Nepalnews.com (newsflash) Archive August 2004

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, has expressed concern over what it said the deepening crisis facing journalists in Nepal and that it was going to send a delegation to Kathmandu later this month to show support for Nepalese journalists and media workers.

"The situation in Nepal is going from bad to worse," said IFJ President Christopher Warren. "The continued violence directed towards the Nepalese media, including killings, detention, abduction and intimidation of journalists, media workers and media organisations can not be allowed to continue," said Warren, in a statement issued on Thursday.

The last month has seen a litany of press freedom violations including two media deaths, abductions, intimidation and riots directed towards the media, the IFJ said.

On 2 September 2004, Bijaya Mishra, journalist for Kantipur in Siraha, eastern Nepal received death threats from CPN-Maoists for failing to report the arrest of a local CPN-Maoist leader. Mishra was told he would suffer the same fate as murdered journalist Dekendra Thapa who was killed on 11 August.

On 1 September, half a dozen media workers were injured when riots broke out following the murder of 12 Nepalese nationals kidnapped in Iraq. Crowds set fire to vans and motorcycles and wrecked equipment inside the offices of Kantipur Publications and Kantipur Television. Channel Nepal and Space Time Network were also attacked destroying vehicles, cameras and computers.

On 29 August, there were three separate incidents of attacks against journalists, including the killing of Badri Khadka, a reporter with pro-Maoist Janadesh weekly by security forces, the torture of Anup Gurung by CPN-Maoists and the assault of Raju Timilsina.

Last month, the rebels had murdered Dekendra Raj Thapa, a reporter with the state-run Radio Nepal in Dailekh district.

In response to the current crisis in Nepal, a resolution was passed by journalists representing 20 journalists' organsiations from 14 countries at the IFJ Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting in Colombo from 21-23 August 2004 calling for all sides in Nepal to stop targeting the media and to respect and protect Nepalese citizens' fundamental right to a free and independent media, the statement said. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

The prison at Sundarijal- at the outskirts of Kathmandu where the first popularly elected prime minister of Nepal, B. P. Koirala, spent nearly ten years- is being turned into a museum in his memory.

The B. P. museum committee announced the initiative on the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of late Koirala in the capital Thursday.

The committee has proposed to turn the historic prison-where late Koirala had spent ten years during the pro-democracy movement- into a museum highlighting different aspects of life and times of the veteran politician.

B. P. Koirala was put behind bars at the high security prison manned by the Royal Nepalese Army between 1961-68 and 1977-79. Senior Congress leaders, late Ganesh Man Singh, late Yogendra Man Sherchan and late Dewan Singh Rai were also put behind bars together with Koirala after late King Mahendra sacked the popularly elected government, dismissed the parliamentary system in 1960 and later introduced 'partyless' Panchayat polity.

Former Prime Minister K. P. Bhattarai is the only surviving NC leader who had spent more than a decade at the same prison.

Late Koirala has portrayed vivid description of his days at Sundarijal prison in his memoir, "Jail Journal." He is known for espousing the policy of "national unity and reconciliation" during the later stages of his political career. Late Koirala said unity and understanding between the King and political parties in the country was a must to preserve Nepal's sovereignty and fulfill democratic aspirations of the people.

Nepal's two immediate neighbours, India and China, have helped in the construction of B. P. Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences at Dharan and B. P. Koirala Cancer hospital at Chitwan respectively in memory of the late statesman. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

An umbrella organisation of private schools in the country, the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation of Nepal (PABSON) has asked its members to re-open their schools in western Gandaki region from Sunday.

This decision was taken by a regional conference of PABSON representatives in Pokhara. "We have been compelled to take such a decision as the pro-Maoist student organisation did not take any initiative to withdraw the closure even after the authorities fulfilled their demands," said Umesh Shrestha, president of PABSON.

All Nepal National Free Students Union - Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R), student wing of the underground CPN (Maoist), had asked all the schools in the region to close down for an indefinite period demanding that the local administration make public two of its members taken into custody in Kaski. The district administration in Kaski recently said the duo were in its custody.

