Supreme Court issues stay order to UTL’s mobile service

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a stay order to the launch of United Telecom Limited (UTL) mobile service, various reports said.

The order was issued in response to the writ petition filed by 
Advocate Kamal Prasad Khanal. Khanal has accused the government of giving the authority to UTL without calling any tender.

The Supreme Court has also asked the Prime Minister, Cabinet and 
Ministry of Information and Communication to submit a written 
explanation within 15 days as to how UTL was given the right to launch the service. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also been investigating the issue on Khanal’s complain.

Ministry of Information and Communication had issued the authority to 
UTL on January 26. According to the notice of the Ministry, Nepal 
Telecommunication Corporation was supposed to call a board meeting to implement the decision. nepalnews.com rs Feb 12 04

Bomb hoax at Jawalakhel

A fake bomb planted at the western gate of Nepal Telecommunication 
Corporation office at Jawalakhel Wednesday created panic in the area for hours.

The office staff informed the police about the bomb at 8:45 am. It was 
11:45 am when the bomb disposable team of the Royal Nepal Army confirmed it was a fake bomb. Traffic was stopped in the area for that duration. nepalnews.com rs Feb 12 04

Bandh update: 
Bridge blown up, officer injured in Bara-Parsa

A Maoist-laid ambush on Thursday blew up a bridge joining Bara and Parsa district in Narayani zone, reports said. A police officer was injured in the blast.

The ambush was set to trap a police team arriving from Chandra Nigahapur, Rautahat, the reports said. The collapsed bridge was known as "Customs Bridge", the reports said.

The bridge that was over the Dhansar river in Nijgadh of Bara district has led to closure of vehicular movement in the Pathlaiya –Dhalkebar section of the Mahendra highway, a police source confirmed to Nepalnews. 

Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Shiv Bahadur Thapa was injured in the explosion. Thapa, who was posted at the Chandra Nigahapur area police station, was admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment after the explosion, the reports added.

Mahendra highway is the only road link to the central and eastern terai from the capital. “There are no vehicular movements in the section since the bridge is damaged structurally,” the source said. Security forces from both Bara and Rautahat districts have been deployed to the site, he added. 

In Kathmandu Valley, no violent incidents were reported till 11:30 am Thursday. "We have not received any damages or casualties in the Valley to date," an officer at the Police Control Room told Nepalnews, when contacted. nepalnews.com mr/pd Feb 11 04

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Elections will be held soon: PM

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said that the government will hold elections very soon as per the will of the King to end the ongoing row, handing over the government to the elected party, Space Time reported. 

Thapa said that in the function organized to inaugurate the new building of the Mechi municipality in Jhapa. Calling the issues raised by the King in Nepalgunj civic reception as the bitter truth, PM Thapa said, “The government takes the King’s views expressed in the reception as guidance.” 

Saying, there is no use of making selfish remarks on the King’s address in the reception, Thapa stressed the need to maintain unity at a time when the country is passing through turmoil. 
nepalnews.com rs Feb 12 04 

Bilateral talks can solve Bhutanese refugee problem: Malinowsky

American Ambassador to Nepal, Michael E. Malinowsky expressed the view that the long standing Bhutanese refugee problem could be solved through Nepal-Bhutan bilateral talks, Space Time reported.

The American envoy said that while interacting with the journalists
after inaugurating the Art exhibition at Gallery Mokshaya, Lalitpur on
Wednesday. Talking about the financial support being given by America for the refugee camps, Malinowsky said the USA wants the problem settled as soon as possible. “We would rather give financial help for the rehabilitation of refugees or in other sectors,” he said.

“It is really saddening that the bilateral endeavor to solve the
problem has halted,” he said, adding, “However, the process should be resumed and the problems sorted out as soon as possible.”

Reiterating the concern over the discrepancies in refugee
categorization in Khudunabari refugee camp, the envoy said, “Bhutan
should understand that Nepal is suffering from its internal conflict.”
“In such a situation the problem should be resolved with mutual
understanding,” he added. nepalnews.com rs Feb 12 04

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Rs.25000 for information on bird-flu 

The Department of Animal Health has announced it will give a purse of Rs.25000 for information of bird flu in Nepal, a report said.

“The information, however, must be verified,” said Dr. Shubha Narayan Mahato, Director at the Department of Animal Health. nepalnews.com pd Feb 12 04

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Maoists abduct 700 people

Maoist rebels have abducted 700 people to forcibly make them participate in their anniversary celebrations from the Bhaiswale region of Achham district, a report said Thursday. 

Rebels abducted the people from Sunday to Tuesday under the order of the Maoist district secretariat, it is reported. According to the people coming to the district headquarters from the villages, Maoist rebels have abducted 160, 90 and 40 people from Kalikasthan, Kuika and Vinayak VDCs respectively.

Similarly, rebels have abducted people from Puletola, Toli, Barala, Bayala, Kaledanda, Yalsa, Dhakari, Raniban and Topi VDCs, Kantipur dainik said. Of the abducted people, many are children, women and elderly people, it is reported. nepalnews.com pd Feb 12 04

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Maoists' bandh in Bagmati, Narayani zones today

A one-day strike called by the Maoists in Bagmati and Narayani zones has led to the closure of vehicular movement, educational institutions and business activities in the respective regions, initial reports said Thursday.

Only pedestrians and office-going people were seen on the roads, according to the initial reports received by 8:30 am today.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has said the government has mobilised all "mechanisms" to make the strike less effective.

"We also have made security arrangements to carry out civilians' daily works and businesses, as usual," Ministry Spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said in a press meet on Wednesday.
nepalnews.com mr Feb 12 04

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Their Majesties visit mid-western districts 

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal Wednesday visited some mid-western districts to take stock of the development affairs taking place in the areas, reports said. 

According to Nepal Television, their Majesties visited the district headquarters of Jumla and Humla and Rara area of Mugu district.

While in Simikot and Khalanga, the King and Queen were greeted by tens of thousands of people. Chairmen of the District Development Committees of both the districts submitted felicitation notes to the King and the Queen. 

Their Majesties also visited Rara VDC in Mugu. Political leaders, intellectuals and ordinary people turned up to see the King and the Queen, NTV reported. 

Tthe King also heard the concerns of the people of the war-ravaged area. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 11 04 

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Forces gun down 2 Maoists in Dhanusha

Security forces shot and killed two Maoist militants in Dhanusha district Wednesday morning. Area commander Pradeep Das Takma and his aide Rakesh Mahara were killed in the encounter that took place at Umaprempur VDC, Dhanusha. 

Two homemade guns and logistics have been recovered from the site, reports said. Search operation is underway in the area. 

Meanwhile, 16 Maoists surrendered to the district administration offices of Parsa, Ramechhap, Dhanusha and Achham Wednesday. 

10 Maoists surrendered to the administration amid a press conference organized in Birgunj. Similarly, three Maoists in Ramechhap, two in Achham and one in Dhanush district gave up theie armed rebellion today, reports said. 

In an escalation of arson and vandalism, the Maoists have carried out explosions in different parts of the country. 

Reports from Birjung said the suspected Maoists detonated powerful bombs at the Krishi Samagri Company (KSC deals in agricultural tools) and the Office of Domestic and Small Industries in Birjung this morning. Explosions have caused partial damage to the buildings. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 11 04

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