US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1183

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001183 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, PGOV, PREL, KMDR, NP 
SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JUNE 15 TO 21, 
2004 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
STATE FOR IN/R/MR 
STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
STATE FOR SA/PPD 
 
1.  POLITICAL AFFAIRS 
 
-- UML, NC (D) agree on Common Minimum Program: Prime 
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that both the 
parties (ruling NC-D and CPN-UML) had agreed on the 
common minimum program.  "We have reached consensus and 
soon will give all-party shape to the present 
government," PM said.  (Centrist "Kantipur," V/D, 6/21) 
 
-- Controversial WPR amended: King Gyanendra has 
assented the cabinet's Thursday decision that amended 
the government's Work Performance Regulations, 
effectively bringing executive power back to the 
cabinet -- a major political victory for Prime Minister 
Sher Bahadur Deuba.  Some of the clauses of the 
regulations had imposed obligation on the government to 
obtain king's consent prior to making any important 
decisions including promotion and transfer of senior 
bureaucrats and security officers. (Major reports, 
6/19) 
 
-- UN offers good office again: A senior political 
adviser to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, Samuel 
Tamrat, has once again offered UN role in the peace 
process.  (Pro-India "The Himalayan Times," E/D, 6/17) 
 
-- Europeans appeal parties to join government: The 
Ambassadors of Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday 
urged the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and other 
parliamentarian parties to join the Deuba government. 
(Kantipur, 6/16) 
 
2. MAOIST INSURGENCY 
 
-- MCC-PWG-Maoist link-up in Terai suspected: The 
Maoists are expanding their activities in the Terai 
(southern plain area) belt with help from Indian 
ultras, claimed Indian security bodies.  Indian 
security sources claimed Maoists and Indian terrorist 
organizations like the Maoists Communist Center (MCC) 
and People's War Group (PWG) with help from the Indo- 
Nepal Border Committee are supporting each other in the 
Terai and bordering areas of Bihar. (The Himalayan 
Times, 6/21) 
 
-- Civilians and APF men killed in blast and clash: 
Fourteen Armed Police Force (AFP) personnel and four 
civilians, including a woman, were killed in a landmine 
explosion followed by exchange of fire in Dang on 
Saturday.  Five villagers were killed Thursday night in 
a violent clash with Maoist rebels in Pipara village in 
southeastern Kapilvastu. (Major media reports, 6/19-20) 
-- ANNISU-R calls off education strike: The Maoist- 
aligned All Nepal National Independent Students' Union 
(Revolutionary) on Friday called off the educational 
strike following the Thursday night decision of the 
government to remove the terrorist tag labeled on the 
union. (Major reports, 6/19) 
 
-- Negotiations depend on the foreign power center and 
palace: Maoist supremo Prachanda has said that his 
party doesn't see any difference in the process (of 
appointment) and status of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur 
Deuba with that of his predecessors.  In an email 
interview, the Maoist leader said the question of 
ceasefire and (peace) negotiations would depend on how 
far King Gyanendra and foreign power center ask Mr. 
Deuba to move ahead in that direction.  He did not name 
the foreign power center he was referring to. (Nepal, 
6/18) 
 
-- 22 policemen killed in ambush: Twenty-two policemen, 
including an Armed Police Force (APF) inspector, were 
killed and 16 critically injured in a landmine blast 
triggered by the Maoists at the Mahendra Highway 
Monday. (Major reports, 6/15) 
 
-- Five Maoists arrested in India: Indian police have 
arrested five Nepalis allegedly for being involved in 
Maoist activitie 
s from a house in Bihar.  The arrests 
were made on Saturday. (Media reports, 6/15) 
 
-- 500 abducted: The Maoists have abducted over 500 
people including teachers, students and employees from 
various villages of Kalikot district. (Major dailies, 
6/15) 
 
3.  OTHERS 
 
-- Refugees to start returning on their own: Bhutanese 
refugees have expressed extreme frustration and said 
that they would start returning to Bhutan if the 
impasse was not resolved.  "If the repatriation process 
does not restart within next 51 days, the refugees 
verified in Khudunabari camp will start to return on 
their own," said Mitra Rai, a secretary of the camp. 
(Media reports, 6/21) 
 
-- Nepal a source for girl trafficking: A new U.S. 
report has said that Nepal is a source country for girl 
trafficking to India and some Gulf and East Asian 
countries.  The fourth annual Department of State 
Trafficking in Persons Report, released by Secretary of 
State Colin L Powell further mentions that internal 
trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation is 
rampant in the country.  The report notes that 
political instability and insurgency have prevented the 
government's endeavors to combat trafficking in some 
areas. (Major dailies, 6/16) 
 
BOGUE