Sushil Sharma
BBC News, Kathmandu
The Nepalese army has said that three senior officers are facing a court martial for allegedly committing human rights abuses.
The colonel and two captains were held in connection with the death of a teenage girl in custody last year.
The army has not disclosed the names of the accused. If found guilty they could be jailed for up to seven years.
An army official told the BBC that the colonel was the highest-ranking officer to date to have been court martialled.
'Committed'
The three are accused of involvement in the death of Maina Sunuwar, who was being held in custody in a barracks at Kavrepalanchok, north-east of the capital, Kathmandu, last year.
The army last week said it had taken action against more than 100 soldiers for committing excesses over the past three years of operations against Maoist rebels.
Most of them had been jailed, dismissed or demoted, it said.
Army officials say they are committed to respecting human rights and to punishing those found guilty of abuses.
There has been persistent national and international criticism of the army by human rights groups over alleged abuses during military operations against the Maoists, who have also been criticised.
About 11,000 people have died since the Maoist insurgency was launched 10 years ago to replace the monarchy with a communist republic.
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/
Published: 2005/03/30 11:37:14 GMT© BBC MMV
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Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
| Journalists Rally in Nepal to End Censorship | |
29 March 2005 |
Nepalese journalists staged a protest in the capital, Kathmandu, to demand an end to government censorship.
More than 300 journalists marched through the city Tuesday, waving signs calling for freedom of the press and down with autocracy. Police did not break up the rally or make any arrests, as in previous protests.
Nepal's King Gyanendra dismissed the government on February 1, suspended civil liberties and imposed emergency rule. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) says at least 13 journalists have been detained since then.
The head of the organization says its members are going to fight until complete press freedom is restored in the country.
King Gyanendra said he made the power grab in order to subdue increasingly violent Maoist rebels.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Nepal activists held
| |
KATHMANDU: Nepali police detained at least seven anti-king activists in Kathmandu yesterday as they protested against King Gyanendra's seizure of power last month and called for restoration of political freedom.
Witnesses said the activists, including former legislators, were picked up from the heart of the the capital as they shouted anti-king slogans and waved the Nepali Congress party flags, ignoring a ban on protest rallies.
"Restore democracy," and "Withdraw the royal proclamation of emergency", the protesters shouted as riot police detained them.
Sphere: Related Content3 children die in Nepal explosion
Monday, March 28, 2005 at 09:48 JST
KATHMANDU — Three children were killed and three more were injured when an abandoned bomb exploded in southeastern Nepal on Sunday, officials said.
The blast occurred in Janakpur, about 100 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, around noon. Three children aged between 10 and 15 died. (Kyodo News) Sphere: Related Content
KATHMANDU — Three children were killed and three more were injured when an abandoned bomb exploded in southeastern Nepal on Sunday, officials said.
The blast occurred in Janakpur, about 100 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, around noon. Three children aged between 10 and 15 died. (Kyodo News) Sphere: Related Content
Saturday, March 26, 2005
17,000 Nepalese prostitutes in India
Kathmandu, March 26 : Around 17,000 Nepalese women are involved in prostitution in four major Indian cities, Xinhua quoted a women's group as saying Saturday.
The Asmita Women's Publication Group, a non-governmental organisation, released the figure after surveys of brothels in the red light areas of New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata.
The NGO team talked to Nepali women in the brothels.
"Most of them (Nepali women) fall prey to the avarice of family members. Local brokers come second in the line of the process of selling them there," the study said.
The study quoted the International Labour Organisation statistics as saying over 10,000 Nepalese women are taken to India for prostitution every year.
--Indo-Asian News Service Sphere: Related Content
The Asmita Women's Publication Group, a non-governmental organisation, released the figure after surveys of brothels in the red light areas of New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata.
The NGO team talked to Nepali women in the brothels.
"Most of them (Nepali women) fall prey to the avarice of family members. Local brokers come second in the line of the process of selling them there," the study said.
The study quoted the International Labour Organisation statistics as saying over 10,000 Nepalese women are taken to India for prostitution every year.
