Maoists fire on security personnel at exam center
Kathmandu, 30 March: Maoists Thursday morning fired on security personnel guarding an exam center at Karmaiya in Sarlahi district, security sources said.
Maoists attacked at 6.30 in the morning.
Other details were not immediately available.
People’s News/BR
Baburam Bhattarai says seven parties, Maoists working together
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 30 March: Baburam Bhattarai said seven parties and Maoists are working together as some leaders of seven parties said there is no Maoist involvement in the strike from 6 to 9 April.
"Seven parties and the CPN(Maoist) who launched separate movements in the past, are working together at the same time with one programme. This has a special historic importance," Bhattarai said.
Bhattarai said the 6 to 9 April strike "is an attempt to create a new historical date".
Bhattarai, in an article in Roadmap Thursday called the strike "political" and said " strike-breakers" should be "exposed".
Bhattarai charged attempts are being made to "weaken the movement by unilaterally amending declared joint struggle" and warned, "This will not be acceptable to revolutionaries."
"We are prepared to go alone," Bhattarai warned.
Without identifying them, Bhattarai said the feet of some are shaking as 6 April approaches.
People’s News/BR
Maoists abduct trade union leader
Kathmandu, 29 March: Maoists have abducted trade union leader Nathuni Sahani from Simara Tuesday, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
CPN-UML called for his immediate unconditional release and asked Maoists to stop such abductions.
People’s News/BR
Maoists abduct two persons joining army
Kathmandu, 29 March: Maoists abducted two persons from Kanchanpur as they were preparing to join the Royal Nepal Army, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Maoists abducted Khagendra Singh Khatri and Ratan Singh Saud; their whereabouts are not known.
People’s News/BR
Six persons in Maoist labour camp
By Sama Thapa in Nepal Samacharpatra
Nepalgunj, 29 March; Six persons are being held in a Maoist labour camp across Rapti in Binauna VDC for amore than one week.
Six are being held for stealing pigs, one is being held for rape.
People’s News/BR
NEA starts construction of Kulehkhani-III
Kathmandu, 29 March: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started the construction of the 14 MW Kulehkhani-III near Suparitar in Makwanpur.
Water released from Kulekhani-II will be diverted by a three km tunnel to Suparitar for electricity generation.
Tender has been called for the construction of an approach road to the construction site.
People’s News/BR
Another Maoist leader denies a ceasefire
By Surendra Kafle in Annapurna Post
Bardiya, 29 March: CPN (Maoist) central member Khadga Bahadur Bika 'Prakanda' said his party will not announce an immediate ceasefire.
He said this at news conference Wednesday.
"But we can consider if the popular movement will be completed," he said.
He said government claim of Maoist infiltration of the movement is wrong.
Prakanda met some leaders of the seven parties of Karnali Wednesday and discussed current politics and problems of the region.
People’s News/BR
Unification proposal rejected
Kathmandu, 29 March: NSP(D) joint general secretary has rejected a unity proposal with the NSP, Annapurna Post reports.
Tripathi said in a statement Wednesday there are ideological differences on democracy and the medashi movement.
People’s News/BR
King returning to palace Thursday
Kathmandu, 30 March: The King returns to Pokhara Thursday, Shamakaleen reports.
The King will be in Pokhara until 12 April.
People’s News/BR
Promotion in palace
Kathmandu, 30 March: Joint secretary Kumar Sharma has been promoted to secretary in the royal palace, Shamakaleen reports.
People’s News/BR
Tenure extended
Kathmandu, 30 March: The tenure of master of ceremonies Sudan Pokhrel has been extended for one more year in the royal palace, Janadharana reports.
Prachanda Bhakta Maharjan has been press secretriat.
People’s News/BR
Reshuffle in royal palace
Kathmandu, 29 March: His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Deb has transferred and given responsibilities of some officials in the royal palace effective from New Year Day 14 April, Rajdhani reports.
Dr Phanindra Raj Pathak has been appointed press secretary.
According to a senior royal palace source, press secretary Yogeshwor Karki has been transferred to principal secretariat.
The King has appointed Brig Gen Bijaya Khadka chief ADC. Chief ADC Gen Tika Dhamala has been transferred to the military secretariat.
