NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

14 Maoists, Three Civilians Killed

As part of ongoing operations to contain the Maoist rebellion, security forces killed 14 insurgents in different parts of the country during the weekend, officials said. The Defense Ministry said Saturday that six insurgents, including four in Gorkha and one each in Rolpa and Saptari districts, were killed during the army action. Forty suspects were arrested and weapons were seized during the search operation. On Friday, the ministry said six ëterrorists', including a woman, were gunned down on the spot after they mounted an armed assault on security forces at Katakdanda near Jogbudha in Dadeldhura, the home district of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in the far-western region. Another insurgent was killed and two others injured when soldiers raided a Maoist weapons-producing factory at Atrauli hills in the eastern terai district of Sarlahi. The security forces took into custody 14 insurgents from the site. Soldiers also killed Bhisma Kumal, a Maoist insurgent, during an operation at Majhua Deurali in Gorkha district Thursday. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said Friday a joint team of security personnel arrested 27 Maoist insurgents and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from Laxmipur village in Ilam district. According to the ministry, Maoists shot dead three people as they resisted the insurgents' attempt to rob a shop at Tarakhola in Baglung district. Five people injured in the incident were airlifted to Pokhara for treatment. Compiled from reports Dec. 29.

Tributes Paid To Late King Birendra

The country paid rich tributes to late King Birendra on his 57th birth anniversary on Saturday. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said genuine tributes could be paid to late King Birendra by disarming and defeating the Maoist terrorists to maintain peace in the country. Addressing a program in Lalitpur district, the premier said late King Birendra was always concerned about the progress of the country and the people. King Birendra and nine other members of the royal family perished in a massacre at the Narayanhity Royal Palace on June 1. Meanwhile, the Royal Palace Principal Press Secretariat said King Gyanendra has instituted two decorations in memory of the late King on the recommendation of the council of ministers. The ëBirendra Mala' will be conferred on foreign reigning Kings and Queens while the ëBirendra Prajatantra Bhaskara' will be conferred on royal family members and Nepalese citizens making outstanding contributions in national service as well as foreigners making special contributions to the welfare of Nepal. King Gyanendra also conferred the Birendra-Aishwarya Sewa Padak on royal family members and distinguished persons, a separate palace statement said. Compiled from reports Dec. 29.

Russian Helicopters Arrive

Russian helicopters

Two state-of-the-art Russian MI-17 helicopters with night-vision facilities procured by the government for the Royal Nepalese Army landed in the capital Friday. The arrival of the choppers is likely to help intensify the military operations against the Maoist terrorists. The choppers, procured for around US$ 2.5 million each, are fitted with night-vision navigation by an Israeli company, reports said. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Padam Kumar Acharya told reporters Saturday that security forces would launch their operations more effectively now that they had access to the new choppers. He said the helicopters would be used from this week. Compiled from reports Dec. 29.

Refugees Ask Nepal To Raise Their Issue

Bhutanese refugees languishing in refugee camps in eastern Nepal for over a decade have urged the Nepalese government to raise the issue of their early repatriation in the SAARC forum. "The refugee problem is not confined only to Nepal and Bhutan. Other SAARC nations must think of Tibetan, Tamil, Bangladeshi and Afghan refugees which have created considerable strain in the region," said S.B. Subba, President of Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Committee. "The refugee problem is a collective problem of all SAARC member states and it requires a multilateral initiative to solve it," he added. Nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in Nepal since 1989-90. Compiled from reports Dec. 29

Reporter Released

The administration in the eastern terai district of Siraha released Bijay Prasad Mishra, a correspondent for the Kantipur daily and president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists' Saptari unit, after detaining him for nearly 24 hours. Though the administration did not give any reason for Mishra's detention, government officials were said to be unhappy with his reporting on the dalit movement in the district and the controversial arrest and release of pro-Maoist journalist Krishna Sen last year. Kantipur Dec. 29

Maoist Bid To Attack Jumla, Kalikot Foiled

Royal Nepal Army (RNA) personnel have foiled the Maoist attacks on the headquarters of Jumla and Kalikot districts Thursday night, reports said. Kantipur daily reported Friday, quoting security sources, that some 200 insurgents, backed by hundreds of villagers, opened fire at the Regional Police Unit Office and District Police Office in Jumla at around 6 p.m. The rebels retreated after a nearly one-and-a-half hour-long gunbattle. Official sources said the headquarters was fully under the control of army and that there may have been heavy casualties on part of the rebels. Deputy Superintendent of Police Govinda Poudel, who was injured in the firing, was being treated at the local army barracks. Other government officials were also in the safety of the barrack. Similarly, security personnel drove away nearly 200 Maoist insurgents who had attempted to attack the district headquarters of Kalikot at around 9 p.m. Thursday. Compiled from reports Dec. 28.

Nearly 700 Killed Since End Of Truce

At least 698 people, including 523 Maoist insurgents and 97 security personnel, have been killed across the country in the month since the Maoist rebels unilaterally pulled out of peace talks and resumed their offensive on November 23, a human rights watchdog said Wednesday. According to a report compiled by the Informal Sector Service Center, a total of 3,386 people said to be supporters of activists of the underground party, now declared as a terrorist outfit by the Nepalese government, have surrendered to the local authorities during the period. The Defense Ministry, however, has put the figures at more than 6,500. Since November 26, security forces have killed 561 persons, including 523 Maoist rebels and 38 ëothers'. The report said the government had taken into custody over 900 people since the declaration of emergency. During the period, the Maoist insurgents killed at least 64 policemen and 33 soldiers, 13 political activists and 27 civilians, the report added. Compiled from reports Dec. 27.

Entrepreneurs For Privatizing RNAC

Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded that the government privatize the national flag carrier without further delay. Taking part in an interaction program here Tuesday, Hotel Association of Nepal President Narendra

Bajracharya said the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) with 1,800 employees was accruing a monthly loss of Rs 10.5 million. Bajracharya said RNAC's fleet has come down to nine from 18 in 1987. Newly appointed executive chairman of RNAC, Ramagya Chaturbedi, admitted that the carrier was incurring losses, as it had to operate in remote areas of the country. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC also acknowledged that the state-owned enterprise needed internal restructuring. There is a need to make the corporation efficient, said the minister, but he refused to accept privatization as the answer. Compiled from reports Dec. 26.

Royal Message To Army

In his first message to Royal Nepal Army personnel after the declaration of emergency last month, King Gyanendra has expressed confidence that the army would succeed in restoring law and order in the country by winning the people's confidence. In the message read out by Chief of the Army Staff General Prajwolla Shumsher JB Rana over state-owned Radio Nepal Tuesday, the King said the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country has once again been entrusted to the army. So far, all sides have lauded the achievement of the soldiers, including their bravery and efficiency, said the King, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces. All Nepalis are confident that the army will succeed in protecting the country from external aggression and in maintaining internal security. His Majesty also expressed condolence to families of soldiers killed while discharging their duties.

Party Seeks Clarification

The Ruling Nepali Congress party has sought clarifications from two ministers and a Central Working Committee (CWC) member in connection with their ëcontroversial' statements. Those receiving clarification letters are Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, Minister for Children, Women and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel and CWC member Narahari Acharya. Gupta and Kharel have been inquired about their reported statements criticizing party President Girija Prasad Koirala whereas Acharya has been inquired about his statement saying that the property of the King should be nationalized and that there should be a referendum on whether the constitution should be amended.