News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

‘Nobody Should Fear Meeting With The King’: Koirala

Nepali Congress (NC) president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala expressed dismay over the statements of his colleagues of the ongoing agitation for saying that there should be no dialogue with the King. “We have our agenda and we should not fear discussing it with the King,” said Koirala, who is the prime leader of the five party agitating front. Addressing a mass meeting in Mangalbazar on May 2, Koirala requested leaders of other agitating parties not to suspect NC’s intentions. Koirala has been saying that he would meet with the King once the government lifts prohibitory orders. However, other four parties have forwarded their own set of conditions for meeting with the monarch. “Unless the current government is dismissed, there is no question of meeting with the King. If any of us leaders meets with the King, then he will be exposed before the public,” said Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML). Amik Sherchan of People’s Front (PF) was even more radical saying that they should meet with the King only to discuss their 18-point agenda and nothing less. “Otherwise, this agitation will also be targeted at those who try to go against the wishes of people,” he thundered. Leading dailies report.

RNA Conducting Operation In Mid West

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in a unified command is conducting a major operation in the mid-west region including Maoist flashpoints like Rolpa and Rukum districts. The RNA is using both aerial and terrestrial route in its operation. “The objective of the operation is to build confidence among the public that there are no such things as base areas of the Maoists,” said Brigadier General Rajendra Thapa, chief spokesperson of the RNA. “Besides, our operation also aims to make as many of the rebels as we can to surrender and come back to the mainstream society.” Thapa said that the operation’s primary objective was to put pressure on the Maoists so that there will be resolution of this conflict. When asked about the number of casualties incurred in the operation so far, Thapa said that “instead of taking body-count as a measure of success, shouldn’t we be thinking if we are taking right steps for full resolution?” The current operation is said to be a long one. Compiled from reports.

Maoists Torch Agricultural Office

Maoists torched an agricultural office in Dhanusha district destroying half a dozen vehicles and equipment worth Rs 100 million on Saturday (May 1) night. Armed Maoists barged into the Nakatajhij Agriculture Development Project (NADP) and set fire to two ring machines, three cranes, two tippers, three diesel tanks, four water tanks, one drum truck, one jeep and one minibus. They also destroyed furniture of the project. The NADP used to cater irrigation services to 23 districts of the eastern region through deep boring. Likewise, the Maoists also set fire to ticket counter of the Mahinathpur railway station in Janakpur obstructing the services of Janakpur-Jaynagar railways – the only one railway of Nepal. Maoists had called Dhanusha bandh on Sunday. Leading dailies report.

32 People Die In Bus Mishap

Thirty-two passengers including 17 male and 15 female died after a bus en route from Palpa to Butwal fell 200m down the cliff at Chidipani VDC of Palpa district on Saturday morning (May 1). The accident site is some 24 kilometers east to the district headquarters Tansen. Over 30 passengers were injured in the incident. They were rushed to United Mission Hospital in Tansen. Around ten of them were in critical condition. Most of the passengers of the bus were pilgrims who were planning to take holy ablutions in Ramdi. Meanwhile, the Maoists exploded a bomb near the accident site targeting a convoy of security personnel who had been rushed to rescue the injured passengers. Luckily, no damage was reported from the explosion and the security personnel managed to come to the accident site to rescue the passengers of the ill-fated bus. Leading dailies report.

Maoists In The US Terrorist List

The United States State Department has included the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in its Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) with a view to restricting the Maoist’s entry and movement in that country. A statement released by the American Center on Friday states that the Maoists were added to the list along with nine other organizations that the United States has labeled as terrorists as a part of the ongoing fight against terrorism. Through these designations the US government “excludes members and those providing material support to such entities from the United States.” The statement said the designation will “facilitate the fulfillment of the US’ United Nations obligations under the UN Security Council Resolution 1373, to restrict the movement of terrorists or like groups by effective border controls.” The Maoists have been placed second in the list after Babbar Khalsa International, the Punjabi Terrorist Outfit. Most of the other groups in the list are Muslim outfits. Earlier, the Maoists were included only in the watch list of the US. Meanwhile, Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has responded that the US inclusion of Maoists in terror list is a part of its plan to make Nepal a battlefield for its interests and aimed at inciting India and China to go for war. Leading dailies report.

