February 17, 2006

Smart Sanction In The Offing!
The international community is preparing to impose ‘smart sanction’ if the King does not immediately restore the democratic process. On the eve of municipal elections in Nepal , a meeting was organized in Copenhagen , Denmark on the issue of Nepal crisis. A senior Danish Foreign Ministry official informed that the move like ‘smart sanction’ was under discussion. Discussions are on to impose sanction on travel and assets of the King and his aides and to stop the participation of Royal Nepalese Army in peacekeeping missions, said Gert Meinecke, deputy chief of Asian department of Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Smart sanction will be imposed after all other options have failed,” said Meinecke, who has already served as Charge d’Affaires in Kathmandu . Kantipur daily reports.

FNJ Dares Govt. To Pinpoint Media Run By Remote Control
Reacting to the allegations by Home Minister Kamal Thapa and State Minister for Information Shrish Rana that a section of media were operated by remote control, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nishthuri has challenged the government to pinpoint such media. “I dare the government to point out such media so that we can also investigate and take action. Otherwise, the remarks by unconstitutional ministers have no meaning,” Nishthuri said. Mahendra Bista, general secretary of FNJ, added that if there was any remote control operating the media, it is in the hands of Nepalese people. Leading dailies report.

India For Constitutional Monarchy
Indian Union Minister of Urban Development, Jaipal Reddy, said that India was for constitutional monarchy in Nepal . “We believe there must be constitutional monarchy in Nepal . That is given the history and choices in hand,” Reddy told reporter in Hyderabad , hastening to add that “there cannot be any kind of medieval monarchy, though.” Reddy said the King should act in such a way that the main political parties are invoked in the process, adding the Indian side was “not becoming loud on pushing the political process forward in Nepal , but using diplomatic channels.” This is being done, he said, with a view to “continually pressurize Nepal ’s King to do the needful.” The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Efforts On To Free Nepali Hostages In Kabul
Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry Shankar Bairagi has said that the Nepalese Embassy in Pakistan has been directed to initiate efforts to release two Nepalis kidnapped from the Afghanistan capital Kabul . He said the Nepali ambassador at Islamabad has urged the Afghan government to initiate efforts for their release. The two Nepalis have been identified as Chet Narayan Pun of Pokhara and Tham Singh Rana of Kathmandu . “So far no information has been received about the kidnappers and the motive behind their act,” said Pushkar Man Singh Rajbhandari, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Pakistan . Leading dailies report.

Schools In Tansen Closed Due To Fear
Even after two weeks have passed since the Maoists launched ferocious attack against it, the residents of ravaged city of Tansen – the headquarters of Palpa district – are yet to overcome the fear and terror. Testimony to this fear is the locked up schools of Tansen. Students of schools and colleges have still not been able to attend their classes, which has resulted in their closing. The Maoists attacked Tansen on January 31. According to teachers, the students are in mental trauma since the Maoists had exploded bombs nearby each house in the city. “Amid such environment of fear, how can they come for studies,” said Min Bahadur KC, principal of Srinagar Prashanti Boarding School . In fact, children have not been able to venture out of their houses even. Bandhs and rumors of another attack has resulted in such situation. The government offices, whose buildings were ravaged during the attack, have started resuming their services. Kantipur daily reports.

Govt. Reacts Strongly Against Int’l Criticisms
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, expressed “total objection” to some statements made by a “few countries” on the municipal elections in Nepal and has asked them to refrain from making any “insolent” comments on matters that fall “essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country.” The Ministry stated, “The Government of Nepal finds the statements made by a few countries on the municipal elections as totally objectionable and asks them to refrain from making such insolent comments on matters that fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign country. Demanding democracy and criticizing the polls aimed at restoring democracy is nothing more than a paradox in itself.” It adds that the government finds it incomprehensible why some countries have gone to the extent of deploring the municipal elections instead of appreciating the sincere efforts made to put derailed democracy back on track after a gap of seven years. The government strongly calls for the “avoidance of double standards” by those who maintain it is dealing with such critical issues as democracy and terrorism, it said. Stating that the government “firmly believes” that municipal elections were a clear popular victory against terror that has derailed democracy for years, the statement said the elections were held against the backdrop of the killing of some candidates and persistent threats to kill more, physical obstructions restricting the movement of candidates and voters. The “successful holding of elections without any incident of rigging, booth capturing and manipulation” during the polls underline the sanctity of the elections, the statement said, adding, “The people have indomitably thwarted all attempts aimed at constraining the exercise of their fundamental democratic right.” The statement said elections alone can provide constitutional legitimacy to power. The government would be “grateful to be enlightened if there is a substitute for the elections” in a democracy, the statement said. “The political parties were not debarred from participating in the municipal polls. In fact they were repeatedly asked to participate in the polls. By putting aside their faith in democracy, they themselves decided to boycott the polls at any cost,” it said. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

