Apparently, the High Level Political Mechanism’s first meeting went pretty well. The Big Two running the government asked the Maoists to withdraw their plans for an indefinite strike. And, guess what? Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he would give it a thought. The Himalayan Times writes:

[Koirala] urged the Maoists to withdraw their planned strike, reasoning it may trigger untoward incidents from both the sides – the state and the protestors – vitiating the atmosphere of talks.

Prachanda reacted positively to the request of the NC and the CPN-UML bosses to withdraw all protest programmes, including the scheduled indefinite strike, said sources. Prachanda said his party would dwell on the request and spell its decision in the HLPM’s next meeting scheduled for January 22.

Koirala saves the day again. If the Maoists call off the strike, the government may have to add a new page to his already very long CV for the Nobel committee.

Every time something goes well, there is someone to remind us not to get carried away by the news of goodwill and cooperation. Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari assumed the role on Wednesday reminding everyone that she doesn't care much about the Special Committee on the Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants headed by the leader of her government. The Kathmandu Post reports:

In what appeared to be a strong stand against her own government, Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari said on Tuesday that her ministry and Nepal army have no compulsion to accept any decision on army integration taken by the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal-led Special Committee for the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.

We are guessing this is when Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal wishes he could embark on another foreign trip. Unfortunately for him, his gigantic cabinet spent its budget for the entire year in six months, so they are scraping by in Baluwatar. Annapurna Post reports:

Finance Minister Surendra Panday allocated 12 million to the Council of Ministers expecting that it would include 25 ministers. But, the cabinet includes 44 members now making it the second largest cabinet in the history of Nepal.

Luckily, the government may be saving some money this fiscal year. The Supreme Court has ruled that the government’s plan to give Rs. 50,000 to anyone who marries a widow or a Dalit should not proceed ahead until a final decision is made. From Kantipur:

“No one should be tricked, duped, threatened or lured into getting married. Those marriages will always be considered illegal,” the Supreme Court has said.