Nepal likely to be re-elected party general secretary

By Ghanashyam Ojha & Gopal Khanal 

JANAKPUR, Feb 4 : Leader of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, is likely to be re-elected party general secretary for a fresh five-year term.

This became obvious as KP Sharma Oli, the only other person contending for the post, conceded that he was in minority in the party congress. Oli withdrew his amendment paper, suggesting for re-introduction of the presidential system in the party, apparently after he became certain about his defeat. He said he was withdrawing the suggestions in the interest of greater unity of the party.

But observers feel it was a test case for Oli’s ambition to the top post. Formal election to the general secretary and the central working committee will be held tomorrow.

During today’s close-session of the party congress, the party unanimously endorsed the party statute amendment paper presented by Amrit Kumar Bohara, a close ally of Nepal. The paper presented by Bohara states that the party should go for general secretarial system.

Earlier, KP Sharma Oli, a powerful leader in UML, withdrew his dissent party statute amendment paper. Oli, talking to journalists, said he decided to withdraw his dissent paper just for a unity in the party. "I withdrew my dissent paper without any condition," Oli said. "I am ready to sacrifice anything for the betterment of the party."

Highlighting that the party was still suffering from traditional ideology, Oli told the party delegates that he could not be successful to break the mindset. "I take it as my weakness that I failed in breaking the traditional mindset of the party cadres."

Oli also told the delegates that he was ready to back-track nine steps for the party unity. "I ask whether general secretary Nepal is ready to do so for the party," Oli asked Nepal, in front of the huge mass of the party cadres and the delegates.

Oli said he would again present his dissent party statute amendment paper in the next general convention.

CPN-UML has already decided to be open for any possible alternatives including constituent assembly to give an easy way out to the impending crisis dogging the nation.

Another party leader Pradip Nepal said the party decided to empower the National Council. Highlighting the divided opinions pouring in from the party delegates, he said that the party would preserve the dissent proposal of Oli as the party’s asset.

He also made it clear that the middle line of the party was prominent in this congress. Nepal also had been maintaining the middle line in the party.

While agreeing upon the need to empower the National Council, the convention also decided that the central committee would be taking up the suggestions given by the council.

Ishwor Pokharel, an influential leader in the party, said the central committee would include the recommendations given by the council in its annual plans.

Pun holds informal talks with Maoist team

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4:Minister for Physical Planning and Works and designated co-ordinator from the government side to hold peace talks with the Maoists, Narayan Singh Pun, held talks with his Maoist counterpart Dr Baburam Bhattarai, as part of the confidence-building measure, high-level sources said.

According to available indications, the talks centred around formulation of code of conduct for the two sides when they sit for negotiations.

Later today, Minister Pun apprised a five-member government team headed by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand about the details of his meeting with Dr Bhattarai.

All the Maoist negotiators are supposed to be present during Bhattarai’s meeting with Pun. He, however, declined to divulge the details. "We are working cautiously by learning from the past experience," said Pun.

A cabinet source, who is one of the government team, said, "The pre-negotiation talks include the code of conduct, modality of the talks and other schedules."

All the Maoist negotiators are believed to have attended the talks that took place in an undisclosed location nearby the capital.

NSP faces imminent split, ultimatum to Dy PM to resign

By Damaru Lal Bhandari

KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : The Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP), which is part of the present government, faces imminent split, as party Vice President Bharat Kumar Bimal issued a three-day ultimatum to Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal to quit the ministry or face expulsion, with equally clear indication from Mandal that he is not going to quit the ministry. Split is likely to be materialised soon after the deadline expires.

Two factions in the party, led by Bimal and Dy PM Mandal, have initiated proceedings against each other in expelling the opponents.

The development has been attributed to the dubious role played by Mandal, something "which has affected the image of the party among the concerned people."

"We have decided to punish Mandal for his dubious role. NSP will never be the same since we have taken up the challenge to get rid of authoritarian tendencies," Bimal told The Kathmandu Post, adding that the party has "expressed regret at what Mandal has done in the past."

The meeting of the party’s central committee, which took such a tough decision was attended by 18 members, all of whom have expressed disenchantment at the way Mandal had been "fooling around" with the party by reshuffling the central committee to meet personal aspiration.

