Koirala favours talks, but no visible gesture from Maoists

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KATHMANDU, April 22 President of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala today ruled out formation of the constituent assembly but offered suitable constitutional in order to put an end to ‘senseless violence’ unleashed by the Maoists.

Addressing party law makers and central committee members in the party headquarters, Koirala said Maoists had been isolated both at the national and international level, but talks are still the best course to finding a way out. "We can create a history, " he said advocating peace course, which looked almost a reversal to his hard-line approach, when he was the Prime Minister.

Although, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba chose not to make a categorical statement in favour or against the talks, he said, ‘the forces of violence can be defeated with a united approach of democratic forces’, adding we have international support and goodwill on our side. Apart from highlighting the importance of the recently prorogued session, he said the rebels have shown their true colour and crossed all limits of political civilisation and decency. "They deserve a crushing defeat", he added.

But the physical planning and construction minister Chiranjivee Wagle was more forthright. "They have not yet come through the right channel for dialogue. They have betrayed the people as well as the government earlier by unilaterally withdrawing from the peace negotiations. We do not yet know if they are keen for talks".

"There is no reason why the parliament cannot effect required changes in the constitution.... Of course we cannot be expected to effect changes in the inalienable clauses of the constitution," Koirala said adding parliament could offer a lot to Maoists if they were serious about solution of the problems, but there could be no changes made on the ‘irreversible’ aspect of the constitution.

Simultaneously, he asked party legislators to fan out to different parts of the country, involve people in the ideological crusade against the violence and terror. Warning that unchecked violence would turn the country into a playground of international forces, he said,’ those who love Nepal, want its sovereignty vested on our people should defeat the forces of terror and destruction".

Koirala, back from his week-long visit to India said little about his talks with Indian prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other leaders had said immediately on his return had denied having had a meeting with any Maoist leaders in India. Nor did he mention in today’s meeting if he had received any definite indications from Maoists for talks. He chose not to criticise the security forces for a change. "Security forces should be in place to create a right atmosphere. In fact, they should work in tandem with the government."

US Team visits Maoist fort, promises help

By Ishwori Neupane

GORKHA, April 22 A high-level team of U S officials has made an in depth study of genesis, causes and extent of terror let loose by the Maoists in one of its strongholds.

The U S Team consisting of military officials, diplomats and technicians returned to the capital on Sunday after holding discussions with local level leaders, government officials and representatives of the non-governmental organisations.

According to the information available, the team had an insight into the level of corruption right from the top to the grassroot level of governance, and intra-party as well as inter-party conflicts among various political outfits in detriment to the growth of democratic institutions.

Gorkha had been tipped as one of the model districts for its all round development in the earliest phase of implementation of the much-ambitious Integrated Security and Development Plan (ISDP) a year ago.

"The US officials were keen to understand the root causes of the Maoist insurgency and the possible ways to resolve it," Hari Bahadur Ghale, Vice-Chairman of the District Development Committee (DDC) told The Kathmandu Post.

Quoting the US officials, Ghale said, "Foreign aids have not reached to the people. There is rampant corruption right from the top to the grassroots-levels of governance. It will be difficult to solve the problem if the culture of corruption remains?"

Earlier, a team of the US officials had also visited sites of Rolpa, another Maoist strong hold.

According to Ghale the US officials, during the visit, also tried to extract a commitment from the district-level government officials that development projects would be implemented in a time-bound and effective manner and that the foreign aids would be utilised in a a transparent way. At the same time, U S officials are also believed to have advised local people and representatives of the local bodies to counter Maoist activities politically. The study, according to what its members said, was aimed to decide in what way the U S can help Nepal in the present juncture.

Quoting Patricia Mahoney, Political and Economic Officer of US Embassy, Ghale said the US Government would grant appropriate assistance for the development of the district after assessment.

Defence Attaché at the US Embassy Colonel Cheryl A Mach, USMC Chief of the Logistic Plan Division – US Pacific Command Camp, Colonel James Harbison, Deputy Engineering Division – US Pacific Command, the Camp Smith Major Mike Wehr were among half-dozen members of the US team.

Lawyers in street to protest Maoist violence

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KATHMANDU, April 22 A day after the two-day meeting of the National Executive Council of Nepal Bar Association ended with a resolution to protest the violence and terror in the country, over 500 lawyers on Monday took to the street marching a peace rally against the atrocities.

The lawyers including former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana and the Chairman of Parliamentary Public Account Committee Subash Nemwang among other senior lawyers chanted slogans " Wish of law practitioners, Rule of Law and prevail peace", " Stop immediately the attacks against physical infrastructures and personal property" around the thoroughfares of the downtown.

"The civilian targets like development infrastructures and public utilities, which do not have any meaning even in the language of the Maoists, should not be attacked," said advocate Hari Phuyal who was participating in the rally.

