HMG furnishes details of activities Maoists carried out since Aug. 30

Kathmandu, Sept.13 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government has furnished information about the activities carried out by the CPN (Maoist) since the first round of talks held between them and His Majesty’s Government on Aug 30.

According to information received from the government, on Aug. 30, Maoist negotiator Agni Sapkota took part in a mass meeting in Janakpur and trucks at Dhalkebar were vandalized, truck drivers in Siraha district were forced to carry people to the mass meeting in Janakpur and Man Bahadur Limbu of Prithvi Nagar VDC-9 and Hari Bhujel of Rajgadh-5 in Jhapa district were kidnapped.

Also on Aug 30, a people’s government was formed at Barangi VDC-5 in Morang district, a programme was fixed for enrolment in the people’s militia at Duradanda VDC in Lamjung district, a district people’s government was formed in Gulmi district, the ANNISU-(R) held a district convention in Rukum district and a mass meeting was organised at Bagiyama in Nepalgunj in which chief Maoist negotiator Krishna Mahara participated.

On Aug 31, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Ishwori Dahal and others were present at a press meet in Nepalgunj, Banke, a corner meeting was organised at Kufleki VDC in Doti and a mass meeting at Manma, Kalikot, businessman Poorna Maheshwori of Urlabari in Morang was mistreated, a mass meeting was held at Bindhavashini VDC in Parsa, Mohan Lal Raut of Manpur VDC in Dang was kidnapped and the ANNISU- (R) held its district conference at Amrit Science Campus.

Similarly, on Sept 1, Mass meetings were organised at Topagachhi of Jhapa, Phidim of Panchthar, Bange Bazaar of Sunsari and the district headquarters of Dadeldhura and Darchula, a chakka jam was organised at Jhumka of Sunsari, a conference was held at Boketar of Rasuwa, Bishwo Narayan Jha and his son were mistreated at Hajariya of Sarlahi, the people’s committee of ANNFSU-(R) was formed in Khotang and the property of Kami Teshering Sherpa was looted at Kakani VDC-3 of Nuwakot.

On Sept 2, liquor was destroyed from the shops, a TV and a deck were looted from an individual and the local people beat up three Maoist workers at Mahendra VDC in Sunsari, donation was collected through intimidation at Gajuri VDC-2 and the police recovered Khukuris and receipt pads.

Likewise, on Sept 4, teacher of Saraswati Lower Secondary School Mahananda Bhattarai was beaten up and injured, a single-barrel gun was looted from the house of the Jhappadtal VDC chairman in Morang district, and donations were collected forcibly in Bardiya district.

Likewise, on Sept. 5, Maoist guerrillas beat health worker Bilat Chaudhary who was on duty in Nagi VDC of Panchthar district, they burnt and destroyed 100 tins of raisin in Triveni VDC of Salyan district, Maoist workers burnt important documents and goods belonging to Latinath Marma of Darchula district and declared an ilaka level people’s government in Tandrang-6 of Gorkha district.

On Sept. 6, sister organisations of the Maoist party organised a mass meeting at the district headquarters of Ilam district, organised a mass meeting in Kharang VDC and declared a village people’s government in Chainpur village of Sankhuwasabha district. The ANNFSU-Revolutionary organised a mass meeting at Tokme Danda of Taplejung district.

Similarly, on the same day, the ANNFSU-Revolutionary organised a mass meeting at Sanoshree VDC of Bardia district, three persons including Sher Bahadur Ghale of Bharapa-6 in Panchthar district were beaten up and injured and a village people’s government constituted in Purundhara VDC of Dang district.

On Sept. 7, the ANNFSU-Revolutionary, sister organisation of the CPN-Maoist, organised a mass meeting at Butwal of Rupandehi district and at Baglung. The student organisation’s district working committee was inaugurated in Rukum district and a mass meeting organised at the district headquarters of Mugu district.

