FRONT PAGERS

In an interview to BBC, UML’s powerful leader K.P. Oli has said that this time the UML is thinking of having their own candidate for the chairman of the National Assembly.

On why the UML voted for the royal nominee in the just held election for the chairman of the Upper House of the parliament he accused the Nepali Congress for not working towards forming a consensus.

Saying either that had to vote for one candidate or we had to boycott the election, he said only Ramesh Nath Pandey, the royal nominee asked them for the votes. "We looked Pandey only as a candidate irrespective of his whether the Palace will get active or how much the Palace should get involved in this kind of things. "The issue is over now."

Now, he said it is the Palace itself to think whether the King or the Palace wants to be involved in controversy. He also said in constitutional monarchy, the King or the Palace should not be involved in controversy or go for or against any candidate. The Palace must not stand between for and against.

He said, "There is no one in our party who are either pro or anti - palace. We have only accepted the Palace’s role as a constitutional monarchy." All we know now is we will have our own candidate.

(Nepalipatra, July 23, Friday)

Ministers involved to free the robbers

Police has arrested six out of nine who made a daring day-light robbery at the shop of one Sudan Shakya, getting away with about Rs. 10 million worth of cash, gold and other jewellery.

Among those who are arrested are Basant Lama or Kavre, Umesh Shrestha of Bhaktapur and one Rajesh Rai. Police has confiscated Rs. 2.8 million and about 230 tolas of gold (one tola is about 11 grams). Police has also confiscated three motorcycles used in the robbery.

All those robbers, including the three arrested, are said to be active members of the Nepali Congress. Among them Umesh Shrestha has served a prison term for murdering an active member of the AANFSU, the student wing of the UML. He was later released from jail by the Nepali Congress. Similarly, Basant Lama is another infamous criminal.

All these persons were used by the Nepali Congress during the elections.

Now, four incumbent Nepali Congress ministers are involved to prove them innocent and free them from jail. The ministers involved as Minister for Works and Transport Khum Bahadur Khadka, Foreign Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Sharad Singh Bhandari and Foreign and Soil Conservation minister Mahanta Thakur. They had hasked the Prime Minister and Home Minister to save them for being Nepali Congress workers. But the Prime Minister saying that if they are freed now it would blow everything, has asked them to wait for six months.

(Chalphal, July 25, Sunday)

Rs. 30 M Commission For Minister for Water Resources

The Bagmati Irrigation Project has been a glaring example how much the Congress ministers can stoop down for corruption. Minister for Water Resources Govinda Raj Joshi has cancelled the tenders for the construction of canal and command area in Rautahat and Sarlahi districts just because he did not get any commission. Meanwhile, the Saudis had warned that if the tenders are cancelled without their approval they would pull out of the project. But they have not spoken anything yet. The secret that the Minister was personally involved in cancelling the tender from the Rs. 900 million project is being revealed recently.

According to an engineer of the project, Minister Joshi just three days after sitting on the chair had warned that he would cancell the tenders if he did not get the commission he wanted. He had assigned the chief of Water and Energy Commission PurnaBhadra Adiga to make the arrangements.

Adiga then, has proposed the contractors, who had bid for the 19 packages to give 10 per cent commission to the Minister and 5 per cent to the project chief, engineers and others. But only 4 out of 96 contractors who had bid, agreed. But they wanted the tender package to the reduced to 4 from 19.

But the Minister, on the pretext of irregularities in the project, formed an investigation commission under the guidance of his crony, Adiga. The Commission then saying irregularities in the tender, recommended for the cancellation of the tender. He, as was agreed, then received Rs. 70 million from the four contractors. A source claimed that the amount Minister Joshi got Rs. 30 million and the remaining Rs. 40 million were divided by the members of the commission. The source also claims that it is now being agreed to increase the cost of the project from Rs.900 million to Rs. 1.15 billion. Now, after the secret has been revealed, the other contractors are planning to file a petition at the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority.

(Chalphal, July 25, Sunday)

Difficult days ahead for Bhattarai

The days ahead will not be easy for Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. The Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has begun to warn the government.

At the meeting of the NC’s parliamentary committee last Wednesday Koirala, expressing covert dissatisfaction to the government’s functioning and activities, raised the point of forming a coordination committee not to let the government go unbridled. To prove his point he said if the government does not work well, the party will also have to suffer.

Koirala the proposal of forming a coordination committee and his insistence that the government should listen to the party is being taken as a warning to the Prime Minister and his supporters in the government. His warning came after almost all pro-Koirala MPs resorted to severe criticism of Bhattarai and his government at the parliamentary committee meeting.

