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| MANINA |
Posted
on 01-Apr-02 10:00 AM
Monday, 1 April, 2002, 14:06 GMT 15:06 UK
Maoist rebels call off Nepal strike
There is no indication of an end to the conflict
By Daniel Lak
BBC correspondent in Kathmandu
Maoist rebels in Nepal have postponed a five-day general strike, called to demonstrate their strength and disrupt normal life, and the authorities' attempts to crush their six-year old insurgency.
Over 3,000 people have died in the violence
The strike was to have begun on Tuesday.
In a statement faxed to news organisations in Kathmandu the rebels say the strike is now rescheduled for three weeks later.
The protest action would have coincided with crucial graduation exams for more than 250,000 school leavers in Nepal, and there had been widespread pleas to call off the strike.
The parents' of graduating high school students will be pleased that their children can now sit their exams without the threat of Maoist violence.
Fear of reprisal
The exams for the school leavers' certificate, that allows Nepalese students to go on to higher education, begin this week.
The combatants seem determined to fight on
Earlier strikes called by the Maoists had been widely observed, as much for fear of violent reprisal as support for the rebel group.
Hundreds have died since the Maoists broke a four month cease fire last year, and returned to the battlefield.
In all, 3,000 people have been killed in more than six years of fighting by the Maoists, who want to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist republic.
The rebellion is rooted in the deep political alienation and economic deprivation of the Nepalese countryside.
More fighting
But also the Maoists are showing increasing prowess at both propaganda and battle.
The emergency has disrupted normal life
They hardly seem poised to take over the country, and they have suffered heavy casualties in the past month.
But they do seem as much in control of events in their rural heartland as the authorities are in Kathmandu.
In postponing this strike Maoist leaders are saying they are willing to resume talks with the government.
But ministers and generals are known to favour more fighting until the rebels surrender.
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| MAINA |
Posted
on 01-Apr-02 10:02 AM
Monday, 1 April, 2002, 12:45 GMT 13:45 UK
Nepal seeks US help against rebels
The state of emergency has failed to check rebel strikes
Two senior Nepalese officials left Kathmandu on Monday for the United States to seek help for the government's campaign against Maoist rebels.
Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya is the most senior Nepalese official to journey to Washington since the Maoist rebellion began six years ago.
Nepal wants Mr Powell to offer 'practical' help
Mr Acharya's trip follows a visit to Nepal by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who assured Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of American support to his government's campaign.
Nepalese security forces have been engaged in a bloody combat with the rebels for several months under a state of emergency, but have not been able to end rebel attacks.
Mr Acharya and the Spokesman for Nepal's Foreign Ministry, GC Acharya, left Kathmandu in the wake of a series of attacks by the Maoists in one of which around 30 people were wounded.
US sympathy
A bomb blast in Kathmandu on Friday was criticised by the US, with a State Department spokesman asking the rebels to end their "brutal and senseless" attacks.
Nepalese officials have not said exactly what kind of assistance they are seeking from the US.
Around 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict
Mr Powell too did not offer any details of what type of aid his government was willing to offer the Himalayan kingdom.
However, reports suggest Kathmandu has asked for a number of attack helicopters equipped for night operations.
The military campaign against the rebels has proved costly in a number of ways.
Apart from the loss of lives and property, business earnings and tourism revenues have dropped significantly.
Correspondents believe the Nepalese officials could also be seeking economic aid and help with trade.
The foreign secretary will be taking similar messages to British and Russian officials during stop-overs in London and Moscow.
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| Maina |
Posted
on 01-Apr-02 12:27 PM
NDTV Correspondent
Saturday, March 30, 2002 (Beijing):
India and China today agreed to give a major fillip to economic and trade ties and pave the way for a substantial increase in the quantum of annual bilateral trade from the existing $3.6 billion.
This was decided at a meeting between External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji in Taiyuan, capital of the historical Shani province.
Both sides felt the present level of bilateral trade was grossly unsatisfactory and concerted efforts were required to put economic ties between the two countries on the fast track.
It was agreed to intensify exchange of visits between the business communities. The two sides have decided to facilitate establishment of business representative offices and organising exhibitions and trade fairs.
India and China resumed trade relations officially in 1978 after the 1954 trade agreement lapsed in 1962.
In 1984, the two countries signed the Most Favoured Nation agreement, which was followed up with the establishment of the India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations and Trade, Science and Technology during the visit of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
Border issue
Another major agreement reached between the two sides was to complete the delineation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on their disputed border within a reasonable timeframe.
Expressing satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the exchange of maps on the middle sector of the border earlier this month, Singh said the two sides would begin exchange of maps on the western sector in June with a view to concluding the process by the end of this year.
India and China also agreed to take up the clarification of the LAC in the eastern sector early next year, he said.
Looking ahead
Besides the apparent forward movement on the boundary issue, Singh also announced a number of other decisions taken by the two sides, including a visit by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to China by the end of the year.
He also said Beijing has accepted a proposal for Defence Minister George Fernandes to visit China at a mutually convenient date.
Beijing's agreement to Fernandes' visit is significant, considering the anger of the Chinese government and the state media over some of his statements in 1998.
The third bilateral security dialogue will be held here in July-August this year and the 14th session of the joint working group in New Delhi in August-September.
The next meeting of the eminent persons' group comprising leading personalities from various disciplines will be held in Beijing in May. (with PTI inputs)
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