Emergency party meet
NC tells govt to step up security measures

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 25: The ruling Nepali Congress today instructed the government to immediately step up necessary measures to ensure the security of people’s life and property after the unleashing of the terrorist activities by the underground CPN (Maoist) after four months of cease fire.

An emergency meeting of NC’s Central Working Committee held today at the party’s Central Office, Teku, told the government to utilize all existing constitutional and legal provisions to beef up security situation across the country.

"Considering the violence, murder, loot and other terrorist activities of the Maoists, the party’s meeting has directed the government to activate all its security-related bodies to ensure the security of the people," Arjun Narasingh KC, spokesman of NC, told journalists following today’s meeting.

The emergency meeting was held after the Maoists conducted terrorist activities in Dang, Syangja, Surkhet and several other parts of the country during the last two days.

According to KC, party President Girija Prasad Koirala, Basudev Risal, Ram Chandra Poudel, Shailaja Acharya, Govind Raj Joshi and Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar expressed their views at the meeting.

He informed that President Koirala told the meeting that the Maoists have worked against people’s will by resuming their terrorist activities.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka also presented detailed information about the recent terrorist activities in Dang, Syangja and many other districts of the country.

Talking to the press after the meeting, Koirala said that the meeting told the government to take all the necessary measures to control the terrorist activities of the Maoists to ensure people’s security.

Recalling that the party was liberal, Koirala said that the party had entrusted the government with the responsibility of settling the Maoist insurgency through talks. "But the Maoists by their activities have shown that they are terrorists," Koirala added.

Similarly, Ram Chandra Poudel said that the government has been told to use all measures to combat the terrorist activities.

The party has also strongly denounced the recent attacks on the Royal Nepalese Army, Nepal Police, government offices and financial institutions and killings of many security personnel and some general public in the terrorist attacks in Dang, Syangja, Surkhet and other areas of the country. The meeting also has wished eternal peace of the departed souls.

As per the party’s instructions, the government is preparing strategies to tackle the terrorist activities of the Maoists.

The Central Working Meeting was followed by the cabinet meeting.

Keeping in view the terrorist activities of CPN (Maoist), NC has already declared it as a group of terrorists. The Maoists have been carrying out insurgency movement in the country for the last six years in the name of ‘people’s war.’ A large number of security personnel, NC activists, general public and the Maoist activists have lost their lives in the insurgency.

The ruling party had entrusted the government with the responsibility to hold dialogue with the Maoists to address the problem in a peaceful manner. There were three rounds of talks in the last four months and the government was preparing for the fourth round when the Maoists suddenly withdrew from the cease-fire and carried out attacks on Friday night. The Maoists had backed off from the talks unilaterally in the pretext that the government was not ‘serious’ about the talks.

Despite the terrorist activities off the Maoists, both NC and the government have yet to close down the doors for talks with them.

"As a democratic party, NC has not closed its doors for the talks," said KC.

The CWC meeting of the party will also be held at party’s Central Office at Teku at 8 A. M. tomorrow.

The party also extended its heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families of NC leader and former lawmaker Rohoni Dev Bhatta and fighter of the democratic movement of 2007 B. S. Dil Man Singh Thapa and wished eternal peace to the departed souls.

Nepal-India trade treaty
'Fifth round of talks from Friday'

BY RAJKUMAR K.C

Kathmandu, Nov. 25: In a bid to give the on-going talks on Nepal–India Trade Treaty 1996 a decisive turn, commerce secretaries of Nepal and India are meeting here in the next few days.

According to a high level source at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the fifth round of trade talks will begin from Friday. The source, as per facts based the consultations of the officials from both countries, said that the coming round of talks will be crucial in determining the fate of the treaty.

Officials at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies here are burning the mid-night oil in preparing agenda for the talks. However, it is expected that Nepal's response to India's latest proposal regarding a value addition slab of 50 per cent on Nepalese export items including labour component entering the Indian market will be the main agenda of the second secretary level talks.

India had proposed a 50 per cent value addition on Nepalese export items like ghee, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide etc, during the fourth round of talks held in New Delhi, but Nepal has taken stance of up to 30 per cent. It is to be noted that Nepal and India have already held four round of talks at secretary and joint secretary level since India demanded for review of Article XII of the Nepal India Trade Treaty in August.

According to Article XII of the 1996 Trade Treaty, the treaty shall remain in force up to December 5, 2001 and shall be automatically extended for another period of five years unless either of the parties gives to the other a written notice three months in advance of its intention to terminate or review the treaty.

