Biratnagar, November 8, 2007

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said technical hiccups might upset the implementation of the proposals on fully proportional electoral system and republic that the parliament passed by a majority vote.

Koirala, who is in his hometown, said this during a meeting with mediapersons at his residence this morning. His remarks came at a time when the Maoists are pressing for the implementation of the two proposals. Saying that the sovereignty of parliament was uppermost, Koirala said the parliament alone can decide on the implementation of the proposals. He said first of all an amendment to the interim constitution was needed. He added, “For this, two-thirds majority in the parliament is necessary. I think it is a difficult task.” Koirala said, “I will do my best to garner the support of the seven parties in this regard in the session beginning November 19.”

He said the winter session was like a “session of peace” as the peace process should have a logical end through mutual understanding. Replying to a journalist’s query on the change of leadership in government, he said he considered the prime minister’s position as a “tattered shoe”. “For me, position does not matter much. What was significant was to bring the Maoists to mainstream politics. The Maoists have come to mainstream politics and believe in the supremacy of the parliament.”

Shah’s body found

Bara, November 8, 2007

Police sniffer dogs today helped locate the body of slain journalist Birendra Shah in a forest near Dumarwana of Bara district.

Maoist cadres had abducted Shah from Dhodiya Pipra bazaar of Umzam VDC of the district a month ago and killed him the same day. I

nspector Rameshwar Yadav at the Bara district police office said two police dogs brought from Kathmandu sniffed out Shah’s body.

The corpse was found in a damp, dewy spot in the forest near Tangiya Basti of Dumarwana VDC-7. Shah’s vest, slippers and spectacles were also found from the spot, police said. Shah’s brother Baburam Shah said the decomposing body was that of his brother.

The body was brought to Kalaiya hospital for post mortem.

Mahednra Bista, general-secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, said the body would be handed over to Shah’s family after completing the legal process and a funeral will be organised on Friday before it will be cremated in Kalaiya.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Army gave Rs 25,000 sent by the Maoists to Shah’s family. Kaligunj battalion commander Hiralal Joshi and Kaligunj brigade commander Prakash Vikram Rawal handed over the money to Shah’s family.

The Bara chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists has decided to donate three days’ salary of all journalists in the district to Shah’s family.