News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Nineteen Injured In Tinkune Explosion

Nineteen persons were injured when suspected Maoists exploded a cylinder bomb near Shantinagar in Tinkune on Sunday (September 12) afternoon. The passers by were injured when a cycle with a cylinder left unattended near the Bagmati bridge exploded suddenly. According to the police, the bomb went off when a bomb disposal team of the Royal Nepalese Army was about to head for the site. Leading dailies report.

Koirala Cautions Palace About Maoist Ploy

Nepali Congress (NC) president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the latest Maoist statement stating that they would hold talks directly with the King was a ploy on their part to trap the palace. “It is nothing but a ploy to trap the palace,” said Koirala. “I think the King should not be pleased with the latest Maoist statement. If he cannot make the negotiation, what will happen then?” Koirala asked. Leading dailies report.

Muslim Leaders Convinced That The Riots Were Orchestrated

The Muslim community leaders of the Kathmandu Valley have said that the September 1 riots in the city, which was also targeted against mosques, were well-orchestrated by nefarious elements. Speaking at an interaction program organized by Martin Chautari on Sunday (September 12), they said they know who are behind the attacks. “We want the state to name them first,” said Taj Mohammad Miyan, sub-coordinator of the Muslim Ittehad Association. “We have identified them along with evidences.” He said the crowd that day was being directed by such elements. He added that the Muslim community here had to fear wrath of such nefarious elements and not that of people belonging to other religions. Miyan also added that the Nepalese Muslim community had already taken initiatives to ensure that the incident does not have negative implications to Nepalese workers in the Gulf countries. “We have got detailed information of who were behind the mob, who guided them and what were their real intentions,” said Miyan, adding, “Internal and external forces were behind it. The political parties could have stopped it if they so wanted. Leaders, who could block Ratna Park for months at one time, were absent at the time of the attacks. The meaning is clear.” Compiled from reports.

Maoists A Common Threat: India

During the ongoing visit by Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, India has agreed that the Maoists pose a common threat to both the countries owing to their links with Indian extremist groups. India has also backed Nepal’s stand that the resolution of the Maoist problem should be within the parameters of the multi party democracy and constitutional monarchy. “There should be peace within the ambit of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. Even the Maoists can take part in the hustings but no one should pursue political means through violence,” Shyam Saran, Indian foreign secretary told the journalists, adding, however, that there is no pure military solution to the problem. Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times daily reported on September 11 that New Delhi has agreed to provide various military hardware and ammunitions to Nepal including three Advanced light helicopters; 20,000 INSAS rifles; 15,000 7.62 mm SLRs; 5000 machine guns of different caliber; 800 trucks and jeeps; 100 Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs); Bullet proof jackets; helmets; mines; and barbed wires. It has also agreed to provide training to police and army of Nepal. Compiled from reports.

US Won’t Let Maoists Take Over Capital: Ambassador

US Ambassador to Nepal, James F. Moriarty said, on Friday (September 10), that his country was working closely with India to ensure that the Maoists do not get outside help and are never able to take over the capital. “India has a big role to play in resolving Maoist problem. Considering the military assistance and diplomatic help it has provided to Nepal, I conclude that the Maoists will not be allowed to take over Kathmandu,” he said while speaking at an interaction organized by Nepal Council of World Affairs and American Center on ‘US foreign policy after 9/11.” The envoy believes that the Maoists must realize that military victory is never going to come for them. He said eventually the Maoists would have to compromise at the negotiating table. He urged the constitutional forces to unite for seeking solution to the problem. He opined that the Maoists should not be allowed to participate in elections until they give up arms. He also urged the international community to pressure Maoists to come to the negotiating table. He said such an atmosphere could be created by condemning Maoist atrocities. When asked about the US position regarding the UN mediation, the ambassador said, “My government is not taking apposition on that.” The Himalayan Times daily reports.

PM Expresses Sadness Over Blast In American Center

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba made a call to US ambassador James F. Moriarty on Saturday (September 11) to express his sadness over the blast in the American Center premises on Friday evening by the suspected Maoists. He also assured of security to the American embassy and other facilities. The State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher has also condemned the blast and stated there could be no political justification for the incident. The suspected Maoists had exploded two bombs near the parking lot of the American Center in Gyaneshwore slightly damaging its toilet. No one was hurt in the incident. Compiled from reports.

