Works have started around Barahakhestra to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Koshi multi-purpose high dam, reports said.

The ministry of water resources in cooperation with the Indian government started preparatory works of DPR of Koshi multi-purpose high dam.

The Indian government had allocated Rs 470 million for the report after Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in July last year asked his government to start work on Koshi high dam DPR with priority, according to Nepal Samacharpatra daily.

A team of four experts including former executive director of the electricity development department Arjun Kumar Singh representing Nepal and A K Jain and others of central water project on behalf of the Indian side are actively involved in the report preparation, it is learnt.

The paper quoted a source with the ministry as saying that studies for a high dam with a height of 269 meters to be constructed between Ahale VDC of Dhankuta district and Nainanaini of Udayapur district were in progress. The source also said that activities of drilling and soil testing in the area are being done.

Seven opposition party supporters in a rally protesting the killing of CPN-UML activist Umesh Chandra Thapa in Dang during protests against the municipal elections yesterday, Thursday, Feb 09 06. nepalnews.com/rh

Seven opposition party supporters in a rally protesting the killing of…
Students affiliated to the agitating seven political parties clashed with police in different parts of the Valley while protesting the killing of CPN-UML activist Umesh Chandra Thapa in Ghorahi of Dang on Wednesday.

Thapa was killed when a Royal Nepalese Army soldier opened fire at Super Lodge road while they were returning home after organizing a peaceful demonstration against the municipal polls.

Agitating students burnt tyres on the road in front of Sarashwati Multiple Campus and Amrit Science Campus in Thamel at 10 a.m. and blocked the road for an hour.

Similarly, students also blocked the road in front of Pashupati Campus in Chabahil for 45 minutes.

Police firing tear gas at Amrit Science Campus. nepalnews.com

Police firing tear gas at Amrit Science Campus. nepalnews.com
Police used seven rounds of tear gas in front of Amrit Campus to disperse the mob.

The seven agitating political parties organized a protest rally in the capital against the killing.

Meanwhile, reports from Dang say the seven political parties organised a protest rally, almost six thousand strong, against the killing.

Speaking at a condolence meeting organised after the rally, speakers demanded an independent investigation and punishment to the culprit.

Nepal beat Ireland by 61 runs in its last game in Group D of the ICC U-19 World Cup cricket tournament played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka today.

Winning the toss first, Ireland elected to field first and invited Nepal to taste the fast swing in the early hours. Sarad Veswaker struck a splendid not out 82 runs to lead the Nepal’s tally to 234 runs losing eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Nepal got off to a good start with captain Kanishka Chaugai and his opening partner Mahesh Chhetri putting 54 runs in the first wicket partnership (with Chaugai departing). Chaugai blistered the run-rate with his powerful stroke which included 5 fours and one flying sixer in his 40 runs.

Nepal then lost Chhetri quickly to stand at 2-60. Then one-down batsman Sarad Vesawkar played sensitively with Gyanendra Malla and Paras Khadka and put 89 runs for the third wicket partnership. Nepal were 3-99 with Malla departing in the 22nd over and reached 4-188 when Khadka got out. Paras Khadka contributed an impressive 47 runs.

The last five wickets was scraped in just 17 runs, but by then, Nepal was well on its way to make 234 runs in the allotted 50 overs.

Nepal’s fall of wickets was as follows:

1-54 (Chaugai, 9.1 ov), 2-60 (Chhetri, 11.3 ov), 3-99 (Malla, 22.1 ov), 4-188 (Khadka, 42.2 ov), 5-209 (Chaudhary, 45.6 ov), 6-217 (Bataju, 47.3 ov),7-230 (Regmi, 49.2 ov), 8-233 (Rauniyar, 49.5 ov).

For Ireland, right medium fast bowler McDarby took three wickets while Kidd grabbed a couple wickets with his off-spin trap.

In reply Ireland could only muster 174 runs in 45.3 overs losing all wickets. EJG Morgan contributed the highest 86 runs for the team.

Nepalese bowlers Rauniyar and Kesari took two wickets.

Ireand’s fall of wickets was as follows:

1-7 (Stirling, 1.3 ov), 2-52 (McAllister, 15.5 ov),3-79 (Wilson, 20.4 ov), 4-145 (Poynter, 36.3 ov),5-149 (Rankin, 38.2 ov), 6-156 (Morgan, 39.6 ov), 7-157 (Hall, 40.2 ov), 8-157 (Thompson, 40.4 ov), 9-159 (McDarby, 41.2 ov), 10-174 (Kidd, 45.3 ov).

