Crown Prince Paras returns 

Crown Prince Paras returned Sunday from an official tour to India. Princess Himani and Princess Purnika accompanied him during the visit. 

The royals had left for India on January 18 on the invitation of Indian Vice-President Bhairo Singh Shekhawat. 

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chief Justice Govind Bahadur Shrestha, speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat, chairman of Raj Parisad Parasu Narayan Choudhari, ministers, heads of constitutional bodies and other dignitaries including Indian ambassador Shyam Saran welcomed the Crown Prince and Princess at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport.  

While in India, the Crown Prince visited a number of states and was felicitated by respective state governments and expatriate Nepalese communities. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 01 04

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Protestors, police clash in Dhading

Protesting students came face to face with police in Dhading Besi, Dhading while trying to hold a public hearing on “relevance of monarchy” Sunday morning. 

The confrontation led to arrests of over a dozen protestors while some of them received injuries in the police baton charge, reports said.

Leaders and cadres of political parties who had joined in the student rallies were also beaten up and then collared by the police, reports said. 

Dhading Besi, the district headquarters, remained tense throughout the day as police and the agitators kept each another busy in hide and seek.  

Following the face off, the agitators have announced Bandh (closure) in the district headquarters this evening.  

Meanwhile, seven student organizations organized public hearings on the same topic at a few schools in Kathmandu valley. 

It is learnt that the programs were organized at topflight schools such as Galaxy Public School and Little Angles School. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 01 04

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Student unions back Feb 26 poll schedule 

Seven Student unions Sunday agreed to Tribhuvan University (TU) administration’s proposal to hold Free Students’ Union’s election on February 26 in all affiliate colleges across the country. 

A meeting between the student leaders and the TU officials Sunday morning reached an agreement to this effect. 

Talking to Nepalnews, general secretary of Nepal Students’ Union Gagan Thapa confirmed that student unions have backed the election schedule.

“Although the administration didn’t ask us while declaring the date, we are still ready to go by the decision,” Thapa said. He at the same time maintained that no excuses would work this time around on the part of university administration to back out from its decision. 

Last year, union elections could not be held following opposition from pro-Maoist student organization – All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union. 

The NSU general secretary informed that seven student unions would ask pro-Maoist students not to disrupt the elections and added that the whereabouts of the arrested Maoists must be made public. “Our tussle is not with the revolutionary students but we are against any disruptive activities,” he said.

The ANNISU-R has already announced that it would not allow elections to take places until the ban imposed upon the organization is not revoked. They have also demanded release of their fellows.

“Our role will be fully cooperative but since we are into agitation our security must be guaranteed,” Thapa maintained, saying the government may attempt to intimidate students. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 01 04

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Joshi’s presence puts parties’ press meet in shadow

A press meet called by the five parties to declare Valley-wide strike on Monday was overshadowed on Sunday, as the journalists repeatedly raised objections over the presence of corruption-indicted leader Govinda Raj Joshi in the meet.

Journalists made Joshi red and pale with the rain of stiff questions such as: “Are you here to purify yourself in the eyes of people and journalists?”, “Who sent you in this press meet?” and “Do the parties’ expect people’s participation in the movement bringing a leader like Joshi to the front?”

Other questions went like: “Isn’t it the five parties’ and particularly, Nepali Congress’s lack of sensitiveness to send a corruption-charged leader like Joshi in the press meet?”, “Will the party activists be ready to become martyrs having seen Joshi as their leader?” and “Is it right on ethical grounds that Joshi should lead the movement as a leader? 

In the heated atmosphere, Joshi tried to furnish replies. He said, “I am here because my party sent me.” According to him, NC Secretary General Sushil Koirala was scheduled to be there. “Since he is ill, the party told me to take part in this press meet.”

“Party activists do not need to become martyrs in my name,” he said. On the much talked-about corruption charges, the former minister said, “We cannot say one is a culprit, unless the court gives the final verdict.” 

Leaders of the other parties remained silent as they could not support Joshi’s presence in the press meet; neither could they raise their voice against him.

“We will not spare any corrupt leaders from legal action after our movement against regression succeeds,” CPN-UML leaders Amrit Kumar Bohora and Subash Nembang, without mentioning the name of Joshi, told journalists in a bid to “pacify” them.

Leader of United People’s Front, Lilamani Pokhrel said he cannot comment on Joshi’s presence in the press meet. “Only the concerned party can make a statement,” he said indicating towards the NC of which Joshi is the Joint Secretary General.

Representatives of Nepal Laborers’ and Peasants’ Party and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) also attended the press meet. They were of the same view that they cannot take responsibility for Joshi’s presence in the press meet. 

Joshi was in judicial remand for more than two months. A Special Court in Kathmandu last week released him on Rs.30.5 million bail.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has charged Joshi of accumulating property worth millions of rupees through illegal channels and hiding real sources of his earning. nepalnews.com mr Feb 01 04

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Nepali cricket team leaves for Dhaka

The 18 member Nepali cricket team left for Dhaka, Bangladesh on Saturday to participate in the Under-19 World Cup Cricket tournament starting from February 15, various reports said.

Member Secretary of National Sports Council (NSC), Kishor Bahadur Singh bided farewell to the team comprising 14 players and four officials in a program organized at NSC premises.

The team led by Shakti Gauchan, will play their opening match against England on February 15 at M.A. Ajiz Stadium. Nepal placed in 'B' category will also face New Zealand, South Africa and Uganda in the first round.

