Nepal Today

Friday, June 24, 2011

TWO MORE LAWMAKERS SOLD DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

DIPLOMATS LEAVE ON WEEKEND TOUR OF FAR-WEST

Kathmandu, 24 June: A group of ambassadors and heads of mission, accompanied by their spouses, flew for Nepalgunj Friday on a three-day weekend tour conducted by the foreign ministry of some scenic spots in two far-West districts.
The envoys will view the scenic Rara Lake in Mugu and tour Bardiya National Park, the home of the endangered and protected tiger.
Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan who assumed official responsibility Monday has joined the tour on his first outing outside the Valley.
The annual programme has been resumed after it was suspended during the period the 10-year-insugrgency,” said Chief of Protocol Muktinath Bhatta..
Foreign Secretary Madhav Kumar Bhattarai, who is retiring, is accompanying the group.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Every case attached to a security issue is politicized. Consequently, enforcement of law has suffered.”

(Dolaka CDO Ganesh Bhattarai speaking at a two-day central region security review meet that concluded in Dolalghat Thursday, The Kathmandu Post, 24 June)

‘I didn’t become prime minister just to hang my portrait on a wall.”

(Radio Nepal quoting PM Khanal in its 1 PM news broadcast 24 June).

“The commission [public service] has written to the chief secretary and home secretary asking how the promotion [of DIG Kuber Singh Rana to AIGP] was effected unconstitutionally and illegally.”

(Commission member Tika Dutta Niraula, Kantipur, 24 June)
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TWO MORE LAWMAKERS SOLD DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

Kathmandu, 24 June: Police confirmed two more lawmakers sold their diplomatic passports, Naya Patrika reports.
UML lawmaker Naradmuni Rana and Shibapujan Yadav of MJFN led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yavad sold their red passports.
Nepal Police and Australian embassy confirmed two persons traveling on their passports are currently in Australia.
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12 FREE TIBET ACTIVISTS IN POLICE NET
Kathmandu, 24 June: Police last night [Thursday] intervened in a Tibetan exiles’ condolence meeting in Bouddha and rounded up 12 Free Tibet activists. The crackdown came when the exiles were holding a candlelight vigil on the Bouddhanath Stupa premises to wish for eternal peace to Phuntsok (21) and protest the Chinese excesses, The Himalayan Times reports.

The Buddhist monk had immolated himself near the Kirti monastery in Amdho, eastern Tibet, on March 16 in protest of the Chinese rule in Tibet. The incident sparked a wave of protests in Tibet, prompting the Chinese military to crack down on Free Tibet activists.

Those detained in yesterday’s crackdown are Lopsang Sherpa, Wangdi Gurung, Gato, Yote Lama, Tenzing Lama, Thendup Chhiring, Thumten Ghyamchho, Gyalchhen, Dorjee Chhiring, Rabygyal, Tenzing Phinchow and Dorjee Lama. Of them, Wangdi and Thendup are Nepalis.

DSP Shyam Lal Gyawali said police had to intervene after the Tibetan exiles sporting headbands and t-shirts reading ‘Free Tibet’ tried to stage an anti-China protest.

“We have charged the Free Tibet activists under Some Public Offences Act for their involvement in disturbing peace in the society,” Gyawali said.

Nepal, home to more than 22,000 Tibetan exiles, adheres to ‘one-China Policy’ and has vowed not to let its soil be used against its neighbours.
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Thursday, June 23, 2011

ALL THREE CREW MEMBERS SAFE AFTER AIRCRAFT SKIDS OFF RUNWAY

ALL THREE CREW MEMBERS OF TARA AIR DRONIER SAFE AFTER SKIDDING OFF RUNWAY AT HUMLA

Kathmandu, 24 June: All three members of a Tara Air German-built Dronier survived when the plane skidded off Simikot airport, in Humla Friday morning after landing.
The plane was ferrying rice to the remote far-West hill district from Nepalgunj.
The wings and propeller were damaged
Capt. BR Niraula was leading the crew.
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NUMBER PLATES FINALLY FOR CHINA-GIFTED VEHICLES
Kathmandu, 24 June: Better late than never—that’s what the Kathmandu Metropolitan City is saying when it comes to getting number plates of the vehicles gifted by China, Binod Ghimere wrtes in The Kathmandu Post.

After illegally plying the 108 vehicles for nearly a year, KMC is preparing to register them. China had donated waste handling equipments worth Rs 170 million to KMC last year. Six big garbage trucks, 50 hermetic self-discharging garbage trucks, five compression refuse collectors, 30 self-discharging and loading garbage trucks, four water tanks and two road wreckers are among them.

The metropolitan authority, flouting traffic rules, ran the vehicles without number plates for the last 10 months. The process for acquiring number plates is in the last stage, said KMC’s Environment Managem-ent Department chief Rabin Man Shrestha.

KMC has already paid Rs 8.3 revenue to the Department of Transport Management for the same cause.

“We just received the blue books of all vehicles and if every thing goes according to the plan, all the vehicles will have the number plates within a week,” said Shrestha.

He said the number plate acquiring process got delayed because of lack of proper documents, including Pollution Clearance Letter (PCL) and Conformation of Productivity (CoP), both issued by the vehicles’ manufacturing company. CoP is a conformation letter that proves the vehicle is brand new. “CoP is not in use is China. Therefore, it took long time to receive it from the company that manufactured those 108 vehicles,” said Shrestha. After CoP, managing money for revenue stood in KMC way.

“Earlier, KMC vehicles used to bear red plates. But because of high revenue that red-plated vehicles require to pay, we decided to use white plates,” he said. As of now, the KMC vehicles bear temporary numbers provided by the customs office and a few of them are even have licence plates that read “On Test”.

According to traffic rules, not a single vehicle can ply on roads using temporary plates. “We are fed up of requesting the KMC not to operate its vehicles without number plates,” said said Metropolitan Traffic Police Division Spokesman SP Jagat Man Shrestha.
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TANKER OPERATORS STALL OIL IMPORT, DISTRIBUTION
Kathmandu, 24 June: Petroleum tanker operators went on a sudden strike on Thursday, bringing import of fuel from Raxaul to a grinding halt, after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) decided to induct 60 additional tankers in Kathmandu-Raxaul route, Republica reports.

They also stalled distribution of fuel from Amlekhgunj and Thankot -- the two major depots responsible for supplying fuel to the Kathmandu Valley and other cities of the central region.

As a result, most of the refilling stations, which operate with low storage capacity, went dry in the Valley, sparking fresh round of fuel shortage. By the evening, long queues of consumers built up at some refilling stations that continued to sell the fuel.

NOC officials said they took the decision to induct the 60 tankers, which it originally hired for transporting fuel from Barauni, in Kathmandu-Raxaul route because the high-level NOC Reform Commission suggested it to do so. The commission had made the recommendation mainly as import from Barauni was inflicting both additional transportation cost and also high temperature loss to the corporation.

However, Central-Region Tanker Operators Association (CRTOA) has said the NOC´s very decision to induct those tankers in Amlekhgunj-Barauni route was wrong and guided by vested interest of senior corporation officials, and announced of not withdrawing the strike unless the corporation scraps the decision.

“The induction of new tankers in Raxaul, where even existing tankers are facing difficulty in getting enough business due to traffic congestion and other reasons, is a foul deal. We will not back off until NOC revokes the decision,” said Utsav Itani, secretary of the CRTOA.

He even flayed Nepal Petroleum Tankers Federation (NPTF) -- the umbrella organization of tanker operators -- for backing the NOC decision.

According to operators associated with CRTOA, most of the tankers freshly diverted to work in the new route belong to senior officials of NPTF.

CRTOA has asked the government to probe NOC management, particularly seeking explanation why it decided to induct around 150 new tankers in the new route of Amlekhgunj-Barauni. NOC Chief Digambhar Jha referring to a shortage earlier had announced that he was hiring new tankers, opening a new import route, to manage supplies.

Although the shortage was temporary in nature, he had decided to hire the tankers permanently. “Given the myopic decision taken then, this problem was bound to surface. Unfortunately, it has come at a time when confidence of consumers on supply capacity of NOC has dwindled,” said an official at the corporation.

Dealers protest revision of commission

Petroleum dealers operating refilling stations across the country have flayed the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to provide them a fixed commission amount on petroleum retailing.

Earlier, the corporation was providing them 3 percent commission fee on sell of each liter of petroleum products. However, the corporation had decided to provide them the commission in fixed amount and not in percentage terms, referring to the recommendation suggested by the high-level NOC Reform Commission.

“If the NOC is to implement its recommendation, it must first end institutionalized corruption. But instead of introducing internal reforms, the corporation has chosen to axe income of others,” said Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA).

Talking to Republica, Pandey even claimed that the NOC of late was troubling other players in petroleum business with a sole motive of sparking protests and chaos in the market. “Its goal is pretty clear: to escape reforms by generating problems in the market. This must not happen,” he stated.
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CASINO OPERATOR RAKESH WADHA WITHDRAWS CASE AGAINST GOVT.

HOME MINISTER MAHARA GRILLED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 24 June: Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara was grilled by parliament’s state affairs committee on the security situation, committee members said.
He was also questioned on the delayed arrest of a youth leader of the UML leading the communist majority government for the murderous assault on reporter Khilnath Dhakal two weeks in the town.
Central president of the Youth Force Mahesh Basnet has implicitly admitted he’s shielding the district youth leader.
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Thursday assured journalists in the capital the district youth leader of hi party will be arrested after a police search amid charges party is also sheltering the accused.
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RAKESH WADHA WITHDRAWS CASE AGAINST GOVT.

