News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

“Govt. Has Not Oppressed Agitation” PM Thapa

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has rejected charges by the five parties that the government forces tried to oppress the agitation by using force. Talking to reporters in Biratnagar on Saturday (April 3), PM Thapa said that the government will have no objection to agitation carried out by remaining within the norms and values of democracy. When asked about the police brutalities on Friday, PM Thapa said, “That was not oppression. That was only the attempt to control the (emotionally charged) crowd. Security forces are applying restraint but if the agitators go out of control and resort to vandalism and violence, they will have to control the crowd,” he said. PM Thapa said that the present problem of the country cannot be solved overnight and that the parties need to have patience. Kantipur daily reports.

Blasts Rock EC Building

Suspected Maoists exploded two bombs in a row in the backside of Bahadur Bhawan – the building housing the Elections Commission (EC) in Kantipath on Saturday (April 3) evening. The blast, that took place near its backyard boundary wall, damaged window panes of the building. Meanwhile, in Dhading, a blast at the District Education Office killed a peon. Three other civilians were also injured in the incident. In another incident, in Dadeldhura, Maoists have abducted around 150 local teachers from over three dozen schools. They have been taken to unknown location. Leading dailies report.

King Sensitive On All Party Government: Speaker

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that he has found King Gyanendra to be pretty sensitive over the demand for the all party government. Talking to reporters in Pokhara, Speaker Ranabhat said that the five parties should utilize the opportunity provided by Pokhara speech and bridge the gap with the monarchy. He said the ongoing agitation should be carried out in a manner to draw the attention of the King and should not stray towards making demands for a republic. “It is no time to stick to one’s own guns. Both the King and the parties have their own position. They must come together now,” he said. Speaker Ranabhat who is in Pokhara to take part in the felicitation also had met with the King. “I urged the King to form all party government before going for the election. The King was sensitive to this demand,” he said. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists Lend Their Support To Parties

In a new development, the Maoists have said that they will lend all kinds of support to the ongoing agitation launched by the five parties. In a statement issued by Maoist chairman Prachanda, the Maoists have said they will also strictly enforce their earlier commitment not to target political cadres in districts. The parties had been complaining that despite their promise, Maoists continued to target their cadres. In the latest statement, Prachanda has urged the parties to set aside differences to launch decisive movement. Leading dailies report.

Amnesty Asks Govt. To Strictly Enforce Its Commitments

The London-based Amnesty International (AI) has lauded the government’s promise to ensure safeguarding of human rights. AI has also asked the government to ensure implementation of its pledge. “If properly implemented, it will herald a radial improvement in the human rights situation,” the statement of the AI reads. “Our main concern is that the promise may largely remain on paper. This concern is heightened by the disappointing outcome of previous government initiatives towards improving the human rights situation in the country.” Meanwhile, the AI has condemned the government for trying to force the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to append security forces to its teams engaged in probing of rights abuse allegations. Leading dailies report.

Five Party Hold Big Demonstration

Thousands of people took part in the agitation carried out by five political parties on Thursday (April 1) in the capital. Top leaders of five political parties – Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), People’s Front (PF) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi) – took part in the demonstration that went around the city thoroughfares and congregated in a sit-in near Ratna Park. The crowds raised slogans against regression and for the restoration of democracy as well as for the reinstatement of parliament. Due to the huge crowd, the traffic was brought to standstill for around six hours in the core city. The demonstration were largely peaceful. The five parties will be holding the demonstration again in Friday. Compiled from reports.

NHRC Complains To Govt.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised objection over a letter written by the government asking it to include a representative from security force in its team that are formed to probe incidents of rights abuse. “We consider this as improper and unwanted interference,” said Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, a member of NHRC. In the letter, the Home Ministry is reported to have complained to NHRC that its probes have tarnished the image of security forces. The NHRC has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister over this issue. Meanwhile, Home Joint Secretary Umesh Mainali has said that the letter was not a serious one. He indicated that the ministry’s formal position will be made clear on Friday. Compiled from reports.

Govt. Positive Over Annan Appeal

In a press statement, Home Minister Kamal Thapa has expressed gratitude to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for his appeal to resume peace process in Nepal. A week after the appeal, Thapa issued the statement on behalf of the government expressing formal gratitude. Thapa has also stated that the government was trying hard to bring the Maoists to the table of dialogue and hoped that the appeal would be helpful in this direction. Compiled from reports.

