For the first time, a few Maoist cadres burnt effigies of party chairman Prachanda Saturday in Rautahat.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the nomination of Constituent Assembly members under the PR system, the party cadres also burnt the effigies of Constituent Assembly poll candidate from Rautahat-3 Prabhu Shaha and Bhojpur sub-state chief Hari Bhakta Kandel.

The protestors accused the party of not nominating enough Dalits and Madhesis to the Constituent Assembly.

The rally was organised by District Working Committee of the party nepalnews.com ia May 11 08

In their first reaction after 10 April Constituent Assembly election, the Indian Maoists have said that their Nepalese counterpart must still concentrate on continuing the class struggle.

In a statement on May 7, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) also described the electoral victory of the CPN (Maoist) as “a verdict against feudal monarchy, Indian expansionism and US imperialism” and asked CPN
(Maoist) to carry forward the revolutionary programme “by relying on the masses, while utilizing the state”.

Cautioning the Nepali Maoists “not to become dizzy with success” and to be wary of the possibility of coups and assassinations, the CPI (Maoist) central committee also said the real test would begin once the CPN (Maoist) took over the reins of power.

While sending their “fraternal revolutionary greetings”, the Indian Maoists party was however of the firm view that radical restructuring of the system would not be possible without “militant mobilization of masses”.

“…to overestimate the prospects of radical restructuring of the society or economy by a Maoist government would be illusory. Such systemic changes could not be brought about through State decrees and laws,” the statement said.

CPI (Maoist), which had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over CPN leaving their armed struggle to come into peaceful politics, also advised their Nepali brethrens to be fully prepared to confront coup attempts, assassinations, artificial scarcity of goods through economic blockades and sabotage by “inimical forces” that included India and the U.S. nepalnews.com ag May 10 08

The number of Nepalis going abroad for jobs has significantly risen in the past nine months as compared to the same period last fiscal year.

According to the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion, 223,000 youths left the country for work in different countries, especially the Gulf, by mid April. Last year, 142,600 Nepalis had gone to foreign countries.

However, the month of Chaitra (mid March to mid April) saw downward trend with just 12,000 people going abroad in search of work while the number in the same period last year was 21,000.

Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and UAE were the chosen destinations for Nepali job-seekers this year, too.

Department officials say that cases of fraud have also grown as the foreign employment ‘enterprise’ continues to thrive.

The department has registered 314 complaints, almost all of them related to fraud by agents, in the past nine months.

Officials admit that many cases of fraud do not come into the sight of concerned government authorities due to the largely unregulated manpower business and lack of knowledge on the part of foreign employment seekers. nepalnews.com mk May 10 08

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced today that he has started dialogue with all the political parties within the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and other newly emerged Terai-based parties for smooth proceedings of the Constituent Assembly which is set to convene within a fortnight.

He asked other parties to go ahead with the consultation process to lead the political process to a logical conclusion.

Organising a tea party on Saturday in Baluwatar, inviting the top political leaders of most of the parties, Koirala stressed the need to draft a constitution that represents the aspiration of all the people.

He stressed that the all the political parties must decide on how to go jointly in the upcoming days like before.

Maoist chairman Prachanda said that the people had mandated him to become the first executive Prime Minister and head of the state of republican Nepal.

He said that there was no confusion about who should lead the next government.

Prachanda said that the present government has turned into a ‘caretaker’ one after the Election Commission announced all the results of the CA polls and the present government would probably last till the first meeting of the CA.

The Maoist strongman also stressed that no party should put condition of ‘One Madhesh, One Province’ to lead the political process ahead although they could clarify such political position before the public.

Acting general secretary of CPN (UML) Amrit Bohora said that there was no alternative of consensus among the parties as people have mandated for the same.

Coordinator of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav said that they would not be putting ‘One Madhesh One Province’ as a condition for the party’s support to the next governing alliance even as it is the key demand of Madhesi people.

He, however, stressed that the upcoming government must fulfill the earlier agreements between the government and the MJF.

The PM had invited all 25 political parties represented in the CA to the tea party, but leaders of Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Janashakti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party didn’t show up. nepalnews.com ps May 10 08

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has instructed Home Minister Krishna Situala to mobilise the police force to find out the whereabouts of Anandi Devi Singh, the chairperson of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), who was “forcefully taken away” from her residence in Jadibuti, Bhaktapur, allegedly by industry minister Shayam Sundar Gupta a week ago.

The PM gave the order to the Home Minister who was present during the PM’s meeting with NSP-A vice chairman Khusi Lal Mandal in Baluwatar.

Earlier today, a group of NSP-A cadres led by Mandal had staged demonstration in front of the PM’s residence demanding that the government start search for their missing chairperson.

During the course of the meeting, PM Koirala called up minister Gupta to come to him and clarify on the kidnapping charge, but the latter insisted that he was not able to come to Baluwatar, Mandal informed reporters.

Immediately after the PM’s order, police officials moved into action, carrying out search for the NSP-A chief in some places, but they had not got any lead about her status till evening. Mandal faction’s claim is that minister Gupta had kidnapped her on May 5th and is believed to have kept her somewhere in Kathmandu. Minister Gupta on the other hand has said she is currently in Patna, India, for medical treatment.

