UN Criticises Nepal's Maoists

The United Nations says Nepal's former Maoist rebels have failed to keep a promise to allow people displaced by a decade-old civil war to return home.

The Maoists, who joined an interim government earlier this year under a peace deal, had promised to allow thousands of displaced people to return home, and to hand back property including land, homes and cattle seized by the rebels during the war.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal says the rebels are not allowing the safe return of internally displaced people.

It says there are reports that people who are trying to return are being chased away and says there are also cases in which returnees are being beaten by local Maoists.

The UN says it has observed an absence of neutral and independent law enforcement in many areas, and says there is widespread de facto Maoist control of government and society as well as limited freedom to associate with political parties other than the Maoists.

New Nepal New US Envoy

The United States Thursday said that it plans to appoint Senior Foreign Service member Nancy J. Powell as its new ambassador to Nepal.
The outgoing ambassador James F Moriarty's tenure ends on July 15.
Issuing a press release today, the US Embassy said that US President George W. Bush intends to nominate Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Nepal.
According to the release, Powell--a career member of the Senior Foreign Service--is currently serving as the National Intelligence Officer for South Asia at the National Intelligence Council.
"Prior to this, she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State," the statement said.
Powell, who has served as US ambassador to Pakistan, Ghana and Uganda earlier in her career, received her bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
It is said that she likes to put her priorities in a very strong manner.

Nepal: Is there any altranative than posponding CA elections?

MJF dismisses addition of constituencies

A senior leader of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) has dismissed the whole constituency delineation exercise claiming that it does not meet their demands.

On the day the government-formed commission submitted report advising to increase number of constituencies by 35 – including 28 for Terai districts - Kishore Kumar Biswas, vice president of MJF, told BBC Nepali Service that their demand was not for re-constitution of constituencies of Terai, hill or mountains but that for "fully proportional representation-based elections."

"We never demanded this Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission (ECDC). We had, in fact, called for its disbanding," said Biswas, adding, "Instead of solving Terai problems, this will further flare-up the agitation."

Biswas said that MJF had three major demands – fully PR based elections for Constituent Assembly; guarantee of ethnic self determination rights with the formation of Madhes autonomous region; and declaration that Nepal is oriented towards federal democratic republican set-up.

He also termed Prime Minister's two addresses to resolve Madhes agitation as "incomplete, inadequate and unclear." Biswas said that the MJF still wants to resolve the problems through dialogue.

He also refuted charges that MJF was heading towards criminalisation of politics on the backdrop of March 21 Gaur carnage when 28 Maoist activists were killed. He accused the Maoists' arrogance of weapons and government's indifference as being responsible for all the incidents of "Nepalgunj, Lahan, Bhairahawa leading up to Gaur."

The MJF leader's reaction to the reconstitution of electoral constituencies has come in the wake of submission of report by the ECDC, which has advised increasing the number of constituencies for the "First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)" system to 240 from existing 205.

The Commission headed by former judge of Supreme Court Arjun Prasad Singh has fixed 116 constituencies for Terai districts and 124 constituencies for hilly and mountainous districts. Earlier, in Terai districts there were 88 constituencies; in hilly districts there were 95 constituencies; and in mountain districts there were 22 constituencies.

Mountain Region Also Piqued

Singh Commission, however, did not increase the number of constituencies in mountain districts. This has also touched the nerves of leaders from mountain region. A UML leader from Humla district Gorakh Bahadur Bogati told Kantipur FM that this has "devalued" the geographic distinction of mountain region. "Even in my constituency, it takes me three months to visit all villages," he said, adding that these difficulties were ignored while increasing the constituencies.

The Commission has made the recommendations as per the decision of eight parties and subsequent amendment of interim constitution to increase the number of electoral constituencies in Terai as per the first amendment of the interim constitution. The first amendment was made in the wake of agitation in Terai led by MJF in January and February this year.

As per the first amendment of the interim constitution, the CA elections will be held on mixed system – half the seats through FPTP and other half through the PR system. In addition to them, 17 seats would be nominated to include personalities from various walks of life. This actually means that there will be 497 seats in total for the CA.

Martin doubts of timely CA polls

It is not only the election commissioner even the Chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Ian Martin reiterated his doubts regarding the prospect of holding the elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA) on June 20. During a meeting with CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Tuesday in Kathmandu the UNMIN chief wondered how the CA elections could take place in such a short time frame since a lot of concerns had to be fulfilled before going to the polls.

Martin inquired as to how the elections could take place by the stipulated time even when the arms storage process, formation of necessary laws related to the elections were still not completed.

