All-party meet endorses Deuba’s peace bid

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 – Less than three weeks after being elected Prime Minister by the governing Nepali Congress Party, Sher Bahadur Deuba, the man who initiated a cease-fire with the Maoist rebels last month, has embarked on the next phase of his ambitious agenda of "peace through talks."

As part of that phase, Deuba today successfully convened an all-party meeting to hammer out a coherent strategy of how to deal with the rebels who have been waging a five and half-year violent insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives.

All major political parties representing in parliament, including some minor ones outside of it, were present at the all-party meet held today inside Singha Durbar. Altogether, 41 top political leaders of the parties attended the key meet, voicing their support for the Prime Minister’s initiatives as well as imparting some advice on how to proceed the talks with the rebels.

Though the meeting ended today without a concrete strategy of what and how to negotiate with the rebels, Deuba’s aides later said a follow-up meeting would be called sometime in the future to chalk out the finer points of agenda and strategy.

But by the time the meeting was over today, it was clear to everyone that Deuba had won a comprehensive mandate from all the political parties to pursue his ambitious talks agenda. This was crucial for the Prime Minister if he is to carry out his top-most priority which, in his own words, is to resolve the Maoist insurgency.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meet welcomed the government’s efforts to resolve the problem through dialogue. It also lauded the positive response of the Maoist leadership towards Deuba’s initiative. The statement emphasized on resolving the insurgency and other political and social problems arising out of it.

The parties were of the view that both the government and the Maoists should sit for dialogue without any pre-conditions. The meeting also urged that all activities hampering peace and adversely effecting the political, economic and educational environment must cease immediately.

Reading a statement at the meeting, former prime minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said that though NC viewed the Maoists as terrorists due to their violent activities, the party has taken the Maoists’ keen interest in the talks as a "positive step." He also said that his party believed that everyone had the right to change for the better.

Lauding the government’s efforts to initiate dialogue with the Maoists, Koirala committed the party’s support to the move. He called upon the Maoists to match the government’s efforts in creating conducive atmosphere for the talks by releasing the captive policemen. But he also alleged that the Maoists were still involved in terror tactics.

Former deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Poudel, while briefing the media, said that one unique aspect of the meeting was that everyone spoke of consensus to resolve the problem. "Every leader displayed the spirit of consensus in the meet that was very congenial," said Poudel.

Jhalanath Khanal of the main opposition CPN-UML said that government should capitalize on the prevailing atmosphere and move forward. Khanal, who heads the party’s cell on Maoist problem, called upon the rebels to stop their offensive activities.

Speaking to the reporters after the meet, Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Lilamani Pokharel of United People’s Front (UPF) and Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Majdoor and Kisan Party (NMKP) lauded the move to enter into dialogue with the Maoists. Lohani said that his party was of the view that a separate mechanism was necessary to resolve the problem.

Today’s all-party meet is only the first step in the long and arduous road towards resolving the Maoist rebellion. Though the meet demonstrated solid support for Deuba’s peace initiatives, the Prime Minister has still to work out the finer points of negotiations with the rebels.

The two sides have been moving gingerly towards building a conducive atmosphere for negotiations ever since the ceasefire announcements of July 23. But so far, no one knows when the actual talks will begin, or whether they will begin at all. Also, many analysts here say that the government and the rebels are fundamentally divided on the Maoists’ chief demand of a new constitution which enshrines republican ideals. Deuba has flatly rejected negotiating the status of constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy enshrined in the present Constitution.

Besides, reports are also coming in of dissension within the Maoist group towards talks. While the top leadership within the rebel outfit appear interested in negotiations, the rank and file foot-soldiers in the rebel districts, who have tasted power for the first time, come across as apprehensive and suspicious. Just like Deuba convened an all-party meet to forge consensus behind his peace bid, comrade Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai – two top Maoist leaders – too need a mandate from their own party if the negotiations, if and when it happens, is come up with lasting peace, say observers.

Nepal’s population reaches 23.21 million : CBS
Growth rate 2.27 pc, more women than men

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 – Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) today finally made public the much awaited preliminary results of the Census 2001 which recorded population of the country as whopping 23. 2 million with a growth rate of 2.27 per cent.

