Army opens fire against Maoists
Two injured, three arrested in Gorkha incident

By Krishna Bhandari

AMPPIPAL, Gorkha, Sept 8 – Royal Nepal Army (RNA) personnel Saturday opened fire at Maoist workers injuring at least two in this home district of the top Maoist leaders.

The armymen resorted to fire after an agitated mob took a rally towards the army barrack, demanding the release of three Maoist cadres who were arrested earlier in the day along with some explosives. Gorkha bazaar remained tense throughout the day due to the incident.

This is the first ever step taken by the army against the Maoists in the district, after 1,200 army personnel were sent here few months ago under the Integrated Security and Development Plan (ISDP).

The government had mobilised army in Gorkha few months ago, making it a model district for ISDP to quell the Maoist insurgency. Gorkha is the home district of top Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

Earlier, army personnel arrested the Maoist activists while they were on their way to Janata Secondary School to join the second death anniversary function of Suresh Wagle a.k.a. Basu, the highest level Maoist "comrade" killed by the Police so far. The trio – Sabita Ghimire (Srinath Kot VDC), Parbati Pokharel (Muchchok VDC) and Dhruba Silwal (Dhuwakot VDC) – was reportedly carrying socket bombs, according to the army sources.

The rebels, including the locals, took a rally demanding the release of their colleagues. As the situation went out of control, the army fired dozens of rounds in the air to disperse the agitated mob. Two Maoists- Indra Maya Bhujel and Hari Gaire received bullet injuries in the incident.

Though the Maoist delegation later met with the top army brass in the district, the army officers refused to release those arrested. But the army assured to talk to the Maoists on Sunday, after consulting higher officers at the centre.

After the incident, Maoists organised a press conference and denounced the arrest. Speaking during the press meet, "Himal", District Acting-Secretary of the Maoist Party, claimed that the detained Maoists were unarmed. "The government is using the army to jeopardise the environment of talks," he further accused.

Angry villagers kill two pro-Maoists in Parsa

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 – Two Maoist supporters were reportedly killed and four others sustained injuries in a violent scuffle that occurred between locals and Maoists in a northern village of Parsa district, Saturday.

According to reports, the injured were rushed to Birgunj Hospital and now are undergoing treatment in the emergency ward. The violence erupted when the organised anti-Maoist villagers attacked the rebels who were dwelling in the northern forest of the village.

Local journalist, Chandra Kishor Jha, said that the seed of the violence was sowed after some Maoists forcefully entered into local Deepnarayan Adarsha Secondary School of Prasouni VDC and implement their "janabadi education". Then the locals drove away the rebels. Later on, the Maoists threatened to attack the villagers on Friday. The villagers formed the Maoist-resistant group on the same day.

Those injured in the incident are Prasad Lama, Krishna Shrestha, Ishwor Khatiwada and Radheshyam Khatiwada, all from Biruwaguthi Village Development Committee (VDC). Among them, condition of Lama who received bullet injury is critical while others’ condition is normal.

According to Birgunj-based correspondent, Gopal Devkota, the locals were organised against the Maoists last week and the latest incident took the form of violence.

The Maoist-resistant group of almost 10,000 local villagers set ablaze ten houses in the northern Jharawa VDC Saturday morning. Police used more than a dozen tear-gas shells to disperse the mob. "There was a two-way fight where by the police intervened resorting to shells," said Dipendra Bista, Senior Superintendent of Police. SSP Bista confirming that ten houses were set ablaze did not confirm about any casualties.

The angry mob had also beaten up two Maoist workers – Mukti Bastola and Durga Lamichhane – both from Bagbana VDC. Apart from this, there were reports that several pro and anti Maoists fought in the northern villages of the district. However, the detail of the reports is yet to arrive.

Due to the violence, the regular traffic on Pathalaiya – Birgunj section got disrupted, Saturday. The chakka jam, which started at 5:30 p.m. is still continuing. Considering the Saturday’s incident, an all-party meet organised in Birgunj has decided to organize a good-will rally on Sunday.

Ten Maoist students held

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 (PR) – Police arrested Friday ten members of Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (ANNISU) – Revolutionary in Kathmandu and Dhunche of Rasuwa district.

According to Deepak Neupane, an ANNISU (R) member, the radical students were detained while they were involved in the publicity of the upcoming September 21 showdown in the Capital’s Open Air Theatre and the student group’s 15th National Convention.

Those arrested in Rasuwa are District Committee Treasurer Purna P Devkota and member Bhoj B Tamang. While those arrested in Kalimati, Kathmandu are Kathmandu Campus Free Students’ Union (FSU) member Navaraj Pant, Tirtha Raj Pant, Achyut Karki and Basu Karki.

