News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Govt. And Maoists Sit For Talks

After a long wait, the government and the Maoists are finally sitting down for the first round of talks on Sunday afternoon (April 27) in Kathmandu. It comes after three months of the announcement of ceasefire by the two warring sides. Following the aborted talks last week, the Maoists agreed to sit for today's talks after they claimed to have received assurance from the government that the latter would headlong enter into discussing political agenda. The rebels walked away from the talks at the last minute last week saying they were not keen to sit for mere "introductory talks". The full-fledged talks team of both the government and the Maoists will be sitting for today's talks. The members of the Maoists talks team include Dr. Baburam Bhattarai (coordinator), Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Matrika Yadav and Dev Gurung and the members of the government talks team include Deputy prime minister Badri Prasad Mandal (coordinator), minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, minister Narayan Singh Pun, minister Dr. Upendra Devkota, minister Kamal Prasad Chaulagain and assistant minister Anuradha Koirala. Meanwhile, reports say that today's talks would appoint the team for monitoring the code of conduct as well as facilitators. Both sides are giving finishing touches to their agenda for Sunday's talks. Compiled from reports.

Maoist Mend Ties With UML, Political Parties

The Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai went into a damage control exercise on Friday (April 25) meeting with the general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal. Dr. Bhattarai assured Nepal that the Maoists had no intention of sabotaging the joint agitation against regression announced by the political parties. He refuted the statements attributed to him by the media accusing political parties of trying to foil the peace talks by announcing joint agitation. "We oppose regression. Therefore, we are supportive of political parties' agitation against regression," Nepal quoted Dr. Bhattarai to have said to him. Earlier, leaders of UML and other political parties had strongly criticized the Maoists for trying to strengthen the hands of what they call illegitimate government by denouncing the joint agitation. With this there has been improvement over the relations between the Maoists and the political parties, reports say. Leading dailies report.

Singning anti-terror pact

Nepal, US Sign Counter-Terrorism Pact

The government of Nepal and the United States signed a Memorandum of Intent formalizing and strengthening both nations' participation in the Antiterrorism Assistance Program. Home secretary Tika Dutta Niraula, on behalf of Nepalese government, and Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, on behalf of the US government, signed the Memorandum of Intent, which allows further cooperation between both nations in the fight against terrorism. The Antiterrorism Assistance program was created in 1983 by the US Congress and provides training, consultative and equipment resource assistance to partner nations. The program focuses on advanced investigative, security and counter-terrorism techniques, with a goal of rooting out all forms of terrorism and deterring future terrorist acts. The program uses a multi-disciplinary approach, stresses respect for human rights, and employs subject matter experts from a variety of US government agencies. Nepal is one of over 127 nations that have taken part in this program to combat terrorist activity. "This agreement is a symbol of the special relationship that exists between the United States and Nepal, and their mutual interests in halting terrorism," states the press release by the US Embassy. According to the release, over 200 Nepali officials have received training through this program in eight specialized subject areas in the last two years. Compiled from reports.

US Pressure On NC To Stay Away From Joint Agitation

A leader of Nepali Congress (NC) revealed that authorities of the American mission have exerted pressure on the party to stay away from the joint agitation of the political parties. "This movement (for agitation) is dominated by communists. As it benefits them, it is important for you should stay clear of it," a Congress leader quoted the American pressure. But the Congress is said to have replied that as the agitation was against regression, it would not back down. Meanwhile, general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal, speaking at a public program on Friday, said, "Various powers tried to foil the movement various times. Just yesterday, one of us received a call. They told one of us to back down from the movement saying it would only benefit communists. But we are not going to fall for this kind of trap." Kantipur daily reports April 26.

Maoists Accuse Govt Of Conniving With Foreign Powers

Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, the coordinator of the Maoist talks team bitterly criticized the recent counter-terrorism pact signed by Nepalese and American government. "On one hand, the government is pretending to be serious for talks, while on the other it is conniving with the United States to crush the peoples war waged by the Maoists," said addressing a public meeting in Biratnagar, eastern Nepal on Saturday (April 26). He also denounced the statement by the Indian army chief, who during his recent visit to Nepal, assured of further weapons support to Royal Nepalese Army. "The country may lose its sovereignty and the independence if the talks failed because of the vested interest of the foreigners." He claimed that reports prepared by the defense ministry of the United Kingdom and the CIA of the US have recommended an early interference of the US in Nepal because the government has failed to face the Maoist firepower. He, however, also added that "We have come to restore the peace. We will not walk out from the talks like in the past." Leading dailies report.

