PM escorts King on Maoist area tour

By Kosmos Biswokarma

KATHMANDU, March 29:In what is being seen here as a key development in the nation’s fight against Maoist rebels, His Majesty King Gyanendra, along with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Royal Nepal Army chief Gen. Prajwalla Shumsher Rana, departed Friday on a whirlwind tour of four Maoist-affected districts in western and mid-western Nepal.

The chopper carrying the King and the PM took off mid-day Friday and are scheduled to come back to the capital on Sunday, a highly placed government source told The Kathmandu Post. But the official refused to divulge over the details of the programme.

However, political observers here are noting this tour for its significance – the King has never undertaken such a visit before to the Maoist areas. Doing so now, could have implications on Nepal’s present political scenario, they say.

But government officials tried to keep the visit a low-key affair, saying, "This is just a regular visit to these areas." However, those close to the Royal Palace claim that the Constitutional Monarch decided to embark on the visit as he cannot remain indifferent to the people’s problem. "If the politicians cannot visit the places and solve citizens’ problems, the King would definitely try to solve them," a source said.

The officials informed that the visit would take the King and the PM to Rolpa, Achham and Salyan districts in mid-western Nepal and Gorkha district in western Nepal. The monarch will be stationed at Nepalgunj with daily travels to the affected districts. These districts are some of the hardest hit by the Maoist insurgency, which has already claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

This is the first time that King Gyanendra and PM Deuba are visiting these districts, where the Maoists have a strong hold. They are scheduled to go to the people, besides visiting the security personnel to boost their morale in their fight against the Maoists, a source said.

The visit has a special significance as it comes at a time when the opposition political parties are boycotting the proceedings of the parliament, protesting against the remarks of the army chief who blamed politicians for the country’s woes.

House erupts over army chief’s remarks
Lawmakers demand explanation from PM

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KATHMANDU, March 29:Parliament erupted in heated allegations on Friday over the controversial remarks by Chief of Army Staff Gen. Prajwalla Shumsher Rana who on Wednesday accused politicians, government ministers and lawmakers for creating chaos in 12 years of democratic rule.

In the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers took turns to blast Gen. Rana and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba – the former for his "impropriety and indiscipline" and the latter for his silence over the general’s remarks. Ruling Nepali Congress lawmakers also joined the opposition in the Upper House to denounce both the general and the Prime Minister.

After much furore, the entire opposition boycotted the Lower House proceedings, vowing not to allow business until Deuba furnishes a reply to parliament. This is the third consecutive time that opposition lawmakers have disrupted parliamentary proceedings. The last two days when the House had sat for business, they had boycotted proceedings demanding emergency directives under Article 115 (7) of the Constitution to regulate and manage the emergency.

Gen. Prajwalla SJB Rana made the remark at a convocation ceremony of officers at Shivpuri near the capital on Wednesday. Two days after the controversial comments, it is becoming increasingly clear that the general’s views is dragging Prime Minister Deuba into a quagmire. Deuba himself was not at hand in parliament today to listen to the attacks. He and Gen. Rana were both escorting His Majesty King Gyanendra on a tour of Maoist-affected districts in the western parts of the kingdom.

In the House today, leader after leader expressed "serious concern" at the "objectionable remarks" and dubbed it "dangerous for parliamentary democracy." They vowed not to drop the matter until it was dealt with. They also questioned whether any employee of the government could air his views publicly.

Chitra Bahadur KC of National People’s Front said "we need to go beyond the mystery of the remarks" and called for a united stand to safeguard democracy.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of the main opposition, CPN-UML, condemned Gen. Rana’s "objectionable allegations which have ill motives". He also asked: "Will the remarks increase the understanding among us or will they promote misunderstanding? Will they unite or divide the Nepalis?" The opposition leader also demanded a prompt answer from Deuba.

General Secretary Nepal also debunked the general’s allegations that the party leaders and representatives were shying away from their districts and that the leaders were not supporting the army in its fight against the Maoists. "Who supported the government in extending the emergency?"