Everybody including the eight party alliances agree at this moment a sense of security is yet to be instilled in the nation.

Nepal’s reply in this tregard seems to be like conducting the CA elections by hook and crook in the stipulated time. The UML chief said that timely elections would take place since the interim government's primary duty was to hold the CA elections.

Kantipur reported that Nepal argued the elections would have to take place on time "if just to prevent the nation from going through a difficult situation by the protraction of the present transition phase."

It is learnt that the two people in the half hour meeting at Nepal’s residence in Koteshwore discussed various aspects of the CA polls.

The duo held discussions on the peace process after the formation of the interim government and various other political issues as well.

Can CA polls be conducted on the stipulated Time?

The Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) led by Jaya Krishna Goit has said it has kidnapped District Education Officer (DEO), Nibh Raj Joshi of Saptari district as part of its campaign to disrupt the upcoming constituent assembly (CA) poll.
According to media reports, JTMM-Goit, Saptari coordinator Shyam, informed Joshi was abducted as a signal not to conduct constituent assembly polls by Nepal Government in the Tarai as the region has been declared independent.
Saying that there is no need of a constituent assembly for the people of Tarai origin, Shyam said they abducted Joshi after he did not meet their demand of providing Rs. 5 million donation for the JTMM’s people’s war.
However, the ruling eight parties ruling alliance have agreed to hold the elections of the constituent assembly on 20th June.
The JTMM has been involved in violent protests in Terai region demanding independent Terai state. It is the splinter from the Maoists party.
With such uncertainty in the Terai region and lack of proper arrangement necessary to conduct CA election how can the forthcoming CA poll be free and fair and conducted in the stipulated time?
Even the election commission has publicly demanded the speedy actions from the government regarding the needed policy clarifying the modalities of the election as well as the number of constituencies for CA.
Why do we need the election of CA? Is not it for sake of sustaining peace and democracy and to guarantee the people their rights? If it is conducted without proper arrangements and in a hurry can not it become a bone of contention to flare up further bloodshed? Can Nepal just conduct CA election for sake of conducting election only? Did not we watch election conducted by the King's regime last year?
Does not the eight party alliance government need to act seriously to solve problems of the terai, chure vaber and other areas before conducting CA election?

Who to lead Nepal after Koirala's six decades of politics?

Girija Prasad Koirala, the leading figure of Nepal's democratic movement, has been elected the Prime Minister of Nepal unanimously from the interim Parliament. This is the sixth time.

Koirala Prime Minister Koirala was born in 1925 in Tediya of Saharsa district in India while his father Krishna Prasad Koirala was in exile.

GP Koirala has been active in the democratic movement of Nepal for more than six decades. He was the commander of last year democratic movement. Koirala, who is also the President of Nepali Congress, was appointed Prime Minister of the Interim Government by the Parliament Sunday as per a political consensus in accordance with the Interim Constitution.

He had also been collectively elected the Prime Minister of the Government constituted under the leadership of the Seven Party Alliance following the success of the historical movement last year.

Koirala has become successful to bring the Maoist Party who was indulging in the decade-long bloody conflict for capturing state power to establish one party communist rule to a political mainstream for competitive multiparty politics.

Prior to this, Koirala had become the first elected Prime Minister following restoration of democracy in 1990 and served as Prime Minister many times.

Koirala is the youngest son of renowned social worker of Nepal, Krishna Prasad Koirala. His two brothers Matrika Prasad Koirala and BP Koirala have also served as the Prime Minister of Nepal.

Prime Minister Koirala, was attracted to politics in an early age due to political environment in the Koirala family and with the inspiration of BP Koirala who was considered as the most popular and the charismatic leader of Nepal.

Koirala led the historical Biratnagar Jute Mills strike held in Falgun 20, 2003 B.S. and was later unanimously elected President of Biratnagar labour union. He is also the founder member and President of Nepal Trade Union Congress.

Following the dissolution of parliamentary system in 2017 B.S. Koirala along with then Prime Minister BP Koirala, NC leaders Ganesh Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai were imprisoned. He served a seven-year jail sentence before being released following a 21-day hunger strike in 2024 B.S.

Popularly known as 'Girijababu', Koirala was a source of inspiration for thousands of revolutionaries dedicated to the long struggle against the autocratic king’s direct rule.

A skilled organizer, Koirala along with other congress leaders served many jail sentences and house arrest during the struggle for restoration of democracy in Nepal.

Koirala played a decisive role in all struggles such as "satyagraha"(peaceful movement) of 1985 and the historical popular movement of 1990.

