Nepal Today

Sunday, September 30, 2012


NEW FRONT BEING LAUNCHED WITH SOME MADESHBADI PARTIE SIN OPPOSITION Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Seven parties, including some Madeshbadi parties outside government are launching an alliance Monday. Sharad Singh Bhandari led Rashtriya Samajwadi Party and MJFN of Upendra Yadav re major Madeshbadi in the new front which is being named Federal Democratic Alliance. whose common programme is ethnic federalism Tamsaling Nepal, Nepal Rastriya Dal, Rashtriya Janamukti Party, Khumbuwan Swayat Rajya Parishad, Nepal Shanti Samaj Party, and Janamukti party are in the front. nnnn


FURTHER DETAILS OF ILAM LANDSLIDE Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: A massive landslide on the Mechi highway on the way to Pathivara between Kutidanda and Harkate in Ilam district at about 9 p.m. on Sunday buried four vehicles, which are thought to be having a total of 12 passengers still inside them, RSS reports from ILam.. Of the four vehicles, two are completely crushed inside the landslide and two of them are partially covered by the landslide. Ten people inside the vehicles have been rescued while some 12 others are missing, said Baburam Khatiwada, the Chief District Officer of Ilam district who oversaw the rescue and relief operation overnight. CDO Khatiwada said the rescue work has been hampered by rain that continued until 2 a.m. Some 200 Nepal Army, the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel are involved in rescue work. Rescuers are searching for the missing people and working to remove the wreckage of two vehicles. They are also removing the landslide debris from the road, CDO Khatiwada said. The landslide has occurred on about three-kilometre stretch of the highway at different places and it will take time to remove the debris from the road. The landslide has been caused by heavy rains. A rescue team has been mobilized from Jhapa district on Sunday night itself, according to Jhapa district Chief District Officer, Narendra Raj Sharma. He said dozers and excavators have also been sent for rescue. The Mechi Highway is blocked and vehicular movement has come to a halt due to the landslide. nnnn


UPDATE FOURTEEN MISSING IN ILAM LANDSLIDE Kathmandu, 1 Oct. Fourteen persons are missing in an Ilam. Seven members of a family are among the mossing landslide triggered overnight by heavy rain. nnnn. EXPLOSIVE DEVICE PLANTED AT DOOR OF POLICE OFFICE IN RUKUM Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: A powerful IED bomb has been found at the building of the Salyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Khalanga-2, RSS reports from Rukum.. The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) kept inside a plastic bucket was planted in front of the door on the top floor of the building, the Area Police Office, Shreenagar said. A person who described himself as the Rapti Zonal In-charge of an outfit called 'Red Army Nepal' told over the phone about the plantation of explosives. Police have started an investigation in this connection as nobody has taken the responsibility for bomb plantation. nnnn.


DIPAK RAJBHANDARI ELECTED HEAD OF FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEPAL Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Dipak Rajbhandari has been elected by a general assembly to head the Fulbright Alumni Association Nepal. A 11-member working committee has also been formed, nnnn


POLICE PROBE BODY TO INVESTIGATE ATTACKON SUSHIL KOIRALA Kathmandu,1 Oct; Police has formed a five-member probe team to investigate Saturday’s assault on NC President Sushil Koirala in Kapan. NC activist Prabesh Basnet attacked Koirala. DIG Parshuram Khatri heads the probe team. nnnn. TRIPLETS BORN FOR FIRST TIME AT OKHALDUNGHA HOSPITAL Kathmandu, 1 Oct. Triplets were born for the first time in 50 years at the Community Mission Hospital Saturday, Kantipur reports. Kalawati Bhatta Thamgai of Nepal Police gave birth to the triplets---twosons and a daughter—through Cesarean. The mother is sick but out of danger. nnnn. INFLATION RECORDS THREE-YEAR HIGH Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Inflation hit a three-year high of 11.9 percent in the first month of the current fiscal year, with the prices of both food and non-food items soaring. The figure was a little higher at 12 percent in June 2009, The Kathmandu Post reports.. Although the inflation rate remained in single digit for the first 11 months of the last fiscal year, it jumped to double digits in the last month, reaching 11.5 percent. The figure has been continuously ascending since April, 2011. A senior NRB official predicted that inflation would remain higher until December when new harvest begins. Inflation in both food and non food items stood in double digits—12.2 percent and 11.6 percent respectively—in the first month, according to a Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) report on the country’s macro economy released on Sunday. NRB Spokesperson Bhaskar Mani Gnawali said increased petroleum prices and transport fares and the strengthening of the US dollar fuelled the price rise. According to the central bank report, vegetable prices witnessed the highest rise of 30.4 percent in first month of this fiscal year, pushing up the overall food prices. Within the non-food group, prices of footwear items posted the highest rise of 15.1 percent. Economist Bishwambhar Pyakuryal said the rise in Indian inflation, of late, is playing a crucial role in fuelling price rise in Nepal. “Although internal factors were more responsible for the price rise in the past, the rise in Indian inflation, which is close to double digits, is now equally responsible for the price rise here,” he said. Nepal’s trade with India accounts for two-thirds of the country’s total trade. In a bid to curb price hike, the government recently fixed maximum retail prices of 15 commodities, including rice and oil, among others. However, given the absence a proper monitoring mechanism, Pyakuryal says the provision would encourage hoarding. According the central bank report, exports to India increased by 5.7 percent compared to a rise of 17.1 percent during the same period last year. The decline in the exports of threads, MS pipes and zinc sheets, among others, contributed to slow export growth. Imports from India, however, surged by 48.1 percent due to the increased import of petroleum products. Exports to countries other than India increased by 42.1 percent, contributed by the rise in the export of pulse, tanned skin and readymade leather goods, among others. Imports from third countries (other than India) increased by 37.2 percent. The overall balance of payments (BoP) recorded a surplus of Rs 3.85 billion in the first month of this fiscal year—down from Rs 8.1 billion during the same period last year. Remittance surged by 43.8 percent to Rs 37.61 billion. Foreign exchange reserves reached the highest level of Rs 447.86 billion. nnnn


MASSIVE ILAM LANDSLIDE KILLS AT LEAST FOUR PERSONS Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Four persons were killed overnight when a landslide swooped down on a convoy of vehicles on Ilam Rajmarj killing at least four persons, including Indian nationals. Many are missing and. the mudslide near Pathivara smothered at least five vehicles; two have been pulled out of the debris. Security forces have been deployed on a search and rescue mission. Dozens of vehicles on both sides of the Rajmarg or highway have been stranded. The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall. Nnnn SCREEINING OF INDIAN MOVIES TOBE BANNED FROM MONDAY Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Screening of India movies are to be banned from Monday on the initiative of CPN Maoist—a breakaway faction of UCPN Maoist, leading the government. The government has threatened strong action against persons obstructing the movement of Indian registered vehicles and screening of Indian moves even as the ruling party did the same whenit was in opposition. Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna raised the issue with his Nepali counterpart Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha in New York indicating the strong objections of New Delhi. nnnn


BUDDHA IDOL RECOVERED Kathmandu, 1 Oct. An idol of the The Buddha having archeological and cultural was recovered from a gang attempting to sell it. Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police recovered the idol and arrested five persons attempting to sell it following a raid on a hotel in in Jorpati. nnnn NRB RELEASES RS.2.5 IN NEW CURRENCY NOTES TO MEET INCREASED DEMAND Kathmandu, 1 Oct. With the festive season around the corner, Nepal Rashtra Banl (NRB) has released Rs.2.5 billion in new currency notes to meet increased demand The injection of the currency will meet increased demand The central bank even illegally released Indian currency notes two years ago when there was a severe shortage of currency notes in the market during the festive season. Nnnn GOLD RICE SLIPS Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Gold price slipped Sunday to the previous week. The yellow metal was traded Sunday for Rs. 59, 540 per tola; last week was traded for Rs.60,250 per tola. Gold price fell in the international market. nnnn




