KATHMANDU, SEP 27 -
In yet another incident of daring broad daylight shooting, an unidentified men opened fire at Bouddha in the Capital on Friday morning, leaving a person injured.
The injured has been identified as Indian national Mohammad Sansullah, of Motihari, India. He was running a tailoring shop behind Subash party palace in Jorpati.
Sansullah has sustained bullet injuries in his stomach.
The reason behind the shooting is yet to be ascertained.
According to eyewitnesses, two men in a bike fired gunshots at Sansullah.
Meanwhile, Sansullah has been ferried for treatment at Maharajgung based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
Police have been investigating the incident.
SEP 23 -
With less than two months remaining for the scheduled Constitution Assembly (CA) election date of November 19, the Election Commission (EC), led by Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety, has been hard at work finalising logistics and technicalities. The political parties are also busy selecting candidates and preparing election manifestos. However, the date for political parties to file their candidacies has been postponed by a week and a coalition of 33 parties, led by the Mohan Baidya’s CPN-Maoist, has chosen to stay out of the political process and oppose elections. In this context, Bhadra Sharma and Darshan Karki spoke to Uprety about the remaining preparations for elections, the security situation and the certainty of elections on the scheduled date.
Where do preparations for elections stand?
All election related materials like printing papers for ballots and ballot boxes have arrived and we have already ordered the indelible ink. Parties have
been registered and the voter roll has been prepared, printed and sent to all 240 election offices. The EC has deferred the candidacy nomination date by a week to ensure the participation of all parties.
Will it be possible to defer more election-related dates if there are requests?
If election activities need to be postponed further, then the November election date will have to be pushed back accordingly. We do not have any room to accommodate more requests. The date for candidacy nominations was deferred after going through all the options available. If we tamper with the schedule any more, it will be difficult to hold elections on November 19.
The CPN-Maoist’s recent activities have been quite violent. In this context, what is your assessment of the security situation?
The EC was presented with a complete security plan yesterday and we are confident that we will be able to deal with all security challenges. But the security situation of a country is not static; it is dynamic. Security concerns depend on the place, the circumstance and the people, groups and work involved. So we are not in a position to say the situation today will remain unchanged tomorrow. There are challenges, but we have the state and its mechanisms to address those challenges. Everyone needs to believe this and convince voters and everyone else involved in the electoral process of the same.
The EC seems to have compromised on many issues—from the debate on threshold to the recruitment of temporary police. How certain can we be of the quality of elections?
The EC suggested a threshold based on its technical and professional knowledge of international election standards. However, the political parties did not want to adopt any measures that were not present in the last CA elections. The decision was theirs to make. We offered many other suggestions to improve this election but they did not agree. It would have been better if our suggestions had been implemented. Nevertheless, we have not compromised on vital issues of procedure and security.
What led you to change your stance on hiring temporary police for elections?
In previous elections, temporary police were very ineffective. This isn’t just the assessment of the EC but one of other sources too. So we suggested to the government that they not be used this time around. But there is something called competing demands. Elections need to be held on a given date but the existing number of police personnel is insufficient. In any case, we ascertained the causes of the temporary police’s ineffectiveness in previous elections by going through the selection and recruitment process, the age of recruits, their qualifications and the duration they had been trained. We sought to make the recruitment more transparent and rigorous by taking in more qualified and experienced people. We will only be recruiting a minimum number of temporary police to perform specific tasks.
What will election observation look like this time around?
The EC’s deadline for monitoring applications was September 10. Around 54 organisations submitted applications to mobilise around 74,000 election observers. Of them, two international and 49 local institutions have already been accredited. In the past, there was a need to monitor the election observers themselves. In order to avoid that situation, we have tried to change the selection and training process by including educational qualifications and a changed code of conduct. When it comes to international observers, apart from those that were involved in election monitoring the last time, there will not be many new ones. We should desire to hold elections in such a way that there will be no need for observers. We need to be able to hold elections without the presence of security forces either. In developed and established democracies, election observers are not mobilised; they only have election visitors. When it comes to local observers, there have been many complaints about the mobilisation of people with political affiliations, so we are seeking to take in more impartial observers. We want to take in people who have some knowledge about what they are doing.
One very important task—the printing of ballot papers—has yet to be completed. Since it is almost the final hour, is there any possibility of printing it elsewhere?
There are no hindrances to printing the ballot paper. All the required materials—paper, machines, employees, spare parts and security personnel—are ready. The EC has no desire
to print ballot papers abroad. Otherwise, we would not have invested around Rs 200 million rupees to develop the required infrastructure. The ballot papers for elections have always been printed in Nepal. All necessary provisions to do so are in place. The printing place is also insured. However, in case we are unable to print the papers due to unforeseen events, we have a Plan B. There are other institutions within Nepal itself with the capacity to print the papers.
