Maoists Put Forth Three Options Before The Parties
An influential leader of the Maoists has revealed that they have put forth three options before the party leaders in the ongoing talks with the seven party leaders in New Delhi , India . According to a news report of Nepal Samacharpatra daily, Dev Gurung, a central leader and a member of Maoist negotiating team in the past, said that the Maoists have urged the parties to agree upon common slogan, single front, parallel government and constituent assembly elections. In all of their three options, the Maoists have underscored elections to constituent assembly. According to the news report, the Maoists have put forth the first option urging the broader political conference among democratic forces that would lead to an interim government, which, in turn, would hold constituent assembly elections within six months. “During our talks, the parties have stressed on restoration of parliament,” Gurung said referring to ongoing talks in New Delhi . “But the parliament that can be dissolved or restored as per the wishes of the King is not a parliament in a real sense,” Gurung said, while addressing a gathering of principals of 150 schools of Rapti zone in Ghartigaon, Rolpa. “Even if the restoration of parliament is essential, we have urged the parties to do so at their own initiative,” Gurung added. The second option, thus, is to restore the parliament at “people’s level”, after which the parties need to seek international and UN recognition. The third option is to hold broader roundtable conference among political and civil society forces leading up to a formation of an interim government of general consensus, which will hold the constituent assembly elections. Gurung further revealed that the parties had not yet accepted any of the three demands. “The parties are not coming at the pace that was required,” he said, adding, “Perhaps out of fear of Moriarty’s remarks.” Likewise, the news report adds that, during the ongoing talks, the parties have been demanding the Maoists to withdraw bandh, cease violent activities and dissolve “people’s army” and “people’s government.” Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Bara ‘Buddha’ Disappears
In a strange turn of events, Ram Bahadur Bamjan, a 16-year-old boy who had been continuously meditating without food and water for the past ten months in a jungle of Ratanpuri, Bara district, has vanished. His disappearance came to the notice of volunteers who have been guarding him since months after the place under the Peepal tree where the boy – who was even being referred to as new Buddha – used to meditate was empty on Saturday morning. Volunteers suspect that he left in the early hours of the morning. It is not clear whether he left on his own or has been abducted. Officials say the search is on. Leading dailies report.
Civilians Injured In Blasts
At least 12 persons including two kids have been injured in separate bomb blasts by the Maoists in Mahottari, Bara and Rolpa districts. In Mahottari, six persons were injured in a blast in jungle area near Tuteshwore by the side of Mahendra highway. The passengers had been forced to walk along the highway due to Maoist-called bandh in the area. In Bara district, two security personnel and two civilians were injured when the Maoists hurled bomb in Kalaiya. Likewise, in Rolpa, two kids were injured when they played with a bomb left behind by the Maoists in Rangsi of western Rolpa. Kantipur daily reports.
Bista And Thapa Differ With Dr. Giri
Incumbent senior ministers have differed with a remark made by vice chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri. Responding to queries by journalists on how they took Giri’s remarks that “unity among constitutional forces would not resolve the problem of terrorism,” Kirti Nidhi Bista, another vice chairman of the Council of Ministers said, “It is not that the problems can be resolved without the involvement of political parties. Parties are essential pillar of democracy. Parties and government must go together,” Bista said, adding, “I don’t know in what context Dr. Giri made the remark. You (journalists) better ask him to clarify.” Likewise, Home Minister Kamal Thapa said that he believed there ought to be cooperation and understanding among parliamentary forces. “I do not want to comment on Dr. Giri’s remarks. But what I just said is the official view of the government,” Thapa said. He, however, added that the parties-Maoist dialogue is not a “good sign.” Kantipur daily reports.
Rights Council Set To Replace UN Commission
The United Nations Human Rights Commission is expected to be replaced by the new United Nations Human Rights Council soon. The meeting for the purpose has been postponed to early next week with an aim to secure the “widest possible consensus.” The United States is learnt to have reservations concerning the formation of the new Human Rights Council. UN General Assembly president Jan Eliasson postponed the meeting to Monday, according to the UN website. “The US feels that as proposed the Council, which would replace the much-criticized Human Rights Commission, does not go far enough and has called for re-negotiation,” said the website. Such a move of the US has reportedly “chagrined” the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. European Union countries and associated countries have reportedly assured the US that they would not elect rights violators to the council. “As proposed, the council would have a higher status and greater accountability than the commission that meets yearly in Geneva . It would be a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, meet year-round as opposed to the six-week annual session of the commission, and its members would be elected by a majority of all 191 UN members,” the UN said. The council members, elected by the assembly, would be judged on their human rights records. However, they can be “suspended” from the council if they themselves commit gross and systematic violation. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey has stalled his plan to attend the 62 nd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva following the ongoing debate concerning the transition of the Commission to the Council. However, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal will continue to work in Nepal under its mandate even if the commission is replaced by the council. Likewise, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva will continue its office. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Thapa Asks India To Become Vigilant Against Smuggling Of Explosives
Home Minister Kamal Thapa has drawn the attention of Indian government to become vigilant and control the smuggling of explosives (into Nepal ). Talking to reporters after returning from inspecting Ilam, Thapa said, “I want to draw the attention of Indian government to become vigilant and control the smuggling of explosives by the Maoists.” A week ago, police had seized a huge cache of explosives that was being smuggled into Nepal from Sunauli point. Minister Thapa said that the nature and quantity of the explosives indicated that they were bought from industry not open market. Likewise, Thapa added that the media reports that leaders of seven parties are meeting Maoist leaders in New Delhi are not “good signs.” Thapa said, “They ignore the call of the state but rush to Delhi durbar to hold dialogue with a group that wants to destroy democracy and constitutional monarchy through violence and killing. This is not a good sign.” Kantipur daily reports.