The results of the Census also revealed that male population of 11.58 million- is lower than the female population of 11.62 million- as previous one. According to the CBS officials, the reason for this could probably be migration to foreign countries.

" We don’t know the exact reason , but it is probably due to out migration. Males migrate more in search of jobs to other countries than females," said Radha Krishna G.C., Deputy Director of the CBS. " It will take at least four months to bring out the final results of the Census 2001. Only after the final results of the Census, we will be able to explain everything precisely."

The results of the Census also revealed that only 15 per cent of the total population are the permanent residents of the urban areas in the country while staggering 85 per cent of the population resides in rural areas. It has been over a month since the Census officials began the herculean task of making sense of the data which were compiled across the country. CBS officials claim that they have worked relentlessly to make public the results of the collected data.

Census 2001, which has been called as the most scientific Census ever, had two phases. The first phase dealt with the family listings while the second phase basically focused on the head count.

For the first phase, over 5000 supervisors were deputed for the family listings. CBS had earlier said that most of the deputed supervisors were Masters degree holders.

Likewise, over 25000 enumerators were dispatched to collect data for the second phase. CBS said that, most of the enumerators were teachers of the local primary schools. Although it tried to include several new features, the Census 2001 cannot be said to be free from controversies. Much of the controversies were centered on the issue of ethnicity. People belonging to different ethnic groups accused the government for brushing aside their demand of involving themselves in the Census exercise. They have termed this census as a ‘complete failure’ as enumerators failed to exercise it properly.

Similarly, exclusion of women’s role in the contribution to the household income in this Census came in for severe attack by the women folk across the country. However, disabled had no grievances over this Census since their voices were heard. CBS had earlier said that this is the first time that category of disabled has been included.

In mid-way of the Census, Maoist obstructed from getting it exercised in few districts. CBS claims that much of the affected areas lie in the mid-western region of the country. Reportedly, rebels have control over the substantial chunk of the mid-western region.

Re 1 fined for contempt of court

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The Supreme Court today fined Home Secretary Shrikant Regmi and General Administration Secretary Mukunda Prasad Aryal after they failed to execute the order of the court to reinstate Usha Nepal to her earlier position as Joint Secretary of Home Ministry.

Each of the duo was fined Rs 1 as a contempt of court after they failed to comply with the "interim order" issued by the court earlier. The order today was passed by a division bench of justices Harishchandra Prasad Upadhyaya and Gopal Prasad Khatri.

The court had earlier issued an interim order in response to a writ petition filed by Usha which argued that the government had enforced "compulsory retirement" as against the law.

Usha was forced to take retirement last year while as a leader of the Bhutanese Refugee Verification Team.

3 dead, 17 missling in Okhaldhunga landslide

By Binod Bhandari

MORANG, Aug 10 - A landslide triggered by heavy cloudburst in the eastern hill district of Okhaldhunga on Thursday has buried at least 20 people, the District Police Office, Okhaldhunga said Friday.

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of at least three people including a 10-month-old baby while the 17 other are still missing, buried by the landslides that swept through the Prapcha and Shrichau Village Development Committees (VDC).

The site of the incident is located about 15km west of Okhaldhunga, the district headquarters.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Okhaldhunga Hanuman Shah said that a police rescue team that rushed to the incident site rescued three people alive and recovered three bodies from the debris on Friday morning. Shah said that chances of recovering the missing people alive was very slim.

Police said that two of the three people rescued alive from the mudslide have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. These two are reported to be in critical condition while another one is receiving treatment at a local Mission Hospital.

Police said that all of them perished in the mountainslide while returning to their homes from a weekly market at Rampurtar in Baruneshwor VDC-3.

DSP Shah said that the 17 missing people could have been washed into the flooded Mangal River about one kilometre down from the origin of the landslide. He said that some parts of body had been found scattered on the banks of the river.

Shah said that five houses at ward No. 8 of the Prapcha VDC have also been washed away by the landslide that affected the wards Nos 1,8,9 of the Prapcha VDC and ward Nos 1 and 2 of the Shrichau VDC.

The three bodies recovered from the rubble have been identified as Sete Sarki, 50, Kamal Prasad Pokharel, 32, and a 10-month-old baby Chandra Bahadur BK.

