Ramechhap, Sindhuli without power

Ramechap and Sindhuli districts continue to be without electricity after the Maoists destroyed a 33KVa transmission line two weeks ago. 

A teacher from Sindhuli told Nepalnews: "It has been days since we have been in living complete darkness. Since the telephone doesn’t work we have to go neighbouring districts to make urgent phone calls." 

However, the Maoists have denied that they destroyed the power pylon. nepalnews.com pd Apr 14 04

Saudi Arab based Nepalis establish SANW

Nepalis living and working in Saudi Arabia have established an organization - “Saudi Arab and Nepalis Workers’ (SANW)”- with the aim of supporting and providing essential advice to the Saudi Arab based Nepalis, a press release issued by the organization said Tuesday.

Nilan Kumar Thechbu and Rajsesh Kumar Rana are designated as President and Vice President while while Ratna Maharjan, Nara Bahadur Thapa, Bhajulal Maharjan, Jiten Mao Subba, Chanda Shrestha, Jivan Shrestha, Tul Bahadur Shrestha are designated as Secretary, Joint-Secretary, Treasurer, Joint-Treasurer and members of the organization respectively. nepalnews.com pd Apr 14 04

Protests resume in Kathmandu

After a relative New Year lull, police and pro-democracy protesters resumed confrontations early morning Wednesday outside Kathmandu campuses. 

As the ‘anti-regression’ protests of the five-party alliance entered its 14th consecutive day, the student wings of various parties blocked roads and torched vehicles. There was a one-hour confrontation outside Tri-Chandra Campus in the heart of the city where five students were arrested. 

Clashes between students and riot police is also underway at Ratna Rajya Campus on Putalisadak and the Amrit Science Campus area. Students said a large number of protesters were arrested. At the Baneswor campus and Min Bhawan campus, students were chanting anti-king slogans.

A government vehicle was burnt by another group at 9:15 am inside the Tribhuvan University premises. nepalnews.com mr Apr 14 04

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Indian envoy meets Koirala

Indian Ambassador Shyam Sharan met Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence on Tuesday and urged reconciliation between the king and the five agitating parties.

Asked about the exact nature of the meeting by Nepalnews, NC spokesperson said: “To be honest, I do not know what they talked about, the details will be released at an appropriate date.”

In its Wednesday edition, the Kantipur, quoted a senior Congress source saying the king was ready to appoint any of the five party leaders as Prime Minister except NC’s Girija Prasad Koirala and UML’s Madhav Kumar Nepal. nepalnews.com pd Apr 14 04

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Two Nepalis Killed in Iraq  

Two ex-Gorkha British soldiers working as security guards in north Iraq died on Friday when their vehicle hit a landmine planted by the Iraqi insurgents, reports said Wednesday.

The Nepalis have been identified as Shiva Prasad Lawati and Ram Bahadur Gurung from Sunsari and Chitwan districts. They were reported to have been returning to their residence from work, reports added.

According to the Kantipur daily Wednesday, neither the Iraqi government and nor the Global Risk Strategies Hong Kong Limited, the company involved in sending ex-Gorkhas to Iraq , have informed the bereaved families about the incident. nepalnews.com pd Apr 14 04

Achham air raid 'retaliatory': Army

The army admitted that it carried out an air raid on a school in Achham on Monday, but said it was retaliating after Maoists fired on a helicopter.

"Security forces were compelled to launch the aerial attack on a gathering of people at Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School at Binayak VDC in Achham after the rebels opened fire at the helicopter from the ground," The Kathmandu Post quoted security sources as saying.

The helicopter was flying back to its base after taking election materials to Doti, Dadeldhura and Bajura districts when the Maoists targeted it from the school premises, the report said.

Four people were reported killed and 15 wounded in the attack, but a government official in Mangalsen said the exact figures would be known on Wednesday. nepalnews.com mr Apr 14 04

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Deuba to ‘resolve Maoist problem in 6 months’

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed on Tuesday that he would resolve the Maoist problem in six months, provided, the King reinstates his government sacked on October 4, 2002.

