FRONT PAGERS

Maoist problem: a plot to decimate PM

      The Nepali Congress party president is getting more sensitive to the deteriorating law and order situation of the country after Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai remained virtually inept to solve the problem.

      Since the last two weeks, Koirala has been consulting almost daily with the leaders of the other political parties and with the representatives of the other sectors and professionals on what steps should be taken and policies to be formulated to resolve the issue.        Looking at the indifference shown by the prime minister to the problems and the responsibilities felt by the party president,  it is difficult to guess that the party president will some decisive steps in the near future.

      According to sources close to Koirala, the party president will hold serious discussions with the prime minister after the latter returns from England on Sunday. If the two leaders can not maintain mutual consent and understanding it may give rise to new situations. Or, if Prime Minister Bhattarai again decide to go alone, Koirala must take some decisive steps to solve the existing problems.

      For the country law and order is the most outstanding problem for the country now and there is no way prime minister can go alone to solve it. The kidnapping of a police DSP and the government’s failure to find him even after three weeks indicate that the government’s information network is much weaker than that of the Maoists. The Maoists have proved their effective and wide network by getting the DSP’s signatured letter published in different newspapers.

      In such a situation, it is clear that any further rift in the ruling party will only boost the morale of the Maoists.   So, (it is hoped that) the prime minister will meet with Koirala soon after his arrival and will reshuffle the cabinet to make it.

      Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress is facing another challenge from the Palace. If the Nepali Congress remains united it can easily ward off any challenge to democracy. But it would be futile to expect from the faction-ridden Congress to show a show of unity.

      Now, the MPs of the Koirala faction are active to create opinion against Bhattarai, and if tomorrow Koirala replaces Bhattarai, the Bhattarai factions will do the same. And several forces near or inside the Palace are working overtime not to let the Congress unite. They have already proved they can split the communists. The palace is also trying to make the Maoist problem linger on to reap the benefit.

      According to a member of the Raj Parishad (which is more or less equivalent to the Privy Council of  England) the pro-royalists are not afraid of the Maoists at all. They even claim they can bring all activities under control the Maoists under control if they get a chance. They say the Maoists’ war is only about getting a share of the power. If they get that they will accept both the monarchy and the constitution.

      However, the present political leaderships also know it very well who are behind the escalation of the Maoists problem. They now feel if the law and order situation is made to deteriorate, the Congress will have to change the prime minister leading to a deep rift within the party. This could even break up the party completely.  The pro-Royalists may take the opportunity even to topple the whole system.

      The first step of the whole game is to oust Bhattarai from the government. Now, the ball is in Bhattarai’s court. If he acts with rationale and allies with Koirala he can avert the situation. If not, it will invite a grave crisis in the Nepali Congress.

(Deshantar, October 10, Sunday)

 Will Clinton come to Nepal?

      US President Bill Clinton will visit South Asia on the start of the 21st century. President Clinton himself said this in an answer to a democratic member of the US Congress.

      The US president has made it clear that he will make efforts during his visit to reduce tension in South Asia through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan.

      Although his itinerary has yet not been fixed, but efforts have been made here to also include Nepal in the President's schedule.

(Ravibar, October 10, Sunday)

PM’s foreign visit fruitless

      Many people had believed that Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is expert in diplomacy. But the notion fell like a house of cards in his first foreign visit. In his address at the UN General Assembly he raised the issue of the Bhutanese refugee issues, when Nepalese Foreign Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat was holding talks with his Bhutanese counterpart. The two countries had agrees during the 8th round of talks last month to find a solution to the problem by bilateral means.

      Bhutan’s reaction to Bhattarai’s childish diplomacy is yet to be seen. But how unfruitful Bhattarai’s utterance was seen when he correct his statement in an interview to the BBC.  He said,” I have raised the issue in the international forum, but I have not internationalised it.” Even people in the diplomatic circle as saying Bhattarai’s trip to New York was useless. Bhattarai had gone to New York at such a time when the heads of the government of the donor countries had already left and those of the South Asian countries had not reached there.

      Meanwhile, Bhattarai’s meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London was also without any relevance. After he had already hold talks with the British foreign minister in New York it was useless for him to repeat the same thing to the British Prime Minister.

