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King issues ordinance to establish Armed Police Force

Kathmandu, 22 January: His Majesty King Birendra has issued a long-awaited ordinance to establish a 15,000 strong Armed Police Force (APF) to contain the Maoist rebellion, a government announcement said Monday. The King promulgated the decree on the advice of the council of ministers but the order has been criticised by various opposition groups because the Parliament is currently not in session.

Talks of establishing the APF came after the daring rebel attack that killed 14 policemen in Dunai, district headquarters of Dolpo district in west Nepal in September last year. The attack also resulted in the government's decision to deploy the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) for the first time at 16 of the nation's 75 administrative districts to help civilians.

The APF has been training under the RNA in counter-insurgency warfare and is said to be equipped with better weapons provided by the army. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has threatened to deploy the army if the new force also fails to contain the communist insurgency aiming to topple the monarchy and multi-party democracy. Koirala who was re-elected president of the ruling Nepali Congress party at its national convention Monday has been charged with failure to curb rebel activities.

Meanwhile the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has accused Koirala of bypassing the Parliament to issue the ordinance even when the his party holds a majority in the 205 member House of Representatives. Reports said the palace and the government finalized the final draft of the ordinance after several sittings. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Village chief mauled, police post set ablaze

Kathmandu, 22 January: A group of armed Maoists set a police post ablaze at Kharang village in Shankhuwasabha district Sunday night, police said. The rebels attacked the post when the police were on patrol.

In another incident in Kailai district insurgents broke the limbs of Bal Bhadaur Bista, deputy chief of Chuha village Sunday night. The Maoists attacked Bista who refused to surrender weapons to the rebels on demand. He is undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in Nepalgunj.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

CPN-UML central committee meets 

Kathmandu, 22 January: The central committee of the main opposition party CPN-UML met today in the party's central office in Balkhu, Kathmandu. According to secretary at the central office Bhim Acharya, the meeting discussed current political situation of the country and party's future strategy.

The meeting concluded that the present condition of the country was due to the inability of the Nepali Congress to govern.

"Maoist insurgency, deteriorating law and order, rising inflation, corruption, economic slump and
unemployment are some the burning problems facing the country," said a press statement issued by the party. The main opposition also accused the present government of failing in every front. "The meeting decided that CPN-UML has to take initiatives to solve the problems of the country", he said. It also decided to build public opinion nationwide for the amendment in some provisions of the constitution as proposed by the party sometime ago. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

Koirala wins 64 percent votes

Pokhara, Jan 22: Nepali Congress strongman Girija Prasad Koirala was elected for a second term as president by delegates at  the 10th General Convention on Monday.

Koirala received 944 or 64 percent of the votes cast on Monday while his challenger Sher Bahadur Deuba got 506. The third contestant for the post of party president Ram Hari Joshi received 10 votes.

Altogether 1468 delegates, of the 1477, voted on Monday of which eight were declared invalid.

The counting of votes for 18 members of the Central Working Committee is still underway and party sources say all results should be in in a couple of hours. Nepalnews.com/bb

Kathmandu, 22 January: Swiss philanthropist and social worker Teo baba who arrived in Nepal some 25 years ago after selling all his belongings for 50,000 francs, died Monday morning after a long battle with bone cancer. The bearded Baba was admitted to hospital in the capital three days ago.

"This is a very sad day. He had been suffering for about seven months. His health started declining about one month ago," said a grieved Ram Lama, a waiter at Meggi Restaurant, Jhochhen, where the late baba had been a regular. Baba,71, was a familiar figure in Basantapur Square and stayed in a rented room in the restaurant.

Some of his donations included 58,000 Swiss francs to the Nepal Paropakar Sansthan, a priceless necklace to Palanchok Bhagabati in Kavre and contributions to a children's village in Duwakot, Bhaktapur. He also installed a clock at Aakash Bhairab in Indrachowk. Nepalnews.com/br/at

ADB President to visit Nepal

Kathmandu, 22 January: Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Chino Tadeo will pay an official three-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of the government from Wednesday, a source said Monday. The chief of the Manila based Bank will visit Baglung, Parbat, and Pokhara on Friday the last day of his visit. ADB approves an average $80 million in loans to Nepal annually. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Chamber repeats security demands

Kathmandu, 22 January: Nepal Chamber of Commerce has again demanded "peace and security to help the country's industrial and trade sector flourish" following fresh reports of vandalism and looting. "The growing attacks on industries and business houses, looting and robbery have made industrialists and businessmen feel insecure. Such a situation is inimical to investment promotion, the country's economic development and tourism promotion," a statement issued by the Chamber
said Sunday.

The statement comes after an armed gang raided the Jyoti Spinning Mills in Birgunj and looted Rs one million while another businessman from Siddarthanagar was also robbed in the latest incidents, the Chamber said. Maoists and unsocial elements have been blamed for the attacks.  Several joint venture industries have also been threatened to pullout from Nepal.

Several western governments have asked their nationals not to visit Maoist affected districts and banks have withdrawn to district headquarters from villages where they are vulnerable to attacks by rebels. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Koirala, Sheikh Hasina to exchange visits

Kathmandu, 22 January: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina Wajed are to exchange visits later this year, Nepali and Bangladesh officials said. Wajed’s Nepal visit will be finalised after the ongoing session of Parliament in Dhaka, according to the Bangladeshi Minister for Local Bodies and General Secretary of the ruling Awami League, Mohammad Zillur. Zillur is in Nepal to participate in the ongoing 10th General Convention of the Nepali Congress. Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola had announced Koirala’s impending visit to Bangladesh earlier this month. Nepalnews.com/br/at

66 candidates for the Central Working Committee

Pokhara, 21 January: The Nepali Congress party is electing a new president and 18 members of its Central Working Committee (CWC) today, which analysts said would determine how the fifty year party moves toward institutionalisation. The election will also serve as a preview of the party’s emerging leadership.

