Dr Thapa rules out third-party mediation in the peace process 

Foreign Minister Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa Friday ruled out the need for third-party mediation in resolving the Maoist problem, saying internal efforts would be sufficient. 

Thapa told this while talking to reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival from the 60th assembly of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. 

“We haven’t called in any foreign party to mediate as yet. In fact, there is no need for international mediation in the peace process with the Maoists,” he explained. 

He reasoned that international mediation would not be a good choice as Nepal stands between two powerful nations. 

Thapa claimed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Union have assured of assistance in resolving the Bhutanese refugee problem. While in Geneva, he met UNHCR head Rudd Lubbers and EU representatives in Brussels. 

“Both the UNHCR and the EU have expressed satisfaction over Nepal’s efforts in resolving the refugee problem and have assured to carry on with the assistance,” said Thapa. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Agitating parties announce bandh in Valley on Saturday 

The five agitating political parties have announced general strikes in Kathmandu Valley on Saturday to protest the police clampdown on the anti-regression demonstration on Friday. A meeting of the five parties this evening took the decision. 

As per the decision, rallies will be organized at various parts of the city beginning early in the morning and a joint rally will be held at 4pm from Ratnapark. 

Parties have said police used excessive force to disrupt the peaceful agitations in which over hundred central leaders and activists were injured. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Related News
- Five-party protests turn riotous, dozens injured

Their Majesties felicitated in Gulmi, Parbat and Arghakhachi

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal were felicitated in Gulmi, Parbat and Arghakhachi districts amid public gatherings. 

The King and the Queen were welcomed by a large number of ordinary citizens this afternoon in Tamghas, the headquarters of Gulmi district. Chairman of District Development Committee of Gulmi Bharat Bahadur Chand presented a felicitation note to the royals on behalf of the people of the district.

During the occasion, the King held direct communication with the citizens and took stock of their concerns.

Likewise, Their Majesties were felicitated in Parbat’s Kusma Bazaar and Sandhikharka of Arghakhachi this afternoon. On the occasion, various organizations had presented felicitation notes to the royals, reports said. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Related News
- Their Majesties' civic felicitation in Lamjung, Manang, Syangja 
- Their Majesties felicitated in Pokhara

Five-party protests turn riotous, dozens injured

Over two dozens protesters of five political parties, including senior leaders, have been injured when they clashed with the police in the capital on Friday afternoon.

Police started baton charges to disperse the agitators as they tried to move to the restricted areas. In turn, the protestors who were in thousands pelted stones and bricks at the police.  Several rounds of teargas shells and water canons were used to drive away the raging crowd.

Over a dozen leaders including Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, Ram Saran Mahat, UML’s Bharat Mohan Adhikari and Ram Chandra Jha, vice-chairman of People’s Front Nepal’s Lilamani Pokhrel and few others were seriously injured in police action.

The injured have been admitted to Bir Hospital. Among the injured, Ram Chandra Jha is said to be critical condition.

Irate protestors torched two government motorcycles near Ratnapark at around 3pm. They chanted anti-King slogans even as the leaders asked them not to do so.

Meanwhile, publishing press statements separately, the central secretariats of the Nepali Congress and the UML have condemned the police action against ‘peaceful’ protests.

Five political parties launched fresh movement from Thursday to protest what they call regression. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Related News
- Five parties protest in Kathmandu

Int’l rights groups ask govt. to act on its commitment

Two prominent international human rights groups Friday asked the Nepal government to turn its recommitment expressed recently on human rights into deeds. 

Issuing separate press statements today, Amnesty International (AI) and the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that concrete actions are still lacking when it comes to implementing the commitments. The rights watchdogs suggested that verbal commitments alone are not sufficient to ensure human rights in the country.

Stating that similar commitments have been expressed by past governments but without actions, the Amnesty pointed out the need to set up a proper mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in the country as well as the implementation process.

'”The government must act towards establishing a free and impartial monitoring committee as early as possible to implement its recommitment' Amnesty said in its statement.

Similarly, the Asia Division of the HRW issued a press statement today, asking the government to make effective the functioning of the National Human Rights Commission so as to safeguard human rights.

The HRW has also asked Nepal’s major donors of military assistance such as the United States, Britain and India to caution Nepalese government to abide by international humanitarian laws. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Related News
- UN Rights Commissioner welcomes Nepal’s recommitment

India urged to seal border points to curb Maoist infiltration

Following a spate of arrests of Maoist leaders, Indian police have advised their central government to seal the major border points so as to curb Maoist infiltration. 

A Nepal Samacharpatra report Friday said the Indian police have concluded that the Maoists have been choreographing their activities in Nepal from Indian soil. 