On a slightly different note, what has the role of the international community been like?
We have not only received financial support from the international community but also support in creating an atmosphere for elections, increasing voter confidence and managing political conflicts. They all want elections to be held as it is the only way to institutionalise democracy. Elections alone can protect the rights of the people.
Given that there are less than two months remaining for the scheduled date, what remains to be done?
The deadline for political parties to file candidacies for the proportional list has been deferred to September 30 and October 3 for first-past-the-post. The political parties will do their work within this time. We have already designed the ballot paper and need around 35 days to print it. Some work regarding sequencing is left. Party signs for the 130 parties taking part in the elections will be known by September 30. Once this is done, we will send the ballot papers for printing the very next day. It will take around seven to eight days to process everything for direct elections. The preparation of the final list of the candidates and the distribution of electoral signs will be completed after Dashain. Until then, we will have printed more than half of the ballot papers for proportional elections. Then, we will print 240 different sets of ballot papers. Everything will be done according to the election work plan. Another plan regarding the packing and dispatching of these materials is under way. For that, we are using vehicles from the government. The Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army will take these materials to each District Election Office and the returning offices.
Finally, how confident are you that that elections will be held on November 19?
I am 101 percent certain that elections will be held on November 19. Though percentage points cannot go beyond a hundred, we have been so engrossed in making elections happen by November 19 that we haven’t even thought of anything beyond it. We extended the election activity schedule by seven days, but even that was done to hold credible elections with the participation of all parties.
Fire broke out on the sets of TV show "Comedy Nights With Kapil" Wednesday morning at Film City here.
"Today morning at around 6.30 fire broke out on the set, but luckily no one was injured. Everybody is safe," a source from Film City told IANS.
It is said that fire broke out in the control room of the set of the show hosted by popular comedian Kapil Sharma. There was no shoot going on at that time.
Four fire tenders were rushed to Film City to douse the blaze, sources said.
Singer Sonu Nigam, who was expected to enter the show as a guest celebrity, posted on Twitter saying: "Can you all imagine?! I get prepared for 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', and the set burns into ashes the same day."
KATHMANDU, SEP 26 -
Nepal started the AFC Under-16 Championship Group C Qualifiers in a confident manner as they bagged three important points after comfortably beating Bahrain 2-0 at Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday.
Nepal, who had lost both their previous encounters—losing 3-2 in 2007 and 5-0 in 2009—against Bahrain, scored goals through Anjan Bista and Ananta Thapa in the first half to confirm Nepal’s win in what was considered a crucial clash.
“It was significant for us to start the tournament on the right note against a formidable opposition,” said Nepal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan. “The win gives the players confidence for our upcoming games.”
Nepal created pressure on the Bahrain defence from the first whistle as forwards Bimal Gharti Magar and Anjan Bista caused problems from their swift and clever movement. The home team’s early pressure paid off when Bista capitalised on a through ball from Hemanta Thapamagar as he adeptly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Mohammaed Hussain Alazab in the 12th minute.
Nepal had plenty of opportunities to double their advantage as they started to dominate Bahrain after gaining an early lead.
Gharti Magar, who was captaining the U-16 side for the first time, was denied a goal when his strong header from Bikash Thapa’s cross was well saved by Alazab seven minutes later.
Nepal finally got their second when Ananta sheaded Gharti Magar’s swirling free kick home in added time of the first half. The hosts began the second period as they ended first troubling the Bahrain defence and keeping Alazab busy.
Gharti Magar’s long-range effort in the 51st minute was well saved by Alazeb while Alazeb showed tremendous goalkeeping skills to divert Thapa’s one on one effort away from goal 11 minutes later. Bahrain struggled to create any real goal scoring opportunities in the second half but gave Nepal a caution when Mohamed Abdulla Marhoon dribbled past Aakash Thapa only to shoot directly at Goalkeeper Roman Rasaili in the 66th minute.
As the second half progressed, Nepal seemed to rest on their 2 goal lead as Maharjan made a defensive substitution introducing Tshering Gurung as an extra defender in the 70th minute.
“I was pleased that we kept a clean sheet as defence in football is a really important factor. I am happy that our midfield and defence worked hard through out to stop letting them getting chances,” added Maharjan.
Both teams failed to generate any significant chances as the second period drew to finish but the atmosphere at the stadium got heated when substitute Hazeem Alshamshi was sent off in injury time after miss timing a slide tackle on Gharti Magar. Alshamshi was jeered off by the crowd as he was seen directing his foot at Gharti Magar’s face during his miss timed tackle.Disappointed Bharain Coach Daniel Poyatos lamented his team for making mistakes and failing to deal with the duo of Gharti Magar and Bista.