People’s News/BR
CPN-UML advisor abducted
Dhangadi, 29 March: Maoists Tuesday abducted CPN-UML advisor Shankarman Bohara from his home in Chuha, Kailali, Rajdhani reports.
The party district unit condemned the abduction.
People’s News/BR
29th March, 2006 (Wednesday)
Maoists torch another truck
Kathmandu , 29 March: Maoists Wednesday torched another truck on a highway in Dhading district, a radio report said.
Insurgents torched a truck in the district yesterday.
People’s News/BR
Ex-soldiers being sent to UAE
Kathmandu , 29 March: An agreement has been finalized to send retired soldiers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the protection of members of the royal family, senior officials and public places, Jana Aastha reports.
The agreement is being signed by the defence ministry and the government of UAE.
The agreement says only soldiers selected by the defence ministry will be sent to Dubai.
People’s News/BR
Policeman arrested for helping Maoists
Kathmandu , 29 March: Policeman Pradip Panjiyar was arrested in the capital Sunday for supplying weapons to Maoists, Jana Aastha reports.
Panjiyar was arrested on the basis of information supplied by Maoist special task force guerrilla Prakash Koirala currently under custody.
Koirala confessed Panjiyar helped Maoists when he was deputed to the terai.
The Army Sunday arrested a policeman in the capital Sunday on suspicion of being a Maoist.
People’s News/BR
Moriarty tells Koirala not to involve Maoists
Kathmandu, 28 March: US ambassador James F. Moriarty has asked parties not to involve Maoists in the movement, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Moriarty met NC president Girija Prasad Koirala Tuesday USA was concerned the peaceful movement might turn violent.
According to a source, Maoists have not reformed after an agreement with seven parties and said there are many reasons to question Maoist commitment.
Koirala reiterated an old stand there will be no cooperation with Maoists until they lay down their arms.
Moriarty is meeting other leaders of political parties.
People’s News/BR
Janamorcha dispute erupts
Makwanpur, 28 March: A rebellion has again erupted in Janamorcha Nepal, a constituent of seven political parties, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Unity Center has started a pamphleteering against chairman Amik Serchan.
Janamorcha central member Gobinda Singh Thapa who arrived in Hetuda Tuesday said Serchan didn't sign an agreement with Maoists with party consent.
The party was not informed about the two agreements with Maoists and claimed Sercanh's was only his personal involvement.
Thapa said the understanding with Maoists will not be acceptable to the party.
People’s News/BR
NIDC gets new board
Kathmandu , 28 March: Government has appointed new board members in the Nepal Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Joint secretary in the Finance Ministry Bimal Wagle, general manager Milan Bikram Shah, Debraj Pathak of the Auditor General's Office and joint Secretary Punya Prasad Neupane from the Commerce Ministry have been appointed board members.
People’s News/BR
Manisha Koirala charged for murder of secretary
Kathmandu , 28 March: Actress Manisha Koirala has been accused for the murder of her secretary, Rajdhani reports.
The online edition of the Times of India reported this Tuesday.
People’s News/BR
Jimmy Carter coming 4 May
Kathmandu , 28 March; Former US president Jimmy Carter is arriving 4 May for a week-long, Annapurna Post reports.
He will meet the King, opposition party leaders and Maoists.
He will meet leaders of society and human rights workers.
People’s News/BR
Election Commission calls parties for consultations
Kathmandu, 29 March: The Election Commission Wednesday asked political parties to come for discussions 31 March to discuss annual updating of the electoral roll.
The notification was issued Wednesday in Gorkhapatra.
The updating of the voters' list will from the coming new year.
People’s News/BR
No Maoist ceasefire
Kathmandu, 29 March: A Maoist leader has denied a claim of CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari that Maoists will declare a ceasefire, Jana Aastha reports.
"The claim of Bharat Mohan is rubbish," a senior leader told Jana Aastha over telephone.
The leader said the party has no plans to declare an immediate ceasefire.
The Maoist leader said the lceassefire will benefit the state.
People’s News/BR
Media mission with pre-conceived minds; Report biased
KATHMANDU, Mar. 27: Much was expected from the Media Mission, which came here to observe the situation of media in Nepal and the people had waited for 'unbiased' outcome at the end of mission. Reverse was the upshot from those who came with pre-conceived minds, editor of People's Review, Pushpa Pradhan said Monday.
