Security tightened at Nepali embassy in Islamabad

Pakistan has tightened security at the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Islamabad following threats by some Islamic extremist groups, reports said.

The security was tightened following a news report published in The News, a leading Pakistani newspaper. The newspaper reported some extremist groups as saying that they would target the Nepali embassy in retaliation of attacks at two mosques in the Nepali capital.

A mob had also targeted manpower agencies and offices of General Sales Agents of some international airlines following the execution of 12 Nepali youths by an Islamic group. The mob had taken full advantage of lax security in the Nepali capital for hours.

Kantipur daily, however, quoted Royal Nepalese ambassador for Pakistan, Puskar Man Singh Rajbhandari, as saying that he had not received any threats in writing or over telephone so far. He said some half a dozen members of parliament from the Jamat-e-Islamic party of Pakistan had called on him and inquired about attacks on mosques in Kathmandu.

He said the Pakistani government had provided additional security to the Nepali embassy upon its request last week. "But, we haven't requested them for additional security this time (following the newspaper threats)," he added. nepalnews.com by Sep 10 04

Nepal Telecom to issue 58,000 pre-paid mobile lines in Kathmandu

In a bid to meet the increasing demands of mobile lines in Kathmandu, the state-owned telecommunications service provider - Nepal Telecom (NT)- has decided to issue an additional 58,000 pre-paid mobile lines before Nepal’s national festival, Dashain, reports said. 

According to the Kantipur daily, NT will also cut the charges for the post-paid mobile services. NT had issued 41,500 pre-paid mobile phones in the beginning of July. 

The state-owned telecommunications service provider has issued around 1,20,000 pre-paid lines and around 75,000 post-paid lines in major cities of the country. nepalnews.com pd Sep 10 04 

Govt. hikes airfare

The government has increased the airfare of domestic airlines by Rs 4.20 fuel surcharge per passengers for a minute distance with effect from Friday.

The increase in the airfare was made after the Air Operators’ Association of Nepal (AOAN) asked the government to increase the fare following the rise in the price of aviation fuel.

With the decision, ticket prices on the Nepal’s domestic sectors have raised by Rs 80 to Rs 400, depending on the travel distances.

The government had increased the price of aviation fuel by Rs 13 per liter on August 13. nepalnews.com pd Sep 10 04

ANNISU-R to lift educational strike

The Maoists aligned student’s organization - All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) - has said that it would lift the educational strike called in the Gandak region, Hetauda, Birgunj, Bara and Chitwan districts “very soon”. 

An indefinite strike was called in the area for over three weeks, in the protest of killings and arrests of their leaders by the security forces. Over 5,000 educational institutions and over 700,000 students have been affected due to the strike. 

Talking to Sagarmatha FM on Thursday evening ANNISU-R president Lekhnath Neupane said that the ANNISU-R decided to withdraw the strike considering the future of students. 

He also said that the union would adopt other forms of struggle against the government without hampering the educational calendar. “The central office of the union will direct the local committees to withdraw the strike,” he said.

Saying that the ANNISU-R was always ready for talks with the government to resolve the irregularities in the current educational system, Parajuli accused the government for not creating suitable environment for the same.

Neupane said that the student body has urged the TU to publish the schedule and hold the postponed examinations in the area during the period, according to the Annapurna Post. nepalnews.com pd Sep 10 04 

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Nepal, India sign MoU on oil pipeline construction

Nepal and India Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on setting up a 35km petroleum pipeline from Raxaul to Amlekhganj.

Chairman of Nepal Oil Corporation Dr Upendra Koirala and chairman of Indian Oil Corporation signed the MoU at a meeting organized at Hyderabad House, New Delhi. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and other delegates of both countries were present on the occasion.

Similarly, according to state-owned Nepal Television, another MoU on endorsing the quality standard marks of both countries was also signed today. Earlier at the same program, Nepal and India had signed separate agreements on cultural exchange and the Indian cooperation in developing weather forecast mechanism in Nepal. nepalnews.com mbk Sept 09 04

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Normalcy returns to Ilam Bazaar

Normalcy is returning in Ilam Baazar, the district headquarters of Ilam, as the Maoist threat of a major attack turns out to be a hoax while security has been beefed up. 

