CIAA files case against RBB officials, others

By Rudra Sharma

KATHMANDU, Sept 10 - Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Monday filed seven separate cases against over two dozen of individuals and organisations claiming capital flight or default of over US $1.6million through the transactions made six years ago.

The chief accused include four senior officials of Rastriya Banijya Bank main branch office Bisal Bazaar and several parties associated to them , who the CIAA says created Letter of Credits (LC) in the name of the companies or organisations which were never existed or operated.

According to sources from Patan Appellate Court, the four senior officials are - then chief officer of the branch office Bal Krishna Adhikari, then chief joint officers Ram Bhakta Devkota , Surendra Lal Rajbhandari and Birendra Nath Lohani. Other employee of the bank associated to the cases include accountant Sudarshan Krishna Shrestha.

Other parties sued in the case are - Ananda Kumar Agrawl and Pawan Kumar Argawal of Brighter Industries, Anil Kumar Sharma proprietor of Sharma Shree Enterprises, Bal Krishna Thapa of Birat Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, Shiva Narayan Shrestha, promoter of Sky Trade Company Janakpur, Bimendra Kumar Goel of Ek Lalak Trade Concern New Road, Pralhad Ray Gupta of Battisputali, Kapil Prasad Pokhrel of Ram Feed Industries, Naikap, Mahendra Basnet Proprietor of Already Export Traders, Proprietor of Trident Nepal Ananda Agrawal among others.

The case relating to Sharma Shree Enterprises states that the Enterprises was never operated nor carried out any business transaction. But the proprietor of the Enterprises Anil Kumar Sharma, Promoter of Birat International Pvt. Ltd. Bal Krishna Thapa LC in-charge Ram Bhakta Devkota had made Letter of Credit in the name of the Enterprise through their collusive agreement.

They had opened an L C on 7/3/95 with no.30/1995 for the import of Hard Disks drives from American Component Pvt. Ltd Singapure. But they had never imported the goods promised by them.

The plaint also accuses that they had accepted unacceptable documents, forged the signature of custom officer and also the stamp of the custom office and thereby withdrawn the bank guarantee on the basis of the same documents. It was all against the directives given time and again by Nepal Rastra Bank regarding foreign exchange transaction.

The plaint also demands for the fine amount from the accused in proportion that sums at the day of the disposal of the case from the court. Sources from CIAA say that Adhikari and Devkota among the accused are at large and the police is searching for them.

Govt urged to confiscate arms from Maoists

Post Repot

KATHMANDU, Sept 10 - Bal Krishna Khand, President of Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD), youth wing of Nepali Congress (NC), has asked the government either to confiscate arms and ammunition from the hands of Maoists or to allow the public to buy weapons to face the Maoists.

He also forecasted that the peace talks, which is currently underway, will not yield any results President Khand made this remark while inaugurating the first convention of NTD, Syangja district. He also spoke against NC President Girija Prasad Koirala’s declaration of "national unity campaign". President Koirala Sunday declared a national unity campaign in Syangja.

Meanwhile, according to a press release issued here on Sunday by the Central Office of NTD, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha, speaking at the convention, said ,"Youths have a great responsibility to preserve democracy that is now under threat."

He also urged the youth wing of his party to be strong to face any threat to the multi -party democracy, the release states.

Shiva Giri, President of NTD, Syangja district, and Khagendra Raj Regmi, President of NC, Syangja also spoke on the occasion.

NC lawmaker raps govt on land reforms

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KATHMANDU, Sept 10 – A ruling party lawmaker today warned that if the government forcefully tried to get the Land Reform Bill passed in the Parliament, there could be civil war in the country.

Speaking during the Special Hour in the House of Representatives, Surendra Chaudhary of the governing Nepali Congress, accused Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of making despotic announcement on lowering the ceiling of the land in the style of late Jung Bahadur Rana. "From Mechi to Mahakali, people are gearing up armed rebellion against the white terror in despotic style," fumed Chaudhary, adding that the government must own responsibility for "the civil war".

