Nepali Congress’ key gathering opens in Dhulikhel
Kavrepalanchowk, June 11: Senior leaders of the Nepali Congress party have said that the party needs to be ready to face any kind of decision in order to put an end to the political deadlock prevailing in the country.
Speaking at the national gathering of NC District Presidents organized by NC Central Working Committee in Dhulikhel on Saturday, party President Sushil Koirala said drafting of the Constitution has become difficult due to the UCPN (Maoist), and as a result, the NC workers need to become conscious, alert and united in order to protect the nation and democracy.
The Maoists have been losing trust of other parties as they have failed to enforce the agreements reached in the past, Koirala said, adding that the NC has always become united whenever the politics of the country faced a crisis, and it was the same now.
Senior NC Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said he has doubts whether the Maoists would really hand over the weapons, so the party cadres should ready themselves to face the situation thereafter.
NC Parliamentary Party leader, Ramchandra Poudel said resignation of the Prime Minister, dismantling of the Maoist army and handing over of weapons to the Government and emptying the cantonments and the containers were essential in order to take the peace process to a logical conclusion.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitoula said the parties continue to have serious differences thereby raising a doubt over the timely promulgation of the new constitution.
Likewise, another General Secretary of the party, Prakash Man Singh said new constitution was not possible without the Maoists handing over their arms while Treasurer Chitra Lekha Yadav said peace cannot be imagined of in the absence of peace.
District Presidents of NC from all the 75 districts and NC central members are taking part in the two-day gathering organized with the objective of discussing ways to conclude the peace process and complete the draft of the new Constitution in the next three months, amendment of the Party Statute 2011 among others.
Progress in constitution writing, peace Process, says pm
Kathmandu, June 11: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has reiterated that the government is committed to completing the peace process and the new Constitution on time adding that there has been progress in both the tasks lately.
Inaugurating the newly-constructed school building and science lab of Bal Uddhar Higher Secondary School at Kapan in the capital today, he expressed confidence that the country would move ahead in the path of economic, social and educational revolution once the peace process is completed and the new Constitution is promulgated.
The Prime Minister said the government was effortful to accomplish the major tasks of completing the constitution drafting and the peace process within the next three months.
He said the changes achieved as a result of the peaceful historical People's Movement-II would be institutionalized only by drafting the new Constitution and establishing lasting peace.
The Prime Minister further said that the government was ready to extend support for the enhancement of the quality of education in the community schools.
On the occasion, Mr Khanal released the annual mouthpiece of the school 'Bal Uddhar' and gave away prizes to students coming out first in different academic competitions.
At the programme, Vice-Chairman of the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) Dr Hem Kumar Mishra congratulated the school for delivering quality and competitive education.
Chairman of the School Management Committee Dambar Adhikari, the School’s Principal Arjun Prasad Poudel, leaders of different political parties and other speakers stressed on the need for unity among all for the overall development of the school. The school was established in 1990.
fnj announces phase-wise movement
Kathmandu, June 11: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has decided to organize a nationwide agitation in protest against the attack on media persons, increasing as of late.
An emergency meeting of the FNJ Central Committee here on Saturday decided to organize various events as part of the first phase of the protest programs starting June 12 to June 18.
The protest program shall begin tomorrow with media persons working by tying black armbands during work for three days, display of all media persons' toolkit including pen, diary, camera, recorder and others at Maitighar Mandala on June 15 and demonstrating in front of the district administration offices the same day.
Likewise, interaction shall be organized among editors across the country on June 16 and an interaction with Trade Unions on June 17.
As per the FNJ, a protest rally shall be organized from the Constituent Assembly to Maitighar Mandala on June 18 to be followed by a sit-in in front of the District Administration Office.
Meanwhile, the onsite study tour team formed with General Secretary Om Sharma as the General Secretary has concluded that the attack on Biratnagar correspondent of Nagarik and Republica dailies, Khilanath Dhakal was carried out by the group including Rohit Koirala and Manoj Rai, and at the direction of Youth Force, Morang President, Parsuram Basnet. The team made its study report public here today.
Basnet has been found to be indulging in commission mongering in the awarding of contracts for development projects in the region, and in other illegal activities, according to the report.
Speaking on the occasion, FNJ President Shiva Gaunle said the situation of Nepali journalists was like that of the journalists in Pakistan, and appealed to the government to take the security of media persons seriously.
The FNJ has also decided to report to the National Human Rights Commission, International Federation of Journalists and other organizations concerned about the attack on Journalist Dhakal and others, and appeal to all for solidarity in the protest programs, and call upon the CPN (UML) to make its view public on the incident.
