UML Leadership Won’t Change
Despite calls for the change in the leadership by some party leaders, the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) would not be witnessing such change in near future. Of late, a number of senior UML leaders including Bamdev Gautam had called for change in the party leadership. But as the date for the ninth central committee meeting approaches, such calls are dying down. Since most of the leaders and cadres have said that it could be suicidal to change party leadership at a time when the party is struggling against authoritarian regime, the issue is not going to be raised at the central committee meeting. “The central committee will, as in the past, advise the leadership to become more democratic, disciplined and overcome weaknesses. But these internal matters would not feature prominently in the meeting,” said a central committee member. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Dr. Bhattarai ‘Unsafe’
The general secretary of Unity Center-Masal (a radical leftist outfit) Mohan Bikram Singh has revealed that Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai informed him that he and his supporters were facing ‘physical threat’ within their party. Singh, who is himself an underground leader, made this revelation at a secret party cadre meeting held in the capital on Saturday (July 2). Singh had recently met with Bhattarai in New Delhi, India. And it is understood that Bhattarai expressed concern about the safety of himself and his supporters. “They are unsafe,” Singh is said to have told his party cadres. He also informed that Dr. Bhattarai feels that their safety would be further imperiled if they rebelled within the party (Maoist). Singh is a former political Guru of Bhattarai who left him to join the Maoists. Bhattarai had recently fell out with the Maoist chairman Prachanda and reports of rift between the two top leaders of the Maoists have come out frequently in media of late. Kantipur daily reports.
Ominous Warnings To Political Parties
A former army chief and a current member of Raj Parishad Standing Committee Satchit SJB Rana has asked why it is not appropriate to term the political parties who have openly stated of joining hands with the Maoists as ‘anti-national elements.’ Speaking at a program in the capital, Rana, said to be close to establishment, made the ominous threats against the political parties and asked them to support the King. Rana also expressed disappointment with the decision of the Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC) to give clean chit to former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba over Dashain fund distribution. He hoped that Deuba will be nailed on Melamchi charges. Meanwhile, another Raj Parishad member Yagya Prasad Acharya has said that the King is not afraid of going to elections for Constituent Assembly. He, however, added that everybody should be clear about its final consequences. He also said that since the objective of constituent assembly is not clear, it would be better to go for referendum to ask Nepalese people whether they want to stick with the present constitution or go for constituent assembly. Leading dailies report.
Maoists Kill 24 Against Their Stated Stand
Even though Maoist chairman Prachanda had directed – in the aftermath of Madi massacre – his cadres not to kill any unarmed civilian, even enemies, 24 common people have been killed in subsequent days. According to Public Relations Directorate (PRD) of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), two dozen civilians were killed in this period. Just on Friday (July 1), three persons including a veterinary doctor Janardan Acharya were shot to death by the Maoists in Bardiya district. They were shot when they were examining livestock at a local bazaar. Meanwhile, the RNA has set up special probe task force in all development regions apart from the Valley to investigate allegations of human rights abuses. Such task force will be led by a Colonel. At a press conference on Friday (July 1), RNA spokesperson Brigadier General Deepak Gurung informed that RNA had no information whether Nepalese Maoists were involved in recent attack in Bihar village. But he said there were ample evidence of deep connection between Nepalese and Indian Maoists based on confessions of joint trainings and other links made by Nepalese Maoists who were arrested in the past. Leading dailies report.
Budget To Be Sustainable By Internal Resources
Senior government planner has said that the government is making budget that can be sustained by internal resources. Dr. Shankar Sharma, vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC), said the budget will focus on poverty alleviation and give special emphasis towards poverty alleviation. “The government can raise about Rs 80 billion as revenue. Apart from that, the government could also effectively mobilize internal loans. Therefore, it would not be difficult to formulate budget totaling around Rs 100 billion,” Dr. Sharma said. He added that this year the government will collect Rs 72 billion as revenue and it would not be ambitious to expect the revenue collection would grow by 12 to 14 percent next year. He informed that development expenditure grew by 4 percent this year and said the government wished to increase this rate to 25 percent next year. He said that in the current fiscal year, around Rs 62 billion were spent as current expenditure. Meanwhile, former finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has said it is meaningless to debate on budget at a time when the country was devoid of political freedom. “The economy cannot take off unless democracy is restored and peace is returned,” he said. Leading dailies report.