He has been continuously elected member of parliament from Constituencies 1 and 5 of Morang district in the General Elections-2048 B.S., mid-term elections in 2051 B.S. and general elections in 2056 B.S.

GP Koirala’s mission to transform Nepal in a full-fledged democracy with the participation of all seems heading towards its goal. After the formation of the interim government including the Maoists, Nepal has crossed a great leap forward in the process of Peace and Democracy. However, there are still a lot of challenges ahead.

Majority of the people in Nepal believe that in the able leadership of GP Koirala country will achieve its stipulated objectives. But at the same time people fear about his aging body and ill health. At this juncture and the dire time of the nation everybody in Nepal wishes for Koirala’s long life and sound health.

Continuation of Koirala’s leadership is necessary for the country for some years to come for the logical conclusion of all the political questions that has come in Nepal for centuries.

Although the people of Nepal do not want to discuss on whom to lead the country after Koirala right at this time, but is not this the right time for this discussion? Nobody can predict the health of an aging leader. The effort of Koirala should not go in vain. If his direct leadership interrupts because of his ill health his legacy is a must.

Therefore Nepali congress cadres must be very smart to elect one who can succeed GP Koirala and lead the country with a full legitimate legacy of Girijababu. There can be many leaders who would claim to continue the legacy of GP but among many one has to be elected who knows him from in and out and can carry out his mission without any interruption.

Who can be this? Can we name a few? Can we start this debate now? Is it necessary that someone should be out from the Koirala family? Can someone from the family be acceptable? Who can be ones from out and in the family? What are the positive points of the entire aspirants?

India's support to MJF affects revenue collection in Nepal !!

Seema Jagaran Manch (SJM) of Bihar organised a sit-in at Indo-Nepal transit point at Jogbani on Wednesday stopping all export and import activities in support of the on going movement of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum.
The SJM activists expressed their solidarity with the agitation launched by MJF in Nepal, reports Kantipur daily. In a statement SJM has stated that they organised the sit-in to protest police atrocities against Indian nationals during Terai agitation launched by MJF.
The SJM has also accused the Maoists of expanding their organisation by staying in Indian territory and of unleashing atrocities against Indian nationals in Biratnagar, Gaur and Biratnagar with the help of police.
The daily quotes Bhanu Prasad Raya, president of SJM, as saying that the Maoists were expanding their organization in Indian territory and that the sit-in was held to exert pressure to stop it
Due to the sit-in, the collection revenue at the Biratnagar customs office was seriously affected on Wednesday. On an average, the office collects Rs 18 million revenue daily and around 300 cargo trucks move to and fro the Jogbani point.

When will Nepal declared Republic? PM says king should abdicate!

A swift turn in the political development of Nepal has created a new dimension in the fate of the tiny Kingdom. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala says it would be good if King Gyanendra were to abdicate. He also says the unpopular crown prince should abandon his claim to the throne.

What are the political implications to these most outspoken remarks against the monarch made to date by Koirala who has always been shouldering a ceremonial monarchy? The King was forced to restore parliamentary democracy last April after weeks of street protests against his unconstitutional direct rule.

Although, few Nepalese politicians from the ruling alliance have expressed so much as a word of support for the monarchy, the veteran prime minister, Koirala, has been an exception. He was condemned for saying there should still be space for a ceremonial monarchy.
But he has now shifted his ground. It does not require much thinking and arguments on why Koirala has changed his previous stand on the Monarchy. It seems clearly in response to a controversial royal statement on Democracy day in which king Gyanendra justified his takeover of absolute power two years ago.
Mr Koirala has now said this statement had made Nepal more likely to become a republic.
However, it was not clear whether Mr Koirala was recommending the king hand power to his grandson. There has been a wild rumor for a while about the king vacating the throne for his grandson in Kathmandu. Some Pundits have urged to do so in order to have a peaceful transition in Nepal.
But he said the abdications would put an end to the current chorus of demands, notably from the Maoist former rebels, that a republic be declared immediately.
Under last November's peace accord the future of the monarchy is supposed to be decided by Constitutional Assembly elected later this year.
In the meantime, BBC reports, “A recent opinion poll suggested more than half of Nepalis still want a monarchy of some kind, but parties in the ruling coalition firmly support a republic".
Can Nepal be declared a republic even before CA election?

Can Carter Center ensure free and fair CA election in Nepal?

The US-based Carter Center has launched election observation mission in Nepal with prime objective to ensure free and fair Constituent Assembly Election without violence and fraud.

According to the news release by the Center in Kathmandu, the long-term observers come from eight countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States.

