Three Killed In Bus Mishap
Three persons were killed including the principal of a school when a bus carrying students and teachers returning from a picnic in Kakani met with an accident near Okharpauwa on Saturday (Jan 05) evening. The bus carrying 77 students of Secret Heart Academy of Swayambhu fell down the road injuring 57 students. Some of them are said to be in serious condition. Principal Sushila Shakya, teacher Pramila Rai and a student Mohan Lungeli died in the accident, according to police. Police suspect that the driver, who is still absconding, was driving under the influence of alcohol. Compiled from reports
Nepal Comes Down Hard Against Prachanda
A day after Maoist chairman Prachanda visited a pro-UML student injured by Young Communist League (YCL) cadres in a hospital in Kathmandu, ostensibly to show his concern, general secretary of UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that he still doubts if the concerns were real or mere 'crocodile tears.' "(Their) cadres are running amok beating left and right and their leaders express concern and say they are sorry. I don't know if that is real or mere crocodile tear," he said referring to Prachanda's visit to Teaching Hospital on Friday(Jan 4) to meet with Deepak Gautam. Gautam, a member of UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) had been seriously injured by YCL cadres in Kavre district a few days ago. Nepal also criticized ANNFSU for 'wailing' before Prachanda. The ANNFSU delegation had met with Prachanda to complain about YCL attack. "There is no meaning in sending delegations. People should be mobilized and such things should be exposed. A party whose public image is tarnished will be a dead party," Nepal said, addressing a program by the UML youth wing Democratic National Youth Federation on Saturday. Meanwhile, on Saturday, a group of Maoist workers in Sankhuwasabha thrashed an official of National Investigation Department, Amrit Thapa. Nepalnews.com reports
Maoists Begin Crucial Meet
The Maoist central committee meeting has kicked off at a resort at Phulbari of Kavre district Saturday (Jan 05) morning to plot the party's strategy in the run-up to the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. The Maoist central meet is due to design the party's three-month long electoral campaign, manifesto, selection of the party's candidates and strategies to consolidate the party's base besides discussing other issues such as the impact of controversial activities of the party's fraternal organizations and integration of the Maoist People's Liberation Army into the national army. Maoist Chairman Prachanda has tabled his political report on the first day of the meeting. Party spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara informed that the report dwells on the implementation of the 23-point agreement among the top SPA leaders, other pressing political issues and preparations for the elections. Another Maoist source said that the three-day meeting is expected to form a panel led by Prachanda to select the candidates for the election. The discussion on the political report started after the regional and departmental in-charges reported on the party's activities in their respective areas to the leadership. Kantipur reports
Thakur's Party Submits 11-Point Demands To Pm
The newly launched Terai-Madhes Democratic Party has submitted 11-point demands to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Thursday. "We are struggling for liberation. We want autonomy. We will not surrender," Mahantha Thakur, chief of the party, later told reporters. The demands put forth by the party include constitutional guarantee of autonomy with right to self determination for Terai-Madhes region; declaring 42 people killed during last year's Madhes agitation as martyrs; providing relief and compensation to injured; formation of a new independent commission to probe alleged atrocities during Madhes agitation; recruitment of Madhesi people in Nepali Army proportional to their population; and allocation of budget based on population, among others. The party has asked the government to fulfill the demands within two weeks or face protest agitation. The chief of the party, Mahantha Thakur, led a delegation of his party leaders to Baluwatar and handed over the demands. Till recently, Thakur used to be a close aide of PM Koirala. He resigned as Agriculture Minister and as leader of Nepali Congress (NC) to float a new party. Nepalnews.com reports
Differences Within Maoists On Army Integration
