Deuba report on Maoists ‘soon’

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - The extended tenure of the High Level Recommendation Committee for
Resolution of Maoist Problem formed to initiate dialogue with the Maoist rebels expired this
week. Yet there are no signs of the much awaited peace talks.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who heads the commission assigned to bring the
Maoist rebels to dialogue table blames the government for failing to respond positively when the
the rebels have agreed for the talks.

"I have submitted two letters from Prachanda to the prime minister already ... but I am still
waiting for a positive response from the government," Deuba said today.

Besides holding consultations with other political parties on approaching the Maoists issue, the
committee has been in contact with the rebels for dialogue to end the four and half years of
"people’s war".

Deuba said he met a central member of the rebels and talked for an hour and half but refused to
disclose who he met, where he met and what they discussed in detail. He only said that it was
neither Prachanda, the general secretary nor Baburam Bhattarai.

"The rebels are ready to come forward for talks but they are seeking a minimum condusive
environment before sitting in for dialogue," he said. "I don’t want to use the word cease fire but
the government needs to stop violence too and make public the whereabouts of the Maoists
arrested including Dinesh Sharma."

Deuba is preparing to present a detailed report to the government as the tenure has ended.
However, he says he will have to rewrite the report to counter allegations made against him.

"I will present the report soon but I can’t say how soon. I will have to rewrite the report to answer
allegations made against me in the government media," he said.

On the other hand, there has also been allegations that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is
intentionally downplaying Deuba’s role in his attempt to resolve the issue.

"I don’t know or understand why the government/prime minister should do that. If the issue is
resolved, the credit will go to the prime minister," he said.

And despite pleas for extending the tenure of the committee since its main task of bringing the
rebels for talks is yet to be completed, the government has remained mum about the whole
issue.

Asked if he considered the performance of the committee a failure, Deuba said it was a success
since he could pursuade the rebels to come forward for talks just in about six months whereas it
has taken years in other countries.

"Despite not much cooperation, I could bring the rebels to talks or at least make them agree for
dialogue this is success," he claimed.

According to government figures, since the Maoist rebels began their violent campaign in 1996,
they have killed at least 231 policemen and lost 980 of their own fighters and supporters.
Similarly, 249 civilians have either been killed by the rebels or caught in the cross fire between
rebels and the police.

Earlier this month, the rebels launched their biggest offensive and attacked a police station, the
district administration office and a jail at Dunai, the headquarters of Dolpa district in which 14
policemen were killed, another 36 injured and nearly a dozen held prisoner by the rebels during
the attack.

Two days later, the rebels ambushed a police patrol at Bhorletar village, in Lamjung District killing
eight policemen.

"I will continue to be a peace initiator and will continue to pursue peace," Deuba said.

Koirala tampering party votes: NC rebels

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - Disgruntled Kathmandu District cadres of the ruling Nepali Congress
(NC) today accused a faction of the party led by the Party President of conspiring to wipe them
out by not renewing their active membership "to manipulate the results of the upcoming party
convention".

Only the active members could contend for various posts in the party in the upcoming 10th party
convention slated for the last week of January 2001.

Chairperson of the recently dissolved Kathmandu District Committee of the party and a
disgruntled party leader Prakash Man Singh claimed that the ad-hoc Kathmandu district
committee of the party was not renewing the active membership of 618 party cadres including
him, whereas it was distributing the active membership to 938 Koirala loyalists that too against
the decision of the party’s Central Working Committee.

"If such is the situation in the capital then what might be the situation in other parts of the
country," said Singh at a press meet today.

"Dedicated party workers are left behind whereas people who aren’t even the general members
and people of other parties have been enlisted as active members," states the release. "This is
nothing but a rampant misuse of the active membership by the undemocratic and irresponsible
leadership (Koirala camp) merely to manipulate the convention results."

Singh and other disgruntled party leaders from the dissolved committee, also demanded that the
party reinstate the committee immediately. "The Kathmandu Committee and all the other illegally
dissolved committees must be revived for free and fair election durinag the convention," said they.