Parties Rediscover Bandh

A meeting of five agitating parties on Friday announced a two-day nationwide general strike on May 11-12. They have, however, made concessions for the vehicles belonging to diplomatic missions, and those linked with providing essential services like press, garbage collection, milk distribution, ambulances and so on. This bandh will then be followed by the one called by the Maoists on May 16-18. Leading dailies report.

Nepal A Terrorist Hub: A Report

In its recently released report called “Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003”, the US has stated that Nepal has become a hub for international terrorists. The report points out that due to limited government economy, weak border control and poor security machinery, Nepal has become a hub for the transit of terrorists and trafficking of arms. The report also states that Nepal has a number of soft targets. It adds that US is helping Nepalese government to improve the situation. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists Release 41 Policemen

Maoists released 41 policemen whom they had abducted from Pashupatinagar of Ilam district. They were released on May 1 in the presence of ICRC representatives and journalists from Nundhaki VDC of Sankhuwasabha district. The policemen had been abducted on April 7 after attack on the police post there. The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) had halted its security operation in the four districts of eastern region including Sankhuwasabha as per the ICRC request to facilitate the release. Compiled from reports.

RPP Leaders Ask PM To Step Down

Rana

President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati SJB Rana has asked Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa to immediately step down to create environment favorable to end the prevailing political crisis. While addressing a mass meet of RPP on Thursday (April 29) Rana charged that Thapa government was responsible to create a present mess. “Why do they have to beat the political cadres and leaders?” he asked pointing to police atrocities against agitators. Although PM Thapa, too, belongs to RPP, the party has started its own agitation since Thursday demanding the dismissal of Thapa government and formation of all party one. Leading dailies report.

Maoists Abduct 150 People In Baitadi

Maoists have abducted 150 civilians including two teachers from the Swarad area of Baitadi district in far western Nepal. They have been taken to unknown location, according to local people. Likewise, they have also abducted 200 people each from Darchula district and Dipayal. Maoists have ordered that one person from each household should accompany them for a week-long program. Most of the abducted people include elderly persons since most youths have already vacated their villages and left for India or other cities to escape the rebel pressure. Kantipur daily reports.

UK Spy Planes For Army By Mid May

The government of the United Kingdom is all set to deliver two spy aircraft named Eye Lander to the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) by mid-May, sources at the British embassy said. “Our government is considering gifting the aircraft to the Nepalese army, but the deal is yet to be finalized,” said a senior official. The Eye Lander aircraft with a surveillance system installed, will be specifically used for spying missions. Equipped with night-vision equipment, the aircraft can fly in the night as well. Apart from the spying purpose, the aircraft can be used for transporting troops. “It is ideal for short take-off and can land in the mountainous terrain that will increase the troop-lift capability of the army by 100 percent,” said a high ranking army official. The army currently has two Lancer gunships, four MI 17 helicopters, two Ecquirels, two Puma, two Chitahas, one Avro, and five Alevators. It is also expected delivery of two gunships and an MI 17 from India and the USA respectively. The army already has a MI 17 helicopter with a sophisticated spy camera named Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) installed in it. Manufactured in Israel, FLIR is a technology with powerful cameras and monitor installed specially in fighter planes. With a range of 25 to 35 km from aerial distance, the cameras can even zoom little things that aircrew want to know about. The county’s map has also been installed in its computer. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

RNA Trying To Bring An End To Maoist Insurgency

The newly appointed chief spokesperson of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) brigadier general Rajendra Thapa has said that RNA is trying to bring the Maoist insurgency to a full stop together with the objective of inflicting minimum damage. Thapa said that the current conflict is not between RNA and the Maoists only. “It is because the Maoists raised arms against the state and the latter ordered RNA to bring the situation under control,” he said. Thapa also added that the state has given RNA the responsibility to bring the Maoists to the table for permanent resolution of the problem. RNA officials also said that following the breakdown of ceasefire in August 27 2003, 1973 Maoists have been killed while 176 army personnel also lost their lives. Since the government initiated its policy of giving amnesty to surrendering rebels, 940 Maoists have already renounced violence. Elaborating on the recent incident of aerial attack in Binayak of Achham district, army officials said eight civilians were killed in the incident. The RNA officials said that they had to open fire from helicopter in retaliation to firing of bullets from the ground. Likewise, brigadier general B. A. Kumar Sharma, chief of the human rights cell at the RNA, said that the human right awareness has greatly increased among the soldiers and officers of the RNA of late. Leading dailies report.