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October 26, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !) ut] d+unaf/_

Army is in favour of peace talks: General Thapa

Top brass of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), General Pyar Jung Thapa, has said the army is in favour of peace talks with the Maoist rebels. He did not elaborate. Talking to reporters at the tea reception organised by a major coalition partner, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) on the occasion of Bada Dashain in the capital on Tuesday, General Thapa-attired in daura, suruwal and topi (Nepali national dress) - said it was the responsibility of the government to decide regarding holding polls in the country. "We will make arrangements  for security if the government asks us for the same," he added. Parliamentary elections are due in the country for the last two years. Host of the reception ceremony, UML general secretary, Madhav Kumar Nepal said the ruling coalition partners were yet to decide on the issue of holding elections. Talking to reporters on the same occasion, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, reiterated that the government would initiate the process of elections within the month of `Chaitra' (March-April, next year). Responding to a pointed question by media personnel, General Thapa said the RNA was under the control of the government. "The Army has been mobilized (in the counterinsurgency operations) as per the constitutional provisions," reports quoted Thapa as saying. One of the six questions posed by Maoist supremo, Prachanda, to the government few weeks back included the issue of control over the army. In its response through media, the government said the army was under its effective control.

Nepal, India to prepare list of criminals

Interpol officers from India and Nepal have decided to prepare an 'agreed list' of criminals or suspects who frequented, operated or resided in both the countries. The lists would be maintained for all organised crimes, but as a pilot project, these would be prepared and shared for human trafficking and vehicle theft, official Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported.A two-day meeting of the officers, which concluded in the Indian capital on Tuesday, also decided to activate a system of antecedent verification which was devised and developed at a meeting they held in Kathmandu earlier and to have a monitoring mechanism for it, a spokesman of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India said. A core group of officers from both sides would meet at regular intervals to monitor the process, he said. The officials agreed to take up the creation of a data base on crime and criminals and stolen vehicles with their respective governments and also try to develop a system of on-line sharing of information at authorised border check posts and other points on the Indo-Nepal border.The officers also felt that there was an urgent need for a regional coordination body like SAARCPOL (SAARC Police) to be set up and agreed to apprise their respective governments about the issue so that it would be taken up at the SAARC level, the news report said.

Traffic resumes along Bhim Dutta highway

Traffic has resumed along Bhim Dutta highway-- that connects Dhandgadhi and Dadeldhura in the far-western region -- from Tuesday, the state-owned Radio Nepal said. According to the news report, security forces cleared the road with the help of local people that remained blocked for the last three days. The rebels had blocked the road by cutting huge logs of trees at the Goganpani- Gaira section of the road to enforce their week-long blockade of Dadeldhura district since Sunday. Thousands of commuters who were visiting their houses on the occasion of Dashain had been stranded due to the blockade. One of the modus operandi of the rebels has been to cut off trees to restrict movement along highways or disrupt movement of troops as and when they plan major offensive in the region. There hasn't been any major study of environmental destruction in the country due to the nine-year-old insurgency, reports said.

TADO a major step backward: Human Rights Watch

A leading human rights watchdog has expressed concerns saying that the new revised anti-terrorism law in Nepal is likely to worsen the problem of 'disappearances' in the country. The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the revised Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance, also known as TADO, broadens the powers of the security forces, which have been responsible for systematic human rights abuses, including extra judicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture. Executive director of HRW Asia Division, Brad Adams, said the law was a major step backwards, adding, "It's likely to lead to more disappearances and more torture of people accused of being against the government or aligned with Maoist insurgents." Saying that Nepal already leads the world in the number of persons who are 'disappeared' by the security forces,  Adams added, "The law could give the army a green light to continue its dirty work. Allowing the security forces to keep people in secret custody for up to a year, without access to the courts, is sending the wrong message to an army already out of control." The TADO, which was re-promulgated on October 13, allows local authorities to hold individuals in preventive detention for up to one year, without charge or trial and with no judicial oversight. Earlier versions of TADO allowed authorities to hold individuals in preventive detention for up to 90 days only. In a recent report entitled " Between a Rock and Hard Place: Civilians Struggle to Survive in Nepal's Civil War," Human Rights Watch documented atrocities allegedly being committed by both the government forces and Maoist rebels. According to the U.N. Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, in 2002 and 2003, Nepal led the world in the number of enforced disappearances by its security forces. National Human Rights Commission of Nepal recently said that it had documented cases of over 1,400 disappearances that remain unresolved. The government-formed committee to probe into cases of 'disappearances' has made public whereabouts of over 200 people so far, but critics say the report contradicts with what government had been saying in the past and that it is incomplete.

US govt. eases rules for travel to Nepal

The government of the United States has relaxed departure rules for nonessential U.S. Embassy employees and their families in Nepal, a State Department announcement said. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Department, however, reiterated its advice for Americans to defer travel to the Himalayan country. According to an Associated Press (AP) news report, the Department noted that rebel leader Prachanda had  issued a statement on July 1 threatening to use "more violent" means if peace talks with the Nepalese government were not successful. "The (US) embassy (in Kathmandu) has received information that the Maoists may attempt to attack or take actions specifically against U.S. citizens as part of that contingency," the State Department said. Following a minor explosion at The American Center in Kathmandu, the US State Department had allowed nonessential embassy personnel and their families to leave the country. Tuesday's announcement lifts that authorization.  The department also advised U.S. citizens against road travel outside Katmandu Valley unless they have "reliable information" they can be safe.

Polls if not peace talks: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Tuesday reiterated that the government would go for elections if the proposed peace talks with the Maoists do not yield positive results. Talking to the media at the tea reception organized by the CPN UML this afternoon, the Prime Minister said, "The government will leave no stone unturned when it comes to establishing peace in the country. But, general elections are sure to take place if talks do not succeed." Speaking on the same line, communication minister and government spokesman Dr Mohammad Mohsin said, "If the Maoists do not agree for talks in spite of our several efforts, we cannot keep people away from using their right to choose representatives." Contrasting with the government version, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the priority of the government should be to establish peace, not the elections. "So far, there is no mention of talks from anywhere. Peace is what is the prime concern of the people and the government’s efforts should channeled to achieve that goal." He further said that the temporary ceasefire from the Maoists and the subsequent reciprocation of the government was a substantial step towards restoring permanent peace in the country. "When one side takes initiative, other side is bound to respond," he maintained, stressing that government should now take hasty efforts for peace talks. At the tea reception organized to exchange greetings on the occasion of Dashain and upcoming Tihar festivals, ministers, leaders of various political parties, senior government officials and distinguished personalities from different walks of life were present. Narahari Acharya represented the Nepali Congress even though all top leaders of the party were invited. He denied that his party boycotted the program. Leaders of other three agitating parties – People’s Front Nepal, Nepal Sadbhawna Party (Anandi Devi) and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party remained absent.