Disgruntled members also alleged that NC Central Secretariat, on Koirala’s directive, was
working against the CWC decision by unconstitutionally dissolving district and regional
committees of the party that too after the date for the party convention is fixed.

The discontented party workers have been alleging the Koirala camp of violating the latest truce
reached between them and Koirala camp by dissolving the district committees.

Hunters alone not solution to TIA bird hazard

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - Scientists and bird experts today said that shooting of birds alone
cannot put an end to bird hazard currently plaguing the country’s only international airport.

Instead, they called upon government and civil aviation officials to make efforts to keep the airport
free of garbage as short term measure and make a round-the-year behavioral study of birds to find
permanent solution to bird hits.

From October 2, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) started keeping bird hunters on alert at
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in a bid to fight increasing bird menace.

"Shooting the birds is not a solution," said Hem Sagar Baral, bird expert, adding "as the gap
created will be filled by other birds."

Baral further said that black kite, a residential bird, is a known feeder of garbage "and since there
are garbage dumps near the airport, birds are attracted".

"Birds are also attracted by fermented waste near the airport," said Tej Kumar Shrestha,
professor at Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University. Shrestha suggested using chemical
repellents to shoo away the birds from the airport.

Bhairab Risal, senior environment journalist criticised efforts to make road on layers of dumps.
Risal was referring to the road constructed on solid waste at Guheshwori near the airport.

"What the people and government must understand is that garbage cannot be dumped near the
airport which attracts the birds," said Risal. "Those who say that garbage is dumped near the
airports in Hong Kong and Seattle (USA) do not know the difference in the kind of wastes in
those places and here in Kathmandu." He pointed out that hospital waste in public places "is a
common sight in Kathmandu, and unthinkable in those places".

However, Bidur Prasad Poudel, president of sewerage construction committee for Bagmati area
said that the garbage dump was needlessly blamed for bird hazard at the airport. "While the
dump is in north of the airport, all the incidents have occurred in the south."

Poudel also ridiculed the suggestion of keeping the 13-km radius around the airport free of people
and garbage. "This area includes New Road in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Should we shift the
whole city?"

Rajesh Raj Dali, general manager at TIA admitted that this year’s bird hazard was
"unprecedented". Dali said that the airport was like a mini city and has 78 different offices inside
the airport complex, contributing to the waste. He added that both solid and liquid wastes in the
airport were "properly disposed of".

"We have studied international bird-hit incidents and gone through the subsequent
recommendations," said the general manager, adding "After exhaustive study, we will prepare a
total package covering every sphere of persistent problems at TIA."

Dali too blamed polluted environment surrounding the airport. "If we can control the pollution, we
will be able to control bird hazard at the airport."

He further said that every two minutes a take-off or landing occurs, totalling 300 daily movements
at TIA. "We are concerned by the recent bird-hits (four out of the five hits had affected
international airlines), which occur between 200 and 500 feet above the ground."

As preventive measures, Dali said blank shots and sirens are blown to scare the birds away. He
denied that International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was contemplating derecognising TIA.
"In fact, we have been given membership by Airport Council International this July."

Later, speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Dali said that this membership is given to those airports
that maintain safety standards, among other requirements.

B’desh facilitates Nepalis goods at Banglaband

Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - Bangladesh has made a temporary provision for customs and
immigration facilities at Banglaband check point to "immediately facilitate" movement of Nepali
goods through Kakarvitta-Fulbari-Banglaband transit route.

This was informed by Cyril Sikdar, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, in a press conference
organized here today.

"With this temporary arrangement there will be no hurdle for lorries carrying Nepali goods to/via
Bangladesh, therefore I request the businessmen to immediately utilize the route," said Sikdar.

Sikdar said, the provision was being arranged keeping in view the delay in signing transport
modality between the two countries. Once the modality is signed, the problem will be solved
permanently, said he.

Ambassador Sikdar, who travelled through the route to Nepal recently, denied claims that the
road along the route was not good enough for traffic and infrastructure in Bangladesh were
inadequate. " The road conditions are excellent and infrastructures are not lacking," he claimed.

