"SILENCE IS ALSO (AN) ACTION": KING GYANENDRA
King Gyanendra is reported to have said that he has remained silent to let the peace process succeed.
In a chat with Hari Lamsal, Editor of Rastra Bani weekly, which was published on Wednesday's (Jan 30) edition of the weekly, King Gyanendra is quoted as saying that he remained silent to make the peace process successful. Nepali people themselves should speak out on where the nation is heading, on the direction it is taking and on why it is becoming chaotic, the King is reported to have said.
King Gyanendra has also refuted that monarchy has ever sought power. When asked why he did not speak out till now, the King said, "Silence is also (an) action."
In the weekly's report, which has been published at a time when the interim parliament has amended the interim constitution declaring Nepal a federal republic, subject to endorsement by Constituent Assembly, the King has said that the monarchy predates the unification of Nepal itself. He asked, where would we be today had the nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah not unified Nepal?
King Gyanendra also said Nepal has such a large heart where every Nepali can find shelter. He also recalled his February 1, 2005 move – which prompted political parties to unite with the Maoists that ultimately forced the King to step down. He accepted that his move turned out to be a failure.
Stating that the monarchy should never involve in politics, the King pointed out the need to strengthen relations between monarchy and democracy.
Editor Lamsal has said that he met with the King last Friday at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. Although it was not a formal interview, Lamsal said, he took permission to publish the King's views at the end of his audience.
Gold Scales Historic Heights
Gold price touched yet another all-time high of Rs 18,950 per 10 gram in the domestic market this week. The precious yellow metal in the domestic market closed Rs 175 higher to Rs 18,950 per 10 gram from Sunday's (Jan 27) Rs 18,775. On Monday, the price of hallmark gold rose to Rs 18,860 and from Tuesday onwards it remained at a historic high of Rs 18,950. At this new price tag, the precious yellow metal, which is mostly used for jewelries in Nepal, would cost Rs 22,103 per tola. "The market closed at Rs 18,950, a new record high," according to Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association (NEGOSIDA). The instability in global crude prices and devaluation of US dollars despite the interest rate cut by the Fed, appears to have pushed the price of gold so high. Similarly, the precious yellow metal was traded at a historic high $926 per ounce this Friday from $910 a week ago in the international market, added NEGOSIDA. The gold prices continued to climb, as it reached $936.92 per ounce on Saturday. Elsewhere, silver struck a 27-year high of $17.31 an ounce on the back of gold's rise. In the domestic market, silver price closed high at Rs 347 per 10 gram on Friday. It saw a rise of three rupees per 10 gram from Rs 343 on Sunday. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Deuba's Rally Marred By Blast In Sunsari
A bomb went off at Sakhuwagachi of Inaruwa, Sunsari district, where senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba was attending a mass meeting organized by the NC Saturday (Feb 2) afternoon. The blast occurred few hundred meters away from the program venue, injuring an 8-yr-old girl, reports said. She has been admitted at a local hospital in Inaruwa for treatment. The Madhesi Mukti Tigers (MMT) has claimed responsibility for the blast that was apparently meant to terrorize the people participating in the mass meeting. The Jwala Singh faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) had called a shutdown strike in the area to disrupt the program. Last Saturday, the MMT had carried out a series of small blasts in Inaruwa targeting senior NC leaders including acting president Sushil Koirala. However, no human casualty had taken place in the bomb attacks. Compiled from reports
YCL Sets Fire To Indian Vehicles
Protesting the detention of over two dozen Young Communist League (YCL) cadres by India's Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) in Maheshpur border area in Jhapa district, the Maoist-affiliated YCL resorted to vandalism and rampage targeted at vehicles with Indian number plates in Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari district on Saturday (Feb 2). According to reports, around 27 YCL cadres were detained for four hours and released by SSB, on Friday. But the SSB had not returned equipment and documents carried by the YCL cadres who had gone to the region to inspect border, the report added. Subsequently, they set fire to two Indian vehicles – one truck and a jeep – in Jhapa district. The YCL also imposed ban on the plying of Indian vehicles in the three districts. They torched an Indian truck in Biratnagar for flouting the ban. A central member of YCL, Agni has said that they will intensify their agitation if their documents and equipment are not returned. Meanwhile, Indian truck drivers closed down the Jogbani border point on Saturday to protest the torching of an Indian truck. Compiled from reports
Seven Parties Differ On FSU Polls
The meeting of the high-level steering committee of seven parties was marred due to differences among the parties over the Free Student Union (FSU) polls slated to be held in Tribhuwan University, Nepal Sanskrit University and affiliate colleges across the country on February 28. At the meeting, on Thursday (Jan 31), the UML flatly rejected Maoists' proposal to put off the FSU polls by two months. Congress has shown its neutral stand on the issue. Maoist chairman Prachanda said that since student organizations affiliated with the parties will make the election as 'do or die issue,' it would send a wrong message to the public ahead of Constituent Assembly election. The UML, on the other hand, has said that the FSU election will help create environment conducive for polls by demonstrating friendly contest. The parties have agreed to discuss the issue with student organizations on this issue. Leading dailies report
Blasts Overshadow SPA Assembly In Birgunj
Over two dozen people including Prasa chief district officer Bhola Siwakoti were injured when two bombs went off outside the Narayani Stadium where an election assembly of the seven-party alliance (SPA) was underway Wednesday (Jan 30) afternoon. The blasts occurred in the parking lot of the stadium at around 4:00 pm, reports said. Nearly 20,000 people were participating in the mass meeting. The blasts took place despite heavy security presence in the town. Earlier in the morning, CDO Siwakoti had told reporters that 2000 police force including Armed Police Force personnel were deployed in Birgunj to ensure security. The injured persons have been admitted to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital, Birgunj, for treatment. Various armed outfits operating in Terai have phone FM radio stations in Birgunj claiming their responsibility for the explosions. Police, however, have not confirmed anyone's involvement. Meanwhile, UNMIN chief Ian Martin has condemned the blasts in Birgunj. "I condemn in the strongest terms the bomb attack during a political rally held to promote the Constituent Assembly election in Birgunj today, as well as bombings and threats related to other recent rallies," he has said in a statement. Compiled from reports
