TUTH docs threaten to protest afresh

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

With incumbent dean Dr Kumud Kumar Kafle set to retire on August 14, doctors at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) have warned of protests as the vice-chancellor’s (VC) office is yet to name Dr Kafle’s successor.

Dr Kafle was appointed dean of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) on July 7 after one of the doctors, Dr Govinda KC, went on a fast-unto-death. Following pressure from various quarters, the VC appointed Dr Kafle, who had only a month left until retirement from the institution. The VC office hasn’t responded to the names of two assistant deans, campus chief and assistant campus chief as forwarded by Dr Kafle from among senior and experienced officials. Dr Kafle expressed his dismay at the VC office’s inability to form a recommendation committee for the post of dean or even provide consent for the recommended candidates.

“Whenever I talk to the office-bearers at the VC, they say they are holding discussions on the names of candidates,” said Dr Kafle.       

Meanwhile, Dr KC said he will once again resort to  fast-unto-death from Monday if the authorities fail to appoint a new dean based on eligibility and seniority and not by political appointment by Sunday night.

Dr Dinesh Binod Pokhrel, president of the TU Teachers’ Association, Maharajgunj, also warned of protests if the VC office politically appoints anyone to the major posts.  “It has been almost three weeks since the present dean proposed the names for other senior vacant posts on the basis of seniority and eligibility,” he said.

“However, the VC hasn’t replied yet. This is a clear indication that they only want political appointments at this reputed hospital,” Dr Pokhrel added.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/capital/tuth-docs-threaten-to-protest-afresh/358619/

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China for stronger ties with Nepal: Fu

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

Hailing Nepal’s firm stand on One-China policy, visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying has said that China wants to consolidate its relations with Nepal.

She committed increased Chinese aid to Nepal in the days to come.

Fu was talking on Saturday with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Leading a seven-member delegation, Fu arrived in Kathmandu from Bhutan on Saturday after attending a bilateral boundary talks with Bhutanese authorities. Beijing and Thimphu are in talks to establish diplomatic relations while the former is setting up its mission in Bhutan in near future.

“We have given prime importance to our relations with Nepal and want to consolidate it. I am here to assess the commitment made during Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Nepal,” Yu told Shrestha.

She will be leading the Chinese side during the ninth meeting of the Nepal-China Consultative Mechanism on Monday. According to Shrestha, Fu offered more assistance to Nepal. “Our relation with China is trouble-free. I conveyed that China’s policy of non-interference in Nepal and its continued support to our development endeavours are always commendable,” Shrestha told the Post.

Fu will meet Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and may meet political leaders during a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy on Monday evening. On the day, the Foreign Ministry is hosting a lunch in her honour. The Monday meeting will dwell on bilateral relations, the status of China-funded projects in Nepal, security, trade, tourism and investments. Foreign Secretary Durga Bhattarai is leading the Nepali team.

The Mechanism was established in April 1966 and is headed by the Nepali Foreign Secretary and the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The highest bilateral mechanism meets every four years. During Premier Wen’s visit on January 14, the two sides agreed to make full use of the existing bodies, including diplomatic consultations and the Nepal-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee. Of late, a series of cross-ministerial meetings have taken place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the status of China-funded projects in Nepal and to assess Chinese aid. Nepal will raise issues related to trade, commerce, investments, tourism, border management, infrastructure development and connectivity. Sources said China could raise issues on security, border management and slow progress of China-funded projects.


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/capital/china-for-stronger-ties-with-nepal-fu/358620/

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UCPN (M) using ex-fighters as ‘bargaining chip’

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

The ruling UCPN (Maoist) plans to trade the future of over 3,000 of its former combatants awaiting integration into the Nepal Army for a new deal on future political roadmap, according to party leaders.

The indecision on the fate of the ex-combatants living in Nepal Army controlled cantonments persists despite the party’s plenum mandating last month the leadership to send the former fighters to voluntary retirement. Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had then vowed to make a ‘last-ditch effort’ to pressure other parties for a revision to the seven-point deal on army integration signed in November last year.

“We want to hold dialogue with parties to seek further concessions in age and education criteria stipulated in the seven-point deal. If they disagree to offer a dignified solution, all the ex-combatants will take up voluntary retirement,” said Maoist Spokesman Agni Sapkota. The party, however, is yet to start ‘serious talks’ with other political forces for ending the stalemate and resuming the stalled selection process of the combatants aspiring to join the national army. The integration process was widely criticised by the Maoist cadres who were in the Capital in July for its being “no different from the regular recruitment process”. Chairman Dahal, admitting mistake in ignoring technical details, had committed that everyone would be sent to retirement unless the Nepali Congress and the C PN-UML were ready for revision.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said the Maoists had tried to bypass the Special Committee on army integration and to play foul by asking the Nepal Army to demonstrate flexibility in integration. “Some of the technical issues like age and education could have been solved, had they brought the matter to the Special Committee. They unilaterally approached the Nepal Army, which turned down their unconstitutional request,” said the Special Committee member. “The future of the former combatants is doomed because of the bullying attitude of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and his party.”

Former deputy commander of the combatants Chandra Prakash Khanal said the deadlock over integration would break if parties reached a new package deal on constitution-making, election and new government. “Other parties are not ready for flexibility so we are mulling the alternative of sending everyone to voluntary retirement,” he said. “The ongoing impasse will end only if there is a package deal.”

Maoist leaders believe they can bargain for further flexibility in integration while discussing a package deal which, among other things, would speak on the successor to the incumbent government.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/top-story/ucpn-m-using-ex-fighters-as-bargaining-chip/358621/

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Death price for migrant alcoholism in Gulf

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

Nepali migrant workers working in three Gulf states are paying a high price for their alcohol consumption. Alcohol, banned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, is swiftly emerging as an indelible cause of worker deaths and imprisonment.

With little insight on the laws and traditions of the destination countries, many Nepali workers have been consuming smuggled homemade alcohol, which officials claimed is equivalent to slow poison. This ominous addiction, officials said, have often resulted in death or imprisonment. To further complicate the matter, these Islamic states do not identify or keep records of deaths due to ‘banned’ alcohol, causing officials from knowing the exact number of deaths caused by it. Saudi Arabia saw 254 migrant worker deaths in the past year alone.

 Nepali ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Udaya Raj Pandey, told the Post over telephone that alcohol consumption is widespread in Saudi Arabia. Pandey said alcohol has been one of the leading causes of death among ignorant migrant workers.

“Many workers drink alcohol to avoid work exhaustion and stress. Since homemade alcohol is akin to slow poison, many do not wake up the next day,” said Pandey.

According to the Nepali mission in Saudi Arabia, most workers currently serving time in jail were arrested for alcohol consumption.

Similarly, alcohol consumption is fast becoming a cause for worry at the Nepali mission in Qatar too. Jay Bahadur Rai, second secretary at the Nepali mission in Doha, told the Post that alcohol had induced heart-related deaths among

workers. Extreme climatic conditions, difficult work and unfamiliar local customs push workers towards alcohol and eventually, death and disease.

“We have been consistently appealing to workers to avoid alcohol. Qatar-based Nepali news weeklies Kantipur and Rajdhani are also raising awareness among workers. Despite this, we have failed to reach a large section of vulnerable workers,” said Rai.

Apart from alcohol, stressful daily routines and unhealthy food consumption also pose threats to migrants. Many also die from suffocation after sleeping in rooms the size of closets. “After work all day under a 50 degree temperature, many sleep with air conditioners at freezing point. Such carelessness easily takes lives,” said Rai.

The United Arab Emirates too is no exception. Alcohol has emerged as a key factor in many murders and quarrels among Nepali nationals. However, alcohol is conditionally permitted in some parts of the UAE. Lok Bahadur Chhetri, second secretary at the Nepali embassy in UAE, told the Post that many Nepalis lack knowledge of the laws of destination countries or try to break them. He claimed that abstaining from alcohol would resolve many problems that the workers face.

“The mission has been suggesting that workers avoid alcohol. We urge them to frequently drink water and concentrate on good food,” said Chhetri.

Embassy officials pointed out the lapse in orientation training as the reason why workers are careless about their own welfare. They pointed out the strong need of pre-departure orientation, especially focusing on laws, the environment, health hazards and the workplace. Senior officials at the Department of Foreign Employment accepted that there has been widespread negligence in taking orientation courses. 

Records at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) showed that 212 migrant workers have been jailed in Saudi Arabia, 45 in the UAE and 27 in Qatar. Latest data from the three Nepali embassies showed over 3,200 Nepali deaths in Saudi Arabia, around 1,300 in Qatar, around 600 in the UAE so far.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/capital/death-price-for-migrant-alcoholism-in-gulf/358622/

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Vegetables dumped on road to protest strike

SARLAHI, AUG 12 -

Farmers from Lalbandi VDC in the district dumped their vegetables on East-West Highway protesting the ongoing public transport strike called by transport entrepreneurs and workers. The farmers threw away their produce claiming that the strike had caused them a huge loss.