Siliguri Police Seeks Expert Help

The West Bengal Police is seeking technical expertise to investigate equipment seized after a raid following the arrest of top Maoist leader Mohan Baidya aka Kiran in Siliguri town near Nepal border. The police had confiscated computer, CD, floppy disks and so on. Siliguri police believe that important information could be extracted from the computer files, which apparently are password-protected. Meanwhile, the police has started interrogating Narayan Pradhan, who was arrested along with Baidya and who is said to be involved with an Indian organization with links to Maoists. They are yet to interrogate Baidya. Leading dailies report.

Rizal Ends His Hunger Strike

Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal ended his indefinite hunger strike on the third day on Thursday (April 1) after receiving assurances from the government for looking into his two-point demand for internationalizing the verification and dignified repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and involving the UNHCR and Human Rights Council of Bhutan in the process. Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, foreign ministry spokesperson, gave a letter to Rizal expressing the government assurances. Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal offered Rizal fruit juice for ending the fast. The two leaders welcomed government’s commitment and show of concern. They also vowed to pressurize the government to fulfill those commitments. Leading dailies report.

Top Maoist Leader Arrested In India

Baidya

Indian police, on Monday (March 29), arrested Mohan Baidya aka comrade Kiran, a politburo member of the Maoists in border Indian town of Siliguri. Baidya, who is known as one of the top five leaders of the Maoists and its leading political ideologue, was arrested by West Bengal police along with a Maoist supporter and a worker of All India Nepali Unity Society Narayan Bikram Pradhan after receiving specific information. Baidya is said to be only behind Maoist chairman Prachanda in seniority. Baidya, 60, is also the oldest top leaders of the Maoists. He is the topmost Maoists leaders to have been arrested till date. At present, Baidya, who hails from Dang district, is known to be eastern regional commander-in-chief of the Maoists. Darjeeling district superintendent of police Rajeev Mishra told reporters that preliminary reports revealed that Baidya was there for cataract treatment of his right eye. Mishra said that no request has been made as yet from the Nepali side regarding Baidya’s extradition. Leading dailies report.

All Party Govt. Pre-Condition For Polls: Leaders

Leaders of major political parties have reiterated that improvement in security situation and formation of all party government were the pre-requisites for holding any polls. “Without the guarantee of fair elections and peace, polls cannot be held,” said Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML). President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati SJB Rana expressed concern over the delay in reaching national consensus. “Polls cannot be held without the consensus for all party government,” he said. Leading dailies report.

Sikta Irrigation To Start Next Year

After two decades of endeavors, Sikta irrigation project is finally set to start from next year. After Saudi Arabia agreed to provide for loan of USD 160 million for the purpose, the government has decided to start building it. The project is expected to take seven years to complete. Based in mid-western region, the project, according to studies, could provide irrigation to 34,200 hectares of land on the right side of Rapti river and 1800 hectares of land on the left side of the river. “Sikta has come to life again. This will come into implementation from the next year and this is going to be the largest irrigation project in the country,” said Jitendra Ghimire, director general at the Department of Irrigation. Likewise, another major donor for Sikta – the European Union (EU) – too, is positive. It has pledged around Rs 3.69 billion for the project. Kantipur daily reports.

Persistent Wives Release Their Husbands From Maoists

Persistent efforts of wives had paid off with the release of eleven security personnel who had been abducted by the Maoists from Beni last week. Anita Thapa, wife of police personnel Nok Bahadur Thapa, followed the Maoists after she saw them taking him away after a night of fighting. She followed the rebels carrying her infant baby along with her. She also encouraged five other ladies to join her in following the Maoists. Their persistent pleading paid off as after seven hours of following, the rebels released their husbands on condition that they would resign from security service. “At that time I had no fear. I was determined to either live or die together,” said Anita Thapa. Meanwhile, human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar, who was one of the facilitators of the previous peace talks between the government and the Maoists, has said that the Maoists have indicated that they would release all those abducted after the Beni attack, including chief district officer, within next ten days. He did not elaborate how he was informed about this. Leading dailies report.