Nepal doesn’t need foreign troops: PM Deuba

By Shyam K.C. and Suman Pradhan

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 – Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today categorically ruled out inviting any foreign armies to assist the Royal Nepal Army in its operation against the Maoist rebels.

In an interview to The Kathmandu Post Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar, Deuba strongly ruled out such a possibility. "There will be no foreign troops here at all," he said. "We don’t need them. Our army is capable OF dealing with the situation. It is one of the most splendid armies in the world."

The Prime Minister however stated that, in view of the current situation, the government could import weapons from foreign countries. "The only criteria is that such weapons be available quickly and cheaply. In this context, we could import arms and ammunitions from India," he said.

Prime Minister Deuba’s remarks came in the wake of several reports in the international media, particularly in India, saying that Indian troops could be called in to "assist" the RNA in its operations against Maoist rebels. These reports had also mentioned that the Nepali army "was inexperienced in dealing with the present situation."

The RNA, along with the police force, is currently conducting operations against the rebels after King Gyanendra last week imposed a state of emergency nation-wide on the advise of the government. Deuba said that RNA had been given the mandate "to disarm and defeat the terrorists, whatever it takes."

The Prime Minister also delved into an issue that has kicked off massive speculation since last week – the fate of top Maoist leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Ram Bahadur Thapa (a.k.a. Badal). Several newspapers have already reported that the duo have been killed in army operations in the jungles of Rolpa. Mahara was the Maoists’ lead negotiator in the failed peace talks with the government while Thapa is considered the Maoists’ military strategist.

"We really do not know," the Prime Minister said when asked about it. "What we know is that many Maoists were killed in the operation there. But most of the bodies were mutilated. The (surviving) Maoists cut off and took away the heads of their dead comrades to foil identification. They also badly mutilated the faces of those bodies which were intact. So we do not know who were killed and who survived."

As he sat down for the one hour-long interview, the Prime Minister was visibly agitated, even angry that the rebel leadership had deceived him. He spoke forcefully, gesturing animatedly to make a particular point. "They never wanted peace it seems," he said of the Maoists. "The cease-fire and peace talks were just a ploy by them to plan and prepare further violence".

"All along, I faced criticism from all sides because I was seen as too lenient with the Maoists", he added almost ruefully. "But they deceived us, they deceived the Nepali people’s aspirations for peace. They call themselves revolutionaries but resort to deception" he said and asked "How can they be trusted now?"

Asked if there was still room for negotiations, Deuba put his foot down very firmly. "How can there be negotiations with those who deceive you. No, there will not be any peace negotiations now. I am clear about this. They must first lay down their arms and surrender, then we can think of other things."

When pointed out that the prime minister himself had agreed to amend some clauses of the Constitution prior to the emergency announcement, Deuba said, "don’t talk about that now. That road is already closed. The situation has changed. They must first lay down arms, surrender, give back all the money they looted from the banks."

As the Prime Minister spoke, the breadth of the army operation against the Maoists became clear. The army already has the mandate not just to cordon and search the rebels, but also to "disarm and defeat" them. Since the operations began last week, security forces have been largely successful in their mission. But difficulties have recently begun to crop up as the rebels cast off their combat fatigues and attempt to mingle with the local population.

"Yes, they have stopped wearing combat dress and mingled with the local villagers, which makes the operations somewhat difficult" the Prime Minister said. "That is why the army is conducting the operations very carefully. The emergency is aimed only at the rebels, their organization and their supporters. Not against anybody else."

While Prime Minister Deuba would not be drawn into setting a time frame to end the emergency, he said it could be short if the battlefield success continue.

Meanwhile, going to the root of the problems, Deuba agreed that poverty, illiteracy, lack of jobs and other socio-economic factors had all combined to create a ripe situation waiting to be exploited by the Maoists.

