Congress Leaders Lash Out Against Maoists
Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have stepped up their verbal attack against the Maoists for posing ‘unnecessary demands that have destabilized the politics.’ Addressing an interaction program at Reporters’ Club, acting president of NC Sushil Koirala has said that the party can no longer compromise with the Maoists. Koirala said that NC had compromised on numerous issues with the Maoists and has reached the limit. He denounced the Maoists for demanding fully proportional representation based election system after having ‘agreed on mixed system after two months of deliberations.’ Koirala also cautioned that prolonging instability was pushing the country towards precipice. “I see the chances of civil war,” he said urging the Maoists to reconsider their stance. He also denounced the Maoists for continuing with intimidation, abduction and extortion. He said the issue will have to be resolved through voting in the parliament if there is no compromise. Likewise, speaking in Pokhara, NC vice president Gopal Man Shrestha said fulfillment of Maoists’ demand on PR system could lead to disintegration of the country. He said NC would vote against Maoist proposal in the parliament. Addressing a program in Tanahun, another NC vice president and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel, said it would be ‘childish’ to declare republic through the parliament. Stating that the whole world had praised NC’s stance, Poudel also derided UML for demonstrating double standards. He was referring to UML claim that NC and Maoists had created the instability by being rigid on their respective positions. “UML has forgotten the understanding signed by the eight parties. NC has only said that all should respect the already signed understanding. We have not put forth any new position,” he said. Speaking at the same program, NC leader Govinda Raj Joshi said that the current situation has emerged because the seven parties sided with the Maoists. He said NC made a mistake by opting for republic. He added that election will take place only if seats are reserved for Maoists. Leading dailies report
UNMIN Term To Be Extended
Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan has said that the government will take a decision to request for extending the tenure of UNMIN after consulting with seven parties. She hinted that request for extension of its tenure by one more year could be made. The tenure of UNMIN, which was set up by the Security Council with one-year mandate, is expiring in January. Meanwhile, addressing the 62nd UN day function in Kathmandu, the deputy special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Nepal Tamrat Samuel on Wednesday said that the UN is commitment to extend support to the peace process in Nepal in the changing political scenario. "The international community remains committed to assisting Nepal's peace process. UN Mission to Nepal will continue to fulfill its function and be of even greater help if required," Samuel said. He said that the UN is playing and will play the roles that are "asked of it." Talking to media persons after the program, Samuel indicated that UNMIN staff strength would be changed according to new circumstances. He also said that the UN is ready to extend its assistance but the government should ask for it. Compiled from reports
WB To Observe Nepal Day
The World Bank is observing Nepal Day in coming December. According to Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat who is in Washington DC to take part in annual meeting of WB and International Monetary Fund (IMF), discussions will be held on Nepal and new programs approved during the Nepal Day function. In the last one month, the WB has committed to provide aid worth Rs 16 billion to Nepal. Dr. Mahat had appealed for Rs 17 billion worth support for 2008 at the meeting. He said that at the Nepal Day function support worth Rs 9.5 billion will be approved. The support would be utilized for reconstruction, poverty alleviation, local road, irrigation and education purposes. Addressing the meeting, Dr. Mahat had called on the donor community to help Nepal in post conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction. In 2007, WB was the largest donor to Nepal. The Bank is also hosting a South Asian regional meeting in Kathmandu in November. In Washington, Dr. Mahat said that the WB officials expressed interest over the economic policies amid sensitive political situation. “I tried to allay their suspicions,” he said. He said that the Bank believed in strong action against willful defaulters of bank loans. Dr. Mahat also held talks with IMF officials to give continuity to Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF). He said Nepal appealed for quick establishment of the office of International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the country. The IFC has shown interest in setting up infrastructure development bank and reforms in airlines. Dr. Mahat also held talks with Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on the sidelines of the meeting. “We discussed about Nepal’s political situation. He expressed concerns about Maoist attitude,” Dr. Mahat said. Kantipur daily reports
PM Dismisses Possibilities Of Immediate Return Of Maoists To The Govt
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said there is no immediate plan to bring the Maoists back into the government. Talking to media persons at his residence in Biratnagar, he said it was meaningless to bring the Maoists into the government before the announcement of constituent assembly polls. Answering to a reporter’s query, Koirala said, “The Maoists will be brought into the government only if they agree to go for polls. I do not see any immediate reason to include them in the government.” When asked why he would not accept the Maoist ministers’ resignations, he said he was giving them an opportunity to reconsider their decision. Koirala claimed that the CA polls had to be deferred just because of the Maoists’ hesitation to go for polls. He claimed: “I wanted to hold polls on time.” He said he would continue efforts to declare the next poll date. He added that the seven-party alliance had lost credibility in the international, as well as national arena, due to the poll deferral. He claimed that Maoist chairman Prachanda had not lost fascination for weapons and same was the case with the Maoist cadres. It would be tough to bring the Maoists into the mainstream until their fascination for weapons diminishes, he added. The Himalayan Times daily reports
UN To Increase Its Role If Parties Want
Saying that there is weakness in the ongoing peace process in Nepal, the UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon has said that UN could increase its role if there is a request from parties. In his latest Nepal report, which is going to be presented to the Security Council soon, Moon has said that UN is ready to take over increased role if the parties in Nepal want. Earlier, senior UN officials had said that UNMIN should be given bigger role and also executive role in the management of cantonments. The UN SG is presenting his 20-page long report to the SC on Thursday. Kantipur daily reports
Refugee Repatriation Before Bhutan Election: PM Koirala
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that Bhutanese refugees who wish to go back to their country should be repatriated before 2008 so that they would be able to participate in the general election scheduled to take place in Bhutan that year. During his meeting with Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal in Balwatar Sunday morning, PM Koirala said Nepal was ready to apply appropriate pressure to ensure their right to participate in the polls in Bhautan. “Prime Minister Koirala told me that it is up to the Bhutanese refugees to decide whether they want to be resettled in a third country or go back to Bhutan and that Nepal would respect any decision of the refugees,” Rizal said after the meeting. However, the Bhutanese leader said that since there has only been verbal agreement to resettle the Bhutanese refugees in a third country, Nepal should stress on the repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees in their own country. The meeting between PM Koirala and Rizal comes a day before US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey is to embark on a visit to Nepal, Bhutan and India to make fresh effort for resettlement of Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal. Nepalnews.com reports
Mallik Panel Fails To Identify Culprits
The panel formed by the government to find out facts regarding who staged Kapilvastu incident has failed to reach to any conclusion. The chief of the panel, judge Lokendra Mallik said that they could not be clear as to who caused the carnage in Kapilvastu. The panel’s preliminary report states that 14 persons were killed in the series of rioting and violence that was triggered after unknown assailants killed a local leader Mohit Khan on September 16. Earlier, various media reports had put the number around 30 – even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had said 19 persons were killed in the incident. The report also states that around 550 houses were torched and 150 vehicles damaged in the violence.The panel report also states that all the persons said to be missing have come into contact. “There is no one missing there now. We went to villages to contact them,” said Mallik. Compiled from reports