Around 30 tonnes of vegetables are exported every day to various cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara and Birgunj from the VDC alone.

Megha Bahadur Lama, a local farmer, said he was earning Rs 18 from one kg of vegetables on average, but because of the strike he hardly earned Rs 5 from the same quantity.

“We are compelled to sell our vegetables for peanuts,” said Lama, adding that it would cost Rs 5 on average to produce one kg of vegetables.

Local trader Ram Daresh Chaudhary said the vegetables did not fetch good prices as it was very difficult to ferry the produce to market due to the strike. Meanwhile, the farmers decided to prevent private vehicles too from plying along the highway by dumping the road with their produce and even throwing vegetables at passing vehicles. They also dumped vegetables purchased by traders on the road.

However, some farmers sold their produce at Hariaun bazaar, some 10 kilometers from the VDC.

Gobinda Mahat, chief of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Lalbandi, said farmers had to bear a heavy loss due to the strike.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/national/vegetables-dumped-on-road-to-protest-strike/358624/

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Beneath the enigma

AUG 12 -

India is an enigma, a subject of both love and hate in Nepal. It routinely meddles in our internal affairs. Kathmandu’s print and audio-visual media are replete with Sukh Dev Muni’s bean-spilling and its aftermath. To the dismay of staunch nationalists, blessings from India have transparently become a precondition for access to Kathmandu’s seats of power. “Pilgrimage” to Delhi durbars has become a routine affair for our political operators. Evidently, ordinary citizens have absolutely no clue as to what deals are struck behind the dark corridors of power. Do we know what actually transpired between UML’s KP Oli and newly elected president of India Pranab Mukharjee? Quite often, India has become an easy excuse for the ineptitude of Nepali political operators themselves.

India is also a subject of immense expectations. This feeling cuts across left to right of the political spectrum. As one of the two rising Asian giants, it is our potentially big market or great saviour in time of need. It is growing, although as of this writing it is going through a severe industrial slump and debilitating drought in much of its prime farming areas. Many in Nepal have no doubt that its rising middle class, if tapped well, can provide immense cash-potentials for Nepal’s producers, except we do not yet know what exactly Nepal is to export to India.

More importantly, what is utterly missing in these bland assertions are facets of India that do not fit into these rival narratives, but are important for building a just, democratic and ecologically sustainable Nepal. The mainstream media selectively omits the unsavoury truths that do not fit the India-rising storyline.

The hype about India-rising aside, 70 percent of Indians earn less than 20 rupees a day, according to a committee formed by the Government of India under the leadership of economist Arjun Sengupta. In a context of privatised health care, this is one illness away from abject penury for over 800 million people. Much of industrial progress is done with immense cost to both ecology and powerless citizens. Rivers have become toxic dumps. In a recent Amir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate, Manoj Mishra, an Indian activist working on reviving the health of Yamuna River, said that most of lower sections of Ganga and Yamuna are nothing but sewer. There is no life in them. It is a different matter that millions take holy dips in them. South Asians are too spiritual to pay attention to the material reality of the rivers, perhaps.

Across the major states, ground water is depleting at alarming rates, with Panjab and Hariyana, the epicentre of “agricultural progress”, leading the way. Almost all the emerging urban areas—big or small—are becoming increasingly unhealthy. The inequality between citizens is starkly inscribed in the gated world of the rich and the world of penury that exists outside it. Violence against ordinary citizens has become an accepted cost for this progress. Let’s accept that there lies something unsavoury beneath the hype. We can learn what not to do from them.

There is another side of India we often do not hear about. In Andhra Pradesh, over 1.5 million farming families have switched from high-poison agriculture to what they call non-pesticide management (NPM). I have written about some aspects of this great transformation in some of my earlier columns. This is rapidly spreading beyond the Andhra border. Sikkim state has declared it will ensure its agriculture is free of poisons by 2015. Many in Nepal may not know this, but some Nepalis have lent their expertise in this process.

Across different parts of India, novel water management systems have both conserved existing water bodies as well as revitalised the lost ones. In Rajasthan, for instance, Tarun Bharat Sangh led campaigns to build rainwater harvesting structures over the last several decades. The result: several rivers that had gone completely dry have started flowing again.

These are just a few among the tens of thousands of initiatives that we can learn from. This requires a different level of exchange than is currently dominant between these two countries. Kathmandu’s politicians take with them their fellow elites when they go on official visits to India only to meet their counterparts: the Delhi political class and its own elites.

A little over 60 percent of Indians are farmers—most of them smallholder. Roughly 70 percent of Nepalis also farmers, 90 percent of whom own less than one hectare of land. Millions of these farmers are creating vibrant, bio-diverse productive farming practices. They produce much of the food we eat. They vote their respective representatives during elections. Have you seen any farmer in the team that politicians take with them during official and non-official visits across these countries? The answer is a flat no. While this absence is viewed as normal, perhaps we must reassess the goals we want to achieve through diplomatic meetings in order to build a better, more sustainable future for both India and Nepal.

anilbhattarai@gmail.com

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/oped/beneath-the-enigma/358625/

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A balanced life

AUG 12 -

A balanced life has two aspects of humanism—one is physical fulfillment and the other is spiritual attainment. Without the first, humans cannot survive. Without the second, they cannot be happy. The materialistic pursuit invariably leads to unrestrained desires of possessiveness. Amassing wealth is replete with many problems and gets interlinked with issues like security—individual, social and national—and owning destructive weapons like the atom bomb. We have seen how the sense of insecurity foments wars, conflicts and devastation at the cost of human needs for provision of food, water, shelter, education and health. Spirituality is a force to turn the whole process of life around for peace and happiness.

The second part pertains to internal conditionality. It is related to spirituality interspersed with ethical values and the harmonious coexistence of different philosophies. When one learns to look within, one learns how to control hatred, wrath, greed and such other evil emotions. One also experiences an inner calm and enhanced sense of tolerance. A friend of mine who is well versed in spirituality, Sri Krishna Aniruddh Gautam, explains it in a simple way: “Spirituality is basically about the inner self. There are two selves in human beings; one is the higher self and the other the lower self. The higher self is like a guardian who can oversee the functions of the lower self. The higher self can be considered as the super consciousness. The lower self is a working self that responds to daily chores. If the higher self keeps a watch and observes the lower self, the lower self cannot go astray. The lower self is our physical body, mind and brain. But the self subsisting above the buddhi (brain and knowledge) is the higher self. The self that is below the buddhi is identified as I; and that is what we know and recognize as myself.”

Similarly, Gaurinath Rimal, another friend of mine who is knowledgeable about the subject, explains spiritualism in greater simplicity. He says, “Spirituality is to take cognisance of atma (soul), which is common to all. It is the basis of spiritual equality. There are people who believe that there is paramatma (supreme God) and It is present in every atma. Those who consider the two as one and the same are called Adwait (monoism), and those who regard them as two separate entities having a relationship of an umbilical chord are known as Dwait (dualism). Nonetheless, they have no difference of opinion as far as spirituality in man is concerned.”

Needless to say, happiness is a common goal. But not all are lucky enough to get it. There are many factors that obstruct the pursuit and achievement of happiness. Going back again to the ancient wisdom, the old scriptures point out that it is the inner imbalance arising from Kama, Krodha, Lova, Moha and Ahankar that denies human beings the opportunity to attain happiness. It is difficult to find their exact synonyms in English language. However, they can be expressed as follows: desire, anger, greed, attachment and arrogance. As the handicaps to achieve happiness in life have been identified, the ways to overcome them have also been prescribed by none other than the ancient scriptures. The way to remedy the inner disturbance and imbalance caused by the debilitating elements is to cultivate an inner and outer discipline based on development of a moderate and holistic personality.

Now the question arises as to how to develop such a holistic personality. It can be done by practicing, as prescribed by a Nepali spiritualist, Chintamani Yogi, the following functions every day: Sadhana, Prarthana, Parishram, Daan and Chintan Manan. It is again difficult to find their exact synonyms in English. However, we can come close to their meanings with these terms: exercise or pursuit, prayer, labor or toiling, offering or donating and contemplation. In other words, a daily physical and spiritual exercise, honest earning, social sharing and reflection on omission and commission of the day are essential ingredients to develop a holistic personality. It is equally necessary to know the symptoms of a holistic personality to find out if one has been able to develop it or not. In simple terms, it is the increasing realisation of peace within and satisfaction without. That is the achievement of a balanced life.

In the Eastern way of life, there are four pillars of a balanced life—dharma, artha, kama and mokshya. Dharma is often translated as religion, but here it means duties—and not religious faith as such, but worldly duties toward family, society and mankind. For the fulfillment of the duties, one has to earn money (artha). Kama is biological. It is related to reproduction and regeneration. However, it is inclusive of other human desires and ambitions. All these are supposed to be kept in balance. It is the balanced pursuit of these three activities that lead humans to mokshya (liberation), which is the final destination of human life. That is the consciously-felt meaningfulness of life.