MJFL FORMS TEAM TO TALK WITH OTHER MADESH PARTIES FOR MERGER Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Ruling MJFL Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sunday a five-member team to hold talks with other Madhesi parties on merger. A party political committee day formed a tea, with Vice chairman Rameshwor Yadav, party leaders Jitendra Narayan Dev, Ram Janam Chaudhari, Rabindra Thakur and Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav as members. The party also formed a three- member talks team headed by Chairman Gachhadar to hold talks with major political parties to give outlet to current political problems. nnnn APF IN QUARTERFINAL OF NCELL CUP FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: Armed Police Force (APF) Sunday secured a quarterfinal berth in the Ncell Cup Football Championship It secured a place in the next round of the richest tournament eve after drawing even after playing a 1-1 draw against Three Star Club nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE “…but food crisis would hit Nepal in the upcoming Dashain-Tihar and prices would be hiked. In the world of internet and globalisation any Hindi movie cannot be banned. “If we have any issues with other countries then we should take them up at diplomatic levels. We cannot just carry out our wishes as per our wishes. Once our relations with India are affected then it would Nepal’s loss. People here would suffer more than that of India.” (Dr, Ram Sharan Mahat of NC on ban on entry of Indian registered vehicles and Indian movies, The Himalayan Times, 1 Oct.) ‘Congress and UML are trying to provoke the president to overthrow the government. “They just want to get hold power through the president, so they are using various power centers to achieve this.’ (Maoist Spokesman Agni Sapkota, Republica, 1 Oct.) nnnn BO0DY PARTS OF FIVE NEPALIS KILLED IN SITA AIR CRASH HANDED OVER; INVESTIGATION OF CRASH BEGINS AIDED BY TWO BRITISH Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: The kin of five Nepali passengers who died in Friday´s Sita Air crash received their dead bodies on Sunday. The bodies were identified on the basis of dental data and personal belongings of the dead, Kamal Pariyar writes in Republica.. According to Dr Harihar Wasti, head of Forensic Department at Tribuvan University Teaching Hospital, the bodies of crew members, Captain Bijaya Tandukar, co-Pilot Takeshi Thapa, airhostess Ruja Shakya, and passengers, Dipen Rai and Madan Kumari Tamang, were handed to their kin. Wu Hui, who was earlier thought be a Chinese citizen, has now been identified as a US citizen and his family members are arriving in Kathmandu to receive the body, according to the department. Dr Wasti said, "The remaining bodies couldn´t be identified till Sunday because of the lack of equipment and sufficient information." Meanwhile, the problem of keeping dead bodies at mortuary has been solved temporarily. According to the department, four bodies have been kept at the mortuary of US embassy and five have been accommodated at the mortuary of German embassy. The remaining five bodies are at Teaching Hospital. Seven Nepalis, including three crew members, seven Briton, four Chinese and a US citizen were killed in the crash. Sales and Marketing Manager of Sita Air, Dipendra Shahi, said that the samples have been sent for DNA test to identify other bodies and would take some time to get the reports. Shahi said that the bodies of the foreigners would be handed over only after DNA report arrives. A probe team that comprises of experts from the UK has started the investigation Two aviation experts from the UK have joined the five-member probe team instituted by Nepal government for investigating the crash and the team has started working from Friday. The panel headed by former tourism secretary Nagendra Prasad Ghimire visited the crash site along with the UK experts, according to Suresh Acharya, joint-secretary of MoCTCA and member secretary of the accident probe team. "Today we surveyed the position of the damaged aircraft and took photographs," he said. Aided by National Bird Control Committee, the team also inspected the runway where the bird reportedly hit the elevator of the aircraft Nnnn ________________________________________ PRESIDENT ASKS PARTIESTO DETERMINE HIS ROLE Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: With the country caught in a protracted political and constitutional deadlock, President Ram Baran Yadav turned the tables on political parties, asking them what exactly he should do, Prakash Acarya/ Tika R.Padhan write in .The Himalayan Times. Noting that the parties have already recognised fresh elections as an alternative, he pointed that the parties will either build a consensus or fail to build it. “In either of the cases, the parties should advise me what I should do and when. The parties should take full responsibility for their advice,” a statement from the President’s Office quoted the President as telling leaders of major political parties. The President was basically asking the parties to spell out the role he should play if they fail to reach a consensus, according to former speaker and constitution expert Daman Nath Dhungana. “The President wants the parties to begin immediate discussions on his role if they fail to arrive at a consensus,” Dhungana said. After the meeting, four major parties – Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the United Democratic Madhesi Front – once again vowed to build a consensus on key issues by mid-October – Interim Constitution amendment, date for Constituent Assembly polls, strength of the CA and the formation of a national consensus government. The meeting of the four parties, held at the President’s Office after their meeting with the President, made this understanding, according to UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who attended the meeting with the President, together with CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Rastriya Janashakti Party Chair Surya Bahadur Thapa, former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, NC President Sushil Koirala, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party President Mahantha Thakur, CPN-M Chairman Mohan Baidhya, Vice-president Paramananda Jha and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The four major parties decided to meet at 3 pm tomorrow to discuss the key issues and call an all-party meeting at the International Convention Centre in Baneshwor on Tuesday to solicit suggestions from all the parties represented in the dissolved CA, according to Dahal. “The President expressed serious concern about the parties’ inability to resolve the national crisis and urged the latter to arrive at a consensus at the earliest. On their part, the parties pledged to reach consensus by mid-October,” Dahal said. As the parties have tentatively agreed to go for fresh CA polls already, they will agree on the issues, including the interim constitution amendment, date for elections, strength of the CA and a national unity government, he said. NC Vice-president Ramchandra Paudel said the parties agreed to reach a consensus on crisis resolution at the earliest. “The President expressed serious concern about our inability to build consensus, though he did not set any deadline for the same,” he said. According to CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidhya, the President told the parties to suggest him ways to end the deadlock. “We suggested that the incumbent government should quit first and a national unity government formed. Then the parties should thrash out national issues through a round-table meeting,” Baidhya said. RPP-Nepal leader Chandra Bahadur Gurung said consensus was impossible, as parties were unwilling to soften their stances. Meeting ground • Parties to meet today [Monday] to discuss key issues • All-party meeting to solicit suggestions on Tuesday • Consensus on key issues by mid-October Nnnn GOVT. PROBE TEAM SUBMITTING REPORT WITHOUT IDENTIFYING KILLER OF JUSTRICE BAM Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: The inquiry commission formed to investigate the May 31 murder of former Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam will submit its report to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai though it has failed to identify culprits. “Though we could not name any criminal involved in the murder, we are going to submit the report to the PM very soon,” Prem Sharma, former justice of the SC who heads the inquiry commission told THT. The commission, however, suggested that the government tighten security for judges and courts as Bam’s murder indicated threat to the judiciary. Another member of the inquiry commission, however, said that even Nepal Police, which has been investigating the crime is clueless. In its report submitted to the Inquiry Commission, the Police did not provide any convincing evidence. “It is the job of the police to investigate criminals. We have only analysed the facts and gathered information,” the member said adding, “Since the police could not provide any clue, we did not feel it necessary to continue the investigation any further,” he added. Justice Bam was killed on May 31 at Shankhamul. Unidentified gunmen shot at him when he was heading towards the Supreme Court from Bangalamukhi temple. Nnnn CHINA PROPOSES HELP IN FARM RESEARCH, DEELOPMENT Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: In a bid to speed up farm commercialization in the country, China has proposed to support Nepal in applying modern technology in livestock farming, fisheries and hill agriculture development, among others, Prabhakar Ghimere writes in Republica. The Chinese proposal comes ahead of the agriculture secretary level meeting between the countries scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on Monday. Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi and Niu Dun, Chinese Vice-minister for Agriculture, are leading their respective countries in the bi-lateral talks. A source at the MoAD told Republica that Chinese officials have already proposed to Nepal in promoting animal husbandry to boost production of animal products such as milk, meat and wool in Nepal. Nepal has been spending millions of rupees a year to import those products. Similarly, the Chinese side is also interested in supporting Nepal to expanding fish farming, which is still not widely commercialized despite having huge potentiality. “The northern neighbor is also eager to support us to promote horticulture, cultivation of cereal crops and other farm activities in hilly areas. Besides, Chinese officials are also ready to support us in other potential areas of agriculture,” the source said. The source said Nepal will request Chinese officials to help ease quarantine process at customs points while exporting Nepali agro-products. “As visiting Chinese officials are not dealing with quarantine issues, we will informally request them for their support in simplifying quarantine process,” the source said. Nepali traders are frequently facing problems in supplying meat products due to strict rule imposed at customs points by the Chinese side. During the day-long meeting, Nepali officials will also seek Chinese cooperation for strengthening Nepal´s capacity in food quality testing, production of livestock vaccines and increasing mechanization in farming. Human resource development in agriculture sector is also among the agenda to be discussed during the meeting. The Nepali side will also seek Chinese investment in a 100MW hydropower project to run the proposed chemical fertilizers factory in Nepal. Though MoAD and Ministry of Entergy have already signed an agreement to execute a 100MW project to power the proposed chemical fertilizer plant in Nepal, it is not clear from where investment for the project will come. “We are also floating options to Chinese official to invest in small hydropower projects that can be utilized to run small scale fertilizers here,” the source added. Given the lengthy process to procure chemical fertilizers from overseas market, Nepal will also seek Chinese firms to supply chemical fertilizers to Nepal for immediate purpose. During the meeting, the Nepali side will also seek Chinese support to expand hybrid seeds production technology by helping Nepal build necessary infrastructure. The Chinese delegation is scheduled to visit Nepal Agriculture Research Council in Khumaltar to discuss about possible technical assistance in farm research. nnnn ________________________________________





PM. VICC-PRESIDENT PRESIDEMT PRESENT AT SHITAL NIWAS Kathmandu, 30 Sept.:Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Vice-president Parmananda Jha were present at the meeting between the president and party leaders.. The premier has been accusing the president almost daily for not promulgating ordinances approved by government calling the move an unconstitutional act. nnnn




UPDATE PRESIDENT SUMMONS PARTY LEADERS Kathmandu, 30 Sept. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Sunday asked political party leaders after summons to give an outlet to the country soon. The Big Three, including opposition NC and UML leaders, and Madeshbadri immediately after consultations with the president and Maoist Chairman Prachanda said parties will make another attempt to end an outlet as possibl by end of Ashwin [13 Oct.]. The Four will meet again Monday and prepare an agenda to b presented to other partie for approval. CPN Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidhaya also attended the meeting with the president. ‘We’re near agreement on election for a constituent assembly,” Prachanda said. Nnnn KUMARI CHARIOT YATRA Kathmandu,30 Sept.: The chariot of the Kumari, the Living Goddess, was pulled through Ason and Indra Chowk Sunday Devotees and others lined the streets to worship an watch the Living Goddess. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and senior government officials watched from Gaddi Biatkah as the chariots with Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav were pulled through the capital’s streets to the southern section from Kumari Ghar Saturday. Basantapur Square wore a festive look Sunday. nnnn