Political Parties To Hold People's Movement

The meeting of the leaders of the five political parties declared they were ready to hold the people's movement "to restore the people's right". The leaders of Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), People's Front (PF), Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party — Anandi Devi faction (NSP) have decided to launch joint people's movement. The parties also decided to form people's movement coordination committee. The parties had earlier stated that they would announce the schedule about their people's movement at a joint mass meeting on May 4. Meanwhile, the leaders of the five parties criticized the statement of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, who alleged them of attempting to foil the environment of peace talks. According to them, the peace talks and people's movement will be complimentary. In another development, senior Congress leader Shailaja Acharya bitterly criticized the decision of her party leaders to launch people's movement. "It is not the ripe time to launch people's movement when the whole identity of the nation is in crisis," said former Deputy Prime Minister Acharya. Compiled from reports.

One Maoist Killed In Exchange Of Fire

In what appears to be the first serious incident involving the breach of ceasefire, one Maoist rebel died in an exchange of fire with the security forces. A group of 200 armed Maoist rebels opened fire to the patrolling security forces in Namje village of Okhaldhunga district on Thursday (April 24), according to reports. One lady Maoist guerrilla died after getting hit by the retaliatory fire following which the rebels fled the scene, the reports said. The dead body of the lady was found wearing combat dresses and carrying a walkie talkie. Ramesh Nath Pandey, Minister for Information and Communication and spokesperson of the government said that the government was investigating about the incident. "The incident is unfortunate and sad. More so as it occurred just before the talks," said Pandey, who is also a member of government talks team. Meanwhile, Nepal Samacharpatra daily quotes a member of Maoist talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara as saying that the Maoists are seeking apology from the government about the incident. "We have sent the message through Minister Pun asking the government to apologize for breaching the code of conduct," Mahara said. Compiled from reports.

Dr. Bhattarai Irked By Army Statement

Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, coordinator of the Maoists talks team, termed as "irresponsible" the statements attributed to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in the newspapers of Wednesday (April 23) where it was reported that the RNA wanted the issue of returning its looted weapons (by the Maoists) be included in the agenda of talks. He warned that such actions could sabotage the peace talks. Talking to reporters in the western Nepal, Dr. Bhattarai also criticized the political parties for engaging in "aimless" movement. He added that at present the peace talks between the government and the Maoists had been merely suspended and not broken. "When the King and the government come prepared with their agenda, we will sit for the talks," he said. Compiled from reports.

Bhutanese Maoists Party Urges For People's War

Accusing the current Bhutanese regime of going down the path of "Sikkimization" and selling out to India on vital issues, the Bhutanese Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) has urged the Bhutanese people for the long term people's war. Stating its objective of overthrowing the monarchy in Bhutan, the party has said, in an appeal, its movement is to oppose the ethnic cleansing and discrimination as well. It has also urged the India for fruitful cooperation in repatriating the refugees "since the refugees entered Nepal passing through Indian territory". The appeal also mentions that the party will adopt the strategy of taking over villages and encircling the towns. But it does not mention the date when it will begin the "people's war". Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

RNA Engaged In Development Works

Following the ceasefire, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) is actively engaged in constructing roads in the remote areas, said Colonel Deepak Gurung, director of the public relations, RNA at a press meet on Tuesday (April 22). The road sections in western, mid-western and eastern districts are being constructed by the RNA soldiers. Meanwhile, the RNA officials revealed that they have till now recovered only around 15 percent of weapons that were looted by the Maoists. "Recovering such arms should be an agenda of the peace talks," said colonel Ramindra Chhetri, chief of psychological operations wing of the RNA. The army officials also said it would depend on the outcome of the peace talks whether the RNA would agree to amalgamate the fighters of the Maoists in its fold. "There are certain criteria like age, training which are mandatory to enter the RNA. Without fulfilling the criteria no one can enter or institution," said B.A. Kumar Sharma, brigadier general, hinting that merging the Maoist fighters with the RNA may not be that simple. Sharma, who is also the chief of the RNA's human rights cell, said that his wing is continuing with the investigations on allegations of human rights abuses by the army personnel. The army officials also said that the RNA was fully committed to abide by the peace code of conduct. Leading dailies report.