of the Cabinet on January 10 had given nod to the bill. However, serious differences had surfaced between senior bureaucrats and Minister for Law and Justice Brijesh Gupta, especially over the categorisation of Brahmins and Chhetris as “others”. Differences also persisted on the categorisation of 59 ethnic groups. Some bureaucrats had submitted their reservation in writing.
Aftermath of protests, the committee had formed a taskforce under Secretary of Prime Minister Office Trilochan Upreti to sort out technical details. The bill has a provision of a “negative list” which the government could publish in the Gazette, he said.
Upreti also said the reservation in the government service will only be at the entry level. Among other things, the bill states that those working in community or government-run schools and who receive monetary support from other sources, will not be eligible for reservation and the number of women in security forces will remain intact.
nnnn
DIG's WIFE MISSING SINCE 11 JAN. FROM CAPITAL
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The wife of Armed Police Force Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranjan Koirala went missing from her Budhanilkantha residence on January 11. Her whereabouts still remain unknown, Bikash.Sangraula writes in Republica.

Relatives of the DIG´s wife, Gita Dhakal Koirala, 38, lodged a kidnapping complaint against Koirala at National Human Rights Commission, National Women Commission and the Prime Minister´s Office on Tuesday after Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, refused to register a complaint against him.

Gita´s relatives claim she was made to disappear by DIG Koirala, 44, so that he could claim ownership of the house in Budhanilkantha that Gita owns.

Though not divorced, the husband and wife had been living separately for the past six years. They had a lengthy and bitter history of quarrels and were being counseled at the National Women Commission for the past one-and-half years after Gita sought help claiming she was a victim of violence from her husband.

Gita´s relatives say Metropolitan Police Range has refused to investigate the ´kidnapping´ because the accused is a DIG. They say accepting the complaint would make detention of the accused compulsory for investigation.

But Superintendent of Police Rajendra Shrestha, chief of Metropolitan Police Range, said the abduction complaint was rejected for lack of evidence. “We did not register the kidnapping complaint as there is no evidence to press such a serious charge. But we are investigating and want to assure that no one will be spared if we get evidence,” said Shrestha.

Gita´s family members came to know about her disappearance only on January 13 when they visited her house after her cell phone (9741043991) remained switched off for two consecutive days. From Gita´s maid they learnt that she had not been seen in her house since 3:30 pm on January 11 when the maid entered the house to take care of household chores.

The maid also informed the family members that the main gate and doors of the house were open when she visited the house on January 11. The maid, who lives in a rented room barely 75 meters from the house, witnessed a white jeep arrive with headlights off at the house at 7:30 pm on January 11 and leave hours later. The house was locked when Gita´s family members visited it in the morning of January 13.

Police, who were informed immediately after Gita´s relatives were briefed by the maid, waited till January 14 to break into the house. The cops broke into the house after their day-long attempt to trace and inform DIG Koirala bore no fruit. There was no trace of Gita inside the house.

In the morning of January 11, DIG Koirala, who lives in Swayambhu, had traveled to the Budhanilkantha residence to get the younger of his two sons who was living with her. Gita had informed her mother that afternoon that the son had gone to live with his father for a few days.

Gita´s relatives claim the son was taken away so that he would not have to witness his mother´s kidnapping.

Gita´s relatives first reached Metropolitan Police Range on January 15 to lodge the kidnapping complaint. But they were returned saying SP Shrestha was not in the office. They again went to the office on January 16.

“Instead of registering our complaint, we were asked to discuss the situation with DIG Koirala who was there with four lawyers,” said a relative, who preferred to remain unnamed.

During the discussion, the DIG promised that he would find Gita by January 20 or else surrender to the police for investigation, her relatives claimed.

But DIG Koirala told Republica that he made no such promise. “All accusations against me are false. There is no evidence. And I have only agreed to do my part in looking for her,” he said.

He added that Gita might have traveled to India. “We have learnt that she had frequently traveled to India in the past. She might be on one of her trips,” he said.
nnnn

________________________________________

31 PARTIES DON’T SUBMIT FINANCIAL STATEMENT TO EC
Kathmandu, 19 Jan : Altogether 31 political parties registered at the Election Commission (EC) have failed to furnish the details of their financial activities by Monday -- the deadline set by the constitutional body to furnish the details -- prompting the commission to consider taking action for the defiance, Gani Ansari reports in Republica.

Acting Election Commissioner Neel Kanth Upreti said the commission is yet to take a decision on the nature of action to be taken against such parties but said the constitutional commission will take “necessary” action depending on how the parties justify the delay.

“We will take appropriate action,” Upreti told Republica.

According to EC, altogether 27 political parties have submitted the financial details of the last four years to EC while other 19 parties have submitted partial reports and sought more time for submission of a full report.

Madhes-based political parties -- Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) are among the 31 parties that have failed to submit the details of their financial activities.

When asked if the commission would extend the deadline for submission of the report, Upreti said, “We will evaluate the justifications for seeking extension of the deadline.”

Officials said the commission is preparing to take action to be taken against errant parties.

“The constitutional body is determined to take necessary action against such political parties,” said Joint Secretary Madhu Prasad Regmi, who heads the legal division of the constitutional body.

As per the existing laws, the EC can annul registration of a party if it fails to furnish its audited financial reports for three consecutive years.

According to the EC officials, the constitutional body has categorized the political parties into four categories on the basis of the status of their financial reports.

Main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has submitted details of the financial activities of three fiscal years after the Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008. NC has sought two more months for submission a full report.

Altogether 80 parties are registered at the Election Commission. The political parties, as per the existing laws, are required to submit their financial reports to the commission every fiscal year. The EC may cancel registration of a party for failure to submit such details for three consecutive years.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

DETAILS OF JOINT NC MEET

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.:, A joint meeting of the central working committee and the parliamentary party of Nepali Congress on Wednesday started discussions to finalize the party’s official position regarding the form of governance and state restructuring, The Rising Nepal reports..
At the end of today’s meeting, NC parliamentary party spokesperson Nabindra Raj Joshi told journalists that the meeting mainly centered on the form of governance.
The leaders said that parliamentary system would be better than the executive presidency.
"They shared ideas about the fundamentals of democracy, power separation, accountable government and sovereignty of the people," he said and added that the leaders stressed the need to adopt the parliamentary system.
However, some speakers said that the party must be open to elections to president in the new constitution.
"They also said the matter should be finalized after intensive discussions with other parties and NC should stand for the best option, which can give stability for 60 years. They were against a power sharing system and it could bring instability."
In the beginning of the meeting, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel informed about the developments made in peace process and constitution writing. He said the party would stick to its stand for the parliamentary system.
Following Poudel’s remarks, Gopal Man Shrestha, Narahari Acharya, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Suprabha Ghimire, Ramesh Lekhak, Min Biswokarma, Gagan Thapa, Purusottam Basnet, Jiban Prem Shrestha, Debraj Shrestha and others put their views on the form of governance.
According to NC central member Badri Pandey, many of them said they would not accept the system that concentrates the executive power on a single person as it could breed dictatorship.
"A parliament-elected leader will be more democratic than the directly elected president," Pandey quoted the leaders as saying.
Some members
advocated for a direct election to the prime minister.
According to Joshi, at the meeting, members also expressed their views on the government’s latest decision regarding private property that was dealt by the people’s government during Maoist insurgency.
The joint meeting is scheduled for Thursday.
Nnnn

