Five point pact signed by Dahal will be discussed within party: Gajurel

UCPN (Maoist) General Secretary CP Gajurel has said on Tuesday that Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal’s decision to form a national consensus government by dismantling the present Khanal led government will be seriously discussed within the party.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Kathmandu, Gajurel claimed that demanding the prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s resignation was against the party mandate, so, serious deliberations would be hold within the party on how Dahal happened to sign the agreement against the party decision. Gajurel said “we won’t dismantle the government that we formed.”

Maoist Chairman Dahal had signed a five-point pact on Sunday before agreeing to extend Constituent Assembly (CA)’s term for three months. The last point of the pact states the prime minister will resign to pave the way for the formation of a consensus national unity government.

Gajurel further claimed that the implementation of the five point pact has many hurdles in implementation and expressed dissatisfaction for compelling to reach the five point agreement for extending CA term.

He also emphasized on the process of handing over weapons and integration should go hand in hand.

How can a blind person drive motorcycle?

When I saw this photo, I wondered if the person driving the bike is blind. But, how can a blind drive motorbike?

May, be the person can’t read. The is a perfect example to prove why education is so important! Send your kids to school … Please !

Photo credits – Brazesh Khanal

Nepali Movie – Ghamanda (2008)

Krishnabir presents
Nepali Movie – Ghamanda (2008)
Starring – Sushil Chhetri, Poojana Pradhan (now, Poojana Stri), Shaurav Karki, Shuvashree Shrestha, Hemanta Budhathoki etc.
Story – Jiwan Kumar Sunuwar
Direction /Editing – Surendra Dahal

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Fourth Republic Day celebrated

The fourth Republic Day is being observed with various programmes all across the country and among the Nepali Diaspora abroad on 15th of Jestha to commemorate the declaration day of Nepal as republic. This is the day when the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly had declared Nepal a Republic and abolished the 240-year old monarchy.

A special programme is being organised at the Nepal Army Pavilion at Tundikhel, Kathmandu where helicopters of Nepal Army showered flowers and Nepal Army soldiers, various cultural groups and students paraded.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang, high level government officials and other dignitaries were present in the programme.

President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and political leaders have extended greetings and good wishes to the people.

On this occasion, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, on the recommendation of the cabinet, ordered to set free over 300 prisoners, who had completed half their terms of imprisonment, on the grounds of good conduct while in jail.

Sweta Lamichane clarifies Saptahik article

I wrote about Sweta Lamichane back in Februry of 2010. It is good to see the beautiful lady featured in this week’s Saptahik weekly. But apparently, Sweta is not too much happy about the portraying of her as the ‘Hollywood star’ in the article.

Sweta’s clarification in her own words:

Since I can’t read Nepali, I had to have someone else read the Saptahik to me. I would like to clear up a few mistakes that were made.

Yes, I am a working actress, but I’m not a huge Hollywood star. I have done a few movies, commercials, and television shows. In fact, I did all of my training in Hollywood, got my SAG eligibility, and then moved away. It wasn’t until I moved that I started to book bigger roles. All of the movies that I have speaking roles in are independent films. These films only go to film festivals and you can’t find them on the shelves. Currently I’m working on a web series, I’ve completed three movies (will only appear in film festivals), and I’ve done a direct TV commercial campaign. I’m also in school for esthetics and make-up artistry. In addition, I’m recoding an album that will release at the end of this year. Thank you time and attention and Thanks for all the support!

Sweta has done a good job in Hollywood and she has made us proud by her skills over there. Now, I am also impressed by the humbleness she has shown.

Good job Sweta! Keep the good works.

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CA to extend 3 months: Maoist, UML and NC signed a 5-point deal

UPDATE: The CA is extended for another 3 months. In an election held in CA, out of total 508 votes 504 votes were cast for the proposal and only 4 CA members voted against the extension.

The top three political parties CPN Maoist, CPN UML, and Nepali Congress have reached to an agreement and signed a 5-point deal. The meeting of the parliament to approve the extension of the Constituent  Assembly has started at 4:30 am on Sunday.

The full text of the deal (translated – credits Republica):

We the political parties have reached the following agreement today, May
28:

1. To complete the basic tasks of the peace process within three months
2. To prepare the first draft of the constitution from the Constituent Assembly (CA) within three months
3. To implement effectively the various past agreements reached with the Madhesi Front, including the one to make the Nepal Army (NA) an inclusive institution
4. To extend the CA term by three months
5. The prime minister to resign and pave the way for the formation of a consensus national unity government

Signed by Prachanda, Sushil Koirala, and Jhalanath

London protest held successfully

The voices of Nepali all over the world is being heard, thanks to the recent development in communication and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

A group of Nepali youths in UK organized the protest event in front of the Embassy of Nepal in London to demand the timely constitution and co-operation from the Government. The protest event comprising of about 100 people started at 12pm midday. The protestors chanted slogan, recited poetry, sang songs , gave speech and handed over a letter to the Ambassador of Nepal for UK, to be delivered to speaker of CA.

