News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Koirala Rejects Constituent Assembly Without Parliament

Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that he would not support the idea of going for the constituent assembly at a time when there is no elected parliament in place. “In the absence of the parliament, we would be again asking the King to give us the constituent assembly. I do not support this idea. In order to go for the constituent assembly, we must first have the parliament,” said Koirala. He was critical of the King for not being serious enough about the peace. Koirala said India’s goodwill was extremely necessary for the success of any peace talks. “Since the Maoists would not believe on the government’s security guarantee, it would be a good idea to rope in the United Nations as well in the peace process,” said Koirala. Meanwhile, Koirala met with senior Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the latter’s residence in Bhainsepati on Saturday to discuss about the political situation and internal problems of the NC. Leading dailies report.

Maoists In Talks With Koirala

Prabhakar, a politburo member of the Maoists and Seti-Mahakali Regional Organization Committee in charge, has said that they are in contact with Nepali Congress chief Girija Prasad Koirala. “We are holding talks with Koirala about the present condition of the country and establishment of peace,” he said. Addressing their program in Binayak of Achham district, Prabhakar added that the Maoists would arm the local people of rural areas of western Nepal to prepare for a decisive attack against the present regime. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Maoists Mercilessly Beat An Unarmed Soldier To Death

Maoists have mercilessly beaten to death an unarmed Subedar Major Narendra Basnet of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in Lekhnath municipality near Pokhara where he had gone unarmed to visit his family. Basnet was abducted and killed. His body was found badly bruised. Basnet was also a retired FIFA assistant referee. In another incident, Maoists have shot to death a district member of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) in Nawalparasi district. Meanwhile, in Bajura district the Maoists have looted 68 quintals of rice from the workers. The Maoists looted the food grain when 97 laborers who had earned it after working in the World Food Program (WFP)-organized Martadi-Boldek road construction were carrying it to their home. The people of Bajura district are suffering from acute food shortage. Following the looting of the food, the workers and their families are in extreme hardship. Kantipur daily reports.

Freed Kamaiyas Capture Cotton Fields

The freed Kamaiyas who are frustrated over the delayed rehabilitation process on the part of the government have captured a large swathe of cotton field in Kumbhar area of Bardiya district. They have started building their huts in the 700 hectare area. Around 500 Kamaiya families have moved to the field. There are 14000 freed Kamaiyas in the district. Out of them 3586 have received the government-distributed 5 katthas of land each till now. The Kamaiyas or bonded laborers were declared free by the government four years ago. Kantipur daily reports.

SC Verdict In Women’s Favor

The Supreme Court has declared null and void the section 12 (A) of the Provision of Inheritance by Default of the Civil Code 1963. According to the amendment, a woman will have to return ‘Aputali” (heirless property that is inherited) once she gets married. In response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocates Sapana Pradhan Malla and Meera Dhungana, the three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Govinda Bahadur Shrestha and justices Anup Raj Sharma and Balram KC also issued directive to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet to set up a panel to conduct study on laws relating to discrimination against women. The SC also ordered the government to form a panel under the secretary of the National Human Rights Commission to look into contradictory provisions in gender perspectives relating to family and property laws and to give suggestions to amend such provisions. The bench also ordered the government to incorporate representatives from the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, a sociologist and women representatives from a public organization who have knowledge regarding the issue. The SC also set the jurisdiction of the panel to study contradictory provisions of laws in the 1990 constitution and international human rights conventions signed by the government. Leading dailies report.

If They Take One Step, We Will Take Two: Minister

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Deep Kumar Upadhyaya has rejected possibilities of unilateral ceasefire by the government. “The government is serious about pursuing the path of peace. But we do not believe in unilateral ceasefire. The Maoists should first convince us about their intention to give up violence. If they take one step forward, we will take two,” said the minister. He also expressed concern over the endless series of deaths and destructions by the Maoists. He also stressed that the government was keen on having ‘fruitful’ dialogue this time around. Compiled from reports.

