Koirala tightens grip over party

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KATHMANDU, May 30 – With the controversy over the Lauda Air scandal still swirling around him, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has attempted to shore up his position within the governing Nepali Congress (NC), appointing a slew of loyalists to the party’s highest decision-making body.

The NC announced today that Koirala, who is also the party president, has appointed close confidante Sushil Koirala as the new Congress general secretary, the post he previously held. Also appointed to the Central Working Committee (CWC) were Mrs Lila Koirala and Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola.

All the three appointed office-bearers are Koirala’s relatives who are also known for their unfailing loyalty to the Prime Minister. Koirala, meanwhile, also appointed six additional members to the CWC. They are Kul Prasad Gurung, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Laxman Prasad Ghimire, Gopal Raj Pahadi and Binaya Dhoj Chand.

According to the NC’s constitution, the party president can appoint 18 members to the 37-member CWC. Another 18 members have already been chosen through elections during the party’s general convention in Pokhara early this year. The remaining post of the president is also directly elected by party workers, and Koirala handily trounced his rival Sher Bahadur Deuba to the coveted post in the same general convention.

The latest appointments give the Prime Minister a firm grip over the party’s highest decision-making body at a crucial time. The Lauda Air scandal, which has dogged him for the last several months, has so far failed to loosen Koirala’s grip over government, and there are indications now that party dissidents are bracing up for battle inside the party itself. Under such circumstances, packing the CWC with faithful members is certain to frustrate any attempt that would be made by the anti-Koirala dissidents.

Meanwhile, Koirala also faces an upcoming battle in the budget session of parliament, which must be called soon if the government is to stick to its annual spending plans. But the communist dominated opposition has vowed to make the session uncomfortable for the Prime Minister, much as they did in the last winter session.

The underlying issue, again, is Lauda Air. While the opposition and many within Koirala’s own party have blamed the Prime Minister for the "corrupt deal," Koirala has denied his involvement, and has refused to step down as demanded.

Amnesty condemns Govt, rebels for rights violations

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KATHMANDU, May 30 - Amnesty International (AI), the London-based international human rights watch dog organization, has once again lambasted both the police and the underground CPN (Maoists) for "grave human rights violations" and "widespread abuses" in the country.

In its annual report titled, "Amnesty International Report 2001," which was made public world-wide today, AI has also raised its "major concern" over the police "reluctance to cooperate" with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The rights group also said that it was concerned over the impunity of rights violators and lack of independent investigation into human rights violations in Nepal.

In its report, AI says that the NHRC experienced logistical and financial problems arising from lack of government cooperation.

AI reports that an estimated 221 people were killed by the police in the context of "People’s War", between November 1999 and October 2000. In the same period, Maoist rebels killed 82 civilians, AI said. However, the report does not state how many policemen the rebels killed during the period.

"We are deeply concerned over the announcement of death sentences by the Maoist’s ‘Peoples’ Court’ on seven people in a press conference organized by their Rolpa District Unit," said Krishna Kadel, chairman of AI Nepal chapter, during the launching ceremony of the report in the Capital today.

"We have already sought clarifications about the Maoists’ decision but we have not received any reply so far," he added.

When asked to comment which side was violating rights more, whether the police or the Maoists, Kadel refused to give a direct answer. "We cannot grade any party. We only see who violate more human rights in the society," he said.

According to the report, an estimated 221 people were killed by the police in the context of "People’s War", between November 1999 and October 2000. Grave violation of human rights by police, including extrajudicial executions, disappearances and torture were reported, the report states.

Likewise, the report also accuses the CPN (Maoist) of widespread abuses, including deliberate killings, hostage taking and torturing. The report says that members of the CPN (Maoist) killed 82 civilians, mostly members of the ruling Nepali Congress, between November 1999 and October 2000.

"Dozens of people were also taken hostage or abducted (by the Maoists). Children as young as 14, including girls, were recruited (in the conflict). There were also reports that those held captive were subjected to cruel punishments," the report states.

The report, however, fails to spell out the number of policemen killed by the underground Maoists.

On the other hand, the report states that there were mounting evidence of secret detention of people arrested on suspicion of being members of CPN (Maoists). The whereabouts of 13 people arrested during 2000, and more than 50 other disappearances reported in 1998 and 1999 also remained unclarified, it says.

Similarly, it states that an estimated 1,600 people were serving in prison or awaiting trial in relation to crimes allegedly committed in the context of the "People’s War" at the end of 2000. The report also states that the police were abusing Anti-State Crimes and Penalties Act 1989, and Public Security Act to prevent suspects’ release on bail pending trial.

