NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

King Gyanendra’s First Interview

In his first media interview after his ascension to the throne three months back, King Gyanendra has said he will always strive to remove the woes of Nepali people while working within the framework of the constitution. In an interview given to Rastrabani weekly, the King said in a multiparty system, efforts should be made to see if demands being voiced from various quarters are in fact supported by the people. He was referring to the demands for a republican state put forward by the Maoists. In response to another question, the new monarch said there was no ambiguity regarding the role and mobilization of the army. When asked about the June 1 incident at the royal palace, the King said nobody should spread rumors taking advantage of the openness granted by the democratic polity. Regarding the issue of declaring Prince Paras as heir to the throne, the King said such an announcement will be made at an appropriate time. Nepal Samacharpatra Sep. 5.

Prime Minister Warns Maoists

In what is seen as his sternest warning after assuming office more than a month back, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the upcoming second round of talks between the government and Maoists could be hampered if the Maoists continued with the showing of arms during mass meetings, extortion, forceful collection of donation and seizing public vehicles. Such activities are against the commitment the Maoists made in writing during the first round of talks, the premier said. Addressing a function organized by the former MPs Club Nepal here Tuesday, Mr. Deuba also urged the Maoists to cancel their mass meetings and student gathering scheduled to be held at Open Air Theater on September 17 and 21 respectively. "Why do they need to bring in hundreds of thousands of people into Kathmandu when the Open Air Theater can’t accommodate more than 35,000?" he asked. He also said the King was fully committed to democracy and the present constitution. Leading dailies report Sep. 5.

‘Maoist Insurgency Backed By India And Palace’

Former premier and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has alleged that India and the royal palace were extending protection to the six-year-old Maoist insurgency. After inaugurating the photo exhibition on the life and times of late B.P. Koirala in the capital Thursday, the ruling party chief alleged that the palace was the originator of the terrorist outfit to which India has been providing shelter in its soil. "Are Indian intelligence agencies so weak that they don’t know about the Maoists taking shelter in their territory?" he asked. After a long study, I came to the conclusion that India is supporting the Maoists by extending shelter to them, said Koirala. Referring to the failed Holeri operation a couple of months back, Koirala asked why the Royal Nepalese Army did not fight the rebels. "If the army had completed its operation (to rescue 70 policemen abducted by the rebels), the Maoists would have been finished off right there," he added. "The Maoists have been launching their terrorist activities to finish democracy and Nepal’s national independence, not to establish communism. They have been working to fulfil the interests of certain forces," said Koirala. Leading dailies report Sep. 7.

‘Maoists Preparing To Attack Police Posts’

Taking advantage of the lax security in the aftermath of the truce with the government more than a month back, Maoist rebels have completed the job of gathering detailed information about security systems at different police posts in the country and are likely to mount an assault any time, reports said quoting top government officials. Senior police officers briefed Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka at a meeting Thursday on how the Maoist rebels were making use of the lax security arrangements over the last few weeks. The rebels have temporarily halted their assaults at ill-equipped police posts but reports say they are continuing activities including extortion, threats and armed mass meetings. Compiled from reports.

Envoys To The US And Belgium Appointed

The Council of Ministers on Thursday has decided to appoint member secretary at the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), Jaya Pratap Rana, as the Royal Nepalese ambassador to the United States and Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa as ambassador to Belgium, a leading newspaper reported Friday, quoting sources. Former permanent representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Mr. Rana has worked in close contact with King Gyanendra at the KMTNC and also has family relations with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the report said. Similarly, Secretary Thapa is going to retire from Shital Niwas within a few months. There has been no official announcement regarding these important appointments. Kantipur, Sep. 7.

Garment Industries Close Down

Nearly 95 percent of the garment industries in the country have been closed down amid threats and extortion by the underground Maoist party and its sister organizations, a leading newspaper said Friday, in its front-page report. "It used to be one of the most busiest time of the year for us. But now we have been forced to close down our factories out of fear," the daily quoted a garment entrepreneur who declined to be named. Industry sources said up to 200,000 workers have lost their employment directly or indirectly due to the Maoist threats. A garment entrepreneur said he has entered into agreement with the rebels to provide free lodging to Maoist activists between September 18 and 21. The Maoists have written letters to businessmen, factory owners, schools, transport operators and gas stations to provide them support in cash and kind to make their proposed mass meeting in the capital on September 21 a success, the report said. Kantipur Sep. 7.

