News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Amar Lama, Driver Of Madan Bhandari, Shot Dead

Amar Lama, the driver of the jeep that met with an accident in 1993 killing late Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) general secretary Madan Bhandari, was kidnapped and later shot dead in a dramatic incident in the capital on Sunday (July 27). Three unidentified persons barged into Lama's office of Tajakhabar weekly, a tabloid, in Kalikasthan in the afternoon and abducted him. Two hours later, Lama was shot dead in the middle of the marketplace in Kirtipur. Eyewitnesses saw Lama running away from his captors calling for help. Unfortunately, he was shot point blank by his abductors. Lama's sudden killing is seen as a mysterious incident particularly with conspiracy theories still abounding regarding the death of Bhandari a decade ago. Lama was the sole survivor in 1993 when the jeep he was driving plunged into Trishuli river killing Bhandari as well as another UML leader Jeev Raj Ashrit. UML had then accused Lama of killing its leaders. Chitwan district court handed down a life sentence to him for negligence. The Supreme Court later reduced the sentence and Lama was released after serving five years in jail. Of late, he was associated with Nepali Congress (NC) party. Police have launched a massive manhunt to locate Lama's killers. Meanwhile, NC has charged that Lama has been killed due to political revenge and has demanded inquiry. Leading dailies report.

USCR Mulls Third Country Settlement As Durable Alternative

After visiting the Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal, Hiram A. Ruiz, Director of Communications of the US Committee for Refugees (USCR) said that all must honor the rights of repatriation. Otherwise, he said, the USCR proposes "local integration" and "third country resettlement" if their repatriation was not possible. Welcoming Nepal's offer for local integration of some of the refugees, Ruiz said that the international community, including the United States, India and the European Union should also provide resettlement opportunities. "Bhutan has obligation to permit the return of the refugees so that the refugees are able to exercise their basic rights." Regarding the possible US sanctions against Bhutan, Ruiz said, "We cannot advocate any action against Bhutan. But considering the fact that the Druk regime has been successful in delaying the solution for over 13 years, we may lend our support to such a recommendation." Terming the report by the Joint Verification Team (JVT) about the refugees at Khudunabari camp as "sham and unjustified", Ruiz emphasized on the role of India in solving the issue. Compiled from reports.

Maoists Extorting Bus Passengers

The rebels have started compelling the passengers of the bus plying in the Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura route in the far west to pay them Rs 50 each as ëdonations'. The route is of 40 kilometers distance. Likewise, the armed rebels are also extorting money from passengers in the routes like Dadeldhura-Baitadi, Dadeldhura-Darchula and Khodpe-Bajhang. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurs of transport in the far west declined to make any comment on the issue. Kantipur daily reports.

Economic Package Soon In Maoist-Hit Areas

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani has promised to implement economic packages aimed at financial progress of residents of the Maoists-hit areas soon. Dr. Lohani said that he has already directed concerned officials to carry out the package. "The Rs 500 million for road development in Karnali zone will be immediately released," he said. The economic packages will be targeted on employment and income generation activities. He said the road will touch Jumla and Kalikot district within this year. This effort will provide employment to 75,000 local people. He, however, added that peace would be the pre-requisite to carry out these development efforts. Leading dailies report.

King Meets With NC Leader Bhattarai

King Gyanendra met with Nepali Congress founding leader and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai on Saturday. Bhattarai, who has been leading an isolated life for the last one year, made a meaningful trip to the Narayanhity Royal Palace. He said he talked with the King about the October 4 incident and the political developments. "I told the King that the steps October 4 were improper and I am happy with his response and assurances," said Bhattarai. "I do not wish to become known in history as the King who snatched people's rights," Bhattarai quoted the monarch to have told him. The senior congressman, who had been keeping mum on the country's political development, said he was now ready to make his views public. He did not comment on the agitation being carried out by political parties. He, however, urged the Maoists to abandon violence. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists Driving Wedge Between King And Army: Deuba

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the Maoists were carrying out their strategy to develop fissures in the relation between the King and the army. "Maoists are increasing the gap between the King and the army. They are currently in the process of garnering strength," said Deuba, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) speaking at a public program in Pokhara on Friday (July 25). The Maoists are luring youths from cities and villages into its fold by claiming that the "talks will be successful and they will be converted into national army". He said there was little chance of Maoists immediately returning to jungle "as they had suffered immense losses during my tenure". Deuba also accused the rebels of driving the wedge between himself and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala. Leading dailies report.

Bhutan To Demolish Nepalese-Style Houses

The Bhutanese authorities have directed to demolish the houses of people of Nepalese origin in southern parts of the Druk Kingdom. The local authorities have ordered the demolition of Nepalese-style houses allowing the construction of only the Bhutanese-model ones. Notices to this effect have been put in public places. The latest move is seen as another attempt in the series of Bhutanese move to undermine the language, tradition, festival, culture, religion and practice of people of Nepalese origin who have been living in Bhutan for many decades. Local people accuse the Bhutanese government of importing Muslim people from India to live in the area to undermine their religion. Meanwhile, the UNHCR has said it is ready to involve itself as third party in the talks for resolving refugee issue if the two sides invite it. Refugee leaders have been calling for the third party involvement. Kantipur daily reports.

Security Forces On High Alert

The meeting of the National Defense Council (NDC) held on Thursday (July 24) decided to keep security forces on high alert given the volatile condition resulting in stalled peace process. The NDC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and participated by its members including Home and Defense Secretaries and chiefs of security forces. Meanwhile, top military officials met at the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) headquarters on Thursday to discuss the new developments. The military officials discussed on the contents of the Maoist replies, in which the rebels have leveled serious charges against the RNA. Leading dailies report.

Nepal Lashes Out At The Rebels

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) condemned the Maoists for terming the political parties as status quoists. The Maoists have criticized the political parties in their reply letter to the government. Nepal said the letter was a challenge to both the state and the parties. He also asked the Maoists to come clear where they stand. "Do they support the movement to restore people's right or accept the regression?" Leading dailies report.

Facilitators Confident Of Talks Resumption

In separate programs organized in the capital on Thursday (July 24), talks facilitators Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya have expressed confidence that the talks between the government and the Maoists will resume. Both of them said that the two warring sides were unable to create confidence-building measures resulting in current deadlock. "The present deadlock emerged because the agreements reached in earlier two rounds of talks were not in writing and both sides breached them," said Upadhyaya. Leading dailies report.

Maoists To Launch FM Radio In Far West

The local Maoist leaders have claimed that they are making final preparations to launch their own FM radio station that would air their views in the seven remote districts of the far western region. "The radio station will start operating within one month at the most," said Bichitra, a local Maoist leader. The rebels have claimed that initially the station will air for 10 hours a day. Its towers and equipment are in very secure location, they claimed. A high level Maoist leader said that they felt the need to operate their own radio station to counter the "domination of media sector by the capitalists." Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports July 25.

CNI To Organize Partnership Summit

With the objective of helping Nepal achieve a high and sustainable growth, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is organizing a Partnership Summit 2003. According to CNI, the central theme of the summit is "Can Nepal achieve a double digit growth: How and When?" The same may sound ambitious but Nepal has actually achieved 8 percent growth earlier, the CNI notes. Eminent professionals and experts from Nepal and leaders of political parties are scheduled to participate in the meet. N.R. Narayana Murthy, chairman of the board of Infosys Technologies Ltd and GL Peiris, Sri Lankan minister in charge of the peace process there, have already confirmed their participation. While Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, director and Quentelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Columbia University, USA, will be participating via vide-conferencing. Leading dailies report.