News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

PM Deuba’s Bottom Line

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government is willing to go to any length to bring the Maoists to the mainstream politics through negotiated settlement, but would not compromise on multi party democracy and constitutional monarchy. A day after Information Minister Dr. Mohammad Mohsin made a controversial remark seeking clarification from the Prime Minister about the meaning of ‘maximum flexibility’, Deuba, on Sunday (July 11), came out with his bottom line. Likewise, PM Deuba also said that the government would sit in a negotiation if it is convinced that the Maoists would not desert mid-way like in the past. In another development, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the government should take immediate initiatives to hold talks with the Maoists. He said that, if needed, the government should even declare unilateral ceasefire. Leading dailies report.

Thapa Cautions Raj Parishad

Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has cautioned Raj Parishad against engaging in discrediting political parties. Speaking at an eastern regional conference of the Raj Parishad on July 11, Thapa said that at this critical juncture when country is ripe with debates on constitutional monarchy, republican and so on, the Raj Parishad needs to act as a bridge between the monarchy and the political parties. Meanwhile, cadres of Nepal Students Union (NSU) protested the Raj Parishad’s meeting and demanded its dissolution just outside the venue of its conference in Biratnagar. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Taking Shelter In India: Bijukchhe

Narayan Man Bijukchhe, president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), has charged that the Maoists are taking shelter in Indian territory. “They are staying within the security ring of the (Indian) government,” he said, speaking at a public meeting in Nepalgunj. As such, he said, the Maoist problem would not be resolved without taking India into confidence. Kantipur daily reports.

Army Plans Surprise Operations In Far West

Security forces are set to launch surprise operations in the far western region against a ‘high concentration’ of the Maoists who are smuggling I explosives and arms from the Indian and Tibetan borders. “Definitely, the Maoists’ activities in the region have increased in recent days, but we are prepared,” a senior army officer at the brigade headquarters in Dipayal said. The Maoists’ current route for smuggling weapons and explosives from the Indian border is as follows: from Belauri checkpoint of Kanchanpur district via Jogbudha of Dadeldhura and Melauli – the border of Dadeldhura and Baitadi districts, then to Bajura and finally to Achham. “The Maoists are purchasing explosives from lower-level staffers of the Dhauli Ganga hydroproject at Dharchula in India,” a government official in Baitadi said, adding the Maoists are also smuggling arms and explosives from the Tibetan border via Jharganda and Takla kot. Operations are conducted as per the ‘threat analysis’ and available resources at local, brigade and division levels, a commander said. “Securing the base is as important as conducting operations at the local level,” he said, adding that larger-scale operations are needed to avoid any possible Maoist attack in the region. Indian security forces at the border are ‘cooperative’, the officers said, adding, ‘still the Maoists smuggle in explosives perhaps because of lapses due to individual negligence.’ The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Mohsin’s Comment Draws Flak From Alliance Partners

The comments made by Information and Communication Minister Dr. Mohammad Mohsin on Friday (July 9) when he raised doubts over the Common Minimum Program (CMP) has drawn criticisms from coalition partners including the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and the Nepali Congress (Democratic). Dr. Mohsin had cast doubts on the meaning of ‘maximum flexibility’ – which the Deuba government had promised to adopt to end the Maoist problem. “What does maximum flexibility mean? To what extent will this flexibility work. I think such vague terms would rather pose in the peace talks,” Dr. Mohsin had said. “I am going to ask the Prime Minister to clarify this matter.” Dr. Mohsin’s blatant remarks was discussed at the central committee meeting of the UML on Saturday. Likewise, the NC (D) members have indicated that Dr. Mohsin’s remarks were against the spirit of prime ministerial system of governance where PM reins supre me. Dr. Mohsin and Krishna Lal Thakali are two members of the present cabinet who have been drawn from the pool of independent. Many believe they were chosen by the palace. Leading dailies report.

Koirala Sings UN Tune

In an interesting development, Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the talks with the Maoists can be held under the ‘presence’ of the United Nations. Speaking at a program in Biratnagar, Koirala said he has already talked with an emissary of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. He said that the Maoists would come for talks only if the UN provided security guarantee to them. Leading dailies report.

RNAC To Add Two Boeings: Minister Upadhyaya

Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Deep Kumar Upadhyaya has said he will initiate efforts to add two Boeings for the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC). Saying that there was no alternative to strengthening the national flag carrier in order to improve the tourism sector, Minister Upadhyaya said the efforts to add new planes would be initiated in a transparent manner. The RNAC has initiated works to buy two Boeing 737, which will take at least one year to materialize. In the meantime, the airlines would be bringing in a 757 on lease basis from the Boeing company itself. At present, the RNAC is running with two 757 aircraft. Because of lack of aircraft, it has been forced to cancel its flights to Europe and many other destinations. Kantipur daily reports.

Mukherjee Is New Indian Envoy

India has appointed Shiv Shankar Mukherjee as the new Indian ambassador to Nepal, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. Mukherjee is currently working as Indian High Commissioner to South Africa. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly. The current Indian envoy Shyam Saran will soon leave Kathmandu to take up the responsibility of Secretary at the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi. Leading dailies report.

“Sikta Will Not Affect India”: Nepal

In response to a letter written by the Indian Embassy on June 1, the Ministry of Water Resources via Foreign Ministry has replied stating that the implementation of the Sikta irrigation project will not affect the lower riparian India. On June 1, India had written a letter asking Nepal to go ahead with Sikta only after receiving its consent. The Water Resource Ministry’s letter states that India had not sought Nepal’s consent while constructing the Laxmanpur barrage, located downstream of the Sikta, even though there is an international rule that states that upper riparian country’s consent should be sought in such matters. The Sikta irrigation project has remained in a limbo for the last two decades due to Indian obstruction. Kantipur daily reports.

New Programs For Peace Process In Budget

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari has said that the upcoming budget will put emphasis on peace building. He indicated that the budget would introduce new programs to set aside resources for peace building. He said the resources would be utilized to initiate peace campaign, civil society activities as well as to hold formal/informal meeting within and outside the country with the Maoists and so on. “In order to strengthen peace, budget on rural parts would be increased. Deprived people, women, Dalit and indigenous community would receive the priority,” he said. Adhikari also hinted of few policy changes that would help the entrepreneurs. He, however, said that the economic reforms programs initiated by the past governments would be continued. Adhikari also said he plans to meet with donor representatives soon. He also hinted of slight rise in security expenditures. “The sli ght increase in security expenditure is the compulsion of the present situation,” he said. Favoring selective privatization, Adhikari added that he would raise the bar of revenue target by at least Rs 10 billion (to reach Rs 72 billion) in the coming budget. Leading dailies report.

Voices Of Discord In RPP And NSP

No sooner than the cabinet was expanded, voices of discord began to rise within the RPP and NSP. The RPP leaders have accused the party president Pashupati SJB Rana of selling out to Deuba by accepting mere two cabinet berths. Likewise, in the NSP, the top leaders have already registered their dissatisfaction over the manner in which their party president Badri Prasad Mandal accepted a cabinet berth even though he is a former deputy prime minister. Compiled from reports.

Civil Society Optimistic About Peace Talks

With the formation of new government, the civil society representatives have expressed increased optimism over the prospects of peace talks. “If the Maoists and the government both exhibit due seriousness, a fruitful peace talks is likely,” said Padma Ratna Tuladhar, former mediator of the government-Maoist talks. Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit asked the Deuba government to initiate the process by withdrawing terrorist tags and red corner notices against the Maoist leaders. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, chairman of INSEC, opined that UN mediation is necessary for effective negotiation. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.