The report states that accountability in relation to disappearances and torture was also lacking. "In August, the Ilam District Court awarded compensation of Rs. 5,000 to Hasta Rai, who had been tortured by police at Aitabari Police Post in November 1999. This was only the second case in which compensation had been awarded since the Torture Compensation Act came into force in 1996," it states.

The annual AI report lists the human rights situation for the year 2000 in 149 countries and territories world-wide. The report also criticizes Bhutan for continued rights violations related to the still festering Lhotsampa problem.

"Torture by police was reported. Leaders of political parties in exile were reportedly arrested on their return," AI said about Bhutan.

Temba keeping aside climbing for studies

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, May 30 - Temba Tsheri Sherpa tried and tried again and at last he was successful in becoming the youngest person to scale the world’s highest mountain.

Just days after Temba turned 16, he scaled Mt. Everest to become the youngest person to step on the roof of the world reaching the summit with an experienced climber Thilen Sherpa, 30, who already has five Everest ascents under his belt.

"One should not lose hope ... I learnt from my failed bid last year and used the experience to succeed this time," Temba said Wednesday on arrival in Kathmandu from Tibet.

Last year, he had tried climbing Everest from the Nepali side in the south. But he ended up losing five fingers, three on right hand and two on left, to frostbite during his failed bid on the mountain.

Temba and Thilen reached the summit on the morning of May 24 and not on May 23 as reported by his sponsors earlier. "We reached the summit around 7 a.m. on that day when there were between 30-40 climbers on the summit," Temba said.

But due to lack of communication equipment, the news could not be relayed in time and when it did reach home the next day, it took a while before it was confirmed.

"When I reached the summit, it was a great view. I remembered my friends and family," he said. "It was quite a difficult climb ... it was cold and tiring but I did not lose hope and determination and I succeeded."

The two began their final journey from the last camp at 8,300 meters around 1 a.m. and six hours later they were at the summit. They were just part of the over hundred climbers who took advantage of the much awaited break in weather conditions last week and made their final push on the mountain.

"The weather was really bad and at times we thought that we would not be able to make the summit bid this year at all. But luck favored us and weather conditions improved from the May 22," he said.

This was Temba’s second attempt on Everest.

Temba broke the record set by another Nepalese climber, Shambu Tamang, in 1973 when he climbed Everest at the age of 17.

Last year, Temba returned just few meters from the summit due to frost bite, exhaustion, deteriorating weather and other problems arising due to a poorly organized expedition.

Before starting out the final climb, he said he opened his gloves for about 45 minutes to tie his shoes, which resulted in frostbite. When he returned from the mountain, doctors amputated five fingers.

"Temba had difficulty tying laces or buttoning up the thick suits worn on those altitude. But it was his determination that got him to the top," said Thilen.

When the chartered helicopter landed at the Tribhuwan International Airport, over 1,500 students from his school, Sidartha Vanasthali Institute, lined up both sides of the route and waved to welcome the new Everest hero.

His mother Lakpa Dikki hugged him and gave him flowers and khadda while family members, friends and even government ministers were present at the airport to congratulate him.

"I was overwhelmed to hear the news about his success. If he wants to climb again it is up to him but he needs to first complete his studies," said Lakpa, "I used to look at Temba’s photo every night before going to bed while he was in the mountain."

Temba now plans to complete his schooling and has no plans of risking his life on the mountain. "My priority right now is on completing my studies," he said.

Meanwhile, the Pasang Lhamhu Institute felicitated him today while the Trekking Agent’s Association of Nepal has announced their annual TAAN Everest International Award 2001 to Temba.

Two years lost in quarrel: Bhattarai

KATHMANDU, May 30 (PR) – Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, former Prime Minister and veteran leader of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has asked the people to be patient to taste the fruits of governance as "no work was done in two years which was spent in quarrel only".

"People are so impatient; wait for three years more to see the work being done," remarked Bhattarai at a talk programme on democracy in Nepal organized here today by The Nepal Council of World Affairs.

Displaying his legendary wit, the veteran leader was sarcastic about the opposition’s role too. Bhattarai quipped that as a citizen he wanted the opposition to be more aggressive than at present. His comments come at a time when there has been an all round condemnation of the six left parties led by the main opposition CPN-UML for their three-day bandh.

"If I say that the opposition is doing a fine job, they might think that they are not doing justice to their role as opposition. If I state the opposite, then the government may find it unpalatable," said the former Prime Minister.

