The eight student unions on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, through his secretary, at his residence, demanding withdrawal of the decision to hike the price of petroleum products.
The students however could not meet PM Koirala because of his busy schedule.
A delegation with representation of all eight student unions submitted the memorandum at Baluwatar at around 4 pm.
The students have expressed deep concern over the recent hike in price of petroleum products and demanded its immediate withdrawal, claiming that the decision was taken without considering any other option to decrease the loss incurred by the Nepal Oil Corporation.
The students have also demanded that the government curb all irregularities in the NOC and improve the management of the corporation.
"Both long and short-term plans should be devised to generate alternative energy so as to lessen the dependence on fossil fuel," the memorandum states.
General secretary of All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary had read out the memorandum at the PM's residence.
The delegation chanted slogans against the government's decision to raise the price outside the PM's residence.
The memorandum said that the students are expecting a positive response from the PM; otherwise, they would have to resort to struggle and protests against the "unfair decision of the government."
The eight students unions are scheduled to submit a protest letter to the head of NOC and organise a sit-in protest for an hour at the NOC premises.
LEADERS SPLIT OVER HIKE
KATHMANDU: Speakers at an interaction were split on Saturday over the recent rise in price of petroleum products. Addressing an interaction organised by the Media Group Nepal, Eccha Bikram Thapa, spokesperson of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said the price rise in petroleum had to occur because the Corporation could not keep on buying petroleum products at higher prices and selling them at lower prices.
He said that the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was not providing petroleum because the NOC did not have enough money for the purchase. The rise in the price in international crude oil was another factor leading to rise of fuel price here.
NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the subsidy on petroleum products was only benefiting the well off and it was illogical for the government to continue it.
The government, instead, should find out the vulnerable groups and provide subsidies to them on petroleum products like kerosene and syndication system in the transportation sector should be ended at the earliest to check irrational price hike.
Bishwo Aryal of Nepal Petroleum Dealer's Association said the subsidy of Rs 100 in cooking gas must be discontinud because only five per cent of the total population use LPG.
He also asked why there was a profit margin in kerosene, which is used mostly by the poor.
Senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung said his party has always opposed raising the price of petroleum products. He said that petrol should be imported from China also because this would cost less and also make the market more competitive.
He also accused that there was a conspiracy in Nepal to destroy public enterprises and privatise them.
He further said the King's property could be nationalised to pay for the subsidy in the short term. Surendra Bir Malakar, the president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce said the NOC did not discuss with them about the price hike.
He said Nepal should adopt a two-pronged price system for petroleum -- higher prices for the business sector and lower for the private sector.
Dol Nath Khanal of Nepal Transport Association said the government should either take back the price hike decision or transport costs would rise and also there would be higer percentage of inflation.
Bhim Bahadur Tamang of All Nepal Transport Worker's Union said that the price hike would hurt workers.
BLAME GAME ON
KATHMANDU: Economists, experts and political leaders blamed each other and urged Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and government to adopt alternative ways instead of hiking petro prices, speaking at the Reporters' Club here on Saturday.
Dinanath Sharma, a senior Maoists leader, blamed government for lobbying for the petro price hike because, according to him, some of the ministers themselves are involved in petroleum products' business. "The ministers' themselves own petrol pumps, that's why they are lobbying for price hike," he said adding that the rampant corruption in NOC and adulteration must be checked immediately to provide people cheap and smooth supply of petroleum products.
"Nepali institutions have a record of being bankrupt one after another, whereas the staff and management people of the same company get richer and richer day by day," Sharma said citing the example of Sajha Yatayat.
"Unlike price hike in other products, petro price hike pushes market prices up," Sharma said adding that Rs 200 hike in a cylinder of a cooking gas — that costs only Rs 450 to Rs 500 in India — hits the society hard.
Prof Dr Bishwambher Pyakurel, a prominent economist, agreed with Sharma that the price hike in petroleum products hits all other goods. "About 66 per cent of the hard-earned foreign currency by the Nepalis and sent home as remittance is spent in buying Indian Currency (IC), according to till last month's figure," Prof Pyakurel said adding that current account deficit is increasing, which is not a good sign for national economy. "After Nepal adopted free market economy role of private sectors has increased and role of government has decreased, which is obvious but consumers did not get any benefit," he said, "Which is against the free market economy."
Jyoti Baniya, president of Consumers' Forum, on the occasion, blamed the petroleum dealers for cartelling. "Consumers are in the receiving end as there is no Consumers' Right in Nepal. All the players; government, dealers and NOC are cheating consumers," he said adding that government gets tax, dealers get commission and NOC gets administrative cost making the hole in consumers pocket.
However, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, former minister said that NOC must be practical and let the market decide prices. "Government cannot give subsidy to 'the comparatively' rich people," he said adding that tax is used for the development activities.
Dr Pusparaj Raj Karnikar, member of National Planning Commission, stressed on the need of administrative reform in NOC and effective inspection of adulteration and administrative reforms both.
Similarly, Shiva Prasad Ghimire, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association, clarified the way retail prices are calculated and Digamber Jha, managing director of NOC said that NOC is still incurring losses after the price hike.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Call for non-violent Dashain
The Society Against Animal Cruelty (SAAC) has urged all concerned to celebrate this Dashain without killing or sacrificing animals in the name of gods and goddesses. Issuing a press release, it has asked every individual to celebrate the festival peacefully. It has also asked the government to end the practice of mass sacrifice of animals in the temples and at homes for gods and goddesses.
"No religion has approved killing of animals, but in the name of religion people tend to sacrifice animals. This is hypocritical," the SAAC said, adding: Animals cannot speak for themselves. It is the responsibility of human beings to protect them from cruelty.
It has called all concerned individual to celebrate the festival with love, compassion and spread the message of non-violence.
Govt failed to implement agreements: Martin
Ian Martin, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General today said the current crisis in Nepal has resulted due to the failure to implement agreements on certain key issues.
Addressing a press conference at his office today, he stressed that the UNMIN had to take a decision on the immediate future of its electoral personnel, while standing ready to provide whatever support is requested when the constituent assembly polls are rescheduled.
According to him, the lack of progress within the government to discuss the future of Maoist combatants, in ensuring adequate conditions in the cantonments and commencing serious parleys on security sector reform have all contributed to the Maoist concern that the government is not fulfilling its commitments.
"This is a moment when the political parties, civil society and all Nepalis should not just consider a new election date, but should focus on sustaining and deepening the peace process as a whole and develop a road-map of measures that are necessary to create the conditions for credible polls," he said.
