Bomb Exploded In The Residence Of Father Of Army Chief
Maoists have exploded bomb at the residence of Tej Jung Thapa, father of army chief General Pyara Jung Thapa. The bomb damaged the gates of the house in which Tej Jung Thapa – an elderly person of 86 years of age – lives alone. Security sources said no security personnel was deployed in his residence in Besigaun of Jorpati. Defense Ministry has issued a statement condemning the bombing and said it confirmed the Maoist strategy of targeting innocent and unarmed family members of security forces. Leading dailies report.
India Willing To Sell Electricity
India has agreed to sell 50 MW of electricity to Nepal in winter season to help latter overcome power shortage that has led to load shedding. On the other hand, India will buy reserve electricity from Nepal during monsoon season. This understanding has been reached at a meeting of officials of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Water Resource Ministry and Power Trading Corporation (PTC) of India . The meeting was held in New Delhi on Saturday. The rate for the electricity that will be exchanges has not been finalized yet. At present, Nepal is suffering from the shortfall of 90 MW of electricity and it is already getting 50 MW from India from eastern region. “( India ) has agreed to provide us with electricity even by reducing load in its Farbisgunj sector,” said a source. According to Nepali delegation, India will provide additional 50 MW of electricity from next year. Till the infrastructures for transmission are put in place, India will provide 20 MW beginning this year. India is upgrading its transmission line near Duhabi point and the process is expected to complete within two-three months. Nepal is expected to suffer from winter shortfall till 2012. Nepal and India have government-to-government understanding for exchange of power up to 150 MW at the rate of Rs 5.57. However, this is the first time Nepal is buying electricity from PTC on a commercial basis. Kantipur daily reports.
King Strolls Through Itahari Bazaar
King Gyanendra took an hour and a half long stroll through the streets of Itahari on Saturday (January 14) to the amazement of local people. Everybody was surprised to see the King walking amidst them like an ordinary passer-by. Soon, the crowds gathered around him. “King came to the busy market and started making conversations with the people,” said Shambhu Pandey of Itahari. “We asked him for peace and he replied – ‘yes, yes’” “There was no obstruction to talk with the King. We ran towards him. I told him that cooperation with parties, not the elections were the need of the hour,” said a political worker Drona Sharma, adding, “And he nodded.” Kantipur daily reports.
16 Maoists Killed In Syangja Operation
At least sixteen Maoists have been killed in a clash between them and security forces in Manakamana area of Syangja district, according to security sources. The security forces have been launching operation in the area after getting information of Maoist concentration there. They launched attacks from both land and the air. The security forces have claimed that they have taken under their control the base area of the ‘Parivartan Smriti Ninth Brigade” of the Maoists in Chitrebhanjyang and Grihakot area of the district. Leading dailies report
‘House Restoration Could Transform The Environment’
Sushil Koirala, vice president of Nepali Congress (NC), has said that the whole political environment could change if the House of Representatives is restored. Koirala added that the House restoration was a common demand of the seven party alliance. Saying that the alliance has not gone in favor of a republican order yet, Koirala said the forthcoming municipal polls were only a drama. Leading dailies report.
Germany Would Continue Its Assistance
Germany has urged the government and the Maoists to end the decade-long violence and strive for peace by getting together on the negotiating table. A German Embassy representative said Germany and the European Union were willing to mediate in the peace process if both the warring factions to conflict called for their mediation. “Political targets can be reached not with violence but with negotiations. Both the warring factions to conflict should find a way out of the ongoing crisis through dialogue,” said Norbert Meyer, deputy chief of the mission at the German Embassy. Expressing concern over the termination of the four-month unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists, he said there is no military solution to Nepal ’s conflict and that the problem should be resolved sooner than later. Pointing out that the conflict should be resolved by the Nepalis rather than the international community, Meyer said Germany and the EU would mediate if their mediation was sought by the warring parties. Meyer made these comments while talking to The Himalayan Times at a poster competition on ‘German language learning in Nepal’ organized by Goethe-Zentrum on Saturday (January 14). He, however, said, “ Germany was ready to help Nepal on its way back to democracy.” Meyer was optimistic that peace will prevail in Nepal . “Sooner or later, peace will be restored in the country. The country should now be ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he said. Against the backdrop of international community ‘cutting down’ its financial aid to Nepal considering its ongoing political situation, he said German would, however, continue its assistance to the country. “We will continue to provide aid to the country. As long as people benefit from our assistance, we do not feel the need to slash our grants,” he said. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Clash In Tanahun, 10 Maoists Killed
Ten Maoists have been killed in clashes between them and the security forces in Chitre and Ambote of Tanahu district on Thursday (January 12). According to security forces, they also seized weapons including SLR, 303 rifles, socket bombs and so on from the site of incident. The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Public Relations Directorate stated that the clash, which started since Wednesday night, continued till Thursday afternoon. Leading dailies report.