The win was worthless for Nepal to get entry to the Super League after England defeated Nepal by 77 runs in the first match and Zimbabwe defeated Nepal by 2 runs in the second match. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super League series while the bottom two go to the Plate Championship.

Nepal will play with Uganda in the quarterfinal of the plate championship.

Latest reports say security personnel and Maoist rebels clashed at Sunwal ward no. 4 in western terai district of Nawalparasi along the Mahendra highway Thursday afternoon.

According to security sources, clashes took place as Maoist rebels opened fire at a group of security personnel who were trying to clear obstructions along the highway placed by the rebels.

Rebels opened fire at the security personnel from the north-east side of Ramapur forest and gun battle continued for around two hours, according to reports.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side, but reports said at least three civilians were injured in the cross-firing.

The Sunwal section of the highway remains blocked even after the withdrawal of the ‘Nepal bandh’—the nationwide shutdown strike—from Thursday.

The underground CPN (Maoist) had called for the week-long nationwide strike beginning last Sunday as part of its strategy to disrupt polls but announced on Wednesday that it had decided to call it off from today “as its objectives had been fulfilled.”

The government of Japan has dubbed the municipal election held on Wednesday “without a broad support of the people” as deplorable, condemning the violence and arrests on the election day.

“Japan deplores that the municipal election in the Kingdom of Nepal was held without a broad support of the people of Nepal. Japan also regrets that many persons concerned with political parties were arrested in the process,” a statement issued by the Press Secretary/Director General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, said on Thursday.

“Japan strongly condemns the acts of violence including the killing of civilians,” it said. “What Nepal now needs is for the government and the political parties to reach out to one another with the spirit of reconciliation.”

Expecting that positive steps would be taken soon for reconciliation, Japan reiterated its call to the Maoists to halt the acts of violence and opt for dialogue to achieve peace.

The Japanese reaction comes soon after the completion of the municipal election in 36 municipalities in 28 districts amidst armed clash between the security forces and the Maoists and angry protests by the seven agitating political parties. Voters’ turnout was less than 21 percent although the government has claimed that the voting completed successfully.

Hundreds of opposition activists were arrested while one CPN (UML) cadre was shot dead during an anti-rally demonstration in Dang.

At least two Maoists were killed in an encounter between the security forces and the insurgents at Satdobato area in the western district of Gorkha on Thursday.

The Maoists were shot dead on the spot this afternoon, a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Meanwhile, at least six civilians were injured in an explosion carried out by the Maoists in Sunsari district on Wednesday.

The ministry statement said that a child and five women were injured in the bomb blast that took place between Pindeshwor Temple and Dantakali Primary School.

Leaders of opposition political parties have said they do not regard the elected candidates in the municipal polls as people’s representatives.

Speaking at a face-to-face program on Thursday at the Reporters Club, standing committee member of the CPN (UML) KP Oli said the agitating seven-party alliance would not regard the newly elected members of municipalities across the country as authoritative persons.

He argued that Wednesday’s election provided that people have no confidence towards the present rulers. Oli was more critical of Home Minister Kamal Thapa “because of whose order an UML cadre, Umesh Chandra Thapa, had to lose his life at the hands of security forces in Dang”.

Central committee member of Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said that most of the votes cast in yesterday’s election were proxy and that the state terrorised the people to participate in the voting.

He claimed that not more than 5 percent of the total votes cast on Wednesday were legal while all others were cast by organized gangs or by family member of the government employees, who were ordered to compulsorily cast their votes, or by the security personnel.

He said Umesh Thapa became the first martyr in the fight for complete democracy.

Dr Narayan Khadka of Nepali Congress (Democratic) was of the view the elections signaled that the King should face defeat should there be a fair and peaceful election to constituent assembly.

He said there was no possibility of immediate talks with the King even if Maoist chairman Prachanda has put forward the agenda of unconditional dialogue.

Defense specialist Dr Karna Bahadur Thapa defended the heavy presence of security personnel in the polling booths on the election day. He said that Royal Nepalese Army played good role in protecting the right of the people in yesterday’s election. He, however, denied comment on the killing of a UML cadre in Dang by security forces.

Former member of Election Commission Biswhoman Shrestha said that even if Nepal’s law does not demarcate the extent by which any election would become legitimate, Wednesday’s election would not, however, be taken as a legitimate election.