Nembang urged Prachanda to speed up statute drafting
Kathmandu, June 11: Speaker Subash Nembang met Chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today and held talks.
During the meeting held at Prachanda’s residence in Naya Bazaar, the duo discussed peace process, constitution drafting and contemporary political issues.
Nembang told Prachanda that the parties have little time left for drafting of the new constitution and conclusion of peace process and urged the parties to convert challenges into opportunities.
He also urged Prachanda to recommend a representative from the Maoist party to form a high-level mechanism formed to monitor the five-point agreement.
In response, Prachanda said he was committed to complete peace process and constitution drafting without being deviated and by prioritising both the crucial tasks equally.
He assured Nembang that the name to represent the Maoist party in the mechanism will be finalised within two days and constitution drafting will be intensified in accordance with the agreement.
Fake hubby, brother try to sell off girl
Kanchanpur, June 11: Two persons, who were taking 18-year-old Laxmi BK of Bajhang district to India to sell off her, were arrested from Mahendranagar Buspark.
With the support of organisations working in the field of human trafficking, police arrested Ram BK of Bajhang’s Kacha VDC and his aide Ramesh BK.
During interrogation, the duo admitted they were taking the girl to India being by making fake documents, said coordinator of Sana Haatharu Surendra Deuja.
Ram BK faked himself as the husband of Laxmi and Ramesh as her brother. Another accomplice was made her father, Deuja said. Ram had lured the orphaned girl into going to India with a promised to wed her.
Laxmi is now under the shelter of Sana Haatharu and the arrestees under investigation.
Construction of commercial training center begins
Parsa, June 11: The construction of Commercial Training Center of Birgunj Chapter has been started.
Minister for Local Development Urmila Aryal and industrialist Babu Lal Chachan jointly laid the foundation stone of the construction of the center amidst a function in Birgunj today.
Speaking at the function, she said all should move ahead making unity for the development of Parsa district. She urged the concerned bodies in Birgunj Municipality be active to resolve the garbage management problem.
The center that is aimed to be constructed in total 10 katthas of land within the next two years is estimated to cost Rs. 2 million for the first phase construction.
She also said Birgunj-Thori section of road is going to be constructed in near future. The Government of India will provide financial aid for the construction of the road.
On the occasion Local Development Officer (LDO) Vishwa Raj Dotel expressed his commitment that he will provide full support as an LDO for the development of the district.
Lawmaker, OM Prakash Sharma, FNCCI central member Bijaya Sarabagi, Birgunj based Indian Consulate Ambassador Asutosh Agrawal, Birgunj Chapter of FNCCI Ganesh Lath including other delivered their opinions on the occasion.
Maoist combatants should not be integrated in NA: Singh
Chitwan, June 11: General Secretary CPN (Masal) Mohan Bikram Singh said the PLA combatants should not be integrated in Nepal Army (NA).
The Maoists integration in NA will establish the wrong precedent saying they should be reinstated and managed.
Singh, who is passing semi-underground life, said this in an interaction with the media persons in Chitwan this morning. He added if the combatants were integrated in the NA, it will create a severe problem in the future. "Suppose what will happen when the different underground outfits in Terai demand the same?"
The political parties have made the constitution Assembly the puppet and the reactionary forces got the chances to be benefited to plot conspiracies against the Constituent Assembly when it is not made independent, said Singh.
He said the current need is to institutionalize the Republic that it should be strengthened and for this promulgation of constitution is necessary.
Peace process won’t be completed in 3 months: Shashank
Chitwan, June 11: Nepali Congress leader Dr Shashank Koirala has claimed that peace process will not be concluded within three months.
The new constitution, however, can be completed on time if the political parties move ahead sticking to the three-point agreement, he said addressing a function organised after the inauguration of a new building of Kapiya Higher Secondary School in Chitwan today.
In the recent times activities of political parties are heading towards positive direction, he said, adding that political problems can be resolved if the Maoist party becomes honest.
Hailing the end of dual security system by the Maoist party, Koirala expressed hope that the weapons will be handed over to the state on time.
He also hoped that a new consensus government will be formed very soon in according to the five-point agreement signed by the three major parties.
Caste-based discrimination, untouchability to end: Mahara
Kathmandu, June 11: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said caste-based discrimination and untouchability will come to an end once the issue of state restructuring is resolved.
At a meeting of a sub-committee formed by Parliament’s Women, Children and Social Welfare Committee to study problems of caste-based discrimination and untouchability and solutions, Home Minister Mahara stressed the need for amending the laws and acts related to state restructuring.