Kathmandu, 24 June: Rakesh Wadha, proprietor of Nepal Recreation Center (NRC) that operates four casinos Thursday withdraw a case filed at the supreme court challenging a tourism ministry decision to scrap its operating license.
Narendra Shrestha filed the case on behalf of Wadha, an Indian national.
The ministry cancelled the license for non-payment of royalty dues to government.
Trade union representatives said NRC hasn’t paid workers’ salary for seven months and asked Wadha’s lawyers to withdraw the case at the apex court.
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FORMER CEO OF SAMJHANA FINANCE ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 24 June: Him Bahadur Gurung, former CEO of Samjhana Finance that’s being liquidated, was arrested from the capital Thursday.
Its former Executive Chairman Shyam Bahadur Shrestha was arrested 5 June in an effort to punish company officials for fraudulent and criminal financial crimes.
Gurung has been charged for misappropriating Rs.41.5 million.
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DPM YADAV FAULTS LAXMANPUR DAM TREATY WITH INDIA





Kathmandu, 24 June 23 - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav Thursday said that the treaty signed with the Indian government to construct the Laxmanpur dam had loopholes, The Rising Nepaal reports.
DPM and Foreign Minister Yadav made such remarks after receiving a memorandum submitted by the struggle committee of the Laxamanpur dam victims.
He said that the dam resulted to be a bane for the Nepalese people due to the blunders committed by the previous governments while signing the treaty.
He informed that talks would be held with the Indian government immediately through a diplomatic channel regarding the dam.
The construction work of the dam was completed in 1985 and several Village Development Committees bordering India were inundated due to the dam.
Holiaya, Bankatti, Phattepur, Ganagapur and Mataia VDCs of Banke were directly affected after the construction of the dam.
According to Jagadish Bahadur Singh, chairman of the committee, more villages were inundated when the dam was repaired in 2001.
DPM Yadav said that the problems invited by the construction of Laxmanpur dam should be resolved as it had displaced thousands of the people of the area. He also pointed out the need to review the treaty signed with India during the construction of the dam.
The dam has damaged some 2400 bighas of land of six VDCs and over 25,000 people were displaced.
The problem further deepened when India constructed Kalkalwa embankment without consulting with Nepal.

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FORMER IGP REFUSES TO ACCEPT SUMMON





Kathmandu, 24 June 23:- Former Inspector General of the Nepal Police Om Bikram Rana Thursday, who was implicated in Sudan scam, refused to accept the summon of the Special Court (SC), The Rising Nepal reports.
Special Court employee Uddhav Thapa, who reached Rana’s residence at Kusunti with the letter, could not hand over it to former IGP Rana.
Rana said that he would accept the letter only after holding consultations with his layers.
Nine former and suspended police officers including SSP, SP and DSP and police inspectors along with Thapa reached Rana’s house this afternoon.
They urged Rana to accept the letter of SC and help settle the case at the earliest possible, said one of the suspended police officers in the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, SC official Uddhav Thapa was made hostage by junior police officers, who are under scanner for their alleged involvement in Sudan scam, for two hours. Thapa was taken under control at Mahalaxmi chowk in Lalitpur from 11:00 to 1:00 pm.
The junior police officials allegedly took Thapa in control after he failed to deliver Special Court summon to former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rana.
It is reported that Thapa was directed not to do so by another senior official. The senior official’s name was not revealed by Thapa.
While Thapa was on his way to Rana’s residence, the senior official questioned Thapa about his authority to carry the letter of summons.
The senior official was reported to have threatened Thapa of firing him from the job if he delivered the summon.
Accordingly, Thapa stepped down from the bus at Mahalaxmi after he was threatened to lose his job. However, he was picked up by junior police officials at Mahalaxmi, who were pressurizing him to handover the letter to former IGP Rana.

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MINISTERS TURN MINISTRY INTO FOREST OF AIDES

Kathmandu, 24 June: Bhanubhakta Joshi must be a busy man with a hatful of work to do, for he is a government minister. At least one can assume so by looking at a batch of assistants he has at his disposal, Ramesh Prasad Bhusal writes in The .Himalayan Times.

Joshi, who heads the Ministry for Forest and Soil Conservation, has as many as nine aides to assist him, let alone two drivers and his personal security guards.

“We don’t have any idea how much work he has done in the last two months, but he definitely is adept at recruiting assistants,” Ministry officials laugh in their sleeves. The number of his aides became nine after he hired a personal assistant only last week. “He is the minister of PAs not forest,” one of the officials at the ministry gave a gleek.

The two cabins, meant for Minister Joshi’s assistants, are adjacent to his chamber, where they virtually do nothing, according to the official.

“They are busy chatting the whole day, and sometimes whenever there are some visitors, they talk their ear off,” added the official.

Most of the assistants hired by Joshi are from far-western districts and are on deputation from other ministries. Some have been recruited though. Minister Joshi from Bajhang, a district in far west, represents the CPN-UML in the government.

Interestingly, Joshi’s state minister, Bhagawati Chaudhary has taken a leaf from Joshi’s book as far as hiring assistants is concerned.

Chaudhary has got seven assistants. Of them, two are government officials and rest were recruited by the state minister.

So, the forest ministry has no shortage of assistants and their offices are always crowded enough to irk other ministry officials, who said the ministers’ aides even misbehave with them at times.

“This has really become a problem,” said an official seeking anonymity. “They talk big, even warn people and rake in commissions for any work they get done through the ministers.”

It seems, the forest and soil conservation ministry is quite fertile to breed aides and suite. Former minister Deepak Bohara too enjoyed an entourage of six aides. But Joshi has simply outdone him.

“This place looks like a recruitment centre,” the ministry officials mocked.
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MAOIST STANDING,CENTRAL COMMITTEES MEET FRIDAY

MAOIST STANDING, CENTRAL COMMITEES MEET FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 24 June: Standing and central committees of UCPN (Maoist) will be held Friday after intense last-minute discussions with top party leaders.
Amid wide ideological and other differences in the ruling party, a scheduled standing committee couldn’t meet Thursday to fix an agenda for Friday’s central committee meeting.
A meeting of office bearers to fix the agenda for the meetings started Friday morning.
Internal differences, have forced the repeated postponements of scheduled committee meetings.
The standing committee meets at 12 noon while the central committee is scheduled to assemble two hours later at two in the afternoon.
Chairman Prachanda has proposed a general convention to sort out intra-party public differences between four factions led by the party boss and three vice-chairman
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PARLIAMENT MEETS FOR PRE-BUDGET DISCUSSIONS

Kathmandu, 24 June: Parliament meets Friday for three-day pre-budget discussions after an unofficial meeting of office bearers and some central committee members if the main opposition NC decided Thursday not to obstruct the presentation of the budget this year.
NC Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC said following the meeting his party decided to support the annual budget presentation this year as its delayed presentation the last three years has adversely impacted the national economy.
The communist majority government has presented a pre-budget draft in parliament to collect suggestions of other parties for incorporation in government’s plans and programmes
The budget will finance those plans and programmes.
NC Thursday lauded government’s move to hold pre-budget discussions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari tabled the pre-budget document for discussion Wednesday
The fiscal year 2010/11 ends 17 July
Government’s plans and programmes will be presented 3 July and the annual budget 14 July
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TWO CONVENTIONS TO BE RATIFIED FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 24 June: Parliament is scheduled to ratify the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 1999 and the International Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Nepal has been threatened with blackmail without their ratifications.
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AIGP KUBER SINGH RANA TAKES OVER FRIDAY AT CITY POLICE CHIEF

Kathmandu, 24 June: Newly promoted AIGP Kuber Singh Rana takes over the chief of the city police Friday.
Rana assumes charge amid deteriorating law and order situation and increased criminal activities.
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ALL 140 PETROL UMPS CLOSE DOWN IN VALLEY

Kathmandu, 24 June: All petrol pumps in the Valley closed down Friday because of inadequate supply by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), petroleum dealers said.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has curtailed its supplies of POL products to NOC after delayed settlement of dues.
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NEPSE GAINS 20.16 POINTS THURSDAY

Kathmandu, 24 June: Nepse gained 20.16 points Thursday on the last day of weekly trading to closed at 364.4 points.
Nepse rallied for the sixth consecutive day of weekly trading since last Wednesday—rallying from the six-year low of 292.32 points to 364.4 points
There was no trading Wednesday declared public holiday to mark the centenary of national census.
Altogether 283,8-1 shares were traded in 1,100 transactions for Rs.71.59 million.
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MAOISTS DIDN;T ATTEND MEET OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR INTEGRATION

MAOIST SPECIAL COMMITTEE DIDN’T MEET UPDATE

Kathmandu, 23 June: A scheduled meeting of Maoist standing committee didn’t meet Thursday.
Maoist leader and party office bearer close to Chairman Prachanda said late Thursday the party chief is holding last-minute discussions with colleagues for a scheduled central committee meet Friday.
It’s uncertain whether the central committee will meet Friday.
Secretary CP Gajurel, close Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya challenging Prachanda, said the standing has to meet to set an agenda for the central committee meeting.
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NO SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR NINE DAYS

Kathmandu, 23 June: A scheduled special committee for integration, resettlement and supervision of 19,000 plus Maoists chaired by the prime minister couldn’t be convened Thursday as well.
Maoist representatives at the committee said they were busy preparing for their central committee meeting which is scheduled to start Friday.
Government Chief Jhalanath Khanal and UML and NC representatives met informally.
Maoists haven’t been attending the committee meetings regularly for the last nine days amid delay in concluding the peace process, constitution drafting and forming a national government.
There’s virtually been no progress in pushing forward the three process after the constituent assembly tenure was extended by another three months after 28 May facilitated by a tripartite agreement between Maoists, UML and main opposition NC.
The process of integration and resettling former Maoist fighters as part of the peace process is behind schedule.
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18 MAOIST AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS ASK PM KHANAL TO WITHDRAW GOVT, DECISION TO DEPLOY TROOPS

Kathmandu, 23 June: Eighteen Maoist-affiliated organizations asked government to withdraw government decision to deploy Nepal Army for security of hydro power plants.
A memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Thursday.
The government decision was taken after a Maoist attack on office premises of Upper Karnali Hydro Power project being developed by an Indian company in the far-West.
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ARMY DEFUSES TWO BOMBS AT JHAPA DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Kathmandu, 23 June: Two bombs planted at the premises of Jhapa district administration in Chandragadhi were defused Thursday by a bomb disposal unit of Nepal Army
One bomb was planted near the CDO's office
Yalambar Kirat's Kirat Janabadi Workers' Party has claimed responsibility for planting the bombs.
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JAYANT PRASAD OFFICIALLYCONFIRMED AS INDIA’S NEW ABASSADOR TO NEPAL

Kathmandu, 23 June: Special Secretary at the foreign ministry Jayant Prasad has been officially confirmed as India’s snew ambassador to succeed Rakesh Sood.
Sood is the first Indian envoy to Nepal with intelligence foreign intelligence RAW background.
Like new Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan who assumed responsibilities Monday, Prasad is a former ambassador to Afghanistan.
The new Indian envoy’s father, Bimal Prasad, was also ambassador to Nepal.
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MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE MEET DELAYED