Likewise, Kamal Kumar AC, Nita Gautam, Deepak Devkota and Anu Pradhan of ASCOL Campus were arrested in Chhetrapati Chowk.

‘Tough measures needed to end House disruptions’

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 - Disruption of the parliament has become the order of the day. Although not like the 19th Session which was completely blacked out, the 20th Session has already weathered eight days of consecutive disruptions.

And no wonder, former Speaker and senior leader of the governing Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel gave a call for an end to continuous disruptions that have paralyzed both the House and the government business.

His call comes close on the heels of the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the Lower House) GMC Balayogi decision to crack his whip on the unruly MPs. He has decided that any lawmaker storming the Well of the House would be automatically suspended for a week besides losing the daily allowance of Rs 500.

At an all-party meet in New Delhi on August 23, the Speaker expressed his concern over the growing disruptions caused by members trooping into the Well of the House, sloganeering and boycotts. Leaders of all the parties except one, agreed to the Speaker’s suggestion of the tough measures. The next day the Lok Sabha could conduct its business without any hassles.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Poudel reiterated what he said in the House of Representatives on Friday. "The growing penchant for disrupting the business of the House is not good and we must take measures to discourage it," said Poudel, adding, "A handful of MPs cannot be allowed to hold the House to ransom."

The former Speaker Poudel acknowledged that the members had the right to protest, but they had no right to deprive others’ rights of speaking. "The protests should have been only symbolic but unfortunately they have degenerated into a farce with House business paralyzed for days on end."

As a measure to prevent this, Poudel suggested that an all-party meet be called and some firm steps be decided upon. He also said the automatic suspension could be adopted, if all the parties agreed to it.

Poudel also suggested radical measure for running the House without the opposition, if they continued to disrupt the proceedings of the House.

The country’s first Speaker after the restoration of democracy, Daman Nath Dhungana concurred that an all-party meet could consider incorporating automatic suspension in the regulation of governing the House. "But more than any rules, it all depends on the judgement of the Speaker about the enforceability of his ruling or order."

Dhungana suggested that as the captain of the House, the Presiding Officer should take into account the delicacy or situational complexity of the time and act accordingly. The prevention lies in the judgement of the Speaker, said the former Speaker, admitting that the disruptions have become the order of the day.

However, he was sceptical about the possibility of the all-party consensus on adopting tough measures "simply because there is a deep-seated culture of disobedience and violation of rules and procedures."

Former parliamentary affairs minister and powerful member of the main opposition Subas Nembang declined to comment much "as this is not an appropriate time when disruptions are still going on". However, he admitted that there was need to debate the issue but at a later date.

Army, Police put on high alert ahead of Maoist meet in Rolpa

By Ujir Magar

LIWANG, Rolpa, Sept 8 – Royal Nepal Army and Police personnel have been put on high alert in and around the Rolpa district headquarters here since Friday to control any tense situation ahead of Monday’s mass meet called by the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist.

"The situation here is quite volatile," said a confidential source at the Rolpa District Administration Office. "So the army and the police have begun to patrol the areas surrounding Liwang since Friday to prevent the situation from turning explosive."

The forces were mobilised keeping in view the activities of the Maoist cadres, who have lately been involved in extortion and threats, including calls for compulsory attendance of two members from one family to the Monday’s meet, according to knowledgeable officials.

Officials have expected a huge turn out of the Maoist cadres and supporters during the meet, especially because a top rebel leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who recently led the Maoist delegation to the Godavari-peace talks, is supposed to attend the gathering.

Since it was in Rolpa that Mahara had proposed to hold the second round of peace talks, speculations are that the Maoists will stick to their demands. No dates have so far been fixed for the second round of talks.

"Security has been tightened at all entry and exit points of the district to prevent transfer of arms, ammunition, explosives and any other untoward incident," said the Chief District Officer, Hari Krishna Upadhayay.

RNA has also begun aerial patroling in the area. Rolpa is one of the rebel stronghold districts in the Mid-West.

"We will remain in and around the district headquarter for some time," said a Royal Nepal Army source. "Preparations are on to increase army presence in other parts of the district as well."

Army personnel from the Khumil, Satdobato and Bhadichour camps and police force from the District Police Office have also been roped in to patrol the area, according to source. The three army camps, including other two at Pyuthan and Salyan near Nepal-India border, are under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ramesh Pun.