The UML leader also accused the PM of running a "dummy" government. "What is the nature of the Deuba government? If it’s a puppet government, then it should be removed forthwith by the ruling party." He referred to the governing Nepali Congress Party President Girija Prasad Koirala’s previous remarks in which he had alleged that the government was being run by the army.

Former Prime Minister and chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Surya Bahadur Thapa termed the remarks objectionable, saying it raised a question of discipline. "It is not good when servicemen air such views in public."

Badri Prasad Mandal of Nepal Sadbhawana Party said the remarks were an insult to the parliament. "Now a time has come when we are being lectured by the army and the police. This has lowered the dignity of the House," fumed Mandal.

Lilamani Pokharel of the United People’s Front said that there was a definite pattern in the COAS’s remarks, saying the army chief had aired similar views through the state-run Nepal Television and Radio Nepal. "He cannot level such charges while still serving as army chief. Let him resign and take part in politics." Echoing Nepal, Pokharel said the "dummy" PM was on a tour with the very army chief instead of being present in the House.

Meanwhile, in the National Assembly it was the ruling party members who flayed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for ignoring the parliament in the light of the army chief’s remarks.

Jagan Nath Poudel of NC said it was serious matter if the army chief, head of the most disciplined wing of the government, makes the political comments. "The comments of the army chief are aimed at creating split within the ruling party."

The comments of the army chief have drawn the Prime Minister into troublesome situation, said Poudel, adding, "Deuba is secure if he keeps the democratic forces in confidence but not by keeping the army chief in confidence." "The comments of the army chief have only indicated towards conspiracy against the democratic system," said Sukra Raj Sharma, another NC lawmaker.

ADB unveils 3-year loan plan totalling $300m

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KATHMANDU, March 29:The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed a lending programme for Nepal which consists of 13 loans totalling US$ 300 million for three years from fiscal year 2003 to 2005.

Unveiling the proposal today at a press conference here in the capital, the ADB’s resident representative Dr. Richard Vokes said the proposed loans would support agriculture and rural development, water supply and sanitation, delivery of rural financial services, empowerment of women, sub-regional roads connection, and promotion of technical and Information Communication Technology education.

"The proposed lending figures are indicative and the actual lending may fluctuate depending on a number of factors," said Dr. Vokes. "The figures represent what the ADB is ready to support."

Today’s press conference to disseminate the information on the loans was held after the conclusion of the ADB’s annual Country Programming Mission, which lasted through March 18-29. This mission consulted with the government, private sector organisations, non-governmental organisations and Nepal’s other development partners to agree upon and prioritise the proposed support over the period 2003-05.

Dr Vokes said that the consultations focused on ensuring that the proposed programmes are consistent with the government’s own development strategies and policies, as set out in the documents presented during the recent Nepal Development Forum (NDF) meet.

ADB officials also said that the three-year programme of assistance also includes a non-lending technical assistance programme consisting of 24 Technical Assistance projects totalling an average of US$ 4 million per year. The grant-funded Technical Assistance programmes will focus on capacity building of Nepal’s key institutions, sector reviews and project preparations.

The ADB has been supporting Nepal in its development endeavours. Presently, there are 19 ongoing projects and three other projects, which are yet to become effective, which are supported by the ADB.

Bank officials today said the ADB recognises the formidable political and economic difficulties faced by Nepal presently. The recent upsurge in insurgency, a sharply deteriorating economy, and a growing fiscal crisis, severely constrain efforts to address Nepal’s key challenge of poverty reduction.

"However, with persistent and widespread poverty being one of the root causes of insurgency, efforts to restore law and order need to go hand-in-hand with renewed efforts to strengthen development activities, especially at the grassroots level and in remote areas," said Dr Vokes.

Stating that Nepal’s development efforts have also been undermined by poor governance and corruption, he said that the level of future ADB support will depend upon country performance against a set of criteria in the areas of macroeconomic management, sector policy reforms, and utilisation of existing assistance as per the ADB’s Performance Based Allocation Policy.