WORLD’ BIGGEST THANKA TO BE DISPLAYED Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: The world's largest 'Thangka' painting is to be put on an exhibition in Nepal on October 5 and 6. Information about this was given at a press conference organised by the Nepal Buddhism Preservation Committee, RSS reports. The painting was a collective creation of 10,000 volunteers from 16 countries in the world. Earlier, the painting depicting 12 important happenings related to the lifestyle of the Lord Gautam Buddha was displayed in USA, Japan, Mongolia and India. The painting weighing 100 kgs was based on the concept of Dr Surya Thakali and after exhibition; it will be displayed in Thailand next year. Although the painting was made aiming at placing it in Lumbini, Nepal, it is to be taken to Japan due to lack of physical infrastructure here. The painting has been divided into 81 pieces and it takes around two hours to join them for the display. It is said the painting will be brought here until this evening. The objective of putting the painting on display is to spread the message of peace, fraternity and hospitality in Nepal which is presently witnessing violence and gripped by problematic situation, said the Committee. The exhibition will be held at the Dasharath stadium and the entry is free of charge, said the organisers. Nnnn SHORTEST MAN INAUGURATES ELDERLY MEET KATHMANDU: The national conference and general convention of the National Elderly Citizens' Federation began in the capital today. Chandra Bahadur Dangi, the shortest man in the world, inaugurated the programme organised on the occasion of the International Day for the Elderly today. On the occasion, Guinness book record holder Dangi, 72, sought proper respect to the elderly people from the society and an easier lifestyle in the waning days of their lives. Dangi who originally hails from Dang was recognized as the world's shortest man by the Guinness Book of World Records on February 26, 2012. Other people speaking at the inaugural session underlined the need of giving proper care and respect to the aged people and guaranteeing their rights to live in a respectful manner. Member of the National Human Rights Commission Ramnagina Singh, Federation Chairperson Prof. Dr. Leeladevi KC, general secretary Ambika KC, secretary Chhatra Bahadur Pradhan, artist Haribansha Acharya and singer Kumar Basnet were among those putting forth their opinions on the occasion. The number of people completing 60 years of age stands at 7.6 million and this number is expected to reach two billion by 2050 AD. According to the national census- 2068 BS, of the total country's population, the number of the aged people covers nine percent (2.5 million). nnnn BIG MARIJUANA HAUL IN PASRA Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Police have confiscated a huge quantity of marijuana from Paterwa Sugauli in Parsa district, RSS reports from Birgunj.. A team from the Area Police Office, Paterwa Sugauli, headed by Police Inspector Topendra Singh Rathaur confiscated five quintals of marijuana from a house of Paspat Chaudhary while acting on a tip-off. Police confiscated the marijuana which was hidden in drums and sacks in the house. According to the District Police Office, police had seized 8,567 quintals of marijuana from different places in the district since mid-April. nnnn US CASUALTIES REACH 2,000 IN USA Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: — U.S. military deaths in the Afghan war have reached 2,000, a cold reminder of the human cost of an 11-year-old conflict that now garners little public interest at home as the United States prepares to withdraw most of its combat forces by the end of 2014, AP reports from Kabul.. The toll has climbed steadily in recent months with a spate of attacks by Afghan army and police — supposed allies — against American and NATO troops. That has raised troubling questions about whether countries in the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan will achieve their aim of helping the government in Kabul and its forces stand on their own after most foreign troops depart in little more than two years. On Sunday, a U.S. official confirmed the latest death, saying that an international service member killed in an apparent insider attack by Afghan forces in the east of the country late Saturday was American. A civilian contractor with NATO and at least two Afghan soldiers also died in the attack, according to a coalition statement and Afghan provincial officials. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity because the nationality of those killed had not been formally released. Names of the dead are usually released after their families or next-of-kin are notified, a process that can take several days. The nationality of the civilian was also not disclosed. In addition to the 2,000 Americans killed since the Afghan war began on Oct. 7, 2001, at least 1,190 more coalition troops from other countries have also died, according to iCasualties.org, an independent organization that tracks the deaths. According to the Afghanistan index kept by the Washington-based research center Brookings Institution, about 40 percent of the American deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices. The majority of those were after 2009, when President Barack Obama ordered a surge that sent in 33,000 additional troops to combat heightened Taliban activity. The surge brought the total number of American troops to 101,000, the peak for the entire war. According to Brookings, hostile fire was the second most common cause of death, accounting for nearly 31 percent of Americans killed. Tracking deaths of Afghan civilians is much more difficult. According to the U.N., 13,431 civilians were killed in the Afghan conflict between 2007, when the U.N. began keeping statistics, and the end of August. Going back to the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, most estimates put the number of Afghan civilian deaths in the war at more than 20,000. The number of American dead reflects an Associated Press count of those members of the armed services killed inside Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion began. Some other news organizations use a count that also includes those killed outside Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the global anti-terror campaign led by then-President George W. Bush. The 2001 invasion targeted al-Qaida and its Taliban allies shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Victory in Afghanistan seemed to come quickly. Kabul fell within weeks, and the hardline Taliban regime was toppled with few U.S. casualties. But the Bush administration's shift toward war with Iraq left the Western powers without enough resources on the ground, so by 2006 the Taliban had regrouped into a serious military threat. Obama deployed more troops to Afghanistan, and casualties increased sharply in the last several years. But the American public grew weary of having its military in a perpetual state of conflict, especially after the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq at the end of last year. That war, which began with a U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein, cost the lives of nearly 4,500 U.S. troops, more than twice as many as have died in Afghanistan so far. "The tally is modest by the standards of war historically, but every fatality is a tragedy and 11 years is too long," said Michael O'Hanlon, a fellow at the Brookings. "All that is internalized, however, in an American public that has been watching this campaign for a long time. More newsworthy right now are the insider attacks and the sense of hopelessness they convey to many. " Attacks by Afghan soldiers or police — or insurgents disguised in their uniforms — have killed 52 American and other NATO troops so far this year. The so-called insider attacks are considered one of the most serious threats to the U.S. exit strategy from the country. In its latest incarnation, that strategy has focused on training Afghan forces to take over security nationwide — allowing most foreign troops to go home by the end of 2014. Although Obama has pledged that most U.S. combat troops will leave by the end of 2014, American, NATO and allied troops are still dying in Afghanistan at a rate of one a day. Even with 33,000 American troops back home, the U.S.-led coalition will still have 108,000 troops — including 68,000 from the U.S. — fighting in Afghanistan at the end of this year. Many of those will be training the Afghan National Security Forces that are to replace them. "There is a challenge for the administration," O'Hanlon said, "to remind people in the face of such bad news why this campaign requires more perseverance." ___ Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt and Rahim Faiez in Kabul and researcher Monika Mathour in Washington contributed to this report. nnnn



DPM SHRESTHA MEETS INDIAN COUNTERPART Kathmandu, 30 Sept.:: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha held a bilateral meeting with Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India, S. M. Krishna, on the sidelines of the 67th United Nations General Assembly, RSS reports.. During the meeting held on Saturday, both the leaders discussed matters of mutual interests and exchanged views on issues related to strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, according to Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York. On the curiosity of the External Affairs Minister of India, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shrestha updated on the peace and constitution making process and the overall political situation of Nepal. The Indian Foreign Minister wished for success of the entire process in the best interest of the people of Nepal. Both sides felt the importance of organizing Nepal-India Joint Commission Meeting at an early date. In this respect, they instructed the respective Foreign Secretaries to fix the date at the earliest and carry out necessary groundwork to that end. Both sides agreed to pay attention to the issues of immediate concerns to the people. Also on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shrestha met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. Views were exchanged on the political situation of both the countries and experiences of both sides shared during the meeting. Discussions were also held on strengthening bilateral relations, including the possibility of visits from each side. Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha held talks with Under Secretary-General of the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations, Jeffrey Feltman. During the meeting, talks were held on the current political situation of Nepal, the technical aspect of completion of the peace process comprising integration of the ex-Maoist combatants into the national army, and the issues related to establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Under Secretary- General showed interest to visit Nepal at an early convenient date. Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs participated in an interaction programme entitled, “Nepal towards Transformation: The Future of Federalism and National Sovereignty.” The program was organized jointly by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and a number of Nepalese community organizations in New York in honour of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Views were expressed on the issues of Non-resident Nepalese and the improvement of political situation in Nepal during the programme, adds the Permanent Mission. Nnnn TWO INJURED IN LEOPARD ATTACK Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Two persons were injured in an attack by a tiger [leopard] at Srinagar market of Khalanga VDC of Salyan district Sunday morning, RSS reports from Rulum. Dipendra Basnet, 54, and Urmila BK,39, of Shitalpati, Salyan were attacked by the tiger at around 5:15 this morning in front of their home. Following a commotion over the incident, the locals gathered and killed the tiger. The injured are undergoing treatment at local Kantipur community hospital, according to the District Police Office, Salyan. <="" p=""> Nnnn ________________________________________


LOW TRADING IN SHARES Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Share price was stable on the opening day of five-day trading Sunday. Nepse closed at 415.01 points shedding 0.69 point or 0.17 percent. Trading was low. Only 81,651 shares were traded for Rs. 24.413 million in 536 transactions. nnnn BIG MEDIA HOUSES SLAMMED FOR ‘EXPLOITING’ JOURNALISTS Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: President of the Minimum Wages Fixation Committee Govinda Acharya has said that big media houses in the capital have extremely exploited journalists' labour, RSS reports from Chitwan.. Opening the first District Convention of the Revolutionary Journalists Association, Bharatpur in Chitwan today, Acharya said media houses in the mofussil are also being indirectly exploited by capital-based big media houses. Big media houses are running for business purpose in the name of professionalism, he said, underlining the need of taking action against those media houses taking free service from journalists. Acharya who is also the central chairman of the Revolutionary Journalists' Association (RJA) said the Association's stance is that a journalist should at least get a salary of Rs. 20,000 monthly. He stressed that government advertisements should be distributed in a proportional manner. Also speaking at an inaugural session, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Om Sharma urged media houses not to exploit journalists and provide them minimum remunerations determined by the Commission. RJA central treasurer Khil Bahadur Bhandari, FNJ Chitwan chapter president Janak Aryal, UCPN ( Maoist) Chitwan coordinator Ghanashyam Dahal, Chitwan-Gaindakot Radio Broadcasters Association chairman Bhojraj Kaudal, Press Union Chitwan chapter president Basanta Parajuli, chairman of the Press Chautari district chapter Shaligram Nepal and President of the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( CCCI) Dr Tilchandra Bhattarai put their opinions at the programme. RJA Chitwan chapter coordinator Sureshchandra Adhikari presided over the programme. Nnnn TWO ARRESTED FOR THREATENING PARTY LEADER OVER PHONE Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: : Police have arrested two persons on the charge of their involvement in threatening to kidnap and taking life through telephone to the then District Chairman of the Rastriya Shakti Prajatantra Party, Laxmi Odari, with the help of an armed underground group, RSS reportsfrom Bhadrapur. nnnn. The arrested are Jaya Bahadur Shrestha, Jhapa District Chairman of the Party, and Sunil Yadav. Shrestha was arrested from Damak of Jhapa and Yadav from Amritgunj of Bara district, according to the District Police Office, Jhapa. Yadav is a cadre of the Tarai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha while Shrestha is Jhapa chairman of N-PABSON. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohan Sharma, Shrestha was arrested on the basis of the statement of Yadav after his arrest. The arrested had been issuing threat for life and kidnapping Odari through mobile phone from September 10 demanding donations. Son of Odari filed a petition at the District Administration Office for the safety of his father's life after they used to receive continuous threats. Rastriya Shakti Prajatantra Party was established after unity between the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rastriya Janashakti Party ( RJP). Police said that Shrestha had been threatening Odari with the support of an armed group with an objective of remaining in the post of Chairman by giving mental torture to Odari after Shrestha saw the possibility of Ordari's election to the post of District Chairman of the newly formed party. Meanwhile, issuing a press statement, N-PABSON objected to the keeping of Shrestha in jail on false charges in the name of investigation. RSS nnnn


