The government has removed a dozen police posts from different parts of the Kathmandu valley citing security reasons, reports said.
It has been said that these police posts have been moved to the ward police office and area police office because of the possible Maoist attack in such police offices.
Three weeks after the Maoists attacked the security check post in Thankot and killed 11 security men including a police inspector, the police headquarters has been gradually removing temporary police posts and some permanent police posts, Nepal Samacharpatra daily reported.
According to the police headquarters, some police posts have been removed which were considered sensitive in terms of security. It was also informed that the policemen who were stationed in the temporary posts were sent to other places at night due to security reasons.
As it has been reported that armed Maoists have entered the Valley, the security of the valley has been tightened and security checks are being conducted in various places.
Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi
Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi (File Photo)
Former Raj Parishad Standing Committee chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi has said the King should take initiative for dialogue with the major political parties and the Maoists to resolve the crisis facing the country.
In an interview given to Sanghu Weekly, Ramajhi, who retired three years ago after a long tenure in the council, said, “The royal address (of February 1) talked about consolidating the democracy, restoration of peace as well as dialogue. Those whom the King has given the responsibility should hold talks with the political parties and the Maoists. Foreigners are also talking about dialogue. That’s what the Nepali people want.”
“No solution is possible without talks,” he said. On a question as to who should take the initiative for resolving the current crisis, Rayamajhi said, “The first duty to take initiative falls on the present Council of Ministers. As the council has the King as its head, the King’s initiative is also necessary. Here, the issue of dialogue comes first. The cabinet should ask the Maoists why they are opting for bullets instead of the ballot.”
Unlike is previous stance, Rayamajhi said the commitments made in last year’s February 1 royal address – that of restoration of peace and consolidating democracy – have not been fulfilled upon completion of one year of the King’s move.
“The King’s wishes have not been turned into practice. Peace is still elusive in the country. Take for instance the recent incidents in Tansen and Kathmandu. People have not felt any positive change after the King took over power.”
Rayamajhi, one of the founders of Nepal Communist Party, but later deserted the party, who has been a stanch supporter of monarchy, further said that the government would be wise to cancel or defer the February 8 municipal elections considering the difficult situation in the country.
“Elections could take place in a normal way had a favourable atmosphere been created. In the present situation, it would be better if the elections are cancelled. Elections can also be postponed,” he maintained.
Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi
Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi (File Photo)
Former Raj Parishad Standing Committee chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi has said the King should take initiative for dialogue with the major political parties and the Maoists to resolve the crisis facing the country.
In an interview given to Sanghu Weekly, Ramajhi, who retired three years ago after a long tenure in the council, said, “The royal address (of February 1) talked about consolidating the democracy, restoration of peace as well as dialogue. Those whom the King has given the responsibility should hold talks with the political parties and the Maoists. Foreigners are also talking about dialogue. That’s what the Nepali people want.”
“No solution is possible without talks,” he said. On a question as to who should take the initiative for resolving the current crisis, Rayamajhi said, “The first duty to take initiative falls on the present Council of Ministers. As the council has the King as its head, the King’s initiative is also necessary. Here, the issue of dialogue comes first. The cabinet should ask the Maoists why they are opting for bullets instead of the ballot.”
Unlike is previous stance, Rayamajhi said the commitments made in last year’s February 1 royal address – that of restoration of peace and consolidating democracy – have not been fulfilled upon completion of one year of the King’s move.
“The King’s wishes have not been turned into practice. Peace is still elusive in the country. Take for instance the recent incidents in Tansen and Kathmandu. People have not felt any positive change after the King took over power.”
Rayamajhi, one of the founders of Nepal Communist Party, but later deserted the party, who has been a stanch supporter of monarchy, further said that the government would be wise to cancel or defer the February 8 municipal elections considering the difficult situation in the country.
“Elections could take place in a normal way had a favourable atmosphere been created. In the present situation, it would be better if the elections are cancelled. Elections can also be postponed,” he maintained.
England defeated Nepal by 77 runs in the ICC Under-19 World Cricket tournament in Sri Lanka on Monday.
England opted to bat first after winning the toss and made 209 runs losing nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Nepal could only muster 132 runs in the allotted 45.2 overs losing all wickets.
Nepal falls under group ‘D’, in the tournament in which 16 countries are taking part.
Nepal will also take on Zimbabwe and Ireland in the league phase of the Under-19 world cup.
Nepal had defeated Scotland and Namibia on practice matches played before beginning of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2006 campaign.
The match against Zimbabwe is scheduled for Tuesday at Colombo Cricket Club while European qualifier Ireland meets Nepal on February 9 at Nondescripts Cricket Club.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super League series while the bottom two go to the Plate Championship.
