News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Over 50 Rebels Killed, Claim Security Sources

Security officials have claimed that over 50 rebels and four security personnel died in separate clashes in the past 24 hours across the country. In a major clash in Bindyabasini in Achham district, at least 20 Maoists were killed, claimed an army official quoting soldiers on the ground. Two security personnel were also killed in the incident. Likewise, rebels shot dead two policemen in Kailali district. In another clash in Ghartigaun in Rolpa, at least 15 rebels are suspected to have been killed. About 20 Maoists were also claimed to have been killed in a separate clash that took place in Parbat on Saturday (September 6). Reports say that over 1000 rebels attacked joint security force in Parbat. The security forced had gone to the area with prior information of large rebel concentration there. After the clashes began, reinforcement was rushed to the site from attack helicopters. A large amount of logistic equipment and weapons were recovered after the incident. The Himalayan Times daily reports September 8.

Maoists Hack A Journalist To Death

A group of armed Maoists abducted and immediately hacked to death a journalist working for the National News Agency in Melamchi area of Sindhupalchowk district on Sunday (September 7). Gyanendra Khadka, 35, was bound in his hands and legs and tied to a volley-ball post before the rebels hacked him to death. Khadka also worked as a teacher at the local Janata secondary school. Khadka is survived by his wife and three children. Leading dailies report.

Border Vigil Averting Major Assault

Owing to heightened security and strong vigil along the borders, the Maoists may not have been able to launch a massive armed offensive in the country, a high-ranking security official said on Sunday (September 7). Meanwhile, a minister, referring to the recent Maoist activities, said the rebels are trying to create a bigger impact with small incidents. “The fact that the international support is against them is making things all the more difficult for the Maoists,” he said. According to the official the vigil along border areas has prevented the rebels from transporting arms and ammunitions. He further said the rebels might have shifted their strength to the eastern region from the west. The Maoists have targeted the country’s bigwigs in the latest offensive. All seven members of the cabinet, including Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, are in their hit list, a high-level government source confided. Assessing the situation, the minister on the other hand ruled out the possibility of the Maoists returning to the negotiating table in the immediate future. “Unless the lower rung of the Maoists are affected, talks may not materialize,” he said. “Besides, with the security tightened along the border areas, the Maoists may have faced difficulty in transporting arms and ammunitions from across the border. The small scale offensives on security posts and attacks on banks thus could be a move to collect arms and cash,” the official said. The official also said that the government has decided to launch armed offensives wherever necessary to quell the Maoist violence. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

King’s Emissary Has Good News For Parties

The political parties like Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) have been told that the King is willing to join hands with them after the Maoists’ walkout from the peace process. Prabhakar SJB Rana, a businessman who is close to King Gyanendra, has been reported as meeting with top leaders of the party to convey the royal message. The address by NC president Girija Prasad Koirala a few days back when he told his party cadres that he has received some positive indication regarding the outcome of their agitation, is also seen as being the response to the royal message. King Gyanendra is returning home from London on September 10. Leading dailies report.

Global FDI Declines

According to the World Investment Report 2003 prepared by the UNCTAD, the global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has declined again in 2002 due to poor economic performance for the second consecutive year. According to Alessandra Tisot, acting resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the FDI flows declined in 108 economies out of 195 in 2002 due to slow economic growth. Nepal is no exception to this pattern, she said. The report states that the FDI volume declined by 21 percent to reach US$ 651 billion in 2002. In the previous year it had declined by 40 percent. Compared to the peak in the year 2000, the current level of FDI is almost half. In Nepal, the report stated that compared to FDI amount of US$ 21 million in the year 2001, it has come down to US$ 10 million in 2002. Hari Bahadur Basnet, minister for industry, commerce and supplies said that as FDI plays crucial role in boosting economic growth, the government has been trying hard to attract FDI by changing and reforming industrial related acts and policies in recent times. Bharat Bahadur Thapa, director general of Department of Industries said that the FDI trend in Nepal is not constant. The trend in FDI flow to Nepal is not what it was in 1992-93, Thapa said. According to him, at present the total FDI in Nepal stands at Rs 22 billion. According to Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, the FDI in Nepal are not labor intensive. They provide employment opportunities to around 92,000 people. Leading dailies report.

