Govt extends surrender deadline to mid-October 

The government has extended the deadline for the Maoist insurgents to surrender until October 30. 

According to the Home Ministry, the deadline has been extended because a number of Maoists are still willing to give up armed activities. 

Altogether 1061 Maoists have surrendered to the local authorities in various districts since the scheme was first announced some seven months ago. 

The ministry has also revealed that 124 people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the first week of July. nepalnews.com mbk Aug 3 04

Related News
- Govt. extends surrender deadline to mid-July 

DFID grants 13.5m for flood victims

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a grant of Rs 13.5 million to relief efforts for flood victims in Nepal. 

According to a press release issued by DFID, the grant assistance was provided in response to an appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for additional financial support to floods relief efforts in the country. nepalnews.com pd Aug 03 04

Maoists torch passenger bus in Rupandehi

The Maoist rebels have torched a government-owned passenger bus (Sajha) along the Mahendra Highway in Kotihawa of Rupandehi district Tuesday morning, reports said. The bus was en route to Kathmandu from Bhairahawa.

According to reports, the rebels torched the bus after evacuating its passengers. The bus has been totally destroyed. 

Similarly, the Maoists murdered a farmer near Amppipal in Gorkha district Monday evening. He was killed for spying on Maoist activities in the area. Details of the incident are yet to arrive. 
nepalnews.com pd Aug 03 04

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- Maoists attack passenger bus, kill 13 

TUPTA warns of fresh protests

The Tribhuvan University Part-Time Teachers Association (TUPTA), saying that the university has failed to address their demands, issued a five-day ultimatum to the university to fulfil their demands.

Saying that the decisions of the executive council do not reflect the informal agreement reached with the TU, TUPTA has said that their major demand includes a provision for facilities as with assistant lecturers.

The executive council of the Tribhuvan University (TU) Sunday announced that it would hire the part-time teachers on course contract basis. As per the new provisions, the part time teachers will get a salary of Rs 7,500 a month plus a month bonus equal to the salary as per the course contract. The contract can be renewed on the basis of the necessity of the university and the genuineness of the candidates every year.

The TUPTA, which called off strike on July 29, after the agitating teachers and TU administration agreed verbally on a course contract appointment to all the part timers completing two academic sessions, is reportedly seeking support of seven student organizations to pressurize the university to meet its demands. 
nepalnews.com pd Aug 03 04

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- TU to hire part-timers on course contract basis

5,000 civilians forced into Maoist training

At least 5,000 civilians from 55 Village Development Committees (VDC) of Achham district have been forced to attend the Maoist people’s army training, a daily said. There are 72 VDCs in Achham. 

“People are not really interested in joining the military training, however, we have forced them to take part in it,” Kantipur daily quoting a Maoist leader Gangaram as saying.

The trainees would be taught to handle arms and essential warfare strategies, the daily said. The training period would last for three months. nepalnews.com pd Aug 03 04

Maoists murder former Guleriya mayor

The Maoists brutally killed Rajendra Shribastav, former mayor of Guleriya Municipality in Bardiya district Monday night. Shribastav was captured while he was attending a funeral of his relative.

The Maoists took Shribastav and a policeman Ratna Singh Tharu into custody and threathend the other relatives and villagers gathered for the final rituals to leave. According to Tharu, who was released later, the rebels cut Shrivastav with sharp weapons (khukuris) and burnt him on the funeral pyre prepared for his dead relative, reports said. nepalnews.com pd Aug 03 04

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- Maoists gun down Dhangadi mayor

Indian assistance of Rs 0.7m

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, the District Development Committee, Saptari and Shree Janata Primary School, Belhi-Chapena, Saptari regarding grant assistance of Rs 698,139 from the government of India for the construction of school building, stairs in pond and hume-pipe culvert for the Shree Janata Primary School, Belhi-Chapena, Saptari.

The project will be executed by the District Development Committee, Saptari. An oversight committee consisting of the President, School Management Committee, President of VDC, Belhi Chapena, Social Worker and District Education Officer of the Saptari District has been constituted to oversee the project and supervise and ensure proper utilisation of the grant assistance.

This project is expected to strengthen the educational infrastructure in the district of Saptari. nepalnews.com dr Aug 03 04

Olympic Committee row settled 

Parallel Nepal Olympic Committees (NOC), one led by the National Sports Council’s member secretary Kishor Bahadur Singh and the other chaired by Rukma Shumher Rana have agreed to end the dispute. 

Following negotiations arbitrated by the Ministry of Education and Sports on Sunday, both sides agreed to form a unified NOC and seek endorsement from the International Olympic Committee. The agreement comes following hasty efforts from the council and the ministry in view of the nearing Athens Olympics. 

With the settlement, a 37-member ‘jumbo’ committee chaired by Rana has been formed on Monday in which Singh has been appointed as secretary. Controversies had flared after the National Sport Council refused to recognize the Rana-led NOC. 

Insiders say there is a possibility of the IOC refusing to recognize the new committee because of its size. nepalnews.com mbk Aug 02 04

Newspaper office robbed in Kathmandu

Property worth Rs.0.5 million was looted from the office of a vernacular weekly Bimarsha at Ganabahal Sunday night.

According to Rajendra Kumar Baidya, chief editor of the weekly, Rs.250 thousand cash, two movie cameras, some 150 silver coins and a television set were looted. 

Police have said the robbery is suspicious as chances of outsiders carrying out such a robbery is rare. The incident was revealed to the police and the owners only in the morning. 

Police said nobody has been arrested as yet. Meanwhile, media organizations have condemned the robbery as a pre-planned attack against the media. nepalnews.com mbk Aug 02 04 

ANNISU (R) calls for dialogue

The Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) has called on the government and other concerned sides for dialogue to resolve the problems seen in the education sector.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the ANNISU (R) said it was ready to reciprocate if the government initiated the dialogue process. The organization at the same time blamed the government for not showing interest in talks.

The organization also insisted that killings and abduction of revolutionary students have not ended though an agreement to this effect was signed between the organization and the government a few months ago. 

“Even after the withdrawal of the terrorist tag, government atrocities against students still continue,” the statement read.

The ANNISU (R) has also urged students, teachers and guardians for multi-lateral talks. nepalnews.com mbk Aug 02 04

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- ANNISU-R rules out further talks with government