Gyanendra likely to quit palace Friday

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, June 5 - Deposed king Gyanendra, who was given Nagarjun Palace as his new residence Wednesday, is likely to vacate Narayanhiti Palace Friday, according to sources.

"He [Gyanendra] is likely to go to Nagarjun Palace Friday morning," said a police source. "It is highly likely he will be provided adequate security during his departure to avoid any untoward incident."

The ousted monarch has already received an eviction letter from the government as per the decision of the Constituent Assembly. He has to leave the palace by June 11.

In the meantime, the government has decided to meet Gyanendra's request for Nagarjun Palace as his residence after he leaves Narayanhiti.

A cabinet meeting Wednesday decided to allow Gyanendra the use of Nagarjun as his residence for the time being. Nationalized last August, Nagarjun palace is located some eight kilometers north-west of downtown Kathmandu and was used by the royals as a retreat. The cabinet, however, did not discuss a request by Gyanendra for Mahendra Manjil for use by his mother Ratna. She is currently living at the Manjil, which is inside Narayanhiti Palace premises.

"The cabinet considered the request for Nagarjun as Gyanendra is a former head of state. But it did not entertain the request for Mahendra Manjil," said a cabinet source.

Meanwhile, the Task Force on Palace Security completed its reports Wednesday. However, it could not submit it to Home Minister Krishna

Prasad Sitaula due to the latter's busy schedule.

Talking to the Post, Joint Secretary Mod Raj Dotel, coordinator of a committee for making recommendations for the security of nationalized palaces and properties, said a detailed report in this connection will be presented at the Constituent Assembly Thursday by Home Minister Sitaula. "We have made certain recommendations for the security arrangement for the former king.

But the number of security personnel will be determined at the political level," he said.

He also said that the security arrangement proposed for the former king will be similar to that for former presidents in future.
Though there is a demand to give full responsibility for the former king's security to Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, a highly-placed government source said there is a high chance Nepal Army (NA) personnel will also be deployed for the purpose. "This is because the police are not trained for specialized security. And we cannot neglect the role that Nepal Army personnel have been playing in VVIP security," added the source.

The source also said that the number of security personnel to be deployed for the safety of the former king would be around 60.

Posted on: 2008-06-04

Aviation fuel up 12pc
Other fuel hikes likely to follow

BY MILAN MANI SHARMA

KATHMANDU, June 5 - The government has raised the price of aviation fuel by about 12 percent and also geared up consultations to raise the price of other petroleum products.

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Wednesday announced that the price of aviation fuel for domestic airlines has been increased to Rs 100 per liter from Rs 90 from Thursday. "Price for supply to international flights has been raised to US$ 1,500 per kiloliter from US$ 1,330," said a source.

The source informed the Post that the government was also discussing raising the price of other petroleum products at a 13-party meeting soon.

A decision in this connection was taken after Maoist ministers in the cabinet said today that the Maoists will agree to hike fuel prices if the13 parties, which are in the constituent assembly, also gave their nod.

The cabinet meeting held today expressed serious concern over rising oil losses, which are estimated to touch Rs 2.70 billion in June, and assigned its financial committee to make recommendations on ways to solve the long-running fuel crisis.

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat stated that the government was now serious about adjusting the oil prices.

"We avoided adjustment of domestic rates for long. Now the problem threatens to gobble up the economy. We cannot defer a decision now," he said at a function.

Dr Mahat also indicated that the rise would not be to the extent to which import prices have risen, mainly for kerosene and diesel. "Import prices have gone up so high, the state will have to subsidize imports even after the hike," he said.

At existing retail prices, Nepal is incurring losses of about Rs 20 per liter of petrol, Rs 44 per liter diesel, Rs 36 kerosene and Rs 380 per cylinder of cooking gas.

The import-sales price gap has already inflicted on the country a loss of about Rs 6 billion in the first 10 months of 2007/08. During that period, the government gave NOC Rs 5.65 billion in loans to finance imports.

Meanwhile, in a bid to manage supplies, NOC has capped the per customer petrol supply to 4 liters for bikes and 12 liters for public and private cars and taxis at one filling. Likewise, it has limited the diesel supply for school buses to 15 liters and for passenger buses and goods carriers to 12 liters.

For buses plying long and medium routes, the supply has been limited to 80 liters and 50 liters respectively. Micro and mini buses plying outside the Valley would get 15 liters and long-haul goods carriers 50 liters at one filling.

Posted on: 2008-06-04

CA to adjourn to faciliate consultations

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, June 5 - Three major political parties-- CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (UML) --have agreed to adjourn the Constituent Assembly (CA) session after its resumption tomorrow as they have failed to reach consensus over power sharing and constitutional amendment.

Following parleys at Prime Minister and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala's residence at Baluwatar Monday, the parties have decided to continue their consultations and explore points of agreement.

"We have agreed to adjourn the CA session for the next six or seven days after tomorrow's meeting so as to seek consensus on all the issues," said NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi. The Maoists proposed to adjourn the CA session. During the meeting, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal reiterated his party's stance--the two-third majority constitutional provision for forming and removing the government shouldn't be amended and the top posts (president and prime minister) must go to his party.

NC and UML leaders, however, pressed the Maoist leadership to be ready to amend the interim constitution and bring in a simple majority provision for the formation and removal of the government.

"We haven't yet changed our stance and have asked the NC and UML to change their views," said Maoist senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, who was present during the meeting.

He said the parties realized that they needed more time for consultations and agreed to initiate bilateral and multilateral dialogue towards a consensus following adjournment of the CA tomorrow.

"I hope we will reach a consensus. But the NC and the UML should realize that the constitutional amendment will create further political complications," he said.

The parties have decided that the Maoists, following informal consultations, will call the next meeting.

NC General Secretary Nidhi said the CA meeting on Thursday will form committees to prepare working procedures for the CA and other regulations.

UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal, following the meeting, said, "The Maoists have expressed some flexibility toward amending the constitution." He said the constitutional provision on two-third majority for forming and removing the government must be changed into a simple majority in the 'changed political context'.

Posted on: 2008-06-04

More news:
New Neapl's News
kantipur
Samachaar Patra
Model Watch
Job Opportunities