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/oped/a-balanced-life/358627/

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Armed outfit commander killed in police action

MAHOTTARI, AUG 12 -

An area commander of an armed outfit was killed in a police action at Belaekdara in the district on Saturday.

Jaya Narayan Pasawan alias Barud Tyagi, the commander of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, was killed in retaliatory firing at Belaekdara along the Samasi-Jaleshwor road, police said. It is said that Pasawan was the outfit's commander for Mahottari, Sarlahi and Dhanusha districts.

Police personnel on civvies followed motorcycle-borne Pasawan as the latter sped his vehicle apparently to flee upon seeing the cops in another motorcycle. Pasawan, with his two accomplices, was on his way to Jaleshwor.

The police claimed that they were compelled to open fire in self-defence as Pasawan fired at them. Two others, however, could flee towards the Nepal-India border.

Superintendent of Police Suraj KC said Constable Surendra Chaudhary was injured in the incident. Police seized a country-made pistol and its two ammunitions from the victim.

The District Police Office claimed that Pasawan was a 'most wanted man' who had been involved in various criminal activities, including abduction, extortion and detonating explosives in the area.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/national/armed-outfit-commander-killed-in-police-action/358606/

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NC should okay identity-based federalism to lead govt: Dahal

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Saturday that leadership of the election government could not be given to the Nepali Congress unless it agreed on the "identity-based federalism." 

Speaking at a roundtable conference organised by the CPN-Maoist, Dahal said NC's leadership would only be acceptable if a new constitution is drafted as per the five-point deal signed among parties on May 3. He, however, said there is no relevancy of the five-point pact as all parties are ready to go for the fresh elections of the Constituent Assembly.

The May 3 agreement states that NC will lead the election government after promulgation of the new constitution. The Maoist chairman said that any party could claim leadership of the new government in the changed scenario given that it accepts "identity-based" federalism.

 Dahal's statement comes at a time when the NC is claming the leadership of the government and the CPN-UML is pressing it to select a prime ministerial candidate. 

According to sources, the Maoists want to continue the present government until the next CA elections are held. "If the parties forge consensus on contentious issues of the constitution, the UCPN (Maoist) is ready to join the government led by any party, otherwise we would not accept leadership of any party," Dahal said. 

According to Dahal's aides, the UCPN (Maoist) has been "reluctant" on NC-led government, saying NC and UML are making conspiracy to sabotage the agenda of the CA and willing to promulgate the constitution through parliament.

"NC and UML are talking about parliamentary elections to prove that the CA, the agenda pushed by us (Maoist), is a wrong way to draft the constitution," said Maoist Spokesperson Agni Sapkota. 

The Maoist chairman said that his party was ready to have an apolitical consensus government led by "independent people" to hold the elections. Defending the proposed alliance with Madhes-based parties and fringe parties, Dahal challenged the NC and UML to form their alliance.

In the programme, UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal urged the Maoist leadership to implement the agreement reached among parties. He said that they could not trust the Maoist because of its reluctance to implement past agreements. Khanal said consensus among parties was not possible unless PM Bhattarai stepped down.

NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel urged the Maoist leadership to create an environment conducive for consensus. He said the UCPN (Maoist) was trying to project NC as an anti-federal force making an alliance with certain parties.

The CPN-Maoist organised the roundtable conference with a view to 'seeking the best way' out of the current political deadlock.


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/editors-pick/nc-should-okay-identity-based-federalism-to-lead-govt-dahal/358608/

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Ex-speaker for CA to draft constitution

KATHMANDU , AUG 12 -

Chairman of the dissolved Constituent Assembly Subas Nembang has said that the new constitution should be drafted through a CA. Any move--amendment to the regulations concerning elections, revival of the CA and parliamentary election--would stir controversy, he added.

Stating that the constitution can be amended through an ordinance, Nembang said preparations had been made for the promulgation of the constitution on May 27. "We had the constitution draft ready and were prepared for getting the lawmakers to sign it. Further, the printing of the constitution, which would take about five hours, was on cards," said Nembang . "The prime minister called me in the morning [of May 27] and enquired about the preparations."

Nembang was addressing a programme organised in the Capital on Sunday to explore constitutional ways to end the political impasse. A majority of speakers were for holding fresh elections as an outlet. However, they were divided over the kind of the polls. While some argued for holding fresh CA elections, other pitched for parliamentary polls. Voices were also heard that it was necessary to hold local polls. Yet others called for a CA revival.

Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak opined that while holding fresh CA elections, referendum needed to be conducted on contentious issues. Advocate Kumar Regmi supported parliamentary polls, together with local elections. He was against the idea of reviving the CA arguing that it was not a popular demand.

CPN-UML leader Agni Kharel said that as per his party's decision, polls should be for the CA. He ruled out the possibility of drafting a constitution through a commission. UML leader Raghuji Pant echoed Kharel. NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat pitched for fresh polls. CPN-Maoist leader Ek Raj Bhandari spoke for a round-table conference.

NC leader Radheshyam Adhikari was for a small, inclusive CA to draft the national charter, holding separate polls for a right-size parliament and immediate elections for local bodies.

Professor Krishna Khanal said that geopolitical sensitivities needed to be taken into account while federating the country. On the occasion, Advocates Tika Ram Bhattarai and Chandra Kant Gyawali presented papers suggesting several alternatives.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/top-story/ex-speaker-for-ca-to-draft-constitution/358609/

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EYES ON LONDON: Jamaica sets record, awe for Bolt

LONDON, AUG 12 - Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:

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QUICKQUOTES: IN AWE OF BOLT

Here's what two American sprinters have to say about coming in second to Usain Bolt and the Jamaican men, who posted a world-record time of 36.84 seconds in the 4x100 relay Saturday night.

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Ryan Bailey, who ran the last leg of the relay and got the baton at same time as Bolt:

"Wow. He's a monster. He's a monster."

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Justin Gatlin:

"Bolt's just a great athlete. He's pushing the boundaries for track and field. I don't fold under the pressure: I want to be right there to push not only the sport but to help (Bolt) get better."

Is he a legend?

"Why not? He's run the times and he's broken the records. I can definitely give him the title of that — he's a living legend."

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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JAVELIN GOLD

Keshorn Walcott went into the finals of the javelin hoping only for a good performance.

He finished with the first gold medal ever for Trinidad and Tobago in a field event.

"It wasn't the most popular event in Trinidad and Tobago. Hopefully now it will be known more," he said. "I'm more than stunned, I'm surprised with my performance. I just went into the final to enjoy.

"So coming out with a gold medal is a feeling I can't really explain."

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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5TH GOLD, NEVER OLD

The U.S. women's basketball team is used to celebrating gold medals. They've done it five times in a row.

But it never gets old for them. The smiles, hugs and dancing Saturday night in London made it look like the first time all over again.

For some of the Americans it is. Players Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Angel McCoughtry, Tina Charles and Asjha Jones and coach Geno Auriemma all picked up their first gold medals.

And even Olympic veteran Diana Taurasi, who got her third gold medal, was reduced to tears as she stepped to the top spot on the podium.

— Jon Krawczynski — Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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TOO MANY RULES

Usain Bolt on trying to keep the baton from his world-record 4x100 meter men's relay on Saturday night.

"I got the baton back, but at the start, they were saying I couldn't keep it because 'It's the rule.'"

"I got it back. It's weird, because they told me if I didn't give it back, I would be disqualified."

— Eddie Pells — Twitter http://twitter.com/epells

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MO'S TWINS

Britain's Mo Farah says he had extra motivation to win the 5,000 meters on Saturday night.

He already had one gold medal from the London Olympics — won a week ago in the 10,000 meters — and it was imperative that he make a pair.

"These two gold medals mean the world to me, because my wife is carrying twins," Farah explained. "I didn't want to have just one gold medal, and then have twins."

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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QUICKQUOTE: FULL HEART

"I'm glad I got the medal. That's the part of my heart that was missing. I think I finally filled it. Sometimes it's bittersweet when you lose, I'm just happy to get a medal." — Tyson Gay, who was devastated when he failed to medal in the 100 meters, after winning first career medal — silver — on the U.S. 4x100 meter men's relay team Saturday night.

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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OTHER DREAM TEAM

The fifth straight gold was never in doubt for the U.S. women's basketball team.

Candace Parker scored 21 points and the Americans rolled to a 86-50 victory over France on Saturday, cementing their status as Team USA's other Dream Team. With a cavalcade of stars, the American women have won 41 straight games and haven't shown even the slightest signs of vulnerability.

The French started out plucky, leading early in the second quarter. But Parker's coast-to-coast drives and a suffocating defense turned a 12-point halftime lead into a blowout midway through the third quarter.

It was the first gold medal for coach Geno Auriemma, who has led the UConn women to seven national titles.

— Jon Krawczynski — Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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QUICKQUOTE: AMERICAN RECORD

"Wow. Impressive. Listen, when you run as fast as you can and you get bested, you just have to take a silver medal and be happy. ... The only thing I can say is I was on the old American record (4x100 relay) and I feel good being the coach of the new American record." — American relay coach John Drummond on the world-record performance of the Jamaican 4x100 relay team anchored by Usain Bolt and the U.S. men who got the silver behind them at the London Olympics.