The same day, the ANNFSU-Revolutionary organised a mass meeting at the district headquarters of Baitadi district, Sambhu Kumar Khan Tharu of Jhurighat in Morang district was abducted and an active Maoist worker Urmila Dhungana was beaten by locals while she was collecting donations in Rangpur Tandi Bazaar of Parsa district.

Similarly, one police sergeant was injured when terrorist in a red police van fired three rounds at Kalimati of Kathmandu, a gathering of central Maoist leaders and guerrillas was organised at Thawang VDC of Rolpa district and a cultural programme organised in Lalbeni VDC of Kailali district.

Likewise, on Sept. 8, Maoists organised a meeting at Kareli VDC of Rolpa district which was attended by Maoist leaders. Police constable Dipendra Bahadur Chand was abducted from Patan of Baitadi district and the ANNFSU-Revolutionary organised a mass meeting at Binayak of Achham district.

On the same day, District Judge of Myagdi Damodar Prasad Adhikari was threatened on the phone and told to collect money on behalf of all employees at the district court. In Gorkha district, a condolence meeting was organised at Aanppipal Bhanjyang of Aanppipal VDC and three persons going to take part in the meeting was taken into police custody after police confiscated a socket bomb from them. This led a group of agitated Maoist supporters to try to attack the security personnel as a result of which the Royal Nepal Army fired into the air to thwart them.

A regional people’s gathering was organised in Biratnagar of Morang district. CPN-Maoist affiliated sister organisations organised a mass meeting at Sandhikharka of Arghakhanchi district. A mass meeting was organised in Silgadhi municipality of Doti district and a cultural programme at the district headquarters of Dhading district.

Likewise, the same day, a training programme was organised at Shital Higher Secondary School, Chajahari in Biswaswari VDC of Rukum district under the chairmanship of the chief of the village people’s government and a people’s gathering was organised at the district headquarters of Arghakhanchi district.

Member of the "village people’s government" of Haldi Kalika VDC-1 in Nuwakot district Tek Raj Giri raped a thirteen years old girl of the same VDC on Sept. 9, while armed guerrillas raided Mahendra Vidyabodh Higher Secondary School at Kerung VDC in Arghakhanchi district and demanded Rs. 200,000 from teachers the same day.

Also on Sept. 9, the Maoists organised a mass gathering at Kalikot district headquarters, and a cultural programme at Sejwan Takura VDC in Salyan district. The rebels abducted Shyam Nath Teli of Gangapur-1 in Dang district and chief security guard Chakra Bahadur Rana of the National Investigation Department at Sundar Bajar in Lamjung district the same day.

Also the same day, tired of unnecessary interference and pressure from the Maoists, the management of Mahendra Vidyabodh Secondary School at Kerung, Arghakhanchi filed a complaint at the district education office expressing its inability to run the school.

Also that day Maoist workers went to the district forest office, district post office and district livestock office in Achham district and pressured the office bearers to give them Rs. 3,000 each.

A police team from the temporary police post at Gandak of Parsa district seized two socket bombs, one revolver and some Maoist-related documents from three persons including Dip Bahadur Shrestha of Biruwaguthi, Jhapa on Sept. 10. The Maoists organised a mass gathering at a local stadium in Parsa the same day.

The same day, Maoist workers tied up two persons including Jogendra Mandal, left Sadbrikh Saha injured at Godar VDC-3 in Dhanusha district, and organised public gatherings at Jaleshwor of the same district and Nepalgunj, Banke the same day. Likewise, workers of the ANNFSU (Revolutionary) raided the Lamjung district office and burnt the chair of the office chief, while Maoists workers pressured Lamjung, Bahundanda VDC chairman Kul Bahadur Khadka to resign the same day.

Local residents seized one 12 bore gun and one air gun from the houses of Maoist workers Parmananda Kurmi and Chunnu Kurmi at Sonapur VDC-2 in Banke district, while the rebels shot Dhan Bahadur K.C. leaving him injured at Gangaparaspur VDC-1 in Dang district, organised mass gatherings at the Rukum and Doti district headquarters the same day.

