Five Nepalis held in Singapore

Five Nepalis were arrested in Singapore while attempting to enter the country via Malaysia, agencies reported Saturday.

The Singapore coast guard caught the five Nepalis when they were swimming across a local sea in tyre tubes, the reports said.

The incident occurred last Saturday. Lawsuits have been filed against them last week, the reports said, adding that the penalty in such crimes is six months' sentence and three whiplashes. nepalnews.com mr Apr 24 04

24th day of ‘anti-regression’ agitation sees scores of arrests

The five agitating political parties continued their protests against 'regression' for the 24th consecutive day. 

Though the security officials were relatively tolerant towards the agitators, they still arrested hundreds of demonstrators. 

The rally started from New Road at 3pm. Police intervened when the rally arrived near Bir Hospital and arrested dozens of leaders and cadres including UML leaders KP Oli and Bidhya Bhandari and Nepali Congress leaders Khum Bahadur Khadka and Devendra Raj Kandel. Anti-monarchy slogans were heard as in other days. 

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) staged a separate rally from Gongabu which marched past Bhedasingh, Thamel and concluded at Ratnapark. 

On the way, protestors led by general secretary Bijaya Gachhedar confronted police personnel that subsequently resulted in arrests. nepalnews.com mbk April 24 04

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Journalists, doctors stage protest rallies

Demanding an end to the attack on press freedom, journalists took out a rally in the capital Saturday afternoon. 

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) organized a rally which started from Media Village, Sina Mangal and passed through various places and concluded at Shahid Gate.  

The federation announced a new phase of protest programs today after an ultimatum given to the government for a public apology from the prime minister for persecution against journalists and resignation of Kamal Thapa, the minister for Information and Home.

Human rights activists and various professional groups also joined in the FNJ rally. Addressing the gathering at Shaid Gate, FNJ chairman Tara Nath Dahal said protests would continue until the PM publicly apologizes and the minister in question steps down. Other speakers also condemned the government for trying to intimidate journalists.

Meanwhile, hundreds of doctors and nurses staged demonstrations in the capital in support of the ongoing movement against ‘regression’. Apron-clad doctors and nurses marched past city streets displaying banners and pamphlets. 

Police intervened in the rally at Bagbazaar in which few demonstrators were reportedly hurt. nepalnews.com mbk April 24 04

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Two killed, 20 injured in bus accident

Two children were killed and 20 passengers were injured when a Pokhara-bound bus collided with a truck in Kharchhuiya, Saptari on Saturday morning, reports said.

The dead have been identified as 11-year-old Rakki Shah and seven-year-old Sunny Shah. They were the daughter and son of Ram Narayan Shah, a resident of Siraha.

The injured were rushed to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan. The ill-fated bus had left Biratnagar early in the morning. nepalnews.com mr Apr 24

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Rato Machhindranath chariot festival begins

The chariot procession of the Rato Machhindranath deity started on Friday with the pulling of the chariot from Pulchowk through Sribaha to Gabaha in Lalitpur.

According to RSS, with the chariot having reached its first stop at Gabaha, the local people will observe Bhu Ya: on Saturday.

The chariot will then be pulled onwards to other traditional stops in the ancient city of Lalitpur where the local people observe the festival in turn.

The chariot procession culminates at Jawalakhel where the traditional Bhoto Jatra takes place on an auspicious date determined by astrologers. After the Bhoto Jatra, the deity is taken in procession to the temple in Bungamati, RSS added.

Also known as Avalokiteshora and Karunama, the deity of rain and prosperity will reside there till it is time to return to the temple at Tabaha in Lalitpur for another cycle of the annual festival, which is the longest in the Kingdom. nepalnews.com mr Apr 24 04

Bangladesh TV launched in Nepal

Minister for Information and Communications Kamal Thapa on Friday launched BTV (Bangladesh Television) world transmission at a function at the Bangladeshi Embassy in Kathmandu.

On the occasion, Minister Thapa said the television broadcasting agencies of both the countries can learn a great deal through the exchange of programs between them.

Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, M Humayun Kabir said BTV world would be able to sensitise the people of Nepal through its programs. nepalnews.com mr Apr 24 04

Nepal to gift gharial crocodiles to Bhutan

Nepal will gift two rare species of crocodiles - the gharials, to neighbor Bhutan amidst a formal ceremony on Sunday, reports said Saturday.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation will hand over the two gharials to Bhutanese authorities on Sunday, the published report said.

The two gharials, both babies, were born at the Gharial Breeding Centre at Kasara in Royal Chitwan National Park. 

Gharial is considered the beautiful species of crocodiles, which has a very long, pointed and narrow snout, and are distinctly different from other ordinary species of crocodiles. nepalnews.com mr Apr 23 04

Prohibitory order lifted from Lalitpur

The government said Friday it has withdrawn the prohibitory order banning the assembly of five or above in Lalitpur.

The Home Ministry announced the withdrawal of the order issuing a statement on Friday. The order was effective in areas inside the ring road of Lalitpur district.

The Ministry, however, said the order will still be effective in areas inside the ring road of Kathmandu district.

The government launched the prohibitory orders to quell the parliamentary parties' growing pro-democracy protests. nepalnews.com mr Apr 23 04

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US for all-party govt. in Nepal: Rocca

The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Affairs, Christina B Rocca has said that an all-party government is "urgently" needed to restore democracy in Nepal.

"The palace and the parties must unify - urgently - under an all-party government as the first step to restoring democracy and presenting a unified front against the terrorist insurgents," Rocca said. 

She said this while delivering a lecture on US-South Asia relations at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia in the US on Wednesday.

This is the first time that the US has categorically extended support to the formation of an all-party government. Earlier, the US asked the King and the parties to reach an understanding to deal with the Maoist insurgency.

Nepal's agitating parties have been demanding an all-party government under their leadership to end the present feud between the palace and the parties. 

The King, without the parties' consent appointed the incumbent Thapa government, thus widening the palace-party rift. 

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the United States' State Department, Richard Boucher has said the US is for the restoration of multiparty democracy in Nepal. 

"The US strongly supports restoration of a multi-party democracy in Nepal through the electoral process," Boucher said in a statement issued from Washington DC, the US capital, on Thursday.

He further said "Nepal's leaders, the King and its politicians, need to set aside their differences and work together."

On Maoist problem, Boucher, said it should be resolved through peaceful means.

"Since they broke a ceasefire last August, the Maoists have caused severe hardship to the people of Nepal," he said. "There can be no military resolution of this conflict. Legitimate grievances of Nepalis must be resolved through peaceful, political means."

"We have designated the Maoists under an Executive Order, blocking any Maoists assets in the US or held by US persons, wherever located, barring US citizens from transactions or dealings with the Maoists." nepalnews.com mr Apr 23 04 

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Rana urges parties for dialogue with King

The chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher Rana urged the five agitating parties to hold dialogue with the King to resolve all feuds.

Addressing a gathering of RPP activists at its office at Naxal, Kathmandu, Rana said the parties' protest and Maoist activities may lead the nation towards anarchy.

"The best solution to address the current political impasse could be the formation of an all-party government," Rana reiterated. On RPP's official viewpoint on the present crisis, Rana said the 1990 Constitution should be the meeting point of all forces. 

Rana, who met the King on Thursday, further said the King is serious on holding elections by 2061 B.S. "For this, parties should come to a consensus with the King."

He also flayed the government's assault on journalists covering protest news and said free press is a part of modern society. nepalnews.com mr Apr 23 04

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