21 bodies of terrorists found in Achham
Home Minister informs House on incidents

Kathmandu, Feb. 20 (RSS): Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said that over three dozens passengers of the bus (Na 2 Kha 4332) going from Kathmandu to Heele of Dhankuta district were killed when the bus fell about 200 metres below the No.1 bridge located three kilometers away from Mungling at a round 8:30 p.m. last night.

Home Minister Khadka gave this information while making a statement of public importance at the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

Mr Khadka said that two of the seven injured passengers are in serious condition. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital, he added.

He said that the police security personnel have been mobilized to provide relief assistance to the passengers of the bus.

The Home Minister informed the House that the terrorists attacked the Jimuwa police post located along the Pokhara-Baglung Highway and killed one policeman and looted the communications set las night.

Stating that he along with members of the committee constituted by the state affairs committee made an on the spot inspection of Mangalsen and Sanfebagar of Achham district yesterday, Mr Khadka said that the situation at Mangalsen was very disheartening.

The Home Minister said that many Houses had been burnt and bombed at Mangalsen, the headquarters of Achham district.

Mr Khadka said that a large number of armed terrorists had attacked and hurled explosives at Mangalsen and Sanfebagar of Achham district on February 16. In the encounter between the security personnel and the terrorists, 51 policemen including two sub-inspectors were killed, he added.

Mr Khadka said that Chief District Officer Mohan Singh Khatri, Inspector of the National Investigation Department Lokraj Uprety and his wife, postal non-gazetted first class officer Nanda Singh Saud and local photographer Rup Dhungana were killed in the same attack.

The Home Minister said that a few security personnel are still believed to be burried in the ruins of the district administration office and jail buildings.

The terrorists also suffered a large number of casualties, he said, adding that three bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the site of the encounter while 10 other bodies were found near the district headquarters. A few bodies were carried away by the terrorists.

Stating that 21 bodies of terrorists were found till yesterday, the Home Minister said that 10 policemen were injured in the encounter.

Mr Khadka informed the House that one body was recovered from the district jail and two bodies from the land revenue office. One of the body has been identified as that of assistant inspector Nripa Khatri while the other two bodies have not been identified yet.

The Home Minister said that 25 rifles, two shot guns, five revolvers and pistols were looted by the terrorists from the district police office, 21 rifles and one pistol from the district jail and cash and jewelry amounting to Rs 20.4 million from the Rastriya Banijya Bank office.

Mr Khadka said that the offices of the district police, district administration district court, district NTC, livestock services, district development committee, district forest, postal survey and Rastriya Banijya Bank as well as a few private houses have been destroyed by the terrorists. The terrorists have also freed 16 prisoners from the district jail, he added.

A sub-machine gun used by the terrorists has been recovered from the site of the incident, the Home Minister said, adding that directives have been issued to promote the police personnels encountering the terrorists.

Informing that 55 Royal Nepalese Army personnel were killed by terrorists during the encounter at Mangalsen, Mr Khadka paid tributes to the RNA personnels and extended condolences to the bereaved family members.

Stating that an all party meeting had taken decisions on the immediate measures to be taken for carrying out official works and maintaining normalcy at Sanfebagar and Mangalsen after the tragic incidents, Mr Khadka informed the House that funds have already been provided for necessary materials for the police in the district.

He also informed the House that five police personnel were killed and seven others injured in an encounter with a large number of armed terrorists which took place at Lalbandhi of Sarlahi district on February 16. A few terrorists were also killed in the encounter and one body has been recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.

The terrorists looted three rifles, one shot gun, one magnum rifle, two pistols and a communication set from the police post, he added.

Mr Khadka said that the terrorists also looted Rs. 150,000 and jewelry from the Rastriya Banijya Bank located at Lalbandhi. One 12 bore shotgun used by the terrorists has been recovered from the site.

A search is being conducted for the terrorists and the situation is normal at Lalbandhi, he said.

The Home Minister said that His Majesty’s Government would remain alert to check such tragic incidents from taking place in future.

Britain to support Nepal to fight terrorism

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 20: Britain’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw, who is here on a two-day working visit, has pledged his government’s support to Nepal in its battle against terrorism and poverty.

"I wanted to come here particularly at this time to show solidarity with Nepal," Bradshaw told the press this afternoon following his meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Shahi.

"Your difficulties are not just the problem of insurgency but the effects it is having on your economy, on your ability to attract investment and on the tourism sector," Bradshaw said. "These were the subjects dominating my discussion with your Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs."

