Democracy For Nepal

Thursday, March 24, 2005

To: Prachanda, Baburam, Mahara, Badal And The Rest Of The Maoist Leadership

Hello all.

I have opened up a few channels of communication with some of the leaders now exiled in Delhi. And I request the same with you. I am based in the US. I operate solo. An email address or two would do. But I would prefer a phone number or two. I have communicated to your publicly available email addresses at your website. And I read Bhattaraiji's recent article with great interest. I came to the conclusion the democrats can do business with the Maoists.

Or you could talk to them directly, if you have not already been doing so. My personal style is to express myself publicly at this blog. But I do feel the time for bilateral and multilateral dialogues has come.

Google News Search: Baburam Bhattarai

Maoists confirm Baburam Bhattarai’s expulsion Anti-Prachanda ...
Gorkhapatra, Nepal - Mar 20, 2005 The Maoists have confirmed that Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has been relieved from the responsibilities of the terrorist group following his clash with Prachanda. ....... The FM radio operated by the rebels from a secret location in Pyuthan district, quoting a statement of one of their leaders identified as Biplav, announced at 7:30 pm Saturday that the terrorist group took action against Dr. Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami. ...... Biplav’s statement has clearly justified and exposed internal rift in the group ...... activists of the group have protested Prachanda, taking out rallies and shouting slogans for ceasefire and peace talks at various places in the district, including Shantinagar, Baghmare, Rajpur and Bela ...... displayed banners at Satbariya against Prachanda who wants endless war. The banners read “Let’s close the base area on Chaitra 12 in protest against murder, violence, terrorism and loot.” ......
Skirmishes break out between Baburam, Prachanda factions Security ...
Gorkhapatra, Nepal - 5 hours ago ..... skirmishes between the supporters Baburam Bhattarai, the expelled leader of the Maoist group, and the Prachanda faction in Kanchanpur .... the terrorists shouted slogans like ‘Down with Prachanda Path’, ‘Stop the Violence and Killings’, and ‘Start Peace Talks Immediately’ ..... Chakra Bahadur Thapa alias Nawaraj, 36, left the Maoist group surrendered in front of him. He had worked actively as a trainer and in expanding the people’s participation within the terrorist organisation for five years ..... said that he had surrendered because the Bhattarai supporters and Prachanda supporters were ready to kill each other ...... Almost 300 Maoists are said to have fled the district after the Maoists Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hishila were expelled from the Maoist group ..... “Now, after the rift within the Maoist group, Maoists who are against Prachanda are allowed into the village,” said a member of the resistance group.
Growing resentment against Prachanda Gorkhapatra ... the so-called active leading cadre of the terrorist group in Pyuthan district Gyan Bahadur Gharti ‘Sangin’, a Bhattarai supporter, reportedly warned that the two factions could come to a situation of shooting one another if the war continued. ..... it has been learnt that a state of dejection and desertation has surfaced in one faction of the district level leaders and cadres mobilised in Kanchanpur, Baitedi and Kailai as a result of the action taken against Baburam Bhattarai and are thinking of deserting after sharing among themselves the property looted in the past before the party breaks up ...... graffiti with slogans like ‘Blood Thirsty Prachanda Hold Peace Talks’ were traced in large numbers in the Aresh, Tewang, Sirpa, Jutungkhola, Folpi, Damri and Jumrikanda VDCs and adjoining areas located in the border between Pyuthan and Rolpa districts ..... the cadres supporting another leader Baburam Bhattarai gathered in large numbers in Kanechaur, Satferi, Tikhatar, Chamarachautara and Khatyaudi VDCs of Doti district on the night of March 17 and 18 and took out torch procession chanting slogans like ‘Down with Prachandapath’, ‘Prachanda hold Peace Talks’, ‘Stop Murder and Violence’,
Conflict-Hit Villages Hues & Colours Gorkhapatra This now has become part of life of many a villages of Nepal. Things are just beyond our wish and at the same time they are hopelessly beyond control....... The second reason behind the breaking of war is boredom. ...... If one looks at the 43 point political and socio-economic agenda which Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, the second man in the Maoist party after its supremo Prachanda, had forwarded during the second round of peace talks with the then government in 2002, one may find hardly any new things that are not included in any of the democratic government’s policies and programmes..... If they had really felt bored by policies and programmes of the ruling political parties and had waged war for total transformation why did they fail to come up with newer and arresting national agenda during the talks? ..... we are in the Middle Ages while the rest of the world is in the 21st century, Maoist insurgency is still valid here terrorizing the mankind.
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai expelled from his party Gorkhapatra, Nepal - Mar 14, 2005
Issues thrown up by Royal coup Delhi Pioneer, India - Mar 22, 2005 The King can show results in three ways: Get the Maoists to the talking table; get Royal Nepal Army (RNA) to do something spectacular like capture Prachanda or Baburam Bhattarai; and make political parties join him in fighting the Maoists..... the last thing on the King's mind is talks. ..... The RNA has shown little by way of results in the last three years, despite its modernisation and expansion by India from 50 to 83,000. There is no chance of a military victory, even after the Royal Coup when RNA was gung ho: "We can now go for the Maoists." Even the King, inadvertently, told one ambassador in Kathmandu that he had held back the RNA so far but was now ordering them to go for the Maoists. Even divine invocation will not help RNA....... As part of their disinformation campaign, RNA announced the expulsion of Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami from the party and caused great embarrassment to the Palace. It seems all is not well with the RNA....... There are unconfirmed reports of divisions within the Army, especially between Army Chief Gen Pyar Jung Thapa and his Number 2 and Chief in waiting, Lt Gen Ruk Mangad Katwal........ The Royal Coup should have brought a semblance of unity among political parties but that has not happened. Due to the Emergency and ban on political activity, democratic forces have been unable to forge a common minimum programme. Many of them are still talking about accommodating monarchy despite the shabby treatment of political leaders by the King since he took direct charge ...... At one stage, he asked for applications for the office of Prime Minister ...... born again monarchist Tulsi Giri had the cheek to ask political leaders to apply for a berth in the council of ministers to work for the King. His press conference was an affront to diplomatic behaviour....... There is a view that people are happy with the King's action. But there is little evidence of this claim....... "It is so scary, phones are tapped, you know Big Brother is watching, you can no longer breathe normally." It is quite eerie. This is the lull before the storm....... It is rethink time for the Maoists. In view of the Royal crackdown on democracy and political formations, they have allowed political parties space in rural areas under their control for political activity and also invited them to form a common front against the King..... The strong reaction of the international community was never anticipated by the Palace. It has shocked the King. ....... Seventy per cent of Nepal's budget comes from donor countries. ...... The strongest action was sponsored last week by the Swiss Government at the 61st session of the UNHRC in Geneva. The intention is to place Nepal on Agenda 9 status which evaluates abuse of human rights as "beyond rectification" and therefore requires international monitoring. