Maoists kill 41 policemen in Lamjung, Nuwakot and Gulmi
Rebels loose five in fierce gun battles

By Nawaraj Pahadi / Prakash Adhikari & Ramlal Pandey

KATHMANDU, July 7 - In what came as a major attack against the establishment after the June 1 Palace incident, Maoist rebels raided three police outposts in remote Nuwakot, Lamjung and Gulmi districts Friday night and massacred at least 41 policemen, officials said.

Authorities said five Maoist rebels - three in Bichaur-based police post in Lamjung and two at Taruka based post in Nuwakot - were killed in the fierce gun battles, which have left several policemen injured, some of them seriously.

The rebel bodies recovered from the rubble of the posts could not be identified immediately, authorities said. Three injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Birendra Police Hospital in the Capital.

The Maoist attacks came on the eve of newly crowned King Gyanendra’s 55th birthday. These are the biggest assaults made by the rebels following the June 1 Narayanhiti Royal Palace massacre in which King Birendra, Queen Aishworya, Crown Prince Dipendra, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti and other royalties were killed. The Maoist rebels have termed the June 1 Royal Palace massacre as the planned murder.

Death toll could climb up in Gulmi and Lamjung police outposts as condition of several policemen who sustained injuries during the encounters has been reported as critical. All the injured security men have been airlifted to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bhairahawa from Nuwakot, Lamjung and Gulmi respectively for treatment.

According to the latest information provided by the police from their respective districts, 21 policemen in Lamjung, 10 in Nuwakot and 10 in Gulmi districts have been shot dead by the Maoist guerrillas.

The rebels looted a large chunk of firearms and ammunition from the three outposts after they forced the security men to give in to them.

Our Lamjung based correspondent, said that at least 21 policemen, including a Police Inspector, were killed in an intense battle with the rebels at the north-eastern Bichar based area police post, about 12 hours trek from Besisahar, the district headquarters, on Friday night.

Police said three rebels were also shot dead in the three hours long gun battle.

One of the three rebels killed in the encounter has been identified as a local woman rebel, Parbati Dawadi, 22. Two other rebels were found lying on the ground, completely burned on their faces beyond their recognition.

A police survivor said that they had asked the Regional Police Office in Pokhara through their communication set to send a reinforcement while fighting the rebels.

"But the office did not respond our requests on time," the policeman told The Kathmandu Post requesting anonymity. The police station was empowered with 24 policemen under the command of a police inspector after the guerrilla activities escalated in the district.

According to our Nuwakot based correspondent, 10 policemen were killed when the rebels bombed the Taruka-based police post, located about 20 km west of Bidur, the district headquarters of Nuwakot.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the District Police Office, Bikram Singh Thapa, who visited the battle site this morning, said that two bodies of unidentified rebels were recovered at a distance of about 100 metres away from the battle site.

There were 13 policemen stationed at the outpost. One police survivor said that the rebels attacked the post from two sides. The police fought for around two hours before the 500-armed guerrillas finally subdued the police. The police post has been completely destroyed by the bomb blasts.

An eyewitness, Ghanaraj Bhatta, an employee at the local postal office, said that one of the five bombs thrown by the rebels blew up the post and all the policemen were buried inside the demolished house.

"The rebels hurled hand-made bombs at the post at an interval of every five minutes," Bhatta told The Kathmandu Post.

DSP Thapa said he could not assess how many weapons the rebels looted after the battle as the post was completely destroyed to rubble.

Bodies of the policemen were airlifted to Kathmandu this morning. Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) at the Central Region Police Office, Ravi Shrestha said the bodies would be handed over to the respective families after carrying out their post-mortems.

In another encounter in Gulmi at least 10 policemen, including a Police Sub-Inspector, were shot dead by the rebels after bombing the Wami Taksar based police post, located about 20 km north of Tamghas, the district headquarters, on the same fateful night.

DSP Bir Bahadur Rana, after visiting the clash site, said that one of the bodies was yet to be recovered from the rubble of the post. Earlier, another police post located at Kharbang in Baglung had been merged at Wami Taksar for security reasons. DSP Rana said all the 30 policemen gave in to the rebels after they ran out of ammunition.

Survivors said the rebels killed six policemen by bombing them inside a room of the post after they surrendered to the rebels.

The rebels looted 10 three-knot-three rifle, one pistol and two communication sets before they fled the scene. A contingent of army this morning defused more than 35 unexploded home-made socket bombs left behind by the rebels at the post.

DSP Rana suspected that there might be some casualties on the rebel side. But they took them away along with them.

Earlier on the first week of April, Maoist insurgents killed more than 40 policemen in Rukumkot in Rukum, Naumoole in Dailekh of the Mid-Western region and Dolakha in the central region. The rebels also killed more than a dozen policemen after raiding in Dunai, the district headquarters of mountain district of Dolpa in remote Karnali zone on September 25, 2000.

