Govt. concerned about Rijal

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa Wednesday said the government is seriously concerned about the indefinite hunger strike of Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rijal.

At a meeting with a team of representatives of various human rights organizations at the PMO, Thapa said he is worried about Rijal health, assuring that he would do the needful regarding demands he has made.

Following the meeting, the rights activists told reporters that the PM has informed that he has asked the Foreign Ministry and the Home Ministry to see to the demands. The team led by Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a senior rights activist, had asked the PM to be more focused on the refugee issue.

Rijal went on an indefinite hunger strike form Tuesday morning, demanding early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and involvement of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees in the resettlement process. nepalnews.com mbk March 31 04

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Series of blasts rock Bhaktapur city, two hurt

Suspected Maoists carried out a series of blasts in three Ward offices of Bhaktapur Municipality Wednesday morning. 

A bomb went off at the office building of Ward No. 12 at Itachhi Tol at around 10:30 in the morning in which office staffers Purna Bahadur Labaju and Binod Kumar Khadka were injured. Both are undergoing treatment at Bhaktapur Hospital.

Within three minutes, another blast occurred inside the office building of Ward No. 15 of the same municipality. Likewise, the Maoists exploded yet another bomb at the office of Ward No. 16 at Balakhe Tol. Important documents and furniture were destroyed in the blast.

The total damage caused by the blasts is estimated at 1.6 million rupees. Police said nobody has been rounded up as yet. nepalnews.com mbk March 31 04 

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‘Maoists will release Beni captives soon’

Human rights activist Padamratna Tuladhar said Tuesday that Maoist rebels will release all captured government personnel in the Myagdi battles within 10 days, a daily Wednesday said.

“The Maoists have sent me a message that they may release the 36 captives within 10 days”, Nepal Samacharpatra Wednesday reported Tuladhar as saying. Tuladhar said this while speaking in an informal program in Butwal, the daily added.

A total of 36 government employees including Chief District Officer (CDO) Sagarmani Parajuli and District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rana Bahadur Gautam were taken captives following fierce battles in Beni Bazaar. nepalnews.com pd Mar 31 04 

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Explosion kills child, injures another 

A child was killed while another severely injured Tuesday afternoon in Prithvi Narayan Municipality of Gorkha district when a bomb left by the Maoists went off, various dailies Wednesday said. 

According to the reports, the children were playing with the bomb, mistaking it for a toy. The dead child, Bishal Shrestha, was 5 years old while the injured child Sangam Thapa, aged 4, is undergoing treatment at Bharatpur hospital in Chitwan, the reports added. nepalnews.com pd Mar 31 04

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EU urges Nepal to initiate dialogue with Maoist

The European Union Monday evening urged the government of Nepal ‘to initiate dialogue with the insurgents in finding a political solution to end the conflict,’ Nepali dailies Wednesday quoted international news agencies as saying.

According to the reports, Paul Neilson, the EU commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid met Foreign Minister Bhekh Bahadur Thapa on Monday in Brussels. Paul urged Minister Thapa to engage the rebels in dialogue and resolve the differences with the five agitating political parties. 

They, according to various dailies, are also reported to have discussed the human rights condition, the Bhutanese refugee situation and the EU-Nepal relationship. nepalnews.com pd Mar 31 04

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'Chinese tourists must be charged same rates as Indians'

Chinese authorities Tuesday asked Nepal not to differentiate between Chinese and Indian tourists.

They said this at an interaction program on 'Nepal-China Tourism Promotion' jointly organized by the Tourism Industry Division and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Cheng Jee, Political and Press Chief at the Chinese Embassy asking Nepal not to differentiate between the tourists said, “Charges on Chinese are higher compared to Indians.”

“Airfare for Indians from Pokhara to Jomsom is $70 while the same is $120 for Chinese,” he added. “ Nepal should lower the travel cost to and in Nepal to attract large number of tourists.”

Tek Bahadur Dangi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, emphasizing on costs to carryout promotional campaigns in an international level asked the government to provide adequate amount of the budget.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation, Sarvendra Nath Sukla stressed on effective tourism promotional strategies and informed that the government was working to facilitate Chinese tourists in Nepal .

