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Human Rights Report 2000 denounces insurgency violence

Kathmandu, 3 March: The Human Rights Reports 2000 released last month by the US State Department in Washington says both the Nepal Police and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) committed excessive violence during the year 2000 in the ongoing insurgency.

“The Government continued to commit human rights abuses in its efforts to combat the insurgency. Some of the deaths have been extra judicial killings. The police committed numerous human rights abuses,” the report read. “Maoists were responsible for numerous abuses. Although their activities were focused on the police, the Maoists continued to kill, injure and kidnap civilians as well. During the year, the Maoists increased the scope of their campaign, frequently committing tortures, killings, bombings, and other abuses.” Statistics indicate that more police than Maoists were killed during the year, pointing to a marked increase in the firepower and aggressiveness of the insurgency. The report also added “The army, which traditionally is loyal to the King, has sought to limit its domestic security role in responding to the Maoist insurgency.”

The 13 page report said Maoists executed policemen, captured children, intimidated, tortured and meted out degrading treatment to prisoners while police illegally detained some suspected Maoists and held them incommunicado.}

The section on Press Freedom also accused the media of calling for the “persecution of the nephew of the monarch who allegedly killed a popular local singer in a hit-and-run incident. This is the first time the local media has confronted a member of the royal family. ”Nepalnews.com/br/at

Taliban decision to destruct Buddhist shrines condemned

Kathmandu, 3 March: Nepal has condemned the ruling Taliban decision to destroy and demolish ancient Buddhist shrines in Afghanistan, including the tallest Buddha statue in the world.  The main opposition Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist Leninist) called it “A whimsical decision,” while reminding the Islamic rulers that the images are “The statues of the leader of peace are genuinely important for the world and they should not be demolished at any cost.”

His Majesty’s Government has already condemned the move by Kabul to destroy the monuments some of which date back to the second and fifth centuries AD when Buddhism prevailed in the then Afghanistan.

The Sherpa community has also joined in the condemnation calling the Afghan decision tragic. “This tragic decision has hurt over a billion Buddhists and it will evoke communal riots and other protests,” Nepal Sherpa Association (NSA) said in a statement issued on behalf of the renowned mountain climbing tribe of the world.

The All Nepal Monks Federation also condemned the Taliban move. “It is a duty of all to protect world heritage sites,” the Federation said while the Hindu Swayam Sewak Sangh, Nepal, said the move will fuel inter religious feud.  Nepalnews.com/br/at

Media head welcomes license renewal

Kathmandu, 3 March: Vice chairman of Spacetime Network P Ltd Zamin Shah welcomed a government decision Friday to renew a license to start the satellite television transmission for the first time in Nepal either in the private or public sector. The permit was cancelled by the then Communications Minister Jayaprakash Gupta in December under controversial circumstance at the peak of communal riots in the capital.

“The decision is very positive and important,” Shah said in the Saturday edition of daily newspaper Spacetime Dainik. “I welcome the decision in the interest of Nepal and Nepalis.”

Shah had vowed to challenge Gupta's action in court as it was preparing to begin satellite transmissions after import of equipment worth several million rupees lying at the Birgunj customs office. The license was cancelled on a technicality. No announcement was made on when the satellite television transmissions to 52 countries would begin. Nepali televisions stations will have international reach after going satellite. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Maoists injure NC activist

Kathmandu, March 3: Maoists shot and severely injured Mahesh Yadav a Nepali Congress activist at Mattiawun village in Rautahat district Friday. Yadav, 20, was shot in the stomach and neck and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Birgunj. In another incident two persons, including a policeman, were injured at Imadol Lalitpur district Thursday when a booby trap went off. In Itahari district in east Nepal, insurgents torched a school building after snapping off the telephone lines to isolate the premises Friday, police said. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Cambodian parliamentary delegation to visit Nepal

Kathmandu, 3 March: Chairman of the National Assembly Prince Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh of Kampuchea will arrive in Kathmandu heading an eight-member parliamentary goodwill delegation, an announcement said. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat will host the Kampuchean delegation on its visit to Nepal. The visitors will observe the proceedings of Nepal’s lower chamber Wednesday and return home the same day after visiting Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Nepalnews.com/br/at

ADB to lend $306 million to Nepal

Kathmandu, 3 March: Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lend Nepal another $306 million through 12 loans between 2002-2004 for poverty alleviation programmes, an announcement said. An additional $4.8 million annual technical assistance has been pledged for 21 projects for the period. The Nepal government and an ADB country-programming mission agreed on the new fund Friday after a field study. The partnership agreement will be formalised in an agreement in May.