Meanwhile, Anand Prasad Pokharel of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) drew the attention of the government towards India’s plan of deploying troops along the Nepal-India border "for their own internal security". There are reports that India plans to deploy some 70,000 para-military personnel along the border.

"While Kalapani is still under its occupation, India is massing its troops with modern weapons along the border," said Pokharel during the Zero Hour.

Navaraj Subedi of National People’s Front asked if there was any link between the deployment of troops, NC President G P Koirala accusing India of sheltering the Maoists and the reports that India has provided some 15,000 weapons to the Maoists.

Rajendra Kharel of NC accused "an invisible hand" in trying to disrupt the talks between the government and the Maoists by inciting the lower level party cadre against the leadership of the CPN (Maoist). He called for strengthening the hands of Comrade Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai by stopping the aggressive activities of the Maoist cadre. "Even though Prachanda and Bhattarai want to come to mainstream politics, an invisible power is playing the games," said Kharel.

Memorandum signed for tourism promotion

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KATHMANDU, Sept 10 - Napal Tourism Board (NTB) and state-run electronic media today signed a memorandum of understanding to form strategic partnership to promote domestic tourism, according to a press release issued by NTB Monday.

This is the third time NTB has joined hands with state-owned Radio Nepal and Nepal Television (NTV) to create tourism awareness within the nation and to identify tourist destinations, states the release.

In co-ordination with NTB, NTV and Radio Nepal will air fortnightly programme Desh Darshan, featuring new destination, tourism news, tourism trends, achievements and challenges in the field of tourism, says the release.

NTV will also produce a comprehensive Nepal documentary covering the whole country and air it in the English language as well with a view to informing foreign tourists, the release adds.

Police begin probe against Maoist students

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KATHMANDU, Sept 10 - The police on Monday began its investigation against the 14 Maoist students and activists who were arrested here Sunday.

These people were rounded up from the central office of Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (ANNISU) - Revolutionary in Bhurungkhel.

According to Kedar Man Singh Bhandari, Deputy Superintendent of Police, three people from among the 14 - Thakur Prasad Kandel, Sitaram Thapa and Thuli Maya Lama – will be charged differently as they are the ones who complained to the Jana Adalat (People’s Court) about various people.

Other 11 will be sued as per the State Offense Act or Public Offense Act. Those arrested not only included the students but some activists as well, police said.

According to Om Bikram Rana, Deputy Inspector General of Police, all the arrested students and the Maoist suspects will be charged in three categories - Donation Act, State Offense Act and Public Security Act.

"According to the documents confiscated from the office, more than 150 cases have been filed in the Jana Adalat including a case against the city’s well-known caterer BL Sharma," police said. Sitaram Thapa, who was once a Sharma’s driver, had filed the case saying that he was under-paid during the job.

But ANNISU (R) president Devendra Parajuli flatly denied that Sharma was called for the trial. "BL Sharma had come to our office with former mayor of Biratnagar to talk to some labourers, and the police raided the place," Parajuli said.

Sharma refused to comment on the incident when contacted. However, one of his family members said that Sharma himself went to the office according to the Maoists’ letter, which was handed over to him three weeks ago.

Father Charles A Law passes away

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KATHMANDU, Sept 10 – Father Charles A. Law, SJ, a long-time educator at both St. Xavier’s School and St. Xavier’s College passed away Sunday evening. He was 70.

A teacher, poet, author and social worker, Fr. Law had worked for the last 43 years in Nepal. He was born in the American city of Chicago in 1931 and came to Nepal in 1958, states a press release issued here today.

Though Fr. Law primarily worked in Kathmandu, chiefly as a teacher at St. Xavier’s school, he maintained a passionate interest in the situation of Nepal’s villages, the release says.

He was also instrumental in founding St. Xavier’s College where he served as the acting principal of the I Sc programme when the college began as an extension of the school at Jawalakhel.

Furthermore, Fr. Law had a life-long love for literature. He was an accomplished poet, and his work reflects his deep commitment to justice and his concern for the poor and the disadvantaged. The literary journal Spiny Babbler singles him out as one of the nation’s significant poets, the release says.