MoE TO CERTIFY INFORMAL TECHNIAL SKILLS
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Do you have some informal technical skills but lack official certificate to recognize them? The government has come up with a solution, Manjima Dhakal writes in The Rising Nepal.
The Enhanced Vocational Education and Training (EVENT) Project launched by the Ministry of Education (MoE) seeks to address the problems of the people with informal technical skills. The project was formally launched in August 23, 2011.
The project launched with the financial support of the World Bank aims to expand the supply of skilled technical manpower and produce additional 75,000 skilled Nepali youths in coming four years time period. The project especially focuses on the needs of the disadvantaged groups.
The National Scale Testing Board under the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) will test skills and provide certificates to these youths in coordination with the project.
The project will provide short term
vocational training for unskilled manpower in two different modalities. The first, called voucher based financing mechanism will cover three urban centers for 10,000 trainees. The other, called result based financing mechanism, will cover 15 to 25 districts to train 37,500 youths.
The areas of the training include dairy production, floor decoration, web designing, motorcycle repairing, beauty parlour among others.
Under the project, two types of grants

will be provided to institutions. Matching grant will be given to public and community institution while performance grants will be provided to community, public and private institutions.
Similarly, the project will also be monitoring different institutions that provide technical education.
Laxmi Ram Poudel, Project director of EVENT said that all programme will be conducted in coordination with the CTEVT. The project will supplement the works of CTEVT which is unable to meet the market demand of technical manpower.
Now it has called applications from institutions for conducting vocational training. After selection of the institutions, students will be able to get training from those institutions. Likewise, the project has provided scholarships to TSLC and Diploma level students for this year.
Poudel claimed that the objectivities of the project would be met within three years if works proceed in the present speed.
Nnnn

'MAOISTS SETTLED 5,000 LAND CASES IN SALYAN
Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The peoples´ governments formed by the Maoists during the conflict period are found to have passed some 5,000 land ownership deals in Salyan district alone, RSS reports from Salyan.

The all-party mechanism coordinated by Maoist Secretary Tikaram Wali had sent the records passed by the Maoist people´s governments in the district to the Land Reform Ministry through the District Land Revenue Office one year ago.

Oli said works could not be moved forward as no meeting of the mechanism was held even if it was said to be managed through all-party discussion after collection of details.

Although many have taken land ownership certificates from the Land Revenue Office with the restoration of peace, the Maoists, however, said less than 30 percent have taken them.

Most have agreed to the actions of the peoples´ governments, but some dishonest people only came to the Land Revenue Office to pass the land, said Oli.

They have the record of the land ownerships given by us and we too have some photocopy, he said.

Although a task force was formed, it could not work, said Task Force Member of CPN-UML Gyaneswor KC. No meetings of the task force were held.

Oli warned if the legal recognition of the deal is not implemented, the farmers will rebel.

Most of such lands are in Bafukhola, Shivarath and Bame VDCs as they were Maoist base areas during the conflict.

"We had passed the lands to give relief to the people during people´s war. We are waiting for the implementation of the government decision to recognize them", Oli said.
Nnnn

________________________________________

GOVT. COMING WITH A NEW LAND POLICY

Kathmandu, Jan. 18, The Government is going to bring the National Land-use Policy, 2012, RSS reports.
The Ministry of Land Reform and Management organized a seminar here today to give final shape to the draft of the National Land-use Policy. The ministry has already collected suggestions from 15 districts to that connection.
The Natural Means and Resources Committee of the Legislature-Parliament two years back directed the Government to bring a new land-use policy within three months citing the agricultural land was being increasingly turned into settlements due to the rapid increase in the population, growing forest encroachment and increase in natural disasters like floods and landslides.
The national land-use policy has adopted the policy of classifying the entire land in the country based on its topography, capacity, usefulness and requirement, and accordingly preparing a structured land use plan which would be implemented within the coming five years.
It is stated in the draft national land use policy that land mapping would be carried out at the centre, district, municipality and VDC levels and the land would be categorized into agriculture, settlement, forest, industrial, historical and religious and public land.
The policy stresses that there should be at least some green area and open area in the urban areas and that there should be a total 40 per cent forest area. It also stresses conservation of the wildlife reserve, wetlands and the Chure region.
Inaugurating the seminar, Minister for Land Reform and Management,

Bhim Prasad Gautam said the agriculture production has declined and the negative impact of climate change has increased as the agriculture land could not be protected through systematised division and classification of land.
Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, Chairman of the National Cooperatives Board , Keshav Badal and CA member Janak Kumari Chalise spoke on different issues pertaining to the land use policy and stressed the need for formulating and strictly implementing a scientific land use policy.
Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Lalmani Joshi said the draft would be presented to the Council of Ministers for its approval and it would be first implemented in Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts in the initial phase.
nnnn

ALLL FIVE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY KILLED IN FIRE NEAR DHANKUTA

2012-01-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

FIVE MEMBERS OF FAMILY KILLED IN FIRE NEAR DHANKUTA

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: All five member of a family were killed overnight in a fire which also destroyed the house o Govinda Bahadur Katawal 55 km away from Dhankuta.
Katawal’s wife and three children aged 12 to one year were killed
Rescuers are attempting to pull the bodies out of the collapsed
building.
The fire started at nine in the Wednesday.
Houses of three neighbours were also damaged.
Nnnn

PROTESTS AGAINST PRICE HIKE OF POL PRODUCTS

Kathmandu, 19 Jan. Student and other organizations launched anti-government protests against Wednesday’s hike in prices of petroleum products.
Students affiliated with opposition NC and UML started a
two-hour disruption of vehicular movement in front of campuses in the three Valley districts Thursday.
Thirteen student organizations are meeting later staged Thursday to halkout plans for nation-wide protests.
Maoist students have also expressed their displeasure with the government led by their own party.
One government vehicle was vandalized in Inarawa Thursday during protests against the price hike.
Nnnn

MAOIST POLITCAL TRANING CAMP BEING
CONDUCTED

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: A Maoist political training camp is being
held later Thursday at a garment factory in Lalitpur to discuss
rival political proposals of Chairman Prachanda and first Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya for party adoption.
The party chief, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who is second vice-chairman of UCPN (Maoist) are addressing the camp in which bureau members of Newa and Tamsaling state committees are
Participating.
The party central committee decided to take the rival proposals
for discussion to lower units following deep differences at the central committee threatening a split which has been temporarily avoided.
The Baidya faction forced the party establishment of Prachanda and Bhattari to take decisions collectively by seven office bearers.
The rival faction charged the establishment was running the
governing party unilaterally.
Nnnn

BALIDAN DIVAS BEING OBSERVED

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: The fifth Bakidan Divas is being observed by Madeshbadi parties Thursday to mark the launch of a regional movement five years ago.
Ramesh Mahoto of Siraha died when the anti-government protests were launched when Girija Prasad Koirala was government chief.
The Madeshbadi parties now call themselves the fourth political force and ar pressing Maoists from inside government to implement regional demands including mass recruitment in Nepal Army and .resumption of distribution of suspended natural citizenship.
Nnnn