“There are Nepali-speaking people with similar faces on both sides of the border. That is creating problems in identifying who is a Maoist and who is not,” a report quoted Additional Commissioner of Police of Darjeeling district as saying. 

He informed that New Delhi has already been asked to seal major Nepal-India border points in West Bengal.

He believed that few more Maoist leaders could be hiding in Siliguri but there are problems in rounding them up with no proof of their presence and identification problems.

Speaking at a press conference in Siliguri following the arrest of Maoist leader Mohan Baidhya, Rajiv Mishra, superintendent of police of Darjeeling district conceded that militant leaders are found to have been masterminding attacks in Nepal from Siliguri. To curb Maoist infiltration into India, open borders must be sealed,” said Mishra. nepalnews.com mbk April 2 04

Related News
- Maoist leader Baidhya arrested in India 

Tenth SAF Games to be held in Colombo

The executive committee meeting of South Asian Federation (SAF) Games Thursday decided to hold the 10th edition of the games in Colombo, Sri-Lanka in 2005, reports from Rawalpindi said. 

However, the official announcement regarding the decision will be made only during the closing ceremony, reports said. The meeting is said to have decided to include 19 disciplines in the Colombo Games.

“We made a general acceptance regarding the inclusion of judo and archery and its up to the organizers to suggest two more games on their own choice,” The Katmandu Post quoted Syed Arif Hasan, Chairman of the 9th South Asian Games as saying to the reporters. 

Pakistan has included squash and rowing on their own choice during the current SAF Games while Nepal had introduced karate and Taekwondo during the 8th SAF Games in Kathmandu. 
nepalnews.com pd Apr 02 04

Maoist abduction results in exodus

With the Maoists intensifying their abduction campaign, hundreds of youths in Rupandehi district have started fleeing their villages to neighboring Indian towns, Spacetime Dainik reported Friday. 

Reports said over 500 youths have  already moved to India. Yet, the number of people leaving their places, especially in Sundi, Bangai, Mahadei and Ashuraina VDCs, is on rise.

“We are compelled to leave our places we fear Maoist abductions. They may force us to join their army,” the youths told journalists.

Dhurba Prasad sharma, Chief District Officer of Rupandehi however denied any information on the problem of displacement in the area. “The local administration is fully capable of providing security to the people,” he said.  nepalnews.com pd Apr 02 04

Related News
- Maoists abduct over 1000 in Bajura

Nepal-China border to be regulated by 2006

The first session of the third joint inspection boundary meeting on Nepal-China border was held in Beijing with both sides agreeing to maintain and regulate the bordering pillars along the Nepal-China border, various dailies reported Friday. 

Moreover, both sides agreed to carryout the third joint inspection of the boundary and to form a joint inspection committee by 2005, it is reported.

According to the reports, five to eight inspection teams will be constituted and the field work will be completed by 2006, the Nepali team said after arriving in Nepal from China on Thursday.

The Nepali team was led by Hira Bahadur Thapa, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with representatives from the Home, Defence, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries. The Royal Nepalese Embassy in Beijing also participated in the boarder inspection meeting.

Director General, Law and Treaty Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China led the Chinese team. The third Nepal-China Joint Border Inspection meeting took place March 25, 26 in Beijing.  nepalnews.com pd Apr 02 04

Related News
- Nepal-China border meeting to begin  

Rijal ends hunger strike on Govt. assurance

Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rijal Thursday evening called off his fast-unto-death on the third day of protest following the government’s assurance of its support to resolve the refugee impasse.

The government assured Rijal of its support to his demand for internationalizing verification and dignified repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and involving the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Human Rights Council of Bhutan in the process.

Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reading the written commitment, assured Rijal the government will continue its efforts for seeking the assistance of India and UNHCR to settle the issue.

Rijal called off his fast-unto-death in the presence of NC president Girija Prasad Koirala, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal at 7.30 pm Thursday. Koirala and Nepal offered fruit juice for ending his fast.

 “The government's commitment seems ambiguous...but I understand it will involve UNHCR and Human Rights Council of Bhutan in the verification and repatriation of refugees,” The Kathmandu post quoted Rijal as saying after hearing of the government's assurance from Spokesperson Madan Kumar Bhattarai.

 “If I am cheated again, I will return to this place as a fast-unto-death is the ultimate means to resolve the problems of over 1,50,000 refugees, ” he added.

Rijal, who was imprisoned for over 11 years in Bhutan, is currently suffering from various diseases of diabetes, asthma and has kidney problems. nepalnews.com pd Apr 02 04 

Related News
- Rijal begins fast-unto-death