He was also dismissive of the Maoists as an emerging fourth political force in the nation’s politics. "Had they been a force to reckon with, they would have been able to cash the despondency against the government."

Bhattarai also admitted his failure in removing his friend-turned-political foe Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from office. He was replying to a question whether he was making another attempt to do so.

Thousands of stolen artefacts await return ticket home

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, May 30 - Thousands and thousands idols stolen from Nepal, mainly from Kathmandu Valley and its vicinity, since the 1950s are waiting their return home from various museums in Europe and the Americas. Yet the authorities seem to be nonchalant about it.

Knowledgeable experts claim, between 50 to 60 per cent of the Valley’s works of art have been stolen in the last five decades. And, little has been done by the government to restore the pre-historic images of such deities as the Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwora, Durgabhawani, Laxmi and so on to their original places.

Not that it is impossible to return the stolen heritages. Many of the new western owners have returned a dozen such stolen idols in recent years. Examples abound. A 11th-century idol of Uma Maheshor was returned in September 2000 after about 18 years in a German museum, barely a year after another American antique-collector returned three ancient images of Hindu deities that were stolen from various temples of the Valley. The American returned the idols in August last year.

"We have never tried to use the convention from our sides," said an officer at Department of Archaeology, the body responsible for preserving and protecting the countries’ cultural heritages. The process of claiming such stolen images needs certain "diplomatic channels". But, in the past three decades, Nepali government has not even decided who and how the present owners of the Nepali artefact should be reached, the officer said.

The concerned authorities are shedding off their shoulders from even sending application letters, the basic requirement to go through the long procedure that includes two countries and the international institution working for the conservation of heritage.

United Nation’s Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) launched steps to curb this international trade of artefact as early as 30 years ago.

The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibition and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1970, was the first international legal instrument to tackle these issues of world’s concern. There are 91 state parties, including Nepal, signatories to the convention.

According to the Convention, the State Party of origin requires to go through diplomatic channels and with evidence to its claim, another State Party will seize and return cultural property on its territory stolen from a museum, religious institution or public monument. And the UNIDROIT Convention of 1995 on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects enhances the former convention’s resolutions.

Prof Kumar Khatri, the former chief of Central Department of Culture at Tribhuwan University said that Nepali government has enough grounds to claim those countless images scattered in so many museums, private collections and curio shops around the World. "We have rights to bring them back. But the crux of the problem is that even the government authorities are ignorant of the international convention."

Khagendra Basnet, the secretary-general of Nepal National Commission for UNESCO said that it is not the commission’s duty to retrieve stolen artefacts.

Gyan Chandra Acharya, the spokesperson of Foreign Ministry, said bringing such artefact according the convention is not easy. "In principle, those owners should return the idols, but we can’t ask them to return all just because they were taken away from Nepal," he said.

Former Ambassador to France and permanent representative to UNESCO Keshav Raj Jha said that we have not been able to utilise the provisions of the convention, though it was made especially for countries like Nepal that has been a constant victim of illicit trade of cultural objects.

"Only a channelled application is needed to find out our property. UNESCO and other institutions have a network to find out such items world-wide and finding is not very difficult too," he said.

He claimed that Nepali government does not want to claim such stolen artefact because "some high-profile people, some above legal restrictions, are responsible in smuggling them out".

He recalled that when he was the Ambassador to France he saw an ancient wooden image and wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal with needed documents of evidences to stake a claim. "But after a year or so, I got an irresponsible reply which suggested me to read a book on stolen images and do the needful accordingly,"

Art theft is not only the problem of Nepal. UNESCO reports state that between 30,000 and 40,000 cultural objects are stolen each year in France and Italy. In 1995, insurance companies in the United Kingdom paid out nearly one billion US Dollars for artwork stolen in that country.

Seven killed in violent clashes

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KATHMANDU, May 30 – At least two unidentified youth were killed this evening in an exchange of gun fire in Jarsingh Pauwa of Lapsifedi VDC, north east of the capital.

Both the deceased are in their 20s and were brought to the capital’s Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) this evening for postmortem. One of them was shot between the eyes, while the other has bullet wounds on the left side of the head, police said.

According to policemen at the Naglebhare Police Post, near the shootout site, the bodies of both the youth were found dead on-the-spot immediately after they rushed to the scene hearing gun shots at around 5 p.m. Around four or five youth were first seen at the site who later left with 12 others, police said quoting locals.

The police suspected that the shootout might have occurred in an action initiated by the Maoist rebels upon the ones who had been posing as fake insurgents.