Also that day, Maoists looted cash from Rambhakta Mahaseth of the Rural Development Bank at Rampur VDC-2 in Siraha district, while a mass gathering was organised at Liwang of Rolpa district the same day. Member of the Maoists talks team Top Bahadur Rayamajhi participated in the gathering. A procession was taken out prior to the gathering chanting slogans like "long live people’s republic", "we will avenge murder" etc.

On Sept. 11, Maoists set fire to a police post at Devi Ghat in Nuwakot district at about 3:00 a.m., while local people clashed with the Maoists at Awal Parajul in Dailekh district after the latter demanded donations. Those collecting donations forcibly were beaten up in that incident.

Most PEs not serious to maintain fiscal discipline

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 13:  As part of its regular programme to inquire the details of financial transactions in the government offices, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sought clarifications from the heads of government owned public enterprises (PEs) today.

Speaking at the meeting Chairman of the PAC Subash Nemwang urged the institution heads to maintain fiscal discipline by keeping update records of all transactions.

Chairman Nemwang also said that the PAC has been taking the financial issues of the government agencies very seriously and expressed hope that the regular discussion would help maintain fiscal discipline to a great extent.

Auditor General Bishnu Bahadur K.C., while presenting the report of 2057 about the government owned PEs, had said that most of the organisations such as Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Nepal Telecommunications Corporations, Agriculture Input Corporation, Gorkhapatra Corporation, Guthi Sansthan, Tribhuwan University National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and many others have not conducted auditing for the last two-three years. Besides many of them have a huge amount of advance to be settled, he said adding the swelling figures of unsettled amount have caused a problem in many government agencies and PEs.

Auditor General K.C. noted that only a few PEs have conducted auditing till the fiscal year 2057-58. According to KC, Employees Provident Fund in the Fiscal Year 2055-56 BS, had a total of Rs 186,706 thousand as advance amount and a total amount of Rs 190,869 belonged to debtor. Similarly in the fiscal year Rs 210, 819 thousand remained as advance and Rs 468,466 thousand belonged to debtors.

In case of Rastriya Banijya Bank 1.02 per cent as advance has increased and 51.73 per cent as debtor in the fiscal year. During the fiscal year 2056-57 there is decline in advance amount in Bima Samiti by 92.19 per cent.

In case of the NEA advance amount increased by 531.48 per cent in the fiscal year 2056-57 and the amount belonging to debtors declined by 54.18. The advance amount in Gorkhapatra Corporation was 28.56 per cent 24.25 belonged to debtors.

Among 14 PEs including Tribhuwan University, most of them have not maintained auditing till the period of 2056-57.

The swelling amount of advance and unaccounted budget have been chronic problems for government institutions, KC said.

Later institutional heads or their representatives of Employees Provident Fund, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Bima Samiti, Agriculture Input Corporation, Dairy Development Corporation, Agriculture Research Council, National Dairy Development Board, Guthi Sansthan, Nepal Electricity Authority, Janak Education Materials Centre Ltd., Tribhuwan University, Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Gorkhapatra Corporation and Herbs Production and Management Company Ltd. gave clarifications as to why their respective organisations have been experiencing complications regarding advance amount.

Members of the PAC had also raised questions to the institutional heads.

‘Language used in Tax Bill difficult’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 13: Tax experts, industrialists and businessmen today said the proposed Income Tax Bill-2001 was complex, provided blank discretion to the tax officers and undermined the principle of social justice.

"The language used in the Income Tax Bill is so difficult that even the experts and tax officials will be unable to understand it, let alone the taxpayers," Director of the Centre for Public Policy Dialogue (CPPD) Narayan Raj Tiwari told a discussion programme here this evening. He said the Bill also failed to reduce the discretion of the tax officers as maintained by the government. "The provision that allows the tax officials to reassess the tax declared by the taxpayers has created uncertainties."

