Powell underscored support, but also voiced US fears

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s 19-hour whirlwind visit to Nepal is being hailed as a feather in the cap of the government. In a sense it is, since officials did manage to fix the Powell visit unlike the fiasco in 2000 when they failed to convince then US President Bill Clinton to come to Nepal during his South Asian tour.

But so much has changed since then – America has witnessed September 11, India went through December 13 and Nepal too has had its November 26 when emergency rule was declared. Under these circumstances, Secretary Powell’s visit to South Asia is not that surprising, given the stakes involved.

What is also unsurprising is why he came to Nepal. Yes, on the surface, the US Secretary of State made it a point to visit Nepal to show his country’s solidarity with the fight against Maoist rebels, and also to acknowledge Nepal’s support for US action in the post-September 11 world. But, if one were to carefully pore over the words of Powell, there is more to it.

America has now learnt that failed states pose the greatest danger to its security. Thus its actions in Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban. Powell’s visit here in fact was merely a stop on the way to Japan where the US and other countries are holding talks on aid to Afghanistan so that the poor country no longer remains a failed state.

Could Secretary Powell’s visit to Nepal, then, be an indication of US concerns that Nepal too might turn into a failed state if urgent corrections are not made, and soon? Given the experience of Afghanistan, current American thinking is that, a failed state provides ripe conditions for terrorism to take root.

In the light of Maoist violence, the US has very high stakes in Nepal where it wants to strengthen democracy, said Prof. Sridhar Khatri of Tribhuvan University, talking to The Kathmandu Post. The professor, a foreign policy analyst, also added that the US would not wash its hands off a failed state now, something that it did about Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal in the 80s. "The US has learnt its lesson and its interest in a small country like Nepal would not wane as it is aware that terrorism can weaken the roots of democracy."

Indeed, Powell said exactly that here. While in Kathmandu over the weekend, he reminded Nepali officials that good government will make the Maoists seem less attractive to young Nepalis. As Powell put it, effective government policies "dry up the swamp that produces terrorism."

Terrorism , and the conditions that breed it, was therefore clearly on Powell’s mind when he visited Nepal over the weekend. In this backdrop, it was not surprising that the Secretary of State launched a scathing attack on the Maoists and denounced their violence without mincing words, much to the delight of Sher Bahadur Deuba government. Warming the hearts of the army top brass, he also promised to look into the needs of the Royal Nepal Army, now fighting a battle against the Maoist guerrillas in the far-flung districts of the Himalayan Kingdom.

But more than the military hardware, the more important thing now is to capitalise on the sole superpower’s intense attention on the region. Right during the Cold War days, Nepal has been of strategic importance to the US. Although Afghanistan is still hogging the limelight, Nepal’s strategic location and the potential for trouble here cannot be lost on the US.

Prof. Khatri said, "US strategic interests in Nepal during the Cold War and now are entirely two different things. However, the US attitude has gone a sea change after September 11 (terrorists strikes) and has now been addressing terrorism as a global issue."

5 Maoists killed, 4 soldiers hurt

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KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Five Maoists were killed in a cordon and search operation launched by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) in Baglung district in the wee hours of Sunday, our Pokhara-based reporter quoted the security officials as saying.

The rebels were shot dead at Sarangi village of Amalachaur VDC-9 when they tried to flee the army operation, the security officials told our reporter. The village is located about 12 kilometres south of here, the district headquarters.

Meanwhile, four RNA soldiers and an arrested Maoist sustained injuries when an army vehicle came under a landmine explosion planted by the Maoist rebels at the Jure area of Sindhupalchowk district on Sunday, a Defence Ministry press statement said here today. The landmine went off when the RNA personnel were returning to a base camp after carrying out a search operation in the Bahrabise area.

All the injured soldiers have been airlifted to the Birendra Military Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment while the arrested Maoist, who sustained minor injuries, is undergoing treatment at the military base camp, the Defence Ministry release added.

Soon after the incident, the security forces cordoned off the area and confiscated about 1,000 metres of electric wire, which was used for detonating the landmine. The security forces held three suspected persons in connection with the blast.

Egged on by fans, Nepal begins Cup campaign today

By Somesh Verma

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: It was one of those rare great moments in Nepali sporting history. Soon after Nepali Under-19 cricket team completed a comfortable 7-wicket victory over Malaysia to win the Youth Asia Cup 2001 on that eventful October 18 evening, spectators flooded the Tribhuvan University Cricket ground to join the team in victory celebrations.