81-year-old Anandi Devi, the widow of NSP founder president Gajendra Narayan Singh, has been a victim of a vicious feud between the rival factions of the party ever since she was nominated as the figurehead president of the party. She is not active in politics. nepalnews.com mk May 10 08

Meetings of the central committees of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML), the two major parties that faced embarrassing loss in the recent polls, continue in the capital for nearly two weeks amid internal wrangling.

Today’s meeting of NC’s central working committee (CWC) at Prime Minister and party president Girija Prasad Koirala’s residence in Baluwatar discussed the party’s position regarding the incoming government – most likely be led by the Maoists; the grievances coming from the party ranks over the selection of candidates for proportional seats; and revamping of the leadership in the aftermath of the party’s electoral loss.

However, the CWC members appeared just as divided on these issues with some of them voicing strong reservation over the selection of PR candidates, NC sources said. The meeting will resume in Baluwatar at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Meanwhile, senior NC leader Purna Bahadur Khadka announced his resignation as the CWC member today, citing the continued intra-party wrangling, and accused the party leadership of favouritism while selecting PR candidates.

Khadka, a former Home Minister, who was elected under the PR system, also expressed dissatisfaction at the way the party mechanism is functioning.

The NC leader currently faces charges of having a role in the killing on April 8 of CPN-UML candidate in Surkhet, Rishi Prasad Sharma. He has, however, denied any involvement in the murder case.

Meanwhile, the central committee meeting of the UML also continues at the party headquarters, with frequent intervals, since April 27.

The meeting is yet to pass the ‘political report’ presented by acting general secretary Amrit Kumar Bohara. Central committee member Bhim Rawal said the meeting is likely to pass Bohara’s report with some amendments today.

Fourteen central committee members had resigned on Thursday citing their differences with the way the leadership is handling the party affairs. They also claimed that the selection process for PR seats was not fair.

UML leaders said the CC meeting, which is expected to take a decision whether to be a part of the incoming ‘Maoist-led’ government, is likely to continue for few more days. nepalnews.com mk May 10 08

The government has announced to celebrate May 29 as the International Mount Everest Day from this year.

This is to commemorate the first ascension of the peak in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The day also marks the memory of the first conquerors.

The decision was taken jointly by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Events like screening of films related to mountains, photo exhibition and cultural shows would be organised this year to mark the first celebration. Dozens of internationally noted summiteers will be invited to join the celebrations. nepalnews.com ia May 10 08

Amidst debate whether the interim constitution needs amendments immediately, a constitutional expert has advised political parties not to do so as that will lead to delay in drafting a new constitution.

In a programme organised in the capital Friday, the Dr Surya Dhungel also warned of the Constituent Assembly not completing the task of drafting a new constitution if parties get engaged in amending the current statute.

The process will also lengthen the transitional period, due to which experts’ fear of repeating the 1959 incident.

“If the transitional period is lengthened, the history of 1959 might repeat,” said Dr Dhungel.

While Maoist leader CP Gajurel supported Dhungel’s statement, UML leader KP Oli differed saying the interim constitution should be amended if the government is to be run properly. nepalnews.com ia May 10 08

A Maoist leader has said his party will not accept Girija Prasad Koirala as the first president of republican Nepal.

“CPN-Maoist is not going accept Girija Prasad Koirala as the president,” Hari Bhakta Kandel ‘Pratik’, a central Maoist leader, who also heads the party’s Bhojpura Sub-State Committee, said at the Reporters Club Friday.

The Maoist leader’s remark comes at a time when some NC leaders are believed to have sent feelers to the Maoist leadership that Koirala be given the first presidency. However, no NC leader has publicly spoken of this option.

In today’s six-party meeting, Maoist chairman Prachanda reportedly ‘requested’ Koirala to take the guardianship of the ruling alliance, clearly suggesting that the octogenarian leader stay out of the corridors of power, but assume a “respectable position” in the alliance.

During a recent meeting of the NC central working committee, some leaders had asked Koirala not to step down as Prime Minister, as the Maoists would require two-thirds majority on their side to claim government’s leadership. nepalnews.com mk May 09 08

Baban Singh, the independent winner from Rautahat constituency-1, who is sought by the police on multiple criminal cases including September’s serial blasts in Kathmandu, has said he would to attend the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) if the authorities ensured his security.

Reports citing a statement issued by Baban Singh said he was on the run as the police were still searching for him and that he needed guarantee of security to come out in the open and enter the Assembly.

He also said “some groups” were badly after him, trying to incriminate him in the three bomb blasts in the capital city on September 2, 2007 that killed three people and wounded more than two dozens others.

To recall here, Baban also faces a murder charge and multiple other criminal charges in Nepal and India and is in the ‘most wanted’ list of the police in both the countries. He was also accused of inciting the deadly riot in Rautahat during an assembly in Gaur which killed 27 Maoist cadres last year.

He had openly admitted to have masterminded the blasts, describing the terror attack as an act of vengeance of Madhesi people against the state. At that time he had identified himself by his alias, Mr John.

Baban was never seen in the public during the election campaigning, fearing arrest by the police. His wife, daughters and some relatives did the campaigning for him, mostly asking the voters to give him a chance to correct himself and save him from being hanged to death for his crimes.

In a recent interview with Avenues Television, a Kathmandu-based news channel, Baban claimed that he was never involved in any criminal activities.

The Election Commission has already made it clear that it is for the CA Court to decide what to do with his electoral win. nepalnews.com mk May 09 08