PM Koirala Roots For Minor King
In a meaningful remark, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, on Sunday (June 17), said that the republic will come in the country if King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras do not voluntarily abdicate before the elections of the Constituent Assembly (CA). In his meeting with the visiting delegation of representatives of Weekly-Fortnightly Newspapers Network who were accompanied with visiting Pakistani journalists at Baluwatar, PM Koirala implied to the reporters that a ceremonial monarchy can be saved in favor of Nava Yubaraj Hridayendra – who is second-in-line for the succession of 239-year-old Shah dynasty. "He indicated his preference for minor King and said he has already told the same to the King," said Kishore Shrestha, a journalist, who attended the meeting. The eight parties have already agreed to decide the fate of monarchy by the first meeting of the elected CA. As per the second amendment of the interim constitution, the CA elections will take place sometime in Mangsir – probably on Mangsir 10 (November 26) as per recent media reports. The amendment also has a clause whereby the parliament can actually abolish the monarchy by two-third votes if the latter is found conspiring to derail the CA elections. Compiled from reports
Curfew In Birtamod
The local administration clamped daylong curfew in Birtamod city of Jhapa district on Sunday (June 17) after the area became tense following a dispute over lottery results. One youth named Subas Khatri was killed in police firing and several others were injured. Irate public clashed with police since Saturday. They were angry over the results of lottery by Nava Jivan Shanti Samaj. The locals have accused that the Samaj has awarded prizes in a biased manner in collusion with the police. The locals then attacked district traffic police post where the policemen had gathered. The administration imposed curfew from 1:30 pm on Sunday to control the situation. Leading dailies report
PM Favors Polls In Nov 26
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala favors November 26 to hold the elections of Constituent Assembly (CA). PM Koirala in his meeting with Speaker Subas Nemwang on Saturday (June 16) urged the latter to work from his side for the successful polls. "PM said he will soon make public the elections date after creating a basis for peace and security. We might not have to wait long for the date announcement," Nemwang told reporters. Sources said that the government has found November 26 as preferable. Following meeting of eight party leaders, the date is expected to be announced within this week. Leading dailies report
Eight Parties Heading Towards Failure: Prachanda
Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that the eight parties are heading towards a failure. He said the morale of the leaders have been weakened. He also claimed that the growing violence in Terai was creating a ground for counter-revolution and was moving ahead in a planned manner to push them back to war. "I understand that they want to push us back to war before Dashain," he said at a program organized by Dalit organizations. "We are in a peace process in an honest manner." Prachanda said that people's movement in Madhes has ended and now there were only criminal elements left behind. "Madhesi people have already organized movement for their rights. Now only criminal activities remain there," he said. Prachanda also said that he felt like the character of "Abhimanyu" who is trapped in Chakrabyuha (- of Hindu epic Mahabharata in which Abhimanyu gets trapped in rings of plot (Chakrabyuha) from where he is unable to come out alive.) Kantipur daily reports
'Dangerous To Push Elections Beyond Mangsir'
The general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that India has urged the political leadership to ensure that the elections are held within Mangsir (mid-November till mid-December). Speaking at a party program in the capital, he said that India feels it will be "dangerous" to push the elections beyond Mangsir. Nepal, leading a senior delegation of UML, had recently visited New Delhi where he met with senior Indian leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The UML leader also said that the legitimacy of the current government would end if the CA elections are not held on time. nepalnews.com reports
Second Stage Verification Of PLA Put Off
After the Maoists expressed concerns over the spate of killing of their leaders and cadres, the second phase verification of Maoist combatants scheduled to start from Thursday (June 15) has been stalled. "As two of our (YCL) activists were killed in Rupandehi only yesterday and a day before our central leader was killed in Saptari, works on second phase verification have been postponed for few days," Maoist deputy commander Prabhakar told the media. He, however, said that the meeting of the Maoist party to be held Saturday may also decide on the next date for the second phase verification. Similarly, UNMIN has also said that it has been asked by the Maoist leadership not to proceed with the start of the second stage registration from Thursday. "In view of the killings of Maoist cadres, including the murder of Dashrath Thakur in Saptari district on Tuesday and the murders of Binod Panta and Sheshmani Lamichhane in Rupandehi district yesterday, the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) has asked UNMIN not to proceed with the start of the second stage of registration today," states a press release by the UNMIN. The UNMIN has condemned the murders, and has urged the authorities to make urgent efforts to bring those responsible to justice. "UNMIN expects to be informed that