Maoist Ministers' Resignation Will Not Be Forwarded To PM
The Maoist leadership has decided not to forward the resignations by the Maoist ministers to the Prime Minister for the time being. The Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has decided to keep their resignation letters with himself as he believes that the understanding with the parties is being evolved. On Thursday, ministers representing the party had handed over their resignation from the Koirala-led government to Prachanda. The Maoists have five ministers and two state ministers in the government. Compiled from reports
Prachanda To Visit Mao-Land For 'More Inspiration'
While the contentious issue of power sharing continues to vex Nepali politics, leading many to fear a new round of political turmoil in the country, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has expressed his eagerness to soon visit China where he wished to visit the village of "the great helmsman", Chairman Mao, and "get some more inspiration". In an interview to a correspondent of China Daily at his residence in Buddhanagar Thursday (June 12), the Maoist chairman said he hoped to visit China soon. "When our communication minister was there (in China) he was instructed to prepare for my visit. I hope I will soon be in Beijing," Dahal told the daily, referring to Maoist senior leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara's visit to Beijing earlier this month. "I want to go to Chairman Mao's village and home to get some more inspiration by seeing and feeling." Furthermore, he said Nepal will maintain "equidistance" between China and India, while expressing cautious optimism on relations with the US, which still has the Maoist group on its "group of concern" list. "Equidistance means not siding with one country against another. My exact meaning of equidistance is to have good relations with both the neighbors," the daily quoted him as saying. He also said the new government which is likely to be headed by his party will take "strong measures" against any anti-China activities in Nepal. "We will not tolerate anti-China activities on our soil and we will take strong administrative measures to control these activities," Dahal said. Compiled from reports
Indian Parties Back Maoists; Form Pressure Group To Propel Them To Power
Some parties belonging to the ruling United Progressive Alliance of India have come together to back the Maoists and press for the formation of a government led by its chairman in Nepal, reports Kantipur daily. Constituents of Nepal Democratic Movement Solidarity Committee – which had backed the democratic agitation in the country – held a meeting, Thursday, in New Delhi where they expressed dissatisfaction at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for 'staying in power against people's mandate.' "Koirala should clear the way for the formation of the government led by Maoist chief, as the chairman of the largest party. We are sad that he has not resigned yet," an Indian leader who participated in the meeting told Kantipur. The meeting also formed a pressure group including Sitaram Yechury, politburo member of Communist Party of India (Marxist); DP Tripathy, general secretary of Nationalist Congress; and D Raja, national secretary of CPI. The daily reports that the pressure group will press the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to support Koirala. "We demand that the Indian government does not support Koirala. We will meet with PM Singh on Saturday in this regard," the leader said. nepalnews.com reports
Nepal Starts Exporting Eggs
Nepal has recently started exporting eggs and chicken to Bhutan. "National Breeder has recently started exporting eggs to Bhutan," said Guna Chandra Bista, president of Nepal Hatchery Association (NHA) and executive chairman of Avinash Group of Poultry Industries that is the first hatchery of Nepal. Nepal is self-dependent on chicken and egg. Since the domestic production exceeds the consumption, it is started to be exported also. " Nepal had been self -dependent on eggs and chicken since last 10 years," he said, adding that it saves five to seven billion rupees. But he complained that they are forced to cut down the production to 60 percent due to rumors of bird flu. "The industry that has an investment of around Rs 13 billion needs a strong Poultry Policy. It is also one of the sectors that contributes handsomely to the GDP," he said. Government needs to bring a clear national policy to promote this business. "Due to unclear policy growth of the sector has stalled," he added. "We do not have Avian Policy and 20 to 30 percent of investment in the poultry farm is on live avian so there is no safety of our investment," an Osho disciple-turned-entrepreneur Bista, who is also known as Swami Krishnananda Bharati said. Nepal used to consume Rs 17 billion worth chicken in 2001. But it is reduced to around Rs 12.75 billion at present, he said adding, 'still domestic demand is around 0.2 million to 0.25 million chicken per day.' "The demand of egg is rising by two percent every year," he said, adding that the broiler chicken market is expanding by 10 to 12 percent. "It can expand more, if we have slaughter house," he added. Valley cold store is planning a slaughter-house that may help increase productivity and at the same time