Meanwhile, a bomb was hurled at a press in Balaju in the capital at 7.45 pm today. According to the police officials at the Balaju Police Station, the culprits were yet to be identified. There were also no reports of any injury. The extent of damage to the press was also not known.

Likewise, quoting the police, our reporter from Kailali said that at least three policemen and two Maoist rebels were killed in a clash, today evening, when 300 armed Maoists attacked a border police outpost at Prithvipur, in Lalbojhi VDC-5, about 60 km south-east of the district headquarters Dhangadhi.

Police said two other policemen sustained injuries during one hour exchange of fire between the two sides.

Three constables confirmed killed are Shridhar Khatri, 20, from Dharapani VDC-6, Pyuthan; Bish Bahadur Kunwar, 21, from Liwang VDC-9, Rolpa and Sher Bahadur Balayer, 21, from Baglekh VDC-3, Doti.

Bodies of the slain constables have been sent to their respective home villages by helicopter, police in Dhangadhi said. The two injured constables have been airlifted to Nepalgunj for treatment. The police, however, could not identify the two rebels shot dead during the gun battle as the rebels carried them away on a cot.

The rebels looted five 303 rifles, one Magnum gun, one pistol and one revolver, three twelve-bored guns and a communication set, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Kalendra Bikram Shahi. Shahi said the rebels seized the arms after the policemen ran out of ammunition.

Another rebel group ambushed a police reinforcement approaching Bhajani area police station, about eight km away from the clash site, on the banks of Kandara river. The reinforcement retreated as one of the policemen sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with the rebels.

The Maoist attack came three days after the police action against a gathering of Maoist aligned All Nepal Peasant Association (ANPA) at Banbarsa of Pahalmanpur VDC-8 on Saturday. Police foiled the meeting at a time when a Maoist central leader was addressing it, attended by around 50,000 people.

Police suspect that the rebels attacked the outpost in retaliation for Saturday’s police action.

A local eyewitness, Tek Bahadur Thapa, said the rebels, who came from a nearby jungle stormed the 20 policemen lining up for a roll call on the evening.

Another eyewitness said constable Balayer was shot dead while he was inspecting a bullock-cart that had arrived from the Indian frontier market of Tinkuniya.

Police on Wednesday had defused two home-made bombs left behind by the rebels near the outpost.

Another eyewitness, Bishnu Devi Thapa, who was at her home about 100 metres away from the battle site, said one of the rebels moaned once, calling his father and succumbed to the bullets.

This is the biggest ever Maoist attack on any police station in the district since the beginning of the insurgency six years ago. A total of 19 rebels, seven civilians and four policemen have so far lost their lives from this far-western Terai district.

Lauda jet deal statement continues

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KATHMANDU, May 30 - Former RNAC Chairman Hari Bhakta Shrestha today concluded his statement regarding the controversial Lauda Air deal before the division bench of the Patan Appellate Court.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against 10 people, including the former Minister for Civil Aviation Tarani Dutt Chataut, at the Patan Appellate Court last Friday.

Giving his statement for the third consecutive day today, Shrestha reiterated that he had executed conditional agreement with the Lauda Air in Vienna to be approved by the RNAC Board. "If the Board had not approved the deal, then the conditional agreement would have had no meaning," said Shrestha.

The judges Buddhikant Mainali and Bhoop Dhoj Adhikari asked Shrestha whether another tender was not possible rather than going for the direct negotiation for the fourth plane after the lease period of China South West Airlines (CSWA) was further extended. Shrestha answered that there existed no clear cut policy regarding it.

To the judges another query, Shrestha answered that there is clause in the agreement through which one party can cancel the agreement regarding the Lauda Air deal.

Shrestha today named former minister Narayan Singh Pun, Bhubaneshwor Daibagya, Durgesh Dali, Maheshwor Bhakta Shrestha, Amar Pokharel and Rajesh Kaji Shrestha as his possible witnesses.

When the judges asked another Board member Gauri Nath Sharma why he signed the agreement inspite of his claim that something needed to be changed in the agreement, Sharma answered that he signed the agreement only after he was assured that the matter would be solved through negotiation with the Lauda Air.

RNAC’s Finance Department Director Upendra Prasad Upadhayaya while furnishing his statement said that he had not signed the Lauda Air agreement on October 2, 2000. "CIAA without properly analysing agreement paper of October 2 has accused me," said Upadhyaya.