The police and the locals searching for the missing people said that they were facing difficulties in the search operation due to continued rains at the area.

After receiving information of the casualties, lawmaker from the district Homnath Dahal, Chief District Officer Shiva Prasad Nepal and DSP Shah inspected the landslide site on Friday afternoon.

CDO Nepal told The Kathmandu Post that he handed over Rs. 10,000 in cash to each of the bereaved families as immediate relief from the District Natural Calamity Relief Fund.

Those missing in the incident have so far been identified as

Panch Bahadur Sarki, 60, Khadga Bahadur Sarki, 35, Hiralal Sarki, 15, Amrit Bahadur Sarki, 55, Kumari Sarki, 24, Kale Sarki, 34, Bhola Sarki, 17, Karna Maya Sunuwar, 35, and Tulasa Pokharel, all from Prapcha VDC-9.

Likewise other to be buried in the debris are Bishnu Bahadur BK, 40, Goma BK, 11, Tek Bahadur Sarki, 30, Devi Prasad Nepal, 25, Sobare BK, 50, Rudra Bahadur Sarki, 40, from Shrichau VDC-1.

Others to be missing in the same incident have so far been identified as Gopal Sarki, 30, Hom Bahadur Bhujel, 18.

Maoists hold rally in Capital

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Thousands of people swarmed the Basantapur courtyard at the biggest rally organized by the sister organizations of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) in the Capital city.

This was one of the series of rallies that have been held by the Maoists in the Kathmandu Valley since the Maoist rebels and the government declared cease fire and pledged to work towards peace talks to end the problem.

President of the All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) Devendra Parajuli said that there would definitely be dialogue between the government and the Maoists.

But if the reactionary forces were to be successful in creating a situation of civil war, there should be no such dialogues, Parajuli said.

Parajuli stressed that the time had come for all left political parties to clearly spell out their role as Communist parties.

He further pointed out that the dialogue should focus on establishing the "People’s Republic" which has been the primary demand since they waged a guerrilla war five years ago from the hills of Central and Mid-West remote hills of the country.

Leader of the CPN-Masal Ramesh Ghimire pointed out that reactionary forces were becoming active in their bid to disrupt the ongoing efforts to hold dialogue between the government and the Maoists. Ghimire warned that the country would head toward civil war if the talks between the two parties were to break off now. ANNISU (R) General Secretary Purna Poudel said that the dialogue where the Maoists cannot raise questions regarding the Constitutional Monarchy and multi party parliamentary system is not acceptable.

Addressing the same rally, Ganga Tamang of Tamang National Freedom Front stressed that the issue of janjatis should also be addressed in the dialogue for which a "new Constitution" should be constituted and which should be secular.

The rally was also addressed by General Secretary of Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal Lilamani Pokharel,ANNISU-Revolutionary member Ganga Shrestha and member of All Nepal Women’s Association (R) Shova Khanal. Shrestha was released recently after nearly five years in custody.

The rally was chaired by the member of the National People’s Movement Co-ordination Committee, Chitra Bahadur Shrestha.

Lauda Air accused released on bail

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (PR) – The court today released on bail two former executives of RNAC, the national flag carrier, who were accused of impropriety in the controversial Lauda Air scandal.

Former RNAC executive chairman Hari Bhakta Shrestha and former board member of the airline Tirtha Lal Shrestha, were released by the Patan Appellate court after the duo posted the required bail amount of Rs 4.5 million and Rs 3.5 million respectively.

The money was secured through valuation of property owned by the two. The Patan Appellate Court’s action came after Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay of the Supreme Court had reduced the bail amount from a whopping Rs 40 million and Rs 35 million demanded of Hari Bhakta and Tirtha Lal respectively. Chief Justice Upadhyay had also rebuked the Appellate Court for fixing bail without following the required procedures.

The Shrestha duo were freed on bail today after spending 105 days in detention. While signing the bail papers at 1: 10 pm at the court room Hari Bhakta said, "I feel that justice is being served."

But he also said that his long detention had caused psychological torture and the memories would haunt him for a long time.

