Is Nepal becoming a play-ground of terrorists?

The first hijacking of a plane on international flight from Nepal has laid bare the negligence and carelessness of the security system at the Tribhuvan International Airport. When even Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has accepted the laxity of the security at the TIA, Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka is trying to cover up the shame of the security agencies.

But as soon as Premier  Bhattarai has accept the shortcoming about security at the airport, the responsibility of security at the airport has been taken up by the army. Apart from the 300 police, detectives of the National Investigation Department are also involved in security. Apart from that passengers are now made to through metal detector and even hand held metal detectors are also employed.

However, how the hijackers could pass through the custom, revenue investigation and immigration, which are always teeming with crowd, has wracked the brain of everybody.

Although it is now almost clear that the 6 armed hijackers could pass through the airport, the Home Minister and police IGP are trying to cover up their weaknesses by saying that everything was all right.

According to the Indian Airlines office in Kathmandu, of the 178 passengers of the hijacked Indian Airline plane there were four passengers with Muslim names \emdash  Kazi S.A., Saiyad S.A., Mo. Mustaq Ahmad and S

heikh A.M. and two other hijackers may have been travelling under some Hindu names. The Indian Zee television on Saturday even said that one of the hijackers could be a Nepali.

Meanwhile, the US intelligence agency CIA has three months before had notified India about the possibility of plane hijacking and had cautioned to take precaution. According to a Home Ministry source, Nepal was also notified by the CIA.

Involvement of Indian Airlines officials!

Any foreign airlines after landing at the Kathmandu airport spend at least 40 to 50 minutes before taking off again. But last Friday, the Indian Airlines plane had taken off after only 25 minutes later. According to airport sources, there was no record of the Indian Airlines taking off within 40 minutes. The plane which had come three hours later, but had taken off so quickly is also being seen with suspicion. It has even raised question of whether any person lined with the Indian Airlines itself is involved with the hijacking.

How the arms might have entered the plane?

The trend of hijacking shows that no hijacker wants take the risk of trying to enter the plane with the arms. This shows either the arms were already there when it came to Kathmandu or the arms were smuggled into the plane in Kathmandu. This clearly shows

 that if the arms were taken into the plane in Kathmandu, the hijackers must have got into the confidence catering or the security personnel. It is even rumoured that someone in the security are involved in the conspiracy.

  Meanwhile, the government has taken prompt action. The cabinet has already held two meetings and an investigation commission has also been formed. The government has also suspended the duty office at the custom, immigration, intelligence, revenue investigation, police and airport staff who were at their duties when the Indian plane has flown. Similarly, four other staff have been taken into custody.

Among the hijackers, the tickets of three - Mustaq Kazi, Saiyad and Sheikh - were re-confirmed by the World Tours and Travel owned by Makbul Lari, who also owns the Everest Hotel. One source even doubted that they might be given shelter by Lari in Kathmandu.

  However, this incidence as given more ground to the Indian accusation that the ISI agents are making Nepal their playground for anti-India activities.

(Ravibar, December 26, Sunday)

Has Thule Rai turned into a Maoist?

 DSP Thule Rai, who was freed by the Maoists after three months, has been kept at the Birendra Police Hospital in the name of medical check-up. But police has been keeping mum on the incident. Although Home Minister Khadka said that Rai was freed with police initiative, the claim has turned out to be a farce.

Although Rai is sound both physically and mentally, police are treating him as if they are trying to prove him insane. He is kept at the cabin No. 12 of the hospital since the last five days.

  The police are unwilling to say anything about Thule Rai. The police has even suspected Rai of being influenced by the Maoists. It is also said that Rai  was released by the Maoists on the condition that he would not say anything about them. A senior police official also expressed suspicion that the Maoist may try to use him as informant in the future.

 How was Rai freed? After the human rights organisations and others did not do anything, Rai was freed by the initiatives of his own relatives. He was released after a written agreement between Rai's relatives, party representatives of the Maoists and representatives the Maoist guerrillas.

  His release paper contains the signatures of the Maoists' party representative Comrade Surya, representatives of the guerrilla group Comrade. Sujhav and Rai's relatives Navin Rai and his cousin brother Tulasi Rai.

(Ravibar, December 26, Sunday)

Oli blamed for UML's split

General Secretary of the UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has put all the blame of the party's split two years ago on K.P. Oli, another influential leader of the party.

  In his political statement at the party's national council meeting in Pokhara, Nepal has accused the party's parliamentary committee of failing to deal with the separatist elements of the party.

  The party's parliamentary committee is responsible for looking after the parliamentary affairs, and it is headed by K.P. Oli for the last several years. But he said the party's other committees had successfully and unitedly dealt with those elements.

  The UML had split about two years ago with almost half of the MPs, including Bamdev Gautam and C.P. Mainali breaking away from parent party.