NEPAL HOLDS ON TO FIFA RANKING

Kathmandu, 19 Jan.: Nepal held on to the FIFA ranking in the latest soccer ranking.
Soccer’s world’s governing body ranked Nepal 153rd;, the Himalayan state in the leading soccer nation in South Asia.
nnnn

PLANS REVIVED FOR PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT FOR NAC

2012-01-18T10:29:00.001-08:00

PLANS REVIVED FOR PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT FOR NAC
Kathmandu, 18 Jan. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) has revived plans to purchase two aircraft from Airbus Company for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) after the company proposed a deal with the financial conditions set three years ago, Sangam Parsain reports in The Kathmandu Post.
The plan was revealed by Tourism Minister Lokendra Bista Magar on Wednesday in a meeting of the parliamentary International Relations and Human Rights Committee. The panel had summoned Magar to talk about the current happenings in the country's tourism and aviation sector.
Magar told the committee that Airbus was positive to strike the deal with the same financial conditions set earlier. According to the MoTCA, the French Embassy in Nepal had dispatched a letter to the ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 29 last year regarding the issue.
On October 26, 2009, the NAC board had decided to purchase two aircraft from Airbus--Airbus A320-200 (narrow body) and A330-200 (wide body)--to expand its international fleet.
In its proposal, Airbus had quoted US$ 41.28 million for the narrow body aircraft and US$ 92.84 million for the wide body aircraft.
However, with controversy surrounding the purchase process, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on December 28, 2009 directed the government to cancel the deal while the Ministry of Finance directed MoTCA to scrap the purchase process on May 25, 2010.
A highly-placed source said Magar had written to the PAC seeking discussion on the issue to possibly ease the purchase deal. The International Relations and Human Rights Committee also directed MoTCA to go ahead with the deal on Wednesday.
"If the process to purchase the aircraft begins now, the NAC could get two aircraft within five months," said MoTCA Secretary Ganesh Raj Joshi. Deputy general manager of NAC Ganesh Thakur, who was involved in the purchase process earlier, asked lawmakers to support the NAC in this regard.
"We are reviving the earlier deal and are optimistic that the government will support us," he told the lawmakers in Wednesday's meeting.
Although, Magar did not disclose the MoTCA plans after it received the letter from Airbus, he expressed confidence that things, that had not worked with 21 ministers who headed MoTCA before him, will move ahead this time around. "I don't want to be unsuccessful during my term," he said.
According to Magar, since the NAC is currently in the process of acquiring aircraft for the domestic sector, plans to buy aircraft for the international sector will move ahead after the domestic sector process ends.
"All the purchase process will be transparent, direct, legal and responsible," Magar added.
Nnnn
INDIA, CHINA ATTEMPT TO AVOID FLARE-UP
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: India and China have agreed to try to avoid flare-ups along their disputed 4,000-km border through the Himalayas, a positive development in often fractious relations between Asia’s emerging giants, Reuters reports from New Delhi.

The two countries, which fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962, have increased their military presence on each side of the border in recent years as their fast-growing economies permit more spending on defence of remote regions.

Under an agreement signed yesterday, high-level diplomats and military officials will aim at ‘timely communication’ about border incidents and meet once or twice a year. “Its main task is to deal with affairs concerning maintaining the peace and tranquility of the border area,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a briefing today.

However, the two countries are still a long way from agreeing on their territory — China says most of India’s Arunachal Pradesh state is part of Tibet. For its part, India claims China’s isolated Aksai Chin plateau near Kashmir as its own.

“Both sides reiterated that before the border issue is resolved, they will together strive to preserve the peace and tranquility of the border,” Liu said.

Shyam Saran, a former foreign secretary for India, said the pact was a sign the two sides wanted to better manage ties as they grow and compete for resources and allies in Asia and beyond. “The two countries are emerging powers, whose respective strategic profiles are intersecting at multiple points,” Saran wrote in a column in the Business Standard newspaper.

China’s close relationship with India’s main rival Pakistan, — as well as other neighbours such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar Bangladesh and Nepal — has given an urgency to New Delhi’s strategy of forging ties with Washington, Japan and Australia, along with Southeast Asian nations.

“On the Chinese side there is concern that its more assertive posture of the past couple of years had triggered a rapid and continuing build up of counterveiling coalitions in the strategic Indo-Pacific theatre,” Saran said.

Swaran Singh, an expert on Indo-Chinese relations at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the pact gave momentum to future talks but its relevance would depend on the wider relationship. “For 25 years, India and Pakistan have had a hot line and the generals are supposed to ask each other what they had for breakfast,” Singh said. “But when the relationship is bad, nobody picks up the phone.”
nnnn

15 POLICEMEN INJURED IN PARSA CLASH

2012-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

15 POLICEMEN INJURED IN PARSA CLASH
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.,: Fifteen policemen were injured
Wednesday with locals at Sedwa in Parsa during a search of
houses for illegally felled trees from a nearby protected forest.
Four persons were injured as police vehicles were smashed by angry mobs.
nnnn
20KG HASH SEIZED IN PARSA
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Police Wednesday seized 20 kilograms of hashish from no-man's-land in Parsa district on Wednesday.
Mukti Paswan was arrested while smuggling the drug haul
across the border to India.
An Indian accomplice fled.
nnnn

QUAKE WITH EPICENTER IN SIRAHA ROCKS NEPAL
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale jolted Nepal at 5.01 pm on Wednesday.
The epicenter was in Auriha in Sirahaa, south central terai, the National Seismological Centre at the Department of Mines and Geology
said.
nnnn

INDIA LIFTS ARMS EMBARGO ON NEPAL

2012-01-18T08:53:00.001-08:00

INDIA LIFTS ARMS EMBARGO ON NEPAL
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: The Government of India on Wednesday has given a green signal to resume the military assistance to Nepal that had been halted for a long time,
The Himalayan Times reports from New Delhi.

India has given the nod to resume the assistance during a bilateral talk held between Deputy Prime Minster and Defence Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and his Indian counterpart AK Antony.

During the meet, Defence Minister AK Antony assured that India is ready to provide assistance to Nepal for the development of the Nepal Army, adding that there is an intimate relationship between the Indian Army and the Nepal Army.

The Indian Government had stopped military assistance to Nepal during the monarchial regime under Gyanendra’s rule.

Expressing concerns over the stalled peace process of Nepal, Antony said Indian Government is always ready to help Nepal for its sustainable peace.

Participants of the meeting were Joint Secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala, IGP Rabindra Pratap Shah, Nepali Ambassador to India Khaga Nath Adhikary, AIGP of Nepal Armed Police Dorje Rai, Major General of the Nepal Army Daman Ghale including Deputy Prime Minister from the Nepali side. Likewise, participants from the Indian side were Defence Minister AK Antony, Defence Secretary Shashi Kanta Sharma, Voice of Chief of Army General SK Singh and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayanta Prasad.

Deputy Prime Minister Gachhadar had also held a meeting with Infantry Division Chief of Indian Army VK Singh. The meeting had dwelled on the interests of the Gorkha Army and the consolidation of the Nepal Army.

