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A ‘Truce Citizens’ Monitoring Committee’ has been formed at the initiative of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) to monitor incidents of human rights violations during the Maoist-announced ceasefire. The 22-member committee includes representatives from various civil society organizations including former judges, human rights activists, former ministers and so on. The political parties had called on the civil society to form such committee. Leading dailies report.

Maoist leaders and cadres belonging to the Madhesi community, on September 19, announced a ‘rebellion’ against their party high command. According to them, the community in the Maoist party has been subjected to various forms of oppression, exploitation and discrimination. In a press conference organized at a village in Bairganiya VDC of Rautahat district, Madhesi leaders said they were compelled to announce the mutiny following severe atrocities against them by fellow Maoists. Addressing the press meet, Gotradeep, a Maoist leader of the Madhesi community, said cadres belonging to Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Rai, Limbu and Madhesi communities are looked down upon by the so-called ‘Maoists belonging to the higher class.’ Gotradeep said; “The Maoists who say they are fighting for the people are indulged in various unpleasant activities like one man’s rule, financial irregularities, unnecessary expenses, lack of ideological deliberations, domination, repression in the name of liberation and massacre of innocent cadres. And to fight against these very selfish activities, we are compelled to go against them,” Gotradeep said. Stating that the decision was taken after intense discussions among Maoist cadres from Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari, he said a new party will be formed soon after deliberations among the Madhesi cadres. A statement announcing the rebellion was signed by Maoist leaders of the Madhesi community – Gotradeep, Rajeev, Ranabajra Madhesi, Kuldeep and Jwala Asur. They all have held top posts in the Maoist hierarchy. At least 12 journalists from Nepal and India were present in the press conference. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

In response to habeas corpus writs filed seeking the release of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former minister Prakash Man Singh, the Supreme Court (SC) has issued show cause notice to the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) demanding reasons for imprisoning the duo. The RCCC had imprisoned Deuba and Singh on charges of corruption in Melamchi Drinking Water Project. Advocates Binod Karki and Sarbagya Raj Naya had filed the habeas corpus claiming that the RCCC was imprisoning the two illegally. Both Deuba and Singh have already filed a petition at the SC challenging the decision of the RCCC. Leading dailies report.

The employees of the Sunsari District Administration Office (DAO) protested the manhandling of Chief District Officer Sharada Bhakta Poudel by Sagarmatha Zonal Administrator Ram Kumar Subba by stopping the office works for one and a half hour on Sunday (September 18). Subba had harassed and manhandled Poudel inside his office recently claiming he did not work efficiently. The DAO employees protested despite threats by Subba and regional administrator Jagadish Khadka of action against them. Leading dailies report.

Maoists have abducted around 60 teachers of various schools in Kerabari VDC of Morang district. According to the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), they were abducted from nine different secondary and primary schools on Friday (September 16). The abduction has taken place despite the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists. Leading dailies report.

King Gyanendra is expected to visit China in November this year. According to highly placed diplomatic sources, preparations are on to arrange the visit. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Sun Heping who was said to be planning to take two months’ off in October and November has now decided to go in vacation only for the month of October considering the likely visit by King Gyanendra in November. This year Nepal and China are observing the golden anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. The King’s visit is said to be a part of high-level exchanges to mark the occasion. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.

Satchit SJB Rana, former army chief and a member of Raj Parishad Standing Committee, has wondered aloud whether there is some foreign intervention in the coming together of the Maoists and the political parties. “Since the Maoists and party leaders met in a foreign land and are coming closer, this leads one to ask whether there is some sort of foreign intervention here,” said Rana speaking at an interaction program on Sunday (September 18). He also said that since the Maoists could have announced ceasefire under direction from foreigners, the government is not in a position to trust them. He did not name the foreign country. Leading dailies report.

