The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Nepal has met with the three employees of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd who have been abducted by the Maoists.
According to a statement issued by the UN rights body’s Nepal office on Wednesday, an OHCHR team met with the abducted employees, Sarabjit Rana, Prabhakar Bikram Shah and Damabarmani Limbu, on Tuesday.
The three men were found “generally in good health”, and this information has been conveyed to their families by OHCHR-Nepal, the statement further said adding that efforts were on for their release.
The CPN (Maoist)-affiliated All Nepal Federation of Trade Union assumed responsibility for the abduction of Surya Nepal employees through press statements issued on February 7 and 10.
The rebels had abducted manufacturing manager Shah, production manager Rana and commercial manager Limbu from the southern district of Bara on February 3.
Family members of the abductees, human rights groups, the business community and the Industrial Security Group (ISG), a group of foreign diplomatic missions in Nepal, have already demanded that the Maoists release them immediately.
Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Minister for Land Reforms and Management and president of Nepal Samata Party, Narayan Singh Pun, has said dialogue with mainstream political parties is essential for initiating peace talks with Maoist rebels.
Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters Club on Wednesday, Pun said, “Parliamentarian parties are the closest political forces to the government. They must support the government’s roadmap to restore peace and initiate dialogue with the Maoists.”
He said he would not compromise with anybody at the cost of the multi-party democracy.
Pun, a member of government’s talks team during the last round of peace talks with the Maoists, called on the agitating political parties to join hands with the government to find a solution to the crisis facing the country.
He said the parliamentary parties had a long political history and the crises facing the country can never be resolved by isolating them. Pun also said that there was no military solution to this kind of insurgency, “linked to security, political, economic and social aspects”.
He said it would take at least 10 years to completely resolve the long-drawn-out conflict.
He further said that Maoist activities were like that of a terrorist group.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the central working committee of the Nepali Congress held on Tuesday concluded that the reinstatement of parliament was only the way out of the present crisis.
A statement released after the meeting stated that all must work for re–establishment of people’s sovereignty and human rights.
The party has also welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to dissolve the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC), saying that it was a victory of people and rule of law.
Issuing a landmark verdict three days earlier, the apex court dissolved the controversial Royal Commission, declaring it as an unconstitutional body.
The Nepal Teachers’ Association (NTA) has demanded that the government release all those arrested from protest rallies immediately and unconditionally.
A joint release issued by the association’s district units in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur said the detention was illegal. The NTA also condemned the government’s decision to release a few members and keep others in detention.
The association said it would launch fresh agitation if the detainees were not released soon.
Dozens of professors, schoolteachers, human rights activists including the president of the NTA, Keshav Bhattarai, were arrested from rallies organised by the Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD) ahead of the municipal polls, demanding restoration of democracy.
Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Minister for Land Reforms and Management and president of Nepal Samata Party, Narayan Singh Pun, has said dialogue with mainstream political parties is essential for initiating peace talks with Maoist rebels.
Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters Club on Wednesday, Pun said, “Parliamentarian parties are the closest political forces to the government. They must support the government’s roadmap to restore peace and initiate dialogue with the Maoists.”
He said he would not compromise with anybody at the cost of the multi-party democracy.
Pun, a member of government’s talks team during the last round of peace talks with the Maoists, called on the agitating political parties to join hands with the government to find a solution to the crisis facing the country.
He said the parliamentary parties had a long political history and the crises facing the country can never be resolved by isolating them. Pun also said that there was no military solution to this kind of insurgency, “linked to security, political, economic and social aspects”.
He said it would take at least 10 years to completely resolve the long-drawn-out conflict.
He further said that Maoist activities were like that of a terrorist group.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the central working committee of the Nepali Congress held on Tuesday concluded that the reinstatement of parliament was only the way out of the present crisis.
A statement released after the meeting stated that all must work for re–establishment of people’s sovereignty and human rights.
The party has also welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to dissolve the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC), saying that it was a victory of people and rule of law.
Issuing a landmark verdict three days earlier, the apex court dissolved the controversial Royal Commission, declaring it as an unconstitutional body.
The US ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, has said that reconciliation between legitimate constitutional forces (King and the political parties) is the only viable solution for the present political stalemate in the country.
US Ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, speaking in the talk program “Nepal’s Political Crisis: A Look Back, A Look Forward”, jointly organised by the Ganesh Man Singh Academy and The American Center, Wednesday, Feb 15 06. nepalnews.com/rh
US Ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty, speaking in the talk program “Nepal’s…
Addressing a talk program entitled, “Nepal’s Political Crisis: A Look Back, A Look Forward”, he said that Maoists are gaining from the polarization between King and the political parties and urged all legitimate constitutional forces to find consensus with good faith.
