Cement factory halts production

Udayapur Cement Factory (UCF), Nepal's largest cement factory, has
suspended its production from Tuesday due to the lack of limestone.

According to Kantipur daily, the factory  faced shortage of limestone
because the ropeway used to deliver limestone into the factory had
stopped functioning due to broken gears.

The daily, quoting Ashok Malla, the general manager of the factory, said "We have ordered the necessary parts of the ropeway from Germany. It may take around two to three months for the ordered parts to arrive."

The factory is experiencing a loss of around four million rupees daily
following the suspension of cement production. The daily production
capacity of the UCF is 300 tons. nepalnews.com pd May 12 04

Witchdoctor accused of teaching witchcraft, punished

Residents Lalpati VDC in Saptari district accused Fuji Pundit of teaching witchcraft to a woman of Bavangamakatti VDC and fed him human faeces on Sunday.

The locals tied the 70 year old witchdoctor and abandoned him for a
whole night. The next morning, they fed him human stool, reported The
Kathmandu Post.

Denying the accusation, Pundit said, "when I was treating the wife of
Narayan Mandal, the villagers came in and started to beat me, accusing me of giving her instructions in witchcraft." nepalnews.com pd May 12 04

Maoist blockade leading to hunger

The blockade of food and basic supplies in the Bajhang district by Maoists is leading to starvation in the hilly district. People there have nothing to eat but potatoes, according to reports.

With the blockade in force, most of the people aren't able to purchase basic goods from Channa, the main local market. The neighbouring districts are closed to them as well.

"There is no rice, salt and sugar in the village, [the] only option for us
is to consume potatoes," The Kathmandu Post quoted Mangal Bohara, a local of Kanda Village District Committee as saying.

According to the report, the situation will worsen as the price goods has skyrocketed. A kilogram of rice in Bajhang costs Rs 55. "Despite the skyrocketing prices, finding rice is difficult," the daily further quoted
Bohara as saying. nepalnews.com pd May 12 04

Related News
- Maoist declare blockade in Achham

Kathmanduites come across hottest day

Kathmanduites experienced the hottest day of the year on Tuesday (May 11, 2004) after the capital city's temperature hit 32.4 degree Celsius.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, this was the highest temperature recorded after the onset of summer this year. The previous maximum temperature of Kathmandu Valley this year was 31.7 degree Celsius on Monday (May 10).

"The temperature will continue to rise for the next two to three days, as the western wind is witnessing more dryness," said Rajendra Shrestha, an expert at the Department.

Kathmandu's hottest day so far is May 7, 1989. The day registered a temperature of 36.6 degree Celsius. 
nepalnews.com mr May 12, 2004

Second day of general strike

The second day of the two-day general strike called by the five agitating parties saw no traffic on the roads of Kathmandu Valley Wednesday morning. A large numbers of people were seen walking to reach their destination.

The supporters of the five parties were seen taking part in rallies in various part of Kathmandu requesting people to extend support to the general strike early morning. As observed by our Nepalnews correspondents, shops in the interior parts of city were open, however major marketplaces remained closed.

According to countrywide reports, the general strike has hit normal life across the country particularly in the district headquarters. Big cities in the country have remained largely affected.

No violent incidents were reported until 9:30 am in Kathmandu Valley.

The parties have allowed ambulances and vehicles belonging to the Red Cross, diplomatic missions, press, hospitals and tourists to operate. 

The strike is a part of five parties’ protest programs to pressurize the King to meet their demands. nepalnews.com pd May 12 04 

Related News
- Strike paralyses life countrywide

Two Nepalis hurt in Baghdad blast

Two Nepalis and four other nationals were injured when a bomb went off at a Baghdad hotel in Iraq on Sunday night, according to agency reports on Tuesday.

The bomb blast at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Baghdad tore apart chairs and part of the ceiling in the bar, wounding six people, the reports said.

The bomb was placed outside the hotel. The agency reports did not disclose name of the six injured. nepalnews.com mr May 12 04 

12 Maoists, six troops killed in Dhading

Twelve Maoists and six security personnel, including a police inspector, were killed in skirmishes at Jogimara, Dhading on Tuesday.

Wednesday's published reports, quoting security sources, said, the clashes occurred after the Maoists opened fire at the security forces.

The troops were heading to rescue an ambulance ambushed by the rebels at Jawang Khola area of the district. The ambush wounded three passengers.

One police inspector killed in the encounter has been identified as Mohan Rai, an officer at Gajuri police post of the district. The other security personnel killed in the incident were a police constable and four Royal Nepalese Army soldiers, the reports added. nepalnews.com mr May 12 04

Related News
- Two Maoists killed in Sankhuwasabha 

Policeman stabbed to death

Two assailants stabbed a policeman to death at Kalimati, Kathmandu
Tuesday evening.

Bishnu Ranamagar, a police constable succumbed to injuries within
minutes after he was stabbed on his stomach at around 5.20pm. Ranamagar was on duty at the moment. Police said they were clueless as to who killed him. “It could be an act of the Maoists,” an official at the operation section told Nepalnews at 7:30 pm.

Police told Nepalnews at 9:00 pm that Sambradha Gurung and Surendra Maharhan were the assiliants. They were drug users. nepalnews.com mbk May 11 04

Related News
- Maoists attack passenger bus, kill 13 

King grants audience to Deuba, Rana and Mandal

King Gyanendra granted separate audiences to three political leaders – Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Pashupati Shumshere Rana and Nepal Sadbhawana Party leader Badri Prasad Mandal on Tuesday. 

Deuba reached the palace at 5.30pm and had an audience with the King for nearly half an hour. Following the audience, he told reporters that he has reiterated his demand that of the restoration of his government that was ousted on October 4, 2002. 

“I have repeated my promise that I would hold the general elections after holding talks with the Maoists if my ousted government is restored,” Deuba said. According to him, the King has expressed serious concern for peace and early elections. 

The NC-D president also informed that he has urged the King to give collective audience to the leaders of five agitating political parties as per their demands. “He took the suggestion positively,” he said. 

Meanwhile, NSP leader Mandal and RPP supremo Rana were still inside the palace till this report was prepared (7:45 pm). nepalnews.com mbk May 11 04

Related News
- Koirala, Nepal turn down offer for royal audience

Parties' protest enters 41st day 

The five parties' continuous protest against 'regression' entered its 41st day on Tuesday witnessing more clashes between the police and the protesters in several places.

In Kathmandu, parties marched in rallies and ferried major thoroughfares of the capital city before converging into a mass meeting at Ratnapark. 

General Secretary of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML politburo member Bharat Mohan Adhikari and central leader of Janmorcha Nepal, Pari Thapa, among others, addressed the mass meeting.

They called upon the King to grant a joint audience to the leaders of the five parties' grouping. They said the ongoing movement will stop only when "democracy" is restored fully.

The agitating parties also marched through the streets of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Raghuji Panta, Jagat Raj Shakya as well as other leaders addressed a mass meeting held at Lagankhel.

The 41st day of the protests saw more success also because of the general strike called by the same parties. Today's strike was unique, as government employees also extended support to the five parties' movement closing their offices.

Student supporters were seen burning tires at college areas of the capital from early in the morning. They clashed with the riot police and faced baton charges pelting stones at the latter. 

According to countrywide reports, the five party activists locked the municipality offices in Dharan, Pokhara, Baglung and three municipalities of Jhapa. All 47 VDCs of Jhapa district were also locked.  

The Nepali Congress (Democratic) also took out rallies in protest of the royal move of October 2002. nepalnews.com mr May 11 04

Related News
- Parties not to withdraw protest programs