NO MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEE UNTIL THREE PM

Kathmandu, 23 June: A scheduled meeting of Maoist standing committee hasn’t started until three in the afternoon. Thursday
Meetings have been repeatedly put of because of deep ideological differences in the party with a section openly and publicly challenging what has been called a ‘personal’ decision of Chairman Prachanda to disarm and return PLA fighters deployed for security of top leaders to camps.
Thursday meeting was called to set an agenda for Friday’ central committee which can’t meet without preparatory consultations at the standing committee.
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PM KHANAL SAYS HE’LL RESIGN ANY MINUTE ANY SECOND

Kathmandu, 23 June: Prime Minister Jhakanath Khanal said Thursday in the capital he’ll resign ‘any minute, any second’ and asked other parties to create an environment for ‘national understanding’.
But he said he won’t resign creating a void
‘I want to move responsibly,” Khanal said.
The premier has been charged for not resigning immediately after a tripartite five-point agreement between parties to form a national government.
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OPINION


POLITCS IN AGE OF ELITISM

Kathmandu, 23 June: A conspicuous sense of elitism has been creeping into the body politic for a while, culminating in the recent utterances of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. No, the Maoist vice-chairman insists, he doesn’t want to become prime minister just to add one more portrait on that wall at Singha Darbar, Maila Baje writesinNepali Netbook.
But he doesn’t restrain his minions from claiming that India, China, the United States and the European Union would all like to have him in the top job. (Thank goodness, he is popular with Nepalis, too. Imagine what it would be like to be in his party if he were less so.)
Dr. Bhattarai concedes that the Maoists, too, have been consumed by the factionalism and rivalries that have been the bane of other Nepalese parties. But that is only because of the former rebels’ increasing contacts with those same other parties.
Granted, without Dr. Bhattarai’s specialness, the Maoists would not have been the success story among the international revolutionary left despite their lack of a complete victory. You can go beyond that. Many a person who has topped his or her batch’s SLC list has soon lost the rush to excellence.
If Dr. Bhattarai had been cowered by the heavy police batons in the vicinity of Nepal Electricity Corporation during his relatively obscure days in the early nineties, he probably wouldn’t have become a serious contender for the premiership. Today his persona is such that his wife can become a minister just because of whom she is married to. (Although one must acknowledge the suffering she endured while joining her husband in that reform camp in the months preceding the 12-Point Agreement.)
But you can’t help notice the ludicrous levels the I-know-better-than-you air has taken. Dr. Bhattarai recently claimed that Nepal could fall victim to overt foreign interference within the next decade if we are not collectively careful. Aren’t we already there yet?
At another place, he decried the King Mahendra-style of foreign policy of playing one neighbor off against the other as thoroughly unworkable. But didn’t Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi visit the airport transit lounge for talks with King Mahendra whenever he was en route to a third country?
And didn’t Mao Zedong pay the much-maligned monarch that rare return visit to his residence in Beijing? If it was a game King Mahendra was playing, then New Delhi and Beijing were willful participants, weren’t they?
A senior Chinese leader not too long ago described Dr. Bhattarai as being Nepal’s Deng Xiaoping. (The more diehard Chinese communists and their Nepali cousins would probably see him more in Khrushchev’s mold.) Maila Baje feels the honorific may have also resulted from the Chinese belief that they could help Dr. Bhattarai save himself from becoming someone else.
In the aftermath of the Narayanity Carnage, Dr. Bhattarai had labeled King Gyanendra as Nepal’s equivalent of Lhendup Dorje – the Sikkimese quisling – an assertion he virtually said he stood by a decade later. That Dr. Bhattarai today should be battling to ward off the same epithet from within his own party – not to speak from a section of the country – says less about the country’s political craziness than about the corrosiveness of the careless talk by people certifiably smarter than the rest of us.
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UNMASKED AT LAST

Kathmandu, 23 June: ATo ignorant people like this author, the real meaning of “loktantra” is as confusing as ever, even five years after politicians of many stripes launched a joint movement for it in 2005-6. A functioning democracy is another story, something highly desirable but so far a promise that has so crushingly eluded Nepalis, Trikal Vastavik writes in People’s Review.
Lack of political integrity is what ails our political parties and their leaders. It is only with politicians’ moral integrity that their public credibility can be expected to rise. Just as the hung parliament created by the 1994 general elections gave an inkling of how politics could be used for horse trading, personal benefits and money power at its worst, the “loktantra” years since 2006 have made it loud and clear that power at any cost is what politicians are after.
A Nepali Congress of considerable clout told this author that a good section of his party did not want the Constituent Assembly’s tenure to be extended for a second time but “it happened, and its long-term consequences can be serious”. He thinks that for the first time the NC had slowly begun to win the confidence of the people by either making the Maoists comply with the peace process in all sincerity or insist on fresh elections to assess the public mood and secure a new popular mandate. “But we missed this golden opportunity to retrieve the public trust.”
At backroom talks, NC leaders like Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arjun Narsingh K.C. and Ram, Sharan Mahat do not believe that the new Constitution would be formulated within the next seven weeks. One of them said at a gathering, “To say that at least a draft of some kind should be made by the new extended date is trying to hoodwink people. First of all, talking of a ‘draft’ is itself insincere. Interpreting the spirit of Jana-andolan this way is totally wrong.”
A former minister and UML leader added, “We knew long ago that the Constitution would not be ready within the deadline stipulated by the Interim Constitution. But our leaders could not say so to the people. You know the crux of the problem, I also know the problem. But it is difficult to tell so to the people. They will misunderstand us.”
A study team from the US, in the course of its recent visit to Kathmandu, told some CA members that federalism “will not work in Nepal. You have a different situation.” The statement came from such a team hailing from a country that has the longest record of constitutional federalism without interruption for more than 225 years and is going strong.
Even sections of the British have been raising doubts over a federal structure in Nepal. But then there are people like Krishna Khanal, supposedly an “expert” on constitution-making and federalism. Just because the Western-funded CCD has hired him, and he publicly “dissociated” himself from Nepali Congress does not automatically give him the so-called “expertise”. Khanal wrote a pedestrian piece for an outlet known for its pro-NC bias, claiming that federal units should be structured on the basis of ethnicity.
At a time when even the Interim Constitution, once vaunted as “truly loktantrik”, has been subjected to amendments with casual frequency, those associated with its draft scurry for shelter to hide their embarrassment whenever they come within earshot of criticism made against its contents. The late Girija Prasad Koirala rued deeply during his last days that he relied on people like Laxman Aryal completely for which the nation was suffering. Therefore, what would a group of INGO-blessed “experts” know much about such serious issues except the fat salaries paid for a job done in keeping with the paymaster’s agenda?
The sort of agenda foreign agencies push for was tellingly underscored when they tried to put a stop to nationwide strike called for a group representing indigenous communities. DFID and others publicly warned that they would stop their funds to the organizers if the latter did not withdraw their planned program. For once there emerged a group that said enough was enough when it came to donors dictating terms at every twist and turn.
The strike was a big success, despite a few rallies that tried to persuade people not to respond to the strike-callers. The foreign agencies argued that strikes create hardships to people. It is indeed true that an enforced strike does create many problems, but then this has always been the mode of demonstrating protests in Nepal. The so-called civil society leaders, their political bosses and the parties they are affiliated with have a long history of resorting to such practices.
Most Nepalis have never been for enforced closures, but schools get closed down; campuses get closed down; and industries get closed down. Districtwise, regionwise and nationwide strikes are also regularly held. It is fear that has prevailed all along when shops and industries get closed down at the mention of strike to protest a “loktantrik” cause promoted any group. In fact, at times, “dharnas” are sponsored by INGOs that pay for “snacks and transport” to their chosen organizers.
When the Maoists called for an indefinite strike in 2009, the strikers’ transport expenses and meals were widely reported to have been paid for by funds funneled by some EU members.
The on-going faction-fighting in the once seemingly unassailable Maoists, the ever “champion” of democratic movement Nepali Congress, the “progressive” UML and the “king-makers” Tarai-based parties has begun to unmask the anomalies and hypocrisy that some groups within the Nepali political spectrum had been harboring in the name of “loktantra”.
Prachanda is no more than beyond criticism. His own senior party members attack him for “unreliability”, “lack of financial transparency in the organization” and “practicing one-man show”. Not only Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Vaidya but also Ram Karki and Pampha Bhushal have shown their “revolutionary” selves at a time when people like Ram Bahadur Thapa are yet to find any footing as far as making public what their stand on the issues affecting the party are.
Who are worried? Not the NC, not the UML majority, not New Delhi, not Beijing, not Washington—no one, except perhaps Upendra Yadav’s group that has drastically shrunk in size and strength.
Let the principled and competent rise and shine.
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SINGER GANESH PRASAD SHRESTHA DEAD

OFFICES IN 9 FAR-WEST DISTRICTS CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 23 June: Government offices in nine districts of the far-West remained closed on Thursday as well.
Officials are protesting delayed investigation action against persons responsible for the murder of Dodhara VDC of Kanchanpur district and compensation for the family of Yagya Prasad Upadhaya.
Upadhaya’s body was recovered 16 June from a community forest near the Nepal-India border earlier this month.
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SINGER GANESH PRASAD SHRESTHA DEAD

Kathmandu, 23 June: Singer Ganesh Prasad Shrestha died Thursday.
He was 77 and was suffering asthma.
Shrestha was admitted for treatment at TU Teaching Hospital overnight.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“As Minister Mahara, who is a Maoist, issued a biased directive to police to round up Parshuram at all costs, we will not be handing him over to police.”

(Central Chief of UML Youth Force Mahesh Basnet, The Himalayan Times, 23 June)
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“It is now clear why party president Sushil Koirala, Shitaula and other office bearers, who defended Rubel Chaudhary during the Tiger Tops shooting controversy, have been keeping mum on the Sudan scam.”

(Unidentified NC leader in The Kathmandu Post, 23 June)

“The anti-grant body has accused innocent police officers just because they signed the minutes concerning the purchase. I have serious reservations on it. Everybody knows how independent our institutions are.”

(NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC, The Kathmandu Post, 23 June)
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AMBAR GURUNG, FATHEMAN RAJBHANDARI ELATED WITH GOVT. RECOGNITION

Kathmandu, 23 June: Composer Late Gopal Prasad Rimal, Musician Ambar Gurung and Singer Fatheman Rajbhandari of “Rato Ra Chandra Surya Jangi Nisan Hamro”—the inspiring military song—were honoured by the cabinet Wednesday.
The cabinet conferred on Rimal and Gurung the rank of honourary colon of Nepal Army.
Rajbhandari received a cash award from the Army Welfare Fund.
“I am extremely gladdened by the government decision. This is not only an honour of us but every Nepali who is proud of the national song and nation,” Gurung told Annapurna Post.
“I remember most the composer of the song.” Rajbhandari said.
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ALTOGETHER 1,725 FORMER MAOIST FIGHTERS PASS THIS YEAR’S SLC EXAMS

Kathmandu, 23 June: Altogether 1,725 former Maoists in 28 cantonments and satellite camps passed this year’s SLC examinations, Annapurna Post reports.
Altogether 97.3percent or 817 fighters of the 5th division in Rolpa got through.
Another 191 fighters passed from the 1st division at Chulachuli in Ilam.
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NEW CITY POLICY CHIEF COULD BE NEXT IGP
Kathmandu, 23 June:: The government promoted Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Singh Rana, reputed to be a clean and professional cop, to the post of Additional Inspector General (AIG) on Wednesday, picking him as the country´s future police chief after incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rabindra Pratap Shah, Sundr Khanal writes in Republica.

Rana now fills the place left vacant by Shah, who a couple of weeks ago replaced his batch-mate Ramesh Chand in the wake of the APC scandal.

Rana will be reigning over the Nepal Police for 14 months from September, 2012, and given his integrity and professionalism, it is hoped he will make a difference in the usually politically-tormented law enforcement agency.

The promotion has come amid an awful lot of hype and guesswork as it is about ensuring ascent to the top police job. The government has quite significantly chosen to go for a lone promotion at a time when there are two other vacancies at the AIG level created by the suspension of Arjun Jung Shahi and Madan Bahadur Khadka in connection with the APC scandal.

Had all three vacancies been filled simultaneously--this was a matter for significant debate within the government-- it would not necessarily have meant that promising for Rana, who has never been known for any political allegiances or unsound conduct.

"He is the most competent officer in the Nepal Police, with incomparable integrity. He is an impeccable cop," said SP Ramesh Kharel, who himself is known for absolute policing.

"During my posting in Kaski district, he was the regional chief as DIG. Never did I feel any problem working with him and it was always a boon to be commanded by him," Kharel said.

Every police officer approached by Republica expressed contentment at Rana´s promotion, though unlike Kharel they requested not to be named.

Recruited in 2040 BS as a police inspector, Rana was exemplary as someone who never misused his power, said Kharel. "He´s that kind of a guy."

"If conspiracies do not have their way in this unpredictable country, we´ll hopefully find the smartest IGP in Rana," said an SP trained as a police cadet by Rana some 17 years ago. "I can´t believe that at this stage in his career he will start knocking on the doors of political leaders, something he never did before."

Rana has occasionally been dragged into controversy surrounding the murder of someone in Dhanusha at the hands of the Nepal Army during the insurgency when he was posted there as district police chief. "Bringing him down over that case would be nothing but pure injustice. This decision has quelled fears that he could be let down because of that case," said officials.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

FOREIGN MINISTER YADAV CURTAILS FIRST FOREIGN VISIT

FOREIGN MINISTER UPENDRA YADAV SHORTENS FIRST FOREIGN TOUR

Kathmandu, 23 June: Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav has shortened his first foreign tour after assuming office by canceling visits of Iran and Belgium to attend international conference.
Yadav was scheduled to leave for the two countries and Lithuania Thursday.
He’ll now only fly for Lithuania to address the sixth ministerial of the community of democracies being held in Vilnius from 30 June.
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ANFA INVITES 25 FOR CLOSED CAMP FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Kathmandu, 23: Twenty-five players have been called for a closed camp by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) for the World Cup qualifiers against East Timor from 29 June 29 to 2 July at Dasharath Rangashala.
The invited national players are: Goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha, Bijay Gurung Shiva Shrestha, Anil Ojha, Yogesh Gurung r Bishal Rai ´Kiran Chemjong, Bikas Malla, Ritesh Thapa,and Biraj Maharjan.
Bikas Singh Chhetri, Sandeep Rai, Deepak Bhushal, Rabin Shrestha, Sagar Thapa, Rohit Chand Nirajan Khadka, Bhola Silwal, Jagjeet Shrestha, Sujal Shrestha, Jumanu Rai, Anil Gurung, Bharat Khawas, Ganesh Lawati and Santosh Sahukhala have alsobeen called for the closed camp
The final 23-member squad will be announced after training concludes.
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________________________________________




MEDIA GOGLE

“Nobody should be immune just because of party link [demanding action against Krishna Prasad Shitaula in Sudan scam].Jhalanath Khanal is the nation’s weakest and most helpless prime minister’ He hasn’t arrested his own party worker taken “

(NC lawmaker and youth leadeer Gagan Thapa, Naya Patrika, 23 June)
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FUEL IMPORT BLEEDS NEPAL
Kathmandu, 23 June: That the total import of petroleum products has burnt the country’s total export should set off alarm bells, Kuvera Chalise writes in. The Himalayan Times

“Nepal imported petroleum products worth Rs 59.53 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal whereas the total export stood at Rs 52.67 billion, making the earning through total export less than the value of import of petroleum products,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary while presenting Priorities and Principles of the budget for 2011/12 in the Parliament today. This implies, the country’s total export will not be enough to import even petroleum products in the wake of increasing consumption of fuel and its soaring price in the international market.

“It is going to be a serious challenge for the government,” said Adhikary, adding that the sole petroleum importer, Nepal Oil Corporation, has borrowed Rs 2.63 billion from the government and additional Rs 3.30 billion from Employees Provident Fund and Citizens’ Investment Trust.

“The government will be forced to adjust the lending under the development expenses as it was earlier not mentioned in the budget,” added Adhikary. He presented 64-point Priorities and Principles for the next budget for pre-budget discussion that is going to be held for the first time since the Constituent Assembly elections. The parliament will start pre-budget discussion from June 24.

Though the Priorities and Principles have spelt out implementation of Bio-fuel Policy to reduce the import of fossil fuel, lawmakers doubt the government would be able to curtail fuel import.

Yet another government entity, Nepal Electricity Authority, is also not in a good financial health with challenges growing to fulfil increasing energy need. But the finance minister said the budget aims to restructure the power utility apart from expanding transmission lines and promoting hydropower projects through the proposed bank for energy development.

“The cost of doing business has increased due to lack of regular power supply and this, along with rising interest rates, has hurt industrial sectors’ growth,” he said. The rising cost of production and supply constraints fuelled the price. Though, the current fiscal year’s budget has projected to contain the price hike at seven per cent, the government could not crack the whip, and it is hovering around 10 per cent. Adhikary, however, promised to combat price hike through Monetary Policy. “Productivity has also plunged, making the domestic production less competitive in the international market,” said Adhikary promising that his budget will be in line with the Three-Year Interim Plan that has envisioned poverty reduction through employment generation, and inclusive and justifiable economic growth for a sustainable peace. He also pledged to create investment-friendly environment for private sector investment to accelerate economic growth.

Apart from his regular slogans like Aafno Gau Aafai Banau (Develop One’s Own Village), Gau Gau ma Sahakari, Ghar Ghar ma Rojgari (Cooperatives in Every Village and Employment in Every Household), the Priorities and Principle have also spelled out infrastructure projects like Fast Track, Mid-Hill Highway and Model Village in every district.
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PEACE, STATUTE,ELECTRICITYTOP BUDGET PRIORITY





Kathmandu, 23 June” Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari Wednesday tabled a proposal on principles and priorities of appropriation of bill in the parliament, The Rising Nepal reports.
Speaking at the House session, Minister Adhikari said that proposal aimed at setting priorities of the upcoming budget through the pre-budget discussion.
He said that there had not been full-fledged budget for the last three years, which he said, caused various problems in the economic sector.
Highlighting the objectives of new budget, Adhikari said, "It has given priority to the peace process, statute writing, modernisation of agriculture and electricity production and extension of transmission lines."
He said that the upcoming budget would target to bring down the inflation rate from current 10 per cent to 7 per cent, carry out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for the families of martyrs and disappeared, deliver public goods and ease the supply smoothly and effectively, and conduct youth self-employment programmes and skill generating activities.
"For the commercialisation of agriculture, we should conduct One Village One Product programme as a campaign, and complete the medium and big hydro power plants to mitigate the energy crisis," he said and added that the budget would focus on land reform, irrigation extension, promotion of cooperatives and tourism.
He said that the government would encourage foreign investment and set up Energy Development Bank for the electricity production.
Likewise, the industrial reforms, export promotion and import substitute would be concentrated for the development of private

sector and promotion of foreign investment, said Adhikari.
He said that the government would bring social security programmes, end illiteracy within three years and define the primary and basic health services and provide them free to the people.
"The budget will embrace the three pillars of economy as mentioned in the interim constitution and expedite the infrastructure developments for the employment generations, said Adhikari.
He noted that the pre-budget discussions in the House would offer insights to the government for the budget formulation.
Meanwhile, RSS adds that the UCPN (Maoist) leader Dev Gurung objected to the act of the Constituent Assembly (CA) working through the taskforce instead of carrying out its functions as per the regulations and rules of procedures.
Speaking at the Special Hour of the Legislature-Parliament today, he suspected that the CA would be inactive if the parties and the taskforce hold discussions without tabling the integrated draft of the constitution. He also called for reviewing the course of constitution writing from the point it was diverted from its course.
He also made clear that separating arms and disarming the PLA combatants prior to their integration was unacceptable to the Maoist party, adding that the arms of the Nepal Army also should be submitted to the army integration special committee.
The prime minister should resign from the post only after the national consensus was forged and the national sovereignty was guaranteed, he said and drew the attention of the opposition parties not to hinder the process of tabling the new budget.
Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak asked for an answer from the government why Nepali Ambassador to India Rukma Shumsher Rana was called back, adding that the letter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this effect was illegal.
Lekhak complained that the assaulters of Biratnagar journalist Khila Nath Dhakal was not brought to book, impunity was increasing and the politics and criminalism were not distinguished.
He also demanded the pm stepped down immediately as per the five-point agreement and also protested the government move to transfer the civil servants haphazardly.
Likewise, UML leader Pradip Gyawali the constitution should be promulgated only after the completion of the peace process and expressed concern that the peace process was not progressed despite frequent rounds of consensus.
He stressed on the need to form a parliamentary monitoring committee for the enforcement of five point deal reached among the parties. The prime minister would not hesitate to resign if the schedule of the enforcement is prepared, he added.
Also speaking at the session, lawmaker from the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Sarba Dev Prasad Ojha expressed concern over the government decision to transfer government employees and transfer budget allocated under one heading to another at the end of the fiscal year.
CPN (ML) lawmaker CP Mainali raised his concerns over the attack on media persons under the political patronage and government failure to punish the guilty involved in the international calls bypass racket. He said that damage of a runway at the Tribhuvan International Airport just after the repairing showed that the state lacks good governance.
Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha expressed his concerns over the delay in constitution writing, continuous attacks on journalists and damage of the international airport runway. He, however, welcomed the government efforts at bringing the new budget on time.
Other lawmakers including Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani of the Rastriya Janashakti Party, Pari Thapa of the CPN (Unified), Keshav Mainali of the Chure Bhavar Rastriya Ekata Party, Krishna Kumari Pariyar of the Nepali Congress, Pratibha Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra, Chandra Dev Joshi from CPN ( United), Arbind Shah, Jagya Bahadur Shahi of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Chandra Bahadur Gugung of the RPP-Nepal also expressed opinions at the special session of the Legislature-Parliament meeting today [Wednesday].