the second stage of registration can proceed in the next few days," the press release adds. Meanwhile, Kantipur daily has quoted Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel as saying that there has been a secret pact between Prime Minister Koirala and Prachanda to reduce the number of PLA in cantonments to 15,000 through the second stage verification. Another source said that decision to build 1000 houses that can house 15,000 combatants was also guided by this secret pact. Meanwhile, PLA deputy commander Ananta conceded that the government has sent such a proposal of reducing the number of combatants to 15,000 but expressed ignorance over any secret pact to agree to such offer. He, however, added that once the second stage verification begins and Maoist combatants are included into army and armed police, their number could be reduced. Leading dailies report
YCL Cadres Killed, Maoists Enraged
A central member of the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) Binod Pant 'Jitendra' and YCL's Rupandehi district secretariat member Sheshmani Lamichhane 'Mani' were abducted and killed, on Wednesday (June 14), by activists of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). Both were abducted by MJF cadres as they were going to inspect the Khurdalotan dam on the Nepal-India border and killed later, Maoist Rupandehi district in charge Nirmal Kumar said. A home-made weapon was used to kill Jitendra at Shivpur of Gowaha VDC, while Mani was hanged from a tree before he was shot at 4:00 pm, YCL Bhairahawa in charge Udaya said. Jitendra's murder was horrendous – both his eyes were gouged out, his hands were severed and head hacked off. On the other hand, MJF leaders have said they have no hand in the killings. Meanwhile, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Matrika Yadav has accused the home administration of aiding the violence in Terai region instead of 'controlling them.' Protesting the killing of central-level leader of Maoists, Dasarath Thakur, by activists of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Goit) in Saptari district, Minister Yadav, who is the party's Mithila-Bhojpur in charge, said the Home Ministry was not working effectively to control growing violence in Terai region. He also said that various elements were attacking Maoists since they had laid down arms and stored them in container. Furthermore, Chandra Khanal aka Baldev, a deputy commander of Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA), threatened that his party will retrieve the arms stored in containers if attacks continue against its leaders and cadres. Compiled from reports
Govt No To Ethnicity Based PR
The government has said that it cannot agree with the demand for ethnicity-based proportional representation electoral system and ensure one representative for every ethnic group. The meeting between the government talks team led by Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel and Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN), on Wednesday (June 14), got stuck on this point. The two sides later agreed to hold next meeting after 15 days allowing for 'additional homework and preparations.' Poudel later said the understanding could not be reached on the demand of one group one representative and ethnic population based PR system. "There are problems with that," he said. Poudel said, "There are over 100 ethnic groups in the country and if all of them are to be represented, the Constituent Assembly will be more of an ethnic assembly and less of a political assembly." On the other hand, NFIN talks team has accused the government of moving backwards on their earlier promises. Compiled from reports
House Committee Takes Up West Seti
The parliamentary Natural Resources and Means Committee (NRMC) has asked the the government and political parties in parliament to come up with their final positions on a wide range of issues related to the 750 megawatt proposed West Seti Hydropower Project (WSHP). The decision was taken Tuesday (June 13) following days of debate on the agreement between the government and the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) for implementation of the export-oriented project. The SMEC, an Australian company, has plans to generate 750 megawatt of power and export it to India paying 10 percent additional royalty over and above what is mentioned in the governing law. Under the governing law, Nepal is entitled to 2 percent energy royalty on total energy sales for the first 15 years, Rs 100 capacity royalty per kilowatt for the first 15 years and 10 percent energy royalty after 15 years. Capacity royalty per kilowatt goes up to Rs 1000 after 15 years. "Firstly, the government must say why the project should not be looked into in the light of Article 156 of constitution? Next, are we entitled to 10 percent power as additional royalty or we will have to settle for cash reimbursement?" CPN-UML MP Prakash Jwala said. Article 156 suggests a parliamentary debate in the case of mega projects. The other posers are: What will be the fate of 760 families who will be displaced when the project is implemented? "We feel the promoter has backed down from its initial word. We cannot settle for cash in lieu of power," said Jwala, who is a leading member of the NRMC. He pointed out how gradual change in the documents has ruined the chances of Nepal getting power as additional royalty. "At first they promised "power." Then they said either "cash or power." Lastly they said "cash", Jwala further said. "We cannot agree to the cost price calculation. The question is: will SMEC agree to sales price calculation? Minister (Mahat) has said that all this will be finalized later." The Himalayan Times daily reports
