Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
FNJ, NBA to observe Feb 1 as ‘black day’
Two prominent professional organizations – the Federation of Nepalese
Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organization of Nepalese journalists and
the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) – have announced to observe February 1 as
‘black day’.
Organising a press meet in Kathmandu today, FNJ officials said a national
conference has been planned in the capital followed by a demonstration at
New Road, a restricted area, in protest against the government curb on the
independent press. Journalists from different parts of the country, who
have faced arrests and torture form the state, are also scheduled to
participate in the conference, they informed.
The FNJ also asked its branch offices in the districts to organise
programs to mark February 1 as ‘black day’.
Speaking at the press meet, FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri said that as
press freedom is related to political freedom it should not be isolated
from the ongoing movement for democracy.
On February 1 last year, King Gyanendra sacked a four-party government led
by Sher Bahadur Deuba and assumed direct power. Restriction on political
rights and press freedom has been tightened since then.
Meanwhile, the NBA, the umbrella organization of Nepalese law
professionals, today announced to mark February 1 as ‘black day’, saying
that people’s rights and the rule of law deteriorated in the country after
the February 1 royal move.
Issuing a statement, the NBA directed its 81 units around the country to
organise programs as part of marking February 1 as ‘black day’.
nepalnews.com mk Jan 29 06
Student unions, professors oppose TU’s decision to extend vacation
Eight student unions affiliated with the agitating political parties and
professors working at the Tribhuvan University (TU) have denounced the
university administration’s decision to extend the winter vacation in all
affiliate campuses in Kathmandu Valley by 11 days.
After a meeting in Kathmandu, the eight student organizations stated that
the decision of the TU administration was taken “at the behest of the
government” which is conducting municipal elections on February 8 despite
boycott from major political parties. A joint statement issued by the
student unions said the TU’s decision is against the right of students..
They also warned to launch protest programs if the decision was not
withdrawn immediately.
The TU administration on Sunday announced to extend the winter vacation,
which ended today (Monday), until February 9, considering the upcoming
municipal polls. There are over 50 thousand students studying in the
university campus and various affiliate public and private colleges.
Meanwhile, the Free Students Unions (FSU) of various campuses in the
Kathmandu Valley including Tribhuvan University, Nepal Commerce Campus and
Patan Multiple Campus also opposed the TU administration’s
“politically-motivated” decision, demanding withdrawal of the decision.
Similarly, the TU unit of the Nepal University Teachers’ Association
(NUTA) in a statement said the administration’s decision is against the
interest of students.
“The politically-biased decision of the TU administration will also affect
the academic calendar,” a statement issued by NUTA’s TU unit said.
nepalnews.com mk Jan 29 06
Saturday, January 28, 2006
भोजपुर भिडन्तमा कम्तिमा १५ जनाको मृत्यु
पूर्वी पहाडी जिल्ला भोजपुरको घोडेटार हथुवागढी भन्ने ठाउंमा माओवादी
विद्रोही र सुरक्षाफौज बीच शुक्रवार राती भएको भिडन्तमा दुवैतर्फ गरी कम्तिमा
१५ जनाको मृत्यु भएको छ।
पांच घण्टा लामो भिडन्त पछि विद्रोहीहरु आक्रमण छोडी भागेका थिए
शुक्रवार सांझ संयुक्त सुरक्षाफौजको क्याम्पमा आक्रमण गर्न आएका विद्रोही
मध्ये १३ जनाको लाश घटनास्थलबाट फेला परेको छ।
विद्रोहीसंग प्रतिकार गर्दा सुरक्षाफौजतर्फ दुई जनाको मृत्यु हुनुका साथै सात
जना घाइते भएको सुरक्षा श्रोतले बताएको छ।
भिडन्त शुरु भएको अढाइ घण्टामैं नाइट भिजन हेलिकप्टर घटनास्थल पुगेर कारवाही