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Asian Human Rights and others have been targetting Nepal for excesses and abuses of human rights. ...... US pointsperson on Nepal, Donald Camp told a congressional hearing on March 2, that US takes the Maoist threat very seriously. ....... The Indian Army, which has extremely warm and close ties with RNA dating back to 1950 ....... The RNA has not engaged in any sustained military operations after February 1. On the other hand, it has been preoccupied with maintaining law and order and promulgating the Emergency ..... The US gives the Maoists far greater military capacity than is due to them and is likely to blink first. It is paranoid about a communist-terrorist takeover of Nepal. Baburam Bhattarai has admitted to the serious difficulties they are facing in reaching Kathmandu and why power is eluding them. They know they do not have the military strength to defeat RNA, not now, not in the foreseeable future. He has named India and the US as the two countries which will not let them seize power....... The Maoists are short of ammunition and weapons. Only 40 per cent of their fighting cadres are armed. They no longer have easy access to medical treatment of the wounded across the border in India. But their biggest scare is the RNA helicopter gunship which is responsible for 70 per cent of the casualties. They have no defence against armed helicopters and the Tora Bora technique of the RNA...... Is the King still adamant about fight to finish or can he still be persuaded to climb down if he is given a face-saver? ...... It is also time Nepal had a new second generation of political leaders. By his recent actions, people say the King has forfeited his chance of even a constitutional monarch.
Nepal: The Royal Regression And The Question Of Democratic ... CounterCurrents.org
Sexually Exploited Women In Conflict Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - 7 hours ago
Dangerous reds Delhi Pioneer, India - Feb 23, 2005
Wave of furor against Prachanda spreading: RNA Gorkhapatra, Nepal - Mar 21, 2005 supporters of another so-called leader of the terrorists Dr. Baburam Bhattarai have distributed pamphlets and painted graffiti in Takukot, Palkhu, Panch Khuwa, Dandathok, Swara, Lakuribot, Bhanjyang, Deuraliko Khani, Barakot, Gyagi, Khuwa Deurali and Takumajh VDCs of Gorkha district
Maoists sack top leader, wife: New Kerala, India - Mar 15, 2005
RNA claims top Maoist leaders expelled, rebels deny rift
Press Trust of India, India - Mar 15, 2005
Official expelled from Maoist party TVNZ, New Zealand - Mar 15, 2005
Nepal army reports rift in rebels BBC News, UK - Mar 15, 2005
Nepal claims rift in Maoist top rung Times of India, India - Mar 15, 2005
Asia: Senior official expelled from Nepal’s Maoist party ... Keralanext, India - Mar 15, 2005
Doubts over Maoist ouster Statesman, India - Mar 15, 2005
Nepal's govt, Maoist fire verbal salvos at each other: New Kerala, India - Mar 18, 2005
CPN-Maoist terrorists expel Dr Bhattarai from party Gorkhapatra, Nepal - Mar 17, 2005
Maoists and Comprehensive Peace Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Mar 15, 2005 ..... no negotiations can be successful if basic minimum trust can't be maintained between the negotiating parties ...... Even recently, thousands of people have held a peace march in Kathmandu. They called for lasting peace and similar marches were held elsewhere in the country...... The Maoists have put three political demands - roundtable conference, formation of an all-party government and election to the constituent assembly but there is a hot debate on the issue of constituent assembly in the Nepali politics from the centre down to the village level....... Why Nepalese leaders do not even think of democratization of the party? ..... Why politicians are still busy in political fighting? ..... Dialogue must not be confined to clerics. Dialogue must be multifaceted; different dialogue efforts should involve different constituencies and strive to achieve different ends. ..... Much of the hard work to promote peaceful coexistence must be done internally by each political parties. The Nepalese political parties, Government and Maoists should know dialogue requires a variety of capacities for self-transcendence: transcendence of one's own interests and perspectives for the sake of understanding the interests and perspectives of the other side.
Nepal's king uses media to seek edge over rebels
International Herald Tribune, France - Mar 17, 2005
Maoist deal to sideline Nepal's king Asia Times Online, Hong Kong - Mar 17, 2005
Maoists go on rampage in eastern Nepal: New Kerala, India - Mar 17, 2005
Gag on Press: Democracy the King's Way Asia Pacific Media Network, CA - Mar 17, 2005 "An independent press serves as the medium for raising the level of democratic consciousness. It plays a crucial role in the promotion of national interest," says the king proudly..... Just as their first class begins, schoolchildren and college students are seen rushing home. Office-goers turn around midway through their commute. It seems like a "tsunami" has hit the country..... it was an army officer, our virtual editor. ...... In the absence of telephone lines and the Internet, officials from the UN Office in Kathmandu, foreign diplomatic missions, political party leaders and other individuals had to rush to the media houses to hand in their statements on the latest developments in Nepal, all of whom described it as a "setback to democracy." ...... the king told them. "The Fourth Estate has a very constructive role to play in furthering democracy and strengthening our peace efforts." ..... "It’s my belief that if the press were responsible and didn’t in any way strengthen the hands of terrorism, they should be free to write anything," the king told them. "The Fourth Estate has a very constructive role to play in furthering democracy and strengthening our peace efforts." Nobody knows how much democracy has been strengthened in the wake of the royal proclamation. But one thing is sure: Press freedom and freedom of expression -- the pillars of a functioning democracy -- have been largely curtailed, not strengthened. ....... at least 1000 radio journalists are now jobless, and many print and TV journalists are suffering the same fate ..... With the "complete freedom" to write anything in favour of the king and his cabinet ......President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Tara Nath Dahal .... Sources in the UN Headquarters in Kathmandu said he had taken refuge there for several days ...... at least eight journalists have been arrested -- five are still in custody..... On March 14, the government news agency, Rastriya Samachar Samiti, sent a news report to media houses, which read, "The Royal Nepalese Army has reported that politburo member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Baburam Bhattarai and his wife (also a top rebel leader) Hishila Yami have been expelled from the party." Though the report had not quoted anybody in the rebel party, most newspapers ran the story on their front pages with much prominence because it was indeed a big story if it were true. News from a responsible government news agency was to be believed, even though Maoist Spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, calls the allegation a "politics of lie" orchestrated by the government....... six months -- the Information Minister's timeframe for censorship .....one of the biggest achievements of 14 years of democracy in Nepal -- a vibrant press
Maoists have expelled Bhattarai, says RNA Himalayan Times, Nepal - Mar 14, 2005
SHORT TAKES Himalayan Times, Nepal - Mar 17, 2005
Let's meddle in Nepal Sify, India - Mar 8, 2005