Nepal from the very beginning has been striving to convince its big neighbour for the automatic renewal of the treaty, but India has been constantly pressing Nepal that the treaty should be reviewed to provide safeguard to its industries.

India claims that its industries are adversely affected by the Nepalese export items like vegetable ghee, acrylic yarn, GI pipes, copper wire and zinc oxide. Hence, India wants a 50 per cent value addition slab on those items.

India claims that Nepal is taking a huge benefit out of the treaty, which provides Nepalese products unlimited, duty free access to the Indian market and it has raised the issue of surge on export.

India is a member the World Trade Organisation and it believes on free trade. On top of that, the SAARC members are ready for the SAFTA- South Asian Free Trade Arrangement. If it is so, why the Indian government is reluctant to the renewal as per the treaty.

If the business communities (CII and FNCCI) from both the countries agree upon the 30 per cent value addition, there arise no question of 50 per cent, says Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, President of the Federation of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI). Nepal should not agree on 50 per cent, he says.

Even the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has already approved the renewal of the treaty in its original form. CII – the counterpart of the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce (FNCCI) which represents private sector in India has recommended its government to give continuity to the treaty.

According to a report, none of the 'alleged' exports such as–vegetable ghee, acrylic yarn, GI pipes, zinc oxide and copper wire exceed the given limit which ranges from 0.5 to 3 per cent. Besides, the export items of Nepal also involve several manufacturing processes as well.

Nepal's export to India is very insignificant. The total export from Nepal to India does not come even with a range of 0.1 per cent of India's total import too.

However, India is constantly pressing Nepal to put five of the above items within the surge net and wants to whittle down the export of these items into India.

As per the Article V-2 of the Nepal India Trade Treaty 1996- in the event of a surge in the imports generally or in the import of any particular article, the two governments shall enter into consultation with a view to taking appropriate measures.

FNCCI president Shrestha asserts that both sides should follow the recommendation of the Joint Economic Council (JEC).

Major recommendations of The JEC

- Both Nepal and India should resort strong measures to curb unauthorised trade.

• To improve check-posts in various places.
• JEC should be given responsibility to define surge
• To implement the recommendation of technical committee
• To establish laboratory in Jogbani, Nautanawa and other main check points.
• Nepal government should avoid restriction on import of Indian cars
• To encourage Indian investment in Nepal
• The treaty should create atmosphere for industrial stability.

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Shrestha inspects sites attacked by Maoists

Syangja, Nov. 25 (RSS): Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopalman Shrestha made an on-site inspection on Saturday of the sites of the attack carried out by the underground CPN-Maoist guerrillas in Syangja.

Minister Shrestha inspected the damaged district police office, office of the public prosecutor, agriculture development office, office of the chief district officer, resident of the district chief of police, land tax office and a financial institution office and acquired information about the incident.

The Minister also met the injured police personnel and wished for their speedy recovery.

He has also extended heartfelt tributes to the police personnel killed in the incident.

The Minister was accompanied by member of parliament Shanker Prasad Pandey.

Maoists can be defeated: Deuba

Lalitpur, Nov. 25 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed the conviction that the Maoists can be defeated by exercising all the powers provided by the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

Prime Minister Deuba made this remark while inaugurating the 8th council meeting of federation of DDCs here today.

Deuba said that the unilateral decision taken by the Maoists to break up the talks at a time when the government was positively moving ahead for the fourth round of talks by maintaining restraint and a liberal attitude with the belief that all the national problems including Maoist insurgency can be tackled through dialogue is an act of betrayal.

All the democratic forces should unite against the Maoists who are pushing the country towards a grave crisis by unleashing a reign of terror and violence throughout the country, he added.

His Majesty's Government is committed to making the local bodies a powerful keeping in mind that the development and prosperity can not be achieved unless and until local bodies have been delegated sufficient powers to work in deference with the aspiration of the general people, he said.

Minister of State for Local Development Duryodhan Singh Chaudhary noted that decentralisation and local self-governance are effective means for attaining all round development of the country.

Stating that the government is firm in ensuring institutional development of the local bodies, he said the local bodies should be made powerful and resourceful for the consolidation of democracy and sustainable development.

Central member of the CPN-UML and MP Rajendra Prasad Pandey observed that as decentralisation is necessary for resolving all national problems including Maoist insurgency, the government should be serious on this matter.

He also pointed out the need to amend all the laws contradicting with the Local Self Governance Act in order to make the local bodies powerful.

Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Uday Raj Soti said the government is contemplating to categorise the district development committees on the basis of its capacity and give priority accordingly.