More than 1,700 people, including the policemen, insurgents and civilians, have lost their lives from across this Himalayan Kingdom in the Maoist insurrection over the last six years.

Maoists claim responsibility

KATHMANDU, July 7 (PR)- The underground Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) has claimed its responsibility over the killing of at least 41 policemen in three different incidents in remote police posts Friday night.

In a statement issued here today and signed by the party president Prachanda, the party has claimed success in the attacks and has congratulated its militias. The release also admits that there have been casualties on the Maoists side too but it does not mention anything about the number.

The release does not call for a dialogue between the government however, it requests for a constructive alliance between the progressive forces to topple the present government led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The release has also asked its militia groups to remain alert to face confrontation arising from the possible retaliatory action from the government.

Acharya resigns from party spokesmanship

KATHMANDU, July 7 (RSS)- Nepali Congress Spokesman and Central Member Narahari Acharya has resigned from the post of the party’s spokesman.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organized by Reporters’ Club Nepal here today, Acharya disclosed that he resigned on moral grounds after the party’s general secretary made public a statement disagreeing with his views expressed by him about a decision made on June 20 by the party’s central committee.

In order to protect the dignity of and give continuity to constitutional monarchy, the parliament, remaining within the constitutional parameters, should review the provision regarding the heir to the throne, Acharya said adding that, a national consensus among political parties is also necessary for this.

Considering the geo-political state of Nepal in present circumstances, the Maoists should shun the path of murder and violence, and come honestly to the negotiating table, he said.

Acharya said bilateral talks were held with the opposition parties in connection with the 14-point proposal floated by the Prime Minister and expressed confidence that a national consensus would be reached in the near future through an all party dialogue.

The Prime Minister is ready to implement it, Acharya added.

CPN-UML standing committee member Bharatmohan Adhikari clarified that the demand for the Prime Minister’s resignation has been made because he failed to maintain law and order, ensure good governance, check corruption and to exercise responsibly the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Stating that the CPN-UML is not in favor of national or all-party government or mid-term polls, Adhikari said as the Nepali Congress enjoys a full majority the CPN-UML will provide full cooperation if Nepali Congress elects a new Prime Minister.

The path taken up by the Maoists is wrong, and they cannot run the nation, Adhikari said adding that, the Maoist problem should be resolved through talks and package programs.

‘Attacks setback for peace process’

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 7 - The recent series of Maoist attacks have foiled the possibilities of dialogues between the government and the rebels, experts say.

Most of the experts think that the circumstance has arisen as both government and the Maoist are not committed for talks.

"The Maoist are getting all they want, maximum propaganda, demoralising the police and administration and big hauls of arms and ammunition," says Kapil Shrestha, member of the Human Rights Commission.

He says that the Maoist are not likely to come for talks until there is a stable and trustworthy government in the centre. "Either the rebels have to feel threatened by the government or they have to be able to trust the government. At present, both the situations do not exist," he adds.

"Both government and the Maoists have not taken any initiative for talks so far nor have they shown any genuine interest," says Daman Nath Dhungana, former Speaker of the Parliament.

The government has remained quiet after every such incident, it does not take any action nor does it initiate a talk; all we hear from the government, is only event reporting, he says.

Chairman of the Nepal Bar Association, Sindhu Nath Pyakurel says that the talk process can go on along with the recent series of killings. "This kind of killings has been going on for years now and they have been against the Monarchy from their initial days so I don’t think recent events will make much difference in the ongoing trend. This is just an episode of the entire episode."

Nepal tells Maoists to keep away from violent activities

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 7 - As underground Maoist rebels intensified attacks nation wide, leader of the main opposition party (CPN-UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal on Saturday remarked that the rebels are under illusion to think that they could take advantage of the country’s present situation.

He, however, cautioned that "the ultra left party" and other reactionary forces are all set to take advantage of the present scenario of the country, which is struggling for a change.

And the UML General Secretary heaped all the blames on the ruling Nepali Congress Party, headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, while addressing his partymen during a meeting organised by UML’s Kathmandu Valley Co-ordinating Committee.

"It is the present Nepali Congress government which is providing opportunities to these reactionary forces," he said. "But the Maoists’ are under the illusion that they would be able to take advantage of the present situation. And to think that way would be wrong.

Nepal added that the present government is not ready to bring the Maoists into the mainstream politics.

Nepal also came down heavily on the rebels for waging bombs - and duds - attack in the Valley spreading panic and terror among the Valley residents this past week. "No communist party, nowhere, can be popular by such inhuman acts of terrorism," he thundered.

