In yet another instance of ‘scorning mockery’ of the political leadership, a 25-year-old youth from Baglung district on Friday slapped UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal , aka Prachanda, in public. The former rebel leader and prime minister was slapped on his face by one Padam Kunwar during the party’s tea reception at Bhrikuti Mandap. It was not immediately clear why he attacked the party boss but some people who are acquainted with him attributed it to frustration with the party leadership. The party convened an emergency meeting after the incident and quickly dismissed the move as a conspiracy.
Kunwar, who is now in police custody, was not available for first-hand comment. The assault took place while party cadres were approaching Dahal one-by-one to exchange greetings at the annual reception which is open to the public. When Kunwar’s turn came, he first shook his hands with Dahal, and slapped him hard before being overpowered by party cadres. Dahal, whose spectacles flew off his face, was whisked off the stage. Kunwar was beaten black and blue by UCPN (Maoist) cadres until police intervened. A severely injured Kunwar, bleeding profusely from his nose, was rushed to the hospital. Police, however, said he was out of danger. He is undergoing treatment at the Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, according to DSP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, Spokesman of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range (MPR).
Political analyst and former Maoist leader Mumaram Khanal, who claimed to be well acquainted with the Kunwar family, said the entire family was “committed to the party agendas during the conflict. Kunwar’s reaction does not carry any political agenda or conspiracy behind.  “This is just a manifestation of public frustration,” Khanal said. “Leaders are being attacked time and again. It is high time they started giving a very serious thought to their accountability towards the public.” Earlier, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN (Maoist) leader Jhakku Subedi were also slapped in two different events in the last couple of years. Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala was attacked by his own party cadre some one-and-a-half months ago at a public event in Kathmandu.
The UCPN (Maoist) had arranged the reception to mark the festivals—Dashain, Tihar, Chhat and Nepal Sambat. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and party Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha were also on the dais with Dahal when the incident occured. The party has termed the attack a “premeditated conspiracy”. The emergency meeting called at Dahal’s residence in Lazimpat concluded that it was a move aimed at undermining the recent efforts made by the UCPN (Maoist) to bring the political parties to an agreement, said party Spokesman Agni Sapkota. It is learnt that the assailant Kunwar, a permanent resident of Rajkut-2 of Kootneta in Baglung, was the village in-charge of the UCPN (Maoist)-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL). He left the party after there was a split between factions led by Dahal and Mohan Baidya.
While UCPN (Maoist) leaders on Friday claimed that Kunwar is affiliated to the Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, Tek Bahadur KC, District Secretary of the CPN-Maoist said Kunwar was out of contact for the past two-and-a-half months. “Kunwar was preparing to leave for Japan for employment very soon,” said a party source. Kunwar, who has also been taking hotel management courses in the Capital, lives with his brother-in-law Bhim Bharati.
Probe committee formed
KATHMANDU: The government has formed a committee under Additional Inspector General (AIG) Nawaraj Dhakal to look into Friday’s slapping of UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal . The committee that comprises DIG Keshav Bahadur Shahi and SSP Devendra Subedi has been given a seven-day deadline to come up with a report.
Another committee led by Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry Shankar Koirala has been set up to come up with a separate report concerning the effective maintenance of security provided to VIPs and VVIPs. The committee that comprises high-level officials from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department, has three weeks to complete the assigned task.
UCPN (M), CPN-M disown Kunwar a native of Kootneta village in Rajkut VDC-2 of Baglung, Padam Kunwar was an active functionary of the UCPN (Maoist), first as a PLA combatant during the insurgency and later a local leader of the party’s youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL). He served as the village in-charge of the YCL until the Maoist party underwent a split in June 18. After that, Kunwar was affiliated to neither of the factions, his neighbours said on Friday.
Kunwar’s father Prem Bahadur, his elder brother Sundar and one of his sisters, Sadhana, were also members of the UCPN (Maoist). Both the UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-Maoist in the district have claimed that Kunwar is not their party member. Krishna KC, chief of the publicity department of the UCPN (Maoist), said Kunwar was not on their side after the party split. Similarly, Tek Bahadur KC of the CPN-Maoist said none of the Kunwars were affiliated to the new party.