He described the one-year direct rule of the King as a total failure and said, “Twelve months of palace rule have only made the situation more precarious, emboldened the Maoists insurgents, and widened the division between the country’s political parties and the King.”
“Without real progress between the two legitimate political forces, the Maoists will only continue to gain advantage- in the countryside, among people of goodwill tired of the King-parties standoff, and among others who desperately believe, or want to believe, that the insurgents will shed their ideological stripe and join the political mainstream, ” he added.
Stating that the goals mentioned by the King in his royal takeover were not fulfilled, Ambassador Moriarty said, “Now it’s true that when the King took power last year, many were hopeful that the goals he cited for his action would be achieved. They were not. The international community recognizes this, as do many patriotic Nepalese citizens.”
He reiterated that the recently conclude municipal polls was a hollow exercise saying elections held without participation of mainstream political parties keeps no meaning.
He urged the King to initiate dialogue with the political parties to resolve the problem dogging the country. “To establish a foundation of trust, the United States believes it is up to the King to initiate the dialogue, assuring the major political parties and the Nepalese people that the monarchy is serious about returning democracy and peace in Nepal,” Moriarty said, adding, “Once such as opening occurs, sooner rather than later, I hope we urge the political parties to respond and enter talks in good faith.”
He further said that Maoists are not committed to peace and democracy and added that recent statements of the Maoists leadership prove that they reached 12-point agreement with the political parties for their benefit only.
“At first glance there seems much about the 12-point understanding that is hopeful. But the United States views the uneasy partnership between the parties and the Maoists as wrongheaded. We believe cooperation along current lines between the Maoists and the parties is fraught with danger for the political parties themselves and for the future of the Nepalese people,” he added.
He categorically refuted that forming parallel government of the Maoists and political parties will resolve the crisis dogging the country and added that it will push the country into crisis.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the recent comments of Maoist leadership on forming a common army for the constituent assembly, parallel government and comments about the Monarchy.
He also said that Maoists are not following the basic operating guidelines of the donor agencies. Moriarty also made it clear that there is no change in US policy regarding the Maoists in that they are terrorists and creating terror to the people.
Moriarty further said, “The United States, for one, would look eagerly for ways to assist a new Nepal government that respects and supports democracy, human rights and freedom. This could also include renewing assistance for the Royal Nepalese Army.”
The US along with other donor countries stalled arms assistance to Nepal following the February 1 royal takeover terming the move as setback to democracy.
Some three dozen leaders and activists of the seven-party alliance who were arrested from different protest rallies in the Kathmandu Valley were released on Wednesday.
The leaders and activists released from various detention centres include leaders Rudra Mani Sharma, Sitaram Tamang, Duryodhan Singh, Govind Pudasaini. Similarly, student leaders Bijay Rai, Bhupendra Thapa, Bhim Srish, Ganesh Gurung, Tika Bhatt, Gopal Chettri, Gopal K.C, Ganesh Limbu, Shyam Sunder Basnet and Pradeep Pudasaini were also released.
Even as the government has been periodically freeing the opposition leaders, there are still dozens of detainees including some senior leaders in security custodies.
Armed Police Force Vs. Boys? Union Club nepalnews.com/rr
Armed Police Force Vs. Boys’ Union Club nepalnews.com/rr
Armed Police Force (APF) and Boys Union Club (BUC) ended their league run with a 1-1 draw while Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT) beat Boudha Football Club (BFC) 5-4 in the ANFA Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel “A” Division League Football Tournament matches played today.
At Dashrath stadium, APF, who were playing with its reserve team, couldn’t make the result fruitful despite taking the lead. Bishal Lama put APF ahead in the 72nd minute but Binaya Chowdhary equalised in the 88th minute. Both teams have completed 28 matches.
In another match, RCT beat BFC 5-4 in a high-scoring match where Rishi Rai struck two goals while Milan Shrestha, Ajit Thapa and Surendra Balami added a goal apiece to earn a slim victory. Bikash Sapkota’s two goals and a goal from Milan Tamang and one gifted suicide goal were not enough for Boudha FC.
Tribhuvan Army Club will play against Manang Marshyangdi Club in a vital match and Friends Club will take on Brigade Boys Club in the Lalitpur derby tomorrow.
Over 13000 Nepalis have lost their lives in the conflict since 1996, a report published by a leading human rights group said as the Maoist insurgency marked its 10th anniversary on Monday.
Altogether 13092 people have died since the onset of the Maoist ‘people’s war’ on February 13, 1996, till February 11, 2006, according to Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), a human rights NGO. The security forces have been responsible for 8417 deaths while the Maoists killed 4676 persons. INSEC report revealed that majority of those killed during the insurgency were political activists while 2046 security personnel including 706 army men were killed during this period.