      Again, in his interview with the BBC, Bhattarai also said the deployment of Gurkha troops in East Timor depends on the British government, as thus he indirectly helped in the independence of the East Timor. According to a person here who is well versed with diplomacy, Nepal had so far taken a policy of keeping quiet on the East Timor issue. But, instead, the prime minister has endorsed the policy of breaking up of a country.

      Beside these, the Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. But this is beyond Nepal’s diplomatic capacity. The Prime Minister has, thus, destroyed the very foundation of Nepal’s diplomacy, nurtured over the years. This is taken as a complete failure of his advisors in the diplomatic front.

(Deshantar, October 10, Sunday)

Maoists towards new military strategy

      The Maoists will now run their campaign according to military strategy. Of the 8 military strategy adopted globally two of them fall under the terrorist activities. According to a high level source of the Maoist, the Maoists volunteers in the districts will take up attrition policy to save their guerrillas. The responsibility of this has been given to the wives of the Maoists’ district or area commanders.

      It is said Sher Man Kunwar, Maoist commander of Sindhuli is still alive only because of his wife. The Maoists have also started mobile guerrilla warfare with the entering of their campaign into the fourth year. In tactical terms of the Maoists it is called blitzkrieg. The Maoist commander said the Maoists have given more emphasis on blitzkrieg at present. The Hetauda-born commander, has his action area is Gorkha. He also has a secret hideout in Kathmandu. He showed his hideout to this reporter on the basis of confidence.

(Ravibar, October 10, Sunday)

Govt. loan crosses Rs. 200 billion

The Finance Ministry has made the foreign loan statistics systematic with support from British assistance. Accordingly, the government’s foreign loan has touched Rs. 177.59 billion whereas domestic loan has reached Rs. 35 billion.

      Though the multilateral agencies have provided Nepal with soft loan, the total volume of foreign debt has increased due to depreciation of the local currency.

(Gorkhapatra, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Koirala family busy in by-elections

      Immediately after the announcement of the by-elections for the vacant constituencies of Jhapa-6, Morang-1 and Rautahat-4 on December 9,  the rush for ticket for Morang-1 constituency has increased in the Nepali Congress.

      Shailaja Acharya, who was defeated by Badri Mandal in Morang-7 constituency in last general elections, is the first person to claim the ticket. On the other hand, Aamod Upadhaya, brother-in-law of Nona Koirala, is also eyeing the seat.

      Meanwhile, a highly placed source in the Koirala family informed that the Koirala family has almost decided to contest Aamod Upadhaya from that constituency.

      Previously, efforts were made to give NC ticket to Harsha Koirala, late B. P. Koirala’s youngest son, who is a computer engineer. This attempt was also made to corner Prakash Koirala, BP’s oldest son, from NC politics. But, Harsha denied accepting this offer by stating that he had no interest in politics.

      Presently, under pressure of Nona (Girija’s sister-in-law), Girija is psychologically prepared to offer the ticket to Aamod. Girija Prasad Koirala may also be favouring Upadhyaya, as Upadhyaya had worked very hard for Girija’s victory in that constituency. But, local NC leaders are pressuring Girija  not to choose Upadhaya.

      In this race to get ticket, Sujata Jost has formulated a group to pressurize her father to give nominate her for the election. The group is arguing on behalf of Sujata saying that as Sujata, although a winning candidate, gave up the claim from the Sunsari constituency in the last general election, this time, Sujata has to get the ticket from the Morang-1 constituency. Sujata herself has funded the pressure group, brought from Biratnagar.

      On the other hand, Prakash Koirala is also claiming that he is the only candidate to get the ticket. Prakash is even saying that if he will not get ticket this time, his political carrier will be finished. Sushil Koirala, NC general secretary, is likely to support Prakash in the ‘ticket-war’, although Prakash’s chances getting the nomination is very bleak.

      The race is still more severe because the NC expects to win from that constituency only.

(Suryadaya weekly, Thursday, October 7)

ML leaders planning to return back to UML

      ML general secretary Bamdev Gautam, who felt a strong threat during Pokhara gathering, expanded the party central committee immediately after his returning to Kathmandu. In present expansion, he has included 14 members in the central committee, ten of whom are Gautam supporter.

