As Nepal police Thursday produced a gang of kidnappers in Kathmandu's district court, investigations showed the Himalayan republic was fast becoming a dangerous destination for Indian businessmen with two New Delhi traders becoming the latest victims.
Chandni Chowk clothes merchants Joginder Paul, 52, and Salamat Ali, 35, were recovering from their worst nightmare ever in Kathmandu after being lured to Nepal with the bait of more lucrative business deals by a group that actually intended to kidnap the duo and collect Rs.25 lakh ransom for each from their families.
Police superintendent Kedar Rijal said the plot was hatched by Manjil Rai, a permanent resident of Dehradun in India's Uttarakhand state who had migrated to Kathmandu. Rai had four accomplices: two Indians and two Nepalis.
All of them - Shiv Narayan Yadav from Jharkhand, Samuel Hembram from the same Indian state, and Nepali nationals Rakesh Shakya and Santosh Ghimire - were arrested Tuesday, police said. (The Economic Times)
Ghimire is a former soldier of the Nepal Army who deserted about seven years ago.
Rai hatched the plan to make friends with various traders in India, dangle the bait of cushy business deals before them, invite them to Nepal and then take them into captivity.
After identifying Paul and Ali as potential victims, he offered them a partnership in antiques, rudrakshas and precious Nepali stones and herbs. To win the confidence of the two Indians, he even sent them e-tickets on board Nepal's national carrier Nepal Airlines.
When the two unsuspecting Indians landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu July 7, Rai received them and drove off with them in a red Santro car to Pokhara city.
The ordeal started after the two men found themselves taken to a forested area where Rai had already erected a kind of tent to keep them prisoners.
The other four were awaiting the arrival of the victims and trussed them up at knife and gunpoint. For two fearful nights, the two Indians were held in the forest, and threatened and assaulted by turn.
The kidnappers also began calling up Paul's family, demanding a total ransom of Rs.50 lakh to free the two men.
Police said they were tipped off by a woman who had business dealings with the two Indians.
The apprehended gang members would be produced in court Thursday with police seeking 10 days custody to complete investigations, officials told media.
Last month, two more Indians had faced a similar situation, also in Pokhara.
Ashwini Kumar Agrawal, an Indian income tax officer, and Vishnu Prasad Tripathi, both from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, filed a police complaint saying they were lured to Nepal with the offer of getting land at throwaway prices but found themselves taken captive instead.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
DARJEELING ROW Dissension Grows
By UMA KANTA KHANAL in Jhapa
The agreement between Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has invited strong condemnation from the other pro-Gorkhaland parties. They have reacted that the agreement is not in favour of the Gorkhali people of India.
The party agitating for a separate state for Indian Gorkhas, or Gorkhaland, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha had been launching the agitation for at least four years in the hill district of West Bengal, Darjeeling and its peripheral areas.
But recently, when it made an agreement with the chief minister to form an interim authority to develop Darjeeling in various sectors, the other parties which favour the formation of Gorkhaland have strongly reacted that the agreement is a betrayal for the people of Darjeeling and the Gorkhali people residing throughout that country. The interim authority entails formation of an autonomous council in Darjeeling.
The organisation secretary of Revolutionary Communist Party of India (Marxist), Govinda Chhetri, said, "The Indian Gorkhas had not been involved in the agitation of Gorkhaland to get the autonomous council only. The formation of the council is not the real demand of people of Darjeeling and the Indian Gorkhas."
Chhetri further said that the agitation was to obtain the real identity for Indian Gorkhas.
In the legislative assembly election of West Bengal, the candidates of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha won from all the three constituencies of Darjeeling. Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Rohit Sharma and Trilok Dewan are MPs from the hills.
The umbrella organisation of Indian Gorkhas, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang is also not satisfied with the agreement between GJM and the chief minister of West Bengal. Parisang has said it is a shock for the Indian Gorkhas. The acting president of Parisang, Dr. Enos Das Pradhan said, "The problem of Darjeeling is different from the problem of Indian Gorkhas. The agreement can solve the problem of Darjeeling but the main demand of the Indian Gorkhas has not been addressed by it."
The last ruling party of West Bengal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), was also ready to provide autonomy to Darjeeling. But the agitating parties did not agree. When the same kind of agreement has been made with the latest chief minister, it is said that GJM's intention was only to phase out the communist rulers and politicians from the hills.