Since the camp led by Bimal has revoked the November 24 decision which dropped Hridayesh Tripathi from the post of the party’s general secretary, the latest round is being taken as a setback to Mandal. Tripathi, a strident critic of both Mandal and Chand cabinet, was not only removed from the general secretary but from the central committee as well. He was however taken back as a central member in a subsequent reshuffle.

However, in a deft move, the camp led by Mandal too has announced that the party president has reshuffled the party’s central committee today. In fact, the move comes hot in the heels of the announcement that the party has revoked the past decisions and withdrawn support to the government.

While Rajendra Mahato has been dropped as the general secretary, another general secretary Devendra Mishra has been retained. The new faces who have been inducted into the

SC orders release of six detainees

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : The Supreme Court has issued orders for the release of six detainees arrested under the Terrorist and Destructive Activities (Control and Punishment) Act.

The Court has ordered for the immediate release of students, Khem Darai and Nirmala Dhamala, and journalists of Janadesh weekly, Moti Prasad Rijal, Udav Acharya, Sagar Bhattarai and Kumar Shah. They were arrested under TADA at separate times during last year.

Separate benches of Justices Krishna Kumar Verma and Ram Nagina Singh, Justices Gopal Prasad Khatri and Sushila Singh Shilu, Justices Harish Prasad Upadhyaya and Kedar Prasad Giri ordered the release of Dalai, Shah and Rijal, Dhamala, and, Acharya and Bhattarai respectively.

Chand Govt concealed facts from people: Parties

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : The Lokendra Bahadur Chand government today came in for sharp criticism from three major political parties including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party for its failure to inform the public about the initiatives to bring Maoists to the negotiating table.

The sharpest criticism came from Kamal Thapa, an RPP leader who said, "As the government failed to inform the public about the process on time and cabinet members made vague interpretation of the cease-fire process, there have been several negative comments on this move."

He urged the government to take immediate initiatives to seek consent of the political parties before the talks are held. He also called on all political parties committed to the present constitution to initiate a dialogue among themselves to forge a common platform before the peace talks.

Thapa also cautioned the government against repeating mistakes it made during last peace talks with the rebels in 2001. "Honesty, adequate homework, clear agenda and code of conducts are essential to bring the talks to a positive conclusion".

Commenting on recent developments within the NC and CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist) which have been carrying out heated discussion on the issue of loudly discussing the constituent assembly put forth by the Maoists, Thapa said the two parties discussions on the subject was "hasty."

As for RPP’s position on the constituent assembly option, Thapa said his party would refrain from making any comments until the Maoists justified why it is necessary. "Until the Maoists come up with clear justification of constituent assembly election, our party feels it is too early to comment," he said.

Other leaders chastising the government were Narahari Acharya of Nepali Congress (NC), CP Mainali of CPN (Marxist-Leninist).

NC Central Working Committee member and a vocal proponent of constituent assembly elections Narhari Acharya said the NC preferred the present constitution, but if necessary it was ready to go for elections to a constituent assembly. However, if such a situation arose, the NC would demand constituent assembly elections without any pre-conditions attached.

"Nepali Congress still wants reinstatement of the 1990 constitution disturbed after October 4," Acharya said. "But if the King and the Maoists have already agreed to hold elections for constituent assembly we want no pre-conditions."

Acharya’s comment is a snide reference to several statements coming from various ministers that the government is willing to discuss even constituent assembly elections with the Maoists if unalterable provisions of the present constitution - parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy - remain unchanged.

Acharya argued that constituent assembly elections, by their nature, give full authority to the voters and the elected assembly to define the state structure and shape of institutions for the future.

Cease-fire announcements have raised hope for 11m children: UNICEF chief

By Perina Pathak & Manish Gautam

KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : Executive Director of UN’s children’s fund (UNICEF) Carol Bellamy today welcomed the cease-fire declared by the Maoist rebels and the government and hoped that the truce would pave way for a peaceful resolution of the seven-year-old conflict.

"Though the cease-fire has been announced it should be swiftly followed by a peaceful resolution," Bellamy told newsmen at a press conference held on the sidelines of a South Asian Regional Conference on HIV/AIDS. "This is the first step in restoring peace."

Bellamy also urged all the political parties to keep Nepal’s children at the forefront of their consideration at the negotiating table. "The cease-fire and the promise of all-party talks have provided a ray of hope for Nepal’s 11 million children, who have been increasingly affected by violence and fear."

