FRONT PAGERS

National Assembly: A slap to the Palace

In the election that took place in the National Assembly on Wednesday ( 14th July), the Palace had to take an unexpected yet humiliating slap in the face.

When Royal nominee Ramesh Nath Pandey filed his candidacy for the post by sacrificing spirit of the Constitution, it could be seen that the Palace wanted to enter active politics. However after the unexpected loss of Pandey, the Palace has saved itself from getting involved in unnecessary controversy.

In the election that took place last Wednesday, the role of the parties and the royally nominated MPs looked quite interesting and surprising. Royal nominee MP Mrs Sharada Pokhrel, stating that nominated MPs should not participate in partisan politics, refused to vote for Pandey. This was the reason Pandey, who had been supported by both the UML and ML had to face defeat. The MPs of RPP (Chand) also made the surprising decision of supporting the RPP candidate instead of Pandey.

In the sixty member Upper House, the Nepali Congress had fielded Basu Risal as its candidate. He received the 23 votes of his party’s MPs and one vote of the Sadbhavana MP Gajendra Narayan Singh. In opposition there were 35 votes.

Then in the proposed vote for MP Pandey, nine votes from the Royal nominees, 17 votes of the UML and three of the ML were cast in his favour.

In opposition 23 if the NC, 3 of RPP, 2 of RPP (Chand) and one of a Royal nominee were cast. It was a draw between the two sides. Then the vice chairman of the National Assembly Chirinjibee Rijal, who had been chairing the meet cast his vote against Pandey.

This is the first time in the history of the National Assembly that the person who has been chairing the Assembly has had to cast a vote.

Whereas a party like ML which says it wants a republic state cast its vote in favour of a Royal nominee, a party like the RPP which is considered a committed Royalist, showed political savvy. It did not matter that its candidate Dr. Mohammad Mohsin was defeated by 51 votes against 5.

(Deshanter weekly, Sunday, July 18)

ML problems should be solved during general assembly

NCP (ML) president Sahana Pradhan has said that no controversy should be raised within the party at present. Talking of the controversies regarding the decisions made by the party in recent times, she expressed the opinion that the general assembly of the party should solve all such problems.

She was speaking at a function organised by the Kathmandu bureau of the party for party expansion.

She also said that there was a vast difference in the status of the party before the election and after it. "It is like the situation of a defeated soldier who has no beginning or an end," she said.

"Still our party has been able to be a national party that is why all the workers must be responsible in their own ways," she said.

(Himalaya Times, Sunday July 18)

12 die due to AIDS in Makwanpur

Twelve people have died due to AIDS last month in Hetauda, Makwanpur district. According to police, there are about 150 hard core drug addicts and some AIDS infected people said Superintendent of Police Prakash Thapa.

It was revealed by the National Sexual Disease Control Centre here in Kathmandu that out of the 50 people from Hetauda who had their blood tested recently 24 had tested HIV positive.

(Himalaya Times, Sunday, July 18)

Left teachers to agitate

Thousands of teachers affiliated to the Nepal national Teachers Association (Left affiliated) are preparing for the seventh national convention of the Association here in Kathmandu.

Teachers from all over the Kingdom had come for the convention which was held from July 9 to July 12.

After arriving at different conclusions after serious deliberations, the meet also elected a new executive committee under the presidentship of Madhav Prasad Adhikari.

The convention has said that teachers should be capable of facing the challenges of the 21st Century and they should be strong in implementing changes in teaching sector. They also demanded that a teacher should not be kept on a contract basis for more than six months and the facilities received by the teachers should not be less than the civil servants.

There are scores of other demands put by the teachers and they have warned that if the demands are not met , they will come to the streets in protest.

(Chalphal weekly, Sunday, July 18)

Smuggling abetted by NC government

The Nepali Congress which has in mind the interest of the Mafia and smugglers more than the interest of the ordinary people, has started to again open the line for the smugglers less than two months after forming a majority government.

According to news sources, Amita Kapali, who has been able to win the confidence of Prime Minister krishna Prasad Bhattarai, has sent two of her favourite police officials to the Airport.

The other police officers who were at the Airport were transferred on the charge of aiding in the smuggling of gold and Indian currency.

But now the two new officers, DSPs Madhav Joshi and krishna Prasad Kadel have reportedly opened the line with new business persons to smuggle out the same. It has been reported that under their direction, smuggling has already started from last month.

