Newspapers published from Kathmandu on Sunday, Nepali and English alike, have published stories about a host of issues on the front pages today. The unification between two communist parties into Nepal Communist Party has given birth to too many political issues for editors and reporters to write and comment about. They have published reports about management of its leaders, organisational structures at various levels and other dimensions of the context created after the ‘historic’ merger.
Few other political, economic and sociocultural issues have also been published on the front pages today.
Important
Oli assures closure of Indian Embassy field office in Biratnagar
Lead stories in Kantipur, Nagarik and The Kathmandu Post have quoted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to say that the government will soon remove the field office of Indian Embassy in Biratnagar of Morang district.
India had established the office in Biratnagar for security check of Nepalis entering India after a flood in Saptakoshi in the monsoon of 2008 created havoc in eastern Nepal. Many political parties and leaders have been demanding the closure of office after the situation has already ended.
To address their demand, the Prime Minister told the Nepal Communist Party lawmakers yesterday that the government would take initiatives to close the office soon. “It was established for a specific purpose, it should have been closed after that,” Kantipur quotes Oli, “Now, it will not exist. It will shut down.”
NCP to reorganise sister organisations
The newly unified Nepal Communist Party is planning to dissolve all sister organisations of its former constituents—CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre—and establish new ones, according to Gorkhapatra. The party is likely to form a task force to suggest changes in sister organisations and new entities will be established accordingly, according to the report.
Many newspapers have reported that the party is preparing to complete the unification process upto the local level within next three months. Rajdhani further informs that the lower level committees will have one chairperson though the central committee has two chairpersons—KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Meanwhile, Oli and Dahal are mulling over various options for management of its central leaders, according to Annapurna Post lead story.
Ignored
Schools closed as students leave for yarsa collection
Schools in Jumla and East Rukum have been closed after their students went to collect precious yarsagumba in the high hill regions of the district. As the Yarsa collection season has begun, even the guardians, residents, and traders outside the districts have gone to the high hill areas to collect the ‘summer plant and winter animal’, according to the anchor story of Nagarik.
The teachers in the district complained that even SEE candidates went to collect yarsa. This has been going on for decades now. Schools are closed for almost two months, adds the report.
Foreign currency reserves depleting
A story published in The Himalayan Times says that the skyrocketing imports have depleted the foreign currency reserves in the country as the remittance has plummeted and foreign fund transfer is low. The reserve till mid-April was sufficient to cover imports for 9.7 months.
However, a strong US dollar in comparison with the Nepali currency and stagnant remittance growth could pose a threat, the report informs quoting executive director of Nepal Rastra Bank, Nara Bahadur Thapa.
Conflict victims disheartened with left unity
Victims of the decade-long armed conflict have been left disheartened after the unification of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre. The UML earlier has ensured justice to the war victims as both UML and the Maoists had opposite stances on ways to settle conflict-era cases. After the unification, the victim’s families are skeptical about getting justice, according to Republica.
Private sector suggests amendments to Nepal-India trade treaty
The private sector has suggested to the government to amend the Nepal-India trade treaty in accordance with the changed context. The businesspersons have suggested that the government make special regulation on the quota system that India has been imposing on Nepal’s trade system and quarantine test, reports Abhiyan.
Interesting
Nepal connected to region integrated optical fibre network
The anchor story published in Gorkhapatra says that the South Asian countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Bhutann will soon be linked with the optical fibre network within current fiscal year. According to Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada, all necessary works for the same has been completed and the operation will begin once the Ministry hands over the responsibility to the Nepal Telecom.
Provincial govts preparing for annual budget statements
Naya Patrika reports that the provincial governments across the country have been preparing income-expenditure expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year.
As many as five provinces- 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7—have already prepared the detail. Province 1 and Province 3 have estimated the budget of approximately Rs 50 billion, Province 2 Rs 25 billion, Province 6 14.64 billion, and Province 7 Rs 19 billion. Province 5 will be preparing the detail on priority basis. Province 4, however, is still confused about the amount allocation.
