WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM AUGUST 10 TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001647 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PGOV PREL KMDR NP SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM AUGUST 10 TO 16, 2004 STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR IN/R/MR STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SA/PPD ¶1. CURRENT AFFAIRS -- Koirala refuses to be in the peace committee: Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has refused to join the High Level Peace Committee (HLPC). However, Koirala said he was ready to provide all kind of cooperation from his side for the restoration of peace. (Centrist "Nepal Samacharpatra," V/D, 8/16) -- Three ex-IGPs charged with corruption: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Monday filed corruption cases against three former Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) -- Motilal Bohora, Achyut Krishna Kharel and Pradip Samsher JBR, at the Special Court, accusing them of illegally amassing millions of rupees during their tenure. (Pro- India "The Himalayan Times," E/D, 8/14) -- Govt forms PM-led panel to push peace: The government Thursday formed a High Level Peace Committee Nepal (HLPCN) headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. It is an umbrella agency and will form a secretariat to facilitate the entire peace process. SIPDIS The committee has CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, RPP president Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Dr. Mohammad Mohsin and Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation and NSP president, Badri Prasad Mandal, as members. The Peace Secretariat will have four specialists in security, negotiation, statute matters and conflict management. (The Himalayan Times, 8/13) -- Four Party Committee formed to advise government: A high level political committee of four ruling parties representing the coalition government has been formally formed to advise the government in implementation of common minimum programs (CMP) and settle the disputes arising amidst them. (Centrist "The Kathmandu Post," E/D, 8/12) -- Government makes public details on disappeared: The Home Ministry has made public the whereabouts of 24 people who were detained and disappeared by security forces on various occasions from different parts of the country. The whereabouts of the missing civilians were made public after a report prepared by a probe commission led by joint secretary Narayan Gopal Malegu was handed over to Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka Wednesday. (Government-owned "National News Agency," 8/12)... The families of persons who have "disappeared" have expressed extreme dissatisfaction over the government's report. The family members said the list of the government does not provide any information about their kiths and kin. They have alleged that the government list does not include actual victims. They had submitted the list of 112 persons who have "disappeared." (Centrist "Kantipur," V/D, 8/13) ¶2. MAOIST INSURGENCY -- Most industries in the Maoist hit list to close down: The pro-Maoist All Nepal Federation of Trade Union's warning has forced 12 industries to close down their businesses starting August 16. The union has threatened to take physical action against any industry that goes against its call. (Nepal Samacharpatra, 8/16) -- RNA troops retreat from Achham: Two days after moving deep into insurgency-affected Achham, Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) troops Friday retreated from remote villages of Binayak and Kamalbazzar without any major battle with the rebel militias. (The Kathmandu Post, 8/14)". The army had planned to penetrate rebel-held areas in Achham and flush the guerrillas out. The army had received information suggesting that top rebel leaders were gathering in the district for a rally. (Major reports, 8/11) -- Maoists open fire in hospital: The security forces and Maoist insurgents have opened fire inside Ghorahi based Mahendra Hospital in Dang district. The Maoists on Tuesday night opened fire indiscriminately at the security team led by Police Superintendent that had entered the hospital compound to pick up a sick soldier. Consequently, the security forces were also prompted to open fire in retaliation within the premises of the hospital for nearly ten minutes. Bullets shattered the hospital's windowpanes and hit the emergency room and maternity ward, forcing everyone there to run for cover. (The Kathmandu Post, 8/12) -- EU urges for immediate ceasefire: The European Union (EU) has called on government and the Maoists to declare immediate ceasefire and create conducive environment for peace process at the earliest. (Kantipur, 8/11) ¶3. OTHERS -- Bush's belated greeting to Deuba: Seventy-two days after Sher Bahadur Deuba was appointed prime minister, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, congratulated the former through a message delivered by his ambassador in Kathmandu. "There is much work to be done and your recent achievements in bringing into the government some of the major political parties is a significant step toward in setting up a structure to achieve those goals," Bush said in his message delivered by Ambassador James F. Moriarty. (The Kathmandu Post, 8/14) -- Deal signed to explore petroleum in Terai, Chure: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Cairn Energy Public Limited Company of Britain signed two separate agreements Wednesday for the exploration of petroleum in the Terai and Chure hills in southern Nepal. (Government-owned "The Rising Nepal," E/D, 8/12) -- Finance Ministry's directive on accepting assistance: The Finance Ministry has directed all ministries to seek its prior approval before receiving foreign assistance. The directive was issued after the trend of opening personal accounts to carry out donor- funded programs picked up. (Major dailies, 8/11) -- DFID suspends program in 16 districts: Department for International Development (DfID),the international development arm of the British government, has suspended its Community Support Program (CSP) in 16 out of 24 districts in the mid and far-western regions of Nepal. (www.neoalnews.com, 8/10) - MORIARTY