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Three Maoists killed in clashes At least three Maoists militants have been killed during clashes with security forces in different parts of the country on Monday. According to reports, security forces under the Unified Command gunned down two Maoists at Belia area of Saptari district this morning. One of the dead has been identified as Milan Guragain. Search operation is underway in and around the area to track down other rebels. One Maoist woman was killed at Dhare Jungle in Parwat district this afternoon. Explosives and logistics have been recovered from the incident, reports from the district stated. In an indication of escalation in arson and vandalism ahead of the 9th anniversary of the Maoist war on February 13, the ultras have carried out series of explosions in several places across the country. On Sunday night, they detonated an effigy bomb at Bansgadi area in Bardia district that left a 65-year-old man without a leg. Similarly, they carried out an explosion at the Treasury and Accounts Control Office in Kalaiya, Bara. Reports also added that the death toll of the Maoists killed in Ramechhap’s Chucheri on Sunday night has grown to four. Two more bodies were found this morning. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 09 04 Related
News Refugee repatriation process in limbo as Bhutan plays up Khudunabari episode Repatriation process of some 9000 ‘verified’ Bhutanese refugees living in Khudunabari camp in Jhapa is pushed to uncertainty with the Bhutanese government digging up the controversial incident of December 22, demanding an investigation. Telltale stories have it that refugees of Khudunabari camp had pelted stones and tried to manhandle the Bhutanese members of Joint Verification Team. Bhutanese team had sneaked out of the country in a fit of anger the day after. “Bhutanese side has asked for investigation on the Khudunabari incident. The decisions of the 15th round of talks will not be implemented for the time being,” reports quoted Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Ambassador-at-Large as saying upon his arrival from BIMSTEC conference in Thailand. Thapa had held discussions with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wanchuk in Bangkok on beginning the repatriation process. Thapa mentioned that Bhutan has asked for proper preparation before going for another round of verification procedure. He added that he has assured the Bhutanese side about sound security arrangements next time. As per the agreement of the 15th ministerial-level talks in Thimpu, the repatriation process of the verified refugees of Khudunabari camp, Jhapa had to begin by mid-February. Related
News Refugees ask UN for intervention In a letter addressed to UN general secretary Kofi Annan, Bhutanese refugees of Khudunbari camp, Jhapa have urged the world body to intervene in the repatriation process. The refuges, according to reports, have said the crisis would not come to an end without involving the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the repatriation as well as resettlement process. Refugees have demanded that verification should only be in two categories - that of Bhutanese and non-Bhutanese, insisting that they must be consulted before going for another round of verification. Moreover, Bhutanese refuges in their letter have demanded that they be settled in their own places back in Bhutan and their citizenships guaranteed. Reports further added that the refugees have at the same time asked for absolute amnesty to all the refugees along with guarantee of education to their children. Citing failure in reaching a breakthrough in Nepal-Bhutan talks, refugees have sent letters to the European Union, International Committee for Red Cross, UNHCR, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the SAARC secretariat calling them on for cooperation. Similar letters, according to reports, have also been sent to US president, UK prime minister, and the heads of governments of the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Denmark, India, Bhutan and Nepal. Bhutanese members of the Joint Verification Team (JVT) left Nepal abruptly in December last year after furious refugees at the Khudanabari camp in Jhapa attacked them. The repatriation process of the 12000 refugees from the Khudanabari camp was supposed to begun in February 2004. nepalnews.com mbk/pd 09 04 Related
News Respiratory infection kills 8 more 8 more people have died due to severe cough and cold in Budhakhani VDC of Kavre district since Friday, Spacetime dainik said Monday. According to the locals, the disease has spread in different wards of Budhakhani VDC. “No initiative from the concerned authorities have been taken regarding public health,” a local Aaitesingh Syngtan said adding, ”these people would not have died if they had received medicine in time.” According to Upendra Yadav, headmaster of the local high school, some 200 students have been absent from school fearing contact from the disease. nepalnews.com pd Feb 09 04 Related