17 Security Personnel And 4 Maoists Killed In Nawalparasi
Following the ambush explosion by the Maoists and subsequent clash in Sunwal-Butwal section of Mahendra Highway on Thursday (February 9) night, 17 security personnel and four Maoists have been killed. Over 20 have been injured. Following the attack, the Maoists abducted 12 security personnel. The Maoists have claimed that they have seized a number of modern weapons. Leading dailies report.

Chinese Official’s Visit Put Off By A Month
The visit by State Counselor Tang Jiaxuan of China has been put off by a month. He was scheduled to start his visit to Nepal next week. High-level diplomatic sources informed that the visit has been rescheduled to March 16. The sources said the Chinese official needed to participate in the meeting of Chinese Congress leading to the postponement. The visit by the State Counselor has been seen with growing interest here in Nepal . He is visiting the country at the invitation of vice chairperson of Council of Ministers Kirti Nidhi Bista. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

Saptakosi DPR Work Begins
Works have been initiated from Baraha region to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Saptakosi High Dam Multipurpose Project. Source at the Ministry of Water Resources informed that the works have begun with the Indian support and that they would be completed by 2006. The Indian government had set aside Rs 470 million for the purpose of preparing its DPR after Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh accorded high priority to the project last July. A joint task force including Arjun Prasad Shrestha, former director general of Department of Electricity Development, and A.K. Jain, of Indian Central Water Board, has started DPR works. The project aims to build 269 m high dam in Saptakosi river between Ahale VDC of Dhankuta and Nainanaini VDC of Udayapur. Source said that currently, soil test is being carried out there. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

Bill Inspectors In The Offing
The government is preparing to recruit 1000 bill inspector with the sole purpose of monitoring and strictly enforcing the practice of ‘exchange of proper bills and invoice.’ “I will dispatch around 100 such bill inspectors who will monitor the markets and inquire about the exchange of bills. They will inquire with the buyers and if any trader is found not providing bills, he/she will be fined Rs 5000,” informed Dr. Roop Jyoti, Minister of State for Finance. He said persons providing information leading up to discovery of (lack of practice of providing bills upon purchase) will also be rewarded handsomely. Addressing a press meet, Dr. Jyoti also informed that the government was planning to purchase bills from buyers in order to encourage the practice of demanding bills from sellers. The government expects to increase revenue collection by up to 25 to 35 percent with these moves. Compiled from reports.

Bomb Exploded In Ratnapark
Suspected Maoists exploded a crude bomb in Ratnapark – a crowded city center in the heart of the capital. The bomb, which was planted in a garbage can, exploded at around three in the afternoon. Luckily, there were no casualties from the explosion. Likewise, a bomb also exploded in Bhaktapur municipality. Leading dailies reports.

Peace Rally Organized

At a time when larger population have resorted to chanting slogans, pelting stones, vandalizing private and public properties and throwing harsh criticisms to their opponents, thousands of women representing eighteen different social organizations took part in a peaceful rally abstaining from everything that would evoke violence.

The rally that started from Basantapur on February 3, went through different nooks and corners excepting the prohibited zones.

The participants of the rally were clad in blue attire, hair tied with blue ribbon and carried blue colored banners and placards, where slogans to end violence were written. No slogans were chanted during the rally and no political-type speech was given at the corner meeting before concluding the rally.

Women's campaign for peace organized the rally urging all concerned parties for dialogue and reconciliation for the restoration of peace in the country.

"The main objective of the rally is to send a message to the mass that for the establishment of peace we should not only end physical violence, but also 'violence of ideas' by starting a trend to respect others' ideas and feelings," said Istala Tamang, representing the organizers.

Of the eighteen participating organizations were Forum of South- Asian Indigenous Women, Tamang Ghedung Women, Human Rights Communication Foundation, Civil Voice, Looz Misa Poocha, White Rose, Women Awareness Society, Tharu Women Consciousness Center , among others.