शुरु गरेको थियो।
सयौंको संख्यामा आएका विद्रोहीहरुलाई झण्डै २००को संख्यामा रहेका
सुरक्षाकर्मीले प्रतिकार गरेका थिए।
पांच घण्टा लामो भिडन्त पछि विद्रोहीहरु आक्रमण छोडी भागेका थिए र
सुरक्षाफौजले हेलिकप्टरबाट वमबारी गरेका थिए।
सुरक्षाफौजले विद्रोहीहरु बाट केही अत्याधुनिक हतियार समेत फेला पारेको
बताइएको छ।
भिडन्तका क्रममा एकले अर्कोतर्फ बढी क्षति भएको दाबी गरे पनि स्पष्ट संख्या
थाहा पाउन सकिएको छैन।
भोजपुर सदरमुकामदेखि झण्डै १० माइल टाढा पर्ने घोडेटारको हथुवागढी वरपरका
क्षेत्रमा शुक्रवार रातीदेखि नैं सुरक्षाफौजले शुरु गरेको हवाई गस्ती र
वमबारी, विद्रोहीहरुलाई निशाना बनाएर दिन भरी नैं चलेको थियो।
सो वमबारीबाट विद्रोही र सर्वसाधारणतर्फ भएको क्षतिबारे कुनै आधिकारीक
तथ्याङ्क प्राप्त भएको छैन।
तीन महिना अघि मात्र घोडेटारको हथुवागढीमा सुरक्षाफौजको क्याम्प स्थापना भएको
थियो।
विद्रोहीहरुको आक्रमण पछि पूर्वी नेपालमा रहेका सुरक्षा निकायहरुको शनिवारको
बैठकले विद्रोहीहरु प्रति अरु सशक्त कारवाही संचालन गर्ने निर्णय सहित पहाडी
क्षेत्रमा थप मदत र बन्दोबस्तीका सामानहरु पठाएको बताइएको छ।
source: BBC
Friday, January 27, 2006
Municipal polls a step backwards for democracy: EU
The European Union (EU) has said that the municipal elections planned by
the government will be a step backwards for democracy in Nepal as the
political parties have not been consulted for holding the elections. "For
the elections to be meaningful, it is crucial that they be held in direct
consultation with the political parties as part of an exercise to
establish democracy.
Today's 7 dal bandh!
Another tragic or .. so so bandh by saat dal:
Today's bandh was really a suffocating ever in Nepalis bandh history. Many
furious students and people were indulged in making bandh a real bandh.
One people was injured in Pokhara by a bullet from security personnel.
Online edition of THT goes: One protester was injured when police resorted
to firing blanks in Pokhara to control the protesters demonstrating to in
support of the nationwide bandh called by the seven-party alliance. Police
fired at least four rounds to control the mob. Atleast 5 people were also
injured when protesters clashed with police.
Basudev Baral sustained injuries in the police firing.
Earlier, the protesters clashed with the police. Basudev Tripathee, a
protester, and police inspector Tek Bahadur Karki were injured in the
clash. After the situation got out of control, the security forces
resorted to firing. Karki is undergoing treatment at Western Regional
Hospital in Pokhara.
More than two dozen protesters were also arrested by the police.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Travel issues!
Many countries including US, UK, New Zealand have warned their citizens
not to visit Nepal unless its compulsion.
Such travel issues were frequently published by foreign embassies in Nepal
following the active Maoists action.
EC to Provide Life Insurance for Polls Candidates
The Election Commission on Wednesday decided that it would provide life
insurance for candidates for the forthcoming municipal polls on February
8. "We will provide life insurance for the election candidates," Tej Muni
Bajracharya, EC spokesperson, said.
According to the EC decision's, the candidates for the posts of mayor and
deputy mayor will have Rs 700,000 as life insurance. The candidates of
ward chairman and member will have life insurance equivalent to Rs 600,000
and Rs 500,000 respectively.
Bajracharya added that the life insurance would include deaths after
attacks by the Maoists too.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Will Maoists keep their promise?
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.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/others/feature/jan/news_feature04.php
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Valley Saw 121 Accidents in a Month
| Valley Saw 121 Accidents in a Month |
| Kathmandu, January 22 Altogether 121 accidents took place in the valley between December 15 and January 15, the Valley Traffic Police Office (VTPO) said. Five persons were killed and 141 seriously |