An MP, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, claims that the agreement is the result of eleven rounds of tripartite talks with the state and the central government. He said, "There is no use of condemning the agreement between GJM and the state government. We have not found out that there is possibility of a separate state directly, that is why this is the first step towards the separate state."
The MPs from the hills are busy now-a-days in the collection of problems of Darjeeling to find their solutions and to raise the voice of the people in the state legislative assembly. They are trying to convince the people that the agitation has not been suspended instead they will raise the voice of demand of Gorkhaland in the assembly. There had not been the discussion of the demand of Gorkhaland in the assembly during the rule of the communist parties.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Indian PM expressed Concerned Over Peace Process: Koirala
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala in New Delhi and said India wants to see a stable prosperious and peaceful Nepal with a democratic constitution in place.
Sources close to Koirala said the Indian prime minister expressed his concerns over the peace process.Koirala also met with Indian Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna Tuesday. Meetings were fixed with urgency on Monday with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, opposition leader L K Advani and national security advisor Shiva S Menon writes My Republica.
According to sources, another major issue discussed was the role of the UCPN (Maoist) in the peace process and lack of progress in army integration.
India has said that Nepal should complete the peace process first, which naturally means the tasks of integrating and rehabilitating Maoist combatants should be completed before writing constitution. Koirala is scheduled to meet Congress party chair Sonia Gandhi.
Peace process as per Nepalis' wish: China envoy
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan has expressed the confidence that the ongoing peace process in Nepal would move ahead as per the aspirations of the Nepalis.
Stating that the ongoing peace process was an internal matter of Nepal, he made it clear that China would have no reservations whatsoever in the steps taken in course of the peace process.
Talking to reporter in Butwal today, Ambassador, Yang, who is on a three-day visit to Lumbini, said China was looking forward to the development of Lumbini.
China is ready to provide assistance to any kind of program development as per the master plan, he added.Referring to the rumour being spread of Gautam Buddha being born in India, Ambassador Yang said the Chinese government and the people would not believe in such propaganda.
Nepali and Nepalis need to extensively publicize Lumbini in order to neutralize such propaganda, he added.The Ambassador also disclosed that Rs. 350 million had so far been invested in the Chinese monastery built in Lumbini.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Food Scarcity in Surkhet
More than ten thousands people are facing hunger and starvation in five village development committee of Surkhet District, 500 kilometer west of capital Kathamandu. According to Nepal Samacharpartra, out of 60000 population, 21,000 people are facing hunger and starvation in the district.
In a press conference, local people demanded adequate support from the government to avoid the hunger and starvation.
Stop Politicization of University: Kedar Bhakta Mathema
“Due to politicization, Nepal’s higher education is at the verge of collapse,” said former vice chancellor Dr. Kedar Bhakta Mathema talking to Radio Nepal. In his half an hour interview, Dr. Mathema regretted over the government’s failure to appoint vice chancellors in the universities.
“It is unfortunate that all the public universities are without vice chancellors or leaders for months and no political leaders seems to be bothered about the future of more than half a million students,” said Dr. Mathema.
“There are high qualities of teachers in Tribhuwan University but the problem is without leadership. If we leave the TU without leadership for long, there will be chaos in the University and the future of students will be uncertain,” said Dr. Mathema.
He argued that the government needs to appoint vice chancellors on the basis of academic performance, commitments and his contribution to education.
“People gave political parties the mandate to write the constitution on the basis of consensus. However, political parties are looting the country by misinterpretation political consensus,” said Dr. Mathema.
PABSON issued an Ultimatum
Handing out a 20-day ultimatum to the government to fulfill its five-point demands, the Private and Boarding Schools' Association of Nepal has demanded that the education service tax be scrapped.
Such a concern comes at a time when the government is busy preparing the upcoming fiscal year's budget. The government had reduced education service tax to one percent in fiscal year 2009/10 from five percent in 2007/08 introduced for the "empowerment of marginalized students".
Organizing a press meet in the Capital on Monday, PABSON officials said the one percent education service tax has only added economic burden to the parents' woes and maintained that it was against the government commitment to free education.
"Ever since the tax provision came into implementation we have been demanding that it be annulled. But the government hasn't heeded our requests," said PABSON President Rajesh Khadka. "Our main concern is that the guardians mustn't be victimized in the name of tax."
The PABSON has also demanded its representation in every committee formed by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Department of Education, District Education Offices and other government bodies. Khadka accused the government of sidelining the private sector under which some 9,000 schools are in operation across the country.
http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News.aspx?ArticleID=1297
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Jhalnath Will Continues As a PM: Minister Sapkota
UCPN (Maoist) leader and Minister for Information and Communications Agni Sapkota refuted the media reports that his party is considering recommending Maoist Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai as the next prime minister.
“Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal would not resign from his post until an alternative to a national consensus government is struck,” said minister Sapkota. If the prime minister resigned under the status quo. the country would plung into chaos.”
Minister Sapkota, who is said to be close to party chairman Prachanda, clarified that the time has not arrived yet to discuss leadership in the party. “The Maoists have not taken any official decision regarding the leadership,” said Sapkota said at the Reporter’s Club.
“Chairman Prachanda [Pushpa Kamal Dahal] has not thought about premiership,” said Sapkota. “Not only Baburam ji, another Vice Chairman Kiran [Mohan Baidya] could also become the next prime minister.”
Maoists set to hold CC on July 13
The UCPN (Maoist) Standing Committee meet on Sunday decided to hold the party’s long-stalled Central Committee (CC) meeting from July 13 (Wednesday).
However, the Maoist SC meet held has not finalized the agenda to be discussion at the much-anticipated CC meet. It has been reported that the leaders have agreed to carry out homework for the same from today itself.
Earlier on June 24, the Maoist CC meet was put off after party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal put forth his agenda citing the need for more homework on the same.
The top brass leaders of party are yet to find a common ground on the issues such as integration of combatants, constitution-drafting, government formation, internal rift, work division and future strategies.
http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News.aspx?ArticleID=1279
Madhesi Front Threatened to Obstruct the Budget
A delegation of Democratic Madhesi Front handed over memorandum of understanding to minister of finance Bharat Mohan Adhikary threatening to obstruct the budget for the new fiscal (2011/12) if the finance minister did not include its demands.http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News.aspx?ArticleID=1280
“We will compel to obstruct the budget if Ministry did not respond to our demand,” said J.P Ananda Gupta, a leader of Front. The government is trying to ignore the agenda raised by the members of Madheshi party. We will not let fiancé ministry to read the budget without credible evidence,” said Gupta, chairman, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republic).
The government is scheduled to table the budget on June 14. The Democratic Madhesi Front, which has strength of 70 members in the Constituent Assembly (CA), condemned the government policy and program for ignoring “The policy document is influenced by hill-centric thought and totally ignores and discriminates against the Madhes. The front condemns the anti-Madhes policy approved on the basis of blind majority,” said Gupta.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Nepalese PM committed to five point agreement
Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal said that he is working to implement the five point agreement signed by three major political parties in May 28 before extension of five point agreement. “I am seriously working to implement the five point agreement so that the constitution writing process and peace process complete in logical end,” said Prime Minister Khanal.
His statement came when Nepali Congress leaders are criticizing him for not showing any sincerity to abide five point agreements. One of the clauses of the five point agreement is the resignation of prime minister on the basis of consensus
Friday, July 8, 2011
Maternal mortality rate down by half in South Asia: UN
Eleven years after adopting millennium development goals (MDG), the UN has observed a reduction in maternal mortality rate by over 50 percent in South Asia, a report said here Friday.The MDG, adopted by world leaders in the year 2000, are a set of targets to reduce global poverty and improve living standards by 2015.
"Between 1990 and 2008, maternal mortality declined by 53 percent in South Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Afghanistan among others," the report said. But it added the South Asian region still "lags in nutrition, sanitation, and gender equality".
The ratios of girl education were also startling: "74 girls were enrolled in tertiary education as compared to 100 boys for South Asia."
WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2011 Nepali Anti-trafficking Hero Honored in Washington
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, hugs Charimaya Tamang of Nepal, a trafficking survivor herself, as she is awarded the 2011 Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award, Monday, June 27, 2011, during the release of the 2011 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, at the State Department in Washington. Shortly before her departure for the U.S., Ambassador DeLisi welcomed Ms. Tamang to the Embassy in Kathmandu to congratulate her and wish her safe travels.
The 2011 TIP Report notes: “Born into a poor family made poorer by the passing of her father, Charimaya Tamang was 16 when she was trafficked to India. She spent 22 months enslaved in a brothel before the Indian government rescued her and more than 200 other Nepali women in 1996. Upon her return to Nepal, Ms. Tamang faced social stigma and was outcast from her own community. But she courageously filed a case against her traffickers, becoming the first person to file personally a trafficking case with the district police. In 1997, the District Court – in a landmark decision – convicted and sentenced eight offenders involved in her case.
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