Gachhadar is scheduled to attend a dinner party hosted by his counterpart Antony and call on DP Tripathi, General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress later today [Wednesday].
nnnn

govt. working out concessions for groups on POL products

2012-01-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

GOVT. WORKING out CONCESSIONS ON RAISED FUEL PRICES
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Officials of Nepal Oil Corporation ((NOC)
said Wednesday concessions for purchase of POL products like kerosene are being worked out for groups ,including students
The announcement was made amid protests against hike in prices of POL products with immediate effect.
NOC claimed the state monopoly was still in the red after the hike saying prices were hiked to match price increase in the international market.
Government has underwritten nearly three billion rupees loan to
NOC for oil import as its Indian counterpart refuses to supply
POL products to Nepal on credit.
Economic Advisor Rameshwor Khanal to the premier said the
taxpayer will ultimately have to foot the import bill as NOC won’t be able to repay the borrowed money.
Groups have already protested Wednesday price hike
nnnn
CEMEMT FACTORY WORKER KILLED IN DANG
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: A person working at Ghorahi Cement Factory in Laxmipur of Dang district was beaten to death, RSS reports from Dang..
According to District Police Office, Dang, a group of local youths battered Khem Raj Subedi hailing from Lamahi of Narayanpur VDC.
Local youths, who barged into the cement factory on Monday evening without permission, had thrashed Subedi leaving him critically injured.
He breathed his last while undergoing treatment in Rapti sub-regional hospital, police informed.
Police initiated investigation into the incident by arresting six suspects, said Dang Police Chief, Ganesh Bahadur Eire. RSS

DR. SURYA KANATA GHIMERE APPOINTED
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Dr. Surya Kanta Ghimire, Reader at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, has been appointed as registrar of the Agriculture and Forest University, RSS reports froom CHitwn..

Chancellor of the University and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has appointed Ghimire as the registrar, as vice-chancellor of the University Kailashnath Pyakurel had recommended three names to the chancellor for appointment in the post of registrar.

Vice-chancellor Pyakurel said Dr. Ghimire will assume office within a few days.

Dr. Ghimire of Sharadanagar VDC-3 obtained Ph.D degree on Plant Genetic Engineering from Japan in 2005. He was also in the University of Agriculture and Forestry Preparation Committee.
nnnn

JUDDHA BAHADUR GURUNG REINSTATED

2012-01-18T08:26:00.001-08:00

JUDDHA BAHADUR GURUNG REINSTATED
Kathmandu, 18 Jan. A single bench of the
supreme court Wednesday issued an interim to
Forest Minister Muhammad Wakil Musalman not to execute a decision to dismiss Juddha Bahadur Gurung as the member secretary of National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
The minister is chairman of NTNC
The minister Monday sacked Gurung charging
him for financial irregularities.
Musalmand earlier dismissed Gurung
who was reinstated by another apex court
decision 30 November 2011.
Nnnn

________________________________________

NPC CHAMPION OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Nepal
Police Club (NPC) lifted the
A Division National Football
League Championship in Butwal Wednesday.
NPC and Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) scored one goal each in a match Wednesday in Butwal.
NPC collected unmatched 20 points to lift the championship.
Nnnn

nc joint meet continuues thursday

2012-01-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

NC JOINT MEET CONTINUES THURSDAY UPDATE

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: A joint meeting of the parliamentary party and central committee of the main opposition NC will continue Thursday to discuss state structure, form of government and other issues.
Fourteen speakers expressed their views Wednesday at the meeting of the two bodies with more than 112 members.
The joint meet continues Thursday.
The bodies discussed issues separately without coming to a
decision on the structures.
Speakers spoke Wednesday in favour of a parliamentary system, Spokesman Nabindra Raj Joshi said.
Maoists are pushing a presidential system.
nnnn
31 INJURED IN 2 VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS

Kathmandu, Thirty-one persons were injured in two vehicular
accidents Wednesday in Syangja and Nawalparasi
At least eighteen people have been injured, five of them seriously, when the bus they were traveling in overturned at Zerokimi of Pakwadi VDC-1 in Syangja District on Wednesday, RSS reports from Syangja.
The bus (Dha 1 Kha 326) was heading towards Butwal from Ratnapur of the district. Police said the critically injured passengers have been taken to Palpa for treatment. Thirteen more passengers have sustained minor injuries and they have returned home after receiving general treatment.
The driver is absconding and a search is underway for him, said the police.
At least 13 passengers were injured Wednesday in a jeep
accident at Bhumahi in Nawalparasi
An Indian was among the injured.
nnnn

fresh political crisis brewing

2012-01-18T07:46:00.001-08:00

DEUBA, JHALANATH KHANAL OPPOSE CABINET DECISION
TO RATIFY MAOIST PARALLEL GOVT, DECISIONS OF PARTY LEADING GOVT. DURING INSURGENCY

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Senior NC leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba warned of nationwide protests Wednesday if
Maoists and government don’t correct an unannounced cabinet decision to certify decisions of Maoist parallel governments at local level to seize assets.
Deuba issued the warning in Dhangadi as the main opposition
party held discussions in the capital to discuss state structure and fro of government and other issues.
The top NC leader called for a rectification of the cabinet decision.
Deuba has differences with the establishment led by President Sushil Koirala.
A newspaper Tuesday broke the news of the new of the cabinet decision.
reported
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal also said in the capital
Wednesday there can be no cooperation with Maoists overturn the decision.
The comments come one day after the opposition boycotted a meeting with the ruling parties following the news break.
The opposition also obstructed parliament session Tuesday threatening street and legislative protests without rectification of the unannounced cabinet decision.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda minimized the comments saying the
comments were ‘a storm in a tea cup’.
The government decision comes even after agreement by Maoists n an agreement with opposition to return seized assets.
The Maoist party establishment, it now appears, wasn’t keen to
implement the agreement opposed by a hard-lone Mohan Baidya faction.
The development has already soured relations between government and opposition and will impact the delayed peace and constitution drafting processes.
Parties outside government supporting government have been embarrassed by the government decision.
RSS adds Baglung:Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula has said the latest decisions of the government to give validity to the transaction of properties carried out by the Maoist government during the conflict has invited serious differences among the big parties, putting the peace and constitution drafting process at risk..

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Nepal Press Union, Baglung on Wednesday, Sitaula accused the ruling UCPN-Maoist of trying to get detached itself from the peace and constitution by raising unnecessary issues.

Accusing the Maoists of causing obstructions in concluding the peace and constitution drafting processes, the Congress leader claimed that his party was seriously working to draft a pro-people constitution.
nnnn

GACHEDHAR HOLDS CONSULTATIONS WITH INDIAN PREMIER SINGH

2012-01-18T06:43:00.001-08:00

GACHEDHAR HOLDS CONSULTATIONS WITH INDIAN
PREMIER SINGH

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar
Gachedhar held 45-minute consultations with Indian Prime
Minister Manmonah Singh in New Delhi Wednesday after
Saturday’s Nepal-China top level discussions during Chinese
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s four-for transit visit
Wen broke his broke in journey in Kathmandu en route to a
three-nation visit of three Gulf states , including Saudi Arabia
amid a looming international crisis as USA issued warnings to
other states not to buy oil from Iran.
China is emerging as Nepal’s largest aid donor promising to
upgrade the capability of police.
Gachedhar is home minister and defence minister in control of all security agencies
Gachedhar also held discussion with Wednesday with his host
Defence Minister A,K. Anthony as Nepal prepares to purchase arms and ammunition for police.
The deputy premier will hold discussions with Home Minister P.
Chidambaran Thursday, reports fro, the Indian capital said.
Gachedhar met Singh on the second day of a four-day as Nepal also prepares to welcome Premier Singh after Wen.
Singh asked the second ranking government leader to
promote bilateral ties with China and Nepal’s Maoists heading the government, a radio report from the Indian capital said.
nnnn

