A delegation of senior Chinese military officials led by its deputy chief arrived in Kathmandu, Saturday.

The delegation coming close on the heels of the visit by Chinese foreign minister Yang Jeichi will hold talks with Nepalese officials on military cooperation and security, say reports.

The officials of the two countries have described the visit as routine exchange. However, an agreement on military cooperation is likely during the visit.

The 10-member delegation is led by Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian and includes four Major generals of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

“An agreement could be signed about the military aid of Rs 100 million announced during (my) China visit,” Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ told Kantipur daily.

Earlier, during his visit to Nepal, Chinese FM Jeichi had promised China’s support in strengthening Nepal’s security. nepalnews.com Dec 06 08

A senior Minister and a Maoist leader has said that ‘imperialists’ are controlling the government.

Despite communists being in power, the government is dancing to the tunes of the imperialists, said Minister for Law, Justice and CA Affairs Dev Gurung.

Speaking in Lamjung, Friday, Gurung said, “The government is there for name only. It is powerless to take decisions. It is powerless due to foreign imperial powers.”

He did not identify the foreign countries whom he accused of running the show.

“Everything is dictated by foreigners including petty matters like formulating laws,” he said.

He accused that some parties were aiding the imperialists who he claimed wanted to disintegrate the country.

“We are still in the mentality of launching movement for the liberation of the country and its people,” he added.

The current government is led by the Maoists. nepalnews.com Dec 06 08

Girija Prasad Koirala, former prime minister and president of Nepali Congress (NC), has urged for unity among democratic forces in order to what he called as attempt to foil totalitarian aspirations of the Maoists.

Girija Prasad Koirala (File Photo)

Girija Prasad Koirala (File Photo)
Addressing the Jana Jagaran rally in Kanchanpur district of far western Nepal, Saturday, Koirala said that Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was veering towards totalitarianism by speaking against democracy.

He said that the continued violation of past pacts and agreements by the Maoists would lead to their downfall.

He predicted that the Maoists, if they continue in this path, would have to return to either the jungle or India.

“The Maoists are pushing the country towards uncertainty by their rash behavior and violation of agreements,” he said.

Speaking at the program, senior leader of NC, Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the people were getting disappointed by the Maoists. nepalnews.com Dec 06 08

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has agreed to discharge around 3,000 Maoist combatants disqualified by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for being underage as prescribed by comprehensive peace agreement.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, speaks at a press conference at the end of her visit to Nepal in Kathmandu on Friday, Dec 05 08. nepalnews.com/rh

Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General…
At a press conference in Kathmandu, Friday, Radhika Coomaraswany, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict said that Prime Minister Prachanda has agreed to discharge all CPN-M child combatants in cantonments to resume civilian life by the end of February.

She said “We are very hopeful that the process will begin from December. We hope that it will be finished by the end of February. We have some hope in that regard but of course a lot depends upon how it is actually implemented. But that is our hope.”

She had met with PM Dahal earlier on Friday.

“The UN country team stands ready to support former CPN-M child combatants to resume civilian life as they look to their future in a new peaceful Nepal,” said the Special Representative, referring to the reintegration packages developed by UNICEF and UNDP which would be tailored to the children’s needs, skills and long-term aspirations, in collaboration with civil society and in compliance with international standards and guidelines including the Paris Principles.

Expressing concern regarding the impact on children due to continuing unrest in terai districts, she said that during her visit to Terai, she met children who had been forced to flee the ongoing violence and had become displaced as a result. Other children had run away from their homes, fearing recruitment by armed groups. They were also afraid of threats against their families if they refused to join, she said.

She urged to end all forms of violence to give a chance for children in Nepal to live in peace and security. nepalnews.com ia Dec 05 08

Experts from various countries have stressed on the need to enhance greater understanding of the effects of climate change so as to mitigate it adverse impacts in the Himalayas.

Speaking at a panel discussion on the “The Role of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Mountain System in the Context of a Changing climate” organised by the International Centre for Integrate Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in the capital Friday, they highlighted critical issues in addressing the adverse impact of climate change and suggested possible actions needed to adapt to and mitigate such challenges.

Deterioration of environmental quality, loss of biodiversity, and shortage of water, and the socioeconomic and environmental consequences for livelihoods, poverty, and food security in the Hindu Kush region were other key issues discussed by the experts at the discussion programme.

Similarly, the possible role of ICIMOD in enhancing adaptation and building the resilience of mountain communities in the HKH region was also discussed at the programme.

Dr Pitamber Sharma, vice-chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC), chaired the discussion.

The seven panelists who discussed the key issues and challenges faced by the region with the participants at the programme were Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Minister for Agriculture, Royal government of Bhutan; Prof Sun Honglie, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof A.N. Purohit, former vice-chancellor of H.N.B. Garhwal University, India; Dipak Gyawali, former Minister for water Resources, Government of Nepal; Dr. Amir Muhammed, former Federal Minister of Agricultural Research, Government of Pakistan; Dr. Christoph Beier, Direcvtor Asia and Latin America, GTZ; and Prof Bruno Messerli, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Foundation of Science.