Sitaula Says Nepal Receiving Decisive Help From India
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala has said that Nepal has been receiving "decisive help" from India for the ongoing peace process and the elections to constituent assembly. "The people and the government of India have extended moral and political support to Nepal's democratic movement in 2006 and Nepal has been receiving decisive help and cooperation from the government of India in her ongoing peace process and elections to the constituent assembly," Sitaula told Indian official news agency, Press Trust of India. He further said, "So far as I know, India wants to see the ongoing peace process conclude successfully and conduct the constituent assembly polls without any obstacle." When asked for his comment on the recent remarks made by UNDP resident coordinator, Mathew Kahane, over India's role in checking violence in Terai, Sitaula said, "We ourselves should solve the problems seen in different parts of the country and I think India will continue to extend help and cooperation in our endeavors towards that end." "So far as the various agitating ethnic groups, regional groups and professional organizations putting forth various demands are concerned, I think they should also contribute in various ways to making the historic constituent assembly elections a success," the Home Minister added. In an interview to the same news agency few days earlier Kahane had called upon the Indian government to help check different armed groups operating in Terai that are fomenting unrest in Terai, in order to ensure smooth supply of humanitarian aid and conduct election activities. The leaderships of numerous Terai outfits including the two factions of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) are believed to have been based in bordering Indian states. The Indian government has not said anything categorically regarding the media reports that armed Terai militants have been taking shelter in Indian states, but has dismissed speculations that it might have been harboring the insurgents to create trouble in the northern neighbor. Various armed groups have intensified bombings, targeted killings and abduction to upset the CA election campaigning of the parties in Terai region. Nepalnews.com reports
Maoists Should Not Dominate: US Envoy
US envoy to Nepal Nancy J Powell said in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday (Jan 30), the US wanted that the Maoists did not dominate Nepal politics. Powell, who is here for regular political consultative meeting with Indian authorities, said this while meeting high-ranking officials of the Indian External Affairs Ministry, diplomats, security affairs expert and media persons on Wednesday. Powell held extensive discussions with joint secretary in-charge of Nepal-Bhutan desk at the Indian External Affairs Ministry Preeti Sharan on the latest political development in Nepal, a diplomat at the Delhi-based US embassy said. She also met Indian diplomats, security affairs expert and media persons at the luncheon meeting hosted by her at the US embassy on Wednesday. Matters concerning the CPN (Maoist), peace process in Nepal and Terai unrest figured in the discussion. Former Indian envoy to Nepal KV Rajan, retired army general Ashok Mehta, security affairs expert Ajay Sahani, journalist Shaurav Shukla and Indrani Bakhchhi of the Times of India were also present on the occasion. "Our discussions centered mainly on latest political developments in Nepal," foreign correspondent at the Times of India Bakhchhi said. According to an official at the External Affairs Ministry, Nepal's political development and latest Indian stand on the CA polls were discussed between Sharan and Powell. According to a diplomat at the US embassy, Powell is scheduled to meet the joint secretary in-charge of border management at the Union Home Ministry on Thursday. The Himalayan Times daily reports
70 Percent Vehicles Not Plying Due To Diesel Shortage
Transport entrepreneurs claimed on Wednesday (Jan 30) that more than 70 percent of the public vehicles were not plying on roads due to the "acute" shortage of diesel throughout the nation. General secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs Krishna Adhikary said on Wednesday that less than 30 percent of the public vehicles were plying on the roads due to the shortage of diesel. He claimed that the adulteration of fuel is rampant in the market. "The price of kerosene is equal to that of petrol and diesel," he claimed, adding that the practice of adulteration is common among petroleum dealers. "There is no mechanism to check this illegal act," he said. Adhikary also said that transport entrepreneurs would launch an agitation against the shortage and adulteration of fuel. Convener of the Bagmati Zonal Committee of FNNTE, Niratna Newa, claimed that 80 per cent of the public vehicles are not plying on the roads due to the shortage of diesel. He said they would launch protest programs after organizing a press conference Thursday demanding that the agreements reached with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula last year be implemented. "None of the agreements reached with the Home Minister has been implemented yet," Newa said. He said entrepreneurs were also planning to begin indefinite transport strike throughout the Bagmati zone. General secretary of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association, Sharad Bhandary, said of the total quantity, only 25 percent of fuel is being supplied in the market these days, adding that the concerned government bodies should control the adulteration of fuel. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Peace Only After Polls, Says Nepal
The general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that peace will come in the country only after election. "If we think that election should be held only after restoring complete peace in the country, then the election may never happen," he said at an interaction with party advisors in Balkhu on Tuesday (Jan 29). "We must understand that peace will come only after the election," Nepal said. He said that even in different restive places in the world, election have been held from time to time. Compiled from reports