Indian PM Promises Kosi High Dam

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India will build Kosi high dam in close cooperation with Nepal government in order to prevent the perennial flooding in Bihar. Inspecting the flood-ravaged parts of Bihar state, the Indian PM said his government was in contact with that of Nepal over this issue. He divulged that Rs 39 crore has already been set aside for this purpose. Bihar bears the wrath of flood every year. This year around 450 persons died in the state. Experts say Bihar will have to bear similar tragedies unless the Kosi river that originates from Nepal is tamed by building a high dam. Indian PM Singh has also said that he is not convinced that the much-touted River Linking project floated by earlier government would prevent Bihar flooding. Compiled from reports.

First Dalit Brigadier General In RNA

Subha Bahadur Sunam has set the record of becoming the first person from Dalit community to be appointed as the Brigadier General of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA). Sunam was retiring as a colonel this month, but the RNA retained him for additional two years by promoting him to the post of brigadier general. “The army has promoted me to this post based on merit and not simply because I am a Dalit,” said Sunam, who has been working in the musical band of the army. Leading dailies report.

Govt. Doing Serious Homework For Peace: Minister

Minister for Population and Environment Bachaspati Devkota has said that the government was engaged in serious homework to achieve peace. “We are doing very serious homework and ascertaining what the Maoists could settle for and to what extent we must go for peace,” said Devkota. Insisting that the last two rounds of talks failed because of lack of adequate homework, Devkota said that the Maoist leadership was going ahead by a ‘trial and error’ method since those at the top know that going for a republican order will be tough. “What is true about them is they are going on a wild goose chase, with not many sharing the view that they could march towards a republican set-up,” said Devkota, a senior leader of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML). He said that the government could also go for secret talks with the Maoists. Devkota roundly criticized Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala for claiming he was trying to restore peace by talking with the Maoists with the United Nations and Indian assistance. “I am surprised when he says that he can bring about peace. May I ask what his standing is so that the rest of us can expect settlement of outstanding issues at his individual initiative?” Devkota asked. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

A Teacher Arrested On Charges Of Sexual Abuse

Police have arrested a teacher of Dipankar school in Kappan of Kathmandu on charges of sexually abusing six girl students. Tika Ram Dahal, 51, was arrested upon complaints from the parents who were told about the abuse by their wards. Six girl students below the age of 13 had complained of sexual abuse against Dahal. Parents and local people also manhandled Dahal before he was taken into custody by the police on Wednesday. The accused used to fondle the children and sexually abuse them when they came for tuition at his residence. Dahal is married with two wives and four sons. Leading dailies report.

Everest Summiteer Abducted

Unidentified persons have abducted ten-time-Everest- summiteer Mingma Chhiring Sherpa from his residence near Bouddha in Kathmandu on Saturday night. Six armed persons claiming to be security personnel abducted him, according to family sources. Police officials have expressed no knowledge about the abduction. Army spokesperson has said he could confirm or deny if he was in army custody only on Monday. Sherpa, a noted climber, was also involved in the making of Everest documentary for the Discovery Channel recently. Sherpa associations and mountaineering associations have issued statements asking the concerned persons to immediately and safely release him. Compiled from reports.

Maoist Sister Organizations Split

A sister organization of the Maoists Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF) has split. In a press statement released by its founding chairman Jaya Krishna Goit, it has been stated that the front has split and a new Janatantrik Terai Liberation Front has been floated. Goit has blamed the Maoist leadership for discrimination against its Madhesi cadres. The statement accuses the present establishment as well as the Maoists of discriminating against the people of Terai (Madhes) region. It alleges that while the establishment recruits hilly people in the bureaucracy that runs Terai, the Maoists also appoint hilly people at the decision-making levels. The statement adds that there is a need to set up federal state structure together with rights for self determination to Terai people. In another development, Kirant Workers Party (KWP) – another sister organization of the Maoists – has also decided to break ties with the Maoists blaming the lack of coordination. According to a press release issued on July 26 in Dharan, it has been stated that this decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the KWP held at an undisclosed location. The meeting also formed a new central coordination committee, which includes the regional members of the Maoists’ Mechi-Koshi bureau. This is the third time that the KWP has broken alliance with the Maoists. It may be noted that former general secretary of the KWP Gopal Khambu is the central committee member of the Maoist. Some senior leaders of the KWP, including Khambu, were reportedly absent at the meeting. Compiled from reports.