10,000 pounds payment to ex-Gurkhas

Gurkha soldiers who fought for Britain in the Second World War and were held captive by the Japanese will be eligible for a payment of 10,000 pounds,  a press release by the British Embassy said Thursday.

The British High Court ruled last year that Gurkhas should be included in the payment scheme for ex-prisoners of war, and the Defence Ministry confirmed the sum, which can be claimed if they meet the eligibility.

A team from the UK's Ministry of Defence will be established in Kathmandu by the end of February 2004, the release said. A website www.fepow.mod.uk is available for potential claimants to register their claim. 

In response to the news, the British Ambassador HE Mr. Keith Bloomfield said, " I am delighted with this decision which I know will be welcomed by many of our ex-servicemen here in Nepal. It is another illustration of the high regard in which both the Government and the people of the UK hold the Gurkha soldier." nepalnews.com mr/dr Nov 6

Blast outside Crown Prince's palace

Suspected Maoists planted two bombs Wednesday outside Nirmal Niwas, the residence of Crown Prince Paras, published reports said.

One bomb exploded and a second was defused outside the sprawling palace compound but there was no significant damage. No one was injured.

Troops sealed off the area around the palace, where the Crown Prince lives with his wife Crown Princess Himani and their three young children. nepalnews.com mr Nov 6

Polls can be held in a year: Minister Thapa

Minister for Information and Communications Kamal Thapa said Wednesday polls can be held in a year, provided the agitating parties extend help to the government.

"It is not merely a drama, the government is capable of holding elections," Minister Thapa said in a program Wednesday. "If the polls cannot be be held in a year, we will quit in a minute."

"If the five parties can show the government a 'formula' to solve the Maoist problem, we are ready to step down right now," the minister said.

On the controversial unified command, he said, parties have been protesting it without knowing the real facts. "Unified command is not militarisation, the parties must understand it," he said. nepalnews.com mr Nov 6

Home Ministry officials out of danger

Two Home Ministry officials who sustained gunshot wounds in the legs are out of danger at Bir Hospital, Hospital sources said.

They were injured Wednesday in a suspected Maoist attack in the heart of the city. Fresh reports said three masked men shot at them. 

Altogether 14 pistol shells have been recovered from the attack site. Rebels have been attacking government intelligence officials in the Valley in urban guerrilla attacks to make their presence felt in the
city. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

Registrar, Rector of MSU appointed

The King as Chancellor of the Mahendra Sanskrit University has appointed Min Mani Dhungana registrar of the University, an official announcement said. 

The King appointed Narayan Kumar Acharya rector. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

RBB robbers found: Police

The robbers of Bishalbazar branch of Rastriya Banijya Bank were none other but the bank guard and his two brothers, police disclosed in a press meet Wednesday.  

The bank robbery was a game plan of the guard Surya Nepal, police said. "He and his two brothers Kalyan Nepal and Suresh Nepal looted Rs.22 million from the bank." 

The guard, 43, is now in police custody, but his two brothers Kalyan, 34, and Suresh, 30, are still at large. Police, however, declined to give more information about the involvement of other persons in the robbery.  

"We are compelled not to disclose everything," said AIG Dr. Govinda Prasad Thapa. Dr. Thapa is chairing a high-level four-member investigation team formed on Tuesday. The incident took place on Sunday evening. nepalnews.com mr Nov 5

Maoist death threats in Solokhumbu

Nepali Congress (Democratic) said Wednesday Maoists have issued death threats against its leaders and other personalities in Solokhumbu district.

Senior party leader and former minister Bal Bahadur K.C. received the threats, the party said. The party said the threats were posted at various places in the district Tuesday. The party asked rebels to stop such terror campaigns. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

12 Maoists killed in fresh clashes

Twelve Maoists were killed in fresh clashes with government forces, the Defence Ministry said. Five rebels were killed in Siraha Tuesday, the Ministry said.

Security forces recovered arms, ammunition and explosives and defused bombs from various parts in the kingdom, the Ministry said. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

Ex-Gurkhas, British Defence Ministry to sit for talks

Retired British Gurkhas are soon sitting for a direct dialogue with the British Ministry of Defence between November 17 to 25 this month, GAESO said Wednesday. 

The dialogue follows an “official request” from the British ministry (dated October 16, 2003) to resolve the long standing issues through talks. 

“We have received an official letter from the British ministry inviting GAESO to sit for talks,” Gopal Shivakoti Chintan, legal advisor to Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO) said in a press meet Wednesday.