Koirala To Hold Talks With The Maoists
Nepali Congress (NC) president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has declared that he would hold talks with the Maoists to restore peace in the country. “If others are not willing, I will hold the talks,” he said, addressing a program organized on Thursday to mark the Parliament Day. “For the sake of democracy and peace, I will hold talks with them openly not secretly like others. If I am put to prison for that, so be it.” Leading dailies report.
WB To Grant $60 Million For Education Project
The World Bank (WB) is planning to grant US$ 60 million for a five-year higher education reformation project, of which $ 48 million will be used for higher education, and $ 12 million will be used for 10+2. Senior education specialist at WB, Dr. Rajendra Dhoj Joshi, said the agreement will be signed as soon as the government implements the higher education policy. Out of the $ 48 million meant for higher education, $ 30 million will be used for decentralization to provide autonomy to TU campuses, provide block grants to smaller universities, and funds to public campuses on condition that they be transparent and accountable; $ 6 million will be used for research, PhD and MPhil courses, and $ 8 million for student grants and loans. Under the grant, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will give loans to campuses for needy students. A ‘Student Support Trust’ will be set up for the purpose. The remaining $ 4 million will be used to strengthen the UGC. The UGC Chairman professor Dr. Bidur Prasad Upadhyaya said the agreement would likely be signed by October. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Giri Roadblock In The Action Against Willful Defaulters
The revelations that the vice chairman of Council of Ministers Dr.Tulsi Giri was also included in the black-list of willful defaulters of bank loans has acted as roadblock in the smooth implementation of promised action against them. As a result of this revelation, the decision of the Council of Ministers taken one and a half month ago could not be implemented till now. The council had decided not to invite defaulters in public programs, not to give them public appointments and government level. But Giri himself was later found as having defaulted the payment of loan and interest amounting to Rs 17.4 million. Since the Finance Ministry has not drafted necessary letters, the action against all the defaulters have remain suspended. This has also suspended the ambitious Financial Sector Reforms Program. Likewise, the government has not yet responded to the request letter by Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) to impound passports of the defaulters. Meanwhile, reports say that Giri is holding close consultations with the officials of the NBL to settle the outstanding loan. Kantipur daily reports.
Gas Explosion In Singh Durbar
Twelve security personnel were injured due to a huge explosion that occurred near the headquarters of Valley Division of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) within the premises of Singh Durbar. The explosion took place when the soldiers were trying to put out a fire that had broken out due to electricity short circuit at the kitchen store of the Division. According to the Public Relations Directorate of the RNA, the fire triggered explosion of the cooking gas cylinder, kerosene heater and kerosene tin producing huge noise that led most people to think of a bomb explosion. Window panes were shattered and equipment were damaged due to the explosion. The Division office is located between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Home. The RNA directorate has said that two rooms of the Division office were damaged by the explosion. Two soldiers were injured while 10 others sustained simple wounds. The huge explosion had shaken nearby areas in Singh Durbar, Anam Nagar and Putali Sadak. Leading dailies report
Vice Chairmen Duo Enjoy Perks
Two vice chairmen of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri and Kirti Nidhi Bista are enjoying monthly special allowance of Rs 75,000 each apart from other benefits including salaries. This is the first time the members of the Council of Ministers enjoyed special allowance since the restoration of democracy in 1990. Earlier, Dr. Giri was given Rs 910,000 for renovation of his rented apartment. He is also pocketing Rs 60,000 a month to pay rent to the apartment. He has been staying in a separate rented house even though government quarters for ministers lie vacant. Likewise, Bista, too, had pocketed Rs one million ostensibly to renovate his residence. Both the vice chairmen duo receive monthly salary of Rs 21,000 – Rs 3000 more than what used to be given to deputy prime minister and Rs 1000 less than what used to be given to prime minister. Kantipur daily reports.
Poudel Released After Five Months Of Detention
Supreme Court (SC) ordered the release of Ram Chandra Poudel, former deputy prime minister and senior leader of NC, from detention in his home district of Tanahun. Poudel was released on the premises of Tanahun district court after it received a fax order issued by SC bench comprising of judges Min Bahadur Rayamajhi and Arjun Prasad Shrestha. The SC bench had directed the Home Ministry, Tanahun District Administration Office and Tanahun District Police Office to release him immediately in the presence of district court judge. A writ for habeas corpus had been filed at the SC last week terming his detention since February 1 as illegal. After his release, Poudel said that the current agitation will not end up with petty agreements. He said the parties should intensify their agitation to make the King bow down. Leading dailies report.