Koirala is not satisfied at all with the government’s functioning. But he has stepped back from opposing the government overtly knowing that the opposition parties would reap the benefit. He is aware that any failure of the government will also affect the party and himself. If Koirala can form a coordination committee, he can put a rein on the Bhattarai supporters in the cabinet. Meanwhile, for Bhattarai days ahead are difficult whether there is a coordination committee or not.

(Sarathi, July 23, Friday)

Govt. afraid of its own MPs

The government has lost its confidence without starting anything. It has begun to be afraid of its own MPs and the Ministers take the party’s MPs as opponents. Bhattarai, who became prime minister through a consensus, is slowly becoming along and without friends. The is a lack of dialogue between the government and the party. Though the MPs are speaking for the government’s policies and programme only because they fear the repetition of the past accident, it is not secret that majority of the MPs are not satisfied with the government.

This is why the MPs exploded against the government when they got a chance at the last week’s parliamentary committee’s meeting. Prime Minister Bhattarai neither could defend his government nor he could deny the lack of dialogue between him and Koirala. He could only say the government can not do much in one month, and what you can do is only criticize the government.

Meanwhile, this could be a lesson to both Bhattarai and Koirala. Whatever dissatisfaction the MPs have against the government, the party workers have no less anger against the party. It is possible that when Koirala reorganises the party’s central committee, he may face more criticism than Bhattarai faced when he formed the cabinet.

So, Koirala is being afraid to restructure his ‘cabinet’, the central committee. If the rumour about the kind of people he wants to bring to the central committee is true, it might bring doldrums to the party.

( Bimarsha, July 23, Friday)

Nepal-India problems will be solved: Bhattarai

Prime Minister Bhattarai has said his first foreign trip will be to India. He was speaking to a group of Nepalese and foreign journalists at his residence on Friday.

He said though we also have close relations with China, but our relations with India date back to centuries old dating back to the Vedic era. "Whatever problems we have now with India will be solved and this will be still more good for Nepal," he said. He said Nepal has only one border problem with India — Kalapani, and it belongs to us and we also have enough proof of this. "I hope India will accept it." He also said he will be going to America this year (to take part in the UN General Assembly).

He said it would be easier to solve the Bhutanese refugee problem if India helps even a bit.

He said we want to things from India. One, It can say to Bhutan not to send any more refugees, and second India can stop its territory for more Bhutanese refugees coming to Nepal. But we can not kick the refugees out by using police or military.

He denied that the international donor agencies have put condition for hike in electricity tariff. "They have only suggested for the hike, not put any condition for the hike," he said.

(Himalaya Times, July 24, Saturday)

Election for NA Chairman in next session only

After the National Assembly failed to elect its chairman several political parties are now trying to capture the post of chairman. But, as per the provision of National Assembly regulation, there will be no election for the post in the present session. So, to say that the election date will be fixed after His Majesty the King returns home from his medical check-up is not true. And the election will be held only in the next parliamentary session.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 24)

Concerns of Indian Ambassador

Indian ambassador to Nepal, K.V. Rajan is restless now. After presenting all the political parties, the Nepali Congress, UML, RPP and the Nepal Sadhvabana Party, as his agents, he is now trying his next adventure of making Gajendra Narayan Singh of the Nepal Sadhvabana Party the chairman of the National Assembly with the help of the UML. Seeing that his interest will be fulfilled more by the UML than by other pro-Indian parties and persons, he is going all out to make Singh the chairman of the National Assembly with the help of the UML.

The UML too, is toying with the idea of not giving candidacy for the post. The UML’s Standing Committee had decided to field Bachaspati Devkota as the party candidate for the National Assembly chairman. It is said UML’s K.P. Oli is active to foil the Devkota’s candidate. According to a source in the party, Oli said at the party meeting that he would have another candidate against Devkota.

Now, the party has formed a three-member committee of the party’s General Secretary Madhav Nepal, K.P. Oli and Pradeep Gyawali to deal with the matter. The UML leaders have now begun to say that it will give candidacy only if its candidate is certain to win.

However, the chance that the UML will pour its 17 votes in the pocket of Gajendra is increasing.

While all other parties are divided it will not be surprising if Gajendra Narayan Singh, the sole member of Nepal Sadhvabana Party in the Upper House gets away with the chairmanship of the National Assembly.

(Jana Dharana, July 22, Thursday)

Bhattarai warns party

Even Fifty days of the formation of the government, under Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, has not passed but voices against government have been heard from within the Nepali Congress party itself. Even Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has begun expressing his dissatisfactions against the government.

