Unfortunately the collapse of the Soviet Union did not mean the end of that
putrid and degenerate perversion called communism. We still have China,
Cuba, Venezuela and now "maoists" in Nepal pushing their rancid ideology.
Bruce
Security forces, Maoists clash in Ilam
KOL Report
KATHMANDU, March 9 - There are reports that security forces and
Maoists have clashed in the Eastern district of Ilam on Wednesday.
The fighting erupted Wednesday afternoon near the villages of
Mangalbare and Dhusenu.
The Eastern Division Headquarters of the Army confirmed the fighting
saying security forces had inflicted heavy losses on the Maoists,
while three security personnel were injured in the fighting. One .303
rifle was recovered, the RNA said.
However, the exact details of the fighting were not known until late
Wednesday night, and the RNA claim could not be independently verified.
Local reports said helicopters had provided support to the troops
while reinforcements were dropped.
The RNA said operations were still continuing in the area. (rk)
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=33844
.....................................................................
Three killed, five injured
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, March 9 - At least three persons - a Maoist, a civilian and
a minor - died and five civilians were injured in separate incidents,
according to reports.
Kali Sada, a laborer, of Gaushala VDC-3 died while five others
including a minor were injured, two seriously, when a Maoist-planted
bomb on Gaushala-Aurahi road went off Wednesday morning, according to
Area Police Office, Gaushala. The laborers were working on the road
and the bomb exploded as they removed a post installed on it.
Two seriously injured are undergoing treatment at BP Hospital while
the rest are receiving treatment at a local health institution.
A report from Sunsari said an unidentified Maoist rebel was killed in
a security action at Lukla area of Solukhumbu district, according to a
security source.
Meanwhile, eleven-year-old Bhagawan Parajuli, one of the two children
who were seriously injured in Tuesday's explosion on the premises of
Shiva temple at Kawasoti area, died while undergoing treatment at
Bharatpur Medical College Wednesday, said a statement by the Royal
Nepalese Army (RNA) here.
According to the statement, Bhagirath Neupane, 10, another child
seriously injured in the incident, has been taken to Kathmandu for
treatment.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=33894
.....................................................................
Minor hurt in Maoist blast dies, another explosion in Mahottari
One of the two boys injured on Tuesday's blast in Kawasoti of
Nawalparasi died on Wednesday.
According to reports, Bhagwan Parajuli, 13, died while undergoing
treatment at a medical college in Bharatpur. The security forces have
brought the other injured- Bhagirath Neupane- to TU Teaching hospital
in Kathmandu for treatment. His situation is said to be critical.
The children were injured severely when a bomb carelessly left by
Maoists exploded in a temple premises in the area. Local residents
have condemned the incident and demanded compensation for the victims'
families from the Maoists, reports said.
In yet another explosion in Mahottari on Wednesday, one dalit
labourer- Kalu Sada Musahar of Gaushala VDC- was killed and five
others were injured. The labourers were working at the construction
site of Gaushaha-Aurahi road, reports said.
According reports, two of the injured are in critical condition and
undergoing treatment in a hospital in Dharan while the rest have been
hospitalized at Janakpur zonal hospital. nepalnews.com pd Mar 10 05
http://www.nepalnews.com/
...................................................................
Two Nepal Maoist rebels rearrestd
Darjeeling, Mar 9 (UNI) Two Maoist rebels of Nepal, who fled from
police custody while being taken to a waiting van from a local court
on Monday, were re-arrested within 48 hours from Poolbazar area,
bordering Nepal, senior police officials said today.
While Area Commander of Maikhola in Eastern Nepal Badal Rai (21) was
re-arrested yesterday from Chungtheeng Tea Garden under Poolbazar
Police Station, Yam Bahadur Mukhia was nabbed from the same area this
morning.
Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra said the rebels were
first arrested last October for waging a war against the neighbouring
country.
He said the administration had ordered an inquiry into the incident
and put two police constable under suspension for dereliction of duty.
http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG3_sub.asp?ccode=ENG3&newscode=95136
...................................................................
Move afoot to make Lalitpur safer
Himalayan News Service
Lalitpur, March 9
To maintain peace and security in Lalitpur, the Lalitpur
sub-Metropolitan City (LMC) has decided to form Area Security
Committees (ASCs).
A meeting held on March 3 between the Chief District Officer,
representatives of the army and police, LMC officials and ward
secretaries reached a decision to form ASCs in 15 days. The ASCs will
be headed by ward secretaries in 22 wards.
