Narayangarh, September 18, 2006

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today said that he was confident of the formation of an interim government, including the Maoists, by November 16.

Speaking at the inauguration of the CPN-UML affiliated ANNFSU’s 18th national convention, Nepal expressed confidence that the summit meeting of the eight parties before Dashain would help realise the formation of an interim government and parliament before November 16.

He added, “We are for the formation of interim parliament and government after a meeting of top leaders of the eight parties that will be held before Dashain. We also expect the announcement of a constituent assembly.”

Nepal said that when he met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala two days ago, he made it clear to the PM that the government’s working pace was slower than that of a snail.

He said he was positive that the meeting between Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda would contribute to the formation of an interim government that would include the Maoists.

Stating that the constituent assembly poll should be held by mid-June 2007 and that the election commission should start preparations for it now, Nepal warned that any conspiracy against democracy would spark another people’s movement.

Students boycott exams in Dharan

Students of all the 22 community schools here today boycotted the terminal exams of the secondary and lower secondary levels, saying the exams were being conducted without completing courses.

They also vandalised several schools and burnt tyres in front of the Shahid Memorial Secondary School at Dharan-9. The students, in different groups, went to different schools and disrupted exams there.

The District Education Office was slated to conduct the terminal exams in Dharan from today.

Students from another school created obstacles in the exam for Nepali subject this morning all of a sudden, said the school headmaster, Dal Bahadur Chhaya, adding that the exam had to be stopped following pressure from students.

The protesters snatched answers sheets and tore them up as teachers in some schools, including the Sharad Balika Secondary school and Gyanodaya secondary school, refuse to stop the exams.

Since the stipulated course has not been completed we boycotted the exam, said Nawaraj Bhattarai, a 10th grader in the Chandra Sanskrit Secondary School.

Teaching in the schools was disrupted due to months of agitation by the temporary teachers, another student, Dilan Rai, said, adding: “How could we give the exam when the course was not completed.”