Nepali 'asylum seeker' commits suicide in Belgium

Prem Prasad Subedi, 32, a Nepali asylum seeker, has reportedly committed suicide in Gent of Belgium on December 8, a statement posted in the Maoists' website said Wednesday.

Subedi was a resident of Myagdi in Nepal, said the statement posted by a pro-Maoist organisation named "Nepalese People's Progressive Forum, Belgium."

"We, such people, who are unable to resist in the country have been declining to Europe and elsewhere seeking asylum," the statement said. 

"While our pleas are rejected, that forces us either to be forced by the authority to go to the country or we have to leave voluntarily. In any conditions, our life is in danger," it said.

The statement said Subedi's case was dismissed and was either forced to return to Nepal or was forced by the Authority to leave the country. 

Subedi, who had a son, two daughters and a wife, was an activist of the Forum, the statement said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

KP Bhattarai calls upon King for 'power handover'

Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, in a rare public appearance on Wednesday, said, the King "can solve" and "should solve" the current political problem. "Power handover will resolve all feuds."

"The King can give an outlet to the current political crisis," Bhattarai told journalists after participating in a function organized to felicitate him and a leftist leader Mohan Chandra Adhikari Wednesday.

Elaborating his stance, ailing Bhattarai said, "King has accumulated more than necessary power. He should give up power for the sake of parties."

But, if the King delivers a decision, which is, this way or other, in the favor of parties, the parties must accept it, he said.

"If the King is still reluctant to hand over power, parties should continue agitation," Bhattarai said extending moral support to the five parties "anti-regressive" movement.

The five parties movement, Bhattarai said, must be "strong". There is no option to the ongoing movement, he said. 

On the question of "militarisation", Bhattarai counter-questioned, "Where is militarisation? I don't see it!"

Earlier, addressing the function organized by Human Rights and Peace Academy to felicitate him, Bhattarai expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing incidents of human rights violations both from the state and the Maoists. Nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

PM: Don't even think about my resignation 

When asked about his resignation by reporters present at the Police Training Academy at Maharajgunj, the PM said that he could not even think about it.

PM Thapa said this after addressing a graduation ceremony of police officers held at the Police Training Academy at Maharajgunj.

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said that the formation of the Unified Command was the need of the day, Radio Nepal said. PM Thapa said that his Council of Ministers will soon be diversified. He also declared that the dates of elections to the local bodies will soon be declared. nepalnews.com rbk Dec. 10

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Truck accident in Lalitpur leaves three dead 

A truck accident at Lakuri Bhanjyang of Lalitpur district has left three men dead and one seriously injured, radio reports said. 

The accident occurred when a truck traveling from Lakuri Bhanjyang of Lalitpur District lost control and fell into a deep gorge 100 meters below. The driver and two other passengers died on the spot while one has been seriously injured.  

Police said that the incident took place when the truck traveling to Lamataar had a brake failure. One man escaped the accident unhurt as he jumped off the truck. nepalnews.com rbk Dec. 10

TU part-time teachers stage protests 

Due to protests staged by the TU Part-time Teachers’ Association demanding better payment, morning classes could not be run in a number of colleges in Kathmandu valley Wednesday. 

Responding to the strike call, campuses including Nepal Commerce Campus, Shankar Dev, Saraswoti, Mahendra Ratna Campus halted their morning classes.  

Over 2500 part-time teachers working at various TU-alleviated colleges have been staging frequent protests for months, complaining that what they are paid is a pittance. They have been saying that the part-time teachers should be subject to the facilities commensurate with permanent teachers.  

The TU part-timers have said they will be surrounding ("gheraoing") the office of the vice-chancellor on Wednesday afternoon. nepalnews.com mk Dec 10 

PM Thapa to visit Bangladesh on 17th December 

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is scheduled to head for Bangladesh and then to Maldives on December 17, reports Wednesday said. 

The PM will pay a customary visit to these countries as the chairing head of SAARC. He had recently completed a whirlwind tour to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. 

Thapa will land in Bangladesh on 17th December where he will stay for two days and then will head for Maldives on December 19 and will be back home on 21st. nepalnews.com mk Dec 10 

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RPP row persists; party renews demand of PM’s resignation

The intra-party row that is plaguing the ruling Rastriya Prajatantra Party seemed nowhere near end when majority of central committee members Wednesday renewed the demand of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s resignation from his post. 

In Wednesday’s central committee meeting, pro-establishment leaders insisted on the PM’s resignation whereas Thapa sympathizers opposed the idea, sources said. Some leaders also suggested party chairman Pashupatu SJB Rana kick out minister Kamal Thapa from the post of general secretary on grounds of his recent remarks against the party guidelines.

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa opted out of the meeting. Thapa’s close aides Finance Minister Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani and minister Buddhiman Tamang were present during the meeting to stand by his side. nepalnews.com mk Dec 10 

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Five parties take to streets to flay human rights violations

On the occasion of 55th International Human Rights Day, five agitating political parties Wednesday took to streets to flay the widespread human rights violations taking place across the country. 

Attended by top leaders, a rally comprising of cadres of the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, United People’s Front and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) marched through the streets of the city. 

