July 22 2005

The number of killed passengers rose to 39 in the boat mishap that occurred in Banganga river in Kapilbastu district. Reports say that over four dozen passengers are still missing. Chief District Officer Dipak Kumar Joshi said that the search and rescue mission is still on. He feared that some dead bodies might have been swept away to India . He said that they are seeking cooperation from Indian authorities, too, in searching the bodies there. Compiled from reports.

Code Of Ethics For NGOs On The Anvil

The government is said to be considering introducing a code of ethics to control the NGOs an INGOs working in the sector of democracy, human rights and social justice. Sources said that the cabinet decided, in principle, to introduce such code to ‘manage’ the NGOs. The code of ethics could be introduced within a week. The Ordinance issued on Friday amending the Social Welfare Council Act has provisions to introduce such code of ethics. The source added that there is a provision allowing the District Administration Office to revoke the registration of any NGO found not complying with the code of ethics. It also makes it compulsory for the NGOs to clarify their objectives when seeking foreign support and does not allow the NGOs from conducting political activities or programs. Meanwhile, NGO activists have criticized the move to introduce strict provisions. Subodh Pyakurel, president of INSEC, termed the code of ethics as a ‘move to end the human rights movement.’ Kantipur daily reports.

Nepali Press Muzzled: Media Mission

Around a dozen international organizations, including UN agencies, highlighted grave concerns with national authorities over the situation of media and freedom f expression in Nepal . They said they would continue following up visits to ensure the government adheres to promises made to them. In a joint statement issued after a week-long mission to Nepal, global media associations found that since February 1, press freedom situation in Nepal has significantly ‘deteriorated,’ despite lifting of emergency in April. The mission has held all combatants in the conflict responsible for abusing and contravening press freedom. It found that district-based media persons, in particular, worked under difficult conditions. The mission, which visited Biratnagar, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Mahendranagar, has asked assurances from the palace and government that press freedom are respected with particular emphasis on district-based media persons and correspondents of national media in districts. They asked the government no to introduce any new media ordinance, which would override existing media-related legislation. They have reminded the government that FM and community radio stations in many countries ‘do broadcast news.’ The Himalayan Times daily reports.

New Journalists’ Federation In The Offing

Information and Communication Minister Tanka Dhakal addressed a national meet of journalists on Saturday where a number of journalists said they would form a National Federation of Journalists. A committee to prepare for the national convention of the federation has been formed headed by senior journalist P. Kharel. The organizers, however, claimed that they do not want to become an alternative to the existing Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). Meanwhile, addressing the meet, Minister Dhakal complained over the trend of journalists becoming “weapons of political parties and others.” He complained that the FNJ, this year, did not invite government ministers to its convention. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

King Grants Audience To RPP Leaders

King Gyanendra granted a collective audience to leaders of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) including its president Pashupati SJB Rana, former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, general secretary Kamal Thapa and vice president Padma Sundar Lawati. They were invited for a lunch at the royal palace on July 14. The leaders did not comment on what transpired at the meeting but said that the King thought it would be better for the party to remain united at this juncture. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

Acharya Warns Against NC Siding With The Maoists

An influential and senior leader of the Nepali Congress (NC) Shailaja Acharya has said that it would be suicidal on the part of the Congress to have any kind of cooperation or collaboration with the Maoists. “If the Congress accepts the Maoists’ agenda, we will be finished. It would be better then to accept Prachanda and Baburam as our leaders,” Acharya said at a talk program in the capital on Thursday (July 14). Acharya said that since Congress is not only a political party but also a representative of the cultural and political movement of the country, the party would do well to stick to its original fundamental policy of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy. She stated that the party should not deviate from its middle-path. “If we go for constituent assembly, this middle-path will be finished because the result would go either in favor of active monarchists or republicans,” she said. Leading dailies report.

Solar Panel Glitters In Remote Villages

The villages of Jumla district are very remote. The households lack even basic amenities like toilets. Cleanliness and hygiene is absent. But the people of Jumla have become advanced in one account. They are increasingly turning to using solar energy. In most of the villages, more than half of the households boast of solar panels in their rooftop – not only in district headquarters Khalanga but also in villages that are far-flung. Although they do not have access to electricity, the solar energy is providing them with untold opportunities of living in light, listening to radio or viewing television. “These solar plates have become the source of light and entertainment to us,” said Til Chandra Upadhyaya, a representative of local savings and credit cooperative. According to him, around 19 such small cooperatives provide concessional loan to the common people to install solar systems. They work in collaboration with leading companies like Lotus energy, Himalaya Eco, Sun Shine etc. “We sell the 45 Ampere battery that costs Rs 10,000 in other places at Rs 6000 here,” said Upadhyaya. The villagers are using solar plates costing between Rs 6,000 to Rs 80,000. Kantipur daily reports.

