The Embassy of Japan is organising an exhibition of “Japanese Contemporary Clay Work” in Kathmandu from March 22 to April 2, 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Nepal.

A press statement issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu said vice-chairman of the council of Ministers Kirtinidhi Bista and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Tsutomu Hiraoka will jointly inaugurate the exhibition.

“The exhibition of Japanese Contemporary Clay Work showcases the work of Japanese artists in this field. The distinctive, individualistic works in the exhibition are both essentially contemporary as well as reflective of age-old Japanese sensibilities,” the statement said.

Officials say a total of fourteen people, including thirteen soldiers, were killed during early morning clashes with Maoist rebels at Dapcha area in Kavre district on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said clashes took place after a security patrol was caught in an ambush laid by the rebels. The security patrol was on its way to open up a drinking water supply canal in the Dapcha area, which was blocked by the rebels for the last two days.

The ministry said body of a Maoist guerrilla has been recovered so far and a search operation is underway. The Ministry quoted local eyewitnesses as saying that Maoists took away a number of dead or injured comrades along with them.

The rebels have claimed that the casualty on the part of the army is much higher. They said they have also seized arms and ammunition after the clashes.

The latest clashes took place just a day after the Maoists called off their six-day-long blockade of the capital, Kathmandu, and other district headquarters across the country.

Free expression activists from within the country and abroad have said situation of press freedom and freedom of expression has deteriorated in the country since last year’s royal takeover.

Taking part in an interaction programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) on the occasion of the launch of a six-day long ‘International Advocacy Mission for Press Freedom in Nepal’, one of the delegates representing the Denmark-based International Media Support (IMS), Jesper Hojberg, said international community was very much concerned at what he called the deteriorating situation of media freedom in Nepal since the royal takeover of last year.

He said Nepali media should develop persistent strength to overcome the repressive policy and atrocities of the state.

Hojberg said they would continue their advocacy at the international level to garner more support for restoration of media rights and freedom of expression in Nepal and would return the next year to monitor if things have changed for the better.

President of FNJ, Bishnu Nisthuri, said journalists in Nepal will continue to fight for press freedom in the country despite repressive policies and hurdles and challenges. He said media personnel in Nepal had dual role to play – as journalists advocating the freedom of expression and as representatives of the people in the absence of elected parliament.

Senior journalist, Kanak Mani Dixit, said lawyers and media personnel were in the forefront to resist the government’s atrocities by rejecting all restrictive regulations and laws that the royal regime had been trying to enforce to curb press freedom. He alleged that the state had adopted the policy of attacking the entire independent media rather than targeting individual journalists as in the past.

Mr. Dixit said local authorities had terrorized media personnel — whose role was very important in influencing people to fight for peace and democracy—at the local level. He said the Nepali journalists should prepare themselves for more difficult days ahead. He also urged the international mission to lend hands of support in the future as well.

A documentary depicting the situation of media in Nepal after the royal takeover was screened on the occasion.

The mission delegates visited offices of Nepal FM, Radio Sagarmatha FM, Kantipur FM and Kantipur Publications this evening. Three teams of the mission together with FNJ representatives is to visit Pokhara, Surkhet and Birtamod over the next two days to study the situation of media freedom in the districts since the royal takeover.

The mission delegates are also scheduled to meet senior government officials, opposition leaders, diplomatic community based in Kathmandu and interact with the civil society representatives.

The organizations participating in the mission include Article 19, Free Voice, International Federation of Journalists, South Asia Press Commission, International Media Support, Rory Peck Trust, IFEX and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), among others.

The latest visit is the continuation of the international advocacy mission that visited Nepal in July last year.

Human Rights groups in Nepal have appealed the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights (UN-CHR) to impose Agenda Item 9 against Nepal in view of what they call gross and systematic human rights violations in the country.

Talking to Nepalnews, General Secretary of Forum for Protection of Human Rights (FOPHUR) – who is also a member of the committee formed to prepare a report to be presented in Geneva on behalf of the rights organisations and civil society– Gopal Chintan, said the report has recommended for the imposition of Agenda item 9 as the rights situation in the country had further deteriorated since the imposition of the Item 19 in the 61st session of the UN-CHR last year.

The 61st session of the UN-CHR last year imposed Agenda Item 19 against Nepal with the aim of addressing serious human rights abuses and violations by the Maoists and the government respectively. Nepal signed an agreement with the UNCHR so as to let the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to set up in Nepal and allow it to monitor incidences of rights violations from both the warring sides in the country.

“The government has, however, not complied with any of provisions in the Agenda Item 19. The activities of the government are against the sprit of the agreement between the government and the OHCHR,” Siwakoti added.