Koirala had touched new heights of political statesmanship when handed over prime ministership to Bhattarai, but by criticising the government so soon, he is lowering his stature. Before last week, Koirala had remained virtually quiet about the government.

It is because of his silence conspirators got chance to play their games. Presently, there is a conflict within Koirala family, which is the centre of Nepali politics. Both the sons of late B.P. Koirala have not got any chance to establish themselves politically.

Among other Koirala’s kin, Shailaja Acharya, Nona Koirala and Sujata Koirala have their own ambitions. Presently, Koirala does not seem interested in grooming his family members to politics. Koirala has been trying to make Sushil Koirala strong within the party by giving him the responsibility of vice-president of the party.

Meanwhile, PM Bhattarai recently warned the party and said criticising the government at this time was senseless. Bhattarai wants to establish a democratic political culture within the country.

Bhattarai has called his ministers to remain clean. He has indicated that he would take action against corrupt persons.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, July 24)

Four Maoists died on spot

Despite government’s announcement that Maoists activists would be given support, financial and others, to rehabilitate if they lay down their arms, conflicts between the Maoists workers and police in remote areas of the country has been going on unabatedly. Last Thursday, four Maoists activities died on the spot in a clash between the Maoists and policemen in Pipala VDC of Rolpa district. Two policemen were also wounded in the incident.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, July 24)

NC leaders trade charges

Nepali Congress leaders PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala has begun criticising against each other openly. With this, the chances of the government to fall down has increased dramatically.

After the last week’s parliamentary committee meeting of the party, Party workers were happy to see both the leaders in a programme organised on B.P. Memorial day.

But their hope (of reconciliation between Bhattarai and Koirala) was shattered when the leaders charged against each other. Party President Koirala charged the government as ‘dead government’.

PM Bhattarai opposed the proposal of forming co-ordination committee for bridging the process of dialogue between government and party. Koirala says the country may suffer a big accident if this lack of dialogue between the party and the government continues.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 24)

Publisher Arrested

Police arrested Bandhudev Pandey, proprietor of Aishworya Printing Press and Manager of Kalam quarterly magazine from their offices on Wednesday. Police also seized the copies of the magazine from the press.

Presently, he has been put in custody at Hanuman Dhoka. Nobody has been allowed to meet him.

(Mahima, Saturday, July 24)

Promotion in police after PM’s intervention

Home Ministry has promoted 40 police officers within a week. There was a clash between cabinet members during a cabinet meeting concerning the promotion of Deputy Inspector General of Police. The decision of promotion was taken this week following the intervention of PM Bhattarai.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 14)

Country towards police rule

Political parties have been drafting an act which will lead to police-rule in the country. If the proposed bill is passed, it will give maximum authority to the police. In the past too, efforts had been made for such a bill. But, the proposal was dismissed due to massive public pressure.

(Mahima, Saturday, July 24)

UML forms shadow government

Nepal Communist Party (UML) has formed an 18-member shadow cabinet. Leader of the party in the Lower House of the parliament and the party’s general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal leads the shadow government. He will look after royal palace, defence and foreign affairs. Deputy chief of opposition party K.P. Oli is to look after the Home affairs.

(Ghatana Chakra, Saturday, July 24)

Maoists not to be included

Nepal Communist Party (Maoists) will not be included in the eight Left parties’ protest against proposed terrorist bill. The government has been making informal preparation for bringing out the bill. The proposed bill is targeted against the NCP Maoists, which has been waging the people’s war in the country. A recent meeting of the Left parties decided that the Maoists will be included only if it does self-criticism of their conduct. General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Masal) Mohan Bikram Singh disclosed while making the decision of politburo public. However, other decisions of the meeting have been kept secret.

(Ghatana Chakra, Saturday, July 24)

 Koirala wants rein of the government

The conflict within the Nepali Congress that started following the formation, reconstitution and expansion of the cabinet has become more serious. The new government has not even completed its two months in office that it has to face criticism from its own MPs. The MPs have also threatening that there could be opposition group against the government within Congress. Some of the MPs have even begun saying that if Bhattarai heads the government for next three months the party will be finished.

(Sambodhan, Friday, July 23)

Kharel’s dream

Police IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel now wants to be Chief Inspector General of Police. He has been trying his best for this, it is learnt from a source in the Ministry of Home. Kharel wants the police force to be divided into two - non-armed and armed. Both the divisions will be led by separate inspector general of police. And, on top of both will be the Chief Inspector General of Police.

