Army claims 78 rebels killed in encounters

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: At least 78 Maoist rebels were gunned down by the Royal Nepal Army in various encounters within the last three days in remote parts of Kalikot, Surkhet and Tanahun districts, states a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence today.

A large number of security forces have been deployed in the Far-and Mid-Western hill districts of Achham, Dailekh, Surkhet, Jajarkot and Kalikot in order to hunt down rebels after the latter attacked Mangalsen the district headquarters of Achham and a nearby airport in Sanfebagar on February 17. The attack the bloodiest ever in entire history of the six-year-old insurgency in the country had left more than 140 soldiers and policemen dead.

The statement issued by the Ministry said that 67 rebels were killed in encounters between the RNA soldiers and the rebels at various "blocking positions" in Kalikot district. According to the statement RNA soldiers have blocked all the possible escape routes of the rebels in and around Achham. However, the Defence Ministry release did not specifically mention the areas where the rebels were gunned down.

The release said that the soldiers also seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, socket bombs, detonators, explosives and communication sets from the sites of the encounter.

Likewise security officials in Kathmandu today said that two more rebels were killed in Lekgaun area of Surkhet district on Sunday.

Meanwhile, our correspondent from Tanahun reported that four rebels, including three women, were shot dead in the Khairenitar area of Tanahun on Monday. Among the killed was a Vice-Commander of the Maoist militia. Other slain rebels have been identified as Nishchala, Bipana and Seema. The forces gunned down the rebels in a jungle situated between Khairenitar and Manpang VDC today. The forces also confiscated some arms and explosives from the area.

Our reporter from Sindhupalchowk said that soldiers have been deployed in the privately built Bhote Kosi and Indrawati III hydropower projects to provide security to the projects and its staff from any possible Maoist attacks, district authorities said here Monday.

The Tipeni-based seven MW Indrawati III hydel project is being developed by Nepali and Norwegian investors, while the Tatopani-based 36 MW Bhote Kosi project, which began its commercial production since last year, is funded by American investors.

Earlier, security of the Indrawati III project under construction was looked after by the police. It is learnt that most of the foreigners working in the Bhote Kosi power plant returned to the capital for security reasons after soldiers killed six rebels near Barhabise on Friday.

Meanwhile, a group of around 60 Maoists on Saturday night destroyed three buildings of the Danda Pakhar-based police training centre. But there were no policemen around when the rebels attacked the centre. All the policemen had left the centre for the capital on Friday.

US envoy blasts Maoists

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: United States Ambassador to Nepal, Michael E Malinowski, today equated the outlawed Maoists with other radical terrorist groups of the world such as Shining Path of Peru, Abu Sayyaf gang of the Philippines, the Khmer Rouge of Combodia and Al Qaida of Afghanistan.

Raising deep concern over the escalating Maoist violence and their constant skirmish against the establishment, Ambassador Malinowski said the Maoists, under the guise of Maoism and their so-called "People’s War", are fundamentally the same as the globally recognised terrorists.

The "furious" ambassador who arrived in the capital yesterday after visiting various sites that have of late borne the brunt of Maoists’ violence said Nepal is currently plagued with terrorism that is shaking its very foundation as a nation.

"They are radicals who seek to impose their narrow views and beliefs on others, despite the popular will of those they seek to influence or convert," Malinowski said, adding, "They use barbaric tactics, and they know no reason."

Addressing a five-day South Asia Peace Operations Seminar – Game organised in the capital, Ambassador Malinowski said the Maoists, after failing to receive the popular support of the people at the ballot box, seek to achieve their aims through the use of force, violence, extortion, intimidation and murder.

The seminar, which is organised by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and co-sponsored by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPO), is being participated by 39 participants – most of them security personnel – from 20 countries including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, China, United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada.

Other participants are from Fiji, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.

Speaking on the occasion, Malinowski did not forget to say "there is no peace". "But I do believe that there are lessons for both those of us who live in Nepal and for the international community. And I believe these lessons lead us to a vision that is applicable both in Nepal and in other newly emerging democracies around the world," he said.

