News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Maoists Attack Passenger Bus, One Killed

In an incident that has received all round condemnation, the Maoists exploded a powerful bomb inside Sajha bus en route to Baglung from Kathmandu on Sunday (May 30) morning killing one and injuring twenty others. The Sajha bus, which was picking up its passengers, exploded near Sundhara in Kathmandu. According to witnesses, three teenagers asked the passengers to flee the bus saying they had planted a bomb. Minutes later it went off ripping apart the front side of the bus. Bishnu Bahadur Chand, a helper, died in the hospital of his wounds. Three other passengers are said to be in a critical condition. Meanwhile, the Maoists have owned the responsibility of the explosion. In a statement by the valley activist, the Maoists have claimed that they targeted the Sajha bus because it had plied during bandh called by them. Human rights organizations, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), civil society and political parties have all condemned the explosion terming it to be nothing more than terrorist action. “This incident compels us to ponder whether the Maoist leadership has control over its cadres or not. While the Maoist leadership talks about abiding by the international humanitarian laws and Geneva Convention, the cadres are engaging in blatant acts,” said Sushil Pyakurel, a member of the NHRC. Compiled from reports.

Natwar Singh Likely To Visit Kathmandu

In a significant development, the newly appointed Indian Minister for External Affairs K. Natwar Singh is expected to visit Kathmandu later this week – most likely on Friday (June 4). According to sources at the Foreign Ministry, the government is preparing for the visit, which will be the first one by Singh after taking up the reins of South Block of New Delhi. The visit will be significant provided the acute political instability prevalent in Nepal at present. In fact, Singh had called Indian ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran to New Delhi for consultations immediately after the new government was formed in India. Leading dailies report.

PABSON Appeals To Leave Schools Alone

The Private and Boarding Schools Organization of Nepal (PABSON) has appealed to the concerned parties to leave the education sector alone and at peace. On the eve of the ‘indefinite strike in educational institutions’ called by pro-Maoist student organization, the PABSON has appealed them to withdraw its move. The Maoist students have threatened to shut down all educational institutions across the country beginning June 6. The Maoist-affiliated student organization has threatened to close down the schools claiming that its demands for cutting down fees have not been met yet. Leading dailies report.

Exporters Irked Over Endless Bandhs

Frustrated by endless series of bandhs, blockades and strikes organized by the Maoists and the political parties, ten export institutions have threatened to stop their work altogether. In a program organized in the capital by Nepal Export Council, representatives of organizations including Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA), Handicraft Association of Nepal (HAN), Garment Association of Nepal (GAN), Central Carpet Industries Association (CCIA), Nepal Carpet Exporters Association (NCEA), Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA), Lokta Paper Industries Association, Nepal Cotton Towel Exporters’ Association and Nepal Silk Association expressed their frustration over the bandhs. The organizations also agreed to form a task force headed by Yagya Narayan Gupta, president of the Council, to protest bandhs and strikes. Prashanta Pokhrel of GAN said that in the last five years the number of garment industries has decreased from 1002 to 70-75. “Even out of them, half of them are not able to work in their full capacity,” said Pokhrel. “Whenever the parties are in power, they vow not to organize bandh in future. But once they are out of power, they announce bandhs. It is a pity that they have not understood a simple fact that when economy is in chaos, they themselves will face pressure as and when they go to power,” said Surendra Bir Malakar, vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC). In the program, the participants also criticized the government for imposing arbitrary levies on exports. Leading dailies report.

Five Party Leaders To Address Gathering On June 1

The top leaders of the five agitating parties would address the mass gathering in the capital on June 1 where they will also unveil a new set of programs to carry forward their anti-regression agitation. In view of growing criticism that the leaders had stopped attending the gathering ever since the talks started with the King, they have decided to address the agitation themselves. Sources have said that the parties are preparing to introduce civil disobedience programs. Leading dailies report.

Ranabhat Gets Red Flag From Parties

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat failed to muster support of the five parties for his possible appointment as the Prime Minister. Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has asked Ranabhat to not to lose his honesty by becoming a nominated Prime Minister. Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) ruled out the possibility of supporting Ranabhat. “He is the Speaker and he should stay Speaker. He should not be greedy for power,” said Nepal, adding, “In fact, if he becomes Prime Minister, then the constitution would be further violated.” Leading dailies report.

