US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU481

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 000481 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, PGOV, PREL, KMDR, NP 
SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT: March 9 
to 15, 2004 
 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
STATE FOR IN/R/MR 
STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
STATE FOR SA/PPD 
 
WEEKLY MEDIA REPORT (March 9 to 15, 2004) 
 
1. GOVERNMENT 
 
 -- NHRC submits list of dos to protect human 
rights: The National Human Rights Commission 
has submitted a memorandum to the government 
urging the latter to immediately take 
minimum steps to protect the human rights 
situation in the country.  The NHRC 
statement said that the government's acts of 
violation of human rights has led to 
impunity adding that the NHRC findings 
indicate that arbitrary or abusive use of 
force and firearms by law-enforcement 
officials still exists. (Centrist 
"Kantipur," V/D and "The Kathmandu Post," 
E/D, 3/13) 
 
 -- New "draconian" TADA on anvil: The 
government is preparing to introduce a more 
stringent version of the Terrorist and 
Disruptive Activities (control and 
punishment) Act 2002, (TADA).  The changed 
TADA allows security forces to hold people 
incommunicado for one year.  The draft has 
been sent to the office of the Attorney 
General for final consideration.  (The 
Kathmandu Post, 3/10) 
 
 -- No shirking from holding polls, PM: Prime 
Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has expressed 
unflinching commitment to hold the election 
even if that demands going for highly 
staggered polls whereby polling is conducted 
in two phases in any single administrative 
zone. (The Kathmandu Post, 3/10) 
 
 -- Govt. decides to open telecom sector: In 
a step to revolutionize the country's 
telecom sector, the government has decided 
to completely open the telecommunications 
services and to convert Nepal 
Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) into a 
company. (The Kathmandu Post, 3/10) 
 
2.  POLITICAL AFFAIRS 
 
 -- Koirala decries "foreign meddling": 
Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad 
Koirala Sunday came down heavily on the 
"foreign and Nepali groups working for 
conflict management" stating that 
significant foreign intervention is being 
seen in the country in recent days. 
Indicating that the United States and India 
have  inter fered  in  Nepa 1 ' s  internal  matters , 
Koirala  sa id ,  "Games  are  be ing  pl ayed  in 
Nepal with weapons, barrages and dams." 
According to him, several foreign and Nepali 
groups have been earning dollars in the name 
of conflict management because of regression 
and terror." (Pro-India "The Himalayan 
Times," E/D, 3/15) 
 
 -- NC unification process: Former prime 
minister and president of Nepali Congress 
( Democratic ) ,  Sher  Bahadur   Deuba ,  has  sa i d 
 that unity with Nepali Congress was possible 
 only if his party was recognized as a 
 separate entity and treated with respect. 
 Deuba said, "Unity is impossible if they 
 expect us to shed our self-esteem to join 
 them."  Dissolution of both the party's 
 central and local committee's and formation 
 of an ad-hoc committee are the key criteria 
 of NC (D) for unification  Meanwhile, the 
 Nepali Congress is ready to issue an 
 informal letter in token of recognition of 
 Nepali Congress (Democratic). (Major 
 reports, 3/15) 
 
  -- Parties discuss including Maoists in the 
 movement: The five stirring political 
 parties Saturday decided to launch a 
 capital-centered protest and defiance 
 movement from April 2.  They claim to bring 
 the capital to a standstill.  They also 
 discussed the possibility of opening up 
 dialogue with the Maoists.  "The meeting 
 could not take a final decision on that but 
 agreed to initiate discussion with the 
 Maoists," said People's Front leader Lila 
 
 Mani Pokhrel. (The Kathmandu Post, 3/14) 
-- Parties mull relevance of monarchy: 
Speaking during "third joint mock session" 
of dissolved House of Parliament and 
National Assembly on Thursday NC president 
Girija Prasad Koirala said movement has to 
go across two powers equipped with guns in 
the country.  "Our movement should end the 
king's continuous trampling of democracy," 
said Koirala accusing the monarch "of 
intending to impose arbitrary and autocratic 
rule upon the people like a monarch of 
eighteenth century." (Major reports, 3/12) 
 
3.  MAOIST INSURGENCY 
 
 -- Maoist blockade affects 16 districts: 
Economic activity in 16 districts of the 
western region has come to a grinding halt 
as a result of the Maoist-imposed "economic 
blockade" for over two weeks beginning March 
7.  The blockade that will remain in force 
till March 23 has been imposed in 13 
di stri ct  headquarters  of  Gandak i ,  L umbin i , 
Dhawalagiri and Narayani zones.  The rural 
people have been told to stay away from the 
district headquarters or face monetary fine 
and physical action. The blockade has forced 
all private transport trucks to retreat from 
the middle of their destinations that has 
already hit food supply in most parts of the 
region. (The Kathmandu Post, 3/9-15) 
 