News Suspected Maoists Monday morning exploded bombs at Teku ward office, Kathmandu, causing little damage to the office building, police said. The blast has broken some windowpanes damaging doors of the ground floor as well, the police control room told Nepalnews when contacted. No one was hurt in the blast, which took place at 7 am this morning, they said, adding that the office building belonged to Ward No 12 of the metropolis. "We are looking for the culprits, who are still at large," the police further said. nepalnews.com mr Feb 09 04 Related
News BIMSTEC free trade area by 2017 Six member nations of BIMSTEC, including Nepal, agreed Sunday to sign a free trade agreement committing to throw open their markets by 2017, agencies reported from Phuket, Thailand. With the agreement, the six nations have salvaged the deal, which was jeopardised by Bangladesh's sudden withdrawal, the agency reports said. All five founding members of BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand - Economic Cooperation) were expected to ink the draft trade deal at a ceremony here, leaving new members Bhutan and Nepal to join later, the reports said. But Bangladesh pulled out Saturday after demanding compensation for any revenue lost as a result of dropping tariffs and ignoring other members' assurances that their concerns could be addressed within the agreement, the reports said. "Faced with the prospect of only four of the seven BIMSTEC members signing the deal, the Thai hosts considered postponing the ceremony until a summit planned for July when it hoped more nations will be ready to join." However, Nepal and Bhutan saved the day by making quick decisions to enter the deal at a meeting of foreign ministers on this Thai resort island which followed Saturday's trade ministers' talks, the reports added. nepalnews.com mr Feb 09 04 Related
News At least three Maoist militants were killed in encounters with security forces in different parts of the country on Sunday and last night. Two armed Maoists were killed Sunday afternoon at Deurali area of Puramajhuwa VDC in Ilam district when they came face to face with the Unified Command forces. The dead have been identified as Kamala Rai and Hom Bahadur. Two of their comrades, however, managed to escape, reports said. Explosives and Maoist literatures have been recovered from the site, reports said. Likewise, in Rautahat, security forces shot and killed a district leader of All Nepal National Women’s Association- Revolutionary, an affiliate organization of the CPN-Maoist on Saturday night. Sarada Mainali who was the district secretary of the organization was gunned down at Baleri area of Bishrampur VDC. Security sources have said they have confiscated socket bombs and logistics form the incident site. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 08 04 Related
News Seven student unions urge rebel students not to disrupt polls Seven student unions Sunday called on the All Nepal Independent Students’ Union – Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) not to disrupt the union polls of the Tribhuvan University slated for February 26. Holding a meeting at the central office of Nepal Student Union (NSU), the agitating students said that boycotting of union elections at this juncture would end up assisting “regression”. They have said that they will utilize the elections as part of their ongoing movement. “We have asked the revolutionary students not to resort to disruptive activities in the name of boycotting the polls, since to quash the polls is to boost the morale of the regressive forces,” NSU office secretary Ram Prasad Adhikari told to Nepalnews. The agitating student unions, however, are not in mood to confront the Maoist students. “Our relationship with them will be friendly, by and large,” he added, informing about the decision of the meeting. Meanwhile, NSU has informed that 3 students have been arrested in Beni, Mygdi during the course of a public hearing organized at Mygdi Multiple Campus, Beni. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 08 04 Related
News Some political leaders in an interaction program on Sunday, said the King’s words and actions do not tally with each other. “The King claims that he supports a multiparty system in Nepal, but his activities do not justify it,” the leaders said in a face-to-face program organized by the Reporters’ Club in the capital on Sunday. Leaders who expressed such views were Nepali Congress leader Bal Dev Sharma Majhgaiya, CPN-UML leader Modnath Prasrit, spokesperson of NC (Democratic) Hom Nath Dahal, RPP spokesperson Roshan Karki and General secretary of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato. President of RPP (Nationalist) Rajeshwor Devkota was of the view that the present stalemate can be ended by holding an election. nepalnews.com rs Feb 08 04 Full
Text of King Gyanendra's address
(Unofficial Translation) Beloved Countrymen,