Earlier in the day, she had an audience with His Majesty King Gyanendra at the Narayanhity Royal Palace. During her half an hour meeting with HM, Bellamy discussed about the social and health issues and also about the children in conflict.

Later, she met with Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and held discussions about the political and social situation of Nepal.

Bellamy expressed her dissatisfactions over the trends of politicising the educational institution. "Schools are the ‘zone of peace’ and should be kept away from the touch of political activities. Let no children come to a school bearing arms," she said.

But ironically, the student wing of the CPN-Maoist, All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary) has announced indefinite national-wide strike in educational institutions beginning Feb 13.

Speaking about her private meeting with the children affected with conflict, Bellamy said that the conflict has directly affected the children. "Thousands of children have been killed or orphaned or injured and traumatised, so there is a urgent need to stop the conflict," she said.

Truce evokes mixed feelings in Bhattarai’s village

By Ishwori Neupane

GORKHA, Feb 4 : While relatives of Dr Baburam Bhattarai, co-ordinator of the Maoist negotiation team, are eager to meet him soon, the people displaced from his own area are still scared of returning to their homes despite the declaration of truce between the government and the rebels.

Dr Bhattarai’s uncle, Hari Prasad Bhattarai, who is also an astrologer, said the planetary positions are not good though people want peace. "I still doubt whether talks will conclude successfully. But I am confident that the situation will not remain as it used to be in the past," Hari Prasad said.

Ninety-five-year old Hari Prasad hopes that peace will be achieved this time and his hope is not based on any political analysis or an assurance given by Dr Bhattarai, but simply on his recent dream. "A dream I saw a week before the cease-fire hinted that something good may happen in the country."

Recollecting his last dream he said, "He (Baburam) greeted me with a smile and the cease-fire was announced within a week. I am very much happy. It is nice to meet a long-lost nephew."

Parents of Dr Bhattarai shuttle between Kathmandu and Pokhara where the brother and sister of the Maoist ideologue live.

However, he was sad over the death of so many people because of his (Baburam’s) ideology. Added the septuagenarian, who initiated Baburam into the world of learning. "If he comes to see me anytime, I will bless him to bring lasting peace."

Architect Bhattarai’s ancestral home lies at Belbas Village of Khoplang Village Development Committee, located at about a two-hour walking distance from here, the ancestral home of the Shah dynasty, who founded modern Nepal. These days, his relatives are taking care of his home and property.

Although Bhattarai’s relatives seem to be eager to meet him, others from the same area, who fled fearing Maoist atrocities, are still scared of returning home, even a week after the cease-fire.

"I am still reluctant to go back to my home because they deceived us during the previous cease-fire," said Bam Bahadur Thapa, resource person at District Education Office, whose home is located just 15 minutes away from Bhattarai’s village. He said that people were very much enthusiastic when a cease-fire was declared one-and-half-years ago. But it did not last long. "That is why we are not so optimistic this time too."

Padam Bhattarai, another resource person at the office, who hails from a village located about half-an-hour walking distance from the Maoist chief negotiator’s home, said that the rebels have not withdrawn threats of ‘physical action’ against them, despite the truce. Basudev Acharya, erstwhile chairman of Khoplang VDC, said that cadres of other political parties were sceptical over the outcome of the truce.

Acharya has been taking refuge in the district headquarters since the brutal murder of VDC chairman, Bhairab Raj Bista. Almost all the displaced people said it would be difficult for them to return home unless the government makes the talk process transparent. He said that about a dozen people have been displaced from the VDC of the Maoist ideologue, owing to threats from his cadres.

According to Hari Bahadur Ghale, joint-secretary of Nepali Congress of Gorkha, the rebels have killed 27 civilians and forced more than 1,000 of its cadres out of their homes over the last seven years. Among those killed by the rebels were six teachers, Ghale said. Similarly, 46 policemen and two soldiers of the Royal Nepal Army belonging to the district have also lost their lives during the period.

Security officials believe that there are around 1,000 armed-militias, 100 pre-militants and more than 240 cadres active in the district.

