News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Mixed Reaction To Pokhara Speech

Political leaders have given mixed response to King Gyanendra’s speech in Pokhara. Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), said, “There is nothing new in the speech. Only new words have been used to express the same old things. There are promises only,” said Nepal. “A promise has been made to hold the polls in 2061 but it does not look likely.” Likewise, Ram Chandra Poudel, senior leader of Nepali Congress (NC), said, “The speech is full of formalities and it does not have any concrete program to resolve the political problem.” Lokendra Bahadur Chand, former prime minister and leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has welcomed King’s speech saying, “The King has outlined his commitment to (hand over) to the elected representatives. It is now up to the political parties to take initiatives from their end.” Analysts have said that Pokhara speech is relatively mild on the political parties. “There are no criticisms against parties. Rather the King has asked for their cooperation to sort out the problem,” said an analyst. Leading dailies report.

Two Women Die Of Blockade

Two women have died in Dadeldhura district after they failed to get timely treatment due to blockade by the Maoists. After the Maoists blocked the movement of Red Cross ambulance, Chitra Thapa, 22, a women who was suffering from excessive bleeding after delivering a baby eleven days, died. She had been referred by local doctor to Indian hospital. Likewise, another pregnant woman of Debal VDC of the district, too, died after she could not be carried to district headquarters for treatment. Rural health workers have said that the Maoists have even been blocking the movement of ambulances and vehicles carrying medicines. Meanwhile, a passenger died after the Maoists exploded a cylinder bomb in a passenger bus in Mugling on Sunday (March 28). The bus was en route from Kathmandu to Saptari when it was attacked near Jugedi of Chitwan district. In another incident, a jeep carrying exam officials and SLC question papers was ambushed by the Maoists at Kirannala of the Nepalgunj-Gulariya sector. Though the rear of the vehicles was damaged, the question papers were safe. Three people were injured in the incident. Compiled from reports.

Govt. Needs Us$ 82 Million To Meet Education Goals

The government needs a total of US$ 82 million for the next five years to meet its goals for the education sector. According to the draft paper on the education sector for discussion at the upcoming Nepal Development Forum (NDF), if the resource gap is not fulfilled it would be difficult to achieve the various policy goals and objectives of the education. The sub-sectors of education are Education for All (EFA), Secondary and Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Higher Education. In order to achieve the EFA goals, a resource gap of US$ 29 million needs to be filled. Likewise, there is resource gap of around US$ 35 million and US$ 10 million for the Secondary Education and Technical and Vocational Education respectively. Moreover, there is no donor support for higher education. The NDF is going to be held in Kathmandu on May 5-6. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Maoists Use Dialogue As Ploy: Minister Thapa

Home Minister Kamal Thapa denounced the double standard of the Maoists who he said talk about UN mediation, on the one hand, and continue in deaths and destruction, on the other hand. “In the past they have used dialogues as a ploy – to regroup, to step up recruitment and to accumulate weapons,” he charged speaking to reporters in Pokhara. Minister Thapa also said that even though the government sees the UN’s desire for peace in Nepal sincerely, there was no need for third party mediation. “We believe that we ourselves are capable of resolving the problem,” he added. Minister Thapa said that talks just for the sake of talks are useless. “If the Maoists are sincere about resolving the problem peacefully through talks, they must first cease their violent activities.” He stressed that the government was resolute in its commitment to hold the elections. Leading dailies report.

NEPSE Tumbles By 1.75 Points

The only capital market of the country Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index point tumbled by 11.75 points in the last one week – a major drop. In the previous week, the NEPSE had dropped by 0.78 points. The sharp drop witnessed last week is said to have been caused by two developments – the ending of the annual general meeting of Himalayan Bank Limited (HBL) and the decline in market capitalization in the aftermath of cancellation of the listing of Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) in the index. The HBL, in its AGM, gave 2 percent cash dividend and 25 percent share dividend to its shareholders resulting in the increase in the supply of shares. Likewise, NBL decided to de-list itself from the index – the decision which has been deemed appropriate even by Nepal Rastra Bank. “The NBL will again enlist itself after its financial position strengthens,” said Mukunda Dhungel, general manager of NEPSE.

Govt. Serious On Annan Appeal: PM

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said that the government is serious about the appeal made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. “When an appeal comes from a person like UN Secretary General, we obviously have to look at it seriously,” said PM Thapa, talking to reporters who had gone to meet him on Thursday to submit a 9-point memo including demands for the security and development of Nepalese journalists. After the Myagdi attack, Annan had issued an appeal calling both the government and the Maoists to end the conflict and find resolution to their conflict in a peaceful manner. Meanwhile, the government is expected to express its commitment to protect human rights situation in the country on Friday. PM Thapa will speak about the government’s strategy in this direction. Leading dailies report

Prachanda Welcomes Annan Appeal

Maoist chairman Prachanda has welcomed the appeal by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who had asked both the government and the rebels to cease the war immediately. In a statement, Prachanda has said that his party takes Annan’s appeal as a part of responsible initiative by international community. Prachanda had, in the recent past, expressed that the Maoists are ready to accept UN mediation in the peace process in Nepal. Leading dailies report.

