PM calls for united voice against terrorism

By Ritu Raj Subedi

Kathmandu, Apr. 1:Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, after assessment of the security situation in terror-affected areas in the west, told Parliament today that security forces were fighting a difficult battle.

"The security forces, although they lack basic equipment, are active in their mission and are risking their lives," Deuba remarked speaking separately at the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister said that the security forces were working together to defeat the terrorists who were acting against the country, people and democracy.

"I believe we all are united in strengthening the resources of Mother Nepal’s brave defenders and in keeping their morale high. I wholeheartedly appreciate the patience, the devotion and the sense of duty of the security personnel," Deuba told the lawmakers.

The Prime Minister said that the terrorist activities of the Maoists had pushed the country into a very uneasy situation. Every aspect of life of the Nepalese has been hit by terror. "In this situation, we need a single voice and agree on the matter of national security even if we differ on other issues. Then, there must be unity to safeguard democracy," Premier Deuba observed.

He said by endorsing the State of Emergency by a two-third majority the political parties had made a strong solidarity statement against terrorism.

"I commend the solidarity and public mobilisation by the parties and civil society against the bandh called by the terrorists, which jeopardises the future of hundreds of thousands of students taking part in the SLC examinations," he said. "This initiative against terror and violence has greatly helped the security forces to restore law and order in the country."

He said that by spreading this awareness, initiative and solidarity to the villages, the government would succeed in securing peace for the country. "There is no doubt that we Nepalese are united to defeat terror."

The Prime Minister further said that the Maoist terrorists were the foes of the nation, the people and the democracy. Security forces, with their full sense of duty, are active in the fronts of the battlefields. "It is our duty to support them mentally and physically."

He said that the government had left no stone unturned to boost the morale of the security forces, an attitude which Parliament, civil society and people from all walks of life share.

Wagle replies to queries on projects

Kathmandu, Apr.1 (RSS): Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjivi Wagle informed the House of Representatives today that the process is under way to construct a concrete bridge over the Chupra-Lohere river of Dailekh district within 058/59 B.S. .

Answering a question from Nar Bahadur Hamal of CPN-UML, Minister Wagle said despite financial constraints following the budget cut required amount will be appropriated in the coming years to complete the bridge.

Replying to a question from Ratna Prasad Sharma of the same party, he said though the construction of the Chhinchu- Jajarkot road has been hampered for security reasons, the government is making effort to complete the project in fiscal year 058/59 B.S.

A total of Rs. 4 million has been set aside for the current fiscal year to resolve the drinking water problem of Tansen Municipality in Palpa, he said answering a question from Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi of the CPN-UML.

Responding to a question of NC’s Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Minister Wagle said the government plans to complete the Dhanushadham Drinking Water Project by fiscal year 061/062 B.S.

Minister Wagle while answering questions from Durga Linkha of CPN-UML said there is no programme for blacktopping the Dhankuta and hile bus parks.

In answer to a question from Pashupati Chaulagain of the same party, he said preparations are being made to approve the public construction directory as per the existing financial regulations so as to standardise road construction by controlling corruption.

He said a separate test unit is also being considering to test the design, viability, effectiveness and technical standard of the project.

Six terrorists killed; arms, gold seized

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 1: Six terrorists were killed in encounters with security personnel in the last two days. Three terrorists died in Melamchi of Sindhupalchowk and two in Risang of Jajarkot Sunday and one in Charehang of Dolakha on Saturday.

The Defence Ministry, in its press statement issued today, said security personnel also seized pistols, different kinds of bombs, equipment to lay ambush from the sites and Rs. 28,000 and IC Rs. 8,305 in cash.

The Ministry said the security forces have arrested the leader and members of the terrorist group involved in arson, destruction and damage to the land revenue and district administration offices as well as other industrial and public properties and creating terror in the Kathmandu Valley.

Meanwhile, police sub inspector Bharat Dhakal who was shot by two unidentified gunmen died while undergoing treatment. Dhakal was shot by two masked assailants at his rented room owned by Khagendra Chapagain at Gongabu.

Meanwhile, the water supply to the district headquarters of Okhaldhunga has been cut off after the terrorists destroyed the intake at the source of the drinking water supply.

The press statement of the Ministry said the people of the district headquarters have expressed their anger at the dastardly act aimed at giving more trouble to the students preparing for the SLC examinations starting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Ministry also said, the activities of the leaders of the higher rung of the terrorist outfit have laid bare their attitude of living a life of luxury with the money and property looted from the common people. The security forces have confiscated 24 kilograms of gold and 27 kgs of gold ornaments from Devendra Poudel (Sunil), a resident of Shivalaya Chowk of Pokhara sub-metropolitan city.

