News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Two Killed, Three Dozen Missing After Bus Plunges Into Trishuli

A passenger bus en route to Malangawa from Kathmandu slipped and plunged into Trishuli river near Rigdikhola of Dahakani VDC of Chitawan district on Sunday (June 20) morning. Two people have been confirmed dead while three dozen others are missing after the mishap. Most of those missing are feared dead. Seven injured have been rescued. According to the police, the self-starter of the bus malfunctioned while climbing up a steep section of the Mugling-Narayangadh road. The bus skidded back despite the driver trying hard to keep it from sliding back and fell 45 meters down into the swollen river. Leading dailies report.

Four Parties Suspend Their Ratnapark Agitation

The four agitating political parties have decided to suspend their Ratnapark-centric agitation beginning June 21. A meeting of the top leaders of the four parties – NC, People’s Front (PF), Nepal Worker and Peasant Party (NWPP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP – Anandidevi) – held on Sunday (June 20) also decided to change the slogans and demands of their agitation in the days ahead. The meeting termed Deuba’s appointment as further step towards regression and concluded that they need to change their agitation program in view of new political scenario and the decision of their major partner UML to withdraw from agitation. The top leaders of the four parties are scheduled to address a public meeting today in Ratnapark. Leading dailies report.

China To Assist RNA In Its Fight Against Maoists

China has promised to assist the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in its fight against the Maoists. General Pyara Jung Thapa, chief of the army staff, RNA, who returned to Kathmandu on Sunday (June 20) after completing a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of China, told reporters that he discussed about bilateral relations and mutual assistance with his Chinese counterparts. “The visit was fruitful. China is going to help us,” he said. General Thapa had met with General Liang Guanglie, chief of staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and a host of other high-level Chinese dignitaries during his visit. Leading dailies report.

Refugees To Start Returning On Their Own

At a program held to mark World Refugees’ Day on Sunday (June 20), representatives of Bhutanese refugees have expressed extreme frustration over the impasse. “If the repatriation process does not restart within next 51 days, the refugees verified in Khudunabari camp will start to return on their own,” said Mitra Rai, a secretary of the camp. Over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees are languishing in several camps in eastern Nepal for the last 13 years. The repatriation process lies stalled. Compiled from reports.

Maoist Ambush Kills 18

Fourteen Armed Police Force (APF) personnel and four civilians were killed in a landmine explosion followed by exchange of fire at Dhankhola of Dang district in Mahendra Highway on June 18. The civilians were traveling in a bus headed for Kathmandu. It was caught in a landmine blast. Coincidentally, the APF patrol team including 47 APF personnel arrived at the spot. In the ensuing exchange of fire 14 of them died. Four civilians who were killed include one two-year-old kid. According to security officials, Maoists had used weapons looted from the army during previous encounters. Four security personnel and 20 passengers were injured in the incident. Leading dailies report.

Regulation Annuled, UML Satisfied

King Gyanendra annulled the amendment in the work performance regulation governing the Council of Ministers, as per the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday (June 18) opening the door wider for the participation of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) in the Deuba government. “When I told the King that I wanted to annul the regulation, he said nobody was stopping us. So, I made the recommendation and he annulled it,” said Deuba gleefully. In response to its annulment, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that it has opened the door for his party’s joining the government. “Still, there are other issues remaining to be discussed. But this has cleared the biggest obstruction,” he said. Compiled from reports.

Indian Police Seize Weapons En Route To Nepal

India’s Special Security Bureau (SSB) personnel seized a huge cache of weapons headed Nepal’s way apparently for the use of the Maoists. The SSB’s patrol unearthed the weapons concealed in a bus near Bhimnagar Khontaha on Wednesday (June 16). Bhimnagar is some five kilometers away from Kosi barrage. Rifles and ammunition were among the unearthed weapons. Four person were arrested after the weapons seize. Kantipur daily reports.

RPP To Split?

Even as the faction led by party president Pashupati SJB Rana is preparing to join the Deuba government, the one led by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is said to be planning to form a new party. In a meeting of former ministers in Thapa cabinet held in Thapa’s resident in Maligaon on Saturday (June 19), the leaders have decided to part ways concluding that the RPP is suffering from imbalance in principles and is dominated by personal interests. Leading dailies report.

