AI prods Maoists, Govt on Human Rights

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Secretary General of Amnesty International (AI) Pierre Sane today said that the woman who was arrested by the police and whose whereabouts were not known has been kept in the District Police Office, Tanahun.

After plain clothes policemen, on October 31, arrested Gita Shahi, Regional President of All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) - a sister organisation of underground CPN (Maoist), AI has been keeping deep concern about her condition.

Sane, who at present is on a three-day official visit to Nepal, told The Kathmandu Post that Shahi was safe in the District Police Office, Tanahun. Sane said the condition of Shahi after his meeting with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pradeep SJB Rana today. "IGP Rana not only told about Shahi’s condition but also assured that the police will allow her to meet lawyers and her family members," said Sane.

According to Sane, the police, when asked about the Shahi’s condition after her speculated detention, had said: "she has not been detained so far and we know nothing about her". Sane, on Thursday, had warned the government that if the condition of Shahi was not made public, AI would create international pressure against it.

According to our Tanahun based reporter, the police filed a case against Shahi in the District Court on charge of possessing socket bomb today. The legal process against her will be forwarded in the Court on crime against the state.

According to our police source, the police has been extending her term for further investigation ever since her detention. "Police is preparing to prosecute her on charge of attempting murder, looting and many others," the source said.

The source, denying the allegation made against it for not allowing anyone to meet Shahi, said that nobody came to see her.

AI has been making public the reports of human rights violations done by Maoists and the government since the former waged "People’s War" nearly five years ago.

Sane said IGP Rana has positively accepted his suggestions of no torture, no disappearances and no extra judiciary killings in the police custody after detention. He also said that Rana had acceded to protect human rights by following his suggestions.

"IGP Rana admitted the tortures given to the detainees by police due to the war, murder and terror (by Maoists)," Sane said, adding "he has assured that the situation will improve in the days to come."

As a part of the AI-Nepal Campaign to eliminating torture from Nepal, AI submitted a memorandum to the Police Headquarters, Naxal by organising a motorcycle rally from International Convention Hall, Baneshwor Thursday.

AI-Nepal, in collaboration with other human rights organisations, has planned to organise various activities such as east-west motorcycle rally and training to police officials throughout this year. "Rana has agreed to cooperate AI in this regard," Sane said, adding "we are leaving Nepal with very positive hope of improved human rights situation."

Castigating the Maoists’ acts of committing murder, abduction, torture, recruiting children in their military force, Sane said, "We have been strongly appealing the Maoists to follow international conventions on war and respect the human rights." He said that he did not talked to any Maoists.

No headway in talks to reduce pol prices

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - An all-party meeting called by the government Sunday to seek a way out of the standoff between the government and the opposition parties over hike in petro prices ended inconclusively, although with the hope of a breakthrough tomorrow. The meeting, however, did not discuss the hike in diesel and petroleum prices.

Both sides showed signs of flexibility on reaching a compromise on reducing the price. No agreement could be reached today as the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) failed to turn up at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office where the meet was held. Another meeting has been slated at 8 a.m. tomorrow at the same place.

"The government has agreed on principle to reduce the kerosene price," said Amik Sherchan, chairman of the central committee of United People’s Front (UPF). "They (the government) did not commit how much they would reduce. We will certainly not simply agree to a reduction by a rupee or two."

Lilamani Pokhrel, General Secretary of UPF said that the government offered to reduce something to settle the issue. "Our first option is a roll back to the earlier stage (of Rs 13 per litre); if not, then to a flat rate of Rs 15.50 per litre. We were expecting a concrete proposal from the government which did not materialise."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya said that the government is trying to explore all possible options to seek a proper solution.

According to R K Mainali, politburo member of CPN (ML), the government had presented two options to the opposition. "One was to reduce the higher limit (of Rs 26 per litre) while maintaining the coupon system; the other was to reach an agreement on a compromise rate by removing the coupon."

Mainali reiterated that his party was not keen on going ahead with the nationwide bandh "due to its adverse impact on tourism, 39th WWF annual conference (to be held for the first time in Nepal), including a religious meet on November 13-17. "But our hands have been tied by the stubborn attitude of the government. They have asked us to withdraw the bandh and to show flexibility."

Mainali pointed out that if the government too showed flexibility, "a compromise is possible." He added that the government have said that tomorrow’s meeting would proceed even if UML did not turn up.

The main opposition CPN (UML) is holding its three-day central committee meeting in the capital starting today. The meeting condemned the government’s move of the price hike in petroleum products. The meeting also reiterated the party’s support for the bandh.