Saturday, September 29, 2012


BRAJESH MISHRA, WHO WAS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH NEPALI LEADERS, DEAD Kathmandu, 30 Sept. Brajesh Mishra, India’s first national security advisor when Atal Bihari Vajpayee of BJP was prime minister, died Friday in New Delhi, published reportsfrom New Delhi said.. He was 84. Mishra was a former foreign secretary and representative to the United Nations. Maoist Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in a secret letter to the Indian government, when Mishra was the national security advisor, assured Maoits fighting a people’s war in Nepal and conducting a trench war against India, wouldn’t harm Indian interests in Nepal. This has come to light only some months ago stunning Maoists fighter the ground. Nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE “There’s no alternative to reinstating monarchy through people’s struggle.” (RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa, Nagarik, 30 Sept.) nnnn.


PM AGAIN CHARGES PRESIDENT FOR ACTING UNCONSTITUTIONALLY Kathmandu, 30 Sept. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai again hit out at President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Saturday charging his for acting unconstitutionally. The premier himself heads a caretaker government that normally can’t take major policy decisions and in this case in the absence of parliament dissolved by the incumbent government.. “The president has gone against accepted international practices. A decision of the cabinet should automatically endorsed. The president has not acted according to the constitution by going against tradition.. “During UML and NC rule, the country was run through ordinances. Why stop them them now?,” he asked reporters in Baluwatar. Bhattarai reminded Madhav Kumar Nepal presented a budget through ordinance. “President has no power Parties are going to him, like they did when he king was around, and asking the president to act, ‘ Bhattarai charged. . The premier said he won’t reign until an alternative government is ready to step in. nnnn


JAPANESE EDUCATION FAIR BEGINS Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: The Second Japan Education Fair kicked off in the capital on Saturdaym RSS reports.. Japanese Language Schools Association Nepal (JALSON) organised the education fair to provide first-hand information on Japan's education system and to offer consultancy services to the students. Social worker Dil Shova Shrestha inaugurated the fair. Representatives of 17 Japanese schools and colleges have been participating in the fair to provide information on Japan's education system, Japanese lifestyle, culture, post-studies opportunities, education expenses and job placement, among others. A total of two dozen stalls providing information on different topics have been kept in the fair. nnnn PLAN TO SELL APARTMENTS TO FOREIGNERS DELAYED Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: The government’s plan to let foreigners to buy apartment s in Nepal might take some more time to materialise, with government agencies, especially the Home Ministry, showing concerns about security and long-term implications of such a provision for the country, Prithvi Man Shrestha writes in The Kathmandu Post.. The Ministry of Home Affairs has raised multiple questions, including whether foreigners could stay in the country forever on ground that they have purchased an apartment here. The government had announced allowing foreigners — both individuals and companies — to purchase flats and apartment s costing $200,000 and above as a measure to address the woes of the realty sector last year. The Ministry of Land Reform and Management, which is preparing a working procedure, had sought opinion from various ministries, including the Home Ministry. A source at the Land Reform Ministry said the Home Ministry is particularly concerned about the demographic impact as Nepal is in between the two most populous countries of the world — China and India. “The Home Ministry has asked us to prepare the working procedures based on the existing legal framework,” the source said. Nepal has no Act on allowing foreigners to own land here and the Non-Resident Nepalese Act also has not opened the door for foreigners to purchase property here. “We have expressed the concerns due to the fact that we do not have any legal provisions,” said Home Secretary Nabin Ghimire. Another concern the Home Ministry has raised is whether the children of foreigners purchasing apartment here could enjoy the citizenship rights if they are born on the Nepali soil. The Home Ministry is also concerned about the validity period of Nepal stay of foreigners purchasing apartment s here. The ministry’s other concerns include the possible involvement of foreigners in criminal activities here. “If the government forces such a person to leave the country, the confusion about the status of the property s/he has purchased here should also be clarified,” a source at the Land Reform Ministry said, adding that the ministry is also concerned about the possibility of foreigners using the provision for money laundering. Deepak Giri, joint spokesperson for the Land Reform Ministry, said there are issues like whether to allow a single foreign company to purchase the entire block of apartment s or allow people from the same country to occupy the entire colony. In the initial draft of the working procedure, the Land Reform Ministry has proposed that only the foreigners getting recommendation from the Foreign Ministry would be allowed to purchase apartment s here. The draft has also provisioned that after purchasing the apartment s foreigners could not resell or lease the property for the next five years. Despite the uncertainty over the introduction of the working procedures for allowing foreigners to purchase apartment s in Nepal, the realty sector is gradually reviving. Revenue collection from land and house registrations increased by 19.43 percent to reach Rs 4.14 billion in 2011-12 compared to Rs 3.47 billion in 2010-11, according to the Department of Land Reforms and Management. Nnnn KOIRALA ATTACKER NEARLY KILLED Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: ATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala survived a near fatal attack today from an NC worker, thanks to General Secretary Prakash Man Singh and NC youth leader Gagan Thapa’s reflexive actions, Prakash Adhikary writes in The Himalayan Times.. Koirala was sitting at the podium to inaugurate the convention of NC’s Kathmandu area-4 chapter, Kapan, when the NC affiliated Nepal Student Union cadre Prabesh Basnet tried to hit Koirala with a thick wooden frame. It was about 8:30 am, the organisers were honouring leaders with khada (strips of religious cloth) at the podium after the welcome speech when Basnet climbed up the stage and struck Shyam Sangat and Narmada Pokharel who were announcing with a wooden frame. Both of them collapsed. Another party cadre Mina Parajuli was also injured. Basnet then went to Koirala and attempted to strike him. Singh, shielded Koirala with his hand. He then made a second attempt, which Congress Thapa blocked. “Both he [Basnet] and I fell off the stage. Party workers then showered blows seriously injuring him,” said Thapa. Thapa and other leaders rescued Basnet from the crowd and took him to the podium. Later, police arrested him. A witness overheard him telling someone on the cell phone, “I did it; and they also beat me”. “If Basnet had succeeded, an untoward incident would have occurred and if we had not rescued him from enraged party workers, he would not have been saved,” said Thapa. NSU spokesperson UP Lamichhane said the party president would not have survived if Singh had not shielded him from the first blow. Party sources say there could be three reasons for the attack: First, that Basnet, reportedly a whimsical person, was angry at not being called to the podium as he was a local student leader. Secondly, someone might have incited him to attack with revenge motive. And last but not the least, a conspiracy might have been hatched against Koirala. However, Koirala rejected the conspiracy theory. “It is a sad incident. I think no conspiracy is linked with it. It may be a youth venting ire against leaders for not settling the national crisis,” Koirala said. General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, however, said he sensed conspiracy against the NC and that the party would leave no stone unturned to probe the incident and take action against the culprit. Basnet is in police custody. He will be charged under the Public Offences Act according to a police source. NC Kathmandu, area-4 chapter has formed a five-member committee to probe the “intention” behind the attack with a seven-day deadline. nnnn


