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| NEWS FLASH 2000- LAST UPDATED : Saturday, December 30, 2000 09:52 AM + 5:45 GMT | ||||
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Nepali Capital Returns to Near Normalcy, Other Details Kathmandu, Dec.29: Indian establishments remained closed out of fear Friday as the capital returned to some form of normalcy following three days of anti Indian protests and a strike that left behind five dead and hundreds injured.
The protests were triggered by what students called derogatory remarks by a
popular Bollyhood actor against Nepal and Nepalis. Hritik Roshan denied making such a statement over a TV channel. But other shops in the city opened and resumed business. “ Khatam Cha. Khatma Cha.,” said Bishnu Shrestha, a liquor shop owner in bustling Ason in the heart of the city when asked of his losses during the riots. But the familiar traffic jam was back and the streets were once again crowded. But cinemas houses which have stopped screening Roshan movies remained closed. Except for the shattered window panes and the uprooted iron fences along the sidewalks, there was no evidence of the violence during the week.
Indians were again walking the streets of Kathmandu. “ The shops should reopen soon. I do not have any feeling of fear. Nepalis
are good. I like them. I have not had any problem,’ said Ahmad Khan, an Thousands of Kathmanduits dressed in their finest attire trooped to the Royal Palace Friday to greet King Birendra on his 56th birthday. Indian businessmen held a meeting at the Marwari Sewa Samiti Friday in the capital to assess the damage during the week Outcome of the discussions was not immediately available. " The businesses were closed out of fear and was not organized. But I am happy with the strike call Thursday. We are meeting here in this pleasant gathering. The strike had the effect of preventing gatherings to restore normalcy to the capital. I cannot say the same for the next round of strikes called for Monday by nine left parties," Radhe Shyam Agrawal, Chitwan grain wholesaler said at a wedding celebration Friday in the capital. But he said complete normalcy should be restored soon. Miscreants torched the Kathmandu office of the Nepal Sadvana party in the capital Thursday night triggering a strike in Janakpur Friday, party sources said. A car of Bal Bahadur K.C. parked in the office premises of the terai based regional party was damaged. K.C. is a signatory to the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Nine left parties have called a two-day nation-wide strikeMonday to press for the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. nepalnews.com NC rival camps remain busy in chalking out strategies Kathmandu, Dec 29: Following the registration of no trust motion against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala by 56 members of parliament of the Nepali Congress Thursday, both Koirala supporters and rivals remained busy throughout the day on Friday in chalking out separate strategies to muster support of the majority lawmakers of the party. Koirala supporters gathered in the Prime Minister’s residence and discussed way to foil the no trust motion registered by the rival NC camp led by former Prime Minister and party’s central leader Sher Bahadur Deuba. Similarly, rival NC MPs held meeting in Deuba’s liaison office to muster support of more lawmakers in favour of the no trust motion against the Prime Minister. Both camps are confident that they command support of majority members of parliament of the Nepali Congress. Meanwhile Koirala camps has claimed that six lawmakers, who had earlier signed in the no trust motion against Prime Minister Koirala, have withdrawn their signature and said that they had faith in Koirala’s leadership. According to Nepali Congress central office, those lawmakers who withdrew their signature are Prakash Koirala, Keshar Man Rokaya, Mahendra Raya, Sabitri Bogati, Narayan Singh Pun and Nagendra Singh Yadav. However, Deuba said that it was a mere disinformation and conspiracy and added that they were in constant contact with him. Deuba further said that more NC MPs have expressed their support in favour of the no confidence motion. Mahesndra Yadav said that he had support for Koirala and withdrew his signature against Koirala. Narayan Singh Pun said that he was for party unity. Other lawmakers have not made their views public. Similarly, chiefs of 47 district committees of the Nepali Congress have accused the rival MPs who registered no confidence motion against Koirala of supporting the elements who are hatching conspiracy against democracy and Nepali Congress. In a statement issued today, they asked the lawmakers to support party president and Prime Minister Koirala the time of crisis and safeguard democracy. The