King appoints Dr. Thapa as FM

His Majesty King Gyanendra Wednesday appointed Dr. Bhek Bahadur Thapa as Foreign Minister and Health Minister on the recommendation of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa in accord with constitutional clause 127. 

Likewise, the King has appointed Minister for Information and Communication Kamal Thapa to the post of Home Minister,  the Royal Press Secretariat said. nepalnews.com pd Mar 04 04

Rumours shut down capital

Rumours that "Thursday is Nepal banda or general strike" have led to the closure of shops, industries, schools and vehicular movement, paralysing life in Kathmandu from early in the morning, witnesses said.

In fact, one of the Maoists' sister organisation, All Nepal Trade Union had earlier announced the general strike for Thursday to be effective in Bagmati and Narayani zones.

The Union, in a statement, had declared withdrawal of the strike. The Union, issuing one more statement on Wednesday, made it clear that Thursday's closure was not a general strike.

"We call upon all to make the strike on Thursday successful," the statement by the Union's chairman Shalikram Jamar Kattel said. "The strike will be effective in Bagmati and Narayani zones only in transport and industrial sectors," he further said.

The strike, though led to the closure of long route bus service and other activities in Bagmati and Narayani zones, did not affect other parts of the country, countrywide reports said in the evening.
nepalnews.com mr Mar 4 04

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RPP council meet called off

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Wednesday called off the meeting of the Central Council slated for March 20-21 in Pokhara.

A meeting of the organizing committee headed by senior RPP leader Bishwo Bandhu Thapa Wednesday took the decision to cancel the meeting. Leaders of the government faction and the party establishment were present at the meeting.

RPP sources said the meeting was called off in view of an atmosphere that is building up in favor of party unity following a meeting between party chairman Pashupati SJB Rana and Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa a couple of days ago. Both the leaders, it is believed, had agreed in that meeting not to fuel controversies anymore.

Earlier, both the sides had agreed to hold the meeting of the council on March 20-21 after initiatives taken by some neutral leaders. nepalnews.com mbk Mar 3

Nepal's participation in SAF Games seems possible

The uncertainty about Nepal's participation in the upcoming 9th SAF Games due to the row between the Government and Rukma Shumsher Rana led Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) seems to have come to an end after both the agitating parties showed some flexibility on Wednesday.

The ray of hope was seen after Rana assured Sports Journalist Forum to send Nepal to participate in the mega event if the government formally directs them to do so.

Talking to Nepalnews, President of ad hoc NOC, Kishor Bahadur Singh, after his meeting with the Minister for Education and Sports Hari Bahadur Basnet, informed that the Government is ready to be flexible for the sake of players.

"We will do the needful because we do not want to put player's future at stake because of the row," he said.

Both the parties showed the flexibility in the wake of International Olympic Committee's (IOC) letter to PM Surya Bahadur Thapa received on Tuesday. The letter said that Nepal would be allowed to participate in the mega event had both the Government and Rana-led NOC jointly recommended for it.

Singh, however, said that Rana faction's demand to revamp their bank account cannot be accepted. He was of the view that revamping the account means to give legality to the sacked organization.

Nevertheless, he was also optimistic that both the parties will negotiate and will reach to the agreement in couple of days.

It's noteworthy that Nepal has just 6 more days left to enroll itself for the mega event the last date of enrolment being March 10. nepalnews.com rs March 03 04

Maoists ambush troops in Kavre, two killed 

Two Royal Nepalese Army soldiers were killed in an explosion carried out by the Maoists at Khanalthok VDC, Kavre Wednesday morning. 

The incident that took place at 4.15 in the morning at Laskot area on the BP Highway left Kaji Kumar Khadka, a junior officer and soldier Durga Bahadur Thapa dead. The incident took place when the security troops were on their way back to the No. 9 Brigade at Bhakundebesi after defusing a banner bomb planted by the militants, reports said. 

One soldier injured in the blast has been brought to Kathmandu for treatment by an army helicopter. nepalnews.com mbk Mar 3

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Their Majesties’ civic reception on March 28 

His Majesty King Gyanendra and Queen Komal are set to be felicitated by the people of Western region on March 28 in Pokhara. 

A meeting of the Civic Felicitation Organizing Committee held Wednesday in Pokhara that was attended by Minister for Information and Communication Kamal Thapa decided this, reports said. Former minister and Nepal Samata Party president Narayan Singh Pun was also present at the program. 