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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QUICKQUOTE: LONDON IS SPECIAL

"It's unbelievable. I think about how I ended in Beijing, just feeling discouraged there. Four years later, to have all this happen, to really accomplish every goal that I set out, it such a blessing. London is very special to me." — U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix on winning three gold medals at the London Olympics, including one Saturday night in the women's 4x400 meters relay.

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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QUICKQUOTE: 'VICTORY LAP'

"The ladies were phenomenal. They made it too easy for me. DeeDee got off to a great start and Allyson really opened it up. By the time I got the stick, it was basically a victory lap." — Sanya Richards-Ross, who ran the closing leg as the U.S. team won gold Saturday night in the women's 4x400 meters relay.

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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DESTINEE DENIED

It turns out gold wasn't the Americans' Destinee after all.

Star scorer Destinee Hooker and the U.S. women's volleyball team lost to Brazil in the gold medal game on Saturday, 11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17.

The United States has never won gold in women's volleyball. But with Hugh McCutcheon taking over as coach after leading the men to gold in Beijing and Hooker spiking the Americans to a spotless Olympic record coming into the final, the Americans looked to have their best gold chances yet.

But Brazil won three straight sets after getting dominated in the first to repeat as Olympic champions. The upset left Americans players sobbing and Brazilians turning somersaults on the court.

— Jon Krawczynski — Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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PARKER'S RAZZLE-DAZZLE

Candace Parker is doing a little bit of everything to help Team USA try to grab its fifth straight women's basketball gold medal. She's been electric, overpowering.

She's scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the first half to help the Americans take control with a 37-25 lead over France at halftime.

Parker has the height of a center, the handle of a point guard and the instincts to tie it all together.

She's shown it all in the gold medal game, twice taking the ball coast-to-coast on the break, finishing one with a pretty scoop layup to get the Americans, and the crowd, rolling.

— Jon Krawczynski — Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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CUBA'S REDEMPTION

Roniel Iglesias has helped the proud boxing nation of Cuba get back to the top.

Iglesias won the gold medal in the light welterweight division on Saturday, beating Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk on points, 22-15.

The victory helps Cuba, long a breeding ground for excellent amateur fighters, get back to the top of the podium after failing to win a gold at the Beijing Olympics. Iglesias won silver in 2008.

It's the 33rd boxing gold medal for Cuba, which is second in Olympic history to the United States' 48.

— Jon Krawczynsk — Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski.

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BOLT GETS THE BATON

JUST IN: Someone has just brought Usain Bolt back the baton from his team's 4x100 meter men's relay. The sprinter had not wanted to give it up after the Jamaicans broke the world record Saturday in a time of 36.84 seconds.

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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CANADIAN HEARTBREAK

Canadian sprinters are still in shock after the team got disqualified in the men's 4x100 meter relay and lost the bronze medal they thought they had won.

Oluseyi Smith said the team's manager will file a protest.

Justyn Warner was bent over, sobbing.

"It hurts. I don't know what happened," Warner said. "Jared (Connaughton) said he stepped on the line. We were behind and I had to run the guy down. I put everything into that. It just showed up as DQ'd. We ran a good race. We got the job done. It sucks."

— Jenna Fryer — Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer

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QUICKQUOTE: US LEADERSHIP

U.S. women's track coach Amy Deem after the Americans won the gold in the 4x400 meter relay:

"These women have grown up with great role models. There's great leadership with Sanya (Richards-Ross) and Allyson (Felix)...

"I know the women are going to be strong in the future. This is just the beginning. I really think that with social media and TV, it's going to be a springboard for women in sports."

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/olympic/eyes-on-london-jamaica-sets-record-awe-for-bolt/358614/

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Pinnacles and debacles

AUG 12 -

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai was the last remaining hope of a disappointed people until one year ago. His academic qualifications, intellectual height, visions and understanding of political economy, spotless track record as a successful Finance Minister, humble lifestyle and the political line of peace and constitution he pursued in his rebellious party had made him a darling of both the masses and the educated groups. Gauging their mood and aspirations, he promised everything from good governance to value-based politics, to rapid economic development, peace-building and constitution writing, when he took office.

One year down the line, the hopefuls are feeling betrayed. They have discovered that instead of taking tough and unpopular decisions that are essential to solve the burning problems of the crisis-ridden nation, every time he resorts to a new show-piece gimmick. He is better known for symbols than substances and publicity than performance. For examples: the use of a substandard “made-in-Nepal” jeep instead of the usual Prime Minister’s car, giving directives about hygienic care after personally inspecting some eateries alongside the busy Prithvi highway, staying one night in a village every month and so on. Of the 23 time-bound programmes of good governance the PM declared soon after he took office, 19 never started while 4 are being poorly implemented. Similarly, equally poor implementation of a dozen or so existing big infrastructure projects, which the PM renamed as “projects of national pride” haven’t progressed either.

Many feel that the PM mostly undermines domestic political players, both within his party and outside, and chooses to rely on Indian support for his survival. For the powerful Southern neighbour, the most influential actor in the realpolitik of this country, Bhattarai is the number one choice among Maoist ranks, a party whose schooling has been basically anti-Indian. For Bhattarai, his Indian connection has proved both rewarding and challenging. The shrewd Party Chairman, Prachanda, despite his current India-friendly words and deeds, is as unpredictable as ever. To Bhattarai’s embarrassment, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has started a new “nationalist” campaign, possibly, for political gains and bargains. On the other hand, his pro-India coalition partners, the Madhesi leaders, have been more of a liability than an asset for him because of their corrupt, opportunistic and divisive politics.

Paradoxically, in the beginning, both Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML largely supported him; they calculated that since Bhattarai was the most liberal and straightforward among the Maoist leaders, he will cooperate with the opposition forces. But Bhattarai didn’t. He didn’t, or couldn’t, stop his own party split either. Bhattarai chose to ignore both, which resulted in his political isolation. Most of the problems Bhattarai faces today are thus the outcome of his own mistakes and miscalculations.

In a surprise but well-calculated move, the PM announced elections for a new Constituent Assembly, which he knew was impossible without amending the constitution and/or without political consensus. If he was unable to do the former, he was unwilling to do the latter. When the Election Commission was publicly saying that elections cannot be held on the date fixed by the PM, he declared that he will quit only after the elections are held. Now, when many are demanding his resignation, he proudly declares that he won’t quit unless a prime ministerial candidate is produced as his successor.

Recently, the PM publicly confessed that foreign powers hold the key to everything in this country. Though the real reasons and meaning of such an admission, after being in office for nearly one year, are not clear, the PM still doesn’t feel the need to stand united in the face of such foreign dominion, despite his divulgence.

His own words, “corruption didn’t increase during my time, even if it didn’t decrease either”, speak volumes. Supplies of essential commodities/services, including petroleum products, electricity and fertilisers, are further constrained. Except remittance and the subsequent Balance of Payment position, all economic indicators have been disappointing; inflation has reached unprecedented heights while unemployment has aggravated. State of lawlessness and crime didn’t improve, while the culture of impunity has almost been institutionalised. Road accidents that kill droves of people have shot up both in frequency and numbers; yet the government has hardly taken any preventive and punitive measures. Social harmony between different ethnic communities has never been so strained before. But, the PM and his government has barely shown any sensitivity or seriousness in this regard. His failures are too many while his successes—such as the road expa nsion drive in Kathmandu—have been few and far between.

Despite plethora of public relation tactics he so frequently applies, Bhattarai’s popularity not only waned; it nosedived, especially during the latter months of his premiership. The blame goes not only to his poor performance, but also to his persona. During public functions and talk shows he appears with a poker face. During live interviews, instead of diverting tough questions with wit or a smile, he reacts curtly or angrily.

Having seen and experienced Prachanda’s duplicity, Machiavellian methods, vote-bank politics, and series of political misadventures, financial opaqueness and un-proletariat lifestyle, people held great expectations from Bhattarai—another “hero” of the Maoist insurgency, despite his weak following in the party. His meager performance, unimpressive verbal and body language and hunger for power have completely shattered his previous image.

jeevan1952@hotmail.com

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/oped/pinnacles-and-debacles/358629/

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A celebration of aadhunik sangeet

AUG 12 -

The Paleti Utsav, which began on August 9 and will be coming to an end tonight, has proved to be a wonderful occasion for all aadhunik Nepali sangeet aficionados. The festival brought together some of the genre’s greatest and most loved in a celebration of Nepali aadhunik music, and in the process, has gained more fans for the genre.

Veteran singers Ambar Gurung, Phatteman and Shanti Thatal performed on the first, second and third days of the festival respectively while nepa~laya’s own Aavaas— who coordinated the 13-member orchestra who played on all three days—will be performing tonight. The festival, which is taking place at DAV School’s Buddha Hall in Jhamsikhel, has so far, proven impeccable in terms of the attention paid to details such as stage setting, light and sound. 