He also informed that Mongla Port in Bangladesh is a modern port fully equipped with modern
amenities and can cater to the need of Nepali businessmen involved in foreign trade.

Replying to a query, Ambassador Sikdar said that Bangladesh was ready to exempt visa fees for
Nepali but under reciprocal basis.

Kakarvitta-Fulbari-Banglaband route, which runs through India and Bangladesh, is the only
alternative transit access to sea for landlocked Nepal.

After years of resistance, India finally agreed in June 1998, during then Indian Prime Minister
Inder Kumar Gujaral’s visit to Nepal to provide the Fulbari transit access. The route, however, has
remained largely neglected by Nepali businessmen raising serious doubts about its economic
viability.

Measures to control traffic suggested

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 (PR) - A recommendation committee to suggest the government about
carrying capacity of roads of Kathmandu submitted its report yesterday suggesting that special
measures to be taken to control the vehicles entering major city area from Ring Road.

"We have suggested the government to take measures on checking entry of vehicles inside Ring
Road which have created traffic havoc," chairman of the committee and Director General of
Department of Transport Management Krishna Murari Sharma said. All three wheelers,
micro-buses and taxis should not be allowed to enter inside the Ring Road, Sharma added.

Chaired by Sharma, other members of the committee are from Ministry of Population and
Environment, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Department of Road, Traffic Police, RONAST,
Ministry of Commerce and Supply and Institute of Engineering. Ministry of Labour and Transport
had formed the committee on May 26.

According to Sharma, the committee has suggested the government to discourage old buses and
run city buses under KMC. Other major suggestions made by the committee are: managing a
different site for parking of vehicles (not in road itself), updating traffic lights and increasing
number of over-head bridges, avoiding road-necks and widening narrow roads.

Forty rebels have surrendered in Kalikot

Post Report

KALIKOT, Oct 19 -With the latest surrender of a Maoist commander earlier this week, the
number of rebels giving up their guns has reached 40 in this mid-western remote hilly district.

According to Kalikot District Administration Office, Maoist guerillas and commanders are
increasingly surrendering in this Maoist hotbed since July.

A total of 40 Maoist guerrillas, ranging from zonal commander to village level activists, have so far
surrendered to the district administration.

In the latest case, Saddan Shahi, a Maoist Commander of area No. 2 of Karnaili Zone submitted
himself to the local administration on Oct 2, along with a cash of Rs 55,000 that was raised
during his association with the Maoist insurgency. This is the first incident in which a Maoist has
surrendered to the government along with the cash.

According to the district administration, Padam Bahadur Shahi, 32, from Danha VDC-4, Kabiraj
Chaulagain, 27, from Pakha VDC-6 and Bharat Giri from Ruku VDC-4 have already yielded to the
local administration denouncing the insurgency.

Meanwhile, a trust of Rs 55,000 has recently been established in memory of Man Singh Shahi, a
Kalikot District Development, Committee member and District Chairperson of Nepal Maoist
Victims’ Association, who was shot dead by the rebels last month.

Interest to be obtained from the trust would be utilised in giving away prizes to meritorious
students and social workers, Tek Bahadur Shahi, a member of the victims’ association said.

Tek Bahadur added that the trust was formed with the amount handed over by erstwhile Maoist
Saddan Shahi.

Perhaps this is how they finish their class enemies ....

By Yagya Bikram Shahi

NEPALGUNJ, Oct 19 - Sixty-year-old Saune Dhami of Bajura was beaten up mercilessly by
Maoist insurgents.

Looking at the two X-ray plates near his bed in Bheri Zonal Hospital, he told The Kathmandu Post
Wednesday, "They came to my home and beat me up saying why I allowed my son to go to the
Maoist (Resistance) Committee. I had not sent my son to oppose the Maoists."

Saune Dhami was beaten by a group of Maoist workers at about 4 a.m. on Tuesday when he was
sleeping and he was sent to Nepalgunj the same day for treatment. His second son who had
dropped school while studying in class seven had joined the Resistance committee and he did
not know even the name of the committee his son had joined.