Speaking at the same program, Govinda Khaniya of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Thapa) defended the municipal polls. He insisted that the election was a success despite opposition from the Maoist rebels and major political parties.

Municipal election ended on Wednesday amid strong protests from mainstream political parties and armed clash between the Maoists and the government forces in different parts of the country.

Human rights groups have said Horilal Rana (Tharu), who was killed by security personnel in the western town of Dhangadhi on charge of trying to lay down explosives, was an innocent civilian.

The Far-Western division of the Royal Nepalese Army said that Rana was shot dead by security personnel while he was trying to lay down electric wires to cause explosion targeting the polling center at BP Primary School at Dhangadhi municipality ward no. 10 on Wednesday morning.

But, after conducting an on-the-spot investigation, local human rights groups said Thursday that they did not find any evidence of 24-year-old Rana involving in destructive activities.

They said Rana worked as a laborer at a local brick kiln and had got married only last year. They said he had no connection with the CPN (Maoists).

According to local people, Rana was relieving himself at a stream—some 60 meters away from the polling center—when the security personnel opened fire on him. His body was handed over to his father, Gangaram Rana, an illiterate person, Thursday evening and was made him to sign on a statement saying that his son was a “terrorist.”

Regional coordinator of the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), Khadga Raj Joshi, president of Nepal Bar Association Kailali district branch Surya Bhandari and central committee member of Human Rights Alliance, Ganesh BK, were among the rights activists who visited the site of incident.

Local journalists were also present during the inspection.

Rights groups have demanded that the government withdraw the tag of `terrorist’ against Rana and compensate his family.

Meanwhile, activists affiliated to the seven party opposition alliance carried out protests in Dhangadhi denouncing the killing of CPN-UML member, Umesh Thapa, in Dang and Hori Lal Rana in Dhangadhi.

Reports say Thapa was killed as he was returning after taking part in a protest at Ghorahi in Dang as security personnel opened fire indiscriminately at the group.

The authorities have, however, claimed that security personnel had opened fire after somebody from the group opened fire at them.

Thousands of people including senior leaders of the seven party opposition alliance on Friday paid last tributes to a member of CPN (UML), Umesh Chandra Thapa, who was killed during firing by security personnel in Dang two days ago.

Friends and relatives of Umesh Thapa, who was killed by the army in Dang on Wednesday, pay last tribute to him at Pashupati Aryaghat, Friday, Feb10, 06. nepalnews.com

The opposition parties organized a condolence meeting on the bank of holy Bagmati river this morning where Thapa’s body had been kept to allow people to pay their respects.

Addressing the condolence meeting, senior UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli alleged that the “autocratic regime” was trying to suppress pro-democracy movement by targeting innocent, unarmed civilians. He alleged that the royal government was pushing the country towards more violence by restricting all types of peaceful movements. He also condemned what he called the government’s attempt to defame 12-point pact between the parties and the Maoists, which he said aimed at restoring peace and democracy in the country.

Joint general secretary of Nepali Congress, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, said Thapa had become martyr from the bullets of the ‘autocratic regime.’ He said the government was targeting opposition activists in Biratnagar, Chitwan and Dang just to terrorise them. He also urged the security forces to stand in favour of the people and the country’s constitution.
Dr. Mahat said the true respect to late Thapa could be paid only by restoring peace and total democracy in the country.

President of Jana Morcha Nepal, Amik Sherchan, said Nepali people will not be terrorized by killing pro-democracy activists like Thapa. He said the government should take full responsibility of the killing of Thapa.

NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC, CPN (UML) leader Shanker Pokhrel, Homnath Dahal of NC (Democratic), Khusilal Mandal of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi), Khem Raj Pandit of Rastriya Prajatantra Party also spoke on the occasion and demanded impartial probe into the incident and punish the guilty.

Thapa’s last rites were performed at the Pashupati Aryaghat this afternoon. His body was handed over to his family from the TU Teaching hospital this morning.

Thapa was killed in what has been described as ‘unprovoked and unwarranted firing’ by security when he was returning to his home after taking part in a protest rally organized by the seven party opposition alliance at Ghorahi of Dang district on Wednesday.

The Defense Ministry, however, claimed in two separate statements issued over the last two days 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.

Human Rights groups, after preliminary investigation, have dismissed the government’s claim saying that Thapa was killed some 300 meters away from the polling center and that the participants in the rally were returning after organizing a peaceful protest.

The opposition parties said no clashes took place at the Balmandir polling station so there was no question of security personnel being injured in “firing.”