source: kantipur

Twelve prisoners including five Indian criminals held in Eastern Regional Prison in a town of Jhumka, Sunsari Eastern Nepal escaped from the prison on Friday morning. Prisoners who were locked in after being convicted of various criminal activities from forgery to murder escaped from this high security prison by digging 40 feet long tunnel.
Escaped prisoners: Binayak Yadav, Ramesh Yadav, Mamtaj Alam and Ramesh Sada are Nepalese citizen. While Subash Jha, Subas Yadav, Jakir Miya, Sarfaraj Alam, Dinesh Yadav, Fahrukk Miya and Dhirendra Yadav are all Indians and Ali Asraf is Bangladeshi.
The prison houses about 620 prisoners. Police are investigating the incident.

The bodies of two Gurkhas shot dead in Afghanistan by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform have been returned home.
Lt Edward Drummond-Baxter and L/Cpl Siddhanta Kunwar, of the 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, died at a checkpoint on 30 October.
They were on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province when they were killed.
Lt Drummond-Baxter, 29, was born in Cambridgeshire and lived in County Durham, and L/Cpl Kunwar, 28, in Nepal.
Their union jack-draped coffins were flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Private ceremonies for their families were held on the air base before the cortege made its way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
The soldiers, who were attached to 40 Commando Royal Marines were attending a meeting with Afghan uniformed policemen when one of them opened fire, the MoD said.
Lt Drummond-Baxter, who was born in Peterborough, was on his first tour of Afghanistan.
His family issued a statement saying: “Edward was fiercely loyal and totally sincere to his parents, sister and many friends who are mourning him today.
“He loved the Gurkhas and died among friends doing the job that he wanted to do.”

Photo: BBC

Lt Col David Robinson, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, described him as an “inspirational leader”.
L/Cpl Kunwar deployed to Afghanistan on 3 October as a sniper section commander.
His father Shyam Kumar Kunwar said: “We are deeply shocked, disheartened and in disbelief that Siddhanta is no longer with us.
“But we shall treasure all the good things he did. He enjoyed immensely his profession and was fully committed towards it.”
The toll of 11 British servicemen killed by Afghan soldiers or police this year compares with one last year, three in 2010, and five in 2009.

source: BBC

Nepali Congress on Friday put up a show of strength in the Capital to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation.
The mass meeting in Basantapur, organised on the occasion of party leader Ganeshman Singh’s 97th birth anniversary, saw the NC top brass lash out at UCPN (Maoist) leaders.
They said the Maoist party was bent on imposing a totalitarian regime in the country. Congress leaders challenged UCPN (M) to go for fresh polls.
“Our goal is to contest elections. I challenge you (UCPN-M) to contest elections,” said NC chief Sushil Koirala, addressing the gathering.
“Nepali Congress has two options: to surrender to the Maoists or launch a struggle. The party will never surrender,” said party senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba.
“The deposed king has started giving public speeches. Regressive forces are now raising their heads. This is all due to the Maoists and the Madhesi parties,” said Congress Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel.

source: nepalnews.com

Nepali Congress shows their force in Kathmandu, Capital city of Nepal.

India Alarmed over Chinese Telecom investment in Nepal.
First of all it is none of India’s business to intervene in Nepal’s affairs and what Nepal does and who it allows to invest in Nepal. Nepal is a sovereign state with its own government and national and foreign policies and can do whatever is best and profitable for Nepal.
India thinks its ok for their spy agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) to make this personal priority to try and stop Chinese investment which will be far superior and cheaper to Nepalese people. Not just that but RAW also wants India to invest in similar projects so they can instead spy and install listening devices in Nepal and that’s ok. But India thinks it’s not ok for China to invest in telecom services and help Nepal with modern technology.
India should learn to mind their own business and invest in their own telecom and other basic services and help their fellow millions of poor Indians and not be jealous and make stupid assumption every time when China wants to increase their friendship and ties with Nepal, be it visit from Chinese leaders, business investment, development in Nepal, trade, exchange and aids from China.
Any good relationship, ties and friendship to do with China and Nepal, India can’t bare it. Indian News and media cry out with jealousy and bitter news cover, hello, news and journalist are supposed to be impartial? If you are not impartial then I say you are in wrong profession and misleading your readers and viewers. These Indian journalists seem to have nothing better to do but whinge when it comes to Nepal and China friendship. While on the other hand, there are millions of Indians in Nepal and God knows how many RAW agents spying in Nepal and not to mention open border between India and Nepal, is China jealous and make assumption and protest Indians presence in Nepal? No.
Do unto others as it shalt be done unto you. Love thy neighbours as thyself. India MUST learn these principles. No wonder India is hated by all its neighbouring countries because of its stupid attitude in the neighbourhood.