According LMC spokesperson Ashok Shrestha, this is a measure taken to
prevents acts that disturb peace, security and check anti-social
activities in the area. "The ASCs will ensure a safe environment as
security forces will just be a phone call away in times of need, and
the guilty will be punished."
According to the CDO's guidelines to LMc on ASC, the development,
security and peace of the areas will be the responsibility of the ward
secretary and locals. Lalitpur CDO Thaneshwore Devkota said, "We have
sent the guidelines to LMC, giving the locals and ward secretaries the
responsibility to appoint security guards according to the density of
population, to monitor and control the area."He added security
expenses will be borne by the locals. Ward-21 secretary Bishnu Bhakta
Shrestha said they are waiting for LMC's guidelines to work on the
formation of ASCs.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0seqzpea1Ta7wa
.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20050310&sImageFileN
ame=
.....................................................................
ULFA, KLO forging ties with Maoists: Patil
>From Our Staff Correspondent
[From: Assam Tribune (Guwahati)]
NEW DELHI, March 9 - Confirming what has been suspected for long,
Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today conceded that outlawed ULFA
and KLO have forged links with the Maoist rebels of Nepal. The Union
Home Minister replying to questions during the Question Hour in the
Rajya Sabha, this morning, said that there are reports to indicate
that KLO besides its association with ULFA, has been trying to forge
links with the CPN (Maoists), Nepal.
"We have reports that insurgent groups have been trying to help each
other. We know who is coming from where and who is supplying arms. But
we would like to keep the information to ourselves. The Government of
India is vigilant," he assured Rajya Sabha after members expressed
concern at the links between Maoists in Nepal and Indian insurgent groups.
Earlier, Tarini Kanta Roy said that after Bhutan operations ULFA and
KLO have started taking shelter in Nepal and Bangladesh. In Chappa
district in Nepal across the international border, ULFA and KLO have
set up bases. MPs across the political divide expressed concern at the
growing coordination among the underground outfits and activities of
the ISI of Pakistan. Congress MP, Anand Sharma said the insurgents
groups and Maoists have come under common umbrella and stepped up
coordination among themselves. He also pointed to the rising
activities of ISI in Nepal and its links with the Indian insurgent
groups. ISI is active in Bangladesh, which has become a transit
country for weapons. In reply, Sri Patil said that Union Government
was aware about the supply of arms and ammunition and its source.
Meanwhile, in reply to a separate question, Union Minister of State
Home Affairs, S Reghupathy said that Government of India has
consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups, which
were prepared to abjure the path of violence. The Minister in a
written reply to a question confirmed having received an appeal from
Prof Indira Goswami for peace talks with ULFA. The appeal indicated
the willingness of ULFA to hold talks with Government of India without
pre-condition, and also specifically referred to their `core demand'
of sovereignty, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Sri Regupathy told the Rajya Sabha that the overall
terrorist violence in the North-East declined by about 19 percent last
year, as compared to 2003. The killing of civilians and security
forces during the period showed a decrease of 13.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal said
that under a revised proposal Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram
and Nagaland are proposed to be given 100 percent Central funding for
modernisation of police forces. Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and
Tripura, which face cross-border terrorism already were provided 100
percent central funding.
http://assamtribune.com/
......................................................................
NEPAL: Indian Position from attention deficit to attention overkill:
Update 64.
by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
[From: South Asia Analysis Group, Note no. 256, 09 March 2005]
Major developments since the last update have been the formal
announcement of stoppage of military supplies by the Indian foreign
ministry, withdrawal of blockade of Kathmandu Valley by the Maoists
after two weeks and a major clash between the security forces and the
Maoists where for the first time the Maoists suffered heavy casualties.
The working visit of Nepalese Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey to
India on 7th March, resulted in further hardening of the positions of
both countries. For the first time after the coup, on 8th March there
were large scale demonstrations in different parts of the country,
resulting in police action and arrests of over 250 people and injuries
to about 35 persons.
India formally announced stoppage of military supplies since the royal
coup:
On 23rd February, the MEA spokesman said that "in view of disturbed
conditions in Nepal . . . no military supplies have been delivered
since February." The "disturbed condition" is obviously the military
coup, but the fact remains that India formally confirmed about the
stoppage of military supplies to the security forces of Nepal.
It is not clear why the statement was issued in a hurry when the
Indian ambassador had not returned to Nepal and had not met the King
with the briefing given to him by the Indian government and everyone
already knew India's position. It is therefore no wonder that the
King is taking his own time to meet the Indian Ambassador and hear
his brief.
