Teacher flees home

Principal of a school in Baitadi fled his home with his family after death threats posted at public places for allegedly spying against rebels, a published report said.

Krishna Datta Pant, principal of Durga Secondary School at Maharudra village in Baitadi, fled his home Tuesday. The family is camping at district headquarters.

Pant said rebels looted property worth Rs.500,000 and forced the family out of the village. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

Nepal to ask India to extradite Gajurel

Nepal will soon ask India to extradite Maoist leader Chandra Prakash Gajurel, arrested in Chennai, a published report said Monday quoting government sources.

According to a news report in Nepal Samacharpatra, Nepal will take initiative for Gajurel's extradition, when the Indian authorities finish legal procedures related to Gajurel.

Indian human rights organisations, on the other hand, are pressuring their government not to extradite Gajurel back to Nepal. Maoists have also forwarded a letter to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee asking him not to extradite Gajurel to the Nepal government.

Meanwhile, Gajurel has admitted of traveling on a fake British passport in front of judges, the newspaper said. Gajurel is now in judicial custody ordered by a local court in Tamil Nadu, India. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

NC (D) activist killed in Lalitpur

Maoists Sunday evening shot dead Rajesh KC, activist of Nepali Congress (Democratic) in Bungmati, Lalitpur, published reports said.

KC's murder was second in capital after a junior officer of the National Investigation Department was shot dead in Bhaktapur on the same day Sunday. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

JICA to change its form

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has decided to change its form to Independent Administrative Institution (IAI) by next month, a published report said Monday.

"The change in its structure is in accordance to Japan's administrative reform plan," The Rising Nepal quoted Eitaro Mitoma, JICA Resident Representative in Nepal, as saying.

JICA, in its new form comes with the slogan "For a better tomorrow for all". The IAI will enjoy full authority to operate its programs independently in the country, according to Mitoma.

"Under the new changes, JICA will pay close attention to grass-roots cooperation and public participation, peace building assistance, cost performance and efficiency, transparency, accountability, quick decision making and visibility," Mitoma said.

JICA has been a leading development partner since last 25 years, the newspaper said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

Hitler's gift to be put on display

A car gifted by Adolf Hitler to Late King Tribhuvan will be put on display at a museum at Hanumandhoka after repairs, Nepal Samacharpatra said.

"We have brought the car here from the Thapathali Engineering Campus and it will be put on display after repairs," the newspaper said quoting an unidentified official of the Royal Palace.

The car is a Mercedes Benz. It was manufactured in 1939 and was gifted to the King in 1940. The Royal Palace took custody of the car last month from the Engineering Campus where lay abandoned for years.

The Palace is looking for technicians to repair it. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

Man electrocutes sons

A 30-year-old man electrocuted himself and his two sons Saturday near Bharatpur, RSS said.

Udaya Bhandari of Ratanpur took his sons-- six year old Ujjwal and seven-month-old Umesh to a place some 15 meters from their house and connected himself and his sons to a live wire there. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

Manandhar leader of left front

General Secretary of the CPN-United Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar will takeover as president of the United Left Front from October 4, the Front said.

Manandhar will take over from C. P. Mainali. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

Couple injured

A couple foraging in Arupokhari in Gorkha was injured in a gunfire, RSS said.

The incident occurred Saturday at 5.30 in the evening. Security sources said the couple might have been injured in cross-firing between government troops and Maoists.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Gorkha hospital. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

Nepal to play S. Africa in World Cup

Sixteen nations are likely to participate in next year's International Cricket Council under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, AFP said quoting the Sports Ministry in Dhaka.

The teams-10 test playing nations and six ICC associate members- are expected to arrive in the capital Dhaka by Feb. 9, the Ministry said in a statement. Play is set for Feb. 10 to Mar. 5. Australia is current title holder.

South Africa, England, Nepal and runner-up of the Africa/Europe group will share pool B and play in the southern port city of Chittagong. nepalnews.com br Sept.29

King wants to meet Maoists: Rayamajhi

Former chief of the Raj Parishad standing committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi said Sunday the King wants to meet Maoist leaders to resolve all feuds.