"The Carter Center welcomes this opportunity to support the Nepalese people in their transition to sustainable peace and multi-party democracy and encourages all parties to the process to participate actively and ultimately to respect the will of the people," said David Carroll, director of the Carter Center's Democracy Program.

The Atlanta based Carter Center representatives have met with political parties, election officials, civil society, domestic observer groups, and the international community, all of whom have encouraged an international observation presence by the Center in order to help build confidence in the electoral process.

"It is our hope that the political leadership of Nepal and all actors in the process will continue to seek open dialogue and compromise in the pursuit of a transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral process that best enables the people of Nepal to exercise their democratic rights," said Darren Nance, Carter Center Nepal field office director.

In spite of good will and support from many national and international forces there still remains unanswered questions. Can CA election be held in free and fair atmosphere without any violence and fraud?

Mortars hit airport as peacekeepers arrive in Somalia

The first peacekeepers to arrive in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu in more than 10 years were met with a surge of violence today, as mortars hit the airport during a welcoming ceremony and a deadly gunbattle broke out on the city’s crumbling streets.

The street battles involving masked gunmen killed three people and mortars wounded one, all of them civilians, witnesses and police said.

The violence is the latest example of the volatility peacekeepers face in a country that has seen little more than anarchy for years, and where the government backed by Ethiopian troops toppled an Islamic militia only months ago.

“I saw around 100 gunmen engaging in a fierce battle. They used heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades,” Hassan Abukar Sidow, a Mogadishu resident, said.

He said the fighting began after police went house-to-house looking for suspects in the attack on the airport.

The bloodshed came as about 400 Ugandan peacekeepers arrived in the capital to protect the Somali government and to allow for the withdrawal of troops from neighbouring Ethiopia, which helped the administration topple a radical Islamic militia that controlled much of southern Somalia for six months.

The Ugandan troops are the vanguard of a larger African Union force authorised by the United Nations to help the government assert its authority in one of the most violent and gun-infested cities in the world.

Peacekeepers have kept clear of Mogadishu for more than a decade, while much of the country was ruled by violence and clan law. The US sent troops in 1992 as part of a UN relief operation for tens of thousands of starving civilians, but in 1993 clan militiamen shot down two Black Hawk helicopters and killed 18 American soldiers.

US forces withdrew in 1994 and the UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia was eventually abandoned in 1995.

Uganda’s Deputy Defence Minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the peacekeepers understand the dangers of working in Somalia.

“We have not just dropped our troops there without knowing the situation,” Nankabirwa said in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. “We will be the first people to make sure that they are safe so they can carry on to other missions.”

Insurgents believed to be the remnants of Somalia’s Council of Islamic Courts have staged almost daily attacks against the government, its armed forces or the Ethiopian military. On Tuesday, gunmen launched eight mortars at the airport during a ceremony to welcome the Ugandans. Two shells hit the airport; the others dropped to the sea.

People attending the ceremony scattered at the sound of the first blast. Somalia’s deputy defense minister, Salad Ali Jelle, refused to comment afterward, saying officials were investigating.

In the ensuing gunbattle, masked gunmen travelling in vans fought Somali and Ethiopian troops looking for suspects.

“The gunmen reminded me of the insurgents in Iraq, especially the way they covered their faces and carried the RPG on the shoulders,” said resident Salah Yabarow Wardhere.

Just hours earlier, overnight, gunmen killed seven people, including a police commander and a leading cleric, government officials and witnesses said. The police commander and another officer were ambushed at a major intersection, said Mohamud Burale Coon, a tea shop owner.

Maslah Mohamed Abdi said his brother, who was the top cleric in one of Mogadishu’s main mosques, was killed outside his home. The gunmen then killed four businessmen who were chewing qat, a mild stimulant, in their home, a neighbour said.

“The men stood at the door of a room ... and then opened fire,” Halima Hashi Adow said.

The cleric and the four men had been trying to hire gunmen to protect them, their homes and their neighbourhood. But the insurgents use the neighbourhood to launch mortar attacks on Ethiopian bases and did not want any private security forces in the area, residents said.

African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit said the peacekeepers are allowed to defend themselves if attacked, but would not launch attacks on anyone.

“Our mission is to support all Somalis and the political process, which is based on dialogue and reconciliation,” Djinnit said in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

A Somali government spokesman, meanwhile, said local police are prepared to fight the insurgency and crime wave.

“Security is paramount for the country to attain a lasting peace, and law enforcement mechanisms such as the prisons and police force are now ready,” Hussein Mohamud Hussein, the spokesman, said.