Despite the deployment of security forces in the area, local people here are apprehensive of the security situation. Especially because All Nepal National Independent Student’s Union (ANNISU – Revolutionary) began its district conference in Bhadichour since Friday. The Bhadichour conference is to continue at Liwang on Monday. Sources said that the Army is closely monitoring the ANNISU-R conference and the local security condition.

Though Army sources conceded that the situation presently is tense, and the deployment was inevitable, the latest mobilisation was also a part of the government’s Integrated Internal Security and Development Plan (ISDP).

"The mobilisation of the security forces was also as per the ISDP," said an Army source. "Decision to mobilise security forces in other parts of the district has been taken. Implementation of the decision will begin very soon," said the DAO source.

Security beefed up: Home Ministry

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 (PR)- The Home Ministry today said that security has been beefed up in the country in the light of incidents of force-use and attack against the people, extortion and other activities, and called on the people to refrain from participating in such violent activities.

The Ministry said in a public statement issued late Saturday, "The acts of putting pressure and use of force on the people in recent days are against the law and is detrimental for peace, law and order situation. As it is the moral responsibility of the government to maintain law and order situation and take administrative actions, security personnel have been mobilized to control incidents of use of force, extortion and manhandling of the general public."

It added, "The Ministry, that is why, requests the people to refrain from participating in such activities. The security personnel will be forced to take actions against those involved in such activities."

The Ministry has also requested the people living in Kathmandu Valley to dial 100, 110, 120, 412780, 226044 and 225698 and inform about such activities. Those living outside the Valley have been requested to inform the nearest police or the district administration offices about such incidents.

Gautam enkindles hope in the thousands of disabled

By Seema A Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 - Sudarshan Gautam enkindles hope in thousands of disabled youths who look upon their disability sometimes as a gift when he will take Nepal to the Guinness Book of World Records for his ground-breaking mastery over driving without hands.

"If I were not disabled, I would only work for myself but not for my country," says Gautam who hopes to take Nepal to the Guinness Book of World Record this year.

He holds the steering wheel but with his legs, albeit partially using his both amputated hands.

Sitting at the wheel of a brand new Toyota Echo 1300 CC, a four-wheeler and driving it at an instantaneous speed, Gautam, 21, a disabled from Ramechhap, whose both hands are amputated from elbows, defies all limitations his physical fitness had imposed upon him.

"He drives the latest Toyota car at the rate of any normal driver on earth," says the dealer of Toyota who sponsored the car-ride today at the Birendra International Convention Centre.

He uses his half elbow for a grip of the steering wheel in the next few seconds you can hear the wheels rumble and then the brand new car moves ahead at a breathtaking speed.

Unable to believe their eyes, frenzied spectators overtaken by obsession for watching a rare event, almost closed about his car as policemen had a Herculean task clearing the way forward. Yet, he drove the car without losing his patience and control.

He drove for nearly an hour, covering Singha Durbar, King’s Way, Jamal and Koteshwor, finally coming back to the starting point. By this time, thousands of spectators who thronged the premises of the convention hall were convinced that he could indeed drive like any other normal driver.

His expertise is not limited to driving alone. He does a number of household chores and performs in the classrooms with the help of his legs.

Gautam was born normal with an undying passion for flying kites and aspired to fly aeroplanes some day. But that was not to be. When he was a ninth-grader he fell into 11000-voltage live wire which left him permanently disabled. But the tragedy that struck him did not actually prevent him from doing what was so far considered impossible for all the disabled.

Bijaya Pratap Malla, Managing Director of ‘OnlyAtNepal Pvt. Ltd,’ a website that jointly organised the event alongwith the National Federation of the Disabled -Nepal, (NFDN) said the free website dedicated for the disabled has been launched. The site would link Nepal to the outside world. He added that it was aimed to present Nepal’s myriad facets beyond the national frontiers besides inspiring disabled like Gautam.

"The government will take every step to ensure that Gautam’s name will appear in the Guinness Book of World Records," Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta, Minister for Information and Communication said. He also assured that the eight-point-demand would be looked into by the government.

Another disabled Sanjaya Bantawa, the Co-ordinator of the NFDN spoke like a first-class orator. Holding the microphone in one hand he highlighted how 10 percent of the total people in Nepal have been trying to come up in life and wanted to play important role in nation building endeavours.

Gautam, a Business faculty student next wants to be a pilot. "But I need love and affection form you, which every disable wants as a moral support." His dream was one of becoming pilot even as he was a tiny tot. But as Gautam today sounds like he has a purpose in life irrespective of his disability, he may possibly become a pilot too.

Koirala denies his earlier statement

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 – Some 48 hours after inviting a fierce political storm, former Prime Minister and President of the governing Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala today denied having accused the Palace and India of sheltering the Maoists.

