FRONT PAGERS

Maoists challenge majority govt.

The is no indication of the Maoist problem heading towards a solution. It is as far as it was before. The Maoists have presented themselves in a more aggressive manner, and the government too has not changed its opinion towards the Maoists. The Maoists, who had remained quiet during the elections, have come forward with new programmes of their ‘People’s War’ after the formation of the majority government.

This week five policemen and four people have died, but the Maoists suffered no casualties. This has indicated that the Maoists have changed their strategy. According to Maoist sources, in the past the Maoists used to attack the police posts in small groups and thus suffered big losses. But now, they plan to attack in big groups. The Maoists had attacked a police post in Kalikot district on June 11 and another attack on a police post on June 14 in Jajarkot district with large group. The police and the administration had failed to successfully counter those attacks. In both places the Maoists looked stronger.

The government had expected that the Maoist problem would head towards solution after the formation of the majority government. Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had even said he would give top priority in resolving the Maoist problem. The prime minister had even warned the Maoist to either come to the talking table or face stern action. The Maoists seemed to have ignored the government’s warning and have intensified their fighting.

The people have not felt the government working towards give respite to the people. Maoist sources say, the Maoists are trying to cash in on the government complacency. The incidents of Kalikot and Jajarkot are the first warnings to the new government. If the government still remains quiet, they will push ahead with more serious actions, the Maoist source says.

(Kabarkagaj, June 17, Thursday)

Who are dying in Kargil?

The recent conflict in Kargil has become a matter of concern to us also. The reason the Indian government has deployed Gorkha soldiers against Pakistan. I want to draw attention that India’s deployment of Gorkha soldiers in Kashmir is against the provision of non-deployment of Gorkha soldiers against neighbouring countries (of the Tri-partite agreement between Nepal, India and Britain).

In 1947, when the agreement was done, of the 20 battalions of Gorkha soldiers in the British-India, 12 battalions were to remain with India and 8 battalions would go to Britain. The 1947 agreement has also determined how much (Gorkha) soldiers would be in each battalion. It has said that during peace time, their number should not exceed 25,000. Though Britain has reduced the number of Gurkha soldiers in the British army, there are hundreds of thousand Gorkha soldiers in the Indian army. So, it is important how India could enlist more Gorkha soldiers than is fixed by the agreement. Are those extras as mercenaries? I don’t know about the 12 battalions, but it is clear that India is also enlisting Gorkha soldiers in its regular battalions, which is contrary to the agreement. Some Gorkha soldiers are also incorporated in the CRP (Central Reserve Police) and the BSF (Border Security Force), both of which is a paramilitary. The CRP can be used in war as well as in internal conflicts, and the BSF is a border force. How did India got the authority to enroll Gorkhas in the CRP and BSF. All these indicate that India is violating the agreement.

The question now is not, how many (Gorkha soldiers) have died in Kargil, but how India got the authority to keep Gorkha soldiers in Kargil. The Nepalese people should ask this question to the Nepalese government.

Meanwhile, the war in Kargil is raging 6 kilometres inside the Indian territory. That means, the Pakistanis have entered six kilometres into the Indian territory. In such a situation either the Gorkha soldiers, guarding the borders, are either killed or they are pushed back. So, the Indian government should tell where are those Gorkhas or what has happened to them.

The tripartite agreement was signed on November 9, 1947 between Nepal, India and Britain. The agreement was signed by Dayabir Singh Kunwar for the colonial government in India, by one Simon for Britain and for Nepal it was signed by the Padma Shumsher. The agreement has allowed 20 battalions of Gorkha soldiers (12 in India and 8 in Britain) in those countries. But the soldiers will retain their Nepali nationality. It was also principally agreed that the Gorkha soldiers will enjoy equal opportunity of promotion, equality in welfare programmes, equality in facilities and equality in posts. It has also said that the Gorkha soldiers would have Gorkha commanders, and Gorkha soldiers would remain as separate battalions, the Gorkha soldiers would not be used against Hindus and other unarmed people, and they would also not be used against each other.