The festival began with Ambar Gurung’s solo performance. The legendary singer and composer lent his versatile vocals to songs that ranged from the sentimental and romantic to the classical. Ciney Gurung, one of the many noted singers who attended the live show shared, “I feel blessed  for this opportunity to witness Ambar Gurung performing live.” The 74 year old veteran musician, who is one of the bestselling classical artists of this era, is currently not in good health, and Thursday’s performance might very well have been one of his last live shows. In fact, many of the attendees at the concert had come there just to see the legendary figure on stage.

In between his songs Gurung shared anecdotes from his youth, and also talked about his musical journey with Narayan Gopal. He also talked about how one of his most well-known songs Rato Ra Chandra Surya, is also among his fastest composed ones. “I finished composing the song in 15 minutes,” he shared.

The second day of the Paleti Utsav was just as musically mesmerising. Phatteman, another legendary figure of Nepali aadhunik sangeet, enthralled audiences with around 18 songs which included some well-loved versions of Marna Baru Garo, Banai Khayo Dadelo Ley and Kasto Maya. The singer even found the time to crack some jokes with Aavaas and add a bit of joy to an ambience that had soaked itself up in the sorrowful notes of his melancholic songs.

Darjeeling-based singer Shanti Thatal performed on the festival’s third day. She too, sang some 18 songs that included popular and much-loved numbers such as Samalera Rakha, Mayalule Samjhyo Ki and Udhi Jau Bhaney, among others.

Today is the last day of the Paleti Utsav. Singer Aavaas will be performing a mix of some of his original songs coupled with a few other popular tunes

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/entertainment/a-celebration-of-aadhunik-sangeet/358631/

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ICCU-19 World Cup: B’desh make winning start, Australia off the mark

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

Bangladesh made a winning start to their U-19 World Cup campaign with an impressive 25-run win over Sri Lanka in their Group ‘D’ game on Saturday. The opening day also saw wins for hosts and defending champions Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

At Brisbane’s Alan Border Stadium, Bangladesh posted 247 runs on the board after electing to bat first. Aaman ul-haq was impressive with the bat, scoring the game high 101 runs. In reply, Sri Lanka managed just 224 runs, losing all their wickets in 48.4 overs.

In Group ‘A’, which also includes Nepal, England and Ireland, home team Australia routed old foes England by six wickets.

England, the champions of the tournament in 1998, managed a meager total of 143 runs, which was chased down by the Australians in quick time. They race to the target, making 147 runs for the loss of four wickets in the 35th over. Pakistan also had it easy against Afghanistan in the first game of Group ‘B’. Electing to the bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 253 runs, but the lowly Afghan side struggled to meet the target, conjuring up just 144 runs in 45.1 over without any wickets at their disposal to hand their opponents an easy 109-run win.

Pakistani bowler Jiya ul-haq was an important man in the rout as he conceded just 30 win claiming four wickets. Likewise, in the Group ‘C’ match, Zimbabwe proved a mismatch for minnows Papua New Guinea, who could manage just 145 runs in reply to Zimbabwe’s 250 runs.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/sports/iccu-19-world-cup--bdesh-make-winning-start-australia-off-the-mark/358634/

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Failure of Power Development Fund: Govt, WB mull funding projects through HIDC

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

After failing lend even a single penny to hydropower projects developed by the private sector through the power development fund (PDF), the government and the World Bank are discussing the possibility of financing such projects through the Hydroelectric Investment and Development Company (HIDC).

PDF is a part of the Power Development Project (PDP) which was formed in 2003 to finance the private sector power developers after the World Bank cancelled its plans to finance the Arun III Hydroelectric Project in 1995.

With PDP’s term ending in December, the two sides are discussing on how to utilise the funds allocated under PDF. Both the World Bank and government officials confirmed that the talks are underway to finance power projects through HIDC which started operations from July 30.

“We are holding talks on carrying out an institutional review of HIDC to find out whether it is capable of financing private sector power projects,” said a World Bank source. “A decision will be taken after the review.”

HIDC was formed to finance power projects above 25MW capacity with an aim address the power crisis in the country that is hitting hard the normal life and the industrial sector.

Kailash Raj Pokharel, under secretary at the foreign aid coordination division of the Finance Ministry, also confirmed the talks. However, there have not been direct talks between the World Bank and HIDC so far, according a HIDC board member.

WB has allocated $35 million under the fund and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was supposed to provide $25 million. However, the resources have not been used so far. PDF functions under the Department of Electricity Development (DoED).

When the fund invited private sector power producers, only a few developers expressed interest in borrowing resources from the fund. As projects below 10MW capacity were not qualified to receive funds, only a single project above 10MW capacity, Kabeli Hydropower project, was shortlisted. A senior DoED official said stringent conditions put forth by the World Bank were mainly responsible for PDF’s failure.

Moreover, the plan to finance Kabeli, being developed by the Butwal Power Company (BPC), has not moved ahead due to the difference between the government and BPC over the interest rate.

The government has fixed the interest rate on such lending at 10.5 percent, but the project has demanded to lower the rate to 5 percent. The government has formed a taskforce to review the interest rate. Kabeli is to receive 40 percent of its total funding requirements from PDF.

If Kabeli does not receive the funding by December, HIDC is likely to take the responsibility of financing the project. “If the fund’s resources remain unspent, we have a tradition of repatriating the resources,” said the WB source. “But we want the money, meant for PDF, to stay in Nepal for financing hydropower projects at a time when the country is facing acute power crisis.”

The HIDC board member also said the company is unlikely to face resource crunch to fund power projects as donors are increasingly getting interested in investing in Nepal’s power sector through HIDC. The company currently has Rs 6.7 billion.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/business/failure-of-power-development-fund-govt-wb-mull-funding-projects-through-hidc/358637/

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West Seti Project: Chinese firm agrees to revise MoU

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

The long-standing dilemma over securing investment from China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) in 750-MW West Seti Hydroelectricity Project ended on Saturday with the Chinese company finally agreeing to revise the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that it had signed with the Nepal government.

Nepali officials involved in the negotiation with CTGC in China said that the Chinese company also agreed to send its high-level delegation to Nepal within two weeks to revise the MoU and begin works towards the project development.

A three-member Nepali negotiating team, led by Energy Secretary Hari Ram Koirala, had left for China on Tuesday to ensure investment from the Chinese corporation and prepare grounds for the MoU revision. Investment Board (IB) CEO Radhesh Pant and Rameshwor Khanal, Prime Minister’s economic advisor, were the other members of the Nepali talk team. The Nepali team held talks with Chen Fei, president of CTGC and the company’s board members.

“Our talks with the CTCG officials came to a fruitful conclusion as they agreed to revise the MoU signed previously and put their investment in the project,” said Pant of the IB, which has been assigned to develop the project.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy (MoE) Arjun Kumar Karki and CTGC Executive Vice-president Wang Shaofeng had signed the MoU some six months ago. However, stating the deal was non-transparent and the MoE officials abused authority, the parliamentary committee had probed into the matter and directed the government to hand over project development responsibility to the Investment Board. During the discussion with the China Exim Bank and China Development Bank on Thursday and Friday, the banks have also expressed interest to invest in the project and to provide additional soft loans for the construction of a transmission line. “We held talks on completing both hydropower and transmission line simultaneously so that the electricity generated could be linked to the national grid immediately,” said Pant.  “The bank has shown positive response.”

As per the previous MoU, there would be 25 percent share from the NEA and 75 percent from the Chinese company, with a provision to allocate 2-5 percent of share to the local people. “We have asked the CTGC to increase the share for the locals as per the NRMC’s recommendation,” added Pant. The team also asked the CTGC officials to make West Seti a multi-purpose project. IB had previously proposed making West Seti a multi-purpose project with the development of irrigation system, fishery and water transportation.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/top-story/west-seti-project-chinese-firm-agrees-to-revise-mou/358616/

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Flood havoc :A trail of damage in 4 Banke VDCs

BANKE, AUG 12 -

Floods have destroyed crops planted on around 100 hectares at four VDCs in Banke district.

According to the District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), Rapti river flooding entered Holiya, Betahani, Bankatti and Kamdi VDCs and destroyed crops such as paddy, corn and pulse.

Huge swathes of farmland have been filled with silts and sand, while saplings of the crops were swept away. “The crops, which were growing well, were washed away by floods,” said Ram Sharan Nisad of Holia VDC-6. Many VDCs are at high risk of floods every year.

Ram Kumar Sukla of Holia said the problem of floods has been stinging these VDC owing to lack of a permanent embankment in Rapti and blockage of natural water flows of the river and small streams due to the construction of Laxmanpur and Kalkatta embankments by India. “Houses and farmland have been filled with silts and sand.”

Meanwhile in Myagdi district, a flood triggered by heavy rains submerged 25 houses at Campus Chok in Beni. Police said that damage caused by flooding is yet to be ascertained.

In Palpa, a flood has swept away a peltric set and all equipment used for generating electricity, cutting off power at Mythyal VDC-9 and forcing local residents to live in dark.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/national/flood-havoc-a-trail-of-damage-in-4-banke-vdcs/358617/

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APF deserter held with stolen SMG, ammunition

DANG, AUG 12 -

Police have arrested a notorious criminal and his two accomplices with sophisticated weapons in the district.

