News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Maoists Made Civilians To Carry Fake Guns: Report

Most of those killed in an aerial attack by Royal Nepal Army (RNA) chopper in a school area in Achham district last week were civilians who were made to carry fake (wooden) guns by the Maoists, according to a local witness. “All those who carried wooden guns were innocent civilians. Because of those guns, they were targeted by the army,” said a 13-year-old Maniram Timilsina who had a shop near the school. He was talking to reporters who had gone to the Binayak VDC to get the information about the aerial attack and its fall out. The reports say over two dozen people were killed in the attack. The witness said that the army had attacked at a huge gathering of Maoists who had made civilians to carry fake guns after seeing the chopper. Kantipur daily reports.

Lohani Refutes Repression Against Agitation

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani has refuted that the government is engaged in repression of agitation. “We are not against peaceful agitation. We only tried to restore law and order,” he said. Dr. Lohani requested parties not to engage in arson and vandalism. “The government had to impose prohibition order because it had reliable information regarding infiltration by the Maoists. We got the information that the Maoists were preparing to make use of agitation,” he charged. Compiled from reports.

Asian Cricket Academy In Nepal

After the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management handed over the land-ownership certificate of 294 ropani of land in Mulpani VDC to the National Sports Council (NSC), it is now certain that an Asian Cricket Academy will be built in Kathmandu. “Now, there is no doubt that the academy will be constructed here,” said Jai Kumar Nath Shah, president of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). Representatives from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have already inspected the land in Mulpani and given their decision that it is appropriate site. This land will now be handed over on lease to ACC for 30 years. “The NSC will hand over the land to ACC after which the construction of academy will begin,” said Shah. The academy will include two cricket stadiums, one indoor ground, a swimming pool, gymnasium and hostel. Shah believes that once the construction begins, it will be completed within two years. “After the academy is in place, we will compete to get test-status. We are also planning and preparing to take part in 2007 cricket world cup,” he said. Apart from Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates had competed to bring in the ACC cricket academy in their own countries. Kantipur daily reports.

Koirala Urges On Agitators

Koirala

Girija Prasad Koirala, president of Nepali Congress (NC) and former prime minister, urged on agitators to continue with the anti-regression movement till the King rectifies his mistake. “I also call upon the King not to cling on to the time. The hurricane of agitation could also hurt the institution of monarchy,” said Koirala addressing a huge gathering in the capital organized to mark the 34th anniversary of Nepal Student Union (NSU) – student wing of NC. “There is no place for autocratic monarchy in democracy,” he added. In another incident, students of Pashupati campus of Chabahil engaged in pitched battle with the police on April 18. The police had taken to streets demanding the immediate release of their colleagues from police custody. The Chabahil area became tense due to the incident. Leading dailies report.

Deuba Leads Agitation Of His Own

Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of NC (Democratic) and former prime minister, led demonstration of his party from Jadibuti in Koteshwore on Sunday (April 18). He also addressed his party workers and colleagues before leading the demonstration. “Our agitation must be totally peaceful. We should not engage in vandalism or brickbats. We should not set fire to any vehicles. But we must be alert if anybody tires to infiltrate and create trouble,” Deuba told his workers. Dozens of his party leaders and workers were later arrested by police near Shantinagar in New Baneshwore. Meanwhile, NC (D) has decided to suspend its agitation on Monday because of traditional festival of Mata Tirtha Aunsi or Mother’s Day. The five parties, however, would continue with their agitation. Leading dailies report.

Five Journos Die Due To Conflict

Since the breakdown of ceasefire, Maoists have killed one journalist. They have also killed another one who came from the background of journalism. Likewise, the security forces killed three journalists in the same period. This has been revealed by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) in its report released on Sunday (April 18). The report states that 110 journalists got disappeared at different times since the imposition of emergency in November 2001. Thirty-six journalists were arrested by security personnel in the same period. The report adds that the journalists have faced several kinds of obstruction in their efforts to exercise freedom of expression. Around 26 journalists were displaced from their areas of work. Last week, police arrested over 200 journalists for protesting police atrocities. Journalists across the country worked wearing black bands on Sunday (April 18) to protest the police action. Leading dailies report.