Taking the cue from the government, the West Bengal government allowed
a demonstration of the Naxalites ( CPI- ML. Liberation) before the
Nepalese consulate in Calcutta to coincide with the visit of the
Nepalese tourism minister to Kolkata. The Maoist outfit in Nepal has
been declared by India as a terrorist outfit and yet a demonstration
in support of that outfit was allowed!
In suspending aid, only Great Britain has followed the Indian example.
The world bank is said to have suspended $70 million aid under the
poverty reduction strategy credit programme for the current fiscal
year but there is no confirmation as yet. On the other hand, the IMF
and the ADB have pledged continued aid to Nepal as the "country is
fighting terrorism."
The decision of IMF has certainly been influenced by the USA. Though
it has threatened, the USA has not suspended security aid so far. The
dilemma of the US as is faced by India and Great Britain has been
aptly described in detail by Donald Camp, deputy assistant secretary
of state in Washington, D.C. last week.
He said that strong arguments were forthcoming to use security
assistance as a lever with Nepal to encourage a rollback on the recent
restrictions since 1st February. At the same time, no one wants to
see Maoist gains at the expense of a less effective Nepal military.
The US is equally aware of the critical role of the Nepalese army in
denying the Maoists a military victory.
The reaction of the King on suspension of aid was typical of him. He
said to the press- " They must say what they must say and we must do
what we must do." He added "when we have chosen to uphold democracy
and fight against terrorism, why are they shying away from helping
us?" The problem is, no one believes him.
Blockade called off:
The two-week-old blockade was called off by the Maoists. Prachanda
issued a statement that it was decided to call off the nation wide
blockade to show their greater responsibility towards the public but
warned that if there is no change the nation wide strike will be
continued from the next month.
Opinion is divided as to why the Maoists called off the blockade. No
doubt it was inconveniencing the people and the prices of essential
commodities in Kathmandu had shot up. But the Maoists are never known
to be sensitive to the travails faced by the public since the people's
war from 1996.
The blockade was only partial and the army was able to bring in a
reasonable number of vehicles into the valley and more importantly
there was no general response /demonstrations of the public or the
cadres of democratic parties to coincide with the strike.
This only shows that the Maoists have not reached a stage where they
could move into the valley coinciding with a "general uprising" of the
public as is envisaged under the "Prachanda path."
As if to prove that the suspension was not out of weakness, the
Maoists struck at three places, Butwal, Bara district and Solakhumbu
causing heavy casualties to the security forces which included the
death of a deputy Superintendent of Police at Butwal.
There is information that the Maoists have called for a nation wide
strike from the first of the next Nepali month which falls on March 14.
The problem the government faces will be two fold. The bulk of the
security forces is concentrated in Kathmandu Valley not for meeting
the Maoist onslaught but for enforcing emergency, prevent
demonstrations and for rounding up the political leaders who are
underground. No major effort was also made to store up essential
commodities in the intervening period.
What is not understood is that the political parties are not yet
organised and the cadres are underground, spread far and wide. Many
are in India. It will take time and the present government cannot
afford to keep a large number of forces within the valley.
As a first step of defiance, the student wings of the political
parties have decided to start protests from March 17. This needs to
be handled carefully, as the momentum created by their movement would
slowly attract political parties first, unruly elements later and
finally by the Maoists themselves.
On 8th of March, for the first time, there were country wide
demonstrations at different places in the state. Reports of
demonstrations and clashes with police were reported from Kathmandu,
Patan, Janakpur, Chitwan, Syangja, Dhangadi, Butwal and Biratnagar.
At Butwal the demonstrations turned ugly and in the lathi charge over
30 persons were injured. Over 250 persons were arrested.
Visit of Sarat Chandra Shah:
The Indian press made much noise of the visit of S.C.Shah who had come
to Delhi to attend the India today conclave. Shah came in his private
capacity, but he did carry an informal brief from the King as to the
circumstances that led the King to declare emergency and take over the
government. Shah, who attained notoriety as the vice chairman of the
"khel-kood-parishad in the Panchayat days was hardly the person who
could have convinced the Indian leaders about the genuine desire of
the King to restore democracy after a decent interval. To make it
worse, Shah met all the opposition leaders in the government and none
in the ruling party though he called on the foreign secretary.
The foreign minister of Nepal invited himself to New Delhi to explain
the King's actions on the 7th. Just two days prior to his visit, the
Indian foreign minister reiterated India's commitment to ensure an
"early restoration of democracy" in Nepal. A call was also made for
the immediate release of political leaders and lifting of press
censorship.
Thus the stage was set for the "dialogue of the deaf" and the
Nepalese foreign minister must be returning to Kathmandu a
disappointed person.
The question is, who will blink first? One of the two sides will have
to show some gesture in softening its position.