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• SPORTS PM KHANLA’S NO TO MAHARA PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST MAOISTS ;
Kathmandu, 23 June: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has opposed Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara’s move to withdraw cases filed against UCPN (Maoist) leaders and cadres, The Kathmandu Post reports.

According to a source at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Maoist party and the CPN-UML are at loggerheads over withdrawing the cases filed since the insurgency time. In the first phase of the Maoist plan, Mahara has moved a file in the Cabinet seeking withdrawal of 300 cases filed against its leaders and cadres. Khanal, however, has said the government cannot withdraw the cases without following a due process.

Mahara has been saying that the cases were politically motivated and are against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and, as such, they should be withdrawn. “Mahara brought in the proposal in the Cabinet without bringing the details required for the withdrawal of the cases,” the source said.

A senior Maoist leader said the home minister is having problems withdrawing the cases—related to Maoist leaders’ and cadres’ involvement in murders, kidnapping and abuse of human rights—due to lack of sufficient information on the cases. The cases include one involving Minister for Information and Communication Agni Sapkota, who has been charged with the murder of one Arjun Lama in Nuwakot in 2005. The case is currently in the Supreme Court. The apex court had on Sept 8 slapped a life-term on Maoist lawmaker Balkrishna Dhungel, who was elected from Okhaldhunga Constituency-2. The court convicted Dhungel of murdering one Uijwan Kumar Shrestha on June 24, 1998. Different human rights organisations are also preparing to file cases in the Supreme Court against other Maoist leaders.

According to Maoist sources, there are thousands of such cases against their cadres and leaders in different local administrations and courts. The local administrations have recently reopened some cases against Maoist leaders and cadres and are issuing warrants against them for incidents that occurred during the armed conflict. The Maoists have directed all state and district committees of the party to submit detailed reports of such cases.

The CPA has envisaged a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to look into crimes committed during the insurgency. Clause 5.2.7 of the CPA states that both sides guarantee to withdraw accusations, claims, complaints and cases lodged against various individuals for political reasons during the insurgency.

However, there are different interpretations to the constitution. OHCHR-Nepal, for instance, has said that the government cannot withdraw cases concerning serious rights abuses in the pretext that they were of political nature.
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250 SEEK CASE WITHDRAWALS FROM HOME MINISTRY

Kathmandu, 23 June: With the appointment of Krishna Bahadur Mahara as home minister, about 250 individuals charge-sheeted for crimes have submitted applications at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) demanding withdrawal of cases pending against them at district courts across the country, Bimal Gautam writes.in Republica

According to a source at MoHA, altogether 27 files related to such demands are currently at the ministry. "We have received 27 files from nearly 250 accused," said the source, adding, "Most files are related to cases of murder and attempted murder".
The number of files and number accused seeking amnesty differ as up to 326 persons are charge-sheeted in a single case.

Family members, relatives and friends have submitted files at the ministry on behalf of the accused, seeking amnesty in cases which are in the course of hearings at the district courts.

The source told Republica that while most of those seeking amnesty were involved in murder and attempted murder, others accused of arson, possession of arms and ammunition, sedition, offences under the Public Offence Act and the like have also filed for amnesty.

"We are reviewing the files but won´t recommend to government to withdraw cases if the nature of the crime is serious," the source added.

Those seeking official pardons include Dinesh Subba and others (for abduction), Rambabu Sah and others (arms and ammunition), Ramnandan Pattel (attempted murder), Rajesh Jha (sedition), Jayachanda Sah Teli (public offence), Haribabu Rokaya (murder), Sittal Prasad Chaudhary and 10 others (murder), Shyam Prasad Yadav (charge unknown), and Mohanlal Chaulagain and 26 others (murder).

Similarly, Nandu Raya Timilsena and five others (robbery), Rameshwor Shrestha and nine others (murder), Kishwor alias Karna Bahadur Dhami and six others (murder), Tej Bahadur Hamal and seven others (murder), Khadk Chand and 15 others (murder), Indra Bahadur Lama and four others (attempted murder), Tekraj Joshi and seven others (murder), Suresh Sah Teli and four others (murder), and Lekhnath Dahal and 17 others (attempted murder) have also submitted files at the ministry for withdrawal of their cases.

Also applying for amnesty are Mohasafit Mahato and seven others (murder) and Badri Bajgain and 12 others (public offence).

Under the legal provisions, the authorities have to seek prior consent from the district court concerned before withdrawing a criminal case against anyone. According to the procedures, MoHA can send the file to the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) and the latter has to check the grounds for withdrawal of the case. If MoLJ gives its nod, the file goes to MoHA, which then forwards it to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers for cabinet approval. Following a cabinet decision, the file goes to the Office of Government Attorney. The office has to take prior consent from the district court concerned before giving anyone official pardon in a criminal charge.
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________________________________________

NC MEET DECIDING WHETHER TO SUPPORT BUDGET OR NOT

NC HOLDING INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS ON BUDGET

Kathmandu, 23 June; Main opposition NC began informal party discussions on the annual national budget whose draft was presented in parliament Wednesday to collect suggestions of parties for incorporation in government’s plans and programmes
NC hasn’t decided formally whether to support the budget or not.
Delayed presentation of the annual budget for two successive years has adversely impacted the national economy.
Detailed discussions on the budget begin in parliament Friday.
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RETIRING CAREER DILOMAT NEW ENVOY TO BANGLADESH

Kathmandu, 23 June: Hari Kumar Shrestha, who retires next month, has been nominated new ambassador to Bangladesh by the cabinet to succeed another career diplomat Pradeep Khatiwada.
Shrestha is joint secretary and chief of South Asia division at the foreign ministry.
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TERAI ARMED GROUP JOINS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY

Kathmandu, 23 June: Jatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) led by Rajiv Jha joined the MJFN Republic led by Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta.
Gupta welcomed members of the armed terai outfit in Janakpur Wednesday,
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Special committee has virtually turned into a puppet. It can only endorse issues settled by the party leaders. We will be able to settle disputes only if we [special committee members] are allowed to work independently.”

(Maoist military leader Janardhan Sherma, Republica, 23 June)

“Army integration is stagnated because the parties have failed to understand the notion that integration is either the merger of two armies or the formation of a separate force.”

“Maoist military leader Deb Gurung, The Kathmandu Post, 23 June)

“The five-point agreement has become a national agenda after it was approved by parliament and it demands the PM’s resignation for formation of a national consensus government. But Khanal has misinterpreted it and deceived us by not resigning,”

(MJFL Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar, The Himalayan Times, 23 June)

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NEPALPRESENTS BILL FOR PARLIAMENT'S APPROVAL TO FIGHT TERRORISM

BHARAT MOHAN ADHIKARI PRESENTS DRAFT BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL IN PARLIAMENT UPDATE

Kathmandu, 22 June: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikari Wednesday presented a proposed budget draft for fiscal year 2011/12 in parliament Wednesday.
The communist majority government hopes to incorporate suggestions from parties for incorporation in government’s policies and programmes to present to present a complete budget.
Untimely presentation of budgets because of differences between parties in two previous years has adversely affected the national economy.
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United States Agency for International Development and Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal initiate public-private partnership

Kathmandu, 22 June: On June 22, 2011, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal partnered to co-host NGO Day: an all-day event that aimed to encourage Nepalese NGOs to utilize technology to further the impact of their development programs. The NGO Day event reflected USAID’s and Microsoft’s shared commitment to the development of Nepal, US embassy said.
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DRAFT OF CONVENTION TO PREVENT FIANANCING TERRORISM PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT FOR APPROVAL
Kathmandu, 22 June: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikari Wednesday tabled a proposal on 'International Convention on Prevention of Financing Terrorism' for parliamentary approval in parliament Wednesday.
Nepal has been threatened with blacklisting by the ‘international community’fornot acceding to the convention.
The process to ratify the convention has been delayed.
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$99 MILLION WORLD BANK ASSIST
Kathmandu, 22 June: World Bank Tuesday decided to pump in $99 million to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to completion of Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (NIETTP) to meet chronic power shortage.
Nepal will get with at least 100 MW of additional electricity from India with the programme’s execution.
“Increasing access to electricity is one of the most significant development challenges facing Nepal today,” said Susan Goldmark, World Bank Country Director for Nepal. “For the first time this project will help mitigate deficits through the trade in electricity. Once Nepal develops its hydropower potential and meets its domestic needs, the transmission infrastructure could also be used to export surplus hydropower and earn revenues for Nepal.”
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KATHMANDU GET NEW POLICE CHIEF

KUBER SINGH RANA PROMOTED TO AIGP; APPOINTED CHIEF OF KATHMANDU METROPOLITAN POLICE

Kathmandu, 22 June; Kuber Singh Rana was promoted to AIGP of Nepal Police by the cabinet Wednesday.
He was appointed chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police
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PM KHANAL, PRACHANDA MEET

Kathmandu, 22 June: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda held consultations Wednesday hours before parliament convenes
Government will present a draft of budget to collect suggestions from parties in the legislature for inclusion in government’s police and programme to be announced before the budget is presented.
Khanal and Prachanda discussed how the government should present itself in parliament while securing cooperation of opposition parties for the budget.
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CENSUS CENTURY PILLAR UNVEILED

