News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

RNA Objects Against Anti-Monarchy Statements

In a strong reaction to statements by political parties criticizing the monarchy, Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) have raised serious objections to them. In a statement issued by MoD, it has stated that the political parties are involved in activities that damage the nation's integrity, sovereignty and independence at a time when efforts are being made to re-establishing peace. It charged the parties of creating illusion among the people by their "irresponsible and rude" criticism of the monarch. In a separate statement, RNA has charged that the political parties' criticism is misleading the people apart from damaging the national integrity and sovereignty. The army firmly stated that it was committed to pay any cost to perform its duty whole protecting national interests. The release also states that Maoist cadres have been creating obstacles in conducting health camps for conflict victims and local people in several mid-western regions. According to the ministry, the Maoist cadres are demanding extortion in districts, including Dhading. "The Maoist cadres have been demanding Rs 50 to Rs 5000 from civilians, Rs 1000 from the army soldiers' and policemen's families, Rs 2500 from the Indian army soldiers' families and Rs 5000 fro the kin of those working in the British Army and Singapore Police as extortion," added the release. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Second Round Of Talks Held

The second round of talks between the government and the Maoists completed on Friday (May 9) after the both sides formed a monitoring team to oversee the ceasefire and code of conduct. The monitoring team to be coordinated by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) would include representatives of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), National Dalit Commission (NDC), National Women Commission (NWC), Nepal Bar Association (NBA), Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Federation of Nationalities as well as individual members like Bal Krishna Neupane, Khem Lal devkota, Hem Bahadur Singh, Malla K. Sundar, Dr. Birendra Jhapali and D.R, Lamichhane. The talks also formulated three-point code of conduct for the monitoring team including applying uniform meaning and definition of the codes, monitoring whether ceasefire is complied with and constitute monitoring committees at 75 districts. Speaking to the media after the conclusion of two and a half hour long talks, members of Maoist and government talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Narayan Singh Pun, respectively, said they made a number of decisions to further "ease the environment of talks". During the talks, the government agreed to limit the activities of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) within the 5 kilometer radius of their barracks. This decision was reached after the Maoist side raised objection to the movement of RNA within "their territory". Krishna Bahadur Mahara said, "The agreements at the talks will further ease the atmosphere of talks." The talks also decided to adopt code of conduct for the facilitators. However, the talks did not feature any discussion on political agenda as the government side said they needed more time to study the Maoist proposals. In the first talks, the Maoists had put forth their political agenda including 24-point demands. The Friday's talks also decided to ask the homework team to take up political agenda and fix date for third round of talks. The Maoists handed over a list of what it calls 322 missing cadres and the government assured to look into it. Compiled from reports.

Parties Not To Disturb Everest Jubilee

The political parties have agreed that they will suspend their agitation programs like strikes, Bandhs and others during the golden jubilee celebration of the first ascent of Mount Everest. According to tourism entrepreneurs, the leaders of the parties like Nepali Congress, UML, NC-Democratic, NWPP have agreed not to hold their agitation during the period so as not to disturb the major tourism event. Likewise, the Maoists, too, have given commitment not to organize any disturbing programs during the period, say entrepreneurs. The celebration, which has been touted as a major tourism event in the country with hundreds of Everesters gathering here, will be observed from May 24 till 31. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports May 11.

Parties Kick Off Their Agitation

The five parties that announced a series of programs on Sunday (May 4) declaring open people's movement to force the King to hand back people's rights, kicked off their agitation on Thursday (May 8) by observing 20 minutes silence nationwide as a tribute to martyrs. Leading dailies report.

No SARS In Students Returning From China

Around 50 Nepalese students returned from China on Thai Airways on Thursday (May 8) amid fears of SARS. A team of doctors from the Shukraraj Tropical hospital examined the students for symptoms of SARS before allowing them to go to their homes. None of the students showed any symptoms but the doctors advised them to report to them after 10 days. The students were happy to return to home as panic has gripped cities in China with hundreds being affected with the dreaded disease. After the national flag carrier Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) suspended its flights to Shanghai, hundreds of Nepalese students were stranded in China. It was after the Thai Airways came to their rescue that these students could return home. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Obstruct Medical Teams