"The gold and the ornament, deposited by the common people in the banks and worth about Rs. 17.5 million, were looted from the banks and were kept hidden by Poudel for his personal purposes," the Ministry said.

The gold ornaments and IC Rs. 500,000 were given by Poudel’s wife to Tejkumari Poudel, wife of Poudel’s elder brother for safekeeping, the Ministry said. Tejkumari had already used some of the wealth to buy a land and she was arrested when she was about to buy another piece of land in the same area. The Ministry also said that security forces had also confiscated 8 Kgs gold ornaments from the same area.

Parties have agreed on BDA: Koirala

Kathmandu, Apr. 1 (RSS): President of the Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala said here today that all the political parties in the country having faith in democracy have agreed to work together under the leadership of the Nepali Congress for the sake of stability and preservation of democracy.

Addressing the concluding session of the national gathering of the party’s district presidents here today, party president Koirala said the democratic political parties of Nepal have agreed on his proposal for a broader democratic alliance.

The willingness shown by other political parties to move ahead under the leadership of the Nepali Congress is an opportunity to us, he observed. He remarked that a broader unity among the democratic forces will sound the death knell for the anti-democratic reactionary elements.

President Koirala also called on the Deuba government to become dynamic, strong and serious.

Nepali Congress central member and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the government expected constructive and active cooperation from the party.

He underlined the need for the Nepali Congress and the democrats to work towards boosting the morale of the security forces mobilised for safeguarding the nation, democracy and the constitution by finishing off the Maoist terrorists.

The Prime Minister noted that it is necessary for the party president who has proposed for a broader democratic alliance to give a message of unity within the party rank and file.

All the democrats should cooperate with the government and the army in the fight against terrorism, he stressed.

Party general secretary Sushil Koirala said the party has fully cooperated with the present Nepali Congress government.

He added that the Prime Minister and the ministers should not take the comments made by the party and leaders in the negative light and present them in a prejudiced manner.

The programme was presided over by Nepali Congress Siraha district president Sitadevi Yadav.

Meanwhile, the two-day national conference of NC district presidents concluded after adopting a 12-point proposal today.

The proposal presented by NC Kaski district president Shukra Raj Sharma on behalf of the participants of the conference was seconded by 46 NC district presidents.

The conference reaffirmed strong commitment to the protection and promotion of nationalism, democracy, socialism, constitutional monarchy and multi-party democratic system and expressed determination to face up to any challenges for the protection of democratic norms, values and principles.

It also demanded that the government should make the distribution of relief assistance and compensation to the victims of Maoist terrorists more effective, make effective arrangements for the treatment of those dismembered and injured in terrorist attacks, and for the rehabilitation of displaced families.

The conference welcomed the concept of a broader democratic alliance floated by party president Girija Prasad Koirala to accommodate all pro-democracy political forces so as to face up to the challenges before the country, and demanded that initiatives be taken to strengthen party unity.

It also demanded that the government implement without delay the report of the NC general secretary, which has already been passed by the party central committee.

It stressed the need to take action against anyone violating the party’s disciplinary code and welcomed the recent actions taken against some party members for breach of party discipline.

The conference also concluded that the party should play crucial role in helping the Commission for Investigation of Property function smoothly and effectively.

The meeting also decided to request the Prime Minister to admonish the Chief of the Army Staff for the remarks made by the latter at the Royal Nepalese Army staff training and command centre which were critical of the political parties, leaders, the people’s representatives and even of the functioning of the government.

The meeting, likewise, demanded that the party take necessary steps for guaranteeing peace and security to the people and for creating a mechanism in the present state of emergency that is accountable to the people for corruption control, checking financial irregularities and unnecessary delays and to ensure an efficient and clean administration which can effectively combat the menace of terrorism.

The gathering also called on the party to do the needful for creating an environment in which the people can exercise their constitutional rights without any fear of intimidation.

The meeting also pointed out the need for strengthening the organisational structure of the party and its sister organisations and making them more effective.

Similarly, the meeting called on the government to adopt necessary measures to ensure that the school leaving certificate examinations is conducted without any hindrance and it will not be disrupted due to the Nepal Bandh general strike.

The gathering of the Nepali Congress district presidents also paid tributes to all the party workers, teachers, intellectuals, social workers, general people and the security personnel who have been killed in Maoist terrorists attacks and wished speedy recovery to those injured.

‘Love will ward off evils afflicting nation’

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 1: Affection, unity and harmony among the people are the only way out to overcome the recent crisis experienced by the nation, a Turkish spiritual leader visiting Nepal said today.

"Love, harmony and unity among the people are essential to ward off evils that has been affecting Nepal of late," Mehmet Memis, a religious preacher told journalists this evening.

Memis had arrived in Nepal on Saturday with "his prayers for
the peace, prosperity, and welfare of Nepal." Although there is no definite formula to achieve instant peace and prosperity, praying would help, the spiritual guru said in his native Turkish language.