Bradshaw, a labour party MP looking after South Asia among other regions, disclosed that the United Kingdom, a major donor for Nepal, has increased its annual development assistance to the tune of 20 million pound sterling. The British government already has a large scheme, the Enabling State Programme, being implemented through its Department for International Development.

"We are looking into another stream of financing which has to do with conflicts prevention, we are cooperating on training and logistics and also advising and helping in the security field," said Bradshaw. "We hope to increase the amount of money quite substantially to prevent and resolve conflicts in Nepal."

"The message I have received really across the board here — from human rights organisations on one side to the military on the other — is that without sorting out the current security situation there is not really a high prospect to be able to address some of the deep social and economic challenges," he said.

Referring to last week’s Maoist attacks in Accham and Sarlahi as savage, Bradshaw said, "Through their latest brutality, the Maoists have shown their true colours."

He advised that politicians here should work together, and not against one another, at this time of national crisis. "You have to build confidence among the people, the battle of hearts and minds has to be won to end the cycle of violence," he said. "A hundred per cent security is difficult to achieve in the face of ruthless insurgency and difficult terrain."

Bradshaw said after September 11 last year, it was now the obligation of countries like Britain, India and the United States to help Nepal quell terrorism. "The world should come to your help," said Bradshaw.

"A firm military response is needed to fight the terrorists," Bradshaw said, giving the successful example of the United Kingdom in battling terrorism in Northern Ireland. "We have good experience."

On the issues of Gurkhas, the Under-Secretary said that his labour government doubled their service pensions and wanted to see them playing a greater role. "Our solidarity with Nepal is because of the Gurkhas and their role in peacekeeping."

Bradshaw said because of the "tight" labour market in Britain, the recruitment of Grukhas has only been "fairly steady" and they could instead find jobs in private roles of soldiering, not just in Britain but elsewhere as well.

41 killed in bus accident

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 20: At least 41 passengers died and seven others sustained injuries when a bus fell off a bridge into the Trishuli river Tuesday evening on the Mungling-Narayangadh section of the Prithvi Highway.

The bus, registered as Na. 2 Kha 4332, on its way to Hile, Dhankuta, from Kathmandu fell into the river about 8.30 pm at Chandibhanjyang village of Chitwan.

Twenty eight passengers died on the spot. Four others succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Bharatpur hospital.

Four injured passengers are under treatment at the same hospital while three have been brought to Kahtmandu, according to the police.

Six people are believed to be missing. It has become difficult to identify the victims as the river washed away most of their belongings. The only victim identified so far is 23-year-old Manoj Kumar Gupta of Chitwan.

The bus that was carrying some four dozen people has been totally damaged as it hit the cliff before plunging into the river.

A crane of Bharatpur Road Division has been brought to the accident site for the rescue work.

House debates resolution on emergency

Kathmandu, Feb 20 (RSS): The House of Representatives continued discussions on the resolution tabled by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on February 18 seeking endorsement on the state of emergency proclaimed throughout the country by His Majesty the King in accordance with Article 115(l) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990.

Taking part in the discussions, leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Parliamentary Party Surya Bahadur Thapa said that though the Prime Minister had expressed commitment to political, economic and social reforms, there is no basis for believing in it.

Ram Chandra Paudel of the Nepali Congress said that all the political parties had expressed views supporting the rationale for the emergency and therefore it needed only a formal endorsement.

Hridayesh Tripathi of the Nepal Sadbhavana party said that the situation that led to imposition of the emergency should be assessed and alleged that the government had not taken any initiative to resolve the problems faced by the country.

Leader of the Parliamentary Party of the Rastriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC said the experience of the past three months had proved that unless and until the political, social and economic sectors were reformed, merely mobilising the army was not going to resolve the Maoist problem.

Lila Mani Pokharel of Samyukta Janamorcha said that the emergency should not be endorsed because even if it were prolonged none of the problems would be resolved.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the CPN-UML said that as a national consensus between political parties within and outside Parliament and the amendment to the Constitution had become inevitable, the government should be ready to meet these minimum requirements.

Govinda Bikram Shah of the RPP paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the incidents this month, extended condolences to the bereaved families and said that before endorsing the emergency, the situation of the last three months should be assessed.

Sushil Koirala of the Nepali Congress said that as the country was passing through an alarming stage, all the political parties should unite to safeguard its existence and the national parties should be committed to transparency.