According to reports, people who had fled following a Maoist decree issued a month ago to evacuate the district headquarters have started returning to their homes. On Thursday, educational institutions, industries and shops reopened while vehicular movement also resumed from Thursday morning. 

Thousands of people in the district headquarters had fled to safety in view of a bloody attack by the rebels. The Maoists had threatened that they were going to launch a heavy raid on Wednesday. Security forces had launched aerial surveillance and a large number of troops were deployed on the ground from Tuesday.

However, the threat is still there, which has forced the security forces to maintain high alert, reports said. nepalnews.com mbk Sept 09 04

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Austrian Airlines to resume flights

Austrian Airlines is to resume its operation in Nepal from September 16. Flights to Nepal remain suspended from mid-May this year due to slump in tourism thanks to the unending conflict.

Austrian Airlines’ general sales agent Bharat Basnet told Nepalnews that the Airlines’ Vienna-based management has decided to resume the Vienna-Kathmandu-Vienna flights. "Flights are being resumed as per decision taken months earlier," he informed.

Although the security situation is much the same and the downturn in tourism continues, he said the airlines’ business prospects were not bad as it is the sole airlines operating from Europe.

The Airlines is restarting the flights, twice a week, with its Airbus 340. "We expect an average business," Basnet said. nepalnews.com mbk Sept 09 04

World Buddhist Summit to be held in Lumbini

The second World Buddhist Summit is being organized in Lumbini from November 30 to December.

Organizing a press conference Thursday, the Ministry of the Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation informed that the Summit is being organized with an aim to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, as an attraction for all peace-loving people around the world. 

Over 250 Buddhist religious leaders and distinguished guests from different countries are expected to participate at the Summit.

Speaking at the press conference, minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Deep Kumar Upadhyaya made it known that heads of governments of all SAARC countries will be invited at the Summit for which special steps will be taken. He was of the view that development of Lumbini was important from the tourism point of view as well. nepalnews.com mbk Sept 09 04

Maoists announce two-day general strike in protest of killing of central leaders

The Maoist rebels have declared a general strike in Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Bagmati and Narayani zones on September 28 and 29 in protest of the recent killings of their central leaders by the security forces.

Issuing a press statement today, the Eastern Central Command of the Maoist party announced closure of industries, businesses, educational institutions, transportation and all offices in the above zones during the period of the general strike.

Maoist central leader Sherman Singh Kunwar and alternative central leader Mohan Chandra Gautam were killed by government security forces on September 5 in the Dhanswar area of Siraha district while returning from a central committee meeting of the Maoist party. nepalnews.com amt Sept 09 04

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PM Deuba holds meeting with Indian PM, requests for military assistance: Reports

On the first day of his goodwill visit to India, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held dialogue with his Indian counterpart, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi Thursday.

The details were not immediately available, but reports said premier Deuba urged the Indian government for further Indian assistance to tackle with the Maoist insurgency in the country.

According to the website of New Delhi Television, a leading private sector media group, Nepal is seeking logistical help and paraphernalia like armored vehicles and arms and ammunitions from India.

With a long and porous border with Nepal, India is also concerned over possible spillover of Maoist problem in states like U P, Bihar, Uttaranchal and Assam, the report said.

India has provided logistics, training, arms and ammunition to the Royal Nepalese Army for its counter-insurgency operations over the past few years.

Nepali officials have not divulged information regarding the contents of discussions between the two leaders.

Meanwhile, officials of both the countries signed on two memorandum of understandings in the presence of prime minister Deuba and Dr. Singh at the Hyderabad House. Foreign Secretary, Madhu Raman Acharya, and his Indian counterpart, Shyam Saran, signed on an MoU for extending cooperation between the two countries on cultural and sports sector.

Similarly, an agreement was signed to exchange information on weather forecast between the two countries at the joint secretary level. The MoU provides for the setting up of an INSAT Ground Receiving Facility in Nepal under grant assistance from the Indian Government.

Premier Singh also hosted a lunch in honour of premier Deuba and the Nepali delegation today.

Earlier, Indian Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh called on premier Deuba and discussed various issues of bilateral relations, reports said.

Prime Minister Deuba also called on President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam. He is scheduled to meet other senior officials of the government of India later in the day. nepalnews.com by Sep 09 04

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