He, however, refused to provide clear opinion on the electoral system and the declaration of a republic. "These are for the Nepalis to decide, just as this entire peace process has been a Nepali process," he said, adding that this would not be easy, and it is not for the UN to take a position on the two issues that would be debated in the Interim Parliament tomorrow.
He pointed out that Nepal's traditionally marginalised groups remain concerned that commitments made to them are not being fulfilled.
Reiterating that the UN would continue to assist the efforts to establish durable peace in Nepal, he said the latest report of the secretary-general would be made public next week and the week after that the security council will have a fuller discussion, when Martin himself would be in New York to brief them.
Martin added that the verification of Maoist army divisions in Rolpa would begin shortly. The UNMIN has completed verification at four of the seven Maoist army divisions.
Addressing a press conference at his office today, he stressed that the UNMIN had to take a decision on the immediate future of its electoral personnel, while standing ready to provide whatever support is requested when the constituent assembly polls are rescheduled.
According to him, the lack of progress within the government to discuss the future of Maoist combatants, in ensuring adequate conditions in the cantonments and commencing serious parleys on security sector reform have all contributed to the Maoist concern that the government is not fulfilling its commitments.
"This is a moment when the political parties, civil society and all Nepalis should not just consider a new election date, but should focus on sustaining and deepening the peace process as a whole and develop a road-map of measures that are necessary to create the conditions for credible polls," he said.
He, however, refused to provide clear opinion on the electoral system and the declaration of a republic. "These are for the Nepalis to decide, just as this entire peace process has been a Nepali process," he said, adding that this would not be easy, and it is not for the UN to take a position on the two issues that would be debated in the Interim Parliament tomorrow.
He pointed out that Nepal's traditionally marginalised groups remain concerned that commitments made to them are not being fulfilled.
Reiterating that the UN would continue to assist the efforts to establish durable peace in Nepal, he said the latest report of the secretary-general would be made public next week and the week after that the security council will have a fuller discussion, when Martin himself would be in New York to brief them.
Martin added that the verification of Maoist army divisions in Rolpa would begin shortly. The UNMIN has completed verification at four of the seven Maoist army divisions.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
NRN Marathon set to take off in big way
Springwood-NRN Kathmandu International Marathon Tournament is in its final phase of preparations. According to the organisers Nepal Marathon Pvt Ltd, the October 6 mega event is all set to set off.
The race measuring 42.195km will start from Tripureshwor and passes through the two other cities — Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — of Kathmandu Valley before culminating at the Dasharath Stadium.
Malaysia's marathon expert Morek Grace completed the measurement of the route on September 2. The organisers, who aims to field 10,000 athletes, have readied 500 volunteers to manage the event.
Race director and athletics expert Diwakar Lal Amatya says the volunteers will stand in every two and half kilometres. "We will mobilise volunteers in every 2.5km distance, called Water Point, and will accompanied by a separate medical team. We will also have volunteers for time-keeping along with monitoring chest-number for eight different events," amatya added.
One of the significant aspects of the marathon is the use of cameras to closely monitor the participants in order to make sure nobody escapes the fixed distance. The marathon starts at 6am followed by 5km, 10km and Half Marathon. Business marathon is another feature of the event. The organisers have picked up the volunteers from different walks of life. Volunteers include NSC coaches, athletics officials, professors, Nepali Army officials and police representatives among others.
The race measuring 42.195km will start from Tripureshwor and passes through the two other cities — Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — of Kathmandu Valley before culminating at the Dasharath Stadium.
Malaysia's marathon expert Morek Grace completed the measurement of the route on September 2. The organisers, who aims to field 10,000 athletes, have readied 500 volunteers to manage the event.
Race director and athletics expert Diwakar Lal Amatya says the volunteers will stand in every two and half kilometres. "We will mobilise volunteers in every 2.5km distance, called Water Point, and will accompanied by a separate medical team. We will also have volunteers for time-keeping along with monitoring chest-number for eight different events," amatya added.
One of the significant aspects of the marathon is the use of cameras to closely monitor the participants in order to make sure nobody escapes the fixed distance. The marathon starts at 6am followed by 5km, 10km and Half Marathon. Business marathon is another feature of the event. The organisers have picked up the volunteers from different walks of life. Volunteers include NSC coaches, athletics officials, professors, Nepali Army officials and police representatives among others.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Bandh Hits Life in Terai Districts
Normal life various Terai districts remained crippled today due to separate bandh called by Maoists and the dissident faction of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum led by Bhagya Nath Gupta.
Life in five districts in the Mithila region was crippled today due to a bandh called by the CPN-Maoist's Mithila sub-committee against the killing of a Maoist district committee member Girendra Yadav by a gang in Mahottari a few days ago.
Transport services, educational activities and markets remained closed in Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari and Sarlahi. Maoists had called a two-day bandh beginning from today.
Meanwhile, life in other Terai districts was crippled due to a Terai bandh called by the MJF led by Gupta. The MJF faction called the bandh to protest the Kapilvastu killings and demanding proportional system for CA polls.
Meanwhile, life in Sunsari was also affected by a bandh called by locals to protest the beating up of a str eet vendor by an Armed Police Force personnel on Wednesday.
At least 13 persons were injured on Thursday after locals clashed with police over the same issue.
Life in five districts in the Mithila region was crippled today due to a bandh called by the CPN-Maoist's Mithila sub-committee against the killing of a Maoist district committee member Girendra Yadav by a gang in Mahottari a few days ago.
Transport services, educational activities and markets remained closed in Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari and Sarlahi. Maoists had called a two-day bandh beginning from today.
Meanwhile, life in other Terai districts was crippled due to a Terai bandh called by the MJF led by Gupta. The MJF faction called the bandh to protest the Kapilvastu killings and demanding proportional system for CA polls.
Meanwhile, life in Sunsari was also affected by a bandh called by locals to protest the beating up of a str eet vendor by an Armed Police Force personnel on Wednesday.
At least 13 persons were injured on Thursday after locals clashed with police over the same issue.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Nepal Maoists quit Govt in blow to peace deal
Nepal's fragile polity plunged into yet another major crisis on Tuesday as four Maoists ministers resigned from the interim Girija Prasad Koirala government. The four Maoist ministers—Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Hisila Yami and Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma—tendered their resignations as Koirala failed to meet their 22-point demands.
