NSU Goes On Rampage; 24 Injured

In separate clashes between the Nepal Students Union and the police in Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts, some 24 persons have been injured on Friday (Dec 19). Protesting against the attack on the NSU Poulchowk Engineering Campus Unit President Bikash Sedhain Thursday by the Maoist youth front Young Communist League (YCL), the NSU demonstrated at different places in the districts by burning tyres at the road and obstructing the traffic Friday. Earlier, the demonstrating NSU activists set ablaze a government vehicle and vandalized some others at Thapathali. The police barged into the Thapathali Campus and laathi-charged at the students inuring 12 including the Federation of Students Union president, Shreesh Sharma, injured. The irate students set ablaze a vehicle with the government plate (Ba 1 Jha 5443) in front of the campus and vandalized two private cars and some motorbikes. Compiled from reports

Maoists, UML To Form Taskforce To Fill Local Bodies

The two major ruling parties—the CPN-Maoist and the CPN-UML— agreed to form a task force to constitute the vacant local bodies. The meeting of top leaders of the two communist parties held at the Prime Minister's Official resident in Baluwatar on Friday (Dec 19) decided to form the task force soon including Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Jha. The leaders also decided to hold discussion with the leaders of the main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) apropos to give full shape to the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC). According to UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, a three-party meeting is scheduled for today itself to discuss the NC's participation in the army integration body. Meanwhile, the meeting between the UML and the Maoists will be held tomorrow again to finalize the nomination in the constitutional bodies, Maoist senior leader Mohan Vaidya said. Following the reluctance of the main opposition party Nepali Congress to participate in the AISC, the two ruling parties held consultations to bring in an alternative also. The AISC still has not got full shape as the NC refused to join it demanding equitable representation, reversion to the terms of reference prepared by the previous government and a clear definition of who are the major parties. The constitution says major parties will be represented in the army integration body, which will look after the integration of the Maoist combatants and their resettlement, but does not name them. In yesterday's meeting, the Maoists had put forth a proposal of either to reconstitute the AISC under the prime minister's headship or to include two representatives from the NC, as it is demanding, and one more from their party in the present committee. However, the UML said that the prime minister's direct participation in the AISC is not suitable. The meeting discussed nomination in the constitutional bodies, implementation of the past pacts, and formation of the local bodies. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he would talk to the NC that stayed away from the Constituent Assembly proceedings yesterday, demanding the implementation of the past agreement, to resolve the problem, according to a leader who participated in the meeting. Compiled from reports

Hydro Sector Deal On Chinese Firm

Clean Energy Development Bank (CEDB) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Northwest Hydro Consulting Engineers (NWH) - one of the world's leading hydropower consulting companies from China - to carry out various levels of engineering studies of hydropower schemes and help carry out techno-financial analyses of medium and large hydropower projects in Nepal. According to the agreement, it will help carry out different levels of engineering studies of hydropower schemes by pooling together the bank's in-house and local experts' knowhow and NWM's vast experience in this field. NWH will help carry out techno-financial analyses of medium and large hydropower projects in collaboration with CEDB and local expertise, if need be. "NWH's experience and knowledge will be mobilized to the optimum," said the bank. The accord stipulates that NWH establish an office in Kathmandu manned by its competent and experienced staff. This arrangement will give prompt access to Chinese expertise in a cost effective manner. Additionally, the bank has arranged for facilities of providing both equity and debt financing to investors possessing hydropower licenses in various stages of development. Prior to the signing of this agreement, the bank signed an agreement with the Brahmaputra-Mekong Fund to invest up to $100 million in the energy sector. Similar agreements have also been signed with FMO - an international development bank and Tridos Bank - both from the Netherlands. Also, the bank recently launched its first-ever Rs 250-300 million Hydro Fund for early stage projects. The Himalayan Times daily reports