Praising the anti-Maoist operations carried out by the police in the past years, Malinowski said, "I salute each and every police officer and soldier who died at the hands of Maoist terrorists. Each one is hero, and each one deserves the status of national martyr."

Addressing the seminar, Chief of the Army Staff, Prajwalla SJB Rana, said one of Nepal’s main foreign policy objectives is to bring peace, security and prosperity in the world as envisioned by the United Nations Charter. "Our peacekeeping efforts in various regions of the world has been the main instrument to enhance this adopted policy," he said.

On the occasion, Rana also informed that currently there are 132 police personnel participating in various peace support operations. He also said the RNA has contributed one infantry battalion in Sierra Leone and one Rifle Company in East Timor with some observers and staff totalling 1,006 personnel.

Another round of trade talks from tomorrow

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Nepal and India are to hold yet another round of secretarial level trade talks from February 27 in New Delhi for the renewal of the 1996 Nepal-India Trade Treaty.

A ten-member Nepali team led by secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Bhanu Prasad Acharya is leaving for the Indian capital at the invitation of Indian Secretary of Commerce Dipak Chatterji for the two-day talks.

With the expiry of the Treaty approaching nearer, both the Nepali and Indian sides are hopeful that the treaty would be renewed during the upcoming talks between the commerce secretaries of the two countries.

A high level diplomat at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu assured that the treaty would be renewed this time as the two sides are close to agreement on many of the contentious issues.

"We are optimistic that the treaty would be renewed through this round of talks as we have reached close to final agreement on some key contentious issues", said the source preferring anonymity.

Even Nepali officials said that the upcoming talks could be the final one since differences in most of the issues of contention have been narrowed down.

The Treaty was to expire on December 5, 2001 but was extended by three months at the initiative of the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee following the declaration of a state of emergency in Nepal on November 26.

The two sides have already held five rounds of secretary- and joint-secretary-level trade talks but has not managed to reach a concrete consensus on the renewal of the Treaty.

Though the two sides could not reach an agreement during the fifth round of talks held in Kathmandu recently, the differences have certainly been narrowed down.

While India proposed to clamp a 40 per cent value addition slab on material and labour content of Nepali goods exported to India, Nepal had argued for 20 percent. The two sides had softened their stance, indicating the possibility of adjustments in the value addition slab.

The source at the Indian Embassy indicated that India could go for even lower to 30 per cent on value addition, which India had originally demanded for a 50 per cent slab.

A final agreement on value addition, quantitative restrictions on items that attract the "surge clause" and certificate of origin norms is still pending, and both government and Indian Embassy officials view that the upcoming talks would be final.

Will Kali Gandaki herald an era of power export?

By Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Now that the 144-megawatts Kali Gandaki A hydroelectric plant, Nepal’s biggest hydel project, has finally been connected to the national power grid, officials here say that the country has become self-dependent on hydropower energy needs.

And there are those who say it has also opened up avenues for power export. Or better still, it has heralded an era of power export, and so on.

One of the three (48 megawatts-capacity) units of the 144-MW hydel project was connected to the country’s integrated power system – stretching from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west – Sunday afternoon. The remaining two units are expected to come on line by May this year.

Officials at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power utility, said that Nepal would be exporting power to India beginning the upcoming rainy season, when each of the three 48 units are expected begin full-fledged power generation.

"The scenario will just change, it will be the other way round from now onwards," Prachar Man Singh Pradhan, the chief of planning division at the state-owned power utility told The Kathmandu Post Monday. "Now, it is our turn. We will be exporting somewhere around 60 to 70 megawatts of power to India."

Under a power exchange arrangement between Nepal and India, the two countries could exchange power up to 50 megawatts. Then Nepal used to import 50 to 60 megawatts of electricity from India. But, with the signing of a new accord last year, the power exchange limit has gone up to 150 megawatts.

According to Uttar Kumar Shrestha, a senior official at the NEA’s finance division, the cost of a unit of electricity has been fixed at Nepali Rs 3.80 for this year.

