Eight Maoists Killed In Clashes
In the first major incident of clash since the announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists, security forces killed six Maoists in clashes in Bahadurpur area of Palpa district and two more in Aunsidanda of Tehrathum district. Security sources said that in Palpa, the clash erupted after the Maoists hurled socket bombs at the patrolling unit of the forces. A seven-year-old girl child was also injured in the clash. The army airlifted her for treatment at the Birendra Army Hospital in Kathmandu . Around five Maoists were arrested from the site. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports.
Heavy Rainfall Lashes Far Western Nepal , One Die Of Landslide
A young boy was killed in Baitadi district after he was swept by a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall that has been lashing the far-western region for the last two days. Transport has come to standstill in Baitadi and Dadelshura districts due to the landslide. The swollen Mahakali river has flooded the settlements on its banks near Mahendranagar. Leading dailies report.
Municipal Elections In Next Three And Half Months
Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Raj Rajbhandari has said that the Election Commission will hold polls in the 58 municipalities across the country within next three and a half months. “Preparation is complete, date will be announced soon,” he said. The CEC said that the seven political parties should take part in the elections to bring the democracy back on track. “There will be no rigging,” he claimed. King Gyanendra had announced to hold municipal polls within this year. Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, addressing the UN General Assembly last week, had called for international support to successfully hold the polls. He stated that Nepal would welcome international monitors to ensure free and fair elections. CEC Rajbhandari said that following the municipal polls, elections would be held in VDCs, DDCs and the parliament. He said there were 128 political parties registered at the Election Commission. Kantipur daily reports.
Leaders Ask King To Prove Allegations Of Foreign Fund
Outraged over the King’s allegations that ‘unwanted activities were taking place in the capital due to huge flow of foreign funds,’ political leaders have asked him to prove it. Former minister and central leader of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Hom Nath Dahal rejected the allegations. “We have received tremendous moral support and goodwill from the international community. But if we had received foreign funds, the authorities should follow the legal course. We are ready to face it,” he said. “It is the immature statement of the King to make such allegations,” added Krishna Sitaula of Nepali Congress. However, Roshan Karki of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) alleged that the foreign fund was, indeed, being channeled to NGOs, INGOs and civil society. She said that funds exceeding billions of rupees had thus been injected. Compiled from reports.
Effigies Of Three Ministers Burnt
Student demonstrators close to National Unity Council – which is headed by the incumbent Assistant Minister for Health Nikshya SJB Rana – have burnt effigies of three ministers – Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, Finance Minister Madhukar SJB Rana and Agriculture Minister Badri Prasad Mandal – at Manohar Martyr Memorial Multiple Campus in Gongabu on Sunday. The effigies of the ministers who have been alleged of involvement in fertilizer scam plan were burnt reportedly under the instruction of another minister Nikshya SJB Rana. Kantipur daily reports.
Nepal Suspects King Of Trying To Resurrect Panchayati Constitution
Madhav Kumar Nepal , general secretary of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), has raised suspicions that the King might be trying to resurrect Panchayati Constitution of 1961 with minor changes. “It is being learnt that the King is preparing to further push the country towards authoritarian regime by discarding the present constitution and introducing a separate one sometime during Dashain or on Kartik 23 (November 9 – the Constitution Day),” Nepal told a gathering of party cadres on Saturday. He urged the cadres to remain prepared to face such situation. He said the recent remarks made by Dr. Tulsi Giri, vice chairman of Council of Ministers, about the present constitution, could have been guided by the King himself. Nepal Samcharpatra daily reports.