The government had taken the initiative to reach an agreement over price hike especially in the light of two-day bandh on November 16 and 17 called by the grouping of nine left parties on October 18, demanding a roll back in petroleum products. Subsequently, CPN-UML, alongwith its left allies, and the underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) too extended their support for the 48-hour bandh.

The government had hiked the price of petro-products on October 14. Since then, the opposition parties have been demonstrating against the government, asking it to roll back the price hike.

Meanwhile, Amik Sherchan of UPF said, via a press release, that the bandh would be observed as decided. He accused the government of trying to make the opposition protest unsuccessful through its treacherous means". "It is not true that a part of the grouping of nine left parties has decided to withdraw the bandh call," added Sherchan.

National People’s Front, another leftist party, too said that bandh would go on as decided previously.

Donors rap Bhutan on refugee issue

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Members of the international donor community inside Bhutan have urged the Druk regime to "seek speedy resolution of the Bhutanese refugee problem, offering their assistance in the reintegration of those returning".

A press release issued here Sunday by Centre for the Protection of Minorities and Against Racism and Discrimination in Bhutan (CEMARD-Bhutan), a Bhutanese refugee organisation states quoting a joint press release issued after the Seventh Round Table Meeting (RTM) of the Development partners for Bhutan and the Druk government in Thimpu from Nov 7-9.

This is the first time that they have voiced their concern for repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees from inside Bhutan.

Representatives of altogether 15 European and Asian countries (including India) and international bodies like the UN, the European Commission, the ADB, the World Bank had participated in the RTM, the release said.

During the RTM, the head of Asia Pacific Division at the Danish Foreign Ministry raised concern over the second class citizen treatment of the Bhutanese of Nepalese descent or the Lhotshampas.

The Dutch representative even warned that "there is a real danger of Bhutan being torn apart" if the Druk regime did not eliminate discriminatory laws, practice against its minorities, the release said.

Austrian Ambassador Dr George Lennkh said that "Austria shares concern that refugees in Nepal should be allowed to go back home", stressing on the refugee verification team, the release adds.

Nine rounds of Joint Ministerial Level Talks between Nepal and Bhutan since 1993 have been deadlocked over the verification modalities for the refugee repatriation.

Japanese envoy Hiroshi Hirayabayshi said that Japan believed that a fair and equitable solution of the refugee problem could be found by Nepal, Bhutan and UNHCR, the release further added.

There are currently some 98 thousand Druk refugees languishing in seven UNHCR monitored camps in Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal since the past decade.

Bomb blast in the heart of city injures 2

KATHMANDU, Nov 12 (PR) - A crude bomb exploded today in the heart of the capital injuring two people. But there were no fatalities. Police suspect that the bomb was thrown by the Maoist rebels.

The crude bomb went off in front of an electric shop at Bhotebahal around six O’clock in the evening.

A passer-by, Krishna Neupane and Laxman Katuwal of Sun Light Electric sustained minor injuries on their faces by the shattered window panes. According to the hospital sources, they were discharged after necessary treatment.

According to the police, three suspected Maoist guerrillas hurled a bag with a bomb at Bansal Electric around 6 p.m. which was thrown out by an employee of the shop before it could explode. The bomb exploded after a while on the street after a taxi driver, standing nearby, kicked it further.

The sound of the explosion could be heard from New Road, at least 500 metres away from the spot, said locals. The impact of the blast shattered the window screens of Sun Light Electric, Citizen Tailors, Rupkala Studio and the nearby houses.

Puskar Regmi, Superintendent of Police (SP) of District Police Office Kathmandu, said that the initial investigation showed the bomb was home made but further investigation is underway. The locals said a petrol bomb was thrown at the same shop prior to this incident. It is speculated that the reason for the attack could be extortion.

Meanwhile, there were two blasts behind the premises of Pashupati Spinning Mill at Balkumari, Madhyapur Thimi Municipality this evening.

According to the police, both the blasts occurred simultaneously at around 7:30 p.m. The bombs were planted at the wall behind the mill, police added. It is not yet known who is responsible behind the blasts and an investigation is underway. No casualties have been reported.

Deuba calls on PM to honour CWC decision

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today asked Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to honour the decision of the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC).

The CWC of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) had last month decided to renew active membership of members whose names had been on the 1995 list, with the exception of the NC activists who had decided to contest as rebel candidates during election or supported them.

"Instead of matching the names in the old list and making corrections in the new one, the old list itself is being altered with names of the opponents getting deleted," said Deuba in a statement issued today.

Deuba and the anti-Koirala camp are accusing the Koirala camp of using their domination on the party office to add new members against the agreement between the two factions in the party and barring supporters of the rebel camp from getting their membership renewed.

