Reports say there have been heavy clashes between the security forces and Maoist rebels at Danabari area bordering Ilam and Jhapa district from Thursday afternoon.
Security sources in eastern town of Itahari said clashes took place after the security forces pursuing the rebels who had attacked Ilam headquarters on Sunday came across the rebels.
Rebels have claimed that there have been a number of casualty on the part of the security personnel during today’s clashes. They claimed that they have also seized weapons from the security personnel.
Security officials said injured security personnel have been airlifted for treatment. They said a number of rebels were also killed during the clashes.
Details are still being awaited.
Over a dozen people including three security personnel, two civilians and eight rebels were killed during overnight clashes in Ilam on Sunday.
Police arrested three persons with 13 fake five hundred rupee Indian currency notes in Kathmandu, Thursday.
A team of police from Valley Crime Investigation Sub-branch, Lalitpur, arrested Raj Kumar Shrestha, Bhim Prassad Pyakurel and Krishna Prasad Pyakurel near Sundhara in the capital.
Likewise, two persons were arrested from Dhunga Adda in the capital along with 10 kilograms of hashish.
The arrested have been identified as Raj Kumar Lama of Makwanpur and Bishnu Prasad Neupane of Arghakhachi districts.
According to police, they were caught while trying to sell the narcotics packed in plastic bags.
Likewise, police also nabbed a group of six persons, who were involved in looting posing as Maoists, Thursday.
The arrested have been identified as Harkha Bahadur Khadka of Sindupalchowk, Chiring Dorje Tamang, Navin Khadka, Jeevan Thapa, Thirtha Gurung of Khotang and Rakesh Majhi of Kavrepalanchowk.
Donald Camp addressing a press conference held at US Ambassador James F Moriarty’s residence in Kathmandu
US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Donald Camp, who wrapped up his two-day visit to Kathmandu today (Thursday), said he saw no possibility of early breakthrough in the current political deadlock in Nepal.
“We do not have assurances [from the King] that there will be a breakthrough. I can’t express optimism but I am hopeful,” Camp told journalists during a press briefing organised at US ambassador James F. Moriarty’s residence in Kathmandu at the end of his visit.
Camp, who arrived in Kathmandu for the second time since the February 1, 2005, royal move, received an audience with the King in Pokhara on Wednesday and held discussions with various political leaders including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala.
He said that during the audience with the King he brought the message of US President George W Bush to the latter that he “should reach out to the political parties to restore democratic institution” as well as to address the Maoist insurgency.
“I have brought the President’s message to the King,” he said, informing that he explained to the King about the position of the US over Nepal.. He, however, refused to divulge the details of what transpired between him and the monarch during their meeting in Pokhara.
The top US official also called on Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shital Niwas Thursday afternoon.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Minister Pandey said that communication between Nepal and the United States of America has become cordial and effective with the visit of the top US official and that it has become easier to comprehend each other’s views.
Foreign Minister Pandey said that he presented in clear terms His Majesty the King’s call through the messages to the nation on February 1 and on February 19 to all the political parties to come for dialogue for establishment of peace and democracy in the country.
He also informed that he and Mr. Camp held talks on bilateral interest and various topics of mutual concern.
Camp also met Nepali Congress (NC) president Koirala and discussed the current political situation of the country.
The US representative, who was barred from meeting CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal who has been placed under house arrest since January 20, met UML acting general secretary Amrit Kumar Bohara and standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari and K P Sharma Oli.
Emerging from the meeting, Bohara said they discussed the current political situation of the country, particularly the movement of the seven-party alliance and a joint rally scheduled for April 8.
Camp also called on former Prime Minister and president of NC (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba at Deuba’s residence in Budanilkantha.
Talking to journalists after the meeting Deuba said they discussed about the current political situation of the country.
The US representative also met with Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa and some representatives of civil society.
A press statement issued by the visiting US representative said. “I have reiterated my President’s message in all my meetings here in Nepal. We firmly believe that the Maoists must abandon violence and the King must reach out and reconcile with the parties if we are to see a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal.”Reminding of the US view over the recent civil polls as a “hollow exercise”, Camp said the proposed parliamentary elections next year would not be different than that of the recent one if the political parties were not involved in it.