The major Maoists demands included immediately declaring Nepal a "republic" and a proportional representation-based election system. After waging 'Janayuddha (Peoples' War)' for 11 years, the Maoists had joined the government on April 1.
The Maoist ministers submitted their resignation to Koirala as soon as the meeting of top leaders of four major ruling allies ended in deadlock. Koirala's "closed-door meeting" with Maoist Chairman Prachanda on Tuesday morning also failed to stop the ministers from resigning.
Leaders of Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Nepali Congress (Democratic) failed to convince the former rebels not to quit the government.
The Maoist ministers have cited that the failure to lead the government according to the eight-party common minimum programme (CMP) and lack of a credible environment for Constituent Assembly polls on November 22 as the reason for quitting the government.
Interestingly, all the Maoist ministers on Tuesday released the official vehicles provided to them by the government and headed towards the open-air theatre to address the a public meeting in private vehicles.
The Maoist leaders formally announced their decision to launch a country-wide agitation to declare Nepal as a republic. More than one lakh Maoist supporters assembled at Tudikhel ground in downtown Kathmandu and vowed to rewrite Nepal's political hope.
Normal life in downtown Kathmandu came to a grinding halt as Maoist supporters marched through the streets shouting slogan against monarchy and demanding a republican government. Senior political leaders are desperately trying to
stop the Maoists from wriggling out of the interim government.
Senior Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Minendra Rizal said efforts were still on to retain them in the government. "The Prime Minister hasn't accepted the resignations letters as yet," he said.
However, Koirala was not available for comments as he was busy attending a series of meetings with senior leaders of his ruling coalition to avert any major political crisis in Nepal.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Two killed in Nepal riots, curfew imposed
A policeman was killed and hundreds of houses and vehicles were torched on Sunday in riots sparked by the murder of a Madhesi leader in western Nepal prompting authorities to impose an indefinite curfew in the area.
An armed Police Force man was killed during the violent clash that broke out after unidentified gunmen killed Mohit Khan in Kapilvastu district on Sunday morning, according to officials.
Khan was chief of the district's vigilante group, set up to counter the Maoists during the armed conflict.
Local residents and supporters of Khan staged protests, which soon turned violent, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in parts of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts.
Protesters lobbed a bomb at an Armed Police Force team at Chanuata, killing Constable Hasan Puri.
The irate locals set ablaze a mosque at Butawal Municipality and also set on fire a Maoist contact office at Taulihawa alleging that those who killed Khan were the Maoist cadres.
The mob also vandalised a dozen vehicles including two having Indian number plates and looted a dozen shops and restaurants in the area. Police said at least 300 houses in the Chandrauta area have been set ablaze.
Curfew was imposed in the afternoon for indefinite period to control the situation.
An armed Police Force man was killed during the violent clash that broke out after unidentified gunmen killed Mohit Khan in Kapilvastu district on Sunday morning, according to officials.
Khan was chief of the district's vigilante group, set up to counter the Maoists during the armed conflict.
Local residents and supporters of Khan staged protests, which soon turned violent, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in parts of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts.
Protesters lobbed a bomb at an Armed Police Force team at Chanuata, killing Constable Hasan Puri.
The irate locals set ablaze a mosque at Butawal Municipality and also set on fire a Maoist contact office at Taulihawa alleging that those who killed Khan were the Maoist cadres.
The mob also vandalised a dozen vehicles including two having Indian number plates and looted a dozen shops and restaurants in the area. Police said at least 300 houses in the Chandrauta area have been set ablaze.
Curfew was imposed in the afternoon for indefinite period to control the situation.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
7 dead, over 25 missing as boat capsizes in Rapti River
At least seven persons, including a two-and-a-half year old baby, drowned and over 25 others went missing when an overcrowded boat capsized in the swollen Rapti River in midwestern Banke district Wednesday afternoon.
The boat carrying some 40 passengers sank near Gobarpur area in Baijapur VDC, some 55 kilometers north-east of Nepalgunj, reports quoting the police said. The boat was heading for Kachanapur from Baijapur.
Rescuers recovered bodies of four women, two girls and a youth from the river while search for other missing people is still going on. Twelve persons saved themselves by swimming ashore while local rescued two girls.
Among the dead, two are identified as 17-year-old girl Hira Thapa and the daughter of Suresh Basnet of Baijapur. Mother of the deceased girl is also missing Two injured have been admitted to Bheri Zonal Hospital for treatment.
Reports quoted survivors as saying boat overloading and flooding in the river resulted in the accident. The boat had a maximum capacity of a dozen persons.
