Ex-ministers quizzed

KATHMANDU: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday interrogated two former ministers of the royal government led by King Gyanendra. This is the second time that Roop Jyoti and Yangkila Sherpa have been quizzed by the anti-graft body for suppressing Janaandolan-II. The CIAA was acting on a report prepared by a panel led by former Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi that probed the loss of life and property during the people’s movement. — HNS

Diplomatic relations

KATHMANDU: Nepal has established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Haiti. Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Madhuraman Acharya, and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Haiti to the United Nations, Ambassador Leo Merores, signed a joint communiqué to this effect at the Permanent Mission of Nepal in New York on Wednesday. — RSS

IDPs return home

NEPALGUNJ: A total of 228 displaced persons who were living at the Kirannala makeshift camp of Rajhena Village Development Committee in Banke district returned home on Thursday. Local NGOs such as the B Group, Inrudec and Pin Nepal helped the 111 people displaced from Dailekh, 29 from Surkhet, 80 from Jajarkot and 8 from Achham district return home. Local Maoist leader Surya Parajuli bid the persons farewell. — RSS

General strike threat

Pokhara: Chairman of the Tamu National Liberation Front Amar Tamu on Thursday said a general strike would be called in the Gandaki zone from June 8 if the government fails to fulfil the demands of the Gurung community. Speaking at a press meet here, Tamu demanded a ‘Tamu Autonomous Region’ in the Gandaki zone that has a majority of people belonging to this community. — HNS

Govt staff halt work

SIRAHA: Employees in all district-based government offices halted work for two hours from 10 am on Thursday as a mark of protest against the increasing incidents of abduction and murder of civil servants. Nepal Civil Servants’ Organisation (NCSA), Nepal Inter Corporation Employees’ Association, Nepal Bank Employees’ Association, Nepal Financial Company Employees’ Association and Diploma Engineers’ Association jointly called a pen-down strike in the offices. — HNS

Hospital services

Rupandehi: Services in the Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital have resumed after agitating physicians suspended their programmes. According to a senior administrative officer at the hospital, Dhruv Shrestha, the physicians, who were up in arms since Tuesday demanding resignation of the medical superintendent, Dr Binod Parajuli, resumed duties from Thursday. A total of 75 employees of the hospital, attendants of patients admitted in the hospital and locals protested the stir and gheraoed the physicians on Wednesday afternoon. — HNS

JTMM man gives in

KATHMANDU: The Saptari District Commander of the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jay Krishna Goit, Prakash Yadav, alias Kundan, surrendered at the district administration on wednesday. He vowed to become a good citizen, abide by the laws of the land and help the country’s peace process, the Ministry of Home Affairs said. — RSS