The two countries have been exchanging power through the 66 KV and 132 KV transmission lines that interconnect the eastern, central and western parts of Nepal with India’s West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal states.

However, the two countries need to upgrade the existing transmission lines so as to facilitate more exchange of power. Civil works are already underway to upgrade the transmission lines in the Nepali side, according to Pradhan.

The NEA’s over 700,000 consumers, industries and business enterprises among them, collectively consume some 400 megawatts of electricity and the demand is not likely to go up drastically in the foreseeable future, according to officials.

What this means is that Nepal can sell its surplus power to the power-hungry Indian states, while encouraging local industries and consumers to consume more energy at a reasonable, if not cheaper, price.

The power utility is expecting a surplus of at least 100 megawatts after all the three units of Kali Gandaki A come on line in May.

Besides opening up vistas for power export to the southern neighbour, Kali Gandaki A is also expected to herald an era when power prices slowly begin to come down. Nepal’s average electricity price of Rs 7.50 per unit is among the costliest in the world.

Officials at the power utility also said that works are on to reduce the price of electricity and encourage the local consumers to consume more. "We are still working out a new seasonal price for the upcoming dry and wet season," Pradhan revealed.

What is more heartening is the news that two other hydel projects—20 MW Chilime; and 7.5 MW Indrawati—are nearing completion. While Indrawati is scheduled to come on line in March, Chilime is expected to complete by August-September.

So, does Kali Gandaki A and the other hydel projects are coming on line and changing the country’s power scenario mean that Nepal has become power-rich enough to export? Or that it has become self-dependent?

No, say experts. According to them, on the one hand, Nepal needs to develop more medium-size hydro projects to meet its own power demands; it may require about 700 megawatts by 2007. While on the other, they point out, the need to create a conducive environment for bilateral co-operation for power exchange and export with India.

Case in point: the 750-MW West Seti has not taken off, more than five years after the government granted a license to an Australian power developer. The project was to be developed solely to export power to India, but the latter has refused to sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Weathermen forecast clear sky, sunshine

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Those longing for sunny days ahead cheer up. A "westerly disturbance" over the Nepali sky triggered thundershowers around the country Sunday and Monday. But as the moist-laden clouds are fast moving eastwards, the weather will clear Thursday, paving the way for sunshine, weathermen told The Kathmandu Post.

"The weather condition started building up over the Nepali sky Sunday, and by now half of our sky has already cleared," Uttam Baidya, the Divisional Meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) said Monday. " It is fast moving eastwards and by Tuesday we are expecting it to clear completely."

The westerly disturbance resulted in most parts of the country witnessing considerably high rainfalls. Over the last 24 hours, according to data made available by the DHM, Bhairahawa witnessed 21.6 millimeters (mm) rainfall, Pokhara eight-mm and Kathmandu seven-mm, for instance.

Janjati demand for quotas grows louder

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Some years ago, in neighbouring India, riots broke out over the issue of reservations – that ultimate form of affirmative action for downtrodden communities to enable them to get into government jobs and educational institutions. While many in India hold that reservations over meritocracy is simply bad policy, millions thought it necessary if the backward castes and communities were to have a voice and means of dragging them out of poverty and oppression.

No such debate has started here yet, at least not publicly. But marginalised communities are becoming increasingly vociferous in their demand for reservations to government jobs, public education institutions and even parliament.

Leaders of indigenous communities, Janjatis as they are called here, have been demanding reservations for their communities for years, but without much success. They blame government apathy and lack of political will.

"The government has never been serious about fulfilling the demands of ethnic groups," charges Dr Chaitanya Subba, an expert on Janjati issues. "The demand for reservation in different sectors which can uplift the socio-economic status of the ethnic groups is being deliberately ignored."

Janjati leaders say, all they are asking is to set aside a certain quota of jobs in the civil service, as well as educational institutions and even the legislature. By their estimates, though Janjatis form a major portion of Nepal’s 23 million people, their representation in the civil service is a meagre 2.3 percent.