The Nepali squad is as follows:
Kanishka Chaugai (captain)
Paras Khadka (vice-captain)
Yashwant Subedi
Prem Chaudhary
Sharad Vesawkar
Gyanendra Malla
Mahesh Chhetri (wicket-keeper)
Basant Regmi
Ratan Rauniyar
Sashi Keshari
Raj Shrestha
Abhaya Rana
Bantu Bataju
Amrit Bhattarai
Roy Dias (coach)
Shankar Rana (assistant coach)
TB Shah (manager)
Diwakar Ghale (assistant manager)
An unidentified group of people has shot dead a taxi driver in Kathmandu on Monday—the second day of nationwide shutdown strike called by the Maoist rebels.
According to police, Jitendra Shrestha was shot dead at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday just near the gate of B & B hospital at Ring Road of Kathmandu by one of the two passengers who were traveling in the same taxi (plate no. Ba 1 Ja 8884).
The bill in the taxi showed only Rs thirty-two, according to police.
Police quoted local eyewitnesses as saying that the assailants immediately fled. Shrestha succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Police said the assailants had used a Chinese-made pistol to attack Shrestha– a resident of nearby district of Dhading.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack on an unarmed civilian earning his bread. Police blame Maoists for the attack. There has been no word from the rebels regarding the incident as yet.
The incident came as a large number of taxis and private vehicles were seen plying in the streets of Kathmandu (with their plate nos. covered) defying the week-long strike called by the Maoists. Only few vehicles took to the streets of the capital on Sunday.
The rebels have called the strike as part of their bid to disrupt municipal polls slated on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the government’s spokesman, Shrish Shumsher Rana, told a press conference that the government had made adequate security arrangements ahead of the polls. He even asked people to go out for voting by shedding off any kind of fear.
Armed security personnel were guarding major thoroughfares of the capital today. Royal Nepalese Army personnel could be seen standing guard in front of polling booths and ward offices of Kathmandu municipality.
Most of the shops in main roads remained closed while shops in the inner parts of the city were open. Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed for the second day on Monday due to the strike.
Lawyers have said that the decision of the Election Commission (EC) to allow voters to cast their votes without voter’s identity card is inconsistent to the constitution and laws.
Talking to Nepalnews on Monday, a constitutional lawyer Bhimarjun Acharya said that the notice of the commission is not in accordance with the law and constitution. He said that the commission has no right to issue any directives that are inconsistent with constitution and rules and regulations related to elections.
Acharya claimed that the commission has brought out the news rules with the assumption that it would increase the number of people casting votes.This would be illegal election, he said, if it is so.
Secretary of Nepal Bar Association Madhav Baskota said that the directive of the EC violates the rule of law. He said that the directive cannot be accepted as a legal instrument because it is against the spirit of the constitution of 1990.
He hinted, however, that they would not move to the Supreme Court against the directive.
Meanwhile, the EC defended its move. Spokesperson of the EC Tejmuni Bajracharya said that clause 34 of the amended regulation relating to local election 1991 empowers the EC to bring such directives.
He said that the EC made this arrangement so that all people above 18 years, who have not received their voter’s identity cards, can cast their votes in the municipal polls slated for Wednesday. If such am arrangement were not made, a large number of Nepalis citizens would be barred from their right to vote, he added.
Baskota also agreed that without such arrangement, people may be barred from their right to vote. But, he said, to avoid this situation, the commission should have distributed voters identity card earlier. The EC cannot go against the constitution in the name of protecting the rights of voters, he said.
The EC has not issued voters identity card since 2001 though it has been updating the list of the voters across the country.
The EC on Sunday directed its polling officers to allow people to cast their votes even if they do not posses voter’s identity card. The election regulation of 2052 allows only persons possessing voters identity card to cast vote in the elections.
The Industrial Security Group (ISG) has condemned the recent abduction of employees working in industrial and commercial activities and the Maoist threats against them.
A statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu on behalf of the ISG on Monday said, “The Industrial Security Group (ISG) condemns the recent Maoist abduction of employees engaged in industrial and commercial activities and the Maoist threats against and forced closure of businesses.”
It added, “Industries and their employees should be allowed to carry on their work freely and peacefully. These actions violate the human right to work and hurt the overall economy of Nepal.”
The reaction of the ISG, which comprises representatives of the Embassies of France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Delegation of the European Commission, along with their bilateral Chambers of Commerce comes after reports of abduction of three employees of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, a leading tobacco industry in Nepal, by the Maoists on Saturday and forced closure of businesses and industries around the country.
“The abduction of employees harms those workers and their families and hurts the commercial interests of foreign investors in Nepal, driving away valuable foreign investment and jobs for Nepali people,” the ISG further said, urging the Maoists to release the abducted employees.
The ISG is chaired by the US Embassy.