Kaathmandu, 22 June: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Wednesday unveiled a census centenary pillar at the premises on the National Statistics Bureau in Tripureshwor.
Government declared a national holiday Wednesday to observe 100 years of population census collection.
The 10-day 11th national census collection concludes 24 June.
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TOP FORMER NC LEADER HEADS COMMITTEE TO CELEBRATE FORMER KING’S BIRTHDAY

Kathmandu, 22 June: Ram Babu Parsai, a top NC leader who quit the party after it adopted a republican agenda heads a committee to celebrate the 65th birthday of former King Gyanendra, Ghatana ra Bichar reports
Parsai had a long association with the NC and held top party positions and is a veteran of the movement for democracy.
A 1,565-member celebration under Parsai has been formed to celebrate the birthday 7 July.
Celebration committees in the past were headed by persons associated with the panchayat.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

JANAKPUR CIGARETTE FACTORY OFFICIALLY CLOSED DOWN

JANAKPUR CIGARETTE FACTORY OFFICIALLY CLOSED

Kathmandu, 22 June: Janakpur Cigarette Factory (JFC), facing a severe financial crisis, has closed down officially from Tuesday, Annapurna Post reports from Janakpurdham.
Production Chief Lalit Kumar Rayniyar wrote to informed the management in writing Tuesday
The factory is wholly government owned..
(Note: JFC was a gift of former Soviet Union to Nepal.)
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BULLISH TREND CONTINUED FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY TUESDAY IN NEPSE

Kathmandu, 22 June: Nepse gained 13.45 points as market closed 344.22 points as the market closed Tuesday.
The bullish trend continued for the fourth consecutive day.
The market gained 11.78 points the previous day Monday.
There was no trading Wednesday because of a public holiday.
Altogether 102278 shares were traded for Rs. 41.195 million in 835 transactions.
Stock prices hit a six-year low below 300 points and the market has recovered.
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INDIA’S NEIGHBOURS MOST FAILED STATES CLAIMS US REPORT

Kathmandu, 22 June: India’s neighbours—Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka—are featured in the list of the ‘most failed states’, the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine said in its latest annual ranking, PTI reports from New York.
Pakistan is at number 12, Myanmar is at 18, Bangladesh 225, Nepal 27, Sri Lanka 29 and Bhutan is at 50 in a list of 60 countries in which African countries dominate.
“Nepal is the poorest country in South Asia, according to the United Nations, and that’s unlikely to change until the peace process is implemented and security restored, There are signs that the Maoists may be losing patience—and thinking about going back to the trenches to fight for more,” the report said.
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DAHAL PROPOSES GENERAL CONVENTION
Kathmandu 22 June: The hardline faction of the UCPN (Maoist) has opposed the proposal to hold a general convention to end factional disputes over the party´s political line and defuse an ongoing internal crisis, Post.B Rasnet and Kiran Pun report in Republica.

According to sources, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposal the general convention during a meeting of the party´s top five leaders held at his residence at Naya Bazaar on Monday.

Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai seconded the proposal, but Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, who leads the hardline camp, contended that the time was not appropriate for a general convention as the party finds itself at a very critical point in the peace process.

Baidya is for a constitution of a “People´s Federal Democratic Republic” and formation of a “national army” after integrating the PLA into the Nepal Army (NA), and for fomenting an urban insurrection if the party fails in its endeavors. He has stated that this is a time of heightened class struggle and the party should prepare for a final push for state capture.

Maoist leaders from the Baidya faction argued that they are not opposed to holding a general convention, which has been due for the last 20 years, if Dahal formally tables the proposal at the forthcoming Central Committee (CC) meeting.

“But the party should look critically at the current political scenario and evaluate the subjective and objective realities before going for a general convention,” said Kul Prasad KC, who is close to Baidya.

In fact the Baidya faction doesn´t believe that Chairman Dahal would hold a general convention even if the forthcoming CC takes a decision to that effect, according to party leaders. “Such decisions were taken many times in the past, but the party has not seen any general convention for the last two decades,” KC said.

The Maoist party has set June 23 for the Standing Committee meeting and June 24 for the CC meeting amidst the deepening internal crisis arising out of factional rifts. “The party is holding negotiations behind the curtain but differences are yet to be sorted out,” said Maoist leader Devendra Poudel.

The Baidya faction, which believes that the party deviated from the ideals of revolution after ending the “Protracted People´s War”, has threatened to split the party if the establishment faction makes any compromises over the cherished principles of the party.

“It is not necessary that theoretical and ideological issues are always settled through a method of majority/minority. The current debate is ideological,” said KC.

The party hardliners have lately been divided over their future course of action.

According to sources, the dominant group led by Standing Committee member Netra Bikram Chand is in favor of discussing the party´s bottom-line in the peace process and trying to reach an agreement for now as far as possible.

“It is not any ideological division, but there have been some minor differences over the way ahead,” said a senior Maoist leader.

But party Secretary CP Gajurel and Standing Committee member Dev Gurung are against making any such compromises. Both Gajurel and Gurung have their own personal scores to settle with Dahal.

The party´s three factions - led by Dahal, Baidya and Bhattarai - have been holding their separate campaigns within the party to consolidate their respective positions.

Lately, the internal meetings conducted by the party establishment have outnumbered those being conducted by the Baidya faction. On Tuesday, the Dahal faction held another meeting in Kathmandu.

According to sources, such meetings serve two purposes: 1) accusing the other faction of trying to split the party; and 2) threatening to move ahead in its own way and ignoring the other factions.

During such meetings, the Baidya faction told cadres that Dahal deviated from the party´s ideology and is now planning to split the party to fulfill his vested interests.

To counter this, the Dahal faction has also started holding meetings and has accused the Baidya faction of going against the party´s official line and plotting to split the party.

“It is a strategy to consolidate one´s hold in the party and justify one´s own activities, while blaming others of deviation and anarchy,” said a senior leader.
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CHITWAN EFFORT TO STOP DENGUE OUTBREAK
Kathmandu, 22 June: The District Public Health Office, Chitwan is set to search and destroy larva and pupa of mosquitoes transferring dengue here in a bid to control dengue outbreak in Chitwan, RSS reports from Chitwan.

The search and destroy programme will be in place as a campaign before the outbreak of dengue, informed vector control inspector of the Office, Ram KC.

Dengue broke out massively in Chitwan last year claiming four lives. Various efforts have been made this year to check dengue and its consequences.

Orientation and awareness creating programme have been organized in different places of the district, KC informed.

RDT kit has been made available to public for free examination of dengue in Bharatpur hospital and buffer has been put in stock keeping in mind the dengue epidemic.

At least 731 dengue affected patients were detected in Chitwan last year.
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DRESS CODE FOR CIVIL SERVANTSKathmandu, 22 June: The government is all set to make the dress code mandatory for civil servants from the upcoming fiscal year, The Himalayan Times reports.

The administrative committee of the cabinet today decided on uniform designs and colours.

As per the decision, male civil servants have to wear black-blue suit and black shoes or the daura surwal and cap. The coat is not mandatory in the Tarai, while a jacket can be an alternative to the coat in the mountain region.

Female employees will wear a suit and sandals or a sky blue saree with deep violet border and a blouse that matches the colour of the border. Women can also wear a sky-blue kurta salwar and a deep-violet shawl. Women working in the cold region may also use jackets. According to General Administration Minister Yubaraj Karki the dress code is mandatory.
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CENTRAL REGION SECURITY MEET STARTSY

CENTRAL REGION SECURITY MEET KICKS OFF IN DHULIKHEL

Kathmandu, 22 June: Thirty-two senior officials, including three security chiefs, are participating in a security meet to prepare a strategy for the central region in Dhulikhel, Kavre, Wednesday.
Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, home secretary, regional administrators, city chiefs, office chiefs of central region and regional police chiefs are participating,
The meeting’s agenda is promoting regional security and tackling ethnic and regional tendencies.
Home secretary is expected to address points raised at the conclave.
Such meetings are planned in other regions as well.
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RSS CHAIRMAN FORCED TO RESIGN

Kathmandu, 22 June: Chairman of national news agency RSS Bal Krishna Chapagain resigned Tuesday amid intense and long under employee pressure
He was charged for autocratic working style by three unions in the agency.
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15,000 TEMPORARY TEACHERS TO GET PERMANENT STATUS





Kathmandu, 22 June: The government is planning to give permanent appointments to 15,000 temporary teachers and promote 40,000 serving permanent teachers one level up, The Rising Nepal reports.
Talking to media people on Tuesday, Minister for Education Ganga Lal Tuladhar said that the ministry was planning to table a proposal to this effect and get it endorse by the cabinet within 20 days.
Temporary school teachers are protesting for a long time demanding they be given permanent status of service.
"First of all let us address the demands of the agitating teachers. If the protests continue even after that, a bold action will be taken against them," Minister Tuladhar said.
He said that the community schools were drawing criticism for their poor results and blamed the centralized examination system for the poor performance
"Teachers alone are not responsible for the poor performance of the community schools. The centralized examination system and other factors are equally responsible," he said.
Tuladhar regretted the fact that even the teachers were not cooperating to declare schools as the zone of peace.
Schools have been declared as peace zone after efforts of 10 years and no one need to suspect about its intention, Tuladhar said.
The education ministry has already issued directives to implement the school as peace zone. However; the impact of the declaration is yet to be felt as schools are still suffering from strikes, Tuladhar said.
Talking about the recently published School Leaving Certificate (SLC) results, Minister Tuladhar said that the results were poor, a result of the state lacking clear policies and sound education system.
Tuladhar said that the government was planning to organise an educational conference in the near future to formulate policies to improve exam system.
He also urged the private schools not only to boast about their good results but also meet their responsibilities towards other students.
Meanwhile, the education experts and other stakeholders have pointed out that the government is not taking the SLC seriously and limiting it to mere formality.
Gita Rana, President of National Private and Boarding School Organization of Nepal (NPABSON), complained that students were deprived of receiving their SLC results in time.
The government should develop such mechanism that the students can find out their results immediately, she said.
Education expert Dr. Tirtha Khaniya criticised the poor results of this year’s SLC and said that education was getting commercialized.
Educationist Mana Prasad Wagle said that the education system must be made more practical and effective

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RUBEL CHAUDHARY, SON-IN-LAW OF SUJATA KOIRALA, LINKED TO SUDAN SCAM
Kathmandu, 22 June: An email sent by London-based Assured Risks Pvt Ltd has given a new twist to the Sudan APC Scam. It has revealed that Rubel Chaudhary, the son-in-law of Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala, was also involved in the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) purchase deal in which Rs 290 million was swindled, Bhadra Sharma reports in The Kathmandu Post.

