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Tuesday,
June 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Nepal
Parliament session on June 25 King
orders security review
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Hasina, Khaleda supporters clash Dhaka June 18 The protest demonstration by the ruling Awami League against Saturday’s bomb explosion at the party office in Narayanganj has turned into-violent fight between two political rivals — the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Abu Sayyaf
kills US hostage  Waheeda
honoured in Sun CitySun City (South Africa), June 18 Actress Waheeda Rehman, who won a lifetime achievement award this weekend in the Oscars of Indian movies, said she’s proud to be part of an industry that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of class or religion. Actress Waheeda Rehman acknowledges receiving the "Lifetime Achievement" Award during the Indian International Film Academy Awards held
on Saturday, at the Superbowl in Sun City, South Africa. Punjabi
pop star sends Islamabad into raptures
NEWS ANALYSIS 5
killed, 40 hurt as train derails
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Nepal Parliament session on June 25 Kathmandu, June 18 “The Cabinet had already decided to call the House on June 25 and forwarded the dates to the late King Birendra but before the King could respond formally, he was slain in the June 1 massacre,” a senior official said. New King Gyanendra today announced the summoning of Parliament for June 25. Last week political parties had vowed that Parliament’s 20th session would be pushed back because of the assassination of the almost entire Nepalese royal family. “According to regulations, a 15-day notice is required to convene the House but in uncommon situations, it could be called abruptly,” the official said. Mr Mohammad Mohsin, Chairman of the National Assembly, has warned political parties of the danger to democracy if the next session of Parliament puts up a poor show, particularly as the hangover of the crisis in the previous session persists. “If the 20th session of Parliament turns out to be a failure as was the 19th, people will start raising questions about democracy itself,” Mr Mohsin told a cable television network. “There must be a national consensus to give outlet to the present political crisis in the country and the main responsibility to achieve it is of the party that has majority in Parliament,” he said. “In this regard the Nepali Congress Party, which has majority in Parliament now, must sacrifice some of its interests,” Mr Mohsin said. “As there is no unity within the ruling party, it is unable to play its role in Parliament. For national consensus, which the ruling party must initiate, the Nepali Congress should have some qualities such as flexibility and a liberal attitude.” “There should be talks between parties to achieve national consensus and all parties must give up petty interests for the sake of the nation that is lacking in this country,” Mr Mohsin said. His statement has created a flutter among political parties, including the ruling Nepali Congress, as he is known to have very close links with King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah. The winter session of Parliament, summoned in February, had ended in early April without any business being transacted for almost 60 days. Five Opposition parties had blocked the proceedings of the House, demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation and accusing the Council of Ministers of involvement in a plane lease deal. Although the government has already arrested two top officials accused in the deal, Opposition parties have not given up their demand for Mr Koirala’s resignation on the ground that the Cabinet had approved the deal. Koirala, 77, has assumed prime ministerial responsibility four times in 10 years in the Nepali Congress’ eight-year rule. He has dominated Nepalese politics after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990. He had threatened to dissolve Parliament if the Opposition parties continue to prevent regular proceedings from taking place. In 1993, Mr Koirala, using special rights given to the Prime Minister by the Constitution, dissolved Parliament, despite his party being in majority, amid mounting pressure on the government from Opposition parties.
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King orders security review Kathmandu, June 18 A high-level investigation panel said in its report last week that there were security lapses at the palace and that Crown Prince Dipendra carried out the killings with automatic weapons he took from the palace armoury. King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and seven relatives were killed by Dipendra on June 1 in a drink-and-drug-fuelled rage. The Prince shot himself, dying later in hospital, and was succeeded by the King’s brother, Gyanendra who was out of town when the killings occurred. Mr Bibek Shah, the King’s Military Secretary, told the inquiry panel that Royal family members could take weapons from the armoury and keep them with them. “We will look into whether there were security lapses at the palace and if ‘yes’, find out the shortcomings,” Shanta Kumar Malla, a retired army general, assigned by the new king to review security and suggest improvements, told Reuters. “The armoury system of the palace needs to be reviewed,” the Nepali weekly newspaper Deshantar said. “With the development of weapon technology, the need for an efficient and modern security system has become urgent,” it said.