--Indo-Asian News Service Sphere: Related Content
Nepalese soldier arrested for murder
[Nepal News] Kathmandu, Mar 26 : A Royal Nepalese Army soldier has been arrested for allegedly killing a civilian.
Gobinda Karki allegedly opened fire at a trader Arjun Lamichhane of Manmaiju village on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Thursday night and injured him seriously, the Army sources said yesterday.
Arjun was then rushed to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
The soldier was under the influence of liquor when the incident occurred, the sources said, adding the Army arrested Karki along with the pistol used in the murder.
Three other persons, who allegedly helped Karki in the crime were also arrested, the sources added. PTI" Sphere: Related Content
Gobinda Karki allegedly opened fire at a trader Arjun Lamichhane of Manmaiju village on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Thursday night and injured him seriously, the Army sources said yesterday.
Arjun was then rushed to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
The soldier was under the influence of liquor when the incident occurred, the sources said, adding the Army arrested Karki along with the pistol used in the murder.
Three other persons, who allegedly helped Karki in the crime were also arrested, the sources added. PTI" Sphere: Related Content
Friday, March 25, 2005
Japan Today - News - Army hails rift in rebel ranks in insurgency-ravaged Nepal - Japan's Leading International News Network
Friday, March 25, 2005 at 08:44 JST
KATHMANDU — Nepal's army said Thursday it has gained an edge over warring Maoist guerrillas amid reports of a rift in the rebel ranks.
"The rift is good, we are getting the upper hand," army spokesman Brig. Gen. Deepak Kumar Gurung said.
Nepal's army said Thursday it has punished more than 100 soldiers for rights violations committed while fighting the communist insurgency in the kingdom.
"At least 40 incidents of rights violations have been probed so far, and 44 soldiers, including senior officers, have been jailed," army spokesman Brig. Gen. Deepak Kumar Gurung told a press briefing. (Kyodo News)
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KATHMANDU — Nepal's army said Thursday it has gained an edge over warring Maoist guerrillas amid reports of a rift in the rebel ranks.
"The rift is good, we are getting the upper hand," army spokesman Brig. Gen. Deepak Kumar Gurung said.
Nepal's army said Thursday it has punished more than 100 soldiers for rights violations committed while fighting the communist insurgency in the kingdom.
"At least 40 incidents of rights violations have been probed so far, and 44 soldiers, including senior officers, have been jailed," army spokesman Brig. Gen. Deepak Kumar Gurung told a press briefing. (Kyodo News)
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Thursday, March 24, 2005
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Nepal army admits rights abuses
The army in Nepal says it has taken action against more than 100 soldiers and officers accused of human rights abuses over the past three years.
The military say that the offences took place during fighting against Maoist rebels fighting to abolish the monarchy.
They say 44 people were jailed, while others were dismissed or demoted.
Human rights groups have in the past criticised what they called repeated abuses by the Nepalese army.
It says that it has been gaining the upper hand in recent months in the fight against the rebels, and that a rift in the Maoist ranks had helped the army operation.
About 11,000 people are estimated to have died in Nepal over the past 10 years, since the Maoists started an insurgency aimed at replacing the monarchy with a Communist republic. Sphere: Related Content
The military say that the offences took place during fighting against Maoist rebels fighting to abolish the monarchy.
They say 44 people were jailed, while others were dismissed or demoted.
Human rights groups have in the past criticised what they called repeated abuses by the Nepalese army.
It says that it has been gaining the upper hand in recent months in the fight against the rebels, and that a rift in the Maoist ranks had helped the army operation.
About 11,000 people are estimated to have died in Nepal over the past 10 years, since the Maoists started an insurgency aimed at replacing the monarchy with a Communist republic. Sphere: Related Content
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Nepal begins corruption inquiry
Tuesday, 22 March, 2005, 17:50 GMT
The king promised to crack down on corruption when he took over
Former Nepalese cabinet ministers are being questioned by a powerful new anti-corruption panel over alleged misuse of government funds.