“We should have defended better and stopped their strikers from creating chances at regular intervals. However, I am sure we will improve for our next encounter against Turkmenistan,” said Poyatos.
On the other hand, Maharjan was pleased to see that players were implementing his tactics on the pitch and his confident that they will face favorites Iraq in the same manner who trounced Turkmenistan 8-1 earlier.
Earlier, tournament favourites Iraq started their campaign with a resounding 8-1 victory over Turkmenistan.
Captain Sajjad Al Msharrafawee scored a hatrick as Iraq scored seven goals after the interval to complete
the rout. Akmammet Metdayev scored the only goal for Turkmenistan.
Sports journos flay Anfa’s ill-treatment
KATHMANDU: Sports journalist associated with the Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) boycotted Nepal’s opening match of the AFC U-16 Championship Group C Qualifiers against Bahrain on Wednesday for alleged ill-treatment of journalists by the security guards, employed on the venue by Anfa.
According to the NSJF, security guards from Garud Security, assigned by the football governing body, misbehaved and harassed more than half a dozen journalists, who had come
to cover the match, at the main entrance of the Dashrath Stadium.
‘We condemn the action of the security guards for harassing the journalist despite presenting the press pass issued by the country’s sport governing body and preventing them from entering the venue, use of foul language and the ill-treatment against media worker,” stated a release issued by NSJF on Wednesday.
NSJF also accused Anfa of dual character for stating the importance of the media in every tournament and at the same time continuing to humiliate sports journalists.
The security guards had also stopped journalists from collect boxing news, ongoing inside the premise.
Anfa was also severely criticised by the visiting teams for poor management and low standards of hotels on Tuesday.
KATHMANDU, SEP 26 -
Chairman of the Interim Election Government Khil Raj Regmi is scheduled to leave for New York on Thursday where he will attend the 68th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly. This will be his first foreign trip after he became the government chairman in March.
Leading a Nepali delegation, Regmi is scheduled to attend the ongoing General Debate and deliver his statement to the General Assembly on September 28, the Foreign Ministry said.
While in New York, Regmi is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on September 28. He is also scheduled to interact with the Nepali Community in New York the same day.
Before leaving New Delhi for New York, Indian PM Singh said he looks forward to bilateral meetings with leaders of “some of our neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.”
According to a source, in his meetings with Singh and Ban, Regmi will mostly talk preparations being made for the November election, while he will seek support from the international community in making it a success.
The General Assembly will cover a broad range of subjects of global interest and concerns, including promotion of sustainable development and structural transformation in accordance with resolutions of the GA and recent UN conferences,
realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, maintenance of international peace and security, women’s economic empowerment, international migration and development, promotion of human rights, promotion of justice and international law, drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism, a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Regmi will be accompanied by his wife Shanta, Personal Secretary Prakash Regmi and Chief of Protocol Kali Prasad Pokhrel. Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa, Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Durga Prasad Bhattarai and Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Uddhav Prasad Baskota. Regmi is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on October 1.
KATHMANDU, SEP 26 -
An Air Dynasty chopper crashed while landing at Lukla Airport on Thursday morning.
District police office, Solukhumbu informed that the tail section of 9N-AEX chopper caught fire after it hit the wire fence of the airport at 8 this morning. There were five persons, including the crew member, on board the chopper .
Passenger Dagelu Sherpa has been critically injured in the crash. He has been admitted to Pasang Niki Hospital in Solukhumbu. Preparations are being made to airlift him to the Capital.
Meanwhile, Captain Arum Malla, Passenger Lakpa Sherpa and his wife Anita Sherpa have received minor injuries.
KATHMANDU, SEP 02 -
The government’s failure to repair the runway of the only international airport in time has forced authorities to import some crucial election-related logistics, such as ballot-printing papers, overland.
According to sources at the Election Commission, though this last-minute change has not significantly affected the election schedule, there are some risks involved in the overland transportation in view of the poll-opposing forces active in different parts of the country.
Five wide-body cargo planes were scheduled to land at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) with around 500 tonnes of logistics from New Delhi in a week. However, the plan had to be changed with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) imposing a 196-tonne load ceiling for aircraft landing at the TIA. The load ceiling, to be in place until the start of the dry season in September, was brought into effect following the recent monsoon-induced damages to the runway.
The cargo-planes were cancelled after CAAN refused to relax the restriction for the planes carrying the election materials.
As part of its commitment to support Nepal’s election, UNDP-Nepal, on behalf of all donors, has purchased the papers from a Dubai-based company for the Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19.
“Importing ballot printing papers in planes is not possible, and as such, we have opted for plan-B which means we will use trucks to bring in the paper,” a senior official at the EC told the Post. “The EC has already given its consent to the UNDP to this effect,” the official added.
