M A I N   N E W S

Kantipur Editor, others freed
Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

Kathmandu, June 15
The nine-day long detention of the Editor, Managing Director and Director of the Kantipur publications here came to an end on Friday afternoon after the Special Court pronounced their release.

After a marathon hearing at the Special Court at Anam Nagar here, a three Judge Bench presided over by Mohan Prakash Sitoula ordered that editor Yubraj Ghimire be released on bail of Rs 2000. The court, however, asked the three charged under the State Offences Act to appear for hearings.

Mr Kul Prasad Upreti, Registrar of the Special Court said the three had been charged with treason (Rajya Droh) under the State Offences (Rajya Virudh Apradh) Act. He pointed out that the relevant Section prescribed penalty to anybody who maked a direct or indirect attack on the King or his family in speech, written form or sign language. The Section states that if anybody tries to spread hatred, enmity or contempt or tries to, instigate anybody, he will be punished with three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3000.

Mr Ghimire along with Managing Diector Kailash Sirohiya and director Binod Raj Gyawali were taken in custody last Wednesday after their newspaper published an article deemed to be inflammatory. The article written by Maoist leader Baburam Bhattatrai stated that King Gyanendra could not be trusted and that there was an international conspiracy behind the bloodbath at Narayan Hity Palace on June 1.

Mr Ghimire’s wife Renu told TNS that she was very happy that Yubraj had been freed. She said she would celebrate his release in the traditional Nepali way by putting “sindoor (vermilion)” on his forehead. This custom of sharing happiness is called “aveer jatra”, she explained.

Counsel for the accused Radhe Shyam Adhikari told TNS here that the hearing went on without a lunch break from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. On being asked whether the offence of the accused should be considered under the State Offences Act, the counsel for the accused told the bench that if the accused had made any mistake, it should be an offence under the Press and Publications Act. While accepting the responsibility for the publication of the article, Mr Ghimire told the bench that he had only given space to the writer. He said the onus of the article should fall on the writer. He said he had not committed any offence and his action was within the scope of law. He felt that views expressed in the article should be known to the public.

Uneasy calm in Kathmandu
Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

Kathmandu, June 15
Contrary to police and public expectations, Kathmandu remained calm and peaceful a day after the two-member commission appointed to probe the Narayanity palace tragedy made its report public. The much-awaited report has been dismissed with utter disbelief here. Opposition parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party are scrutinising the 200-page report and holding informal discussions and meetings to give what they called an “official reaction.”

Although the police presence could not be missed on Kathmandu’s streets, no untoward incident was reported from any quarter. There were, however, unconfirmed reports of demonstrations in Patan and Chhetrapati.

Mr Bikram Rana, DIG (Security), Lalitpur, Kathmandu and Bhaktpur told TNS here on Friday afternoon that the situation was normal. Mr Rana ruled out the possibility of civil unrest in the days to come.

“Apprehending tension today, we strengthened security and deployed additional forces,” he said.

Asked why people did not react to the report, the DIG said: “I think the public has realised what the facts are.”

But the man on the street is unwilling to accept that things have returned to normal. “Friday may have passed off peacefully. It does not mean that people of Kathmandu have accepted the report. It should be opposed. The report is a repeat of the eyewitness account of Rajiv Shahi, Dhirendra’s son-in-law, said Prakash Shrestha who owns a video parlour in Jamal, Kantipath.

“Who will believe that a son killed his father, mother and other members of the family? “ asked Jaya Basnet, a beautician from Tripursehwar.

The question uppermost in people’s minds here is whether the day long normalcy restored after a fortnight’s unrest will last. While some feel that the public is waiting to be motivated by a political party, there are others who doubt if a political party will spearhead the public outcry against the report.

Mr Rajendra Mahato, general secreatry of the Nepal Sadbhavna Party doubts if the main opposition party, the CPN-UML will come forward to lead a protest againt the report. “They have no moral authority to do so as their leader Madhav Nepal opted out of the probe panel.”

Mr Mahato said that the commission has merely compiled information gathered from eyewitnesses. “They have not given their analysis or interpreted the information. But since the commission comprised such respectable and eminent persons, it is worthy of respect.”

Advocate Radhe Sham Adhikari is confident that civil unrest and tension are over. “No political party has expressed its feelings in public or stated that it is not satisfied with the report. What we see around us is disorganised resentment which will fizzle out. I do not rule out Maoist protests. They have been pushing the conspiracy theory.”

Mr Bhim Acharya, spokesperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) told TNS that party members were studying the 200-page report to give its reaction. He said the 11-member standing committee of the party was expected to meet on Friday evening to discuss the report. Interestingly, the meeting will be chaired by Leader of the Opposition Madhav Nepal who opted out of the panel.