| Username |
Post |
| Nhuchche |
Posted
on 08-Oct-01 07:26 PM
From the Times of India
KATHMANDU: Even as the US targeted Osama Bin Laden's bases in Afghanistan, a top home ministry official here revealed that Bin Laden and his group al-Qaeda had connections in Nepal that were targeted at India.
"Members of Bin Laden's group undoubtedly have contacts among Muslim organisations in Nepal, particularly in towns bordering India and in Kathmandu," the official said.
"Muslim groups who have connections with different terrorist organisations operating in Kashmir and other parts of India and Pakistan have found a lucrative business in Nepal. They have been doing business through different banks."
He said the growing assertiveness of radical Muslim groups here after the September 11 US terror attacks was proof of the fact.
"No doubt the main target is India. The country has been raising concern at different levels with Nepali officials to contain activities incompatible to a neighbouring country's interests, particularly India's," he said.
"The government is trying its best to unmask the agents of fundamentalism but has not been able to find the roots of their funding. But if countries concerned (particularly India) show a keen interest to contain these elements, they can be controlled."
He said the government had several indications that such groups were operating in the country.
"The increasing number of madrassas (Islamic seminaries) and the huge influx of Muslim population in Kathmandu are a few examples. The source of the organisations' funding is still unknown," the official said.
Repeatedly asking that he not be identified "for fear of being targeted," he alleged: "There are high officials too protecting such organisations."
India has in the past alerted Nepal to the anti-India sentiments being fuelled by radical Muslim organisations and the growing activities of the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu in 1999 had seen India issue a warning to Nepal to immediately contain anti-Indian activities.
In June 2000, there were heated discussions in Nepal following reports that madrassas in Nepali towns, especially bordering India, were being used as "catalytic agents" of ISI to undertake hostile activities.
Earlier the Indian Airlines plane hijacking in 1999 had raised concerns in New Delhi, prompting it to urge Nepal to stem anti-India activities in the country.
"Nepalese politicians commonly used anti-India rhetoric. But it is time for them to forget India bashing and think of Nepal's interests," a respected political analyst here said, not wishing to be named.
"It is time for Nepal to act against becoming a safe haven for terrorists and their agents and safeguard her national interest."
( IANS )
|
| GP |
Posted
on 09-Oct-01 07:01 AM
This is another BS article where all characters are fake, not verifiable.
Not a single one. This is just an Indian Profanity. Nothing
more. Its nothing less than our Nepal's dialy, TKP. How
peoples run so called best news papers without a single clue to
make this news verifiable. Its all garbage, and based on rumors.
The news paper deserves the phrase made fo 4+blank+3 characters.
(This is what I saw indirect hint of Angrezi gali in a BUS
in USA, requesting commuters not to use this phrase).
I feel disgusted with such journalists. I make story from imagination.
GP
|
| anepalikt |
Posted
on 11-Oct-01 11:59 PM
i am not sure one can dismiss the report so easily. it is true that the muslim population is one of the fastest growing populations in nepal. if the posting about people wearing bin-laden t shirts is true, it shows that at least there are bin laden sympathizers in nepal. regardless of whether they are involved in undermining india.
i think nepal's magnanimity/non alignment in the past opened the doors for many dissidents from aroudn south asia. nepal gave refuge to peopel fleeing repressive systems or peopel who could not participate openlu in politics in their home countries without persecution... from sheiks, to tamil tigers, people from nagaland and the northeast, to folks from kashmir. and of course the tibetans.
nepal has been accused in the past by india for harbouring various anti-indian agents. while to a large degree, these accusations are propoganda, you've got to look at the reality, especially now. south asia is simmering, waiting to boil over, and sadly it might be a nuclear disaster. i am afraid this hindu muslim crap that festers in india and pakistan might become a reality in nepal too.
but i have to say that hinduism as practiced in nepal (now i am not talkgin about the rare freaks who are not tolerant or the indian shiv sena types) is very tolerant and inclusive. i have heard buddhist express disdain at the hindusation of its religion and stress that buddhist identity is seperate from hindu. well and good. i don't think most hindus have a problem with that. call me a bigot, but islam, i fear, just does not seem as tolerant. i just don't get the live and let live type of attitude from muslims. partly my ignorance, but mostly i feel the whole judaeo christian islam traditions have this "we are teh chosen peopel", you are heathen, infidel, gentile attitude towards others. if you are not muslim/jewish or christian, you are unsaved... you will go to hell.
mix this with age old communal rivalaries bred in india and pakistan and the bloodshed of the partition, you have a very very scarey situation.
and these traditional schools, what ever they are called, are trouble, whether they are jewish, muslim, buddhist or hindu. yes hindu... learning the shastras by rote is not going to prepare you for the 20th century. as much wisdom there is in the old texts, knowing the slokas does not make for noble men. traditional knowledge as taught in those types of schools what ever religion runs then have simply ensured the perpetuatiuon of oppressive systems.... and seems to be the breeding gound of fanatics.
anyhow, i am not suggesting nepal come down on its muslim citizens, but i think we have to be aware that the reality of our region and the world today is such that we can not afford to be complacent.
|
| VillageVoice |
Posted
on 12-Oct-01 09:10 AM
I will not be surprised. I hope it's not true.
But as GP points out, Indian journalists are blatant fabricators - Times of India jouralists, no less, would quote India's propogandist officials verbatim and yet never attribute the source. For a country which has such a vibrant press, Indian media's lack of credibility, and their officials-are-always-right attitude, is galling. To me, it's a cry-wolf situation.
How can you not question reporters who did what they during the Indian Airlines hijacking - Nepal's innocent Gajendra Tamrakar was named among the hijackers.
|