PRICES OF POL PRODUCTS RAISED

2012-01-17T23:16:00.000-08:00

PRICES OF POL PRODUCTS RAISED
Kathmandu, Jan 18: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the price of all the petroleum products effective from Wednesday.
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Petrol price was increased Wednesday Rs. 10 per liter .amid shortage to Rs. 115 per liter by Nepal Oil Corporation..
Diesel and kerosene price was ncreased Rs. 9 per liter; diesel and kerosene willnoe sell at Rs. 85 per liter.
The price of LPG per was raised Rs 175 to Rs. 1500 per cylinder.
nnnn
SIX JOINT SECRETARTIES PROMOTED
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: A meeting of the Council of Ministers Tuesday promoted six joint secretaries to the post of secretary, The Rising Nepal reports.
The cabinet Tuesday promoted Arjun Bahadur Bhandari, Hariram Koirala, Dharanidhar Khatiwada, Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Krishna Chandra Poudel and Tilakram Sharma to secretaries.
Bhandari is the senior most among the currently promoted government officials. He was promoted to the post of joint secretary in 2051 B.S, while Durga Niddhi Sharma has been given the responsibility as the acting secretary.
Nnnn

ETIHAD AIRWAYS FLIGHT ABORTED
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: An Etihad Airways aircraft flying to Abu Dhabi from Kathmandu had to be forcelanded immediately after it took off at 10pm from Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday, The Himalayan Times reports reports.“The aircraft had an emergency landing after a minor problem was detected in the engine,” said an airlines source, adding that there were 165 passengers on board. “They are being taken care of and have been accommodated in hotels.”
Nnnn

PM Bhattarai Visiting India
Kathmandu, Jan 18: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is slated to visit India next month to mark his presence in a summit to be held in Patna, Bihar, greatway.com reports.
PM Bhattarai will grace the Global Summit on Changing Bihar: Forging Partnership for Development as the chief guest on February 18, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Tuesday had extended the invitation by Nitish Kumar, the chief minister for Bihar state of India, to PMO.
PM Bhattarai will address the three-day summit on February 18 during the inauguration.
The summit is organized jointly by Bihar Foundation, Institute of Human Development and Asian Development Research Institute.
nnnn

2012-01-17T21:57:00.001-08:00

NC MEET STARTS

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: A joint meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC) central working committee and parliamentary party has begun at the party central office at Sanepa on Wednesday morning in a bid to chart out its officials views on various issues of the peace and constitution-making processes.

The meeting will discuss on the contemporary political issues including forms of governance and state restructuring, informed NC central member Nabindra Raj Joshi.
nnnn
NGO STAFF POCKET 90 PERCENT OF BUDGET FOR DEVELOPMENT
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: It has come to light that only 10 per cent of the total amount executed by Nepali Non-government Organizations (NGOs) for social development reaches out to the target beneficiaries, RSS reports from Nepalgunj.

Based on the study of investment in Mid and Far-western regions, it is found that around 90 per cent of the expenditure of the NGOs is apparently expended in staffing, allowances for office-bearers and administrative works, said Bharat Jungam, an anti-corruption activist.

Jungam, who has arrived Nepalgunj in course of the campaign, said the amount stated to be channelized for poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS, women empowerment and other programme in the name of people has not reached to the target beneficiaries.

'It seems that there is misappropriation of amount in most of the programmes \implemented by the NGOs', Jungam further said.
nnnn
UML CAMPAIGN LIFTOFF
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.:The CPN-UML's party strengthening and people's mobilisation campaign and zonal-level workers' gathering organised by the party Bagmati zonal coordination committee concluded here on Tuesday, RSS reports.

Addressing the gathering, party chairman Jhalanath Khanal claimed that there was no more factionalism in the UML and underscored the need of uniting the party for the establishment welfare state by eliminating all forms of social discriminations.

"I am hopeful of the consensus among the parties on disputed issues in the constitution drafting process including the electoral system, form of governance and state restructuring issues", added Mr Khanal.

Also speaking on the occasion, party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said that all forms of disputes within the party could be settled through talks and negotiations. He expressed his hope that party would move ahead in the unison in the days ahead.

Party Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam, General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel and Secretary Yubraj Gyawali said the reluctance on the behalf of the party leaders and cadres to follow democratization of the party has jeopardized the partisan unity in the UML.

The party would be able to bring changes in the country only if could correct its past mistakes, they added.

Party standing committee member KP Sharma Oli said the UML has become the third party in the national politics since its past contributions could not be protected.

Calling for the immediate resignation of the incumbent prime minister to pave the way for the formation of the consensus government and taking an initiative by the party leadership for holding the elections of the local bodies as earliest as the possible, the gathering urged the party leadership to make their financial condition transparent.
Nnnn
NOC ASKED TO FURNISH DETAILS
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Freedom Forum has moved to National Information Commission demanding detailed list of names of persons receiving fuel from Nepal Oil Corporation for free since 2003, The Himalayan Times reports..

“The corporation did not provide detailed information even after the Forum approached its acting managing director Suresh Kumar Agrawal,” chairperson of

the Freedom Forum Taranath Dahal said, adding that it is people’s right to know the names of those, who are getting fuel from

the state oil monopoly for free, at their cost.

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta himself has last October publicly disclosed that the corporation distributes around Rs 60,000 worth petroleum products per month to the ministers and higher officials for free.

“The NOC distributes 200 litre worth fuel coupons daily to the minister for Commerce and Supplies apart from government officials and their relatives, for free,” he has revealed. The Nepal Oil Corporation officials

also repeated said that they have been distributing hundreds of litres fuel for free due to pressure from the politicians.

Meanwhile, talks between minister for commerce and supplies and Prime Minister for the consecutive second day could not yield any outcome on current fuel crisis.

The ministry has prepared a work plan to manage current fuel crisis and want it to be endorsed by Prime Minister, a source at ministry said.
nnnn
NOOSE TIGHTENING ON RENTAL TAX
Kathmandu, 18 Jan..: Inland Revenue Department is going tighten rental tax of properties rent out for commercial purposes by landowners to expand the tax net from mi-March by introducing a floor-price, Shiromani Dhungana writes in The Himalayan Times..

“We are all set to tighten rental tax in a month by fixing a standard price for the commercial buildings’ rent,” director general at the department Tanka Mani Sharma said, adding that the department has discovered that the landowners have submitted papers reducing the real rent down to 90 per cent to escape tax compliance.

“The department is preparing floor-price to reduce the current trend of under reporting in the tax liabilities,” he informed, saying the landowner cannot prepare papers stating ‘surprisingly lower’ rent to escape tax liability after the introduction of floor-price.

“Landowners from downtown have submitted paper stating only Rs 5,000 to 10,000 as rents but the department has discovered the real rental price to be as high as Rs 0.1 million or more,” he added. “They are paying the government peanuts compared to the real rent.”