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

News Clips March 21,23,25

March 25

Forces seek tighter control over Indo-Nepal border traffic Times of India, India With Nepalese Maoists and Pakistan's ISI agents increasingly taking advantage of the visa-free regime between India and Nepal to slip into the Indian side, the security force guarding the Indo-Nepalese frontier has proposed introduction of an identification document for border crossings..... there had been "some sort of exodus" of Maoists ...... six Maoists, four of them senior functionaries, had been arrested ...... Pakistani intelligence agents have been using Nepal as "a launching pad" for anti-India activities. Active in Nepal for over 10 years now, they are involved in counterfeit currency, subversion and espionage rackets.
Maoist threat still looming large: DGP:- Webindia123 .... some prominent maoist leaders have been taken into custody while trying to sneak into India ..... He added that the Maoists in both Nepal and India are trying to develop a nexus and the Nepalese ultras are coming to India for training. He, however, added that there is no evidence of any joint operation between Maoists of both countries..... The Union government had raised the budgetary allocation for the para-military force by a whopping 30 percent to Rs 946 crore. The enhanced funds will help in fencing the Indo Nepal border and acquiring modern weapons to check infiltration by the Maoists.
Nepal draws most fire at UN meet New Kerala, India Nepal has drawn the heaviest fire at the general debate in the annual session of the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, though China, Iran and Myanmar were also criticised over alleged rights violations...... New Zealand said it was dismayed at the recent suspension of civil and political rights in Nepal and the culture of impunity there ...... in the past two years, Nepal has recorded the highest number of new cases of disappearances in the world, as well as torture and extra-judicial executions ...... sign an international accord that would allow the investigation of violations..... rights organisations and NGOs were more aggressive, asking for international intervention in Nepal and the appointment of a special rapporteur
Nepal drifting towards China? India planning economic sanction? India Daily The King of Nepal is adamant about maintaining the monarchy without democracy in Nepal...... Desperate and frustrated India is slowly thinking about economic sanctions against Nepal. ..... King Gyanendra may be actually a shrewd politician..... Royal Nepal may drift towards China
Another Nepal envoy to India Business Standard Field Marshal Meen Bahadur Rana ..... Chairman of Nepal's State Council Parashu Narayan Chaudhary .... Delhi maintains that nothing short of complete restoration of democratic processes in the Himalayan kingdom will be acceptable ...... The six were Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Agriculture Minister Homnath Dahal, Land Reform Minister Jog Meher Shrestha, Local Development Minister Yuvraj Gyawali, Information and Communication minister Mohammad Mohsin and Forest Minister Badri Mandal. They are due to appear again before the commission on March 31...... The RCCC has the authority to confiscate property, award jail term and levy fine if the accused is found guilty.
Nepal's royal watchdog nabs judge taking bribe New Kerala ... arrested Birendra Kumar Karna ... for allegedly taking Nepali Rs. 20,000 to free two men involved in a robbery three years ago ..... Though Kathmandu's lawyers and judges are yet to comment on his arrest, the judiciary is dogged by allegations of bribery. The charges came out in the open last year after two Supreme Court judges had to resign over a scandal involving an overseas druglord...... The formation of the new commission has triggered fears that it might be used by the new regime to settle political scores...... six former ministers charging them with distributing the NRs. 4 million from the PM's Welfare Fund among party cadre and cronies ...... got a new twist with lawyers questioning the legality of the summons, saying the case is already being heard by the Supreme Court.
Nepal: Dealing with a Human Rights Crisis Reuters AlertNet, UK .... latest report, describes the appalling situation, especially since the royal coup of 1 February, offers practical policy recommendations for tackling it by all relevant players, and explains how such measures would contribute to the longer-term conflict resolution effort...... a no-party state that has decimated democracy and kills people at will ..... Using extortion and coercion, the Maoists are imposing a violent authoritarian regime on steadily increasing swathes of the countryside. State forces are engaged in well-documented, systematic violations from extra-judicial executions to illegal detentions, disappearances, and torture..... the international community needs to speak with one voice on human rights ...... restoration of basic freedoms and establishes robust enforcement mechanisms and clearly defined benchmarks, including an effective, on-the-ground UN human rights monitoring mission ...... demand that both the government and the Maoists sign a Human Rights Accord as an initial confidence-building measure toward a resumed peace process ..... Human rights would thus become integrated with efforts to create a wider, coordinated international push for peace, ideally led by a contact group of key powers and the UN, supported by donor nations working on the development and rights tracks....... "Without concrete action on human rights, any return to the pre-coup situation would be little more than a return to the unsatisfactory status quo ante", says Templer. "Nepal's people would be condemned to further erosion of their rights and to the gross violations that feed the brutal insurgency".