UNDP resident representatives Dr. Henning Karcher expressed confidence that poverty can be eradicated from Nepal by consolidating democracy through effective implementation of decentralisation and social mobilisation.

Founder president of federation of district development committees Nepal Krishna Lal Sapkota, out-going president Madhav Prasad Poudel and member of the decentralisation implementation and supervision working committee Ram Chandra Pokharel opined that local bodies should counter the Maoists who are goading the people's representatives to leave their posts.

The inaugural function was chaired by the president of the federation of district development committees Nepal.

Maoists irresponsible: Speaker

Kathmandu, Nov. 25 (RSS): Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has called on all the political parties and civic society to set aside personal interests and play a more serious role, keeping the need of the country and the wish of the people in mind, to tide over the crisis facing the country at present.

The CPN-Maoists have no sensitivity towards the people and the country, the Speaker said and accused the Maoists of being irresponsible, frequently changing their utterances and their demands.

The Speaker, addressing the 12th inaugural function of the Kaskeli Democratic Society here today, said no one could scrap the present constitution worked out by the people.

He pointed out that the problem cannot be resolved through violence and killings and urged the Maoists to come forward for talks in deference to the people's wish and for the sake of the very survival of the country.

Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Bahadur Gurung underlined the need for all to give up mutual bickerings, arrogance and self-interests and move ahead collectively at a time when political upheaval is creating a difficult situation in the country.

Former Minister of State and MP Mahadev Gurung called on the people of Kaski district to be alert about various manipulations going on at different levels to scuttle the plan for constructing an international airport in Pokhara.

MP Sukra Raj Sharma stressed the need for all democrats to join hands and rise up against any designs to destabilise democracy through incidents such as creating of terror, violence, killings and the like.

MP Deepak Bahadur Gurung underlined the need to undertake various development and construction works aimed at raising the living standard of the common man.

He stressed that elements opposed to development and democracy should be socially boycotted and eliminated.

At the programme presided over by society president Surya Bahadur Gurung, central president of the Reiyukai Nepal Shova Joshi, former president of the society Bishwa Prakash Pandit, secretary Surya Prasad Bhandari, Bishnu Budhathoki and others expressed their views on the activities and role of the society and the all-round development of Pokhara.

Quality education stressed

Biratnagar, Nov. 25 (RSS): The all Nepal national extended meeting got under way here today with the theme "quality education for women's empowerment, equal rights to women in every field for social advancement."

Two student representatives from the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) women's department in each of the zones, two each from the 55 districts having women's department and one each from districts having no such department are attending the three-day meeting, it is learnt.

Inaugurating the extended meeting, CPN-UML standing committee member Modnath Prashrit pointed out the need to impart high quality and employment-oriented education to women to get rid of the scourge of the caste system, untouchability and slavery.

Chief guest Prashrit said that it was for the women to launch a struggle to win freedom from feudalism, imperialism and male domination in the social, economic, political and cultural fields to forge their own destiny.

ANNFSU central president Rajendra Kukmar Rai said that women should launch a struggle effectively to get rid of the social discrimination and injustice meted out to them.

CPN-UML central member Pradip Gyawali MP alleged that the Maoists have unleashed violence and distanced themselves from talks because of their arrogance, adding that no movement in the world has succeeded through the violence unleashed from the barrel of the gun.

Central members of the party Guru Baral and Bheem Acharya and a host of other speakers also expressed their views at the meeting chaired by head of the ANNFSU central department Manjushri Acharya.

Explosives seized
Maoists arrested as they continue violence, arson

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 25: The Maoists continued their attacks on police posts and other places for the second night in a row. On Saturday night, the Maoists attacked several police posts, one school bus, a hydropower plant and public and private houses.

Police and customs officials seized huge cache of explosives at Sounthouli check post in Kapilvastu district this morning.

The explosives weighing nearly 200 kilogrammes contained 1410 gelatin, 3,300 detonators and 440 metres of fuse wire.

The police found the explosives kept in three 10-litre drums in an Indian registered passenger bus coming from the Indian capital city of Delhi to Butwal.

The police have arrested 31-year-old Kul Bahadur Magar and 39-year-old Amar Bahadur Magar of Palpa in this connection. According to Akhilesh Kumar Gupta, an eyewitness, two others fled and they even threatened of dire consequence while they were fleeing.

The two arrested are being taken to the office of the Superintendent of Police for necessary investigation.

Meanwhile, three suspected Maoists died on the spot in an explosion at a house in Itahari, Sunsari. The bomb was exploded this afternoon at Krishna Gopal Ghimire’s house which killed his 16-year-old son Roshan Ghimire and two of his relatives.