Kantipur daily reported Friday that a police inspector had forced a staff on emergency duty at the Mahendra hospital at Ghorahi forced him to register in the hospital record that “he had received bullet injuries in his finger.”

By Preeti Koirala

Finally, the sovereign people of Nepal have exercised their constitutional right to choose their own elected representatives for the 58 municipalities of the country. This constitutional right was denied to them by successive governments since the elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba dissolved all the elected institutions in 2002. This election is clearly a victory of the ballot over the bullet. Despite the 7-day bandh called by the Maoists, regardless of the boycott called by the seven agitating parties and in the face of EU’s ridiculous warning that these elections are a step backward for democracy, the people of Nepal came in fairly good numbers to cast their vote. Democracy which was derailed by the elected Prime Minister in agreement with the major political parties has now been partly restored. These freshly elected Mayors, Deputy Mayors, and Ward Officials are the only existing elected representatives in the country today. They have much more authority to talk of people’s sovereignty, total democracy and freedom than G P Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal who were last elected way back in 1999 or the Maoist leaders who were never elected except inside dens of their jungle hideouts.

It is, indeed, a victory of democracy, triumph of people power over muscle force and a conquest of good reason over negative publicity. King Gyanendra was precise when he said in his February 1st address last week, “democrats don’t lose when democracy wins.” He has been proven right by the Nepali people and in the ultimate analysis that’s what actually counts. If municipal elections can be held in Nepal with Maoist attacks in Palpa and Panauti, running over a police post in Thankot and attack on two candidates and a lone taxi driver, then this nation should unmistakably gear up for general elections for the parliament without wasting any more time. The Maoist myth has now been very badly shattered. Therefore, the Kantipur interview of the Maoist leaders in which they have called for talks with the royal government doesn’t come as a surprise. Nepali security forces have been able to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner with far little violence compared to the fear psychosis and the illusion that was created by the Maoists and their sympathizers in the local media not to mention the panic attack among certain vested interest groups including diplomats stationed in Kathmandu. When it came on the very day of the voting, the Maoists could do nothing. We wasted four years in contemplating whether or not the elections are feasible in lieu of the Maoist brutality and their guns running amok across the country. But a sensible way forward would have been conducting these elections one by one and then filling up the positions of elected representatives as envisaged by the constitution. Kudos must go to the present government for at least filling up one semblance of democracy. The parliament and the village level elections must now quickly follow. If some people want to disrupt the polls and bar the sovereign people in exercising their constitutional right, they must be placed under house arrest till the elections are over. This is done everywhere in the world especially in and around the Indian sub-continent.

The seven agitating parties, too, who claimed to have the backing of the people through their sponsored rallies could neither stop the people in participating in these elections nor disturb the poll proceedings in a significant manner. Except media support and occasional backing by one section of the international community, their influence in Nepali politics has diminished to near zero. Just like the myth of the Maoists, the image of the US, UK, India and EU too have been devastated at the level of the Nepali people. By calling for the restoration of democracy but not supporting elections, they showed that they have some hidden agenda to implement inside a messy Nepal. This writer had been writing time and again in this column that the parties should not boycott elections, rather participate in them, come out victorious and then do whatsoever they would like to do as regards to the constituent assembly, talks with the Maoists, etc. But by leaving the space wide and open, they have committed a historic blunder. Now, there are Mayors and Deputy Mayors in all 58 municipalities freshly and legally elected by the sovereign people who will be executing their jobs as per the wishes of the people of their respective areas. They were sadistically enjoying as the media reported the withdrawal of candidature by some candidates but failed to recognize that constitutionally elected representatives can neither be sacked nor negated. Unfortunately, it is too late now.

Elections in conflict-ridden countries are always difficult to conduct. Thousands of American soldiers were killed in run-up to elections in Iraq and Afghanistan. But by not holding elections and thus leaving a political vacuum, what we were essentially doing was providing room to the Maoists. This needs to be corrected by promptly holding the elections to the parliament and the village level. Of course there will be Maoist violence and killings but they need to be conducted anyhow just like in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Indian state of Assam because elections are the first prerequisite to democracy and without democracy insurgents always tend be at the advantage.

As far as the question of maximum people participation is concerned, the 2004 Presidential elections in the United States witnessed a mere 42.45 percent participation. George Bush received a majority of the popular vote: 50.73 percent to Kerry’s 48.27 percent. 50 percent of 42 percent of Americans means that Bush was elected to office by only 21 percent of American citizens. Ironically, this was a record turnout—the highest since 1968.