Indian role a must to resolve refugee crisis: Rizal

Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal Tuesday said the refugee crisis was not going to be solved without the active involvement of India. "India’s involvement in the refugee repatriation is a must since it had some role in letting the refugees enter Nepal," Rizal said speaking at a face-to-face program organized by the Reporters Club Nepal. According to him, an international conference was necessary to find ways to resolve the refugee crisis. Rizal was critical of idea of verification of refugees. "Verification is a farce. How can Nepali officials know who is genuine refugee and who is not?" he questioned. Nepal-Bhutan Joint Verification Team (JVT) had completed verification of some 12000 refugees of Khudunabari camp in Jhapa last year. The verification process had stuck following a scuffle between the members of Bhutanese JVT and the refugees. Rizal, who recently visited Geneva and Brussels, said he urged the international community to pressure Bhutan to take back the refugees languishing in seven camps in eastern Nepal. Saying that the refugees’ only concern was their early repatriation, the Bhutanese rights leader also ruled out division among the refugee leaders.

Nepali professor receives OBE Award

Professor Dr Surya Prasad Subedi has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Award by the United Kingdom. Professor Subedi is now associated with Leeds University, UK. He had gone to UK for higher studies after completing Master’s of Law from Tribhuvan University.   Dr Subedi has been honoured with the award in recognition of his contribution to International Law, Kantipur daily reported, quoting the British foreign ministry. The OBE Award was created in 1917 during World War I by George V and is since then given to British as well as non-British nationals for significant contribution in different sectors. 

SC issues notices to PMO, RNA on illegal detention

The Supreme Court on Monday issued show-cause notices to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) headquarters and the RNA’s Bhairav Nath Battalion regarding the detention of Megh Raj Shrestha, Pawan Bahadur Pun and Santa Gurung without legal authority. A single bench of SC Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari issued the show-cause notices deciding on three separate habeas corpus writ petitions filed by the family members of the detainees. The court has asked the defendants to furnish written clarifications within three days.  The SC also ordered a manpower agent called Krishna Kumar Rai, one of the defendants, to appear within three days. Shrestha, Pun and Gurung were arrested by army personnel from Hepalitol of Bhadrakali VDC in Kathmandu on October 16 on charges of involving in extortion in the guise of Maoists.  The petitioners in their writ claimed that the arrest was done based on false claims. According to them, the three men had gone there to ask for the money they had given to the manpower agent for jobs abroad.  One of the detainees, Top Bahadur Ale Magar, who was reportedly suffering from heart complications, had died on October 21 in RNA custody. The family members have, however, been accusing the army of killing him.

Maoists disrupt vehicular movement in far-western Nepal

In what seems to be a clear defiance of their supreme leader Prachanda’s declaration of cessation of all armed activities and allow all public activities to take place smoothly during Dashain times, the Maoists have obstructed movements of vehicles in far-western Nepal. The rebels have obstructed vehicular movement along the Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura highway by felling trees at the Goganpani Gaira section of the road on Monday Morning, Nepal Samacharpatra reported. As a result, thousands of commuters who had gone to their relatives to receive the Dashain Tika have been left stranded in the highway. Though Dipayal-based units of security forces planned to go to the area to clear the road on Monday, they could not do so owing to the geographical difficulties, the daily said citing security sources. Security forces will be deployed in the area to clear the road on Tuesday, the newspaper added.  In another incident, the rebels abducted one Uddhav Bika of Dharapani, Dhaibung-4 in Rasuwa district on the day of Mahanawami-the ninth day of the Dashain festival, the daily reported. Uddhav's whereabout is still not known.  17-yr-old Uddhav's father, Chhetra Bahdur Bika has appealed the media and human rights activists to make efforts for the safe release of his son.

October 27, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !! ut] a'waf/_

DV lottery opens from next week

Registration for the next Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2006) of the United  States of America will be opened from November 5, an official announcement said. According to a press statement issued by The American Center in Kathmandu, aspiring candidates could apply for the lottery that provides permanent US residence visa to selected people through a computer-generated random lottery draw from November 5, this year to January 7, 2005. Only those applications registered electronically through a specially  designated website, www.dvlottery.state.gov will be accepted and  applications through paper will not be accepted, the statement said.

Pakistani PM to discuss economic cooperation: Envoy

During his forthcoming visit to Nepal, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz  will discuss issues of bilateral relations and regional cooperation with his Nepali counterpart, Sher Bahadur Deuba, officials said. Addressing an interaction organised at the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu  Wednesday, ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Zamir Akram, said Pakistani PM's  visit to Nepal next Monday (November 1) would be a milestone in strengthening bilateral relations. Prime Minister Aziz is touring countries in the region in his capacity as incumbent chairman of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)-a seven-member regional body. Ambassador Akram said that both the sides were also likely to discuss issues of duty free trade between the two countries as well as promoting export of tea and jute products from Nepal.  Responding to another question, ambassador Akram said Pakistan hoped that Nepal would be able to resolve the current political and constitutional problems herself. "Pakistan always protests against (all kinds of) foreign intervention," he said. He, however, did not elaborate. His Majesty King Gyanendra will grant audience to the visiting Pakistani premier, reports said.

