Election On June 20 Not Feasible, Says Martin
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s Personal Representative, Ian Martin, on Sunday, told Prime Minister Koirala’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Dr. Suresh Chalise that it is not “technically and politically feasible” to hold the CA polls on June 20. Citing the Terai and Janajati issues Martin was quoted as saying: “It will take little time to address the Terai and ethnic issues, and we don’t have much time (if the polls are to be held on June 20).” “Martin told me that it was not feasible to hold elections on the date if the issues of Terai and ethnic minorities remain unresolved,” Dr. Chalise said. Martin is learnt to have raised the same issue in his meeting with Maoist chairman Prachanda and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal . The UNMIN headed by Martin has the mandate to assist Nepal in holding free and fair CA elections. Martin also had discussions with Chalise on the conditions of cantonments, which the Maoist leaders are not satisfied with, and the process of demobilizing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) living in those cantonments. Chalise was also told that the Maoist chairman wanted about a week before the UNMIN begins its ‘second phase’ of verification. The verification would determine the real adult strength of the PLA, and also identify if any minor has been recruited. Chalise was told about the 108 UNMIN monitors, who are already on the ground, and the process of Nepalese Army locking up an equal number of arms as the Maoists have locked up. The process will begin on Tuesday, Chalise said. The Himalayan Times daily reports
India To Bring Train Up To Nepal Border
India is planning to expand railway network up to five Nepal border points. Following , China ’s start of railway service up to Lhasa last year, the Indian railways ministry has given ‘top priority’ to this plan, according to international news agency AFP. “Railway Ministry has given top priority to this after Chinese plan to expand Tibetan railway up to Nepal border,” the AFP quotes Indian Express daily as reporting. The plan to link Nepali border points with Indian railways had begun three years ago. At the commerce secretary-level Inter Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting, India had agreed to build broad-gauge railway line up to Jogbani and Sunauli points. Nepal had proposed to India to expand those lines up to Biratnagar and Bhairahawa cities – which would have linked Indian railway with the dry ports there like in Birgunj. In Birgunj, trains have started to come carrying cargoes. Officials here believe that Indian plan is aimed at Chinese market. Since long time, India had asked Nepal to provide transit route to China . Although Nepal government has agreed to this request, in principle, nothing has been done at ground level. Likewise, China , too, has taken this proposal in positive manner. China constructed 1142 km long railway line linking Qinghei province with Lhasa of Tibet. China has shown interest to expand this line up to Nepal border. “Lhasa-Nepal railway is not feasible in technical and economic manner. But it has high strategic value,” the AFP quotes a senior official at Indian Railways as saying. According to AFP, China plans to expand railway line up to Chhomo city near the border with Sikkim in next ten years. Last year, India and China had agreed to open Sikkim route for bilateral trade. It had remained closed since last 44 years. Kantipur daily reports
Prachanda Says Maoists Have Not Given Up People’s War
Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that his party has not altogether abandoned the long-term people’s war strategy. Only the form and front of struggle has changed, he said speaking at a gathering of intellectuals close with Maoists, on Saturday (April 7). He added that his party was following the dictum of Mao Zedong that struggle does not end even if the party joins government. Prachanda was also highly critical of the United States . “We have changed the form of struggle, which the US knows,” he said, adding that it could trigger waves across the world. Prachanda also mocked the remarks made by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently at SAARC Summit in New Delhi . “He said that he has mainstreamed terrorists but it is clear that the coming days will show who has (mainstreamed) whom,” Prachanda said. He also termed seven parties as spineless. Interestingly, Prachanda also revealed that his party had held talks with former prince Dhirendra and were preparing to talk with late King Birendra before the royal palace massacre. “At that time we were considering proposing Sinhanouk-kind of role for Birendra,” he said. However, in June of 2001, all members of then King Birendra’s family as well as Dhirendra were killed in a palace shootout. Compiled from reports
RJP Drops Monarchy From Its Statute
Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) has decided to omit constitutional monarchy from its statute and documents. The meeting of the central working committee of the RJP has made the decision to orient RJP as neutral towards monarchy in the run up to the elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA). The RJP’s central working committee made this decision ahead of its preparations to register the party at the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday. The party led by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said it will follow the May 18 Declaration of House of Representatives. Leading dailies report
FNCCI President Dhakal Summoned By RID