In fact, Dhami did not like the high-handedness of the Maoist workers. He said with a sigh, "They
collect foodgrain even from poor people like us. They come to our home and eat. It was too
much. I gave four pathis of oat from this year’s production. Perhaps I am reaping the fruit of all
this."

Vehemently expressing his anger for attacking the old and poor villagers he said, "Perhaps this is
how they finish their class enemies. I don’t know."

On Monday evening and Tuesday morning the Maoist guerrillas killed one villager mercilessly and
seriously injured 15 people of Pandusaini VDC beating them with sticks. UML supporter Man
Singh Thapa, 28 was killed with khukuri after shooting him and telling him why he had allowed to
keep police post at his house, according to the injured people.

Another illiterate youth Purna Rawat who had received membership of the Maoist Resistance
Committee without even knowing the name of the committee after he was fed up with the tyranny
of the Maoist insurgents said, "We did not agree with the Maoists who told us to leave our wife
alone and we opposed. It is better to die than live helplessly in such a way, but we cannot
support them."

He complained that the police force from the nearby police post did not come to help them when
the Maoist insurgents attacked with guns, khukuris and batons."We had expected police help
but the police did not come," he said.

Chairman of Maoist Resistance Committee in Pandusaini VDC Gopal Jung Jethara said although
it was difficult to fight unarmed against those who were equipped with guns, people were
gradually uniting against the Maoists. He claimed, " People will now rise against the Maoist
insurgents." He said 300 local youths had already joined the resistance committee led by him.

Jethara said they had made arrangements for food and lodging of the Maoist workers for about
two years but as they were being oppressed increasingly by the Maoist insurgents, the villagers
drove them out." On the 25th of Sawan we drove them out by stoning them," he added.

Another youth Dhan Bahadur Rawat who was injured after he was attacked when he was
sleeping in his home also does not know the meaning of the term, "class enemy" used by the
Maoist workers. He is wearing suruwal (trouser) which has been torn and patched up at three
places with three kinds of clothes. He said, "Why do you ask me? I have no idea what is meant
by "class enemy" and "class struggle."

Meanwhile Dev Budha who was beaten up severely for his disagreement with the Maoist rebels,
could not talk to The Kathmandu Post. He was alone in the Emergency Ward of the hospital
receiving oxygen and saline. Thick blood was still trickling out of his ear and nose while his head
was splattered with blood.

It was a coincidence that a student of R.R.Campus Shiv Bahadur Bohora had arrived in Nepalgunj
on his way home (Bajura).He is trying to obtain blood for his fellow villager who is unconscious. "I
have cancelled my flight and I have been using the money for his treatment. He suffers from head
injury. I am seeking blood."

Some of those who were brought to Nepalgunj from Bajura for treatment were beaten at home
while others were beaten in group as they were staying outside their homes because of
insurgents’ fear.

Resistance committee chairman Jethara said, " We are ready to go to our village if the
government provides us security."

Porters hike wage rates

KIRTIPUR, Oct l9 (RSS) - With the increase in the prices of petroleum products, porters have
also raised their wage rates.

Porters working in the Kalimati Kuleshwar area have constituted an ll member Porters
Association and announced a rise in the rates for loading and unloading goods from vehicles.

Secretary of the association Hira Bahadur Thapa said that wage rates charged when the price of
rice was Rs 8 per kg are still in force although rice has gone up to Rs 20 per kg. The wages have
now been raised as the price of kerosene has also gone up to Rs 26 per litre, he added.

The new rates fixed by the association are Rs 8 per quintal for fancy goods, Rs l/75 per tin and
Rs l/50 per carton of oil, and Rs l0 per quintal for five kg packages.

The rates are on average 55 percent higher than before.

Businessmen who hire porters say that the rates are very high in the Kalimati Kuleshwar area
compared to other localities although they have started paying the new rates.

Porters of Kuleshwer-Kalimati say they will offer their services any time even in the night at the
same rates and not allow any consignment to stand idle on the road.

Consignments idled on the road are charged Rs l,000 per vehicle in fines.