   Although Nepal has not named Oli, but anyone who goes through his statement can easily guess who he is hitting at. The statement is even passed by the party's central committee.

   In the statement Nepal has tried to show himself as  liberal, flexible and even successful where as Oli has been portrayed as prejudiced and incapable.

   A member of the national council, however, called Nepal's statement as an attempt to stamp the growing influence of Oli both inside and outside the party. The statement clearly shows the latest power struggle between Nepal and Oli within the UML.

(Deshantar, December 26, Sunday)

Meanwhile, several participants had accused Nepal of making decisions unilaterally. Those members, who are considered close to Oli, had criticised Nepal for making a one-man decision during the Upper House elections. They also accused Nepal of failing to in his duties after he took over the post in the parliament and the party. General Secretary Nepal is also the leader of the party's parliamentary committee. They also demanded Nepal to quit one post.

  However, Nepal was not in much trouble as he has more supporters in the national council of the party.

(Ravibar, December 26, Sunday)

Bhattarai to quit after winter session of parliament

Honouring the demand of the majority congress MP, calling for the change of the leadership of the government, Bhattarai will hand over the power to party president Girija Prasad Koirala after the winter session of the parliament. The two leaders agreed on this during a private discussion last week.

  Prime Minister Bhattarai has dramatically changed his stance. Until recently, he had been saying that he would not bow down to pressure and quit power for at least five years.

  However, his close supporters have not said anything why Bhattarai suddenly wilted. But others say Bhattarai had no answer to the party's demand of either to improve the performance of the government or leave it. But both options were difficult for him. If he was to improve the performance of the government, he had to fire several of his close supporters accused of inefficiency and of immoral conducts.

  In 1994, when the then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala had sacked six of his minister for being incompetent, Bhattarai had opposed. But those six disgruntled MPs had increased to 36 in six months, and Koirala government had fallen down. So, Bhattarai who had witnessed Koirala's fall in 1994  did not want to anger his supporters. On the other hand, the situation showed that he also does not have a majority support to run the government. When he found that the government can not run without the help of Koirala, he chose a compromised solution.

  However, Bhattarai was under pressure from his supporter not to quit. And one of his main backer was Sher Bahadur Deuba. Even Ram Chandra Poudel was with him. They had even tempted him to face the parliament. This would have led to the break up of the party.

  For Deuba, the change of leadership now mean Koirala will become the prime minister. Poudel had even asked the two leaders to transfer power to the second generation and remain as the patron leaders of the party. Poudel had thought that even if Deuba becomes the prime minister, his failure would mean, Poudel would come at the forefront of the leadership.

  So, there would also be a crisis of leadership in the second generation.

   Meanwhile, although Bhattarai's government is in place for several more months, it has become something like a toothless tiger. Several of the ministers of the present governme

nt may also change their allegiance towards the to-be-formed government. They want to secure their position in the next government.

(Deshantar, December 26, Sunday)

King's third warning to Govt.

Political analysts have drawn conclusion that His Majesty the King has expressed the 'unspoken voice'  of people during his address at a programme hosted by the representatives of the diplomatic corps in Kathmandu. They call it as the 'third warning'.

(Saptahik Jansatta, Saturday, Dec. 25)

 Bhattarai's tenure extended, MPs dissatisfied

Nepali Congress central committee meeting held yesterday decided not to change Krishna Prasad Bhattarai from the post of parliamentary party at least for the period of next two months.

The party had fallen into a serious crisis on issue of changing the leadership of the government. But the central committee meeting ratified the agreement reached by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Nepali Congress President Krishna Prasad Bhat

tarai on Tuesday night to give the government a time till winter session of the parliament.   It is believed that meeting of central committee and parliamentary party will also endorse the agreement reached by two leaders.

 More than 85 MPs had signed against PM Bhattarai and had called for the resignation of PM Bhattarai on the ground of the PM's failing health.

  They have, however, expressed dissatisfaction over of understanding between two leaders. But they have also said they have no option except accepting the decision of two leaders.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 25)

 More than 100 Maoist  students arrested

Police have arrested more than 100 students from the sixth district convention of All Nepal Nationalist Free Students Union (Revolutionary).

  The student Union is supposed to be close to Nepal Communist Party (Maoists). The convention started in Bhaktapur from yesterday.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 25)

 What to expect from  a PM on contract?

The crisis faced by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and his government has been deferred for six months on the condition that cabinet would be reshuffled with the sacking of the corrupt ministers.

  The crisis was solved for the time after the two leaders came to an understandig. The Nepali Congress central committee meeting held yesterday endorsed the understanding of two leaders.

  Meanwhile, PM Bhattarai has started his homework for reshuffling the cabinet.