Other provisions are the battalions, both in Britain and India, would have liaison officers representing Nepal. Now, the question is whether there are liaison officers or what have they said? It must also be clarified and be made public that who is the liaison officer in Kargil.

All the provisions, clearly laid down by agreement must be, followed. In that sense, the deaths of Gorkha soldiers in Kargil is against the agreement and even their deployment there is also contrary to the agreement. It is a question, should India take up more Gorkha soldiers than is specified by the agreement or Nepal should allow them?

It is estimated that there are about 78,000 Gorkha soldiers in India, but the government here does not know the exact figure.

India may have its interest in using Gorkha soldiers against a neighbouring country, but it is duty of the government here not to let its citizens to die for others. However, it is also not clear who India is fighting with. Is it the Pakistani soldiers or the Kashmiri Mujaheddins. If it is against Kashmiri, it is also against the provision of the agreement, which says that Gorkhas should not be used in internal conflict.

However, what is unfortunate is that, here in Nepal the Prime Minister says the anti-Indians have been routed in the election, and people have voted for them.

In this context, Britain has also used Gurkha soldiers in Yugoslavia. Here also, under what authority the Gurkhas are been taken to Kosovo? It is important that Britain should first inform the Nepalese government before deploying Gurkhas in Kosovo, similarly, India should also inform Nepal before using Gorkhas in Kashmir. Have they done so? The government here must clarify this to the people. So, it is clear that the Nepalese soldiers have been used wrongly. But nobody here, even those who claim themselves to be die-hard nationalists, is speaking. Even the ex-Gurkha organisations are mum about it. It is felt here that they have no concern to Gorkhas in the Indian army. This is a dangerous mentality.

Another thing, why does India need Gorkha soldiers for its security. Can’t India, with its almost 1 billion population, defend itself without Gorkhas? Or, is it because they take pity on the unemployed Nepalese? In case if there is war between Nepal and India, India may think of using the Gorkhas against Nepal.

Again, India has used Gorkha soldiers, instead of Indian soldiers, on is vast borders. Here I want to ask Gajendra Narayan Singh. You say people of Madhesh (Terai) or Madhesiyas (people of Terai) are not taken in the Royal Nepal Army, but why don’t you ask why India does not take Madhesiyas in the Indian Army. Is it Nepal which has discriminated against those people or India? The reason behind is India wants to influence the people of the hills. The Indian soldiers have reached to villages and corners of Nepal in the name of opening schools and hospitals. But if one raises this issue, one is branded as anti-Indian. Here, if one talks about nationality, one becomes anti-India. Nowadays, such people are even blamed of being instigated by the Pakistanis.

Krishna Prasad has publicly said he is pro-Indian. It is not known what Girijababu says. But, apart from them, Nepali people should ask the communists on which side of the nationalist movement are they in?

(Yubraj Sangraula, advocate, in an article in Samakalin, June 17, Thursday)

Battle begins between organised opposition and disarrayed ruling party

It does not look like the sixteenth session of the Parliament will be a vigorous one. Even till the day when the session was to start, no zeal has been seen in the face of the ruling party MPs. After seeing the shape of government formed by the Prime Minister of the party which has won a majority, the Nepali Congress MPs have become directionless. The ruling party MPs have started to accuse the Prime Minister for not honouring the promises made to the people during the election.

The Nepali Congress had asked for a majority from the voters by promising of a corruption free government and administration. Trusting the programmes and policies outlined by it, the people had voted for the party for it to have a majority. However the Prime Minister, who is considered the leader of not only the government but of the whole Parliament, brought in such people who had been tainted of corruption in the past. They had also fallen in immoral activities during the fluid political scenario of the past few years.

That is why the Nepali Congress MPs, in spite of being in a majority look like wilted flowers. Meanwhile the Prime Minister has started to realise that he has made a mistake. This has been indicated in the message he gave in the name of the citizens.

After a person takes over as Prinme Minister, it is a routine manner for that person to tell the people of the policies and programmes of the government. When this was not done, the close aides of Bhattarai tried to defend this by saying he had broken the old tradition and started a new practice. But afraid that the government would face severe criticism from the opposition once the session starts, the Prime Minister chose to give such a message two days ahead of the parliament opening. This shows even the Prime Minister has bowed down to public demands, a thing which his close coterie did not want him to do. However, this has indicated that he is willing to correct mistakes, though the confidence in the government is yet to be gained.