MONSOON ENDS Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: This year’s monsoon ended Sunday after breaking one week late, an official announcement said. The annual rain began with a whimper and ended with a bang. Below normal rainfall was recorded in Hune, July and August but above normal rin fell in September. Nnnn SHORAHA SHARAD BEGINS SUNDAY Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Shoraha Sharad started Sunday. The death of ancestors is commemorated through puja. nnnn IDENTIFICATION OF BODY PARTS OF SITA AIR CRASH A DIFFICULT TASK Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: The government has confirmed the identification of 12 foreign passengers who lost their lives in Friday´s Sita Air crash. However, the bodies could not handover it was difficult to identify individual bodies as they were charred in the fire that engulfed the crashed aircraft., Samiksha Koirla writes in Republica. The government officials have also announced that one of the deceased foreigners was found to be a US citizen. Wu Hui who was identified as a Chinese citizen earlier, has now been identified as US citizen of Chinese origin. Hui had American passport. The officials said that the confusion over the nationality of Hui had surfaced because the travel agents failed to provide the passport copies of the deceased on time. Addressing a meeting on Saturday, Tourism Minister Post Bahadur Bogati said it was shameful that the government could not ensure proper identification of the deceased even after 48 hours of the crash. “This is a serious matter and shows incompetence of the concerned government authority, airlines and the travel agents,” he said. According to the airlines source, Flight Connection had issued the tickets of four Chinese and an American passenger without obtaining the copy of passport. Bodies yet to be identified medically The relatives of air crash victim could not receive the body on Saturday as well, as the authority could not identify them because they were charred beyond recognition. All 19 bodies were badly charred in the incident and requires more investigation for the identification, according to medical officials. Dr Harihar Awasti of Forensic Department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hosptial (TUTH), said the hospital has sent the samples abroad for DNA test to confirm their identity. Seven Nepali including three crew members, seven Briton, four Chinese and a US citizen were killed in the crash. Sales and Marketing Manager of Sita Air Dipendra Shahi said that he was hopeful that the bodies of Nepali nationals would be handed over to their families by Sunday. “Although the report of autopsy is yet to be received, we are in contact with all the relatives and they are identifying the body with the help of body size, jewelry and other signs,” he said. Shahi said that in case of foreigners the body would be handed over after the report of DNA test only. Government commits to strengthen aviation safety Expressing serious concern over the frequent air crashes, the government has decided to take serious measures to ensure aviation safety. A ministerial level meeting on Saturday instructed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to deploy Safety Inspectors in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Nepagunj. The meeting has decided to form a high level aviation safety coordinating agency in near future. Suresh Acharaya, joint-secretary of MoCTCA and member secretary of the accident probe commission said the meeting decided to form a permanent investigative body for the air crash.“"The permanent body will be more influential and will help analyze the case properly which will ultimately help ensure aviation safety”" said he. The meeting has also instructed flight safety standard department of CAAN to strengthen the supervisory role. He said,“"We have decided to hold regular meeting amongst airport security, CAAN and the airlines companies to ensure better coordination”" Similarly, the ministry has also called a meeting with National Bird Control Committee to avoid such incidents in near future. Meanwhile, the British government has also sent aviation experts to Nepal to assist the probe committee in their investigation. Nnnn YARSHAGUMGA TRADE NOT ALWAYS PROFITABLE Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: Chandra Singh Karki, 30, of Ghusa VDC-8 in Darchula district, bought two kilos of yarsagumba for Rs 2.4 million from a local villager last year. But, when yarsagumba traders from Kathmandu reached Ghusa, Karki did not get more than Rs two million, Bikram Giri writes in Republica from Mahendra nagar.. “I had to sell all my yarsagumba by incurring a loss of Rs 400,000” said Karki. He is yet to get Rs 200,000 from the Kathmandu-based yarsagumba traders. “They gave me only Rs 1.8 million last year,” said he, adding, “They had promised that they would pay me the dues this year. But, they did not turn up in my village this year.” Having incurred a loss of Rs 600,000 in yarsagumba trade, Karki has now ended up working as a temporary teacher at Mahadev Secondary School of Ghusa. He has now vowed never ever to get involved in yarsagumba trade in the future. Karki is not the only person who has suffered loss in yarsagumba trade. Hundreds of people - mostly those who collect yarsagumba by risking their lives and those who want to earn profits by purchasing precious herbs from local villagers and selling them to traders from Kathmandu - have incurred huge losses. To many, the trade of yarsagumba, a high-altitude wild fungus that is also known as Himalayan Viagra, appears quite lucrative and highly profitable. But, it is risky not only for the lives of yarsagumba collectors but also for the investment of local traders. The risk involved in it largely stems from the fact that all yarsagumba collectors and traders do their business on credit. They neither get nor give full amounts for yarchagumba. “Those who don´t want to sell their yarsagumba on credit are never able to strike deals,” says Karki. “Traders come to villages from Kathmandu and take away yarsagumba by giving just some or half the amount. They promise to pay the dues only after selling yarsagumba to international traders. But, most of them never fulfill their promises.” As compared to village-based traders, most of yarsagumba collectors get full amounts. But, they often end up striking raw deals. “It´s hard to get appropriate prices,” said Jhalak Singh Dhami, a yarsagumba collector in Khandeshwori VDC of Darchula district. “Our yarsagumbas rot in our houses if we don´t agree to whatever prices the traders offer.” But, like village-based traders, the Kathmandu-based traders also sell yarchagumbas on credit to international traders, mostly from China. “This whole trade depends on trust,” said Dhan Singh Jagari, who has been buying yarsagumba in Darchula and selling them to international traders in Kathmandu, adding, “When you sell yarsagumbas, you can´t be sure whether you will get full amounts later. If you get, you can continue with yarsagumba trade, but if you don´t you have no other option but to quit the trade.” Yarsagumba, the demand of which is very high because of its aphrodisiac qualities, are found in high-altitude villages like Byans, Rapla, Ghusa, Khandeshwori, Sunsera and Sittola of Darchula district, which are covered with snow throughout the winter season. In Darchula, around 15,000 people collect 10-12 quintals of yarsagumba every year. However, the government does not get revenue on all yarsagumba. According to Api-Nampa Conservation Area, the government had received revenues from only 732 kilos of yarsagumba in the fiscal year 2011-12. Nnnn BIRD HIT BROKE TAIL FIN CAUSING SITA AIR DRONIER CRASH: A CLAIMS Kathmandu, 30 Sept.: After a bird collided with the right engine of the Sita Air’s Dornier aircraft, a small particle or fiber spread out from the engine blowing out the “vertical tail fin” that disabled the flight control, according to aviation experts, Sangam Parsai writes in The Kathmandu Post.. As the crew was unable to control the aircraft, it nose-dived on the banks of the Manohara River in Bhaktapur district on Friday morning, killing all 19 on board. Experts from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal ( CAAN ) and the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) assume that the break-off of the vertical stabilizer made the aircraft uncontrolled immediately after it took off. The vertical tail fin of an aircraft points upwards. This is also known as the vertical stabiliser, which allows the pilot to control the plane. The tail fin helps the plane take direction. Air presses against both its surfaces with equal force when the plane is moving straight ahead. But if the aircraft turns right or left, air pressure increases on one side of the stabilizer and decreases on the other. This imbalance in pressure pushes the tail back to line. “Although the probe committee will come up with the details, preliminary finding shows that the aircraft was first ‘bird-hit’ that triggered the break-off of the tail fin,” said AOAN President Rameshwore Thapa, after a meeting between air operators, government officials and CAAN representatives. The aircraft was at around 4,440 ft, some 50 ft up from the runway, when the bird hit it. Aviation experts said the panic-stricken pilot made a steep turn to the left to land the plane at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) from the north without maintaining a required radius. After the right engine and subsequently the tail fin were damaged, the plane lost its balance and failed to take direction, added experts, seeking anonymity. “This could have resulted in the stalled condition of the plane.” According to a press statement issued by the CAAN on Friday, traffic controllers noticed the aircraft making unusual maneuvers right after its take-off. The “unusual turbulence” of the plane was noticed from the ground. The aircraft was cleared for Lukla, 136-km east of Kathmandu, at 6:17 am by the Air Traffic Controller (ATC). The aircraft made its last contact with the ATC at 6:18 am, reporting a ‘bird-hit.’ The plane crashed 30 seconds later. The pilot was not even able to inform the ATC on his plan to divert the aircraft back to TIA for an emergency landing when he faced the two problems simultaneously, the experts presumed. Meanwhile, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Post Bahadur Bogati directed the air operators to take up quality assurance and safety measures seriously. He also directed the CAAN to update technical documents and make effective monitoring and supervision. He directed it to appoint safety inspectors in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Nepalgunj immediately. A post-casualty meeting held on Saturday under the chairmanship of Minister Bogati decided to recommend the government provide discounts in aeronautical parts to the air operators by amending the existing aviation policy in a bid to make the industry more sophisticated. The meeting decided to activate National Birds Control Committee. The deceased foreigners Name Passport no BRITISH RAYMOND EAGLE 504863381 CHISTOPHER FRANCIS DAVEY 060307465 VINCENT JAMES KELLY 500977789 DARREN ALAN KELLY 109737218 TIMOTHY GEORGE OAKES 308779829 STEPHEN BENJAMIN HOLDING 108495282 BENJAMIN ANDREW OGDEN 206495163 Name Passport no CHINESE NATIONALS MING WU QIAN G40797035 YANG ZHIHUA G20926949 CHEN YANG G47655512 LIN WU G29676184 United States HUI WU 485285378 nnnn


PRESIDENT AGAIN SUMMONS PARTY LEADERS FO CONSULTATIONS Kathmandu, 30 Sept. President Dr.. Ram Baran Yavav has again summoned leaders of parties in the dissolved constituent assembly(CA) later Sunday afternoon amid failure of ruling and opposition arties to negotiate an outlet to a a continued deadlock and constitutional crisis after 27 May when Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called snap assembly polls. The president has asked parties to find an outlet through understanding The Ruling coalition of Maoists and Madeshi Morcha and two main parties NC and UML agreed to go for snap polls at an unspecified time to end the crisis, . But new differences have developed over leadership of an election government with opposition laying a pre-condition—resignation of an adamant Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, whose party UCPN Maoist has supported the government chief.. Opposition has decided to take to the streets to topple Bhattarai. Nnnn NEPAL NATIONAL CRICKET TEAM OFF TO UAE TO PLAY IN ELITE CLUB Kathmandu, 30 Sept. National cricket team leave for UAE Sunday.’ It will participate in the ACC Trophy Elite Cup in the Gulf emirate The team just topped the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and was promoted to Division 3.