Prachanda Writes To Annan

The chairman of Maoists comrade Prachanda has written a letter to United Nations Secretary General requesting him to take steps to prevent external intervention in Nepal’s internal conflict. Explaining why the Maoists had to back out from the peace process, Prachanda alleged that Nepal’s ‘old regime’ was responsible for its collapse. Nepal Samacharpatra reports.

Security Forces Detain 150 Students

The security forces have detained around 150 students belonging to the Nepal Students Union (NSU) – student wing of NC – from Tri Chandra College in Kathmandu on Wednesday night (September 3). The security forces raided the college hostel at around 11 pm and detained the students who were staying there. The students had gathered in Kathmandu from different parts of the country to take part in the NSU’s national convention as well as to take part in the agitation, it is said. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Should Be Isolated: US Envoy

American Ambassador to Nepal Michael E. Malinowski has said that all should be united against terrorism to isolate the Maoists. Speaking at a program by Rotary Club, the envoy said that if there is strong resistance from within the country, there will be no possibility of any external intervention. He added that the crisis in Nepal had roots in socio-economic situation. He also said that no amount of condemnation is enough against mindless terrorism. Kantipur daily reports.

Endless Possibilities In Indo-Nepal Relations: Sharan

The Indian ambassador to Nepal Shyam Sharan said India and Nepal should have been more helpful to each other in ensuring national security in both the countries. Speaking at a program organized by Nepal-India Friendship Society on September 2, Sharan said India and Nepal have shared security problems and challenges. “Problems in either country can directly affect the other. Nepal could have been more helpful to India in checking the problem of cross border terrorism while India, too, could have cooperated with Nepal in ensuring its national security,” said he. “None can be independent if one is poor. Let us together deal with poverty first. Then we may come to political issues. As the weather conditions in Nepal are pleasant, the country can be the health and education center of South Asia, provided it adopts a new policy of liberalization.” Citing the example of counterfeit Indian currency notes, he said, “Nepal should not think it is a problem of the Indian government as this can have adverse and direct effect in the Nepali economy as well.” Sharan said the crisis that Nepal is facing for the past few years and the way the two countries responded to the same during those years have brought them together. “Endless possibilities are there for bilateral relations,” he said. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

RNA Chief Vows Strong Actions Against Maoists

General Pyar Jung Thapa, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Royal Nepalese Army has directed his officials to carry out effective and planned attacks targeting the military power and leadership of the Maoists. Addressing senior officials of the RNA, general Thapa said RNA was prepared to carry out the responsibilities in a disciplined and strong fashion in order to rid the Nepalese people of this difficult situation. In a first such collective directions issued after the breakdown of ceasefire, general Thapa said that the selected and targeted killings of individuals launched by the Maoists have further boosted the morale of the army to fight against the terrorists. “The Maoists used the ceasefire as a strategy to reorganize and regain the military power they had lost. The government had been flexible until the last moment and the army too continued to follow the code of conduct despite the propaganda against the institution. But the Maoists always sought for weakening the RNA.” According to him, long and short term plans are being implemented for infrastructure development, organizational improvement and to enhance the fighting capabilities of the army. “Valley command and several other units have been formed and the army is being given sophisticated weapons. The unified command is being prioritized.” General Thapa added that despite the crisis at home, RNA is all set to send an engineer company and an infantry battalion to the peace-keeping mission in Congo and Liberia. Leading dailies report.

Nepal Suffering Trade Deficit From Phulbari Route

Nepal suffered trade deficit to the tune of Rs 130 million in the last one year from trade transactions via Phulbari route – a transit route between Nepal and Bangladesh. According to Yadav Shiwakoti, chief of Nepal Transit and Godown Management Company, in the fiscal year 2059/060 (2001/2002), goods worth Rs 140.9 million were imported from the route whereas goods worth only Rs 11.7 million could be exported. In the last six years, goods worth Rs 253.9 million were exported while goods worth Rs 370.7 million were imported from the route. Kantipur daily reports.