Of 5924 political workers who lost their lives during the conflict, 5500 were killed at the hands of the security forces while the Maoists killed 424 political workers. 2027 agricultural workers and 472 general people died in conflict in the past 10 years, according to the report. Likewise, 141 teachers, 331 students 567 civil servants, 127 business people, 10 journalists, 13 social workers, six health workers and two law professionals also lost their lives in the deadly conflict between the state and the Maoist rebels while the number of victims whose identity has not been revealed stands at 1189.
While 22 people died in the first year of the Maoist rebellion in 1996, year 2002 saw a shocking growth in terms of loss of lives after the declaration of the state of emergency — for the first time after the breakdown of the government-Maoist peace talks. That year alone, 4602 people were killed with 3296 people losing their lives at the hands of the security forces. The number of killings surged drastically since the royal move of 4th October 2002 to 11 February 2006, the report reveals. During this period, 7296 people died with an average of 5.4 persons losing their lives every day.
Similarly, 1846 persons lost their lives in the year 2003 while 2921 and 163 people died in the conflict in 2004 and 2005 respectively. INSEC report indicates that 174 people have lost in this year.
The insurgency has gripped 73 out of the 75 districts – save for the mountainous districts of Manang and Mustang where no violent incidents have been reported till date. Mid-western districts like Rukum, Rolpa, Dang, Salyan and some far-western districts like Banke, Bardiya and Kailali have been badly hit by the violence although violent clashes resulting in deaths have occurred in 73 districts of all five development regions. Rukum, one of the Maoist hotbeds, tops the list in human casualties with 951 people killed there in the past 10 years and Rolpa ranks second in the list with 782 deaths there.
According to the INSEC report, 90 persons have been killed – 60 of them at the hands of Maoists – in violent incidents in the capital, Kathmandu, while 55 and 28 people died in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts respectively. The emergence of violence in the Kathmandu Valley was witnessed mainly after the breakdown of first round of peace talks, the report states.
The first board meeting of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) held after the election of the people’s representatives decided to begin process for running a 24-hour city bus service throughout the metropolis.
Raja Ram Shrestha
Raja Ram Shrestha (File Photo)
The meeting called by newly elected mayor Raja Ram Shrestha, decided to appeal to the civil society, political parties and organisations to help the mayor in his campaign to increase the income and the life-span of the residents of the country’s only metropolitan city, reports said.
Report quoted Shrestha as saying that the board also decided to provide free shuttle to journalists upon showing the press pass issued by the Department of Information and KMC staffers.
Addressing a KMC function today, Shrestha said one needed moral confidence to go to the people, adding, he was ready to participate in polls conducted under any government.
Eight student unions affiliated to the opposition political parties have urged the United Nations to form a committee to investigate the killing of CPN-UML cadre Umesh Chandra Thapa in Dang on February 8 and charge the guilty at the International Criminal Court. They handed over a memorandum addressed to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations to Matthew Kahane, the resident representative of the UN System in Nepal on Monday.
Representatives of eight student organisations handing over an appeal to UN Resident Representative to Nepal, Mathew Kahane, at the UN building in Pulchook on Monday, urging to form an independent committee to probe the killing of CPN (UML) activist Umesh Chandra Thapa in Dang last Wednesday. nepalnews.com/rh
Thapa was shot dead while Krishna Giri of Nepali Congress sustained serious injuries when Royal Nepalese Army personnel opened fire at a group of political cadres who were returning home after staging a peaceful demonstration at the district headquarters on the polling day.
The letter appealed to the secretary general to investigate the incident in order to bring the case before the international court, not only to those who ordered the firing but also to those who sanctioned it.
The memorandum states that Umesh should be announced a ‘martyr’ and the issue should be raised in the International Criminal Court as Home Minister Thapa had issued “orders to fire”.
The students said the report prepared by various human rights organizations also indicated that the shooting was intentional and Umesh was shot without following basic security guidelines.
A fact finding mission of Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) has said that the murder of UML-activist Umesh Chandra Thapa in Dang last week was “intentional and brutal”.
Earlier, the students took out a rally from the Patan Multiple Campus, chanting slogans against the government, the Dang killing and the autocracy, before it concluded in front of the UN House at Pulchowk.
The government had given unlimited power to the security forces to foil any anti-poll activity on the day for the municipal elections on February 8.
Home Minister Kamal Thapa a day before the elections said that security personnel have been empowered to take stern action including to open fire against anyone “who try to disrupt municipal polls.”
The Defense Ministry, however, claimed that Thapa was killed and NC activist Krishna Giri was injured when security personnel opened fire in self-defense after an unruly crowd tried to attack a polling center at Bal Mandir and somebody from the crowd opened fire injuring a police inspector.
Independent reports, however, said Thapa was killed nearly one km away from the polling center and that demonstrators had kept themselves away from the polling center so as to avoid confrontation.