Sum Heping, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal opined that Nepal is one of the best destinations to be visited in the world. He said, “I am sure the Chinese tourists will increase in Nepal but there must be peace.”

The tourism entrepreneurs also strongly demanded the government for permanent peace in the country which would “automatically boost the country’s tourism.”

Meanwhile, Air-China landed in Kathmandu Tuesday for the first time with 80 Chinese tourists. Air-China, currently operating two weekly flights between Kathmandu to Chengdu , is planning to increase its flights along with the increase in the Chinese tourists to Nepal . nepalnews.com pd Mar 31 04

Their Majesties' civic felicitation in Lamjung, Manang, Syangja 

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal are receiving a civic felicitation in three different districts of western development region Wednesday afternoon, various reports said.

According to the reports, their Majesties are receiving civic felicitation on behalf of the people of Lamjung, Manang and Syangja districts. 

Banners and posters depicting slogans - "Long Live His Majesty", "Long Live Her Majesty" and "We love our King and country more than our soul", are placed in the respective district headquarters, the reports said.

On the occasion, chairmen of respective District Development Committees (DDC) will present a felicitation letter to their Majesties, reports added.

The royal couple's western tour started on March 28 after receiving a civic felicitation in the region in Pokhara stadium. nepalnews.com pd Mar 31 04

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Rijal begins fast-unto-death 

Demanding early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and guarantee of human rights after repatriation, Bhutanese human rights activist Tek Nath Rijal went on an indefinite hunger strike from Tuesday morning.

Talking to reporters at Ratnapark where he is staying, Rijal said the idea of the indefinite hunger strike was the last-ditch effort to pressurize the governments of Nepal, Bhutan as well as the international community for the repatriation of 100,000-odd refugees languishing in seven camps in Eastern Nepal. 

“I hope the Nepali government and the international community will respond positively to the step I have taken,” he said. According to him, neighboring India must also play a role to convince Bhutan to accept its expelled citizens.

“Unless India plays a supportive role and the Bhutanese King himself does something, the refugee problem will not end,” he maintained. “If Nepal guarantees repatriation of refugees”, he continued, “I will withdraw the hunger strike”.

He has also demanded that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) be involved in the repartition and resettlement process.

Senior political leaders including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, senior NC leaders Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel and UML leader Amrit Bohora went to Ratnapark to express solidarity to the step taken by Rijal. Human rights activists and ordinary citizens were also present on the occasion. nepalnews.com mbk March 30 04

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Ex-gratia scheme for Far East Gurkha POW's

The processing for the payment of 10,000 pounds for Gurkha soldiers who fought for Britain in the Second World War and were held captive by the Japanese has officially begun, a press release by the British Embassy said Tuesday.

The claimants must have been Nepali citizens in 1951 when the peace treaty between the UK and Japan was signed. Surviving widows or their estates may be eligible, the statement added. 

The British High Court ruled last year that Gurkhas should be included in the payment scheme for ex-prisoners of war, and the Defence Ministry confirmed the sum. nepalnews.com dr Mar. 30 04

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Maoist leader Baidhya arrested in India 

Indian police have arrested Mohan Baidhya alias Kiran, a senior politburo member of the CPN-Maoist in the bordering Indian town of Siliguri, reports Tuesday said. Along with him, Narayan Bikram Pradhan, another leader who is a permanent resident of India’s Jalpaigudi has also been arrested.

According to news reports, Superintendent of Siliguri police Rajiv Mishra has confirmed the arrest of the Maoist leaders. He was quoted in the reports as saying that India would hand over the arrested rebel leaders to Nepal if formal requests were made. 

The Maoist leaders were arrested at 8pm on Monday. According to Mishra, the Indian police presented the arrested leaders at court in Siliguri. The court then issued a 9 day remand to them.  

Baidhya, 52, one of the key ideologue of the rebel outfit was believed to have gone to Europe a few months earlier via India. Another politburo member CP Gajurel was arrested in India while making similar attempt with a phony passport.

Presently, Baidhya was commanding the Eastern Bureau of the Maoist organization. nepalnews.com mbk/dr/rh  March 30 04

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