China's leaders shift focus of spending

The Chinese leadership has made big promises on the environment and poverty at the opening of parliament - the National People's Congress - in Beijing. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also pledged greater support for education and health. His budget priorities reflect Beijing's recent focus on shifting spending to social programmes.

They were neglected while the communist government concentrated on boosting investment and trade. That has fuelled unprecedented economic growth in the country but not all have benefited. The Prime Minister made a further commitment to close the gap between the rich and the poor. Analysts question whether all these goals can be achieved.

Maoist rebels' shoot Indian MP

A member of parliament belonging to a prominent regional party in eastern India has been shot dead by suspected Maoists, officials have said.

Sunil Mahato of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was killed while watching a football match in Jharkhand, which has been the scene of a Maoist insurgency.

Two security guards and a party leader were also killed in the shoot out.

More than 6,000 people have died during the rebels' 20-year fight for a communist state in parts of India.

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government in the state has called for India's top federal detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to lead an investigation into Sunday's murder.

The incident happened when Mr Mahato turned up in Kishanpur village to watch a local football match.

Ghatshila senior official Ramesh Dubey told the Press Trust of India news agency that about 15 Maoists came to the match and moved close to where Mr Mahato was sitting on the pretext of giving him a garland.

'Revenge'

He said Mr Mahato and his security guards died instantly after the men opened fire, while a local party leader died on his way to hospital.

Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda said he did not rule out the Maoists killing Mr Mahato in "revenge" for the government's drive against the Maoists in the region.

A spokesman for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said a general strike has been called in the state on Monday in protest against the murder.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party is an ally of the governing Congress party.

The Maoist movement which began more than three decades ago has spread to a number of Indian states.

The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless workers.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Senior Taliban leader arrested in Pakistan

Declan Walsh in Islamabad Friday March 2, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Pakistan has made its first arrest of a senior Taliban commander, it emerged today, apparently bowing to intense western pressure to get tough on militant leaders sheltering inside its borders.

Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, a former Taliban defence minister, was captured in the western city of Quetta. He is the most senior Taliban official to be apprehended since US-led forces ousted the Islamist movement from power in late 2001.

Western diplomats hope the arrest marks a turning point in policy by Pakistan, which until now has bristled at demands to crack down on Taliban safe havens.

"We are very pleased," said a western official who confirmed the arrest. "It's precisely the sort of thing we have been pressing on the Pakistanis for some time."

Akhund is a leading figure on the Taliban leadership council and is reportedly one of the few confidants of Mullah Muhammad Omar, the fugitive Taliban leader.

His capture in Quetta on Monday lent further credence to suggestions that the city has become a headquarters for the Taliban, claims which have been heatedly denied by Pakistani officials. In January a captured Taliban spokesman said that Mullah Omar was hiding in Quetta. The Pakistani president, General Pervez Musharraf, later retorted that he was "500% sure" Omar was inside Afghanistan.

Mulllah Akhund had been under surveillance in Quetta for some time, the western official said, but it "wasn't clear" why Pakistani law enforcement had not swooped earlier. A crackdown in Quetta could provide an immediate benefit for British forces across the border in southern Afghanistan, who are braced for an expected Taliban spring offensive in the coming weeks.

Today, the Pakistani government appeared to have been caught off guard by leaked reports of Akhund's arrest. Interior minister Ahmed Khan Sherpao said five Afghans had been arrested but he would not confirm if Akhund was among them. The chief military spokesman said he had "no information".

Speculation was rife that the capture had been triggered by Monday's visit of Dick Cheney. The US vice-president urged Gen Musharraf to crack down on militant havens in the tribal belt and Baluchistan province, of which Quetta is the capital.

"Pakistan and the US are in a perfect patron-client relationship where service delivery is very important. Our service is to capture militants," said Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, a defence analyst in Islamabad.

Mr Musharraf is finding it increasingly difficult to balance the demands of his allies with sensitive domestic constraints. The Cheney visit involved some tough talking, said a source familiar with the conversation.

Mr Cheney pressed Gen Musharraf to be more forceful in Waziristan, the lawless tribal area where the US believes al-Qaida is regrouping. The general rejected the demand, saying that a militaristic approach to the tribal areas had failed in the past and could spark a civil war in the future.

Hours later, after Mr Cheney had left for Afghanistan, Mullah Akhund was captured. On Wednesday Gen Musharraf warned foreign "terrorists" to quit the mountainous tribal areas. "They should leave or they will be dealt with," he said.

Gen Musharraf is also under stiff internal pressure. A spate of suicide bombings in the past six weeks has killed almost 50 people.

