Aug 11, 2006

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has reiterated that in democracy all actors must be given appropriate space. “We should give space to everyone including the Maoists and the King in democracy. Otherwise, anyone who does not get any space will be frustrated,” PM Koirala told a visiting delegation of business leaders belonging to the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). The 84-year-old PM has been favoring the line of ceremonial monarchy. His latest remarks come at a time when the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee (ICDC) is completing the draft of the interim statute. PM Koirala also told the business leaders who were invited to his official residence in Baluwatar on the occasion of 40 th anniversary of FNCCI that he was actively engaged to bring even undemocratic forces within the umbrella of democracy. “I am working to bring the Maoists to the mainstream through negotiations. If this can be done, it will provide a model for others to follow,” he said. Koirala said that negotiations with the Maoists were being held on the basis of ‘give and take.’ He listed four major jobs before the government: ending of autocracy, maintaining peace and security, full democracy and making people sovereign. He did not speak on the issue of arms management, though. “The government has a particular duty. It cannot go on speaking in the same language as the Maoists. It has to perform remaining within constitutional limits,” he said. Kantipur daily reports.

Parliament Asks Govt To Speed Up Formulation Of New Military Act

The parliament has criticized the government for the delay in the introduction of new military act to replace the existing one. The meeting of the House of Representatives Declaration Implementation Committee, on Sunday, decided to ask the government about the progress on matters of forming National Security Council and changing national insignia. “Why the government is delaying in introducing new military act? The parliament general secretary must start inquiring with the government’s chief secretary,” said Subas Nemwang, Speaker and chairman of the committee. Meanwhile, the Rayamajhi Commission interrogated former chief of Royal Palace Military Secretariat General Gajendra Limbu regarding his alleged role in repression of the people’s movement. Replying to the queries, General Limbu denied any role in the repression. He said that the Secretariat only played the role of a bridge between army and the King. Likewise, the Commission also interrogated generals Kiran Shumsher Thapa, Kul Bahadur Khadka and colonel Suresh Kumar Karki on Sunday. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Abduct ANNFSU Worker

Maoists have abducted a worker of UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) in Baglung district. Hari Prasad Tiwari was abducted from Gwalichaur VDC in western Baglung, according to a press statement issued by ANNFSU. Tiwari has been abducted since August 2 and his whereabouts are unknown. The ANNFSU has condemned his abducted and demanded safe release. Leading dailies report.

Civil Society Demand Dissolution Of HoR

Civil Society activists demanded dissolution of House of Representatives stating that it is an obstruction to the path of establishing democratic republic. Addressing a mass meeting in Basantapur, they alleged that the seven parties were not working as per the spirit of the people’s movement. Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, leader of the Civil Society Movement for Peace and Democracy, said that the parliament should be dissolved and dates for Constituent Assembly elections announced immediately. “Otherwise, we will hold nationwide agitation,” he added. Leading dailies report.

Sports Sector Approves A New National Song

The National Sports Council (NSC) has approved a new national song to be played when Nepalese athletes bag award during the forthcoming 10 th South Asian Games (SAG) in Colombo , Sri Lanka . It has approved to play a sports song “Hami Nepali, Hami Kheladi” (We Nepalese, We Players) replacing the current national anthem, which is in the process of being replaced by a new national anthem. The new sports song has been written by Durga Lal Shrestha and its music has been composed by Nhyoo Bajracharya. Likewise, the NSC has also unveiled its new insignia. In the10th SAG, 323-member Nepalese delegation will be attending including 280 players. Leading dailies report.

Arms Management In Three Phases Proposed

After the Maoists stuck to their position on arms management, the government has started negotiating with them with a fresh proposal calling for the management in three phases. As per the proposal, in the first phase the Maoist combatants would be put in a temporary camp along with their weapons. In the second phase, the UN would be called to decide the modality of arms management. In the third phase, the Maoist combatants and weapons would be separated during the process of forming interim parliament or before the Constituent Assembly elections. “We started discussion (on these matters) since Saturday,” said a source. The Maoists, on the other hand, have shown positive attitude towards arms management but have put forth a condition that there should be a package agreement on political issues as well. “Maoists want to be assured politically on issues such as interim parliament, and procedure of CA,” said a member of government talks team, adding, “Now we would also be considering that.” Both the talks teams of the government and the Maoists were busy discussing the issue of arms management on Saturday. The government had made the fresh proposal since it needs to send a common letter along with the Maoists to the UN by Wednesday. Meanwhile, chief of Nepal Office of UN OHCHR Ian Martin has advised the government and the Maoists to send their joint letter by Monday afternoon. Kantipur daily reports.