ICIMOD organised this panel discussion to mark the occasion of its 25th Anniversary in order help raise awareness of the effects of climate change in the Himalayas and the implications for

The operation of the Manakamana cable car resumed after nearly a month, Friday, following an agreement by the agitating security guards to end their strike.

The guards of Garud Securities agreed to end their strike after an understanding was reached at the initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and Manakamana Darshan Private Limited.

According to a release issued by Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the guards agreed that their demands including rise in salaries would be met by their supplying agency Garud Security Services.

Earlier, they had demanded that Manakamana Darshan Pvt Limited increase their pay scales and facilities.

“The dispute was ended based on the principle that any organisation can recruit people from outside suppliers through outsourcing and that the benefits and salaries of such people would be the responsibility of the supplying agency,” the release adds. nepalnews.com sd Dec 05 08

General Secretary of CPN (UML) Jhala Nath Khanal has accused the CPN (Maoist), the party which is leading the coalition government, of continuing criminal activities and extortion despite being a part of the government.

Jhala Nath Khanal
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Parsa district convention of the party in Birgunj, Friday, Khanal said peace process and political progress could not go ahead due to the extremism of the Maoists because of which, he said, trust among the ruling parties is dwindling.

He also charged Nepali Congress on grounds that the party obstructed in constitution making process. Nowhere in the world a constitution making body had opposition, he said, adding NC must join government to ease drafting of constitution.

Urging NC to involve in army integration committee, Khanal asked NC and the Maoist to be flexible so that the process goes smoothly.

Khanal further said his party does not support one province in to-be-federal-Nepal since the terai districts do not have common language, culture or origins of people. nepalnews.com ia Dec 05 08

Rastriya Parjatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati Sumshere Rana on Friday insisted that the onus as well as the initiative falls on Nepali Congress (NC) to help realise an alliance of “pro-democracy parties”.

Rastriya Parjatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati Sumshere Rana speaking
at the Reporters Club Friday Dec 05 08. nepalnews.com/ANA
He, however, added the situation won’t allow them to move ahead [in that direction] by “completely bypassing the Maoists”.

“This is not a time to move ahead bypassing the Maoists or any other party,” he said, “This is a time to move ahead in a united manner.”

Rana, who was speaking at a interaction organised in the capital, was alluding to widespread talks about NC trying to forge a “democratic alliance” with RPP and few other rightist parties to strongly oppose the Maoists and the government it leads.

His remark also comes a day after NC president Girija Prasad Koirala stressed on the need for the democratic forces to come together to build a “democratic alliance”.

Rana also accused the NC of raising the issue of democratic alliance “only when it is trouble” and stressed the need for national unity at this difficult juncture, warning that the rift that “this sort of political polarisation” can bring into the country may be dangerous.

Claiming that political parties in the mainstream of national politics are committed towards democracy, Rana was of the belief that “national unity” should be held above everything else.

He said that during his meeting with the prime minister he had raised the issue of “broad understanding” between political parties and national unity and that the latter had given a patient ear to what he said. He said he also made the PM aware of the growing foreign interference in the country.

The RPP chief also took the opportunity to take a swipe at the government, saying that CPN (Maoist) which is leading the government and CPN-UML, which is the main coalition partner, are causing serious law and order problems with their paramilitary youth wings. nepalnews.com ag Dec 05 08

At least six passengers were killed and over 40 others injured when a packed bus met with an accident at Namichour in Gorkha district Friday morning.

The Ga-1-Kha 1011 passenger bus heading for Gorkha district headquarters from Masel area lost control and slammed into the wall, killing six passengers including a woman, reports said. Most of those traveling on the bus were students and teachers on their way to the district headquarters to participate in a function.

Four of those killed in the accident have been identified as Pradeep Shrestha, Man Bahadur Ramtel, Chhetra Kumar Shrestha and Bijay Thapa while the identity of the other two is yet to be confirmed, reports quoting local police officials said.

The injured passengers have been undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Gurkha Bazaar. nepalnews.com mk Dec 05 08

Nepali Congress acting president Sushil Koirala on Thursday took a swipe at the idea of integrating the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants with the Nepal Army (NA), reports the Himalayan Times.

Speaking at a program organized in Bara district, Koirala said, “They should be adjusted with other security agencies but now with the NA,” adding that his party, in no way would succumb to the proposition of amalgamating the Maoist fighters with the national army.

He also made a point to relate that none of the past agreements implied that the PLA should be incorporated with the NA.

He also jibed at the Maoist leadership for not returning the seized land and property to the rightful owners. nepalnews.com nd Dec 05 08