EC sources said the papers will be imported within 10 days, while the over 3 million ballot papers will likely be printed within a month. As per the laws, the EC must supply the ballot papers to all polling stations one month ahead of the election.
EC gives President three days to amend electoral laws
The Election Commission on Sunday urged President Ram Baran Yadav to amend the constitution and electoral laws in accordance with the latest agreements signed between the High-level Political Committee and poll-opposing parties. In a regular meeting between President Yadav and EC officials at his official residence in Sheetal Niwas, Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety requested the head of state to take a lead in removing the legal hurdles.
The Interim constitution and several electoral laws need to be amended after the cross-party mechanism agreed to increase the number of CA seats to 585 from the earlier 491 and the ratio of the first-past-the-post and proportional representative election systems to 42:58. “Following the election calendar will be difficult if the law amendment process is not wrapped up within three days,” Uprety reportedly told the President.
In the meeting, election commission ers also stressed the need to bring all political parties on board the election process within three days. “Otherwise, we have to move ahead as per the agreements reached so far and the number of parties registered with the EC so far,” said Uprety.
KATHMANDU, SEP 02 -
Experts have urged Nepal to address a serious policy flaw that has made it one of the worst countries in saving infant lives even as it has gained international accolades for having made an exemplary progress in reducing maternal mortality.
Reviewing Nepal ’s achievements in meeting the deadline for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), experts said Nepal has the highest infant mortality rate in South Asia and that it requires a major shift in focus on the survival of newborn babies. The Nepal demographic health survey shows that over 20,000 newborn babies die annually in the country.
“It is an irony that in Nepal mothers are being saved while the children are dying,” Dr Baburam Marasini, senior official at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), told a three-day consultative meeting organised by the ministry with support from the Unicef’s Regional Office for South Asia.
However, Nepal has made significant reduction in the maternal mortality rate—770 deaths per 100,000 births to 170 deaths in 2010 as per UN estimation.
The consultative meeting brings together over 100 regional and global experts from the US, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, among other countries.
The number of neonatal deaths—deaths of babies less than 28 days old—has not seen a decline in the last one decade, which experts said, calls for an urgent revision of the current programmes and policies of the government.
“ Nepal is among the five South-Asian countries with high neonatal deaths after India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” said the regional maternal and newborn health specialist at Unicef, Nepal , Dr Nuzhat Rafique.
In 2008, the government had started the Community-based Newborn Care Package (CBNCP), which addressed major issues involved in the deaths of neonatals such as infection, birth injury and birth asphyxia. The programme, however, did not work well, according to government officials.
In the three-day meeting, the World Health Organization recommended nine ‘interventions’ that could help reduce the number of neonatal deaths. The recommendations include preparations and management of pre-term birth, birth of a baby in less than 37 weeks, birth complications and management of neonatal infections.
Health Ministry officials say the country’s policies first need a vision before the recommendations are implemented.
“For instance, in case of pre-term birth, antenatal corticosteroids, a medication given to the mother that would help the baby to breathe normally once it is born, is not included in any of our policies,” said Dr Padam Bahadur Chand, chief of the Policy, Planning and International Cooperation Division.
KATHMANDU, SEP 02 -
The Upendra Yadav -led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) is mulling over an election alliance with the UCPN (Maoist). Though the party has said it is open to forming an alliance with any “like minded” party, informed leaders say that the possibility of it joining hands with the Maoist party is high.
MJF-N leaders say they have not shut the doors for negotiations with other Madhes-centric parties, but that they are reluctant to enter into an alliance with constituent members of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).
“We are not very keen on poll alliances with other Madhesi parties given our history with them,” said an MJF-N leader, requesting anonymity.
Two parties in the SLMM—the Bijaya Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik—had split from the MJF-N.
MJF-N leaders cited similar agendas—inclusion and federalism—as the reason for prioritising an alliance with the UCPN (Maoist). According to them, as the Maoist party is also trying to strengthen its position in the Madhes and is a new party in the region as compared to the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, working with the UCPN (Maoist) will be relatively easy.
“We could go for seat adjustments in various districts in the Madhes,” the MJF-N leader said.
Some districts, according to MJF-N leaders, where they could concede substantial ground to the Maoists include Kailali, Kanchanpur, Chitwan, Dang and Jhapa, where the population of the hill community could be a determining factor.
The move on the part of the MJF-N could be considered as reciprocating the earlier proposal by the Maoists for a poll alliance. In June, the UCPN (M) had approached Yadav’s party, among other Madhes-centric parties, for an election alliance.
The relationship between Yadav and the Maoist party has seen several twists and turns. A clash between supporters of the two parties resulted in a massacre in Gaur in March 2007.
