Nepal-Malaysia cultural, tourism promotion launched

The joint promotion of tourism between Nepal and Malaysia has announced a ‘dream holiday package’ to Malaysia.  

The 6-day holiday package, the first of its kind in Nepal, available at NRS 45,000 per individual, covers the airfare on Quarter Airways, accommodations and meals. “Given the existing rate of airfare to Kuala Lumpur, the package is not expensive,” Subodh Rana, MD of the Marcopolo Travels told media amid a press conference in the capital on Friday.

As part of the tourism promotional drive, Tourism Malaysia is organizing a Malaysian food and cultural promotion in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The event at the Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu runs from August 21 to 25. A similar event will be held at Fulbari resort in Pokhara on Aug 27 and 28. A cultural troupe has been brought from the Malaysian capital to perform the cultural dance program ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’. 

Mirza Mohammad, Deputy Director at the Tourism Malaysia, citing common features that the two countries shared said there was an immense scope of tourism promotion between Nepal and Malaysia.

He further informed that his country was the second biggest tourism destination in Asia after China. According to Mirza, Malaysia witnessed 13.3 million tourists visiting the country in 2002 which declined last year due to SARS and global war against terrorism.

Malaysian tourism which generates almost a US$6b annual turnover, allocates US$ 50m annually for tourism promotion. nepalnews.com pd Aug 22 04

Soldier killed, six policemen abducted in Maoist attack in Jumla

At least one soldier was killed and six policemen abducted by the Maoist rebels during their overnight offensive on Khalanga, the district headquarters of the remote, northern district of Jumla, latest reports said.

According to reports, hundreds of armed rebels clashed with security forces on Saturday and set fire on a number of government offices including the vacant building of District Police Office and Land Revenue Office. The rebels also attacked the district prison and reportedly freed six of their comrades.

The rebels withdrew after an army helicopter reached the area early Sunday but sounds of firing could be heard until Sunday morning, eyewitness reports said.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Keshav Prasad Baral, the rebels abducted six policemen after the fighting. Eleven other policemen who had gone missing have come back into contact, reports said. Chief of the Land Revenue Office and some other government employees are reportedly missing.

More details of the incident are still being awaited.

The rebels had also launched a massive assault on Jumla district headquarters some two years ago killing dozens of security personnel and torching almost all government offices in  Khalanga.  nepalnews.com by Aug 22

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Indian embassy clarifies on media reports

First Secretary at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Sanjay Verma, has clarified that the government of India has not taken any decision regarding airdropping food supplies to Kathmandu in the wake of the Maoist blockade.

Mr. Verma said that no such decision would be taken without consulting Nepali officials.

Earlier, Indian media reports had said India was considering airdropping food supplies to Kathmandu in the wake of the on-going Maoist blockade of the capital, Kathmandu.

Nepali officials have denied making any such requests to the government of India. Royal Nepalese Army has said it has employed additional measures including air patrol of the major highways and intensive security patrol along the highways and major entry points to Kathmandu. nepalnews.com by Aug 22

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Maoist admit killing of journalist Thapa was a mistake 

The Maoists have said that the killing of Dekendra Raj Thapa, a Dailekh based radio journalist, was a mistake. 

In an statement sent Saturday, the West command incharge of the underground Maoists, Diwakar has added that the killing of Thapa was a violation of party policy. 

Saying the Maoists were ready to ‘self-criticize’ the mistake, the Maoists leader has further expressed his commitment not to repeat such incidents in the future. 

The Maoists had admitted last week that they had 'executed' Thapa on August 11 after detaining him for nearly six weeks. They charged Thapa of spying on Maoists activities to the security forces. nepalnews.com pd Aug 22 04

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Thousands take to streets urging for peace

Thousands of businessmen, school teachers and professionals took part in a peace rally in the capital, Kathmandu, Sunday morning urging the Maoists to withdraw their 'blockade' and strikes and asking the government and rebels to observe ceasefire.

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association of Nepal, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Nursing Association and Private and Boarding Schools Association of Nepal (PABSON), among others, took part in the rally.

"The closure of industries and blockade has had a very bad impact on the country. So, we want peace and an end to all these activities," said Binod Bahadur Shrestha, president of FNCCI.