Highest no. of journos arrested in Nepal last year: RSF

The international press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (also known as RSF-Reporters sans Frontiers) has said that more journalists were arrested in Nepal in 2003 than in any other country in the world. In its report published on Tuesday, the Paris-based organization said security forces arrested, detained, tortured or threatened about 100 Nepali journalists last year. The Maoists murdered one journalist and threatened dozens of others for allegedly spying for the army. According to the report, journalist Gyanendra Khadka was murdered by the Maoist rebels while pro-Maoist reporter, Binod Sajana Chaudhary, was killed by security forces in separate incidents last year. Security forces detained 36 journalists and at least 12 journalists were being held by security forces by the end of 2003, the report said. At least 51 journalists were imprisoned and five journalists were kidnapped during the year, the report said. "It was a grim year for press freedom. Nepali journalists have been targeted as never before by the belligerents of a bloody civil war," the report added. The report, however, noted launching of two new terrestrial broadcast TV stations, Kantipur Television and Image Channel, in the private sector as a positive development last year. The number of community radio stations in the country reached 25 including the Karnali community radio targeting people in the remote northern region. Similarly, the Maoists also launched their own station, Radio Janaganatantra Nepal (Radio Republic Nepal), in the west of the country on 7 November 2003, the report said. In its third annual worldwide index of press freedom, the RSF said press freedom was threatened most in East Asia (North Korea, Burma, China, Vietnam and Laos) and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and Iraq). The greatest press freedom was found in northern Europe (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway), which, the organization said, was a haven of peace for journalists. Predictably, Nepal has its place somewhere near bottom of the worldwide index. Out of 167 countries surveyed, Nepal has acquired the 160th position.

NC-D to organise tea reception on Thursday

Nepali Congress (Democratic), one of the ruling allies, is organising a tea party to exchange greetings on the occasion of Dashain and the upcoming Tihar festivals. NC-D’s tea reception coincides with Kojagrat Purnia that marks the end of Dashain festivals. Leaders of ruling and opposition parties, ministers, foreign diplomats, senior government officials and distinguished personalities of different fields have been invited at the program to be hosted by the prime minister and NC-D president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, at the Birendra International Convention Center.

TADO violates constitution, rights norms: NHRC chairman

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri Wednesday said the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment Act) Ordinance recently reintroduced by the government was in violation of the constitutional provisions and the human rights norms. In a letter to the Prime Minister today, Khatri said the commission was seriously concerned over the TADO that allows government’s security forces to detain anybody suspected of terrorist activities. By repeatedly amending the Act issued by the parliament for two years, the NHRC chairman stated, the government has breached the constitutional provisions. Khatri maintained that the Act gives excessive power thereby creating ground for more human rights violations. He also asked the government not to propose for new laws relating to human rights without consulting with the NHRC. Saying that the temporary ceasefire during Dashain had a positive impact, the NHRC chairman called on the government and the Maoists to go for a protracted stand-down.

‘Govt ready for unilateral ceasefire if Maoists agree for talks'

A senior minister of the Deuba cabinet Wednesday said the government was ready to declare unilateral ceasefire if the Maoists guaranteed that they would come to the negotiating table. "The government has no problem announcing an unilateral ceasefire, but before that, the Maoists must assure that they will sit for peace talks," said agriculture and cooperatives minister Hom Nath Dahal at a face-to-face program organised by Reporters Club Nepal Wednesday. Dahal, also a senior leader of Prime Minster Deuba’s party, the Nepali Congress (Democratic), however did not detail the government’s homework for an unilateral ceasefire. While saying this, he reiterated that the government would go for general elections by the end of 2061 BS if the Maoists failed to agree for a negotiated settlement. Speaking at the same program, CPN-UML leader Jhal Nath Khanal said his party was in the government to hold negotiations with the Maoists to establish peace in the country, and not for the elections. "Peace is UML’s main agenda. Elections are simply not possible before peace talks," he said. He blamed the government and the Maoists of lacking in sincere efforts for peace. Nepali Congress leader Mahanta Thakur maintained that general elections were impossible in the present situation while Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, a central leader of the ruling Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, said his party was ready to go for polls if the government created a favourable situation.

New Ambassador of Japan arrives

His Excellency Tsutomu Hiraoka, Ambassador-designate of Japan to the Kingdom of Nepal arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday, to take up his assignment. H.E. Hiraoka is succeeding Ambassador Zenji Kaminaga. According to a statement of the Japanese Embassy Kathmandu, Hiraoka joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1973. In addition to his positions at home as Director of the Division for the Protection of Japanese Nationals Overseas, and Deputy Director-General of Foreign Service Training Institute, he has also served as the Chamberlain of Imperial Household Agency. In recent years, he has served his diplomatic assignments abroad as Minister of the Japanese Embassy in Canada (1997). Before being appointed Ambassador of Japan to Nepal , he served as Consul-General of Japan in Edinburgh , the United Kingdom . Ambassador-designate Hiraoka is expected to present his credentials to King Gyanendra after the Tihar festival. Japan is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal .

Mohan Baidya’s aide held in India

Indian police arrested a Maoist leader, Amir Sundas, from Birpada area of Jalpaigudi in the Indian state of West Bengal on Monday night, reports Wednesday said. 

Sundas is said to be a close aide of senior Maoist leader Mohan Baidya who is facing detention in Siliguri, India.  Reports quoted Ajay Nanda, a senior superintendent of police in Jalpaigudi, as dubbing the arrests of Maoist leaders like Baidya and Sundas a significant achievement. Arms, books on guerrilla warfare and banned Maoist newspapers have been seized from Sundas.

One killed, over 45 injured in separate road mishaps

One person was killed and at least 45 others were injured in separate bus accidents Wednesday. A passenger was killed when a bus heading to Kathmandu from the southern terai town of Bhairahawa met with an accident in Nawalparasi district Wednesday morning. The victim who died during treatment is identified as Krishna Lama of Nuwakot, reports said. According to Area Police Office of Kawasoti, the accident took place at Parsyauni section of the East-west highway in the district. The reason behind the accident could not be known while the injured passengers have been sent for treatment to Bharatpur, Chitwan. Another accident took place at Jagati, Bhaktapur, at around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, injuring at least 25 passengers. The bus was on its way to Kathmandu from Panauti, Kavre district. Of the injured passengers admitted to Bhaktapur hospital, two are said to be in critical condition.

Nine police personnel dismissed

Nepal Police has dismissed eight police officers and one junior officer on charge of joining the service by producing fake academic certificates. According to the Nepal Police headquarters, eight inspectors and a sub-inspector were dismissed as per the decision of the Special Court. The Commission for Investigation of abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed cases against these police personnel and filed cases against them at the Special Court. The Commission has been probing against the government employees said to be holding fake academic documents for the last three years.