The department is planning to check rental tax of all the department stores, malls, shopping complex and other buildings used for commercial purpose.

“Landowners who rent, lease or license immovable property for commercial purpose will have to pay the 10 per cent tax on the rental charge,” according to the department that is also making the landowners of residential purposes also responsible in paying tax.

“It is introducing the system of paying rent tax on monthly basis like telephone bill, drinking water bill or electricity bill, Sharma said. “The existing legal provision has made tenants responsible for tax compliance but the department is bringing the provision of making house-owner more responsible.”

Meanwhile, the department is also preparing to padlock finance and administrative section of educational institutions that have not paid education service tax. “The government has projected Rs 250 million revenue from education tax,” he said. “But only Rs 80 million has been mobilised until last month. The department will bring all the educational institutions into tax net from February.”
AVCO International — the then dealer for Hyundai automobilies — that cheated clients by not delivering vehicles even after it received payments, is found to be a non filer, according to the Inland Revenue Department. The owners of AVCO are absconding despite frequent attempts being made by police to nab them, according to the department that has prepared a preliminary report showing that the company had cheated some 167 people. AVCO had borrowed money from Machhapuchchre Bank and it is trying to import vehicles to recover its loan, department said.
nnnn

INDIA REMOVES A HURDLE TO THIRD COUNTRY IMPORT
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: In a major development, India has agreed to allow Nepal to make direct transshipment of goods from its custom stations and dry ports, Mahesh Acharya reports in The Kathmandu Post from, New Delhi.
This will remove the additional layers of checking and processing of shipments at Kolkata's Haldia Port.
In the bilateral talks between Nepal and India held on Monday in Kolkata, officials agreed to bring in the new provision into effect through diplomatic channels 'very soon'.
The provision will shorten the time-consuming procedures and reduce the costs for Nepali businesspersons. It will also help boost competitiveness of Nepali goods and optimisation of Nepali ports, which have literally transformed into warehouses as they cannot make direct international transshipments via India-notified points.
Once the agreement is implemented, Nepal will be able to make direct international transshipment from its own Land Custom Stations/Inland Clearance Depots like dry ports in Birgunj and Bhairahawa.
Currently, Nepali traders have to make custom clearance in Nepal before shipping it to India, where the process is repeated for the conveyance of export materials to the third countries or imports from third countries.
"Both sides have agreed to recommend the Inter-governmental Committee for the new provision to open Nepali dry ports to make international transshipments," said Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Nepal's Consulate General in Kolkata, who attended the meeting.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Ngaindra Upadhyay and India's Commissioner of Central Board of Excise and Customs Sandeep Kumar led their teams in the talks.
Another significant development in the talks was an agreement to enforce an automated process in Kolkata port, Jeevraj Ghimire, the Deputy Chief at Nepal's Consulate General office in Kolkata, said. It will reduce paperwork, human interference offering ample opportunities for Nepali traders of hassle- free trading, he said. A bilateral technical committee will meet in February to finalise the automation process.
Both sides also agreed to form a Periodic Trade Facilitation Committee to address problems faced by Nepali traders during export/import.
The delay in the movement of Nepal-bound cargo, which results into a heavy demurrage charge, was another issue taken up in the meeting. Nepali traders have been complaining of heavy losses as they are quite often charged a big amount when their goods are not moved within two weeks. Demurrage is a charge taken for the delay of a ship or freight car or other cargo beyond its scheduled time of departure. Indian officials agreed to discuss the matter with Kolkata Port Trust.
The talks however, did not take up the issue of additional one-time lock system, which has been imposed by the Indian side on Nepal-bound cargo since August 1, 2011. While stating that the talks focused only on issues related to customs, Nepali officials told the Post from Kolkata that deliberations on other issues like shipping lines, ports and carriers will be held in the second fortnight of February.
nnnn
NEPAL TOTRAIN INDIAN POLICE
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Nepal, for the first time, agreed to provide policing training to the Indian police. The two-day Nepal-India home secretary-level talks that concluded in New
Delhi on Tuesday took a decision in this regard, Anil Giri writes in The Kathmandu Post..
The 26th point of the 10-page minutes of the meeting, obtained by the Post, read, “The Nepalese side offered training opportunities to the Indian police personnel of tourism and community policing.” Nepal has excellent track record in community and tourism policing so Indian side was happy with the offer, said a source.
The meeting agreed to hold regular meetings of the chiefs of Armed Police Force and Director General, SSB, India. “For effective co-ordination at the ground level, the field commanders of the APF and their Indian counterparts should be provided with appropriate communication facilities for real time exchange of information. It was decided that they would meet on a bi-monthly basis. It was agreed that IF, APF and DG, SSB shall meet annually,” minute No 17 read.
The meeting discussed about strengthening measures to check the movement of terrorists and other miscreants using international airports as transit points, growth of religious fundamentalism on Nepal-India border, proliferation of Madrasas, anti-India propaganda by some Nepal’s FM radio stations in the border areas and misuse of SIM cards. “The Indian side expressed concern over the programmes directed against India broadcast by some FM stations in the border regions and requested the Nepal government to help control such broadcasts,” minute No 14 read.
India agreed to prevent harassment of Nepali nationals by the Indian police personnel and agreed for a joint inspection and maintenance of missing or damaged boundary pillars at least once every two years.
Indian side also agreed to provide training and capacity building support for combating cyber crimes, economic offences, and on forensic sciences, training for customs officials, prison officials, immigration officials, police officials and chief district officers.
Nepali side raised the issue of using fake Nepali documents by some unscrupulous elements. Both sides reviewed the Nepalganj- Raupaidiya Pilot Project to regulate cross-border movements, regular meeting of border coordination committees and issue of security of Indian joint ventures in Nepal.
nnnn
OPPOSITION PARTIES BOYCOTT PARLIAMENT AMID OPPOSITION TO SECRET AGREEMENT SEAL SEIZURE OF ASSETS DURING INSURGENCY

Kathmandu, Jan. 17, Opposition parties on Tuesday warned that they would not sit again for any dialogue until the cabinet annulled its most recent decision regarding personal property deals, Ram Prasad Dahal writes in The .Rising Nepal.
A recent cabinet meeting had decided to legalise the selling, purchasing, division and letter of will of land during the parallel government (jana satta) of the Maoists during the time of insurgency.
Opposition parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML walked out of a meeting of key political parties held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction and also obstructed the meeting of the Legislature Parliament to press for this demand.
During the meeting of UCPN-Maoist, NC, UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front, NC president Sushil Koirala raised this issue and demanded clarification from the Prime Minister.
"Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said that the government legalized

such land deals that had remained illegal so far," Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, quoting the Prime Minister, said.
Prachanda said that the opposition parties should have welcomed the decision wholeheartedly. But they walked out of today’s meeting and warned of boycotting future meetings.
"The objections of opposition parties have come as spontaneous outrage but will turn normal gradually," Prachanda said.
NC vice president Ramchandra Poudel said that the cabinet decision was against the interim constitution and comprehensive peace accord. Therefore, we have demanded the cancellation of the decision.
CPN-UML leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the Maoists are trying to give legitimacy to objectionable activities of the insurgency which will not be acceptable to us.
"This is only the beginning. I have heard that they are going to legalise their ‘People’s Court’ other decisions taken during the insurgency," Nepal said.
Leader of the Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur said that the United Democratic Madheshi Front will come up with its reaction after studying the details of the concerned cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, the opposition party leaders raised similar objections at the meeting of the Legislature Parliament. They demanded the government to annul the decision and created obstructions to the House meeting.
The opposition demanded immediate clarifications from the government on the issue. However, Speaker Subas Nembang put off the meeting saying immediate clarification was not possible.
The Parliament meeting ended without entering into the regular business. The Parliament is scheduled to meet Friday.
nnnn

