M A I N   N E W S

Pressure mounts on Koirala
Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

Kathmandu (Nepal), June 10
The main opposition parties in Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and the National Democratic Party (Rashtriya Prajatantra Party) are divided in their opinion on the Koirala government.

While the five-decade old CPN (UML) is of the view that the government has failed totally in handling the situation arising out of the palace tragedy last week and has lost the moral right to continue in office, the National Democratic Party is not in favour of raising the issue of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation at this moment.

Sources in the party told TNS this was not the right time to talk about the Prime Minister’s resignation and the demand could wait till normalcy was restored. The Sadhbhavana Party, known for its pro-India leanings, is of the view that resignations do not provide solutions to problems. The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), founded by former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is of the view that several kinds of destabilising forces are trying to take advantage of the current situation in Nepal.

Sources who did not want to be identified in the RPP said Maoist insurgents were trying to exploit the situation. Their ultimate objective is to overthrow the monarchy and establish a people’s republic. “The Sadhbhavana party is of the opinion that democratic forces should remain alert and make efforts to maintain constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.”

The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) on the other hand is unsparing in its criticism of the Koirala government. Party spokesperson Bhim Acharya told TNS the Nepali Congress had failed on all fronts.

“Its failure to give proper and satisfactory information on the bloodbath in the Narayan Hity Palace on June 1 fuelled speculation, rumours and adverse comments from the international media. The state run radio Nepal and Nepal TV broke the news 16 hours after the tragedy.”

Mr Arun Nepal, member of the national council of the party, shares Mr Acharya’s views. He said the NCP (UML) began putting pressure on the government after the Public Accounts Committee levelled charges of corruption against Mr Koirala for leasing a jetliner from an Austrian airline. This led to tremendous pressure from other opposition parties who disrupted paralimentary proceedings on all 57 working days during the last session.

“We think the Koirala government has not handled the situation properly. In the absence of precise information on the palace tragedy, the public had to depend on foreign media like the BBC and the CNN.”

Mr Nepal said the 43-member Central Working Committee of the party had a day-long meeting on Sunday to take stock of the situation.

RPP spokesperson Kamal Thapa said on Sunday although the party was firm in its previous demand for the Prime Minister’s resignation, it was not in favour of raking up the issue at a time when the country was going through the most turbulent time. “Keeping the demand of resignation pending, our first and foremost task is to consolidate the institution of monarchy, multi-party democracy and restore normalcy, peace and stability in the country. All mainstream political parties should come together to achieve this goal. The RPP would like to request all parties and the public to remain calm and wait for the report of the commission. We have total confidence in the commission because it is headed by the Chief Justice and includes the Speaker. We are confident the commission will bring out the truth”, he added.

The 10-year-old Sadhbhavana Party founded by Mr Gajendra Narain Singh, member of the Rashtriya Panchayat during the panchayat regime, is not inclined to the idea of pressing the demand for Mr Koirala’s resignation. Party general secretary Rajendra Mahato told TNS the government’s failure to provide proper information to the public on the palace blood bath needed to be criticised.

“It reflects the government’s inefficiency but that does not mean that we start demanding his resignation. The Press enjoys freedom in a democracy but this should not be at the cost of breaching the Constitution. The government should release them with a stern warning,” he said.

Opposition parties apart, the ruling Nepali Congress is under tremendous pressure from its own leaders. Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has requested the government to tender a proper apology to the editor and publishers of the Nepali daily who are in police custody since Wednesday. There are factions within the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has also been suggesting that Mr Koirala should resign.

Frantic search for Devyani
Ishara Bhasi

London
The reports two days ago that Devyani Rana was in London and staying with her sister Urvashi and her Indian-origin businessman sent many tabloid sleuths hunting for her. One even flew to Edinburgh! A few contacted friends among Indian journalists for the “tip”. Sources in the High Commission were asked if the said businessman was known to the High Commission.

No expenses were to be spared. But it was not needed. Within hours a house of the businessman Shiv Khemka in Eaton Square, off Sloane Street in the Knightsbridge area, was pin-pointed. But, as one journalist put it the “birds had flown”. The whole family, including Devyani, it was said had flown to Moscow.

All those who knew the Royal family and Prince Dipendra in particular have been, in any case, spotted and asked about their comments.

Julia Stonor (62), sister of the seventh Lord Camoys, who was Dipendra’s official guardian for the three years’ the Prince was at Eton, told the Daily Mail that Dipendra had a “penchant” for playing soldiers.

“I didn’t warm up to him at all. His father whom I knew very well, was sweet and gentle. Dipendra was not. He was undisciplined with an overfondness for alcohol.... He always made me feel uneasy.” Her brother Lord Camoys differed with this assessment and said that he was delightful.

A brewery heir Nelion Ridley is quoted saying that it was difficult for Dipendra to integrate at Eton. Tom Holden, the House Master, has denied as myths the stories about Dipendra having had sex with a school maid and that he ever boasted of the harem back in Nepal.

But Holden said: “That he (Dipendra) was very fond of a girl in Nepal and wrote to her regularly. But it was not this current girl. Like many boys, he liked to have a female friend, but he had no connections in Britain.”

The latest mystery now is about the identity of the other girl.

Meanwhile, theories continue to be floated and printed about the killing in the Nepalese Palace. The sudden sprouting of “survivors” and their “eye-witness” accounts are being received with a bit of “surprise”, as to why it took them so many days to narrate the sequence of events.

A source said that media here is continuing its hunt and some on the trail could go to Moscow or wherever their nose guides them. “Devyani might escape those from Nepal who might be searching her but it would need a Houdini act to put off the tabloid hounds”.

Nepal Govt warns media
Tribune News Service

Kathmandu, June 10
Instead of considering a plethora of demands for the release of three mediapersons of the Kantipur publications, the Nepal Government has warned the media that it should be prepared to face action if it acts against the country’s sovereignty and integrity. In a statement issued here on Saturday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting urged people not to be misled by speculative news stories. It said the Nepalese Government was fully committed to preserving and promoting freedom of the Press and that no political system or Constitution could afford to provide absolute freedom.

Census begins

The second phase of the 10th Census began here today in 40 districts. As per the revised schedule of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), enumerators would now collect data in 40 districts instead of all 75 districts. The Census is scheduled to start in the remaining districts from June 15.

Net surfing for an update

Tired of lending their ears to conflicting versions and implausible accounts about the palace tragedy, youngsters here are visiting Internet cafes to view the latest on news portals and private sites. Most of these sites have pieced together the events leading to the bloodbath in the Narayan Hiti Palace. Some have even recorded the eyewitness account of Dr Rajiv Shahi.

Editor’s release sought

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) has demanded the release of the editor, managing director and director of Nepali daily Kantipur. The three are in custody at the Hanumandhoka police station here on charges under the State Offences Act. In doing so, the party has endorsed its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal’s demand for the immediate release of the three mediapersons and an apology from the government.