Today, a bomb seriously wounded a senior anti-terrorist judge in the Punjabi city of Multan and killed at least three people.

Combined with veiled American threats to cut Pakistan's multi-billion pound aid package, the attacks are hardening anti-American sentiment even among moderates.

"We have to look out for ourselves," wrote commentator Ayaz Amir in Dawn newspaper, which broke the news of Mullah Akhund's capture. "We need to close ranks and stop portraying a picture of a house divided and almost at war with itself."

"There is a growing feeling in Pakistan that this is just not working, that we have gotten ourselves trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea," said Talat Masood, a retired general and analyst.

Koirala, Indian envoy discuss Maoists' inclusion in Nepal Government

There have been a lot of rumors floating in the streets of Kathmandu regarding inclusion of the Maoists in the present government and conducting Constituent Assembly. However, before every substantial development the intense consultations start with all stakeholders in Nepal including the foreigners.

It is believed in the same connection the in Kathmandu on Mar. 1 Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held discussions with the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.

The 20 minute meeting at Baluwatar official residence of PM also discussed the current political situation in Nepal. This meeting comes in the wake of larger consultations between the Seven Party Alliance government and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M). Maoist Chairman Prachanda is scheduled to meet Prime Minister for the same purpose within one or two days.

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty met Interim Parliament Speaker Subhas Nembang on the same issue.On Wednesday, Moriarty told CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal that he had doubts over the number of Maoist weapons registered with the United Nations.

Meanwhile, the meeting to decide the dates for the Constituent Assembly elections has been postponed till Friday. The Constituent Assembly elections are slated for mid-June

More than 700,000 homeless in U.S.

There were an estimated 754,000 homeless people in the United States, in shelters or living on the streets on a single night in January 2005.

U.S. officials said in a report to Congress released on Wednesday from February to April 2005, an estimated 704,000 people in the United States used shelters or transitional housing.


According to the study, during that period, 47% of people living in shelters were single adult men. Nearly one quarter were children 17 or younger. Less than 2% of the homeless population was 62 or older, compared with 15% of the total U.S. population.

Among other findings, the report said about 59% of the people in shelters were members of minority groups. It added that 45% of the homeless were African Americans.

Based on a sampling of communities across the United States, the study concluded that 24% of all adults in shelters were disabled.

Meantime, Director of the Washington-based National Coalition for the Homeless Michael Stoops said, "Many cities in this country are trying to give the impression that things are better than they really are, that homelessness is decreasing. But in reality, homelessness continues to increase regardless of who is in the White House or who controls Congress."

Nepalese people a tool for conspiracy??

Alarming news is coming from Nepal. The ongoing peace process might be the victim of the incidences that are taking place. One after another confrontations are occurring without any intervals before the proposed Constituent Assembly elections.

Why is it necessary to conduct CA election? It is believed that the people of Nepal are the supreme and their verdicts should be respected as their wish for their own destiny. The Constitution of new Nepal will be written by the elected representatives of the people.

However, each and every group seems determined to influence the government to accept their demands before CA elections. How can CA election conducted in such a situation be fair and free?

One can therefore argue if everything is already decided what is the need of conducting CA election? None of the political parties and the groups is ready to drop their demand and want to fulfill them by electing their representatives in CA. In this way, are not we discrediting CA election which was the only demand of the people during last year April movement?

Moreover, many people now have started thinking that CA elections might not take place at the stipulated time because of the worsening situation of the country.

Can CA elections be conducted without normalcy? It seems the whole country is at the verge of over turn. The government and the authority seem to be onlookers when incidences take places. Law and order situation has not improved in spite of the end of major battles.

People of Nepal have their own aspirations which are natural and normal but lack of security the natural flow of democratic exercises such as demonstrations and sit in protests have converted into a bloody anarchy. This is what many people think about recent movements of the Terai.

Now because of the prevailing political situation as well as a lot of things have to be completed before conducting Constituent Assembly elections the skeptical thoughts are going to be considered at all levels.

The recent comment from the head of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Ian Martin is significantly meaningful. He has said there are a number of technical and political challenges before the Nepal government, particularly security, ahead of the Constituent Assembly elections slated for mid-June.

"There is an important question of how adequate security can be guaranteed for the election," Martin told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

Martin also cautioned that if Nepal failed to include traditionally marginalized groups in the peace process, the country would miss the opportunity to harness the strength and vision of its own people and leave some of the key underlying causes of the conflict unaddressed.