Indian Human Rights Activist Asks Nepal To Intervene

Indian human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who is on an indefinite strike in Lucknow, has appealed to the Nepal government to immediately intervene on the issue of repatriating the Nepali circus children who are in custody. “I humbly request the government of Nepal to make an appeal to the Indian government for the repatriation of the children who are still in police custody,” Satyarthi said. The Indian government, according to him, is not taking the issue seriously. “India would have taken immediate action if it was a matter concerning a nation like the US,” he said. Madan Bhattarai, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said, “We will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare after getting reports on the incident from the Nepali embassy in Delhi.” A district court in India has demanded a bond of Rs 50,000 from the rape victim Nita Lama’s mother and an additional Rs 50,000 as a surety from the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) – an NGO – for the child’s release from custody. Nita, a minor, a former employee in the circus, was presented before the Magistrate today. The bond on her behalf has to be deposited to the court as a guarantee for her presence in court when summoned. “This is a rare decision and it is a mockery of legal system,” said Satyarthi emphasizing that she is a victim. “We will challenge the decision on the Higher Court on Monday,” he said. Nita had been reportedly raped by Raja Mohammad Khan, one of the owners of the Great Roman Circus, who along with his partner Shafi Khan is in police custody. Satyarthi is hell bent in continuing his indefinite fast until all the 23 Nepali girls ‘trapped’ in police custody at the Great Roman Circus premises are freed. The police had raided the circus on Tuesday (June 15) with the support of the Global March Against Child Labor and BBA. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

13 Killed In Bus Mishap

A bus en route from Kathmandu to Malangawa met with an accident near Simbhanjyang of Tribhuwan Highway on Tuesday (June 15) midnight resulting in the deaths of 13 passengers. The bus veered off the cliff and fell down some 65 m. According to driver, the accident occurred due to poor visibility thanks to dense fog in the area. Twenty-seven others were injured in the incident. Leading dailies report.

Tatopani Transit Point In Limbo Due To Blockade

Thanks to the order by the Maoists to traders not to pay revenue to the government, the trade through Tatopani transit point has come to a standstill. The transaction through this point has been suspended for the last one and a half week. This is the second time in as many months that the Maoists have imposed blockade in this point. Earlier, the Maoists blocked transaction for 19 days in mid-April. The Maoists have asked the traders to register with them and pay revenue to them. They have threatened physical action against those who defy their call. Consequently, the godown in Tatopani is filled with goods as traders fear to transport them despite army security. Kantipur daily reports.

Security Beefed Up

In view of increased threats by the Maoists, the security arrangements within Kathmandu Valley and particularly for the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) has been beefed up. In addition to regular checkpoints, random checking is being carried out at several places of the city. Officials said that the Maoists were trying to launch attack on high-value target in the valley even as there are talks about holding peace negotiations. Leading dailies report.

US Report Puts Nepal On Tier Two On Human Trafficking

The US Department of State, in a report published on Tuesday (June 15), has said that Nepal does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in women and girls. The 141-country report called ‘Trafficking in Persons’ released in Washington by Secretary of State Collin Powell has stated that the government is making significant efforts to comply with the standards. According to the report, Nepal is a source country for girls and women trafficked to India for the purposes of forced prostitution, domestic servitude, forced labor and work in circuses. Leading dailies report.

600 Infants HIV Positive

There are 600 infants in Nepal who are HIV positive, according to estimates. At a program organized in the capital, experts said that out of 900,000 women who become pregnant every year, 1800 are HIV infected. According to UNAIDS report there are 60,000 HIV/AIDS patients in Nepal – 3075 of them confirmed. Out of them 85 are below 14 years of age. Leading dailies report.

FNCCI Unveils Code Of Conduct Against Child Labor

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), an apex body of Nepali business community, has unveiled a code of conduct with a view to eliminating child labor at the enterprise level. The first-of-its-kind 10-point code of conduct is to be adopted by enterprises, industries and business organizations affiliated with the FNCCI. As per the code of conduct, FNCCI will continue a time-bound program on eliminating selected forms of child labor, deemed worst, in Nepal and raise awareness among its members about its impact. “Children under 14 years will be strictly prohibited from any kind of work,” stated the code of conduct. For laborers between 14-18, recommendation has been made for providing secured working environment and vocational training as well as education, ensuring the generation of a productive workforce. Binod Bahadur Shrestha, president of FNCCI, and Leyla Tegmo Reddy, director of International Labor Organization (ILO), Kathmandu office jointly launched the code of conduct on Monday. The Himalayan Times daily reports.