Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav on Friday asked Vice President Parmananda Jha not to go around expressing his dissatisfaction over political parties in public functions and be content with the power vested on him by the [interim] constitution.

Minister Yadav whose party Madhesi Janadhikar Forum had proposed the name of the former Supreme Court judge for the vice-presidential post, however, admitted that the jurisdiction and role of the President and Vice President haven’t been clearly defined in the interim constitution and that they should accept whatever role or jurisdiction they are exercising at present until a new constitution is not drafted, while trying to describe the displeasure of VP Jha who is apparently miffed over not being given any role and which came to light when he accused the political parties of dillydallying in the constitution-making process and described the army integration special committee as being “unconstitutional”.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Madhesi Journalists Society in Janakpur where he arrived to address his party’s regional assembly, he also threatened that the party would not remain in the government “for even a second” if the government is found not serious towards implementing past agreements and understandings done with the Madhesi parties.

Yadav reiterated his party’s stance against the army integration, warning that the nation may have to face “serious consequences” if the government goes ahead with it. He didn’t elaborate further.

Lately, FM Yadav has assigned his party leader Renu Yadav, who holds the portfolio of education minister, to talk against army integration.

He also raised objection against the recent political appointments made by the government, alleging that it clearly flouted the government’s pledge to be inclusive.

Similarly, he also informed that the Indian government was very positive towards “Terai Road Project” and expanding Nepal’s railways during his visit there few months back. nepalnews.com ag Nov 07 08

Vice President Parmananda Jha today defended the controversial public speech he gave on Wednesday accusing the political parties of dillydallying in the constitution-making process and describing the army integration special committee as being unconstitutional.

Vice-president Parmananda Jha
Speaking to reporters in Biratnagar, VP Jha said he was “compelled to speak up” as the parties breached the interim constitution by speaking against federalism. He also insisted that the media and the parties misinterpreted his views in order to drag him into controversy.

Maintaining that the job of the President and the Vice President is to protect the constitution, Jha said he simply wanted to caution the parties [against violating the constitution].

Jha appeared pretty confident when he said he had not done anything that would call for an impeachment motion. He instead retorted saying the parties that are talking about impeachment deserve to be impeached.

The Vice President’s reaction came a day after two major ruling parties – CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) – raised strong objection to his comment on the role of the parties and the army integration special committee.

A meeting of joint panel of the two parties held on Thursday concluded the Vice President’s views as “unconstitutional” and urged the Prime Minister to follow this issue. nepalnews.com mk Nov 07 08

As the dispute over army integration and the special committee to oversee the entire process deepens further, leaders of Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition party which is acting as a major stumbling block on the whole matter, have started to make claims and counter claims to ram home the point that it is against the country’s interest.

Acting- president of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala on Friday warned of mutiny inside the Nepal Army if the Maoist PLA combatants are integrated into it.

Koirala, a nephew of party president Girija Prasad Koirala who’s resignation from the post following his embarrassing defeat in the Constituent Assembly election is still under review inside the party, also warned that his party would launch a nationwide movement if the government goes ahead with the integration process.

NC is already running a nationwide “awareness campaign” since the past two weeks to oppose Maoist-led government’s major agendas including army integration.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Press Union Rupandehi in mid-western town of Butwal, he said that the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists in August 2006 states that Maoist PLA combatants would be integrated into the security forces but not particularly the Nepal Army.

He also vowed to bring the Maoists “into its knees” on the issue of the army integration.

Koirala also made it clear that NC decided not to participate in the special committee on army integration as it was formed without any consultation with the party.

Meanwhile, toning down his rhetoric a little bit former prime minister and senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that his party is not against “integration and rehabilitation” of PLA combatants, but maintains that it should be done as per the peace accord. Deuba, however, didn’t elaborate further.

Speaking at a press meeting organized by Press Union Kanchapur in far-western town of Mahendranagar, Deuba however said that the special committee on army integration was formed violating the past agreements and understandings.

Deuba also threw his weight behind Vice President Parmananda Jha who during a speech on Wednesday called the special committee on army integration as “unconstitutional” nepalnews.com ag Nov 07 08

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (R) hands over a mountain bike to Nepali cyclist Sajan Rajbansi while inaugurating the ‘XIV Asian Mountain Bike Championship 2008’ in Kathmandu, Thursday, Nov 06 08. Thirteen Asian countries are participating in the championship which will be held from November 6-10. nepalnews.com/NPA

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (R) hands over a mountain bike to Nepali…
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Thursday inaugurated the 14th Asian Mountainbike Championship where 66 players from 13 countries are taking part. Speaking at the inauguration, the PM said, “This is an honour for us to organize an Asian level championship in Nepal.”

A-2-day event will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Seven Nepalese players are taking part in cross country and down hill category.

Minister of Youth and Sports Gopal Shakya, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Prachanda Man Shrestha, Asian Cycling Association President Cho Hee Wook, chief coordinator of the organising committee Gopal Sundar Lal Kakshapati and Nepal Cycling Association President Chhimi Urken Gurung among others, were present on the occasion.

Suresh Kumar Dulal, Dhanjit Rai, Deependra Bajracharya and Padam Sabenhang will represent Nepal in the Elite Men’s Cross Country event while Nirjara Tamrakar will be the solitary biker from the host nation in the Elite Women’s Cross Country race.

Likewise, Sajjan Rajbanshi and Ashil KC will lead the Nepalese challenge in the Elite Men’s Down Hill race. nepalnews.com bt Nov 07 08

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the two neighboring countries India and China cannot leave Nepal behind languishing in under-development while they continue to march towards prosperity.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Speaking at a programme organised to celebrate ‘Waterfall festival’ in Okhaldhunga district, Thursday, PM Dahal said, “It will not be good for them if India and China leave us behind. I have told this during my meeting with leaders of both the countries.”