Incumbent Girija Prasad Koirala faces former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in the election to the party’s top post and at last count there were 66 candidates contesting for the CWC memberships. Another senior Congress Ram Hari Joshy is also contesting for the job of party president but analysts give him little chance of putting up a good show let alone win.

The voting began on Monday morning and the first results are expected by late evening. Ninety candidates had filed nomination papers for the CWC seats of which 21 withdrew their candidacies and three were disqualified. The remaining 18 members of the CWC will be appointed by the new president.

Among those that withdrew include Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, the Minister of Information and Communication who was in news recently over a decision to gag FM radios and the prime minister’s daughter Sujata Koirala who’s has been trying to get a foothold in the party for the past few years.

The 10th General Convention of the Nepali Congress party ends on Tuesday morning. Nepalnews.com/yl/rh/at

Three candidates disqualified for CWC

Kathmandu, 21 January: Sujata Koirala daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, along with Surya Prasad Regmi and Ram Chandra Tiwari have been disqualified to contest for the Central Working Committee membership (CWC) in the 10th General Convention of the Nepali Congress (NC) being held in Pokhara. The three disqualified were among 90 NC workers, who had filed their nominations for the 37 member CWC 18 of whom are to be directly elected by the representatives of the general convention. 20 others have also pulled back their nomination from the CWC membership election today.

Sujata’s nomination for the CWC was rejected by the election committee of the party on grounds that she did not meet the required qualification of ten years of active membership in the party. The amended constitution of the Nepali Congress stipulates that one has to be an active party member for ten continuos years. She immediately protested the rejection of her nomination describing it as a conspiracy against her. Issuing a statement in Pokhara today, Sujata accused some senior leaders of the party of "…hatching conspiracy against me and denying my right to contest for the CWC." She did not however specifically name any one.Nepalnews.com/yl/rh/at

Kathmandu, 21 January: King Birendra greeted George W Bush who was sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States of America, Saturday. "Nepal always values her friendship with the United States of America and her support in our development efforts. The close and friendly relations existing between Nepal and the United States will be further strengthened during your term of office," the King said.

Koirala said he "…looked forward to working with Bush to further enhance the existing friendly relations between the two countries for mutual benefit." Nepalnews.com/br/at

NEPSE dips further

Kathmandu, 21 January: The NEPSE index again fell by 4.92 points at the end of five-day trading Friday. The market opened at 462.59 points Monday and closed at 458.37 points Friday. Altogether 39,449 shares of 40 companies valued at Rs.31.35 million were sold through 609 transactions—down from Rs.36.40 million the previous week.

Shares of Lumbini Finance and Leasing Company were listed for the first time at the stock market for trading. The NEPSE index of commercial banks fell to 538.67 from 546.17 points. Altogether 92.02 percent shares of commercial banks exchanged hands during the week. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Official killed, Maoists injured

Kathmandu, 21 January: A customs official was killed and a Maoist injured in an exchange of gunfire at a village in Sindhupalchowk Friday night. Customs Inspector Shridhar Bhattarai died on the spot, while a Maoist was injured by a bullet fired by Bhattarai. Chief District Officer Bhanubhakta Pokhrel and three other officials escaped, and rebels decamped with money, goods, and three revolvers.

Earlier reports said Bhattarai and Pokhrel managed to escape as 50 rebels ambushed them along the Arniko highway.

In another incident Thursday, a Maoist was injured in Jarmi village in Ilam district in an exchange of gunfire with police. Nepalnews.com/br/at

National Assembly delegation Phnom Penh bound

Kathmandu, 20 January: Chairman of the National Assembly Dr Mohammad Mohasin left for Phnom Penh Saturday heading a 5-member Nepalis parliamentary team to attend the first convention of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) to be held in the Cambodian capital from 22-26 January. 

The team includes National Assembly members Dr Dilli Raj Khanal and Hari Acharya, joint secretary Dr Ramhari Aryal, and under secretary Purusottam Ghimire. Nepalnews.com/br/at

NC amends party statue, three nominations for president

Kathmandu, 20 January: The first closed session of the 10th National Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress approved the amendment in the statute of the party that was put forth on behalf of the now dissolved Central Working Committee (CWC). 

As per the new amendment 50 per cent members of the 37-member CWC are to be elected from the general convention while the other half are to be nominated by the party president. 

Earlier only one central committee member used to be elected from each of the five development regions. The amended statute also bars any NC worker to hold any party post for more than two terms. 

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Hari Joshi have formally registered nominations for the post of president of the Nepali Congress. The time for nomination was fixed until 5pm Saturday. Similarly 90 people have filed nominations for the 18 seats of the CWC, to be elected by the convention. 

The date for lodging complaint against any candidate is fixed for Sunday. The final list of the candidates would also be published Sunday, according to election committee of the party. Election for both president and central committee members will be held on Monday.

The national convention of the party began Friday and the closed session that started Saturday has so far approved the amendment proposal put forward by the previous central committee of the party. The previous central working committee was dissolved in the first closed session today. A presidium was formed to conduct the proceedings of the convention and election for the central leadership. Nepalnews.com/yl/rh/at