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KATHMANDU DIARY Kathmandu (Nepal) Picture frames of the King and Queen are placed prominently in almost all houses, shops, restaurants, five-star hotels and government houses. Some of them are bedecked with flower strings and garlands. Apart from picture frames of King Birendra’s family, posters are also available in different parts of the city. A group of youths has got together and printed King Birendra’s sketch on T-shirts. These shirts carry the slogan ‘Nepal : Peace zone.’ 13th day rituals Sets of bedding, dresses and other expensive objects were given away to priests. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhyay, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Chairman of Raj Parishad Standing Committee, Keshar Jung Raymajhi were present at the function. Apart from this, the Pashupat Darshan Committee organised a religious function in memory of the King, Queen and other members of the Royal family. Let’s move on In an editorial titled ‘Let’s Move On’, the paper has said that the conclusions of the fact-finding commission leave no room for doubt or questions as to what happened on that terrible night. “However bitter the truth is the Nepalese and the world have no option but to accept it..The realisation is sinking in that there is no way to escape the fact. Getting life back to normal also demands alertness of the government to any attempt by any element to fish in the troubled waters. Leaving behind the colossal tragedy, it is time to look ahead and get on with life. Let’s move on, the edit reads.” A note of thanks A notice issued by the press secretariat of the palace said that the King has thanked all those who sent messages of condolence or signed condolence books at different places. |
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Oppn
leader: Nepal sees threat from India Kathmandu, June 18 Anybody who knows that Mr Nepal spent two years in jail in 1976 for
charges under the Treason Act should not be surprised by his boldness.
In a candid interview with the Tribune, the former Defence and Foreign
Affairs Minister said that the situation was still fragile and the
King and the government really needed to work hard to rebuild the
image of the Monarchy and the nation.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: How do you view the present situation?
A: The present situation is very fragile. The relationship
between the Opposition parties and the ruling party is not cordial.
The mass movement for the resignation of Prime Minister Girja Prasad
Koirala has been interrupted by the Narayan Hity Palace massacre but
the demand still exists. The Prime Minister is accountable for the
tragedy in the Royal Palace as he holds the portfolio of Palace
Affairs. He has to address all problems related to the palace
including security issues.
Q: Do you think the country’s security is under threat?
A: In the minds of the Nepalese people, the only security
problem cones from the south. They feel fully secure that China will
not interfere. They do not perceive any threat from Bangladesh or
Pakistan either. They perceive a threat from India as evident from
news reports and conversation with their Indian counterparts. The
Maoists have also stated that the palace tragedy is an outcome of
conspiracy by national and international reactionary forces. They have
said that King Gyanendra was a pawn in the hands of such forces. The
Nepalese are sensitive to national sovereignty and do not want to be
under the umbrella of any country. We want to be independent
politically, militarily and culturally. We want to be an independent
nation and will not tolerate any mediation or interference in our
internal affairs. At the same time, we need cooperation, understanding
and assistance from all friendly countries. The Nepali Congress is
responsible for the collapse of the security system and for paralysing
the administrative apparatus of the country.
Q: Do you think the present crisis has had an adverse impact
on Nepal’s image in the international arena?
A: This has already damaged the image and credibility of the
Monachy and of course the nation. The King and the government will
have to work very hard to rebuild this image and win back the
confidence of the people. The Nepali Congress will not be able to cope
with the grave situation alone. Apart from the problems posed by the
Maoists, they are confronted with the crisis on the economic front.
More than 70 per cent of the population is below the poverty line and
the nation is in huge foreign debt.
Q: How do you foresee the budget session of Parliament which
is expected to begin in the third week of this month?
A: It is very difficult to say. The Nepali Congress will
have to face challenges day after day. We plan to hold talks with
other opposition parties to evolve a joint strategy and move together
in the forthcoming budget session of Parliament. The demand for Mr
Koirala’s resignation will be voiced in a very bold and militant
manner. We will not retreat till the government changes. The Committee
Against Abuse of Authority has charged the Prime Minister with
corruption in leasing a jetliner from an Austrian airline.
Q: The popular public perception is that your party has
accepted the Commission’s report as it had no moral ground to oppose
it. Any comments?
A: The CPN (UML) is an independent party and has a strong
mass base. No one can coerce, subdue or threaten it. We have spent an
entire day scrutinising the 200-page report.