October 28, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !@ ut] laxLaf/_

Coalition leaders express 'ignorance' over TADO

In what is seen as an interesting development, top leaders of the ruling coalition parties have expressed `ignorance' over recent amendment in the anti-terrorist law. General secretary of major coalition partner, CPN UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, said that his party was not consulted before revising the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance, also known as TADO. "The issue should have been taken up in the 'Multiparty Democratic  Coordination Committee' (high-command of the coalition partners) before  making such an important change," Nepal told reporters at the tea reception organised by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in the capital Thursday.   "Since it is a coalition government, no one has the authority to take such a decision without consulting allies," he added. Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashuptai Shumsher Rana, too, expressed ignorance about the controversial TADO provision. When asked about his party's views, Rana told reporters Thursday that he had not read the amended ordinance yet. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was standing near the RPP leader during the tea reception, interrupted reporters  and said, "It was the government's decision." He did not elaborate. Interestingly, deputy prime minister and UML leader, Bharat Mohan Adhikary, did not want to comment on the issue. "Let's not talk about this issue. The council of ministers has revised the ordinance. Let's not talk about details," he told reporters who had thronged the tea reception at the Birendra International Convention Center (BICC) Thursday. Section 9 of the TADO, re-promulgated on October 13, authorizes security officials to put anybody they suspect could indulge in terrorist activities  under preventive detention for up to one year without trial. Earlier, this  period was limited to 90 days only.

Govt. can withdraw the TADO provision : Experts

As domestic and international pressure is mounting upon the royal-appointed government to withdraw controversial provision in the recently amended  anti-terrorist law, experts say the government can  withdraw it any time if it wants to do so. Advocate Bhimarjun Acharya, who teaches at Nepal Law Campus, said that once promulgated an ordinance acquires status equivalent to law. "Hence, it can  be amended in the same way as a law is amended," he said. His Majesty the King can amend the ordinance upon the recommendation of the council of ministers, he said.  Constitutional lawyer, Purna Man Shakya, opined that the government will have to promulgate the new ordinance in order to replace the existing one.  "The provision of keeping an individual under preventive detention without  judicial review for up to one year is quite high handed," Shakya told Nepalnews.  "There should be a provision of extra-judicial check and balance in the law to ensure that the state doesn't misuse its authority," he added. According to Shakya, a committee comprising retired judges, senior lawyers and retired civil servants - who can resist the government's influence or pressure-needs to be set up and that the government should consult such a  committee whenever it has to extend preventive detention of individuals after, say, initial two or three months. "The government can take back this ordinance whenever it wishes to do so," said Shakya. Early this week, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) criticized the revised law saying that it was against the constitutional and parliamentary norms. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Geneva-based  International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) have also condemned the government's decision to revise the anti-terrorist law. In a statement issued last week, Secretary-General of ICJ, Nicholas Howen,   said, "Locking people away without due process and beyond the reach of the courts for up to one year will do nothing to reduce the violence or increase security in Nepal." The security forces are already regularly arbitrarily detaining Nepalis. This measure now gives a legal cover for local officials to hold  people for four times as long, without sufficient safeguards or evidence of criminal wrongdoing. It will also put these detainees at risk of other serious abuses  such as enforced disappearance and torture, said the statement. "(Nepal) is facing a crisis but our experience around the world shows that human rights abuses only make a conflict worse. The best way to   bring security to the people of Nepal is for both sides to respect fundamental   human rights," Howen said. nder the newly amended TADO, the Chief District Officer is empowered to  detain any person for six months and may do so for a further six months on authorization by the Home Ministry. Major opposition parties, human rights groups and media trade unions in  Nepal have warned that they would launch fresh protests if the government  did not withdraw the controversial TADO provision immediately.

India to provide thermal imagers to Nepal

To help Nepal government in its fight against Maoist insurgents, the Indian government is supplying sophisticated hand-held thermal imagers that allow soldiers to see very clearly in the dark, a news report said. According to Friday's The Statesman, a leading Indian daily, Bharat Electronics (BEL) - an Indian company-- is making imagers for the Indian Army, mostly for use in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast for operations against militants. This new technology allows infantrymen to see far more clearly in comparison with earlier night-vision devices. A professional electronics company of India, BEL was set up in 1954 to meet the growing needs of Indian Defense services for electronic systems. The company has been manufacturing state-of-the-art products in the field of Defense electronics like Communications including encryption, Radars and strategic components. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi Thursday, senior BEL officials said they were working with the Defense Research and Development Organisation - an Indian government agency-- to produce a prototype of a fire-detection radar like the US ANTPQ-37 that the army has purchased. The prototype, according to Indian officials, would be ready within a year and further development will take another year. BEL has also produced the battlefield surveillance radar, which has substantial export possibilities. Countries like Indonesia and Thailand have sought the radar, being used to detect militants crossing the line of control, the news report said. There hasn't been any word from Nepali officials as yet regarding the purchase of thermal hand-held imagers from India.

Maoists reportedly constructing bunkers in schools

Maoist rebels have reportedly started constructing bunkers at school premises in the far-western district of Achham, reports said. Friday's Kantipur daily has quoted unnamed Maoist cadres as saying that they have started constructing bunkers to protect themselves and their leadership from the offensive of the security forces and also to launch counter-offensive. The rebels have already started constructing bunkers at the Kalikeswori Secondary School at Turmakhand in the district as per the decision of the Maoist's 'people's government' in the district. Such bunkers are being constructed in schools in 58 out of 75 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in the district. These bunkers are 200 meters long and 3 meters deep, the news report said quoting sources close to the Maoists. A central committee meeting of the CPN (Maoist) a few weeks back had decided to launch 'tunnel war' as part of its strategic offense phase. But the underground party is yet to comment on the reports of construction of bunkers by its cadres in the far-western district of Achham. There has been no official comment on such reports. The latest report has come at a time when human rights groups and UN agencies have been calling upon both the government and rebels to declare schools and health institutions as zones of peace. Meanwhile, security forces have destroyed tunnel and bunkers constructed by the Maoist rebels at the bordering areas of Kapilvastu on Wednesday. Reports had quoted the rebels as saying that they had constructed the bunkers to stop intervention from across the border.

