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Buddhi
Narayan Shrestha awarded Madan Purashkar
Buddhi Narayan
Shrestha has been awarded the Madan Purashkar for 2057 for his work
"Nepal ko Simana" , the Madan Purashkar Guthi announced Thursday.
Janakabi Dharma Raj Thapa has been awarded the Jagadamba Shri for his contribution to enrich Nepali literature.
nepalnews.com br July 20
Ganga
undergoes surgery
Ganga Shrestha
underwent a four-hour successful surgery Thursday at a Singapore hospital to
repair a cleft palate three months after a landmark operation to separate
her from her twin sister Jamuna, reports from the island said.
They were joined at
the head; Siamese twins joined at the head occur only one in five million
births.
They are expected to live normal lives after returning home in weeks.
Surgeons operated for a marathon 96 hours to separate them. Singaporeans
paid for the rare operation. nepalnews.com br July 20
Danish
aid for CIAA
Denmark Thursday
gave Nepal a grant of Rs.10.27 million as institutional support for
the Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA), an announcement said.
The assistance aims to enhance the institutional
capability of the CIAA to combat corruption. The money will be used to buy
equipment, train personnel and build infrastructure among other things. nepalnews.com
br July 20
Nepali Congress Government will continue
The majority Nepali Congress party will continue to rule despite the resignation of Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, party sources said.
The central committee of the party is meeting Friday to discuss the latest crisis in the party and elect a new leader to succeed Girija
Prasad Koirala.
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is the leading contender to succeed
Koirala; he is being challenged by former Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudyal, party general secretary Sushial Koirala and former
home minister Khum Bahadur Khadka.
Koirala said he resigned because of "existing challenges" facing the country and to resolve the internal bickering in the
ruling Nepali Congress. "For me the progress of Nepal and people are supreme. National
consensus is essential for progress and to combat terrorism. They are the main political agendas for me," Koirala told the nation over radio
and television.
Koirala's resignation came 12 hours after the entire opposition Wednesday stalled parliament's budget proceedings demanding his
resignation.
nepalnews.com.br July 18
King accepts Koirala’s resignation
His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Thursday, according to
a Royal Palace notice.
Prime Minister Koirala had submitted his resignation earlier Thursday. His Majesty the King has also asked the present Council of Ministers to
continue its work until another Council of Ministers is constituted. nepalnews.com
yl/br July 19
Prime
Minister Koirala announces resignation
Under pressure not
only from opposition parties but from detractors in his own party, Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his resignation Thursday.
Prime
Minister Koirala, in his address to the nation over Radio Nepal and Nepal
Television, said, " I decided to resign to protect democracy,
solve national problems and maintain unity within my own party". Koirala said that both extreme rightists and extreme leftists have unleashed
an attack against democracy and the nation and added that it was the duty of
all political parties that have faith in democracy to be united and
collectively counter such ulterior motives. The Maoist violence is targeted
against democracy, he said and condemned it.
Prime Minister
highly praised the role of police and army in the fight against violence and
terrorism.
"I put forth a 14-point agenda for national consensus, which reflect the
feelings and pains of all political parties that went to power in the last
12 years," he said. He said, "My responsibility at present is to
protect the parliamentary democracy and maintain unity in my own
party".
He said that democracy and nation are more important for him
than the post of Prime Minister. He also accused the opposition parties for
trying to destroy the system by forcibly blocking the proceedings of
parliament and also charged some people in the Nepali Congress itself of
supporting it.
Opposition parties and some of his opponents within his own
party had been demanding his resignation. They had accused the Prime
Minister of failing to maintain law and order, give a good leadership to the
nation and solve the Maoist insurgency and other burning problems of the nation.
Koirala had come to power May 2000. nepalnews.com
yl July 19
RNAC
annuls Lauda Air deal
Royal Nepal
Airlines Wednesday annulled a controversial deal with Austria's Lauda Air to
lease a Boeing 767-300 at inflated and unfavourable conditions from May 26
before expiry in December this year, an announcement said.
The two airlines
reached an agreement to revoke the agreement without any liability to RNAC,
the announcement said. Nepal's state airlines said the lease was terminated
because of declining tourist arrivals. An investigating authority has
charged and jailed senior RNAC officials for
fraud in leasing the aircraft.
Patan appellate
court Wednesday released Ram Raj Upadhaya, one of the accused in the case,
on a bail of Rs.1.3 million Former Tourism Minister Tarani Dutta Chataut
wanted for investigations has
not presented himself before the authority and is regularly attending
parliament's budget session. nepalnews.com br July 19
Maoists using women, children as human shields
The army is using restraint as Maoists are using women and children as human shields in an effort by security forces to free
71 abducted policemen and recover looted weapons on the sixth day of operations in
Rolpa Wednesday 650 kms northwest of the capital, an official announcement said.