Koirala Meets With Indian Envoy

Indian ambassador Shyam Saran met with Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday (April 13). The two discussed on the prevailing political impasse. Indian envoy is known to have urged Koirala to bridge the gap between parties and the King. Reports say that envoy Saran told Koirala that King Gyanendra could be willing to appoint any other leader of the five party excepting Koirala and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal to head the all party government. Kantipur daily reports.

Advani Hardens Stance Against Maoists

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani has said that Naxalites of India had joined hands with Nepalese Maoists to create trouble in Indian region ranging from Bihar to Andhra Pradesh. Speaking at a election campaign rally in Orissa, Advani said that the Indian government would take further steps to control the Naxalites and to check the alliance between Nepalese Maoists and Indian Naxalites. He charged the Nepalese Maoists of trying to spread trouble in India. This is the second time in the last five days that Advani had spoken against the Maoists of Nepal. Compiled from reports.

IPDP From Next Year

The first phase of Integrated Peace and Development Program (IPDP) is most likely to be implemented in some insurgency-affected districts in the next fiscal year. “IPDP was discussed recently during the Nepal Development Forum’s pre-consultation meeting and probably the government will implement the program by next year at least in a few districts,” said an official at the National Planning Commission (NPC). According to an official, USAID has shown interest to support the program as per the proposal submitted by the Local Development Ministry. The IPDP had been announced a year ago but due to various reasons it is yet to take off. Leading dailies report.

Agitation To Be Decentralized

The five agitating party have decided to fan out their agitation all over the Kathmandu valley even as maintaining their focus on Ratna Park area. Likewise, they will hold mass agitation led by top leaders on Thursday (April 15). The parties have denounced the government’s move of slapping public crime charges against leaders of People’s Front (PF) who are still in government custody. They have asked the government to immediately release all those in its custody. Meanwhile, the government has decided to change its strategy and start immediately releasing the agitators who will be detained. On Tuesday also the agitation continued in Ratna Park area. It was joined by a group of intellectuals, disabled people and doctors. Leading dailies report.

Two Nepalese Die In Iraq

Two Nepalese who were working as security guards in Iraq have died after being trapped in an ambush explosion in Iraq. Shiva Prasad Lawati, 48, and Ram Bahadur Gurung, two ex-Gurkha soldiers were killed as they were returning from their work near northern Iraq and Turkish border. Seven Nepalese have died in Iraq in different incidents till now. Kantipur daily reports.

Education Strikes In The Offing

The seven student organizations affiliated to various political parties have vowed to initiate strikes in educational institutions be April 24 if all of their leaders and workers are not released from the government custody. A joint meeting of the seven student organizations has decided to launch week-long protest programs of various kinds beginning today. “Over three dozen of our colleagues are in custody,” said Gagan Kumar Thapa, general secretary of Nepal Student Union (NSU). He said that they are preparing to hold referendum in various colleges over the question of constitutional monarchy, active monarchy and republic. Leading dailies report.

Over 150 Journos Arrested

Police arrested over 150 journalists from separate places after they organized peaceful rally protesting police atrocities on April 17 when 75 journalists had been arrested from the site of agitation. Raising slogans for the freedom of press, the journalist had taken out a huge rally beginning from media village in Tilganga. The journalists were later released in the evening. On April 16, police had arrested 75 journalists – among whom two were kept in custody the whole night. Journalists of Kantipur publications Hari Bahadur Thapa and Khim Ghale were kept in custody at Singhdurbar ward police office. Initially, the government was said to be preparing to slap charges against the two, but upon pressure from various organizations, they were released the following on Saturday morning. President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Taranath Dahal has said that the Home Minister must resign and the Prime Minister tender apology for the atrocities committed against the press people. Meanwhile, Girija Prasad Koirala, president of Nepali Congress (NC) and other leaders visited the detained journalists where he said that he takes all responsibilities and urged them to take their stand.