Maoists tried to dissuade local people from visiting the mobile medical teams set up by security forces in far-flung areas of mid-western districts but in vain. According to Kantipur daily, Maoists attempted to force people not to visit the medical camps set up by security forces in remote villages like Bhirul of Rolpa district, Mahat of Rukum, Pundhara of Dang and Damachaur of Salyan districts. In Damachaur, the Maoists even cut off the water supply pipe lines creating problems to the patients and medical team. When the medical team of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and police reached Bhirul Village Development Committee on Wednesday (May 7) evening, Maoists asked them to leave saying it was a breach of the peace code of conduct. "This is our special area. Your presence is a breach of code of conduct," the Maoists said via microphone. But the medical team replied they were there to provide humanitarian assistance to local people. The Maoists take 6 VDCs in Rolpa including Bhirul and 8 VDCs in Rukum including Mahat as their special area and have termed them "free of enemies". All these districts are heavily affected by Maoist insurgency. The rebels had pasted notices asking people not to visit the medical camps and at places even posed physical obstruction. But the local people turned out in large numbers disobeying the Maoist order on Thursday (May 8). According to the report, 4000 people visited medical camp at Damachaur, 4000 at Pundhara, 200 at Mahat and 300 at Bhirul. The medical team was dispatched by the RNA Division at Nepalgunj. The army officials say the large turn out of people at the camps was encouraging and a positive response to its campaign of providing humanitarian service as well as winning hearts and minds of local people. Kantipur daily reports May 9.

NOC Rolls Back Prices

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has slashed down the price of petroleum products. In the second roll back of prices in three weeks, the corporation announced that the price of kerosene has been brought down from Rs 27 (per liter) to Rs 24. Likewise, the price of petrol has been brought down from Rs 56 to Rs 54 and diesel from Rs 33.5 to Rs 31.5. Compiled from reports.

King Concerned Over The Moves By Political Parties

King Gyanendra has expressed deep concerns over the announcement of people's movement by the five political parties. He has regretted the charges leveled by the political parties. In an audience granted to several senior journalists on Wednesday (May 7), King Gyanendra said he was concerned by the prevailing misunderstanding despite his repeated commitment towards the multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. "I have expressed my commitment to the multi party democracy and constitutional monarchy at Biratnagar and also at Dhangadhi. But I am concerned why the misunderstanding still remains," King Gyanendra was quoted to have said by Narayan Wagle, news editor at KANTIPUR daily. King Gyanendra also said that he believes the time is for a concerted effort to build peace and that is what the Nepalese people want at present. About the appointment of Chand government, King Gyanendra said that he had appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand after the parties failed to come up with common candidate for the post of Prime minister in the aftermath of October 4 incident. "They couldn't come up with a common candidate and said any one of them would do. So, I appointed Chand," King Gyanendra is quoted. He said he had no problem giving joint audience to leaders of political parties but added they should first come with proper and clear plans. Kantipur daily reports May 8.

Prachanda Warns US Not To Interfere

The chairman of Maoists Prachanda has asked the United States of America not to interfere with the rights of self determination of Nepalese people. In a press statement released recently, Prachanda reacted strongly against the inclusion of his party in the list of Other Terrorist Groups that was published by the US Department of State last week. In his statement, Prachanda accused that the US and Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) were bent on sabotaging the peace talks pointing to their inclusion in the terrorist list, the anti-terror pact between Nepal and the US and open threats given from time to time by the US Ambassador. He also asked the RNA to stop harboring any thoughts of quashing the Maoists just by getting few weapons from America. He said the US wanted to have Nepal in its fist so as to further its strategic agenda in this region. Leading dailies report.

30 B Rupees Worth Illegal Trade Between Nepal, India

A report has shown that whopping 30 billion rupees worth of trade is illegally conducted from the Nepal-India border exploiting the open border and lax custom machinery. The World Bank's South Asia Network of Economic Institute had conducted thorough study at the border recently. Its report states that this smuggling and illegal trade comprises staggering 52 percent of the total trade that goes on between the two countries. Interestingly, the report indicates that the flow of smuggled goods takes place from both sides. The smuggling worth around 15 billion rupees each takes place from either side. Clothes are the favorite items of smugglers. Massive quantities of Indian clothes are smuggled into Nepal and Chinese clothes are smuggled into India. The report comes at a time when India has been accusing of huge smuggling of goods from Nepal only. This report can be used as a basis by Nepalese authorities to convince their Indian counterparts that the smuggling has been hurting both the countries, say experts. Kantipur daily reports. May 7.