“We also talked about adopting the SSR (Security Sector Reforms) and not the DDR (Disarm, Demobilization and Reintegration) model to our PLA.”
Prachanda, Maoist chairman, after his talks with visiting UN Under Secretary General B Lynn Pascoe.
“There were calls for expressing abstract commitment for the elections. Abstract commitments would only create confusion among the people so we said that we should create a new basis for republic first.”
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, senior Maoist leader, on why the eight party meeting of Saturday (August 18) ended inconclusively, in Kantipur.
“I am even more optimistic than I was when I came.”
B Lynn Pascoe, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, at a press meet.
“Vast majority of Nepali people are saying that no excuse can be given for not holding the elections, except perhaps by an act of God.”
Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, Indian ambassador, talking to reporters after he addressed a program to mark the 60th anniversary of independence of India in the Indian embassy, Kathmandu.
“Now I do not see any prospect for unity. There is no alternative to announcing that there will not be any unity.”
Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic).
“Even though I told them I was just going to park my jeep, some of them poured petrol onto me and my vehicle and set it to fire. Even my clothes caught fire.”
Som Prasad Pandey, UML MP, describing the attack by cadres of YCL in course of their snap chakkajam on August 15 in New Baneshwore.
“Only those whose mind works in reverse manner could have launched strike in education sector by making demands that Home Ministry release their activists.”
Pradeep Nepal, Minister for Education and Sports, reacting to the strike in education sector launched by pro-Maoist students, in Nepal Samacharpatra.
Transition
RETURNED: B Lynn Pascoe, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, after completing a two-day visit to Nepal.
LEFT: Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of UML, for ten-day-long visit to European countries.
REFUSED: Chandra Prakash Gajurel aka Gaurav, the chief of international relations bureau of the Maoists, with travel visa, by the Japanese Embassy.
RESUMED: The printing and distribution of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post dailies after a week-long disruption by pro-Maoist union workers.
APPOINTED: Shashi Shrestha, leader of Jana Morcha Nepal, as the Minister of State for Health and Population, by the Prime Minister.
PASSED AWAY: RB Basnet, the president of Bhutan National Democratic Party, who has been fighting for democracy in Bhutan and the rights of refugees, at the age of 59, at Bir Hospital.
