Home Minister Kamal Thapa

Home Minister Kamal Thapa (File Photo)
Amid speculations if the government was going to call off municipal polls, Home Minister Kamal Thapa has said the government has no intention of halting or postponing the elections.

Addressing a press meet at his Ministry on Monday, Thapa refuted reports that the government had discussed the possibility of postponing or halting it. He argued that the government had made adequate security arrangements and that there would be no discrepancies during the elections.

Earlier, reports said quoting sources that the meeting of council of ministers had discussed the possibility of postponing polls if the agitating political parties agreed for reconciliation with the King. Reaction from Minister Thapa came soon after political parties refused to sit for talks with the royal government even if the municipal polls were withdrawn.

In a bid to foil the anti-poll drive of the seven opposition political parties, the police, on Tuesday morning, arrested some leaders of seven opposition alliance in Nepalgunj while conducting anti-poll campaign.

Police arrested seven leaders from Gharbaritole of Nepalgunj while they were conducting a door to door program to asking people not to participate in the municipal polls.

Those arrested leaders are Dev Raj Bhar of CPN-UML, Arun Koirala of Nepali Congress (NC), Gajendra Hamal, of NC (Democratic), Tek Narayan Bhusal of NSU, Upendra Kunwar, Agabar Kha and Sabir Ali Jatshaun affiliated to Trade Union.

A Nepalgunj based Human Rights activists, who met the detainees informed Nepalnews that they are detained at District Police Office.

The alliance of seven opposition parties is organizing various programmes to actively boycott the municipal election slated for February 8. They have started door-to-door campaign against poll boycott and announced to socially boycott the candidates participating in the municipal election.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday handed over three civilians and one policeman abducted by the Maoists following the attack at the police post in Dadhikot on January 14.

A press statement issued by the ICRC said that the Maoists released and handed them over to the ICRC on Monday.

“The release operation took place in Kavrepalanchowk. The ICRC conducted the operation in accordance with its standard procedures,” the statement said.

From 2001 to 2005, the ICRC has handed over 192 detainees, who had been captured and released later by the CPN (M), to state authorities on various occasions. In 2005 alone, it facilitated the release of 91 detainees, who had been held by the Maoists, the statement added.

One sub-inspector of Police, Hari Prasad Sharma Wagle, was killed and seven more police personnel were injured when the Maoists raided the police post.

A leading analyst on Nepal affairs, Rhoderick Chalmers, has warned that palace hardliners are the greatest threat to the future of the monarchy in the Himalayan kingdom.

His Majesty King Gyanendra (File Photo)

His Majesty King Gyanendra (File Photo)
In his latest commentary on the long-drawn political impasse in Nepal, Chalmers said, “At the moment, as thinking royalists have long realised, palace hardliners are the greatest threat to the future of the monarchy.”

In an article carried by The Indian Express, a leading Indian newspaper, on Monday, Chalmers wrote, “The palace now seems to have acquired a taste for replaying history. With only days to go before the anniversary of the last royal takeover, (last Thursday) Kathmandu once again awoke to cut phone lines, curfew orders and news that most democratic politicians had been detained.”

“Whatever his critics say, King Gyanendra’s steadfastness has pleased his supporters. He promised unwavering leadership and has stuck to his vow that “[outsiders] will say what they have to say but I will do what I have to do”. His refusal to bow to external pressure has played well among Nepali nationalists and he has successfully called the global community’s bluff. Those who never welcomed multiparty democracy have applauded the iron fist he has shown to the parties. But has he done what he had to do?,” he asked.

Addressing November’s SAARC summit, King Gyanendra explained that he would be able to hold municipal elections in February thanks to the “improved security situation”. His ministers have been boasting of having “broken the Maoists’ back” and insisting that the polls will, as promised, reinvigorate democracy. But the Maoists have now struck at Kathmandu militarily and all major parties, including royalists, are boycotting the elections, said Chalmers—who is associated with the International Crisis Group (ICG), a Brussels-based think tank..

We should not be surprised that the putative roadmap for democracy is also going astray. Holding elections amidst armed violence is always risky. Misjudged polls often serve to inflame conflicts rather than resolve them. The fact that the royal government chose not to consult its own peace secretariat on the potential dangers of the exercise is telling. For the palace, the polls seem to be part of a strategy of confrontation, not reconciliation. The king’s honorary aide-de-camp Bharat Keshar Simha, a retired general and president of the World Hindu Federation in Nepal, told Tehelka that elections will go ahead “irrespective of how many people die.” Some royalists would rather have a bloody showdown than risk losing face, wrote Chalmers.

