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Kathmandu, 10 January: The standing committee of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPNUML), the second most powerful body after the central working committee, announced Thursday its campaign to oust the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) from the government.

The main opposition held the ruling party responsible for all kind of problems in the country over the last ten years. The standing committee, previously known as the politburo, reached the conclusion that since NC was in government most of the time after the restoration of democracy in 1990, it must take responsibility for all ills and evils afflicting Nepals political, social and economic fronts. In a statement issued after their meeting on Thursday the CPN-UML said: The Nepali Congress needs to be removed from government in order to solve the countrys burning problems.

However, the CPN-UML publicly announced its intention to stay away from internal conflicts in the NC to oust Koirala from the post of PM or the party presidency within the party. Since there would be no substantial difference between the two factions of the Nepali Congress, our party does not want to support any of them, the CPN-UML central secretary announced.

The standing committee also concluded that the Maoist insurgency was the most burning problem of the day and that the issue could not be solved as long as the present government remained in power. CPN-UML has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on moral grounds, and demanded that he take responsibility for all problems and violent incidents in the country in the past.

The main opposition party has accused the government of failing to maintain law and order and ensure economic development in the country. The official reaction of the main opposition follows the turmoil within the ruling NC party and speculation that both camps of the NC were striking a secret deal with the main opposition party to support their political move. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

7 Maoist insurgents surrender

Kathmandu, 10 January: Seven Maoist insurgents surrendered to the government in Salyan, about 400 km west of Kathmandu, Tuesday. According to police, those who surrendered have condemned the violence perpetrated by Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in the name of peoples war and expressed willingness to live a peaceful life.

Those who surrendered to the government are Lok Bahadur Dangi, Sushma Chand (Dangi), Chhetra Bahadur Dangi, Ekraj Oli, Keshav Chand, Tilak Rana and Dambar Bahadur Oli.

Police said those who surrendered were actively involved in the armed insurgency seeking to topple the present multi-party democratic system and monarchy but were doing it under pressure and intimidation. Salyan is one of the most insurgency active districts where Maoists aim to establish a one-party communist state like the one Mao Tse Tung did in China in 1949. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

New NCRS executive committee

Kathmandu, 10 January: A new central executive committee of the Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRC) was elected at its 11th annual general meeting held recently. Diwakar Rajkarnikar is chairperson while Dr Surendra Bahadur Bade Shrestha, Dhruba Bahadur Rawal, Kapila Joshi, Gajendra Man Rajbansi, Jit Bahadur Shrestha, Kedar Prajapati, Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Laxmi Bahadur Nirala, Pradip Man Vaidya, Dr Manohar Lal Shrestha, Devaki Adhikari and Bhanu Prakash Joshi are the other members of the newly elected executive committee.

The Nepal Cancer Relief Society was formed more than a decade ago to cancer patients in Nepal and build infrastructure for cancer treatment and generate awareness about cancer. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

1513 killed, 380 kidnapped in five years

Kathmandu, 10 January: A total of 1513 people have been killed, 256 injured, and 380 kidnapped in the last five years of the Maoist insurgency launched by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in different parts of Nepal, a top police officer disclosed.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajendra Bahadur Singh said that of the 1513 killed, 999 were insurgents, 251 police personnel, 252 innocent civilians and 11 children. A total of 565 police personnel were also injured in clashes with insurgents, Singh said. Similarly 380 persons, including 39 policemen, were kidnapped by Maoist insurgents in the last five years. Of the 39 kidnapped policemen, 3 were killed in Maoist custody, he said.

Asked how many insurgents had been arrested so far, DIG Singh said that police arrested 5,943, and criminal cases were registered against 1656. The others have already been released, he added.
Nepalnews.com/yl/at

FM Bastola begins tour

Kathmandu, 9 January: Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is currently in Bangladesh for a four-day official visit, held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abus Samaz Azad in Dhaka today. According to spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues pertaining to bilateral and regional matters figured prominently during the talks between the Nepalese and Bangladeshi Foreign Ministers.

Among the issues raised in the talks were the Nepal-Bangladesh trade via the Kakarbhitta-Phulabari-Bangabandh transit route, and cooperation and possibility of holding the postponed SAARC Summit in Kathmandu figured more prominently. 

Despite the opening of the Kakarbhitta-Phulabari-Bangabandh road, Nepal has not been able to benefit to a desired extent. Bastola has already said that his visit would focus more on strengthening infrastructure relating to the trade via this route. The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister assured that his country would give favourable consideration to Nepal's proposals.

Foreign Minister Bastola started his four-day official visit to Bangladesh from Monday at the invitation of Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Azad. Bastola's visit is also exploring possibilities expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two nations. Nepalnews.com/y/at

Nationwide campaign against Koirala begins

Kathmandu, 9 January: As announced earlier, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba began his nationwide campaign to dislodge Prime Minister and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala from the party leadership from the eastern region today.

Deuba has announced his candidacy for the Nepali Congress president to be elected by the forthcoming national convention after his effort to oust Koirala from the prime minister ship failed. He said, ".since a majority members of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party rejected the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Koirala, the campaign will be shifted to oust Koirala from party presidency".