"There should be reservation for the ethnic groups in political front too. Leaders from different ethnic groups should be allowed to represent their communities in the Upper House," said Sita Ram Tamang, an activist. "To set the quota in the Upper House, the Constitution should be amended in such a way that it accommodates the interest of the ethnic groups."

The demands are not new and in fact has been raised time and again even before the restoration of democracy in 1990. But the loosening of political and cultural restrictions by the present Constitution has galvanised communities

Another activist says that political parties are not interested in raising the issue of reservation for the ethnic groups. "Political parties have not taken keen interest in uplifting the socio-economic status of the ethnic groups. If they put pressure on the government, it will be compelled to fulfill this demand," says Til Bikram Nemwang (Bairagi Kaila), a well known litterateur.

Government officials do not argue much with the demands. But formulating policies and implementing them is a different matter.

"We are really serious about setting quotas to the ethnic groups in different sectors of the country," says Hari Rimal, Joint-secretary at the Ministry for Local Development. "We have been doing everything possible to raise the living standard of the backward ethnic groups. The government has already committed to form the academy for the nationalities, which will help in uplifting the status of nationalities across the country."

Ethnic groups of the country have been demanding for the reservations in different sectors even before the restoration of democracy in 1990. It gained momentum after democracy once again was ushered in. However, they claim their demands have always been brushed aside and this demand for reservation is one of them.

NC seeks explanation from 4 party leaders

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The NC disciplinary committee asked four partymen to give written explanations for issuing a statement last Thursday, saying it was against party’s objectives and policy, according to a statement issued by the party today.

On February 21, the four – former minister Dhundiraj Shastri, former ministers of state Chhabi Kumar Devkota and Keshav Marhatta and former lawmaker Badri Narayan Basnet – had issued a statement, suggesting that the King need to be more active.

In another statement, the NC emergency monitoring committee which met under the convenorship of party General Secretary Sushil Koirala today directed its information and contact task force to continue its task of collecting information from the districts in view of the emergency extension, said another statement from the party.

The health committee of the ruling Nepali Congress on Monday appealed to all the ministers, lawmakers and Central Working Committee members to donate blood to help those injured in the Maoists attacks.

Issuing a statement today, the NC committee said the blood donation exercise would take place at the party central office at Teku from 10 a.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, the party President Girija Prasad Koirala appointed one Ram Babu Khanal as his personal assistant.

Stress on constitutional amendment

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Leaders of national political parties have stressed the need of addressing socio-economic problems of the country by making an amendment in the Constitution.

Speaking at a talk programme today, leader of the CPN (UML) KP Sharma Oli said that the root of all problems dogging the country was Maoist violence and rampant corruption.

"The amendment should be confined to ensure socio-economic reforms and ending the Maoist insurgency", Oli said, adding that his party has proposed for a Constitutional amendment to render a political outlet to these chronic problems. But he refrained from claiming that the Constitutional amendment would be able to mainstream the Maoists.

" They won’t lay down their arms, even after the amendment in the Constitution, but it paves the way for a political process that could enhance their entrance into the system".

Oli was critical of Supreme Court Justice, Laxman Prasad Aryal, who had ruled out the need for amending the Constitution and slammed the political parties for raising the issue of Constitutional amendment for their ulterior motives.

"Why does a justice want to amend the Constitution as the power exercised by the King before restoration of democracy has been exercised by the court now? asked Oli.

"Democracy in the country is now facing a severe crisis because of the judges’ making decisions are full of prejudice", Oli added.

Commenting on the ratification of a state of emergency by Parliament, Oli expressed regret and said," We decided to ratify the state of emergency despite our interest, but the Prime Minister is asleep after we ratified the emergency."

Oli also reiterated his party’s stance for Constitutional provision to form an interim government, empowering the prime ministerial position and strengthening local bodies.

Speaking at the same programme, Nara Hari Acharya of the ruling Nepali Congress said it was not a solution of the problems to form an interim government for holding next general elections. " The election held during the all party governments in the past had become more controversial than that of elections conducted by a single elected party government", Acharya said, adding that the interim government could be irresponsible and draw the country towards more trouble.