And now, as the young players are all set to take on the might of England, starting their campaign tomorrow in the ICC Youth World Cup, they may be far away from the vociferous home crowd but the latter’s prayers are with them: "May Nepal repeat the feat of last October!"

But in the championship that features all the best players of that age group, it would be tough going for Nepal. A total of 16 teams, including all the 10 Test-playing nations, are sweating it out in the 21-day affair.

Roy Dias, Nepali team coach, before leaving for New Zealand had expressed guarded optimism over the team’s chances in the World Cup.

"It would be too much of an ask for Nepal to win the championship," said the stylish former Sri Lankan Test batsman. "However, with the team we have, I am convinced, we can give any team from our pool a run for their money."

Assistant coach for the team, Samson Jung Thapa agreed with the Coach, albeit showing much more confidence in the team. He says that given the morale of the boys, it would not be a surprise if Nepal enters the super league stage.

"Our aim is to qualify for the second stage, which is not impossible given the calibre of our boys," said Thapa. "They are upbeat about playing for Nepal in the World Cup and let’s hope that raises their performance."

Nepal, the number 11 seed for the tournament, is pooled along with the former U-19 World Cup champions England, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea in Group C. At least two wins are required for a team to advance to the Super League round, which will include the top two teams from all the four groups.

Those eight teams will be grouped in two pools and will again play matches in the round-robin format. Nepal was the only associate member of ICC to make it through to the super league in the last edition of the Youth World Cup that was held in Sri Lanka two years ago.

Nepali team captain Binod Das, the only player from that touring party to Sri Lanka, claimed Nepal has a possibility to progress to the Super League.

"We are hopeful of entering the last eight, but that would require winning against at least one of the two Test-playing nations – England and Pakistan, and that is not going to be easy."

But, for that, he says the Nepali batting, which has been regarded as wobbly by the experts, will have to come good. Although Nepali batsmen may not have got rave ratings, the bowlers, after their stint with former Sri Lankan Test bowler Rumesh Ratnayake, are considered competent.

Her Majesty opens Maiti Nepal’s rehabilitation centre

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KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah inaugurated the Child Protection and Women Rehabilitation Centre of Maiti Nepal that was built with the support of the Germany-based Sonja Kill Foundation, amidst a function here today.

Also present on the occasion were His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah and Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

After inaugurating the centre, HM Queen Komal inspected it and also graced a photo exhibition on various activities carried out by Maiti Nepal since its establishment eight years ago. On the occasion, HM Queen gave away Letter of Appreciation to founder of Sonja Kill Foundation (SKF), Dr Winfried Kill.

Addressing the inaugural function, General Secretary of Maiti Nepal, Bishwo Ram Khadka, said the new centre has five blocks – office, women’s rehabilitation home, child protection home, health centre and a school.

The rehabilitation centre has the capacity of accommodating and giving protection to 250 women, while the child protection centre can take care of 180 children. The eight-bed health centre has been set up with the aim of providing treatment and giving counselling to the women and children sheltered in Maiti Nepal, according to Khadka. Arrangements have also been made at the rehabilitation centre for providing skill-oriented training to women.

Apart from them, a school named "Teresa Academy" has been established with the capacity of accommodating 350 students. According to the organisers, the school now is running classes up to fifth grade and it aims at starting secondary level education in the near future. "The school is meant for the children staying under the protection of Maiti Nepal," said Khadka.

Most of the necessary fund (Rs 120 million) for setting up the sophisticated centre came from SKF. Other donors were Prince of Wales Charles, Spain-based Foundation Heres, and Britain’s U-Magazine.

Addressing the function, founder of SKF, Dr Kill said the foundation was established in memory of his daughter, Sonja Kill, who died in a cycle accident eight years ago. "We lost one daughter but we have got thousands of daughters in Nepal," said Dr Kill.

Showing affinity with Nepal and the trafficked Nepalese women and children, Dr Kill said, "Kathmandu has become my second home during these two years."

"We want to do justice to our responsibility towards those who are on the shady side of life," he added. "We want to set a widely visible sign: that means taking steps against the increasing trafficking, sexual abuse of children and the world-wide suppression of the elementary rights of women."

Maoists held for holding rally in capital

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KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Security forces today arrested three persons including a leader of the underground Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary), for taking out a rally in Dhobighat, Lalitpur, tonight.

According to a police source, all of them were rounded up when they were holding a torch rally at about 7:15 p.m.

Around 25 rebels took out the rally for five minutes under cover of a black-out in the city, said the source.

"The Maoist rebels wanted to show their presence in the capital by organizing this rally," said an army official.

Soon after the incident, police and Royal Nepal Army personnel have been actively mobilized, according to sources.