"Democracy brought all these problems to the surface. Those in power, including myself, also made mistakes along the way. I think we did not make honest efforts to solve the genuine problems at the time. The Maoists were successful in attracting the frustrated people. They formed a group and began their attacks. But now we are on the right path. We are tackling corruption and other ills. We could also bring an anti-corruption ordinance quickly to deal with the problem. I also unveiled an 8 point agenda in the last parliamentary session to tackle these issues. I am hopeful that if we work honestly, we could wipe out many of those problems in 20-25 years," he said.

The Prime Minister was grateful to the nation and the international community for supporting the government’s emergency measures. He said, "The emergency was a compulsion, forced upon us by circumstances. As the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, I am very grateful to all the peace-loving Nepali people, the political parties, the media and everyone else for providing their support. Similarly, I also thank the international community and all our friendly countries for supporting us."

Govt confirms
200 Maoist deaths in Salleri

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 – After much confusion, the Defence Ministry today confirmed that almost 200 Maoist terrorists were indeed killed, in last week’s encounter in Salleri, the headquarters of Solukhumbu district. With this official confirmation, the Salleri tragedy becomes the biggest in terms of casualties ever since the Maoist insurgency broke out six years ago.

"A large number of bodies, some beheaded, have been recovered at various places. It is also learnt that locals at some places have already cremated the corpses of the terrorists," said a Defence Ministry press release issued here today. "While counting the total number of dead Maoists, it came to around 200," the release added.

Last week, the Maoists had launched daring attacks on different government facilities in Solukhumbu, including the Faplu Airport, District Administration Office, District Police Office, District Jail and the local army barracks. The Maoists had killed, among others, the Chief District Officer, 27 policemen and five army men in these incidents.

The Defence Ministry says that a team of Royal Nepal Army (RNA) personnel today were able to nab a Maoist militia commander in Gorkha district. The terrorist, identified as Gobardhan Gouli, was the Area Militia Commander of Gorkha, Tanahun and Lamjung districts.

According to another press release issued by the Ministry, a team of RNA personnel killed a top Maoist man in Chitre village of Chhoprak VDC in Gorkha district.

The army men had cordoned off the suspected area, and while the victim, Bhava Dutt Pokharel of Amarsingh VDC-2, was trying to flee the scene, he succumbed to army fire. It is reported that late Pokharel was involved in the murder of Chhoprak VDC Chairman Babu Ram Pokharel.

Meanwhile, our Gorkha-based reporter says that an army-police team today recovered a large amount of explosives, including socket bombs, pipe bombs, as well as Maoist uniforms and rebel documents from the house of Shyam Raj Adhikari at Harmi VDC in Gorkha. During the operation, they also seized cash worth Rs 16,825 from the house of Adhikari, who is a teacher at the local Lila Secondary School.

Our reporter further adds that 27 Maoist terrorists, including deputy chief of Maoist Village People’s Government of Deurali VDC, surrendered before the District Administration Office, Gorkha, today.

Today’s Ministry release also says that the RNA has been carrying out an intensive search operation in Nuwa Gaon of Rolpa district. The army has recovered ammunition, such as magazines, grenades, while also retrieving communication equipment and documents of Agricultural Development Bank from Nuwa Gaon. The terrorists had looted the arms and ammunition from the Bhavani Prasad Barracks of Dang district last week.

Meanwhile, separate groups of Maoists today killed a civilian in Rautahat district and kidnapped a policeman in Bardia district.

According to our reporter in Rautahat, terrorists on Tuesday killed Ram Dev Raya, who was former chairman of Chipra Rajwada VDC. Almost 100 Maoist men were reported to be present at the site of the crime.

Similarly, our Gularia-based reporter says a group of terrorists kidnapped a police constable who was sleeping at his house in Shanti Bazar of Gularia Municipality, Bardia. The abducted constable, Krishna Bahadur BK, was stationed in the Area Police Office, Rajapur.

Garment industry in doldrums

By Bhaskar Sharma

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 – It was bad enough that garment exports were falling. Now with even orders from abroad expected to dry up in the wake of the emergency announcement last week, garment entrepreneurs are bracing for tough days ahead.

