Flood Toll Reaches 93
The Home Ministry, on Sunday (August 5) has stated that the total number of people killed by floods and landslides this monsoon season has reached 93. Likewise, it stated that over 9700 families have been displaced by the floods. The Ministry has informed that nearly 60,000 families have been affected by this year’s floods. Meanwhile, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula inspected the flood-affected regions in Banke and Bardiya districts on Sunday. Leading dailies report
Dr. Gurung Claims Nfin Has Not Withdrawn Demands
Coordinator of the talks team of the Janajatis (Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, NFIN) Dr Om Gurung, on Sunday (August 5), said that media reports about the stance of the Janajatis were misleading. He clarified that they have not withdrawn their demands. “Our stance for a fully proportionate election system has not been withdrawn. Media have carried misleading reports without being clear about the issue,” he said, while addressing an interaction on restructuring of the state organized by the All Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities-Unified. He clarified that the Janajatis have demanded that the First- Past-The-Post election system should also have proportionate representation of ethnic people and the proportionate election system should be representative in the real sense. “Our stance was that the government should ensure at least one representative of each ethnic group that are not accommodated by both the election systems in the CA,” he said. In the function, member of the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee Kumar Yonjan demanded that Dr Gurung clarify the news reports that the Janajatis have dropped the demand for representation for all 59 Janajatis. He termed the parties’ decision to go for a mixed election system nothing but a ploy to save monarchy. Leading dailies report
Rayamajhi Commission Report Presented
Eight months after it was presented to the Prime Minister, the government, on August 3, publicized the Rayamajhi Commission report. Home Minister Krishna Sitaula tabled it at the parliament. However, moments after publicizing it, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula indicated that the government would not take action based on the report’s recommendations. He told reporters that the government has already taken necessary action against those named as guilty in the Rayamajhi Commission report. The commission was formed 15 months ago to probe allegations of repression against the Jana Andolan. “Previous cabinet committee had recommended actions to different ministries. I don’t think any action is pending now,” he said, adding that even the security personnel named in the report have been penalized appropriately. The report, which documents widespread human rights abuses and misuse of state coffer to suppress last year's mass uprising, recommends legal action against 202 persons. The probe commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Krishna Jung Rayamajhi had submitted its report to the government on November 20 last year. Reports say that the Rayamajhi commission report asks the government to formulate necessary laws to take action against then chairman of Council of Ministers (the King), and the cabinet members. It has also named 71 Nepal Police personnel including its then chief for action. Likewise, it has named 20 Armed Police Force personnel including its then chief for action. It has named 25 Nepali Army personnel including its then chief for action. The current army chief is also named in the report for action. Leading dailies report
New National Anthem Unveiled
The new national anthem has been unveiled on August 3. The old anthem was scrapped by the House of Representatives declaration on May 18 last year as it was criticized as a eulogy for the monarchs. The new one is written by Byakul Maila – whose lyric was selected through open competition. The government presented the CD of national anthem at the parliament. Subsequently, in the evening, Speaker Subas Nemwang released it at a press meet. Earlier, veteran musician Ambar Gurung’s composition had been selected by the cabinet for the new national anthem. The cabinet meeting, on Wednesday (August 1), made this decision. Three compositions by Gurung, and others by Nhyoo Bajracharya and police and army bands had been submitted for cabinet consideration. The new national anthem “Sayaun Thunga…” will replace the “Shreeman Gambhir Nepali..” Leading dailies report
Maoist Dissidents Accuse Leadership Of Abandoning Revolution
A group of Maoist dissidents have started coalescing accusing the leadership of abandoning the revolution. “If the current attitude persists, this will mean abortion of revolution,” claimed Laxman Tharu aka Roshan, who is said to be the coordinator of CPN-Maoists - United Rebels Front. He had earlier defected from the Maoist party where he used to head the Tharu wing. Claiming that his group will continue the revolution, Tharu boasted in his talks with Kantipur TV that he has army strength of three battalion at his immediate disposal. Saying there are 4000 workers with him, Tharu added that PLA fighters in cantonments are also in his contact. “Most of the deserters have come into our contact,” he further claimed. The front has given a month long ultimatum to the Maoists to walk out of the government. It has demanded destruction of India-constructed dams, which have caused flooding on the Nepali side. It has also demanded action based on Rayamajhi commission report and has threatened to take “people’s action” if the government does not pay heed to their demands. nepalnews.com reports
Matrika Denies Withdrawing Resignation