(Deshanter, Sunday, June 20)

Who will win in Upper House?

The political parties have started to align themselves for the election of six members from different development regions of the Upper House of Parliament. If the Nepali Congress, NCP (ML) and the RPP (Chand) are on one side, there is a probability of the UML and other opposition parties forming an alliance. Though any alliance between the opposition parties has not been made public, it is understood that the UML and RPP have come to an agreement.

The UML holds a majority in the local bodies of five of the development regions. It is almost certain that the UML candidates will win in the Eastern Development and Central Development regions. But if such an alliance cannot be formed the Congress feels it can win in other sectors so it is trying to woo other opposition parties. As it saw the RPP and Sadhvavana getting close to the UML, NC was compelled to forge an alliance with the ML and RPP (Chand).

So in the agreement etched out by NC’s Ram Chandra Poudel and Khum Bahadur Khadka, the two parties will help NC candidates in the Eastern, Central and Western development regions. And then in the Far Western and Mid-Western regions, the NC will support ML and Chand candidates respectively.

Also according to the agreement, NC is to field Birbal Biraji in the Eastern region, JipChirri Sherpa in the Central region and Major Dipak Gurung in Western region. And in the two seats in Mid-western region, the NC candidate will be Lal Hamal from one place. The ML will field Govind Prasad Kalouni from the Far West region and RPP (Chand) will field Chatra Bahadur Shah from the Mid-West.

(Deshanter, Sunday, June 20)

Conflict between government-party

Though Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was unwilling to give his ‘message to the nation’ explaining the government’s policies and programmes, as done by the past premiers, after being elected as Prime Minister, but he did so after the party and cabinet members persuaded him.

The things mentioned in the message will come as the government’s plan and policies, however, many have taken it seriously that the prime minister’s message came very late, only two days before the start of the parliamentary session.

The sixteenth session of the parliament and the first session after the general election is starting from tomorrow (Sunday). But the government has not given due attention to the session as it is engaged in other problems. Although it is a majority government, it is working like a minority one. The government has been spending more time on problems within the party rather than working to solve the country’s and the people’s problems.

The major reason behind this is the dissatisfaction that has emerged in the party following the formation of the cabinet. The Prime Minister is trying hard to nullify the grouses, but his efforts does not seem to be working. Party President Girija Prasad Koirala is not satisfied with the present cabinet. But he has not said so publicly. Koirala is keeping quiet because he knows his utterance would create confusion within the party and the country.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, June 19)

Bam Dev Gautam to be thrown out?

Despite strong disputes within the Nepal Communist Party (ML) regarding the party’s working principle of Bahudaliya Janabad (People’s multi-party democracy), the central committee of the party has decided to continue with the same.

This has angered CP Mainali, Siddhi Lal Singh, Rishi Kattel and Gopal Shakya, who are in favour of changing the party’s guiding principle towards Naulo Janabad (new people’s democracy), propagated by C.P. Mainali.

Supporters of the Naulo Janabad have been overshadowed after ML General Secretary Bam Dev Gautam said that it is only the party’s general assembly, and not the central committee, which has the right to change the party’s ideology. Supporters of Naulo Janabad have now reached such a position that they have decided until and unless Bam Dev Gautam remains as general secretary of party, Naulo Janabad could not be ushered in the party. So, they have been making necessary preparation to throw Gautam out of the leadership in the next general assembly meeting.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, June 19)

Foreign Affairs Ministry, or Ministry of Denial?

Presently Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems to be concentrating its attention on devaluing the image of the country abroad instead of enhancing it.

This is evident by a work done by the ministry following the ruling by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Everybody knows that a group in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had tried its best to stop dissemination of information regarding the popular people’s movement in 1990. Not only that, the ministry presented Nepali Congress as foreign agent during the Panchayat period.

So, a group within the Ministry is still working not to let the Nepali Congress develop relations with the foreign countries.