Veteran Director Dies

A veteran film director Prakash Thapa died on Wednesday (May 26) in Kathmandu at the age of 75. Thapa was suffering from heart and kidney ailments for a long time. He died in Bir Hospital where he had been admitted since Monday. Senior director Thapa had directed hit films like Mana Ko Baandh, Sindur, Kanyadan and Jeevan Rekha. He had also worked for two decades in Indian film industry. At present, Thapa was working to make a film based on Deuki-system prevalent in western Nepal. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Torch Two Indian Vehicles

A group of Maoists damaged and torched two Indian vehicles carrying Indian passengers near Tikapur VDC of Nawalparasi district in the East West Highway. The attack left around 40 Indian nationals stranded who were later rescued by Armed Police Force (APF) personnel. The Maoists torched a bus, which was carrying 31 Indians on their way to Gujarat, and a jeep, which was carrying 8 Indians on their way to Kathmandu. The APF has arranged for the travel of the stranded persons to their respective destinations. Leading dailies report.

A Senator Objects To Moriarty’s Confirmation

A Republican senator has objected the confirmation of designated US envoy to Nepal, James Francis Moriarty, according to reports from Washington. An unidentified Republican senator has placed a secret ‘hold’ on the nomination of Moriarty, president Bush’s pick to fill the Nepal post, according to The Hill magazine. It was reported that the objection was raised because of ‘pro-China’ position Moriarty had taken while serving in the US embassy in Beijing as a political counsel. In response to the report, the US embassy in Kathmandu said the development would not be an ‘obstacle’ for Moriarty’s arrival in Nepal. “We are confident that he will be reconfirmed after the Congress reconvene on June 1,” said Constance Colding Jones, spokesperson of the US embassy. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

NC And UML Publicly Differ Over PM Candidate

The Nepali Congress (NC) and the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) leaders have started to openly argue over who should become the next Prime Minister. At an interaction program held in the capital on Tuesday (May 25), Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, former minister and senior Congress leader, said that last year’s nomination of UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal as the consensus candidate of the five parties no more holds valid. “Nepal’s nomination was made on specific situation. Besides, he has already been rejected once,” he said, adding that NC was ready to name its own candidate for PM this time. However, Yubaraj Gyawali, senior leader of the UML, said that the decision of nominating Nepal has not been changed yet. “At present, the deadlock is not among five parties but with the palace,” he said. Leading dailies report.

Yeti Airlines’ Cargo Plane Crashes

A twin otter aircraft belonging to the Yeti Airlines crashed near Lamajura pass of Solukhumbu district at around 1:56 pm on Tuesday. The plane was en route to Lukla from Kathmandu. All three cabin crew members including captain Prakash Srivastav, co-pilot Ravi Gurung and steward Newang Sherpa were killed in the crash. Experts say that the crash could have occurred due to poor weather condition. The government has formed a five-member committee to probe the incident. This is the 25th crash of aircraft in the last one decade in the country. Leading dailies report.

India To Assist RNA

Following the meeting between top army officials of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and Indian Army in the second week of May, the latter have agreed to provide more support to RNA. It is reported that India has agreed to provide one Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, two helicopter gunships, INSAS rifles, other military equipment and training package to the RNA to help in the latter’s endeavor to fight the Maoists. India is the leading country that has been supporting Nepalese army in its fight against the Maoists. It has already provided four helicopters and 13000 INSAS rifles, among others, to Nepalese army in the recent past. The United States and the United Kingdom, too, have been supporting the army. RNA chief spokesperson Rajendra Thapa, however, refused to confirm the Indian decision. Kantipur daily reports.

Border Security Meet With China Ends

The border security meeting between the officials of Nepal and China ended on the third day on Tuesday (May 25) with both sides agreeing to step up security arrangement to prevent criminal and terrorist activities that could take place across the border. The meeting agreed to beef up security at six border points between the two countries. They agreed to expand and strengthen each other’s cooperation for mutual benefit, according to Home Ministry. The heads of the delegates of both the countries signed an agreement to this effect. The Nepalese delegation reiterated the government’s one China policy and its commitment not to allow its soil to be used against Chinese interests. “While the officials reiterated their commitment and cooperation to fight terrorism in any form, they also expressed satisfaction at the safe and stable condition of the border between the two countries,” stated a press release from the Ministry. Although the meeting was earlier scheduled to be held for two days, it continued for the third day as well. Compiled from reports.