Commenting on the 12-point ‘understanding’ between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists, Camp said he was sceptical about the Maoists’ intention but the agreement could be laudable “should that [12-point understanding] work out”.
He added that the US would not hesitate labelling the Maoists as terrorists as long as they continued violence activities.
Camp also expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Nepal since the royal move. “It’s a deteriorating human rights situation. King’s February 1 move contributed to the deterioration.”
The US representative, who was barred from meeting CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal who has been placed under house arrest the last few months, expressed hope that the government would release Nepal and other political detainees soon. “We certainly continue to hope that Nepal and other political leaders will be released.”
Camp was supposed to leave Kathmandu this evening.
The dilemma now is that a weak democratic centre cannot negotiate with the Maoists from a position of strength
By Dr. Gunther Baechler
1. Recipes for confrontation
There are two different types of polarization: political and military.
Politically the seven political parties and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in the recent past managed to move closer together. Beyond this, the political parties and civil society organizations mobilized street protests throughout the country. The municipal elections of February 8 were boycotted. The political gap between the Palace and the seven parties is wider than ever during the last 15 years; the royalist parties are divided, too (see figure 1).
Some actors fear that both the parties and the CPN (Maoist) will manage to further isolate the King and to finally abolish the monarchy. Once the monarchy will be finished off the Maoists are supposed to have an easy game with the political parties and consequently will be able to take over power in Kathmandu. Against this threat scenario, some international actors have urged the parties and the King to conduct talks soon and marginalize the Maoists completely (see figure 2).
In the first case (fig. 1) the Palace aims to avoid its isolation or abolishment. The King uses the armed forces (RNA and the armed police) in order to crackdown on the political mass movement in the Kathmandu valley and to a lesser extent in the districts. A democratic upheaval has become more of a threat for the throne than the Maoist rebellion.
In the second case (fig. 2) the CPN (M) uses military force (People’s Army) to avoid political isolation and finally societal marginalization due to an externally promoted process of democratization combined with a strong constitutional monarchy.
Only two of the three actors – the Palace and the Maoists – dispose of armed forces in order to shape the triangle according to their respective political interests. The outcome of this struggle might be a military bipolarization which further weakens the political actors using democratic means to defend their interests (see figure 3). It can easily lead in a split of the seven party alliance (or a division of parties) in pro-Palace and pro-Maoist constituencies.
The weakening or splitting of the political parties is synonym to the squeezing of the democratic political centre among the two armed actors. Such situation can easily escalate in the use of more armed violence among the two actors as well as in a radicalization of parts of the democratic centre, This scenario, in turn, is designed to further marginalize the peace constituencies in the country.
Unity among external actors in order to support the democratic movement as well as to put pressure (a) on the Palace to join in and (b) on the Maoist to give up armed violence is still fragile and therefore had little impact on the parties to conflict.
2. Recipes for peace
We elaborated on the question which shape political confrontation and armed violence takes. The second question is: what shape do peace and cooperation in Nepal have?
War tends to be bipolar – peace is triangular. The triangle becomes reality if all three parties to the conflict agree to promote a political solution to the crisis and if all of them are prepared for talks about the future political order in Nepal (see figure 4).
How to promote a peace process that leads from insane bipolar and asymmetric situation to a sound and regular triangle?
Two of the three parties have already agreed on a common political agenda for a peace process in Nepal (through the 12- point understanding). The Palace refuses to acknowledge the existence of the understanding. Rather, it (the Palace) is unilaterally following its own road map which triggered a dual result: on one hand the royal strategy pushed the two other parties to conflict into one and the same corner and on the other hand it contributed to its own political and international isolation.
Then, how to establish the “peace triangle”?
First, the political interest in a peaceful solution must become a dominant factor in the triangular conflict system. Interest normally is defined by a mix of factors such as: (self) perception, strength and fears, opportunities, and outside pressure. Both, internal as well as external actors can influence each one of these factors and finally the mix as such in order to promote a peaceful transformation of the crisis.
As far as internal actors are concerned in the last six months or so, the democratic forces triggered a political movement throughout the country aimed at promoting a peace process. The movement was only partly successful. Mainly the repression used by the Palace put the democratic centre at risk.
