Ten rhinos to be shifted to Shukla Phanta

The government is transferring 10 one-horned rhinos to Royal Shukla Phanta Wildlife Conservation from Royal Chitwan National Park within this week, Nepal Samacharpatra said Tuesday.

The transfer was planned, as the government aims at developing more habitats of rhinos in Nepal, the daily said. nepalnews.com pd Feb 17 04

Strike paralyses life again

A one-day strike called by the Maoists has paralysed life in Kathmandu and in other districts of Bagmati and Narayani zones from early Tuesday morning, reports and witnesses said.

In Kathmandu, almost all shops, schools and colleges were shut down, witnesses said. Business activities and vehicular movement have also come to a halt, they added. 

Very few pharmacies and stationeries were opened. Some of the government-owned Sajha buses were seen plying on the roads. 

Commuters were hurrying towards their offices. Cycles and a few motorcycles were also spotted. No violent incident was reported in the two zones until 9:00 am Tuesday.

The strike was announced to protest the killing of some Maoists by the security forces in Bhimad, Makwanpur on February 5, according to an earlier news report posted in the Maoist website. nepalnews.com mr Feb 17 04

Action sought against petroleum dealers

Consumers' associations Monday urged the government to take immediate action against the petroleum dealers, who are on strike putting forth "unethical demands", published reports said Tuesday.

In particular, they asked the government to enforce Essential Services Act that bans strikes in certain sectors that are directly related with the consumers' welfare, the reports said.

"Nepal Consumers' Forum even asked the government to scrap licenses of the dealers who have stopped the supply of petrol products," the Kathmandu Post said.

"How dare they (dealers) demand for continuation of adulteration?" the daily quoted Harendra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the Forum, as saying.

"It is the government's duty to protect consumers' right to have quality petroleum products," the daily further quoted Hari Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, as saying. 

"The government will not review its decision on dealers' pressure," the minister said.

Petroleum dealers have launched an indefinite strike on Monday after the government asked them to separate kerosene supply outlets from petrol and diesel refilling stations to avoid adulteration.

Meanwhile, a report by Rajdhani daily said the government-owned Nepal Oil Corporation has invited the petroleum dealers for a dialogue on Tuesday. nepalnews.com mr Feb 17 04

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New bird spotted near Sauraha

A new species of bird has been identified at the bank of Rapti river near Sauraha of Chitwan, one of the famous bird habitats in the country, RSS said Monday.

The newly found bird is a goose family bird having a length of 66-84 centimetres, the national news agency said. The zoological name of the bird is Anser Sabalis, it added.

According to chairman of Bird Education Society, Om Risal the society, so far, has identified a total of 516 bird species in the region, the agency further said. nepalnews.com mr Feb 17 04

Kalikot clashes: 35 Maoists shot dead

At least 35 Maoists have been killed in an ongoing gun battle with security forces in the mid-western district of Kalikot, a news bulletin by Radio Nepal said at 9:00 pm Monday. 

The actual location where the clashes are continuing since Sunday morning is Kotwada area of the district, the Radio said. The area is at eight kilometres distance from the district headquarters Manma.

The security forces have encircled around 1,000 Maoists in the area, the Radio said, adding that many of them may be central level leaders of the rebels.

Three security personnel are also reported injured, the Radio said, quoting local security sources. Night vision helicopters are also hovering and launching air raids in the area, the Radio further said.

Independent news reports had not verified the Kalikot clashes until 9:00 pm Monday.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Defence Ministry said 12 Maoists were shot dead in different encounters with the security forces recently.

The security forces shot dead one each Maoist in Sunsari, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Nuwakot on Sunday, the statement said, adding that one more Maoist was killed in Taplejung on February 8.

Likewise, five more in Sindhuli and two in Dhading were killed on the same day, the statement further said. nepalnews.com mr Feb 16 04 

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Human Rights situation 'challenging', admits PM Thapa

Amid growing rights abuse complaints, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa on Monday admitted that the "atmosphere of violence" has made protection of human rights "challenging" in Nepal.

"The atmosphere of violence has not only undermined Nepal's democracy, it has also made protection of human rights challenging," PM Thapa said.

PM Thapa, in the meantime, hastened to blame the Maoists for giving birth to such an atmosphere. "It is distressing to note that for the past eight years, Nepal has been mired in the environment of violence unleashed by the Maoists," he said.

On the measures adopted by the government to safeguard human rights of the civilians, the PM said, "We are striving to protect the rights of people by providing security, by launching targeted programs to the people and ensuring better service delivery in the affected areas."

According to him, Nepal is in the final stage of formulation of the "National Human Rights Action Plan" in order to identify steps Nepal must take will improve its respect, promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights in a strategic and systematic way.

PM Thapa was speaking as the chief guest of the eight annual meeting of Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions being held in Kathmandu.

