Nepal Highlights

At a time when the United Nations and the Nepalese government are expressing mutually contradictory opinions on whether UN Secretary General’s suggestion is an interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, a Maoist leader has said, UN’s criticism in Nepal is fuelled by Indian interest.

Nepal has refused to sign the extradition treaty between Nepal and India during the secretary level bi-nation security talks that concluded in Kathmandu Saturday saying a political consensus at a higher level was required to do so.

A fire has engulfed Nepal Academy hall in Kamaladi, Kathmandu, Saturday afternoon. The fire started from a curtain in a window of the hall. An organisation named Crystal Vision is organising a function there. There are about 1000 persons inside the hall. A team of fire-fighters from Basantapur is working to take the fire in control.

Nepal's political parties have shown signs of consensus lately, with the agitating UCPN-Maoist withdrawing their controversial protest programmes. Soon after senior leader Babu Ram Bhattarai met Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter's residence, Maharajgunj on Friday, the Maoists announced withdrawal of the programme to declare autonomous states. Issuing a press statement, Maoist vice chairman Bhattarai said the programme had been withdrawn as it was being viewed by others as a breach of peace agreement. So, the Maoists, who seldom give a damn to what others say have started to listen to others lately. Maoist leaders themsleves have slammed their cadres' move to takeover Dhankuta municipality last week and vowed to take action against their cadre involved in the incident in public forums.

Kanyam Mahotsav has begun in the eastern hilly district of Ilaam with a slogan 'Lets go to Kanyam and drink Orthodox tea', Saturday morning. Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nembwang inaugurated the three-day festival organised to promote tea tourism in Ilaam. Kanyam is a beautiful hillock in the east which is famous for the excellant veiw of Sunrise it offers.