Buddha Jayanti being observed

The birthday of Lord Buddha, Buddha Jayanti, is being observed throughout the country on Tuesday.

Gautam Budhha, founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini, Nepal. The day of his birth, enlightenment and death all took place on the full moon of May (Baisakh Sukla Purnima).

Various programs marking the holy day had begun from Monday. A religious worship was organised in Lumbini, monks from different countries attended this worship and they prayed for world peace.

Likewise, according to RSS, the lamas who had come to Nepal under the "Visit the Country” program organised by the Monastery Management Committee were informed of the religious, archaeological and historical importance of Lumbini.

In a message delivered on the eve of Buddha Jayanti, Prime Minister 
Surya Bahadur Thapa said the birthplace of Lord Buddha is struggling for peace. 

"Compassion, kindness and amity are needed in the hearts of mankind if the existing violence, murder and strife are to end for ever," the PM said. "We wish that Buddha Jayanti will provide inspiration and strength to all to bring into practice the teachings of Lord Buddha." nepalnews.com mr May 04 04

‘Anti-regression’ demonstrations turn violent, dozens injured

The 33rd day of ‘anti-regression’ protests of five political parties on Monday saw violence following the arrest of key leaders including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. 

Enraged protestors confronted with security personnel at various places while students burned tyres on the streets and blocked traffic in front major campuses in the capital this afternoon. Over a dozen protestors were injured in the scuffle that erupted at New Road. Hundreds of demonstrators including senior leaders of the five-party alliance were arrested. 

Five parties had planned a mass meeting at Khula Manch in the afternoon but could not hold it as police arrested the leaders and before them reached the venue. 

In Pokhara, over half a dozen demonstrators were injured and hundreds arrested at Nadipur. Protest rallies were organized in other districts as well. 

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (Democratic) that is carrying out separate protests demanding restoration of then Sher Bahadur Deuba government continued rallies in the capital today. Over a dozen protestors were injured and hundreds apprehended when a rally beginning from Baneshwor reached Putalisadak. NC-D has claimed that over 300 activists were arrested. 

Most of the leaders and activists have been freed by the evening, it is learnt. nepalnews.com mbk May 3 04 

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Maoist bomb govt. office in Bhaktapur, 4 hurt

Suspected Maoists detonated a powerful bomb at a government office at Bode, Bhaktapur Monday.

According to police, explosive hidden inside the office building of the Land Management Project building at Bode went off at around 10.30 am, injuring at least four persons.

Three employees and a visitor injured in the blast have been undergoing treatment at TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. 

The explosion badly damaged the office building and documents and furniture were also destroyed. Police claimed it was an act of the Maoists. nepalnews.com mbk May 3 

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Govt. frees leaders, prohibitory orders revoked

The government released all key leaders of the five agitating parties within hours of their arrest on Monday afternoon. 

Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal who were arrested from their houses this afternoon were released at around 6 pm. 

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) has withdrawn the prohibitory orders from midnight Monday. The DAO has said the prohibitory orders will remain effective in and around royal palace and Singha Durbar. 

Withdrawal of prohibitory orders was one of the major conditions of the five agitating parties for negotiations with the King. nepalnews.com mbk May 3 04 

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Political forces must come closer: Wood

Urging all political forces to come closer and address the current political impasse and conflict, the head of the Department for International Development (DFID) David J. Wood said on Monday that delivering development in the country was becoming increasingly difficult.

“It has been very difficult to deliver development programs as peace in Nepal is deteriorating, however; we want to continue with development in Nepal as long as possible,” he said. 

Emphasizing on the need for representative democratic institutions and putting an end to human rights abuses, Wood said, “The country must not go back to 1990, it must head forward and that is why we are here.”

He said this amidst a press conference while launching DFID’s “Country Assistance Plan (CAP) 2004-2008” in the capital on Monday. 

The CAP, which is based on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper framework of the National Planning Commission (NPC), implies a new approach to the development challenges in Nepal, he said.

“In response to the very uncertain environment in Nepal, we have designed our program to be flexible and able to respond quickly to opportunities that might arise unexpectedly,” he added.

DFID, which aims to support Nepal in its effort to achieve the 10th Plan’s poverty reduction targets and the millennium development goals, is the British government department responsible for contribution towards international efforts to eliminate poverty. nepalnews.com pd May 03 01

Indian SSB men manhandle Nepali villagers

Indian Special Service Bureau (SSB) officials have beaten up Nepali nationals in a bordering village in Kailali district, reports Monday said. 

A SSB team trespassed into Lalbojhi village in Nepal on Saturday night and manhandled two local men, a Nepal Samacharpatra report said Monday. However, the reason behind their action was not known.

The SSB team of six or seven armed officials also searched two local houses and manhandled the house owners, the report quoting local residents said. The SSB men also made off with a few sacks of chemical fertilizer from the houses. 

Report mentioned that local authorities have feigned ignorance about the incident. nepalnews.com mbk May 3 01

MK Nepal, GP Koirala, Bamdev Gautam arrested

Police this afternoon arrested CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and another senior leader Bamdev Gautam from their residences in Kathmandu, UML sources told Nepalnews on Monday.

Nepal was arrested at around 12:30 pm while Gautam was detained at 1:00 pm on Monday, the source said. Nepal was driven to Halchowk, the headquarters of armed police force. It was not immediately known where Gautam was taken.

Girija Prasad Koirala and his personal assistant, Bal Krisha Dahal were also arrested at 2:45 pm, sources said. They have also been taken to Halchowk.

Nepal asked the security personnel to show arrest warrants, but was taken after being told the security personnel had some work with him, the source said.

Nepal was preparing to partake in a program at Sanchar Gram when he was arrested.

UML is a key parliamentary party in the five parties' grouping which is fighting against the royal move of October 4, 2002. nepalnews.com mr/pd May 03 04

CIAA chief vows to bring corruption under control within 3 years

Suryanath Upadhyay, Chief Commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Sunday promised "concrete" results in the anti-corruption drive, within the next three years. He was speaking at a seminar on "Role of Private Sector and Civic Society in Curbing Corruption" held in Rupandehi.

Published reports quoted Upadhyay, as saying that "Within the next
three years, the CIAA will be able to investigate any kind of corruption-related cases."

He added that for the past two years, the CIAA has been effective in
curbing corruption. However, he stressed that complete control over
corruption will not be possible without addressing the root causes of
corruption. nepalnews.com mr May 03 04

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Government ignoring NHRC: Khatri

Nain Bahadur Khatri, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission NHRC) said on Sunday that the government is not taking the commission's suggestions seriously.

In an interview to The Kathmandu Post on Monday, Khatri said the government has not implemented NHRC's 25-point commitment paper, which was publicized recently.

"We are denied access to detention centres and the whereabouts of many of the detainees is still unknown," he said.

He accused the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) of seeing the NHRC as an adversary. "RNA acts as if it is the government. It organises press 
conferences and sometimes tries to order the commission, " he added. nepalnews.com mr May 03 04

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World Press Freedom Day being observed

World Press Freedom Day is on Monday and various programs have been organised to celebrate it. 

In a statement on Sunday, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) presented many cases of the State violating freedom of press.

In another statement, the United Nations Educational, Cultural and 
Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) appealed to the government to provide security to journalists working during the conflict.

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and Communications Minister Kamal Thapa, released seperate messages where both expressed commitment to safeguard the rights of journalists.

PM Thapa and his Cabinet have been facing protests from journalists for suppressing the freedom of press. nepalnews.com mr May 03 04

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