He said to impose tax on pension, gratuity, insurance payment and provident fund was contrary to the principle of social justice.

Lawyer Pawan Kumar Ojha said the Bill was a poor translation of the tax laws from the western countries. He said the Bill lacked flexibility as it fixed the tax rates. "The Bill cannot be productive and elastic as it fails to include windfall sources."

Ojha, however, said the broad tax base, carry forward and carry back of loss were the positive features in the Bill, adding it was in line with liberal economic policy.

Chartered Accountant Madan Krishna Sharma said the Bill was complicated and stressed on the need to clarify many provisions to make it simple.

The industrialists and businessmen said the Bill required amendments before it was approved by the Parliament. The Income Tax Bill is presently under discussion at the parliamentary Finance Committee.

The discussion programme organised by the CPPD was participated in by the academicians, industrialists, businessmen and the lawmakers.

NSP MPs boycott House meet

Kathmandu, Sept 13 (RSS): The legislators of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) boycotted the meeting of the House of Representaives today.

At the start of the meeting, Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav of NSP demanded that a family of five members be provided with one room each, 3.4 million Nepalese citizens be distributed citizenship certificates as per the report of the Dhanpati Commission and a ceiling be imposed on all property and declared that his party was boycotting the House.

Seeking time from Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey of CPN-UML said Kaile Giri, a Maoist activist raped a girl of a poor family of Haldekalika VDC-1, Nuwakot and asked the government to initiate action against the culprit and provide treatment to the girl.

Hem Narayan Yadav of the same party said one of the passenger of a night bus going from Siraha to Kathmandu was looted at Hetauda. He demanded that his cash and other belongings be returned back and serious attention be given to check such incidents in future.

After taking part in the zero hour, the MPs demanded rehabilitation of the displaced people of Nawalparasi, removal of garbage dumped at the premises of Singh Durbar, legal arrangement for overseas employment, supply of antidotes for snake bites in the Terai region, supply of textbook to Dolpa district, effective telephone and postal service, check on communal clashes and levying of random tax at the custom points.

The MPs who took part in the zero hour included Chandra Mani Kharal, Dilli Raj Sharma, Tarasam Yangya, Damodar Bastakoti, Nara Bahadur Budhathoki, Nara Bahadur Hamal, Prakash Jwala, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Dr. Banshidhar Mishra and Bhadra Bahadur Thapa.

SC to give ruling on Sept 20

Kathmandu, Sept. 13 (RSS): The Supreme Court is to give its ruling on Sept. 20 in the writs filed against the government decision to freeze land transactions of all kinds pending formulation of relevant law for the purpose of implementing a progressive land reforms programme.

Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya said as hearings on the writs challenging the Aug. 31 government decision to allow transaction in land within the already announced ceiling are to take place on Sept. 20 and the cases are related to each other the court is going to give its verdict on the first case the same day.

The first case is under consideration at the special bench of Chief Justice Upadhyaya and Justices Laxman Prasad Aryal, Kedar Nath Upadhyaya, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi and Govinda Bahadur Shrestha.

The writs were filed by advocates Madhav Kumar Basnet, Namas Karki, Surendra Kumar Mahato, Uttam Shrestha, Krishna Prasad Bastola and Silki Gautam, a student.

In course of their pleadings, the advocates had expressed resentment at the delay in giving a verdict on such an important case.

‘BP’s thought equally relevant in present context’

Biratnagar, Sept. 13 (RSS): Member of the Nepali Congress central committee Arjun Narsingh K.C. says that the Nepali Congress is capable of facing all the challenges of the country.

Speaking at a talk programme on "The thoughts of B. P. and the political challenges before the country today" organised by B. P. Chintan Pratisthan, Biratnagar to mark the 88th B. P. Jayanti today, he said the reconciliation policy of popular leader B. P. Koirala is equally relevant in the present context.

Referring the complex and fragile political situation in the country, Mr K.C. said the government-Maoist talks should find a amicable solution in a peaceful manner.