The dilemma now is that a weak democratic centre cannot negotiate with the Maoists from the position of strength. However, sustainable peace depends on an empowered democratic centre strong enough to urge: the Palace to draw a different road map which is driven by political rather than military issues; the new map must guide the Palace back into the triangular position.
· the Maoists to joint the political mainstream. Since the 12- point understanding leaves many questions open, a second round of talks is necessary in order to define architecture and design of a peace process much more in detail.
Unity among external actors in order to support the democratic movement as well as to put pressure (a) on the Palace to join in and (b) on the Maoist to give up armed violence is still fragile and therefore had little impact on the parties to conflict. In fact internal activities and external pressure have to go hand in hand to shape the conflict system differently.
What are the options available to the international community (IC)?
1.) The IC should engage in a process to compare notes and to speak with one voice.
2.) The IC should promote and support further talks among the political parties and the CPN/M. The result of these talks should a) put an end to the use of armed violence; b) condemn human rights violations; c) embark in a meaningful peace process, and d) strengthen the political culture of dispute.
3.) The IC should apply a strategy of pressure and incentives in order to push the Palace back in to the triangular position.
4.) Provide both professional and technical expertise for an inclusive peace process (build individual and institutional capacities; assist in solving constitutional problems; support electoral processes).
Experiences from many internal conflicts show that the parties to conflict want to engage in a peace process. However, they don’t know how and when to do so – and without losing their face or putting their highly paid position at risk. We assume that the same holds true for Nepal.
The conflict in Nepal can be solved politically and the Nepali themselves best know how to do it. Fortunately it’s not a crisis that is so deep rooted that the parties to conflict won’t be able to talk to each other any more. However, they need assistance in order to do so without losing face.
As a rule it becomes the role of external third parties to initiate and control the process – and not the content or the final settlement. Nepal might be an exception – which does not seem to be the case, however. That is the reason why the IC should think about a third party facilitation that is process-oriented and non-interventionist in style (see figure 5).
This does not mean that all three parties have to come together immediately. There will be different tracks, different “speeds”, and different approaches. In the present context third parties have the following options: To
a) facilitate talks among the political parties and the CPN (M) in order to stop armed violence, promote an all-inclusive peace process and balance the power asymmetry among the two parties due to the fact that one of them disposes of armed forces.
b) keep reliable channels to the Palace open in order to promote a dialogue orientation. The IC should leave the King with one option only: to provide a serious offer for talks to the seven political parties and the CPN (M) addressing the catalogue of major issues at stake.
This approach acknowledges that different actors together with the international community have specific roles to play – that’s why, collaboration and coordination is important. It also takes into consideration that India– as the most important neighbour– has a special relationship with Nepal; due to close cultural ties, increasing interdependence, open borders, and security issues.
A senior official with the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Dr. Baechler is the special advisor for peace-buildng in Nepal. This paper was presented by him at a programme organised by the Ganesh Man Singh Academy in Kathmandu early this week—Ed.
(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected])
Question and Answer
1. You have repeatedly insisted on all the parties to seize the moment. Now as you leave are you satisfied that the moment has been seized or are you disappointed?
No, I am not disappointed, but we always expect the momentum to go faster than what sometimes happens. But I am quite optimistic that the momentum regarding the confidence building measure, are going to produce effects. Now, I could have liked to have those confidence building measures immediately. But even if they are announced in the next two or three days while they are being absorbed by everyone, its fine. What matters is that the momentum is not left and everybody goes back waiting and hoping that somebody else makes the concession. In peace process we need compromise and flexibility and I think that various parties are detecting them.
2. What are the major differences you are finding regarding the management of arms?
The major differences are well known to you very well, so I am not going to repeat them. What I have detected is there is lack of trust in some cases. There is lack of knowledge about some of the techniques of confidence building. In both cases the United Nations can help, but at the end of the day they are the ones who are to respond to the people of Nepal in trying to bridge this lack of trust going into a process quickly. We are there to help them. Having said that, during the last few days, particularly in the last few hours, I’ve detected coming much closer to a clear understanding of what is needed in terms of peace building measures. So, the trust needs to be nurtured, like a plant with water, but there is a need to put a lot of water at the moment.