According to Ram Prasad Khatiwada, CDO of Sunsari district, the explosives must have been kept in Ghimire’s house and they went off while they were trying to shift them to a safer place.

A special defusing police team has been sent to the site. But, according to Home Ministry, despite cordoning off the house, the police team has not entered into the house fearing that there could be more explosives.

Likewise, the students of the Maoist affiliate students’ union attacked a school bus of the Delhi Public School, near Tarahara in Sunsari. The bus was carrying school children and five students were injured when they pelted stones at the bus. But when the bus stopped to drop the children, the Maoists forced all children to get down and set the bus ablaze.

Similarly, a group of Maoist insurgents attacked the Khopasi Hydro Electricity Project office at Panauti, Kavre and vandalised a government vehicle belonging to the office. The project office and the vehicle are badly damaged with a loss of nearly Rs. 5.2 million worth of properties.

In Ilam, Maoists attacked a police post at Bandukechour, about 13 kilometres north of the district headquarters, injuring three policemen. According to Ratna Kaji Bajracharya, CDO of the district, the Maoists had attacked the post at around 11 at night and there were exchanges of fire for several hours. There were 17 policemen on duty. The CDO said the post was completely damaged but there were no more casualties and the Maoists could not take away any weapon. He said the Maoists must also have suffered some casualties.

Similarly, there are reports of the Maoists attacking several places in Rolpa and Pyuthan districts. In Pyuthan, the Maoists attacked a house and looted thousands of kgs of paddy and corn.

CDO Harikrishna Upadhyaya of Rolpa, also said that the Maoists attacked several places in the district. They also created obstruction on the road by cutting trees and by using explosives. When the local people tried to open the road, the Maoists even attacked them. He said it would take several days to clear the road.

RSS adds: In Mahendranagar, a group of about 50 to 60 armed Maoist cadres dismantled the Betkot range post of the district forest office, Kanchanpur, at Daiji Village Development Committee (VDC) and set it on fire last night.

Property worth about Rs 500,000 including the office building, equipment and personal belongings of employees was damaged in the incident, assistant forestry officer of the district forest office Ambika Poudel said.

The Maoists are learnt to have threatened the employees before letting go of them.

Last Friday, the Maoists had set fire to the police post at local Rampur Bilasipur and vandalised MP Ramesh Lekhak's house.

They had also set fire to the Tarapur and Dhakka camps of the Royal Shuklaphanta wildlife reserve, completely destroying the camps.

Govt assured of support from political parties

Kathmandu, Nov. 25 (RSS): The government can take any step to ensure security and remedy the present deteriorating law and order situation in the country, and in this connection, it will receive cooperation and support from other political parties as well.

Leaders of various political parties expressed this view while speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters' Club here today.

They were of the view that since it is the duty of the government to guarantee peace and security to the people and maintain law and order in the country, the government need not look to the opposition parties in this connection.

The speakers, likewise, pointed out the need for all the political parties to rise above party interests to seek solutions to the existing problems of the country through a national consensus.

The government should bring out a package programme for economic and social transformation and take the other political parties into confidence, they further said.

The speakers also said that since all the political parties were against the Maoists, the government should mobilise all the security bodies under it to defeat the Maoists and at the same time it should also seek a political solution to the problem.

On the occasion, CPN-ML general secretary Bamdev Gautam accused the Maoists of taking to the path of violence in a very irresponsible way and betraying the country and the people.

He laid stress on resolution of the Maoist problem as well as other problems of the country on the basis of national consensus.

CPN-UML standing committee member Jhala Nath Khanal said that the government can mobilise the security units and bodies under it at any time and in any fashion. However, the government should not breach any law while mobilising the security bodies, he added.

As no single party can resolve the burning issues of the country, all the political parties should arrive at a national consensus and come up with a main agenda for social and economic transformation, he pointed out.

Spokesman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Kamal Thapa said that since violence gives way to violence and no political objectives could be achieved through violence, the Maoists should end their violent campaign and seek out ways of resolving problems through peaceful means.

He said instead of only taking recourse to repressive policy, the state should embark on creating an environment of greater national consensus and it should not lag behind in guaranteeing peace and security to the people.

Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) parliamentary party leader Badri Prasad Mandal said it is only a day-dream if the Maoists think that they can fulfill their objective through violence and killings at a time when world opinion is against terrorism.

It is essential that cooperation is fostered among all the politiocal parties in order to resolve the problems facing the country and the people, he said, stressing that the government and other political parties needed to be serious about this matter and move ahead with clear vision and programmes.

The programme was chaired by Club president Rishi Dhamala.