News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Valley Bandh Affects Life, Probe Team Starts Investigation

The Valley Bandh called by the student and the youth wing of the Nepali Congress (NC) affected the life of capital valley on Sunday (August 29). The Nepal Students Union (NSU) and Tarun Dal had called the Bandh in protest of denial of entry to the party president Girija Prasad Koirala by the military guards at the airport on Saturday (August 28). Meanwhile, the bandh organizers vandalized 23 vehicles on Sunday and even burnt some of them. They also clashed with police and bandh protesters at some places in the city. The probe team formed by the government to investigate the incident has started its job. The team interrogated army guards at the airport and also the security guard of Koirala. The team is to present its findings on Monday. Sources said that the incident was due to lack of coordination between army and police officials posted at the airport. Recently, the army had even prevented Armed Police chief Sahabir Thapa from entering into terminal in his vehicle, the source said. Leading dailies report.

Govt. Apologizes For The Obstruction In Koirala’s Journey

The government has expressed apologies for the incident at the Kathmandu airport on Saturday when army guards refused access to the Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala to the VIP bay of the domestic terminal on August 28. “This incident smacks of conspiracy to discredit the government. The government cannot even think of dishonoring top leader like Koirala,” said Bimalendra Nidhi, minister for Education and Sports. The government has already formed a five member team to probe the incident and submit its findings within two days. The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) spokesperson Brigadier General Rajendra Bahadur Thapa, too, has expressed apologies for the unintended incident, which, he said, occurred because the guards posted at the airport were not pre-informed about the visit of Koirala. “The guard did stop the vehicle but without knowing who was inside it. Had the driver or any other person informed that Koirala was inside, there would have been no problem. But the driver just turned away the vehicle and returned,” Thapa added. Koirala was on his way to Bhairahawa to take part in party programs in Kapilbastu and Rupandehi. Meanwhile, NC has expressed grave concern over the incident terming it as a move to trample the freedom of movement. “By obstructing me, the army has attempted to crush my constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement,” Koirala is quoted to have said after the incident. Enraged workers of Congress party took to the streets on the afternoon and burnt tires protesting the incident. Compiled from reports.

India Engaged In Homework To Smash Maoist-PWG Link

India is engaged in homework to smash the link between Nepalese Maoists and Indian ultras including People’s War Group (PWG) and Maoist Communist Center (MCC). Likewise, it has also taken initiatives to raise the alert level in Naxalite-infested regions. Indian Union Home Minister Shiva Raj Patil is scheduled to visit Hyderabad on September 21 for discussions and decisions regarding the ways to stop the activities of Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The Andhra Pradesh state government is currently engaged in negotiations with the PWG. In the past the Naxalite activities were limited to central and southern Bihar but now it has expanded to northern regions that border Nepal. An Indian official said the ultras of Nepal and India plan to make a corridor linking Nepal and Andhra Pradesh for the purpose of arms smuggling. Patil is also expected to discuss with chief ministers of states infested with Naxalites including West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Maharastra. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists’ Training Center In India Raided

The police of Uttaranchal State of India – bordering Nepal – have discovered a military training center set up by Nepalese Maoists deep inside the thick forest around Nainital area of the region. The police had gheraoed the forest and conducted sweep operation after receiving information about the increased movement of people in combat dresses in the villages nearby. Following the incident, the state authorities are on high alert in the area. Kantipur daily reports.

Indian Official Concedes Exaggeration By Indian Media

Charge d’Affaires of Indian Embassy in Kathmandu V.P. Haran has conceded that the Indian media blew out of proportion the actual situation in Kathmandu during their recent reportage surrounding the ‘Kathmandu blockade by the Maoists.’ Speaking at a program organized by Tourism Ministry, Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Haran said that although the Embassy tried its best to convince the media representatives about the actual situation but in vain. “Since media is independent and free, we could do nothing over this issue,” he added. At the program the tourism entrepreneurs and officials expressed sadness over the exaggerated reporting and its impact on tourism sector. NATO president Basanta Mishra expressed disappointment that none of the foreign media reported the fact that despite the blockade, the Maoists had vowed not to obstruct the movement of tourists. He said the misinformation campaign could have cost Nepal US$ 4 to 5 million in tourism earnings. Entrepreneurs said that 10 to 15 percent of the bookings have already been cancelled by prospective visitors due to the incident. Leading dailies report.