Students desert schools as Maoists intensify abduction

Hundreds of students in the far-western district of Dadeldhura have left their schools following escalation of abductions by the Maoist rebels. Reports from the district said that the number of high school students quitting their studies has crossed 1000 and most of them have already moved to urban areas while a significant number of students has gone to neighbouring India in search of safety. Some two dozen schools in a dozen villages including Jogbudha, Alital, Rupal and Sirsha are on the verge of closure with growing number of students staying away. Some schools did open after Dashain vacation but classes have not been running due to absence of students. In the past, there were a number of cases of abduction of students, mostly the senior ones, which has scared the students away. The rebels had imposed indefinite blockade in the district which was relaxed after the announcement of a temporary ceasefire during Dashain. Many students and youths found it easy to flee their villages during the ceasefire period. An estimated 1000 families have already been displaced in the district due to the Maoist conflict.

The govt will not extend `truce': PM Deuba

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government will not extend temporary truce that comes to an end today. Talking to reporters at the tea reception organised by his party, Nepali Congress (Democratic) on the occasion of Bada Dashain festival Thursday afternoon, premier Deuba said there was no possibility of extending the period of 'truce' adopted by the government in response to a similar move by the Maoist rebels. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had declared that it would suspend all of its armed operations for nine days (October 20 through 28) during Dashain. The government later reciprocated the move. Responding to another question, premier Deuba said it would be good if negotiations could be held (with the rebels). If peace talks could not take place, then the government would go for (parliamentary) polls, said the premier. "There is no question of withholding elections if the talks don't take place for next ten years," he said. The Prime Minister also said that the government would make arrangements for security during the polls. He did not elaborate. Thousands of NC (Democratic) activists, ruling coalition members and people from various walks of life had thronged the Birendra International Convention Center to take part in the reception. Senior leaders of the CPN (UML), Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party were present at the function. Nepali Congress leader, late B. P. Koirala, had initiated the tradition of 
hosting tea reception on the occasion of Bada Dashain upon his return from exile in India in 1977 with the slogan of `national unity and  reconciliation.' Opposition Nepali Congress, however, said it would not organize the tea reception this year due to the adverse situation in the country. A major coalition partner, CPN (UML), organised similar reception at its party headquarters at Balkhu on Tuesday. 

Four of a single family commit suicide in Nawalparasi

Four members of a single family have committed group suicide in a village in southern Nawalparasi district, reports said. Acocrding to reports, Rajesh Badhai of Thulo Khairatawa VDC, his wife, their 13-yr-old daughter and a son killed themselves by diving into the Gandak Canal in the district Thursday. The reason behind their suicide is said to be family squabble. Their bodies have not been found so far due to the high-level of water in the canal, reports said quoting police sources. Police have requested the Indian authorities to lower the level of water in the canal, reports added.

Thapa to hold press conference tomorrow

Former prime minister and founder president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Surya Bahadur Thapa might announce split in the party through a press conference in the capital tomorrow, reports said. In the press conference that will kick off at Hotel Sangrila in Kathmandu at 1 pm, according to reports, Thapa will present a concept paper on "how the negligence shown by the current RPP leadership to address the various problems, difference of opinions and disagreements existing in the party for quite some time led to a split in the party". Leaders of the Thapa faction of RPP have been demanding a general convention of the party for the past few months to resolve the various problems but the party establishment has neglected both the general convention demand and the problems, which has brought the party on the verge of split, reports said quoting a RPP leader close to Thapa. The rift in RPP was apparent when the party establishment headed by president Pashupati Shumsher Rana demanded the resignation of Thapa while he was prime minister until the formation of the Deuba-led four-party coalition government. This rift further increased following the nomination of RPP leaders to be inducted in the current Deuba-led cabinet by party president Rana.

October 29, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !# ut] z'qmaf/_

NTB and RNAC launch promotion campaign in Bangalore

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) launched a special two and half months' campaign  in Indian city of Bangalore Friday to attract Indian tourists to Nepal. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB, Tek Bahadur Dangi,  and Area Manager of RNAC in Bangalore, P. N. Adhikari, announced the offer entitled " Royal Nepal Airline's Royal Gift- A Holiday in a Holiday Bonanza!" to Indian citizens amidst a press conference at The Oberoi Hotel in Bangalore. The Campaign which kicked off on 15 October  will last until 31 December 2004. The offer includes 20 round trip air tickets with lucky draw every week for a couple to Bangkok, Singapore or Kualalampur from Delhi/Mumbai/Banglore via Kathmandu by RNAC to be won. In addition, the winners will be complimented with 3 nights stay in Kathmandu with airport transfers. The offer is applicable to permanent resident Indian Nationals only traveling by RNAC from Indian Sector, the organizers said. Addressing the function, Dangi highlighted  the special socio-cultural and friendly ties that exist between India and Nepal and added that tourism has become a means to bolster people to people relations between the two neighbours. Dangi said Nepal was hosting the Second World Buddhist Summit in Lumbini from Nov. 30 to Dec 2, 2004. He also announced that Nepal Tourism Board would invite a `mega familiarisation trip' of Indian media and tour operators to Nepal very soon to give them actual first hand experience of Nepal. According to a press communiqué issued by the NTB, during the function Swami Sadyojatah, director of ABC (Art of Living Bureau of Communication), Bangalore informed about the forthcoming visit of Swami Sri Ravi Shankerji to Nepal from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2004. More than 50 media representatives and tour operators attended the meet.

Security forces-rebels clash in Dang, no casualty reported

Within hours of expiry of the `temporary truce' observed by both the sides, security forces and Maoist rebels clashed at Kamirechour in the mid-western district of Dang Friday afternoon, reports said. The Maoists had announced that they would stop their armed operations for nine days during Dashain until mid-night Thursday. The government later reciprocated the move. A security source in Dang told Nepalnews Saturday morning that a security patrol retaliated when a group of rebels opened fire at them at Kavre VDC in Dang bordering Pyuthan district. The search operation is underway in the area, he said. There has been no report of casualty on either side as yet.The area is known as a stronghold of the rebels. Reinforcement has been sent from the Royal Nepalese Army barrack at Ghorahi in Dang to the area, sources said. Nepal Samacharpatra daily quoted sources at the RNA barrack in Tulsipur as saying that the clashes had started after the rebels attacked on security forces using a long-range weapon. There had been no reports of casualty during the four-hour clash, the report said. The rebels had attacked the army barrack at Ghorahi, Dang in November 2001 within days of walking off the first-ever peace talks with the government. A strategically important valley, Dang-Deukhuri is considered a gateway to remote hilly districts of Rapti Zone from where the Maoist insurgency was launched in early 1996.