Meanwhile, police said separate teams of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have been mobilized for carrying out search & rescue operations in the area
Monday, September 03, 2007
तराईका समूहहरुमा फूट
तराईमा सकृय मधेशी जनअधिकार फोरम राजनीतिक दलमा परिणत भएको ६ महिना नबित्दै टुक्रिएको छ।
मधेश आन्दोलनबाट चर्चामा आएको फोरम र सरकारबीच भएको २२ बुंदे सहमतिको विरोध गर्दै केही नेताहरूले संयोजक उपेन्द्र यादवलाई साधारण सदस्यबाट निलम्वन गरेको घोषणा गरेका छन्।
सात सदस्यीय सचिवालय समितिका चार जनाले बहुमतबाट संयोजक यादवलाई निलम्बन गरेको जनाएका छन्।
तर यादव पक्षधरहरुले हाल सचिवालय गठन नै नभएको जनाउंदै केन्द्रीय समितिको निर्णयलेमात्र सदस्यताबाट निलम्बन गर्न सकिने तर्क अगाडि सारेका छन्।
अर्को तर्फ सशस्त्र विद्रोहमा उत्रेको जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्ति मोर्चामा निष्काशन र नयाँ समूह खोल्ने क्रम जारी छ।
आशा र निराशा
हाम्रा जनकपुरस्थित संवाददाता भन्छन्, हालै सरकार र फोरमबीच सहमति भएपछि तराईमा समेत संविधानसभाको चुनावले गति लिने अपेक्षा गरिएको थियो।
तर उनी भन्छन्, केही सत्तारुढ दल र तराईका सशस्त्र समूहहरुले सहमतिको कडा विरोध गर्न थालेपछि फोरम र सरकारबीचको सहमति चुनावका लागि खासै प्रभावकारी हुन नसक्ने देखिएको छ।
फोरमको एउटा समूहले संविधानसभाको चुनावमा सकृय रुपले भाग लिने बताएपनि अर्को असन्तुष्ट पक्षले चुनावमा भाग नलिने संकेत दिदै संघर्षका कार्यक्रमहरु सार्वजनिक गरेकोछ।
दुवै पक्षले आफूलाइ आधिकारिक भएको दावी गरिरहेका छन्।
सरकार र फोरमबीचको सहमतिलाई ऐतिहासिक भनिए पनि अब त्यसको कार्यान्वयन हुने नहुनेमा आशंका उब्जिएको छ।
संयोजक यादवलाइ निलम्वन गरेको बताउंदै असन्तुष्ट पक्षका एकजना सचिवालय सदस्य जीतेन्द्र सोनलले यस अघि पनि सचिवालयको निर्णयबाट विद्यार्थी फोरमका केन्द्रीय अध्यक्ष केशव झालाई हटाइएको बताए।
तर यादव पक्षका केन्द्रीय सदस्य बी पी यादवले केही मानिसले भन्दैमा कोही निलम्वन नहुने दावी गरे।
अर्को फूट
अर्को तर्फ छुट्टै तराई राज्यको माग गर्दै सशस्त्र विद्रोहमा उत्रिएको जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्ति मोर्चाबाट तेस्रो समूह बाहिरिएको छ।
जयकृष्ण गोइत संयोजक रहेको मोर्चाबाट अलग्गिएर ज्वाला सिंह, विष्फोट सिंह र पछिल्लो पटक पवनको नेतृत्वमा संगठन खोलिएकोछ।
पवनले अधिवेशनबाट गोइत र एक जना केन्द्रीय सदस्य प्रकाशलाई निष्कासन गरेको दावी गरेका छन्।
तर मोर्चाका केन्द्रीय सदस्य प्रकाशले संगठनको नीति विपरित चन्दा, अपहरण लगायतका कार्यहरू गरेकाले निष्काशनमा परेकाहरूले जनतामा भ्रम सृजना गर्न खोजेको आरोप लगाए।
तराईका समूहहरुमा फूट
तराईमा सकृय मधेशी जनअधिकार फोरम राजनीतिक दलमा परिणत भएको ६ महिना नबित्दै टुक्रिएको छ।
मधेश आन्दोलनबाट चर्चामा आएको फोरम र सरकारबीच भएको २२ बुंदे सहमतिको विरोध गर्दै केही नेताहरूले संयोजक उपेन्द्र यादवलाई साधारण सदस्यबाट निलम्वन गरेको घोषणा गरेका छन्।
सात सदस्यीय सचिवालय समितिका चार जनाले बहुमतबाट संयोजक यादवलाई निलम्बन गरेको जनाएका छन्।
तर यादव पक्षधरहरुले हाल सचिवालय गठन नै नभएको जनाउंदै केन्द्रीय समितिको निर्णयलेमात्र सदस्यताबाट निलम्बन गर्न सकिने तर्क अगाडि सारेका छन्।
अर्को तर्फ सशस्त्र विद्रोहमा उत्रेको जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्ति मोर्चामा निष्काशन र नयाँ समूह खोल्ने क्रम जारी छ।
आशा र निराशा
हाम्रा जनकपुरस्थित संवाददाता भन्छन्, हालै सरकार र फोरमबीच सहमति भएपछि तराईमा समेत संविधानसभाको चुनावले गति लिने अपेक्षा गरिएको थियो।
तर उनी भन्छन्, केही सत्तारुढ दल र तराईका सशस्त्र समूहहरुले सहमतिको कडा विरोध गर्न थालेपछि फोरम र सरकारबीचको सहमति चुनावका लागि खासै प्रभावकारी हुन नसक्ने देखिएको छ।
फोरमको एउटा समूहले संविधानसभाको चुनावमा सकृय रुपले भाग लिने बताएपनि अर्को असन्तुष्ट पक्षले चुनावमा भाग नलिने संकेत दिदै संघर्षका कार्यक्रमहरु सार्वजनिक गरेकोछ।
दुवै पक्षले आफूलाइ आधिकारिक भएको दावी गरिरहेका छन्।
सरकार र फोरमबीचको सहमतिलाई ऐतिहासिक भनिए पनि अब त्यसको कार्यान्वयन हुने नहुनेमा आशंका उब्जिएको छ।
संयोजक यादवलाइ निलम्वन गरेको बताउंदै असन्तुष्ट पक्षका एकजना सचिवालय सदस्य जीतेन्द्र सोनलले यस अघि पनि सचिवालयको निर्णयबाट विद्यार्थी फोरमका केन्द्रीय अध्यक्ष केशव झालाई हटाइएको बताए।
तर यादव पक्षका केन्द्रीय सदस्य बी पी यादवले केही मानिसले भन्दैमा कोही निलम्वन नहुने दावी गरे।
अर्को फूट
अर्को तर्फ छुट्टै तराई राज्यको माग गर्दै सशस्त्र विद्रोहमा उत्रिएको जनतान्त्रिक तराई मुक्ति मोर्चाबाट तेस्रो समूह बाहिरिएको छ।
जयकृष्ण गोइत संयोजक रहेको मोर्चाबाट अलग्गिएर ज्वाला सिंह, विष्फोट सिंह र पछिल्लो पटक पवनको नेतृत्वमा संगठन खोलिएकोछ।
पवनले अधिवेशनबाट गोइत र एक जना केन्द्रीय सदस्य प्रकाशलाई निष्कासन गरेको दावी गरेका छन्।
तर मोर्चाका केन्द्रीय सदस्य प्रकाशले संगठनको नीति विपरित चन्दा, अपहरण लगायतका कार्यहरू गरेकाले निष्काशनमा परेकाहरूले जनतामा भ्रम सृजना गर्न खोजेको आरोप लगाए।
'काठमाण्डू विष्फोट बर्बर एवम् अमानवीय'
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सरकारले काठमाण्डूमा आइतवार गराइएका बम विष्फोटहरुलाई आतंककारी र अमानवीय भन्दै संविधानसभा चुनावकालागि विशेष सुरक्षा अभियान शुरु गरेको बताएको छ। राजधानीका सार्वजनिक स्थल तथा परिवहनमा श्रृङखलावद्ध बम बिष्फोटन भएको एक दिन पछि बसेको मन्त्रीपरिषदको आपत्कालीन बैठकले सुरक्षा स्थितिको समीक्षा पनि गरेको थियो। सरकारले घाइतेहरुको उपचार खर्च ब्यहोर्ने जानकारी दिएको छ। मन्त्रिपरिषदले त्यस्ता कार्यलाई संविधानसभाको निर्वाचन बिथोल्ने नियोजित षडयन्त्रका रुपमा लिएको जनाएको छ। आइतवार त्रिपुरेश्वर, सुन्धारा र बालाजुमा लगभग एकै समयमा भएका बिष्फोटनमा परी विष्फोटनमा परी दुईजनाको ज्यान जानुकासाथै दुई दर्जन घाइते भएका थिए। प्रहरीले अनुसन्धानका क्रममा केही ब्यक्तिहरुलाई पक्राउ गरी सोधपुछ गर्दैरहेको जनाएको छ। बैठकपछि आठदलीय सरकारका प्रवक्ता तथा सूचना एवम् सन्चार मन्त्री कृष्णबहादुर महराले भने, "सरकारले अहिले सु्रक्षा स्थितिलाई कडा तुल्याउँदै अनुसन्धान शुरु गरेको छ र सबै नेपालीलाई संयमित हुन आग्रह गरेको छ। " 'सरकार अविचलित' महराले सरकार ती हमलाहरुबाट विचलित नभएको बताउदै सबै नेपालीहरुलाई, उनकै शब्दमा, संविधानसभा बिथोल्ने र आतंक फैल्याउने खालका षडयन्त्र र क्रियाकलापहरुलाई विफल तुल्याउन आग्रह गरे। उनले भने, "सरकार एकदम गम्भीर भएको छ र दलहरु मिलेर, सबै एकजुट भएर चुनौतीहरुको सामना गर्नुपर्छ।" सोमवार सांझ सम्म पनि एक दर्जन घाइतेहरु उपचार गराइरहेका थिए। एकजना विद्यार्थी गुमाएको र अन्य केही विद्यार्थी घाइते भएको त्रिपुरेश्वरस्थित विश्व निकेतन स्कुल शोकाकुल बन्न पुगेको छ। यसअघि खासै नाम नसुनिएका तीनवटा समूहहरु अगाडि आईसकेका छन्। बीबीसीसंग कुरा गर्दै गृह मन्त्रालयका प्रवक्ता वामनप्रसाद न्यौपानेले सरकारले त्यसबारे अनुसन्धान गरीरहेको बताए। देश संविधानसभाको चुनाव गराउन अग्रसर भैरहंदा गराईएका हमलाहरुको चौतर्फी निन्दा र भर्त्सना गरिएको छ। उता संविधान सभाको चुनावका लागि आवश्यक सुरक्षा प्रबन्ध मिलाउने विषयमा क्षेत्रीय स्तरमा छलफल गर्न गृहमन्त्री कृष्णप्रसाद सिटौला बिराटनगर पुगेका छन्। बिराटनगरस्थित बीबीसीका एकजना संवाददाता भन्छन्, "त्यहां उनले सबैलाई चुनाव शान्तिपूर्ण र तोकिएकै समयमा हुने कुरामा आश्वस्त तुल्याउने कोशिश गरेका थिए।" | |||||