Central vice-chairman of Nepal Teachers’ Association Madhavi Katuwal noted that as the ideals of the late B. P. Koirala should be put into practice.

Central secretary of Nepal Women Association Kamala Maskey said that if we follow the path shown by the late popular leader B.P. Koirala, it will be a rich tribute to him.

NC Morang district acting president Dilip Sapkota said NC has fallen in the doldrums. B. P. Chintan Pratisthan Chairman Jwala Prasad Regmi presided.

At the beginning of the programme, one minute’s silence was observed in memory of late leader B. P. Koirala.

Govt to provide tel services in Palpa VDCs: Gupta

Kathmandu, Sept. 13 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta said that the government had plans of providing telephone services through W. L. L. System in Syaha, Adheli, Bhuwanpokhari and Siddeswor village development committees of Palpa district under the special rural telecommunication programme.

Mr Gupta said that the government had a plan of setting up a station at Sadikol of Jalpa VDC of Palpa district under the same programme.

Answering questions raised by the MPs at the House of Representatives today, Minister Gupta said that the marts system has been given up because it is a very old system from the technical point of view.

Informing the House that steps are being taken to install a telephone exchange with more capacity at the headquarters of Salyan district, Mr Gupta said that telephone services will be extended to Rangechour, Bagelakuti, Farula, Devstal, Dhorchour, Luham, Rampur and Damachour of Salyan district.

CPN-UML MPs Bhadra Bahadur Thapa and Prakash Jwala had asked the Minister for Information and Communications questions.

Second round of govt-Maoist talks begins
‘Postpone mass meet, stop forceful activities’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 13: The much-awaited second round of government-CPN-Maoist talks for a peaceful resolution of the six-year long insurgency started at Tiger Tops Resort, Thakurdwar situated inside the Royal Bardia National Park in Bardia this afternoon. The on-going talks between the government and the Maoists is regarded as a crucial one since it has begun at a time when the CPN-Maoist is scheduled to organise a mass meeting in Kathmandu on September 21 and its party workers have not yet stopped their forceful activities.

"The talks were scheduled to begin from 15:00 hours in the afternoon but because the negotiators of both the sides could not reach the venue in time the negotiations started few hours later than stipulated time," government Spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta told the press at today’s regular press briefing.

"Since there are various issues to discuss it might take a long time to conclude the talks," he said.

The government delegation is headed Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Chiranjibi Wagle while Krishna Bahadur Mahara is representing the underground CPN-Maoist which has been launching the ‘peoples’ war’ since 1996.

The other members representing the government include Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, Mahesh Acharya, Chakra Prasad Banstola and Narahari Acharya. Similarly, Agni Sapkota and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi are the other members from the CPN-Maoist.

Likewise, former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana and Human Rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar are playing the role of mediator in the on-going talks. The first round of talks were also represented by all the above mentioned personalities.

As per the agenda of the government in the on-going talks, Minister Gupta said that, among others, the government delegates would formally ask the Maoists to postpone their mass meeting to be organised on September 21 in Kathmandu, and stop their forceful activities, which were against the commitment agreed by the two parties during the first round of talks held some two weeks back in Godavari, Lalitpur.

Minister Gupta also told the press that after the understanding between the government and Maoists about stopping of the violent activities, the Maoists have not yet halted their forceful activities.

"After the declaration of ‘no action’ from both the sides nearly two months back, the Maoists have involved in 206 forceful activities and pressure tactics like pressurizing the local level elected representatives to resign, collecting donations and arms from general public, putting unnecessary pressure on educational institutes, manhandling of innocent people in the name of so-called ‘public action’, misbehaving on women and children, forcing people to eat cow meat and launching anti-religious activities," he said.

He also said that Maoists have been forcing public vehicles for their use on their behalf, which was against constitutional norms.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have asked several boarding schools of the Kathmandu valley to provide lodging to their supporters in the upcoming mass meeting in Kathmandu.