In the statement, Deuba said that despite repeated requests from him and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Koirala has been ignoring the pleas and conspiring to brush aside party workers in a pre-planned manner.

PM elected to party general convention

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BIRATNAGAR, Nov 12 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is also the president of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), was unanimously elected in the party’s regional election as representative from Rangeli VDC in Morang-1 constituency.

Koirala however was not present at the election venue. All the 26 active members unanimously voted for Koirala, according to Rangeli VDC Chairman Mangal Chand Agrawal.

This marks the beginning of the journey to the party’s 10th General Convention scheduled to be held in January next year in Pokhara where Koirala will once again be contesting for the coveted post of party president.

Similarly, the party’s central members Nona Koirala and Shailaja Acharya were both elected from Ward 9 of Biratnagar Municipality.

Minister for Sports and Education Amod Upadhaya was also elected from Amchami VDC in Morang-1. He too received all the 30 votes from active members in the VDC.

Defence and Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya who also hails from the area did not contest the election since he already is a central working committee member and does not require to contest now.

Assistant Election Officer Bhairav Basnet told The Kathmandu Post that the elections were peaceful in all the areas of Morang District.

Long cherished dream of Nepalese women may come true soon

By Binaj Gurubacharya and Smriti Dhungel

KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Women in Nepal could soon be able to get one right they have always been denied -- the right to choose -- if and when a Bill proposing to partially legalize abortion is endorsed by the Parliament.

Nepal is one of the only eight countries in the world that prohibits women from aborting under any condition. However, women rights activists are hoping that the proposed Bill to amend the Muluki Ain or Civil Code would change all that.

Nepal remains one of the few countries in the world that not only deprives women their right to choose, but also criminalizes women for having abortions.x

According to the New York-based Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, Nepal is just one of the handful of countries where abortion is considered as criminal homicide under most circumstances, and is punishable by prison terms up to maximum of 20 years.

The restrictions make no exceptions even if the life or health of the woman is in danger, or if the foetus was conceived through rape or incest.

While the exact number of women who have served prison terms for abortion is unavailable, it is estimated that anywhere from 20 per cent to two-thirds of the women presently incarcerated in Nepal have been convicted of undergoing an illegal abortion.

Women’s rights activists are hoping that the Bill proposing to make 11th amendment to the Muluki Ain or Civil Code that proposes legalization of abortion under certain conditions, would at least help make the situation a little better.

The Bill proposes that married women, with their husband’s consent, may abort until up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest can be aborted up to 18 weeks and in cases where pregnancy poses danger to the physical and mental health of the mother or medical report proves that the foetus is damaged which will result in the birth of a disabled child, abortion is permitted any time with the consent of the pregnant women.

"Nepal is the only country where women are criminalized for abortion and because abortions are illegal, unwanted pregnancy is fully developed and the child that is born ends up as a case of infanticide," says Sapana Malla-Pradhan, a renowned women rights advocate.

Nepal has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Asia. A 1996 estimate of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF indicates that the ratio of maternal death at birth in Nepal stands at 1,500 per 100,000 live births. Experts say, a substantial percentage of maternal deaths have a direct correlation with induced abortion, an outcome attributable to incriminating abortion.

According to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, each year, some 20 million unsafe abortions are performed worldwide. These abortions result in nearly 80,000 maternal deaths and hundreds of thousands of disabilities.

Though rights activists say the Bill would help a section of the women, it does not fully address the entire population. The Bill still does not have any provision on forced abortion and amino-centesis test to determine the sex of the unborn child and the question of unmarried women are not addressed.

Women’s rights activists are demanding that the Bill include a provision that prohibits abortion without the consent of the pregnant woman, specify penalty for amino-centesis tests, unmarried women too should be allowed to abort up to 12 weeks and the consent of the husband part should be deleted.

"The first step should be in decriminalizing those who are performing illegal abortion practices. The next step would then be in legalizing abortion, as it is a public heath issue related to safe motherhood," said Aruna Upreti, a gynaecologist.

"By legalizing abortion, it would save the lives of 50 per cent of these women who are dying due to unsafe abortion practices," said Dr. Bhola Rizal, another known gynaecologist. "Abortion has become a demand of the age. We cannot prevent them from aborting but instead we can protect them and guide them through education."

Three years back, the Protection of Pregnancy Bill 1996 was presented by National Assembly member Sunil Bhandari during the 12th session of the Parliament but the Bill was automatically scrapped after the Parliament was dissolved and fresh elections ordered last year.

Cultural city of Bhaktapur could face garbage problem

By Razen Manandhar

BHAKTAPUR, Nov 12 - The cultural city of Bhaktapur, one of the most appealing tourist destination of Nepal, could develop a garbage crisis soon if immediate steps are not taken, the locals said.