embattled pm bhattarai goes into two-day retreat

2012-01-17T21:14:00.000-08:00

EMBATTLED PM BHATTARAI ON TWO-DAY RETREAT

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Embattled Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai went on a two-day retreat to Dhulikhel Wednesday, an aide said.
Bhattarai is facing demands for his recall in the party from a hard-line faction led by First Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya who helped propel the premier to power more than four months ago.
Baidya aligned then with Bhattarai and against ambitious Prachanda to wrest the leadership of government.
But Baidya has now turned against Bhattarai charging the government chief for betrayal.
Bhattarai has been charged as an Indian lackey and betraying the communist revolution.
The government chief is responding by forging even closer ties in a front of Madeshbadi parties by giving into regional demands.
Baidya says Bhattarai has to make way for a national government.
Nnnn

IMPROVEMENT IN WEATHER

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: The weather has improved around the Valley after a two-day rain and cold spell.
The morning was sunny for the second consecutive day Wednesday with minimum temperature in the morning recoded at 8 degrees Celsius.
Mercury is expected to rise to 19 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
nnnn

400 GURKHAS BEING RETRENCHED IN BRITISH ARNY
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Altogether 400 Gurkhas are being retrenched in a downsizing of the British Army facing a financial crunch.
The British embassy announced the cut the same day a British minister of state for international development arrived for a visit.
Earlier, the British Army Chief arrived on a low-key visit and left after consultations with Army Chief Gen.Chatraman Singh Gurung.
The cut was unilateral as in the past
India and Great Britian recruit Gurkhas to met their security recruitments.
Gurkhas are presently deployed by British Army in Afghanistan.

The British Army is offering a comprehensive program for resettlement into civilian life to all the laid-off Gurkha soldiers, the British Embassy said.
Last year, around 140 Gurkhas were laid off from the 3,500-strong Brigade of Gurkhas with plans to downsize the strength of the Brigade of Gurkhas to less than 3,000 personnel.
nnnn

________________________________________

________________________________________

PM BHATTARAI PLEASED WITH RETURN OF PEACE CORPS

Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Two events in Kathmandu Tuesday marked the return of US Peace Corps to Nepal after seven years, US embassy said.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai told a gathering in Singha Durbar, "I am very pleased with the return of the Peace Corps to Nepal. From the early 60s, thousands of volunteers have served in districts all across this country. I remember in much of the 60s and 70s, the volunteers were a big source of teachers for subjects like math and science. I am very glad that with USAID's assistance, the volunteers are coming back one more time to help with agriculture and health. Those are areas that need help, and I welcome the decision to redeploy the Peace Corps."

Ambassador DeLisi then hosted a program for friends of the Peace Corps at his residence.

“The return of the Peace Corps to Nepal is symbolic of the deep, long-standing relationship between our two countries, which began in 1951 when the U.S. Government first entered into a development partnership with Nepal,” said U.S. Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi. "I remain an optimist about the nation's future and I think that Peace Corps' return sends a powerful message that the U.S. Government and the Peace Corp's leadership share the conviction that Nepal is on the right path."

The first group of approximately 20 Peace Corps volunteers is scheduled to arrive in Nepal later this year. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s collaboration with Peace Corps will build on the strengths and strategies of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future and Global Health Initiatives partnership with Nepal to reach and impact many more vulnerable Nepalese across the country. The volunteers will be trained as Agriculture and Nutrition Extensionists and will work with rural communities to improve food security and health of the Nepalese people in the context of the two Presidential Initiatives in Nepal.
nnnn

NSP(G) CHIEF GUPTA PERSONALLY DRAGGED SANGHAI INTO CAPTIVITY
Kathmandu, 18 Jan :Arrested lawmaker Shyam Sundar Gupta not only masterminded the December 22 kidnapping of businessman Pawan Sanghai, but was also personally involved in transporting the captive, and did even more, police said, Bikash Sangraula writes in Republica. .

Gupta personally escorted Sanghai to captivity on the day of the kidnapping, visited Sanghai twice while he was held captive, and posed before Sanghai´s family members as a well-meaning mediator assisting his release from his captors, said Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Subedi, chief of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) that arrested Gupta from his residence in Bhairahawa on Monday.

“To persuade his accomplices to assist him in the crime, Gupta appears to have cooked up a story that he had built a petrol pump for Sanghai. In the eyes of his accomplices, the abduction was merely meant to get back money that was rightfully Gupta´s,” Subedi said.

Four of his partners-in-crime arrested so far have in unison pointed their fingers at Gupta as the mastermind and the main recipient of the ransom amount. Among those arrested are Gupta´s personal driver Amir Acharya, 22, apart from Akash Lama, 31, of Kavre, Jit Bahadur Gole, 38, of Makawanpur, and Kishor Pandey, 28, of Kavresthali-6, Kathmandu. Gole has served a 10-year jail term for human trafficking.

Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday gave police permission to remand Gupta and the other four for four days for further investigation.

How the kidnapping was executed

For a week before Sanghai´s abduction from Kamaladi Ganesthan temple, Gupta prepared Pandey, who works at Garud Security Service Recovery Unit, to identify Sanghai, police said.

Pandey was tasked with identifying Sanghai for four individuals who arrived at the temple in a microbus in the morning of December 22 to pick up Sanghai, who was a daily visitor of the temple.

After forcing him into the microbus, the four men took Sanghai to Kupondol where he was blindfolded and moved to a red Tata Sumo in which Lama and Gole were waiting.

Thereafter, Gupta himself escorted the vehicle to Dhulikhel, personally traveling in another vehicle that led the way, the arrested four told police.

From Dhulikhel, Sanghai was taken to the house of Maya Tamang at Sarsyunkhola, Lamagaun-3, Kavre.

Just hours after the abduction, an individual identifying himself as Bikrant Singh of Red Madhesi Army (RMA) made a phone call to Sanghai´s family members claiming that his outfit had abducted Sanghai to get money to purchase weapons.

On December 23, abductors made another phone call and let the family members hear a recorded message of Sanghai.

And on December 24, abductors demanded Rs 250 million from the family, threatening to kill Sanghai and make his body disappear if the ransom was not paid.

On December 27, another phone call was made claiming Sanghai was jointly abducted by RMA and Defense Army. Two callers, one speaking in Nepali and the other in Hindi, threatened the family again and demanded the ransom.

Investigations have revealed that the phone calls were made by Shyam Giri and Amar Thapa, who were hired by Gupta for the purpose. They made phone calls from Indian and Nepali numbers. Police are yet to nab the two.

On December 30, the duo made a phone call for the last time and lowered the ransom amount to Rs 200 million.

Details after this are sketchy. What is clear is that by then Gupta, who appears to be an old acquaintance of Sanghai, had won the confidence of the Sanghai family as a mediator. In the dual role of the kidnapping´s mastermind and Sanghai family´s mediator, he was making sure that everyone would dance to his tune.