(Sarathi, Friday, July 23)

884 died of Maoist activities

Since the Maoists launched their People’s War four years ago, 884 people have been killed in various incidents related to the Maoists movement and property and other losses amount to more than Rs.90 million. This was disclosed by Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka at the parliament.

Among those who are dead 75 are security personnel, 153 innocent civilians and 655 (Maoists) have died in clashes with the police. One civilians was also killed in the cross fire between the police and the Maoists. The Minister said of the 4884 persons arrested, 3,338 have been released after inquiry and 1,546 have been taken legal action.

The minister said since the present government was formed on May 31, 8 police personnel and 11 local people have been killed by the Maoists. Similarly, 36 Maoists have been killed by the police.

(Gorkhapatra, July 22, Thursday)

Report against judge prepared

A five-member investigation committee formed under the co-ordinatorship of advocate Ramesh Raj Pradhan presented its report on Surendra Bir Singh Basnyat, District Court Judge of Kaski. Basnyat had issued an order to arrest a journalists and lawyer from the court. The report was presented to Nepal Bar Association, Appellate Court Pokhara Unit Committee. In the report, it has been stated that the judge had trampled upon journalists and lawyers’ dignity.

(Sarathi, Friday, July 23)

Finance Minister lied

Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya presented budget for the fiscal year 1999/2000 in the house recently. The budget has angered the civil servants as salaries of the civil servants were not increased. The next day, at a press meet, Acharya said the salary was not increased because the Pay Commission’s report was not received. The salary would be increased when the report comes out. National Planning Commission’s vice-chairman Prithvi Raj Ligal, too, said the same.

But concerned sources say Finance Minister has lied. The source say the commission had presented the report to His Majesty’s Government one week before of budget was presented in the parliament.

(Sarathi, Friday, July 24)

Fake doctors in Pokhara

Doctors working in regional hospital (of Pokhara) say that some persons holding Indian certificates have been practicing as doctors without being registered in the Nepal Medical Council.

There are about one dozen such ‘doctors’ doing business in Pokhara alone.

(Nepal Bani, Thursday, July 22)

ML's instructs

A recent politburo meeting of Nepal Communist Party (ML) has decided to instruct the party leaders and workers to work for the expansion and to strengthen the party.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, July 22)

Teachers’ recruitment, only for congress

There have been indication that the results of Teacher Selection Committee would be published soon. The examination for teachers recruitment in schools was taken four years’ ago. Since the examination as taken, it has become a controversial issue. There have been accusations on subsequent governments of trying to ‘pass’ only their supporters in the examination. Now, Nepali Congress plans to use it for recruiting almost thousands of party workers.

There are proofs of misdoing and irregularities on the results.

(Shree Suryodaya, Thursday, July 22)

CRIME 15 years girl raped by 12 persons

Sharmila Kumari Rishidev was kidnapped by three persons Manoj Paswan, Jhotela Miya and Bishal Shah while she was coming home from Jogbani, India, near Nepal’s border. They took her to a nearby campus and raped her throughout the night. Next day, they handed her to their friends taking money from them. They (four persons) raped her in the night and handed over to other five persons. They also raped her. The following day, when they were trying to hand over to other, villagers tried to capture the culprits but they ran away. Sharmila was taken to the police. Police has arrested three persons.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, July 24)

At a loss at mobile phones

Clients are expressing dissatisfaction about the expensive tariff of the mobile phones and owners of telephone booths are expressing their ignorance of this communication system that was introduced about two months back.

Related experts say that all the homework that should have been done while bringing in the new technology was not done and thus it has become a case of "Hurry makes a bad curry".

At the presently fixed rate a user has to pay Rs. 6 per minute if he or she phones another person. Then the person who receives the phone also pays Rs. 3 per minute. "This is absurd," says Kumar Thapa, a subscriber of the new mobile phone who is also the owner of Nepal Air Courier and Cargo.

The deposit one has to keep to get a mobile phone is also very steep. When attention was drawn regarding this, deputy general manager of the mobile phone section Sri Prasad Sen replied, "Till now the cheapest rate applied is in Nepal and about the deposit, this is kept for security. If a person returns the mobile number given to him, the full amount is returned".

He also gave the examples of many countries like Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore where the receivers also pay, but in neighbouring countries like India, China and even Japan the receiver does not pay. A source in the Department revealed that in the near future the receiver charge could be phased out here in Nepal too.

(Aajako Samacharpatra, Sunday, July 25)