42 Passengers Killed, 45 Injured In Bus Mishap
In a tragic incident, 42 passengers were killed and 45 injured when a crowded bus headed from Bangelakuri of Salyan district to Tulsipur of Dang plunged 200 meter down from the road into Bhantakhola ravine on Saturday (October 28). Around 32 passengers died on the spot, eight on the way to hospital and two others died during treatment at Mahendra Hospital , Dang. Of the dead, 11 were women and six children. Nearly 100 people were travelling in the Ra-1-Kha 185 bus belonging to Rapti Yatayat. Local people, Nepali Army and police officials and local Maoist activists were involved in the rescue works. Reports say the overcrowded bus might have gone out of control leading to the accident. Injured passengers say the bus could not move uphill and skidded off the road. Of the total injured passengers, 30 are said to be in serious condition. Leading dailies report.
Pakistan Shows Concern About Proposed Indo-Nepal Extradition Treaty
Even as governments of Nepal and India step up efforts to sign bilateral extradition treaty, the government of another South Asian neighbor Pakistan has shown concern about the proposed treaty. Acting ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal Ehsan Ullah Batth has said that though “the treaty is a subject of interest” to Pakistan , it has not yet decided what to do about it. He made these remarks at a program on environment organized by the Pakistani Embassy in the capital on Friday (October 27). Another Pakistani official raised objection over proposed provision in the treaty about extraditing third-country nationals. He said that there should be a similar extradition treaty with Pakistan also. He revealed that Pakistan government has submitted a draft of such treaty to Nepal government three months ago. In the proposed Extradition Treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance agreement between Nepal and India , there are provisions about extraditing third-country nationals also. The government officials have said that there has been understanding that third-country nationals will have to be extradited only after completing judicial process. The treaty aims to replace 53-year-old extradition treaty between Nepal and India . The formal signing of the treaty on October 5 was postponed after Maoists raised objection. Kantipur daily reports.
Ninety-Five Percent Of Political Issues Agreed
Even as the leaders of the seven parties and the Maoists prepare to hold the next round of summit meetings, a daily newspaper has stated that they have already reached understanding on about 95 percent of political issues. The Kathmandu Post daily has referred to a political leader involved in the peace talks as saying that they have reached agreement “on almost 95 percent of the political issues and have even documented this.” The report states that the leaders have agreed that the fate of the monarchy will be decided by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. “However, the documented agreement does not say whether the decision will be by a simple or a two-third majority,” the daily report adds. The daily further states that the leaders have agreed to form a 300-member strong interim legislative body with the NC, UML and Maoists sharing similar number of members. “The major political parties will re-nominate all sitting lawmakers in the incumbent House of Representatives and the National Assembly. They will also nominate some SPA leaders who are not in the present parliament, but sitting lawmakers who supported regression will not be nominated to the interim legislative body –which will be automatically dissolved after the first meeting of the constituent assembly,” the report says. Likewise, the leaders also have agreed to form 23-member interim cabinet – NC, UML and the Maoists will get five ministries each. The NC (Democratic) will get 3-5 ministries and the rest will be divided among smaller parties. The division of portfolios has not been discussed yet, it adds. The daily further writes that the leaders have also agreed that the CA will have 425 seats in which members will be elected through an election that would be of mixed proportionate type. “The 205 members in the CA will be directly elected from the existing constituencies, another 204 will be nominated by the political parties in proportion to the popular votes they garner during the CA polls. The prime minister will nominate the remaining 16 members. The CA will also function as the legislature for about two years until full-fledged parliamentary elections takes place,” the daily report states. On the issue of citizenship, the NC and the Maoists want all those born in Nepal before 1990 or have been residing in Nepal since then to be eligible for Nepali citizenship. The UML wants 1979 to be the cut off year. “But that’s not a big issue and an agreement will be reached without any difficulty,” said a UML leader. The daily report adds that the NC and the Maoist leaders have also “reached and documented a crucial agreement on the issue of royal property.” The daily quotes NC leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala as saying that the property belonging to the late King Birendra and his family will be put under a trust, and will be used for welfare activities. “The property inherited by King Gyanendra by virtue of ascending the throne will be nationalized. However, the King’s personal property will remain with him. This means properties like Narayanhity Palace and Nagarjuna Palace will become national property while shares in Hotel Soaltee and the like will remain with the King’s family,” the daily report states. The daily report also quotes Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, senior leader of the Maoists, as saying that “although we have not exactly sealed the deal, (the aforementioned political agreement) is true.” The issue of arms management, however, remains undecided. “The NC and the Maoist negotiators have not made any tangible progress on the technicalities of arms management. The only thing they have agreed is to form a Commission or a Committee under the cabinet that will work on the issues of reform in the Nepali Army, integration of rebels into the national army and rehabilitation of the remaining combatants,” the daily report says. The report also quotes Dr. Bhattarai as saying that following the comprehensive agreement, “the interim government should be in place by mid-November.” The Kathmandu Post daily reports.