Two former ministers were questioned on Tuesday after four others were quizzed on Monday.
They were the first to appear before the panel since a royal pledge to crack down on graft and corruption.
The Royal Commission was set up by the king last month, after he seized control of the country.
The commission has wide-ranging powers and is similar to a court of law.
The former ministers are alleged to have distributed more than $50,000 of state funds to their political supporters last year.
"We did not take the money... for personal use nor did we distribute the funds personally" Former Local Development Minister Yubraj Gyawali
The two questioned on Tuesday were former Land Reforms Minister, Jog Meher Shrestha and the former Local Development Minister, Yubraj Gyawali.
They and the four quizzed a day earlier were all cabinet ministers in the coalition government sacked by King Gyanendra last month, and all deny any wrongdoing, saying they are victims of a "political vendetta".
Commission officials deny the allegations and allege massive abuse of power by politicians belonging to previous regimes, but declined to give details.
One of the ministers being questioned, Homnath Dahal, said he would challenge the charges against him in the Supreme Court.
Call for talks
Several politicians have been detained since King Gyanendra sacked the previous government in February and imposed emergency rule.
They include two senior opposition leaders, former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal.
In a related development, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was sacked from his post of prime minister by the king, has called for direct talks with the king to resolve the political crisis.
Mr Deuba also said an all-party government made up of opposition parties should be formed.
He was speaking to the BBC almost a week after being released from detention.
Last week the United Nations and international agencies warned that Nepal was on the brink of a humanitarian crisis after 10 years of bloody conflict between Maoist rebels and the government.
Sphere: Related Content
The king promised to crack down on corruption when he took over
Former Nepalese cabinet ministers are being questioned by a powerful new anti-corruption panel over alleged misuse of government funds.
Two former ministers were questioned on Tuesday after four others were quizzed on Monday.
They were the first to appear before the panel since a royal pledge to crack down on graft and corruption.
The Royal Commission was set up by the king last month, after he seized control of the country.
The commission has wide-ranging powers and is similar to a court of law.
The former ministers are alleged to have distributed more than $50,000 of state funds to their political supporters last year.
"We did not take the money... for personal use nor did we distribute the funds personally" Former Local Development Minister Yubraj Gyawali
The two questioned on Tuesday were former Land Reforms Minister, Jog Meher Shrestha and the former Local Development Minister, Yubraj Gyawali.
They and the four quizzed a day earlier were all cabinet ministers in the coalition government sacked by King Gyanendra last month, and all deny any wrongdoing, saying they are victims of a "political vendetta".
Commission officials deny the allegations and allege massive abuse of power by politicians belonging to previous regimes, but declined to give details.
One of the ministers being questioned, Homnath Dahal, said he would challenge the charges against him in the Supreme Court.
Call for talks
Several politicians have been detained since King Gyanendra sacked the previous government in February and imposed emergency rule.
They include two senior opposition leaders, former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal.
In a related development, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was sacked from his post of prime minister by the king, has called for direct talks with the king to resolve the political crisis.
Mr Deuba also said an all-party government made up of opposition parties should be formed.
He was speaking to the BBC almost a week after being released from detention.
Last week the United Nations and international agencies warned that Nepal was on the brink of a humanitarian crisis after 10 years of bloody conflict between Maoist rebels and the government.
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Saturday, March 19, 2005
Nepal's media warned against publishing anti-government news
[World News]: Kathmandu, Mar 18 : Nepal's authorities have warned the country's media to guard against publication of any news item that contradicts the royal proclamation issued by King Gyanendra after he seized power on February one.
Nepal's King had clamped press censorship after taking over power. Media in the Himalayan Kingdom had protested the strictures against it by leaving editorial pages blank.
The government has prohibited until six months from February 2, publication of interviews, articles, information or news that directly or indirectly goes against the Royal Proclamation or instigates terrorist activities, the Kathmandu District Administration Office said in a communique, the National News Agency said.
The notice comes a day after police interrogated the editor of Nepalese language 'Kantipur' daily for publishing a news report detailing the arrests made during anti-government demonstrations last week.