Fear still stalks life in western Nepal

By Damakant Jayshi

JUMLA, Feb 4 : Even a week after the cease-fire was announced by the Maoists and government, life in Jumla, the district where the Maoists launched their last major attack on November 14 last year, is still stalked with fear that is all too palpable.

The Jumla attack coming more than a month after the royal take-over on October 4, saw more than 150 people killed, about a two-thirds of which were rebels according to unconfirmed estimates.

Ironically, the fear is more from the security forces than from the rebels, now that truce is in force. With curfew imposed from 6.30 p.m. to 6 a.m., the district headquarters still have to see any reconstruction despite reports of Rs 10 million being sanctioned as first instalment.

Locals remind you to hurry to your lodge before 6 p.m., saying that the security personnel, both the army and police, might thrash you. The lodge-owner compels us to have our meals and go to bed before the curfew time. No delay, he pleads with folded hands.

"We are more terrified of the security forces than the Maoists now who terrorised us before the cease-fire," says a local, who runs a small restaurant in the headquarters. "Life, for us, is still same: living under the spectre of fear all the time."

Purna Prasad Chaulagain, ex-Rastriya Banijya Bank employee from Lamda VDC, is upbeat but also fearful of being forced to attend meetings by the rebels, just like during the last cease-fire. "We are really fearful of that prospect."

Although, everyone, from police officials to a widow who saw her house being burnt by the marauding Maoists, is very hopeful of the days ahead, the scar of the attack and the events before that around the country, haven’t been able to give them much confidence in the peace process that is definitely getting some impetus with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) announcing their team for the dialogue. And they are not sure whether the peace talks will succeed this time.

"We are hopeful but we still haven’t forgotten what happened during the last peace negotiations and after," says Giri Raj Gautam, Registrar of the Appellate Court, whose building was smashed to pile of rubble and hanging tin sheets. "The last rounds of talks failed miserably."

Rupa Chhetri, a 60-year old widow, has still not been able to come to terms with the losses she suffered when the Maoists burnt three-fourths of her house to ashes on the that long dreadful November night.

She recollected her nightmarish incident to The Kathmandu Post. "My house was burnt because it had a signboard of JAPEC, an NGO that helped the locals by supplying them with agricultural products. In fact, almost all the houses and buildings any type of signboard on it, be it in Nepali or English, was either burnt after sprinkling kerosene or bombed with no discrimination at all.

The widow lost Rs 9,000 in cash, and a large quantity of grains and good number of clothes and blankets. "When I asked the Maoists why they did that to my house which I can’t rebuild, they simply replied that they would build in two days after they come to power."

One of the displaced persons who was beaten up severely by the Maoists grudgingly welcomes the peace initiative. "It won’t wipe out our sufferings and losses and certainly will not bring back the dead to life," says Durga Prasad Pandey of Hanku-5, now staying with his family in a one-room rented room in the headquarters. His house was looted and ransacked by the Maoists about a year ago. "I just hope I can go back to my village," says Pandey, who hasn’t been paid a dime by the government as compensation.

DNC submits list of concerns ahead of donors’ meet

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : The royal government of Bhutan must stop playing the sentiments of the Bhutanese refugees by misguiding the members of the Bhutanese National Assembly to make anti-repatriation statements, the Druk National Congress (DNC) said today.

"…while the king on the other hand dramatises showing soft corner for refugees and willingness to accept repatriation process," the Bhutanese political party has said in a press statement issued here today. "On the other hand it makes attempt to misguide NA members".

The statement undersigned by DNC president Thinley Penjore lists five-point concerns of DNC that was submitted to the chief of the eighth round table of the donor agencies for Bhutan. The meet is scheduled to be held on February 18.

The party has also demanded that the ongoing resettlement programme in the refugee-vacated lands be nullified in the interest of the long-term peace and stability.

"Arrangements to evacuate settlers from the occupied lands must be initiated by rehabilitating them in the government vacant lands," the statement said.

The DNC has also emphasised that the forthcoming bilateral talks must prove its sincerity by not lingering in different types of categories of Bhutanese refugees. "Further verification of camps should be restricted to two categories only, Bhutanese and non-Bhutanese".

The party, meanwhile, has welcomed the king’s process of democratisation as "an achievement of a political milestone towards change in Bhutan, ensuring more than a decade long demand made by the people."

