News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

NC Forms A Task Force To Review Its Strategies

KOIRALA

Having found itself in a tight spot after the decision of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) – its major partner in agitation – to lend at least an outside support to the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepali Congress (NC) leadership has started to review its strategy and look into fresh avenues to strengthen the agitation. The working committee meeting of the party, which ended on Sunday (June 6), has formed a task force led by its general secretary Sushil Koirala to suggest ways to consolidate internal democracy in the party as well as find ways to intensify the agitation. The task force has been asked to provide its recommendation within a week. Significantly, the task force has also been asked to study the usefulness of going for the constituent assembly to resolve political problems and the party’s strategy to resolve Maoist problem. The NC leadership seemed divided over the issue of constituent assembly. While Ram Chandra Poudel said that it remained the only option to rejuvenate the party’s agitation and resolve the current problems, Shailaja Acharya said constituent assembly would be suicidal for the party as it could even jeopardize the already obtained democratic rights in the country. Compiled from reports.

Security Forces Repel Maoist Attack In Kapilvastu

The security forces have repelled a big attack by the Maoists at the armed police force (APF) camp in Chandrauta of Kapilvastu district on Saturday (June 5) night. A big group of armed Maoists had launched an attack at the camp beginning at 11 pm. The fighting continued till 3 am when the Maoists fled the scene. The security forces have reported that they did not sustain any casualty during the fight. They claimed that the Maoists have sustained heavy casualties and, therefore, fled the scene. At least, eight Maoists were killed in the incident, the security forces claimed. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Bomb A School

On the eve of the indefinite strike announced in all educational institutions, the Maoists have exploded a bomb at the building of Little Flowers’ Boarding school in Naughare of Bharatpur municipality of Chitawan district on Sunday (June 6). The explosion slightly damaged the school building. Meanwhile, Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that Netra Bahadur KC, one of the four brigade commanders who was involved in the Beni attack, has been killed in an ‘internal accident’ about three weeks ago. Prachanda has said that KC was killed in an accident while he was preparing for another big attack. Compiled from reports.

Rules Of Origin To Dominate Colombo CoE Meeting

The third meeting of South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA)’s Committee of Experts (CoE), which is scheduled to begin in Colombo on Monday (June 7), will focus mainly on rules of origin. “The meeting is scheduled to discuss mainly on the rules of origin, which has been an outstanding issue since the second meeting held in Islamabad last month,” a senior official at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) said. The ministry official, however, declined to disclose Nepal’s stand on rules of origin. “The detailed negotiations on sensitive lists would be discussed at the fourth CoE meeting to be held in August,” said the official. Apart from rules of origin, the Colombo meeting, which will last till June 9, is also expected to negotiate on technical assistance for LDCs under the regional free trade agreement, which was signed among the member countries in January this year. The CoE comprises of commerce joint secretaries of seven SAARC nations. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Deuba Vows To Hold Polls This Year

In the first press conference he called after assuming the post of prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba vowed to start the process of elections for the House of Representatives within the year 2061 B.S. (mid-April 2005). Deuba said he will start the process of elections, which will be held in phases, from mid-April 2005. He also firmly stated that he will not ‘repeat the mistake’ of putting off the polls this time around. Likewise, PM Deuba has asked the Maoists to come forward for holding ‘honest talks’. At a separate program in the capital organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday (June 5), PM Deuba requested the human rights activists to take initiatives to bring the Maoists to talks. He said although he takes the interest shown by the United Nations in resolving the Maoist problem positively, he will not ask such international agencies for mediation just now. PM Deuba said he will exhibit maximum flexibility to resolve the problem. Responding to queries of reporters, PM Deuba said that he will start off with a small cabinet including members of his own party Nepali Congress (Democratic), which will then be expanded to include members of other political parties. Leading dailies report.

Bihar Police Files Case Against Arrested Maoists

The Bihar Police have filed cases at the Patna Court against eleven Nepalese Maoists who were arrested on June 2 during raids at different places in Patna. The police have filed cases charging them of having alleged links with the banned Naxalite outfits of India. Indian police officials have said that they could be extradited if necessary steps are taken by the Nepal side. Meanwhile, a team of 11 Nepalese police officers led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Subodh Ghimire has left for Patna to interrogate the arrested Maoist leaders there. The team would investigate reports that the Maoists have bought huge quantity of arms and weapons and stashed them somewhere in Bihar. It would also explore possibilities of extraditing them to Nepal in case there was not enough evidence to press charges against them in India. Leading dailies report.