The King's action in banning Indian cable networks while at the same
time allowing other international cable net works to function is not
going to help the situation. Another defiant gesture of the King has
been the extension of imprisonment of top political leaders for
another two months.
King's Calculations:
The King's contempt for political parties and their leaders are well
known. His calculations are perhaps based on the following
presumptions.
--The political parties besides making much noise are not capable of
defying the administration for long and that too when there is a show
of power. If the activists are arrested and stern action taken, the
others will not be in a position to make an impact on the law and
order situation. The royal commission on corruption with wide powers
will take care of most of the prominent political leaders who will be
humiliated.
--With the political leaders and their cadres under tight control, the
way is clear to concentrate on the Maoists and weaken them to an
extent that they will be forced to come for negotiations.
--At that point the political parties could be inducted all within the
time frame of three years. There is an unsaid assumption that the
political parties will swallow their pride and come round in spite of
the humiliation.
--India would ultimately come round to Nepal's point of view and
understand that the major danger is from the Maoists for both the
countries and will therefore have to support the King in his fight
against the Maoists first.
These assumptions have no basis. There could be no military solution
and the present inability of the political parties to oppose the
regime with full vigour should not be mistaken for weakness.
The King has taken a big gamble. He cannot be fighting on all fronts.
The situation does not appear to be under control. The help of
India, the international community and the political parties now under
duress will be needed if he is to succeed. We do not subscribe to the
theory as many do that supporting the King would result in a Maoist
victory. But the way he is going about on a limb on his own does not
give any confidence that he could succeed.
A list of incidents since the last update is given as an appendix.
Appendix:
February 2005
Date Incidents
---19.At least two people were injured in an explosion when they were
trying to remove obstructions set up by suspected Maoists along the
Mahendra highway near Lamahi in Dang district.
---20.An Indian truck driver was killed when Maoist militants opened
fire at the moving vehicle at Charaudi bazaar along the Prithvi
highway in Dhading district.
---At least 12 passengers were injured when Maoist insurgents opened
fire at a passenger of the Machhapuchhre bus service.
---At least three people including two government employees were
injured when improvised explosives abandoned by Maoists exploded at
the gate of Neaplgunj Medical College.
---Maoists detonated a powerful bomb at the Nepal Electricity
Authority sub-station in Kohalpur of Banke district.
---21.At least 12 Maoists were killed in clashes with security forces
at Dakaha area of Sirkhauli VDC in Sindhuli.
---22.At least 10 Maoists were killed in separate security actions in
different parts of the country.
---Maoist militants bombed and set fire to an ambulance near Khaireni
along the Kohalpur-Lamahi section of the Mahendra highway in the
mid-western region.
---24.Maoists shot dead a Hindu regional youth leader Chandra Pratap
Rathaur in Surkhet.
---25.At least seven Maoist militants were killed in clashes with
security forces in different parts of the country.
---26. In Nuwakot, Maoist militants abducted over 200 students and
teachers from Bhumadevi Secondary School at Deurali VDC in the district.
---Maoist militants shot and killed four civilians in Kapilvastu
district on charges of being members of a resistance committee against
them.
---27. Maoist militants burnt some vehicles plying along the Mahendra
Highway near the No. 3 bridge of Bara district bordering Makwanpur.
---At least 10 security personnel were killed and 10 others injured in
separate Maoist attacks in Bara and Solukhumbu districts.
---Maoist militants shot dead Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Bikram
Chand, and his bodyguard in the western town of Butwal.
---Maoist militants killed three brothers of the same family at Masina
VDC in Rupandehi district on charges of being members of a resistance
committee against them.
---28.At least three Maoist militants were killed in encounters with
the security forces.
---Two minors were killed and two severely injured when bombs
carelessly left by suspected Maoists exploded in Faktep VDC of
eastern Panchthar district.
March 2005
---1.Three militants were killed during the search operation launched
by security forces in Solukhumbu, Tehrathum and Gulmi districts.
---3.Maoist militants shot dead an elderly businessman- Padamchanda
Shrestha- in the western town of Butwal.
---4.Maoist militants torched and damaged over half-a-dozen government
offices at Sandhikharka, headquarters of Arghakhanchi district in
western Nepal.
---5.Security forces destroyed a `major bomb factory' of the Maoist
militants at Chaulim area of Devitar VDC in Chitwan district.
---Two Maoist militants were killed in a security operation at the
Babiyabirta area of Morang. The security forces recovered pistol,
socket bombs, some cash and `terrorist documents'.
---Maoists abducted 43-year-old dairy entrepreneur, Dilli Prasad
Upadhyay, from Narayan municipality of Dailekh district.
