Refrain from meddling, Thapa tells envoys

Communications Minister Kamal Thapa Monday urged Kathmandu-based diplomatic missions to refrain from meddling in Nepali politics.

"Suggestions and goodwill from the diplomats are always welcome," Minister Thapa said in a face-to-face program Monday. "But such activities should be confined to diplomatic norms and values."

The minister said this indicating towards the meeting of some envoys with UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal recently. On the current political scenario, Minister Thapa said the Prime Minister will not resign bowing to the pressure of parties or any other forces. 

"We are undergoing preparations to give the government an all-party shape," he said. 
nepalnews.com mr Sept 23

Karnali Air backs out of Necon Air deal

Karnali Air has pulled out of the Necon Air deal following the failure to reach an agreement with the grounded airline to revive its operation, a report said Tuesday.

"We could not strike a deal with Necon Air since the airline failed to meet the criteria and could not sort out its problems," The Himalayan Times quoted Narayan Singh Pun, Chairman of Karnali Air, as saying.

"The negotiations with Pun could not succeed due to failure of both the parties to agree on certain terms and conditions," said Dip Mani Rajbhandari, Chairman of Necon Air. 

Published reports said former Pun was keen to purchase the nearly bankrupted Necon Air, Nepal's first private airline. nepalnews.com mr Sept 23

Policeman shot dead in Kathmandu

Suspected Maoists have shot dead Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Hari Bahadur Tamang at his rented apartment at Vedasing around 7:30 Tuesday morning, District Police Office Kathmandu said. 

Tamang was working at Police Headquarters in Naxal. Security forces have cordoned off the area and a search in underway for the assailants. Vedasing in near Indrachowk in central Kathmandu. nepalnews.com rh Sept. 23

Maoists seize eight families' properties

Maoists have captured homes and lands of eight families in Doramba, Ramechhap, alleging them of "spying", a published report said Tuesday.

The Maoists will now open "party offices" in those houses, a news report in Kantipur daily said. Maoists captured the houses of civilians Dik Bahadur Tamang, Ashok Yonjan, Chandikalal Yonjan, Binod Yonjan, Indraram Moktan, Ramkaji Yonjan, Karmajit Moktan and Balram Moktan.

The Maoists murdered a health worker Relimai Tamang in Doramba charging her of spying for army. nepalnews.com mr Sept 23

Acharya for 'Republic with Crown'

Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya said Monday a unique system of "Republican state with the Crown" should be adopted to streamline the underground Maoists.

"Such a system is needed to contain both the regression and the Maoist revolt," Acharya opined in an interaction program on "Five parties 18-point concept paper" Monday.

Explaining his theory, he said the monarchical system will continue but with minimum political rights. "The title of His Majesty, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness should be limited only to the King, Queen and Crown Prince," he said.

On the other hand, there should be a system of referendum on dominating national issues, he said. Noteworthy, the five parties' 18-point agenda has also incorporated referendum and royal title issues. nepalnews.com mr Sept 23

Nepal to sign railway accord with India

The Cabinet Monday decided to sign a bilateral railway agreement with India immediately. The decision follows pressure from World Bank for an early operation of the Birgunj-based Inland Container Depot (ICD), a report said Tuesday.

"It is now likely that Indian proposal to operate the railway connecting Birgunj's ICD as per the Indian Railway Act will be accepted, until a mutually agreed Act is formulated by Nepal," a news report in The Kathmandu Post said.

Earlier governments were reluctant to accept the Indian Act. "The present government reviewed its stance after the World Bank announced that it would pull out of the multi-million dollar project if the government failed to bring ICD into operation before its expiry," said the report.

"The project expires this month."

The ICD project was launched in 1998 with an aim to construct three dry ports in major customs zones of Nepal to facilitate third-country trade and transit, the report added. Two dry ports in Bhairahawa and Biratnagar are already functional. nepalnews.com mr Sept 23 

Goldquest agents freed on bail

The Supreme Court Monday released two international Goldquest agents, Dona Mary Imson and Tanbir Nizam on bail. They were in police custody for over 7 months for operating "illegal" Goldquest business in Nepal.

According to court officials, Imson, a Filipino and Nizam, an Indian, were sent to custody on charges of planned cheating, illegal gold business in Nepal and involvement in foreign exchange business through Goldquest.

The case was first prosecuted at the Kathmandu District Court. The bail from the apex court followed filing of a writ petition from the duos. Goldquest, a kind of pyramid scheme, is illegal in Nepal. nepalnews.com mr Sept 23

Parties rule out split, vow to continue protest

A joint meeting of the five agitating parties Monday ruled out "rumours" of a split, vowing to continue anti-King protests until the democratic system is again set-up. 