He said the letter was addressed to Phil Shiner, chief advocate of GAESO in Britain. “In the contents of the letter, the British ministry has asked GAESO to sit for positive talks.”

Padam Bahadur Gurung, GAESO chief said their struggle against discrimination to Gurkhas in British army will continue despite the talks. “We will never say ‘No’ for talks. But, our legal battle will also continue simultaneously,” Gurung said.

Foreign affairs expert Hiranya Lal Shrestha said the GAESO has collected much more evidence and documents, which are enough to justify the British government’s discriminatory attitude towards the Gurkhas. 

“With the discovery of new evidence, the British government is scared that it will lose almost all cases against Gurkhas, if they start filing cases. The talks proposal has come to settle the issue before it reaches the court,” Shrestha said.

The GAESO-related officials, however, declined to say as to what will be the course of the talks and negotiations with the British government. “We can’t disclose anything now,” they said.

They further said GAESO is also launching a worldwide demonstration and peaceful mass mobilisation, protesting the British government’s discriminatory rules against Gurkhas.

There are a total of 67 British laws and regulations that have discriminatory provision against Gurkhas, GAESO officials claimed. nepalnews.com mr Nov 5

Deepak Acharya leads Mercantile Classic Golf Tournament

Deepak Acharya is leading the tournament by 9 stokes going into the final round of the tournament at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, a press release said. 

Acharya, who shot 74 today, had a very bad start. He lost the first ball into the woods on the first hole and again lost another ball on the second hole due to pressure. He was five over after 5 holes but made a great come back by making birdies on holes 6, 7, 12, and 18. Deepak is 7 under par for three rounds.  

Radheshyam Thapa had a round of 74 today and he is 2 strokes ahead of Deepak Thapa Magar, who had disastrous round of 81 (9 over par). Radheshyam made birdies on holes 3, 7, 9,12 and 15 but dropped shots on holes 1, 5, 8, 14 and double bogeyed on the 13th hole costing him a lot. 

Deepak Thapa Magar played a very bad round and went down to third place. Thapa Magar had a very bad 11th hole where he made quadruple bogey. Ramesh Nagarkoti jumped up to fourth place shooting 73 today. 

The golf course was playing very tough with back tees and hard pin positions. The top scores are:

Deepak Acharya 66 + 69 + 74 = 209
Radhe Shyam Thapa 69 + 75 + 74 = 218
Deepak Thapa Magar 67 + 72 + 81 = 220
Ramesh Nagarkoti 71 + 79 + 73 = 223
Deepak Neupane 78 + 74 + 77 = 229
Pashupati Sharma 70 + 75 + 85 = 230

Click here for Day 2 story. nepalnews.com dr Nov 5

KMTNC-UNEP sign agreement

The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) have signed an agreement to develop KMTNC's Biodiversity Conservation Center (BCC) in Chitwan as a regional training center for biodiversity and sustainable development in Asia, an announcement said Wednesday. 

Arup Rajauria of KMTNC and Surendra Shrestha of UNEP signed the agreement. The agreement aims on embarking on joint projects on information management, documentation and knowledge base for harmonised reporting, project development covering various thematic areas and capacity building especially in areas of human resources development. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

Two officials injured in shooting

Two officials of the Home Ministry were injured in a shooting incident in the capital at Bhotahity Wednesday, eyewitnesses said. They were working with the Samarganj Company, a radio report said. 

They are undergoing treatment at nearby Bir Hospital. A group of about four persons opened fire injuring them, eyewitnesses and radio reports said. About 10 to 12 rounds were fired and the gunmen fled as the crowd panicked, eyewitnesses said. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

Shooting incident in Bhotahithy

There has been a shooting incident in Bhotahithy Wednesday afternoon, police control room told Nepalnews at 2.15pm.

"First reports over telephone said there were three or four rounds of firing. Police have reached the site. We will know only when shells are recovered," he said. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

First Sikh in APF promoted posthumously

Kaniya Singh Sardar, the first Sikh of the Armed Police Force (APF), has been promoted posthumously to Deputy Superintendent of Police, an official announcement said. 

Maoists shot dead inspector Singh six weeks ago in Nepalgunj. He joined the APF two years ago. The APF said the council of ministers posthumously promoted Singh. nepalnews.com br Nov.5

Supreme Court reinstates Pyakuryal

The Supreme Court Tuesday ordered the Social Welfare Council (SWC) to reinstate Jyoti Pyakural as its treasurer.

The Lokendra Bahadur Chand government dismissed her and nominated Pratiba Subedi instead. She challenged her dismissal at the apex court arguing she was nominated for four years. nepalnews.com br Nov.5