---6.Maoists killed five alleged members of an anti-Maoist retaliation
group at Kudarmatewa village in Kapilvastu district.Three Maoists were
killed during a search operation launched by the security forces at
Amrod area in Nawalparasi district.
---7.Three women Maoists were killed in security action at Rampur VDC
in Dang district.
http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes3%5Cnote256.html
.....................................................................
1200 Nepalis take shelter in Siddharthnagar
Siddharthnagar, Mar 9 (UNI) Following emergency in the Himalayan
kingdom and atrocities by the maoits, about 1,200 Nepali refugees have
taken shelter in the bordering villages of the district.
Police Superintendent Ramit Sharma told UNI today these people spend
the night in the border areas of Siddharthnagar and return to work in
Nepal during the day.
He further said strict vigil was being maintained along the 68-km long
district border with Nepal.
''Two additional PAC companies have been requisioned for security in
the district,'' he added.
Mr Sharma informed that the village heads in the border areas had been
cautioned about maoists, while arms licenses were being given
''liberally'' to people.
http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG3_sub.asp?ccode=ENG3&newscode=95130
....................................................................
Freed Kamaiyas encroach cotton farm in Bardiya
Arjun Bhandari
Saktinagar (Bardiya), March 9
The freed-Kamaiya (bonded labour) families from 26 village development
committees of this district have encroached upon about one-fourth of
the land owned by the Cotton Development Committee (CDC) at Kalikatar
VDC after the government "failed" to settle them on "suitable" land
elsewhere in the district.
A total of 1,270 freed-Kamaiya families and 900 other odd persons
whose status is unclear have occupied about 200 hectares of the total
800 hectares belonging to the CDC which used to farm cotton on the
land. The CDC shifted its staff elsewhere after Maoists destroyed the
office building and looted movable property three years ago.
The encroachers grabbed the cotton-farm last June after encouragement
from the Mukta Kamaiya Samaj (Freed-Kamaiya Society), a local NGO
working for the welfare of the former bonded-labourers. The Kamaiyas
were liberated in July 2000. The system of Kamaiyas has been in vogue
since centuries in five plains districts of the mid and far-western
regions.
"Yes, we encouraged them to settle down here as it was the most
suitable land for the purpose," said Mukta Kamaiya Samaj chairman
Panch Ram Chaudhary.
He said they decided to occupy the CDC land as the land provided
earlier by the government was in unsafe areas, like riversides, by the
roadside where it was risky to build houses. "We settled down here to
draw the government's attention towards our plight," said Taj Bahadur
Tharu, another freed Kamaiya.
Government officials also acknowledge that the freed Kamaiyas have
encroached upon the CDC land but do not know the exact number of the
families or the extent of the land occupied.
Bardiya land reforms officer, Rudra Prasad Sharma, said, "It is a
clear case of encroachment. The government has not allowed them to
settle down there. Nor has it given authority to the NGO (Mukta
Kamaiya Samaj) to deal with the freed Kamaiyas."
Shortly after the encroachment began, the Land Reforms Office which
also deals with the freed Kamaiya issue had sent a team to the CDC
area to collect details of those people who have applied for the
"freed-Kamaiya identity cards" and the others who have already
obtained it. But the team returned empty-handed after a group of
Maoists attacked the office staff and snatched their bicycles. Sharma
said they again tried to visit the spot four months ago, but in vain.
"We cannot make a field visit for updating the records until the
security situation improves," he added. He also conceded that the land
reforms office had not been able to distribute land to the
already-identified freed Kamaiyas living in other areas.
According to statistics available at the office, there is a total of
13,298 recorded freed Kamaiya families in the district who have
received identity cards of different categories.
Applications of 1,009 other families are being scrutinised by the
Freed Kamaiya Rehabilitation and Monitoring Committee, now headed by
the Local Development Officer.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa2qzpea1Ta8
pa.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20050310
......................................................................
It's official: WB not to release $70m
Post Report
KATHMANDU, March 9 - The World Bank confirmed on Wednesday that it
would not release the Second Poverty reduction Strategy Credit (PRSC
II), a proposed second tranche budget support operation of US $70
million, in the current fiscal year.
WB Country Director for Nepal, Ken Ohashi informed the Board of
Executive Directors in the Bank's Board briefing in Washington, that
management does not intend to process PRSC II during the current
fiscal year, which ends on July 15, according to a WB press release.
"The agreed reform actions to underpin PRSC in the current fiscal year
have not been completed, and there is no time now," it quotes Ohashi
as telling the Board.