“The final ransom settlement seems to have been for Rs 10 million,” SSP Subedi said. “Of that, it seems only Rs 8.5 million was paid,” he added.

On January 11, Sanghai´s family members reached Amrit Bhog in Dillibazaar with two bags containing the ransom amount.

“I picked up the bags and delivered them to sir´s (Gupta´s) residence,” said Gupta´s driver Acharya in a video-recorded statement to police.

Sanghai was freed the same day.

After receiving the ransom amount, Gupta invited five of his accomplices individually to his Kusunti residence and gave away each of them Rs 400,000.
Police investigation has also revealed that Gupta had kept accomplices Lama and Gole in a rented flat on the outskirts of Kathmandu for six months before the abduction.

Apart from Giri and Thapa, Milan Lama of Sarlahi, Prem Lama of Kavre, Hari KC of Sindhuli, one Indra Gurung, and two unidentified individuals involved in the kidnapping are absconding.

Sanghai´s family members, who had been lukewarm in cooperating with police investigation, are still very hesitant to open up with police.
“They probably still feel very insecure,” a police officer involved in the investigation said.
nnnn

________________________________________

PM WEN OFFERED RS 11.53B IN AID
Kathmandu, 18 Jan.: Amid diverse figures reported by media, top officials at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Monday clarified that total financial and technical assistance that Nepal received during Wen Jiabao´s visit is around Rs 11.53 billion. Milan Mani Sharma writes in Repblica..

If compared with the existing assistance level that Nepal is getting from China, net change in assistance that Wen´s visit brought about is Rs 5.68 billion, said a source at MoF. This includes 310.4 million yuan (Rs 4.03 billion) in grant and technical assistance and one-time special grant of US$ 20 million (Rs 1.65 billion).

The visit made two important contributions. First, the development partner in the north increased the annual grant assistance to Nepal to 200 million yuan, which is a raise of exactly one-third over what Nepal was receiving presently, that is 150 million yuan.

This effectively ensured Nepal will get additional grant assistance of 150 yuan for the next three years from what it was getting so far. Apart from that, the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement that Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Wen signed has also committed additional 150 yuan during the agreed period of next three years.

"Hence, the visit effectively earned us net raise in grant assistance by 300 million yuan," said the source, explaining the composition of 750 million yuan economic and technical cooperation package that the government repeatedly cited without clarity.

The source even disclosed that the raise in annual grant amount is neither new nor unexpected. China that initially provided development assistance in Indian currency more than 30 years ago has been gradually raising the assistance volume over the years and had committed to raise the annual grant assistance to 200 million yuan when the then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal visited Beijing.

MoF records show China raised the annual grant assistance to 37 million yuan in 1988, 80 million yuan in 1995, 100 million yuan in 2005 and to 150 million yuan in 2009.

Second, Wen also pledged special grant assistance of US$ 20 million (over Rs 1.65 billion) to support the peace process. "This is one crucial and much-needed financing," said the source, adding that the support will be used particularly for financing rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.

Apart from that, China during Wen´s visit pledged financial and technical assistance of 10 million Yuan (about Rs 130 million) to bolster capacity of Nepal Police. Under this, China said it would provide equipment and other support to the Nepal Police.

Another technical assistance package of 400,000 Yuan (about Rs 5.2 million) too was signed for strengthening the Armed Police Force (APF). "This technical assistance will go for conducting study to establishment an APF college," said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
nnnn

________________________________________

10 AMBASSADORS APPOINTED

2012-01-16T23:38:00.000-08:00

10 AMBASSADORS APPOINTED

Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: The cabinet Tuesday appointed ambassadors in 10 countries.
Shankar Bairagi was appointed ambassador to Switzerland, Muktinath Bhatta to Denmark, Rudra Nepal to Australia, and Rammani Pokharel to Belgium.
Bharatraj Poudel was appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Parasmani Ghimire to Myanmar, Pralad Prasai to Israel, Rabi Mohan Sapkota to Russia , Kaman Singh Lama to South Korea and Dr Maya Kumari Sharma to Qatar.
Government set aside two billion rupees for the Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement.
The money allocated is the first installment and includes transportation costs return home from the cantonments.
Several EU member states that had been funding the peace process were
reluctant to finance the final integration of former 19,000 fighters in
28 cantonments amid a European financial crisis.
China offered $20 million one-time grant for the programme during the just concluded visit to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
nnnn

BREAKTHROUGH IN NILAMBAR ACHARYA COMMITTEE MEET

2012-01-16T23:22:00.000-08:00

BREAKTHROUGH AT NILAMBAR ACHARYA COMMITTEE MEET
Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: An agreement was reached at the main constitution rafting committee Tuesday to give voting rights to
18-year-olds.
Parliament will be mentioned as the legislature parliament
and the lower house of a bicameral legislature will be called the house of representatives in a new constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May.
A Maoist faction renegaded on agreements; agreement came
at the fourth meeting of the committee headed by Nilambar Acharya
nnnn

________________________________________

SETTLERS ALONG BAGMATI CALL STRIKE LARGELY IGNORED

Kathmandu, 17 Jan. A front of illegal setters called a strike in the Valley to oppose their eviction along the Bagmati river Tuesday.
The strike call had minimal response.
Government said it’s determined to go ahead with the evictions as the settlers demanded alternative spots to construct settlements.
There are more than 600 settlements along the river that runs through the Valley.
More than 300persons were arrested in the capital land Bhaktapur
during the strike.
Nnnn

SUN SHINES OVER VALLEY
Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: Valley residents Tuesday got a respite from the cold wave that hit the Valley and the rest of the country since the weekend.

Clouds lifted over the Valley for the first time in two days as
residents got respite from cold in two days.
nnnn

GACHEDHAR LEAVING FOR INDIA

2012-01-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER GACHEDHAR VISITING INDIA
LATER TUESDAY

Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya
Kumar Gachedhar leaves for a six-day India visit later Tuesday following Saturday’s four-hour transit visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
Gachedhar is home minister and acting defence minister—the first
time the security-related ministries are under the command and control of a Madeshi
Wen visited Nepal amid speculation China wasn’t satisfied with
security arrangements for his first scheduled three-day visit that was
to have begun 20December.
Wen Saturday only drove to the Singha Durba from the airport for
talks with his Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and government.
From Singha Durbar Wen drove to Shital Niwas for a courtesy call on President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav amid tight security
China offered assistance to Nepal to upgrade the police during the short Wen drove to the airport from Shital Niwan to continue his flight to
three Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia
Wen didn’t visit the inner city.
nnnn

CABINET DISCUSSING ARMS PURCHASE

Kathmandu, 17 Jan.: Cabinet is meeting is underway to discuss
purchase Rs.1.7 billion arms and ammunition purchase for Nepal Police.
Thee purchase is being considered by the government led by Maoists which previously opposed supply of arms and ammunition to Nepal Army and police.
Maoists attempted to impose a communist regime in Nepal by fighting the Royal Nepal Army which wasn’t defeated by the insurgents.
India is Nepal’s biggest supplier of weapons and had starved the
army and police during the Maoist insurgency through an export ban
during the insurgency.
Nnnn