Govt. to meet refugee activists

Prior to the Nepal-Bhutan talks due to take place in Thimpu soon, the government has decided to meet and ask the Bhutanese refugee activists for suggestions on the refugee imbroglio, a published report said Thursday.

"We are meeting refugee activists this week on their request," Kantipur daily quoted Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya as saying. Meanwhile, reports from Jhapa said an eight-member refugee delegation has left for Kathmandu Wednesday.

Bhutanese democratic leader and human rights activist Teknath Rijal is also expected to participate in the delegation, the daily said. nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

Parties' protest on October 22

The five parliamentarian parties, which have been launching "anti-regressive" movement, have finalised October 22 as the date for the next protests in Kathmandu and across the country, reports said Thursday.

"Party leaders finalised the date for the next protest in a meeting of the Joint Movement Coordination Committee Wednesday," the reports said. "The protest program will mainly be a special mass meeting and sloganeering against the royal move of October 4, 2002," party sources said.

The parties, however, have not termed the October 22 protest as the ninth phase of movement. "The protest is being launched to keep party workers active before Tihar. The ninth phase of movement will be launched only after Tihar," party sources said. nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

Ranabhat to help convene National Assembly

Following National Assembly members' joint request, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat said Wednesday he will try, to the extent possible, to call the meeting of the Upper House soon, published reports said Thursday.

"Speaker Ranabhat expressed such commitments during a meeting with a 15-member delegation of Upper House members Wednesday," Spacetime daily said. "The Speaker has further urged the lawmakers to come again on Thursday and to hold discussions in detail," the daily quoted ex-member of parliament Ram Jivan Singh, as saying.

The discussion was held at the Speaker's office inside Singha Durbar. nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

Judiciary upgrading plan in pipeline

The ongoing conference of judges Wednesday decided to draw up a five-year plan to enhance the faith of people in judicial institutions by solving its existing problems, a published report said Thursday.

The Supreme Court will prepare the plan based on a complete report to be made within three months, The Kathmandu Post said, adding, the plan is said to be the first of its kind in Nepal.

The meet has also decided to form a management committee headed by the Supreme Court justice Govinda Bahadur Shrestha to prepare a report for the plan.

Justice Kedar Prasad Giri, Appellate Court judges Baidhya Nath Upadhyay and Kalyan Shrestha are the members of the committee with Shree Prasad Pandit, registrar of the apex court, as the member secretary, the daily said. nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

Govt. mulls tight security in Terai

The two-day high-level security meet concluded Wednesday with an agreement to formulate strategies for restructuring security arrangements and re-deploy troops along the east-west highway and Terai belt, a published report said Thursday.

"Such a security arrangement has been planned to ensure a safe Terai by controlling the spread of Maoists there," The Himalayan Times quoted a participant of the meeting, as saying.

"The meeting also discussed how to tackle the existing pros and cons and identified there was a need for coordination between the security bodies - the Royal Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police and other government bodies - to quell the Maoist insurgency."

"Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, in his concluding remark in the meeting, also briefed security forces on security matters," the daily said. "The PM told the security forces to coordinate according to the concept of the unified command." nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

Sub-inspector shot in Koteshwor (7:40 AM)

Suspected Maoists have shot sub-inspector of police Saroj Poudel, who was working for the National Investigation Department, at around 7 in the morning Thursday at Koteshwor in Kathmandu, police and eyewitnesses said.

The incident took place near the residence of Poudel at Mahadevsthan locality, when he was returning  after playing badminton, sources said.

Poudel, who sustained two bullets in his neck and abdomen, is now undergoing treatment at B&B Hospital, police said. Hospital sources said he is in critical condition. nepalnews.com mr/rr Oct 16

Bhote Koshi hydel resumes production

The Bhote Koshi Hydroelectric Plant has resumed production from Tuesday evening under reinforced security, a published report said Thursday quoting Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) sources.

"The plant resumed its operation after security was stepped up in and around the power station," The Kathmandu Post said. "Electricity from the plant was fed into the central electricity transmission line at 6 p.m. on Tuesday."

The Bhote Koshi Power Company, the plant operator, had shut down the 36-megawatt plant last Sunday citing security threats.