Trial on eight 'helpers' of Kashmiri militants begins

The hearing began at a Kathmandu court on a case against eight Muslims who were arrested two months ago on suspicion of using Nepali land to help Kashmiri militants. A case was filed by the police under the Crime Against the State Punishment Act 2046 on Thursday. The arrested persons have been accused of providing information and financial support to separatists based in the Indian administered Kashmir. The arrested persons facing charges for "crime against the state" are Basir Ahemad Mir, Muktaq Ahemad Dadu, Jamal Khan, Mohammad Fulsen, Sazad Alam, Azaj Ahemad, Mohammad Ramzan Ali and Amir Jafar. The accused are Nepali, Indian and Pakistani citizens. Among the eight men, Bafir was arrested on August 25 and seven others were rounded up on September 2 in Kathmandu. Police have claimed to have found bank accounts and records of transfer of money to the Kashmiri militants. Section 5 of the Act has it that people convicted of carrying out activities against friendly nations are subject to seven years of imprisonment or Rs.5000 penalty or both. Police have demanded maximum punishment to the accused. The arrest and trail of the eight Kashmir-origin Muslims comes at a time when India has been projecting Nepal as a playground of Inter Services Intelligence, the Pakistani intelligence agency, which as is the Indian claim, caters the Kashmiri militants.

Writ filed against TADO

A writ was filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, challenging the amendment to the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance which allows the government’s security agencies to detain terrorism suspects up to a year without trial. Eight lawyers associated with Pro Public, a non-governmental organisation, filed the writ, arguing that the provision for preventive detention in the Section 9 of TADO is clearly against the spirit of the constitution of 1990 and that it violates the humanitarian norms. The petitioners in their writ have demanded that the court quash the amended Act. The government had reintroduced the Act through an ordinance on October 13 after amending the earlier provisions which allowed security agencies to detain terrorism suspects up to 90 days without trial. Meanwhile, the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has decided to submit a memorandum to the prime minister, demanding review to the Act which is widely dubbed as draconian. Talking to the media today, NBA chairman Shambhu Thapa said, "The new provision about preventive detention is in fact a mockery of rule of law and it is against international humanitarian laws," he said, stressing that the Act should be quashed at the soonest.

October 30, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !$ ut] zlgaf/_

Nepal, Bangladesh to work jointly on flood control

Nepal and Bangladesh have decided to form a 'Joint Technical Study Team' and work together on flood mitigation and management programmes. The 10-member study team will draw up a work plan on different aspects of flood mitigation and management programmes and submit it to the two governments after two years.The decision was taken during the two-day meeting of the joint technical committee of the two countries that concluded in Dhaka Saturday, The Daily Star-- a Bangladeshi newspaper-- reported Sunday. "Our joint study team will select the places to build some water reservoirs in the upstream in Nepal to delay and divert the floods. We have also agreed to work together on catchments management of rivers," Dr Tauhidul Anwar Khan, member of the Joint Rivers Commission, who led the home side at the talks told reporters. "Already we have been exchanging information relating to flood as water rolls down from Nepal and contributes to flooding in Bangladesh. In the last two years, we got information from three stations and now we will get it from six stations," he said. "Now our joint technical committee is trying to explore other ways to mitigate floods," Tauhidul added. Leader of the Nepali delegation and director general of the department of hydrology and meteorology of Nepal, Madan Lal Shrestha, said Nepal knew how floods were affecting Bangladesh and felt it as its duty to cooperate by  providing flood information. "We had fruitful discussions on different points," said Shrestha. Both the sides agreed on joint studies about the type, duration and causes of flood and its possible mitigation, officials said. The meeting also discussed the possibility of arresting, delaying and diverting the floods, they mentioned. The technical committee will sit again towards the end of next year. After the devastating floods in Bangaldesh in 1988, the governments of Bangladesh and Nepal had agreed to work together on flood mitigation. Initially, the two countries formed a study team comprising experts from both the sides and a joint technical committee in 1989, reports said.

HLPC asks govt. to establish 'contacts' with the rebels

Five months after the formation of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led administration - that had mandate to hold peace talks with the rebels and initiate process for elections-- the High Level Peace Committee (HLPC) has asked the government to establish 'contacts' with the Maoist leadership, reports said. The meeting of the HLPC, held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar Saturday, has also authorized Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to undertake the responsibility. It is, however, not clear who those contacts could be. Sources said that premier Deuba is likely to ask some of his close colleagues within the Nepali Congress (Democratic) to communicate with the underground leaders. Two of his colleagues had played key role in organizing the premier's visit to New Delhi and his meeting with senior Indian leaders last month. Officials close to the ruling coalition have blamed former mediators in the failed peace talks, Daman Nath Dhungana and Padma Ratna Tuladhar, of being too close to the rebels. The newly constituted Citizen's Peace Commission (CPC) - led by former justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi-has said that it is trying to establish contacts with the King, government and the rebels to create favourable environment for talks. CPC's member and editor of pro-left Mulyankan monthly, Shyam Shrestha, however, blames the government of not being serious towards organizing fresh round of peace negotiations. "Both the sides (the Maoists and the government) are preparing for the battle and it seems that the country is heading towards fresh offensive," he told Nepalnews. Shrestha said crisis of confidence between the warring sides was the main problem. "The government should make its position clear towards the major Maoist demand for (holding elections to the constituent assembly," said Shrestha. "The government could create favourable environment for talks by withdrawing the Red Corner notice and terrorist tag against the Maoists and making public whereabouts of the people said to have disappeared from the government's custody," he added. Officials have, however, said these issues could be discussed only after the rebels join the table of negotiations.