decrease price of chicken. He thinks that the business has more potential to increase as it is affordable and considered nutrition for the poor. The hatchery industry employs around 80,000 people directly and around three times more indirectly. "But it needs the government backing for sustainability," he added. Out of the total 80,000 people involved in the business 35 percent are in Chitwan only. Chitwan has 55 percent contribution in poultry business, whereas in hatchery Chitwan contributes 45 percent. Nepal is self-dependent on chicken feed also. "Not only that, Nepal exports chicken feed worth Rs 300 million to Rs 350 million," said Anada Bagaria, director of Pro Bio-Tech Industries, the largest Nepali chicken feed producer under Shakti brand. Nepal has many feed manufacturing units that have capacity up to 50,000 metric tons of production. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Panel Hits A Snag Over The Issue Of Integration Of Maoist Combatants
The three-party taskforce has hit a snag over the issue of integration of Maoist combatants, among others, and have decided to refer the issue for the consideration of top leaders. The taskforce comprising representatives of Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Maoists were to finalize the draft of understanding on constitution amendment and power sharing. But they could not agree on the issue of army integration, formation of security council, constitutional council and so on. "There are issues like management of Maoist combatants, their integration, the return of seized properties and formation of constitutional and security council, which have not been resolved yet," said Radheshyam Adhikari, a member of the taskforce and a leader of Nepali Congress (NC). Reports say that the Maoists have demanded 'collective' entry of UNMIN-verified Maoist combatants in the country's security force including the national army whereas other parties have said that such entry should be based on capability and qualification of individuals. The parties are also yet to decide on who would be the president and who would chair the CA. The government has also not nominated 26 CA members yet. Compiled from reports
'Indian Envoy's Remarks Against Diplomatic Norms'
Stating that the recent remarks and activities of Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood were against the diplomatic norms, Democratic National Youth Federation (DNYF), the youth wing of CPN (UML), Tuesday (June 10), submitted a memo to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Ajamber Kangbang Rai, the president of the youth organization, said they have asked Ambassador Sood to refrain from making unnecessary remarks on Nepal's internal affairs and "crossing the boundary of diplomatic norms". Ambassador Sood has of late been facing criticism from various quarters due to his regular meetings with Prime Ministers and top leaders of various political parties and often frank remarks on Nepal's politics. Sood, like his predecessors, intensified high-profile parleys with top leaders including Prime Minister Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Madheshi leader Upendra Yadav soon after coming to Kathmandu as the Indian envoy. On Monday, Sood had again called on Prachanda at his residence in Nayabazaar and discussed the thorny issue of power sharing among top political parties, although Maoist leaders themselves are against Kathmandu based ambassadors getting easy access to Prime Minister and top government ministers and political party leaders and openly making their views public on Nepal's internal matters. Compiled from reports
NEA And Bhotekosi Reach Settlement
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Bhotekosi Power Project have reached a settlement regarding the payment of excess power. After seven years of dispute, the two sides reached the agreement whereby the NEA has accepted to buy excess 9 MW of power generated by the project (in excess of its initial capacity of 36 MW) and the project will drop its demands for payment of Rs 610 million. The NEA will buy the excess power at the rate of Rs 1.62 per unit. Rest of the regular power will be purchased at Rs 8 (current rate) per unit. The agreement will take effect once the project renews its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NEA. Kantipur daily reports
Civil Society Up In Arms Over Govt Decision To Give Nagarjun To Ex King
Activists of civil society have decried the government for providing Nagarjuna palace to ex-King Gyanendra and a bungalow within Narayanhiti palace to his mother Ratna. Addressing a protest gathering in Maitighar Mandala, Monday (June 9), Shyam Shrestha said the decision was against the spirit of people's movement and Constituent Assembly's decision. "The palace has been given for indefinite period. This is against the spirit of people's mandate," he said. Nanda Krishna Joshi said the decision had saddened republican people. The activists warned of agitation against the decision. Meanwhile, a team of government officials as well as media led by Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and Information Minister Krishna Mahara inspected Nagarjuna palace on Monday evening. "It doesn't look like a palace. It is an ordinary house," Sitaula told reporters after inspecting the palace. Leading dailies report