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Kathmandu bomb leaves 38 injured
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The explosion struck a building of the government-owned Employees' Provident Fund that was under construction. No one has admitted the attack but police say it follows the pattern of raids by Maoist rebels. The Maoists have been waging an eight-year insurgency to replace the constitutional monarchy. More than 9,000 people have died.
Rickshaw park The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says the blast happened in a congested central area not far from the army headquarters.
At the bomb site, dust filled the air and shards of glass filled the roadway outside the building. Many plate glass windows had been shattered or fallen away completely. A nearby stallholder said it had sounded as if the whole building was collapsing. Police told the BBC three young men had overpowered a security guard and run up the entrance staircase, leaving the explosive device by lifts. The men shouted to workers to leave the building, but moments later the bomb exploded. The building adjoins a rickshaw park and market and many of the injured were passengers and drivers of rickshaws. Most of those hurt were swiftly discharged from hospital although a few have been detained.
Our correspondent says the blast was one of the capital's biggest and the first attack there since a nine-day truce expired 12 days ago. There was a second bomb explosion on Tuesday at a government building in the town of Bhaktapur, just east of Kathmandu, according to the police. Two people were reported to have been wounded in the incident, which the authorities are also blaming on the Maoists. | ||
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Landmines Being Defused Nationwide: Poudel
The government has started the work of identifying, mapping, fencing and marking landmines in different parts of the country, planted during the decade-long insurgency, said Ram Chandra Poudel, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, on Wednesday.
The government had formed a directional and technical committee under the coordination of Poudel on June 21 to start mine action works. Poudel, speaking at a National Conference on Landmines organised by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL), said the committee has started identifying, defusing and excavating the landmines.
He also urged the Nepali army, Maoists, experts and related organisations to help in the committee's work to minimise the probable death and destruction due to the landmines in the future.
Purna Shova Chirakar, coordinator of the NCBL, said over 26,000 people have been handicapped due to the landmines and almost 14,00 have lost their lives in the last 12 years. She accused the government and the political parties of lacking dedication to tackle the risk posed by landmines.
In the peace accord signed on November 22, 2006, the government and the Maoists had expressed commitment to assist each other to mark the landmines by providing necessary information within 30 days and de-fuse and excavate them within 60 days. But the commitment is yet to be implemented.
United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Matthew Kahane said there is an urgent need to destroy the landmines. He added that the government should address the problems of those injured and handicapped by the landmines.
Tamrat Samuel, deputy special representative of the Secretary General, called for the formulation of a mine action policy. He also called for the protection of rights of those injured and handicapped by the landmines.
Sunita Ghale, who lost her right leg and Krishna Bahadur Ghising, whose lower body has been paralysed due to a landmine explosion, accused the government of showing indifference to their plight. "We have been finding it difficult to continue medications and fend for the family and children," they said and urged the government to support them. It takes $3 to $10 to produce a landmine, while it takes anywhere between $200 and 1,000 to destroy it, according to the NCBL
Friday, August 17, 2007
Nepal flood victims need help
From: http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=nw20070808185640579C214427
The Red Cross appealed on Wednesday for nearly $2-million (about R14-million) to help more than 20 000 families in Nepal affected by severe flooding after torrential monsoon rains pounded South Asia.
The appeal for $1,9-million dollars followed similar calls for emergency funding for flood victims in Bangladesh and Pakistan by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
"The hardest hit communities need to receive food, clean water, and access to sanitation facilities," the secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, said.