However, after the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, Yadav was part of both the Maoist-led and Maoist-supported governments. MJF-Nepal leaders believe that convincing party supporters, particularly in places such as Gaur and Lahan, on the alliance with the Maoists could be a challenging job.
Analysts say that Yadav’s move is a calculated one. “ Upendra Yadav needs to show that his party is different from the other Madhesi parties. Also, he needs to gain significant ground,” said Madhes affairs watcher Chandrakishore.
Party forms talks team
The MJF-N on Sunday formed a five-member team under senior leader Bharat Bimal Yadav to forge alliances with “like-minded” parties. The party had earlier held unification talks with the Mahanta Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party.
The party also set criteria for selecting candidates for the upcoming election. The requirements include honesty, commitment to the spirit of the Madhes Movement and loyalty towards the party.
ILAM, SEP 01 - While the local committees are yet to formally recommend names of candidates for the November 19 Constituent Assembly (CA) election, top CPN-UML leaders look decided on their constituencies.
Party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is set to contest the polls along with five other party members, from Ilam’s constituency -1, the same area where he had won the seat in the 2008 CA election .
Party sources said Khanal is also eying one constituency in Kathmandu to secure his position in the CA. “He [Khanal] is interested in contesting even from Kathmandu. If not, he will prefer his previous electoral constituency ,” a leader close to Khanal told the Post on Saturday.
Likewise, Subash Nembang , chairperson of the now-dissolved CA, is all set to contest the upcoming CA polls from Illam's constituency -2. Although the regional committee was to submit five candidates, the committee meeting unanimously recommended Nemwang. The five other contesters along with Khanal at constituency -1 are Kajiman Kagate, Bir Bahadur Lapcha, Khinu Langwa and Ratna Adhikari.
Likewise, Mahesh Basnet, Bhakta K.C., Tek Bahadur Rai, Krishna Shrestha and Padam Bhandari have been recommended for constituency -3.
Meanwhile, NC on Sunday announced the name of 3 candidates for direct and 5 for Proportional Representation (PR) at the three constituencies of Ilam.
UCPN-Maoist has already recommended their 15 candidates from the district's three constituencies.
NEPALGUNJ, SEP 01 - Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala 's name has been recommended from the Banke constituency-1 for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election slated for November 19.
In the first CA election, Koirala had contested from Banke constituency-3, and had lost to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum's Sarwadev Ojha.
A meeting of the NC Regional Committee on Sunday recommended Koirala'a name unanimously from the constituency-1.
In the earlier elections of 2048 and 2056 B.S., Koirala had triumphed from the constituency-3.
WASHINGTON , SEP 01 -
Syria to seek approval from the U.S. Congress in a gamble that will test his ability to project American strength abroad and deploy his own power at home.
Before Obama put on the brakes, the path had been cleared for a U.S. assault. Navy ships were in place and awaiting orders to launch missiles, and U.N. inspectors had left Syria after gathering evidence of a chemical weapons attack that U.S. officials say killed 1,429 people.
But Obama decided to seek the backing of U.S. lawmakers before attacking, as polls showed strong opposition from Americans already weary of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Approval will take at least 10 days, if it comes at all.
"Today I'm asking Congress to send a message to the world that we are ready to move as one nation," Obama said in a dramatic shift he announced in the White House Rose Garden.
Obama, whose credibility has been called into question for not punishing the government of Syria n President Bashar al-Assad for earlier poison gas attacks, warned lawmakers they must consider the cost of doing nothing in Syria .
"Here's my question for every member of Congress and every member of the global community: What message will we send if a dictator can gas hundreds of children to death in plain sight and pay no price?" he said.
Obama's approach, which he debated with top aides on Friday night, has left in doubt whether the United States will carry through with the military steps that the president has already approved.
Backing from Congress is by no means assured, with many Democrats and Republicans uneasy about intervening in a distant civil war in which 100,000 people have been killed over the past 2-1/2 years.
Obama's decision to consult with Congress is in line with an argument he has often made for a more collaborative approach to foreign policy in Washington than there was under his predecessor, President George. W. Bush.
But another reason to bring lawmakers into the process is that Obama might be able to share some of the responsibility with Congress if it votes for strikes on Syria that turn badly for Washington.
Lawmakers for the most part welcomed Obama's decision but looked in no hurry to come back to Washington early from their summer recess, which lasts until September 9.
"In consultation with the president, we expect the House to consider a measure the week of September 9," said John Boehner, the top U.S. Republican and speaker of the House of Representatives. "This provides the president time to make his case to Congress and the American people."
House members are to receive a classified briefing on Sunday from administration officials to hear the case against Syria . Officials briefed senators on Saturday.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was unable to persuade the British parliament to back action earlier in the week, welcomed Obama's decision, as did the government of French President Francois Hollande, with whom Obama spoke on Saturday.