Some entrepreneurs lament that orders are already on the downhill and that indicates a bleak outlook for the industry in months to come. The mass cancellation of orders, they claim, is already coming in.

Says Uday Raj Pandey, General Secretary of Garment Association-Nepal (GAN), "There has been a spate of orders cancellations lately. If we are not able to quickly communicate and convince the western buyers over the security situation in Nepal, the garment industry will face worse days ahead."

What complicates the situation further is the negative publicity that Nepal garments industry is presently subjected to. Competitors in the Sub-Saharan African countries are said to be taking advantage of the declaration of a state of emergency in Nepal luring Nepal’s potential customers to buy their products.

And the fact that the African countries enjoy duty-free and quota-free market access to the US makes the situation even more precarious. Presently, businessmen in US importing textile products from Nepal pay an average of 18-21 percent duty. And that too is charged on the expensive Nepali garments that already cost 15-20 per cent higher that Indian or Bangladeshi garments.

However, the latest concern of the Nepali business community is the perception of foreign importers on security situation in Nepal. Foreign buyers are concerned that Nepali garment industries would not be able to meet their orders on time. Even the Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, talking The Kathmandu Post recently admitted that Nepal’s current security is being taken too seriously by foreign importers. "Foreign importers think that Nepal cannot meet orders on time. And competitors to Nepali garments seem to be capitalizing on this notion of foreign buyers," he said.

At stake now is the survival of Nepal’s vibrant ready-made garment industry, which in the past had been growing at an annual rate of 30 percent, and which last year exported Rs 16.42 billion worth of ready-made garments to the US, up from the previous year’s 12.6 billion.

However, the latest signs are depressing. Figures released by GAN show that in November alone garments exports to the US, which absorb almost 85 per cent of Nepali garment exports, slumped by a whopping 40 per cent as compared to the same period last year. The overall slump in the first 11 months of 2001 as compared to the same period last year is 14 per cent.

Entrepreneurs say that remedial measures must be taken to save the garment industry. A conducive domestic environment and a competitive entry into US markets are what they ask for. However, that still would not be enough since the Multi-Fibre Arrangement that governs international garment trade is set to expire from January 1, 2005, leaving Nepali garments at the mercy of the economics of demand and supply.

"Nepal must ask the US to grant duty-free facilities as it did to the African and Caribbean countries," says Brij Gopal Inhani, President of GAN. "If Nepali garments get duty-free access into US markets, there is no way that the garment industry in Nepal would die. After all the Nepali garments have made a strong headway in foreign markets."

Similarly, Chandi Raj Dhakal, the largest individual garment exporter for the past four years, says, "Unless Nepal gains duty-free market access into the US, the garment industry is doomed. However, the foremost thing to do is to convince the buyers on the security situation in Nepal."

Despite the optimism shown by some garment entrepreneurs, others view that the possibility of the crash of the garment sector, which shares over 26 per cent of total Nepali exports, cannot be ruled out. Due to a number of reasons, over 95 per cent of the total garment industries, which numbered around 300, have already closed down.

Poverty alleviation still remains a pipe dream

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 – Whenever the seven Heads of States and Governments meet for the regional summit, the phrase "poverty alleviation" always gets the preference on the table. But it never reaches to the real target group.

The very beneficiaries, the poor, have always been left out of the target projects on poverty alleviation, said an official, working at the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) office. "Many projects have failed to target the poor," the official said, requesting anonymity.

Lack of proper utilisation of existing resources and misuse of international funds and grants have never let the regional effort make headway. And lack of good governance, transparency and decentralisation has further jolted this process of alleviating poverty.

Despite this, the 11th SAARC Summit in January is still likely to feature poverty alleviation as one of the major subjects of discussion, said Gyan Chandra Acharya, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The 6th SAARC Summit in Colombo in 1991 saw the leaders giving priority to the upliftment of the region’s poor by forming the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA).

It was the 7th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in 1993 that adopted the ISACPA report unanimously. Since then, this issue has figured in all the summits.