(Chalphal weekly, Sunday, July 18)

Secretaries’ appointment still delayed

The government, which has not been able to revamp the Prime Minister’s secretariat, has again been seen as being slow in taking decisions in the appointment of secretaries in various ministries. There had been talk that secretaries would be appointed in the 14 ministries where the seat for the top bureaucrats are open this week, but it did not happen. Even primary work regarding this has not been completed so it is expected that it will take another week and a half for the new secretaries to be appointed.

(Deshanter weekly, Sunday, July 18)

Home Minister Khadka tendered resignation in cabinet meeting

According to a senior member of cabinet, Minister for Home and Communication Purna Bahadur Khadka tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai on Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

The member said Khakda gave his resignation after a dispute in the cabinet meeting. Our source claims that the cause behind was the massive transfers made in the police recently and promotions which are going to be done in the near future. Bhattarai has put his resignation in pocket.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 17)

Police commandos deployed

Clashes between police and the Maoists have increased in districts like Rolpa, Rukum and Jajarkot.

According to a police source the clashes erupted after the Maoists attacked a police post at Abalching village, 12 kilometres from the headquarters of the Surkhet district last Monday.

In the firings after the attack one policeman and five Maoists were killed. The other Maoists fled to the jungle. Five rooms and the roof of the police post was completely destroyed. Police claim more than a dozen Maoists were injured. The Maoists were carrying sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, the police seized several weapons including one revolver looted by the Maoists after killing one police inspector.

After the attack, police has mobilised 8 special commando teams in the area. The police teams with special weapons have been dropped in the jungles of Surkhet, Dailekh and Jajarkot. Each team consists of 21 to 40 police commandos.

Meanwhile, police say two Maoists died on the spot in a firing between the police and the Maoists in Punma village of Jajarkot district. The police also found several important document, five bags of bombs and considerable amount of explosives.

Maoists have been using 5 square kilometres of dense jungle bordering Dailekh, Surkhet and Jajarkot as their base area and safe haven. Police now say they plan to displace the Maoists from their base.

(Aajako Samacharpatra, July 14 & 16)

SC issues mandamus to Govt.

The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus in the name of the government to form the Human Rights Commission. Three advocates Bhoj Raj Air, Min Prasad Dhakal and Chiranjibi Bhattarai had petitioned at the Supreme Court against the government for failing to form the commission two years after the implementation of the Human Rights Act. The formation of the commission has suggested according to the act to protect, promote and preserve rights as laid down by the international convention of human rights.

(Himalaya Times, July 14, Wednesday)

Demand to internationalise refugee issue

The People’s Forum for Human Rights and Development Bhutan and Bhutanese Women’s Human Rights Organisation carried out a joint rally in Kathmandu last Monday.

They shouted slogans and carried placards demanding for the internationalisation of the Bhutanese refugee issue. Though there were several rounds of bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan, there has been no breakthrough towards the repatriation of about 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal.

According to a press release of the Forum, the Bhutanese government has resettled Bhutanese from north and east on the land vacated by the Bhutanese refugees.

The Forum also requested the Nepalese government to back off from the bilateral talks and ask for international help to find a solution to the issue. It has also asked the parliamentarians to raise the issue in the Nepalese parliament. It has also demanded the Indian government to release Rongkong Thinley, chairman of Druk National Congress and United Front for Democracy from jail. Thinley has been spending jail sentence in India.

(Himalaya Times, July 13, Tuesday)

Dr. Giri to come back

Dr. Tulsi Giri, who is supposed to be philosopher of Panchayat, has been considering returning the country. He had left the country 14 years’ ago. Dr. Giri seems worried from present political situation of Nepal, says Shivahari Poudel of RPP (Chand) central office chief. Poudel claims that he recently talked to Dr. Giri for more than a hour.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 17)

Civil servants to stage protest programme

Forty thousand lowly paid civil servants have been planning to stage a protest programme against government’s wrong attitude and policy.

Eight years ago, the civil servants had demands for the implementation of pay commission’s report, action against corrupt people, increment of salary and facilities based on the commission’s reports etc. The reports has been shelved by subsequent governments. They have said if their demands are not considered they will resort to the protest.

(Sanghu, Saturday, July 17)

Royal Army Warns

Royal Nepalese Army has indirectly warned newspapers including Bimarsha, Deshantar and Nepalipatra of dire consequences including on the journalists. Instead of giving answer to various questions raised by the papers concerning irregularities in the army and the Defence Ministry, they have begun threatening journalists by publishing articles in papers prepared with direction of Sadeep Shah of the Army Headquarters. Mass media should take these warnings seriously.