After the combatants at the cantonments expressed displeasure at the seven parties' agreement, Prachanda summoned Kali Bahadur Kham aka Bibidh, third division commander of Maoists People's Liberation Army (PLA). Leaders like Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal have expressed their disagreement with the agreement among seven parties to integrate PLA combatants verified (by the UNMIN) by providing them with salaries, and sending home those who are not verified. He and another leader Netra Bikram Chand aka Biplav had gone to fourth division cantonment in Nawalparasi subsequently. "We will return only after liberation. If anyone tries to make us return before liberation, they will themselves have to return from the government," Biplav, also known as a hardliner within Maoists, has said. "There have been many reactions saying that the agreement should not have mentioned that disqualified ones will be returned home," said another Maoist deputy commander Chandra Dev Khanal aka Baldev. Leaders have said the Maoist central committee will discuss this issue on Saturday. "Rather than on election, the difference is on army integration," said a source. Leaders like Badal, Biplav and Kiran (Mohan Baidya) are of the opinion that they can help by staying outside the government. Owing to the differences, Maheshwor Dahal – who is said to be close to Badal and Biplav – has not returned to his position of advisor of Ministry of Information and Communication even though the party has said all should return to their respective positions (before the Maoists resigned from the government). Kantipur daily reports
Rizal Says Bhutan Polls An Eyewash
Bhutanese leader Tek Nath Rizal on Wednesday (Jan 2) labeled the elections for National Council conducted in Bhutan on Monday as "yet another attempt" at eyewash. "The election is unfair since thousands of Nepali speaking people, who were not provided with the No Objection CertificateS were barred from voting," Rizal told The Himalayan Times daily. Saying that the Bhutan government has done yet another injustice to the Nepali-speaking community inside Bhutan and the refugees here, Rizal termed all political parties who won election as King's men responsible for ethnic cleansing. Rizal also blamed the international community for curtailing the rights of the Bhutanese people in the name of resettlement at a time when Bhutan government had "admitted" that the refugees in the camps of Jhapa and Morang were Bhutanis. Two days after the first democratic exercise in Bhutan , the Association of Press Freedom Activists Bhutan said the election had to incorporate the spirit of the people and address their demands. "Low voter turnout proved people's annoyance with the autocratic ruler," a statement issued by APFA said on Wednesday, adding that voter turnout was less than 40 percent. A large populace was denied Voter Photo Identity Cards on various grounds. APFA states that the VPICs were issued to those who produced No Objection Certificate (NOC), which was issued by Royal Bhutan Police. "Many who supported 1990 and 1997 demonstrations were denied VPICs," the statement adds. "The election will not pave the way for democracy in Bhutan but will be used to violate people's rights. Expect more ethnic cleansing policies from these selected people," adds APFA. Meanwhile, reports say that two Nepali-speaking candidates have emerged winners in the election.
Dr Mani Kumar Rai and Justin Gurung who had contested from Samchi and Chirang constituencies, respectively, have won the election held for the National Council or upper house of Bhutan by convincingly beating their closest contestants. Compiled from reports
Prachanda Says PLA Integration Dialogue Is Going On
Maoist chairman Prachanda has claimed that his party is in talks at high level with seven parties on the issue of integrating Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) into Nepali Army (NA). According to a Maoist leader who was present at a function organized by the PLA third division where Prachanda spoke, he said the armies would be integrated 'on a group basis.' Prachanda also directed his commanders to create an environment conducive for CA election. Leading dailies report
RPP-Nepal To Launch Agitation
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) has decided to launch agitation against what it calls as 'totalitarian and dictatorial regime of the seven parties.' The RPP-Nepal led by Rabindra Nath Sharma is known as a pro-monarchy party. It has decided to kick off its agitation by holding peaceful demonstration in the capital on January 7. The party has said it opposes the 'hijacking' of people's authority by the seven parties by declaring republic through nominated parliament. The party has claimed that movement for republic has caused agitation in Terai leading to a situation where the region is on the verge of disintegration. Sharma has said that people are in favour of monarchy in Terai. He said that the Constituent Assembly (CA) election will not be held even in mid-April. Sharma said that only revolution or referendum can decide on monarchy. nepalnews.com reports
EC Wants Date
The Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to immediately fix the date of election and make all its machineries election-oriented. The EC officials including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhojraj Pokharel met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Tuesday (Jan 1), and urged him to do so. PM Koirala told EC officials that election date will soon be fixed after necessary laws are passed. The EC has also told the government that it needs 90 days to prepare for the election once all the necessary laws are passed. The government has already tabled bills to amend CA Member Election Act, EC Act, and Voters List Act at the parliament. The amendments are necessary to incorporate latest agreement among seven parties to increase PR portion within the mixed election system. The EC officials have also underscored the necessity of ensure full security to create environment conducive for polls.
