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UN General Secretary Kofi Annan’s special political advisor, Samuel Tamrat, arrived in Kathmandu Monday on a personal mission to understand the ground reality of the latest political developments in Nepal, a highly placed UN source told Nepalnews indicating Tamrat’s visit as “low profiled and personal.” Tamrat’s visit comes after Maoist Supremo Prachanda’s call last Wednesday that his party was ready to go for an UN-mediated settlement of the ongoing conflict. Tamrat’s visit is focused on government’s view on the recent Maoist proposal and the latest political scenario in the country, Spacetime Dainik added. Tamrat who is in Nepal for the third time Tuesday met ambassador-at –large, Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and other high officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the report added. In the same bid, Tamrat Tuesday met General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Sushil Koirala. Tamrat expressed wishes to see democracy consolidating and guarantee of human rights in Nepal in his meeting with Koirala, a statement issued by the NC said. According to the reports, Tamrat is scheduled to meet the prime minister and senior leaders of political parties. Samuel Tamrat, arrived Kathmandu Monday for a weeklong visit. nepalnews.com pd Feb 11 04 Related
News Donors to back health sector reform strategy Foreign donor agencies contributing for a long time in the health sector have made commitments to smoothly complete the health sector reform strategy program of Nepal, RSS said Tuesday. Health Secretary Lokman Singh Karki and representatives of the donor agencies have signed documents to this effect in the presence of Minister for Health Kamal Thapa, the national news agency said. These efforts are expected to be instrumental in joint planning and inspection and an official working partnership will be established through this between the Health Ministry and the donor agencies, the RSS report added. The donor agencies signing the documents are WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, DFID, World Bank, GTZ, UNAID, DHSP, JICA and Australia Aid, according to the report. The strategy was approved by the Council of Ministers on December 25. The strategy has incorporated provisions for providing basic health services through mobilisation of necessary resources, giving local bodies the responsibility for operation of services at health posts, identifying the role of private sector and ensuring equal treatment in all regions. nepalnews.com mr Feb 11 04 Related
News One
Nepali killed in UAE plane crash According to CNN, one Nepali, twelve Indians, one Bangladeshi, eighteen Iranians and people of other nationalities were killed in the crash. 43 of 46 passengers were killed. nepalnews.com dr Feb. 10 04 CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday expressed criticism over the remarks of the King during his civic reception in Nepalgunj, saying the statement may end up inviting more confrontation with the political parties in the days ahead. Insisting that the King’s views would in no way help end the existing political deadlock, the UML leader addressing a gathering of party workers at the party headquarters at Balkhu, said that the royal speech has disappointed those who want democracy to flourish in the country. Reiterating his party’s old demand for an all-party government, Nepal said: “If the King wants a solution to the political crisis, he must form an all-party government.” The
UML leader also claimed that the parties were not concentrated on partisan
interests. “All we want is democracy and political freedom,” he
said. Related
News RPP govt. faction opens own office, split likely Vertical split looms large in the ruling Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) with the government faction led by Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa setting up a separate office in the capital Tuesday. Although the opening of the new office at Kupandol is said to be a part of the preparations for the Central Council’s meet slated for February 21-22 in Kathmandu, it is already seen as an indication of a vertical separation. A meeting was held this afternoon at the new office to discuss matters related to the Central Council meet. Ministers and central committee members were present at the meeting. According to a source at the central office of Pashupati SJB Rana-led RPP, a 3-point ‘bottom line’ proposed by the government side after a meeting on Monday is unlikely to get acceptance from the party establishment. The government side in its bottom line has demanded that the party establishment revoke the demand of PM’s resignation, reappoint Kamal Thapa, the ousted general secretary, to his post and start immediately the process to appoint in-charges of regional and zonal committees by consulting with the leaders of the faction. “Chances are very slim that the proposal gets approval from the chairman, especially the one about retracting the demand of the prime minister’s resignation,” the source added. Meanwhile, an informal meeting of RPP establishment was organized at the residence of party chairman Rana this afternoon. It is learnt that the meeting has discussed the pros and cons of the King’s address during his civic reception at Nepalgunj. The RPP leaders, sources said, have expressed confidence that the King’s remarks would help consolidate the multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 10 04 Related