Lack Of Uniform Positions Complicates Interim Constitution Making Process

The lack of unanimity between political parties and the Maoists on basic issues such as interim parliament and arms management has complicated the process of making interim constitution. “It has become difficult to draft the interim constitution because of lack of common positions,’ said Laxman Aryal, chairman of the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee (ICDC). Differing viewpoints have been presented to the ICDC by various political parties on issues like preamble of the constitution, procedure of CA, electoral system, interim parliament’s structure, status of the King and arms management. Aryal, however, added that despite these difficulties the committee would complete the draft within time. He Committee needs to present its draft by Wednesday. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists Clash With Restaurant Operator

Over 25 persons were injured when Maoist cadres attacked a restaurant in Jorpati accusing that its operator thrashed a carpet factory worker. Due to the incident the Jorpati area remained tense from Friday night till Saturday afternoon. Reports say that a carpet worker Dambar Shrestha was beaten by restaurant operator Arjun Shrestha over a minor issue. Following the incident, cadres of Maoists barged into “The King’s Bar” restaurant and attacked it. According to local people, the cadres also thrashed motorcycle riders in the vicinity and vandalized some motorcycles. They later took Arjun Shrestha to police demanding action for beating their cadre. Later on, the police facilitated an understanding among the Maoist cadres, civil society representatives and victims. Kantipur daily reports.

Minister Warns Of Civil War

The Minister for Commerce, Industry and Supplies and General Secretary of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi), Hridayesh Tripathi, said the nation would witness civil war if the problem of citizenship certificate of Madhesi people was not solved before constituent assembly poll. Addressing the first district convention of NSP-Anandidevi organized in Birgunj on Saturday, Tripathi said, “We would not allow election to the CA until the citizenship certificate problem of Madhesi community was solved. Otherwise, the country would see another civil war.” Tripathi said if the citizenship issue led to a rebellion, he would not hesitate to lead it. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

UN Team Returns, Arms Management Issues Still Not Settled

The United Nations team led by Staffan de Mistura ended its week-long trip and returned home on Thursday (August 3). Their expectation to have a broad understanding on the thorny issue of arms management by Thursday afternoon could not materialize as the Maoists refused to budge from their position ‘no decommissioning till CA elections are held’ during the meeting between the two talks team on the same day. “It seems we will have to hold another meeting to agree on some technical aspects of arms management,” said Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, who is also the chief of the government talks team, after the meeting. Mistura’s team even delayed its flight by over an hour in the hope that the two sides would bury their differences and produce a common letter to the UN. Talking to reporters at Tribhuwan International Airport , Mistura said the UN can provide help in the Nepalese peace process in four areas – arms and armies’ management, electoral assistance, monitoring of ceasefire code of conduct and expansion of human rights activities. Mistura hoped to receive a joint letter by the government and the Maoists within one week so that he can submit a concrete report on expected UN assistance to the Secretary General Kofi Annan. Earlier on the day, Mistura had met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Leading dailies report.

COAS General Thapa Records His Statement At Rayamajhi Commission

Chief of General Staff General Pyara Jung Thapa appeared before the Rayamajhi Commission on Thursday (August 3). At the outset he regretted over the misunderstanding about his absence from the commission on Sunday. He said he had informed the Prime Minister about his trip to Pokhara on that day. Commission chairman Krishna Jung Rayamajhi and members Harihar Birahi and Ram Prasad Shrestha asked him around 50 questions for over four hours. They mainly inquired about the alleged role of the army in the repression of the people’s movement and also those about the abuse of power, alleged army directives to suspend mobile phone lines and communication, media etc. Replying the queries, General Thapa declined the army hand in the repression of the movement. He said that the army “just carried out the orders of the state.” When asked about the deaths of 21 persons, General Thapa replied that the security forces had exercised maximum restraint and said that compared to the huge mass movement, the destructions were minimum. “We had applied maximum restraint. Perhaps, the history may evaluate us,” he reportedly answered. Likewise, when asked about the severing of mobile lines and communication media, General Thapa only said, “the army should not have been given such role.” Talking to reporters after recording his statement, General Thapa said that the army, too, had suffered from huge casualties and deaths of 900 soldiers when mobilized against the Maoists. General Thapa has agreed to appear before the commission if called again. Meanwhile, security forces arrested five persons from the premises of the Commission who were demonstrating against General Thapa alleging that they were injured during people’s movement. Kantipur daily reports.