Regular study of over 700,000 students in nearly 3000 private and 2000 public schools in Kaski, Chitwan and other districts of the western region remains disrupted following the call for indefinite closure of educational institutions in the 'Gandak region' imposed by the Maoist student wing for the last several weeks. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

Property worth over 1.5 billion rupees was destroyed during violent protests over the killing of 12 Nepalis in Iraq last month, newspaper reports said.

Passports of Nepali citizens worth over Rs six million were destroyed during the protests, according to a news report in Kantipur daily on Thursday.

The daily quoted Dan Bahadur Tamang of Nepal Foreign Employment Agencies Association as saying that Kathmandu-based employment agencies had incurred a loss of over one billion rupees due to vandalism at the offices of 279 manpower agencies in the capital.

Moreover, 59,163 passports were destroyed among which 2,651 passports had been affixed with visas, Tamang said.

Property worth nearly Rs 40 million was destroyed when a mob entered into the premises of Space Time Publications and Channel Nepal and engaged into rampage. Similarly, property worth an estimated Rs 35 million was destroyed due to vandalism at the offices of Kantipur Publications and Kantipur TV, the media houses said.

According to the daily, property worth over Rs 100 million were destroyed when mobs attacked offices of the General Sales Agent of the Qatar Airways, Air Sahara, Himalayan Snacks and Noodles, HP Gas, International Motorcycle Spare parts, Manitara Shopping Center, Zenith Travel and Tours, SSI Communications, World Distribution (P) Ltd., Nepal Soft Solution and APTEC. All these offices were housed at Siddhi Bhawan in Kantipath.

In separate incidents, a mob destroyed property worth over Rs 15 million at Jame masjid and Kashmiri Mosque at Ghantaghar.

Follows details of estimated loss that was incurred due to arson and vandalism on Wednesday when security forces in the capital turned into mute spectators for hours. The government has set up a judicial commission to probe into the September 1 incidents and has said it would provide compensation after assessing damages.

Manpower agencies	1 b
Passports	60 m
Siddhi Bhawan	45m
Kantipur Publications	35 m
Channel Nepal and Space Time	40m
GSA office of Qatar Airways	20m
Kashmiri Mosque	10m
Jame Mosque	5m
GSA office of Air Sahara	4.5m
Zenith Travel and Cargo	1.5m
GSA office of Gulf Air	1.1m
National Web College	3.6m
Labor Department	2m
World Distribution and other offices	8m
Source: Kantipur daily

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is to meet and hold dialogue with his Indian counterpart, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi Thursday.

The Nepali premier is also scheduled to meet President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, Indian External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivaraj Patil and Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.

Nepal is expected to urge the Indian side for the latter's further cooperation to resolve the problem of Maoist insurgency in Nepal. The Prime Minister will try to persuade India to accept some sort of United Nations' presence or facilitation to resolve the issue. India has said it is up to Nepal whether to involve UN or not. Former Indian envoy, Shyam Saran, had said India believed that Nepal could resolve this problem internally.

The two sides are also expected to sign a few agreements on economic cooperation and cultural exchange during the premier's visit. Deuba had left for New Delhi leading over a five-dozen strong entourage on a five-day "goodwill visit" Wednesday. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

As thousands of people have vacated their houses in the headquarters of eastern districts of Ilam and Panchthar amid Maoist threats, local authorities said they have made adequate arrangements for security.

Kantipur daily reported Thursday that Ilam bazaar wore a deserted look as people fled to safety following the Maoist 'decree' to local residents to vacate the district headquarters by September 9. The Maoists said they were going to attack Ilam district headquarters anytime soon.

Not only the local people but also the employees and chiefs of government offices have already left the district amidst Maoist threats. Even the doctors at the district hospital in Ilam have left the district, the news report said.

Local hotels and lodges at Birtamod in nearby Jhapa district have been crowded by people who have come there leaving their houses in Ilam and Panchthar. Some 20,000 people have already left these two districts amid Maoist threats, reports said.