      Gautam, took such a decision when ML’s powerful leader CP Mainali is visiting China. In this regard, many ML leaders have opposed Gautam’s present decision. The opposition voice may become much lauder after Mainali returns back from China.

      Both Gautam and Mainali are trying to grasp party leadership. In the mean time, a third group has emerged in the party, which is seeking to return back in the UML.

      Central committee members Hari Parajuli, Yamlal Kandel, Salim Miya Anshari, R.K. Mainali, Raghubir Mahaseth and many others have been developing contacts with the UML leaders in the process of returning back to the UML.

      Bamdev Gautam himself may be willing to return back to the UML party by confessing all mistakes. But, his path may be blocked by Keshab Sthapit and Keshab Lal Shrestha. The UML leadership is not ready to accept these two persons in the UML again.

(Naya Current weekly, Tuesday, October 5)

ML & UML to unite against NC

      Initiatives have begun for the unity of the Nepal Communist Party UML and Nepal Communist Party ML. The catalyst for such initiatives has been the ruling party’s suppression, corruption, immoral activities and other mis-conduct. Both the parties have said the misdeeds of the ruling party has reached its limit.

      It is considered that the Nepali Congress won the majority only because of the split of the UML. And now it has become uncontrollable. It is supposed that there would be no future for the communist parties in Nepal if these two remain divided. However, there still are differences between two parties.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday Oct. 9)

Police absconding with Rs. 16.4 million from airport

      Last Tuesday, a big event was occurred in Tribhuvan International Airport. According to a high level source at the Airport, about IC Rs. 6.0 million and US$ 100,000 went missing from the airport.

      Som Lalchan, known as an infamous currency smuggler, was sending away the money. All the concerned persons from custom, immigration, special police, national investigation and police were taken into confidence. Police constable Prem Bahadur Khadka was assigned for transporting the money to the aircraft. However, the police constable took the money but instead of taking them to the plane fled with it.

      However, a senior police official say Khadka alone could not do that. He also says that as Lalchan was only an agent, he might also be involved in the case.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Three wounded in police-army fighting

      What would the people think when police and army, both responsible for maintaining law and order fight among themselves. That is what happened in Kailali last week. Last Wednesday night, several army personnel deputed in Royal Bardiya National Park crossed the Karnali bridge, drank alcohol in Chisapani and created disturbance. When the police tried to convince them, they attacked the police and beat them up. They also looted a rifle and five rounds of ammunition from the police.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Massive transfer of CDOs likely

      Home Ministry has been making necessary preparation for massive transfer of the Chief District Officers of the country. Though the ministry had started making preparation for the transfers immediately after the general election, it is going to take place just before the Dashain festival.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Challenging tests await PM after his return

The Prime Minister was lucky to be out of the country when several incidents occurred in the country. The Maoists called Nepal bandh (closure). Prince Paras pointed a machine gun at policemen during the bandh. One of Prime Minister’s favourite ministers Sharat Singh Bhandari tried to establish smugglers as players in the just concluded SAF Games. Likewise, PM’s another favourite cabinet colleague, Minister Bal Bahadur KC beat up his female friend Indira Thapa.

How will the Prime Minister take these issues when he returns back to the country. It will be a big test for the prime minister, who has said that he would not tolerate any misdoing and corruption from his ministers. Will he take any action against those corrupt and immoral ministers.

The Prime Minister’s reputation is at stake now. According to a source close to prime minister, on one hand there is pressure from the party to take action against those ministers and on the other he may be under pressure from his supporters to save them. But prime minister himself has felt that they have done wrong. So, immediately after his return, he may call a joint meeting of the ministers and the MPs on what should be done.

There will be no shuffling of the cabinet before the Dashain festival. Many expect it will take place after the festival. But very few believe Prime Minister Bhattarai will sack KC and Bhandari in the name of cabinet reshuffle. But the situation could be against him. Although the successful completion of the SAF Games could help Bhandari to retain his post, but KC may not have anything to fall back on.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Rumour of unification threatens Oli

The rumour of ML & UML unification has died down at least for now, after the ML General Secretary Bamdev Gautam rejected any such possibility. Gautam last week denied the rumour saying there does not even exist an environment for dialogue between the two parties. The rumour was, however, spread by some UML men to threaten K.P. Oli of the party.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Maoists have not used guns looted from police

Maoist people’s war has become a serious challenge to the country law and order situation. The Maoists, which consisted of only a small of men when it started four years ago, have made dramatic progress both militarily and resourcewise.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the Maoists’ People’s War may already have affected the national budget. The government has been spending a lot in the name of controlling Maoists problem.