UPDATE PM, PRESIDENT ATTEND INDRA JATRA FESTIVITIES Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: : President Dr Ram Baran Yadav observed the Indrajatra Festival on Saturday at local Hanumandhoka, RSS reports. On the occasion, the President also observed the chariot processions of Shree Kumari, Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairav. Shree Kumari is known as the living goddess. Locals also performed the traditional Lakhe dance while a contingent of the Gurujuko Paltan presented a march-past around the festival venue on the occasion. Gurujuko Paltan is the army platoon responsible for the management of traditional cultural and religious festivals. General public as well as foreign tourists thronged Hanumandhoka to observe the festival. Seats had been kept for the foreign tourists for their convenience. The people including tourists were busy clicking photos of the event. Indrajatra is an important festival of the Kathmandu people Indrajatra is celebrated every year on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Bhadau as per the lunar calendar. The festival begins with the installation of a wooden pole in front of Hanumandhoka amidst the religious rituals. Vice President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Chief Justice Khilaraj Regmi, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Finance Minister Barshaman Pun and high-ranking government officials including the chiefs of the security bodies also attended the Indrajatra ceremony. Also present on the occasion were the heads and representatives of the diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu. Nnnn CPN-MAOIST TO ALLOW TRANSPORT OF ESSENTIALS Kathmandu, 29 Sept Ten different class organizations affiliated to the CPN-Maoist have said Indian vehicles used for the import and export of essential consumer goods of daily use would not be obstructed., RSS reports. In a joint press release on Saturday, the CPN-Maoist class organizations stated that no vehicle with Indian number plate carrying essential goods of daily use including petrol, diesel and gas imported into the country would be prevented. The joint press release also states that the class organizations were also ready to make corrections if what they called the movement for the promotion and expansion of an independent national economy that they have initiated has created any problems to anyone. Among those issuing the press release are Suresh Alemagar, the general secretary of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, coordinator of All Nepal Women´s Association (Revolutionary) Jayapuri Gharti, Tilak Pariyar of the Nepal National Da;lit Liberation Front, president of the All Nepal People´s Cultural Federation Ishwar Chandra Gyawali, coordinator of the All Nepal Revolutionary Trade Union Federation Ramdeep Acharya. Nnnn ________________________________________


PRABESH BASNET EXPLELLED FROM NSU FOR TWOYEARS UPDATE Kathmandu, 29 Sept. Prabesh Basnet was expelled from Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), a student wing of NC, for two years Saturday. He assaulted President Sushul Koirala at a public meting in the cao;ital. Koirala was not injured. as the meeting continued. Nnnn BAUDHA FOOTBALL CLUB ENTERS QUARTERFINAL OF NCELL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: Baudha Football Club defeated SarashwitiYouth Club 2-0 in the Ncell Football Chamipionship Saturday. Baudha qualified for the quarterfinal. nnnns


UPDATE PM, PRESIDENT ATTEND INDRA JATRA FESTIVITIES Kathmandu, 29 SePt.: Prime Minister baburam Bhattarai attended the Indra Jatra festival festival at Basntapur Saturday. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav also attended.. Nnnn MINISTER MAHOTO SAYS NATIONAL GOVT. POSSIBLE BEFORE DASAINT . Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: Minister for Health and Population Rajendra Mahato has said the formation of a national consensus government would be possible before the Dashain if all the political parties reached to an agreement to that end, RSS reports from Bhadrapur.. Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters' Club, Mechi on Saturday, Minister Mahato said although the UCPN-Maoist is serious towards forging national consensus and working accordingly, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have been causing obstructions for this. "The Constituent Assembly was dissolved without giving the nation new constitution because of the Congress and UML", claimed Mahato, adding that new constitution with guarantee of federalism is the dream of Nepali people and fresh election could be adopted or the dissolved CA could be revived for a few days to meet the people's expectation. "The government is committed to close those health institutes operating illegally", said the health minister and pledged to take action against proprietors of such illegal health institutes. He added that the CPN-Maoist decision of preventing vehicles with Indian number plates from plying on Nepali territory and halting a release of Hindi movies is an 'anti-Madhes move' and such move would jeopardize the friendly relations existing between the two neighbours. nnnn UML ASKS FOR SUPPORT FOR ANTI-GOVT. PROTESTSgovt protest Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: The CPN-UML has appealed to various professional and business organizations to help make the anti-government demonstration scheduled for October 5 Successful, RSS reports.. Speaking at a programme held at the party´s central office in Balkhu on Saturday, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the present government is an obstacle to national consensus and has failed to check increasing market price and corruption. He also expected cooperation of all professions and sectors to the grand demonstration to be held in the capital coming Friday. Likewise, addressing a gathering of literati at the UML office today, UML Secretary Shanker Pokharel claimed that the demonstration would be largest than the previous ones. Nnnn