Navaraj Suvedi of the Rastriya Jana Morcha alleged that the fundamental rights had been affected, press freedom curtailed, the people doubly hit and stressed the need to lift the emergency as soon as possible.

Hari Acharya of the Rastriya Jana Morcha suggested that all the political parties which fought for the restoration of democracy should now unite and alleged that the terrorist activities had not decreased even after the enforcement of emergency.

Brijesh Kumar Gupta of the RPP alleged that the objectives of the declaration of emergency had not been fulfilled and corruption had increased during the emergency.

Raghuji Panta of CPN-UML said that an economic and social reform package should be introduced to resolve the Maoist problem.

Narayan Singh Pun of the Nepali Congress said that though lacking in modern arms and ammunition, the role of the Royal Nepal Army was praiseworthy and called upon the opposition parties to adopt the resolution seeking endorsement of the state of emergency.

Pradip Nepal of the CPN-UML said the rationale for the state of emergency should be established, initiative taken for corruption control and the Dang terrorist attack investigated. He accused the government of failure to safeguard Achham despite indications of an attack and said the government has failed to maintain security.

He said the administrative machinery is not healthy, the government had used the emergency as a means of taking vengeance on others and called for overall change in governance.

Govinda Raj Joshi of NC said the state of emergency was declared as the Maoist terrorists had wreaked havoc and this was a sensitive issue as it was aimed against democracy.

He said all the political parties should be taken into confidence to boost the morale of the security bodies.

Vidya Devi Bhandari of CPN-UML said the NC, its government and the Maoists should take the responsibility for the present state of affairs and all the parties and Parliament should stand as one to take the country on the path of reform.

Surendra Prasad Chaudhari of NC said he is against the notion that the emergency should be continued untill the terrorists are uprooted, the period of the emergency should be specified, the parties should be united ideologically, and civil rule restorced soon, but the emergency should be ratified for the present.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the CPN-UML said although the emergency is aimed at disarming the Maoists and not against those abiding by the constitution, 69 innocent persons have been killed since the imposition of the emergency and accused the government of arresting journalists writing about corruption in the administration and arresting opposition party workers. He also alleged rampant corruption in the police.

He quoted government figures that more than 750 people had been killed, 5,850 arrested of whom 1,408 were still under investigation and 11,061 had surrendered nationwide.

Ananda Prasad Dhungana of NC said the dual policy of the opposition parties of sometimes calling the Maoists a friendly force and sometimes terrorists has only encouraged them and the government was compelled to impose the emergency after the barbaric attack on the Royal Nepal Army.

He said the situation calls for an extension of the emergency to provide law and order to the people until an alternative is found.

Ishwor Pokhrel of CPN-UML said the Prime Minister should not speak without discretion at functions, the mobilisation of the army is not the total solution, corruption should be controlled, the local bodies should be given powers and socio-economic reforms should be put into force.

He called for impartial elections and confiscation of property for which no source is mentioned, and condemned the police for arresting Sitaram Parajuli of Okhaldhunga, accusing him of being a Maoist.

Homnath Dahal of NC paid tribute to police and security personnel who fought bravely against the terrorists in Achham.

He said the forces in Parliament should be united and mentioned that he found the security forces had not been ill treated in the way the opposition MPs have described.

Pradip Kumar Gyawali of CPN-UML said the objective of the emergency has not been attained, its rational has not been established and workers of the opposition parties have been killed and called for a constitutional amendment for the sake of socio-economic reform.

Dilendra Prasad Badu of NC said contact with Darchula, Rolpa, Rukum and Jajarkot districts had been cut off and this was not a time for accusations and counter accusations.

Prem Bahadur Singh of CPN-UML said national unity is the need of the day and the problems on citizenship and gender discrimination should be resolved.

Ram Bahadur Bista of NC paid tribute to the security personnel and employees who lost their lives on the February l6 incident in Achham and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

He said the government should give attention to the crisis in the villages and the problems of the districts including Achham should be addressed.

Ghanendra Basnet of the CPN-UML said nationalism is under threat, the country is crisis- ridden and the goal has not been achieved under the emergency, there is a dual administration of the government in cities and Maoists in the rural areas, Indian newspapers that wrote about terrorists three months ago have been writing about rebels and there is no rationale in extending emergency without political and socio-economic reforms.

Suresh Karki of the same party said the economic condition of the country is in danger, the emergency has been misused, the security forces have been arresting and releasing people for bribes and the problem will not be resolved without amendment in the Constitution.

