Maoist Atrocities On
At least fifteen persons have been injured following clashes between activists of Maoists and Nepali Congress (Democratic) in Humla on Sunday (May 27). The clash occurred after Maoists imposed bandh protesting detention of its local leader Surbir Aidi. He was detained by police after father of NC-D leader Netra Bahadur Shahi filed murder complaint against Maoists. Shahi was abducted two and a half months ago and his whereabouts are still unknown. All party meeting held to resolve the issue, too, failed. The administration has clamped curfew between 9 pm till 5 am. Meanwhile, activists of Maoists disrupted district level workers’ training program of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Kusmabazaar of Parbat district on Sunday. Over one dozen RPP workers including its district president Rana Bahadur Chhetri and central trainer Madhu Prasad Risal were injured by the Maoist attack. “We were holding programme when suddenly 50 -60 YCL cadres barged into the hotel room and started thrashing us,” said Chhetri. The Maoists attacked them claiming they would not let conspiracy to protect feudal monarchy succeed. Compiled from reports
Republic Already Here: Narahari
Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya on Sunday (May 27) said there is no need to hold discussions on the announcement of a republican set-up as Nepal has already entered into such a system sans the King. "Discussion on the topic is not necessary at all because the system we have in place on Sunday is nothing but a republic as the King has already surrendered power, which the Shah dynasty enjoyed for the past 238 years, to the people," he said, addressing a program at Media Mission. The mentality of the leaders should change and the transformation of thoughts is necessary to welcome the republican set-up," he said. There should be a federal republican system of governance. It should not be a totalitarian one, which deprives people of basic democratic rights, he said. He was of the view that federalism is unavoidable, but "giving autonomy on the basis of ethnicity is not possible." He said the slogan of "One Madhesh, One State" was not practical because there are many cultural diversities and economic disparities among different ethnic groups in the Tarai itself. Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma said the republican system in Nepal would not be a copy of that in Russia, the USA or any other country because " Nepal has some special characteristics." "The republic of Nepal is going to be special -- it will take into consideration Nepal's cultural, ethnic, language, gender and other diversity," he said. He also ruled out any possibility of accepting monarchy as in England, Spain or any other country because Nepal's royal dynasty is based on the old feudal mentality. UML leader and former minister Pradip Gyawali stressed the need of considering the vertical and horizontal diversity of Nepali regions and culture while establishing a new Nepal. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Yadav Says MJF Ready For Dialogue
The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) president Upendra Yadav has said he is ready for dialogue with the government. Welcoming the decision of the cabinet to form a judicial commission to probe alleged atrocities committed during Madhes agitation, Yadav has said that he is ready to negotiate with the government if charges against MJF workers and leaders are dropped and their security guaranteed. Addressing the workers of MJF – which spearheaded the Madhes agitation demanding proportional representation and regional autonomy, among others – Yadav said that his party was not against any ethnic community. He made these remarks at Jaleshwore of Mahottari district on Saturday. Earlier, on Friday (May 25), the cabinet had decided to form a commission led by judge of Supreme Court Khil Nath Regmi to probe atrocities during Madhes agitation. Compiled from reports
Poudel Elected NSU President
Pradeep Poudel has been elected as president of Nepal Students Union (NSU). As per the results of election of NSU held on Friday (May 25), Poudel, who is the current vice president of Congress’ student wing, bagged 830 votes of the 1500 votes that were cast. His nearest rival Bikash Koirala bagged 402 votes followed by Badri Pandey who bagged 179 votes. Poudel is said to represent the republican camp within the student organization and had been backed by influential student leader Gagan Thapa. Leading dailies report
Prachanda, Nepal Blame Koirala For Deadlock