The meeting held at the party office of Nepal Peasants and Workers' Party in Bhaktapur further said the eighth phase of movement will be peaceful as it was earlier. According to a joint statement, the next protest will be organised on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and chiefs of the rest of the three parties participated in the high level meeting. 

A separate meeting of the five parties' task force was also held today to discuss the course of the next stir, party sources said. 

The government has extended prohibitory orders for two more days until September 26. The government decision followed the parties' joint declaration of continuing the anti-King protests. nepalnews.com mr Sept 22

13 Maoists shot dead

Altogether 13 Maoists were killed in the latest fighting with security forces across the country, Defence Ministry said Monday. 

In a statement, the Ministry said they were killed in Udaypur, Banke and Nuwakot districts on Monday. Nine Maoists were killed alone in Udaypur. Two soldiers were also injured in the fighting in Udaypur.

Security forces seized sockets bombs, documents, combat dresses and pressure cookers from the three incident sites.

Maoists Monday shot dead Nepali Congress activist Shiv Lal Pokhrel in Gulmi and policeman Dhyan Rai in Jhapa, police and radio reports said. Maoists shot dead policeman Lila Dahal at Belbari in Morang Monday, another radio report said.

In Sabaila village of Dhanusha Monday, a group of Maoists robbed Rs.175,000 from a branch of Nepal Bank Limited. nepalnews.com mr Sept 22

Indian National Defence College team in Nepal

A 21 member team from the National Defence College (NDC), India, is presently on a four-day visit of Nepal from Monday, the Indian Embassy said. 

National Defence College (NDC) of India is an apex institution engaged in the study of the higher direction of policy at the national and international level which senior military and civilian officials may be called upon to handle in the course of their careers. 

The course is attended by senior officers of the Indian Defence Forces and Civil Services as well as Armed Forces Officers of friendly foreign countries. At present, Brig. Gen. Prakash Bahadur Basnyat of the Royal Nepal Army, is attending this prestigious course. 

The members of the NDC team will be exchanging views with senior civil and military officials during their current visit to Nepal. The visiting team will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and other officials during the visit. 

The visiting NDC team is headed by Maj. Gen. Ashok Vasudeva, VSM, Senior Directing Staff (Army) of the College. Besides Indian civil and military officers, the visiting team has officers from Algeria, Thailand, Phillippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. nepalnews.com br Sept.22

Valley declared riot affected area

Local administrations in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Monday declared Kathmandu Valley riot affected areas and banned public meetings, demonstrations and postering until Friday, an official announcement said. 

But the administration permitted religious processions in the three Valley towns as the dasain and tihar holidays approach. 

Five parties on anti-King protests planned protests Tuesday and Wednesday as Communications Minister Kamal Thapa asked them to call off the demonstrations. Thapa hinted earlier in the day the government was about to extend restrictions on demonstrations. 

Earlier restrictions on demonstrations were to lapse Tuesday. nepalnews.com br Sept.22

Landslide buries alive two girls

A landslide triggered by rain buried alive two teenaged daughters of Kiran Giri at a village in Tehrathum Saturday, Radio Nepal said. The parents are recovering from injuries at a district hospital, the Radio said. 

Weathermen have yet to declared the end of the monsoon. nepalnews.com br Sept.22

Kamal Thapa asks opposition to join government

Amid reports that Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is contemplating an expansion of his government, Government Spokesman and the government chief's confidant Kamal Thapa asked a five party opposition on anti-King protests to join an all party government.

The Minister was speaking at the Reporters' Club in the capital Monday. Thapa dismissed opposition demands for the reinstatement of parliament as unconstitutional. He asked the five-party opposition to give up their protest. He called Maoists "terrorists."

He dismissed immediate re-opening of talks with Maoists while saying the doors are open for a dialogue.
The concern of foreign diplomats no Nepal's current political crisis was "positive," he said. Thapa said the stir of the five parties had strengthened Maoists. Prohoiitory orders that ends in Kathmandu Tuesday could be extended, Thapa said. nepalnews.com.br Sept.22

Dr. Sainju appointed to Vice-Chairman

Dr. Mohan Man Sainju has been appointed Vice-Chairman of the Poverty Alleviation Trust, a government announcement said Monday.

Sainju is a former Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission and Ambassador to USA.
The new Trust has a managing committee. nepalnews.com br Sept.22

Sir Jeffrey arrives

Sir Jeffrey James, special representative of the British Government to Nepal, arrived Monday for his third visit to the kingdom after his appointment earlier this year.

During his week-long visit, he is expected to meet the King, the prime minister, senior bureaucrats and security officials, a British diplomatic source said.

The British government appointed Sir Jeffrey after the escalation of the Maoist insurgency; he coordinates British and donor polices to Nepal from London. nepalnews.com br Sept.22