rival camp led by Deuba that registered the no trust motion against Koirala in NC parliamentary party accused the Prime Minister of failing to maintain law and order, give a country good government and control corruption. However, Koirala and his camp have said that the Prime Minister commands majority in the parliament and would face the no trust motion. So far, the scene is not clear which camp would emerge victorious. Secretary of the NC parliamentary party Benup Raj Prasai has said that he would call the meeting of the NC parliamentary party within 15 days after consultation with the Prime Minister, party general secretary and Deuba. The statute of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party states that after the registration of no trust motion, the secretary has to call the meeting of the parliamentary party within 15 days to discuss the motion. nepalnews.com yl Indian Establishments Remain Closed, Other Details Kathmandu, Dec.29: Indian
establisments remained closed Friday as the capital returned to some
form of normalcy following three days of anti-Indian protests and a
strike that left behind five dead and hundreds injured. Bishal Bazzar was completely closed Friday. Many Indians own shops in the popular shopping complex. Student protestors targeted it in their attacks. But other shops in the city opened and resumed business. " Khatam Cha. Khatma Cha.," said Bishnu Shrestha, a liquor shop owner in bustling Ason in the heart of the city when asked of his losses during the riots. But the familiar traffic jam was back and the streets were once again crowded. But cinemas houses which have stopped screening Roshan movies remained closed. Except for the shattered window panes and the uprooted iron fences along the sidewalks, there was no evidence of the violence during the week. Indians were again walking the streets of Kathmandu. " The shops should reopen soon. I do not have any feeling of fear. Nepalis are good. I like them. I have not had any problem,' said Ahmad Khan, an Indian garment shop owner. Khan has been living in Nepal for nearly a decade. Thousands of Kathmanduits dressed in their finest attire trooped to the Royal Palace Friday to greet King Birendra on his 56th birthday. nepalnews.com br Bhattarai Urges Further Revolt against PM Koirala Kathmandu, Dec.29: Krishna Prasad Bhattarai called on remaining party legislators to revolt against embattled Prime Minister Girija Prasad and topple him from government and the presidency of the ruling Nepali Congress party. Fifty-six Congress legislators Thursday
registered a no trust motion against Koirala whose grip on Nepal's
oldest party is slipping away as he faces the most serious challenge to
his leadership. Bhattarai, the only surviving founding member of the party, said he had asked Koirala to quit as Prime Minister and party president. Tenacious Koirala is unlikely to yield and will deepen a crisis in the government and party. Meanwhile, the parliamentary party office Thursday asked all its 113 legislators in the 205 member House of Representatives to collect in the capital to consider the developments. The issue has to be settled within 15, days according to party statutes. nepalnews.com br Kathmandu, Dec.29: A four-year-old infant kidnapped from home by unknown persons was found abandoned in the outskirts of Pokhara 24 hours later, reports from the resort town said Friday. The infant daughter was unharmed. The kidnappers had demanded a Rs.700,000
ransom from the child's father, Dr.Mukunda Acharya. King Birendra's 56th Birthday Celebrated Kathmandu, Dec.29: Altogether 126 prisoners were released from jails nation-wide to mark the 56th birthday of King Birendra Friday, the Home Ministry said. The birthday was marked as a national holiday. Well-wishers went to the Narayanhiti Royal Palace to offer their felicitations to the King. Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers sent the monarch congratulatory messages. nepalnews.com br Vajpayee talks with Koirala on Violence Kathmandu, Dec.29: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Yajpayee Thursday expressed concern at the violence directed against India and Indian this week in the Nepali capital over reported remarks by an Bollyhood actor leading to at least five deaths, hundreds of injuries and damage to property. The actor has denied making such a statement. The Prime Minister's office in New Delhi said Vajpayee expressed the concern to his Nepali counterpart Girija Prasad Koirala in a telephonic conversation from the state of Kerala where he is holidaying. " Vajpayee expressed serious concern over the outbreak of violence directed especially at Indians and establishments owned by them in Nepal.These incidents appeared to be part of a conspiracy aimed at harming the traditionally close bonds of friendship between the two neighbours," the statement said. The Nepali government Thursday also admitted there was a communal tinge in the riots. Two days of violence scaled down dramatically Thursday during a strike call in and around the capital by leftist students protesting what they called police excesses during the protests. nepalnews.com br PM