The protest program ended at 2.15PM when Miss UK Nepal 2010, Nabina Gurung, and bloggers, Lex Limbu and Pradeep Kumar Singh went in the Embassy to handed over a letter and a petition signed by hundreds of participants. The petition demanded the government to draft constitution on time and move ahead for peace and political stability in the country and the letter to the Speaker of CA conveyed the similar message. The Nepali Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise, promised to deliver the letter to the speaker of CA. The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes.

More photos from the event (Photo source – Nepali Unites UK)

Lawmakers' death rituals performed by people's movement victim

Netra Pani Subedi, 46, of Kaskikot-4 has performed once again ‘Shraadhha’ annual death ritual observed by the Hindus, on May 28 2011. He had performed the first ‘Shraadhha’ one year ago, on May 28 2010. He was injured during the 19-day agitation. Subedi performed the mourning rituals for all the 601 lawmakers accusing them of failing to deliver the new constitution by the extended May 28 deadline.

Similarly, Gautam, 24, of Purunchaur-9, shaved his head and long-time-grown beard as a protest. Gautam is also the victim of the People’s Movement-II (19-day agitation). He has sent it to the lawmakers as a protest against the Constituent Assembly (CA) members.

They said that they are deeply saddened to have to do it and added further that CA members are as good as dead after being unable to release the constitution in two years.

Vehicles vandalized, some arrested

Vehicles were vandalized in several places during the course of the bandh called by various organizations on Friday.

At 4:45 AM, group of two/three unidentified persons torched a Nepal Yatayat bus (Ba 1 Kha 7324) at Jadibudi in Bhaktapur by throwing bottle of petrol in it. The bus is totally vandalized. Police took two suspicious persons under control and initiated action against them.

Similarly, at Banasthali in Kathmandu, three men in a 220 c.c motorcycle set ablaze the van (Ba 5 Cha 9375) belonging to the Kantipur Television after following from Putalisadak. Police took six persons including 20 years old Bhagnath Dallakoti of Chitawon under control from Balaju and 20 years old Bikki Lama of Ghattekulo from Maitidevi at 11 am, as suspects.

At Dillibazaar height, Kathmandu also, a microbus (Ba 1 Ja 6255) was torched by group of five persons at 5 am and external glasses and seats were demolished in the fire, according to police. Similarly, at Sukedhara Prakashmarg, Kathmandu, an unidentified person vandalized glass of a taxi (Ba 1 Ja 7548) by pelting stone in it at 5 am.

Police detained two persons including Bhumiraj Niraula, general secretary of Chure Bhabhar from New Road, Kathmandu at 7:45 am while forcefully enforcing bandh. Thirty men and seven women of Chure Bhabhar were also held by police during rally from party office Anamnagar to Baneshwor.

Two persons including Ganesh Pokhrel of Biratnagar, cadre of Brahman Samaj were detained in Morang. Bandh supporters have destroyed motorcycles (Ba 23 Pa 6889 and Ga 4 Pa 3974) at Shanti Chowk, Chitawon district while heading towards Narayangadh from Khairani, but, not harmed much.

12 Characteristics of a Blogger

We had a #tweetdebate on whether a blogger is a journalist of not. After the debate it was clear that there isn’t any single answer. A blogger can be a journalist if he/she wishes but, the blogger can also be anything else.

That is confusing. Before defining a blogger, let me write down the 12 characteristics of a blogger (I know there are others, please add more in comment):

1. A blogger is a person. It can be you, me, or a random guy on the street.
2. A blogger today might not be a blogger tomorrow
3. A blogger today mightn’t have been a blogger yesterday
4. Every journalist can be a blogger but every blogger can’t be a journalist

<
li>A blogger might seem to know everything

5. A blogger might seem to know nothing
6. A blogger might not have a name or an address or a contact number
7. A blogger might be a team of bloggers (there is no way to know)
8. A blogger usually have a second job to pay for living (Journalists usually don’t)
9. A blogger can survive without a single reader (sustainability can be questioned)
10. A blogger can write a post every day, or every week, or every month, or every year. It might also be one post in the life-time.
11. Most of the bloggers say they post blog posts for fun (are you serious?).

For these reasons, most of the blogs go unnoticed, un-managed, and too personal for most to even care for.