Govt. Preparing Attractive Package To Help Displaced Persons
The government has prepared an attractive package to help internally displaced persons (IDP), which is expected to be approved by the cabinet this week, according to government sources. The package includes providing citizenship certificate and passport to IDPs free of cost from anywhere in Nepal . They will be entitled to senior citizen allowance from where they are staying. Food and shelter will be provided. Education to children and loan for overseas employment will also be provided. The IDPs can claim these benefits if they leave their native place by obtaining a letter signed by Chief District Officer (CDO) affirming his/her status as an IDP. The new package is being unveiled just before UN Rapporteur on IDP is preparing to submit his report on IDPs at the UN Human Rights Committee meeting in Geneva . Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
NOC Not Getting Custom Refund From IOC
Three years after an agreement was reached to refund custom collected by Indian Oil Corporation on fuel it sells to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the latter is yet to receive any money. As the price in which IOC sells petroleum products to NOC includes local Indian taxes, Nepalese consumers have to pay double tax. The custom refund that IOC owes NOC has reached the total of Rs1.12 billion. In India , diesel draws 5 percent and petrol draws 10 percent custom duty. Since 2002, Nepal started to buy refined petroleum products from India instead of buying the fuel directly from international market. Currently, NOC buys fuel form IOC at Refinery Terminal Pricing (RTP), which includes import price plus transport cost, insurance premium and custom duty. These apart, IOC also charges NOC railway transport cost, marketing and storing costs as well as profit. Since NOC is currently in a situation of financial bankruptcy, the custom refund amount can become a huge relief if IOC pays its dues. Officials say efforts should be made at diplomatic level to resolve this issue. Kantipur daily reports.
Swiss Diplomat For Political Solution Here
Special adviser to the Swiss Government for Peace building in Nepal , Gunther Baechler, said that as the current crises is not deep-rooted, it can be resolved politically and the Nepalis know “the best way to do it.” “They (the Nepalis) need help to resolve the crisis,” Baechler said, adding, “It is absolutely necessary that the seven party alliance holds second round of talks with the Maoists in order to define architecture and design of a peace process in detail and to spell out the confusion.” Addressing an interaction organized by the Ganesh Man Singh Academy on Monday, Baechler said a weak democratic center could not negotiate with the Maoists from a strong position. He emphasized on the need for an “empowered democratic center” strong enough to call on the palace to draw a roadmap based on political rather than military issues. Baechler also asked Maoists to join hands with the political mainstream. “The international community should leave the King with only one option – to invite the seven party alliance and the Maoists for talks to discuss all the major issues,” he said. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Brief Rainfall No Relief; Load Shedding Could Still Increase
The two-days of scattered rainfall has not been able to provide adequate relief to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Its officials have said that the load shedding hours would soon be increased from existing 5 hours to 7 hours a day. Due to the rainfall, the water level in Kulekhai reservoir increased merely by 7 cm, according to Jujukaji Ranjit, the chief of Kulekhani project. Because of prolonged dry weather, most of the run-of-the-river type of hydropower projects are operating at around 30 percent capacity. This has caused huge pressure on the only reservoir-type project of Kulekhani. However, thanks to its excessive use and continued dry spell, the water level at its reservoir is dipping sharply. NEA officials inform that if the Kulekhai project comes to standstill, load shedding hours could be increased to 10 hours a day. The total installed capacity of the country if around 600 MW but currently only 176 MW of power is being generated even though demand is for 580 MW. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
New Dispute Surfaces In Maoists
Within months of the patch-up between two seniormost leaders of the CPN (Maoist), two central committee members of the underground outfit have publicly criticized party supremo Prachanda, and no. 2 in the party, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, alleging that their acts showcase what they called “non-proletarian tendencies.” In a joint statement issued on Monday, central committee members of the CPN (Maoist) Rabindra Shrestha and comrade Anukul have leveled personal and ideological allegations against party chairman Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Dr. Bhattarai. In their statement issued on behalf of the little known “New Cultural Revolutionary Group,” Shrestha and Anukul (believed to be central committee member Mani Thapa) narrated how ideological, political, organizational, military and cultural deflections had taken place among two top leaders of the party. Referring to the public war of words between Prachanda and Bhattarai, the two central committee members said both of them had nearly pushed the party on the verge of vertical split. They also criticized party supreme, Prachanda’s statement in an exclusive interview with Kantipur daily. In his interview, Prachanda had said that his party would accept the outcome of the constituent assembly elections even if the majority of the people delivered their verdict in favor of monarchy or active monarchy. They have also alleged both Prachanda and Bhattarai of living in the safety of “foreign land” for eight out of ten years of the Maoist ‘people’s war.” The unusual public criticism of the two top leaders from within the Maoist party has come just within weeks of the completion of ten years of the Maoist “people’s war.” Shrestha and Thapa have also alleged Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai of not sending their children in the frontline of the rebellion. They have also called upon what they called “new generation” within the party to carry out “revolution within revolution” in a new way. There has been no official reaction to the latest statement by the two dissident leaders from the CPN (Maoist) leadership as yet. Meanwhile, a day after Shrestha and Thapa issued the statement challenging the top Maoist leadership, the Maoist chairman Prachanda reacted with a statement announcing the expulsion of the two from the party. Prachanda has termed them ‘counter-revolutionary.’
Compiled from reports
