Dozens of party activists arrested

Police Wednesday afternoon dispersed the five agitating parties' gathering at the Ratnapark area, arresting dozens of party activists who protested the prohibitory order and the October 4 incident, various reports said. 

According to student leaders, Congress activist Tirtharam Dangol, UML activist Basanta Nembang and many more other activists were arrested. Police picked them up in van and lorries and took them to Mahendra Police Club, reports said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

UML circular to party members

CPN-UML Wednesday issued circular to its members strictly directing them not to sit in the all-party committee proposed by the government to run the local bodies.

The circular was issued during a special meeting of the former representatives of the local bodies of Kathmandu Valley Wednesday. UML called the meeting following government's initiative to lure UML and other party activists, especially former representatives of the local bodies, to sit in the proposed committee.

The election of local bodies - municipalities, village development committees and district development committees - has not been held for the last two years. Among all parties, UML had more than 50 percent political representation in the expired local bodies. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

Refugee women facing abuse

Bhutanese refugee women in Nepal encounter gender-based violence, abuses and systematic discrimination in access to aid, Human Rights Watch, a New York-based INGO, said in a press statement Wednesday. 

Quoting a 77-page report titled "Trapped by Inequality: Bhutanese Refugee Women in Nepal," the agency said those problems persist despite the reforms UNHCR introduced after its internal investigation uncovered 'sexual exploitation' of refugee women and girls by aid workers in Nepal and West Africa in 2002.

"Refugee women in Nepal are not getting their fair share of aid," said the statement. "UNHCR cannot wait any longer to fix policies that put women's lives at risk. The government of Nepal also has to respond to this urgent problem."

The organization has further urged the UNHCR and governments meeting in Geneva next week to take "decisive action" to eliminate such abuses in refugee settings worldwide.

"Nepal's system of refugee registration discriminates against women by distributing rations through male heads of household," the statement said. "This policy denies women equal and independent access to food, shelter and supplies, and imposes particular hardship on women trying to escape abusive marriages."

"Either these women must stay in violent relationships, leave their relationships (and thus relinquish their full share of aid packages), or marry another man, in which case they lose legal custody of their children."

After reports of "sexual exploitation" by refugee aid workers in 2002, UNHCR removed three international staffers in Nepal on grounds of gross negligence. "UNHCR should promote transparency and set a standard of accountability for its staff and partners by providing information on the disciplinary measures it has taken."

UNHCR and donors should also increase pressure on Nepal and Bhutan to resolve their longstanding refugee situation in a manner that is timely and meets international standards, the statement added. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

Crown Prince Germany bound

Crown Prince Paras left for Berlin Wednesday to address a meeting of the Asian Pacific Forum. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and heads of constitutional bodies saw him off at the airport.

The Prince, who is Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, will attend a meeting of the German chapter of the Trust. He is expected to return on October 1st. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

Geywali, Tiwari appointed

Krishna Geywali has been appointed Chairman of the Karmarchari Sanchaya Kosh for a three-year term, an official announcement said. He is joint secretary at the Finance Ministry.

Krishna Babu Tiwari has been appointed chairman of the Rashtriya Beema Sansthan for a one-year term. He is also joint secretary at the Finance Ministry. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

Nepal, Bhutan match washed out

Rain washed out the opening match between Nepal and Bhutan in the three-nation emerging nation's cricket tournament.

Both teams collected two points each. Maldives in also participating in the tournament. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

India welcomes decision

The Indian Embassy Tuesday hailed the decision of the Nepali government to allow the import of Indian vehicles on the basis of self-certification of emission norms although an official intimation is still awaited.

The Embassy said this would end discriminatory regulatory regime in existence in the statue books of Nepal against Indian vehicle manufacturers until now. 

Since 2000 June the facility of self-certification of vehicle emission norms has been given to Japanese and South Korean manufacturers of motor vehicles being imported into Nepal, the Embassy said. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

Shrestha, Giri, Sharma appointed

His Majesty's Government has appointed Surendra Bahadur Shrestha, Dr. Banira Giri and Hari Sharma members of the governing body of the B. P. Koirala Nepal-India Foundation, RSS said.

Earlier, Uddhav Dev Bhatta, Suresh Raj Sharma and Kamal Mani Dixit were the members of the Foundation. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

SC issues show cause notices

The Supreme Court Tuesday issued show cause notices to the government, including the Home and Defence Ministries, as to why journalists Shubba Shanker Kandel and Krishna KC have been arrested.

The notices were issued after writs filed by the families of the journalists at the court seeking their whereabouts. Family said security personnel arrested them earlier this month in the capital. nepalnews.com br Sept.24 

Rains kill 275

Rains have killed 275 persons and seriously injured 95 others in 59 of the nation's 75 districts, relief workers said.

Altogether 6,853 families have been affected by this year's natural disasters. nepalnews.com br Sept.24

Court finds Charles Sobraj file

The Kathmandu District Court finally managed to find a 28-year-old file under which the police can now try a murder case against infamous ex-criminal Charles Sobraj, court officials said Wednesday.

Police filed the case in 1976 against Sobraj. The old charge sheet has indicted Sobraj of murdering two tourists, one US and one Canadian national in 1975. Due to the missing file, the Department of Immigration was preparing to file a minor case of holding dual passport against Sobraj, only for the sake of "face-saving".

Talking to reporters earlier, Sobraj said this was his first trip to Nepal and he did not commit any crime here. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

King in dilemma: Koirala

Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said Tuesday the King himself is confused as to what should be the proper solution to the present deadlock.

"His Majesty himself is confused," Koirala said addressing a symposium of five parties Tuesday. "But this is not the proper time to be quiet," he said. "Specially His Majesty should not remain quiet. No one will benefit, if this situation continues."

Drawing parallel between democracy and monarchy, he said, "Strengthening democracy means strengthening monarchy. It is high time that the King and the parties unite." nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

Five parties' protest today

The five agitating parties are set to launch a protest at Ratnapark area Wednesday afternoon, chiefly aiming at defying the government prohibition on mass rallies, assembly and speeches.

According to parties, the protest is being held under the 8th phase of the anti-King protests. The government had announced prohibitory orders in the Valley visibly aiming at disrupting the five parties' 7th phase of movement. The order has been extended until Friday again to disrupt the five parties' 8th phase of protests, political analysts said. 

Five parties have been demanding Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa's resignation and formation of an all-party national government under their leadership. The new government will then recommend restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives, according to the five parties' agenda. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

Another bombing at Raj Parishad member's house

Maoists blasted the house of Raj Parishad Standing Committee member Parsuram Rai in Nerpa VDC of Khotang Monday night, a published report said Wednesday.

First they detonated bombs, then set ablaze the house," The Himalayan Times reported, quoting police sources at the Regional Police Office, Biratnagar.

In two separate incidents earlier, Maoists bombed Raj Parishad member Parsu Narayan Chaudhari's house in Dang and Ganga Prasad Subedi's house in Surkhet.

Raj Parisad is an Advisory Council to the King. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24

RNA soldiers jailed for extortion

The army court has sentenced four Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers to two to three years in jail for extortion in Nepalgunj last year, a published report said Wednesday.

"The soldiers were found guilty of extortion by brandishing their weapons," The Himalayan Times said, quoting Brigadier General B. A. Kumar Sharma, who is also the chief of RNA human rights cell.

"A sergeant and three soldiers were involved in extortion and among them one has been sentenced to three years jail and other three to two years," he said. "The soldiers were even found by the army to have blank fired during the extortion," he added. nepalnews.com mr Sept 24