Gokarna Raj Bista of the CPN-UML said the country is under the scourge of bullets and bombs, the government is not serious and responsible, the people have been leaving for the cities as they have not been able to stay in the villages, VDIS has been protecting the black marketers and the emergency should not be extended as its rationale has not been proved.

Om Prasad Ojha of the same party expressed regret over the Prime Minister’s statement that he had declared the emergency after consulting foreigners, the people are against the emergency, the army and police are in the headquarters alone, more people have been killed after the enforcement of the emergency, the morale of the Maoists has been boosted, the NC which is sleeping hasn’t been awakened even after the emergency.

Urmila Aryal of CPN-UML paid tribute to the security personnel and employees and accused the NC of moving on a false path, the ministers’s image is not clean, the Prime Minister and other ministers have not publicised their property and that the present crisis is due to the deeds of NC and extending emergency is not the right resolution.

Sushila Nepal of CPN-UML said the rationale for emergency has not been proved and the benefit of the emergency to the nation should be calculated.

Prakash Jwala of the same party said the people have not felt any law and order from the emergency, the political parties and general public have been affected rather than the Maoists, and the big cabinet in the name of austerity is an irony.

Astalaxmi Shakya of CPN-UML said the country is pushed towards ill-fate due to the terrorist activities, security personnel have been killed and terror and violence are rampant.

Som Prasad Pandey of CPN-UML said evaluation should be made on what state the nation is passing through and the NC has not given any attention to socio economic reforms.

The mobilisation of army will not resolve the problem if the people are not taken into confidence.

The next meeting of the House of Representatives will be held at 9:00 a.m, Thursday February 21.

Gupta calls for effective enforcement of journalists’ code of conduct

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 20: The government has included provisions related to rights to information and defamation in the new draft of the Press and Publication Act, Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta informed here today.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘the role of press in consolidating democracy’ organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) on the occasion of the 52nd National Democracy Day.

"The time has come for us to rethink whether the press that inspires others to remain within the boundary of law needs to be governed by law or not," Minister Gupta said.

"The government wants the press should not interfere with the private life of a person," he said.

Stressing the need of an effective Press Law, Minister Gupta said that the court should be able to provide compensation to the concerned in case the press defames him or her.

He also said that the code of conduct prepared by FNJ should receive legal recognition. "Some kind of penalty should be there to check violation of the code of conduct," he said.

While talking about the relationship between the press and democracy, Minister Gupta said, "It is the press that needs democracy more. Without democracy the press cannot work."

Comparing the modern press with that of a decade old, Minister Gupta said that the Nepalese press was a mission press then but now it is not so. Those who practiced mission journalism brought in democracy in the country, he said. "The time of mission journalism has not ended yet and journalists should not be disappointed over the change in the press."

Press compels a society to be transparent, he said and added that the Nepalese press has made the politicians more accountable.

He also pointed out the need to strengthen the Press Council and said that the representatives of the council should not be nominated by the government. "I want the Press Council formed as per the recommendation made by a Parliamentary Committee," he said, "If I continue to lead the Ministry, I will soon initiate the process to strengthen it."

Similarly, he stressed the need of a strong broadcasting authority to regulate broadcasting media on the occasion. "Such authority should regulate government-owned and private media as well as the broadcasting centres," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, President of the Press Council Harihar Birahi said that the press that struggled hard to bring in democracy should also play a key role in preserving and consolidating it.

"Press and democracy are interdependent. A powerful press always helps find remedies of the problems faced by democracy," he said. "Nepalese press has played a key role in the institutional development of democracy."

Laying emphasis on a free-of-fear press, senior journalist Birahi said, "Terrified press can never play a crucial role in consolidating democracy. We need the immediate end of the existing terror in the press sector."

"We have realised that the Nepalese press that was responsible a decade back has now become less responsible," Somnath Ghimire, former president of Press Council said on the occasion.

On the occasion FNJ president and the chairman of the function Suresh Acharya said that FNJ is ready to play the role of a mediator to end terrorism in the country. Mentioning the press as capable in consolidating democracy, Acharya said that Nepalese press has played a positive role to promote democracy and urged the government to strengthen the press and make it more responsive.

Acharya also appealed to the government to release the detained journalists and to protect their lives.

Journalists Tara Dahal, and Devendra Gautam also spoke on the occasion.