"I have not said such a thing now," said Koirala, adding that he was only trying to air his confusion about the Palace and India vis-à-vis the CPN (Maoist). Speaking to reporters after a programme organised by Maiti Nepal on the lawmakers’ role in curbing women trafficking, the former PM, however, reiterated his charges against India.

"The whole country is in confusion," said the septuagenarian leader, referring to Maoists insurgency. "On the one hand it is India. Why would it want to destabilise Nepal? Its northern border is secured now. It is already mired in the Kashmir problem … Why would it want another headache. However, it is providing shelter. The meeting in Siliguri took place. I wish somebody had cleared the confusion. I had spoken in this context," said Koirala.

In the Siliguri meet, country’s leftist leaders met comrade Prachanda and others from the CPN (Maoist).

He also aired his confusion about the Monarchy. "They are speaking about republic while we have Constitutional Monarchy. How will the Palace accept this?" questioned Koirala. "The Maoists have also said that they have an undeclared understanding, working unity with the Palace. The two things do not reconcile. On the other hand, army has not gone. That’s why I am confused."

When pressed to clarify his statement on the army’s "reluctance", Koirala, however, said that he would not speak on the issue further and urged the media to clear the things about the army. The political situation is confused and in a fluid state, said he.

He also said that he had full support to the government’s move of holding talks with the Maoists. "The problem should be solved through dialogue. The party is behind the Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba defended his predecessor by saying that the press had misquoted him. "Even if the leaders speak something mistakenly, the media should not rush to print it," urged the PM.

Rebels meet to be within Constitution, claim Maoists

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 – The organisers of the proposed September 21 Maoist meet in Kathmandu have said that the meeting will be held peacefully and within the framework of the present democratic Constitution.

"The meeting will be held within the framework of the present constitution," said Devendra Parajuli, Secretary of the Central Mass Gathering Organising Committee which is, as the name suggests, organising the mass meeting at Tundikhel on September 21. Parajuli is also the president of the Maoist-affiliated students’ wing. He also said that the meeting is being held at the initiation of the Ethnic and Regional Front, a group aligned with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists).

This is the first time that a Maoist-aligned leader has stressed the constitutional character of the upcoming meet. The government however is suspicious of the huge meeting, primarily for law and order reasons, and has urged the rebels not to hold the gathering as it could derail the current environment of peace talks.

Even Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba warned the rebels not to intimidate and coerce common citizens, schools, hotels, transports and other businesses as the Maoist-aligned groups are alleged to have done lately to make their meeting a success.

But Parajuli denied again that they had resorted to any extortion and threat. . "Such comments from the government about the mass gathering are based on rumours," he told The Kathmandu Post. He added that the meeting is not being held by the proper Maoist party but by affiliate organisations. "Though we could invite some Maoist leaders to address the meet," he said.

A Maoist source said the Friday’s all-party meet was organised to distort both the environment of talks and thwart the mass gathering.

Meanwhile, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a communist-turned-human rights-activist who is sympathetic to the Maoists cause, said that the government should allow the meeting to go ahead as planned. "When an anti-constitutional force comes to the front within the existing constitutional framework, why does the government wants to stop it," he asked. "The Maoists are beginning to come out into open politics and such things should always be welcomed by the government."

Estimates vary, but organising committee members say they expect more than 300,000 supporters to pour into the capital on September 21. It is the question of providing logistical support to such a huge gathering that has forced the rebel leaders to resort to extorting some support from Kathmandu-based businesses. This has in turn angered the government.

UML to suggest amendment to Land Reforms Bill

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 - The main opposition party CPN-UML is all set to suggest amendments to the much-talked about land reforms (Fifth Amendment) Bill in the next sitting of the Parliament.

According to party sources the UML is likely to suggest change in the definition of family which, as pointed out by various legal experts, is very important in order to restrict a family possessing more land than the ceiling.

According to the suggestions obtained from various experts today during the meeting of the party lawmakers at UML’s parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, the party is going to suggest that a family of five including two grown up children be considered a family and possessing of a fixed area of land might be allowed for every other added individual in the family.

It is also almost certain that the party is going to suggest the land ceiling be reduced in consonance with the Badal Commission to 4 1/2 bigha in terai, 40 and 80 ropani respectively in hilly and mountain regions, 10 ropani inside the Kathmandu Valley and 20 ropani in the district headquarters and urban oriented VDCs.

As per the Bill presented by the government in the parliament a family can posses 11 bigha of land in the terai region, 75 ropani in the hilly region and 30 ropani in the Capital.