While the parties condemned the breach of civil liberties by both the government as well as the Maoist militants, they also made it a point to drum up their voices against what they called regression. They chanted slogans against active monarchy. The protestors called on the warring sides to respect citizens’ right to life. 

The protest rally proceeded from Ratnapark passing thorough Bagbazaar, Putali Sadak, Bhadrakali, New Road, Ason and ended at Ratnaark. 

Meanwhile, in a separate program, human rights activists staged a daylong fast at Ranapark to condemn human rights violations. Calling on the government and the insurrectionists to end atrocities against innocent civilians, the protestors blocked traffic at Ratnapark for some time. 

The program was organized by Human Rights and Peace Society, a human rights group. nepalnews.com mk Dec 10

Maoists free 200 students

Maoist militants on Tuesday freed 200 students and 12 teachers whom they had abducted three weeks ago from Nandeshwori Secondary School in Sodasha VDC and another school in Babala VDC in Achham, published reports Wednesday said. 

Reports quoting locals sources said the Maoists have freed them after a function organized at a school in Ramroshan VDC, Achham. Dozens of schools remain still shut following the abduction of students and teachers. 

During three weeks, reports said the rebels forced them to take part in their programs in their strongholds in the interiors of Achham and nearby districts and also made them to join special classes wherein ‘communist education’ is given. nepalnews.com mk Dec 10

Minor explosion in Nepalgunj

A group of 2-3 Maoists Tuesday evening detonated bombs at a motorcycle showroom in the western city of Nepalgunj, partially destroying its shutter, Kathmandu-based security sources confirmed Wednesday.

No one is reported to have been injured in the incident, the sources said, adding, motorcycles kept at the showroom had only minor damages. The Maoists fled the scene immediately after the incident took place at 9:30 p.m. 

The showroom was located near the local Education Office at Surkhet Road, Nepalgunj, the sources said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

Vajpayee's message to PM Thapa on SAARC Summit 

Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee in a message sent to the current chairman of the SAARC, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, has said, India will "co-operate" with all member countries to realise the goals of SAARC, the online edition of "Sun Network" reported from New Delhi Tuesday. 

The Indian PM's letter was forwarded on the occasion of 19th anniversary of the signing of the SAARC charter, the Network said.

The Indian PM further said his country is committed to development, economic cooperation and the transformation of South Asia into a region of progress and prosperity, according to the Network report.

Meanwhile, in the run up to the SAARC summit, the Pakistan government has set aside 100 million Pakistani rupees for security arrangements, the report said. 

"Pakistan's Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said the arrangements include close circuit cameras, police and paramilitary personnel," the report said.

"The Islamabad police will be provided 10 million rupees and the capital development authority will get 15 million rupees for beautification and renovation works."

Pakistan is hosting the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad from January 4-6 next month. nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

Foundation stone laid

Indian envoy to Nepal Shyam Saran laid the foundation stone of a classroom block, a boys' hostel and a girls' hostel of the Rajeshwori Nidhi Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Nagarain, Dhanusha amid a function held in Dhanusha, a statement from the Indian Embassy said Tuesday.

On the occasion, the envoy informed that India would be initiating a project worth Rs. 40.6 million to develop the southern border areas of Nepal. nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

PM's office finally accepts RPP letter

The Prime Minister's Office has finally accepted the RPP Central Disciplinary Committee letter seeking clarifications from PM Surya Bahadur Thapa for defying party orders, the Kathmandu Post said Wednesday.

The fresh missive, which includes a letter sent back by the PM's office with a refusal note last week has sought clarification for rejecting the party letter and asked PM Thapa to furnish his justifications for defying the party order to step down, the daily said.

Party chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana has called the party's central committee meeting on Wednesday to thrash out future strategies, according to the daily.

"The principle of one person, one post is likely to be adopted in the meeting," the daily said, quoting party sources.

Meanwhile, PM Thapa has invited all central committee members for a reception on the occasion of Human Rights Day on Wednesday, the daily said.

"This will be the first occasion when the PM will come face to face with the members who are demanding his resignation." nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

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Power deal signed

The Power Trading Corporation of India and Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation of Australia have entered into the Power Purchase Agreement concerning the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project, a published report said Wednesday.

According to the deal, the power will be sold to the Indian company at the rate of Rs.3.60, which is cheaper than the rate agreed to in the case of the Bhote Koshi Project, the daily said.

The agreement signed between the Nepal government and the Australian company allows the latter to trade power for the next 30 years, which will be followed by the transfer of project to the government "on where is as is basis", the daily said.

"The project straddling the districts of Doti, Achham and Bajhang in some way or the other will see commencement of the civil works by the end of this year."

In fact, the construction will commence once the Central Electricity Authority of India given the final clearance to the project." nepalnews.com mr Dec 10

Maoists set ablaze passenger bus

Maoists set fire to a passenger bus carrying pilgrims from Lumbini to Trishuli in Nuwakot Tuesday afternoon, reports said.

They bus plated Ba 1 Kha 7381 belonged to Saghu Transport. No one was reported to have injured in the incident. nepalnews.com mr Dec 10