Agenda Item 9 is the provision to create pressure against countries that have systematic and consistent pattern of gross violation of human rights. The UN rights body may impose sanctions and restrict such countries from participating in the UN peacekeeping missions if the agenda is endorsed.

The 20-point report jointly prepared by the human rights organisations and civil society has concluded that rather than improving the rights situation since 61st session, the situation has further deteriorated in the country.

The OHCHR in Nepal is also presenting its report regarding the rights situation in the country in the forthcoming session of the Commission.

Rights activists, however, say the report of the OHCHR is incomplete as it has recorded the incidents of rights violations up to January this year. “The situation of human rights has further deteriorated since February this year,” said Chintan, referring to government’s ban on peaceful assembly and mass arrests by the government. “We have also appealed the rights body to present a supplement report as the main report doesn’t portray the actual picture of the rights situation in the country,” he added.

Siwakoti, however, said Nepali rights group are ready not to present their alternative report and save Nepal from the situation of imposition of Agenda Item 9 if the government immediately declares ceasefire and starts a process of dialogue with the rebels.

“The representatives of rights organizations will present actual picture of rights situation in the country and urge the member countries to adopt suitable measures for protection and promotion of human rights,” he added.

On 15 March this year, UN General Assembly decided to establish the United Nations Human Rights Council replacing the existing UN Commission on Human Rights.

Based in Geneva, the Council will start work from 19 June this year after the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights comes to an end on June 16.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, described the latest decision of the UN General Assembly as “a historic opportunity to improve the protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms of people around the world.”

The central veterinary hospital in Kathmandu has confirmed that the death of about one-and-half dozen birds in eastern district of Morang on Saturday was not due to avian influenza also know as “bird flu.”

Talking to Nepalnews on Monday, programme director at the Directorate of Animal Health, Dr. Dhan Raj Ratala, said, “Our ‘quick test’ has confirmed that these birds did not die of bird flu.” He, however, said scientists were carrying out alternative lab tests for further confirmation of the disease.

According to Dr. Ratala, remains of dead birds arrived Kathmandu only on Friday evening due to transportation blockade in the districts. “However, we carried out the tests overnight as soon as we received it,” he said. “The network we have set up to check any outbreak of the disease worked efficiently despite difficulties created due to transportation strike,” he added.

Over one and half dozen birds – including pigeons, chicken and crows – were found dead at the houses of Kiran Shahi and Bijay Shrestha in Nepali tole of Rangeli-1 in Morang district. Villagers suspected the death was due to bird flu. Fear of villagers had heightened after flying birds began plummeting to the ground.

There is only one lab in the country – the central veterinary lab in the capital – that can test bird flu. The government had said it had deployed a number of surveillance teams throughout the kingdom to test fresh outbreak of disease among birds. “The teams are only for early report of any suspecting incidents or arrange for transportation of the remains of the birds to the central lab at the earliest possible. Bird flu tests are not available in the districts,” said Dr. Ratala.

Morang District Public Health Office (DPHO) has already launched a public awareness campaign to make common people aware about the bird flue epidemic.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked Nepal to remain on high alert after bird flu virus was detected in neighbouring India. However, officials say the dreaded virus hasn’t been reported within the country as yet and that they are taking precautionary measures to stop its outbreak.

Amid fear of the possible outbreak of bird flu, poultry business has already dropped by more than 80 percent in the country, according to entrepreneurs. Associations involved in poultry business are organising chicken festivals around the country to revive the ailing market.

Thousands of people flocked into the chicken festival organised in Kathmandu on Friday and tasted roasted chicken.

Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal returned back to Pokhara in connection with their unofficial visit of the western development region.

Their Majesties arrived in the capital, Kathmandu, on Thursday.

Their Majesties have been staying in Pokhara since the past four weeks as part of their unofficial visit to the western region.

The Royal couple will stay there for nearly a month, according to reports. The royal couple had been staying at the Ratna Mandir Palace in Lakeside of Pokhara.

Prior to headling for Pokhara, His Majesty the King inaugurated the Shree Panch Gyanendra Hospital constructed by Armed Police force in Balambu of Kathmandu.

Her Majesty the Queen was also present on the occasion.

Their Majesties observed various departments of the hospital with keen interest on the occasion.

Chief Justice, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of Rajparishad Standing Committee, Vice-Chairmen duo of the Council of Ministers, ministers, chiefs of the constitutional bodies, Inspector General of APF and other high ranking governmental officials welcomed Their Majesties upon their arrival at the hospital.

The acting general secretary of the CPN-UML, Amrit Kumar Bohara, said that the seven-party alliance is engaged in talks with the Maoists to persuade them to withdraw their blockade of the district headquarters and an indefinite nationwide general strike and cooperate with the alliance’s peaceful agitation against ‘autocracy.’