A team of experts, which visited Susta recently found Indian farmers have encroached a further 300 bighas of land on Nepal’s side there. Now, the total area of encroached Nepali land on Susta border stands at 20,000 bighas. “India has altogether encroached around 20,000 bighas of Nepali land in Susta after Sugauli treaty was signed,” said Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, an expert on border-related issues. The team found that Indian farmers were being distributed land. “They (Indian farmers) have not only encroached land by destroying crops planted by Nepalis, but are also harassing Nepali farmers,” said Fanindra Nepal, a researcher in the team. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

The Spokesperson of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Brigadier General Dipak Gurung has said that the current unilateral truce announced by the Maoists is only a ‘drama’ and that the Maoists are preparing/rebuilding and could launch massive offensive after three months. “And we need to be prepared for that,” he said at a press conference on Friday (September 16). Gurung said that the RNA is still engaged in operation as before. He accused the Maoists of stepping up recruitment drive and training of militants in villages. At the same program, Colonel Umesh Kumar Bhattarai said that the Maoists were involved in extra-judicial killings of 15 soldiers during the Pili attack on August 7. “Twelve soldiers were shot from a point blank range after being captured; one was butchered; the other was hanged and one was killed by smashing his head,” Bhattarai said. Meanwhile, Gurung rejected charges of ‘systematic torture’ taking place in RNA. “The RNA is concerned if someone accuses us of systematically torturing anyone because that is not the army’s policy. Individuals found doing so will be punished.” The RNA is preparing to soon establish two companies comprising soldiers belonging to the indigenous nationalities from the mountainous and Terai regions. Leading dailies report.

Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey has said the government is open to all “sincere efforts” leading to peace in the country, which he said is possible only when terrorism is shunned as a means of furthering political objectives. Addressing a high-level plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 16, he said preparations are underway to hold municipal elections by April 2006 “to eventually pave way for national elections.” He also reiterated Nepal’s profound commitment to the protection of human rights and her unequivocal readiness to fulfill all obligations arising from the international human rights instruments. Pandey further said all sovereign and independent countries and people are free to choose the form of governance that suits their conditions and requirements best. Also in a live interview given to CNN in New York, the foreign minister said the only way to bring democracy back on track is to conduct free and fair elections. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Ending the monopoly of state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT), Spice Nepal Private Limited (SNPL) – a private sector joint venture – has launched its mobile services named “Mero Mobile” officially from Saturday. The SNPL has entered into the mobile market of Nepal five years after the NT introduced the service here. Addressing a press meet on Saturday, Raj Bahadur Singh, chairman of SNPL, said that the company would start distributing the lines from Saturday itself. The company claims that its services would be cheaper than that of NT. It has fixed Rs 4500 and Rs 1000 as the initial fee for getting post paid and pre paid lines respectively. From Mero Mobile to Mero Mobile, the cost of making a call is 1 paisa while the receiving calls are free. The SNPL is a joint venture with reputed industrial group from Kazakhstan, Indian Spice Cell and local investors. They have invested a total of US$ 20 million. The Kazakh group owns 75 percent of the equity whereas Spice Cell has 5 percent and local investors 20 percent in the company. Dr. Upendra Mahato, a local investor, said that the SNPL expects to reach into inter-connection agreement with the NT within the next one week after which the company would unveil its new rates. The company officials claimed they would extend the service to Pokhara, Janakpur, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Bharatpur, Hetauda, Banepa and Dharan by the end of 2005. Kantipur daily reports.

The seven political parties have unveiled new programs of their agitation for the restoration of full democracy and peace. The meeting of the central coordination committee of the joint agitation held on Wednesday (September 14) decided on new sets of programs. They have decided to take the capital-centric agitation up to lower levels. For one week the parties had defied prohibitory orders in New Road and for the last two days they defied similar orders in Ratnapark area. On Thursday, they would suspend their agitation whereas on Friday they would organize a rally from Dillibazar and defy the prohibitory orders in Bagbazar. On September 18, they would burn effigies in all electoral constituencies of the valley. On September 19, similar demonstrations would be held in Dillibazar led by professionals and intellectuals. On September 20, women would lead such demonstration. On September 22, torch-lit processions would be held in three cities of the valley. From September 23-26, the district agitation committees would hold protest programs in three cities of the capital. On September 27, country-wide demonstrations would be held. On September 29, agitation would be held in Lalitpur district and on October 1 in Bhaktapur. From October 2, the district agitation committees would engage in public campaigns. Kantipur daily reports.