SLMM drops a hint of deal on 4-pt plan

Pressure is building on the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), whose protests in the Tarai for the last four months now are receiving criticism more than praise. And signs of building pressure are getting clearer. The SLMM, which had earlier outright rejected the government proposal on redrawing provincial boundaries through a mechanism in three months, has indicated that it could accept a cross-party committee for the purpose. It has, however, set two riders: A certain timeframe must be set for such a mechanism and there should be assurance that the recommendation(s) made by the mechanism will be implemented. Even with the preconditions, leaders say there is the likelihood of an agreement on government’s four-point proposal. What the Morcha now wants is “clarity and assurances” on the Terms of References (ToR) of the proposed cross-party mechanism. SLMM leaders have said that the proposed mechanism should finish its work in 15-30 days, instead of three months that the government has proposed. The main opposition Nepali Congress and government coalition partner UCPN (M) though are ready to do so, the ruling CPN- UML has said it will be meaningless to allocate less time (15-30 days) now and extending it later. Leaders from the SLMM, two major parties in the government and the main opposition say a meeting point on time period for the mechanism can be worked out. The SLMM’s call for assurances “that the recommendation(s) made by the mechanism must be implemented” is related to “political legitimacy” of the mechanism. If the mechanism fails to have “political legitimacy”, the SLMM fears there will be no guarantee of its recommendation(s) being implemented. Or in worst-case scenario, the Morcha fears, there will be no agreement at all within the time period set for the mechanism, given the hardened positions taken by the major parties. When it comes to redrawing provincial boundaries, only the UCPN (M) so far has been positive. The NC and UML do not seem to be very keen to revisit the current boundaries under the seven-state federal set-up. Here is where SLMM leaders are hemming and hawing around; they have not been able to decide whether to withdraw their protests or continue with them. Regarding “political legitimacy” of the mechanism, the NC has already proposed setting up a parliamentary committee instead of a cross-party committee. But the UML has said the move to set up a parliamentary panel will carry with it some complications, as disputes could arise over who all will represent. UML leader Pradeep Gyawali, however, has said his party is not against forming a parliamentary panel if it could give a way out to current crisis. Yet another concern that is plaguing the SLMM is whether the cross-party mechanism will work on redrawing boundaries of all Tarai districts or only five districts that have remained “disputed” in terms of boundaries. Besides, SLMM leaders have long been seeking a commitment from parties for two provinces in the Tarai. The SLMM, an alliance of four Madhes-based parties, is also under pressure from India to accept the proposal of forming a cross-party mechanism. Besides, there is a clear trust deficit between the SLMM and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. “We do not have much trust in PM Oli, so NC President Sushil Koirala and UCPN (M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal should guarantee that there will be two provinces in Madhes and that issues will be settled within a certain period of time,” said SLMM leaders who have been engaged in extensive talks with Dahal and Koirala of late. “There is a trust deficit between two sides. The SLMM should trust the three parties,” said Gyawali. On Saturday, UCPN (M) Chairman said that there will be a deal with SLMM on constituency delineation on the basis of population and inclusive representation.

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India PM Modi in surprise Pakistan visit

Dec 25, 2015- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Pakistan on a surprise visit in which he will meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Modi was on his way back to India from Afghanistan when he stopped off in the eastern city of Lahore. The visit coincides with Mr Sharif's birthday.

Mr Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Pakistan since 2004.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been high in recent years but relations have begun to warm.

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DPM Thapa's China visit: Nepal, China ink 8-pt agreemen

Dec 25, 2015- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, who is currently on a five-day official visit to China, has signed an eight-point agreement with the Chinese government. The agreement has paved the way for speeding up preparations to ink a deal to import petroleum products from China. 

A foreign ministry level meeting held in Beijing on Friday agreed to give momentum to the proposed fuel import deal. According to a member of the Nepali delegation, Deputy Chief of Nepal Oil Corporation Sushil Bhattarai and Under Secretary Navaraj Dhakal of Ministry of Commerce and Supplies have been called to Beijing to reach an agreement on importing petroleum products from China. Both Bhattarai and Dhakal have reached Beijing on Friday.    

The 8 point agreement states that long-term deal for petrol and gas will be encouraged hinting that a permanent agreement is in the pipeline. The agreement has opened doors for Nepal Oil Corporations and Ministry of Commerce and Supplies to finalise a deal in the coming days. 

Moreover, the Chinese authorities have lifted the travel restrictions for Chinese tourists imposed after the devastating earthquakes in Nepal. After the bilateral agreement, the Chinese government through its consular office has promised to inform its citizens that Nepal is now safe to visit. After the quake, not only Chinese tourist but workers working on various projects in Nepal were also barred from going to Nepal.    

Likewise, the assistance pledged by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the reconstruction and extension of Araniko Highway during annual Boao Forum in China has also been mentioned in the agreement. 

Furthermore, China has assured of giving priority to the Nepali products. China has been assuring to put Nepali products on high priority at South Asia Expo held every two years in China.       

Although the decision to waive customs duty on import of Nepali products was already agreed on principle, Nepali businessmen have complained about different hassles while exporting. But in today’s agreement, the Chinese government has decided to adopt a lenient policy to ease the flow of Nepali products in the Chinese markets. With this, China has also agreed to provide help in setting up industrial system as per Nepal’s necessity.

China has agreed to provide further facilities on bilateral trade.  Although China has been placing Kerung border point on high priority after Nepal’s request, China has agreed to resume the Tatopani customs point. Moreover, China has also agreed to open more border points with Nepal. It has been said in the statement that opening more borders will increase bilateral trade between two countries.
China has also invited Prime Minister KP Oli on China visit next year. In reciprocation, Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa handed over an invitation letter by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to Chinese President Xi Jinping for Nepal visit.

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UDMF burns President Bhandari’s effigy, announces to obstruct her Janakpur visit

JANAKPURDHAM: Cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) burned an effigy of President Bidya Devi Bhandari here in Janakpurdham on Tuesday.

President Bhandari is scheduled to visit Janakpur to take part in the iconic Rama-Janaki Vivaha Utsav on Wednesday.


The agitating Madhesi parties and different groups staged a rally carrying the President’s effigy from Janak Chok and burned it at the funeral site in Shmashan Ghat after making a round of the ancient town of Janakpurdham.

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Valley shivers at zero degree Celsius

Kathmanduiites woke up to another chilly morning today with the minimum temperature further dipping to zero degree Celsius, the lowest in three years, in the Valley....

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16 Nepalis among 33 illegal migrants detained by Guatemala

Sixteen Nepali migrants, presumably heading to the United States of America with the help of human smugglers, have been arrested in Guatemala, according to media reports.

According to Agence France Presse, Guatemalan authorities held 33 undocumented migrants — 16 Nepalis and 17 Bangladeshis — on Sunday when they were being transported in a bus on the outskirts of Guatemala City, the capital of the Central American country.

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Aircraft crashes near Indian capital, 10 dead

Dec 22, 2015- An aircraft crashed into a wall and burst into flames on the outskirts of the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Tuesday, killing all 10 people on board, officials said.

The Super King plane, chartered by the Border Security Force, was heading to the eastern city of Ranchi when it crashed shortly after taking off, a spokesman for the security force said. Most of those on board were technicians.

The cause of the crash was not known, the spokesman said.

Television footage showed fire engines at the scene as smoke poured from burning wreckage. Paramilitary forces and forensic teams also rushed to the site.

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