A 1057-member organizing committee has been formed under former minister Laxya Bahadur Gurung and committees have also been formed in all districts of the Western region to make preparations for the ceremony. 

On February 8, the King and the Queen had received a civic felicitation in Nepalganj. nepalnews.com mbk Mar 3

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Pun says he can bring the Maoists to table 

Nepal Samata Party chairman and former minister Narayan Singh Pun Wednesday said that he was ready to take initiative to bring the Maoists to the talking table. 

Pun who was the key person during the government-Maoists talks last year said this while talking to reporters in Pokhra. 

“If the government gives responsibility, I am ready to take initiative,” reports quoted Pun as saying. He went on claiming that he could contact the Maoist top brass within a couple of hours and bring them to the negotiating table within a month. nepalnews.com mbk Mar 3

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Bhojpur clashes: 29 troops, 10 Maoists confirmed dead

Bodies of 10 Maoists have been recovered from the sites of Bhojpur clashes, which saw 29 security personnel dead, an update by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) said at 3:30 pm Wednesday. 

“Of the 29 dead, 11 were from the RNA and 18 from Nepal Police,” RNA spokesman Col Deepak Gurung said, adding that two of the 10 dead Maoists were women. “There may be more casualties in the Maoist side.”

The security forces, despite losses, managed to foil the Maoists’ attempt to rob a bank and to capture the whole Bhojpur bazaar, the district headquarters, Gurung said.

The Maoists, who were some 1500 to 2000 in number blasted bombs at the district administration office, Rastriya Banijya Bank and a tower of Nepal Telecommunication, he further said. “After the incident, security forces are massively mobilized in the area.”

Gurung, who was speaking with journalists at a RNA press meet, did not disclose name and designation of the dead. nepalnews.com mr Mar 3 04

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Nepali Congress comes up with reunion ‘basis’

The much awaited meeting of Nepali Congress (NC) on Wednesday formulated two “basis” of reunion with NC (Democratic), agreeing to restore former positions of NC (D) members inside the parental party (NC).

“Today’s meeting of Central Working Committee (CWC) has decided to maintain ‘status quo’ as a basis of reunion,” NC spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC told journalists after the meeting.

According to KC, members of NC (D), which is a break away faction of NC, will get their former positions set by the party’s 10th Convention in Pokhara.

“Not only elected, even the members nominated by the party at that time will be awarded their former status,” he said reading a statement by the party. 

NC's 10th Convention had nominated Sher Bahdur Deuba as the party's central member after he contested for the party’s chairmanship and lost to NC President Girija Prasad Koirala. 

Another basis of party unity, as pronounced by KC and mentioned in the statement was "to hold the 11th party Convention soon."

“The 11th party Convention will be a Convention of unity and will be held in cordial and fair manner,” he said.

He further said today's CWC meeting also endorsed NC President GP Koirala’s call for party reunion unanimously. 

Koirala, in a brief conversation with media, said, NC meeting has called upon all party members to return to their parental party. 

When asked if he held any talks with Deuba recently, Koirala said, “No, I have not. But, will do soon.”

During the CWC meeting, NC General Secretary Shushil Koirala, said to be “discontent” with the reunion initiatives, said, he is ready to “sacrifice” anything for party unity, according to NC spokesman KC.

NC’s unity initiative follows an earlier statement by its President Koirala on Friday. Koirala, in the statement, urged leaders of the break away faction to reunite "for the sake of democracy". The statement, however, did not mention the name of NC (D).

The NC (D) was scheduled to make its position clear on party unity proposal by Koirala after the NC’s CWC meeting on Wednesday today. nepalnews.com mr Mar 3 04

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Freed Kamaiyas capture land in protest 

Kamaiyas (bonded laborers) living in camps in Dhangadhi municipality of Kailali district Monday have captured public land protesting the inaction of the government for an appropriate rehabilitation of freed Kamaiyas, a daily reported Wednesday. 

According to the Rajdhani dainik, Kamaiyas have already set up thatched houses on the captured land. The Kamaiyas got furious as the land allocated in the land ownership certificate provided by the government has not yet been identified.

Issuing a press communiqué Tuesday, Nathuram Kathriya, Chairman of the Freed Kamaiyas Society, stated the problems of Kamaiyas after being freed. He urged the government, right activists, journalists and the civic society to join hands in solving Kamaiya’s troubles. 

The Nepali Congress government had declared nearly 16,000 Kamaiya families, concentrated in five western districts of the country, free on July 2000. nepalnews.com pd Mar 03 04