In today’s meeting it was also decided that the UML would take its stand that the Bill be passed only in accordance with the high level Badal Commission which had presented its report during the minority government of the UML some six years ago.

According to Bharat Mohan Adhikary the points would be finalised Sunday morning and registered at the Parliament secretariat the same day.

He also added that various experts had suggested various amendments including, among others, forming a central system of keeping land records, giving all the land to the tillers, formation of land management monitoring department and protecting rights of the recorded and non-recorded mohis.

‘Maoists ordered PADT to present before jana adalat’

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 – All Nepal Trade Union (Revolutionary), the labour wing of the underground Maoist party, ordered Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), which is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Komal, to present before the rebels’ jana adalat or "People’s Court" last week, a PADT source revealed today.

His Majesty King Gyanendra is the patron of the Trust that looks after the Pashupatinath temple and its holy premises.

However, the Trust did not send anyone to Bhurungkhel, the venue fixed by the rebels to carry out what they call jana karbahi, or the "people’s action". In a letter send to the PADT last week, the rebels had also fixed a deadline of three days during which the PADT was supposed to present itself before the rebel court in Bhurungkhel on the outskirts of the capital city.

The deadline expired Friday. A group of landless squatters had filed a case against the PADT at the "people’s court" after the Appellate Court refused to hear it.

Maoist regional gathering ends without any political message

BIRATNAGAR, Sept 8 (PR) – The first regional meet of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) here, which was publicized to quite a considerable extent in the past few days, concluded without any political message today.

Though the turnout at the meet was respectable, except from some of the remote mountainous districts, the meet failed to send any political message that could have a significant impact on the ongoing government-Maoist talks. Especially because the meet was not attended by top Maoist leaders.

The Morang Administration had arranged for tight security following reports that over one hundred fifty thousand Maoist supporters would gather in Biratnagar. The gathering concluded without any untoward incident, informed official sources said.

The Maoist, while passing through the heavily secured gates into the meet, shouted anti-government slogans including "Where is the Royal Army, the Red Army is here," and "Long Live Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)."

However, according to the close source to the rebels, central and politburo members couldn’t attend the meet due to cancellation of their flights in Nepalgunj airport.

Call to improve dismal female literacy rate

By Ranjana Pradhan

KATHMANDU, Sept 8 – As the world observed literacy day Saturday, Nepali educationists and experts expressed satisfaction over what they termed significant progress in the field of increasing country’s literacy rate and called on the nation’s policy makers to chalk out fresh programmes aimed at improving the country’s dismal female literacy rate.

At a function organized by the Tulsi Meher UNESCO Club here Saturday, they highlighted the country’s literacy scenario and emphasized that the government should focus on post literacy activities. They also pointed out that the budget for the programmes are not adequate.

"Although enough money have been channelized on various literacy programmes, the programmes are not very effective and are not very much focussed," said Shiva Raj Lohani, an educationist and a member of the Club. "Such state of affairs has singled out those who need the literacy programmes the most…"

Experts speaking at the programme expressed satisfaction over significant development in the area of literacy in the last five decades time. According to the statistics shown by the Literacy News, a government publication released to mark World Literacy Day, only 2 per cent of the population were literate with very few educational institutions existing in 1951. "Now 57.6 per cent people over 6 years of age are literate among them 44.8 per cent being women, while more a 5 million students are studying in the 25,000 schools," it says.

It further says that still 28 per cent children are out of primary school, of them 36 per cent are girls. Among the illiterate population, 56 per cent are female.

However, the pace of growth still seems inadequate to meet the goals of Ninth Five Year Plan – which is running in its final year currently – says the publication. The Plan aims to make 70 per cent population literate by the end of the Plan in 2002 and 90 per cent by 2015. According to the statistics the problem of illiteracy is more severe among the adult population which hovers around 8 million.

"In particular, the growth of adult literacy, especially of female and women youth, is essential for universalizing access to primary education and improving its quality and relevance," the publication concludes. "Literacy is not only about reading and writing but is about personal dignity, the right to participate, the empowerment of the marginalised and the excluded, and the opportunity to learn in a variety of ways and settings, both formal and informal."

In order to achieve 90 per cent literacy rate, experts suggested a number of measures such as "more focussed programmes", post literacy activities, and allocation of adequate budgets and proper utilization of the same.

The members of the Club gave an overview of the activities such as literacy programmes for prisoners, adults and women at the programme, which was also addressed the Club member by member of the Tulsi Meher club, Satya Bahadur Shrestha, Director of the Informal Education Centre, Ramesh Chitrakar, Kedar Maan Shrestha among others. The programme was chaired by elderly citizen Siddhi Gopal Baidya.