NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

US Envoy Visits Achham, Salyan

Leading a five-member team, the US ambassador, Michael E. Malinowski, visited headquarters of Achham and Shitalpati police post in Salyan Saturday to acquire first hand information about the devastation caused by the Maoist insurgents last week. Over 160 security personnel were killed in Achham and Salyan in the brutal Maoist attacks. No details have been given about his visit. Some security personnel also accompanied Mr. Malinowski during his visit. The US envoy returned Kathmandu the same day. Nepal Samacharpatra Feb. 25.

Army Seeks Public Cooperation

After receiving a number of jolts from the Maoist insurgents, the Royal Nepalese Army has urged the general public to extend cooperation to them in their on-going security operations. "All Nepalese should maintain patience and cooperate with the security forces that are presently conducting "effective actions" to root out terrorism," said a statement from the Defense Ministry on Sunday. "The security forces also want to express gratitude to the civil society, different agencies, sections and communities for their support to the forces deployed against the Maoist terrorists who are trying to exercise monopoly by disrupting peace and order and thereby weakening national unity and social fabric," statement said. "The security forces which are always with the Nepali people in times of crisis and are always prepared to resolve any problems even at the cost of their life are committed to preserving and protecting the Constitution," the Ministry added. Leading dailies report Feb. 24.

"Maoists Will Be Defeated" Deuba

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government will be able to defeat the Maoist insurgents with the cooperation of the Nepalese people and international support. Addressing the national conference of Nepal Trade Union Congress, affiliated to the ruling Nepali Congress, here Sunday, the premier said the Maoists, who were perpetrating terrorist activities, were "anti-democratic, anti-national and anti-people elements out to push the country into crisis." Hinting at the recent Maoist attacks in Achham, the Prime Minister said a single event should not evoke distress in the fight against terrorism. Leading dailies report Feb. 24.

NBL Management To Be Handed Over

The (Nepal country office of) World Bank has approved the government's proposal to hand over the management of Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) to an Irish bank, ICC, an official daily reported Friday. The government has already awarded management contract of Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) to a US-based auditing firm, Deloitte Touche. Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank has asked clarification from the board of directors of the loss-making NBL. Citing mismanagement and increasing non-performing assets, among others, in the NBL, the ce ntral bank has asked why the board of directors of the NBL should not be suspended. The NBL has been given 15 days to respond to the central bank's charges. Gorkhapatra Feb. 22.

Govt. Trying To Close Down Himal Cement

The government is trying to close down the state-owned Himal Cement Factory (HCF) at Chobhar in the name of transferring it, a newsmagazine reported. Officials at the Ministry of Industries said the decision to transfer the factory was taken keeping in view of the Kathmandu valley's environment. Experts, however, say the transfer of the factory is practically impossible, as it will cost millions of rupees to take the installed machines out. Nearly 40 percent of total cost in setting up a cement factory goes into machinery whereas the construction of the structure costs 60 percent. The loss-making factory, with 700 employees, owes Rs 200 million as its liability including the debt it owes to different banks. Once known as one of the best cement factories in the country, HCF has been pushed to the present sorry state due to government intervention, inefficient management and selfish employees, the report concluded. Himal khabarpatrika (Feb. 13-27, 2002) reports.

Nepal-India Talks This Week

The seventh round of trade talks between Nepali and Indian officials is to be held in the Indian capital New Delhi on February 27-28, officials said. The meeting is taking place only a week ahead of the expiry of the bilateral trade treaty. Officials from both the countries had met in Kathmandu last week to discuss the issue. Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies will be leading a Nepalese delegation to the talks. "We hope that the talks will be decisive this time," said Purushottam Ojha, joint secretary at the Ministry. He said that issues including export surge, value addition and quantitative restrictions on Nepalese export items will come under a package and that they will not be dealt with separately. Compiled from reports Feb. 25.