India Refutes Reports Of LTTE Providing Training To Nepalese Maoists

India has refuted news reports that Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) are providing training to Nepalese Maoists on developing suicide bombers’ squad in Bihar . According to Nepal Samacharpatra daily (July 12), Governor of Bihar Buta Singh refuted the reports published by the US-based e-magazine ‘South Asia Tribune’ that quoted a New Delhi-based leader of Nepalese Maoist. Meanwhile, Indian media reports said that in its Friday edition, the South Asia Tribune said the Lankan rebels were teaching Nepalese outlaws to form human bomb squads for suicidal missions. The Tigers are said to be running a training camp in Narkatiaganj and Ghorasahan in Bihar near Nepal ’s border, according to the report. “Women and teenage boys and girls were being recruited for these squads. They also carry cyanide capsules with them,” the report said. The LTTE, also known as Tamil Tigers, and prominent Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were present as special invitees. The secret meeting reportedly decided the Tigers would provide full support to the Indian and Nepalese Maoists and Indian Maoists would provide shelter and training camps to Nepal ’s Maoists. “Tamil Tigers have formed four Human Bomb Dalams (squads) of women,” the report said. “Each dalam has 20 women. Similarly, 12 dalams of the suicidal squads have been formed. Each dalam has 40 young boys and girls. Indian and Nepalese Maoists are being jointly trained in this camp.” Compiled from reports.

Maoist Training Center Destroyed

Indian police in Bihar have said that they have destroyed a joint training center of both the Nepalese as well as Indian Maoists located at Swameshwore hill in Raghiya jungle along the border with Parsa and Chitwan districts of Nepal . The DIG S. K. Bhardwaj of Champaran area informed that huge cache of explosives was seized from the center. He informed that Maoists of both the countries used the center for training. Kantipur daily reports.

21 st Century Belongs To Democracy: Crown Prince Paras

Crown Prince Paras has said that the 21 st century belongs to multiparty democracy, human rights and peace. “We in Nepal know well that the twenty-first century belongs to peace, human rights and multiparty democracy, to serve in the interest of which we are committed and duty-bound,” he said addressing the National Day celebrations organized at the Aichi World Expo 2005 at Nagoya , Japan on July 7. Crown Prince Paras added “Both our countries recognize the people as the strength of the Institution of Monarchy and the Institution of Monarchy is totally devoted to the service of the people.” Compiled from reports.

RNA To Start Manufacturing Weapons Itself: Chief

Chief of the Army Staff, Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), General Pyara Jung Thapa said that RNA was working to manufacture essential arms and weapons within the country. In a message to soldiers on the occasion of 59 th auspicious birthday of King Gyanendra, General Thapa ordered soldiers and officers to strictly follow the dictum ‘let two terrorists escape but ensure not a single innocent is victimized.’ He said that the army was involved in the construction of 1040 km of road under 13 different projects. This year, the army plans to complete the construction of Salyan-Musikot and Katari-Okhaldhunga road sections. He said that the army was moving ahead with the determination to smash the leadership and infrastructure of the Maoists. He added that the Maoists were being defeated. “Due to defeated mentality, the Maoists are engaged in savage act of killing and displacing the families of security personnel,” he said. He also said that the organizational strengthening, capacity enhancement and timely reforms were going on in the army. He expected that the international community to continue their support like in the past by remaining sensitive to ground realities. He said that since it was deployed against the Maoists, the RNA has increased its numbers with a division in each development region. He also announced that 50 gm biscuit and an egg has been increased in the daily ration of each soldier. With this the daily ration of a soldier will have 4374 calories. Leading dailies report.

India Resumes Non-Lethal Arms Supplies

For the first time after February 1, India has finally resumed the supplies of non-lethal arms to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA). A consignment of non-lethal equipment reportedly including jeeps, bulletproof jackets, Mine-Protected Vehicles (MPV), concertina security wires, bunker protection devices etc was delivered via the Raxaul border. “ New Delhi has, however, held back thermal imagers used in counter insurgency operations, and night vision devices,” reported the Indian Express daily. “In case of thermal imagers, it feels Kathmandu should sign a protocol on intellectual property rights, ruling out the possibility of the force multiplier falling into the hands of other countries.” The spokesperson of the RNA Brigadier General Dipak Gurung refused to comment. Leading dailies report.