Ohashi further advised the Board that it would need more time to make
a "ground-level assessment" of whether the environment in Nepal allows
continued of implementation of ongoing projects.
Ohashi told the Board that the Bank would watch whether the new
government demonstrates - through action - commitment to the country's
development vision as expressed in the Poverty Reduction Strategy
(PRS) and the associated reform agenda.
Ohashi said that the Bank will also watch whether the government can
implement the many development activities envisaged in the strategy
and, most critically, improve service delivery.
"We expect that the government should be able to demonstrate its
stated commitment through its actions in the next 1-2 months," Ohashi
said as quoted in the release. At the same time, he added that it was
too early to speculate whether the Bank should consider PRSC II next
fiscal year.
The release states that the Board has expressed concerns about the
security situation in Nepal and implementation of projects. "But it
broadly supported the cautious approach proposed by the management,"
it adds.
According to the release, Vice President of the South Asia Region,
Praful Patel, underscored the critical importance of working in close
collaboration with all development partners over this challenging time.
The WB has further said that it would continue to consult closely with
other development partners in assessing the progress the government
makes in reform implementation, among others.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=33888
.....................................................................
SC asks govt to explain NC leader's detention
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, March 9
The Supreme Court today sought explanation from government
authorities, including the Kathmandu District Administration Office,
and Kathmandu District Police Office Hanumandhoka, as to why Nepali
Congress leader Haribol Bhattari has been detained.
A single bench of justice Kedar Prasad Giri issued the order following
today's hearing. The bench has asked them to furnish replies within
three days.
Meanwhile, the Special Court today detained former joint secretary
Niranjan Prasad Chalise as he failed to produce the bail of Rs 25
million. The CIAA had filed a corruption case against him for amassing
Rs 45 million while in service.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0sa3qzpea1Ta7s
a.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20050310&sImageFile
Name=
....................................................................
More leaders released
Nepal's house arrest relaxed?
PR
KATHMANDU, March 9 - Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the
CPN-UML, who was placed under house arrest immediately after the
February 1 2005 royal take over, was suddenly spotted in his own
vehicle at New Baneshwor on Wednesday.
On the way to his residence at Koteswhor, he briefly talked to
Shaligram Tiwari, a photojournalist of Nepal Weekly magazine. "I have
not been released but am just roaming around," he told the
photojournalist.
Plainclothes security men accompanied Nepal. Although Nepal silently
agreed to have his photograph taken, security men ordered the driver
not to stop the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the government on Wednesday released eight leaders and
cadres of various political parties including intellectuals.
Those released were Dr Prakash Saran Mahat, central leader of Nepali
Congress (Democratic), Nilamber Acharya, an intellectual, Dilip Rai,
central leader of RPP, Meena Pande, central leader of Nepali Congress.
Likewise, Kamal Koirala, central leader of CPN-UML, Mukti Sharma,
former parliamentarian, Jagatraj Shakya, Lalitpur District president
of NC and Pallav Adhikari, a student leader were also released today.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=33891
.....................................................................
Three students held
KATHMANDU: Three students, including former central committee member
of the Nepal Students' Union (NSU), Deepak Adhikary, were arrested
from the Tri-Chandra College premises on Wednesday. According to Gagan
Thapa, former general secretary of the NSU, Sherum Karki, Kailash
Shrestha, and former central member of the NSU, Deepak Adhikary, were
arrested from the premises. He added that students organised protest
programmes in major colleges of the valley, including Padma Kanya,
Patan, Shankar Dev, Ratna Rajya, Nepal Law and Baneswor campuses. - HNS
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0scqzpea1Ta7a8
a.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20050310&sImageFile
Name=
..................................................................
US concerned about Nepal arrests
The US government has said it is concerned about the arrest of nearly
two hundred of political activists and leaders during Tuesday's
peaceful demonstrations launched by five opposition parties across the
country.
Responding to a query during the regular press briefings in Washington
D. C. on Tuesday, spokesman of the US State Department, Richard
Boucher, said (the US) had very clearly and consistently expressed its
concern about the arrests, about the arrest of political figures and
prominent figures in society there.
"We don't think that that is correct and we have urged their release
and a return to the past democratic dialogue," he added.
He did not elaborate.
Addressing the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on
International Relations in Washington D. C. last week, deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Donald Camp said His Majesty King
Gyanendra needed to move quickly to reinstate and protect civil and
human rights, release those detained under the state of emergency and
begin a dialogue with the political parties intended to restore
multi-party democratic institutions under a constitutional monarchy.