ICG hue and cry over worsening rights scenario Himalayan Times ICG said the ongoing 61st Commission on Human Rights in Geneva gives “Nepal’s friends their best opportunity to begin to reverse the trends by establishing a strong UN human rights monitoring mission that could form the core of action towards peace.” ..... exert leverage to end the culture of impunity by “preparing to suspend RNA from the UN peacekeeping operations if it does not improve its record.”
Nepal: Dealing with a Human Rights Crisis International Crisis Group
Nepal has enough arms to fight anti-government guerrillas ... Xinhua, China We are also capable of manufacturing ammunition for small arms including Self-Loading Rifles, M-16 rifle and Infantry Small Arms System ..... Gurung said that the US and Indian governments have not stopped military aid to Nepal completely, but have only kept the subject under review and constant watch. He ruled out the possibilities of buying arms from Nepal's neighboring countries.
Army hails rift in rebel ranks in insurgency-ravaged Nepal Japan Today ....gained an edge over warring Maoist guerrillas amid reports of a rift in the rebel ranks .... punished more than 100 soldiers for rights violations ..... 44 soldiers, including senior officers, have been jailed
Nepal says it is self-sufficient as far as its military ... Webindia123 "All the rank and file of the Royal Nepal Army dedicate themselves for the safeguard of the country, crown and democracy even at the stake of their lives. Each division has been carrying out the operation independently in their regions. We were self sufficient in small arms and ammunitions since quite long. Therefore, it is not a big deal, and that's why there won't be any problem so far as small arms and ammunitions are concerned" ..... "Army had to stay standby (before emergency) because of the various rallies staged by students and different parties often causing damages and ransacking etc. Now, since the Home Ministry and police force are controlling the situation (after the emergency), we are concentrating on the Maoist issue only" .....
Nepal Punishes 108 Soldiers for Rights Abuses ABC News .... those guilty of rights violations were being punished with penalties ranging from warnings to imprisonment...... "Forty-four soldiers have been jailed for up to seven years for abuses like excessive use of force and forcibly collecting donations from the people" ..... 31 soldiers had been dismissed from the service and 12 others demoted. The rest had been warned or lost their annual increment in pay or been denied promotion..... Human rights groups say more than 1,200 people are missing
Asia ; India blocks transport of oil to Nepal: Keralanext, India
Indian crackdown halts Nepal's petroleum imports Express Newsline
Delegates at IT meet apprised of Nepal’s situation: Dhakal Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Dhakal seeks to bridge digital divide Gorkhapatra
Ex-PM falls sick at Indian envoy's dinner New Kerala, India ...Thapa, 77, had suffered a heart attack .... Thapa, a six-time former prime minister .... has called King Gyanendra's takeover of the government and the imposition of a state of emergency "ill-advised"...... Tulsi Giri, a former prime minister himself and vice-chairman of the new council of ministers, has criticised Thapa's statement in public, saying only history would decide whether the royal move was "ill-advised".
Festival of colours turns bleak for Nepal's politicians New Kerala, India the government's strongest critic and four-time prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala continued to be under house arrest ....... deputy prime minister and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari - Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC and others continue to be under detention along with a large number of student leaders
Nepal's Anti-Corruption Panel Questions Government Ministers The ministers have denied any wrongdoing and say they are victims of a ``political vendetta'' ...... Homnath Dahal, one of the officials questioned by the panel, said he will challenge any charges against him in Nepal's Supreme Court ..... An all-party government that includes opposition parties should be formed, Deuba told the BBC...... Nepal depends on international donations that fund 62 percent of its development budget.
Nepal's Royal anti-graft Commission to grill 21 more people New Kerala, India