Govt. In Internal Homework For Talks

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government is engaged in internal homework to prepare for the peace talks with the Maoists. Addressing a gathering of Democratic National Youth Federation (DNYF) – a youth wing of ruling partner Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) – PM Deuba said, “We are engaged in deep discussions among ourselves. We want this peace talks to be fruitful so that we do not have to conduct peace talks any more.” Activists of DNYF had submitted signatures of 425,000 people urging for peace in the country. The federation also handed over a memo to the PM urging the government to take all necessary steps to restore peace and normalcy in the country. Leading dailies report.

Koirala Complains Of Singular Emphasis On Peace

Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has complained that the foreign friends of Nepal are only stressing on peace and not democracy. He said he felt sad when foreign dignitaries who come to meet with him only talk about peace and not democracy. Addressing a gathering in Rautahat, Koirala said that the present Deuba government could soon be dissolved by the King and that the efforts were on to lift his party to the government by invoking the same Article 127 of the Constitution. “But the NC will not fall into such trap,” he added. Leading dailies report.

Maoist Students Form A Dialogue Team

The pro-Maoist student union – All Nepal National Free Students Union (Revolutionary) – has formed a dialogue team to hold talks with the Education Ministry. According to the union president Lekhnath Neupane, they have formed four member team including Ramesh Malla, Shivaram Yadav, Suresh Gautam and Himal Sharma. Sharma is said to be in the custody of security forces. Meanwhile, reports say that two members of the pro-Maoist student union Hari Sharan Acharya and Durga BK have been arrested by security forces near Pumdibhumdi VDC of Kaski district when they were on their way to hold dialogue with the representatives of educational institutions of Kaski district to end the indefinite strike in the education institutions in the district. Compiled from reports.

NEA Asks Contractors To Resume Marsyangdi Work

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has asked the contractors of the middle Marsyangdi hydroelectricity project to immediately resume the construction works that have been halted since Tuesday. The NEA has termed the unilateral closure of the works as being in violation of the agreement. The NEA has written a letter asking the contractor DC JV to immediately resume the works. The contractor had suspended the works citing Maoist threats. The NEA, on the other hand, has stated that there is no reason to stop the work. According to the NEA general manager Dr. Janak Lal Karmacharya, the Maoists have not made any specific threat against the project. “(They have stopped the works) based on a pamphlet,” he added. Meanwhile, German Embassy in Kathmandu has condemned the frequent threats by the Maoists against the project. Kantipur daily reports.

Dacoits In A Rape Spree

Indian dacoits have raped one dozen women in two days in the bordering Dainiya VDC of Morang district. In an incident that took place two weeks, the dacoits bound and gagged the male members of the families and raped their wives and daughters. The incident came to light after six of the victims approached the police on Tuesday (August 24) to make the complaint. According to the villagers, the Indian dacoits often come to loot their belongings and when they do not find any property they resort to raping. The insecurity in these villages have worsened after police posts were withdrawn following the growing domestic turmoil. Kantipur daily reports.

US To Help Defeat The Maoists

At a time when the Maoists imposed blockade against Kathmandu valley, the United States government has stated that Nepal needs international assistance to defeat them. Talking to reporters in Washington on Monday (August 23), the deputy spokesperson of the State Department Adam Ereli has said that the Maoists have to be defeated and that the US government will provide assistance worth US$ 21 million in this regard to Nepal government. He said that this amount is being provided since 2002 to help strengthen the military capability of Nepal government. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

Indian Security Forces Attacked By Maoists!

Suspected Maoists opened indiscriminate fire at India’s Special Services Bureau (SSSB) forces deployed along the border injuring a child on August 28. According Mahendranagar-based security source, the suspected Maoists attacked SSB’s Jhulaghat post across the border from Jhalaghat of Baitadi district. Locals said the situation in the border was tense after the incident, which could probably be the first time in the nine-year armed insurgency that the Maoists have attacked Indian security forces. A large number of Indian security forces have now been deployed in the area. The source further said that the SSB was unable to retaliate as they first needed the Indian Home Ministry’s nod for the same. The Himalayan Times daily reports.