He further said the US had urged HM the King to lift the state of
emergency and provide clear roadmaps to restore democratic
institutions and address the Maoist insurgency. "Likewise, we will
encourage the political leaders as they are released to ensure their
parties rejoin the political process in a constructive manner in order
to chart the way ahead," he added. nepalnews.com by Mar 09 05
http://www.nepalnews.com/
....................................................................
India fears Nepal crisis spillover, boosts border patrols
Web posted at: 3/10/2005 2:30:13
Source ::: REUTERS
NEW DELHI: India has stepped up a vigil on its border with Nepal, a
government minister said yesterday, due to fears that political unrest
and a Maoist revolt could worsen and spillover after the king's power
grab.
Nearly 200 people, mostly Maoist rebels fighting to topple Nepal's
constitutional monarchy, have been killed since King Gyanendra sacked
the government, declared a state of emergency and assumed power in the
poor Himalayan country on February 1.
Analysts fear violence will mount as the Nepali army steps up its
crackdown to crush the leftist guerrillas.
"India is concerned that a further deterioration of the situation in
Nepal will result in spillover effects across the open border,
particularly in the neighbouring states," junior foreign minister
Edappakath Ahamed told parliament.
"We have taken steps to strengthen security in border areas. The armed
border force which is responsible for guarding India-Nepal border has
been asked to step up vigilance and patrolling along the border," he said.
The Indian statement came days after Nepali Foreign Minister Ramesh
Nath Pandey held talks with his Indian counterpart and assured New
Delhi that the king planned to revoke some tough emergency measures he
had imposed in Nepal.
Large protests against the king's move have been prevented by heavy
security and the detention of political leaders but activists have
staged small demonstrations in Kathmandu.
Yesterday student leaders organised meetings of small groups in
colleges in the capital and criticised the king. Police arrested about
200 political activists on Tuesday after they organised the biggest
protest against the monarch since his power grab.
New Delhi has long worried that Maoist rebels could collaborate with
leftist extremists in Indian states across the porous 1,750-km border
between the neighbours.
India has led the world in condemning the monarch's surprise move to
grab power.
It has stopped crucial military aid Kathmandu needs to fight the
Maoists and strongly urged for an early restoration of democracy and
the release of political prisoners.
But Nepali minister Pandey said Nepal had no option but to go after
the guerrillas who were a threat to the whole region. "Either support
the king to restore peace or support the terrorists who propose a
one-party communist dictatorship," Pandey told the Times of India
newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.
"The future of democracy, peace and stability of India and the entire
region and ultimately democracy in the world is at stake because of
the Maoist insurgency."
India says that the king's move to assume power would alienate
political parties and strengthen the rebels. More than 11,000 people
have been killed in Nepal since the Maoists launched their revolt in 1996.
The violence has forced thousands of Nepalis to flee the countryside
and many of them have taken refuge in India where they work as poor
labourers. Dozens of political activists have also fled to India to
escape the king's crackdown.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsect
ion=India&month=March2005&file=World_News2005031023013.xml
....................................................................
King's sting
Gyanendra must get the message: restore democracy or your time is up
[Editorial, Indian Express 10 March 2005
States can often be hell-bent on destroying themselves. The conduct of
Nepal's monarchy is another illustration of this phenomenon. King
Gyanendra suspended civil liberties and the modicum of democracy that
existed in Nepal on the pretext of saving it from Maoists and
ineffectual politicians. He was hoping this would create enough
ambivalence in the international community, in particular India, to
enable him to get away with his stratagem. After all, the prospect of
a Maoist takeover in Nepal makes most governments nervous. If the
choice was posed as one between Maoists and the king, the king would win.
Although the international community has asked the king to restore
democracy, it is fair to say that it has not acted decisively enough
to compel the king to do so. India should have sent strong signals to
the king right from the beginning. Instead, it has only now taken a
firm position, but what it will do on the ground remains unclear. It
is extraordinary that the international community has not been able to
leverage the fact that it sustains the monarchy by financial and
military help into extracting any meaningful concession from the king.
Most monarchies are cowardly enough to be concerned about their own
survival. If India had made it clearer that if the Maoists did not get
the king, the international community would, perhaps it would have
concentrated the king's mind a little better.