“We have asked the Maoists to call off the blockade and the general strike and abide by the 12-point understanding reached with the alliance,” report quoted Bohara as saying while addressing a gathering of Kathmandu valley cadres of the party on Saturday.

Bohara said the blockade and the strike would only help the government in suppressing the alliance’s capital-centred agitation and non-cooperation campaigns to be launched after April 8.

Meanwhile speaking at an interaction in the capital on Sunday, leaders of various political parties said discussions were on about implementing the 12-point pact between seven political parties and Maoists.

CPN-UML leader Subas Nemwang said Maoist pressure cannot deviate the seven political parties from its peaceful agitation.

He said the Maoists should call back their calls of blockade and Nepal bandh for the implementation of the agreement.

Speaking at the same programme, general secretary of People’s Front Nepal Nava Raj Subedi claimed there was no possibility of turning back from the 12-point understanding.

However, leaders of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato and Nanda Kumar Prasai of Leftist Front complained that their parties did not have any information about the talks being held in New Delhi.

They charged the big parties of the alliance for holding talks with the Maoists without holding discussion in the alliance.

Maoists have been imposing three week long blockade from Tuesday.

Property worth Rs 25 million was gutted in a fire that broke out at a historic house of the Makaju family at Saraswati Bazaar of Dhulikhel, the district headquarter of Kavre on Friday night.

Constructed some 85 years ago, the 64-feet-high, four-storey artistic house was considered the biggest and the oldest building in Dhulikhel, according to reports.

According to the Local Administration, the fire has damaged property worth 25 million rupees.

The fire damaged Rs 1.3 million in cash and property, including gold and silver.

The fire was brought into control with the help of four fire engines called from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, along with security forces and local people.

Following a 1.71 point decline of the previous week, the index of Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) stated its bullish trend due to the improvement in the index of commercial banks.

The Nepse index posted a rise of 2.02 points over the week. The index of the country’s sole secondary market started at 337.32 points on Sunday and went up to 339.34 points on Thursday, the last day of the trading under the regular lot.

A total of 233,309 unit shares worth Rs 79.1 million were traded through 1,941 transactions over the week. Last week, a total of 292,274 unit of shares worth Rs 101,112,058 were traded through 4,045 transactions.

Leading groups including commercial banks, insurance group and finance group maintained growth while hotels, trade, manufacturing and the other group remained constant with development banks’ index declining.

Group-wise share trading data shows that the commercial banks group posted a growth of 3.84 points, reaching its index to 378.32 points from 374.48 points. Indices of insurance and finance groups inched up marginally to 344.43 points and 250.51 points, up from 344.14 points and 250.45 points respectively.

Development banks group was the sole loser this week. Its index declined by 5.21 points to 275.17 points, down from 280.38 points.

The weekly trading report shows that the indices of the trading group, hotel, manufacturing and the other group remained constant at 141.72, 183.55, 289.73 and 333.41, respectively.

The commercial bank group dominated the floor of Nepal Stock Exchange capturing 80.41 percent market share. Insurance group came next, capturing 14.25 percent share. Finance group made up 2.56 percent share.

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has published the names of 20 players that will compete in the first edition of AFC Challenge Cup 2006 to be held in Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh from April 1-16.

According to an ANFA press release, Yougal Kishor Rai, Man Sajan Rajbhandari and Sanjeev Budhathoki have been left out of the squad. The head coach opted to take three goalkeepers-Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa and former national goalie Surendra Lal Shrestha.

Four new faces have been included while three defenders-Janak Singh, Rakesh Shrestha and Pralaya Rajbhandari and goalie Upendra Man Singh have not been listed due to injuries and retirement. Striker Jumanu Rai, who is also a U-23 member, has been included in the list for the first time.

Star Basanta Thapa was again called from Japan to play in AFC Challenge Cup. Earlier, he was called for SAFF Championship in December 2005.

Shyam Thapa is the head coach while Maheshowr Mulmi and Dhruba KC are his assistants. Lalit Krishna Shrestha is the team manager while Dhirendra Pradhan is acting team leader.

Goal Keepers:
Bikash Malla (MMC), Ritesh Thapa (MPC), Surendra Lal Shrestha (NRT)

Defense:
Sagar Thapa (MMC), Tashi Tsering (MMC), Nabin Neupane (MMC), Lok Bandu Gurung (NTSC), Anjan KC (NTSC), Ram Kumar Biswash (TAC), Suman Subedi (MPC)

Mid Field:
Vishan Gauchan (NTSC), Bijaya Gurung (NTSC), Rajesh Shahi (NTSC), Raju Tamang (TAC)

Forward:
Hari Khadka (MPC), Ramesh Budhathoki (MPC), Jumanu Rai (MPC), Pradeep Maharjan (NTSC), Surendra Tamang (NTSC), Basanta Thapa (MMC).