"Along with urbanisation and the growing tourism industry, use of plastic and other non-biodegradable objects are on the rise. But the local authority has not been working at the necessary pace to keep the possible hazard at bay before it gets out of hand," said a local shop-keeper Kaushal Ratna Bajracharya.

Similarly, historian Dr Purushottam Lochan Shreshta said that the municipality is showing more concern for cleaning tourist areas but the other areas of the city are neglected. "The entrance gates like Sallaghari, Mangal Tirtha and Hanuman Ghat have been turned into dumping sites."

The small yet unique city, just 12 kms east of Kathmandu, is dominated by local farmers. The residents traditionally compost the domestic waste in their backyards so the problem was not apparent earlier. But in recent years, the tendency to use plastic has become a threat to Bhaktapur’s small-scale solid waste management system.

Dr Shrestha said that before the problem escalates, the municipality must provide a permanent dumping site and keep the city free of the garbage heaps.

Bhaktapur city with a population of 70,000 produces around 18 tonnes of garbage daily and dumps it at Bhelukhel of Ward No 11.

An estimated 10 ropanies of land has been used for collecting the garbage from all 17 wards, sorting out the recyclable materials and composting it too. The composting plant does produce some one tonne of compost manure daily which is sold out to local farmers in the planting season but during other seasons the manure remains unsold.

Bhaktapur Municipality (BM) Sanitation In-charge, Dilip Kumar Suwal, said collecting the garbage has been going on but the garbage is not completely managed.

He has perceived the possibility of a hazard. "I don’t say the problem has started yet but the possibility cannot be overlooked," he said.

Bhaktapur Mayor Prem Suwal, said that the municipality is fully committed to control the spreading menace of garbage in the tourist city. The municipality allocated Rs 3 million to acquire a piece of land for a big-scale composting plant, but since the budget is not sufficient, he expects the government assistance.

"The problem of a dumping site must be solved soon. We are doing our best from our side. We have asked the government to assist the municipality in managing the garbage. It depends when we will get a hopeful reply."

Meet on health research underway

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said during a function today that the government has recently increased the number of sub-health posts to 3,900 and primary health care centres to 205.

"The number of health service centres has been increased to address the people’s access to health care facilities," PM Koirala said, adding, "the government is committed to providing basic health services, as it is their fundamental human right to the people."

Speaking at the inaugural function of a consultative meeting on Development of National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research in Nepal, Koirala reiterated the need to utilize the limited resources of the country to achieve the maximum benefit.

The Chairman of the function and State Minister for Health Tirtha Ram Dangol said that the government was highly committed to improving the health of the people with appropriate reforms in the health sector.

The programme, which was organised by National Health Research Council (NHRC), will continue for four days and is attended by national and international health experts. The meeting aims at developing ethical guidelines for health researches in Nepal.

Representative of World Health Organization to Nepal, Dr Klaus Wagner, said that 90 per cent of the total global resources addressed to research and development on health problems are applied to diseases causing less than 10 per cent of the present global suffering. "This is itself a serious ethical issue," he said.

Speakers at the programme said the priorities of health research should be given to those problems which have wide public concerns.

Addressing the function, chairman of NHRC, Prof Gopal Prasad Acharya, pointed out the triple burden of health problems - communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS. He said that the country is lagging behind in addressing these health issues due to financial constraints.

Acharya, quoting the recommendation made by the Global Forum for Health Research and COHRED, said 2 per cent of the national budget and 5 per cent of donor funds in the health sector need to be allocated for research promotion.

Dr Vasantha Mathuswamy from the Indian Council of Medical Research said that Nepal could be the model country in terms of developing and implementing the guidelines of health practices and researches.

Ward member challenges KMC

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KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - A ward chairman on Friday filed a writ petition against the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) at the Supreme Court for increasing the monthly allowance of the Board members.

The case was filed by KMC Ward No 28 Chairman Subhan Kumar Shrestha.

KMC in its fifth Board meeting on August 9 decided to nearly double the allowance of the mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairmen and nominated members who will now draw Rs 15,000, Rs 12,500, Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,000 respectively every month.

Claiming that the decision went against the Local Self-governance Act 1998 and its regulations, the writ states that the city council has no right to determine the salary and the facilities of the mayor and the deputy mayor.

"Instead of spending on urban construction works and launching programmes for public economic benefits, the city council’s decision, will encourage bureaucratic tendencies and neglect legal provisions," the writ states.

This writ petition is the latest outcome of the internal confrontations going on among the KMC Board members due to the political and other reasons.

Shrestha opposed this decision on the concluding day of the Board meeting but, he claimed, his voice was neglected.