Army Starts Reforms
The Nepali Army (NA) has started reform initiatives to end feudal practices and usher in democratic norms within its organization. The Chief of Army Staff, General Rukmangad Katawal has initiated reform measures. In the first phase of such reforms, the NA is preparing to withdraw the employment of orderlies in household duties by senior army officers; dissolve the Army Officers’ Wives Association; and end discriminations between senior officers and junior jawans. These measures are recommended by a task forced led by General Gobinda Gurung. The task force was formed to recommend ways to bring in reforms. In the first phase, 166 orderlies working as domestic helps in residences of senior officers will be recalled. The army chief has already started eating together with jawans once every week. Soon, the system of two different eating places for officers and jawans will be ended. Kantipur daily reports.
Govt Willing To Hold Talks With JTMM
In response to an offer for peace talks made by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Hridayesh Tripathy has said that the government is willing for it. The JTMM – a splinter of the Maoists - is launching armed and violent activities in few Terai districts. Tripathy told journalists in Dhobidhara of Saptari, that since there were two factions of JTMM, the government is still unclear about how to go about with the peace talks with them. His comment has come days after offer for peace talks was made by Jai Krishna Goit-led JTMM. Recently, Jwala Singh had floated a separate faction of JTMM. Both are active in Siraha and Saptari district. In these districts, JTMM regularly organize bandhs. The JTMM and Maoist cadres frequently clash. The JTMM claims it is working for the liberation of Terai people. Leading dailies report.
Maoists Cautiously Positive About WFP Proposal
Following an offer of food security assistance offered to its fighters by the UN World Food Program (WFP), a senior Maoist leader has said that his party views the proposal to provide food to the Maoist army and their families as positive. “We have always positively looked at UN programs. This program also seems positive. However, we have not studied the proposal in detail,” said Dev Gurung, a member of Maoist talks team, told FM radio. Responding to the UN WFP’s proposal to provide food security to Maoist fighters and their families in the aftermath of peace agreement, Gurung added, “It would be too early to react to the proposal right now. In any case, the proposal would be studied after the peace talks become successful and we can then move ahead on the basis of the peace agreement.” Compiled from reports.
King Does Not Reply To Rayamajhi Commission
King Gyanendra did not send replies to the questionnaires submitted by the Rayamajhi Commission. The Commission had expected the replies by Wednesday (October 18) evening to the queries that it had sent a week ago. The Commission, which was formed to probe allegations of repression of People’s Movement, had sent the queries asking the King to clarify his position regarding the role he played in the capacity of Chairman of Council of Ministers. "There has been no response to the commission's questionnaire. We had asked for clarification about the atrocities during the people's movement, as the King chaired the then Council of Ministers," said Harihar Birahi, a member of the commission. He hinted that now the commission does not hope to get a reply from the King because it should have come by now if the King had intention to comply with. The probe body, however, cannot compel anybody to give statement, according to him. "Everybody summoned by the commission is free whether to record statement or not. We can't compel anybody but we did give chance to everybody to clarify their position," he further said. The commission will arrive at a conclusion on the basis of the facts but no decisions will be taken on the basis of statements alone, according to Birahi. The commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi had sent the questionnaire to the King on October 12. King Gyanendra's principal secretary Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan had met with Prime Minister GP Koirala a few days earlier and reportedly discussed about the commission's letter to the King. The probe commission has already interrogated 274 individuals including the ministers of the then royal government, former and incumbent security chiefs while 610 witnesses have recorded their statement. At least 21 persons lost their lives and over 4000 persons were injured around the country in clampdown on the movement. The commission's deadline to wrap up its investigation and submit a report to the government ends on October 27. Compiled from reports.
Drop Arms Before Joining Govt: Mehta
A leading Indian commentator on Nepalese politics has said that the Maoists cannot join the interim government as a guerrilla organization, rather they must abandon arms before doing so. Indian analyst Retired General Ashok Mehta accused the Maoists of “shifting goalposts.” Talking to BBC Nepali Service on Wednesday (October 18), Mehta said New Delhi could still play the role of a ‘facilitator’ to help peace process in Nepal just like it did when bringing the 12-point pact between the SPA and the Maoists to fruition last November. The former commander of Gurkha forces in Indian Army, Mehta said “there were still lack of confidence and trust” between SPA and the Maoists. Mehta said that during recent trip to New Delhi , Ian Martin, Tamrat Samuel (UN officials) and Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee focused their consultations on the issue of “arms management.” When asked about India ’s current position on Nepal , Mehta said that New Delhi has stopped stating the twin pillar theory of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. “Now, India has said that it will respect the decision of Nepali people through constituent assembly about the status of monarchy,” he said. Mehta also added that peace process anywhere is a time-consuming affair. He gave examples of Northern Ireland or Sudan or Rwanda where it took years for the peace process to complete. “It has just been six months in Nepal . There should not be any haste,” he added. Compiled from reports.
