India grant assistance to MMC

India has agreed to provide a grant assistance amounting to Nrs.25.96 million for strengthening of the physical infrastructure of the Mahendra Multiple Campus (MMC), Dharan, the Indian Embassy said Wednesday.

According to the press statement issued by the Indian Embassy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the grant assistance was signed between the Kathmandu based Indian Embassy, the Dharan Municipality and the Campus Chief of the Mahendra Multiple Campus on Wednesday.

The assistance will be used to construct classrooms, staff rooms, a library, a multi-purpose hall and purchase of furniture, the release added.

A Committee consisting of the Program-in-Charge of Mahendra Multiple Campus, two members of the Campus Management Committee and the District Education Officer, has been constituted to oversee the project and supervise construction and ensure proper utilisation of the grant assistance, the release further stated. nepalnews.com pd may 13 04

Locals beat two Maoists to death in Morang

Two Maoist rebels riding motorcycles defying the strike called by the five parties, were beaten to death by local people in Tetariya VDC of Morang district Tuesday evening, reports said.

The Maoists have been identified as Tek Bahadur Rajbanshi and Leelam Adhikari. Rajbanshi and Adhikari were central member and Vice-President of the Maoists affiliated Federation of Trade Union of Morang district.

Locals confiscated arms and ammunitions from Rajbanshi and Adhikari and handed it to the security forces, the reports further added. nepalnews.com pd may 13 04

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Maoists ready for UN supervised joint conference: Bhattarai 

Reiterating his party's willingness to resolve the current conflict in the country, Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has said that his party was ready for a joint conference with the King and political parties under the supervision of the United Nations (UN), a daily reported Bhattarai as saying.

Dr. Bhattarai, in an e-mail interview with Kantipur daily on Wednesday said, “Unless the trio of the King, political parties and Maoists join hands, no concrete solution to the present political crisis could be achieved.” 

According to the daily, Bhattarai repeatedly stressing on the formation of an interim Government and constitutional assembly said, “The dialogue between the King and political parties individually will not give any result.” nepalnews.com pd May 13 04

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GTZ stops program for Kamaiyas

The German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) has terminated the food security program for the freed kamaiyas (bonded laborers) citing security reasons.

GTZ was working in partnership with a local NGO. As per the previous budget, the organization had planned to construct a 42 kilometer road connecting the Kailali freed Kamaiya camp to the East-West Highway, of which the construction of a 15-km section has already been completed. nepalnews.com pd may 13 04

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EU asked to renew textile export accord

Nepal has asked the European Union (EU) to renew the seven-year-old General System of Preference Facility that provides access to Nepalese textiles to the European market.

Such a request was made during a meeting between the Nepali and EU officials last week, according The Kathmandu Post on Thursday.

On the occasion, Nepali officials further asked the EU counterparts to renew yet another accord -Agreement on Textile Products, that expires in December 2004, the report said.

Opening up a 'trade base' to boost Nepalese exports to European countries, that is currently very nominal, was also on Nepalese agenda during the meeting, it added.

The EU officials, in response, said an EU team will arrive in Nepal within the next month to interact with various stakeholders and discuss bilateral assistance, the report further said.

Prachanda Man Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies led the Nepalese side in the meeting, while Laurence Argimon Pistre, the EU chief for Nepal and Bhutan headed his delegation in the meeting. nepalnews.com mr May 13 04

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King grants audience to three former PMs 

King Gyanendra on Wednesday granted audience to three former Prime Ministers including ex-president of Nepali Congress, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. 

Talking to journalists after the audience, Bhattarai said he is ready to extend 'whatever type of assistance the King seeks from him.'

Asked what he would do, if the King reinstates the Sher Bahadur Deuba government, Bhattarai said, he would support it. "I have been saying from the very beginning that my blessings are with Deuba Congress," the smiling Bhattarai said.

Commenting on the nature of the future PM, he said "the new PM will of course, be better." 

Bhattarai, who led the interim government formed after the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, is now passive in politics. He has been extending support to NC (Democratic) led by Deuba since it split from the parental Nepali Congress party.

The King gave audience to Kirtinidhi Bista, a former PM of the pre-1990 period after Bhattarai. The King is also scheduled to meet another former PM Lokendra Bahadur Chand in the evening. nepalnews.com mr/rh May 12 04

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16 Maoists killed in Bhojpur

The latest reports said over 16 Maoists and two security personnel were killed a clash at Deurali VDC, Bhojpur Wednesday. The shootout began at 8 am and lasted for nearly five hours.

The reports said the fighting erupted after the Maoists who were in the hundreds opened fire at a team of the Armed Police Force that was on patrol in the area. The militants retreated as soon as the army launched air raids. 

APF jawans Sanoj Khadka and Manoj Raj Pandey were killed and four others injured in the incident, reports said. nepalnews.com mbk May 12 04

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Kaski DDC chairman, seven others quit posts

At least eight nominated representatives of local bodies in Kaski district have resigned from their posts Wednesday.

Reports from Pokhara said Kaski District Development Committee chairman Kulman Gurung and six area members have announced their resignation. 

Similarly, mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel and deputy mayor of Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City Harka Bahadur Gurung have also quit their posts. 

Although most of them have cited personal reasons behind the resignations, they are learnt to have been under continuous pressure from the Maoists. nepalnews.com mbk May 12 04

Dhading toll rises to 23; two APF men killed in Bhojpur

The number of deaths in the clash between security forces and the Maoists in Dhading’s Jabankhola on Tuesday evening has reached 23. 16 bodies of the militants were recovered Wednesday morning.

Reports quoting the No. 4 Brigade of the Royal Nepalese Army at Baireni, Dhading said the bodies were found during a search operation.

Seven security personnel including a police inspector were killed in the incident and four injured security men have been undergoing treatment in Kathmandu, the reports added.

Meanwhile, two Armed Police Force personnel were killed in a Maoist attack at Deurali Danda area of Bhojpur district this morning. Two injured personnel have been airlifted to Dharan for treatment, reports said. Casualties on Maoists side are yet to be known. nepalnews.com mbk May 12 04

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Strike passes off peacefully, life remains crippled

The last day of the two-day general strike called by the five parties on Wednesday passed off peacefully, but life remained crippled countrywide. 

According to various reports received by 3 pm Tuesday, the strike mainly affected the urban areas of the country including the capital city. Shops, schools, colleges, business houses remained closed and vehicular movement was negligible. 

In Kathmandu, the strike organisers burnt tyres from early in the morning obstructing road traffic. Many rallies were also taken out extending support to the strike.

Trolley and Sajha Yatayat buses did not operate today, unlike other general strike days. Normal operation in government-owned banking and financial sectors came to a halt as their staff also extended support to the five parties' strike.

Sporadic clashes between the organisers and the police were reported in a few places of the country. In Udaypur, police arrested 22 protesters who marched in rallies supporting the strike.

Meanwhile, the strike organisers were preparing to take out huge rallies at Ratnapark area of Kathmandu at 3:30 pm. nepalnews.com mr May 12 04

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