Indian Police Nab Two Maoist Leaders

The police in the Indian State of Bihar arrested five Maoists including two central members Ram Babu Chaudhary and Arbinda Parajuli from Gandhi Maidan of Patna city. Chaudhary is the central member of the Madhesi Liberation front – a sister organization of the Maoists - and Parajuli is its military commander. They are currently in the custody of Patna police. The arrest comes amid the visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to India. During his visit there, PM Deuba had also met with railways minister and powerful politician of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav. After the meeting, Yadav had vowed to help Nepal in every way possible to help peace prevail. Compiled from reports.

Police Arrest 36 For 9/1 Riots

The Valley police have arrested 36 persons on charges of involvement in vandalism, arson and looting during the September 1 riots in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The police have confiscated cash worth Rs 2,18,000, an Olympus camera, a carpet, a digital camera, four passports, a 6 inch TV set, a Chinese CD player etc. Police, on the basis of complaints filed at various police stations, said 344 offices have been damaged on that day including 202 manpower agencies, 21 manpower training centers, three mosques, eight restaurants and guest houses, an office of a travel and tour agency, 35 houses, 18 shops, two Madrassas nine clinics, two media houses and 35 other buildings. 46 civilians along with 36 security personnel were injured during the riots and 49 vehicles were damaged. Leading dailies report.

PF Hold Protest Rally Against The Maoists

The Jana Morcha or the People’s Front (PF) organized a rally in the capital on Wednesday (September 8) protesting against the Maoist atrocities and violence. The rally was organized after the Maoists attacked a public gathering of the PF leaders in Dullu of Dailekh district injuring dozens of its leaders including general secretary Navaraj Subedi. The activists of the PF holding banners and placards denouncing the Maoists took to the streets and held a public meeting in Ratnapark protesting the action. Meanwhile, the UML has issued a statement denouncing the Maoist for forcing the workers of political parties to evacuate their residences in Dailekh district. It has charged that the Maoists have forced over 12 families of the political workers belonging to the NC, UML and RPP to evacuate in the district. Leading dailies report.

ANNFSU-R Opens Schools In Gandak Region

Amid pressures from the civil society, parents and rights activists, the student wing of the Maoists All Nepal National Free Students Union – Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R) has decided to instruct its local level functionaries to withdraw the indefinite strike in educational institutions that is in place in the Gandak (western) region for the last one month. According to Lekhnath Neupane, president of the ANNFSU-R, they decided to withdraw the strike considering the appeals made by the civil society, rights activists and parents and in view of the future of thousands of students. He, however, added, that the organization would adopt new forms of protest programs to press their demands that include releasing their leaders who are in government custody. The ANNFSU-R decision comes a day after the Private and Boarding School Organization of Nepal (PABSON) decided to unilaterally open the schools beginning Sunday (September 12). Over 700,00 students of 5000 public and private schools of the region had been affected by the strike. Leading dailies report.

Go Ahead If You Can Give Democratic Solution: Nepal

The general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that his party would have no problem if the Maoists talked directly with the King and are able to provide a democratic solution to this conflict. “Instead of talking tall, they should hold dialogue with whoever they want. What we want is the democratic solution to this conflict,” said Nepal in response to the reports that the Maoists had decided to hold talks only with the King. Talking to the reporters at the airport immediately after he arrived to the capital from China where he had gone to take part in the conference of Asian political parties, Nepal said that the present government was not only authorized but also fully capable to hold fruitful talks with the Maoists. Compiled from reports.

Losses Of 9/1 Riots Total Rs 1.5 B

Initial estimates have put the total losses incurred during the 9/1 riots in Kathmandu valley at around Rs 1.5 billion. This apart, passports worth Rs 600 million were also burnt, claim the manpower agents. The offices of manpower agencies incurred the majority of the losses. According to the estimates by the evaluation committee formed by the manpower agencies, the rioters damaged around Rs 1 billion worth properties when they attacked 320 offices. Likewise, Siddhi Bhawan incurred losses around Rs 45 million; Kantipur Publications lost Rs 35 million; Channel Nepal lost Rs 40 million; Qatar Airways lost Rs 20 million, the two mosques lost Rs 15 million and so on. Kantipur daily reports.