Meanwhile, security forces have tightened security in the headquarters of all the eastern districts. Deputy Inspector General of Armed Police Force in Eastern Region, Gyanendra Raj Rai said he did not see any possibility of Maoist attacks in the region in immediate future. He said security forces were carrying out land and aerial patrolling and that there was no need to panic.

A team of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that reached the area has blamed both the Maoists and the government of terrifying local people. "Since the security forces were limiting themselves to barracks, local people had no choice but to flee their houses," said Sushil Pyakuryal, member of the NHRC. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

Former Prime Minister and leader of Nepali Congress, Girija Prasad Koirala, has claimed that all three governments appointed by King Gyanendra after assuming executive powers two years ago have failed.

Addressing the party activists at NC's headquarters at Teku Wednesday, Koirala said the incumbent Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had also failed as it could not provide security even in the capital during last week's protests.

He also demanded resignation of the coalition led by Deuba. Koirala's criticism came on the day premier Deuba embarked on an official visit to New Delhi.

Earlier, Koirala had termed last Wednesday's rampage as part of a "grand design" against democracy. He has not elaborated.

The former prime minister also asked his party workers to actively take part in the 'anti-regression' movement. NC terms the royal move of October 2002 as `regression' and has been demanding restoration of the dissolved parliament as a prerequisite to revive the country's constitution. nepalnews.com by Sep 08 04

The Department of Labor would distribute over 7,500 passports, which were confiscated by police in course of the vandalism carried out by demonstrators at the offices of different foreign employment agencies on September 1, from Thursday, the national news agency said.

The passports would be distributed to the individuals or to the concerned foreign employment agencies, the report added.

A list of all confiscated passports will be put up on the notice board at the department today (Thursday), it is stated.

Arrangements have been made under which individuals who have lost their passports will have to be present in the department with their identity certificates or the foreign employment entrepreneurs can take the passports on the basis of proof that the affected persons submitted their passports to the agency concerned, according to the department.

Many passports collected from various parts of Kathmandu valley have been affixed with visas. nepalnews.com pd Sep 09 04

The apex court on Thursday issued a stay order on the arrest of former minister and senior leader of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Chiranjibi Wagle till it decides on his plea seeking bail and challenging the Special Court verdict against him.

Wagle, who appeared before the court on Wednesday, had filed the application at the Supreme Court requesting bail for the 2-year imprisonment decision handed down to him by the Special Court on July 22.

The former minister had sought bail under section 194 of the Court Management Chapter of the Civil Code. nepalnews.com pd Sep 09 04

The Indian government has clarified that it has not blocked supply of petroleum products to Nepal.

Reacting to Nepali media reports, the Indian embassy said Wednesday evening that the Central Board of Excise and Customs of India had issued a notification on Saturday (4 September) withdrawing the facility of removal of petroleum products without payment of excise duty from the factory of production to warehouses or from one warehouse to another with effect from Monday (6 September).

However, the facility of removal of petroleum products without payment of duty for export warehouses was not covered by this notification and continues to be available, said the embassy.

Government of India has further clarified that to ensure that there is no impediment to export of petroleum products without payment of duty under bond, including to Nepal, this facility stands extended to all exporters of petroleum products and without any restrictions on places where warehouses for exports can be established, the statement issued by Sanjay Verma, first secretary and spokesperson of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, said.

The Government of India (GOI) has directed that all requirements for designating warehouses as export warehouses be completed immediately without affecting in any way the export of petroleum products. The GOI has also instructed the concerned field officers to ensure that petroleum products continue to be supplied to Nepal under the existing arrangement, the statement said.

Government of India is committed to facilitating supply of petroleum products to Nepal and welcomes in this context the MoU between IOC and NOC for setting up of an oil pipeline from Raxaul to Amlekhgunj, which is to be signed during the visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the embassy said.

Earlier, leading Kathmandu dailies had reported Wednesday that Indian authorities had slapped high taxes on petroleum supplies to Nepal on the eve of premier Deuba's visit to Delhi.

Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) before flying to New Delhi Wednesday afternoon, premier Deuba said he would raise the issue with the Indian authorities. He did not elaborate. nepalnews.com by Sep 08 04