Four strikes already, how many more to go?
Bird hazard at TIA scaring off foreign carriers

By Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Oct 11 The string of recent aircraft- bird collisions at Tribhuvan International Airport could begin to deliver a punch where it hurts the most: on the government's earnings.

Because the government earns a major portion of its foreign exchange revenues from tourism, which in turn depends largely on international flights, it ought to take note that foreign carriers are already contemplating pulling out of Nepal until the bird hazard is effectively addressed.

Word is, carriers which serve Nepal such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Transavia, Austrian Airlines and Indian Airlines are already thinking twice whether to continue operations if the Civil Aviation Authorities do not take drastic measures to curb the problem of bird menace.

"Obviously, the industry will be hit if such remains the case," says Pradip Raj Pandey, Executive Director of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). "If the bird-hit menace is not curbed beforehand then the major international operators will start withdrawing flights." Adds tourism entrepreneur and Austrian Airline (Lauda Air)'s General Sales Agent (GSA) for Nepal Bharat Basnet: "Naturally, the airlines will be forced to think twice if the problem persists. As such, my airlines has already started an inquiry into the incidents (bird-hit)...In such situation any thing can happen any time."

TIA, Nepal's only international airport, faced the season's fourth major bird-hit problem Tuesday morning when a China South West Airlines (CSWA) jet's engine sucked a large bird during take off. The 191 passengers on board the Boeing B-757 had a miraculous escape, thanks largely to the aircraft's pilots who brought the jet to a screeching halt just a few meters from the southern end of the runway.

According to data made available by NTB, 86 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal come by air. And, till the end of September, altogether 215,000 visitors came to Nepal by air. The figure was a drop of one percent when it comes to third country tourists and drop of 30 percent when it comes to Indian tourists.

Stating that "everyone is, and should be terribly afraid at such news", Lawrence Lieu, Station Manager of Singapore Airlines, says that his airlines hopes that Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) will take appropriate measures to eliminate this problem once and for all.

"They have not done enough; they can do more," he says. "After all, there can be no compromise on safety."

Lal Chand, Station Manager of Indian Airlines, which has been operating in Kathmandu for nearly four decades now, says that the Indian airlines is taking up the matter quite seriously.

"It is all happening because of the new dump site (which lies barely 500 meters away from the airport's northern end)," he says. "They have to remove it (the dump site) before it becomes too late."

CAAN officials at TIA blame the earthworms that come out of the grassy patches near the runway as the factor attracting the birds. But environmental experts say, the close proximity of the garbage dump and filthy slums near Koteshwor and Bouddha area has compounded the problem as they attract such birds as kites and eagles to the airport's periphery.

Fumes an executive of Transavia airlines preferring to remain unnamed: "What are they (the authorities) doing with the taxpayers money? Are they waiting for another crash to happen?" Transavia, which operates two flights a week to Kathmandu, was forced to divert its plane yesterday.

Govt draws two-pronged policy to counter guerrillas

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 11 - Two weeks after 22 policemen were killed in separate clashes with Maoists in Dolpa and Lamjung, the government has adopted a two-pronged policy -- using the army and calling the insurgents for dialogue -- to resolve the crisis of Maoist insurgency.

According to reports, the government will step-up its efforts to hold dialogue with the Maoists following the changes in Home Ministry and police authority. The government has already requested human rights activists to negotiate with the Maoists for the long-awaited talks.

A senior minister last week met rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar and requested Tuladhar to ask the Maoists for their package on which they want to proceed for the talks.

"The minister told me that the government is ready to exchange the prisoners from both sides," said Tuladhar. Tuladhar denied that former Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi made any efforts to reach to the Maoists through rights activists. "The initiation has been made after the changes in Home Ministry and police authority."

The government deployed some 50 Royal Nepal Army personnel yesterday in the mid western hilly district of Dailekh to control suspected rise in Maoist activity. Maoists have asked the government to release the Maoist supporters who are imprisoned, make public details of those missing in police custody and put an end to state sponsored terrorism.

Deputy Prime Minister and newly appointed Home Minister said that the High Level Consensus Seeking Commission headed by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is working towards dialogue.

Meanwhile, our reporter adds from Morang, Minister for Defence Mahesh Acharya today warned the Maoists that the government would take a stern action against the Maoists if they did not abandon the politics of murder and violence.

Speaking publicly in his home-town for the first time after his appointment as Minister for Defense two weeks ago, Minister Acharya said, "The government would take stern action against the Maoists to preserve the sovereignty of the nation, democracy and maintain law and order."

Minister Acharya made these remarks at a function of laying the foundation-stone of Laxmi secondary school at Dangihat VDC-5 of Morang district.

BBC director expresses regret

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 11 - The Director of BBC World Service, Mark Byford, has written to the Foreign Minister of Nepal expressing regret for a recent question about the future of Nepal posted on the BBC website, according to a press release issued here today by BBC World Service.

A question about the future of Nepal posted on the BBC website late last month kicked up a heated controversy in Nepal which saw the Foreign Ministry and the country's intellectuals condemning the BBC's move.

In the letter, Byford said from press articles and emails sent to the BBC it was clear that some people believed that the wording of the question had been a deliberate attempt to undermine Nepalese sovereignty. This, he said, was never the intention, the release said.

"Byford, who recently paid an official visit to Nepal and met Prime Minister Koirala and other senior officials, said it was clear that the wording of the question had caused deep offence and on behalf of the BBC he wanted to offer the government and the people of Nepal his sincere apologies," it said.

"He said he would be sending a senior editor to Nepal next month to underline his concern that this incident should not be allowed to damage the excellent and close relationship that BBC enjoys with Nepal," it added.