(Sanghu, Saturday, July 17)

Two Chinese trying to flee

China Water Hydro Electric Engineering Corporation has to pay a tax of Rs. 31.7 million to His Majesty’s Government. Instead of paying tax, Chief of the Company Song Dong Shenj J and Fang Chun Wang are trying to flee the Nepal.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 17)

Fake fertiliser destroys crops

Paddy planted in Chitwan district has been destroyed due to fake chemical fertilisers available in market. One of the suffers says he had used chemical fertiliser imported from India. But not a single plant sprouted or grew after using the chemical fertiliser.

(Sanghu, Saturday, July 17)

Nepalese youth in drug problem

The trade and trafficking of drugs have increased in the last 10 years. Nepal has now become infamous as a country of smugglers.

According to a government statistic, 3,847 male, 214 female, 567 foreign male and 30 foreign female were arrested in drug related cases during 1991- 1997 period. The government office estimates that there are about 30,000 drug addicts in the country but non-governmental organisations estimates the number as 50,000.

(Bishwodeep, Saturday, July 17)

Problem of prostitutes

Prostitution is not legal in Nepal but the number of prostitutes has been increasing day by day. However, in comparison to the previous years, police and administration are active in controlling flesh trade Despite this the number of both high class and rather cheap prostitution has been increasing in Nepal.

The East-West and other highways has many places, especially small hotels and lodges where women are available very easily. Besides running restaurants their another profession is working as sex workers. They are always ready to provide physical pleasure to truck drivers, conductors and passengers.

(Bishwodeep, Saturday, July 17)

Nepali Congress Decides

Nepali Congress has decided to withdraw the action taken against Dhanaraj Gurung former president of Nepal Students’ Union and General Secretary of Tarun Dal. But all honest Nepali Congress workers have been shocked with disbelief.

Gurung was charged for the misuse of diplomatic passport. Case against him was also filed in Kathmandu District Court. However, case has not been filed against former MP Ramchandra Adhikary. When the case was filed, it had become clear that it would end his political career. However, the Court did not found Gurung guilty of the misuse of diplomatic passport.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, July 17)

Devkota to form new party

Conflict within RPP (Chand) has escalated following the party’s defeat in last general election. Influential leader of RPP (Chand) Rajeshwor Devkota has also been planning to form new political party. Rajeshwor Devkota and Chanda Shah have expressed their dissatisfaction by going against the party’s whip in National Assembly Chairman election recently.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, July 17)

Koirala meets with MPs, conflict may increase

Internal conflict with the Nepali Congress which was cooled down following the formation of the government last week, may increase further, as Party president, Girija Prasad has become active. In meetings with his party’s MPs, Koirala has begun requesting to fulfill the commitments made to people before election.

Many NC leaders of Koirala camp had expressed dissatisfaction when Koirala’s allowed Prime Minister Bhattarai to make a government of his choice. But they had to remain silent as Koirala was silently accepted Bhattarai’s choices.

This week, Koirala met with MPs of different development regions. Many says that this is the strategy of Koirala strengthening his grasp on the MPs. Many have taken this as a regular party work but pro-Bhattarai leaders have begun to take it seriously, says NC sources.

As Bhattarai’s has a strong hold in the cabinet, NC President Koirala has been planning to have his grasp on party by reconstituting the central executive committee of the party.

(Patrika, Friday, July 16)

UML in serious conflict

The Nepal Communist Party (UML)’s support to the palace-nominee Ramesh Nath Pandey for the post of Chairman of National Assembly has created a serious conflict within the party.

One of the group of UML has criticised General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal for his decision to support Pandey. One of the politburo member and influential leader K.P. Oli said that Nepal committed a blunder by putting UML at the same rank as the nominated MPs.

(Patrika, Friday, July 16

Home minister in minority

Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has fallen in minority on the issue of promoting some of the senior superintendent of Police (SSPs) to deputy additional inspector general (DAIG) of police.

A source close to the cabinet says the proposals of promotion was presented at last Thursday’s cabinet meeting but the proposal could not be finalised after some cabinet members opposed the proposal.

(Patrika, Friday, July 16)

29-points demand presented

Four students unions affiliated with leftist parties have decided to launch joint protest programme. In a joint press statement issued by ANNFSU central President Roop Narayan Shrestha, Akhil (Revolutionist) central president Krishna Dhoj Khadka, Akhil (Sixth) Treasurer Laxman Uprety and Akhil (Revolutionist) President Dacharaj Wagle, first phase programme of joint protest programme has been announced.

Accordingly, black flags will be hoisted, ‘Hamro Sagarmatha’ (Our Mt. Everest), a text book of grade 8 and Compulsory English book of B.A. first year will be burnt in various parts of the country. The protest programmes will also be launched in the districts.