A special police team led by Inspector Prakash Malla detained 27-year-old Bel Bahadur Gharti, an Armed Police Force (APF)-deserter who fled with a Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), from Tulsipur Bus Park in the district on Friday evening. Police made them public organising a press meet on Saturday.

Gharti, a permanent resident of Kohalpur Municipality-5 in Banke district, was nabbed with two of his henchmen—Jagat KC of Kohalpur-4 and Uma Oli of Tulsipur-1. Police claimed that Gharti is the kingpin of the group while Oli is his girl friend.

After Garti’s arrest, the security personnel also raided his rented apartment at Tulsipur-9 and recovered the SMG, its 55 round of ammunition, and four bullets used in a self-loading rifle. Police said Gharti joined the APF eight years ago and fled from Nepalgunj after two years. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bipin Kumar Karmacharya said Bikash Thapa of Surkhet, then posted at the APF’s Bageshwori Battalion in Shumsergunj, Banke, stole the gun from the arsenal and fled with Gharti. Then, the deserter duo, police claimed, carried out criminal activities in the area.

According to police, Gharti’s group looted Kohalpur branch of IME on July 19, 2011. Thapa and his accomplice Neb Bahadur Dangi were arrested later while trying to rob a bank in Banke.

It is learnt during police investigation that enraged at the arrest of his group members, Gharti indiscriminately fired 27 bullets at the Area Police Office in Kohalpur on August 31, 2011.

Gharti later carried out criminal activities making western part of Dang as his base area.

Police had launched a search campaign named ‘Operation Jungle’ to nab Gharti and his henchmen. “The search was named Operation Jungle as he carried out criminal activities from forest area. We succeeded to arrest him after nine months,” Inspector Malla said.

Malla said Gharti had close link with an underground outfit as well. As per Gharti’s statement, the Metropolitan Police Circle in Lalitpur raided his room at Pulchok on Friday night and recovered a pistol and its four ammunitions. Gharti admitted to the police that he received the pistol from the underground outfit.

Armed outfit man killed

MAHOTTARI: An area commander of an armed outfit was killed in a police action at Belaekdara in the district on Saturday.

Jaya Narayan Pasawan alias Barud Tyagi, the commander of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, was killed in retaliatory firing at Belaekdara along the Samasi-Jaleshwor road, police said. It is said that Pasawan was the outfit’s commander for Mahottari, Sarlahi and Dhanusha districts.

Police personnel on civvies followed motorcycle-borne Pasawan as the latter sped his vehicle apparently to flee upon seeing the cops in another motorcycle. Pasawan, with his two accomplices, was on his way to Jaleshwor. The police claimed that they were compelled to open fire in self-defence as Pasawan fired at them.

Two others, however, could flee towards the Nepal-India border. Superintendent of Police Suraj KC said Constable Surendra Chaudhary was injured in the incident. Police seized a country-made pistol and its ammunition from the victim.

The District Police Office claimed that Pasawan was a ‘most wanted man’ who had been involved in various criminal activities, including abduction, extortion and detonating explosives in the area.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/national/apf-deserter-held-with-stolen-smg-ammunition/358623/

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ADB, JICA, EIB pledge $391m for 140MW Tanahun hydel project

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

With three major donor agencies pledging assistance for the 140MW Tanahun Hydropower Project, the project development is expected to take off soon.

Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have pledged a collective $391 million in grants and soft loans for the project, formerly known as Upper Seti Hydropower Project (USHP).

ADB would provide $38 million in grant and $123 million soft loans, while JICA and EIB have promised $180 million and $50 million, respectively, in soft loans, according to a source at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), which will develop the project.

Kailash Raj Pokharel, under secretary at the Finance Ministry, confirmed the development and said the donors have shown readiness to provide the funds. “A deal will be signed very soon. The amount under soft loans can rise,” he said.

The government has to pay 0.1 percent interest to JICA, while ADB and EIB will charge 1 percent. The government will lend the money to NEA at 5 percent. “In a bid to make the energy generated from the project cheaper, the government is charging less interest from NEA,” said the source.

Previously, the government used to charge as high as 8 percent interest to NEA while relending soft loans from donors, citing exchange rate risk.

Besides the donor assistance, the government will inject Rs 2 billion and the consultant for the project will put in $48 million in the project, the NEA source said. A feasibility study carried out by NEA has estimated the total cost of the project at around Rs 40 billion.

An official at Ministry of Energy said separate fact-finding missions from ADB and JICA will inspect the project site and then sign memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the government. “The mission from JICA is coming on Monday, while ADB mission will come shortly after,” said the official. “As ADB has already allotted $151 million, we will sign the deal with ADB in December. The MoU with JICA and EIB will be signed later.”

As per the requests of ADB and JICA, the government is allowing the consultant to invest in the project. The consultant will also have the responsibility of construction and operation of the project.

NEA will hold 74 percent stake in the project, while the consultant will have 26 percent share.  Ministry officials said 10 years after the project’s operation, NEA will buy out the consultant’s share. The project has also announced a tender for a construction contractor. Mahesh Acharya, project chief, said construction work will begin from March, 2014, and commercial energy generation will start from January 2020.

THP will be the second biggest storage-type project after Kulekhani. As per the current construction cost of the project, it will have to sign power purchase agreement (PPA) at Rs 7 per unit with NEA.

He added that the company recently applied for the construction license to the Energy Ministry and has been preparing a draft PPA.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/business/adb-jica-eib-pledge-391m-for-140mw-tanahun-hydel-project/358638/

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Bhusal rules out possibility of unification with UCPN (M)

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pampha Bhusal ruled out the possibility of party unification with UCPN (Maoist) at the present context.

She said unification is possible only if the UCPN (M) forges consensus on party’s action plan.

Talking to Radio Kantipur on Sunday morning, Bhusal said constitution can be promulgated by reviving the Constituent Assembly for a time being by holding round table talks.

Saying that the agreements inked prior the dissolution of the CA bears no significance at the present time, Bhusal said CPN-Maoist will also claim for the leadership in the new government in the offing.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/top-story/bhusal-rules-out-possibility-of-unification-with-ucpn-m/358641/

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A friendship unparalleled in height

AUG 12 -

It’s a great pleasure for me to make the journey over the Himalayas to visit China’s beautiful neighbour Nepal, which is well known for its long history and rich cultural heritage.

Many years ago when I travelled to the Tibet Autonomous Region on the Chinese side of the Himalayas,

I went to see the Statue of a Nepali Princess at the Potala Palace. The local people told me about the story of Princess Bhrikuti and how she won the respect of the Chinese people. Like me, many people in China and Nepal also know the stories of Fahien and Xuan Zang many centuries ago, who travelled thousands of miles under extremely harsh conditions to make their respective pilgrimage to Lumbini. Moreover, the White Pagoda built under the supervision of Nepali craftsman Anigo (Arniko in Nepal) more than 700 years ago can still be seen in downtown Beijing today. There can be no better monument for the time-honoured history of friendly association between China and Nepal.

This historical friendship is well followed-up by good neighbourly relations between the two countries in contemporary times. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 57 years ago, China and Nepal have been good neighbours and good friends who treat each other as equals and always respected and supported each other.

China-Nepal relations are free from any outstanding issues. Our 1,400 km long border has been a bond of friendship that connects rather than divides us. China adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We support Nepal’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Nepal, on its part, supports China on matters related to Tibet and Taiwan and does not allow any forces to use Nepali territory for anti-China activities. Such a principled position of Nepal has won it the respect and appreciation of the Chinese people. In 2009, the China-Nepal friendship relations of Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting friendship was set up, marking a new era in the development of China-Nepal relations.

China and Nepal are close partners for development. Chinese assistance since the 1950s has contributed to the construction of more than 20 projects which played an important role in the economic development of Nepal. The two countries are now connected by two cross-Himalaya highways and four direct flights. Each year more than 130,000 people travel between the two countries. Bilateral trade has reached US$1.2 billion. More than 20 Chinese companies have now set up operations in Nepal, and 3,000 Nepali students currently study in China.

Our two countries are also engaged in similar pursuits at home. In the past three decades and more, China has made enormous achievements in economic and social development thanks to reform and opening-up. We will continue to unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development in line with our national conditions, working towards the goals of modernisation and common prosperity of our people. Nepal too is in the middle of a critical historical transition. Its peace process has made important headway. It is well on its way to building a new Nepal.

This year is “China-Nepal Year of Friendly Exchanges”. A delegation of 100 Nepali youth has made a successful visit to China. The implementation of other associated activities is now in full swing. The two sides should build on this positive progress to strengthen cooperation and build up unity, stability and development.

China follows the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. We respect the Nepali people’s choice of social system and development path. We support an early completion of the peace and constitution-drafting process in Nepal. We hope these efforts will lead to a stable political system in Nepal, and open the door to comprehensive development.

