“I n view of my poor health and old age, I want to solve the Maoist problem as soon as possible. I have told the Maoists that we have to solve it while I am still alive."
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala , while talking to school children, at his official residence at Baluwatar.
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“W e still stand by our agreements but we are not ready to lock up our arms first and start dialogue for political settlement. We want to settle the arms issue as part of a comprehensive political package."
Prachanda, Chairman of the Maoists, during live question-answer program in BBC Nepali Service.
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“I f the Maoists are not ready to lay down their arms and place their armed forces inside cantonments as per the past understanding, what do they want to do then?"
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs K P Sharma Oli , in The Kathmandu Post.
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“T he nation cannot find a solution by considering our arms as a serious problem."
Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Maoist Spokesperson , addressing the national conference of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal People's Cultural Union .
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“T he Nepalese Army would never betray democracy.”
General Rukmangat Katawal , Chief of Army Staff, NA, talking to reporters, after receiving official insignia from the Prime Minister.
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“I f the top leaders of rebel party who had been launching insurgency from jungles can visit Baluwatar (Prime Minister’s official residence) and hold summit talks there, why can’t we cooperate on peace process (on ourselves)?”
Narayan Man Bijukchhe , president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), saying that there is no need for UN involvement in peace process here, in Nepal Samacharpatra.
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“P olitical problems would not be resolved by sacking the King and replacing him with some other Bahadur. Congress cannot embrace republic.”
K.B. Gurung, general secretary of Nepali Congress, in Pokhara.
* * *
Transition:
APPOINTED: Lt. General Rukmangat Katuwal , as the Chief of the Army Staff, Nepalese Army, by the cabinet.
Purna Bahadur Ranabhat , as the Controller of Examinations, by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
RETIRED: General Pyara Jung Thapa , from the position of Chief of Army Staff, Nepalese Army.
ELECTED : Nine members including Gokul Pokharel, Shova Gautam, Dr Piyush Raj Mishra, Hem Raj Gayawali, Suresh Acharya, Mahesh Prasad Adhikari, Kedar Sharma, Lal Deusa Rai and Nila Kantha Upreti, as members of working committee of the Nepal Press Institute (NPI).
EXTENDED : The tenure of the High Level Investigation Commission headed by former Supreme Court justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi , by another 45 days, by the government.
NOMINATED : Nepali writer Manjushree Thapa, to the final list, for the 2006 Letter Ulysses Award.
RELEASED : Geographic Vision, a journal published by Nepal Geography Student Society T.U, Kirtipur.