Pradhan said that the mission had consulted the independent journalists and the members of the Federation of National Journalists (FENAJ) but they did not give credit to the independent views.
Motive
"The media mission was here to provoke the agitation and the members were pre-convicted about what to speak," he said. They were not guided by professionals and had political motive, he added.
Talking about the journalists who are under detention, he said that FENAJ was also investigating over the unjustified detentions if there was any but the government has right to detain anyone if they had been playing foul against the nation and people in the outfit of journalists.
FM radio
Replying to a query, whether the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) could run FM radio stations, he said that there were many other nations where the army has been running radio stations as a tool to counter terrorism.
The Maoists have been creating propaganda through FMs without permissions, "What harm is there if the RNA gets permission to run FMs as a tool of awareness in the conflict zones?" he asked.
Ground reality
Senior journalist, Subarna Chhetry, said that the visiting media mission expected to see their own standards maintained here in Nepal, which was wrong. "They did not know the ground reality, media history, culture and present situation that the country has been passing through."
Pointing out the problems existed in the media sector, he said that the Nepalese media lacked the self-guiding principles. "Lack of self-censorship has affected the professionalism and, as a result, the media has not and could not play the role that it had to play at this hour of crisis," he said.
Goal
Chhetry said that the media professionals should have a single goal to bail out the nation from the present crisis. The professional organisations and the professionals have inclination with the political forces and thus with divided mentality, he added.
"If we had developed a roadmap and the professionals had upheld professional ethics, the present crisis would not have occurred," he said.
He opined that the media needs guiding principles, which should be compatible with the country's own ground realities. There are provisions of libel and defamation to regulate the media all over the world, but our press has been publishing matters of defamation without objection.
Even in the most democratic nations, there are stringent rules and regulations to guide the media but the big difference is that they practice professionalism to the utmost level and we lack such practices here, he added.
"When the things go wrong and nobody corrects it, it looks like right and the government seems to be trying to correct the wrong thing." The government has certainly curtailed some rights at present but all should understand that the government was reluctantly taking these steps to address the uncommon situation in the country, he said.
Biased
Amar Singh, media expert, said that the international media mission failed to assess the real situation in the country. He said that they could not compare other developed nations to the situation we have been facing here. "The mission has disillusioned the reality and their final outcome was biased."
No curtailment
Jasuda Pradhan, vice president of FENAJ, said that the international media mission would have incorporated the views of the true professionals if it had the intention of acquiring the truth. "They did not try to understand the ground reality here as they were preconceived with ill feelings," she said.
She said that there was no curtailment in press freedom in the recent days. "Some of the rights have been curtailed for the time being as per the need of time, the press have been enjoying the freedom unhindered."
Ethics
FENAJ have been advocating for the professionalism and professional ethics and the upcoming media regulations should incorporate it, she added.
People’s News/The Rising Nepal
28th March, 2006 (Tuesday)
Crown Prince chairs meeting of France chapter of KMTNC
Kathmandu, 28 March: Crown Prince Paras, chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation ( KMTNC) chaired a meeting of the France chapter of the Trust Monday, Radio Nepal said.
He later attended a dinner reception hosted by the Chapter.
People’s News/BR
Load-shedding schedule changed in Valley
Kathmandu, 28 March: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has discontinued night and morning load-shedding for 11 hours from Tuesday, an announcement said.
There will be no load-shedding for 11 hours from 6.30 in the evening to 5.30 in the morning from Tuesday.
NEA had enforced five-hour load-shedding in two installments in the morning, late evenings and at night.
People’s News/BR
Kamal Thapa says govt will crush strike
Kathmandu, 28 March: Home Minister Kamal Thapa warned Tuesday the government will crush a strike and civil disobedience movement of seven political parties with Maoist help.
Seven parties are launching a continuous four-day strike from 6 April.
US ambassador James F. Moriarty Tuesday met NC president Girija Prasad Koirala and warned seven parties to distance themselves from Moaists who have said the strike is a unified programme of Maoists and the parliamentary opposition.
The Royal Nepal Army said Tuesday Maoists have sent a special task faorce unit in the Valley to help the strike.
The Home Ministry issued a statement asking people to stay away from Maoist programmes.