His campaign against Koirala will start from the eastern region and conclude in the far western region, where his electoral constituency also lies.

On the first day of his battle for party presidency Deuba arrived at Biratnagar, the Prime Minister
Koirala's hometown, where he said; " Koirala must either relinquish the party presidency or premiership in order to create genuine unity in the party".

Talking to journalists in Biratnagar airport today, Deuba said that his campaign against Koirala would not end until Koirala agrees to hand over leadership to the younger generation. He accused Koirala of trying to sideline his dissidents from the party. "My campaign is against this attitude," he said.

Deuba has clearly emerged as a strong leader after Koirala giving a stiff challenge to Koirala in every
front. Although Koirala is likely to be elected party president in the forthcoming national convention, he will certainly be facing a tough challenge from Deuba who has repeatedly rejected the result of the no confidence motion against Koirala. Deuba claims that the no trust motion was rejected even without putting it for discussion in the NC parliamentary party and that the motion is still alive.

56 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress led by Deuba had registered a no confidence motion against Koirala. 69 parliamentarians rejected the motion saying that they had full faith in Koirala's leadership. There was no vote in favour of the motion because 41 lawmakers led by Deuba boycotted the parliamentary party meeting protesting the decision of open voting on the motion.
Two MPs abstained while one Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was absent in the voting. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

FNCCI  demands security

Kathmandu, 9 January: Amidst fresh attacks against businesses and industries, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has demanded enhanced security at business establishments. 

In a statement issued after recent arson attacks at two businesses in Birgunj and Pokhara the Federation said: "FNCCI condemns the activities that have destroyed industry and
personal property in recent days. We have been asking the government to improve security for the protection of industry and personal property and reiterate our demand keeping in view that growing disorder in the country will not only discourage investment but also terrorise people."

The underground Maoist movement has been blamed for the arson attack in Birgunj that destroyed goods worth Rs 60 million. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Foreign Minister Bastola leaves for Dhaka

Kathmandu, 8 January: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola left today for Dhaka on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Abus Samaz Azad.

Talking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport prior to his departure, Foreign Minister Bastola said he would discuss several bilateral and regional issues during his meeting with Bangladeshi leaders and officials. "Bilateral trade, possibilities of holding the postponed SAARC Summit and other regional issues will be discussed during the visit," he said.  

However the main focus of his visit will be to strengthen infrastructure relating to trade and push
for the reinforcement of the 45 km Fulbari-Banglaband road inside Bangladesh to smooth transport of goods and improve facilities at Mangala port. Despite the opening of this route, one that could be used to boost bilateral trade and gain better access for Nepal's overseas trade, the country has not benefited much because of poor infrastructure.

Land-locked Nepal is trying to develop an alternate, viable seaport in Bangladesh to overcome clogging at the Indian ports of Calcutta and Haldia and reduce handling costs.

Bastola will also discuss an American initiative to simultaneously exploit water potential in Nepal, gas in Bangladesh and petroleum in India with Bangladeshi leaders. He is also expected to prepare the groundwork for the visit of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to Bangladesh later this year, officials said.

Nepal and Bangladesh will discuss signing a transport accord to start direct bus service between the two countries through West Bengal state in India.

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel will look after the portfolio of Foreign Minister during the
absence of Foreign Minister Bastola, a notice of Principal Secretariat of His Majesty the King said.
Nepalnews.com/yl/br/at

Sadbhavana protest disrupts highway traffic

Kathmandu, 8 January:Highway traffic was disrupted in Siraha district in the tarai Monday when
Nepal Sadbhavana Party activists held protests demanding compensation for those killed or injured during the recent riots that took place in several parts of the nation. At least two persons were killed and many injured in clashes between protestors and police in last week's mayhem in Janakpur and Rajbiraj. 
The tarai based Nepal Sadbhavana Party said it will hold strikes protesting the violence even as other national parties hold peace rallies to restore communal harmony. The government has asked the party to suspend its agitation and has agreed to hold talks on Thursday. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Unidentified miscreants torch vehicles

Kathmandu, 8 January: Two vehicles were destroyed at Chipledhunga, Pokhara when some unidentified masked men armed with Khukuris hurled petrol bombs at the parked vehicles on Sunday. The attack took place during a load shedding period in the evening and slightly injured one of the drivers. The attackers are at large. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Young ostriches struggling to survive

Kathmandu, 8 January: Two of the four young ostriches that were exchanged for a pair of leopards with Malaysia in October are struggling for survival in the Capital's zoo. Although the ostriches are suffering from severe leg injuries the veterinarians treating them are hopeful. 

"They are alright. We hope they will survive. We are hopeful the bones will re-attach," said RK Shrestha of the Jawalakhel Zoo. "Right now they are suspended from a ceiling with supports. They will stay in this condition for several more days." An x-ray is to be taken to find out if the bones have healed. One ostrich died on arrival after being imported from a farm. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Joint Nepal-Mongolian mountaineering expeditions

Kathmandu, 8 January: 
The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and the Mongolian Mountaineering Association (MMA) signed an agreement Saturday to launch joint expeditions to scale one peak each in Mongolia and Nepal this year. The expedition will attempt to climb the virgin peak Altai Twan Bogd (height unknown) in Mongolia in June this year, while another expedition will attempt to scale a 8000 metre high peak in Nepal in autumn, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) said. The Nepal 
peak to be scaled has not been selected as yet.