He informed that the government had already brought Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Crime and Punishment) Act and the home administration is serious to implement as a campaign.
Formation of a judicial unit to hear in the central court and a separate unit in local level to end caste-based discrimination is going on in earnest, Mahara said.
“The state and political parties should present themselves positively to end caste-based discrimination and untouchability and unite to completely end this,” he said.
In the meeting, Home Secretary Lila Mani Poudel said the home administration is sensitive on the issues of caste-based discrimination and untouchability and stressed for strict implementation of the existing laws.
IGP Rabindra Pratap Shah said the police administration has been working active to end discrimination against the Dalit community.
In the meeting, committee coordinator Binod Pahadi and members Kamala Sharma, Malabati Rana, Mangal Biswokarma, Puran Singh Dayal and Bimala Nepal said the home administration should work to end the tendency of refusing to receive complaints from Dalit people in some districts. RSS
Minister pledges budget to control floods
Kakadvitta, June 11: Minister for Irrigation Raghubir Mahaseth has expressed commitment to set aside budget to control breaching by rivers in Jhapa district.
The government is committed to control risk that flooded rivers will pose in this monsoon, he said addressing a gathering of local residents and officials today after an on-site inspection of the areas at risk of breaching by Biring Khola, Ratuwa Mai, Mechi River and Ninda Khola.
The minister’s assurance comes after local people’s attempts to alarm officials over breaching and inundation threats posed by various rivers in the district.
He also drew attention of technicians saying that embankments were not build in some rivers following due process.
Leaders and cadres close to Prachanda meets in Lalitpur
Lalitpur, June 11: Leaders and cadres close to Unified CPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' organised a meeting in Pulchowk of Lalitpur today.
The leaders close to Prachanda claimed the training was organised for strengthening party organization and discuss for future strategy.
UCPN-Maoist secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati 'Diwakar' said the meeting held discussion to strengthening party organization and make future strategy. The meeting that continued amidst a strict security for two hours is also said to have discussed over the latest progress on PLA integration.
Though the meeting was claimed to be of workers closed to the party, the senior leaders, representatives of all department of the party were present on the occasion. RSS
Nepal’s Baden Powell peak luring int’l Scout members
Kathmandu, June 11: At a time when Nepal is trying to bring in one million tourists by declaring Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Baden Powell peak of Rasuwa, which is named after Baden Powell—the father of the World Scout Movement—has been the centre of attraction.
The government had renamed 5,890-meter-high Urkema peak as Baden Powell peak that falls along Langtang Himalayan Range before the name of Scout’s founder Biden Powell in 2007 on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the foundation of the World Scout Movement.
An increasing number of World Scout members are arriving in Nepal to visit as well as climb the mushroom shaped Baden Powell peak—the centre of devotion of around 40 million Scout members, according to Nepal Scout.
It takes seven days to reach Baden Powell peak through off-the-beaten trekking route surrounded by pristine beauty from Kathmandu to Kakani and Syabru Besi to Kyangjin (3,800 meters).
As of now, 15 Scout members from Australia, Singapore, England, Finland, South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan have already scaled Mt Baden Powell and hundreds have come to see the peak, said Chief Commissioner of Nepal Scout Shree Ram Lamichhane.
According to Nepal Scout, many Scout members of several countries have been receiving climbing training and some members have registered their names to climb the peak.
Lamichhane said Nepal Scout is trying to bring in at least five percent members of World Scout in Nepal through promotional campaigns to take them to Baden Powell peak. If this attempt bears fruit, it will greatly contribute to the development of Nepal’s tourism, he said.
The growing popularity of Baden Powell peak among World Scout members has also helped in putting the trekking trail leading to the mountain in the world map and improving economic condition of villagers living in Rasuwa district, he added.
NA rules basis for integration: Minister Paudel
Kathmandu, June 11: Minister for Defense Vishnu Paudel said the Maoist combatants will be integrated in the Nepal Army (NA) on the basis of the individual competition and NA rules.
Speaking at a function organised by Reporters Club Nepal in the Capital today, Defense Minister Paudel said while integrating the combatants the government in some extent will be flexible for the barrier of age, education, and training."To be army is to accept the NA codes of conducts," said Paudel
To demand different unit of Maoist combatants is against the consensus for the army integration saying NA is not only the alternative for building new nation. Maoist combatants should realize that it is possible to stay in other security bodies and work for the sake of the nation.
The peace and constitution writing processes should not be disrupted putting stance for position, weapons, and numbers, said minister Paudel.
It is not difficult to forge consensus for the numbers if we talk being based on the past agreements done among the leaders, he said.
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