China will continue to do all it can to help Nepal’s economic and social development. It will take an active part in infrastructure development in Nepal, such as transport and hydro-power projects, to strengthen China-Nepal connectivity and practical cooperation for mutual benefit.

China is also committed to closer cooperation with Nepal in the areas of culture, education, tourism, and to more youth, media, and academic exchanges between the two countries. This will strengthen the tree of China-Nepal friendship from the roots.

During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Nepal last January, leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on China-Nepal relations. Prime Minister Bhattarai commented that the two countries share the world’s highest peak, so their bilateral relations are unparalleled in height. Premier Wen responded by saying that the height of China-Nepal relations is only matched by its depth. Such a meaningful exchange spells out a vision for our cross-Himalaya friendship. This is a vision we should all be working for.

Mme Fu Ying, Vice Foreign Minister of China, is on a three-day visit to Nepal starting on August 11

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/oped/a-friendship-unparalleled-in-height/358628/

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In the name of house spirit

AUG 12 -

And in that dorm room with thirty beds, we slept as dead men. The softest noise could trigger the warden’s black box.”

I won’t tell you I am Spiderman or something. I am not amazing. When Andy Dufresne escaped from Shawshank prison in 1966, I didn’t even exist. But I went to a Shawshank too, my own Shawshank.

Dad brought me to live in a hostel as a naive kid. No sooner, I was promoted to a house where rules were both strict and weird. A tall, fair guy with brown hair and a well-shaped English accent was our housemaster, our warden. Up to that moment, I didn’t have the slightest of idea. My life in hell was about to begin.

Like Warden Samuel Norton, our house master believed in two things: discipline and duty. We were bound to both. A lot of discipline, and a lot more duties. Everybody knew what he meant on our first night when we were all instructed to get to the study hall.

 “What have you brought for the house?” he had asked. The answers came in all forms. Sir, I am good at Mathematics. I can win trophies to decorate. I like painting. I could print banners and placards if the house needs it. I love sports and can represent us in the Track and Field Meet. I can sing. I can dance...

The warden was unimpressed.

All of us huddled together in a U-shape we stood, as if at some sort of Scouts ceremony. Everybody said something. It seemed they had all brought gifts to the house. My turn came too.

“Aah...I am fond of gardening sir and ...”

I could never complete the sentence. But I tell you this—I had never done as much gardening as I did that particular year.

The warden pointed to shelves laden with golden cups and trophies on the wall. “These emblems are running shields. We may lose them next year, or if we work hard, we might even add some more. But what I ask of you guys here is house spirit. That’s all I ask!” And that night, after we were dismissed, everyone went to sleep in confusion. The lights were out soon. But until its last filament ray remained, I lay upon my bed busy thinking. What did this ‘house spirit’ mean anyway?

We soon found out how stubborn our warden was. House was to him as gold was to Midas. He made you march in the garden, skin burning from the day’s sun and fingers blistered with the Chinese bricks we had to carry around. A wheel barrow out of nowhere lay in his flat; we had to bring quintals of sand just to erect a brick layout with the name of our house on it. Then at the end of the day, when we thought we were done, he stood behind our heads with a flashlight. We painted those newly installed bricks under the moon. Even when we went to bed, the phrase ‘house spirit’ reverberated in our minds. All night long.

Our days got tougher. There were no weekends for the warden. He spent his Saturdays busy at work, and so did we. I thought we had come to a school to study, and that the house simply a building in which we lived. Everyone had initially thought so.

We were mistaken.

“Hope is an emotional state which promotes belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.” Wikipedia believes that is hope. As for us, we went to bed praying for tomorrow so we wouldn’t have to clean the bathroom. Maybe next weekend, we could even go home and skip work. Maybe we’d get enough time to study instead of marching as armies, perfecting the house.

Maybe we wouldn’t have to pay money to raise house funds that were wasted on buying posters and paints. Maybe we’d get a little extra milk and biscuits someday. But these never happened. We still dreamt though. And for us, that was hope.

Our warden was a very unreasonable man. We went for our mid-term break. When we returned, he had installed a beeper on the front wall; a blue-brown plastic cube with a wire tail that led to its switch in his flat. We called it the black box. Its utility was not known until that night.

It was mid-winter. The lights were out and we were all lying on our beds. Many inmates owned battery operated radios, earphones plugged deep into their ear holes. The rest of us gossiped until we fell short of things to talk about. But that night noise was loud. Someone cracked a lame joke and the dorm was soon filled with laughter. It was then that the beeper beeped. The house captain knew its meaning. He stormed into our room with an aluminium rod. We knelt on that cold floor until our knees were numb and our buttocks purple with diarrhoea. Nobody produced a word after lights out again.

What kind of life did we live, really? When Mark Zuckerberg was writing codes for his billion dollar machine, what were we doing? Well yes, we were in a prison learning how to decorate beds using three or more green and white bed sheets.

NASA was onto its Spirit Mars landing mission while we mopped that floor three times a day. When many mums served their children milk with Bournvita, we were assigned to carry a jug to our warden’s flat. And in that dorm room with thirty beds, The softest noise could trigger the warden’s black box.

And just as he might have arrived, the warden left one day. Perhaps he had achieved from life what he sought. He did take our house to unbroken limits. We won trophies that year. Shelves were full. But in turn, we had to lose so many nights’ sleep. We had developed a sense of compulsion as we repeated the same thing over and over again. We had forgotten motivation. And paying taxes as students...the height of ridiculousness...

The warden never understood us. Or maybe we never understood him. Anyway, he was out now. That was what we had wanted all along.

Sometimes it makes me sad...the warden being gone, and all.

We don’t have to arrange beds. We are free men. I can only think. There’s no beeper anymore. No gardening and other things.

It feels like school now, finally.

We are free to rejoice, and to make as much noise as we can. We will, you know. This is hostel. You enjoy until you can, and then you stop still, never knowing when it will be that you can enjoy again. These rules are funny. First you hate them, and then you get used to them. Enough time passes, and you even begin to depend on them. That’s institutionalisation.

Here we are celebrating. The house captain won’t do anything today. After all, he is one of us. It pricks me though; to realise that it won’t last long. They say the next warden is coming in a few days.

He might play with his own set of rules. We’ve got to get institutionalised, again.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/fiction-park/in-the-name-of-house-spirit/358630/

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Giant Killers: Time to Step Up

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

A lot has happened in cricket since Nepal pipped South Africa to enter the Super League at the U-19 World Cup, in their first appearance at the event, in 2000. This was the first, and so far only, incident of an associate member of ICC entering the Super League stage at the Youth World Cup.

It’s a different issue that South Africa were one of the favourites and were unlucky to be eliminated after three no-results gave them just three points.

Nepal, with four points due to one no-result against South Africa and a win over Kenya, went through to the Super League. After all, Nepali players did not create the format of the championship and did not choose their opponents either.

Nepal returns to the U19 World Cup again, having missed out on the 2010 event. To qualify, Nepal finished second behind Scotland and one place ahead of Ireland in the 10-team ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2011, played in Ireland. And when you come back after a break of four years, it’s only natural to reflect upon past glory.  The players from the U-19 team would probably do that, absorbing how much Nepal is known in world cricketing circle.

It was 10 years ago, when Martin Snedden, former New Zealand international and tournament director of U-19 World Cup 2002, asked then Nepal coach Roy Dias, “Roy, what are you doing in Nepal?”, oblivious to the fact that the country had cricket grounds and some cricket history. Till then, New Zealand had only one connection to Nepal and that was Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest. Certainly, a host to the highest peak in the world would not have enough space and flat land for cricket, they believed.

It was the same year, the same event, where Nepal announced itself, beating the likes of Pakistan. The team which had Salman Butt and Umar Gul, no nonsense names in cricket. And then Nepal was nicknamed the giant killers. To the extent that South African coach Ray Jennings reportedly said that his team was yet to get over the jinx of Nepal.

South Africa has finished as runner-ups twice, but is yet to win the U-19 World Cup (or any major ICC championship, for that matter). The more things change, the more they remain same.

Yours truly happened to meet a couple of cricketers (name withheld) who played that match, where Nepal thumped Pakistan. A decade later, they’re hardly playing cricketer. No, it’s not the want that’s diminished. It is the lack of opportunities. They complain, “Even Inter-college cricket is not happening.”

When asked about their future plans, they talk about opening a restaurant, preferably a joint-venture with other few cricketers. They rue the fact that Nepal Police Club took them, but hasn’t really formed a team which would play cricket (after winning T20 National Championships and finishing second in One-Day championship).

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

The players, once called the giant killers, are clueless about what to do next. That’s the difficult thing about being giant killers. You cannot always remain that. Either you graduate, winning more matches and climbing the next level: of being consistent performers, or you fade out, into oblivion.

It was 2006 edition of the championship when our U-19 team achieved its best result, landing with silverware, winning the plate final, after a thrilling victory against New Zealand and having beaten South Africa as well.