In rebel-held areas of Syria , there was a sense of frustration and disappointment.
"God curse everything," said an activist in the rebel-held territory of Idlib, Ahmad Kaddour. "We've become just a game to people. I think this is going to make the situation worse for those of us living here."
A Reuters reporter visited a group of fighters and activists sitting in a home in Aleppo city. They had not watched Obama's speech, and when told of the president's decision, they all agreed it meant there would be no U.S. strike.
"This is the same old hesitancy that the United States have tortured us with since the beginning of the revolution," one said.
DECISION MADE FRIDAY NIGHT
At the White House, Obama's decision surprised senior aides when he informed them of it on Friday night after they had concluded the president already had the legal authority to act on his own.
Officials said he laid out the idea of going to Congress during a 45-minute walk on the White House south grounds with chief of staff Denis McDonough, then debated the risks with others in his inner circle, some of whom argued against his logic.
Senior administration officials who briefed reporters after Obama spoke said they believed Congress will vote in favor of a U.S. military strike because of the threat chemical weapons pose to the security of U.S. ally Israel and other friends in the region.
Jon Alterman, a former State Department official who is a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said failure by Obama to get his way "could be something that not only dominates September and October, but could shadow the rest of the administration."
Obama sent draft legislation to Congress on Saturday formally asking for approval to use military force in Syria to "deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade" the potential for further chemical attacks.
The August 21 attack was the deadliest single incident of the Syria n civil war and the world's worst use of chemical arms since Iraq's Saddam Hussein gassed thousands of Kurds in 1988.
The team of U.N. experts arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday carrying evidence and samples relating to the attack. They had flown from Beirut after crossing the border into Lebanon by road earlier in the day.
The 20-member team had arrived in Damascus three days before the attack to investigate earlier accusations of chemical weapons use. After days holed up in a hotel, they visited the sites several times, taking blood and tissue samples from victims and from soldiers at a government hospital.
War weariness cost Washington the support of its closest ally: Britain has voiced backing for action but was forced to drop any plans for a military strike after Cameron unexpectedly lost a vote over it in parliament on Thursday, straining London's "special relationship" with Washington.
Syria and its main ally, Russia, say rebels carried out the gas attack as a provocation. Moscow has repeatedly used its U.N. Security Council veto to block action against Syria and says any attack would be illegal and only inflame the civil war there.
"I am convinced that (the chemical attack) is nothing more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syria n conflict," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.
Syria 's Foreign Ministry repeated its denial that the government had used chemical weapons against its own people. Washington says the Syria n denials are not credible and that the rebels would not have been able to launch such an attack.
Syria 's neighbor Turkey backs the use of force. The Arab League has said Syria is to blame for the chemical attack but so far stopped short of explicitly endorsing Western military strikes. Arab League foreign ministers are due to meet in Cairo on Sunday.
Iran, Assad's main ally in the region, has condemned plans for strikes and warned of wider war.
SEP 01 -
India 's opposition said Sunday it would seek tougher punishments for juveniles after the first verdict in the New Delhi gang-rape case saw a teenager sentenced to three years' detention, sparking widespread anger.
The rape and murder of a 23-year-old student by six attackers on a moving bus last December sparked nationwide protests and led to reforms that mandated longer sentences for adult sex offenders.
Sushma Swaraj, opposition leader in the lower house of parliament, said she would introduce a bill this week to amend the law for juveniles.
"This meagre punishment of just three years does not do justice," Swaraj wrote on Twitter.
"The sentence must commensurate with the gravity of the offence irrespective of the age of the offender," she added.
On Saturday a juvenile court in New Delhi sentenced the only under-age suspect in the gang -- who was 17 at the time of the crime -- to three years in a correctional facility.
This was the maximum sentence under India 's law, which treats all under-18s as children and seeks to reform rather than punish them.
"TRAVESTY: December 16 teen rapist 'gets away' with murder," a headline in the tabloid Mail Today read, summing up the mood.
The convicted teen will spend about 28 months in a juvenile detention centre, having already spent about eight months in custody awaiting the verdict.
"He can watch TV, play games while doing time," the Hindustan Times reported, while pointing out that police sources had earlier described the teenager as "the most brutal" of the six attackers.
The Times of India said the gang-rape victim had "been denied justice" by the juvenile court.
Subramanian Swamy, a politician from the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, told AFP the teenager "should have been executed" and he intended to file an appeal against Saturday's court order.
Swamy has already lodged a petition in the Supreme Court challenging India 's juvenile law for not taking the gravity of a crime into account during sentencing.
"It's ridiculous to think you can reform a person who has committed a heinous crime, who has raped and murdered a young woman in such a brutal fashion," he added.
According to the teenager's defence lawyer, his conduct will be observed and the sentence could be reduced for good behaviour.