The Nepal Red Cross said that more than 21 500 families, or around 127 000 people, have been displaced by the floods and landslides. It also estimated that a total of more than 330 000 Nepalese have been affected so far.
In the worst-hit districts, vast areas of crops have been decimated, and several roads and bridges have been washed away, while 26 500 houses have been damaged or destroyed.
While the Nepalese arm of the Red Cross has been leading the charge to help distribute relief, the government, other aid organisations and UN agencies have stepped in to help.
Around 30 000 families in the 33 affected districts have received rice, noodles, salt and sugar, as well as first aid care. Volunteers have also given plastic sheets, cooking utensils and blankets to more than 3 000 families.
Two separate appeals were launched in July to help Bangladesh and Pakistan.
A call for $703 400 was issued to help support flood-affected people in Bangladesh, but conditions in the south Asian country remain dire as millions of people are in urgent need of food, safe drinking water, clothing and shelter.
The Red Cross has made plans to scale up its operations.
"Though flood levels are receding in some areas of India and Nepal, Bangladesh's rivers continue to overflow as water pours down from swollen rivers to the north," said Nina Nobel, the international federation's regional representative for South Asia.
Relief and recovery efforts are also continuing in south-west Pakistan, where similar torrential rains and suffocating temperatures created a miserable situation for about 2,5 million people in June, according to the agency.
"Conditions are worsening again in Pakistan," she added.
"The situation remains highly unstable throughout the region, and with more monsoon rains to come, things could still worsen," said Nobel.
Regards:
Ekendra Lamsal
mail@EkendraLamsal.com
The Red Cross appealed on Wednesday for nearly $2-million (about R14-million) to help more than 20 000 families in Nepal affected by severe flooding after torrential monsoon rains pounded South Asia.
The appeal for $1,9-million dollars followed similar calls for emergency funding for flood victims in Bangladesh and Pakistan by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
"The hardest hit communities need to receive food, clean water, and access to sanitation facilities," the secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, said.
The Nepal Red Cross said that more than 21 500 families, or around 127 000 people, have been displaced by the floods and landslides. It also estimated that a total of more than 330 000 Nepalese have been affected so far.
In the worst-hit districts, vast areas of crops have been decimated, and several roads and bridges have been washed away, while 26 500 houses have been damaged or destroyed.
While the Nepalese arm of the Red Cross has been leading the charge to help distribute relief, the government, other aid organisations and UN agencies have stepped in to help.
Around 30 000 families in the 33 affected districts have received rice, noodles, salt and sugar, as well as first aid care. Volunteers have also given plastic sheets, cooking utensils and blankets to more than 3 000 families.
Two separate appeals were launched in July to help Bangladesh and Pakistan.
A call for $703 400 was issued to help support flood-affected people in Bangladesh, but conditions in the south Asian country remain dire as millions of people are in urgent need of food, safe drinking water, clothing and shelter.
The Red Cross has made plans to scale up its operations.
"Though flood levels are receding in some areas of India and Nepal, Bangladesh's rivers continue to overflow as water pours down from swollen rivers to the north," said Nina Nobel, the international federation's regional representative for South Asia.
Relief and recovery efforts are also continuing in south-west Pakistan, where similar torrential rains and suffocating temperatures created a miserable situation for about 2,5 million people in June, according to the agency.
"Conditions are worsening again in Pakistan," she added.
"The situation remains highly unstable throughout the region, and with more monsoon rains to come, things could still worsen," said Nobel.
Regards:
Ekendra Lamsal
mail@EkendraLamsal.com
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Nepal editors say Maoists targeting media freedom
A NEWS story from reuters.com
A group of leading editors in Nepal have accused Maoists, who are now part of the interim government, of attacking press freedom through a "sinister pattern of intimidation and threats".
Ten editors of leading newspapers, magazines and a television station said that Maoist unions, demanding better conditions for workers, had even entered newspaper offices to physically threaten journalists.
Their statement, issued late on Wednesday, comes days after a Maoist-affiliated labour union obstructed the publication and distribution of the Himalayan Times and the Annapurna Post, leading dailies published in the capital Kathmandu.
"We didn't have such a serious attack on press freedom even during the direct censorship of media after the king's coup in Feb. 2005," the statement said.
Nepal's King Gyanendra sacked the government in 2005, jailed politicians and gagged the media saying he was acting to crush an anti-monarchy Maoist insurgency.
But weeks of street protests organised by mainstream political parties and supported by the Maoists forced him to end his absolute rule and restore democracy last year.
In November, the Maoists signed a peace deal with the new government and joined a multi-party cabinet ending their decade-long civil war which killed more than 13,000 people.
"We ask that the Maoist leadership ... honour its stated commitment to protect press freedom and not to incite attacks on the media," the editors said.
The Maoist labour groups, which have also disrupted the production of other newspapers and a radio station in recent weeks, say they want better pay and service conditions for their workers in the media.
Shalikram Jamakattel, chief of a Maoist labour group, called for better rights for workers and promised the intimidation would end without disturbing the media.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
MPs Concerned About Maoists' Violent Acts
Members of Parliament (MPs) today expressed concern about the Maoists' violent activities and said it might be a ploy to defer constituent assembly elections slated for November 22.
Maoist MPs, however, said the political parties were trying to defame their party.
MP Harihar Dahal of the Nepali Congress (NC) sought a remedy to the problem created by the Maoist party cadres. "We have a solution if the king obstructs the elections. But what if Maoist cadres obstruct constituent assembly elections?" he said, while drawing the attention of the Speaker during the special session of the Parliament today.
He said loktantra was not synonymous with coercion or intimidation. "How can we expect the polls to be fair and free in such a situation?" he queried.
Ganga Narayan Shrestha, a Maoist MP, criticised the government for holding dialogue with the "criminals" of the March 27 Gaur incident, where 27 Maoist cadres were killed by cadres of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).
MP Chitra Bahadur KC of the Janamorcha Nepal criticised the Maoists for having double standards. "How do we expect peace and stability when the party, which is in the government creates troubles?" he asked.
He, however, said that all the eight parties should take the moral responsibility if the government fails to hold constituent assembly in the scheduled date.
Maoist MP Hit Bahadur Tamang defended the Dolakha incident, saying that the whole episode erupted after the government authorities in the district tried to protect a supporter of monarchy.
Maoist MPs, however, said the political parties were trying to defame their party.
MP Harihar Dahal of the Nepali Congress (NC) sought a remedy to the problem created by the Maoist party cadres. "We have a solution if the king obstructs the elections. But what if Maoist cadres obstruct constituent assembly elections?" he said, while drawing the attention of the Speaker during the special session of the Parliament today.
