US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1647

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001647 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, PGOV, PREL, KMDR, NP 
SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM AUGUST 10 TO 
16, 2004 
 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
STATE FOR IN/R/MR 
STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
STATE FOR SA/PPD 
 
1.  CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 
-- Koirala refuses to be in the peace committee: Nepali 
Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has 
refused to join the High Level Peace Committee (HLPC). 
However, Koirala said he was ready to provide all kind 
of cooperation from his side for the restoration of 
peace. (Centrist "Nepal Samacharpatra," V/D, 8/16) 
 
-- Three ex-IGPs charged with corruption: The 
Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority 
(CIAA) Monday filed corruption cases against three 
former Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) -- Motilal 
Bohora, Achyut Krishna Kharel and Pradip Samsher JBR, 
at the Special Court, accusing them of illegally 
amassing millions of rupees during their tenure. (Pro- 
India "The Himalayan Times," E/D, 8/14) 
 
-- Govt forms PM-led panel to push peace: The 
government Thursday formed a High Level Peace Committee 
Nepal (HLPCN) headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur 
Deuba.  It is an umbrella agency and will form a 
secretariat to facilitate the entire peace process. 
 
SIPDIS 
The committee has CPN-UML general secretary Madhav 
Kumar Nepal, RPP president Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Dr. 
Mohammad Mohsin and Minister of Forest and Soil 
Conservation and NSP president, Badri Prasad Mandal, as 
members.  The Peace Secretariat will have four 
specialists in security, negotiation, statute matters 
and conflict management. (The Himalayan Times, 8/13) 
 
-- Four Party Committee formed to advise government: A 
high level political committee of four ruling parties 
representing the coalition government has been formally 
formed to advise the government in implementation of 
common minimum programs (CMP) and settle the disputes 
arising amidst them. (Centrist "The Kathmandu Post," 
E/D, 8/12) 
 
-- Government makes public details on disappeared: The 
Home Ministry has made public the whereabouts of 24 
people who were detained and disappeared by security 
forces on various occasions from different parts of the 
country.  The whereabouts of the missing civilians were 
made public after a report prepared by a probe 
commission led by joint secretary Narayan Gopal Malegu 
was handed over to Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka 
Wednesday. (Government-owned "National News Agency," 
8/12)... The families of persons who have "disappeared" 
have expressed extreme dissatisfaction over the 
government's report.  The family members said the list 
of the government does not provide any information 
about their kiths and kin.  They have alleged that the 
government list does not include actual victims.  They 
had submitted the list of 112 persons who have 
"disappeared." (Centrist "Kantipur," V/D, 8/13) 
 
2.  MAOIST INSURGENCY 
 
-- Most industries in the Maoist hit list to close 
down: The pro-Maoist All Nepal Federation of Trade 
Union's warning has forced 12 industries to close down 
their businesses starting August 16.  The union has 
threatened to take physical action against any industry 
that goes against its call. (Nepal Samacharpatra, 8/16) 
 
-- RNA troops retreat from Achham: Two days after 
moving deep into insurgency-affected Achham, Royal 
Nepalese Army (RNA) troops Friday retreated from remote 
villages of Binayak and Kamalbazzar without any major 
battle with the rebel militias. (The Kathmandu Post, 
8/14)". The army had planned to penetrate rebel-held 
areas in Achham and flush the guerrillas out.  The army 
had received information suggesting that top rebel 
leaders were gathering 
in the district for a rally. 
(Major reports, 8/11) 
 
-- Maoists open fire in hospital:  The security forces 
and Maoist insurgents have opened fire inside Ghorahi 
based Mahendra Hospital in Dang district.  The Maoists 
on Tuesday night opened fire indiscriminately at the 
security team led by Police Superintendent that had 
entered the hospital compound to pick up a sick 
soldier.  Consequently, the security forces were also 
prompted to open fire in retaliation within the 
premises of the hospital for nearly ten minutes. 
Bullets shattered the hospital's windowpanes and hit 
the emergency room and maternity ward, forcing everyone 
there to run for cover. (The Kathmandu Post, 8/12) 
 
-- EU urges for immediate ceasefire: The European Union 
(EU) has called on government and the Maoists to 
declare immediate ceasefire and create conducive 
environment for peace process at the earliest. 
(Kantipur, 8/11) 
 
3.  OTHERS 
 
-- Bush's belated greeting to Deuba: Seventy-two days 
after Sher Bahadur Deuba was appointed prime minister, 
the President of the United States, George W. Bush, 
congratulated the former through a message delivered by 
his ambassador in Kathmandu.  "There is much work to be 
done and your recent achievements in bringing into the 
government some of the major political parties is a 
significant step toward in setting up a structure to 
achieve those goals," Bush said in his message 
delivered by Ambassador James F. Moriarty. (The 
Kathmandu Post, 8/14) 
 
-- Deal signed to explore petroleum in Terai, Chure: 
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and 
Cairn Energy Public Limited Company of Britain signed 
two separate agreements Wednesday for the exploration 
of petroleum in the Terai and Chure hills in southern 
Nepal. (Government-owned "The Rising Nepal," E/D, 8/12) 
 
-- Finance Ministry's directive on accepting 
assistance: The Finance Ministry has directed all 
ministries to seek its prior approval before receiving 
foreign assistance.  The directive was issued after the 
trend of opening personal accounts to carry out donor- 
funded programs picked up. (Major dailies, 8/11) 
 
-- DFID suspends program in 16 districts: Department 
for International Development (DfID), the international 
development arm of the British government, has 
suspended its Community Support Program (CSP) in 16 out 
of 24 districts in the mid and far-western regions of 
Nepal. (www.neoalnews.com, 8/10) 
              - 
 
MORIARTY