Following the Maoist request, Nobel Academy of Baneshwore has emptied its hostels from Sunday. "And there are several schools which will vacate their hostels and declare close the schools due to Maoists meetings," a teacher told The Rising Nepal requesting anonymity.

Answering the queries of the journalists about the much feared mass meeting of the Maoists, Minister Gupta said that the government was hopeful that they would postpone their programme to help maintain favourable atmosphere for talks. "And at the same time the Maoists should stop their forceful activities if the atmosphere of talks are to make convincing and conducive," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Gupta also condemned the killing of Bhutanese freedom fighter R. K. Budhathoki and said that government was resolved to find out the culprit. He also said that the government was conscious about activities of intimidation, which were being developed in the refugee camps. "The government is mulling to restore peace and security in the Bhutanese refugee camps where the verification process is going on," he said. Minister Gupta also condemned the violent attacks in the USA.

House ratifies ILO conventions on forced and child labour

Kathmandu, Sept. 13 (RSS): The meeting today of the House of Representatives ratified unanimously the ILO Convention-29 concerning forced or compulsory labour and Convention-182 concerning elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Minister for Labour and Management Palten Gurung had presented a proposal seeking ratification of the two conventions.

Presenting his proposal, Minister Gurung said the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 prohibits forced labour, trafficking, slavery and bonded labour and also provides for punishment in case of violation of these provisions. Furthermore, Nepal is a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ratification of the conventions is essential to indicate Nepal’s strong commitment to human rights.

Stating that Nepal has been selected as a model in terms of abolition of child labour in Asia, Mr Gurung expressed the government’s commitment to abolishing the worst forms of child labour within the next five years and all kinds of child labour by the next ten years.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and the Labour Act prohibits recruitment of children for the worst forms of labour and it is also improper in terms of humanity, Mr Gurung said adding that ratification of the conventions is necessary in view of the preparations being made by the government for a master plan on abolition of child labour.

Earlier, taking part in the discussions on the proposal, CPN-UML’s Bidhya Devi Bhandari said it is good to ratify the convention on abolition of child labour but one should look at the history of many such conventions being ratified but not being put into practice.

It is essential for the conscious classes of society to be committed against the exploitation of child labour and a child should be defined as someone below not 16 but 18 years of age, she added.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML MP Som Prasad Pandey, speaking during special hour of the House of Representatives today, regretted that the government had not made any inquiry about his health condition after being manhandled by the police while taking part in a demonstration being held in connection with the movement of six leftist parties in four months ago and no action being taken against the culprits.

Krishna Prasad Sitaula of the NC regretted that the government had not provided any information about the murder of president of the Bhutanese People’s Party R. K. Budhathoki.

The government should inform the House about the security arrangements being made for other Bhutanese leaders, he said, adding that the persons involved in killing the Bhutanese leader should be found and the Bhutanese refugee verification process speeded up.

Lilamani Pokherel of the Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal said that the United Mission to Nepal had not been carrying out works at Patan Hospital in accordance with the agreement being signed with His Majesty’s Government to provide medical services.

Mr Pokherel also drew the attention of the government towards the irregularities being committed and publicity of Christianity being carried out by the United Mission to Nepal.

Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi of the CPN-UML drew the attention of the government towards the lack of market facilities for milk producers, problem of livestock insurance and the increase in the price of livestock feed due to levying of VAT.

Mr Rayamajhi said that the milk producers had been facing problems as the Lumbini Milk Development Project had not been purchasing milk produced by the farmers of Palpa district despite an agreement being signed to purchase 1,000 to 1,200 litres of milk.

Mrs Vidya Devi Bhandari of the CPN-UML said that an activist of the so-called Revolutionary Party (CPN-Maoist) had raped a girl in a village of Nuwakot district on Sunday and demanded stern action against the culprit.

Mrs Bhandari said that 2,000 people had lost their lives under the people’s war of the CPN-Maoist.