Probe into Dashain allowance case proceeds Royal Commission fixes ... Gorkhapatra, Nepal ..... on the recommendation of then minister Jogmehar Shrestha, Dilip Rai of Jhapa, Chettra Bahadur Gurung of Parbat, Amir Bikram Rana of Kathmandu and Toran Bahadur Gurung of Syangja had each received Rs. 162,000 .......on the recommendation of then minister Homnath Dahal, Dhruva Wagle of Tanahu, Indramani Adhikari of Kavrepalanchok, ex-MP Bhikhari Mansoor of Sarlahi, Dipak Bahadur Bista of Doti, Chet Raj Bajal of Bhajang, Manav Sejuwal of Jumla and Him Bahadur Shahi of Dailekh had received Rs. 150,000 each ...... Yubaraj Gyawali had recommended Rs. 140,000 each to Ranadwaj Kandangwa of Makwanpur, JB Tuhure of Morang, Maya Gyawali of Gulmi, Dilli Khatiwada of Morang, advocate Rudra Nepal of Kathmandu, Chattra Bahadur Bohara of Sindhupalchok and Dutta Bahadur Rokaya of Dolpa ....... Nepal Telecom Employee Narayahari Aryal Rs. 150,000 on the recommendation of then minister Dr Mohammad Mohasin, advocate Khadga Bahadur Sijapati of Dailekh received Rs. 75,000 on the recommendation of then minister Purna Bahadur Khadka while Ramnarayan Yadav of Morang had received Rs. 125,000 on the recommendation of then minister Badri Mandal ..... Dahal had also recommended Rs. 150,000 each for Chetman Shrestha of Gorkha, Tulasi Prasad Khanal of Paanchthar and Kumar Rai of Bhojpur ..... On the eve of Bada Dashain Festival-2004, the then Deuba government had on the recommendation of then six Ministers released Rs. 3860,000 from the Prime Minister’s relief fund to various individuals.
Royal graft panel floats Dashain dole details Himalayan Times
Two ex-ministers released on bail Gorkhapatra ....released two ex-ministers - Yubaraj Gyanwali and Jog Mehar Shrestha - on bail ..... Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Badri Prasad Mandal and Homnath Dahal – were released Monday after depositing the bail amount..... The six ministers are accused of wrongly distributing the government funds to brokers and affluent individuals to celebrate Dashain. The fund from which they had distributed the money was set up to provide relief assistance to the people affected by natural calamities and others who are poor and needy.
Nepal's ex-ministers to contest graft charges New Kerala, India While the Prime Minister's Welfare Fund is meant for victims displaced by the Maoist insurgency and the economically disadvantaged, the six ministers are alleged to have approved the disbursement of about Nepali Rs.4.5 million among party cadre...... They were allowed to go only after posting bonds for double the amount each minister had sanctioned...... Badri Prasad Mandal NRs.2.5 million ...... Deuba's Nepali Congress (Democratic) party called the summons politically motivated. ...... It said the fund is disbursed in accordance with cabinet regulations and was a regular proceeding in the previous democratic governments. Dahal, who had been arrested after the imposition of emergency and was released only recently, called the investigation "extra judicial" and aimed at "political character assassination"......... The testimony of the former ministers will be assessed by the six-member commission, with the verdict expected on April 1........"We will fight a 'guilty' verdict in the Supreme Court," Dahal said. "It is nothing but a ploy to harass political opponents." ...... Since Nepal already has a Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority approved by parliament, the formation of a new monitoring body, headed by the king himself, has been regarded with distrust by the opposition parties, which feel it could be used to carry out a political vendetta. ....... Five major parliamentary parties, which have been waging a joint protest against the royal coup, are expressing fears that the royal commission would be used to rein in protesters and settle scores with political leaders, many of whom are still under detention for criticising the king. ...... Dahal said the accused ministers had made recommendations only and not taken the money themselves....... Legal sources said ousted premier Deuba, too, could be hauled up on the same charge.
Nepali anti-graft panel grills 4 ex-ministers Xinhua, China The four former ministers were freed Monday evening after submitting a bail equivalent to the amount they had recommended the cabinet to distribute to their near and dear ones
New watchdog summons five ex-ministers for probe New Kerala, India Since Nepal already has a Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority approved by parliament, opposition parties have regarded with distrust the formation of a new monitoring body, headed by the king himself...... They were the first ones to be summoned out of the nearly 600 complaints the commission reportedly received since its inception. The complainants' identity can be kept confidential and the commission can also reward them........ It has been given the right to confiscate the property of an accused found guilty and levy a fine or jail term of six months to anyone it considers has shown contempt or has been trying to obstruct its investigation. ....... The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority had earlier asked the Deuba government for clarifications regarding reports that it had distributed about 4.5 million rupees to its party cadre from the Prime Minister's Assistance Fund before Dashain, Nepal's largest festival. The fund is meant to help the needy and distressed.
Govt dissolves high-level peace committee Himalayan Times, Nepal One of the main objectives of the HPC was to develop the peace committee as a resource centre which would provide logistical support to the government during the peace process, rehabilitation of displaced people and reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure countrywide........ The HPC was set up with a ten-year-plan in mind. Other members of the HPC were top leaders of coalition — CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Dr Mohsin and president of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party and minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Badri Prasad Mandal.