We are happy to share the warmth of feeling in the midst of our beloved people in the city of Nepalgunj in the Mid-Western Development Region. The Queen and we are specially touched to find them here today despite all their difficulty and suffering, in view of the fact that the beloved people of this region have been in the grip of violence since the past few years. We believe this strong bond between the Institution of Monarchy and the people, having withstood the test of time and always dedicated to the welfare of the motherland, is the quintessence of our national identity. On this occasion, we would like to reiterate that the trust and affection we have received from our countrymen provides us the inspiration to remain resolute in our dedication to the welfare of our motherland and people. Popular aspirations will, as always, continue to guide us and to fulfil them is our duty. We are totally committed to multiparty democracy. It is our conviction that it will have meaning only if politics is inspired by the people, dedicated to the people and dependent on the people. Top priority must be accorded to the all round progress of the Mid-Western Development Region, which has lagged behind in the process of development. To ensure this, the government will formulate a special programme for the benefit of the people with their participation. This programme, to be accorded national priority, will seek to utilise the border points with India and China in ensuring goods of the region greater access in the markets of these emerging economic powers. We also hope the nation's efforts will be focused on implementation of various welfare and development schemes in compliance with the aspirations of those living in the plains and the hilly and mountainous areas of the region. Let nobody take advantage of the people's simplicity or a situation wherein they are deprived of the fruits of development. The days of Monarchy being seen but not heard, watching the people's difficulties but not addressing them and being a silent spectator to their tear-stained faces are over. Today, our country is passing through a critical phase in its history. There are grievances that since the introduction of the multiparty democratic polity in accordance with the people's wishes, neither has politics addressed national and public welfare, nor has governance been pro-public. Although history has established the multiparty system as the finest polity in the world, attempts have been made to discredit it in Nepal. Similarly, there are also those who, instead of raising their voices in favour of the people, are weakening the very fabric of the democratic polity by indulging themselves with the tug-of-war for power, terrorising people and destroying development infrastructures built with great difficulty. Such activities against the nation and people must now be put to an end. On this occasion, we, once again, call upon politicians to stop saying 'me' but say 'us', stop saying 'party' but say 'people' and ensure that multiparty democracy is dedicated to the greater interest of the nation and people. Consolidation of democracy with pro-people governance is our only desire, happiness of our countrymen and the overall welfare of the nation our only goal. We wish to see a democratic polity wherein the people's fundamental rights are not infringed upon and wherein they do not have to live in a constant state of fear. We wish to see a corruption-free economic structure, which guarantees realisation of their basic needs. We wish to see a social edifice wherein one Nepali is not the cause for another Nepali's exploitation or death. Although differences in opinion and competition are but natural in a multiparty polity, we would like to reiterate once again that patriotism must always remain the focal point. An Institution of Monarchy dedicated to the nation and her citizens and a people whose tradition and conviction is patriotism remain Nepalese history's glorious past, its present and its future. The government must give due attention to the nation's aspirations for peace and security, good governance, development and discipline. At a time when the country is passing through a difficult period, our security forces continue to work very hard and make sacrifices to ensure that peace and security are upheld in the country. As the civil servants and non-government sectors can play an important role in this regard, their active support is solicited in the interest of the people. Tussle for power should not jeopardise our national unity, which, in fact, should be further refined and consolidated in upholding our national dignity with the active participation of the youth, the pillars of tomorrow. Instead of hindering the acquisition of useful abilities and misguiding them into politicking, it has now become imperative to give the youth an opportunity to harness their creativity by enhancing their skills and diligence, for which appropriate measures should be undertaken in the form of a campaign. To uphold a pro-people and corruption-free form of governance, we call on all those who have faith in the multiparty system to rise above petty disputes and contribute to the maintenance of peace and security along with the creation of an environment wherein the governance of the country can be handed over to elected representatives by holding general elections at the earliest. Let us not forget that while, on the one hand, history is witness to the terrible consequences of discord, it has also taught us that the fruits of concord and harmony are sweet. On this day, while paying reverence to Goddess Bageshwari Mata, let us pledge to uphold the multiparty system in the interest and welfare of the Nepalese people. On behalf of the Queen and ourselves, we would like to thank the organisers of this function and all our countrymen who are present here today. May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all! Jaya Nepal! |
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