"The objective of the ADB’s new country strategy programme is to achieve a sustainable reduction in poverty through generation of productive employment opportunities, human resources development and good governance," ADB Country Representative Richard Vokes told a news conference. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Fifth National Games from 6-16 May:

Kathmandu, 2 March: Altogether 1425 athletes will participate in the Fifth National Games in the capital from 6-16 May. Seven teams-five regional teams and one each from the army and police will participate in the contest held once every two years, Minister of State for Education Dhilendra Prasad Bhadu told a news conference Thursday. All 14 disciplines in the SAF Games have been included in the national contest. "The national games will prepare our athletes for the South Asian
games," a sports official said. The 14 disciplines included in the games are: athletics, boxing,
taekwando, men's karate, football, weightlifting, men's volleyball, women's volleyball, table tennis,
swimming, wrestling, badminton, squash and shooting. 

Nepal again hopes to dominate martial arts in the 9th SAF Games to be held in Islamabad. Nepal won more then 30 gold medals in the last SAF Games held in Kathmandu in September 1998.
Nepalnews.com/br/at 

House adjourned again

Kathmandu, March 2:  The opposition parties demanding resignation of Prime Minister Girija
Prasad Koirala again disrupted proceedings of the House of Representatives, Lower House of Parliament Friday. 

Soon after the beginning of today's meeting of the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers started chanting slogans standing in front of Speaker's seat. 

This forced the Speaker to adjourn the House. Opposition parties except Nepal Sadbhavana Party have continued to disrupt the meetings of parliament right from the beginning of the 19th
session. The 19th session of Parliament began on February 8. Earlier in the morning, an all-party meeting was held in the chamber of Speaker Taranath Ranabhat in order to find an amicable solution to the crisis because of continued disruption of the proceedings of the House.

Opposition leaders and lawmakers stuck to their demand of Prime Minister's resignation to solve the crisis. However, ruling party leaders and lawmakers asked the opposition to solve the issue through
dialogue and allow the proceedings of parliament. The meeting concluded with no concrete decision and solution. However, those present in the meeting agreed to continue their discussion for the
resolution of the problem.

Defence Minister and leader of Nepali Congress Mahesh Acharya said after the meeting that the achievement of the meeting was that both ruling and opposition leaders have agreed to meet and discuss the issue. It is the first time that leaders of ruling and opposition parties have come face to face to discuss the issue since the crisis in parliament began. 

Opposition parties take to street to oust Prime Minister 

Kathmandu, March 2: Five opposition parties including main opposition CPN-UML, which had
been disrupting proceedings of parliament, took to streets from Friday to oust Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Opposition parties held a joint mass meeting in Kathmandu today in which
leaders of CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, United People's Front, National People's Front and Nepal Majdoor and Kisan Party vowed to continue their movement both inside and outside of parliament until Prime Minister Koirala steps down.

They accused the Council of Ministers of being involved in the controversial Lauda Air deal and demanded resignation of Prime Minister Koirala to pave the way for an independent investigation into the deal. In the mass meeting, opposition leader and general secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Nepal said that deal with Lauda Air was against the parliamentary procedures and existing laws and held Koirala responsible for it. He said that if Koirala expresses his ignorance about the deal, he is
simply incapable to run the country and government. " Thus, he should immediately quit".
Surya Bahadur Thapa, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, said that opposition parties do not want to go to power but simply want to remove the present government that is not capable to handle the present problems of the country.

Other leaders also lambasted the government and asked Koirala to immediately step down in order to give an outlet of the present crisis in the country. The government owned Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC) reached an agreement with Austrian Lauda Air to lease a jet aircraft for 18 months.

Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, sensing financial irregularities, immediately started investigation into the deal and instructed the government and RNAC not to implement the deal until the inquiry is over. However, RNAC implemented the deal and brought the aircraft, which opposition parties have described contempt of parliament.

UNHCR Involvement in Refugee Verification Process Sought

Kathmandu, March 2: To ensure fairness, four INGO's have pressed for third party involvement of the UNHCR in the joint verification of Bhutanese refugees by Nepal and Bhutan  in camps in east Nepal next week a decade after their displacement from homes in southern Bhutan to ascertain their nationality to return home, sources said.