Though there were speculations that Chaudhary had a hand in the scam, this is the first time an email has surfaced suggesting his involvement in the deal.

In the email sent to Shambhu Bharati, a local agent of the international supplier some four years ago, a senior company official has indicated that Rubel was not just a go-between, but actively involved in decision-making that ultimately led to the sealing of the deal.

In the letter, Michel Rider, the director of Assured Risks, asked Bharati to contact Chaudhary for the payment. “Assured Risks will not be paying $ 125,000. I will take it out your commission how about that? You have cost Assured Risks enough money on this project… any problem speak to Rubel don’t email me anymore,” the email reads.

Some police officials indicted in the scam made the email public with a view to exposing politically-protected individuals. The officials, who are miffed with the CIAA for giving a clean chit to politicians, have also made public other secret documents.

Bharati has admitted that the deal was initiated with Assured Risks only after an aide to Sujata Koirala introduced him (Bharati) to Chaudhary and Rider. “I first met Michel at Hyatt Hotel after Hari Dhungana, the personnel assistant of Sujata Koirala introduced me to him,” said Bharati.

“I met Chaudhary thrice in Kathmandu and London thereafter,” he said. Asked whether Chaudhary was involved in the deal, Bharati said he had no direct knowledge. “But Dhungana had informed me that Rubel is also a shareholder of Assured Risks,” he said.

Rider appears annoyed by the unstamped proposal forwarded by Bharati to Nepal Police. “I really cannot understand why you can’t get a stamped proposal. I know you are not very educated and your business is very poor but how difficult is this?” the email reads.

Controversial Bangladeshi national Chaudhary, who is under the scanner of Nepal Police for his alleged involvement in illegal VOIP operations, has already left Nepal.

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DRAFT BEDGET BEING PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY

BUDGET DRAFT BEING PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 22 June: A draft of a proposed budget for the new fiscal year 2011/12 is being presented later Wednesday in parliament by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari
Annual budget is being presented Thursday 14 July and three days have been set aside for budget discussion in the legislature Friday through Sunday.
The parliamentary party of UML heading the government Tuesday asked Adhikari to present a budget through consensus of parties after delayed presentation of the budget for two successive years adversely impacted the national economy.
It’s not yet clear if main opposition NC will support the timely budget presentation.
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SPEAKER LEAVING FOR INDIA IN MIDST OF BUDGET PRESENTATION

Kathmandu, 22 June: Speaker Subash Newang leaves for a six-day India visit Friday as preparations are afoot for the annual budget session.
He’s visiting the Indian capital to attend a conference organized by SAARC South Asian regional organization.
Whips of major political parties are also flying to New Delhi.
Nemwang returns one day before government presents the annual budget in parliament amid uncertainty whether main opposition NC will support budget presentation.
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INFLATION RESTRICTED TO SINGLE DIGIT 9.5 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 22 June: Year to year inflation was 9.5 percent in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2010/11, Nepal Rashtra bank (NRB) said
But food and beverage prices shot up 10 percent while prices of non-food and service groups jumped 4.2 percent
Balance of payments deficit improved slightly and came down to Rs 11.67 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year from Rs. 14.79 billion, Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) said.
Deposit mobilization of commercial banks increased to Rs 23.72 billion in the period under review while advances totaled Rs. 63.62 billion.
Government capital expenditure stood at a low Rs 44.36 billion only in the period under review.
Revenue collection fell to 14.7 percent from 25.4 percent in the same period the previous year.
Delayed budget presentation, fall in imports and slow growth of capital expenditure adversely affected revenue collection drive.
VAT revenue collection jumped 37.5 percent/
Customs revenue collection went up only by 4.2 percent.
Foreign direct investment increased to Rs. 5.74 billion from Rs.2.41 billion compared to the previous year.
Trade deficit widened only by 4.6 percent with increased export and fall of imports.
Iron and steel products, yarn, woolen carpets, readymade garments, lentils and textiles in that order were the country’s chief exports in the period under review , Trade Promotion Center said.
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2011 MONSOON JUST BELOW NORMAL

Kathmandu, 22 June: The vital monsoon this year is expected to be just below normal, the weather office said in a revised forecast on Tuesday but the rains could pick up after July15 during the key planting month for rice, sugar and corn, Reuters reports from New Delhi quoting India’s Meteorological Department.
This year’s monsoon rains would be 95 percent of the long-term average overall, down from its April forecast of 98 percent and just short of 96 -104 percent range which counts as normal monsoon.
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RUNWAY AT TIA CAVES IN SECOND TIME IN FOUR HOURS RAISING SECURITY CONCERNS

SECTION OF TIA RUNWAY SINKS SECOND TIME IN FOUR HOURS

Kathmandu, 21 June: A section of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)caved in for the second time in four hours Tuesday even after emergency repair at a point where incoming international flights impacted the airport while landing, an airport officials said..
A crater one meter wide and half meter deep was created by repeated impacts at the landing point on the runway.
The airport caved in first at eight in the morning disrupting international flights.
The runway has caved in four times in one month, the official revealed.
An emergency meeting of TIA aviation authorities was convened to discuss repair and maintenance amid security concerns for international flights during takeoff and landing.
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NO NEED OF INTERIM ORDER TO RECALL MAOIST COMMUNICATION MINISTER AGNI KHAREL SAYS SC

Kathmandu, 21 June: A two-judge bench of the supreme court (SC) ruled Tuesday there was no need to issue an interim order demanded by some human rights activists for the recall of Maoist Communication Minister Agni Kharel just on basis of an abduction and murder charge against the minister during the 10-year Maoist insurgency.
The bench asked Kharel to cooperate with police in investigation of the charge.
The bench asked the office of the attorney general to report every 15 days on possible interference in the abduction, murder probe.
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NO MEETING OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE HEADED BY PREMIER KHANAL

Kathmandu, 21 June: No meeting of the special committee for the integration, resettlement and supervision of 19,000 former Maoist combatants headed by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal was held Tuesday as scheduled.
The meeting was convened Tuesday even as major issues of modality, numbers and other issues related to integration and resettlement was referred to a task force of the Big Three after last two committee meetings were inconclusive delaying the completion of the peace process even after the three-month extension of the constituent assembly after 28May.
Maoists didn’t attend the last two committee meetings arguing only a political decision by major parties could decide issues being discussed at the committee headed by Khanal
Maoists also refused to sign a document for surrender of cantonized weapons to government; they hold keys to the containers/
Integration and resettlement of former Maoists is behind the fresh schedule
Five EU member states have been contributing to a trust fund to provide millions of rupees in monthly allowances to combatants housed and fed at 28 cantonments and camps
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PUBLIC HOLIDAY WEDNESDAY TO MARK CENSUS DAY

Kathmandu, 21 June: A public holiday was declared Wednesday to mark Census Day.
The 10- day 11th national census conducted every 10 years began this week.
The year 2011 marks a century of census collection
Nepal is one of the first cojntries in Asia where consus collection was initiated.
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ADB PROPOSES NEW 65 MILLION INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION SECTOR

CHINESE AMBASSADOR HOLDS DISCUSSIONS WITH PM KHANAL
Kathmandu, 21 June: Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan held discussions with Prime Minister Jhananath Khanal Tuesday after assuming formal responsibility by presenting his credentials Monday to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
Yang is a security specialist who has also served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
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UPDATE OF UML PARLIAMENTARY PARTY MEET
Kathmandu, 21 June: A parliamentary party meeting of the UML Tuesday asked the majority communist government to present a complete budget for the next fiscal year with understanding of parties and asked the Jhalanath Khanal government to hold consultations with other parties for such an effort.
Pre-budget discussions begin in parliament begin Wednesday.
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ADB PROPOSES $65 MILLION INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION SECTOR
Kathmandu, 21 June: Visit of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General for South Asia Sultan Hafeez Rahaman held discussions with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal on Nepal-Bank cooperation, including further investment in the education sector.
The bank plans further $65 new investment in the sector, Milan Tuladhar, foreign advisor of the premier said after the meeting Tuesday.
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SLC MARKSHEET AND PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN 15 DAYS
Kathmandu, 21 June: Students who cleared this year’s SLC examination can for the first time collect their mark sheet with provisional certificate within 15 days amid preparations to send results to districts, education officials said.
Provisional certificates in the past were available only after six months.
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U-19 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS IN IRELAND THE LAST
Kathmandu, 21 June: The U-19 World Cup qualifiers in Ireland from 28 July to 8 August in Ireland from Ireland will be the last.
Nepal, Ireland, Scotland, USA, Canada, Afghanistan Kenya,Namibia, Vanuata, and Papua New Guinea are competing for six slots for the World Cup
International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Committee for austerity reasons decided to reinstate the old system to one position for each region.
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MADESH POLITICS POLARIZATION A SECURITY CHALLENGE

Kathmandu, 21 June: The government has listed the recent polarisation of Madhes-based parties and the conflict among major parties on the interpretation of the five-point agreement signed ahead of last month’s Constituent Assembly term extension as potential security challenges of the country, Phanindra Dahal reports in The Kathmandu Post.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara made this assessment while briefing the State Affairs Committee (SAC) on the law and order situation, security challenges and remedies.

Mahara said the current political trend, unification of armed outfits and the activities of ethnic and religious groups were current security challenges.

“The tendency to interpret the pact signed by the parties on their own, the competition between them to achieve political benefits, the activities of armed groups operating in the Tarai and eastern Hills, the polarisation of Madhesi forces, the ethnic, regional and religious activities have affected the law and order situation,” Mahara said. He also briefed the lawmakers on political consequences that could result from the failure to meet the Aug 31 CA deadline.

In his presentation, the home minister claimed that the Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jay Krishna Goit has been trying to unify armed outfits in the Tarai and is instigating Madhes-based parties to launch a stir against the government. He argued that the ethnic and Madhesi outfits could disrupt normal life if the parties fail to meet the deadline.

Ram Janam Chaudhary of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Lokatantrik) said Mahara’s claim was baseless. “He has tried to blame the Morcha for the deteriorating and law and order situation. We will register our serious objection to the allegation in the next meeting.”