Nepal government has clamped press censorship and suspended publication and press freedom by imposing state of emergency on February one.
Half a dozen journalists have been detained in jail and several summoned by local authorities for questioning. PTI Sphere: Related Content
Nepal's King had clamped press censorship after taking over power. Media in the Himalayan Kingdom had protested the strictures against it by leaving editorial pages blank.
The government has prohibited until six months from February 2, publication of interviews, articles, information or news that directly or indirectly goes against the Royal Proclamation or instigates terrorist activities, the Kathmandu District Administration Office said in a communique, the National News Agency said.
The notice comes a day after police interrogated the editor of Nepalese language 'Kantipur' daily for publishing a news report detailing the arrests made during anti-government demonstrations last week.
Nepal government has clamped press censorship and suspended publication and press freedom by imposing state of emergency on February one.
Half a dozen journalists have been detained in jail and several summoned by local authorities for questioning. PTI Sphere: Related Content
Friday, March 18, 2005
Maoists go on rampage in eastern Nepal
[World News]: Kathmandu, March 17 : Nepal's Maoists, who announced a fresh spate of disruptions from March 14, went on a rampage in eastern Nepal, destroying a telecommunication tower and attacking two government offices, damaging property worth millions.
The Maoist guerrillas carried out the multi-pronged attack in Inarwa, headquarters of Sunsari district in eastern Nepal next to the Indian border.
A morning blast Wednesday destroyed the office of the state-run Nepal Telecom authorities, destroying property worth about Nepali Rs.500 million, the state media reported Thursday.
About 1,200 telephone lines in the headquarters were disrupted following the blast. The telephone lines of 19 other village development areas were also disconnected.
The outlaws also bombed the forest office and topography office Wednesday morning, destroying furniture, documents and records. The attacks come after the top leader of the rebels, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, issued a statement last week, announcing his outlawed party would start a fresh round of disruptive activities from March 14 to protest against King Gyanendra's Feb 1 royal coup.
The rebels had called a 15-day blockade of Nepal's highways last month to protest against the royal takeover, threatening there would be more disruptions if the king did not rollback his action.
Nepal's media has remained silent on the Maoist agitation due to a ban slapped by the new regime on the media, asking them to report rebel activities only if they are issued by the security agencies. Despite the curb on the flow of information, the rebels have apparently started disruptions in the terai plains in eastern Nepal.
The state media reported the army was providing escorts to vehicles on the Mahendra highway in eastern Nepal and security pickets were patrolling the area.
It also said the army had defused bombs planted by the rebels in two southern districts, Makwanpur and Kapilavastu.
The state media held the outlaws responsible for the attack on an editor in eastern Nepal early this week.
Khagendra Shrestha, editor of a Nepalese publication, "Dharan Today", was shot in the head in Sunsari by a group of people in Sunsari. The army said six outlaws were killed in separate incidents this week during the course of search operations.
However, the news could not be confirmed independently.
Early this week, the army had said the outlawed Maoists had expelled their second most senior leader and his wife from the party. The same day the underground guerrillas issued a statement, denying the ouster of Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami.
--Indo-Asian News Service Sphere: Related Content
The Maoist guerrillas carried out the multi-pronged attack in Inarwa, headquarters of Sunsari district in eastern Nepal next to the Indian border.
A morning blast Wednesday destroyed the office of the state-run Nepal Telecom authorities, destroying property worth about Nepali Rs.500 million, the state media reported Thursday.
About 1,200 telephone lines in the headquarters were disrupted following the blast. The telephone lines of 19 other village development areas were also disconnected.
The outlaws also bombed the forest office and topography office Wednesday morning, destroying furniture, documents and records. The attacks come after the top leader of the rebels, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, issued a statement last week, announcing his outlawed party would start a fresh round of disruptive activities from March 14 to protest against King Gyanendra's Feb 1 royal coup.
The rebels had called a 15-day blockade of Nepal's highways last month to protest against the royal takeover, threatening there would be more disruptions if the king did not rollback his action.