President of PABSON, Umesh Shrestha, said that thousands of schools all over the country had been affected from the strike and urged both the government and rebels to treat schools as "Zone of Peace."

The placards carried by the participants in the rally read: 'We want peace,' 'Nobody can snatch away our right to live,' and 'Withdraw shutdown strike, industrial strike and blockade immediately.'

The rally commenced from Shahid Gate and passed through major thoroughfares of the city carrying different banners and placards in favour of peace and against conflict.

Nearly 11,000 people have already lost their lives in the nine-year-old Maoist insurgency and businesses and tourism have been hit badly. nepalnews.com by Aug 22 04

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India’s security committee meets to review Nepal situation

The high-level security committee of India met at the South Block in New Delhi on Saturday to review Nepal’s security situation, reports said.

According to Press Trust of India (PTI), the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh, was attended by Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Home Minister Shiva Raj Patil. No details were given. 

Nepal Samacharpatra daily reported Sunday that the high-level meeting of Indian officials at a time when the Maoists have imposed ‘blockade’ on the Nepali capital has been considered ‘meaningful.’
nepalnews.com by Aug 22 04

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India considering airdropping supplies to Kathmandu: Reports

India is considering to airdrop food items in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu in the wake of the Maoist ‘blockade,’ The Himalayan Times daily reported Sunday quoting a news report in Business Standard, an Indian daily.

National security advisor of India, J. N. Dixit, convened a meeting of top defense officials to discuss a contingency plan on air-dropping supplies to Kathmandu. The daily quoted government sources as saying that a proposal to carry out ‘bread bombing’ of the Nepalese capital was being worked out. 

India had airdropped supplies in the Sri Lankan city of Jaffna in 1987 when it was put under blockade. Mr. Dixit was Indian high commissioner in Colombo during the episode. India later sent its peace keeping force to Sri Lanka.

India has consulted Nepal on the issue of providing relief, the report said and quoted a top Nepali official as saying that there was no cause for panic yet and Nepal would seek help only when it needed it. 
nepalnews.com by Aug 22 04

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MVA general strike in Kathmandu, life affected

A one-day general strike called by the Maoist Victim's Association (MVA) on Sunday has partly affected normal life in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu.

The strike has partially affected vehicular movement in the capital, with less-than-normal vehicles on the roads. But buses, tempos and other public transportation vehicles were seen on the roads.

Most schools have closed for the day, reports said. Moreover, the strike has hit businesses in major market hubs as Putalisadak and New Road in the Valley. 

No violent incidents have been reported till 10.30 AM, police said.  

About 10,000 people who are registered as Maoist victims have been demanding internal refugee status from the government. nepalnews.com pd Aug 22 04

Parents, students protest education strike in Chitwan

Parents and students in Chitwan district Saturday took out a rally protesting the indefinite strike called by the student wing of the Maoist rebels. Schools in Chitwan have remained closed since the last 16 days hampering the education of over one hundred thousand students, reports said.

The rally, also participated in by 13 local social organizations including rights activists, carried placards denouncing the strike.  

The ANNFSU- Revolutionary called the indefinite strike in support of its eight-point demands including unconditional release of their three of its comrades arrested by the security forces, reports added.  

Meanwhile, according to reports, the Maoist affiliated students have announced 2-day strike in the Gandak region in effect from Sunday. 

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the ANNFSU-R has demanded to probe the killing of its leader Baikuntha Pokharel and bring the guilty to book. Pokharel, central leader of the organization, was reportedly killed by the security forces in Kaski last month. nepalnews.com pd Aug 22 04

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Panel formed probe Nepali hostages in Iraq

The government Saturday formed a three-member team to study the state of 12 Nepalis said to be taken hostage by an Iraqi militant group.

The team led by Narayan Silwal, secretary of the Ministry of Labor includes Narayan Gopal Malego, joint secretary at the Home Ministry and the Durga Prasad Bhattrai, spokesperson to the Foreign Ministry as members.

In the meantime, the Nepalese embassy in Pakistan that also oversees diplomatic affairs with Iraq is learnt to have started contacting Iraqi officials over the incident. nepalnews.com mbk Aug 21 04

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