The juvenile was employed to clean the bus where the attack took place and often slept rough or inside the vehicle, reports say.
A child rights activist who knows him said he grew up poor in a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and moved to Delhi on his own at the age of 11 when he began a string of menial jobs.
"He changed jobs all the time, desperate to earn more and send money to his family," the activist told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The attack on the young woman brought simmering anger about endemic sex crime in India to the boil, and turned her attackers into public hate figures.
But despite soul-searching and a new law toughening sentences for rapists, sex crimes have continued unabated, with almost every day bringing news of a new grave offence.
News emerged Saturday evening of another attack in the Noida suburb of the capital, where a woman was allegedly gang-raped by five attackers including two police constables.
The Press Trust of India said the 25-year-old victim was attacked while visiting a male friend, who was also assaulted by the gang of five.
Last month a 22-year-old photographer was gang-raped in Mumbai while taking pictures at an abandoned mill in a posh part of the commercial capital.
Protestors outside the juvenile court Saturday and the victim's family called for the teenager to be hanged.
The victim, a physiotherapy student, died of internal injuries two weeks after being raped and assaulted with an iron bar on the night of December 16.
Her male companion was beaten up before both were thrown bleeding from the bus.
A separate trial of the four adult suspects in a fast-track court is hearing closing arguments and is expected to wrap up in the next few weeks, with the men facing a possible death sentence if convicted.
LAHAN, SEP 01 -
Chairman of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Mahantha Thakur has said cooperation will be established with the Madhesh-centric parties in the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election.
Speaking at a press meet organised by the TMLP, Siraha on Sunday, he pledged to work together with the Madhesh-based parties in the upcoming CA as per the sentiments and inspirations of the Madheshi people and fight for their rights.
Efforts are underway to convince the opposing parties including the CPN-Maoist to join the CA election announced for November 19, he said, adding, "Ideological conflict may take an explosive turn if the consensus is not possible".
He stressed that all the political parties be serious towards the implementation of the matters settled by the first CA and forging a consensus on the remaining contentious issues through the upcoming CA soon and thereby drafting a new constitution on time. RSS
KATHMANDU, SEP 01 -
The Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) has taken a stance not to sit in talks with the government by breaking the ongoing hunger strike.
Chairperson of the party, Sarita Giri , has been staging fast-unto-death at Ratnapark from August 20 putting forth various demands including for increase of constituencies in Tarai on the basis of population growth.
Spokesperson of the party, Govinda Saha, said that Giri decided not to sit in talks with the government by breaking the hunger-strike.
The Council of Ministers, Consultation and Coordination Committee had called the party for talks for August 27.
The party has sent a letter about its stance to the Committee today. The hunger-strike would be continued until the demands are met, according to the party.Health condition of leader Giri is deteriorating. RSS
POKHARA, SEP 01 -
Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel has said that they would await the Mohan Baidhya -led group till the date of candidature filing for the election and even if the dissent did not come into the process, the November 19 election would not be deferred in no means.
At a face-to-face programme organised by Nepal Press Union, Kaski Chapter in Pokhara on Sunday, he said entire efforts would be made to get the poll opposing parties into election board.
Poudel further said it is irony on part of the Baidhya group to make attempt to disrupt the CA election for which they got thousands of people lost their lives for a decade in the past.
Nepali people would not remain onlooker but dispense the proper justice to the country, leader Poudel added.
Presenting a roadmap of the Nepali Congress to prepare an outline of constitution within six months and to promulgate the constitution within a year after the CA election , he further said the local election would be held on coming February-March immediately following the CA election s.
The earlier CA had finalised several agendas of the constitution, he said, adding that the constitution would be promulgated among the people in a democratic manner. RSS
AUG 31 -
Prakash Jha is a Bollywood director known for the gripping nature of his political and social dramas. His repertoire of films include Mrityudand, Apaharan and Gangajal, all films that helped established his credentials in the Indian film industry. His most recent venture Satyragraha, however, fails to hit the mark.
Jha’s last well-received film was 2010’s Rajneeti. Aarakshan, which was released a year later, did not fare as well, neither did 2012’s Chakravyuh. Sadly, this year’s Satryagraha follows the same ill-trodden path, and fails the director miserably. The film seems to have the makings of an engaging political drama, dealing as it does with an anti-corruption revolution, but the reality is that Satyagraha is an unconvincing movie .
The film’s screenplay is said to have been inspired by Anna Hazare, whose 2011 hunger strike became a beacon for anti-corruption revolutionaries in India. However, the storytelling itself fails miserably. From the badly stretched narration to the abrupt climax, nothing goes quite right for the film. In fact, Satyagraha is a tad predictable. You might even find yourself getting drowsy at the cinema if you’re not careful.