Nevertheless, in the view of the security situation in the country and the country’s fiscal problems, which could affect the availability of counterpart funds, the ADB showed flexibility in implementing the proposed programmes.

Asked how the on-going Maoist insurgency has affected the ADB funded projects, Dr. Vokes said that no direct impact has been seen so far. However, he added some projects were facing difficulties.

Kaligandaki ‘A’ begins production

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SYANGJA, March 29:The biggest ever 144 megawatts Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydro Electric Project started commercial production from one of its turbines beginning Wednesday, officials said here today.

Sources of the Nepal Electricity Authority said that one-third of the energy produced from the power plant will be sold to India.

The power has been connected to the national grid through double circuits 132 KV transmission lines to Butwal, about 44-km south of the powerhouse located in Beltari.

"The third turbine generates around 30 MW electricity during daytime and full fledge of 48 MW for four hours during night," said engineer Tripurari Singh.

A thorough test of the entire plant was carried out a day before the first commercial production began. The other two turbines with equal capacity of 48 MW each would also begin generating power within a few days.

Construction of the country’s largest ever power plant was started in Janaury 1997 at the cost of US $ 445 million. But it was delayed by almost 18 months due to various reasons, sources said.

28 injured in blasts in capital

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KATHMANDU, March 29:At least 25 persons, including three security personnel, were injured today in the biggest assault of the Maoist rebels in the capital, when a packet of bombs, planted on a bridge beside a school exploded at Tankeshwor, Kalimati at 8.45 a.m. Three other cops were injured in a blast at Gokarna.

The injured range from six-year-old child to 63-year old passer-by, five of whom are in serious condition.

Eye-witnesses said the bomb was planted in a black plastic bag, tied with a banner that was hung on the bar at the middle of the bridge over the Bishnumati river that links Bhimsensthan and Tankeshwor. The explosion has made a one-foot wide hole in the concrete floor and also damaged a section of the railing.

"I saw a jetting out of flames and incalculably loud blast so near to me. I could not even think of running away," said 17-year old student Umesh Maharjan. He had his left foot operated at the Bir Hospital.

Police officials at the hospital, where all the civilians were treated, said that 22 were admitted in the emergency ward, most of whom returned home after treatment.

Another bomb exploded at noon at Adhikari Gaon of Gongabu, outside the city area. No one was injured in the incident, according to locals. The locals also revealed that the security forces arrested an unidentified man after searching five to six houses on Thursday night.

Similarly, three of the police officials were injured when the Maoists attacked a police station at Gokarna in Kathmandu with petrol bombs.

Human Rights Organisation of Nepal today issued an appeal not to let such tragic incident take place again. It also condemned attack on civilians.

Meanwhile, a Defence Ministry statement said that a youth named Arun Shrestha was killed when the security force fired at a group of vandals trying to attack the force at Chagal in the capital on Thursday.

12 Maoists killed in encounters

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KATHMANDU, March 29:Security forces gunned down 12 Maoists in separate incidents of encounter in five districts over the last 24 hours, the Defence Ministry said here today.

The Defence Ministry press statement said that five rebels were shot dead in Bisauna Mirul and Tutu Mirul areas of Kalikot, three in Murali Bhanjyang of Dhading, two in Falebas area of Parbat and one rebel each in Ramchu Khola of Lamjung and Chitre area of Gorkha districts.

The Ministry claimed that the rebels killed in Kalikot district are believed to have involved in attacking in Dang and Achham districts. The security forces also defused bombs in Chitre where the rebels were preparing to ambush the security forces.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Mahendranagar said that a civilian identified as Kisimlal Chaudhary, 25, a resident of Bilaspur VDC-3 in Kanchanpur district, died after a group of rebels shot at him near his house on the wee hours Friday, police said.

Chaudhary breathed his last on the way to the Mahakali Zonal Hospital for treatment. The deceased is learnt to be a CPN-UML supporter, police said.