Fr. Law’s death was sudden and unexpected. He was hospitalized Sunday afternoon when he complained of weakness and breathing difficulty. He succumbed to what is believed to have been a massive heart attack at 9 pm that evening. His body was taken to Teku for cremation, the release concludes.

Indrawati hydel project stalled, millions of property damaged

By Rishiram Poudel

TIPENI (Sindhupalchwok), Sept 10 - Over 15 million rupees worth of property of Indrawati Hydro Electric Project has been damaged after the Chinese contractors and Nepali labourers clashed with each other over the pilfer of some explosives.

The seven megawatt project is being developed by a private company called National Hydropower Company (NHPC).

Construction works of the project have come to a complete halt since Friday when police arrested five labourers working in the tunnel section. Police took the action after the Chinese contractor accused them of stealing 11 packets of explosives to be used for digging the tunnel. The labourers accused the Chinese contractors of beating one of the accused by hanging him inside their camp for eight hours.

"We found him vomiting blood when the contractor handed over Kumar Rai from Jhapa to the police for action," said Milan Bohara, one of the labourers at the project.

At least 21 people, including 15 Chinese, have been reported injured in the violent clashes and many of them are in the hospital in Kathmandu and other local health centres.

Managing Director of China Ping Syang Company, Ma, claimed that the labourers and locals severely beat them up entering into the closed camp. Ma said that four Chinese are in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses said that the labourers and locals chased the Chinese contractors away from their camp, using iron rods and batons. Some of the Chinese were seen pleading for their lives when the labourers started beating them up, the eyewitnesses added. There are 103 Chinese workers currently involved in the project.

The Nepali labourers also ran away with cash and kind, breaking into the Chinese camp, the same eyewitness said. "Some construction equipment were also vandalised by the angry mob."

"We now feel very insecure here but cannot leave the camp," said Director Ma, adding that parts of their camp have been destroyed by the mob. Ma said that they could not continue the works unless the government provides them adequate security at the construction site.

Both the sides flayed the police personnel for being a mute spectator during the clashes. Police later fired 42 rounds of blank fire. A 27-year-old worker, Shiva Khadka from Lagarche VDC-4, sustained injuries on his leg as a stray bullet hit him. Doctors in Kathmandu said that Khadka will lose his one leg.

A meeting was held here Monday between the representatives of the three sides – NHPC, Chinese contractors and the labourers. But the meeting failed to come out with any conclusion.

Locals said that it was an accumulated anger poured against the Chinese contractors, who, locals claimed, were cruel to the labourers. The locals, whose land was acquired for the project, were also dissatisfied with the compensation provided by the company. The violent incident occurred at a time when the project was on the final stage of construction.

Army, police seize firearms from Maoists in Mahottari

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MAHOTTARI, Sept 10 - A contingent of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) on its regular patrol confiscated Monday arms and ammunition from the cadre of Maoist aligned All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (ANNISU)-Revolutionary.

The RNA seized the firearms from a truck in which the students were travelling to take part in a public meeting in Jaleshwor, the district headquarters of the district.

The army source said that four pistols, some cartridges and Maoist related literature were found from the students’ bags while carrying out security check. But none of them were arrested as nobody claimed the firearms. Addressing the mass meeting here, the leaders, however, claimed that the army confiscated their bags along with Rs. 15,000 in cash from the students.

The army source denied such allegations and added that they had found only Rs. 177 in cash from the bags. The cash amount was handed over to the students, the army said.

Addressing the function, central member of the Madhesi Liberation Front, Bharat Sah, said that the government has its hands over the incidents that took place at various villages in Bara and Parsa districts over the last three days.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Birgunj stated that police today arrested three Maoist cadre along with two British-made socket bombs and a loaded revolver. Police Inspector Shekhar Koirala said that the accused were arrested when they attempted to flee from the security personnel engaged in security check. Policemen were put on high alert in view of a mass meeting organised by the Maoists in Birgunj on Monday.

Indian barrage damages Nepalese paddy field

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BHAIRAHAWA, Sept 10 - Water trapped by the Indian Rassiyal-Khurd-Lautan barrage has flooded and destroyed at least 369 hectares of paddy field in the Nepali side of the border, according to agriculture experts.