Q: Do you think the Maoists will join mainstream politics?
A: The discredited Koirala government will not be able to
cope with Maoists. Unless they deal with the problem, it will
continue. The Maoists need to be isolated from the people. They have
gained ground because of misgovernance of the ruling party. |
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Hasina, Khaleda supporters clash Dhaka June 18 Awami League demonstrators yesterday prevented the BNP Chairperson, Ms Khaleda Zia, from going by road to Pirojpur, a southern district, on an organisational tour. Her motorcade was blocked and attacked at Kadampur in Keraniganj, near Dhaka, across the river Buriganga. The BNP alleged that demonstrators opened fire, which hit the transport of her security. At Keraniganj, there were clashes between supporters of the two rival parties, before the police dispersed them. Her motorcade was also stopped at two other places on the highway. The BNP has called for observance of a countrywide 36-hour shutdown (hartal) beginning at 6 am tomorrow and ending at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Three other partners of the four-party alliance led by the BNP-faction of the Jatiya party (Matin-Manjur), Jamat-e-Islami and Islami Oikkyo Jote late last night decided to extend support to the hartal call. Before the announcement of the hartal programme, a nine-member delegation led by Dr A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, deputy leader of the opposition in Parliament and senior leader of the BNP, went to Bangabhaban, the president house, to meet President Shahabuddin Ahmed. They protested the Awami League attack on the motorcade of Ms Khaleda Zia and sought the intervention of the President to stop such attacks. To protest the attack on Ms Zia’s motorcade yesterday, activists of the BNP in Dhaka threw petrol bombs on three passenger buses last evening, injuring many passengers. Three buses, including a road transport corporation bus, were set ablaze last evening. BNP activists also stoned and damaged many other vehicles. The police baton-charged violent demonstrators. In the southeastern port city of Chittagong, BNP activists yesterday staged demonstrations at many places, brought out processions and set fire to a passenger bus to protest the attack on the BNP chief’s motorcade. Meanwhile, Awami League held rallies and demonstrations across the country yesterday in protest against the bomb blast at Narayanganj. In the city, the protest rally at Muktangan was addressed by city Awami League leaders and a procession marched through a few streets. In Dhaka, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a student wing of the ruling party, attacked and ransacked many rooms in Dhaka University.
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Abu Sayyaf kills US hostage Zamboanga City (Philippines), June 18 Brig-Gen Edilberto
Adan, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said government troops were looking for the body of 40-year-old Californian tourist Guillermo Sobero on Basilan Island province, 900 km south of Manila. “Various civilian groups had also been asked to help locate the body of Mr
Sobero,” he told reporters. Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya had announced that Sobero was beheaded on June 12. The government was initially skeptical since the body was not found, but General Adan said the conclusion that Sobero was already dead was reached after a freed hostage told the authorities that the American captive has not been seen since the night of June 11. “According to Mr (Francis)
Ganzon, on the night of June 11, Mr Sobero was hogtied and they did not see him anymore after that,” he said. “We have every reason to believe that the statement of Mr Ganzon is correct.” General
Adan, however, would not confirm that Sobero had been beheaded, noting, “We have no proof as to the exact cause of his death. The statement of beheading is that of
Sabaya’s. There is no independent confirmation because the body has not been found.” He said the US Embassy had been informed about the confirmation and they would inform the family of
Sobero, who had four children and made a living out of waterproofing roofs and decks in Corona,
California. Sobero and Ganzon were among 20 persons, including American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, abducted May 27 from a luxury resort off the western Philippine province of
Palawan. Nine Filipino hostages have escaped, while two were executed. The rebels took 19 additional hostages in separate attacks on the towns of Lantawan and Lamitan on
Basilan. Ganzon was freed on the weekend with Kimberly Jao Uy and Muslim religious leader Ustadz Mohaimin Latip
Sahi. DPA |
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Waheeda
honoured in Sun City Sun City (South Africa), June 18 “It is an industry where there is no caste or creed,” Rehman said during yesterday’s glittering ceremony naming winners of the International Indian Film Academy awards. Rehman, 66, known for playing strong women, received a standing ovation from the crowd at Sun City, some 120 km northwest of Johannesburg. Rehman, a prolific actress with more than 25 films under her belt, made her debut in 1956. Known as golden girl of Hindi cinema, her biggest successes came in 1958 in Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa” and Dev Anand’s “Guide” in 1966. Her latest movie was Yash Chopra’s “Lamhe,” released in 1991.