3. When shall the final UN assessment team come to work?
The process is the following from the UN point of view: first of all this report will be prepared by this mission, submitted it to the Secretary General, by the middle of next week. The Secretary General will analyze it, study it. And his won judgment and decision will be crucial, but at the same time I’m sure he will also listen to the advise of member countries and that of Government of Nepal. While this is happening of course, the mission will not have returned. We are hoping that meanwhile we may be getting further news about a decision here about confidence building measures that we have been advising them to take and they are very much aware of, and they’ve been discussing it. If those confidence building measures are adopted and announced while we are in New York then of course the report which will be presented to the Secretary General, will take those into substantive account and will probably help in the acceleration of the decision. Following that if the Secretary General decides that one of those areas, are the ones -all four in which the UN can start working, then the UN normally gets, in this type of important case like Nepal, active quite quickly.
4. What are some of the confidence building measure that you would advocated?
That is exactly something that I would not elaborate, you understand why, it is really in the hands of various sides and they are related to arms management and armies management, and they are concreted signals that each others can give to the other side obviously with the assistance of the UN, in order to start building confidence about the solutions. Sometimes problems like arms management don’t need to be solved in one slot. Because then you get wall to wall and principled approaches, they can be solved by small slices building confidence and we have some experience in that and we shared it with the two sides.
5. Did you propose any formula for the decommissioning of arms and the time frame?
We have shared with both sides, both in the field actually and in Kathmandu, what has been the experience that the UN has been applying in many other places. But you know and we have said it from the first day we’ve arrived, Nepal is a special case. While we’ve been presenting various formulas, for Nepal there is a need of special formula adapted to the local current environment, but those experiences we have and the expertise we have, have been shared. And I believe that much of it can be implemented if there is a decision by the two sides to come up with at-least these confidence building measures, on arms and armies management.
6. Are you clear on what kind of assistance the UN can provide in Nepal’s arms management?
Well, we are clearly having very much a clear idea of what the UN can do in not only in similar cases, that’s why the assessment mission is meant to analyze its possible scope of possible nature of UN involvement, in arms management and in any other areas. For instance, in area such as electoral assistance the UN has been doing in many countries and can easily do so if
so requested and if so decided by the Secretary General, and if so supported
by funding through donors, implement an active operation in electoral assistance. In the case of Human Rights, we already have substantial activity in presence on human rights and that can be expanded depending on the decision by the Secretary General, and donor countries and Nepalese authorities. Regarding the question or assisting the monitoring of the code of conduct that is something we can also provide through the observers and monitors, the same would apply and could apply in the monitoring of arms and armies management, provided we are seeing a beginning of confidence
building measures from both sides.
7. What if the parties do not reach to a minimum agreement?
We are in Nepal, and in the UN is always optimistic. So I would not even consider that option. Peace and peace process in Nepal in particular is too important. There has been too much sufferings and I don’t even want to consider that option. I feel that all want peace now. We have to help them and you can help too, to make sure that they are delivering on those confidence building measures.
The World Hindu Conference will kick off at Piparaa of Birgunj on April 7th.
His Majesty the King Gyanendra is scheduled to inaugurate the Hindu conference amid a gala function, organizers told at a press conference in the capital Tuesday.
His Majesty will also unveil a Silver Jubilee Pillar at Piparaamath during the conference, World Hindu Federation officials informed.
Chairman of the Federation, Bharat Keshar Singh said that Jagad-gurus of all the pithas, mathadhish, pithadhish, spiritual leaders and representatives of religious organizations will take part in the World Hindu Conference.
To give some relief to the general public, Sajha Yatayat has decided to slash its transportation fares by five percent.
The decrease in fares will be made from the new fares that have been increased by 25 and 28 percent for long and medium routes, respectively, according to newspaper reports.
According to officials at Sajha Yatayat, the new fares will come into effect from March 9, 2006.
Reports quoted managing director of Sajha Yatayat, Mukunda Raj Satyal, as saying that the government-fixed transportation fare hike percentage was the ceiling price. “Our aim is to control the fare rates in the competitive market,” he said.