UML, Maoists Agree To Appoint Nepal As CC Head

The two major coalition partners— CPN-Maoist and CPN-UML— on Thursday (Dec 18) reached an agreement to appoint UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal the coordinator of the Constitutional Committee (CC). The CC is the major among the 14 different committees formed under the CA. It has been bestowed the major responsibility of preparing the draft of the new constitution incorporating the ideas from procedural committees and the suggestions floated at the full CA meeting. The agreement concerning this was reached at a meeting between the two communist parties held Thursday at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar. The deal has also been described as the preparation for taking the former UML General Secretary onboard since Nepal is not a Constituent Assembly (CA) member. "We have proposed the UML to forward Nepal's name as the head of the CC and there was proposal for the same earlier as well," Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said. Subsequently, the UML standing committee agreed to make Nepal the CC head. The CPN-Maoist had been asking Nepal to chair the CC and the High-level Political Coordination Committee formed to run the government. Nepal has already declined the offer to lead the latter.  Likewise, the leaders of the two communist parties have also agreed to give full shape to the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), Land Reforms Commission and Public Service Commission. According to a leader participating at the meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has committed to fulfill the demands forwarded by the opposition party Nepali Congress (NC). Compiled from reports

Nepal India Rail Services Agreement Amended

Nepal and India signed letters of exchange on Wednesday (Dec 17) to effect amendments to the Rail Services Agreement between the two countries. Secretary of Minister of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) Purushottam Ojha on behalf of the Nepali government and Ambassador of India to Nepal Rakesh Sood on behalf of the Indian government signed the letters amidst a program Wednesday. The two countries had singed the Agreement in May 2004 allowing rail traffic to and from ICD Birgunj comprising containers moving in flat/box wagons and break-bulk cargo in covered wagons. Issuing a joint press statement after signing the letters, the MoCS and the Indian Embassy said the amendments to the agreement will open up the rail traffic in tank wagons for liquid cargo and flat wagons for bilateral break-bulk cargo. It will open the potential for transportation of crude and edible oil, petroleum products, and similar other cargo to and from ICD Birgunj in tank wagons and iron and steel products on flat wagons. The amendments also seek to simplify the procedures for customs examination and clearance of bilateral as well as transit cargos. The two governments have agreed to introduce these changes in response to a long-lasting demand of the trade in both countries. This will increase the efficiency of transportation of bilateral and transit cargos, and boost Nepal's trade with India and other countries. Compiled from reports

High School Teachers On Strike

Teachers' Association of Higher Secondary Education Schools (TAHSES) launched a nationwide protest starting Wednesday (Dec 17) to put pressure on the government to fulfill their eight-point demand.  The agitating teachers have demanded for the establishment of a commission to regulate their salary and other perks of the higher education teachers and for appointing five teachers equivalent to the level of a vice-principal post in all the higher secondary schools. TAHSES's demand includes allocation of national education budget and establishment of education service commission.  The teachers have already announced other protest programs as well. As part of their first-phase strike, the school teachers, Wednesday, tied black band in their arms during teaching hours in high schools. They have also threatened to intensify their protest from December 19 if the government continues to remain insensitive to their demands. Compiled from reports

CA Committees Begin Work

The Constituent Assembly (CA) has formally entered into the constitution-drafting process with the Constitutional Committee, the most important CA panel, opening debate on the drafting process. The first meeting of the Constitutional Committee was held soon after its members were administered oath of office and secrecy by CA Chairman Subas Nemwang at Singha Durbar on Tuesday (Dec 16). Members said the meeting chaired by the eldest member of the committee K.B Gurung - since the chairperson is yet to be elected - mainly discussed the procedures of statute-drafting. The 61-member panel comprises key leaders of the political parties represented in the CA including Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN (UML) general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal, coordinator of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Upendra Yadav, and president of Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Mahantha Thakur. While most of the members were present at the swearing-in ceremony, NC president Koirala remained absent due to bad health. Briefly speaking to reporters after the committee's meeting, PM Dahal said the formation of CA committees and the first meeting of the Constitutional Committee were a clear indication that new constitution would be drafted right on time. "It's a proof that the CA is committed to complete the drafting process on time," he said. Likewise, CA chairman Nemwang described the committee's meeting as a crucial development as all the parties have cooperated in kick-starting the drafting process, and expressed confidence that new constitution would be written within the stipulated time. Compiled from reports

Delay In Appointments In Constitutional Bodies

There has been a long delay in appointing heads and members of the constitutional bodies. The authority, which is authorized to make such appointments is the Constitutional Council. The Council has not met for a long time. On Tuesday, too, the scheduled meeting of the Council could not take place because one of its members, the opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala could not attend on health grounds. The next meeting of the Council has not been fixed yet. There are vacancies in constitutional bodies like Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Public Service Commission (PSC), Election Commission and so on. Compiled from reports