News Two Maoists killed, 5 surrender At least two Maoist militants were killed in a security operation in Hardiapatuwa VDC of Rauthat district on Monday night, reports said Tuesday. The encounter that occurred at Aamtol left two Maoists named Uchitan Raya Yadav and Sri Ram Raya dead. In the same district, the ultras detonated explosives near the Area Police Office at Sukadev Chowk this afternoon, injuring two persons. Nasaruddhin Miya and his son Firoj Miya who received severe injuries in the blast have been undergoing treatment at the district hospital, reports said. Meanwhile, reports from Udaypur said five Maoists have surrendered to the district administration on Tuesday. The defectors were members of the self-style people’s government of the district. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 10 04 Related
News Nepalis residing in the UK have formed a UK chapter of International Nepali Literature Society (INLS) Sunday aiming to develop and promote Nepali literature in the UK, said a press communiqué released by newly formed UK chapter of INLS. Poshendra Satyal Prabhat, Chandra Prakash Devkota, Bhagirath Yogi, Dr Imansingh Gurung, Lata gautam, Dipak Kumar Malla and Khem Dhakal have been nominated as President, Vice President, General Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and Members of the chapter respectively. The head office of the INLS is in Washington DC, said the release. nepalnews.com pd Feb 10 04 Experts express mixed reaction on SAFTA Experts expressed mixed reaction on the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), signed during the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan. This was stated in a press release issued jointly by SAWTEE and Action Aid Nepal. The experts were speaking on the occasion of the tenth monthly forum on Globalization and WTO titled “SAFTA: The Way Forward”, jointly organized by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) and Action Aid Nepal on Monday. In the program, some flayed the treaty terming it as vague, while others called it an opportunity for Nepal to make a regional presence in the trade sector. Still others viewed that SAFTA would not make much difference in the country’s trading mechanics. Senior Economic Advisor to the Finance Ministry, Madhukar SJB Rana was of the view that the signing of the SAFTA treaty was a landmark achievement. Though he conceded that Nepal will face challenges in the short run, he was optimistic that the long term outcome would be positive. Stressing on the needs to identify the niche products in which it has comparative and competitive advantage and are marketable at the regional level, Rana said, “Without carrying out such an identification and promotional exercise, Nepal will not gain.” However, Dr Bishwambher Pyakhurel, President, Nepal Economic Association, said that the SAFTA accord is vague. He stated that there are no logical reasons to believe that text and language of the SAFTA treaty are strong and good. He said, “There is no strong and positive relation between the enthusiasm of experts, media, and the quality of the framework of the agreement.” Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Padma Jyoti, immediate past president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the signing of SAFTA should rather be viewed as a life giving process to SAARC itself. “Except the possibility of an increase in imports, the immediate implementation of SAFTA may not bring about any substantial change in Nepal’s trade front,” he added. Meanwhile, Rajiv Chander, Director at SAARC Secretariat, clarified that all outstanding issues under the SAFTA treaty are to be negotiated and finalized before the implementation of the trade liberalization program from 1 January 2006. Summing up the discussions, Dr Mohan Man Sainju, Chairperson, Integrated Institute for Development Studies said that independent studies have to be carried out with a view to maximizing benefits and minimizing negative implications of SAFTA. nepalnews.com rs Feb 10 04 Related
News Students, police clash in Dang At least a dozen students were hurt in a scuffle with police in Dang Tuesday afternoon when police personnel barged into Mahendra Multiple campus, Dang where students of seven different student organizations were holding a public hearing on “relevance of monarchy”. Reports said 12 students, including Nepal Student Unions' central committee member Prakash Shrestha and NSU district committee vice-chairman Kaman Singh Dangi have been injured in the incident. Meanwhile, student unions have hinted at toning down the ongoing public hearings as the Free Student Union elections of the Tribhuvan University near. “We are focused more on elections than protest programs,” NSU sources said. They however claimed that the public hearings would continue. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 10 04 Related
News RPP likely to split: central committee meeting today Pro-Thapa leaders of the ruling Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have asked the RPP to correct its decisions including party’s demand of Thapa’s resignation from the post of Prime minister saying that they will split the RPP if the party does not correct its decisions, Rajdhani Dainik said Tuesday. The other two demands to the RPP by the pro-Thapa leaders are the reinstatement of Communication Minister Kamal Thapa to the party’s Secretary post and the restructuring the parliamentary committee of the RPP. “Corrections in the party’s decisions are vital to stop the RPP from being split,” said Physical Planning Minister, Buddhiman Tamang. “If the party corrects its decisions we are ready to stop the party’s convention called during February 21-22 in Kathmandu.” He added. However, there are no reports regarding the corrections of the decisions made by the RPP. The RPP has also called party’s convention during February 26-28 in Bhairawaha. Upon calling the RPP headquarters at Kamal Pohkari, the chief office secretary told Nepalnews the split is likely and that an informal central committee meeting will take place this afternoon. The Thapa faction has already taken a house on rent for its party office in Kupondole, he added. nepalnews.com pd Feb 10 04 Related
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