`Guru of Living’ arrives in Kathmandu

Founder of the Art of Living Foundation (ALF) and spiritual Guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, arrived in Kathmandu Saturday to take part in ‘Maha Satsang’ (Grand spiritual conference) organised by the Nepal chapter of his Foundation. The high-flying Guru with followers in over 100 countries around the world was greeted by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dip Kumar Upadhyay, and hundreds of his devotees and followers  at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepali officials hope the visit of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will help boost religious/spiritual  tourism in the country. "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will address functions in Kathmandu and Birgunj and also grace at ‘Maha Satsang’ at the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) in the capital," chairman of ALF-Nepal chapter, Shashi Raj Pandey told Nepalnews. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is scheduled to address the ‘Satsang’ at the BICC at 1700 hours today. The event will be open to all, the organizers said. Born in 1956 in South India, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar propounded the ‘Art of Living’ in 1982. According to ALF, it offers programs  including Art of Living Course, Sudarshan Kriya, and Sahaj Samadhi Meditation in more than 142 countries around the world. It has been awarded special consultative status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Nearly 20,000 Nepalis have already attended these courses, the organisers said.

Rebel commander killed in rescue offensive; hostage soldiers freed

A local Maoist commander was killed in an offensive of the security forces at a Dadeldhura village, far-western Nepal, Saturday evening. The security forces freed five army men unhurt, kidnapped by the rebels this afternoon from Gaura Bazaar, Dadeldhura. The five soldiers on their way to Daha Barrack from Kailali’s Teghari were taken hostage by the rebels at around 1:00 p.m., reports said. Meanwhile, the Maoists abducted 12 youths from Hapure, Dang district, after a mass meeting in the area on Friday. Whereabouts of the youths remain unknown till Saturday evening. Separately, in Saptari, a group of armed Maoists abducted two civilians, one from Pipra area and another from Baitawa VDC, on Friday night, reports said.

UML to pressure govt, Maoists for peace talks

The CPN UML, one of the ruling allies, has decided to pressure the government and the Maoists to start peace negotiations at the earliest. This was declared after a meeting of the Standing Committee of the party Saturday. To spearhead a peace campaign as part of pressuring the warring sides to come to the table, the UML has constituted a committee headed by Bam Dev Gautaum. "There should be pressure on the government and the Maoists from all quarters to create favourable environment for peace negotiations," Gautam told the media. The UML stands in favour of an unilateral ceasefire from the government side while Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has already declared to continue the military actions against the Maoist rebels. Of late, Deuba has been talking about elections by the end of this year (2061 B.S) but the UML has not supported the idea wholeheartedly. "Elections are necessary to keep continuity to the democratic process but the need at the moment is peace. Elections are hard to take place before peace talks," UML leader Jhalnath Khanal spoke to reporters following the Standing Committee meet.

Govt claims not to have detained Yadav, Ale Magar

The Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the Council of Ministers have said in their response to the Supreme Court that Maoist central leaders Matrika Yadav and Suresh Ale are not in government’s detention. The Maoist leaders were arrested in India early this year and were handed over to Nepali security officials. Published reports Saturday said quoting sources at the Office of the Attorney General that the government’s letter to the court stated that there was no information regarding the detention of Yadav and Ale Magar. The letter was in response to an order on a writ filed by Bishwo Nath Yadav, an NGO activist, demanding the whereabouts of the Maoist leaders. 16 days ago, a single bench of Justice Balram KC had ordered the concerned government bodies including the Royal Nepalese Army to clarify why the Maoist leaders were detained for eight months without any trail. The government in its response to the court has claimed that no security agencies have been ordered to detain the rebel leaders. The letter could not be registered at the Supreme Court due to time constraint on Friday, which will be submitted on Monday, reports said.

The court will decide on TADO: Dr Mohsin

A day after a group of lawyers filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court demanding to annul the provision of one-year-long preventive detention in the anti-terrorist law, Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Mohammed Mohsin, has said the court will decide on the matter. Talking to Radio Sagarmatha F. M. on Saturday, Dr Mohsin-who is also the spokesman of the government-said that the Supreme Court had the ultimate authority to decide on the issue. He also claimed that the provision of keeping individuals  in preventive   detention for up to one year without judicial review was 'in accordance with law.' On Friday, a group of eight lawyers including Prakash Mani Ghimire affiliated to Pro-Public, an NGO, had filed a writ petition at the apex court demanding the court to annul the said provision and protect individual freedom of Nepali citizens. Section 9 of the revised Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance, also known as TADO, authorizes the Chief District Officer to detain people, which he suspects might be involved in terrorist activities for up to one year, without judicial trial. Earlier, such a period was limited to 90 days only. His Majesty the King re-promulgated the revised Ordinance early this month upon the recommendation of the council of ministers. Meanwhile, Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has termed the new provision of TADO as 'unnecessary.' Rajdhani daily quoted the former premier as saying that the previous provision was appropriate and that the new provision was useless and did not have any rationale. Some six months ago, the council of ministers led by Thapa had rejected a Home Ministry proposal to extend the period of preventive detention to one year, the news report said. In its editorial on Saturday, Nepal Samacharpatra daily has alleged that the government is completely ignoring the need to set up a monitoring committee to oversee if the anti-terrorist law is being used properly. "If the government thinks that it is accountable to people and has  to uphold human rights and humanitarian laws, it should immediately scrap the (controversial) provision and constitute a monitoring committee (to avoid misuse of the law)," the daily concluded.

October 31, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !% ut] cfOtaf/_

Two businessmen wounded in New Road

Businessmen Naresh Bansal and Subas Bansal were wounded when an unidentified group shot at them in their shop in New Road on Sunday evening. The businessmen were in their shop in the first floor of the building located opposite the 'Pipal Bot' in New Road. The assailants entered the shop and asked for money, but when the shopkeepers refused, they opened fired on them, an eyewitness told Nepalnews. A 9mm bullet shell has been recovered from the site, a policeman from the Janasewa Ward Police Office told Nepalnews. "We are investigating the incident and are yet to identify whether they are looters or Maoist rebels, he added.

Kathmandu-Lhasa direct bus service from May

An agreement has been signed between Chinese and Nepali transport authorities to start direct bus service from Kathmandu to Lhasa, Tibet, from the first week of May 2005. The agreement was signed in Lhasa on Friday. As per the agreement, each side will be operating two buses in the initial phase. Three types of buses – luxurious, standard and general – will be running in the 900km Kathmandu-Lhasa route. Ticket fare for the luxurious buses have been set for US$70, 60 for standard and US$50 for the general type. Kathmandu-Lhasa direct bus service, officials say, will boost tourism industry and trade between Nepal and the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet.