DPM SHRESTHA STILL HOPEFUL OF CONSTITUTION Kathmandu, 29 Sept : Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said although the Constituent Assembly (CA) worked for four years to draft the new constitution and completed about 80 to 90 percent of the drafting, Nepal could not get a new constitution in time as the CA was dissolved on 27 May this year due to failure to meet its deadline and the Supreme Court´s verdict, RSS reports. Addressing the 67th United Nations General Assembly on Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister said although almost 90 percent task of the constitution-drafting was completed, the CA was dissolved without promulgating a new constitution, following the SC verdict. Nepal has made qualitative progress in the technical side of the peace process, mainly the integration of former Maoist combatants, he said, adding that there is not any outstanding problem left in this regard and has reached near to the point of completion. "But, we have yet to find the solution to constitution making from the Constituent Assembly. For this, political parties are engaged in dialogues and negotiations and are seriously committed to the consensus solution. National consensus is the only positive option to give an outlet ending the current impasse and we hope we will be able to do so without much delay," said the Deputy Prime Minister. Stating that institutionalization of democracy, secularism, federalism, inclusive development and proportional representation and participation are the current priorities of Nepal, Minister Shrestha said that such issues will be institutionalized in the new constitution. "To address the post-conflict transition needs of Nepal, we have established mechanisms and processes for human rights protection and promotion as well as their monitoring at the highest level and various tiers at the sub-national levels. Being a party to 22 human rights conventions including seven core instruments, we have put in place several domestic laws that ensure the rights of all sections of society, including women, children and the marginalized and deprived communities," he said. He added that Nepal is committed to control international human trafficking and make maximum efforts to ensure that the rights and interests of migrant workers are protected in labour destination countries. The National Human Rights Commission, an independent constitutional body, functions as the country´s all-powerful watchdog for protection and promotion of human rights. " We are committed to strengthen this specialized national institution as a true custodian of human rights", said the Deputy Prime Minister. "Our founding fathers envisioned a peaceful, stable, just and prosperous world in establishing the United Nations at a time when the world was emerging from the ashes of successive devastating wars. Nearly seven-decades on, the lofty objectives of the UN Charter remain yet to be fully realized. Threats to international peace and security remain unabated with the continuation of traditional sources of threats alongside the emergence of new sources and forms of conflict. In fact, sense of insecurity appears to be more pervasive today than before, as people around the world continue to confront a wide range of situations characterized by colonial legacy, injustice, domination, exploitation, hatred, intolerance, exclusion, xenophobia and so on. Economic insecurity in the face of heightened global economic and financial crises and fierce competition for dwindling resources and energy security also have their share in generating tensions in many parts of the world", he added. In his address, the Deputy Prime Minister further said the concept of collective security constituting the core pillar of the UN Charter has often been undermined with the recourse to means of dispute settlement outside the purview of multilateral mechanism. Unilateralism and selective interpretation of the Charter provisions risks inviting more conflicts and confrontation rather than understanding and cooperation. While every country has the legitimate right to pursue its enlightened national interests, international norms and values need to be observed when an action of a country affects the fundamental interests of the other. This necessitates the wider respect and observance of the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-interference as the bedrock principles of international relations. These principles cannot and should not be made subject to political test under any circumstances, he added. Rising challenges do not mean that the role and importance of UN has diminished, rather it demands a more effective and strong United Nations Organization. We have to internalize this reality and move ahead, grasping the true spirit of its founding principles and purposes. Stating that Nepal supports a just and lasting solution to the Middle East, he said, " It is our principled position that we support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for self-determination and a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on UN resolutions. Peaceful and secure co-existence of independent and states of sovereign Palestine and Israel is a must for ensuring lasting peace in the Middle East". "We call for the end of violence and peaceful resolution of the Syrian crisis as determined by the Syrian people themselves. Sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Syria must be upheld. We are of the firm opinion that the protracted embargo on Cuba is unjustified and needs to be ended immediately and unconditionally", added Minister Shrestha. "We recognize the legitimate rights of every sovereign state to pursue development of nuclear technology solely for peaceful purposes under effective international supervision. We stand firmly against nuclear proliferation and arms race, and misuse of nuclear technology for ulterior motives and strongly oppose and renounce violence and physical attacks on diplomats anywhere and under any pretext", he said. The Deputy Prime Minister said, "We reiterate our call for general and complete disarmament of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction in a time bound manner. It is an irony that funding for global development agenda and fighting poverty has been overshadowed by global military expense of over 1.7 trillion dollars per annum". Welcoming the recent initiative towards conventional arms regulation within the UN and underline the importance of an early conclusion of the Arms Trade Treaty with the highest possible common standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, he stressed that the international community should work in unison to strengthen controls over the small arms and light weapons to prevent their pervasive abuses by criminal elements. "We believe the confidence building dialogues and deliberations through regional mechanisms can greatly complement to the promotion of international peace and disarmament. Being host to Regional Centre for Peace and the Disarmament for Asia and the Pacific (RCPD), we emphasize the importance of revitalization of the ‘Kathmandu Process’ for promoting regional disarmament agenda", he said. It is heartening to note that Nepal as a major troops contributing country has already provided over 92,000 professional and dedicated peacekeepers to the United Nations for various operations since its first participation in 1959. We remain steadfast in our commitment to international peace and security and assure that our contribution to this noble cause will continue. While calling for timely reforms in this flagship activity, we stress the importance of equitable representation of the troops contributing countries at the leadership level –both at the UN headquarters and field missions, added Minister Shrestha. Reaffirming Nepal’s unreserved condemnation of terrorism anywhere in all its forms and manifestations, and renew call for an expeditious conclusion of the negotiations on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, he said, "As we continue to combat terrorism, we must not forget that the edifice of durable peace can be erected only on the firm pillars of the prevention of conflicts, peaceful resolution of disputes, persistent efforts for disarmament, poverty reduction and development, and respect for diversity, fairness and justice. There is a need to differentiate between terrorism and struggles for liberation and freedom for sustainability of peace and development". "Our commitment to democracy, human rights, rule of law and inclusive development is unflinching. Their mutually reinforcing effects foster active participation of the people in governance processes to safeguard peace, security and development. To address the post-conflict transition needs of Nepal, we have established mechanisms and processes for human rights protection and promotion as well as their monitoring at the highest level and various tiers at the sub-national levels. Being a party to 22 human rights conventions including seven core instruments, we have put in place several domestic laws that ensure the rights of all sections of society, including women, children and the marginalized and deprived communities. We are committed to control international human trafficking and make maximum efforts to ensure that the rights and interests of migrant workers are protected in labour destination countries. The National Human Rights Commission, an independent constitutional body, functions as the country´s all-powerful watchdog for protection and promotion of human rights. We are committed to strengthen this specialized national institution as a true custodian of human rights", he said. Nepal has provided shelter to a large number of refugees on humanitarian grounds. While we appreciate the assistance of international community for the maintenance of refugees, we reiterate that voluntary repatriation of refugees to their homeland with dignity and honor is the only durable solution to the refugee problem, added the Deputy Prime Minister. He said the issue of sustainable development has come to the forefront of global discourse today. The Rio+20 Conference is based on it. We believe that we need to pursue not only sustainable development goals but also a development path that aims at equalizing prosperity through meaningful development opportunities by uprooting the deeply entrenched inequalities and global exploitative practices. In our opinion, freeing all human beings from dehumanizing clutches of poverty and hunger should constitute the first essential step towards this end. The outcome document of Rio+20 has laid out a broad framework for global action for ´the Future We Want´ and a post-2015 global development agenda. The need of the hour is to ensure effective implementation. We emphasize the reinforcement of the three pillars of sustainable development with poverty eradication, inclusive development and environmental conservation at the centre, and ask for fuller accommodation of the concerns of the developing countries, particularly the LDCs, in defining the important aspects of finance, technology transfer and capacity building. It is extremely important to mount global efforts for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as we pursue to define Sustainable Development Goals for the future. Nepal attaches priority to eradication of poverty, conservation of mountain ecosystem, combating climate change and desertification, and ensuring energy and food security. In our situation, the conservation needs of the mountain ecosystems and the development needs of the people living there require to be coherently and holistically addressed with global partnership". Likewise, he said, "As we all have come to realize, climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Its insidious effects are visible everywhere and are compounded by the consequent disasters of increasing magnitudes and frequencies. Countries like Nepal with negligible contribution to green house gases but having to bear the brunt of disproportionate impacts of climate change deserve special attention in creating and maintaining climate resilient societies. The negotiations under the UNFCCC should continue to be guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in letter and spirit. Nepal expects that the successor mechanism of Kyoto Protocol ensures binding commitments and climate justice. The various funding mechanisms for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures must be activated to take up actions on urgent basis. The retreat of glaciers, glacial lake outbursts, drastic change in precipitation patterns, the loss of bio-diversity, water stress and desertification, weakened food and energy security, growing incidences and impacts of disasters, among other climate related problems, are pushing us even harder. The Government of Nepal has formulated National Adaptation Plan of Action and also designed framework for local level adaptation plan which is the first of its kind in our region. Since climate change and sustainable development issues are inextricably linked, enhanced support in capacity building and transfer of knowhow and technology, as well as increased funding for suitable climate projects and disaster mitigation are needed to protect the unique environment of Nepal, said Minister Shrestha. The world we live in is more unjust today than when we inherited it. Contrary to the much-hyped belief, the profusion in knowledge, revolution in science and technology and mobility in ideas and global capital, though often termed as characteristic features of modern world, could have been used as significant contributions to making our planet safer and more just. But that could not be a reality. It is an irony that our capacities to produce goods and services have increased manyfold accumulating unprecedented wealth, but over one-third of the world population is forced to live under abject poverty. He further added that the rapid globalization of finances and unsustainable consumption of resources has made few people further rich at the cost of the rest, marking greatest ever inequality among human beings in history. Obviously, the transformative power of globalization has not been utilized for the benefits of the masses. The direction and pattern of current form of economic globalization therefore calls for a change in its mode of operation so that it becomes more inclusive and responsive to the need of the poor and marginalized people. He said Nepal views that the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China as important multilateral forums should play an active role in advancing the United Nations agenda in line with the Charter objectives of pursuing shared goals of peace, progress and prosperity. The principles and purposes of NAM are of continued relevance to forge collective moral resolve of the developing countries for creating an equitable, fair and just world order against the conservative forces of repression, invasion, intimidation and injustices. The ideals of NAM as reiterated by the recently held 16th Summit in Tehran go a long way in fostering better understanding and cooperative relations among countries and peoples of the world. "In a globalized and interdependent world, cooperation assumes a paramount value. We believe in cooperation at the global, regional and sub-regional levels for creating synergy and coherence of collective efforts to ensure welfare of the entire humanity. We are engaged in bringing changes in the life of our people including through the regional cooperation organizations like SAARC and BIMSTEC and also share the conviction that North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation need to be strengthened and promoted as complementary to each other in the best interest of the poorer segments of humanity", said the DPM. The LDCs are suffering from dehumanizing marginalization and deprivation from basic necessities of life. This state of affairs is a blemish in the sheer affluence achieved by the globalized world. Global sustainable development would not be possible without sustainable development of the LDCs, including substantial improvement in the quality of life of their 880 million people. The world must pay due attention in words as well as in deeds to the special and differential needs and requirements of the LDCs. The United Nations has played a laudable role in setting universal norms and values, maintaining peace and security, promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, advancing multilateralism and forging global agenda for social and economic development. We strongly believe that this is the only global body with unquestioned legitimacy to seek solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. As the UN holds centrality and indispensability for advocacy and promotion of the universal values of peace, justice, equality, freedom and human dignity, the principles and purposes of the Charter should guide us to address all issues confronting us today. Timely and continued reforms in the UN are necessary to strengthen and revitalize this world body to respond to the increasing global challenges. The General Assembly must be strengthened with power and authority for decision-making commensurate to its global representation. Nepal supports the Security Council expansion in both the member categories and for a greater accountability and transparency in its working methods. The Economic and Social Council must be strengthened for the promotion of international economic cooperation, coordination, policy review and dialogue as well as formulation and development of social and economic agenda and implementation of agreed international development goals, with special emphasis on the development of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, among others. We seek increased role of the UN system in the global economic governance with strengthened coordination and cooperation with the Breton Woods institutions and the WTO to reflect the dynamics of change, stressed DPM Shrestha. Shrestha holds bilateral meets Meanwhile, DPM Shrestha held a meeting with Minister for Development and Cooperation of Denmark, Mr. Christian Friis Bach on Friday. Presently, the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation is in New York in course of attending the 67th Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and cooperation were discussed, said the Nepali Permanent Mission in New York. On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha apprised the Danish Minister of the current political situation in Nepal and appreciated Danish Government for its role as one of the largest bilateral donors of Nepal. The Danish Minister took interest in the transitional justice mechanism which is in the process of being formed. Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Shrestha held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Hugo Swire, MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Common Wealth Office on the side lines of the 67th United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, they discussed the matters of mutual interests and exchanged views on issues relating to peace and constitution making process in Nepal, and establishment of transitional justice mechanism. They talked about high level exchange of visits and further strengthening of the bilateral relations. Likewise, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International cooperation of Cambodia Hor Namhong also. On the occasion, the two exchanged views on the issues of mutual cooperation through multilateral forum including the United Nations. Similarly, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs held talks with Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Jan Eliasson. During the talks, they exchanged views on the peace and constitution making process and contemporary political situation in Nepal. Discussions were also held on the promotion and protection of human rights and fresh election to Constituent Assembly in Nepal, it is learnt . Nnnn ________________________________________ ________________________________________ FATHER OF CPN-MAOIST LEADER RAM BAHADUR THAPA DEAD Kathmandu,29 Sept.: General Secretary of CPN-Maoist Ram Bahadur Thapa ´ Badal´ has been bereaved of his father. His father Karna Bahadur Thapa passed away at Bharatpur, Chitwan on Saturday morning, RSS reports from Ratnanagar, Chitwan. He was 90. According to the family source the senior Thapa was suffering from asthma and took his last breath at 5:30 am in course of treatment at Bharatpur-based College of Medical Science. His last rites will be conducted today, it is learnt.Following the demise of his father, CPN-Maoist General Secretary Badal has arrived in his hometown. Nnnn