Human Rights Watch,  Lutheran World Federation, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and  Refugees International,  having Consultative Status with the United Nations and  Bhutanese Refugee Support Group submitted a number of recommendations on verification in letters to Nepali Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola and Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Thinley recently.

Nepal and Bhutan have agreed to establish the headquarters of the verification teams in Damak in Jhapa district.

"... the extremely complex questions of nationality and statelessness arising from this refugee situation, have led to fears that many refugees who were  arbitrarily stripped of their nationality prior to their expulsion may be denied their legitimate right to return to Bhutan," a statement said.

The statement said there is not independent appeal process right now to adjudicate differences or shortcomings.

The INGOs asked Nepal and Bhutan to rethink their earlier decision not to formally involve UNHCR in the verification process.

"This not only will give the process more credibility but it will ensure that the verification and repatriation conform to international standards," the statement said." The UNHCR could serve as a referral point in the event of any disagreement or difficulty that arises during the verification."
The statement said refugees should be given an opportunity to be accompanied to verification interviews by a family member or a representative of a non governmental organization and an independent appeal mechanism to deal with contested decisions should be established to ensure transparency and fairness.

In a breakthrough, Nepal and Bhutan for the first time agreed to begin the verification process last December at a ministerial meeting. nepalnews.com br

Hoteliers warn of loss of millions

Kathmandu, 2 March: Hoteliers warned both the government and hotel workers that the tourism industry and the country could lose millions of rupees every day if unionists go on with their threatened strike. In a statement issued today, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) said that if the hotel workers, who have already announced their strike from 13 March go on strike, the loss for the country and the tourism industry would be heavy and irreparable. HAN said that the tourism industry would lose more than 55 million rupees every day and the government would lose over five million rupees as revenue daily if hotels are closed because of the strike of hotel employers. The hotel owner’s body also requested both the government and the employees not to create such an atmosphere and think more rationally.

Hotel worker’s unions have demanded a ten per cent service charge and have announced that they would go on strike from 13 March if their demands were not met. However, hoteliers have said that this is unaffordable for them. In a statement, HAN has said that the additional ten per cent service charge would add further burden to already overcharged clients. Moreover, this would spread to other sectors as well which would create a big financial burden to the nation and the people. Hotel workers have vowed not to take back their demands.

As row between hoteliers and workers continued forcing the closure of the hotel for one day three months ago, the government formed a team headed by vice chairman of National Planning Commission Prithivi Raj Ligal to recommend necessary measures for the solution of the problem within two months. As the time frame of the team was already over, hotel workers again announced their protest programme in order to fulfil their demands. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

CRTV to help Radio Nepal upgrade and expand

Kathmandu, 2 March: China Radio and Television International (CRTV) will help Radio Nepal extend its coverage network by constructing a relay station and training technical personnel, an announcement said. The site of the relay station was not mentioned. Visiting General Manager of CRTV Economic and Technical Co-operation Xian Li and Executive Director General of Radio Nepal Shailendra Raj Sharma signed a bilateral co-operation agreement Thursday. The CRTV team arrived earlier this month at the invitation of Nepal’s state radio. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Ban on sale of meat and fish

Kathmandu, 2 March: The local administration banned the import and sale of meat and fish from east India in parts of adjoining Nepal effective Friday as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of an unknown disease that has claimed more than 30 lives in Siliguri, West Bengal, local officials said. The ban has been imposed in Biratnagar following such curbs in Bhadrapur. Meat and fish imports have been banned at customs entry points in east Nepal including Kakarvitta and Jogbani, reports said.

Indian patients from bordering areas have been rushing to Biratnagar for medical treatment after the closure of some hospitals in Siliguri following a general panic when some medical workers died in the disease outbreak this month.

The disease has not been identified as yet but one radio report said it could be Japanese encephalitis. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Newari dictionary to receive Japanese award

Kathmandu, 2 March: The Nikki Asia Prize will be awarded to "A Dictionary of Classical Newari" on 6 June in Tokyo, the Nepal Bhasa Dictionary Committee said. The award instituted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun carries a purse of three million Japanese yen. The dictionary is in Roman script and has 30,942 Newari words and is reportedly the first of its kind in the Newari language. Nepalnews.com/br/at