During the 1999 elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, despite the heavy presence of Indian Army troops the turnout was very low. It was just 13.8 percent in Anantanag and even less in the Baramulla. The Sangrama Assembly segment of Baramulla recorded the lowest of 2.5 while just 0.9 percent in the Anantanag constituency. Not a single vote was polled in about 180 polling stations in Kashmir as a whole. The call for a general strike (Bandh) by the All Party Hurriyat Conference evoked total response both on September 18 and October 4 paralyzing normal life in the Kashmir valley. All political parties, independent candidates, non-governmental groups, human rights activists, media (both domestic and foreign) and most importantly, the international community, seriously doubted the credibility of the elections and the results that followed it. Even in 2002, the assembly elections in the valley had to be conducted in four phases but only with an average turnout of about 44 percent. This is the predicament of the largest democracy on earth with the third largest standing army and a declared nuclear weapon status.

At least landlocked Nepal with far little security personnel and budget was successful in holding the municipal elections on a single day without much violence. Certainly, with the participation of the seven agitating parties, the voter turnout would have been far greater but it is their betrayal to this nation and to the sovereign people of Nepal that is to be solely blamed. They must realize that even without their participation, people have indeed come out to vote and despite the Maoist terror warnings, all the 58 Mayoral posts are now filled. Only famous dictatorships like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Mugabe’s Zimbabwe witness 99 percent voter turnout. Had Nepal not been a democracy and if the Election Commission was a pawn of regression, the voter turnout could have been easily maneuvered to camouflage the international community.

But have the political parties lost their political gamble? Should they be totally demoralized? Definitely not. Democracy is such a wonderful system of governance that there is a legitimate place for everybody- all the time. They must now repent for their past mistakes, reconcile with the King and contest in the parliamentary and village level elections. Talks with the Maoists can come up as soon as the new parliament is formed thus providing legal and constitutional legitimacy to the ‘give and take’ that may take place with the insurgents. Failing to grasp this new political reality will only be a waste of time. Resorting to brick-batting on the streets and calling for continual Nepal-bandhs will only alienate themselves with the common man.

(The above article by Ms. Koirala has generated strong response amid Nepalnews readers. Follow selected response sent to us by our readers from around the world.—Ed.)

I am quite amazed how people can be seriously wrong and biased in their views, like this writer is. How can elections in Nepal in the present climate be called ‘democratic’? I am reading that voter turnout was under 21% in average and in some areas it was as low as 3 to 10%. Does this not reflect that there is no popular participation in this election?

This election is wrong (in purpose and timing) and achieves nothing. It is a serious waste of taxpayers money in a downgrading economy and the government should be made accountable for this waste. As the saying ‘A rotting fish smells from the head first’, the idea and principle behind an election in Nepal now is ill conceived and it is starting to smell foul. Last week, Shiv Raj Bhatt wrote appropriately in Nepalnews.com why this election is a farce.

More importantly, how does this election solve the present and ongoing political conflict? What does this election do other than somehow attempt to legitimise the current regime?

There is only one way to solve the political situation in Nepal (fairly and democratically) as I have explained in my Roadmap to Stability. In the proposed Roadmap, elections are to be held at Stage 3 after completing the Referendum first (stage 1 and 2).

Kiran Chalise, Sydney
———————————————-

Dear Ms. Koirala,

Having experienced first hand the destruction that a Koirala has brought unto a beautiful country like Nepal, I did not think there could be another Koirala who is a real believer in democracy and is so clear about what has to happen in this country. I wish we had you as a politician instead of the rotten breed that we now have.

Thank you for that beautiful article about the elections. You have put the whole picture in such an articulate and convincing manner. I agree with almost everything you have said. This has been the most fair elections that have ever been held in Nepal – even if there was not much choice.

Elections during the so called democracy period, conducted under the corrupt leadership, were only as good as the hooligans and corrupt people that got elected through various means.

Therefore, I do not think elections for the parliament will solve our problems in the near future. I think, it will be better if there was autocracy at the top (but with a good and well meaning one at the top) and democracy at the grassroots – so that people can learn what democracy is all about. After a few cycles, these people can be elected to the parliament.

I also agree what you have said about the so called diplomats wanting a messy Nepal.

Rajendra Khadga
—————————–

(Ms. Koirala is an insurance executive based in the USA. Whether you agree with her views or not, please write to us at [email protected] or send your comments to [email protected]– 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])