Our reporter in Dolakha quoting local authorities said that property equivalent to Rs. 30 million was destroyed after the rebels set government’s three offices on fire in Charikot, the district headquarters, on Thursday night.

The rebels attacked a branch office of the Nepal Electricity Authority and set its building and two vehicles on fire. Likewise, the rebels also destroyed buildings of Soil Conservation Office and District Postal Office by setting them on fire.

In Nuwakot, the rebels attacked four government facilities including an empty prison house and individual homes on Thursday night. Police said that the rebels pelted crude bombs at a house of Dilli Prasad Upreti, Chairman of Kharanitar VDC, and a grinding mill of Gyankaji Shrestha, a ward member of the VDC.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh Basnet said that the security forces foiled a Maoist attack in the prison near Nuwakot Palace. The rebels had hurled four petrol bombs targeting the jail. All the prisoners had earlier been transferred to Kathmandu for security reasons.

In yet another incident, the rebels broke one of the legs of a former Maoist cadre for surrendering to the local administration. Former Maoist cadre Uddav Nepal, a resident of Jiling VDC-1, was hit by iron rods and rocks. He was rushed to Kathmandu for treatment as referred by local doctors.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Surkhet quoting security sources late night reported that fresh cross firing between security forces and the Maoist " terrorists" in Bardiya, Mugu and Dolpa has taken place Friday night but the details of the incident have not been received yet.

The Maoist " terrorists" have looted more than 200 quintals of rice and other foodgrains from Chourjahari depot of Nepal Food Corporation Thursday night while more than 500 quintals have been set on fire.

Killing endangered rhinos: Poachers under protection of politicians

By Prabhakar Ghimere

CHITWAN, March 29:Out of the total 39 endangered one horn rhinos killed in the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), this year alone, 31 were killed by poachers, blessed by the protection of political leaders, said sources in RNCP, who claim to have been keeping a strict vigilance on the activities of poachers in the Park for a long time.

Sources here confirmed that the rest of the rhinos have been killed owing to various other reasons.

The massive poaching of rhinos this year has become a particularly unique case in the history of the Park this time around, say sources down here, terming the case as an ‘appalling’one. Higher sources claim that the poachers have a well-organized network and seem to be committing the crime with chilling ease, — and successfully, under the protection of high profile politicians.

"Out of a total of two hundred poachers on our records, 90 per cent of them are supported by politicians," claimed an authorized source in the Park. The source has revealed further that the poachers seem to be going on this killing spree with a ‘free at will’ mindset that shows a tendency where politicians could be directly encouraging poachers to go ahead with the crime with a fearless boldness and daring.

"The poachers have developed such a net-work that whatever activities initiated by the Park secretly against rhino poaching reaches the ears of this network," said the source.

While poachers are getting bolder than the bold, the spirit of security teams working in the Park is declining and this is because of the bureaucracy in the Park and its covert manipulation by the vested interest of top level Politicians, confessed the source.

The source also pointed out that the frequent transferring of security personnel rendering service in the park is also a key factor leading to the failure of checking rhino poaching in the Park.

"In a bid to check rampant rhino poaching, additional security posts are soon to be installed in regions that have witnessed cases of rhino poaching the most," said Puran Bhakta Shrestha, a Chief Security Officer in the Park.

At present, a total of 900 army personnel and 300 employees in the Park have been guarding its sanctity, informed Shrestha, and if deemed necessary, security manpower will be increased, he further added.

40 culprits found indulging in animal poaching within the Park’s premises have being arrested and prosecuted while seventeen were taken into custody as suspects of rhino poaching and 43 of these criminals are serving jail terms in Bharatpur Jail, on the charges of animal poaching in the park, as informed by sources at the Park.

The statistical record of the Park shows that 54 rhinos were killed in 2000. However, most of the rhinos in 2000 were killed by causes other than poaching. Some died a timely death while some due to clashes among themselves, as stated by Park sources. A total of eighteen rhinos were recorded dead in the Park, last year.