"Maoists are also Nepalis," Dr. Rayamajhi said in a program Sunday. "So His Majesty is keen to meet them and solve the problem." 

"His Majesty started showing interest to meet the Maoists, when the rebels urged the King for audience and dialogue," he said. According to Dr. Rayamajhi, the King will take the initiative to meet Maoist leaders after Dashain. "Maoists' final objective is to hold dialogue with the King," he said. 

Dr. Rayamajhi was addressing a symposium on "Honours to Elders and Peace: Today's Necessity" organised by Patan Chapter of The Reiyukai Nepal. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

Maoists to adopt aggressive strategy

Maoists are shifting to the phase of "aggressive strategy" from the present position of "strategic balance," Nepal Samacharpatra reported Monday quoting Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

"The change in Maoist strategy is mentioned in a letter sent to John Noris, who is special adviser of the chairman of International Crisis Group (ICG)," Nepal Samacharpatra said. The same letter was also sent to Nepal Samacharpatra by Dr. Bhattarai," the newspaper said.

Fielding queries of Noris, Dr. Bhattarai has expressed commitments towards multiparty democracy. The shift in the rebels' strategy is, however, conditional, according to the news report. "We will go for aggressive strategy if the establishment side fails to reach an understanding through dialogue," Dr. Bhattarai said.

Replying to a question as to when the dialogue will be held, the Maoist leader said, "It depends upon the attitude of the king, royal army and foreigners." 

The ICG studies global conflict cases and is set to open its office in Kathmandu. The agency has already published a lengthy report on Nepal, the newspaper added. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

Nepal-India extradition talks from Oct. 7

Nepal and India will hold the second round of joint-secretary level talks in New Delhi from October 7 to 9, chiefly aiming at replacing the five-decade-old bilateral Extradition Treaty, published reports said Monday.

The reports, quoting Foreign Ministry officials, said the new treaty will incorporate provisions of extradition in new types of crimes like terrorism, economic and cyber crimes, among others. The meeting will also try to finalise the "Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters."

"Officials, expressing anonymity, said the Indian proposal to extradite third country citizens to India is the main obstacle in reaching an agreement," The Rising Nepal said. "Sources say that the second round would mainly focus on the issue." nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

Action against Indian rebels

The Indian army has taken action against communist rebels who it believes have been training Nepali Maoist guerrillas in two eastern Indian states, AP reported from New Delhi quoting a newspaper report Sunday.

"The defence ministry has evidence that Nepali Maoists are receiving arms and this information has been passed on to the home ministry," The Tribune newspaper quoted India's Defence Minister George Fernandes as saying.

Action has been initiated on this front, Fernandes said in a speech at a defence seminar in the northern city of Chandigarh.

"The newspaper report did not specify what sort of action the army had taken. There was no immediate comment from the Indian Defence Ministry," AP said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

Film on elephants tops documentary festival

The fourth South Asian documentary festival, Film South Asia ' 03, concluded Sunday, declaring "18th Elephant-3 Monologues" as the best documentary of the festival.

The film directed by Kerala-based Indian Director P. Balan has depicted the plight of elephant in both its wild and domesticated states, The Rising Nepal said. 

"The film portrays how human's 'mercenary' attitude brings death and wreaks havoc on the lives and habitats of other species."

The film powerfully presents the gruesome encroachment of humans on the lives and habitat of elephants resulting in the extinction of 250 among 252 species of elephants, The Kathmandu Post said.

Two films from Bangladesh, "Tale of the Darkest Night" by Kawsar Chaudhary and "Sand and Water" by Shaheen Dill-Riaz won the runner-up and first runner-up prizes. 

"The Fire within" by another Indian director Buru Sengal got the grand jury prize. Nepal's "Bhedako uun jasto" by Kiran K. Shrestha received a special mention prize. nepalnews.com mr Sept 29

CP Paras attends reception

Crown Prince Paras Saturday attended a welcome reception organised in his honour in Cologne, Germany, Radio Nepal said Sunday.

German Chapter of Mahendra Nature Conservation Trust hosted the reception. Heads of European Chapters of the Trust also attended the reception. Crown Prince Paras is the chairman of the Trust.

He also chaired a meeting of the heads of the Trust's European Chapters on Sunday, the report said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28