But the captain then, Kanishka Chaugain, is in US, and not in Nepali cricket set up anymore. While the players at the same championship, Cheteswar Pujara and Rohit Sharma (both India) are being touted as future of Indian cricket. It would be interesting to see how many players the championship throws up this time. But one thing is for certain, we cannot merely remain giant killers anymore. We have to step up.

Hopefully Cricket Association of Nepal is listening to the plight of cricketers.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/sports/giant-killers-time-to-step-up/358632/

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Peralta powers Mexico to gold, another futile run for Brazil

LONDON, AUG 12 -

Mexico stunned Brazil to win their first gold in the Olympic men’s football tournament as Oribe Peralta’s double clinched a shock 2-1 victory over the five-time world champions here Saturday.

Peralta struck after just 30 seconds and the Mexican striker sealed one of the all-time great Olympic upsets when he scored again late in the second half.

Hulk got one back in stoppage-time but Mexico, playing in their first Olympic final, were deserved winners as Brazil once again failed to end their long wait for a first football gold. While Brazil have graced the World Cup with some of the best players and most dazzling performances ever seen on football’s grandest stage, the Selecao have never managed to replicate those golden moments at the Games and this was another miserable chapter in their Olympic history.

Brazil, bronze medallists in Beijing in 2008, lost in the Olympic final in 1984 and 1988 and their failure to win gold has rankled with such a proud football nation for decades. Mano Menezes’s team are unlikely to get a sympathetic reception on their return home after such a lacklustre display riddled with nerves and defensive blunders. From Rio to Sao Paulo those unconvinced by Menezes had already begun to whisper that former Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari should be installed in time to lead the nation’s bid to win the World Cup on home soil in 2014 and those calls will get even louder after Mexico’s giant-killing act.

After sweeping to the final with five successive wins, Brazil were heavy favourites and Mexico’s chances looked even slimmer when Giovani dos Santos was ruled out with an injury suffered during the semi-final win over Japan.

But the Mexicans had won three of their past five matches against Brazil, including a 2-0 friendly victory in June, and there was no sign of an inferiority complex as Luis Fernando Tena’s side made an astonishing start. Just 30 seconds had been played when  Rafael da Silva dwelt on the ball and then poked a hesitant pass towards Sandro, who was caught flat-footed as Javier Aquino stole possession. Peralta latched onto Aquino’s pass and the Santos Laguna striker advanced unchecked before slipping a clever low shot past Brazil goalkeeper Gabriel from just outside the penalty area.

Brazil seemed shell-shocked by such a disastrous opening. It took 21 minutes for Brazil’s first shot on target and Menezes was growing increasingly frustrated on the touchline. By the 32nd minute he had seen enough and hauled off Alex Sandro, with Porto striker Hulk sent on. That at least gave Brazil a brief spark and defender Marcelo slashed wide after Oscar’s flick gave him a sight of goal, then Hulk surged forward and forced Jose Corona to parry his long-range strike.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/olympic/peralta-powers-mexico-to-gold-another-futile-run-for-brazil/358635/

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US headed for win over China

LONDON, AUG 12 -

With a surge of medals in track and field, the United States has sprinted ahead of China and is poised to finish atop the medals table at the London Olympics - maybe with the most golds ever collected by the Americans on foreign soil.

Heading into the final day of the competition, the U.S. leads both the gold and overall medals races after trailing the Chinese most of the games.

The Americans pulled further ahead Friday. At the end of the day’s events, the U.S. led China 95 to 82 in total medals and 41 to 37 in golds.

Bill Mallon, a veteran American medals prognosticator, believes the U.S. will win the overall race by 12 to 15 medals and the gold count by three to five. Four more golds would equal the highest U.S. total on foreign territory in Olympic history - 45 at both the 1968 Mexico City Games and the 1924 Paris Games.

The gold haul in London is already the best for the United States since it won 44 in 1996 in Atlanta. Its highest gold count was 83 at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, which were boycotted by the Soviet Union.

The late U.S. charge in London has been spurred by the track and field team, with 26 medals, including eight golds, through Friday. The Americans picked up four medals Thursday night with 1-2 finishes by Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee in the decathlon and by Christian Taylor and Will Claye in the triple jump.

They grabbed two more Friday night - gold in the women’s 4x100-meter relay and silver in the men’s 4x400 relay.

Away from the track, wrestler Jordan Burroughs won gold in the men’s 74-kilogram freestyle. The success could validate the projection of 30 medals by USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the sport, which had been widely maligned as too ambitious.

With two more relays and a few other chances coming up, the United States could exceed 30 medals - even after being shut out in the men’s 200 and 400 meters, two events where the Americans usually excel.

“A lot of people thought 30 medals was crazy,” said U.S. Olympic Committee’s former chief of sports performance.

 

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/olympic/us-headed-for-win-over-china/358636/

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Stock market firm above 400 points

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

The stock market last week remained largely firm above 400 points, with the benchmark index losing a meager 0.47 points.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index closed the week at 402.47 points on Wednesday, from Sunday’s 402.94 points. Trading didn’t take place on Thursday due to public holiday.

Hydropower companies registered a whopping 51.52-point gain. Groups representing manufacturing companies and others were up 10.90 and 5.87 points, respectively. Commercial banks, hotels, insurance companies, finance companies and development banks lost 4.37, 3.28, 3.44, 3 and 1.11 points, respectively. The trading firms saw no change in their index.

Stockbrokers say the capital market is pretty stable for the last few weeks and has won investors’ confidence. “We have not seen big fluctuations in the index for the last couple of months,” said Nanda Kishore Mundara, a stockbroker. “The market has weathered the tough times and the coming days are expected to be better.” Mundara, however, added that performance of listed companies — especially of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) — which would be published soon, would determine the market’s fate.

Stockbrokers attribute the improvement in the market to the government’s stimulus measures such as opening share purchase loans, central depository system and mutual funds.

Stock investors and brokers had long been demanding the provision of share purchase loans. Although BFIs are yet to provide such loans at bigger scale, brokers, investors and bankers have initiated talks in this regard. Anjan Raj Poudyal, president of the Stock Brokers’ Association of Nepal, said such a lending would be started by the end of August if things go as planned.

Apart from the stability in the market index, the exchange is also witnessing a healthy volume of transactions. In last week’s four trading days, the exchange registered a turnover of Rs 273.37 million — up 31.39 percent compared to Rs 208.07 million in the previous week.

Chilime Hydropower Company posted the highest individual turnover of Rs 71.74 million. Kist Bank topped the chart in terms of the number of shares traded with the company’s 284,380 shares changing hands the highest 707 times.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/12/business/stock-market-firm-above-400-points/358640/

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Jannati leaders divided over party formation

KATHMANDU, AUG 08 - With the date scheduled for declaring a Janajati party approaching fast, ethnic leaders are sharply divided over the announcement of a new party on August 9.

A national gathering of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (Nefin) held in the first week of July had decided to form a new party.

While leaders like Pashang Sherpa are all set to form such a party, ethnic leaders of big parties and a faction led by Nefin General Secretary Aangkaji Sherpa have clearly stood against an announcement on August 9.

Despite pressure piled by Aang Kaji and ethnic leaders of big parties, the Pasang group said the party will be announced on August 9 at any cost.

The two-day meeting of a taskforce comprising Chaitanya Subba, Krishna Bhattachan, Shanti Rai, Pashang Sherpa, Shankar Limbu, Nanda Kandangwa, Joyti Danuwar, Mahendra Lawati and Jit Pal Kirat, held in Dhulikhel, Kavre, two days ago agreed to announce the party formation.

Pashang Sherpa told the Post that the taskforce is prepared for the announcement. He said preparations are underway to announce a 100-member party through a general convention.

According to their schedule, the party's name, manifesto and Construction Coordination Committee will be announced on August 9.

 "Some friends of NEFIN and ethnic leaders of big parties are asking not to declare the party now. But we think that this is the right time to do so," said Pasang.

"They can join us later if they want to, but we are not in the mood to postpone the announcement.''

A highly-placed source told the Post that a group of Janajati leaders, including UML Vice-chairman Ashok Rai, Rajendra Shrestha and Aang Kaji Sherpa, are joining the UCPN-Maoist party.

The source claimed that the leaders have held several rounds of meetings with Maoist Chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal. According to their plan, they are likely to enter the Maoist fold soon after the party's general convention scheduled for January-end next year.

Aang Kaji Sherpa said his team does not support the announcement of the new party in haste. He said it will be a "big mistake" if they do not wait for leaders like Ashok Rai. According to him, Rai and his team are likely to formally break up with their party on August 9. 

"I am firm on the formation of a new Janajati party, but that would not happen overnight like some people are thinking. A party can't be formed by making a concept in a closed room, it needs a lot of homework. It takes time," said Aang Kaji.

While he did not deny the possibility of them joining the Maoist party, he said it will not happen anytime soon. "Anything can happen in politics, but right now there isnt such a likelihood. At least for some months I have no intention of joining any party," he said.


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/08/top-story/jannati-leaders-divided-over-party-formation/358413/

9:14 AM | 0 comments | Read More