Koirala's Government in Crisis The simmering rebellion against Koirala has been openly formalized. Deuba Thursday afternoon registered a motion of no confidence against his protege at the office of the parliamentary party signed by 56 of the 113 members of the deeply divided party in the 205 member powerful House of Representatives. Deuba is also challenging Koirala for the presidency at a party convention in January. Deuba trooped to Parliament with a group of 40 legislators and registered the no trust motion as the capital limped back to some form of normalcy after two days of anti Indian protests that claimed at least five lives and injured several dozen students and policemen and destroyed property worth millions of rupees in the last two days. In the next 15 days, the ambitious and ageing Koirala has time to again wean away or buy at least two votes from the rebel camp to retain his slender hold on government. The game has already begun. " There is no need for a change in the leadership of the party. I am saddened that my name has been associated in the moves," state controlled Radio Nepal said it its evening Nepali prime news broadcast amid charges that the government is abusing the government media. Rebels earlier claimed Prakash Koirala, father of Manisha Koirala, an actress of Bollyhood fame, is a signatory to the no trust motion. Otherwise, there was no reaction from the government to the latest developments in Nepali politics as government leaders tried to defuse a major crisis with India when the administration admitted openly that the latest unrest has a communal tinge which was regrettable. Students have targeted India and Indians in their attacks over perceived anti Nepal reported remarks made by a popular Indian personally denied by Hritikh Roshan. Prakash Koirala is also a nephew of the Prime Minister and son of B.P.Koirala, Nepal's first elected Prime Minister ousted by King Mahendra in December 1960 by outlawing an elected after only 18 months in office. " We registered the no trust motion at 1.25 PM today with the signatures of 56 members of parliament. Former PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is not a signatory but a supporter of the motion," Ratan Iear, personnel aide of Deuba said. Speculation was rife that a censure motion would be registered against Koirala and the Rubicon was crossed Thursday. " We have taken a constitutional approach to bring down the government against the possibility of its ouster by unconstitutional means," Deuba told reporters at the premises of Parliament in an obvious reference to the two days of mayhem that is now dying down. Deuba charged Koirala for failure to curb the spiralling Maoist violence that has claimed more than 1500 lives in nearly six years and ignoring a parliamentary public accounts committee to abrogate a lease agreement with Austrian Lauda Air for Nepal's state carrier Royal Nepal Airlines at inflated costs.
" We want to create an atmosphere for a safe landing for the Prime
Minister," Deuba said. The latest development is a major setback for Girija Prasad Koirala who has dominated Nepali politics for a decade after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990 following a popular movement against the absolute rule of King Birendra.
Koirala has thrice assumed prime ministerial responsibility in 10 years
for an interrupted r six year rule amid accusations that he engineered
the ouster of the governments of his own party and allies. Bhattarai Wednesday refused to intervene on Koirala's behalf as a crisis brewed within the party and asked the Prime Minister to resign in favour of Deuba to unite the party and nation. Koirala engineered a similar revolt against Bhattarai earlier this year to oust him as head of government after a brief six month spell after the Nepali Congress was swept to power with a parliamentary majority in national elections. Bhattarai, the only surviving founding member of the party, never forgave Koirala for the treachery Chief whip Tek Bahadur Chokyal submitted his resignation to Koirala and defected to the Deuba camp and signed the no trust motion Thursday. nepalnews.com br Capital Seemingly Calm After Two Days of Unrest Kathmandu,
Dec.28: A shutdown called by leftist student unions to protest
alleged anti-Nepali remarks made by Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan
brought life in the capital and surrounding areas to a standstill today.