  Accordingly, Bhattarai will include ministers of the Koirala side. However, there are several question still unanswered. One is, will Koirala actually become prime minister after six months?

  The other is, how will he deal with the leaders from second generation who had supported Bhattarai after he becomes the prime minister?

  However, the crucial is, Will Bhattarai easily gave up the chair so easily? Majority of Congressmen themselves do not believe that the change of power would come that easily.

(Ghatana Chakra, Saturday, Dec. 25)

 PM will remain for five years

Despite the understanding between the top two leaders of the Congress party, that the Bhattarai government will remain in power only for the next six months, Minister for Industry Omkar Shrestha claims that present government will stay in power for next five years.

  He argues that Nepali Congress had got majority because of Prime Minister Bhattarai. As the people had given mandate to Bhattarai for five years, the government under his leadership should remain for that period.

  Meanwhile, he said, the performances of the industries run by government were sick and still are sick. But things have improved, he said.

  \ldblquote Six months back, all the industries were running on 40 to 45 per cent capacity. Presently they are at 70 to 80 per cent capacity.\rdblquote  He further claimed that all the industries would be in profit by next six months.

(Ghatana Chakra, Saturday, Dec. 25)

 Signature of  one million people

Nepal Communist Party (UML) organised a rally in Kathmandu on Wednesday, and later, presented document signed by more than one million people demanding the government to reduce the prices of essential goods and services. During the recently held special session of the parliament, the party's General Secretary had said that he would submit the signatures to the Prime Minister. The signature was collected from all over the country.

(Sambodhan, Friday, Dec. 24)

 People oppose government's decision

   Local residents of Syuchatar, Kathmandu have strongly opposed the government's decision of making Syuchatar as dumping site for the city's waste.

 All the VDCs and ward of Metropolitan City of Kathmandu constituency no 4. have started sit-in}{\i\f22\fs20   programme from Dec. 21 against government's decision.

(Sambodhan, Friday, Dec. 24)

Prime Minister on contract

The heat of conflict within the ruling Nepali Congress party cooled down, giving a six-month contract to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. The tenure of prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has been extended for six month, but the country has to suffer for the next six months.

It is quite amazing why the MPs, who were demanding Bhattarai's ouster, stepped back. They were  saying that the government has failed in maintaining peace and security in the country.

They were also saying that administrative machineries were not working, government was unable to solve the problem of unemployment and poverty, and had increased price.

However, the latest incident has shown that Congress people are not sensitive towards the country. They are rather interested in their personal benefits.

People are more concerned about the situation of the country than who will become the prime minister and for how long. Now, when the party itself has been saying that the prime minister and his government have been incapable what is there to expect from the prime minister who is on contract?

(Nepalipatra, Friday, Dec. 24)

 Dhirendra to become royalty again

There are preparations going on to take Dhirendra Shah into the royalty again. Palace sources say, Dhirendra might be bestowed with the title again on the New Years'

 Day, although there are talks that it might even happen on the King's Birthday this Wednesday. 

Dhirendra who bequeathed the title almost a decade ago was living in England. Although he had matrimonial relations with another woman in England, but that did not stayed strong. Moreover, his health started failing him. So, His Majesty  the King had brought him back to the country during His Majesty's visit to England for medical check-up.

Meanwhile, His Majesty is in Chitwan at present, and the main function of the birthday celebration will be held at Chitwan. On the occasion, many youths will get an audience of His Majesty the King, and they are to request to His Majesty to make Dhirendra a royalty again.

(Ravibar, December 26, Sunday)

Rs.100m to be spent on Paras' Wedding

The preparation for the wedding of Paras Shah, one of His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra, is going at a war footing. The ceremony is scheduled at January 25 and 26.

A committee headed by a Royal Palace official Indra Prasad Shrestha is active in the preparations. According to a source, the marriage will cost about Rs.100 million.

The government will gold, silver, cash and other things for the wedding. As per the regulation, Paras Shah will get Rs.2.5 million cash, 50 tolas (1 tola equals to a little more than 11 grams) of gold, 50 kilo silver as marriage expenses.

Although the bride is the daughter of a royal family of the Shikar in India, the marriage will be held in Kathmandu.

\expnd57   The foreign invitees to the ceremony will be kept at the Soaltee and Annapurna hotels. Both these hotels belong to Prince Gyanendra. Paras himself is the chairman of Soaltee hotel. The reception will also be held at Soaltee.

(Ravibar, December 26, Sunday).

Asia's largest Solar stove

 Asia's largest solar stove has been set up at Preparatory Secondary Boarding School in Itahari.

Twenty-one technicians had worked for setting up the stove with the technical support from Emden University of Germany and with support from One World Group of Germany. The solar stove has covered the area of nine square meter. The stove costs Rs. 75,000.

(Singhdurbar Weekly, Thursday, Dec. 23)