"Constitutional amendment is merely a tool to address the multi-dimensional problems and that may help bring violence to an complete end," he added.

Acharya also afraid that the Maoist movement is going out of the control. Recent activities of the Maoists show a pattern that proves the movement is running out of control", Acharya said.

Vice-chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani criticized Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka for politicizing the intelligence service of the country by appointing party cadres from his own district and said, "Intelligence failure is the main cause of bringing the country to this state".

Hridayash Tripathi of Nepal Sadbhawana Party suggested addressing the issue of national unity in the proposed amendment of the Constitution. "The country has been geographically united, but not spiritually," He said, adding, "Until and unless all the minorities in the country feel in themselves to be an integral part of the nation, these problems will continue rising".

He also claimed that the unitary form of the government could not represent the aspirations of the people of different origins.

President of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee, Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi said that the Constitution was a complete document finalised after a long debate. But he did not rule out the possibility of amendment. " It has been clearly provided in the Constitution for the process."

Chairman of Nepal Bar Association, Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, claimed that the agreements made while keeping the Maoists away might not help ending the problems dogging the country, as the Maoists have influenced the country as a whole.

Urge to register amendment proposal

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The main opposition party CPN ( UML) asked the government to register the proposal for amendment of constitution in the House within a week to bring the amendment process to an end in this session.

Speaking at the special hour in the National Assembly, whip of CPN (UML) Surendra Prasad Pande suggested the government to register the amendment proposal by the end of this month.

Pande, highlighting the urgency of the amendment proposal, said "If the constitution is not amended, the country is going to face severe crisis in near future." He also cast doubts on the commitments made by NC leaders.

Minister for Finance Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat requested UML leaders not to keep doubts over the commitments made by the Prime Minister.

" Government is ready to fulfil the commitments but there is different procedure for amending the constitution."

Speaking at zero hour, Ramchandra Bhattarai, of UML alleged the government for launching "bulldozer terrorism". He said that the government, in the name of extending highways, rampantly demolished the legal buildings recently across the country. He also demanded compensation for the victims. Akkal Bahadur Bista of the ruling Nepali Congress drew attention of the government on the Achham mayhem and its aftermath. " The dead bodies are still buried under debris ", he said.

SC issues show-cause on bribery case

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to the Judicial Council upon an appeal by a district court judge who filed a writ petition last Wednesday, challenging the council’s recommendation to the government to relieve him of his duty.

The apex court has asked the council to reply within 15 days. Even the SC itself has been named one of the respondents.

Justice Gopal Prasad Guragain of the Lalitpur District Court said in his petition that the recommendation for his removal was against the provision of the Judicial Council Act and was done under undesirable influence and pressure.

Guragain, accused of accepting bribe in a murder case, was relieved from his duty as judge on December 31 last year. The incident got widespread publicity when it came to light that a public prosecutor attempted to bribe the judge to get endorsed a government decision to withdraw the murder case by offering his Rs 195,000 through his wife.

The Judicial Council instituted a one-man inquiry committee with SC Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi as its lone member. The council recommended the removal based on the report of the Rayamajhi committee.

Govt sets up PM Relief Fund

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KATHMANDU, Feb 25 : A meeting of the Cabinet Monday has decided to form Prime Minister Relief Fund to compensate the families of the government security forces, teachers, civil servants, political party workers and general public.

According to confidential sources in the Cabinet, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba also directed his ministers to stay away from dilly-dallying and irregularities. He also warned of stringent actions against those involved in such acts. The meeting was attended by all the Cabinet ministers, ministers of state and assistant ministers.

The meeting reached the conclusion that the first three months of emergency could not be very effective and decided to make the coming three months more successful. To that end, it has decided to mobilize all the three units of security-the Royal Nepal Army, the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force- and the administrative mechanism more effectively.

The meeting has also called on all the industrialists, businessmen, civil servants, teachers, professors and other organizations to extend financial assistance to the Fund. Former chief secretary Damodar Prasad Gautam chairs the Fund. Other members in the Fund include the secretary at the Prime Minister's Office and the Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.