March 23

Nepal scribes evade censors with blogs Calcutta Telegraph, India www.blog.com.np Hits have rocketed: from fewer than 13,000 in January to 65,000 in February and more than 80,000 in the first three weeks of March......
Nepali reporters take democracy fight to cyberspace Reuters India freenepal.blogspot.com ..... some Internet sites remain blocked, including Maoist sites and news sites www.newslookmag.com and www.nepalipost.com .... "Our government is relatively new to the Internet and they don't have high-tech surveillance capability like in China. I don't think, but I'm not sure, they are even reading us."
Nepal king snubs India, Britain Hindustan Times, India Miffed by criticism over his royal coup ...... The royal rebuff to Britain and India was underlined when the king met the US Ambassador to Nepal, James Francis Moriarty, this month but declined to give an appointment to Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee and British envoy Keith George Bloomfield..... Gyanendra has been able to make time for outgoing Pakistani ambassador Zamir Akram, who he met March ..... also met India's Hindu nationalist leader Ashok Singhal .....
Nepal: The Royal Regression And The Question Of Democratic ... CounterCurrents.org By Baburam Bhattarai 23 March, 2005 Krishna Sen News Agency
Nepal’s tourism hit by wrong reporting Gorkhapatra, Nepal A gap between reality and communication and the negative connotation of the term ‘state of emergency’ in the international community have battered the image of Nepalese tourism..... blamed the political parties, human rights activists and travel advisories issued by different nations for distorting Nepal’s image ..... If the concerned authority had sent the messages including reasons and limitations of the state of emergency, the tourist arrival rate would not have gone down by 43 per cent in April, he added...... “Though the state of emergency has positive impact in tourism sector, we failed to take advantage of the improving situation of peace and order because of the wrong message sent to the world community,” he added. He said that the tourist arrival rate has decreased by 60 per cent in Lukla...... Mahat said the government has to use foreign media to disseminate the correct information.... the domestic passengers have increased by almost twofold
TAAN refutes news report Gorkhapatra
Asia ; India stops oil supply to Nepal: Keralanext, India In a move reminiscent of India’s 1989 economic blockade of Nepal, India stopped at least 71 oil tankers from bringing petroleum products into Nepal from Indian oil depots ..... An additional 55 tankers headed for the Barauni Supply Depot were returned empty after they were not allowed to proceed to the depot .... other Indian state governments bordering Nepal are also likely to hinder the movement of Nepalese oil tankers on one pretext or another
Indian crackdown halts Nepal's petroleum imports Express Newsline
NOC team in Patna to ensure smooth oil supply from Barauni Himalayan Times Nepal Oil Corporation .... has stocks to last just another week .... Each of the 140 oil tankers associated with ECEA is paying IRs 2,400 to the Kathmandu-based Indian embassy every three months for plying on Indian roads
UNHCR urged to aid Bhutanese refugees in Nepal ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland The UNHCR announced last year it would gradually phase out its direct involvement in the camps by the end of 2005.... About 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in eastern Nepal for more than 10 years
'Jailed Nepal leaders denied medicare' Rediff, India former Deputy Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Central Committee member Ramchandra Poudyal, who has been in Tanahu Prison .. suffers from chest pain and a toothache ......Nepal People's Front .. chairman Amik Sherchan and vice-chairman Lilamani Pokhrel ..... gall-stone, kidney and nerve problems ........ Girija Prasad Koirala's family members had also complained that the ailing leader was not allowed to see his personal physician or meet family members
‘Political change not to affect Nepal-Japan ties’ Gorkhapatra, Nepal
Sexually Exploited Women In Conflict Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand "Women have to suffer torture if they are not ready for physical contact with commanders or guerillas"....... "Thousands of women were forced to join the insurgency and exploited sexually"....... "I was beaten, raped, forced to go with them. Three men raped me"....... "Women's bodies have become a battleground over which opposing forces struggle"....... "Presently my husband is no more and I was sexually exploited"...... "I am homeless, where can I get help to take care of my unborn child"? ....... reaffirmed gender paradigms ....... thousands of women and girls of all ages were subjected to widespread and systematic sexual violence ....... Baburam Bhattarai has also stated that 50 per cent cadres at the lower level, 30 per cent soldiers and 10 per cent members of the central committee of the party are women. ....... women had to carry guns and satisfy sexual appetites of the insurgents...... Killing of male members of the family by both parties (the Maoist and the police) is another way of women being victimized ...... "Recent history has seen sexual violence and rape being used deliberately and strategically as weapons of war. If you see in Rwanda, Somalia Peru and Congo, HIV/AIDS has been called a weapon of war. Women who are already pregnant are forced to miscarry through violent attacks. Women are kidnapped and used as sexual slaves to service them and they are purposefully infected with HIV/AIDS. Even the areas of the country where civil rights were suspended and where the security forces found they could act with impunity, and took advantage of the situation to rape. The gender perspective argues that men and women have diverse experiences in conflict and peacetime, due to the heterosexual hierarchical hegemony....... marital rape to pre-natal sex selection in favour of male babies, female infanticide, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation, including trafficking and forced prostitution ....... a climate of impunity persists ...... by both enemy and "friendly" forces, including: Mass rape, military sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced "marriages" and forced pregnancies. Multiple rapes, sexual assault, resurgence of female genital mutilation ..... The program for Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration must emphasize the protection of women's rights as an integral part. We should know that in the context of war, rape and other forms of sexual violence are considered war crimes. Women always express fear that the war would not end and that they would experience future attacks and abuse...... support effective and culturally appropriate psychosocial programs for those who suffered sexual violence and should ensure that women are included in all aspects of planning for peace, demobilization, reintegration and rebuilding and support local organizations working to promote women's full participation and rights ...... For women who survive conflict, widowhood and the loss of family support, for these women, peace brings no peace..... the lack of safe spaces for women to recover and defend themselves ...... Physical consequences which range from contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and the damage of reproductive organ there are also the psychosocial consequences which if not addressed could prove even more damaging. ....... Pre-birth: Sex-selective abortion, Physical, sexual and psychological abuse, prostitution and pornography. Incest; sexual abuse in the workplace; rape; sexual harassment; forced prostitution and pornography; trafficking in women; partner violence; marital rape; partner homicide; forced pregnancy among others...... War has displaced 35 million people worldwide; 70 percent of these refugees and displaced persons are women