Nepal's media has remained silent on the Maoist agitation due to a ban slapped by the new regime on the media, asking them to report rebel activities only if they are issued by the security agencies. Despite the curb on the flow of information, the rebels have apparently started disruptions in the terai plains in eastern Nepal.
The state media reported the army was providing escorts to vehicles on the Mahendra highway in eastern Nepal and security pickets were patrolling the area.
It also said the army had defused bombs planted by the rebels in two southern districts, Makwanpur and Kapilavastu.
The state media held the outlaws responsible for the attack on an editor in eastern Nepal early this week.
Khagendra Shrestha, editor of a Nepalese publication, "Dharan Today", was shot in the head in Sunsari by a group of people in Sunsari. The army said six outlaws were killed in separate incidents this week during the course of search operations.
However, the news could not be confirmed independently.
Early this week, the army had said the outlawed Maoists had expelled their second most senior leader and his wife from the party. The same day the underground guerrillas issued a statement, denying the ouster of Baburam Bhattarai and his wife Hisila Yami.
--Indo-Asian News Service Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Nepal's king uses media to seek edge over rebels
The Associated Press
Friday, March 18, 2005
KATMANDU, Nepal After King Gyanendra seized power on Feb. 1, his government censored the media, arrested journalists and closed down newspapers. Now the government is using the media as a propaganda tool in its fight against the country's Maoist rebels.
State-run media said this week that Maoist insurgents had expelled their deputy commander in a power struggle, suggesting there was a split in the outlawed group that has been fighting since 1996 to establish communist rule in Nepal.
Government officials had ordered privately run newspapers to publish stories citing the Royal Nepalese Army as a source. The government-run Gorkhapatra newspaper carried headlines in red and purple saying: "Crucial division in the Maoists - Dr. Baburam Bhattarai expelled."
Newspapers and television networks ignored a denial by the rebel group's spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who accused the government of using "divide-and-rule" tactics against the rebels. "We urge everyone not to be taken in by the conspiracy and false information against our campaign, leaders, supporters and activists," Mahara said in a statement Wednesday.
After King Gyanendra, a constitutional monarch, seized power, he dismissed the cabinet, imposed emergency rule and suspended civil liberties. The king says he was forced to act because of the insurgency, and he has ignored repeated international calls to restore democracy.
Since then, Maoist rebels and the army have issued separate statements almost daily, claiming victories on the battle front. Government claims are quickly disseminated through state-run television, radio and newspapers. The rebels have no such access to media.
Several journalists have been arrested since Feb. 1, and government censorship has forced newspapers to shut down. Journalists have repeatedly been threatened by the authorities. During the first days of the seizure, soldiers were stationed in private newspapers and television stations to approve news materials.
Sphere: Related Content
Friday, March 18, 2005
KATMANDU, Nepal After King Gyanendra seized power on Feb. 1, his government censored the media, arrested journalists and closed down newspapers. Now the government is using the media as a propaganda tool in its fight against the country's Maoist rebels.
State-run media said this week that Maoist insurgents had expelled their deputy commander in a power struggle, suggesting there was a split in the outlawed group that has been fighting since 1996 to establish communist rule in Nepal.
Government officials had ordered privately run newspapers to publish stories citing the Royal Nepalese Army as a source. The government-run Gorkhapatra newspaper carried headlines in red and purple saying: "Crucial division in the Maoists - Dr. Baburam Bhattarai expelled."
Newspapers and television networks ignored a denial by the rebel group's spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who accused the government of using "divide-and-rule" tactics against the rebels. "We urge everyone not to be taken in by the conspiracy and false information against our campaign, leaders, supporters and activists," Mahara said in a statement Wednesday.
After King Gyanendra, a constitutional monarch, seized power, he dismissed the cabinet, imposed emergency rule and suspended civil liberties. The king says he was forced to act because of the insurgency, and he has ignored repeated international calls to restore democracy.
Since then, Maoist rebels and the army have issued separate statements almost daily, claiming victories on the battle front. Government claims are quickly disseminated through state-run television, radio and newspapers. The rebels have no such access to media.