RNA Scuttled Maoist Plan Of 3 Day Siege Of Beni

The Maoists would have captured Beni, the Myagdi district headquarters, for three days and nights to pressurize the government, had the security forces not fought well continuously for 12 hours, a seized video cassette has revealed. “The Maoists were desperate to overrun the entire Beni force, but their plan went haywire,” the commander of the Kali Prasad Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Raju Nepal said. About 1500 Maoists of the thousands who turned up on the day of the attack were hardcore militants. This has been revealed by a seized video cassette in which the Maoist division commander Nanda Kishore Pun, aka Pasang, is shown briefing the armed Maoists some weeks ago about the Beni attack in an unknown location. The rebel commander in his briefing is shown using a ‘town model’ of Beni to ensure everything goes well. “The attack will be historical,” the commander is shown telling the thousands of militants, mostly under 20 years old. The Maoists were confident about their victory in Beni as they had thought that army engineers don’t have the supporting weapons like 81 mm mortar and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) in their barracks. However, a borrowed 81 mm mortar from the RNA brigade headquarters in Pokhara turned useful for the Kali Prasad Battalion in countering the Maoists’ heavy firing from 81 mm mortars. Security forces have so far recovered only 120 Maoists’ bodies in Arthungedanda, Jyamiredanda and on the Kali Gandaki riverbeds, but locals agree with the army’s statement that more than 500 Maoists were killed. “The way the Maoists had carried their comrades, it seems several hundreds of them could have been killed,” said one Khaga Raj Poudel, 60, of Arthuge danda from where the Maoists had fired mortars to destroy government buildings. After watching the recovered video cassette, Chief of Army Staff, General Pyara Jung Thapa said: “Under the circumstances, it turned out to be a historical blow for the Maoists.” He also gave away an appreciation letter and a cash prize to Kali Prasad Battalion commander. “Normally, the Maoists run away in the morning after a heavy attack at night, but this time, they continued fighting till late in the morning next day to achieve their aim,” RNA’s western division commander, Brigadier General Prakash Bahadur Basnet said, adding, “However, he Maoists returned with a defeated mentality.” Madhav Regmi of the Nepal Red Cross said the security forces maintained discipline to reduce civilian casualties. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Foreign Hand In Maoist Move: Mandal, Mainali

Former deputy prime minister Badri Prasad Mandal and communist leader Radha Krishna Mainali, on Tuesday, suspected ‘foreign hand’ in the Maoist insurgency. Though they did not name any county, the duo indicated that some ‘groups operating in the neighborhood could be behind the Maoist movement.’ “Unquestionably foreign forces are involved in the rebellion,” Mandal, who is also the president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) told the reporters after a program organized by Forum for Intellectual Debate, citing suspected ‘foreign bodies’ in the recent Bhojpur and Beni attacks. “Top Maoist leaders cannot be traced in Nepal, and Girija Prasad Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal go to Indian cities (New Delhi, Siliguri and Lucknow) to meet them…. They (Maoist leaders) hold meeting with them in Indian cities,” Mainali said, “AK-47 rifles found in the Beni attack are either found in India or Sri Lanka.” The Himalayan Times daily reports.

US To Increase Aid To Nepal

The United States is likely to provide additional US$ 14 million in insurgency relevant aid to Nepal. The New York Times has reported that the USAID was exploring ways to add another US$ 14 by way of aid for the purpose. This would be in addition to the US$ 17 million the Bush administration is currently providing in military assistance to Nepal to crush Maoist insurgency. The US provides a total of US$ 38 million in development assistance, in addition to military assistance. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

JAZZMANDU 2004
An Exclusive Music Festival

Hannah Vasanth, a popular British Jazz player, performed here at a free concert at the premises of the British Council, Lainchaur on Sunday, 28th March, one day after the end of the two-week long Jazzmandu 2004 music festival. This was their last show before leaving for Britain. Although the Jazzmandu festival is going to be extended to the western city of Pokhara, Hannah Vasanth - who had come here to attend the Jazzmandu festival - will not be able to make it in Pokhara this time.

Brigetee Beraha, the vocalist of the band was visibly very exhilarated while singing "Autumn Leaves" and " somewhere over the rainbow" among a group of some hundred guests from different walks of life, invited by the organizers.

The "Hannah Vasanth" includes of herself as the songwriter and pianist, Tom Mason as the bass guitarist and Brigetee Berah as the vocalist. At the show on Sunday (March 28) Nepalese musicians Navin, James, Siddhant and Jigmee of the Cadenza, a local Jazz band in Kathmandu, helped them by playing drums and Congo among other musical instruments.

Vasanth expressed her desire come back to Nepal again and conceded that they received a very warm welcome and a great response from the music lovers of Nepal.

Hannah Vasanth, 25, is a pianist cum lyricist who graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London. She has played piano and wrote songs for famous artists such as Celine Dion, Blazing Squad, 3SL and Urban Lady. She has performed with the likes of Gloria Gaynor and Shania Twain among others. Hannah has also performed at most prestigious venues in and around London, including the Jazz Cafe', Ronnie Scotts, Sound Republiz and the Caf� de Paris. She is currently recording a debut album with the renowned US producer Richard Niles.