The presidents of the two associations Tashi Jangbu Sherpa of NMA and R. Zoring of MMA signed an agreement Saturday to launch the expeditions. The NMA has helped an all-women Mongolian expedition scale the 5844 metres high Naya Kanga in 1994 after a co-operation agreement was signed between NMA and MMA in 1993. Nepalnews.com/br/at 

Nepal to train Mongolian peace keepers

Kathmandu, 7 January: Nepal has agreed to train Mongolian peace keepers for United Nations peace keeping operations world-wide, an announcement said Sunday.

Mongolia has also agreed to open an office of an honorary consul general in Nepal- a move welcomed by Nepal.

Mongolian President Natsagiin Bagabandi invited King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya to visit Mongolia at convenient dates to be determined through diplomatic channels. The Mongolian President also invited Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to visit Mongolia.

These were stated in a joint communiqué released at the end of a three-day state visit of President
Bagabandi to Nepal- the first by a Mongolian President to Nepal. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Deuba Koirala battle continues 

Kathmandu, 7 January: In a bid to woo dissidents and narrow differences with detractors within
his own party, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala hosted a tea party for the lawmakers of the ruling party at his Baluwatar official residence today. In the tea party, Premiere Koirala called upon all lawmakers to adopt the approach of "forget and forgive" for the unity in the party and consolidation of democracy in the country. He said the chapter of no confidence motion has been closed and all party members need to concentrate their efforts to make the forthcoming national convention of the party a grand success and further strengthen the party by making an unprecedented unity in the Nepali Congress.

Koirala's move came following the boycott of the open voting in the no confidence motion against him by 41 members of parliament led by Sher Bahadur Deuba. Benup Raj Prasai, secretary of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party, conducted open voting in the no confidence motion registered by 56 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress against the Prime Minister even while the Deuba camp demanded secret ballot. 69 of 113 Nepali Congress parliamentarians voted against the no confidence motion saying they had faith in Koirala's leadership.

Deuba rejected the result of the voting on no confidence motion against Koirala and said that their motion was still alive. They have announced to continue campaign to dislodge Koirala from party as well as government leadership. For his part, the rebel leader organised a dinner today for the lawmakers who supported him in the recent bid to oust the prime minisiter.

Koirala meanwhile has shown a conciliatory tone following the decision of the no
confidence motion, which his detractors have taken as their moral victory. But an aide to Deuba said that despite Koirala's accommodative tone, the Deuba camp would not abandon their campaign against Koirala, "come may what".Nepalnews.com/yl/at

CPN-UML to hold Mechi-Mahakali peace march

Kathmandu, 7 January: The main opposition party CPN-UML is to hold a Mechi-Mahakali peace march appealing to people to maintain peace, stability and social and communal harmony in the country. The standing committee of the CPN-UML, second most powerful body of the party, that met today decided to hold the Mechi-Mahakali peace rally starting next week.

Yuva Raj Gyawali, standing committee member, issued a statement today saying that the meeting condemned the recent violent incidents in the country that killed seven people. " The meeting came to conclusion that the communal violence in different parts of the country was instigated by those elements who wanted to weaken Nepal's nationalism and democracy", the press release said. According to Gyawali, the objective of peace march is to build public opinion for communal harmony in the country.

There are ten members in the standing committee (previously known as politburo) of the CPN-UML. The standing committee members are party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Khadga Prasad Oli, Amrit Kumar Bohora, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Modnath Prashrit, Ishwar Pokhrel, Pradip
Nepal, Yuva Raj Gyawali, Jhalanath Khanal and Mukunda Neupane. Nepalnews.com/yl/at  

Soldiers on rampage after disputed goal

Kathmandu, 9 January: Linesman Laxman Shrestha and several policemen were severely injured when Royal Nepal Army personnel spectators turned violent during the quarter finals between the Tribhuvan Club and Manang Marsyangdi Club at the Birthday Cup football tournament that took
place in Dasrath Rangashala Monday. Defending champion Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) trounced Tribhuvan Club of the army 3-0 in the quarterfinal.

A large crowd of RNA soldiers both in and out of uniform hurled stones and mineral water bottles at the linesman after a controversial call by him was taken in favour of the MMC. The soldiers who had to come to watch their club couldn't handle it after a third goal was scored in favour of the MMC and started getting violent. The agitated soldiers snatched batons from nearby policemen placed on duty to control the crowd and severely beat them after a penalty kick was converted into a goal six minutes before the end of play. Police charged at the soldiers in the stands with sticks and nabbed an army man who was again freed by other army personnel eyewitnesses said. Senior military personnel and sports officials intervened to bring the riot under control.

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) formed an inquiry committee after meeting in an emergency session and has decided to act upon its recommendations. Nepalnews.com/br/at