http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Maoists+shape+up+Khanal%27s+Cabinet+&NewsID=278715&a=3
<http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Maoists+shape+up+Khanal%27s+Cabinet+&NewsID=278715&a=3>Maoists shape up Khanal's Cabinet Four leaders sworn in • Pun says integration task to begin from tomorrow Added At: 2011-03-05 12:19 AM Last Updated At: 2011-03-05 12:19 AM *HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE* KATHMANDU: Breaking the protracted state of confusion and kicking internal wrangling aside, the Unified CPN-Maoist today sent its four leaders to the Jhala Nath Khanal-led government, exactly a month after Khanal was elected prime minister. Maoist standing committee member Krishna Bahadur Mahara will lead the four-member team in the government. He has been appointed deputy prime minister and minister for information and communications. The other members in the Cabinet from the Maoist party are Barsha Man Pun, Top Bahadur Raymajhi and Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal administered the oath of office and secrecy to four Maoists Ministers in presence of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today. Remaining seven members — as 11 ministries have been allocated for the Maoists — will be sent to the government within a week, according to Maoist leader Dev Gurung. Pun has been appointed minister for peace and reconstruction, Raymajhi minister for physical planning and works and Bishwokarma minister for tourism and civil aviation. Though, Pun’s name was being discussed for long for the home ministry, which for the time being will be retained by Khanal as per an understanding reached between Khanal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, sources said Gurung was most likely to assume the post later. No timeline has been disclosed as to when Khanal will hand over the home ministry to the Maoists but UML insiders said he would retain the portfolio until 19,000 Maoist combatants living in camps were regrouped for integration and rehabilitation. Khanal’s fledgling Cabinet had failed to take off following opposition from Khanal’s own party leaders who didn’t want the Maoists to hold security related ministries. On the other hand, the Maoists who catapulted Khanal to the top post, sat tight saying it was agreed upon that home ministry should be handed to them. Besides the portfolios assigned to the Maoists today, as per the understanding between Khanal and Dahal, ministry of labour and transport management, ministry of women, children and social welfare, ministry of law and justice, ministry of health and population, ministry of land reforms and ministry of youths and sports have been kept aside for the Maoists. Eight ministries have been kept for CPN-UML. Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party-Nepal and other fringe left parties will share the remaining portfolios. MJF-N is likely to get foreign ministry. “The government will get full shape soon with the support of other parties, with a possibility to command two-thirds majority in the Parliament,” said Surya Thapa, press adviser to the PM. After taking oath of office today, Peace Minister Pun said the Special Committee (for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants) would begin the task of managing People’s Liberation Army fighters from Sunday. “Moving forward the peace process will be government’s main priority,” said Pun. Communications Minister Mahara said, “Our party has joined the government with the promise to complete the peace and constitution-drafting processes on time.” -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