Sporadic clashes were reported between riot police and student groups at
some parts of the valley, including Chabahil, Patan Dhoka, Thamel, New
Road and along the Ring Road. But compared to the violence of the past
two days in which some five people were killed, the situation was much
calmer with many people taking advantage of the sunny and mild winter
afternoon to walk along the deserted pollution-free streets. News
quickly spread that Congress dissident and former premier Sher Bahadur
Deuba had registered a vote of no-confidence with 56 signatures at the
parliamentary party office in a renewed bid to oust prime minister
Girija Prasad Koirala. Government
Admits Communal Violence, Other Details No Trust
Motion Against PM Koirala Registered
Deuba trooped to Parliament with a group of 40 legislators
and registered the no trust No
Violence after Two Days of Mayhem The strike call by protesting students paralysed life in and around the capital as shops, schools and industrial establishments closed in the Kathmandu Valley. The students charged Bollyhood actor Hritik Roshan insulted Nepal and Nepalis in a TV interview when he reportedly said he hated Nepal and Nepalis most in response to a question earlier this month. The budding actor in a statement said he never made such utterances. Protesters, mainly students, mainly targeted Indians and Indian businesses in their attacks Tuesday and Wednesday causing damage worth several million rupees. Inconvenienced by the protests and strike, the office of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala throughout Thursday is issuing telephonic invitations to guests asking them to attend a reception at the Singha Durbar later in the day to celebrate King Birendra's birthday Friday. nepalnews.com br Strike Paralyses Life in and Around Capital, Other Details Kathmandu, Dec.28: A strike called by students to protest what they call derogatory remarks by a popular Indian actor against Nepal and Nepalis paralysed the capital Thursday as vehicles stayed off the deserted streets. Businesses, schools and industrial establishments were closed and many stayed indoors fearing the third day of violence that has claimed at least five lives mostly in clashes between students and police. Scores have been injured, many vehicles have been torched and Indian business houses stoned. The city's streets are strewn with rocks, stones and shattered glasses of vandalized stores. Hrithik Roshan denied in a statement Wednesday he gave a TV interview maligning Nepal and Nepalis. " I solemnly declare and firmly reiterate that I have never spoken even a word against Nepal or its people.," the Bollywood actor said." It has given considerable pain that innocent people of Nepal have suffered emotionally and physically due to some press reports which are absolutely false and unfounded." Meanwhile, Nepal Communist Party ( Unified Marxist Leninist ) has demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel for what it calls his personal failure to curb the spiralling violence. Government has formed a three man probe committee under Bhoj Raj Pokhrel to submit recommendations while agreeing to give compensation to those killed and underwrite the medical expenses of the injured. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that rebels are preparing to oust Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala by registering a no-trust motion against him in parliamentary party office of the ruling Nepali Congress. Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Koirala's nemesis, Wednesday refused to intervene on behalf of Koirala, who the rebels charge of failure to maintain internal stability. nepalnews.com br Nepal, Bhutan Agree to Verify Refugees
Kathmandu, Dec.28: For the first time in nearly one decade, the Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan agreed to form a joint verification team ( JVC ) to identify nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees on a family basis for their repatriation home, officials said. The breakthrough in stalled talks came at the end of a three-day 10th round of ministerial level talks that concluded in the capital Wednesday evening. JVT with
five members each from the two countries will be nominated within a
week. The leaders of the two teams will visit the camps in east Nepal within January 2001 for" logistics, security and other arrangements to ensure smooth functioning of the JVT," the statement said. Work will start in one of many camps in Jhapa and Morang districts. " The verification modality will be based on the idea of maintaining family integrity. This has been written in the terms of reference," Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Y.Thineley told a joint press conference. This is major Bhutanese concession that lead to the breakthrough since Bhutan in the past had been insisting on individual head counts while Nepal insisted on identifying displaced persons mainly of Nepali ethnicity on a family basis, sources close to the talks said. " This is an end of a big impasse and the beginning of a new phase in the resolution of the Bhutanese refugee issue," Nepali Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola said. Thinkey expressed similar feelings. Talks had been bogged down for nearly nine years on Bhutanese insistence to first categorize refugees of Bhutanese, non-Bhutanese, willing immigrants and criminals and failure to agree to modalities to interview the refugees presently being cared for by the UNHCR. Bhutan has also agreed to identify refugees using documents like land deeds, tax receipts or other evidence to verify nationality. Bhutan had claimed the refugees were illegal immigrants who charged they were forcibly expelled from their homes. nepalnews.com br Kathmandu, Dec.28: Police shot dead a woman rebel and injured another Maoist while attempting to escape a cordon in Ashrang village in Gorkha district Tuesdy, police said. Police identified the woman as 19-year-old Matrika Dhital. Another rebel was arrested while collecting donations. nepalnews.com br |
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