Several journalists have been arrested since Feb. 1, and government censorship has forced newspapers to shut down. Journalists have repeatedly been threatened by the authorities. During the first days of the seizure, soldiers were stationed in private newspapers and television stations to approve news materials.
Sphere: Related Content
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
AP Wire | Anti-monarch protesters arrested in Nepal
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA
Associated Press
KATMANDU, Nepal - Baton-wielding police beat protesters and arrested hundreds Monday during nationwide rallies against the king's emergency rule, while communist rebels torched buses and threatened to step up attacks against the government.
The demonstrations coincided with Monday's U.N. Human Rights Conference in Geneva, which was expected to criticize King Gyanendra's power grab of Feb. 1, when he imposed emergency rule and suspended civil liberties.
India, Britain, the United States and other governments denounced the takeover and several donor nations cut aid or threatened to do so unless democracy is restored. Nepal needs foreign aid to fight both the insurgents and widespread poverty.
Police on Monday clubbed demonstrators in at least two southern towns, injuring at least nine people. Some 300 people were reported detained nationwide, including dozens in the capital, Katmandu, where protesters waved the red and white flags of the Nepali Congress Party - the nation's largest.
"We want democracy, we want freedom," demonstrators chanted.
"We will continue our protests until we restore democracy in Nepal," said detained activist Bhupendra Thapa.
Most of the arrests were reported in the south, where police broke up several protests, police and party officials said. About 120 activists were detained in Janakpur, 150 miles southeast of Katmandu.
Police have detained hundreds since the royal takeover. With many of their leaders under detention, political parties have found it difficult to mobilize against the king.
Meanwhile, Maoist rebels torched at least four buses Monday near Itahari, 310 miles west of Katmandu, to enforce a strike in the area. No one was hurt.
The rebels' elusive leader announced last weekend that his forces would step up attacks and block roads starting Monday, culminating in a 10-day nationwide strike, beginning April 1.
"Our party has announced a mass mobilization of our activists to step up military offensives, enforce strikes and blockades," rebel chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal said in the statement sent to newspaper offices.
The rebel leader, also known as Prachanda, offered to help the political parties in their campaign against the monarch. But a spokesman for the alliance of Nepal's major parties rejected the offer, citing the rebels' use of violence.
Gyanendra said he seized power because political parties and their successive governments had failed to counter the rebels, who have been fighting since 1996 to establish a communist state. The insurgency, which the rebels say is inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, has claimed more than 10,500 lives. Sphere: Related Content
Associated Press
KATMANDU, Nepal - Baton-wielding police beat protesters and arrested hundreds Monday during nationwide rallies against the king's emergency rule, while communist rebels torched buses and threatened to step up attacks against the government.
The demonstrations coincided with Monday's U.N. Human Rights Conference in Geneva, which was expected to criticize King Gyanendra's power grab of Feb. 1, when he imposed emergency rule and suspended civil liberties.
India, Britain, the United States and other governments denounced the takeover and several donor nations cut aid or threatened to do so unless democracy is restored. Nepal needs foreign aid to fight both the insurgents and widespread poverty.
Police on Monday clubbed demonstrators in at least two southern towns, injuring at least nine people. Some 300 people were reported detained nationwide, including dozens in the capital, Katmandu, where protesters waved the red and white flags of the Nepali Congress Party - the nation's largest.
"We want democracy, we want freedom," demonstrators chanted.
"We will continue our protests until we restore democracy in Nepal," said detained activist Bhupendra Thapa.
Most of the arrests were reported in the south, where police broke up several protests, police and party officials said. About 120 activists were detained in Janakpur, 150 miles southeast of Katmandu.
Police have detained hundreds since the royal takeover. With many of their leaders under detention, political parties have found it difficult to mobilize against the king.
Meanwhile, Maoist rebels torched at least four buses Monday near Itahari, 310 miles west of Katmandu, to enforce a strike in the area. No one was hurt.