But the member nations of this regional grouping have never been able to chalk out a common strategy on to alleviate poverty in South Asia, one of the poorest regions in the world.

Even the SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo admitted a few days ago that since each of the seven countries have their own approach to poverty alleviation, it was difficult to formulate a common strategy.

Gyan Chandra Acharya, Spokesperson at the MoFA too acknowledged the problem but he was quick to add that each of the member states could still learn from the positive aspects of the poverty alleviation plan in the other six countries. He cited the example of Bangladesh Gramin Bank, which is a huge success there.

Masud Bin Momen, who looks after poverty alleviation and rural development in the Secretariat, revealed that the target to eradicate poverty was 2002 "but now the political leadership will have to take a hard look" at it. He suggested that a separate body could be entrusted with the task of supervising the alleviation of poverty in the region.

Even Acharya agreed that "a push from political leadership" was necessary and was expected during the Summit in Kathmandu. He revealed that the member states were trying to formulate a regional programme to meet this objective. He declined to give any further details, adding the efforts were on to give a regional input to the common problem.

Commenting on the achievements so far, Momen said that there had been some micro-level achievements in some countries but the overall picture was still not encouraging and said, "we have a long way to go."

Green signal for Women’s Commission

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 - The much anticipated women’s commission inched closer to becoming reality as the legal committee of the Cabinet took up the Bill brought to form the body.

"The Cabinet’s legal committee is reviewing the draft of the Bill brought to form the National Women’s Commission," said Pratap Kumar Pathak, acting secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had promised the Commission in his first policy speech after assuming power in July this year.

The Commission brought through adoption of a Bill in parliament is targeted to be a high level body to equal the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The Bill being reviewed at the committee is proposing that the Commission have a chairperson and four members. While three of the members will be from areas working for the welfare of women’s rights the fourth will be a legal advisor. One of the members will be required to be from the Dalit community.

The Chairman would have to be at least 40 years old and will be appointed by the King with recommendations from a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the leader of the opposition parties in Parliament.

The secretary of this Commission would be appointed by the government unlike the NHRC whose secretary is appointed by the King. The officials would have four years term.

Pathak said the main work of this Commission would be to investigate individual cases of violation of the rights of women, make policy recommendations to the government or give out directives to the women to help protect the rights of the women.

The Commission would be able to investigate cases like the ones that had appeared in the news where women were accused of practising witchcraft and they were forced to eat human waste.

"The Commission would also be able to recommend punishment or fines for offenses against women," Pathak said.

Most of the work would be concentrated on promotion of women’s rights guaranteed by the Constitution and empowering women by conducting awareness programmes and advocating with government and National Planning Commission.

UML task force submits report to PM Deuba

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 (PR)- An investigation Committee of the main opposition party, Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) today handed over the facts gathered regarding the activities of both Royal Nepal Army (RNA) and the Maoist terrorists across the country to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The press release issued by the UML said that an investigation committee gathered facts in several districts namely Syangja, Pyuthan, Dang, Dolkaha, Ramechap, Makwanpur, Rolpa, Sankhusabha and Solukhumbu.

The government side, according to the release has killed many innocent civilians. Many UML activists have been deliberately killed or subjected to physical and mental torture, the release adds.

The release also said that the task force also apprised about the civilians of not having access to the newspapers in those districts.

The task force, which is headed by Rajendra Prasad, was constituted on Dec 2. Parshuram Meghi Gurung, Bir Bahadur Singh, Urmila Aryal and Dhan Prasad Shah are also involved in the investigation committee.

Prime Minister Deuba assured the task force that emergency will not infringe upon the democratic and constitutional rights.

Night curfew continues in several districts

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 4 - Night-hour curfews continue to be clamped in several district headquarters, with the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) and the Armed Police Force (AFP) heavily patrolling most parts of the country, according to reports received here Monday.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Chautara, the district headquarters of Sindhupalchowk, quoted the RNA officials as saying that a former teacher of Seti Devi Panchakanya High School, identified as Prakash Lamichhane, a resident of Mangkal VDC-1, was shot dead by the RNA soldiers guarding the Sunkosi Hydel project.