Persons say, if the Maoists’ War continue ahead in the same speed, the whole picture of the budget in the next year will be quite different. A big share of the budget may have to be set aside to fight the Maoists.

Maoists have been launching guerrilla actions quite successfully. They have not only murdered innocent persons accusing them of being police informers and ‘enemy of the people’, but also have raided police posts killing policemen.

When there was a hung parliament, it was believed that the problem would be solved after majority government is formed. Far from being solved it has rather increased. It was also expected that they would be finished because of their internal conflicts. There were even reports clashes and rifts coming out in the open. But, Babu Ram Bhattarai and Prachanda have dramatically united.

In the last four years’ period, the Maoists have gained strength both in terms of persons and arms. This still may not be the height of their strength. They have not yet used any modern arms. If they can create such terror with what they have now, imagine what would be the situation if they could lay their hands on modern weapons?

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Do the Home Minister and IGP know this?

Last Tuesday, when the police were searching for insurgents, they, instead found three couples who were deeply engaged in love making. The police arrested them. However, it has not been said, under which act have they have been arrested and put behind the bar. Intellectuals have commented whether making love is a crime under the democratic government of the Nepali Congress.

However if the arrested people commit suicide because of shame, who will be responsible? Will Police Inspector Kedar Sharma, who had lead the search, take responsibility? Or, will it be Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka or IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel?

(Sanghu, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Minister’s wife commission agent

Some Nepali Congress workers of Jhapa district are making fun of the campaign against corruption launched by Shailaja Acharya and Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola.

Raising serious questions about Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, they have sent a letter to Sanghu for publication. The letter contains names of Simanta Sharma, Ram Uprety,  Keshav Bimali and Sudhir Rajbanshi who are alleged to be involved in several corruption cases. It is said in the Nepalese context launching campaign against corruption by a incumbent minister is like a prostitute posing as a chaste wife to her husband. The letter also asked the minister, to answer the following questions first before he proceeds with the campaign.

How did your wife’s younger brother got the citizenship? Was it not a corruption? Isn’t it corruption when the regional meeting declared you as unfit for the election ticket, was it a morality on your part to claim the ticket?

Why do people take your latest wife as a commission agent? Was not your wife’s younger brother Dilip Sharma a commission agent while he was in Nepal? How many PAs have you in your home and office? Who is your PA? Is it Radhakant or Pramod or Anita or Mahendra or Bikram? If they are not, why do they call themselves as PA?

(Sanghu, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Victoria Cross Dishonoured

Victoria Cross recipient Ram Bahadur Limbu has misused the medal. Use of Victoria Cross by infamous trading group Chaudhary Group has hurt all who know the value of the medal and respect it.

Limbu has used his photographs with Victoria Cross in a cigarette advertisement. Army personnel say that it has insulted British army. Gurkha army feel the British Government should also take it seriously.

(Sanghu, Saturday, Oct. 9)

Request to King to recognise Gorkhaland

      Subash Ghising, President of Gorkha Hill Council, which has been preparing to announce Free Gorkhaland in the northern area of the West Bengal state of India, has registered a request letter to His Majesty the King for giving recognition to the Free Gorkhaland. It was informed by Bharat Koirala, supporter of Ghising in Nepal, to Nepal Aawaj.

(Nepal Aawaj, Thursday, Oct. 7)

Who is creating rumours against govt.?

The Bhattarai-led government has not even completed three months in office, there are rumours of toppling the government. If it had come from the opposition parties it would have been understandable, but they have not uttered a word on this.

What is intriguing that it has come from some MPs of the ruling party itself, and the commission agents are fanning the fire.

Any government requires at least one year for work smoothly and to implement its programmes.

Again there are rumours of pressures being exerted to sack some ministers by congress leadership. However, these are the works of people who were on the saddle of power for 30 years. These elements are least bothered about the country and democracy. But what is worrying that the Congress party has fallen in the trap of such elements.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, Oct. 9)