Foreign Nationals In Achham Attacks

A security personnel injured during the devastating attacks in Achham has said some of the assailants using sophisticated weapons were of foreign origin, a leading daily reported Friday. Some half a dozen people, up to five feet in height, spoke a language that could not be understood, he said. These foreign nationals used weapons including self-loading rifles (SLR), Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and machineguns against army helicopter Sunday morning, the injured policemen undergoing treatment in Kathmandu said. They could be identified easily from the crowd of thousands of Nepalese people who were carrying bamboo baskets and straw (on their back), he said. Kantipur Feb. 22.

US, Russia Condemn Attacks

The US government has condemned attacks on government installations in Nepal over the weekend by Maoist rebels. A spokesman of the US State Department, Richard Bouhcer, said last Tuesday the US government calls on the Maoists, as ever before, to pursue their goals peacefully within the democratic framework established by Nepal's constitution. Meanwhile, the Russian government has also condemned last Saturday's attacks in Achham district by Maoist insurgents. In a press statement issued here Thursday, the embassy of Russian Federation said the incident was "yet another striking confirmation" of the fact that the terror unleashed by extremists was a serious threat to the security of Nepal. It also expressed concerns over what it said frequent barbaric acts of local leftist groups. Compiled from reports Feb. 22.

“Black Clouds Hovering Over The Nation” - Nepal

A month ago an Indian newspaper wrote an editorial supporting the Maoists. By writing they were not anti-religion, anti-development, anti-progress, it stated Maoists were not terrorists but rebels fighting for social progress and directly rejected the policy of the Nepalese government. Everybody knows that editorial is cent percent false. The editorial, written in Delhi, does not reflect the reality and touch the pains experienced by Nepalese society, people and the nation because of Maoists. Clearly, the paper, published from a country like India where press standards are high, did not write all those things out of ignorance. So why did it write a cent percent false editorial? This is a subject for serious concern. The same newspaper again wrote another editorial last week where it has deplored the policy of Nepalese government vis-a-vis Maoists. It has raised objections against US Secretary of State for attempting to help Nepal and has goaded the Indian government to "tame Nepal". When reading the editorial, it seems -- the editor thinks he is the Mahadev God asking his Nandi-Bhringi (followers), the rulers of Nepal, to not to do anything against Maoists. How can we say that the editorial published on the eve of the ratification of the emergency by the parliament does not have any special meaning at all? Another Indian English newspaper published similarly serious news. Modern sophisticated weapons were stolen from two barracks in India. And they entered Nepal through two points. The eastern route led from Sarlahi to Sindhuli and the western route from Banke to Dailekh. Why did those weapons entered Nepal? How could the so-called Indian border security force, which harasses simple Nepalese when entering India, allow the movement of such a big contingent of arms. Can anybody take it easily when a band of hundreds of people enter Nepal with big arms contingent, and Indian papers publish the report full with the routes through which they enter? Nobody would have been serious if it were the matters of mere editorials and newsreports. Incidents in keeping with those editorials and newsreports are happening everyday in the country. First thing, the trade treaty is still not renewed. The complications raised by the Indian side is aimed at fanning instability in Nepal. Knowing that Nepal is in a difficulty, the Indian side is trying to add to its woes. Otherwise, had India been a true friend of Nepal, would not it have come forward itself and did away with the obstructions. Not only that, villagers have reported that there were at least one hundred Indian faces involved during the attacks of Falgun 6 in Accham. They had tea in the village and spoke in English. Their hairs were curly and they were from South India. Some of those hearing these reports may say it smells of exaggeration. They should go themselves to Achham and find the truth. In fact, many people from Achham go to Indian cities like Mumbai and Madras for work and they are fairly acquainted with Indian faces and dialects. Some would say they are Indian Maoists. But how could such large numbers of them enter Nepal with arms. And there are doubts that they may not be Indian Maoists. Who were they? There are many questions like this. But every Nepalese should seek the answers to these questions. (Excerpts of an article written by former minister and spokesman of the main opposition party UML Pradeep Kumar Nepal, Rajdhani daily, February 25).