He said loktantra was not synonymous with coercion or intimidation. "How can we expect the polls to be fair and free in such a situation?" he queried.
Ganga Narayan Shrestha, a Maoist MP, criticised the government for holding dialogue with the "criminals" of the March 27 Gaur incident, where 27 Maoist cadres were killed by cadres of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).
MP Chitra Bahadur KC of the Janamorcha Nepal criticised the Maoists for having double standards. "How do we expect peace and stability when the party, which is in the government creates troubles?" he asked.
He, however, said that all the eight parties should take the moral responsibility if the government fails to hold constituent assembly in the scheduled date.
Maoist MP Hit Bahadur Tamang defended the Dolakha incident, saying that the whole episode erupted after the government authorities in the district tried to protect a supporter of monarchy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Viral Fever Spreads in Saptari, Mahottari
Viral fever has spread in Saptari district's Kanchan VDC and rural areas of Mahottari in the past one week.
At least 150 persons have been suffering from the illness in Saptari. The patients complain of headache, cold and high fever. Some of the patients are also suffering from diarrhoea, a patient, Ram Narayan Pandit, said.
According to a local, Rup Narayan Thakur, the situation has worsened due to the absence of health workers at the sub-health post in the VDC, 22 km west of the district headquarters, Rajbiraj.
Assistant health worker Indra Lal Yadav sometimes visits the sub-health post for an hour and never cares for the patients, Thakur alleged.
Rainfall has further complicated matters as roads by which patients are taken to hospitals are in bad shape, Thakur said.
"Health workers seldom visit the health post in our village and we are having problems taking the patients out of the village for treatment due to the poor condition of the roads," he said.
Saptari district public health administrator Rakesh Kumar Thakur said he has no information on the outbreak of the disease and the absence of health workers at the sub-health post.
In Mahottari, the number of viral fever patients visiting hospitals and health centres have gone up in the past one week. Most of the rural areas in the district are in the grip of the disease. Most of the patients visiting the district hospital in Jaleshwor have fever, a health worker Anita Sharma, said.
Twenty-five-30 fever patients have also been visiting health centres at Gaushala, Bardibas, Ramgopalpur and Balana daily, the health centres said.
A sudden surge in the mercury level and polluted water may have caused the spread of the disease, the head of the district hospital, Dr Pawan Thakur, said. "The viral fever may develop into kala-zar and typhoid if patients don't get timely medical treatment," Thakur added.
At least 150 persons have been suffering from the illness in Saptari. The patients complain of headache, cold and high fever. Some of the patients are also suffering from diarrhoea, a patient, Ram Narayan Pandit, said.
According to a local, Rup Narayan Thakur, the situation has worsened due to the absence of health workers at the sub-health post in the VDC, 22 km west of the district headquarters, Rajbiraj.
Assistant health worker Indra Lal Yadav sometimes visits the sub-health post for an hour and never cares for the patients, Thakur alleged.
Rainfall has further complicated matters as roads by which patients are taken to hospitals are in bad shape, Thakur said.
"Health workers seldom visit the health post in our village and we are having problems taking the patients out of the village for treatment due to the poor condition of the roads," he said.
Saptari district public health administrator Rakesh Kumar Thakur said he has no information on the outbreak of the disease and the absence of health workers at the sub-health post.
In Mahottari, the number of viral fever patients visiting hospitals and health centres have gone up in the past one week. Most of the rural areas in the district are in the grip of the disease. Most of the patients visiting the district hospital in Jaleshwor have fever, a health worker Anita Sharma, said.
Twenty-five-30 fever patients have also been visiting health centres at Gaushala, Bardibas, Ramgopalpur and Balana daily, the health centres said.
A sudden surge in the mercury level and polluted water may have caused the spread of the disease, the head of the district hospital, Dr Pawan Thakur, said. "The viral fever may develop into kala-zar and typhoid if patients don't get timely medical treatment," Thakur added.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Cops’ informers find YCL more lucrative
Majority of junior policemen ready to give them dope, claims YCL
Valley cops, who have been drawing a lot of flak for their failure on the law and order front, have another headache: their informers are deserting them for the Young Communist League. Valley cops stumbled upon this bitter truth when they recently found that some of their informers were not tipping them off. "Later it turned out that they had switched loyalties to the YCL," a police official at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) told The Himalayan Times. MPCD officials say cops depend heavily on the informers.
"We can't get all the information on our own because people don't open up to us," an official said.
Informers are motivated by several reasons. "Some of them regularly provide information about their business rivals, whereas some tip us to exact revenge on their personal or family foes," a high-level police official at the Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit (NDCLEU) said. But few make a living out of it. According to police officials, many work for a specific case and then go mum.
"The whole business is kept under wraps. We don't tell it to anyone, not even to our immediate bosses," inspector Jiban Shrestha at the MPCD said. Police officials admit that many informers are petty criminals. "We convince them to work as informers," DSP Bikash Khanal at the NDCLEU said. Often the cops pay them from their own pockets.
The police have no clear policy about paying informers. The Police Headquarters allocates very little for offices like MPCD and NDCLEU under the different heads and the office provides cash to informers in case of big seizure or when they help net a big fish.
SSP Kuber Rana at the NDCLEU admits that they receive some cash from the headquarters under "programme budget".
Rana, however, says all of that is not supposed to be spent on informers, as nobody knows how many of them are working under a police office. "We have to spend part of that money for training the cops and building their capacity," he added.
Asked why YCL was poaching police informers, YCL's Kathmandu district president Jwala said, "Not only the informers, 70 per cent of junior police officials are ready to join us. However, we have to be on our toes to ensure that informers don't leak our information to the state." Adapted from the himalayan times.
Valley cops, who have been drawing a lot of flak for their failure on the law and order front, have another headache: their informers are deserting them for the Young Communist League. Valley cops stumbled upon this bitter truth when they recently found that some of their informers were not tipping them off. "Later it turned out that they had switched loyalties to the YCL," a police official at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) told The Himalayan Times. MPCD officials say cops depend heavily on the informers.
"We can't get all the information on our own because people don't open up to us," an official said.
Informers are motivated by several reasons. "Some of them regularly provide information about their business rivals, whereas some tip us to exact revenge on their personal or family foes," a high-level police official at the Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit (NDCLEU) said. But few make a living out of it. According to police officials, many work for a specific case and then go mum.