He professed that the present government would be able to overcome the present crisis soon. "I have this believe that the government will be able to overcome the recent crisis; Insa Allah (God willing), the recent problems will go quickly," Memis said. Meanwhile, the preacher was all praise for Nepal and her people and said that the people in Nepal are loving and patient.

Accompanied by Honorary Royal Nepalese Consul Dr. F. Gunseli Markoc, and other two Turkish friends, the, Memis also aims to promote relation between the two nations and Nepal as
a place with viable tourist destination for Turkish people. "From this time onwards, the people of Turkey will know more about Nepal, he said.

"The news of Memis’s visit will be given important space in several Turkish newspapers making people aware about Nepal, its people and beauty," Honorary Consul Markoc said.

Meanwhile, a report states that the Turkish spiritual leader has, in the past, made several predictions about world events, "which have come out to be true and surprised the people around the world." Memis, who is leaving the country tomorrow, met and held talks with the Prime Minister and ministers today.

SLC exams: A crucial test

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 1: More than 250,000 students are as enthusiastic as they are nervous for the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations that begin tomorrow. This will be the first major test for the students in their lives and will chart the course of their future. Those who pass the examination with good marks, will find it easier to take up the subjects of their choice in higher education.

The SLC examination is important in every student’s life, not only because it opens the doors for higher studies but also because it marks the stepping from adolescence to adulthood.

This year 254,291 students are taking the examinations in 683 examination centres in all the 75 districts of the country. To ensure safty, the Board of the Controller of Examinations has reduced the number of examination centres from last year by 150.

The government has completed all preparations for the examinations. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports Baikuntha Das Shrestha said the question papers and stationery have reached the examination centres. He also said that the Ministries of Education, Home and Defence have coordinated their work to see that the examinations are held in peace and safety.

Lately, security has been a major concern for the government, the students and the parents in the wake of the general strike called by the Maoist terrorists. All political parties, intellectuals, civil society and other organisations asked the proponents of the strike to take back their call and to let the examinations be run smoothly and without any untoward incident.

In their press statements they called for the unhindered conduct of the examinations, saying that any kind of obstruction would cause colossal damage to the nation’s investment and to the future of the students.

The Ministry has also appealed to the civil society, intellectuals and political parties for full cooperation and support to make the examinations a success.

Govt not serious, says HR Commission

Kathmandu, Apr.1 (RSS):Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Nayan Bahadur Khatri has complained that His Majesty’s Government has not taken seriously the suggestions and recommendations made to it by the commission regarding the protection and promotion of human rights.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Commission here today, he said since there is a danger of the country being dragged into a never-ending destination if any of the state organs fail to follow the Constitutional and legal procedures in the course of fulfilling the responsibility of protecting human rights and ensuring public safety, it is, necessary for the government to be conscious of this fact.

The people will never get emancipated nor will the foundation of democracy be strengthened if the country is pushed into war, the National Human Rights Commission Chairman warned, pointing out that it is the responsibility of all of us to make efforts towards containing the growing violence in the country.

Public complaints regarding violation of legal procedures by security personnel since the imposition of the state of emergency are being received from time to time, he said with a note of concern.

He also urged Maoists to immediately stop such activities as the call for Nepal Bandh (country-wide general strike) coinciding with SLC examinations in utter disregard of the future of hundreds of thousands of students who are the future leaders of the country, destroying development infrastructures like tele- communications centres and power plants and putting a cruel control on even the basic needs of the public by destroying the sources of the drinking water.

Commission member Kapil Shrestha criticised the departments concerned of His Majesty’s Government for not being responsive despite the commission’s repeated requests to provide information on any incidents or complaints of human rights violation.

Establishment of a human rights commission alone is not enough, it should be provided with the required budget and other physical facilities, he said and expressed the view that otherwise, the Commission would simply become another NGO in terms of status.

Another member of the Commission Sushil Pyakurel said that Parliament should take the recommendations of the Commission with all seriousness and work towards legislating an act for taking stern action against those disobeying the commission’s suggestions.

According to the annual report of the Commission, a total of 528 complaints were registered from 5 June 2000 till 14 July 2001. Out of these complaints, 255 were relating to civil and political rights, 15 related to economic, social and cultural rights, 26 related to rights of the special classes and seven are related to employees’ service.

Similarly, 81 of the complaints are on miscellaneous topics while 121 have been duplicated.

Presenting the report, member of the Commission Gauri Shankar Lal Das complained about the lack of cooperation from the government in investigating such complaints.

He said in case of extra judicial arrests, full information is not given and even if it is given it is incomplete.

He also complained about the lack of manpower at the Commission even 22 months after its establishment.