"I have not played any decisive role regarding the agreement of Lauda Air jet," said he. Upadhyaya even said that the act of Hari Bhakta Shrestha taking the approval of 15 RNAC executives to bring Lauda jet just two days before the jet arrived in Kathmandu held no relevance. "The CIAA filing case against me merely on this basis is purely baseless," said Upadhyaya.

Upadhyaya argued that the CIAA allegation that he presented false financial picture before the Board to bring Lauda Air jet was baseless. He said that he had not presented any such particulars regarding the Lauda Air jet, but had presented the financial picture and recommended for the fourth aircraft (that also 757 Boeing for dry lease) only to be operated during the peak season.

However, Upadhyaya was one of the signatories to sign the Lauda Air jet agreement after Shrestha had called for emergency meeting regarding the leasing of Lauda Air jet.

Corporate Department Officiating Director Pushkar Wagle will furnish his statement tomorrow.

Brussels-returned Ram shares his experience

By Seema A. Adhikari

KATHMANDU, May 30 - A poor Nepali farmer addressing a United Nations conference in Europe seems to be a story beyond imaginations. But that exactly happened when Ram Prasad Bajgain, just an ordinary farmer from Kushadevi VDC, Kavre, achieved what many Nepali countryman could not have even dreamt of.

A school dropout, Bajgain had never imagined that he would ever be the centre-staged in Brussels. Luck hit him, as it were, when he was selected as an active member of the Fulchowki Social Organisation, a voluntary group working for the upliftment of his society with the financial support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and UN-sponsored Participatory District Development Project (PDDP).

Bajgain was invited by the Belgian Government to attend the recently concluded UN conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Brussels.

Bajgain was all smiles at an interaction program at the capital Wednesday, sharing anecdotes of his extra-ordinary experience during his six-day visit to Brussels at the invitation of Eddy Boutsman, State Secretary of Development and Co-operation of the Belgium Government.

Bajgain not only addressed the press conference but also featured prominently on a number of billboards in the Belgian capital that featured small works shaping the future of the villages and people in the Least Developed Countries. He was among the five different people featured in such billboards, and one of the two among the community workers picked up by the United Nations to address the press conference in Brussels.

"It was nothing short of a miracle, all predestined by the almighty," he said with a face full of dimples and smiles.

The Government of Belgium, together with the UN Secretariat and UNCTAD, had organised the public awareness campaign with series of images like posters, hoarding and post cards from the LDCs.

Adam Rogers, Information and Communication Specialist of Brussels prepared those street images during conferences.

The community worker was able to fly to the European City and attend the UN Conference only through the untiring efforts made by Rajendra Aryal, Programme Officer at UNCDF. "I am happy that I sent a right representative," said Aryal.

Bajgain, who runs an adult literacy program in his village, said he flew in an aeroplane even before he could dream of going out of his village. He said that with "self confidence" one could achieve even that which was impossible.

When asked to compare Kathmandu with Brussels, he said that he could only see high-storied buildings and skycrappers everywhere and everything controlled through computer. He also found Belgium much cleaner than Nepal.

He was very sad that the Nepalese Embassy in Belgium did little to help him.

He now regrets that he dropped out of school. He had to use an interpreter to talk during the conference. "I’ll never let my two children to quit their studies," said Bajgain in a voice, which had a tinge of regret and determination.

One dies as boat capsizes

POKHARA, May 30 (RSS) - One child died and another went missing when a boat capsized at Begnastal Lake in Lekhanath Municipality, it is learnt from the District Police Office, Kaski.

Surendra Dhungana, 12, of ward No. 12 in the municipality died while undergoing treatment at the regional hospital and Manoj Poudel of the same locality has been missing since the mishap.

Bidur Poudel and Shambhu Adhikari of the same ward, however, swam to safety. The children jumped into the lake when the canoe they were oaring suddenly capsized in a storm.

NGO's role highlighted

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KATHMANDU, May 30 - Minister for Population and Environment Siddha Raj Ojha today said that the expected goals are not achieved in all fields because of the lack of coordination between the government and non governmental organisation (NGO).

"The NGOs working in the field of population and environment have not provided the government with up to date information about the institutions despite the repeated requests," he said. Minister Ojha was addressing a seminar on the role of NGOs in population management.

Secretary of MOPE Dr Mukti Narayan Shrestha said that the ministry has not acquired any statistical details of the works being carried out by the NGOs.

Chief of Population Division Kaladhar Sharma said that the ministry is now working to devise a special long term plan for population.

Dr Laxmi Bilas Acharya and Hari Datta Pandey presented papers on the role of NGOs on population management and woman empowerment in the programme respectively.