RPP Knocks The Door Of Court
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) president Pashupati SJB Rana has filed a petition at the Appellate Court Patan demanding an interim order to forbid any group staking claim to its flag and election symbol. Rana went to the court along with his supporters on Thursday and filed the petition demanding that the court prevent dissident RPP faction from laying claim over its election symbol and stop its interference. Rana has urged the court to issue necessary orders to the Election Commission (EC). This move followed after the pro-government dissident faction of RPP led by Kamal Thapa staked claim to the party symbol at the EC. Thapa was even elected by the ‘special convention’ participated by the dissidents as the new RPP president. Leading dailies report.
Wagle Dissatisfied Over NC (D) Appointments
A faction led by former party vice president Chiranjibi Wagle has expressed dissatisfaction over the appointments made by president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The faction has urged Deuba to ‘correct’ the appointments. “We organized the convention of unity and understanding but the appointments could not follow the spirit,” said Wagle. He said that the faction is dissatisfied over stripping off all responsibilities from ex-general secretary Bijaya Kumar Gachchedar. “Earlier, there were two party officials apart from Deuba. After the convention, one has been retained while Gachchedar is left without any responsibility,” he said. A few days ago, Deuba had re-appointed Gopal Man Shrestha as acting party president and appointed Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi as two general secretaries. Kantipur daily reports.
India And China Discuss Nepal Situation
The visiting Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran discussed about situation in Nepal with Chinese officials during high-level talks in Beijing . Saran told media that he talked about Nepal situation with Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing. According to reports, Saran informed Chinese leaders about India ’s concerns over the deteriorating political and economic situation in Nepal on the backdrop of its long and open border with the Himalayan Kingdom . Saran added that Chinese side told him their policy towards Nepal was guided by their long-standing faith in non-interference in internal matters of other countries. Leading dailies report.
NC (D) Results Out, 26 Central Committee Members Elected
The results of the election of central committee of Nepali Congress (Democratic) have been officially published. 26 central committee members have been elected. Among those elected include Prakash Man Singh, Pradip Giri, Chitra Lekha Yadav, Gopal Man Shrestha, Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Bimalendra Nidhi, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Amar Raj Kaini, N.P. Saud, Man Mohan Bhattarai, Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, Bal Bahadur KC, Chiranjibi Wagle, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Jeep Chhiring Lama and Bal Krishna Khand. Likewise, in the reserved seats for women, Uma Adhikari and Maha Laxmi Upadhyaya were elected. Dal Sigh Kami was elected in the reserved seat for Dalit while Indra Bahadur Gurung and Bhisma Raj Angdambe were elected in the seats set aside for Janajati. Uma Kanta Chaudhary and Shiva Chandra Mishra were elected as Madhesi candidates. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has already been elected unopposed representing Karnali region. In the vote count, Prakash Man Singh had led the tally securing 1192 votes out of 1472 votes that were cast. On the other hand, noted leaders like Dr. Narayan Khadka, Homnath Dahal, Sagar SJB Rana and Sarat Singh Bhandari lost the election. Leading dailies report.
NWPP hold a big rally in capital
In its biggest show of strength in the capital following February 1, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) held a major demonstration in New Baneshwore on Tuesday (January 10) calling for restoration of parliament, boycott of municipal polls and revival of democratic process. Thousands of NWPP cadres and residents of Bhaktapur district marched for four hours in a well-managed manner into Kathmandu all the way from Bhaktapur. The NWPP march was marked by cultural processions and unique coordination of elderly people as well as children. “This rally is an answer to those who claim people are not with the parties,” said Narayan Man Bijukchhe, president of NWPP. The demonstrators even brought traditional lunch boxes with them. “The restoration of House of Representatives through the constitutional interpretation by the Supreme Court is the most simple and appropriate way out of the current crisis,” said Bijukchhe, addressing the rally. “The revived parliament would then form all-party government, which would, in turn, hold all section conference by inviting Maoists in order to form interim government. And such interim government would finalize constitutional reform or constituent assembly or other alternatives,” Bijukchhe spelt out his roadmap. The NWPP workers even cleaned up the place after their mass meeting ended. NWPP is one of the partners of the seven party alliance. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Huge Cache Of Explosives Seized In Pokhara
Security forces have seized a huge cache of explosives from a residence in Pokhara. In a raid at a house in Nagdhunga, security forces uncovered 17 electric time devices; 10 meters of safety fuse; 135 detonators; seven socket bombs, 27 electric detonator and so on. Army has claimed that major incidents have been averted by the seizure. Kantipur daily reports.