Adding to the mystery surrounding his resignation saga, Forest and Soil Conservation Minister Matrika Yadav has denied withdrawing his resignation. In a statement he issued on Saturday (August 4), Minister Yadav conceded that his party chairman Prachanda had rejected his resignation. “But news reports that I have withdrawn my resignation are not true,” he stated. Yadav added that he has already vacated ministerial quarter and gave up other ministerial benefits like vehicles and guards, too. Yadav has said he will not resume his ministerial duties unless the issues he has raised are not addressed. He had cited reasons (for resigning) such as lack of cooperation from the Home Ministry in curbing the sandalwood smuggling; dissatisfaction over the ongoing talks with “criminal groups” operating in Terai, and the government’s failure to act on involuntary disappearances. He further said his department was gripped by commission scandals. He said he could not bear the fact that some of his party colleagues were still behind bars. Yadav had tendered his resignation letter, on Thursday (August 2), to Krishna Bahadur Mahara who leads five-member Maoist ministerial team in the cabinet. However, Prachanda rejected his resignation. Compiled from reports
Koirala Says He Awaits Decision By Maoist Plenum
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that he is keenly awaiting the decisions by the ongoing plenum of the Maoists. He said so in response to queries by the media persons in Biratnagar on his reaction to recent proposals by Prachanda that the country should immediately announce republic and adopt PR election system if CA election is to be held. Koirala, however, reiterated his commitment to hold the constituent assembly election on the scheduled date. He also underscored the importance of eight party unity. In Biratnagar, Koirala met with security officials to take stock of the situation in Terai. Leading dailies report
Maoist Fighter Claims 1000 Have Deserted Cantonment
A platoon commander level Maoist fighter who escaped from Fourth Division cantonment of Nawalparasi district has claimed that around 1000 fighters have left the camp in the face of repression, inhumane and unjust behavior of senior commanders. Kul Prasad Bhattarai aka Kusum addressed a press meet in Chitawan on Tuesday (July 31) accusing the Maoist army to have become more unjust than ‘army of the old regime.’ Kusum, who had been wounded by bullet during insurgency, said he was denied treatment despite repeated requests. He said there is still a bullet in his left leg. “I am injured. I requested battalion vice commander Nabin for treatment. He said I was psychologically ill. When I said I would seek treatment on my own, they charged me of supporting Madhesi Forum. I escaped unable to bear such injustice,” he said. Kusum said he was captured when he first tried to escape. But he escaped again. He claimed around 1000 fighters who had gone out of the camp had not returned. Meanwhile, commander of the Fourth Division camp Pratiksha dismissed Kusum’s claims saying he was a mental patient. “No one has left the camp except him,” Pratiksha claimed. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports
Mahabir Pun Wins Magsaysay Award
Mahabir Pun from Myagdi district became the fourth Nepali national to win prestigious Magsaysay award. He has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2007 for his outstanding contribution to community leadership. He won Asia’s premier prize for his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to the remote mountain, connecting Nangi village to the global village. “I am glad to win the prize but I am not excited. I always worked as it I had duties to carry out. I was not expecting any award,” said Pun. In the past, three other Nepali nationals have bagged the Magsaysay award including Mahesh Regmi, Bharat Dutta Koirala and Dr. Sanduk Ruit. Leading dailies report
Govt Replies To The WB
The government has written a reply to a letter sent by the World Bank recently warning to pull out of financial sector reform programs. In its letter, the government has strongly defended its case and regretted the language used in the WB letter. Finance Secretary Bidyadhar Mallik replied to the letter sent by Susan Goldmark, WB Country Director. He has written that he regrets to inform that the letter’s intent and some points did not reflect the mutual trust and relations. He said some points in WB’s letters were far from reality. The WB had warned that it could pull our of the financial sector reforms program if the government did not install expert management team of ICC at the Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) within a month. The ICC team had unilaterally withdrawn from NBL saying it did not receive the support from the central bank. It was also not happy for six month extension of its tenure by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Kantipur daily reports
VDC Secretaries Return To Work
Dropping their ten-day-long strike, the VDC secretaries have decided to return back to their work after the government agreed to meet most of their demands. The three-day long talks between the officials of Ministry of Local Development and VDC Secretaries Rights Protection Center ended on Thursday (August 2) after reaching 9-point understanding. As per the understanding, the government has expressed its commitment to restore local bodies with political representatives within two weeks; ensure security to them; ensure compensation to anyone injured; announce VDC secretary who are killed in course of duty as martyr and so on. The VDC secretaries launched their agitation primarily demanding security after a VDC secretary Ramhari Pokharel was killed in Terai last month. The government has also agreed to step up security for the VDC secretaries and have also agreed with their demand to let them work from outside their village station in case security situation is unsatisfactory. Leading dailies report