A little while later, Tirtha Lal Shrestha said, "I got justice. But it is a very bad stint in my career. How can I erase it?"

He further added: "We are never charged with corruption. We were detained just because of the charge of causing loss to the corporation (RNAC). How can the loss be assessed while the corporation still has to carry out its audit for the last three years?"

Tirtha Lal had come to the court today from hospital as he was recuperating from a heart attack suffered while in detention earlier.

Though the duo has been freed on bail, the case continues. The duo and several other top RNAC officials as well as two top executives of Lauda Air were charged by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for causing losses to RNAC by leasing the Lauda Air B-767 jet last December.

The political controversy generated by the deal thwarted the entire 19th session of parliament and threatened former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s government at the time. Koirala too was dragged into the controversy, though the CIAA spared him from being charged.

Meanwhile, advocate Bal Krishna Neupane who had pleaded on behalf of Shresthas said the order of the Supreme court is correct "because excessive bail is an event of inequality". Of the remaining accused, only Sidha Raj Joshi still remain in detention. He has so far failed to post the required Rs 2.5 million in bail. All others have now been released on bail.

UML wins in Upper House

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (PR) – Ramprit Paswan of the CPN (UML) cruised to a comfortable victory today in Upper House elections, becoming the National Assembly’s Vice-Chairman.

In the election for the post Friday, Paswan secured 31 votes while Ashok Koirala of the Nepali Congress managed to muster only 26 votes. Koirala was the only other candidate. No party has a clear majority in the 60 seat National Assembly. CPN-UML is the largest party in the Upper House with 23 seats. Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have 21 and three members respectively.

UML action against PAC members denied

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The main opposition CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today denied the party had ordered action against members in parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) including Khadga Prasad Oli.

Oli, the second most powerful leader in the party, is one of the five members of PAC who were criticised by the party’s Central Committee for asserting that Central Committee member Bhim Rawal was involved in financial irregularities while leasing a jetliner from the China South West Airlines.

"The party can’t take action against a parliamentary committee or its members but we are entitled to have our opinion and we refuse to accept it," Nepal said adding the party had the right to take action against their members. Though Nepal denied the allegations, Oli has not attended the last part of the six-day long CC meet that concluded on Thursday. When asked why Oli was not present Nepal simply said it was for health reasons.

"He (Oli) had been attending the meeting but was unable to do so for the last few days as he was not feeling well," said Nepal.

However, Oli appeared fit when he attended the all party meet called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday morning and had also attended a seminar at Jawalakhel on Thursday. PAC members had condemned the CPN-UML’s decision to take action against their lawmakers who are in the Committee.

The CC meeting had decided to take action against five lawmakers of the party, who are members of PAC, for ruling that Rawal who was the then Minister of Civil Aviation was involved in financial irregularities while signing the deal against the interest and benefit of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation.

PAC, which is considered to be the most powerful and active committee, is chaired by Subash Nemwang, a CPN-UML lawmaker.

Analysts say that following this week’s developments, the rift between General Secretary Nepal and his deputy Oli, has widened even more with the decisions taken at the CC meet.

Besides the ruling against PAC members, the restructure within the party this week has left Oli with only a couple of his supporters in the top ranks of the party. "There can always be differences in the party while debating issues but once a decision is taken all the party members are expected to follow it," Nepal said.

He said during the meeting, the party also sent invitation proposing unity of the Leftist parties and both the CPN-ML and the CPN-United have answered positively to their proposal. He refused to elaborate.

On the issue of monarchy, he said the party has always believed that the Constitutional Monarchy should be democratic and more transparent ending old customs like the "kato" ceremony. Meanwhile, the CPN-UML also released a report on the Maoist issue prepared a by a committee under the coordination of Jhal Nath Khanal.

RNAC to stop booking of Europe flights

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation Friday said in a press statement that it will stop the further booking reservation of airlines tickets for Europe with effect from September 2.

The release further states that the RNAC will however, make arrangements for a re-route for all those who have already booked the tickets. Even after sending back the China South West Airlines (CSWA)-Boeing 757 - following a steep decline in the tourists turnout, only two of its Boeing have been used currently for international flight.

The release cited various disturbances in the country for the steep decline in the inflow of visitors to Nepal.