According to Chief of Rupandehi Agriculture Development Office Makpul Ale, the water collected from three days of heavy rainfall last week is not draining fast enough due to the Indian dam inundating the villages in Marchabar area in Nepal.

The hardest hit villages include Thumuwa, Pparhawa, Rohinihawa and Karauta and at least 80 percent crop in this are has been destroyed. As many as 14 villages were hit.

"There will be no production from these area submerged by the water," said Ale who just returned from an on-site inspection of the affected area.

Even after a week, the water level continues to submerge the field and water is not draining fast enough.

In the Harighadh and Semara villages, the water has destroyed 75-90 percent of the houses making majority of the people in this area homeless.

"Those people made homeless have been forced to take shelter in the houses of the neighbours and there has been no relief provided," said Indrajit Yadav, a local resident.

Chief District Officer Tara Gautam said that each of the families are being given Rs. 500 from the District Natural Calamity Fund and 400 families have applied for the relief but only 38 families have been given the money.

"The money provided by the government is inadequate and there should be additional relief provided to these people," said Lawmaker Yagyajit Shah.

The barrage is close to the Nepal-India border that was threatening to inundate Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Pressure from the Nepal government prompted the India side to suspend construction work following massive protests from the lawmakers.

All-caste joint feast amuses dalits and ethnics

Post Report

JANAKPUR, Sept 10 - On Sunday afternoon people here rejoiced to see the drizzle and sunshine taking their turn in quick succession on the one hand while on the other, they were all the more happy to participate in an all-caste joint feast making it an unforgettable moment in their life.

People of all the four classes including Brahmins, Kshetriyas, Baishyas and Shudras and all castes happily partook of the feast translating into reality B.P.Koirala’s philosophy of socialism. People belonging to Dalit and ethnic groups were overjoyed to be able to eat in the company of other high caste people of the society sitting side by side in the same row.

The items readied for the feast included ‘dal’, rice, two kinds of vegetables, pickle, ‘taruwa’, ‘tilaudi’, ‘papad’, yoghurt and ghee, the traditional dishes of Mithilanchal. A large number of those who served the food were the Dalits, such as Musahar, Tatma and Khatwe.

The programme was organised by B. P. Chintan Pratisthan at Sitamata Pagalawala Dharmashala along with a talk programme on "Educational problems and ways and means to resolve them" with a slogan "Let us be great by deeds but not by birth ".

"We might have probably eaten with the high caste people without each other’s knowledge. But this is the first time that we have eaten together with them after receiving an invitation," Surya Khatwe said.

Stating that the feast was organised to boost the morale of the Dalits Mayor of Janakpur municipality Brishesh Chandra Lal said , "The soul of the luminary, B.P.Koirala, might have been mightily pleased in heaven to hear the news of this feast."

Among the residents of Dhanusha district, the castes which are considered to belong to the lowest rung among the Dalits are Musahar, Khatwe, Tatma, Dusadh, Chamar, Halkhor and Doom. Of them, Dooms are considered to be the lowest and inferior to all. Their economic, educational, social And political condition is very low and miserable.

Only 11,869 Dalit students are studying in Dhanusah district. The number of girl students is very low among the Dalit community. Their number declines gradually as they continue to reach higher classes.

According to Dhanusha District Education Office, only 8 percent of the total students of the district belong to Dalit community.

There is more serious rift between Dalits themselves rather than between the high caste and Dalit (which means ‘those who are not allowed to touch water’ in the local dialect) castes. According to Surya Khatwe, Dalits belonging to Musahar, Khatwe we and Tatma community do not eat together with other Dalits belonging to Dusadh, Halkhor and Doom communities.

Inter-caste marriage is not possible between these two groups.

People with conservative attitude were not present at the feast although many of them had received the invitation while many others, who had attended the talk programme, went home without taking part in the feast as they were reluctant to eat sitting side by side with the Dalits.

One of the speakers, Engineer Shyam Kishor Singh, said strategies for the development of the Dalits should be formulated only after an elaborate study of their strengths and weakness .