Prachanda Rebukes Deuba Appointment

Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as the new Prime Minister is a continuity of regression and that it would further complicate the national problems. In a statement issued on Thursday (June 3), Prachanda has accused that Deuba was appointed as per the ‘directions of the foreign imperialists’. He has said that Deuba’s appointment will intensify the civil war. Compiled from reports.

Pro-Maoist Trade Union Withdraws Strikes

The Maoist-affiliated trade union has announced the withdrawal of its various professional strikes beginning June 6 as well as the three-day general strike on June 10-12. The organization has said that it decided to withdraw its strikes owing to requests from human rights organizations and civil society. It said it had called strikes to protest the killing and disappearances of its leaders by the security forces. Leading dailies report.

Finally, Its Deuba Again

Ending the three-weeks-long vacuum at the center, King Gyanendra appointed president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba as the new Prime Minister. As per the statement issued by the Royal Palace on Wednesday (June 2) morning, King Gyanendra has appointed Deuba in accordance with the Article 127 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 and has given him the full executive powers as per the Article 35 of the Constitution. The Article 35 reads, “The executive power of the Kingdom of Nepal shall pursuant to this Constitution and other laws be vested in His Majesty and the Council of Ministers.” After his appointment, Deuba told the reporters, “His Majesty had dismissed me earlier. Now he has appointed me again. So, this is the reinstatement of my government.” Deuba, 58, has become the Prime Minister for the third time. Earlier he had become Prime Minister in 1996 and in 2001. Deuba was sacked by the King on October 4, 2002 charging him of incompetence after he proposed to put off the polls by one year. After his dismissal, the political parties had engaged in agitation against what they call as regression by the King. “I will try to take on board all political parties. I will try to ensure as much security as possible and go for the polls within this year,” said Deuba. Immediately after his appointment, Deuba started consultations with political leaders to sort out the problem. He called Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and visited the residence of Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala seeking their support. Leading dailies report.

Parties Sound Mixed Signals Over Deuba Appointment

The political parties have given mixed signals to the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as the new Prime Minister. The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) – which is piqued over the five party alliance for refusing its proposal to name their candidate for the post of Prime Minister as per the call of the King – has said that it will give its opinion only after its standing committee and central committee meeting, which will take place on Thursday and Friday respectively. Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, a standing committee member of the UML, has said that his party takes Deuba’s appointment as a positive development. “It was the logical move by the King after the five party alliance failed to submit their candidate,” he said. Pradeep Nepal, spokesperson of the UML, said that if, in fact, the Deuba’s appointment is his reinstatement, then the party will support him. “But these things will be discussed by our central committee first,” he said. Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has expressed ‘surprise over the appointment of the same person who was earlier dismissed as incompetent by the King.’ He hinted that NC will not support Deuba government until and unless he reinstates the parliament. “Our agitation will continue,” Koirala remarked. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), however, has indicated that it will support the Deuba government since it has ‘full executive powers’. Smaller parties like the People’s Front (PF) and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP – Anandidevi) have termed Deuba’s government as being a continuity of regression. Compiled from reports.

Bhattarai Undergoes Surgery

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, former prime minister and founding leader of Nepali Congress (NC), underwent a successful ‘prostrate gland’ surgery in a hospital in Bangalore, India. Bhattarai had gone to India a week ago and is said to be in a normal condition now. Leading dailies report.

Transport Strike Afects Life

The three-day transport strike (June 2-4) announced by pro-Maoist trade unionists affected life in most parts of the country with public and private vehicles keeping off the roads. In Kathmandu valley, however, the impact was less pronounced as many private vehicles plied in the streets. The pro-Maoist trade unionists had announced the strike ‘in order to protest the exploitation of workers’. Leading dailies report.

Pemba’s Record Contested

In an apparent case of tit-for-tat, Lakpa Gelu Sherpa has registered a formal complaint at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation contesting the claim made by fellow Sherpa climber Pemba Dorjee of having scaled the Mount Everest in just over 8 hours shattering the earlier record held by him. Lakpa Gelu had set a new world record by climbing the Everest in 10 hours 56 minutes last year breaking the record set by Pemba three days earlier. At that time, Pemba, too, had contested Lakpa’s record at the Ministry. But the Ministry later decided in favor of Lakpa. However, Pemba seemed to have a sweet revenge this year by setting a new record. And now it is the turn of Lakpa to make the complaint the Ministry. The Ministry officials have said they will investigate the whole thing. Compiled from reports.