 -- Rebels abduct teachers, youth: Maoist 
rebels have abducted 42 teachers from 
various schools in Dadeldhura district to 
get them involved in district conference of 
the Maoist-aligned teachers' organization. 
They have also abducted 14 youth including 
three girls in Myagdi district to induct 
them  as  Maoi st  m i 1 i t ia .  ( The  Kathmandu  Post , 
3/13 ) 
-- Maoists out on "long march": "Thousands 
of Maoist rebels from Rukum, Rolpa and 
Jajarkot have embarked on "long march" 
towards northeast with the stated aim of 
"seizing power in the center."  They have 
stuffed weapons and ammunitions, food and 
other essentials in ponies and are 
collecting more on the way.  They are also 
forcing the locals to join them  The Maoists 
have announced a three-day bandh (shutdown) 
on April 6,7 and 8 while observing April 8 
as Democracy Restoration Day." (Leftist 
"Drishti," V/W, 3/9) 
 
4.  NEPAL-U.S. 
 
 -- Friendly football match: The government 
officials and diplomats played a friendly 
football match in an effort to raise funds 
for  chi ldren  a f fected  by  the  con fl ict . 
Chief secretary Bimal Koirala led the 
government team and the U.S. Ambassdor 
Michael E. Malinowski headed the diplomats' 
team.  The diplomats won the match scoring 
seven goals against the secretaries' two 
goals. (Major reports, 3/14) 
 
 -- Americans' training Nepali army!: "The 
American Army is training the Royal Nepal 
Army (RNA) personnel, RNA confirmed 
Thursday.  The army spokesperson said that 
the American and Nepali army have been 
sharing their experiences for sometime  He 
also said that the visits by the American 
Ambassador to the army barracks in Nepal are 
simple.  Gurung said that it was natural 
that America would be interested in knowing 
the development in mid-west since it has 
invested a lot in the development of the 
area . "  ( Centri st  "Nepa 1  Samacharpatra , "  V/D , 
3/12 ) 
5.  REFUGEE PROBLEM 
 
 -- Bhutanese leader issues SOS: Bhutanese 
leader Ronthong Kinley Dorji said he fears 
he could be deported to Bhutan by the Indian 
side.  The leader who has served a seven- 
year jail term on various charges is being 
deported on the request of the Druk regime. 
It may be recalled that the case challenging 
the extradition is pending in the Delhi High 
Court and is in the advance stage of 
verdict. (The Kathmandu Post, 3/15) 
 
 -- Refugees worry over coming aid reduction: 
Peoples Forum for Human Rights Bhutan has 
appealed donors, support groups and 
neighboring countries to urge Bhutanese king 
to hold dialogue with the dissident 
Bhutanese leaders.  Cautioning that the 
refugee youth might be attracted to anti- 
social activities and vi 
olence if the 
repatriation process is further protracted, 
the Forum has appealed the donors to set 
aside one-sixth part of the total grants and 
assistance given to Bhutan for higher 
education of the refugee students. (The 
Himalayan Times, 3/13) 
 
 -- India to press Bhutan on refugees: 
India's Foreign Secretary Shashank, who is 
slated to visit Bhutan by the end of this 
month, will press upon the Druk government 
to resume the stalled bilateral process with 
Nepal on the Bhutanese refugee issue. This 
is to figure besides their bilateral talks. 
When contacted, Secretary Acharya denied the 
acknowledgement of the Indian assistance, 
but said, "Any such move is highly welcome 
if it helps to bring the derailed bilateral 
process back on track." (The Kathmandu Post, 
3/12) 
6.  BUSINESS/ECONOMY 
 
 -- WB approves loan: Despite strong 
reservation of some of the directors of the 
World Bank (WB) over "unacceptably slow" 
progress on financial sector reform, the WB 
approved US $ 75.5 million loan to Nepal to 
support the country's ongoing efforts at 
improving its Financial Sector Restructuring 
Project Wednesday.  The Financial Sector 
Restructuring Project, the second phase of 
the Financial Sector Technical Assistance 
credit, approved by the World Bank in 2002, 
is an attempt to address the critical 
situation of the banking system in the 
country. (Major reports, 3/11) 
 
 -- NDF meeting in May: Nepal Development 
Forum's (NDF) meeting will be held in 
Kathmandu on first week of May.  Major donor 
countries and agencies, including World 
Bank, participates in the NDF meeting, which 
is held every two years. It is estimated 
that over 55 percent foreign aid is 
necessary for Nepal to achieve the goals of 
National Tenth Plan. (The Kathmandu Post, 
3/9) 
 
7.  OTHERS 
 
 -- Journalists in double trouble: A report 
released on Thursday blamed both the 
government and the Maoist rebels for 
attacking the freedom of the press. Both 
sides are targeting journalists said the 
report of the Committee to Protect 
Journalists (CPJ).  It has held the Maoists 
responsible for a journalist's murder and 
blamed the government for detaining over 
hundreds of them.  "The government detained 
more than 100 journalists and the Maoists 
were responsible for kidnapping and 
torturing one and murdering at least one," 
says the CPJ's annual survey of global press 
freedom  condi t ions .    The  research  says , 
rebels continued to threaten scribes whose 
reporting criticized the 'people's war.' 
(Media reports, 3/12) 
 
MALINOWSKI