The Revenue Investigation Department (RID) has summoned Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to answer to charges that he evaded revenues by forging documents. He is facing charges that his company Memento Apparels forged bank guarantee documents while importing goods, thereby evading Rs 8.6 million of revenue. However, Dhakal did not honor to the department’s summon order saying that he was unable to attend for a week due to health reasons. He had promised to produce himself by Friday but he did not honor that promise, as well. After he did not respect RID’s order, Finance Secretary had contacted Finance Minister who was then in New Delhi for further instructions. Finance Minister, in turn, had talked with Prime Minister who said they should proceed as per the law. Dhakal needs to deposit the evaded amount along with double that amount as fine. This totals to Rs 25.5 million. Meanwhile, Dhakal has said that he is not involved in the whole affair. He said his staffs must have made some mistakes. “I will report to the government very soon,” he said. Kantipur daily reports
SLC Paper Leak Row; Probe Panel Formed
After the cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) handed over two teachers from Bhaktapur district – Keshav Shrestha and Prakashman Shrestha – charging them of selling question papers of SLC, the Education Ministry has cancelled Thursday’s test on Nepali subject in Bhaktapur district. The question paper seized from Shrestha duo matched with the actual question that was provided to students on Thursday (April 5). Pradeep Nepal , Minister for Education and Sports, told media that all officials of the Office of Controller of Examinations (OCE) have been recalled and brought “under the purview of investigation.” Ministry’s joint secretary Arjun Bahadur Bhandari has been deputed to take charge of OCE. Likewise, three-member panel has been formed to probe the leakage incident. The panel is headed by Kedar Prasad Poudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Other members of the panel include Superintendent of Police Navaraj Silwal and joint controller of examination at Tribhuwan University Anup Kumar Shrestha. The panel will start its investigation beginning Sunday and will submit its report within 15 days. Apart from today’s test in Bhaktapur district, all other tests will resume as per the schedule. Compiled from reports
NC Will Decide On Monarchy Ahead Of CA
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that Nepali Congress (NC) will make a decision on its position vis-à-vis monarchy ahead of CA elections. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Thursday (April 5), Koirala said NC’s position will be a ‘spice’ of the election. When reporters asked him if King Gyanendra would allow the CA polls to be held, Koirala said, “What did you say? Gyanendra or King Gyanendra? Minus the King, only say Gyanendra.” He added, “(NC’s) decision on monarchy will be the spice of the election and will create an environment that will catch the attention of all.” On Terai issue, he said he will hold talks with agitators. He said India , too, has assured of cooperation in this regard. Koirala said Nepal ’s image in international level had heightened after Maoists were roped into the government. Koirala said that unification of NC was now his priority. “NC unity is a must. I will talk with NC-D immediately after I return,” he said. On Thursday, he separately met with former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. PM Koirala said the SAARC Summit was successful. “I said that the resources of the LDCs in the region should be utilized,” he said. Kantipur daily reports
Indian Company Comes Up With Attractive Proposal On Upper Karnali
n Indian company GMR has offered Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) 33 percent share in the Upper Karnali project without it having to make any investment. Of the investors showing interest to develop the 300 MW project, GMR has offered largest share to the NEA. It has also offered the government 7.5 percent of energy for free. The government had invited offers from prospective investors on three mega projects including Upper Karnali , 600 MW strong Budhi Gandaki and 402 MW strong Arun-III. The government has received 14 proposals from various companies from India , China and Netherlands . A committee formed by the government and headed by former finance secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya is studying the proposals. Meanwhile, other two Indian companies who have shown interest in Upper Karnali – Reliance group and KSK – have offered 15 percent share to NEA. They have also offered 7.5 percent energy free to the government. Another Indian group Jindal has offered 12 percent free energy. Likewise, Satya group has offered 15 percent share while Larsen & Toubro has offered 8 percent free energy. Those companies who have offered more free energy and more shares to the government do not have experience in hydropower development. However, four companies who have experience in hydropower development have not offered any share or free energy. They include Kovec of China, Sinohydro of China, JP Group of India and National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC) of India . The Upper Karnali project is said to be the most economical project with the Rate of Return calculated at 20.87 percent. Since its site is close with India , estimates say there will be only 2 percent technical loss when transporting it to India – as per the book Hydropower Pricing in Nepal . The book states that the total investment of the project would be around $828.4 million or Rs 58 billion. Kantipur daily reports
