Main News, Dec. 26 - 31, 2009

• 31/12/2009: MJF to bring another amendment to constitution amendment bill (nn), NC, UML drive to push twin CA goals (ht), Foreign powers for status quo (ht), Bhandari stands by Nepal Army (kp) [Please let a civil court decide if he is guilty or not! This is not up to the Defence Minister!!], No action against Major Basnet: Defence Minister (rn) [Immediate action against Ms. Bhandari who is defending the state of impunity, please!], Minster warns of halting PLA pay (ht), Pasang for bulk merger of PLA fighters with NA, by Suryamani Gautam (ht), The backward classes: Rights must come to the forefront, by Ram Dayal Rakesh (ht)
• 30/12/2009: Power wielders pressure CIAA: Chief, by Ananta Raj Luitel (ht), Bill to resolve Jha oath row tabled, by Prakash Acharya (ht), Promotion irks rights bodies (ht), Janamorchas Bheri-Karnali bandh affects life in west (ht), Media and politics: Public right to dissent, by Gokul Pokhrel (ht), Defense Minister for media-military relationships (rn) [In other words: Do not write about the numerous crimes of the army, especially not about hose of its just promoted leadership!!], Unhealthy leanings: Nepal's political players must stop and think to put the peace process back on track, by Achyut Wagle (kp), It's Nepal's rubbish: Attention can be diverted to Beijing or Delhi, but we have to clear our trash ourselves, by Surendra Phuyal (kp), Greatest gift of the decade, by Pramod Mishra (kp), Conduct of Peace: Approaches of Women and Media in Nepal, by Dev Raj Dahal (tg), State-Building as a Mechanism for Conflict Resolution, by Chandra D. Bhatta (tg), Both Prachanda and Nepal PM have insulted CA body, interview with Prakash Chandra Lohani (tg)
• 29/12/2009: Contentious constitutional concerns put to vote, settled, by Prakash Acharya (ht), MJF vice-chair Gupta files notice against Constitution Amendment Bill (nn), Maoist meet dwells on stir plan (ht), Discharge of disqualified Maoist combatants rescheduled for Jan 7 (rn), Pace Of Peace Process (rn), Rule of law stressed (rn), VP oath row unlikely to end: seventh constitutional amendment (kp), New premises: Amidst all the outrage, it went unnoticed that Prachanda’s speech was meant to send a number of key messages to Delhi, by Aditya Adhikari (kp), Chasing dreams: Prosperity based on the old industrial model is a fantasy all our politicians share, by Anil Bhattarai (kp), Rights groups: Parties promoting impunity (kp), RJM shuts Bheri, Karnali against federalism (nn), Nepal Army general faces case by ‘torture’ victims, by Sudeshna Sarkar (Asian Age), Three torture victims file case against major general (Gulf Times)
• 28/12/2009: Three-tier political system mooted, by Arjun Bhandari (ht), CA committee proposes three-tier state system (nn), Is there a democratic deficit in Nepal? The political paradox, by Ganga Thapa (ht), No complacency (ht), Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal enforces bandh against federalism (ht), SC moved against Toran promotion (ht), Toran’s promotion challenged at SC (kp), Word of warning: Ethnic federation could lead to fragmentation and ultimate disappearance of the country, by Shyam K.C. (kp), Discharge of disqualified Maoist combatants postponed to Jan 7 (nn)
  
• 27/12/2009: Newa state declared, again: The state comprises Valley, Kavre and parts of Dolakha (kp), Newars assert Newa Autonomous State, by Tika R. Pradhan (ht), Separate Khas state with exclusive identity sought (27/12/2009), Religious body all set to launch Satyagraha for Hindu states sake (ht), Govt keen on managing PLA: Chemjong (ht), Minister: Discharge from early January (kp), Indian Army Chief’s Statement: Parties’ silence takes Dahal unaware (kp), Maoist leaders challenge Toran’s promotion (nn), Federalism a huge challenge: Experts (ht)
  
• 26/12/2009: Political impasse, meddling, funds hit policing: govt special security plan (kp), Maoists gear up for ‘exposure campaign’ (kp), Maoists start 4th phase protests, focus on national awareness (rn), Maoists to wage war against 'Indian expansionism (nn), CC voting finalises contentious issues, by Liladhar Upadhyaya (rn), CC rejects Maoist flag change proposal (kp), Arms management must for restoring peace: PM, by Rashmi Shrestha (ht), Integration first: Bhandari (kp) [This is contrary to her previous statements!], PLA release postponed by a week (nn), Separate group declares Newar autonomous state (nn)