Dr. Sandip Shah, the general manager of BKPC, declined to specify security arrangements, but he did not deny the helicopter patrolling, the daily said. "The army will take care of all security arrangements," according to Dr. Shah. nepalnews.com mr Oct 16

35 Maoists killed

Security forces killed 35 Maoists, including some women militia, in operations Wednesday in three districts in far west Nepal and "completely destroyed" a rebel training center in Accham located at Sordsa, Radio Nepal said quoting security sources. 

Twenty-five insurgents were killed in the raid in Accham, the radio said. But another radio report put the death toll in Accham at 31. Most of the Maoists returned to Accham after an attack on Kusum in Banke
Friday, the radio said. 

Seven Maoists, including three women, were killed in hot pursuit at Hasipur jungle in Dang Wednesday after they attacked an armed police training center at Bhalubang in the same district Sunday, Radio Nepal said. The dead included some women militia and many others are feared dead or injured. 

Three insurgents, including a woman, were also killed in Salyan. There were two casualties on the government side in Accham, Radio Nepal said. 

Security forces have recovered huge quantities of arms, ammunition and bombs in the three encounters. nepalnews.com br Oct.15

NRN headquarters to be set up in Nepal

A sideline meeting of the Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs), held after the formal concluding ceremony on Tuesday, decided to set up NRNs' permanent headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal, organisers of the NRNs' conference said in a press meet Wednesday. 

As informed in the press meet, "NRN Association" will be formed soon and the NRNs' conference will be organised every two years. The sideline meeting also constituted a 29-member international coordination committee under the leadership of Upendra Mahato (Byelorussia). 

Dr. Shyam Dhoj Karki (USA) and Dr. Devkaji Dangol (Gulf region) are the vice presidents of the committee. Likewise, Bhim Udas (from international organisation), Chiranjibi Dhakal (UK) and Devmani Hirachan (Japan) are the international coordinator, joint coordinator and treasurer of the committee. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, member of National Planning Commission said Nepal has expected more than Rs.2 billion in investment from the NRNs in the initial years. 

"We expect around 25 billion rupees investment from the NRNs in the long run," Dr. Khatiwada said. nepalnews.com mr Oct 15

China reopens Rasuwagadhi customs

China has reopened Rasuwagadhi customs point, which borders with Nepal, from Friday. The route was shut down following the break out of SARS disease in mainland China and Hong Kong, reports said Wednesday. 

China had banned international and Nepali tourists from entering its territory through the point. The decision to close Rasuwagadhi route had affected Nepali traders bringing commodities from Kerung, Tibet. 

Locals of Rasuwa district, who used to depend upon low price goods exported from Tibet, suffered a lot during the 8-month long ban in the route, reports said. nepalnews.com mr Oct 15 

Hearing on Joshi's case continues

The court hearing on Govinda Raj Joshi and two ex-government secretaries continued in the Special Court Wednesday, as the court could not come to a conclusion due to time limitation.

The CIAA produced Joshi and two ex-government secretaries Padam Prasad Pokhrel and Chakra Bandhu Aryal demanding one-month's judicial remand for them. 

CIAA arrested them suspecting corruption. Joshi, joint secretary of Nepali Congress, held ministerial posts several times in the past 12 years. nepalnews.com mr Oct 15

Two policemen shot and injured in Mohottari

Two policemen were seriously injured Wednesday when Maoists shot at them at Rangopal in Mohottari, Radio Nepal said. 

They have been evacuated to Kathmandu for medical treatment. nepalnews.com br Oct.14

NHRC says it's "serious attention" drawn

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Wednesday its "serious attention" has been drawn to an encounter in Doti Monday when four school students were killed and five others were injured at a
school in the district in a shoot-out between government forces and Maoists, a statement said. 

Nine rebels died in the shoot-out there with the Army. The NHRC investigating team is going Thursday to Nepalgunj where the injured students are recovering. nepalnews.com br Oct.15

15 Maoists killed

Fifteen Maoists were killed in fresh encounters with security forces in seven districts, the Defence Ministry said Wednesday.

One soldier died in a clash in Jhapa, the Ministry said. Four rebels were killed in Salyan and two in Morang, the Ministry added. nepalnews.com br Oct.15

Maoists torch house of Prativa Rana

Maoists torched a two-storied house of RPP leader Prativa Rana in Bardia Tuesday night, Radio Nepal said.

Rebels decamped with money and goods, the Radio said. Mrs. Rana is the mother-in-law of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. nepalnews.com br Oct.15