As PM Bhattarai announced for developing cordial relationship with India, the group has been disappointed. A denial by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning a news aired by Zee India Television has turned the ministry into Ministry of denial. All know that Pakistani smugglers have been smuggling via Nepalese route. Whether it is in RDX or fake Indian currency, Pakistani smugglers have been arrested as culprits. Not only that international media have also disclosed that Pakistan’s ISI is protecting and using smugglers worldwide.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, June 19)

Too many delegations

Delegations from the districts and local representatives visiting Kathmandu has increased following the formation of single party majority government of Nepal. They claim that their visits to the capital are meant to present the district’s problems to the government. These delegations are financed for their transportation, food and lodging by the DDC or local bodies. Delegations visiting Kathmandu spending the money paid by people as tax. All they do is meet the ministers and tell them their problems, which everybody knows. Now, questions are being raised, do they need to come to capital spending so much time and money?

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, June 19)

General Administration Ministry entrapped by Mafia

It is because of the incapability of the minister and secretary at the General Administration Ministry, the government’s decision of reducing the number of ministries has not been materialised. Special Secretaries, who have special relation with Nepali Congress and its leaders have been giving pressure not to reduce the number of ministries.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, June 19)

Govt. in crisis due to Girija-Bhattarai conflict

It is three weeks since the majority government of the Nepali Congress has been formed. But the government has failed to gather momentum. The government has failed to the feeling of a majority government. This is mainly because Bhattarai did not consult with Koirala while forming the government. PM Bhattarai has not been able to take the support of Girija. If Girija does not take an initiative to move the government, it may remain standstill.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, June 19)

Separate party of Kirti Nidhi, Lokendra and Marich Man

Three former prime ministers - Kirtinidhi Bista of Rastriya Janata Parishad, Lokendra Bahadur Chand of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand) and Marich Man Singh have talked on forming a united party. After his in the recent general election, Kirti Nidhi Bista had resigned from the post of president of his party but central committee rejected it.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, June 19)

Industry punished for stealing electricity

Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has ordered to disconnect the electricity line of Ashok Steel Pvt. Ltd. of Birgunj. According to a source at the Commission, the order was issued after it was found that the industry was ‘stealing’ electricity. The company has been found to have used electricity worth of Rs. 30 million in unscrupulous way. A letter concerned disconnecting the line will be handed over to Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Dr. Bhojraj Chalise shortly. But it was to be seen what action will the NEA take against the company.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, June 19)

Pakistanis arrested

Police has arrested a group of seven Pakistanis. According to police, two of them were involved in making fake passports to send people abroad, and five have been charged of trying to abroad illegally. All of them were arrested at the Tribhuvan International Airport. They used to take Rs. 100,000 from Pakistani citizens for sending them to a third country.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, June 19)

Fearful situation in country

Even one month has not elapsed of the formation of the Nepali Congress government, government has been involved in several human rights violations. Recently, the police arrested eight persons including Milan Nepali, Danda Pani Neupane and Kamala Sharma. They were arrested from the road and their rooms. But their whereabouts are unknown, and the government has not been saying why they were arrested. The relatives of those eight organised a press meet in Kathmandu last Monday. Evidences of their arrest were presented at the press meet. In the meeting, they asked for the reasons of their arrest and their whereabouts. But the police has denied that they were arrested. Last Thursday, police also issued a press release saying that no person of those names have been arrested and no one has been disappeared.

(Mahima, Saturday, June 19)

Bhattarai calls for agitation

Central President of United People’s Front Nepal, Babu Ram Bhattarai, in a statement issued recently, has called to launch agitation jointly against the decision of the Supreme Court banning municipalities using local languages as official language.

(Mahima, Saturday, June 19)

Race for Secretary

There are no Secretaries in 13 ministries out of 26 ministries. Works in those ministries have been performed by Special Secretaries. Meanwhile, a race has begun for being appointed as Secretary.

(Nepalipatra, Friday, June 18)

Starting downfall of Bhattarai government?