12 terrorists gunned down, weapons seized

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 20: Twelve terrorists were killed in separate encounters with the security forces and weapons and explosives were recovered from them from different sites during the ongoing security operation on Tuesday, a Defence Ministry press statement said today.

.In separate encounters with the terrorists, the forces shot dead one terrorist in Indrapur area of Banke, two each in Bhaikatiya area of Achham, Dailekh and Pelkachaur area of Syangja, four in Karnali Tila Dovan area of Kalikot and one in Kot Gaun area of Rolpa. Weapons and explosives of the terrorists were also seized from the site of the incidents.

In Jyamakakot area of Myagdi, the forces have recovered five guns and chemicals used in the making of explosives.

Meanwhile, the security personnel have taken into custody 14 suspects from different parts of the country and started investigation on them, according to the Ministry statement. Six were arrested from Kathmandu, four from Saptari, three from Kushma Bazar of Parbat and one from Thimi of Bhaktapur.

In another report, a bomb disposal unit of the army defused banner bombs and socket bombs laid by the terrorists at public places in Bankatta of Nawalparasi, Dibya Nagar of Chitwan and Aruwawang area of Gorkha district.

An army patrolling team neatralised electric ambush hidden at Chitre of Singha area of Myagdi and recovered 700 metres electric wires using in the ambush. It is learnt that the terrorists used two-bucket bombs and 15 kg explosives in preparing this ambush.

Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said that the Royal Nepal Army soldiers had taken the bodies of the dead soldiers, who lost their lives in Achham, to their homes for their last rites. For the relatives of the fallen soldiers living in the accessible areas, the army would provide vehicles while in the remote areas, the bodies will be heli-lifted to the dead soldiers’ homes.

For the last rites, armymen from the barracks that lie near the dead soldier’s home address will pay their tribute with full military honour for the fallen soldiers, it said. If the families want to perform the last rites of the dead soldiers at the Pashupati Aryghat, it will also be done with the full military honour.

A Defence Ministry statement said today that senior security officers visited the terrorists affected remote areas of Achham, Dailekh and Bajura on Tuesday.

They also inspected the relief activities being carried out at Mangalsen of Achham, which was destroyed in a brutal attack of the Maoist terrorists on Sunday night. The senior officers met security personnel and local people and inquired about the difficulties faced by them. During the meeting, the army officers appreciated the devotion and service of the security personnel who are working for the interest of the nation.

Gangalal Heart Centre gets angiogram lab

Kathmandu, Feb. 20 (RSS): Minister for Health Sharat Singh Bhandari unveiled here today the statue of Martyr Gangalal installed at the premises of the Martyr Gangalal National Heart Centre amid a function on the occasion of the anniversary of the centre.

Minister Bhandari, on the occasion, inaugurated the old and new cardiac catheterisation laboratory which is necessary to provide angiogram services to heart patients and also the 20-bed old and new houses for the attendants of patients.

He also honoured rotary volentris of Australia and John Marks and Bill Lanons of ADRA Nepal for their special contributions in setting up the centre.

All kinds of open and close heart surgery has been performed sucessfully since the last six months at the centre established six years ago. The hospital has so far performed 42 open heart and 42 close heart surgeries, it was stated in a press release issued on the occasion.

About 100 heart patients receive treatment and two patients undergo heart surgery daily at the 60-bed centre. Also, heart endoscopy and video X-ray screening of the heart is performed only at the centre in this country.

On the occasion, Minister Bhandari said that places where the Nepalese people receive health treatment should be accorded utmost priority.

He also said that a bill concerning health insitutions in the private sector has been introduced in the current session of Parliament.

MP Ishwar Pokharel recalled the contributions of late Manmohan Adhikari in the establishment of the hospital and appreciated the progress made by it.

National Planning Commission (NPC) member Dr. Nirmal Prasad Panday said that the well-equipped hospital should become one of the important centres in South Asia.

Executive director of the centre, Dr. Bhagawan Koirala said that the centre is committed to providing high standard treatment to heart patients.

Australian Ambassador to Nepal Crispin Conroy, President of Cardiac Society of Nepal Dr. Mrigendra Raj Panday, and President of Heart Foundation of Nepal Dr. Lok Bikram Thapa whished continuous progress to the centre.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health Mahendra Nath Aryal presided over the programme.

It was informed at the programme that a survey conducted at the hospitals of the capital had revealed that about 5 per cent of the population were suffering from heart disease.