Commenting on the Maoists who said that they considered late King Birendra as a liberal king, Nepal said that "if they really considered the then king as liberal then why did they enter the jungle and became underground."

Speaking further Nepal said that it would be wrong to consider that the traditional hierarchy of monarchy has been wiped out from the country as remarked by the Maoists.

Dwelling on his recent meet with the new monarch, Gyanendra, Nepal said that the King had expressed his commitment to go ahead with and uphold the present polity - Westminister style Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy.

During the program, Nepal reiterated that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should resign as he has failed to solve the country’s present crisis.

"At a time of crisis, the country needs a popular government and not the government of Koirala which is very much unpopular," he said. Nepal also accused the Prime Minister of being irresponsible and corrupt. "The Prime Minister prepares only when there are bribes and kickbacks," he added.

Political confusion lingers on

Post Report

KATHMANDU, July 7 – The political confusion over Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation still remained unsettled as the meeting between Koirala and main opposition leader Madav Kumar Nepal failed to take place even today.

Sources close to both the ruling NC and the main opposition CPN (UML) said that the two leaders have now decided to meet tomorrow. However, the main opposition has already called all the opposition parties for a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss a joint strategy to push forward their demand for PM Koirala’s resignation in the on-going session of the Parliament.

"Our party has been following the issue very seriously as the PM hasn’t resigned yet…We need to move ahead firmly now," said KP Sharma (Oli), CPN-UML’s senior leader to The Kathmandu Post this evening.

Likewise, UML sources also revealed that the main opposition leader Nepal today met for over one hour with senior NC leader and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the latter’s residence today.

Meanwhile, two smaller leftist parties today have taken up the stand that they would not agree to the PM Koirala’s 14-point national consensus agenda spelt out last week in the Parliament until he quits. National People’s Front (NPF) and United People’s Front (UPF) today expressed their views during a meeting with the PM’s representatives to resolve the present crisis, NPF and UPF officials said.

"We once again reiterated our demand that PM Koirala should call it the quits," said Lilamani Pokharel of UPF. "The political situation would not have been that grave if PM Koirala had resigned a long time ago."

However, when the Prime Minister’s representatives had said that they held no mandate to discuss about PM Koirala’s resignation, the leftist leaders expressed their views that there was no solution to the present problem until the Prime Minister resigned at all costs.

NC CWC member Laxman Ghimire, Health Minister Ram Krishna Tamrakar and Minister of State for Supplies Krishna Sitaula were the representatives of the PM at the meeting.

Now counselling classes for traffic rules violators

By Tashi D. Thinley

KATHMANDU, July 7 - Seizing driving licence and pay-up of a few hundred rupees as fine may not have worked so well here to bring down the number of traffic rules violators.

Hence, the Valley’s traffic officials have now adopted even ‘better’ measures to bring reckless drivers in the capital’s congested roads under control.

The Valley Traffic Police Office, since the past one week, now requires all such drivers whose driving license have been seized to first pay-up and then attend an hour-long "counselling" on following traffic rules, before their driving license are returned to them.

"Our main intention is to make the violators realise that their license wasn’t seized by the traffic police for nothing... It would also help to bring the number of violators down," says Senior Superintendent of Police, Keshav Baral, the Valley’s top traffic police official.

And not only that, all new applicants for driving licenses are also required to undergo the same "counselling classes" from now on.

"We actually speak on issues like how one can be more careful while driving, what happens when one parks at the no-parking lane and how one can be more careful while on the move," says Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Bobby Thapa, one of the traffic officials who runs such classes.

Around 80 people are already attending such session that is taking place every Wednesday and Friday.

However, despite the vision of good output the traffic officials have presently in mind, many are already starting to say that such a counselling is just a mere formality.

"What could any driver do if the passenger himself is illiterate of traffic rules and insists that the vehicle go wherever the rider demands?" questions Balram Shrestha, a taxi driver who was forced to attend counselling classes after violating traffic rules.

"There is even so little one can do as there are no facilities at all such as of proper parking space for taxis in the capital," he says.

According to VTPO records, out of 160,000 of traffic violation cases last year, a majority of them included ones committed by taxi-drivers.

Even "honest" private vehicle owners caught violating traffic rules have other grievances to make.

"Many people are just sending their peons here to attend counselling classes despite it was for them who violated the rules," adds Rajiv Verma, who was caught using a mobile phone while driving.

Meanwhile, ASI Thapa denies such allegations. "VTPO still has many seized licenses under custody as actual traffic rules violators haven’t attended the counselling classes," he said.

On the other hand, VTPO is still aiming higher to bring the capital’s chaotic traffic under control.

"Starting next month, we are planning to keep all traffic rules violating vehicles under custody for 24 hours. We are also on the way to announce the use of helmets by pillion riders as compulsory," SSP Keshav Baral says.