In a bid to disrupt the February 8 municipal elections, the Maoists have imposed a weeklong nationwide bandh (general strike), blocking highways and closing down marketplaces, industries, schools and colleges.
President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Morang district Amrit Aryal
President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Morang district Amrit Aryal
(Photo source : Kantipur daily)
Police opened fired at president of the Nepali Congress (NC), Morang district Amrit Aryal and NC Biratnagar municipality committee president Kamaksha Parajuli NC in Biratnagar on Saturday.
The duo, traveling on a motorbike after participating in a pro-democracy rally, was targeted by policemen who were following in a white van, reports said.
Police had tried since morning to arrest them and they shot at them after a chase of some 100 meters from Gudari Chowk.
According to Aryal, the police van also tried to crush their motorbike once.
After the incident, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jagat Bahadur Bista telephoned Aryal and apologized. “The incident occurred ‘by mistake’, so please don’t publicize it,” Aryal quoted Bista as saying.
Meanwhile, condemning the incident, NC and CPN-UML demanded that the guilty be punished within 24 hours, and threatened “unprecedented protests” if the authorities failed to do so.
Meanwhile a report from Rajbiraj said that security personnel mistreated journalist Jitendra Khadga, who is also the chairman of Youth Journalists Society, Saptari, after holding him for two hours, on Saturday.
“They scolded me as I was getting down from a public bus for avoiding possible danger after some armed security men got onto it and they asked me why I got down” report quoted Khadga as saying.
Just three day before the municipal poll leaders of agitating political parties said municipal elections will not resolve present crisis dogging the country rather it will push the country towards the edge of a precipice.
Speaking at a programme organized by the Press Chautari Nepal on Saturday, CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli said, “The civic polls are a series of a game plan to push the country towards the edge of a precipice and the exercise will not give any long-term benefit to those who orchestrated them.”
He said the polls were being conducted at a time when there is no parliament and a government accountable to the people and the conflict between the parties, the King and the Maoists is deepening.
Speaking at the same programme, joint general secretary of the Nepali Congress Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the King had unilaterally decided on the elections and they do not have constitutional and political legitimacy.
He said the democratic government to be formed after the end of autocracy would recover state funds ‘misused by people in autocracy’ in the name of elections.
Central committee member of Nepal Bar Association Tikaram Bhattarai said the agitating parties should recover the ‘misused’ funds.
When the elected government wanted to use the army to control the insurgency the then chief of the army staff demanded an all-party consensus for it, but the government has misused the national force to arrest and search the pockets of civilians, Mahat said.
Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Homnath Dahal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s joint general secretary Khemraj Pandit and former chief election commissioner Surya Prasad Shrestha said the civic polls held no relevance as the major political parties are staying away from them.
The government took under control over 500 vehicles on the eve of seven day long Nepal Bandh (general strike) to compel entrepreneurs and employees to operate the vehicles during the bandh.
Over 500 vehicles impounded by the Valley Traffic Police Office being parked on the premises of the National Trading Corporation in Kathmandu on Saturday. (Photo source : THT)
Over 500 vehicles impounded by the Valley Traffic Police Office being parked on the premises of the National Trading Corporation in Kathmandu on Saturday. (Photo source : THT)
According to entrepreneurs, the Traffic police rounded up these vehicles from different parts of the valley.
The traffic police seized driving licenses and blue books from drivers and asked them to appear at 7am on Sunday to ply the vehicles.
Report quoted a police official as saying that some of the vehicles have been sent to major parts of the Valley like Kalanki, Satdobato, Balaju and Maharajgunj.
They have been kept at the police posts there. “Police will use Tata mobile vans for patrolling. Police personnel will also guard buses, micro buses and tempos on bandh days,” the official said.
The police official also said the vehicles have been kept at the National Trading Limited, VTPO, and Srijan battalion of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA).
The Police confirmed that 375 vehicles have been taken into control, but the entrepreneurs claim that the number is more than 500.
Issuing a press statement, Nepal Drivers’ Union (NDU) and transport entrepreneurs have condemned the government’s move.
“Who will be responsible if something untoward happens to us? We are not safe at all,” report quoted Ganga Ram Khadgi, an advisor of the NDU, adding, “Government cannot force us to operate vehicles if we don’t want to.”
Binod Kumar Singh, a micro-bus driver, said some of them have been asked to spend the night in the vehicles. Rohit Giri, a taxi owner, came down heavily on the traffic police and said, “This is the first time that the traffic police is issuing orders on independent entrepreneurs.” “This is not justifiable,” he added.
Efforts to contact the VTPO chief, Krishna Rana Magar, failed. Media persons were not allowed to enter the VTPO this afternoon.
Maoists called seven day long bandh to disrupt the municipal poll slated for Wednesday.