(Jana-Ahwan, Friday, July 16)

Gate for gold smuggling reopened

Gold smuggling at Tribhuvan International Airport has been reopened following the appointment of Purna Bahadur Khadka as Home Minister. The legal import of gold, which was 100 to 150 kg. per day, has virtually stopped.

(Sambodhan, Friday, July 16)

Against Supreme Court's order

Bhattarai government has disobeyed the Supreme Court’s order again. Last Wednesday, Professor Suresh Ale Magar, member of Newa Khala Pawan Man Shrestha and labour leader Shalik Ram Jamakatel were released from illegal custody by the court's order. But, immediately, they were put in police van and were taken to Hanuman Dhoka police office.

(Jana-Ahwan, Friday, July 16)

Why do police and army need so much money?

In a budget presented for the fiscal year 1999/2000 on last Sunday, a big amount has been specially allocated for controlling Maoists movement. It has worried the intellectual circle. In the budget, Rs. 3779.8 million has been allocated for Home Ministry. The main objective of allocating such a big amount is to control Maoist movement.

(Jana-Ahwan, Friday, July 16)

Bhattarai suspicious of Koirala’s game

As PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has a strong grip in the government, party president Girija Prasad Koirala has begun whispering with MPs who support him. He has not said anything openly but he has instructed the party’s vice-president Sushil Koirala to start war against the government.

One of the pro-Bhattarai MPs said the inquiry made by Koirala with MPs concerning the problems of their constituencies is a campaign against Bhattarai. Bhattarai has become suspicious of Koirala’s moves.

(Jana-Ahwan, Friday, July 16)

Coming days not easy for Congress

Royal nominee Ramesh Nath Pandey’s dream has been shattered by another nominated MP Sharada Pokharel. In yesterday’s election, Pandey had secured 29 votes in his favour and 29 votes against him. Vice Chairman of the assembly Chiranjivi Prasad Rijal, who was the presiding vice-chairman voted against Pandey.

Congress does not hold majority in the National Assembly but it is the largest party. Despite this, NC did not do enough homework before presenting its’ candidate, Basu Risal.

The NC candidate got only 23 'yes' votes. If Pandey was elected the position of NC would not have been good. However, the present situation indicates that coming days will not be easy for Nepali Congress.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, July 15)

Contempt of court or right to information!

Several newspapers in Kathmandu has published a news related to court’s order of punishment for publishing a news entitled "Justice Charged with Corruption" in a weekly, Paschimanchal, published in Pokhara.Not only the executive editor and the publisher of the weekly, but also pressmen and computer operators have been fined. They all were charged for contempt of court.

In the news it was stated how a justice and several legal practitioners in Pokhara were involved in corrupt practices.

On the basis of news, one of the legal practitioner filed case against the editor, publisher and computer operators on June 29, 1999. The court summoned them on July 5. Finally, the court decided that they were responsible for contempt of court. They were sentenced to 21 days of imprisonment and each were fined Rs. 500. However, the court said that if they make written apology on the front page in two issues, they would be waived the punishment.

The justice and legal practitioner might be happy from this incident but the journalism sector has been angered. Journalists have begun to feel that court has begun snatching their right. Human right activists have not said anything about it.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, July 15)

India's hand in Nepalese politics

In National Assembly Chairman election held on Wednesday all, Congress, RPP and nominated MPs have been defeated. UML did not fielded its candidate as it had not majority in National Assembly.

The failing to choose the chairman shows that the dirty game of politics has been repeated in National Assembly too.

In Nepalese parliamentary politics, Indian Embassy’s interest has been increasing. India has played its game in the Nepalese parliament time and again. Indian Embassy motivated Lila Mani Pokharel to vote in favour of Gajendra Narayan Singh. It shows how K.V. Rajans are getting upper hands in the Nepalese politics, said one MP in condition of anonymity.

(Shree Suryodaya, Thursday, July 15)

Indians and Pakistanis visited Nepal

When fighting in Kashmir was going on several 'investigators' from both India and Pakistan visited Nepal for secret meetings. However, one participant told this newspaper: "As Nepal has remained neutral to both countries, we choose Nepal as the serious discussion."

Among them two Rashad Rahman and I.A. Rahman putting his views on Kargil said the Pakistani newspapers did not show united stance on Kargil issue as the Indian newspapers did. Especially the English language newspapers were critical of the government, he said. Praising Nawaz Sharif's decision (end the war) they said the war should not have started.

The Rahman duo expressing their regret over the use of Gorkha soldiers (by India) in Kashmir. "However, we don't consider it as Nepalese fighting against Pakistan," he said.

(Kantipur, July 18, Sunday)