He, however, added that if Nepal becomes more prosperous than India and China, it will have positive effect on the whole region.

At the programme, PM Dahal recalled how he dreamed of building east-west highway through middle hills in the past.

“Even during the period of people’s war, I used to dream about the east-west highway across the middle hills with link roads in places,” he said. nepalnews.com sd Nov 07 08

A central leader of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has said that his party and the Maoists have agreed to change the Terms of Reference of the special committee on army integration.

Following the meeting between the high-level mechanism of the two parties, Thursday, UML leader Bhim Rawal said, “We did not find big difference between the current ToR and the seven-point agreement reached a few months ago. But there were some differences, which we decided should be corrected so that the ToR is completely in line with the agreement among the parties.”

The decision to change the ToR was made in order to attract the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) to join the special committee.

“The NC, too, has been saying that the special committee should be in line with the seven point agreement,” Rawal said.

Owing to the non participation in the committee by NC, it has not been able to start its function. nepalnews.com sd Nov 07 08

Kirat Workers Party (KWP), an insurgent group operating in the eastern hills, has said it is ready to sit for talks with the government if the latter fulfills some of its conditions.

Describing the government’s talks offer as positive, KWP in a press statement on Thursday said the government should create an environment for dialogue by releasing the detained KWP cadres and guarantee security to its negotiators.

The armed group, which has carried out minor attacks on police posts in remote parts of eastern districts, also asked the government to immediately fix the date for talks.

KWP’s statement comes at a time when the government’s talks team has said it is preparing to hold talks with the armed groups of Terai and eastern hills very soon.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam yesterday revealed that the government’s talks team has so far established contact with 14 armed groups as part of its attempt to bring them to the negotiating table. nepalnews.com mk Nov 06 08

Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai on Thursday asked private educational institutions of the country to look for “alternative means for [making] investments” as, according to him, it is the state’s responsibility to provide basic education and health to its people.

The Maoist second-in-command said the [failed] education policy of the past governments had encouraged private investment in the education sector, carefully hinting that the new education policy of the Maoist led government wouldn’t require private investment in the same.

He thanked the private educational institutions “for the past help and support”, and said that they better look for alternatives for their investments.

“The state will take the responsibility for providing basic health and education to the people,” he said, requesting that the rather novel approach should not be taken in otherwise.

Bhattarai made these remarks while speaking at an interaction organised by the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) in the capital today.

At the same programme, he disclosed another shocker saying the government is preparing to distribute academic certificates through open universities to those individuals – whom he referred to as “our friends” – who could not receive formal education due to their involvement in the Maoist war.

“Our friends who could not pursue education due to their involvement in the armed conflict but have the necessary skills and knowledge should also receive due [academic] recognition,” he said, adding that their “skills and knowledge” should be changed into academic degrees and distributed through an open university. nepalnews.com ag Nov 06 08

A British Gurkha soldier has been killed in Taliban attack in the Afghan province of Helmand.

Rifleman Yubraj Rai
Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, died from wounds sustained during an operation south of Musa Qala in the southern province of Helmand on November 4. He is the 122nd British soldier and the first Gurkha killed in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion to oust the Taliban government.

“It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Yubaraj Rai, of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles,” British Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday, adding, “While working alongside a fellow Gurkha, Rifleman Rai received a gunshot wound from enemy fire. He received medical treatment at the scene but died a short time later from his wounds.”

Rai was taking part in a joint operation by NATO and Afghan troops against enemy forces to the south of Musa Qala.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Darby, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, said, “Yubraj Rai was an extraordinary character and a hard professional soldier with a proven operational record. Having served his time as a driving force in 5 Platoon, he moved to a supporting role in Musa Qala, but it was typical of the man that he volunteered for a place on the operation in Dagyan when another member of his Company fell ill, and a measure of his professionalism that he did it so seamlessly.”

Likewise, Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand told AFP, “The death of this soldier has left us all deeply saddened.” “Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to go through, and the thoughts of everyone in Task Force Helmand are with this soldier’s family, friends and comrades at this very difficult time,” she added.

Around 3,500 Gurkhas from Nepal currently serve in the British Army, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 200,000 fought in World War I and World War II and more than 45,000 in total have died serving Britain. nepalnews.com mk Nov 06 08

Top coalition partners CPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) have expressed strong objection to Vice President Parmananda Jha’s remarks on Wednesday dubbing the army integration special committee as unconstitutional.

While describing the committee headed by Deputy Prime Minster and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam as ‘unconstitutional’, VP Jha also appeared to suggest that the political parties were to be blamed for the delay in constitution writing process.

A meeting of joint panel of the two parties formed to improve ties between the two communist parties held in the capital Thursday concluded the Vice President’s views as “unconstitutional”.

The two-party panel has also decided to request Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to seek an explanation from Jha for the remarks.

After the meeting held at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, former UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said VP Jha’s remarks were “objectionable”.

Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun, who is also a member of the two-party committee, said that PM Dahal will talk with VP Jha on the matter.

Meanwhile, in the meeting the two coalition partners also agreed to make major changes in the constitution and structure of the special committee on army integration.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, UML leader Bhim Rawal said that there would be some reshuffling in the committee on army integration to ensure the participation of Nepali Congress in it.

He said there would be a thorough discussion on this issue at the top level of the two parties.

The two parties decided to reconstitute the committee while keeping its work area intact after NC decided not to participate in it saying that it was formed unilaterally without consultation with other parties. nepalnews.com ag Nov 06 08