No sign of warmness in relation between Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and NC Party President Girija Prasad Koirala has been seen. Does it mean that the tenure of Bhattarai cabinet will be shorter? Will he expand the cabinet on his own decision as it was done? What type of game NC President Koirala has been playing following? The country’s political analysts are unable to do tell for sure Till Thursday yesterday, Bhattarai was in mood of expanding the cabinet the next day. But he did not, and there is also no possibility of an immediate expansion. Even PM Bhattarai is not certain by when he will be able to complete the formation of the government. PM had even tried to contact NC President Koirala for consultations on cabinet expansion and to development understanding. But Koirala is unwilling to meet Bhattarai showing the cause of "illness." It is said that Bhattarai is ready to normalise the relating by appointing Koirala’s supporters as ministers. But Koirala feels by staying silent he strategy will turn into success.

Persons close to Nepali Congress say that Girija camp has analysed that by not intervening the government and by not commenting, the government will face problems and Bhattarai government will be compelled to resign within the next three months. If the government fell in such a short period, NC President will also come under criticism. So, Koirala has been adopting such strategy which will make Bhattarai compelled to resign from the post.

(Nepalipatra, Friday, June 18)

Rs. 300,000 to go to Kosovo

About 185 Nepalese police personnel are expected to go to Kosovo and about 300 policemen have been considered to go to the war-ravaged Balkan province. But Police Chief Kharel and Company are demanding Rs.300,000 from every police personnel selected. The list of the policemen under consideration include those who have been suspended and sacked, says a police officer. Policemen deputed in Kosovo will get at least 170 US$ per day.

(Nepalipatra, Friday, June 18)

Melamchi’s future linked with WB’s conditions

In Melamchi project, which is considered as the only alternative to Kathmandu’s water shortage, the donor agencies except the World Bank have given their go ahead. Donor agencies like Asian Development Bank, NORAD, Japanese organisation, NDF and FINNIDA have agreed to invest in Melamchi.

However, concerned experts believe only if the World Bank announced formally for investment in Melamchi, the project will be completed by 2004 AD. But the World Bank has not clearly committed itself. So, the future of Melamchi is still in doubt.

(Patrika, Friday, June 18)

Serious scandal in Nepal Police

A serious scandal has started in the Nepal Police. Colleagues of IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel, who is called as clean IGP, have been damaging the image of Kharel. There have been decisions made by keeping the IGP in the dark. Recently, Nepali Police sent to Yugoslavia through the United Nations had to return with red faces.

While sending policemen in such missions, two test are performed. Nepal does one and UN does another. Forty-one policemen sent to Yugoslavia were declared pass in departmental test, but 23 out of them were found unfit while they were tested by UN.

(Shree Suryodaya, Thursday, May 17)

King’s name Cashed

The issue of purchasing a plane by Royal Nepalese Army has once again being raised. Then C-in-C Dharapal Bar Singh Thapa tainted his record by deciding to purchase the plane before retiring.

A group within the army has been trying to raise the issue again. A couple of days back Rohini Thapaliya send a fax to a company in Britain stating that there were no confusion in purchasing the aircraft. Thapaliya has been saying that his partner Tara Bahadur Thapa had met with the King for one and half hours and talked. The British Company was also informed about that.

Meanwhile, a high level source in Nepalese Army says that a letter has been sent to the Ministry for Defence stating that Royal Nepalese Army had decided not to purchase the aircraft.

(Shree Suryodaya, Thursday, May 17)

After Kalapani now Lipulek

At the time when Nepal Government Chief Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is busy in allocating portfolios to his follower, Jaswant Sing, Minister for Foreign Affairs of India was busy in China to get control over the Nepalese territory. Singh went China to normalise China-India relation, which was disturbed following nuclear test in Pokharan. But he returned from China expressing anti-Nepalese sentiments.

Following the Indian minister’s China visit, an understanding between China and India for trade via Lipulek has been reached. Nepalese people, who have fighting saying that Kalapani belongs to Nepal and Lipulek lies in Nepalese territory. How China and India reached in an agreement for doing business through a land of third country, Nepal? This has made Nepalese people astonished.

(Jana Dharana, Thursday, June 17)