India should not fall into the trap of the king using China or the
Maoists as a blackmailing counter. For one thing, the future of Nepal
will hinge upon addressing the grievances that have given rise to the
Maoists. Defeating them will require a political strategy that
incorporates some elements into a political process. But military
might alone will not do the job. More important, nothing the king is
doing seems to be an effective measure against the Maoists. It is
perverted logic to suppose that cracking down on civil liberties,
arresting journalists, using the security apparatus to impose martial
law like, or violating human rights with impunity, has anything to do
with fighting the Maoists. If anything, these measures will only
deepen the monarchy's legitimation crisis. They are signs that the
king has no real strategy to deal with the Maoists. Rather his actions
are symptomatic of a monarchy out of touch with reality even as it
tries through violence and intimidation to assert its authority. The
monarch, properly chastened and placed under constitutional
restraints, can still perform a useful function in Nepal. But the
message has to go out that if Gyanendra does not restore democracy
immediately, his time will be up.
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=66135
....................................................................
Caught between rebels and a royal takeover, Nepalese wait for
charismatic democracy leader
Wednesday March 09, 2005
By RAJESH MAHAPATRA
Associated Press Writer
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) Caught between a festering communist insurgency
and a constitutional monarch who has seized control of the nation,
Nepal is waiting for a charismatic politician who can deliver them
both leadership and democracy.
More than a month after King Gyanendra took over control of Nepal and
imposed a state of emergency, many Nepalese are craving democracy,
despite disillusionment with the country's first 14 years of
democratic rule.
Initially after the king seized power, his moves were met with
enthusiasm among many Nepalese frustrated by corrupt and irresponsible
political parties. But that is slowly giving way to resentment and
increasing calls for the restoration of democracy.
``Nothing seems to be getting better. Rather, we are going from bad to
worse,'' said Prabhunath Dahal, a shop owner in downtown Katmandu. ``I
don't know who to blame. But I can say we will never be better off
without democracy,'' said Dahal.
The effects of the emergency are showing.
On the bright side, citizens say that in government offices, where
plainclothes security officers assist people, there are no delays or
demands for bribes.
But in the capital Katmandu once a bustling tourist hub of revelers,
mountaineers and backpackers streets now become deserted as evening
sets in. Shops and restaurants have been ordered to close by 9 p.m.
Most public employees have been mobilized to censor the media and
counter political parties struggling to restore democracy. Tourism has
declined sharply and donor nations are cutting back aid, driving Nepal
to the edge of bankruptcy.
However, few have protested. A series of demonstrations called by
political parties over the past month have drawn only journalists and
police. The tight security helped thwart the protests, but many say a
bigger reason is indifference due to the lack of a charismatic leader
who they can trust and rally behind.
``The politicians we have today are all thieves, cowards,'' said taxi
driver Sarju Chaudhury. ``We need a leader like Ganesh Mansingh, or
Madan Bhandari.''
Ganesh Mansingh was the leader of the pro-democracy movement in the
1970s and 1980s that ended Nepal's absolute monarchy. When his Nepali
Congress party formed the first government of democratic Nepal in
1990, he turned down an offer to become the prime minister. Madan
Bhandari was the leader the Communist Party of Nepal, who once
challenged the king to fight an election against him.
``We need someone who has Mansingh's honesty and Bhandari's courage,''
Chaudhury said.
Both leaders have died, and there is no one of matching stature now on
the political stage.
Freedom has been widely curtailed by the government, and the Supreme
Court has declined to entertain pleas related to the infringement of
fundamental rights.
``First we thought what the king did was right. The political parties
deserved to be punished. But now we feel all of us have lost out,''
said Dahal, whose sentiments are echoed by many Nepalese.
Nepal's political spectrum is largely dominated by two parties: the
centrist Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party, both widely
discredited after years of internal bickering, leadership tussles and
corruption. Rightist politics is dominated by the king and a couple
small, royalist parties.
When democracy was restored in 1990, the Nepalese people ruled for
more than two centuries by kings or oligarchs had high expectations
from politicians. But the process began to reverse within years amid
political squabbling.
The country has had more than a dozen prime ministers in the past 14
years. The crushing poverty in the countryside set off a Maoist
rebellion that has spiraled over nine years.
Economic growth, which reached an average of 6 percent in early 1990s,
has slipped below 3 percent in recent years and nearly half of Nepal's
24 million people live in abject poverty.
Politicians now admit they made mistakes.
``We have been taught a lesson. We need to do self-introspection. We
are now talking among ourselves what we must do to make sure the past
mistakes are not repeated,'' said Mahesh Acharya, a senior leader of
the Nepali Congress party that has mostly ruled Nepal since 1990.
http://cbsnewyork.com/international/Nepal-WaitingforaLead-ai/resources_news_
html
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn.
Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/FHLuJD/_WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
--------------------------
Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
--------------------------
Brooks Isoldi, editor
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.intellnet.org
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has
not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of
The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT
YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of
intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods,
techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other
intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes
only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material
as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use
this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,'
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