“The King committed a blunder when he sacked my government,” Deuba, who is also the President of Nepali Congress (Democratic), said. 

Deuba said the King should immediately take back the royal proclamation of October 4. “Otherwise, the nation will plunge into severe crisis.”

He further claimed that the security situation of the country has worsened compared to his tenure two years ago. “During my tenure, there were 3500 police posts outside district headquarters, which has now been reduced to 200.” This situation, Deuba said, shows the deteriorating security condition of the country.

Urging the King for reconciliation with the parties, Deuba said the King should leave the “greed” for power. “The King should hand over the power to the parties,” he said.

Former PM Deuba was speaking at a welcome program organized by the Free Student Union of Bishwo Bhasa Campus on New Year day.

Deuba and his party have not joined the five parties movement and are protesting the royal move of October 4 in a self-styled way. 

NC (D) last week decided to launch series of “anti-regressive” protests from Saturday. nepalnews.com mr Apr 13 04 

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Police arrest hundreds of anti-regression protestors

Hundreds of ‘anti-regression’ demonstrators have been arrested from different places of Kathmandu Valley on the 13th day of the protests of five political parties on Tuesday. 

Violating prohibitory orders, rallies were taken out from different parts of the city from early in the morning.  Although no violent confrontations were reported, police have apprehended hundreds of leaders and cadres from Ratnapark, Bagbazaar and Sundhara areas. 

A number of women leaders including CPN-UML leaders Sahana Pradhan, Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Astha Laxmi Shakya and Nepali Congress leader Lila Koirala are among the arrested. 

Meanwhile, various professional organizations joined in the five-party protests today. Some 50 doctors and similar number of academicians and other professionals who took to streets have also been arrested.  

Unlike previous days, traffic was not blocked around Ratnapark area. nepalnews.com mbk April 13 04

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KLO seeks 'working relationship' with Nepali Maoists

A faction of Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a rebel group in West Bengal, India, has sought a "working relationship" with Nepal's Maoist insurgents, reports said Tuesday.

Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper said this based on the revelations by a top Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya who is now in Indian custody.

Vaidya, according to the report published on Monday, told the police that the small bunch of KLO sought such relationship with them "to help each other." Vaidya further said that his party "largely depended" on guerrilla organisations of similar nature for access to virgin territories, the daily added.

KLO, fighting for a separate state in India, suffered huge losses a few months ago, when the Bhutanese army launched massive attacks in its hideouts in southern Bhutan.

The daily, quoting Border Security Force (BSF) of India, further said that the KLO militants wanted such relationship to revive their organisation, the backbone of which was almost broken in the Bhutanese Army's offensive.

"We have information that the KLO is seeking the Maoist guerrillas' assistance to reassert themselves ahead of the (Indian) general elections," the daily quoted BSF Deputy Inspector-General Sukhinder Singh Sandhu, as saying.

"In view of the perceived threats, we have increased vigil along sensitive stretches of the Indo-Bangla border," he said.

It may be recalled that some ex-Maoist commanders who surrendered to the security forces a few months ago, had admitted that the Maoist guerrillas were being trained by Indian militants such as Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and People's War Group (PWG). nepalnews.com mr Apr 13 04

Four killed in Achham air raid

At least four people were killed Monday afternoon in an air raid launched by the security forces in Binayak region of Achham district, a report said Tuesday.

According to The Kathmandu Post, the people were participating in a cultural program at a local high school when security forces launched aerial bombings. 

The two killed in the bombings are identified as Prabhunath Jaisi and Netra Kathayat while the other two are not yet identified. Jaisi was a teacher in the local high school, the report added.

Local security forces, however, claimed that they launched the attack only after they witnessed armed activities being carried out in the school premises. nepalnews.com pd Apr 13 04

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