There was no mention of the abducted policemen previously being used as human shields in the latest official announcement. Soldiers are presently deployed at Lingung village near Nuwa
where the abducted policemen are being held. Officials denied reports that the
army had withdrawn from the area. Additional forces have been sent to the area Wednesday, the announcement
said.
Senior police officials met this week in the capital to review security and new
measures after the latest escalation of Maoist attacks mainly against police targets, sources said. "Deployed security forces are determined to complete their
assignment. Morale is high. Security forces are using restraint to protect the lives of civilians," an announcement said.
Human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar told Nepalnews Wednesday there have been no deaths in the entire military operation that was
launched Thursday. "Both the sides have urged maximum restraint. There have been no
deaths in the operation," Tuladhar said.
Government also denied reports of casualties as reports said several dozen rebels were killed in the first direct confrontation between the
army and Maoists. But government has officially confirmed three soldiers were wounded
in an attack on an army helicopter in Rukum Thursday.
Independent confirmation of government, rebel or other claims could not be made.
nepalnews.com br July 18
Maoists kill ruling party activist
Maoists killed an active member of the ruling Nepali Congress party and injured his son at a village in Chitwan district Tuesday night,
police and party sources said.
Krishna Kuwar was dragged out of his home at night and hacked to death with lethal weapons while his son was seriously injured, party
sources said. The son is being treated at a hospital in the capital.
Rebels have mainly targeted activists of the Congress and the police in their attacks.
Three policemen were injured when a booby trap went off at a village in Tanahu district Wednesday morning, police said. The injured are being treated a hospital in Pokhara.
nepalnews.com br July 18
House proceedings disrupted
Opposition parties disrupted the proceedings of both House's of Parliament Wednesday demanding resignation of Prime Minister Girija
Prasad Koirala.
As soon as Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat initiated the meeting in the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers stood up and accused the Prime
Minister of violating his own 14-point agenda for national consensus, lying
to the parliament, failing to solve the country’s problems and betraying the nation.
The lawmakers of CPN-UML, RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Nepal Majdoor Kisaan Party, National United Front and United Front Nepal announced
that they would not allow House proceedings unless Prime Minister Koirala resigned.
Khadga Prasad Oli and Ishwar Pokhrel of CPN-UML, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of RPP, Badri Prasad Mandal of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Lila Mani
Pokhrel of United People's Front, Pari Thapa of National People's Front said that the government disseminated false information regarding the
army operation in Rolpa.
They claimed that army has already pulled out from the Nuwagaun of Rolpa and Maoist rebels, who had kidnapped the
policemen, had also fled the scene. They said that the government dis-informed parliament and the people
saying that army has surrounded the Maoist rebels in Nuwagaun to release the abducted policemen.
Oli of CPN-UML said that the act of government has lowered the morale of army.
Lawmakers then stood in front of Speakers’ seat and chanted slogans against Prime Minister for 20 minutes.
Taranath Ranabhat repeatedly asked lawmakers to calm down and take their seat but they continued their protest.
Finally Speaker postponed the meeting of the House of Representatives until 3 pm Wednesday.
In the second meeting as well, the same scene was repeated. Speaker Ranabhat then postponed the meeting of the House of Representatives
until July 20. The meeting of the National Assembly, Upper House of Parliament, too,
was postponed as all opposition lawmakers boycotted the meeting.
It is the first time that opposition disrupted the House proceeding in the 20th session of parliament.
nepalnews.com yl July 18
Three
policemen killed, two injured
In the first major Maoist attack against police as a standoff continues with
military for the sixth day Wednesday in Rolpa, rebels killed three policemen
and injured two others in an attack on an outpost at Fidim in
Argakhachi district 250 kms west of the capital overnight, police
said.
Rebels decamped with looted arms and ammunition to a nearby jungle. Five
policemen are feared abducted, initial reports said. Rebels also looted over
Rs.200,000 from two banks in neighbouring Nuwakot district Tuesday,
police said.
Students loyal to Maoists Wednesday torched two government vehicles in
Kathmandu valley two days ahead of a call for closure of schools
demanding reduction in fees, rebel sources said. neplnews.com be
July 18
Committee
approves property rights for women
After a long
debate, parliament's law and justice committee Tuesday approved for the
first time equal right to parental property for women. The historic decision
to amend the Mulki Ain will have to be approved by parliament before
enactment.
Previously,
spinsters after 35 years of age were entitled to parental property; women
had to return such property if they married. Women were vociferous in their
demands for equal right to property as conservatives Nepalis opposed the
amendment.
Parliament has been
discussing the amendment for four years. nepalnews.com br July 18
Kumar
Gorakh leaves for Bangkok
Kumar Gorakh SJB
Rana, son-in-law of late King Birendra, left for Bangkok Wednesday for
further medical treatment, family sources said.