People’s News/BR
Prem Bahadur Bhandari RPP (Thapa) spokesman
Kathmandu, 28 Mrch: Prem Bahadur Bhandari has been appointed RPP (Thapa) spokesman.
Rajiv Parajuli has been appointed treasurer.
Chandra Bahadur Gurung and Govinda Khaiya have been appointed assistant general secretaries by president Kamal Thapa.
People’s News/BR
Is Koirala serious?
Kathmandu, 28 March: NC president Girija Prasad Koirala suddenly fell ill yesterday, Punarjagaran reports.
Koirala, who suffers from chest pains and asthma, was confined to bed yesterday after suffering an unusual bout of asthma.
He underwent a regular check-up at the BP Koirala Hospital in Dharan last week during a visit to Biratnagar.
Doctors advised him to reduce smoking, stay calm and rest.
Although Koirala's condition is serious, doctors treating him said he can be treated at home.
People’s News/BR
King to chair cabinet today
Kathmandu, 28 March: The King returned to the capital from Pokhara yesterday [Monday], reports Dhristi.
Although he returned to the capital to participate in the Army Ghodejatra function, a cabinet meeting normally held Thursday is meeting today.
Ministers are frightened. Ministers are frightened because their resignations might be sought for a reshuffle of the council of ministers and a call by the King for talks.
Although this might not happen at today's meeting, their resignations might be sought at the next cabinet meeting.
The King returns to Pokhara tomorrow [Wednesday].
People’s News/BR
Reunification of NC unlikely
Kathmandu , 28 March: NC and NC (D) are currently avoiding reunification agenda, writes Charcha weekly.
For reunification proper understanding should be developed from the lower level in both the parties. Internal differences existed within the Nepal Students Union (NC) has been an obstacle in the reunification process.
People’s News/Kumod
Obstacle for democracy
Kathmandu , 28 March: Chaos in the seven parties has not only created instability and anarchy in the nation but also delayed the democratic process, writes Charcha weekly.
The seven parties and the Maoists have developed an unhealthy alliance to launch a decisive agitation.
The seven parties were compelled to join hands with the Maoists as they failed to demonstrate an effective agitation.
People’s News/Kumod
Bamdev for joint statement
Kathmandu, 28 March: UML leader Bamdev Gautam is trying to issue a joint statement of the seven parties and the Maoists in Delhi, writes Sanghu weekly.
UML sources say that Gautam was not included in the second phase Delhi talks as UML Secretary Madhav Kumar decided to send Jhalnath Khanal instead of Gautam but Gautam was finally permitted to join the Delhi talks as Maoist leader Prachanda called UML Secretary saying that the meeting would be worthless without Gautam's presence.
People’s News/Kumod
Girija and Madhav responsible
Kathmandu , 28 March: NC leaders Girija Prasad Koirala and UML Secretary, Madhav Kumar are responsible for bringing down the country to such a situation, writes Dibya Chakshu weekly.
Both NC and UML parties were reluctant to hold dialogue with the Maoists when they were in power; instead they labeled the Maoists as terrorists and issued red corner notice against them.
Resolving the Maoist problem would have been much easier at the time if the two leaders had become flexible when the Maoists had came for talks with their proposals.
People’s News/Kumod
Agreement not clear
Kathmandu , 28 March: NCP Unity Centre (Mashal) spokesman, Chitra Bahadur K.C., has said that the agreement between the Maoists and the seven parties doesn't draw a clear perspective on the constituent assembly. He also criticized the third point of the agreement for being a threat to Nepal's integrity, reports Ghatana Chakra weekly.
People’s News/Kumod
No to constituent assembly: Shailaja Acharya
Kathmandu , 28 March: NC leader Shailaja Acharya has said that constituent assembly would create bloodshed all over the nation, reports Jana Bhawana weekly.
Acharya who has been refraining herself away from the street agitation and the agreement between the Maoists and the seven parties remarked that the only option for the seven parties is to hold dialogue with the King.
People’s News/Kumod
Worst political situation
Kathmandu , 28 March: The political situation has become worst day by day. Politicians have buried the trend of performing politics as per the wish of the people and need of the nation.
They rather seem more interested in holding power and trust "bullet" instead of "ballot".
They are now united with the same group whom they declared terrorists in the past, writes Jana Bhawana weekly.
People’s News/Kumod