Rhoderick Chalmers (Photo source : indianexpress.com)

Rhoderick Chalmers (Photo source : indianexpress.com)
The article further says: Nepal’s democrats are also hoping history will be replayed. As winter draws to a close the season of political agitation begins. It was in the spring of 1990 that the democracy movement gathered momentum. But the parties should not expect a simple repeat performance. Their own credibility has been tarnished by their poor record in office. And the king has made it clear he will not compromise in the face of popular protest as his brother did.

Chalmers—a visiting fellow at the Tribhuvan University– insists that Nepal’s conflict is still soluble. The party-Maoist agreement did not insist on republicanism; it deliberately left space for accommodation with the king.

“If King Gyanendra is willing to take a risk for peace he can recover respect for the monarchy by cancelling the flawed and misconceived elections and working towards the settlement Nepalis long for. Of course this will not be easy. But the easy options will lead only to continued bloodshed and political collapse,” he added.

Over one dozen activists of the seven agitating political parties were arrested as police intervened into a protest rally taken out at New Road, a restricted area in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.

The seven agitating party supporters and police clash at New Road during their protests against the government. The New Road area is still a restricted area, Tuesday, Jan 24 06. nepalnews.com/rh

Riot police started charging batons, used water canons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters soon after they gathered at New Road, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding immediate release of detained leaders and civil society activists.

At least 10 protesters were injured in scuffle with the police, according to our correspondent on the site. A tear gas shell fired by the police smashed the windowpanes of a house near Peepalbot.

Shops in New Road area remain closed at the moment while sporadic protests still continue.

A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday met CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is under house arrest at his Koteshwor residence since last Thursday, and learnt about his condition.

UML leaders Nepal and Adhikary (File photo)

UML leaders Nepal and Adhikary (File photo)
“Nepal told NHRC team that he had not been allowed to read newspapers demanded by him,” a statement issued by the commission said.

Nepal was placed under house arrest a day before a planned mass gathering of the seven-party alliance last Friday.

The NHRC team comprised of members Sudeep Pathak and Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh and other officials also met UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who is also under house arrest, and inquired about his condition.

Meanwhile, a monitoring team of the commission today visited the detention centres around Kathmandu Valley to take stock of the detained opposition political leaders and civil society activists.

After visiting the detention centres on Monday, the NHRC monitors had said altogether 276 persons were in detention while 35 others had been freed.

The murder of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) mayoral candidate, Bijay Lal Das in Janakpur by the Maoists on Sunday has raised serious questions on the credibility of the Maoists.

Maoists have been continuing their violent activities and targeting candidates of municipal poll notwithstanding with their public commitment not to do so.

According to reports, local Maoist leader, Jivan (means, Life), called up journalists and owned up responsibility for the killing, saying that the action was as per the “party’s policy.”

Maoist chairman Prachanda (File Photo)
In a statement issued on Monday, Chief of the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, Ian Martin said, “I urge the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) to state publicly and to all its cadres that it is against the policy of the Party for any unarmed civilian to be killed, including candidates and officials in the municipal elections.”

However, Maoists are yet to respond to Martin’s call and make public their official position.

Earlier, in response to the clarification sought by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, the Maoist leadership had assured that the party had not instructed its cadres to abduct or kill those participating in the elections despite its call for disrupting the polls.

However, reports from various districts say Maoist cadres are threatening local people not to take part in the municipal polls.

During an interaction with journalists early this week, Seti -Mahakali bureau in charge and central committee member of the CPN (Maoist), Lekh Raj Bhatta, warned that Maoists could take actions including death penalty against anybody who take part in the municipal polls.

Earlier, Maoists had announced various programmes to disrupt the municipal polls including special action against people associated with the municipal poll but made it clear that disruption does not mean physical action against the candidates or people associated with the elections.

Early this month, the UN OHCHR, in a statement said, “The OHCHR has received an assurance from the leadership of the CPN (M) that the announcement of their action to disrupt municipal elections “should by no means imply that our cadres have been instructed to abduct or kill those participating in the elections.”