Traffic chief of Sajha Yatayat, Shambhu KC, said other private transportation companies were arbitrarily collecting transportation fares.
Earlier the Araniko Transportation Service Committee (ATSC) had also cut its bus fares by eight percent following the request from the people of Dolakha district.
Thousands of members of the forest consumer groups organized a protest programme in Dang district demanding restoration of complete democracy in the country, reports said.
Members of more than four hundred forest consumer groups organized a protest rally in Tulsipur of Dang district saying the autocracy has snatched their rights.
They expressed dissatisfaction over the interference in the community forests by the Maoists and security personnel and various directives of the District Forest Office, according to Kantipur Daily.
They said that they are protesting for the restoration of democracy as only a democratic government could protect their rights.
Speaking at a gathering after the protest rally, secretary of the Community Forest Consumers’ Federation, Bhola Bhattrai, said that the government is snatching the rights of community forest consumers and warned of strong protests against such activities.
Leaders of civil society and leaders of political parties also expressed solidarity to the movement of the forest consumer groups.
The 96th International Women’s Day is being celebrated today with the slogan “The role of women in decision making is central to the advancement of women around the world and to the progress of humankind as a whole.”
Nepal is celebrating the day amid very little participation of women in development process and representation in the decision-making level of the country.
The flaring conflict of the country has also adversely affected the development of women.
In a message on the occasion of the International Women’s Day UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, Matthew Kahane, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating conditions for women throughout the country. “In the past few weeks, women have been beaten to death, shot at, blown up by landmines and abducted across the country,” a press statement issued by the UN Information Centre quoted Kahane as saying.
“Today, the UN calls on combatants in Nepal to avoid, at all costs, targeting civilian women directly or accidentally, and to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” he said. “The UN also urges both parties to the conflict to unequivocally hold to account any soldier found to have sexually abused women or girls,” he added.
“Sparing women and girls from rape and sexual slavery is not just about human rights, but also about human decency and dignity. The targeting of women and girls destroys people’s capacities to create communal life,” he said.
Speaking at a programme organized on the eve of the Women’s Day women, leaders have demanded equal participation of women in the policy making level and amendment in discriminatory laws, according to reports.
Central committee member of CPN-UML Asta Laxmi Shakya, said the patriarchal society, which dominates women, has weakened the women’s movement.
Sarita Giri, central committee member of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) said, “Male political leaders are very rigid on the issue of women’s representation in the political parties, especially big ones,” adding, “There is the feeling of being superior among the male political leaders.”
Uma Adhikary, central member of the Nepali Congress, said, “Women’s rights cannot be ensured without democracy. Women want reservation in the decision-making level for a certain period of time, not because of their weakness and incapability, but for bringing about gender equality.”
Sapana Pradhan Malla, president of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, said, “Although women are hit the hardest due to the conflict, women’s participation in the peace process is lacking. The last two peace talks did not have meaningful representation of women.”
“Though many ordinances have been promulgated after the dissolution of the parliament, no initiation has been made to bring about positive changes in women’s context,” she added.
According to the 10th plan, the number of women stands at 11,587,503 (50.5 percent) of the total population of Nepal. But their strength in the public service stands at a meager 13.33 percent. Only 10.85 percent of women hold land ownership.
The Department of Women’s Studies, Padma Kanya Campus, on Tuesday paid tribute to mothers who have lost their children in the war by lighting 100,000 oil lamps at its gate.
Eleven people were killed and 24 are missing when a passenger bus headed for Kathmandu from Kakadvitta plunged into the Trisuli River at Jogimara VDC of Dhading district along Prithvi Highway on Tuesday.
According to reports, the bus belonging to Tilanga Transport numbered Na 2 Kha 7678 fell 250 meters from the road when it collided with a taxi coming from opposite direction at around 5:30 p.m.
Seven passengers have been rescued. There were over 60 passengers in the bus. Reports said that one of the deceased was a member of Seema Suraksha Bal of India and two others from Darjeeling and Mumbai. One woman died when undergoing treatment in the local hospital.
Few of the injured have been brought to TU teaching hospital for treatment while others are undergoing treatment at the Primary Health Centre at Gajuri.
Police, army personnel and local people have been mobilized to rescue any passengers and search for dead bodies.