This is a sad thing, especially since the film’s cast boasts of some remarkable actors. Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpayee, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Amrita Rao star in the film, but they do not offer anything remarkable. Ultimately, Satyagraha fails in delivering. It hardly does what it intended to do. Despite dealing with heavy subjects like corruption and the bureaucracy, the film lacks punch. An inherently weak script means the audience loses interest with each successive scene.
To make things worse, there’s an item number included, and a ‘romantic angle’ that makes no sense in the larger scheme of things. And an abundance of melodrama only takes away from the beauty of reality as might have been portrayed in the film. The treatment given to some scenes in particular, is very unconvincing.
The director seems to have lost direction while trying to find balance. His film is neither a Bollywood entertainer, nor a hard-hitting realistic portrayal. In the process of bringing the two together, Jha loses the point he was trying to make in the first place. Even with big names and an amazing concept, Satyagraha is anything but revolutionary.
KATHMANDU, SEP 01 -
Nepal kicked off their SAFF Championship campaign in style with a deserving 2-0 victory over Group A rivals Bangladesh in front of cheering home crowd at the packed Dasharath Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both the goals were scored in the opening half of the match, with Anil Gurung opening Nepal’s account in the 18th minute and Bharat Khawas doubling their advantage in the 29th minute to seal the victory.
With the win, Nepal exacted revenge on Bangladesh for the loss they had suffered in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier at home in March. This is only the second time that Nepal have made a winning start to the South Asia’s football showpiece event after their previous feat in the second edition held in Goa, India in 1999.
Nepal team head coach Jack Stefanowski hailed the team’s cleanical performance and thanked the enormous support of home fans. “Couple of factors contributed in our win. Home fans were great and we were confident enough. We are very happy that we won our first game,” the American said after the match.
Top two teams from each group will
make it to the semi-finals of the eight-team competition. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan square off in another Group A encounter on Sunday.
KATHMANDU, SEP 01 -
President Ram Baran Yadav has asked the parties to take a broader political view while suggesting the removal of constitutional difficulties by first reaching an agreement with all the poll-opposing parties.
The head of state said this in a meeting leaders representing the High-level Political Committee (HLPC) on Saturday.
The cross-party mechanism separately handed over the copies of the agreement it had made with the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Democratic Front (FDF) to President Yadav and Interim Election Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi, urging them to remove the constitutional difficulties once again.
“He [the President] was of the view that it would be better if an agreement was made also with the Ashok Rai-led party, rather than adopting a piecemeal
approach to remove constitutional difficulties,” said Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) Senior Vice-chairman Rameshwor Raya Yadav.
The Rai-led Federal Socialist Party Nepal has demanded that the strength of the new Constituent Assembly should be 601 members. But CPN-UML leaders maintain that any decision to that effect should take place only after the party’s ongoing Central Committee meeting. According to Yadav of MJF-L, UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal reiterated the party’s position in the meeting with both President Yadav and Chairman Regmi.
The leaders also apprised the heads of state and government of Rai’s proposal for an all-party conference. President Yadav told the visiting leaders that any move should be taken quickly as further delay would affect the election schedule.
The head of state also reminded the parties that many stated tasks following the removal of constitutional difficulties to form the incumbent government are yet to be accomplished. “The President drew the parties’ attention towards the fact that while appointments to some constitutional bodies have taken place, several positions still remain vacant,” said President’s Press Advisor Rajendra Dahal.
As per the agreement signed on August 15, which brought the Upendra Yadav-led front on board the election process, the number of Constituent Assembly seats will go up to 585 from the 491 agreed earlier. Of the 585 members, 240 will be elected through the first-past-the-post system while the remaining 335 will be selected under the proportional representation system. Ten members will be nominated by the Cabinet.
Following the agreement, another presidential order for removing the constitutional difficulties will be required. The HLPC on Friday decided to ask both the heads of state and government to initiate the process to formalise the agreement. The cross-party mechanism took the decision after leaders representing the FDF threatened to boycott the HLPC meeting unless the agreement was formalised. Other political calculations also prompted the move. “In the absence of legal endorsement of the decision, a wrong message on the HLPC intent would circulate,” said UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
President Yadav and Chairman Regmi also urged the leaders to reach a deal with the agitating 33-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist at the earliest. Leaders say that they will exercise “maximum flexibility” if the poll-opposing parties agree to join the November 19 election and that informal talks are ongoing with the party towards that end. But leaders privy to the negotiations maintain that they have not seen substantial changes in the official position of the CPN-Maoist from that of changing the poll date and replacing the incumbent government.
The HLPC meeting on Friday reiterated that the door for dialogue with the poll-opposing parties was not shut. The HLPC and the 33-party alliance have not held formal dialogue since talks foundered last Saturday.