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Punjabi pop star sends Islamabad into raptures Islamabad, June 18 The Kenyan-born ‘Prince of Bhangra’ struck an instant cord with young “guys and gals” of Pakistan and made them shed their conservative “veil” and dance to his tunes at a packed stadium on Saturday night. Acknowledged by the Pakistani press as one of the largest crowds ever gathered for any cultural event, with reports of stampede at the entry, the ‘Sukhbir Night’ ended in a “music frenzy” despite attempts by a section of youth to disturb the event. The conservative Pak media too went “overboard” with all the mainstream newspapers today publishing elaborate write-ups on the event with pictures of young men and women dancing wildly to Sukhbir’s numbers. One section of the youth who attempted to disrupt the programme, especially when local pop stars donned the stage ahead of Sukhbir’s programme, fell silent and joined in the fun after the bhangra star made a thunderous entry. “Sukhbir made a glamorous entry...(and) took the crowds by storm, starting with his own favourite number ‘Punjabi Munde’”, The Nation wrote in its review. “All hell broke loose, and the girls who were sitting quietly, started singing and dancing with each of his numbers. Sukhbir communicated with the crowd... making them sing with him like a true superstar”, The Nation said. In its review, The Dawn newspaper said, “Assuming the role of a gospel preacher for the youth, attempting to win over heart of woman playing hard to get, Sukhbir brought his ministry of rock ‘n’ role peppered with Indian, African, Latin and Pakistani music masala to the capital’s entertainment starved crowd”. “The residents of Islamabad gave a practical shape to military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf’s desire to forge friendly ties, as they extended a heartiest and enthusiastic welcome to renowned Indian Punjabi Bhangra star Sukbir Singh when he made an appearance at Liaquat Gymnasium”, the paper said. Sukhbir is no stranger to Pakistan, having visited the country on 31 occasions earlier. But rave reviews were unanimous in pointing out that the turnout at the Saturday night show was the best, which tempted media writers here to presume it to be the result of the summit fever. The event was arranged by the managing committee of the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games.
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NEWS ANALYSIS The successful test firing of a 280-km range supersonic Pj-10 cruise missile from Chandipur interim test range on the Orissa coast on June 12 jointly by Indian and Russian scientists heralds a new era in the field of Indo-Russian defence cooperation. While the missile’s propulsion came from Russia, the onboard guidance system was Indian. The very fact that External Affairs cum Defence Minister Jaswant Singh was present to witness the event along with Air Chief Marshal Y.P. Tipnis and DRDO boss V.K. Aatre, demonstrates the significance attached by India to this particular test firing. After some more proving launches, the weapon system will be declared operational for induction by both the countries in their respective armed forces. The new trend reflects the growth of Indo-Russian strategic partnership of which bilateral defence cooperation has become an important element. Earlier in the first week of June Mr Jaswant Singh in his capacity of the Defence Minister was on an official visit to Moscow to give firm shape to the new strategic road map in Indo-Russian relations of which high technology field of armament industry is an important aspect. So far India was either purchasing the military hardware or producing it indigenously under licence but from now on Russians are ready to embark on joint research, design, development and finally manufacture the state-of-the-art equipment not only to meet the mutual requirement but also for substantial export to other countries. The latest understanding between the two countries to co-produce a variety of military equipment including cruise missiles, marks a new stage in the recently proclaimed strategic partnership between India and Russian federation. During the preceding year, India has finalised a series of long-pending defence contracts with Russia worth nearly $3 billion for 150 SU-30MKI multi-role fighters, more powerful version of 40 MI-17 IV heavy-lift helicopters and 310 T-90S main battle tanks. In addition, the negotiations are at an advanced stage to acquire the former Soviet navy aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. India is buying 310 T-90S main battle tanks (MBT) to counter 320 T-80UDs Pakistan acquired from Ukraine. The MBTs have successfully undergone user’s trials by the Indian Army in the desert of Rajasthan during the preceding summers. Under the terms of the deal, India will receive 124 of Russia’s top-of-the-line tanks directly from Moscow and assemble another 186 at a heavy vehicles factory at Avadi near Chennai. The final price tag is estimated at between $600 million and $750 million. The Indian Navy is very keen on acquiring Admiral Gorshkov for the price of its refit. This