The two winning teams from each group will advance to the Super league, while the remaining two teams will vie out for Plate championship, reports said.

The Nepali team will play four practice matches against Bangladesh 
beginning February 2 and also some friendly matches against other teams.

Before departure, talking to the sports reporters, skipper Shakti 
Gauchan said that they would play every match to win. He further said, "We don't aim to play in the Plate championship again."

He also said, "Though we have been pitted against the teams like England and South Africa, we will do our best to make it to the Super league."

The team comprises of Shakti Gauchan (Skipper), Yashwant Subedi, Manoj Katuwal, Lakpa Lama, Dipesh Khatri, Basanta Regmi, Munik Shrestha, Paras Khadka, Sarad Vesawkar, Raj Shrestha, Ratan Rauniyar, and Shashi Keshari. Coach Roy Luke Dias, Assistant coach Mahesh Rijal, TB Shah (Manager) and Upendra Bhattarai (official) are also accompanying the team. nepalnews.com rs Feb 01 04

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UML hasn't committed mistakes in 12 yrs: Nepal

General Secretary of the CPN (UML), Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday said his party and its leaders have not committed any mistakes during 12 years of democratic practices in Nepal, Spacetime Dainik reported Sunday.

Talking to the press in Chandragadhi, Jhapa he said, "We were never 
engaged in corruption and fraud during the period." Nepal outlined the 
present situation as "unfortunate" for the country.

He stated that the concerned authorities understand the ongoing 
agitation as the voice of the people and 'not merely pressure from the 
parties'.

He flaying the King's recent interview in the Time magazine said," The 
interview, however, has not stopped possible talks with the King."

Nepal also urged the Maoists to leave killings and violence and come in the main stream of Nepali politics. nepalnews.com pd Feb 01 04

Nepal-India Joint Border Management Committee meeting ends

The 5th Nepal-India Joint Border Management Committee talks ended with the commitment not to allow their territories to be used against each other, various reports said.

After the two-day meet, head of the Indian side, Assistant Secretary 
of Indian Home Ministry, KS Ramasuvan, talking to journalists said 
that the meeting was focused on individual securities.

Ramasuvan said India is concern about the possible relationship 
between Maoists and Indian terrorist organizations, reports stated. He 
further said, “Our biggest concern is the growing religious extremism 
at the border.”

According to the reports, expressing commitment to continue their 
help, Ramasuvan said, “Maoists are not a big threat to India. However, 
India will continue to help Nepal fight against terrorism.”

The meeting also decided to hold the Chief district level border 
security meeting every three months instead of once a year.
The participants also agreed to improve and manage the border security headquarters to curb illegal residing in the no man land, reports said.

However, negotiations on the extradition and mutual legal assistance 
failed to come to any agreement. According to the reports, talks 
failed as the Nepali side refused to extradite any third country 
individual to India.

Saying that there are still some differences to be sorted out 
Ramasuvan said, “It is a process and takes time to reach any agreement.”

Answering the queries of journalists, Joint Secretary at the Ministry 
at Home, Umesh Mainali said that the treaty was not signed because 
there are still some issues to be debated.

Nevertheless, both the sides committed to discuss the agenda in the 
next meeting to be held within six months. nepalnews.com rs Feb 01 04

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Bomb injures Child

Carelessly thrown explosives Saturday by suspected Maoists have severely injured a child in Gothadi, Palpa, a daily reported Sunday.

Jeet Bahadur Sarumagar, 10, played with the bomb which he found in a nearby street thinking it was a doll , the Spacetime Dainik said.

Sarumagar who got severely injured in his legs and stomach is undergoing treatment in Lumbini Zonal Hospital, the report said. nepalnews.com pd Feb 01 04

153 students, 5 teachers abducted 

Maoists Thursday abducted 153 students and 5 teachers from schools in Achham to involve them in the so called peoples’ war, a published report said Sunday.

The students were from Bidhyamandir Higher-Secondary School (BHSS) of Binayak VDC and Kalika High School (KHS) of Hinama VDC in Achham, Spacetime Dainik said. 

According to a local resident, Binod Thapa, 140 students were abducted from BHSS among which 30 students were girls while 5 teachers and 13 students were from KHS, the report said.

Four high schools, 10 lower secondary schools and 16 primary schools in the region have remained closed after the event. nepalnews.com pd Feb 01 04 

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Govt. firm against foreign investment in media: Thapa

Minister for Information and Communications Kamal Thapa said Saturday foreign investment in media sector is not appropriate in Nepal, as the sector is highly sensitive.

According to RSS, Minister Thapa said this addressing a function organised on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Nepal Television.

Stating that some serious mistakes have taken place in a sensitive sector like media from the previous government, he said the government is always aware to correct these errors and creating a healthy competitive environment in the sector.

He further said necessary laws for prohibiting foreign investment in Nepal's media sector are being formulated and it will be firmly implemented.

Noting that the present policy has also prohibited foreign investment in the media sector, he said the problem cannot be resolved through confrontations, RSS added.

Meanwhile, Kantipur Television, in a statement on Saturday, has refuted news reports in The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post that its reporters were involved in the burning of the copies of the two dailies in Kalanki on Friday.

"None of our staff and resource has been used for the activities except news reporting," the statement said. nepalnews.com mr Feb 01 04