Three Maoists killed in fresh clashes

At least two Maoist rebels were killed in separate encounters with the security forces in Dailekh and Taplejung district on Sunday. According to reports, two militants were killed at Toli VDC in Dailekh district this afternoon. Security forces had launched retaliatory attack when the a group of rebels attacked a security patrol that was on the way to Naumule area of the district. The Maoists had soon run away carrying an injured women militant. The militants killed in a clash belonged to Satbaria Battalion of the Maoists. Security sources have claimed to have recovered 10 home-made guns, 20 socket bombs and a few pressure cooker bombs from the militants. In a similar encounter at Sankhu area in Taplejung district, one Maoist was shot dead this afternoon, reports said.

RPP dissidents pressure leadership to pull out of govt

Leaders of the dissident faction of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), one of the ruling allies, have urged the party leadership to pull out of the government, a move they say could save the party from a vertical split. At a meeting of the Central Committee Sunday, the dissident leaders proposed to walk out of the Deuba government. RPP sources said there was a heated debate over the proposal but majority of the leaders were against the idea. Though no formal views of the party leadership have come, the dissident leaders insisted that such as move would not cause any loss to the party whereas it could avert a split. "The party leadership should dare to withdraw all the political appointments to keep the party united," said RPP spokesperson Roshan Karki talking to the press after the meeting, adding, "The party chairman should now take bold steps." Karki, earlier a confidant of party chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana, has been rubbing shoulder with the dissident faction led by Surya Bahaudur Thapa after Rana failed to recommend her to the Council of Ministers. Thapa faction has already announced to form a "new power block", which is billed as a preparation for a vertical split. Another central committee member Bhuwan Pathak said the party should walk out of the government if that ensures unity in the party. "It is quite possible if the party leadership is worried about split ," he said.Talking to reporters, RPP vice-chairman Padma Sundar Lawati said, "RPP must be kept united at any cost."Out of 39 central committee members, 34 were present at today’s meeting while dissident faction’s leader former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and his aides Kamal Thapa, Buddhiman Tamang and two others remained absent. Senior RPP leader and former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand was present at the meeting.Today’s meeting discussed a 5-point proposal on political and organisational matters presented by assistant general secretary Khem Raj Pandit but no decision could be taken it is learnt. The meeting will be held on Monday as well.

SC verdict against TU’s reservation policy sparks protests

Students coming from Dalit and ethnic communities have protested the recent verdict of the Supreme Court annulling the reservation policy of the Tribhuvan University for women, Dalit and ethnic communities in student quotas. In protest of the verdict, students from Dalit and ethnic communities locked out the dean office of Pulchok Engineering Campus and Campus of Medical Sciences on Sunday. They said that the protests would continue in the coming days also. Last month, the TU had brought forth a policy reserving 20 percent student seats to women, 15 percent to ethnic communities and 10 percent seats to Dalits. Deciding on a writ, the Supreme Court had on Monday ordered the TU administration not to implement the reservation policy before the government came up with proper laws. According to Padam Sundas, vice-chairman, Dalit Mukti Samaj, agitation will soon be organised across the country against the court decision. "This is completely an unfair verdict. We will intensify the protests nation-wide," he declared talking to the media.

November 1, 2004 -@)^! sflt{s !^ ut] ;f]daf/_

Gamgadhi remains incommunicado, Dunai without power

Gamgadhi, headquarters of remote northern district of Mugu, remains incommunicado after the 150-line telephone exchange was destroyed in the Maoist attacks Sunday night. The state-owned Nepal Television (NTV) reported that the rebels had attempted to attack the district headquarters past mid-night and destroyed nearly one dozen government offices and private houses rented out to two NGOs by setting fire on them while retreating. Millions of rupee worth damage has been caused due to the Maoist arson, the news report said. The NTV said body of a rebel killed in the one-and-half-hour long encounter has been recovered. There was no report of casualty on the part of security forces. The rebels shot and injured a former police constable, who supplied ration to policemen under a contract, reports said. He has been lifted to Kathmandu for treatment.  Some one thousand Maoist rebels had attacked the district headquarter, the NTV correspondent said. He also said that Dunai bazaar of Dolpa-- another remote district in the region-- has plunged into darkness after a separate group of rebels bombed the power house that supplied electricity to the district headquarters. In separate incidents, the rebels have attacked and destroyed government offices in Humla and Jajarkot districts, reports said. Details are still awaited.

Annual meeting of IEWON kicks off

The 17th annual meeting of the Indian Army Ex-servicemen Welfare Organisation in Nepal (IEWON) kicked off in the capital Sunday.

The week-long meeting, being chaired by the ambassador of India, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, is being attended by Defense Secretary Bishnu Dutta Uprety, and senior officials of Nepal government. Senior officers of the Indian Army and Nepal domiciled Government of India pensioners are also taking part in the meeting, said a statement issued by the Indian embassy Monday.

The IEWON is an organisation operating under the aegis of the Embassy of India, and is responsible for the welfare of over 120,000 Nepal-based Indian government pensioners, the embassy said.

The aim of this meeting is to review welfare projects being executed for the benefit of Nepal domiciled Government of India pensioners and hold consultations on wide ranging welfare issues with senior officials of Nepal government. A nine member delegation headed by Lt Gen Mohinder Singh arrived in Kathmandu yesterday to attend the meeting, the statement said.

A large number of welfare projects and schemes, being executed throughout Nepal under the aegis of IEWON, concentrate more in the rural areas. These welfare scheme include visits by medical welfare teams from the Indian Army consisting of specialist doctors, execution of drinking water projects, solar energy projects, setting up of micro-hydro projects, provision of financial assistance for various infrastructure development projects like road, bridges, schools, hospital etc, distribution of financial assistance to needy pensioners, grant of scholarship to wards of ex-servicemen, distribution of medicine packets etc.  Last year over NRs 800 crores was disbursed both on pension and on execution of welfare projects, the Indian embassy said.

Major issues that would be discussed in this year's  conference include setting up of a new pension office at Butwal,  which has been approved by HMGN, and execution of the ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme for the Nepal domiciled Ex-servicemen. The scheme once implemented would ensure comprehensive medical care to over 84,000 government of India Nepal domiciled Ex-servicemen, the statement said.