who cares more about Nepali lives?

[Paul Johnson]

Nepal's government announced Monday that its new constitution-drafting
body would meet for the first time on May 28 when it is due to
formally abolish the monarchy and declare the country a republic.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jBMQR_ht3bx5RCH7ZERrDhz3KGUQ

The US now says CPN-Maoist had never been designated a “foreign
terrorist organisation”... “They have, however, been on the ‘terrorist
exclusion list’.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa2qzpca4Ra4a8a.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080516

Prachanda, the leader of Nepal's communist former rebels, wants all
parties that won seats in last month's general elections, including
ethnic groups, to join the Himalayan nation's new coalition
government.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=agS8Zmma2AS4&refer=india

Nepali Congress and the moderate Communist Party of Nepal - Unified
Marxist Leninists (CPN-UML) have decided not to join the new
government led by the Maoists. With the two parties withdrawing, the
Maoists now have to seek the support of fringe left-wing parties to
form a government, however, they will still fall short of a majority
in the assembly.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1404975.php/Two_major_coalition_parties_not_joining_Nepals_new_government

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and the Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party have
hinted at not joining the new government possibly to be led by
Maoists.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/may/may07/news05.php

NC and UML have set preconditions for their support to a Maoist-led
future government. The preconditions:
>Dissolution of the Maoist people’s army, people’s courts and people’s government- as per the agreement that the Maoists have already entered into but have always ignored in practice.
>Dissolution of the semi-military structure of the Young Communist League.
>A time-bound plan to integrate the Maoist army and dispose of or surrender their weapons to the state.
>Maoists return the property looted or captured by them.
>Rehabilitate displaced people and stop intimidation, threats and extortion.
>Amend the constitution before the CA meeting (for implementing the republic through its first meeting and have provision to remove the PM by a simple majority.)
http://blog.com.np/united-we-blog/2008/05/13/nepali-congress-preconditions/

Nepal's communist former rebels threatened to forcibly evict King
Gyanendra if he refuses to leave the palace after lawmakers vote to
abolish the 240-year- old monarchy May 28.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a83YneQw1NNY&refer=india

Nepalese police have arrested some 560 Tibetan women, including many
Buddhist nuns, after breaking up demonstrations against China's
crackdown in Tibet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7394672.stm

Nepal has reopened the summit of Mount Everest to climbers on its side
after a Chinese team carried the Olympic flame to the world's highest
peak.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7389450.stm

World Bank gives 50 million dollars to Nepal peace process
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7Ian_5eQRrmlmXuAIQwEWxgMm2g

Transporters seal deal with govt, call off strike
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa2qzpca4Ra8va.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080517

Transport entrepreneurs have organised indefinite bandh in Mechi,
Koshi, Sagarmatha and Janakpur zones to press for fulfillment of their
10-point demands. ...for the third consecutive day.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0scqzpca4Ra4a9a.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080516

Peace here, Nepal mothers want news of missing sons
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDEL6079520080512?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

YCL's central meeting had concluded last week deciding to increase its
strength to 1 million members within a year.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/may/may14/news03.php

Civilians are becoming more vulnerable to attack by militant groups
and criminal gangs in the Terai region of southern Nepal as a result
of the apparent proliferation of small arms and improvised explosive
devices, local analysts say. Easy access to guns has led to an
increasing number of killings, abductions, attacks and cases of
looting and extortion, they said.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKAA-7EN4VL?OpenDocument

China has begun building a railway connecting the Tibetan capital of
Lhasa with the market town of Khasa on the Sino-Nepal border. The rail
link, the latest Chinese initiative to improve its transport
infrastructure in the Himalayan region, is expected to enhance Nepal's
economic engagement with China and reduce its dependence on India.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JE15Df01.html

Demand for The Culture and Tradition Friendly Nepal [opinion]
...in the name of revolution, the Maoists completely destroyed Nepal's
economic infrastructures, basically tourism and other foreign currency
earning industries. The Maoists at the same time attacked upon Nepal's
unique reservations of traditions and cultures, not to mention the
extortion, kidnapping and killings. All these compelled King Gyanendra
to risk his throne. King Gyanendra gave up his direct rule to avoid
further destruction of economic development infrastructures,
sacrifices of Nepali citizens and the negative international image of
Nepal. To remind all, less than 20 people have been recorded for
giving their lives during the Jana Andolan II. People have witnessed
many times more deaths of their fellow citizens after the Seven Party
Alliance and when the Maoists ruled Nepal. Now, who cares more about
the Nepali people's lives, economic development, international image
of Nepal, independence and sovereignty of a country? Is it the King or
the immoral leaders?
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080515161010tsop.nb/newsblaze/WORLDNEW/World-News.html