News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

UML Reply To Maoists' Letter

A meeting of the standing committee of the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninist party has responded to a letter sent by Maoist leader Prachanda on resolving the insurgency. The UML has asked the rebels to clarify their stand. While describing the Maoists' indication to resume talks as positive, the party said it needed further evidence of their sincerity. The party asked the rebels to immediately stop violence, killings and destruction of physical infrastructure. The UML has assured the rebels of mediation in talks if they came forward sincerely. Last week, the Maoists had written letters to seven political parties, indicating their willingness to resolve the problem through talks. Most of the parties have asked the rebels to prove their sincerity. Compiled from reports.

British General's Visit To Assess

The visit by Sir Michael Boyce, chief of the British Defense Staff, to Nepal would focus on assessing the military needs of the country. British newspapers quoting security sources have reported that Gen. Boyce, who is arriving in Kathmandu on Friday (May 24) on a four-day visit, would also make a trip to Maoist-affected regions. The Independent newspaper reported that Gen. Boyce's visit would focus on assessing how the British government could help Nepal. The British government is preparing to provide night-vision equipment and helicopters. Gen. Boyce and his team would prepare a list of Nepal's needs and submit it to the British government. Compiled from reports.

Top Maoist Leader Arrested

Security officials have nabbed a senior Maoist leader from the capital. Krishna Sen Ichchuk, a central committee member of the Maoist party, was arrested in a security sweep in Battisputali area. Sen is the former editor of pro-Maoist Janadesh weekly. Security forces say he was functioning as the Maoist commander for Kathmandu. Security forces have also arrested Bharat Sigdel, a central member of the party, Shiva Tiwari, Atindra Neupane and Sangita Khadka. Leading dailies report.

Alternatives On Emergency Extension

Having dissolved the House of Representatives and called for fresh elections on November 13, the government now has two alternatives to extend the state of emergency. One is to pass the proposal through the National Assembly, which is a permanent house. The other is to let the current state of emergency expire and announce a fresh ordinance for the next three months. As the current state of emergency is going to expire on Friday (May 25), the National Assembly will have to pass it before that, which seems impossible, as its regulation spell that any motion introduced before it needs at least five days to mature. In this light, the government could suspend the regulations and call for speedy endorsement of its proposal. That, too, seems improbable given the fractured mandate in the Upper House. The government does not seem to have necessary votes to get its proposal through. In view of all these factors, analysts believe that the government would quickly prorogue the National Assembly and impose fresh state of emergency. Leading dailies report.

Appa Returns, Says He Will Retire

After scaling Mount Everest for a record 12 times, veteran mountaineer Appa Sherpa has decided to call it quits. Sherpa, who returned to the capital on Wednesday, said he gave in to pressure from family and friends. "I am not tired, but my family members do not want me to climb Everest any more," said the 42-year-old climber, who reached the Everest summit for the 12th time on May 16 guiding a Swiss expedition team. A huge crowd of well-wishers and friends had gathered at the airport to receive him. Appa told reporters that he would only travel up to the base camp. His wife was visibly delighted with his decision. He said he climbed the mountain so frequently not to set records. "I have to earn for my family," said the father of two sons and two daughters. Compiled from reports.

UML Says It Is Ready For Polls

Although the main opposition UML has heavily criticized the government's decision to dissolve parliament, it has welcomed the call for fresh polls. The main opposition party has urged all political groups to get ready for the polls, slated for November 13. After a standing committee meeting, party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said, "Now the country has moved toward the polls and we, along with all democratic forces, should prepare for them." He said he hoped the Maoists would not disrupt the elections as "they have extended solidarity with the forces involved in the People's Movement of 1990". The UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party have described the present political crisis as the result of long-running feuds within the Nepali Congress. The Nepal Sadbhavana Party has said the move would pose further crises in the country. Smaller left parties like the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and CPN (Masal), too, have criticized Deuba's decision. Leading dailies report.

Deuba's Decision Challenged In Court

In an expected development, a group of lawyers on Thursday challenged Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives. The petitioners have demanded the court issue an order of certiorari and other necessary orders, thereby reinstating the parliament. They claimed that the dissolution of the House of Representatives was "unconstitutional and prejudicial" since there was enough possibility of forming an alternative government from within the parliament. Every time a prime minister has decided to dissolve the parliament, he has been challenged in the apex court. But the Supreme Court has only once reinstated the parliament in 1995, when the House of Representatives was dissolved by then Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikary, who headed a minority UML government that was facing a no-confidence vote in parliament. Leading dailies report.

Upper House Prorogued

In the shortest parliamentary sitting yet, the 22nd session of the National Assembly was prorogued by His Majesty the King in accordance with the recommendation of the government on Friday night (May 24). The Upper House sat for less than three hours over two days. Since the government was not convinced that it could get its proposal for the extension of the emergency through the Upper House, it had to call off the session and issue a fresh ordinance re-imposing the emergency. Compiled from reports.

Small Leftist Groups For Dialogue

Leaders of small leftist parties have asked the government to initiate talks with the Maoists if it wants to hold elections in a free and fair manner. In separate statements, chairman of the United People's Front Amik Sherchan and president of the Patriotic Democratic Forum C.P. Mainali have warned that unless the Maoists were brought to the dialogue table, the elections could not be conducted in an open and transparent manner. Leading dailies report.

Defiant Yadav Repels Maoist Attack

Two innocent people and two rebels lost their lives during a battle after a group of Maoists attacked the residence of chairman of Manpur VDC in Rautahat district. Two rebels, including a commander, and two relatives of Shankar Raya Yadav, VDC chairman, died after nearly two dozen armed rebels attacked him. This is the fifth time the rebels have tried to kill Yadav. But holding on to his defiant posture, Yadav was successful in repelling the attack. He gunned down two rebels and injured many others. Yadav fought with the rebels alone for nearly an hour before they fled. Upon receiving information of the attack from the local people, security forces arrived at the scene and pursued the rebels. They took control of the rebels' tractors and weapons.Leading dailies report.

Bhattarai Hopeful Of Unity

Even as the ruling Nepali Congress moved one step closer to a formal split, its sole surviving founder member, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, expressed optimism that party president Girija Prasad Koirala would withdraw the expulsion order against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba within a week and unite the organization. The Deuba faction has decided to convene the general convention to put forth its views. The faction has not ruled out a split as a final option. There have been reports that the faction would create a new party with Ram Chandra Poudel as president and Khum Bahadur Khadka as general secretary. Poudel and Khadka are currently engaged in series of actions aimed at averting a split in the party. Meanwhile, party general secretary Sushil Koirala said the decision to expel Deuba for three years was normal, given the circumstances. He said the general convention could be called if the request came through the proper process. Compiled from reports.