Kamala Sarup: Security Of Life Scoop.co.nz (press release) ''My children and I fled to Kathmandu. I don't ever want to go back to our village. We are too scared.'' .... Conflict traumatize children for years..... Survival has become a daily challenge as people flee violence risking their lives and losing their livelihoods in the process...... "The humanized security approach to human security recognizes that states can be both sources of violence, and central to the ability to control violence".Security analyst Peter, from International University in New Jersey says. "Security is best achieved through development, not through the use of force". ...... Increasing crime is linked to breakdown in social cohesion, difficulties in finding employment, hunger, increased migration, drugs and drug trafficking ....... One fact that is key to the spread of violence is the availability of small arms and light weapons ....... Development strategies which emphasize the foundations of good governance therefore offer the best chance for sustainable human development under peaceful conditions ...... We should emphasize the importance of peace and democracy as a key concept. ....... all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated....... Warring parties require assistance not only in negotiating peace agreements but also in sustaining and consolidating the peace. There are three main components of peace building: strengthening political institutions, reforming internal and external security arrangements, and revitalizing the economy and the nation's social fabric ....... Threats to individual security come not only in the form of direct violence killing, war, attack, assault, abuse, rape but also in the form of structural violence denial of basic human needs, exploitation, marginalisation, suppression, and structural violations of human rights....... conflict, crime and repression - should be given equal attention in the human security agenda ...... economic security, financial security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, gender security, community security and political security ...... The challenge is to go beyond, to see: how do we deal with the root the conflict?
Amid war, Nepal's Maoists build road to win hearts Reuters AlertNet, UK A steady stream of women and girls plod up from the riverbed, each balancing a heavy stone on her head. Above them, teams of workmen chip away at a rockface with pick-axes....... They are building what Nepal's Maoist rebels are calling "Martyrs' Road," a 90 km (55 mile) dirt road winding through the Himalayan foothills deep in rebel territory...... A "historic" case of revolutionary development, undertaken by a rebel movement even as they fight a bitter civil war? Or a sinister example of forced labour on a massive scale? ..... None of the people working on this road are paid or even fed. Some are Maoist cadres who have "volunteered" their labour. Many are locals who are simply expected to contribute to the cause....... "The government calls us terrorists but we want to prove we are capable of mobilising hundreds of thousands of people in a cause that benefits them," said a leading regional official, using his party name Comrade Surya, or Sun...... Comrade Surya said the rebels were making history by being the first to undertake large-scale development while still fighting a war. This he credited to rebel leader Prachanda ..... "We are proud we have created a new thinking while implementing Marxism-Leninism-Maoism in Nepal," he said, his two bodyguards close by, red cloth stuffed in their rifle barrels to keep out the dust...... "This new ideology that we have developed we call 'Prachanda Path'." ..... As he spoke, a blast rang out through the valley, explosives doing what pick-axes could not. ....... This is the Maoist heartland of Nepal, the desperately poor Himalayan foothills of the mid-west, a region the army scarcely dares to penetrate. There are hardly any roads here, just trails snaking through pine and rhododendrum forests. ...... In just nine years the rebels have gone from a small band of unarmed militants to a force that runs much of Nepal's countryside....... An army helicopter buzzes far overhead, scanning this "enemy" road, a calculated insult to the fading power of Nepal's state. Shortly after construction began last November, there was a lone raid. Since then the army has left the Maoist labour teams alone....... The rebel authorities in Rolpa district have asked every family to contribute one person's labour for 10 days to help build the road. So far, 60,000 people have taken part .....At the end of a hard day's work, dozens sit by the roadside to watch a three-hour video about the "People's War". Before they finally return to their villages, they will also be treated to a cultural programme and political discussions. ...... It could take three years to reach the road's final destination at Thawang, a small village the rebels consider their symbolic capital..... Many, though, are scared the army could one day mount a major attack, and some have fled. .... Others are unhappy to be treated as forced labour...... "People are scared," said the keeper of a barely stocked local shop. "People are forced to work. They cannot say no. They cannot oppose the Maoists." There is a suffocating atmosphere in the small villages of Triveni and Nuwagaon. Fear fills the air over the uncompromising rebels whose rule is law. As the day drew on, a child shouted noisily. "Keep quiet," his mother scolded. "Otherwise the Maoists will come and take you away."
Fight `head-on with king' Bangkok Post Import of petroleum products by Nepal has come to a halt after oil tankers from here were stopped in Bihar ..... Authorities in the Indian state have taken drivers of 16 tankers belonging to Nepal Oil Corp. (NOC), Nepal's state-owned distributor of fuel, to court over non-payment of road tax..... The Bihar police have filed a case against them in the Bhagalpur district court ..... The depot currently has supplies for only two days ....... Nepalese authorities are blaming the Bihar government for the snag. According to them, the tankers carry permits issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu exempting them from taxes. .....However, the embassy said the permits only authorised the vehicles to ply in India for three months. They did not exempt them from prevailing state tolls such as road taxes.

