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VOL. 27, NO. 40, June 20 , 2008 (Ashadh 06 2065 B.S.)
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THE GOVERNMENT MARKED THE END of the 240-year-old monarchy by hoisting the national flag during a grand function on Sunday (June 15) at the Narayanhity palace. The flag hoisting ceremony was inaugurated by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the palace, which has been vacated by the ex-King Gyanendra. The ex-King left the palace on Wednesday honoring the decision taken by the Constituent Assembly to abolish monarchy and declare the country a republic. After hoisting of the national flag by Prime Minister Koirala, a tea reception was held at the palace, which is now under government control. All members of the Constituent Assembly, senior government officials, politicians, diplomats, journalists and other distinguished people were invited to attend the ceremony.
EX-KING GYANENDRA LEFT NARAYANHITI PALACE at around 8:30 pm, Wednesday (June 11) evening. He was accompanied by ex-Queen Komal as his motor escorted by security personnel left for Nagarjuna palace located in the northwestern part of the capital valley. A huge crowd of journalists as well as general public had gathered in front of western gate of the Narayanhiti palace when the ex-King left for Nagarjuna. A group of people had also chanted slogans against monarchy as he left the place. He had earlier addressed a press meet asserting that he has accepted the political course the nation has chosen. The May 28 meeting of the Constituent Assembly had implemented republic and asked the ex-King to leave the palace within fifteen days.
DUE TO LACK OF UNDERSTANDING among the top parties on power-sharing, the third meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) also turned out to be a flop show like its second meeting. A few members protested the hike in price petroleum products as well as the government's decision to give Nargarjuna palace to ex-King Gyanendra, and allow Gyanendra's mother Ratna and his relative Sarala to live inside Narayanhiti palace. Then the CA chair announced the formation of advisory committee for working procedures. And it was suspended till June 19.
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER DR. MANMOHAN SINGH has called on the political parties of Nepal to forge consensus to deal with the major political issues. During a meeting with Nepalese ambassador Dr. Durgesh Man Singh in New Delhi, Monday (June 9), the Indian prime minister expressed satisfaction over the way political issues have been sorted out in the country. " India is happy that Nepal's parties are moving ahead constructively," he is said to have told the Nepalese envoy. "The parties should make every effort to build an inclusive Nepal," the envoy quoted the Indian PM as saying. The Indian PM is also said to have inquired about the economic situation, particularly the inflation rate in Nepal, say reports.
TWO PERSONS HAVE BEEN KILLED and thirteen others injured when a bomb exploded at a bus park in Chandranigahapur, Rautahat district, Saturday (June 14) evening. The two died when undergoing treatment at Narayani hospital in Birgunj. Those injured include four children. A 'time bomb' had exploded at the passenger waiting section of the bus park when there was a crowd of people taking shelter from the rain, reports said. An underground organization calling itself Terai Army has owned up responsibility for the blasts.
THE 20 MW STRONG BALEPHI HYDROPOWER project is to be built with the help of domestic and international private investment. Welcome Energy, a group established jointly by Nepali and British investors, has started conducting a study for the project. The chief of the group has said that they could start generating power from the project within two and a half years. They are planning to start construction from January of 2009. The total cost of the project, which will be located at Balephi river of Sindhupalchowk district, is said to be around US$ 32 million.
THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING TO INTRODUCE a separate act to market the agriculture products. According to Tek Bahadur Thapa, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in view of rising agriculture production, the government is preparing to introduce the legislation to expand investment in agriculture sector, among others. Speaking at the Fifth Horticulture Show in Kathmandu, he said the government also felt the need for horticulture policy.
