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GP Koirala is new Nepal PM

      Kathmandu: Nepal's King Gyanendra today issued a proclamation appointing Nepali Congress Party president Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister of Nepal, sources in Kathmandu said. According to the report, Koirala will be sworn in on Friday, following which, he will become the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time. Earlier he had been the leader of the country from 1991 to 1994, from 1998 to 1999, from 2000 to 2001. He was the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal since 1959 when his brother BP Koirala and the Nepali Congress party swept the country's first democratic elections. Born in Indian state Bihar, he is the youngest son of Krishna Prasad Koirala and Divya Koirala. Koirala has been active in politics for over sixty years and started his career as a labour leader in the Jute mills of his hometown Biratnagar. He was forced to leave office for the first time in November 1994 because the Nepali Congress was unable to continue a coalition government, and for the third time in July 2001 when he resigned amidst the turmoil following the deaths of many members of the royal family who were killed by the crown prince. Koirala was one among the leaders who have been leading the ongoing political movement against King Gyanendra.

Yechury to visit Kathmandu on Friday

      New Delhi: Marxist Politburo member Sitaram Yechury will leave for Kathmandu on Friday for a two-day visit aimed at cementing the roadmap for restoration of democracy in the troubled kingdom. Yechury is going to Kathmandu at the invitation of the seven- party alliance (SPA), which is headed by Prime Minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala. Yechury, who won the praise of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his effective role in defusing the crisis in Nepal, told reporters here a day before his visit that the Maoists joining the mainstream in Nepal will have a salutary effect in the naxal movement in India. Yechury who has held extensive discussions on the situation in Nepal with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and a Group of Ministers of the government, said the new Nepalese government has a three-point agenda on its hands. Firstly, the Nepalese Parliament, which is being reconvened for Friday, has to decide to set-up a Constituent Assembly, that could decide the future of the political set-up in the country controlled by the monarch. Secondly, Koirala has to implement the 12-point charter agreed between the SPA and the Maoists before the movement for restoration of democracy began. Thirdly, the new government will have to call the Maoists for talks and lastly all the laws enacted by King Gyanendra in the past one year will have to be repealed.

Nepal Maoists announce 3-month ceasefire

      Kathmandu: Just before the formation of new Government under the leadership of former Nepalese Premier and veteran leader, Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist rebels in Nepal have announced a three-month unilateral cease-fire. Sticking to their demand for a Constituent Assembly, the Maoists in a statement released on Wednesday night on behalf of their Chairman Prachanda said, "Our party once again announces a unilateral ceasefire for three months with immediate effect". The ceasefire is aimed at helping the ongoing people's struggle for a constituent assembly, the statement added. "During the ceasefire, the People's Liberation Army will not launch any military action," Prachanda said. In his statement Prachanda maintained that King Gyanendra's proclamation had not addressed Maoists' issues and reiterated the rebels' demand for a Constituent Assembly to rewrite the Constitution. In the new Constitution, as per the Maoists demand, the powers of the King would be limited. This announcement came shortly after Koirala appealed to the rebels to withdraw their protests, including economic blockade and assured them that the constituent assembly would be the main agenda of Parliament when it meets. According to the King Gyanendra's proclamation the House of Representatives dissolved on May 22, 2002 would be reinstated. The lower house of parliament would reconvene on Friday. The Maoists were committed to the 12-point agreement they had reached with the Seven-Party Alliance last November, the statement added. On Wednesday, Maoists lifted their blockade on Kathmandu but set a two-day deadline for pro-democracy parties to start the process of formation of a Constituent Assembly. The rebels had announced a similar ceasefire in September last year for four months. The Maoists vowed to end the monarchy and establish a Communist republic, earlier, had refused to suspend their rebellion and said they will continue the protests until the parties declare elections for an assembly to write a new Constitution.