Now, let’s seek the definitions of a blogger:

• Dictionary.com says a blogger is – "a person who keeps and updates a blog."
• A blog is – a website or part of website which, "A frequent, chr
  onological publication of personal thoughts and Web links."

Can such a creature be confined in an organization? Can any organization have an authority over such a random creature as a blogger?

The biggest question is can somebody’s "personal thoughts" be regulated? It probably can’t. That might be the reason Tim O’Reilly’a proposed seven code of conducts don’t mention the word ‘Ethics’ in them!

1. Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.
2. Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
3. Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
4. Ignore the trolls.
5. Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.
6. If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.
7. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.

Reference:

• Tweetdebate – Is blogger a journalist?
• Ujjwal – Code of ethics for bloggers
• Tim O’Reilly’a proposed seven code of conducts
• Wikipedia on blog

Gurung movie – Bacha Bandhan (in Nepali)

Gurung Film Production presents
Nepali Movie – Bacha Bandhan (Gurung)

Starring – Gore Tamu, Usha Tamu, Lal Bahadur Tamu, Laxmi Tamu etc.
Story/script – Gore Tamu
Choreogrpahy / direction - Gore Tamu
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Clash in Baneshwor and vehicular movement halted for about 40 mins due to torch rally - CA met for only 95 minutes in extended one year

Cadres of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) clashed with police near the Constituent Assembly (CA) building, New Baneshwar on Thursday and around three dozen cadres including central committee member Gita Basnet were injured, General Secretary of RPP-N Raja Ram Shrestha said to media.

Some security personnel were also injured in the clash. Those injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

The pro-monarchy RPP-N was staging demonstration at the prohibited area of New Baneshwor, in front of the CA building, demanding fresh elections and dissolution of the CA. So, the clash broke out when the demonstrators defied the prohibitory order and pelted bricks and stones at police.

The government has declared the area outside the CA building as prohibited zone considering the protests by various disgruntled groups in the run-up-to the May 28 deadline of the CA.

RPP-Nepal had started protest in the area since Wednesday against the proposed extension of the CA’s term that will continue till May 28. “It would be an irresponsible task if the CA term is extended for the next time”, said Party chairman Kamal Thapa.

Last year, CA was extended for one year, but, the CA has only met merely 7 times in the last 1 year and for only 95 minutes in those 7 meets. More than 110 BILLION rupees have all been bled in vain in the last 3 years. According to event page in facebook, now, what sense does it make to add 1 more year when the last 3 years have been completely wasted?

At around 6:15 PM, torch rally was started from New Baneshwor and ended at Basantapur Darbar Square. In Thapathali and Tripureshwor area, vehicular movement was halted for about 40 minutes due to torch rally and later causing traffic jam.

Real Juice – worm found again

After much media cover on the problem with Dabur’s Real Juice in the past, reports of such inedible materials in the juice had stopped for some time. But, it seems they still haven’t rectified the problem. A user in Jhapa found dust and worm in Dabur Real Mango Nectar sold in Sony Kirana Pasal in Damak 11 (Near, Himsikhar TV). The expiry date of the juice was however two month earlier.

It is not clear if the problem occurred because of the expired product or it was tainted in the factory. Whatever may be the case, the government should take proper steps to investigate the issue and discourage the shopkeepers from selling expired pro
ducts.

CA term can’t be extended by more than six months without special condition: SC

The Supreme Court (SC), on Wednesday, said that the Constituent Assembly (CA) term cannot be extended by more than six months unless there are special circumstances and a state of emergency is imposed.

SC quashed the writ filed against last year’s extension of CA which was filed by advocates Bharat Mani Jangam and Balkrishna Neupane demanding the extension annulled.

A five-member special bench chaired by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi said that it is meaningless to annul the extension as there are only three days remaining of the extended term and the annulment of the extended term would affect the tasks carried out by the CA in the extended term. The final verdict was delivered on the review of the November 4, 2010 judgment. The other bench members are Justices Damodar Sharma, Rajkumar Prasad Shrestha, Kalyan Shrestha and Tahir Ail Ansari.

The bench claimed that CA had breached its jurisdiction by using the authority of the Legislature Parliament to amend the constitution at midnight in May 28, last year. The CA term should have been extended by the Legislature Parliament after amending the interim constitution, not by the CA itself.

Music album of the youngest singer unveiled on Mt. Everest

Music album of the youngest singer in the world, Atithi Gautam, was unveiled on the top of the world on May 18, 2011. The the youngest civil servant of Nepal, Khimlal Gautam took the album to the top of Mt. Everest.

The album titled "Atithi 2" has five songs including four English songs and a song in traditional musical tune. The lyrics of the songs are written by Ghanshyam Khadka and music is composed by Joogal Dangol.

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