A source close to the Jaletar-based army barracks said the army men resorted to firing after a group of Maoists attempted to enter the project compound despite being warned against it. Lamichhane died while undergoing treatment at Dhulikhel hospital on Monday.

Further, in Rautahat, police on Monday arrested 14 armed Maoists from various parts of the district. The local administration said that security has been beefed up along the Nepal-India open border and adjoining areas since the emergency.

Meanwhile, reports from Parbat say that the local administration is all set to conduct a formal "surrender programme" of Maoists in the presence of representatives of all political parties every Friday.

A source close to the administration said this arrangement was made after a large number of Maoists started giving themselves up to the authorities. Officials said that in the case of a Maoist surrendering, he will have to fill up a form made available by the administration with a passport-sized photograph attached to it.

Reports from various districts say that dusk-to-dawn curfews continue to be imposed in the district headquarters of Dang, Syangja, Sindhuli, Bardiya, Morang, Lamjung, Jajarkot, Ramechhap, Dhading, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Chitwan and Rautahat.

Tashi Lama qualifies for St. Andrews

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KATHMANDU, Dec 4 - Tashi Lama secured the right to compete at the St. Andrews, golfing mecca in Scotland next year as he carded the best individual score of 43 points in the Famous Grouse Shotgun Foursomes Pro-Am which concluded at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort on Tuesday.

The day-long tournament, a prologue to the Surya Nepal Masters 2001, played under stableford format, however, was won by the team of Pashupati Sharma, the winner of Surya Nepal Western Open title. His team including amateurs Hemant Pun, BB Shrestha and Tsultrima Lama clinched the winners trophy scoring 115 points, a one-point lead over the team of Tashi Lama, led by professional Sanjay Kumar.

The team led by Vijay Kumar, which finished at 110 points, settled for the third place in the tournament sponsored by Regal Business Links, the representatives of Famous Grouse in Nepal.

With the completion of the shotgun foursomes, all eyes are shooting at the main event – Rs. 1.44 million Surya Nepal Masters that starts at this picturesque par-72 course on Wednesday.

The four-day event will see Mukesh Kumar, the defending champion start as firm favourite with his fellow Indian golfers – Shiv Prakash and Uttam Singh Mundy expected to give him a run for his money.

The Surya Nepal Masters, sponsored by Surya Tobacco Company, is one of the biggest sporting events in the country. This season, the sponsors have increased the prize money form last year’s Rs 1.2 million. The winner’s cheque will be worth Rs 233,280 while the runner-up will be richer by Rs 161,280 this week.

"I am getting a little frustrated as a victory has been eluding me for a long time despite the fact that I have been playing solid golf, said Mukesh whose worst finish in last seven tournaments has been a fifth place at Hero Golf Chandigarh Open. "I think I have been a little unlucky as well but I have a feeling that my luck might just change in this beautiful country," added the 33-year-old, who has finished runner-up thrice in last five events.

Apart from defending champion Mukesh, Shiv Prakash and Uttam Mundy, the other star attractions will be 1995 winner Gaurav Ghei, 1999 winner Rohats Singh, twice Mahindra player of the year Vijay Kumar and exciting youngsters Rahil Gangjee, Rahul Ganapathy, Sheeraz Kalra and Zai Kipgen.

The field for the main tournament comprises 13 pros and 12 amateurs from Nepal, one pro each from Bangladesh and Pakistan, and rest 52 professionals from the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour.

The tournament will be a big opportunity for the Nepalis pros. Not only do they have a chance to make some serious money, but can also earn an exemption of lucrative Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour if one of them manages to become the first Nepali pro to win the tournament. On current form, Deepak Acharya , who has tremendous local knowledge by virtue of being the teaching pro at Gokarna, the consistent Deepak Thapamagar and Pashupati Sharma, winner of last week’s Surya Nepal Western Open, will be the front runners.