But it has shown concern that the 51-page draft constitution has not been made public as yet. "And the DNC is doubtful about its contents," it said. "The king must grant general amnesty to all the dissident groups in exile and release all the political prisoners unconditionally."

Most important, it has emphasized that the donor agencies must ensure that the government of Bhutan gives due consideration to the people’s concern in the long-term interest of peace and stability.

‘Dalits, target of both sides of conflict’

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : A recent study conducted by the National Dalit Commission (NDC) of His Majesty’ Government revealed that Maoists had killed 32 people in Bardiya District, including seven soldiers and five policemen. This was disclosed at a conference held here today.

The study, focusing on Dalits of the district, disclosed that the community, which comprises one-fourth of the population, has been the most affected in the domestic conflict. The NDC study suggests that the victimisation was primarily due to their caste status.

Thirteen year-old, Kumari Damai of Kailali District, Masuriya Village Development Committee, had been arrested on charges of being a terrorist, by the security forces on September 24, 2002. Her parents and villagers, till date, have no idea of her whereabouts, nor do they know whether she is dead or alive.

Many other examples have been mentioned in the report of the NDC, from the four districts of Bardiya, Dang, Kailali and Jumla.

Speaking at the conference and giving examples of atrocities committed on the Dalits, Min Biswokarma, member of the NDC said, "Dalits have been the target group of both sides in the domestic conflict".

Gopal Biswokarma of Guleriya and Humadevi Biswokarma of Patabhar were killed by Maoists, on the allegation that they had been spying for the security forces in Bardiya District.

However, a more startling aspect of the study is the allegation of the number of people killed by the security forces in the region. According to figures presented by the NDC, it is reported that more than 200 innocent people were killed in Rajapur of Bardiya district alone in security operations. Among the victims were 11 women and 196 men.

The report from Dang district is still more alarming, reveals the NDC report. Six people were killed without warning, while they were celebrating ‘dahar khane din’, a day before ‘Haritalika Teej’, by the security forces.

Three people were shot dead in the open ground where they were partying, while another three were rounded up and shot after they were taken into the house of Dharma Bahadur Nepali. There has been no explanation behind the shooting from any quarter.

The victims were Dharma Bahadur Nepali (25), Top Bahadur Nepali (28), Ram Kumar Nepali (29), Top Bahadur Biswokarma (27), Manoj Nepali (22), and Chudamani Shrestha (55).

As per the NDC report, eyewitnesses have been recorded as saying that the villagers were made to dump the dead bodies inside a mass grave nearby, which the security forces made them dig.

Yet another case involves twelve innocent villagers killed in the same district. A security force unit arrested 13 men, on suspicion of being Maoists, when actually the 13 had been sent by the ward chairman to cut wood to serve as electric poles. The security force unit is said to have shot the group at point blank range. However, of the 13 persons, one Chabilal Biswokarma managed to survive and escape from the security force unit. The lone witness has said that the twelve men were lined up near the helipad and were shot execution style.

Friends and relatives of victims have complained that their sons and friends could not even utter a single word, in a country where even convicts are pardoned once they surrender.

Similarly Bhim Bahadur Kaami and Shivakali Kaami, of Jumla District were killed inside their house, by bullets shot from a security force barrack located nearby. During the same situation, Makar Kaami and Nanda Lal Kaami, sons of the deceased, along with their neighbour Nirmala Sarki were critically injured.

Sukbir Sarki of the same district was shot dead by security personnel on suspicion of being a Maoist and his body is yet to be found.

‘Cease-fire should be formalised’

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KATHMANDU, Feb 4 : Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON) today demanded that both the government and the Maoist should publicise the contents of the consensus arrived in connection with the cease-fire.

In a statement issued during a press conference, HURON has demanded the formalisation of the cease-fire by both the government and the Maoists by issuing a joint statement. "This has been suggested with a view to rule out the eventuality of either side pulling back from the talks," human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar said during the press conference.

Apart from demanding that the jurisdiction of the mediators and facilitators should be clearly marked out, the organisation has also demanded formulating code of conduct governing the cease-fire and institution of monitoring unit after due consultation between the government and the rebel outfit.

It has also demanded that the talk process should involve political parties and members of the civic society, including those from the downtrodden section of the society. Moreover the organisation has also stressed the need to abide by the basic tenets of the human rights.