Bus wreckage retrievedfrom Seti river

Post Report

DHANGADHI, Oct 11 - Wreckage of the bus that plunged into the swollen Seti river Saturday killing more than forty passengers was retrieved today along with two more dead bodies, police here said.

Dead bodies of the driver, Tek Bahadur Bista from Dehimandu of Mahadevsthan Village Development Committee, Doti, and Padam Singh Dholi from Sanagaon VDC, Doti was retrieved along with the wreckage, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Doti Gokarna Pal said.

The Shahebagar bound bus fell off the bridge over the Seti river at Pipalla of Dipayal Municipality Saturday mid-night killing at least forty passengers. The exact number of passengers on board hasn't been confirmed yet.

Eight passengers managed to save themselves by climbing on the hood of the bus immediately after it plunged into the rapids of the Seti river. Royal Nepal Army soldiers and police rescued them with the help of a rope. A total of 13 bodies have been recovered till Wednesday, DSP Pal said.

Chief District Officer of Doti Taranath Gautam suspected that rest of the bodies still missing must have been swept away by the strong current.

Survivors of the bus said that driver Bista, who also succumbed to the accident, was intoxicated with alcohol. They also revealed that the deceased driver had a heated argument with some of the passengers before the bus moved ahead after the driver and passengers had dinner at Pipalla bazaar.

Rebels thrive, thanks to nincompoop cops

By Tilak Pokharel

PHUJEL, Oct 11 - Despite a police post in nearby Ghairung village development committee (VDC), Maoists are escalating their activities in this southern VDC of Gorkha district, according to locals.

The Maoists extended their activities here after police from a nearby police post shot a Maoist youth to death on August 27. They collected 25 per cent of a month's salary from each government-posted teacher on the eve of Dashain festival and are simultaneously extorting food items from the villagers.

Till now, ten persons have joined CPN (Maoist) from this village alone, the largest number of youth joining the rebels from a VDC in this area. Among them, two youth succumbed to police bullets. Maoists also killed one local youth in this VDC.

The number of youth - going underground is increasing and various factors are influencing them. Maoists' attractive promises, inquisitive nature of the youth, their dislike towards study coupled with unemployment might have encouraged youths to join the Maoists, according to locals who wanted to remain unnamed.

Frequent high-handedness of police add fuel to the fire already kindled by the Maoist brain-washing whereby youth finally take the guns.

Bharat Pokharel from Phujel VDC fears that his son who is studying in class nine may join the Maoists too. Similarly, parents of Surya Pokharel say, "Please, convince him (Surya) not to join (Maoists)..."

Maoists are seen strolling in the village during daylight without wearing face masks. Locals say that they walk in a group but appear to be alone as they walk keeping discreet distance.

Although they halted attacks during Dashain, Maoists frequently appeared in the village and even participated in an interaction programme organised by Progressive Students' Forum on October 7.

They have extended their activities in Namjung, Raniswanra, Darbung and Ghairung VDCs also. Locals say these villages have become Maoist haven because of police idleness.

The police usually patrol the village after a gap of some three months. During this period the Maoists mingle with locals and spread their influence.

"When police suddenly come to the villages, they can easily find the Maoists and immediately kill them," a 74-year-old elderly said. "I do not know whether it is police strategy or their idleness."

Nepali migrants supporting Maoist insurgency

By Utpal Raj Misra

NEW DELHI,India, Oct 11 Maoist activists are spreading their influence among the Nepali migrant worker communities in the heart of the Indian capital, Nepali students here say.

There are hundreds of thousands of Nepalis working all over India, thousands here in Delhi alone and a lot of them sympathize with the Maoists and many are believed to be actively involved in their operations.

Nepali Ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa too agrees that pro-Maoist groups exist in India. Says he, "There is natural sympathy for the Maoists among the lower income bracket group and they swallow Maoist propaganda easily".

After four and half years of insurgency, the activities of the Maoist extremists are not confined within Nepal. There have been many incidents where police in Nepal have arrested people while trying to smuggle in arms and explosives from India. And the fact that the Prime Ministers of both countries have talked about the issue confirms it all.

"The fact that both the Prime Ministers have talked about it confirms it and shows the gravity of the matter but every political party has sympathizers outside the country and every party has it in India", says Dr Thapa.

Maoist insurgency has already claimed more than 1450 lives and millions of rupees and displaced hundreds of people from their villages.

Touring many places in South Delhi, this reporter met many Nepalis working there. Living in slums, Nepalis were found taking odd jobs from security guards, cooks, waiters to domestic helps in nearby posh areas around Vasant Vihar, Munirka, R K Puram, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar.

"Generally we come from the same district and form a group and live together. We work for a living here and also work for our party", says Tulshi Dahal from Arghakhachi, a western hill district. "A person from a village brings others, promising them jobs under the condition that they give certain portion of their earnings to the `party'", he adds.

There is a local newspaper printed in Nepali which supports the extremist movement in Nepal, prints condolences of "brave commanders of the Peoples' War" who get killed, and deals with local news of Nepali communities all over India. Prem Kumar from Gorkha says that the party notifies his community whenever there is Nepal Bandh and he along with others have once or twice demonstrated in front of the Nepalese Embassy in order to force it to close down. "My friends went to demonstrate against the Nepalese Prime Minister's visit but I could not because I was sick," he regrets.

One person from Dang claims to be recruiting Nepali youths for the People's War and sending them to training camps in different places in India.

A reliable source in the Nepali Embassy confirms that there is a "strong" nexus between the extremists and the Nepalis in India. "Our intelligence report says that the extremists in Nepal do get combat training from militant groups in Bihar and they do have nexus with all the terrorist groups all over India. But we are not sure how extensive and effective it is," he says.