On the same occasion, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nain Bahadur Khatri said the overall human rights environment in Nepal has very much deteriorated in recent years as a result of political turmoil and conflict.

"Maoist insurgency has pushed Nepal into a situation of near civil war," Khatri said, adding that both the Government and the Maoists need to sign the Human Rights Accord drafted by the NHRC.

Chief of United Nations System in Nepal, William Kahane said cases of disappearances and torture are the major concerns of global rights bodies as well as that of Nepal. "The UN will continue to support the NHRC," Kahane said.

NHRC hosted the three-day international meeting of the rights bodies co-sponsored by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. nepalnews.com mr Feb 16 04

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Fuel crunch hits transport, Oil Corp asks dealers to end strike 

Public transportation became the immediate casualty of the strike called by petroleum products dealers, ceasing distributions thought the country. 

A number of public vehicles stayed off the roads due to fuel crunch while long queues were seen in the depots of the Nepal Oil Corporations at some places in Kathmandu. It is feared the strike may leave public transport completely out of gear if it continues for a  few more days. 

Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association announced to go for strikes from today, leaving all kinds of dealings of petroleum products to a grinding halt. 

They have said until the NOC pulls back its decision of February 13 to disallow petrol pumps to sell kerosene, the strike will continue. There are some 1500 petrol pumps across the country.

Meanwhile, the NOC published a statement today, calling on the dealers to end their strikes in view of the difficulty caused by it. The corporation has at the same time urged them to cooperate in its drive against irregular activities existing in this sector. 

The corporation has said that it will continue distribution of petroleum products from seven of its depots in Kathmandu. Distribution of subsidized kerosene will continue as usual, NOC said. nepalnews.com mbk 16 04

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Chilwal’s last rite performed; rights groups, parties dub murder cold-blooded 

The last rites of Ganesh Chilwal, former president of Nepal Maoist Victims’ Association, who was shot dead by suspected Maoists yesterday, were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat Monday afternoon. 

Hundreds of Maoist victims as well as political activists and leaders including Nepali Congress president Giriaja Prasad Koirala and general secretary Sushil Koirala paid tribute to him amid a function at Bagbazaar. 

His body was kept in front of the Democracy Wall near Ratnapart for two hours where people paid him homage.

Chilwal was also an activist of the Nepali Congress in Lamjung. He had been staying in Kathmandu after forming the association for the past few years.. 

Meanwhile, denouncing the cold-murder, political parties and human rights activists today asked the Maoists to stop barbaric action against those with ideological differences. 

Publishing a statement today, the Nepali Congress condemned the act, urging the ultras not to victimize innocent people in slightest of pretexts. “Chilwal’s murder has proved that the Maoists are up to terminating their political opponents,” said the statement. 

In a similar statement the CPN-UML abhorred the killing and asked the Maoists to stop the terror spree. 

Number of human rights and social organizations also condemned the murder. National Human Rights Commission in its statement condemned the killing and called on the Maoists to respect the Geneva Convention while carrying out their activities. 

Two armed assailants had shot Chilwal to death at his office at Bagbazaar Sunday evening. Maoists are believed to have assassinated him in an attempt to calm down the voices being raised by the victims and their families. nepalnews.com mbk 16 04

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Himalayan Bank Open Golf Championship on Feb. 21

The Himalayan Bank Open Golf Championship 2004 is going to be held at Gokarna Golf Resort, Kathmandu on February 21, an announcement said Monday.

A total of 100 golfers associated with Royal Nepal Golf Club, Royal Nepal Army Golf Club and golf clubs from Dharan and Pokhara are participating in the Championship, the organisers said in a press meet on Monday.

The winner of the Championship will be awarded a trophy, representatives of the Himalayan Bank present on the press meet said.

Besides, there are 10 more categories with awards. The 10 categories include Best Gross, Winner Diplomat, Winner Bank-customer, Winner Senior, Winner Lady, Runner-up Bank-customer, Most Birdies, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and the Best Sportsmanship Award.

Each participant will have to pay Rs.1,000 as the entry fee. The collected amount will be utilised to promote Golf in Nepal, according to the organisers. nepalnews.com rs Feb 16 04

King, Queen felicitated in Surkhet

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal on Monday received civic felicitation on behalf of the people of Surkhet in Birendranagar, reports said.

On the occasion, Om Bahadur GC, chairman of Surkhet DDC presented a felicitation letter to their Majesties. 

The letter has called upon the King to implement his visions of good governance, decentralisation and balanced development in Surkhet, the reports said.

After the felicitation, their Majesties paid homage to the famous temple of "Deuti Bajaiko Mandir" in the district. Their Majesties are scheduled to visit another district of the region, Kalikot on Tuesday, the reports added.

The royal couple's mid-west tour started last week after receiving a civic felicitation in the region in Nepalgunj. 
nepalnews.com mr Feb 16 04

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