The rebels' elusive leader announced last weekend that his forces would step up attacks and block roads starting Monday, culminating in a 10-day nationwide strike, beginning April 1.
"Our party has announced a mass mobilization of our activists to step up military offensives, enforce strikes and blockades," rebel chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal said in the statement sent to newspaper offices.
The rebel leader, also known as Prachanda, offered to help the political parties in their campaign against the monarch. But a spokesman for the alliance of Nepal's major parties rejected the offer, citing the rebels' use of violence.
Gyanendra said he seized power because political parties and their successive governments had failed to counter the rebels, who have been fighting since 1996 to establish a communist state. The insurgency, which the rebels say is inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, has claimed more than 10,500 lives. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, March 11, 2005
King's men free Deuba, 18 leaders in Nepal
Posted online: Saturday, March 12, 2005 at 0253 hours IST
KATHMANDU, MARCH 11: On a day of dramatic developments, Nepalese authorities freed former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and 18 other political detainees, presumably to deflect some of international criticism being directed at King Gyanendra’s regime.
Deuba, who is also the president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) and former home minister Purna Bahadur Khadka walked free after being kept under house arrest for more than a month.
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Their release came just one day before Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey is due to leave for Geneva to attend the United Nations’ Human Rights Conference. And it comes less than 24 hours after Pandey was bluntly told by New Delhi that it would not be ‘‘business as usual’’ unless political detainees were freed.
But if the Gynanedra regime expected its latest move to buy it a breather domestically, it received a setback. Nepal’s political parties have decided to start a ‘‘fill the prisons’’ movement on March 14, and to launch public protests despite a ban on such gatherings.
Internationally, however, the news for the regime was somewhat better as Pakistan put a new spin to the situation by offering Nepal arms and high-tech expertise to tackle the Maoists. This comes in sharp contrast to the stand taken by Britain and India to halt military assistance to Nepal, which has imposed emergency and suspended all human rights.
“We are ready to provide arms if they are required by Nepal,” said outgoing Pakistani ambassador Zamir Akram yesterday.
He added that Pakistan too was facing a terrorist threat on its western border and had developed some expertise in countering militancy that it was willing to share with Nepal.
The offer from Pakistan, which does not have very high stakes in Nepal, could ease the pressure that India and Britain have been applying on the Himalayan kingdom. King Gyanendra’s regime is desperate for military assistance and had been giving in to some of the demands made by India.
(With PTI) Sphere: Related Content
KATHMANDU, MARCH 11: On a day of dramatic developments, Nepalese authorities freed former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and 18 other political detainees, presumably to deflect some of international criticism being directed at King Gyanendra’s regime.
Deuba, who is also the president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) and former home minister Purna Bahadur Khadka walked free after being kept under house arrest for more than a month.
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Their release came just one day before Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey is due to leave for Geneva to attend the United Nations’ Human Rights Conference. And it comes less than 24 hours after Pandey was bluntly told by New Delhi that it would not be ‘‘business as usual’’ unless political detainees were freed.
But if the Gynanedra regime expected its latest move to buy it a breather domestically, it received a setback. Nepal’s political parties have decided to start a ‘‘fill the prisons’’ movement on March 14, and to launch public protests despite a ban on such gatherings.
Internationally, however, the news for the regime was somewhat better as Pakistan put a new spin to the situation by offering Nepal arms and high-tech expertise to tackle the Maoists. This comes in sharp contrast to the stand taken by Britain and India to halt military assistance to Nepal, which has imposed emergency and suspended all human rights.
“We are ready to provide arms if they are required by Nepal,” said outgoing Pakistani ambassador Zamir Akram yesterday.
He added that Pakistan too was facing a terrorist threat on its western border and had developed some expertise in countering militancy that it was willing to share with Nepal.
The offer from Pakistan, which does not have very high stakes in Nepal, could ease the pressure that India and Britain have been applying on the Himalayan kingdom. King Gyanendra’s regime is desperate for military assistance and had been giving in to some of the demands made by India.
(With PTI) Sphere: Related Content
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