"The whole business is kept under wraps. We don't tell it to anyone, not even to our immediate bosses," inspector Jiban Shrestha at the MPCD said. Police officials admit that many informers are petty criminals. "We convince them to work as informers," DSP Bikash Khanal at the NDCLEU said. Often the cops pay them from their own pockets.
The police have no clear policy about paying informers. The Police Headquarters allocates very little for offices like MPCD and NDCLEU under the different heads and the office provides cash to informers in case of big seizure or when they help net a big fish.
SSP Kuber Rana at the NDCLEU admits that they receive some cash from the headquarters under "programme budget".
Rana, however, says all of that is not supposed to be spent on informers, as nobody knows how many of them are working under a police office. "We have to spend part of that money for training the cops and building their capacity," he added.
Asked why YCL was poaching police informers, YCL's Kathmandu district president Jwala said, "Not only the informers, 70 per cent of junior police officials are ready to join us. However, we have to be on our toes to ensure that informers don't leak our information to the state." Adapted from the himalayan times.
Friday, July 06, 2007
King's gala feast incenses umpteen stomachs
Himalayan News Service, thehimalayantimes.com
Activists of the Democratic National Youth Federation and the All Nepal National Free Students' Union protesting the planned celebrations of king Gyanendra' s birthday on Friday. YCL to block all roads leading to Narayanhiti
The Young Communist League, the youth-wing of the CPN-Maoist, will "strongly" protest the holding of the rally by the pro-monarchy activists and the lavish dinner to mark king Gyanendra's birthday.
The king is planning a series of lavish dinners from Friday through Sunday to celebrate his 61st birthday at the palace, where politicians, industrialists, pro-monarchy intellectuals, diplomats and others have been invited. Most of the diplomats and politicians have, however, declined the invite.
"We will take to the streets and teach a lesson to those who want to revive monarchy and undermine the achievements of Jana Andolan II," YCL chairman Ganesh Pun said while addressing a programme at Reporters' Club today.
He said thousands of people will take to the street to foil the king's plan to show his "strength". "We are not planning any confrontation but we are not sure how peaceful we are going to be. That will depend on the situation," he added. Pun added that Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara had clearly said such activities by the king should be stopped.
While, Lekhanath Neupane, the president of the All Nepal Independent Student Union-Revolutionary criticised the youth and student wings affiliated to the other parties for not showing the same enthusiasm to foil the king's programme.
UML leader Shankar Pokharel said no politician in the government, or public figures should attend the birthday bash. Those going to the party should be penalised, he added.
General Secretary of CPN-ML CP Mainali urged the government to issue directions to ban such programmes that might spark clashes and violence.
"We are doing our best to avoid confrontation so that the government may not be blamed for what happens in the due course," said NC leader Balkrishna Khand.
Binod Kayastha, the chairman of NC-affiliated Tarun Dal, said they were waiting for party leadership's directions on how to protest the king's party.
Dr Sundar Mani Dixit, a leader of the civil society movement, claimed that the king was hosting the party with the approval of top leaders from the ruling party and the army might support him. "This incident will clearly show who stands for the republic and who wants to revive monarchy," he said.
The king is planning a series of lavish dinners from Friday through Sunday to celebrate his 61st birthday at the palace, where politicians, industrialists, pro-monarchy intellectuals, diplomats and others have been invited. Most of the diplomats and politicians have, however, declined the invite.
"We will take to the streets and teach a lesson to those who want to revive monarchy and undermine the achievements of Jana Andolan II," YCL chairman Ganesh Pun said while addressing a programme at Reporters' Club today.
He said thousands of people will take to the street to foil the king's plan to show his "strength". "We are not planning any confrontation but we are not sure how peaceful we are going to be. That will depend on the situation," he added. Pun added that Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara had clearly said such activities by the king should be stopped.
While, Lekhanath Neupane, the president of the All Nepal Independent Student Union-Revolutionary criticised the youth and student wings affiliated to the other parties for not showing the same enthusiasm to foil the king's programme.
UML leader Shankar Pokharel said no politician in the government, or public figures should attend the birthday bash. Those going to the party should be penalised, he added.
General Secretary of CPN-ML CP Mainali urged the government to issue directions to ban such programmes that might spark clashes and violence.
"We are doing our best to avoid confrontation so that the government may not be blamed for what happens in the due course," said NC leader Balkrishna Khand.
Binod Kayastha, the chairman of NC-affiliated Tarun Dal, said they were waiting for party leadership's directions on how to protest the king's party.
Dr Sundar Mani Dixit, a leader of the civil society movement, claimed that the king was hosting the party with the approval of top leaders from the ruling party and the army might support him. "This incident will clearly show who stands for the republic and who wants to revive monarchy," he said.
Palace seeks govt security, gets it
The Home Ministry has asked the District Security Committee, Kathmandu, to make necessary security arrangements for King Gyanendra's 61st birthday bash.
Home ministry spokesperson Baman Prasad Neupaney said the ministers had directed the committee to provide security responding to the royal palace's request. "Whenever the palace organises a function, they write to us demanding security and we provide it. It has been happening for years," Neupaney told THT.
According to the ministry, Chief District Officer heads the five-member security committee that includes District Police Chief, a Senior Army Official and a senior Armed Police Force official.
Home ministry spokesperson Baman Prasad Neupaney said the ministers had directed the committee to provide security responding to the royal palace's request. "Whenever the palace organises a function, they write to us demanding security and we provide it. It has been happening for years," Neupaney told THT.
According to the ministry, Chief District Officer heads the five-member security committee that includes District Police Chief, a Senior Army Official and a senior Armed Police Force official.
According to a source, security personnel will be deployed from 9 am tomorrow in view of protests announced by the alliance of students' wings affiliated to the eight political parties.
Meanwhile, YCL cadres took out a torch rally from Sundhara and turned the rally into a corner meeting at Ratnapark this evening to protest the dinner party organised to mark the king's birthday. YCL's valley in-charge Sagar said they would block roads leading to Narayanhiti Palace tomorrow.
Meanwhile, former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa and, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Kirtinidhi Bista, former ministers Badri Prasad Mandal, Durga Pokhrel and Din Bandhu Aryal attended the party hosted by Crown Prince Paras to mark the king's birthday today.
According to Mohan Shrestha, publicity chief of the birthday committee, Dr Tulsi Giri is expected to attend the party on Sunday. Chief of Army Staff Gen Rookmangud Katawal did not attend the party. From thehimalayantimes.com
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