Indian Govt To Probe Fertilizer Scam
India has decided to probe an organized attempt – allegedly involving senior Nepalese cabinet ministers – to smuggle subsidized fertilizer from the country. According to a report in newindpress.com, the Indian government will also take up the issue with authorities in Nepal . According to media reports, the plan was to smuggle up to 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer from India through small checkpoints on the Bihar-Nepal border over the next two months and sell it at double the price in Nepal . The move is believed to have been endorsed at a high-level meeting between three cabinet ministers of Nepal – Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, Agriculture Minister Badri Prasad Mandal and Finance Minister Madhukar SJB Rana – on September 8. According to the website, the Ministry of External Affairs is already in touch with Home, Finance and other related ministries. It quotes sources as saying that an investigation will be launched – a formal decision can be expected next week after inter-ministerial consultations. If proved true, the matter will be taken up with Kathmandu and followed up with necessary action. Urea, which is sold at Rs 8 per kg in India , sells at double the price in Nepal . The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Camp Recommends Reconciliation Between King, Political Parties
The United States supports freedom and democracy in Nepal and is urging King Gyanendra and the political parties to form a democratic framework to deal with the Maoist insurgency that has beset this Himalayan mountain country for over 30 years. Addressing a panel on the situation in Nepal at the Heritage Foundation in Washington September 20, State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Donald Camp reiterated U.S. policy goals in Nepal . Camp said that Nepal is at "a crossroads now," with the democratic process at a standstill since the king dismissed the parliament in February, and the Maoist insurgency now fueled by demonstrations against the King. Although the Maoist rebels announced a ceasefire three weeks ago and asked for United Nations mediation, Camp said the Maoists will not be seen as "a legitimate political force in Nepal unless they give up violence." Camp added that there is a prevailing fear that if the Maoists win political power, they are likely to eliminate the other parties and form a totalitarian state. Camp said the seen legitimate political parties in Nepal are not united in seeking a common stand against the Maoist insurgency or in determining how power should be shared with the King. The United States is working with India and the United Kingdom to persuade King Gyanendra to reconcile with the political parties and lay the groundwork for national elections, Camp said. At the same time, the political parties have been urged to end corruption, he said. Also, the United States is urging the Royal Nepalese Army to respect human rights as it investigates civilians suspected of supporting Maoist operations in the countryside. The United States over the last four years has provided $22 million in military assistance to Nepal , but Camp said that lethal military assistance such as M16 rifles has been halted through provisions of the Leahy amendment to the U.S. foreign aid bill in Congress that calls for improvement in the human rights in Nepal . But Camp said non-lethal security assistance such as tents, soldiers' protective vests and communications equipment already in the pipeline will be delivered to Nepal . Compiled from reports.
King Expresses Concern Over ‘Unwanted Activities’
King Gyanendra has said that he is concerned about the ‘massive flow of foreign money, which is being used to conduct unwanted activities in the capital.’ He made these remarks while giving instructions to the officials of the eight District Development Committees (DDCs) at Bagmati Zonal Administration Office in Lalitpur on Thursday (September 22). The King instructed the officials to move as per the desire of the people and be especially concerned since this zone includes the capital Kathmandu . He asked them to pay attention to conservation of heritage and Bagmati river. He also called on to end the pollution of not only environment but also that of politics, society and so on. Earlier, King Gyanendra and Queen Komal strolled for over five hours meeting with common people and listening to their grievances. The royal couple walked on foot from Bagmati bridge in Kopundole to Patan Mangalbazar and Jawalakhel. Leading dailies report.
Koirala To Appoint Acting President
Nepali Congress (NC) president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala is said to be planning to appoint ‘acting president’ of the party. “I will be away for three months for health treatment. My responsibility should be given to someone for that period,” a source quoted Koirala as saying in the recent meeting of the party central working committee. Koirala’s remarks have triggered fresh race for the post and incited power struggle within the Koirala family. Shailaja Acharya, who resigned from the CWC, and Sushil Koirala, who rejected the post of general secretary, are said to be claiming for the post. Kantipur daily reports.
US Envoy Calls For Restoration Of Democracy
American Ambassador James F. Moriarty has said that the King should immediately restore democracy and move towards resolving the Maoist problem. He said that Nepal was facing twin problem of absence of democratic rule and Maoist war for totalitarian regime. Moriarty said that both these problems were exacerbated by the February 1 step by the King. Speaking at a program organized by the Political Science Department of Tribhuwan University, Moriarty said that the US had cautiously welcomed the Maoist ceasefire adding that the US would welcome any step that would lessen conflict and violence. But he expressed suspicions regarding the intention of the Maoists especially since the ceasefire is conditional and for short period. He warned that any delay in bringing about national reconciliation for restoration of democracy could have grave consequences. He also quoted the former US president Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool some of the people all of the time; you can fool all of the people some of the time; but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Kantipur daily reports.
Thapa Demands Response From The King
President of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has roundly condemned the remarks made by Dr. Tulsi Giri, vice chairman of the Council of Ministers. Thapa said that the response to his remarks that the current constitution has posed obstruction in the fulfillment of the objective of February 1 royal move must come immediately from the King. “If that (response) does not come, we will have to think that this viewpoint is supported by the King himself – and that would be most ominous for the democracy as well as monarchy,” Thapa said addressing a party program on Wednesday. He said the current regime was turning out to be an extreme right wing. He added the remark indicated that the government is being led by ultra-rightist elements who are working to end the institution of monarchy. “If it is the official version of the government, the people will be compelled to choose their own way,” he added, “Don’t ever think that I speak in emotion or anger..my age does not allow me to become angry. I have weighed every word I speak.” Thapa also criticized the government for heavily politicizing the administration and for keeping quiet on the misbehavior of the Sagarmatha zonal administrator. He asked the government to reciprocate the ceasefire declared by the Maoists. He also flayed the seven-party alliance and the civil society for not taking up the Maoists’ continued cases of kidnapping and extortion. “Either the alliance leaders are ignorant or fear the Maoists to react to continued cases of kidnapping,” he said. Compiled from reports.