Local People, Army Counter Rebels

As Maoist rebels continue acts of extortion, threats and intimidation in different parts of the country, the common people and security agencies have started retaliating against them, reports said. Kantipur daily reported Sunday that four Maoist supporters were injured seriously when local people attacked them in a northern village in the terai district of Parsa Saturday. Thousands of local villagers burned down ten houses in Jhabrahi village belonging to Maoist activists. Police had to intervene to control the violent crowd. In a separate incident, army personnel fired in the air to control an agitating crowd of Maoist rebels in their stronghold in western district of Gorkha Saturday. The rebels were demanding release of three of their comrades who were taken into custody by army personnel for carrying explosives. Compiled from reports.

All-Party Meet Urges Productive Talks

The all-party meet called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Friday, on the eve of the second round of peace talks with the Maoist rebels, has urged both the sides to make the forthcoming talks successful through discussions. The meeting, participated in by all major political parties in the country, also urged both the sides to advance the process of talks by stopping actions involving force. The decision came amid widespread criticism of the Maoist activists for their activities like extortion, threat, intimidation of entrepreneurs, school owners and businessmen in the run up to their proposed mass meeting in the capital on September 21. Talking to reporters at Singha Durbar after the conclusion of the meeting, senior UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli said the peace talks should arrive at a conclusion as soon as possible. "It will not be in the interest of anyone to prolong talks," he said. Vice Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, said the talks should be held within the framework of the country’s constitution. During the first round of talks on August 30, both the government and the rebels had agreed to hold the second round of talks within two weeks (that is, within September 14). Though the venue and date for the second round of talks have not been made public, reports said the talks are likely to take place early next week. Compiled from reports.

Defense Ministry Warns Maoists

In a statement issued Friday, the Defense Ministry has asked the CPN (Maoist) and its front organizations not to abet the Royal Nepal Army and other security personnel to join their organization. The ministry has also asked them to stop uncalled-for pressure on the families of soldiers through threats that they will face action if their men do not quit the army, saying such action will provoke the people and divert the army from steadfast loyalty to the nation. The ministry further said it was necessary to maintain patience and understanding at a time when the government and the Maoists are trying to resolve the problem through talks. It has urged people to dial phone number 100 in Kathmandu valley and call the district administration office or police post or the barracks of the Royal Nepal Army outside the valley in case of any such pressure. RSS news agency Sep. 8.

India To Deploy Paramilitary Along Border

The government of India is going to deploy 70,000-strong elite para-military force along the entire Nepal-India border within the next one month replacing the present Border Security Force and Provisional Security Force, a leading daily reported Monday. The daily quoted an Indian security official as saying that the decision had been taken by the central government in view of the deteriorating security situation in Nepal in the aftermath of the June 1st royal massacre. The daily has quoted Nepali police officer as saying that India had decided to mobilize the force looking at the growing Maoist activities in Nepal and its links with the Revolutionary International Movement. The para-military force will have automatic weapons, tanks, launcher, mortar and armored vehicles under its disposal, the report said. Kantipur Sep. 10.

Koirala Announces Campaign

Former prime minister and president of the ruling Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala has launched a nationwide campaign for what he called a "broader national democratic unity campaign" in the country. Addressing a function marked to commemorate 88th birth anniversary of late B.P. Koirala in western district of Syangja Sunday, the Congress president said such a campaign had become urgent to save the country from Maoist terror. He said he had informed all the political parties in the country that believed in the present constitution and also the King. "All of them can take part in this campaign." The septuagenarian leader said he would take a lead in the campaign and asked his party workers to follow him. Koirala said the ruling party had given mandate to the government to hold talks with the government but he said, "Neither the Nepali Congress nor the government could enter into agreement with the rebels on the issues identified as unalterable by the country’s constitution." Himalaya Times, Sep. 10.