According to the lawyers, they came up with the rally since the activities of the Maoists had violated people’s right to life. The lawyers also said that such activities of the Maoists are against international humanitarian laws which the Maoists themselves often advocate."

Besides, the lawyers also showed their concern about the extra-judicial killings, illegal, arrest, interrogation and detention by the security forces." We also condemn the deaths in fake encounters by the security forces," said a lawyer in the rally preferring not to be named.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Solidarity for Peace, Nepal (HRSPN), called upon the government and the outlawed Maoists to resume talks while giving up all prejudice and ego.

A press statement issued here today urged both the conflicting sides to explore the political solutions of the problems dogging the country for more than six years.

HRSPN has also called upon the Maoists to call off the "so- called Nepal bandh" and take part in political process.

UML leader to raise refugee issue in Bhutan

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KATHMANDU, April 22 Leader of the opposition and General Secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) on Monday left for Bhutan "to bolster the existing friendly ties" between the two Himalayan Kingdoms.

Speaking to the reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport prior to his departure today, the UML leader said that he was not going to Bhutan as a government representative. "I am going there as the leader of the opposition carrying the aspirations of the Nepalis and will discuss the various aspects of bilateral relations." Refugee repatriation will top the agenda, he added.

Replying to a question on the plight of the refugees, he said that he would indeed raise the long-festering Bhutanese refugee issue with the powers-that-be in the Druk government, including King Jigme Singye Wangchuk and head of the Council of Ministers Khandu Wangchuk. "Nepalis want quick repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees."

Nepal is leading a five-member delegation to the Dragon Kingdom on a three-day visit on the invitation of the Bhutanese Foreign Minister, Jigme Y Thinley. The other four members are parliamentarians Mahendra Pandey and Jagannath Khatiwada, party member Hiranya Lal Shrestha and journalist Surya Thapa. The UML leader’s wife and daughter are also going as personal invitees. The delegation is expected to return on Thursday.

Narad Bhardwaj, a member of the party’s foreign affairs department, said that Bhutan was now adopting a new strategy as far as the refugees were concerned. "Earlier they called former foreign minister Chakra Prasad Bastola and now they have invited the general secretary. What their intentions are is a matter of study."

Some refugee leaders have already flayed what they term the Druk government’s "divide and delay policy" vis-à-vis the resolution of the refugees is concerned.

‘No Saturday and Sunday off for students’
PABSON undecided over closure of schools during bandh

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KATHMANDU, April 22 Alarmed by frequent and unpredictable bandhs called by the Maoists, school authorities on Monday said educational institution, especially private and boarding schools will fling its door open on Sundays and Saturdays for extra tutorial classes hereafter to compensate the losses.

This decision from the owners of private-boarding schools came in the wake of a five-day nationwide bandh called by the Maoists rebels, which begins from Tuesday. Keeping an eye on the development, officials of Private and Boarding School Organizations, Nepal (PABSON) on Monday were reluctant to give their students Sundays and Saturdays off in order to make up for what they say "colossal losses" incurred by a frequent and unforeseen bandh announced by the Maoists rebels.

Officials say students will have to work 60-80 hour a week or more to make up losses; doing the grunt work with little time for fun and other co-curricular activities.

When contacted, sources at the Ministry of Education and Sports said it had earlier instructed all educational institutions to run as usual during the bandh. "We have told all, that schools will run as usual irrespective of threats," said Yuba Raj Pandey, Spokesperson for the Ministry.

However, the PABSON officials neither confirmed nor deny closing educational institutions during the bandh despite assurances from the government that they would be provided with adequate security.

Mindful of the past attacks on educational institutions and the recent sporadic bombings in the Capital, PABSON was undecided over opening schools until late Monday evening citing uncertainty over safety of the children.

"The unpredictable situation has left us undecided over the matter but we will compensate the losses by running classes on Sundays and Saturdays even if the bandh forces us to close our schools," said Umesh Shrestha, PABSON Vice President. "It also depends on bus entrepreneurs, if they are ready to operate their busses, we will keep the schools open," he added.

Rajesh Khadka, PABSON President and the owner of Graded English Medium School (GEMS) echoed the same concern: "It is for the transport entrepreneurs to decide. If they run their bus services, it is likely that schools will normally run."

KMTNC’s Barandavar project, a model of excellence

By Manish Gautam

KATHMANDU, April 22 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) has hailed the participatory nature conservation initiatives put in place by Nepal and selected it as a model for biodiversity conservation at the global level.

The GEF has selected the Barandavar forest corridor area project near the world famous Royal Chitwan National Park as one of the four similar projects from around the globe for excellence in the field of nature conservation.

The Landscape Scale Conservation of Endangered Tiger and Rhinoceros Project undertaken by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), envisages conservation and proper management of the Barandavar forest, as well as the grasslands and wetlands within it.