Maoist chairman Prachanda and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal have concluded that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is to blame for the current political deadlock. Prachanda met with Nepal’s on Thursday (May 24) to talk about the delay in Constituent Assembly. “We discussed whether the government is actually honest and committed. When elections could not be held on June, there is no guarantee it can be held in coming days,” said Nepal. Prachanda was accompanied by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in the meeting. After the meeting, Dr. Bhattarai said they expected the eight party meet to take place in two-three days. He said they also discussed the Melamchi Water Supply Project, the future of which is in a limbo following the row between the Asian Development Bank and the Minister for Works and Physical Planning Hisila Yami, who wants to review the project in the ‘changed context.’ “We share the view that the mega project must serve the interests of the people,” Bhattarai said. Meanwhile, in his interaction with the delegation of seven trade unions on Thursday, PM Koirala said the eight party meeting will be held on Saturday to fix new date for the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. Compiled from reports
YCL Forms Monitoring Team
The central committee meeting of the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) ended on Thursday (May 24) by deciding to form monitoring team to supervise whether the activities by its cadres are in line with its policies. The team will be headed by its general secretary Dilip Prajapati. Likewise, the meeting also decided to probe atrocities committed in its name. At a press meet, YCL president Ganesh Man Pun said that the YCL will engage in public service and social change. He said the YCL will actively involve in public mobilization to assist in the Maoist party’s move to declare republic and fix new date for CA polls. The meeting was held since Tuesday at the behest of Maoist leadership. On Wednesday, Prachanda directed YCL to stop from engaging in atrocities that could tarnish its image. Compiled from reports
Three Arrested For Stoning Moriarty’s Vehicle
The police have arrested three Maoist activists on charges of being involved in pelting stones at vehicle carrying US ambassador James Moriarty in Jhapa on Friday (May 25). The police had arrested Bishnu Budhathoki on Friday evening. They arrested two more persons – Renuka Karki and Nabaraj Subedi – on Saturday. Karki is said to be a member of district women’s wing and Subedi is said to be a member of district students wing of the Maoists. On Friday, a vehicle carrying US ambassador was pelted with stones by cadres of YCL. Although the vehicle was slightly damaged, the envoy was unhurt. After the incident, the Home Ministry had issued a statement expressing sadness and directed the administration to take action against all who were involved. Subsequently, the YCL had issued a statement saying that its cadres were not involved in pelting stones at the vehicle carrying US ambassador. Issuing a statement, YCL president Ganesh Man Pun has said that his organization does not have any policy of pelting stones at anybody. The US Embassy’s acting spokesperson Sharon Hudson-Dean had said that the incident demonstrated YCL violence. She said it was dangerous to pelt stones at moving vehicles. Meanwhile, FM radio reports, on Saturday, said that senior Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has stated that YCL showed black flags to Moriarty in line with the party policy. Claiming that Moriarty was acting against the interest of Nepal , Dr. Bhattarai, however, denied the hand of YCL activists in pelting stones at the vehicle carrying Moriarty. He hinted Bhutanese refugees were involved in pelting stones at Moriarty. Dr. Bhattarai added that his party was ready to take action if any of its cadres are proven to have been involved in pelting stones. Leading dailies report
Pemba Sherpa Dies
Pemba Doma Sherpa, first woman who scaled the Mount Everest from the northern face, died near the Lhotse Mountain, on Monday. “She died in a mishap at Yellow Belt area (around 7500 m altitude) while she was returning to base camp after successfully ascending 8,511-metre-high Lhotse peak,” said her brother, Nima Nuru Sherpa. “We received the news of accident last night. The rescue team recovered her body from the Yellow Belt area today,” said Nima. Saying that the cause of mishap was not clear, he said, quoting the rescue members' preliminary report, she died after 'slipping' in heavy snow. “In the same incident another climber Pemba Tenjing was injured. Rescue members rescued him from Camp III this morning and his condition is reported to be out of danger,” Nima informed. Pemba Doma scaled the mountain at 12.24 pm on Monday and the accident occurred at around 1.30 pm. She left for the Mountain from the Namche bazaar in May 7, locals said. Leading dailies report
Maoist-affiliated Entrepreneurs To Float Organization
Industries and entrepreneurs close to the Maoists have decided to form a separate organization. The meeting of the businessmen close to Maoists, which started in the capital from Thursday (May 24), has floated a statute for “Nepal National Industries Enterprises Organization.” At the meeting inaugurated by Maoist chairman Prachanda, Maoist MP Krishna Acharya submitted a 10-page concept paper. The meeting, which will continue till Friday, will announce the organization and its executive committee.