However, many experts believe that the people in Nepal must realize in a tiny country where so many ethnicities and marginalized groups are functioning the divisions of the country in ethnicity and language can easily create an atmosphere that provides an opportunity for those who want to fish in the troubled waters. Is not this what we experience everyday in Nepal?

Some political pundits even go further and wonder where people of Nepal exercise their democratic rights if the country no more exists. Have not we the Nepalese people become a tool of a great unseen conspirator?

Iran is prepared for any situation

Iran's deputy foreign minister says the country is prepared for any situation, even war, if the row over its nuclear weapons programme is not resolved.

The country's president has also warned there will be no break and no reverse gear in its nuclear fuel production.

The statements were made as Iran announced it has launched its first rocket capable of reaching space

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Iranian state television announced that the country today successfully tested its first space rocket.

However, officials said later the launch was for research purposes and the rocket would not go into orbit.

Today's launch comes at a time of mounting tension between Tehran and the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

This afternoon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered another provocative speech, insisting there is no going back on Iran's nuclear activities. He likened his country's nuclear programme to a train with no breaks and no reverse gear.

His deputy foreign minister, Manouchehr Mohammadi said they were prepared for any situation, "even for war".

The US responded by saying that what Iran needs to do is halt weapon's-related activities.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are due to meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of more sanctions over the nuclear issue.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0225/iran1.html

Nepal’s Maoists fought war: one weapon for 9 combatants??

Every one interestingly watching political developments in Nepal is surprised and under suspicion as the number of the weapons registered is relatively low compared to the number of registered PLA.
According to Kantipur daily, the government talks team expressed their surprise with the Maoist talks team about the relatively fewer number of weapons compared with the number of combatants registered.
The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has informed that it has registered 30852 combatants and 3428 weapons. The ratio of army personals and weapons is exactly 9:1.
Is it not quite interesting to learn about the Maoists technique of warfare if such low numbers of weapons can engage a comparatively large in size and well trained Nepalese Army? May be the military experts must have answers to this question.
Maoist leader Nanda Kishor Pun said they have already cantoned all the weapons they possessed. Mr. Pun (Pasang) is deputy commander of the PLA who claimed that they have handed over all the weapons.
He added, besides some homemade weapons, the Maoists had been using the arms seized from the army and police forces during the raids. He totally rejected the charges that the Maoists have buried some weapons. The Maoists have said that they only had socket bombs in large number. The number of the socket bombs are yet to be public.
However, the leaders of major political parties have termed the concern, raised from various sides regarding lesser amount of arms registered by the Maoists as compared to their combatants, as unnecessary.
Interacting with media persons in the capital, Saturday, they cautioned that raising such an issue at this juncture could affect the ongoing peace process.
CPN UML standing committee member, Bam Dev Gautam said the other parties should trust the Maoists when they say that they have produced all the arms before the United Nations monitors.
Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala was of views the parties should give importance to create atmosphere of political honesty and trust over the issue of weapons allegedly hidden by the Maoists. But are the Maoists really honest in declaring their arms?
Army specialist Indrajit Rai said he thought the Maoists had 12,000 weapons and understood that they will show 6000 later.
Meanwhile, leader of Nepali Congress Democratic, Dr Minendra Rijal said the responsibility actually lies on the Maoists to prove to the Nepali people, the Prime Minister, and the UN that they have not hidden any arms.

U.N.: Nearly 31,000 former rebels confined to camp as part of Nepal peace process

By Binaj Gurubacharya ASSOCIATED PRESS February 23, 2007 KATMANDU, Nepal – Some 30,852 former communist rebel combatants have been registered in camps where they are confined as part of a peace process to end conflict in Nepal, a senior U.N. official said Friday. Ian Martin, U.N.'s chief official in Nepal, also said 3,428 weapons held by the Maoist rebels have also been locked up as part of the peace deal between the guerrillas and the government. The arms included automatic weapons, mortars, rifles and machine guns. The rebels agreed to a peace process last year and joined a temporary parliament in January. They are set to join an interim government that is to conduct this year's elections. Martin said the first phase of the registration of these combatants have been completed and the second phase is expected to begin soon. “The weapons and ammunition stored at the seven Maoist army main cantonments are locked in storage containers furnished with shelves for safe weapons storage and easy control with a complete inventory,” Martin told reporters in Katmandu. However, he said there were concerns some facilities might not have adequate security. Earlier this week, hundreds of these former combatants stormed out of one of the main camps in south Nepal, protesting lack of shelter, food and supplies. Most returned back to the camp on Friday. Abhiral, a local rebel commander who goes by one name, said all those who had left the camp in the southern town of Chitwan on Wednesday had returned after receiving instructions from their leaders. Abhiral said the living conditions were miserable, and it had become impossible to remain at the camp. Many former guerrillas have been living in shelters made of straw and leaves, he said. Heavy winter rains last week worsened conditions. But Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the government has already $5 million for food, clothing and other essentials, and another $4.2 million for infrastructure such as roads, electricity and drinking water. “The money is enough to feed and maintain the Maoist combatants for months,” Mahat said. “We have provided the basic facilities in the seven main camps, but work is progressing in the satellite camps.” Martin, the U.N. representative, visited some of the camps last week and urged the government to immediately improve conditions. The government and rebels signed a peace agreement in November, halting a decade-long communist insurgency that killed more than 13,000 people. Under the deal, thousands of former guerrillas are being housed until elections later this year in seven main camps and 21 smaller “satellite” camps after turning in their weapons, which are locked up under U.N. supervision. The rebels joined a temporary parliament in January, and are set to join an interim government that is to conduct this year's elections.