NTV to launch metro channel

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Nepal Television (NTV) is going to launch a metro channel in Capital city in the near future in addition to the national transmission channel.

"The channel will feature entertainment programs which is targeted towards the city audiences. The channel will begin operation within one and a half year with a Chinese assistance of about 500 million rupees," said General Manager of the state-owned only television, Durga Nath Sharma.

Sharma said the commercial channel is to pull Nepal Television (NTV) out of debt. He also said that the government must sell the shares of the NTV to the public if the NTV is to be freed from the debt.

However, former General Manager of the NTV, Tapa Nath Shukla said he was in favor of better managing the present condition of the corporation rather than introducing a new channel. "Until and unless there is a sound management, and tapping of the manpower and resources to the possible extent, condition of the corporation can not be improved only by launching a new channel," said Shukla.

To allow access to the Nepalis residing in foreign lands, NTV has requested the Nepalese embassies in different countries through the Foreign Ministry to set up antennas to receive transmission. NTV is also considering the proposal from other countries to join the transmission through Internet, according to GM Sharma.

Meanwhile, media persons here today underlined the need for the private sector to run television stations to break the monopoly of NTV during a program organized here today by Nepal Association of Media Educators (NAME) to access the impact of television in society.

Durga Nath Sharma accused the government policy as a big blot in the development of the NTV. "Government should allow the private sector to run television station if the quality of programs on NTV is to improve," Sharma said.

FNJ president Suresh Acharya, speaking at the program, criticized the NTV’s poor performance even after its access to satellite.

35 organisations to tie up to back peace talks

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Thirty-five various prominent associations and organisations of the country including many other intellectuals agreed to form a solidarity group Thursday to help expedite the government-Maoist peace talks.

A gathering of the associations and individuals stressed that the prevailing cease-fire be maintained until the peace talk succeeds, both the government and Maoists be more liberal for peace talks and it is to be fully supported by the civil society.

The gathering named as a discussion programme on "Peace Expedition and Solidarity" regarding peace talks between His Majesty’s Government and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) also provided mandate to Human Rights Association of Nepal (HURON) to co-ordinate and frame further programs like peace rally shortly.

The organisations and associations to represent in the programme were Federation of Nepalese Journalists Association, Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations, Nepal Medical Association, Nepal Bar Association, Travel Agents Association of Nepal, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal University Teachers Association, Private and Boarding School Organisation, Nepal Engineers Association and Reyukai among others. Most of the speakers at the programme urged not to disturb or breach the congenial environment being developed for the government- Maoist talks.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Sindhu Nath Pyakurel said the Maoist problem is not a new one rather the Maoists have unveiled the existing problems caused by sever economic disparity. The government should, for the cause of peace, compromise with everything except democracy, sovereignty and nationality, Pyakurel further added.

Former foreign minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhayay said the nation is now seeking for a new social structure and the important question is whether or not we are prepared for such change.

Maoist groups warn leadership

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TETTARIYA, Morang, Aug 10 - Five sister organisations of the underground Maoist party said that they would be forced to raise weapons against their leaders - party chairman Prachanda and leader Baburam Bhattarai - if they reached an "agreement" with the establishment giving up the "people’s republic agenda" in the forthcoming talks with the government.

The representatives of their respective organisations Thursday warned the central leadership not to compromise with the government leaving aside the republic agenda. They were addressing a condolence meeting of district level leader, Prakash Ojha, who was shot dead by the police in Tettariya VDC-2 46 days ago.

"Talks with the government is possible if it is ready for holding talks on republic state. Otherwise, we will not recognise any other agreements that do not address the republic issue," the speakers added.

Leaders from All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary), All Nepal Peasants’ Association, All Nepal Women’s Association, All Nepal Trade Union Federation and Tharuwan National Liberation Front were among those who expressed such opinions just before the two sides formally have sat together for peace overtures.

Morang District Chairman of ANNISU-Revolutionary, Rajendra Poudel, stressed the party’s sister organisations never believed in dialogues at a time when the party was in the lead. "Guns can also be raised against them - Prachanda and Baburam - if they reach an agreement with the government on other petty issues and forsake the republic agenda," Poudel said.