WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JUNE 15 TO 21,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001183

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PGOV PREL KMDR NP
SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JUNE 15 TO 21,
2004

STATE FOR NP, AC, PM
STATE FOR IN/R/MR
STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO
STATE FOR SA/PPD


1. POLITICAL AFFAIRS

-- UML, NC (D) agree on Common Minimum Program: Prime
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that both the
parties (ruling NC-D and CPN-UML) had agreed on the
common minimum program. "We have reached consensus and
soon will give all-party shape to the present
government," PM said. (Centrist "Kantipur," V/D, 6/21)

-- Controversial WPR amended: King Gyanendra has
assented the cabinet's Thursday decision that amended
the government's Work Performance Regulations,
effectively bringing executive power back to the
cabinet -- a major political victory for Prime Minister
Sher Bahadur Deuba. Some of the clauses of the
regulations had imposed obligation on the government to
obtain king's consent prior to making any important
decisions including promotion and transfer of senior
bureaucrats and security officers. (Major reports,
6/19)

-- UN offers good office again: A senior political
adviser to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, Samuel
Tamrat, has once again offered UN role in the peace
process. (Pro-India "The Himalayan Times," E/D, 6/17)

-- Europeans appeal parties to join government: The
Ambassadors of Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday
urged the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and other
parliamentarian parties to join the Deuba government.
(Kantipur, 6/16)


2. MAOIST INSURGENCY

-- MCC-PWG-Maoist link-up in Terai suspected: The
Maoists are expanding their activities in the Terai
(southern plain area) belt with help from Indian
ultras, claimed Indian security bodies. Indian
security sources claimed Maoists and Indian terrorist
organizations like the Maoists Communist Center (MCC)
and People's War Group (PWG) with help from the Indo-
Nepal Border Committee are supporting each other in the
Terai and bordering areas of Bihar. (The Himalayan
Times, 6/21)

-- Civilians and APF men killed in blast and clash:
Fourteen Armed Police Force (AFP) personnel and four
civilians, including a woman, were killed in a landmine
explosion followed by exchange of fire in Dang on
Saturday. Five villagers were killed Thursday night in
a violent clash with Maoist rebels in Pipara village in
southeastern Kapilvastu. (Major media reports, 6/19-20)
-- ANNISU-R calls off education strike: The Maoist-
aligned All Nepal National Independent Students' Union
(Revolutionary) on Friday called off the educational
strike following the Thursday night decision of the
government to remove the terrorist tag labeled on the
union. (Major reports, 6/19)

-- Negotiations depend on the foreign power center and
palace: Maoist supremo Prachanda has said that his
party doesn't see any difference in the process (of
appointment) and status of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba with that of his predecessors. In an email
interview, the Maoist leader said the question of
ceasefire and (peace) negotiations would depend on how
far King Gyanendra and foreign power center ask Mr.
Deuba to move ahead in that direction. He did not name
the foreign power center he was referring to. (Nepal,
6/18)

-- 22 policemen killed in ambush: Twenty-two policemen,
including an Armed Police Force (APF) inspector, were
killed and 16 critically injured in a landmine blast
triggered by the Maoists at the Mahendra Highway
Monday. (Major reports, 6/15)

-- Five Maoists arrested in India: Indian police have
arrested five Nepalis allegedly for being involved in
Maoist activitie
s from a house in Bihar. The arrests
were made on Saturday. (Media reports, 6/15)

-- 500 abducted: The Maoists have abducted over 500
people including teachers, students and employees from
various villages of Kalikot district. (Major dailies,
6/15)


3. OTHERS

-- Refugees to start returning on their own: Bhutanese
refugees have expressed extreme frustration and said
that they would start returning to Bhutan if the
impasse was not resolved. "If the repatriation process
does not restart within next 51 days, the refugees
verified in Khudunabari camp will start to return on
their own," said Mitra Rai, a secretary of the camp.
(Media reports, 6/21)

-- Nepal a source for girl trafficking: A new U.S.
report has said that Nepal is a source country for girl
trafficking to India and some Gulf and East Asian
countries. The fourth annual Department of State
Trafficking in Persons Report, released by Secretary of
State Colin L Powell further mentions that internal
trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation is
rampant in the country. The report notes that
political instability and insurgency have prevented the
government's endeavors to combat trafficking in some
areas. (Major dailies, 6/16)

BOGUE