will include configuring the vessel with a 12° ski-jump to provide a short-take-off-but-arrested-recovery (STOBAR) capability for its air group. The package will include around 20 MIG-29K fighters for the carrier and Kamov Ka-28 and Ka-31 early warning helicopters. The deal will provide for Russia to give away the carrier for free, provided that India pays for its modernisation and buys up to 60 MiG-29K fighters to be based on Gorshkov for a total of more than $2 billion. St. Petersburg-based ship building facility is busy manufacturing the second of the three Krivak III frigates that India ordered for a total of more than $1 billion in 1997. India has also purchased Kilo class submarines and is now reportedly eyeing nuclear powered submarines for acquisition. India also signed a contract to locally build 150 Sukhoi Su-30MK long-range multirole fighters of which it bought 40 for $1.8 billion four years ago. Over the past three years, the Indian Air Force has received 18 Su-30s, while the remaining 22 are to be delivered by 2002 in progressively advanced configurations. Once the latter arrive, the earlier 18 would return to Russia to be upgraded. Experts consider purchase of SU-30MKI at $35 million as cheap. Similar aircraft in the western arms market will cost $75 to $100 million. Now, Moscow has gone a step further by proposing to associate India in the development of the latest futuristic multi role Jet fighters as successor to Su-30 being planned by the Sukhoi design bureau. There are also proposals for India’s acquisition of six-300PMU1 low-to high-altitude air-defence systems for protection against missiles and aircraft, the BM 9A52 Smerch 300m multiple rocket system and the possible lease of four Tu-22 ‘Backfire’ bombers. India is also interested in licensed production of the top-selling S-300 air defence systems, but the necessary decision is yet to be arrived at. Russia is also reportedly selling India Tangushka air defence missiles in addition to several hundred Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems worth tens of millions of dollars. But the political will and cordiality at the top does not seem to have completely filtered down at the functional level. Despite the best intentions of the two countries to work on a real time partnership which would reflect their strategic understanding, the Russian record on arms supply to Indian armed forces in the past has not been all that flawless and has been full of glitches. It has suffered from various factors such as unending delays, overpricing, erratic supply line of spares and at times passing off used equipment as the new one. Already three fourth of the Indian armed forces’ combat inventory is of the Russian origin and starving the frontline formations of spares has had a telling effect on the operational readiness in the preceding years. As per the reports, transport fleet of the Indian Air Force suffers from perennial shortage of spares just because most of it is of Russian origin. The inordinate delay in the upgradation programme of the MiG-21 fleet has put the IAF in an inexplicate predicament. The slippage in meeting the deadline by a couple of years has made a mockery of operational planning and defence preparedness. There have been undue delays in supply of SU-30 MKI aircraft to the IAF. Despite the current Indo-Russian strategic hullabaloo and friendly warmth, one can still raise the pertinent question — Should India put all her military eggs in the Russian basket? It must not be forgotten that as shrewd businessmen, Russians are keen to have Indian orders for armaments at regular intervals to keep their large defence industrial complex running in addition to earning the precious hard currency. There is no denying that Moscow’s friendship has withstood the stringent test of difficult cold war years including the post Pokhran II travails, yet fast changing international scenario also offers New Delhi other avenues in the western world including the USA after sanctions are lifted. These new vistas also need to be exploited in the national interest. In this respect, Indian armed forces should not sideline other better alternatives, including the indigenous one which happens to be the most important. All said and done, the new Russian gesture of collaborating with India from the drawing board stage to design and develop the defence equipment for mutual benefit must be lauded. |
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5 killed, 40 hurt as train derails Multan, June 18 Many passengers were asleep when the train derailed late yesterday near Muzafargarh, about 400 km south of Islamabad, officials said. The Thal Express was carrying 700 passengers when it derailed. Train’s five cars were totally destroyed and many passengers were trapped in the wreckage after the mishap, said Mr Malik Murid, a police official. The rescue workers recovered five bodies from the wreckage and the wounded were rushed to hospitals in Muzafargarh and the nearby city of Multan. Relief work was difficult because of the darkness and it took several hours to clear the wreckage.
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