March 21

Nepal's Maoists take heart from king's power grab Reuters India, India This is the Maoist heartland of mid-western Nepal, where the narrow mountain trails buzz with rebel activity...... In public at least, the Maoists have taken it all in their stride..... "After the king's move it has become easier... Before, the political parties were creating all sorts of confusion. But now they are not there. Our fight is now head-on with the king and we think we can win it." ... Throughout Maoist-controlled areas, banners proclaim the start of a strategic offensive, the final phase of the "People's War"......Nepal's Maoists also hope to raise an insurrection from within the cities themselves....... Militarily, the rebels are almost impossible to dislodge from their remote rural strongholds. But they lack the firepower to challenge Nepal's army directly or take a district capital for more than a few hours....... Neither the king nor the Maoists seem ready for talks or for compromise at the moment ...... Both seem to think the military tide is running in their favour, and are playing for a stronger hand .... The first is whether the army can foil the rebels' call for a countrywide blockade for 11 days from April 2...... The second is whether the Maoists can win a significant military victory before rains come in June
Nepal may sign arms pact with Beijing Times of India, India ....the RNA has stocks of ammunition to last only a few months and badly needs to replenish supplies ... most of the weapons it uses is Indian, including the Insas rifles carried by its infantry
Nepal wants China's help for hydropower New Kerala "China is not one of Nepal's biggest donors like Germany or Japan but it has consistently regarded Nepal as a sovereign independent country," Bista said ..... the two countries had not yet identified the districts or the rivers where joint venture projects could be set up .......India's National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC), which has an understanding with Nepal to jointly start a 300 MW project on the Karnali, put off a visit to Kathmandu last month in the wake of the royal coup.......India also has indirect involvement in the 750 MW West Seti Hydroelectric Project being developed by Australian SMEC West Seti Hydroelectric Corp Ltd. The different state electricity boards of India are negotiating with the developer to buy power...... USAID has been instrumental in leveraging several hundred million dollars of private and other donor investments in hydropower development like the 60 MW, $138 million Khimti Khola Project and the 144 MW, $250 million Kaligandaki A Project......Of the $ 98 million required for the 36 MW Bhote Koshi Project, a majority of the equity investment is being provided by Americans, representing the single largest American investment in Nepal.
Nepal's note to missions over meetings with political leaders Press Trust of India .....upset over foreign diplomats meetings pro-democracy leaders, the Royal government in Nepal has sent a note to foreign missions, including India, asking them to abide by the provisions of the Vienna convention..... American Ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty tried to meet former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba while he was under house arrest...... Tulasi Giri recently expressed displeasure over the activities of the foreign diplomats, saying even he was not invited by some diplomatic chiefs, who host dinner parties for the leaders of political parties ......"Nepalese people would not die if foreign donors stopped assistance", said Vice Chairman of the Cabinet Kirtinidhi Bista said
Nepal could soon end state of emergency Kansas City Star "We are trying to lift the state of emergency as soon as we can," said Kirtinidhi Bista ...... refused to say when .....131 anti-monarch protesters were arrested ..... Several journalists have been arrested for articles critical of the monarch in the past two months.
Nepal opposition activists 'held' BBC News, UK two former ministers were amongst those detained
Nepal army claims success in operation against rebels Hi Pakistan The troops found and destroyed at least two bomb-making factories and several of the Maoist rebels’ bases .....hundreds of troops combed mountainous remote in Nepal’s remote western region, believed to be a rebel stronghold.
Parliamentarians for restoration of democracy in Nepal Deepika Members in Lok Sabha, cutting across party line, today urged the Government to exert its influence for restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal
Chinese FM to visit Nepal from March 31 Gorkhapatra, Nepal March 31st to April 1st .....China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1993-95, and China’s Ambassador to the United States from 1998-2001
Pandey in Doha Gorkhapatra

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Thursday, March 24, 2005

To: Prachanda, Baburam, Mahara, Badal And The Rest Of The Maoist Leadership

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

News Clips March 21,23,25