WIFE SURVIVES MURDER ATTEMPT, HUSBAND ARRESTED Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: Police have arrested Ramnarayan Swornakar, who attempted to kill wife Bibhadevi Swornakar in Kochabhakhari of Saptari district, last [Friday] night, RSS reports from Rajbiraj. He was arrested from home on the basis of petition filed by Bibhadevi, 25, youngest wife of Ramnarayan, who was admitted at Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, Rajbiraj. He fed her poison forcibly strangling on her throat and she ran away to Rajbiraj and one Soni Mishra of Rajbiraj -8 brought her to hospital when she saw her vomiting. She had bruises on the neck and was unconscious, said doctors and informed that her condition was improving. She has accused that she was meted out mental and physical torture by husband time to time. Nnnn ORDINANCE ON TRUTH, JUSTICE COMMISSION GIVE IMPUNITY Kathmandu, 29 Sept..:Conflict-hit of Baglung district have been agitating demanding formation of a high level Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappearances Commission with representation of the conflict-hit, RSS reports from Baglung.. The agitation was started by 14 social and human rights organisations led by the Conflict-Hit Society for Justice, Baglung. They have already picketed political party offices and the District Administration Office and submitted memorandums; have now warned of more agitation if demands not listened to, said Society Chairman Badri Bahadur KC. The memorarandum states that the ordinance submitted to president will give impunity to criminals as there is a provision for reconciliation without taking action. CDO Kashiram Sharma receiving the memorandum said he will forward the memo to the concerned. nnnn BO EXPELLED FROM PARTYRESS Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: With disgraced politician Bo Xilai expelled from the party, his career effectively ended with a slew of criminal charges that are certain to result in convictions, China's ruling communists can finally focus on the crucial task of ensuring a smooth transition to a new generation of leaders, AP reports from Beijing.. On Friday, the party's decision-making Politburo finally took long-awaited action on the scandal that had loomed over Chinese politics for more than half a year, leveling criminal charges against Bo that range from corruption to sexual affairs to abetting the cover-up of a murder by his wife. At the same time, the 25-member Politburo also made the long overdue announcement of the opening of the party congress, now scheduled for Nov. 8, when President Hu Jintao will step down as party boss and Vice President Xi Jinping will succeed him. The twin pronouncements are connected: Getting Bo out of the way was seen as crucial to healing rifts in the party and allowing Xi and a new leadership to come to power without the overhang of a messy scandal. "Having settled this contentious issue, the party leadership is in a position to start the party congress with a facade of unity and also harmony," said Willy Lam, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Friday's announcement also came on the eve of National Day, which commemorates Mao Zedong's Oct. 1, 1949, declaration of victory in the country's civil war and the dawn of the People's Republic of China. Despite China's explosive economic growth and breakneck modernization since then, the events surrounding Bo's fall from grace show Mao's party remains very much the opaque and powerful force in Chinese political life. "Again, this is politics overriding legal and judicial principles," Lam said, noting that the decision came from the Politburo convening behind closed doors instead of judges in an open court. "The elite politics are still done" in secrecy, Lam said. One of China's most ambitious and best-known politicians, Bo was brought down after a trusted aide disclosed that Bo's wife had murdered a British businessman. Bo was dismissed as party chief of the vibrant inland megacity of Chongqing; his wife, Gu Kailai, was given a suspended death sentence after confessing to the murder; and the aide, Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun, received a 15-year prison term for initially covering up the murder and other misdeeds. The charges against Bo, however, go much further, spanning more than a decade and including allegations that he took bribes, abused his power and had improper relationships with several women. Given the party's control of the courts, the indictment ensures the flamboyant 63-year-old's political career is finished. The criminal proceedings against Bo are likely to start soon, with steps being taken to remove him from the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. Delegates to that body have immunity from arrest and prosecution. As the son of a founding father of communist China, Bo grew up with a broad web of contacts within the party, government and military. Unlike most of the other members of the stiff and remote senior leadership, the telegenic Bo also was popular with the public, using a crackdown on organized crime in Chongqing to court publicity. That also made him a polarizing figure among the party elite. In recent months, as speculation swirled about Bo's fate and the debate among top leaders dragged on, it is likely that his allies argued for the administrative equivalent of a slap on the wrist, while the top leadership represented by Hu, Vice President Xi and Premier Wen Jiabao saw Bo as a threat that needed to be eliminated. The decision to level such a harsh punishment is a sign that the top leaders won out, once again, said Jeremy Paltiel, an expert on Chinese politics at Canada's Carleton University. "My guess is that Hu and Wen wanted to crush Bo, not just smother him," Paltiel said. "They got their wish, even at the cost of a month's delay in the congress." The state-run Global Times said in an editorial Saturday that it is in the people's fundamental interest for the party congress to convene smoothly and that the decisions about Bo provide certainty. "It is conducive to the current situation and also to the accumulation of political certainty," the editorial read. Bo is the first Politburo member to be purged and handed over to prosecutors since Hu ousted Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu in 2006 for corruption. Bo's case, however, was more politically divisive and delicate than Chen's, or any other recent case in which senior officials have been charged with corruption. Ultimately, the decision on Bo was part of the overall horse-trading relating to the succession, said Steve Tsang, director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham in Britain. "It probably means that as a result they negotiated something else that is better for the leadership succession," Tsang said. Bo's removal is seen as strengthening Xi's position, leaving him the undisputed leader of the party's "princelings," as the offspring of high-ranking communist elders are known, and eliminating a challenger who had threatened party unity. He may face some opposition from Bo's supporters among party hard-liners, but Friday's announcement shows his influence was waning fast. Friday's closed-door Politburo meeting also likely finalized other arrangements for the congress, including the much contested lineup for the new leadership as well as for a commission that oversees the party's control of the military. Those decisions will be presented to the 204-member Central Committee — a cross-section of the nation's political elite — on Nov. 1 before being discussed a week later at the congress, which is a largely ceremonial event, approving decisions made earlier by the party's inner circle. In trying to use the Bo case to rally the rank-and-file, the Politburo said Friday that bringing down such a high-level leader was proof of the party's determination to tackle the corruption that has damaged public confidence. "Investigations must be thorough, firm and make no appeasement, no matter who is involved and how powerful they are, so no corrupt member will escape the punishment of party discipline and the nation's law," it said. nnnn


Friday, September 28, 2012


DEAR ONES MAY HAVETO WAIT FOR OE MONTH TO COLLECT REMAINS OF PERSONS KILLED IN SITA AIR CRASH Kathmandu, 29 Sept. Only DNA tests to be conducted in neighbouring India will help identify remains of 19 passengers and crew killed in Friday’s crash of a German-built Dronier was it was coming bac k to land at Kathmandu International Airport, police said Saturday.. The aircraft hit a falcon. The DNA testing facility is not available in Nepal, police said.. Love ones may have to wait for one month before getting reiams of their dead. Seven Nepali passengers and crew, seven Britons and five Chinese were killed. Their bodies were charred beyond recongnition. Forensic tests to identify the remains began at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Friday. The bird hit may be one reason for the crash. A five-ember tem is conducting investigation to ascertain cause/causes of the crash. Nnnn INTRA-PARTY DISPUTE CAUSE OF ATTACK ON NC PRESIDENT Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: An intra-party dispute is the reason behind the assault on NC President Sushil Koirala Saturday at Kappan , the party admitted. Former Chief of Nepal Students’ Union, Prabash Basnet , dissatisfied with the seating arrangement at the podium, launched an indiscriminate attack injuring several colleagues. He; been arrested. The student wing is divided between supporters of theestabishment and senor leader SherBahadur Deuba. Nnnn ONE PERSON KILLED IN SIRAHAENCOUNTER Kathmandu, 29 Sept. One person was killed early Saturdayin remote Siraha in an encounter, police said Arms and ammunition were recovered. The ditrict is one of the most lawless in the south. nnnn



INDIA JATRA FESTIVAL BEGINS SATURDAY Kathmandu, 29 Sept.: India Jatra is being celebrated by pulling the Chariots of The Living Goddess Kumari and Ganesh and Bhairab through the streets of the capital Saturday in the presence of dignitaries, including the president, at Gaddi Baithak in Basantapur. The festival coincides with the harvesting of the paddy crop and onset of autumn/winter and the onset of the festive season marred with the fall of the lingo at Hanuman Dhoka in front of Taleju temple.for the first time. Many believe the fall of the lingo is a bad omen. Several days earlier, an avalanche killed a Nepali and European climbers on the 8163 meters high Maasku and 19 passengers and crew were killed in a Sita Air crash ra near Kathmandu Friday morning. nnnn.. ANOTHER ANNOUNCED GOVT. PROGRAMME CRAWLS Kathmandu, 29 Sept.:It has been almost two weeks since the government fixed the maximum retail price (MRP) for 15 essential daily commodities; but there has been no effective implementation of the regulation in most retail shops, and in some cases, it has actually made things more expensive, Ramesh Shrestha/ Raaaaajesh Khanal write in The Kathmandu Post. Though a handful of big retail shops were found to be selling goods as per the MRP, the new rule has had no impact on small retailers from where people usually buy their daily needs. Many small retailers do not know about the MRP, and even those who do have been found to be selling goods at the usual price which is higher than the MRP. The retailers who said they know about the regulation said that they were not able to sell goods at government prices as they have to pay more to wholesalers. “Small retailers who buy goods in small quantities from big stores and wholesalers are finding it hard to implement the MRP as they have a very low profit margin,” said Pabitra Bajracharya, president of the association. “If the MRP is enforced fully, thousands of retailers will be forced to pull down their shutters.” Retailers have been found to be charging Rs 2 to Rs 14 higher that the government rates depending on the commodities. “Prices of basic goods have increased instead of being available at government fixed rates,” said Prem Lal Maharjan, president of the National Consumer Forum. He added that, for example, sona mansuli rice, which used to be sold at Rs 36 per kg, had increased to Rs 45 per kg; and the price of cowpea has jumped from the government set Rs 96 to Rs 110. “Fixing the price is easy, but the government is not serious about small retailers who too have to make a profit for their living,” said Surendra Tamrakar, a retailer at Sankhamul. He added that they had not been getting stock at the government set prices from wholesalers. Kulchandra Sunuwar of KC Masala Store in Lazimpat said, “Despite the government’s decision, we have not been getting basic goods at the rates set by the government, and its monitoring too has not been effective.” Meanwhile, officials of the Department of Commerce and Supply Management said that since the provision was new and new stocks of goods were yet to reach the retailers, it was not being implemented effectively. On Sept 13, the government had set the MRP for 15 essential goods in a bid to prevent price hikes and provide relief to consumers. Based on this declaration, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Nepal Retailers Associations had informed their member merchants to sell goods at the government set prices. The consumer forum had carried out a market inspection after the MRP was announced, and found out that the government’s good intentions had actually made things more expensive. According to the study, the government has provided traders a discount of 2 percent on the MRP for packed essential goods including edible oil and lentils. Citing an example of cooking oil, Maharjan said that consumers could earlier get Sunflower oil at Rs 140 per litre even though the price printed on the packet is Rs 180. Following the government’s intervention, customers have to pay more than Rs 170. Shopkeepers claim that they have been selling packed goods for less than the printed price. “Normally, there is already a discount of more than 2 percent on packed rice and edible oil,” said Anita Lama of Shubharambha Multipurpose Cooperative Shop at Koteshwor. It’s working, says govt The Depart-ment of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) has claimed that implementation of the maximum retail price (MRP) has had a notable impact on the market. DoCSM Director General Narayan Prasad Bidari said that there have been very few cases of retailers not sticking to the MRP. “Action will be taken against the offenders as per the Black Marketing Act,” he said, speaking at an MRP review meeting on Friday. The DoCSM has deployed two teams to check the price lists at least 10-12 shops daily. Meanwhile, retailers said that the MRP had been enforced to a large extent. “It has not been implemented properly at department stores and small shops who buy stock from large retailers,” Pavitra Bajracharya, president of the Nepal Retailers’ Association said. nnnn

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