He survived the
June 1 carnage at the Narayanihiti Royal Palace with serious injuries. His
wife, Princess Shruti, was killed in the shoot-out started by Crown Prince
Dipendra. The only daughter of the late King and Queen left behind two
children. Kumar Gorakh is the first of four survivors to go abroad for
treatment; Queen Komal is among the survivors.
The Royal Palace
has issued a statement denying King Gyanendra and the Queen are travelling
abroad in the near future. Some newspapers reported the King was going
abroad for medical treatment. King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya were killed
in the carnage.
nepalnews.com dr/br July 18
Cordon around Maoists being reinforced
On the fifth day of a search and rescue mission, additional reinforcements were sent to Rolpa and adjoining hill districts Tuesday
to strengthen a cordon around Maoists holding 71 captured policemen hostages in the remote mountains, an official announcement said.
As heavy monsoon rains battered the area 650 kms northwest of the capital making air deployment of troops impossible, soldiers were rushed
there overland. The aim of the operation around Nuwa village in the district is to
free the hostages and recover captured weapons.
No casualties were reported as the stand-off between the insurgents and the regular forces continued. Maoists captured the policemen during a raid at a outpost killing
two others Thursday.
Troops have been deployed in four additional districts of Dolakha, Dailekh, Surkhet and Dang to contain a communist insurgency that entered
its sixth year February killing more than 1,700 persons, an announcement said Tuesday.
Soldiers were previously deployed in seven of the kingdom's 75 administrative districts following dramatic rebel attacks and killings
of policemen at outposts beginning September last year. Except Dolakha in east Nepal, the three additional districts
where soldiers were deployed borders Rolpa.
Independent reports of ground realities are not available as local officials sent back a group of reporters Monday from entering the area. A human rights group trying has rushed to the insurgency affected
area to negotiate a settlement and prevent a confrontation. This is the first time that soldiers have pursued rebels to what the
Maoists call their base areas where their writ runs large.
Rebels in the ruling Nepali Congress party intensified their demands this week calling for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's resignation
even as his government attempted to disarm the rebels and free the hostages. Government said there are no casualties in the military operation
despite reports of several dozen casualties in the first day of operation Thursday.
Thirty soldiers were injured when a van overturned in the outskirts of the capital Tuesday as they were driving to a shooting range for a
practice session, an announcement said. nepalnews.com br July 17
Nepal's
population increasing
The kingdom today
is the world's 44th most populous nation and in the year 2050 will leap to
the 35th position. With a population of 23.46 million, Nepal now ranks
behind Iraq with 23.58 million and ahead of Malaysia with 22.65 million
people.
By the year 2025,
the Himalayan state will jump to 39th position in world rankings with a
population of 37 million ahead of Spain with 36.7 million people and below
Poland with a population of 38.6 million. The figures were released this
month by the Washington, D.C. based Population Reference Bureau.
An estimated 0.3
percent of all Nepalis are infected with HIV/AIDS compared to 0.1 percent in
Pakistan and 0.7 percent in India, the report said. Nepali life expectancy
at birth is 58 years. Among 180 nation states, Nepal has an area of 56,826
square miles with a population density
of 413 to the square mile.
Nepal's gross
national income (GNI) per capita is $190 but the GNI per capita adjusted for
purchasing power parity (PPP) is $1,280. US $190 in Nepal would buy
purchases worth $1,280 in the United States. nepalnews.com br July 17
Nepal,
India to discuss relaxing passport regulations
Nepali and Indian
home secretaries will discuss the problematic issue of identifying children
for air travel between the two countries later this year.
For the first time
in October last year, the two South Asian states introduced mandatory
identification papers for air passengers flying between the two countries,
some travel trade circles say the move has adversely affected Indian tourist
arrivals in Nepal.
"I hope that
when the two home secretaries meet in the coming days they will be able to
come to some kind of an arrangement about this problem. I think, and what I
have been able to gather since these regulations came into force last
October, that it may have had some effect. Particularly this is a
disadvantage when it comes to young children who obviously do not have voter
identity cards and who in many cases do not have passports. So it is a
problem there," Indian Ambassador Deb Mukharki told the Nepal Travel
Trade Reporter in its latest issue.
For the first time
in recent memory, Indian arrivals tumbled by 72 percent in June after the
royal palace carnage on the first day of the month. The Indian envoy
defended the questionable coverage of the event by the Indian media,
especially electronic. "Well, I think it is possible the
Indian media could be more sensitive at times. But I don't think we
should run away from one basic fact, that what the Indian media
reports, is essentially based on facts," Mukharji said in response to a
question.
People arrested in
India for alleged terrorist activities have confessed to their links in
Nepal, he said. "I mean a lot of people people who are arrested in
India for carrying out terrorist activities have informed on interrogation
that their controls are in Kathmandu. So all this, I think adds up and all I
can say as a friend of Nepal and as a well-wisher is that I hope there will
be no occasion or fewer occasions for the Indian media to be able to comment
on these negative factors." he said. nepalnews.com br July 17.
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