Talking to Nepalnews, chairman of Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON)– a leading rights group– Charan Prasain said the recent act of Maoist had given rise to suspicion over their commitment.

“It seems that there is contradiction in their public commitment and their deed, which will harm their movement as well,” he added.

Body of NSP leader Bijay Lal Das after he was shot from close range in Janakpur on Sunday (Photo courtesy : Rahul Singhaniya, Janakpur)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also condemned the Maoists’ act of killing people saying, “The killing, which came despite commitment from the Maoist leadership towards honouring human rights and international humanitarian laws, is condemnable.”

Maoists have been targeting the municipalities and government offices ahead of the municipal polls.

The seven agitating political parties and Maoists had signed an agreement to refrain from violence and join the politics of competition late last year.

Maoists withdrew their four-month-long unilateral ceasefire on January 2 and have been increasing their violent activities ever since.

The seven agitating political parties are also actively boycotting the municipal polls. Unfortunately, there has been no word from them regarding physical attack on possible candidates and destruction of public property including municipal offices by the rebels.

In its editorial on Tuesday, leading Nepali daily Kantipur wrote: “The murder of an unarmed civilian is the worst form of individual or political revenge. It breeds fear and terror. It diverts the political movement towards non-political one and obstructs the process of (new political) polarisation in the country.”

The daily further said, “Maoists must give up their act of targeting civilians immediately in order to sustain importance of the 12-point understanding to provide a democratic way out to the country.”

Now the question is, “Will the Maoists heed?”

Maoist rebels have mounted attack on Nepalgunj—a major administrative and business center in the mid-western region—Tuesday evening. Fighting is going on.

According to latest reports, attacks resumed at around 8:00 p.m. and security installations in the city seem to be the main targets.

BBC Nepali Service reported that sounds of gunfire and bomb explosions could be heard all around the town. A BBC correspondent in Nepalgunj feared that civilians may have been caught in the crossfire. He said there were no reports of any casualty as yet and that authorities had not provided any details.

In what is seen as an important development, Nepal’s northern neighbor, China has urged for reconciliation among all political forces in Nepal.

“China is very concerned about recent political changes in Nepal.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Tuesday in a brief statement.

“We hope all forces in Nepal can narrow their differences through dialogue and work together for the country’s development and prosperity,” Reuters news agency quoted Quan as saying.

While India, US, UK and other countries termed the royal takeover of last year as setback to democracy in Nepal, China referred to it as an “internal matter” of Nepal and refrained from commenting on political developments thereafter.

China has all along stressing on political stability and economic development in its neighbourhood.

Analysts say China’s latest comments may be an indication of the emerging global power’s concerns about growing political unrest in its neighbourhood.

Two way gun battle has ensued in Nepalgunj—a major administrative and business center in the mid-western region—Tuesday evening after the Maoist rebels mounted attacks on key security installations in the city.

According to latest reports, attacks resumed at around 8:15 p. m. and was going on till 10:00 p. m.

Madhu Panthi, a human rights activist affiliated to Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) told Nepalnews over phone that he could hear sounds of bomb blasts and firing from various directions of the city.

He said fighting was going on at the District Police Office, regional office of Nepal Rastra Bank, District Prison, and Ward Police Office, among others. He said half a dozen opposition activists, who were detained during pro-democracy demonstrations in Nepalgunj, are being kept at the District Police Office that is under attack. Reports say the rebels may have tried to break the prison to let their comrades free.

Panthi said security had been reinforced at the District Police Office and District Administration Office after the rebels threatened that they would attack Nepalgunj.

He said he had heard sounds of series of explosions around the town. “People here are terrified. It is too dangerous to go out,” he added.

Reports said the rebels have also engaged security personnel at a local army barrack and Zonal Police Office, among others.

In its evening transmission, BBC Nepali Service reported that sounds of gunfire and bomb explosions could be heard all around the town. A BBC correspondent in Nepalgunj feared that civilians may have been caught in the crossfire. He said there were no reports of any casualty as yet and that authorities had not provided any details.

Details are likely to come up by Wednesday morning.

Last Friday, at least six policemen were killed when Maoist rebels had attacked two police check posts in Nepalgunj. Three policemen were killed in the raid at a police post at B .P. Chowk at around 6:00 p.m. while three policemen were killed at Jamunaha police post near the Nepal-India border around the same time.

Policemen had then fled to India, along with their arms, for safety, according to reports .