48 nations gather to fight cluster bombs

By DOUG MELLGREN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

OSLO, Norway -- Representatives from 48 nations on Thursday launched a global effort to ban the use, production and stockpiling of cluster bombs by the end of next year, despite the opposition of several of the world's major military powers.

Steve Goose from the Human Rights Watch Cluster Monition Coalition, participates in the opening of a conference on cluster bombs in Oslo Thursday Feb. 22, 2007. A 48-nation meeting on cluster bombs opened in Oslo on Thursday with Austria pledging to ban the weapons and organizers saying an international treaty outlawing the munitions could be achieved by 2008. (AP Photo/Stian Lysberg Solum, SCANPIX)

A draft declaration, obtained by The Associated Press, said these weapons - which can linger on former battlefields for years - cause "unacceptable harm." It calls for a treaty banning them by 2008, despite concerns that some countries would not agree to act that quickly.

Norway hopes the treaty would be similar to one outlawing anti-personnel mines, negotiated in Oslo in 1997.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said advocates should push for a treaty by the end of 2008, despite concerns. "I believe any other target will be a wrong signal," he said.

The U.S., China and Russia oppose the ban and did not send representatives to the meeting. Australia, Israel, India and Pakistan also did not attend.

Cluster bombs are small devices packed with high explosives and loaded into artillery shells, bombs or missiles. When the larger munition explodes, it scatters hundreds of the mini-explosives - called bomblets - over large areas.

A percentage of these bomblets typically fail to explode immediately, but may still detonate if they are picked up or struck - endangering civilians, often children, years after conflicts end.

The draft declaration calls for a treaty that would "prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of those cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians."

The treaty, the declaration said, should also create a framework for helping victims of cluster bombs, clearing the munitions and "destruction of stockpiles of prohibited cluster munitions," the document said.

It also urged countries to consider banning such weapons before the treaty takes effect. Norway, which is spearheading the initiative, has already done so. Austria announced a moratorium on cluster bombs at the start of the conference.

"This is a critical juncture," Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch told delegates. "Let us hope this meeting will be remembered as the meeting where a large number of countries decided that cluster munitions are not just another weapon."

Goose called cluster bombs "a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen" since they continue to kill long after a conflict has ended.

The Cluster Munition Coalition, an advocacy group co-hosting Wednesday's civilian forum, said the weapons have recently been used in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon.

The U.N. has estimated that Israel dropped as many as 4 million of the bomblets in southern Lebanon during last year's war with Hezbollah, with as many 40 percent failing to explode on impact.

Activists say children can be attracted to the unexploded weapons by their small size, shape and bright colors or shiny metal surfaces. As many as 60 percent of cluster bomb victims in Southeast Asia are children, the Cluster Munition Coalition said.

The U.S., Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Japan say the weapons can be dealt with under the 1980 U.N. Convention on Conventional Weapons.

However, treaty advocates say those talks are stalled, and a new avenue is needed.

Gahr Stoere said advocates should push for a treaty even without the support of big countries like the U.S. and China.

"I think we learned from the experience from the anti-personnel mine campaign in the '90s that if we were to wait for those countries to take the lead it will be a long wait," he said at a news conference.

"What we do here hopefully will engage those countries and that they will see merit to create rules and regulations to handle this issue. I'm not pessimistic in that regard."

On Wednesday, Simon Conway, of the Britain's Landmine Action group, said some countries attending the conference may seek to weaken the one-page draft declaration by demanding postponement of its treaty target date of 2008.

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On the Net: http://www2.norway.or.jp/policy/news