The project would also provide a corridor for the movement of endangered wildlife, mainly Royal Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinos, Project Director Narayan Prasad Dhakal says.

The specific project will be at the heart of an upcoming research project being launched by the GEF for the Asia Pacific region. The GEF has also plans to replicate the successful model of the Barandavar project in other countries around the world.

According to a senior official at KMTNC, which has been overseeing the project for the last one and half year, the world famous television channel CNN (Cable News Network), too, has lauded the project. The CNN has provided a grant of about US $ 700,000 for the project through the UN foundation.

The other unique character of the project is a participatory involvement of the royal family as well as the general people at the local level. KMTNC founded 18 years ago by an act of parliament had King Gyanendra as its Chief until about few months ago. Crown Prince Paras now heads it with the same level of promise involvement and dynamism, officials say.

Project Director Dhakal says, "We regard our initiatives that seek to involve maximum number of local people in our conservation programmes as the key to this success. Besides, the project has taken into account the political and socio-economic factors making it viable. "We are happy that the GEF Secretariat has recognised our approach and found it as an excellent model,"adds Dhakal.

A team of GEF officials will soon be visiting the project site.

The Barandavar forest spreads over an 11-kilometer stretch north of the Chitwan Park and connects it with the lush green forests of the Mahabharat mountain range including the Balmiki Tiger Reserve in India’s Bihar state. The East West highway cuts across the forest, home of at least 22 species of mammals, including rhinos and tigers.

Nearly 126,000 population coming in from 21,000 households are the beneficiaries from the project’s agro-forestry and community forestry programmes. "We have been helping the farmers to go for agro-forestry and community forestry programmes," Dhakal says.

15 rebels killed in encounters

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KATHMANDU, April 22 At least 15 armed Maoist rebels were gunned in separate encounters in various parts of the country during the last 24 hours, said reports and the press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on Monday.

Press statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said security forces shot dead four rebels in Suryapatawa area of Bardiya, three in Jilkini area of Udayapur and two others in Bhitrigram area of Rolpa districts on Sunday.

While rebels killed in Suryapatawa have been believed to be involved in ambushing the security personnel in Kothiyaghat area a few days ago, those killed in Rolpa and Udayapur districts are believed to be active members of the banned outfit. The security personnel have arrested two rebels in Sankhuwasabha district, the statement said.

According to our reporter in the far-western Terai district of Kanchanpur, the security forces killed five rebels at Khairighat area of Beldangi Village Development Committee (VDC). The team of security personnel has seized fire-arms, explosives and Maoist literature from the scene.

Likewise, a rebel, identified as Deepak Neupane of Ratanpur VDC of Syangja, was killed in an army action in Jamune VDC of Tanahun district on Monday, our Damauli-based reporter said quoting local security officials.

Elsewhere, Maoist rebels destroyed an old palace located in Dullu, Dailekh, on Sunday by setting it on fire. The palace was built about 105 years ago by erstwhile local king Jung Bahadur Shah. The 18-room palace was the ancestral property of Dipta Prakash Shah, a Royal nominee in the National Assembly. The palace is located about 15-km west of Narayan Municipality in Dailekh district.

In yet another incident, the rebels made off with about 4,000 condoms and office equipment after breaking into a clinic of Nepal Family Planning Association (NFPA) at Belapata VDC of the same district.

In a continuing series of acts of arson, the rebels on Saturday night damaged property running into more than 10 million rupees by attacking a sub-station of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Potato Firm at Mude of Jethal VDC in Sindhupalchowk district.

The rebels also carried away most of the useful equipments in a truck towards the neighbouring district of Dolakha, eyewitnesses said. The Potato Firm used to supply hybrid potato seeds and technical support to farmers in Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap and Kavre districts.

Milk Chilling Centre at Balefi of Sindhupalchowk has been closed for indefinite period after the rebels destroyed a tanker belonging to Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) on Sunday. DDC used to buy milk running into Rs.3.2 million from 3,000 farmers of the area every month. The Balefi Chilling Centre used to collect from 4,000 to 6,000 litres of milk a day.

Our reporter in Khotang said that the rebels on Sunday night completely destroyed three houses of Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarbadhan Rai in Salle VDC. Locals said house were still on till Monday.

Earlier, the rebels had looted Rs. 40,000 in cash from Rai’s parents. Local authorities said that they were considering sending police reinforcement to the VDC, which is located about 25-km away from the district headquarters of Diktel.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Rautahat said rebels set two passenger buses on fire along the Birendra Highway on Monday morning. The rebels set ablaze a bus, Na 2 Kha 3997, which was on its way to Kathmandu from Gaur at Dhamaura Chowk and another one, Na 1 Kha 4820, at Sangrampur Chowk at gunpoint. None of the passengers was hurt in both the incidents.

The rebels have also ransacked VDC offices and government establishments in various districts on the eve of the five-day nation-wide bandh beginning April 23.