The deliberations was postponed until Friday afternoon after Chaudhary demanded “sufficient time” to discuss “sensitive remarks” made by the home minister. In the written report, Mahara also detailed the political consequences that could result from the failure to implement last month’s three-party agreement.

The Home Ministry has said the alliance of different indigenous, Janajati, Madhesi, Dalit and republican fronts and the Tharuhat Autonomous State Council have announced they would not pay taxes if the constitution is not promulgated within the stipulated time. Such groups have said they would declare their own governments, if the deadline is missed.

“Ethnic groups have declared their own governments in the Eastern region and they tend to treat us like foreign citizens when we visit those places,” Mahara said. Maoist lawmaker Hareraj Limbu, who hails from Dhankuta, objected to the claim.

“We aspire for a Limbuwan province in the east but the people have not so far taken the law in their hands,” he said.

Mahara said underground outfits—Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Pawan, Bhagat, Rajanpratap) groups—had recently formed the Jantantrik Madhesi Mukti Morcha. He said the Janatantrik Tarai Madhes Mukti Party led by Bhagat Singh has been targeting local political leaders and civil servants in the southern plains. The report included potential risk of arson, bomb blasts, extortion and other illicit activities of the Samyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha and attempts that can be made by Hindu fundamentalists to disrupt religious harmony. People belonging to major caste groups—Chhetri and Brahmin—could also hold organised protests for the sake of their ethnic and communal rights, Mahara added.

He also claimed that outfits operating in the Eastern Hills and Tarai armed groups were trying to carry out armed activities with support from the CPN (Maoist) led by Matrika Yadav. All such groups, according to the Home Ministry’s assessment, can donate bombs at government offices and public places.

Other security risks Mahara talked about include murder of civil servants, obstruction of highways, maneuverings of former royalists, the agitation of parties and formation of military wings by armed Madhes groups. The supply and misuse of small arms, cross border crimes, negative impact of strikes and activities of organised criminal groups are other challenges, according to the government.

Political protection to those involved in illegal activities and the failure to upgrade the police force have hindered the government’s efforts to contain criminal activities, Mahara told the parliamentary committee.
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IOC CUTS OIL SUPPLY 75 PERCENT



Kathmandu, 21 June : Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Monday cut petroleum supplies to Nepal by 75 percent, attributing its action to the failure of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to make payment for the import it made over the past week, Republica reports.

IOC, referring to its own loss, had been pushing NOC to timely submit demand projection and strictly adhere to the payment schedule. Recently, it had even warned of slashing supply if the state-owned petroleum monopolist did not comply with the payment schedule.

However, amid uncertainty of fund, cash-strapped NOC had neither submitted the demand projection nor made a categorical payment commitment this month.
“We received just 552 kiloliters of petroleum products from Raxaul depot, the largest import point, on Monday,” said NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Dhungel.

The supply made on the day was just one-fourth of the regular daily import that NOC used to receive from Raxaul. Supplies from other IOC depots and Barauni refinery too remained low.

NOC, however, said the sudden decline in import will not affect the supply in the market. Dhungel said NOC has well over 25,500 KL of petroleum products in stock, which is enough to meet demand for about a week.

NOC Chief Digambhar Jha said the corporation has already initiated talks with the Indian supplier, requesting it to withdraw its step, to ensure normal imports immediately. Jha mainly informed the Indian supplier that NOC has already requested the government to arrange it a fresh loan to finance normal imports. He also told IOC that he was hopeful of getting positive response soon.

“We hope IOC will consider our request seriously,” Jha said and also pressed the government to arrange it Rs 1.50 billion instantly to avert looming fuel shortage.
As the government has consistently refrained from adjusting domestic prices in line with the international trend, Jha said NOC has suffered well over Rs 6 billion in loss over the first 10 months of this fiscal year alone.

While it seriously distorted its fund flow, NOC over the past six months has relied solely on loans to finance imports. It has already taken loans of about Rs 5 billion from the government and financial institutions to finance imports during the period.

This has raised NOC´s total outstanding loans liability, including those that it took in 2008 and 2009, to Rs 17.39 billion. It includes Rs 3.90 billion taken from Employees Provident Fund and another Rs 1.13 billion taken from Citizens Investment Trust.







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RULING UML PARLIAMENTARY PARTY DISCUSSES ANNUAL BUDGET

UML PARLIAMENTARY PARTY MEET BEGINS

Kathmandu, 21 June: The parliamentary party of the UML, the party leading the communist majority government got underway Tuesday morning.
The lawmakers are discussing the annual budget government hopes to present in parliament 13 June.
Government is presenting a document on the budget in parliament Wednesday
Untimely presentation of the annual budget for two successive years has adversely affected the national economy.
The parliamentary party is meeting amid uncertainty whether the budget will be presented on time this year as well.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari hasn’t yet secured the support of main opposition NC and its supporters for budget presentation as NC demands formation of a national government.
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JOURNALISTS CONTINUE PROTESTS DEMANDING PROBE OF UML YOUTH LEADER

Kathmandu, 21 June: Journalists began a 10-hour sit-in in front of Morang district office Tuesday from eight in the morning demanding initiation of action against Parshuram Basnet UML district Youth Wing President for a murderous assault on a reporter in Biratnagar.
Reporter is still hospitalized recovering from injuries
Journalists accused the Morang CDO, district police and government lawyers for not initiating action against the assault amid charges Basnet is being protected by the party and its leaders.
Central Youth leader Mahesh Basnet says he knows the whereabouts of the district leader An umbrella organization of journalists has announced a second round of programmes demanding initiation of a probe against Basnet for the assault.
They charged a probe has been delayed.
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PANAUTI TO HOST 9TH ASIA INTER-CITIES TEENAGER MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD 2011

Kathmandu, 21 June: The 9th Asia Inter-cities Teenagers Mathematics Olympiad 2011 will held in Panauti, Kavre from 14-17, November, 2011, Nepal Tourism Board said. Prof. Wen-Hsein,of International Mathematics Committee is arriving for consultations for preparations for the Olympiad.
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VIRAL FEVER SICKENS 31 SOLDIERS OF A COMPANY

Kathmandu, 21 June: Viral fever sickened 31 soldiers of Shatrumardan Company at Pankot in Bhajang, including
a captain, have fallen sick after drinking contaminated water, Naya Patrika reports from Bhajang quoting the company.
Six, including the captain, have been evacuated to the capital by helicopter for emergency treatment.
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FUTHER DETAILS OF A HINEOUS MURDER IN SIRAHA

Kathmandu, 21 June: Majhi axed his brother and sister-in-law to death at Rajghat in Siraha.
He consumed poison and committed suicide.
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THREE ARRESTED IN PARSA ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE 20 KG HASH ACROSS TO INDIA

Kathmandu, 21 June: Three persons were arrested from Bishrampur near Parwanipur in Parsa Tuesday attempting to smuggle drugs across the border to India.
The trio were attempting to smuggle 20 kg hash across the open border.
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Monday, June 20, 2011

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AFFECTED AFTER AIRPORT RUNWAY CAVES IN

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DIVERTED FOR THREE HOURS AFTER RUNWAY SINKS

Kathmandu, 21 June: International flight operations were affected for three hours for eight in the morning at Tribhuvan International Airport, the country’s only international airport after a section of the runway caved in for the second time this month.
Internal flights weren’t affected as they used a shorter stretch of the runway.
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DIRECT NEPAL MALAYSIA TELECOM LINK UPGRADED

Kathmandu, 21 June: Nepal Telecom (NT) and DIGI Telecommunication of Malaysia signed an agreement in Malaysia Monday to upgrade service and lower call rate between the two countries.
Both companies upgraded their capacities 14 June.
NT Managing Director Bishwanath Goel and DIGI Telecommunication CEO Nenrik Clausen signed the agreement in Malaysia Monday.
“The direct connection will add new possibilities for trade relation between the two countries besides facilitating overall communication,” Goel said.
An estimated 500,000 Nepalis work in Malaysia.
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DIRECT REMITTANCE SERVICE FROM SOUTH KOREA

Kathmandu, 21 June; An estimated 12,000 Nepalis working in South Korea can now remit money home following direct remittance service agreement between Global Bank and Kookmin Bank of South Korea in Kathmandu Monday.
Remittance can be collected from any branch of Global Bank.
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SENIOR ADB OFFICIAL IN TOWN

Kathmandu, 21 June: Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Director General of South Asia Department of Asian Development Bank (ADB) arrived Monday for the three-day visit to discuss the Bank’s present and future programmes prioritizing energy and education sectors with Nepali officials
The Manila-based Bank is Nepal’s largest multilateral investor.
Rahaman, a Bangladeshi, was the Bank’s Nepal Country Director from 2003 to
2006.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘They [ a front of four Madeshbadi parties] have presented such a demand [mass integration 10,000 Madeshis in army] now to obstruct the peace process,”

(Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of MJFN Upendra Yadav, Naya Patrika, 21 June)
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RETIRED BRITISH GURKHAS TAKE THEIR CASE TO EU COURT
Kathmandu, 21 June: British Gurkhas are taking their battle for equal pension rights to the European court of human rights challenging the UK Ministry of Defence over the pension disparity, Guardian reported on Monday, according to The Himalayan Times.

According to the report, the British Gurkhas Welfare Society (BGWS) said it was turning to the Strasbourg court after being rebuffed in a test case in the UK. The legal battle is over the fact that Gurkhas who retired before 1997, despite having won the right to settle in the UK after Joanna Lumley's campaign, continue to receive far smaller pensions than their British and Commonwealth counterparts.

A case launched by the BGWS ended with the court of appeal backing the MoD, and the supreme court last December refused the Gurkhas permission to appeal further. The next step is a legal challenge in Strasbourg for allegedly breaching the Gurkhas' human rights.

"We have taken this step reluctantly but with the knowledge that not pursuing legal options further would effectively put a nail in the coffins of many veterans. It is desperately sad that, after many years of committed and courageous service, these old soldiers cannot find justice within the UK's borders - and it should be to the government's shame that the continuing poverty they face goes uncorrected," Guardian quoated the BGWS chairman, Tikendra Dal Dewan, a retired army major, as saying.

In May 2009 the Labour government announced that Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain. However, the former soldiers will have to wait years for a hearing and verdict in their pensions case as the Strasbourg judges are not expected to consider their claim until late 2012 at the earliest, with a final verdict due in 2013 or 2014.
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