Here is a news article from Indian newspaper that made me write the above article:
Security agencies have raised an alarm over increased imprint of Chinese telecom firms in neighbouring Nepal’s communication set up and asked for immediate intervention of the External Affairs Ministry for providing a suitable alternative to the Himalayan nation.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has written to the department of telecom apprising it about the plans of Zhing Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited (ZTE) to build four high-technology data centres for a fast growing private Nepalese telecom company, official sources said quoting a note in this regard.
RAW, the country’s external intelligence gathering organisation, said the centres were to come up in Nepalese capital Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Hetauda and Pokhra and that the telecom company would also be investing 25 million dollars for purchasing hardware and related software for these centres, they said.
It said that ZTE was one of the China’s largest wireless-telephone equipment manufacturer and network solution provider and maintains close ties with People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
“Its increasing footprint along with other Chinese companies raises the possibility of installing bugged equipment in the Nepal’s communication network. This in-turn could allow China to monitor/intercept data and voice traffic any communications carried out between India and Nepal,” the report said.
The agency wants the DoT to take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs to flag its concerns with the Nepal Government and also work on a proposal that India would also make its own investments in similar projects to ensure that communication networks between the two countries are secure.
The US House Intelligence Committee had last month accused the two Chinese’s telecommunications companies of being arms of the government that had stolen intellectual property from American companies and could potentially spy on Americans, a charge denied by the company.

Nepal Picture Gallery.com is Nepal photo gallery site with thousands of photos, picture and images of Nepal. Here you will find photos of travel or travel photos, mountains, rivers and lakes, landscape, nature, wildlife and birds, people, politics and politicians, strike, event, culture, lifestyle, towns and villages of Nepal. All the photos have been listed in galleries according to the place and location. Photos are also categorised by 14 zones or states of Nepal. Some photo galleries are large with huge number of photos while other galleries maybe smaller with lesser number of photos.

Website: www.NepalPictureGallery.com

Auckland as seen from Mt. Eden. Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. The city is built upon volcanoes, Mt Eden is one of them.

It’s a good to have camera monitoring Everest region for study, pre-warning and environmental purpose as long as it’s done with permission from the authority. Nepalese Government and ministers no doubt would have no clue about such things. They are too busy and selfish making gain for themselves before their government is brought to an end by another selfish government and ministers. Not to mention about Nepalese politicians playing deaf and dumb when India is stealing Nepal’s land.
But I don’t see any secret motive in installing the cameras in the region as it clearly introduces itself as University of Colorado to be behind the installation for education and research studies. What can they spy in the region? Honestly there is nothing to spy about Nepal here anyway. But help Nepal with knowledge and research.
The only issue here is researcher should seek approval from Nepalese authority to install and operate camera in the region as this area does not belong to University of Colorado or USA but its Nepal’s sovereign land.

ikimaNepal.com, ikima Nepal is a bird and wildlife photo website and gallery of the birds of Nepal by Nepalese wildlife photographer Yatra Thulung.
Here you will find the photos of the birds of Nepal, categorised by their names: Barbet, Bee-Eater, Bulbul, Cormorant, Coucal, Crane, Crow, Drongo, Duck, Egret, Flycatcher, Goose, Grebe, Greenshank, Gull, Heron, Ibis, Jacana, Kingfisher, Kite, Lapwing, Munia, Myna, Oriole, Osprey, Owl, Parrot, Pied, Pigeon, Pochard, Roller Bird, Sandpiper, Shikra, Shrike, Starling, Stork, Sunbird, Tree Pie, Vulture, Wagtail, Watern Hen and Woodpecker.
Yatra Thulung is multi award wining wildlife photographer of Nepal, who lives in Tarahara, Sunsari District, Koshi State in the Eastern Nepal.

Website: www.ikimaNepal.com

ikimaPhoto.com, is a Nepal photo, picture and image website gallery of Nepal by Nepalese Travel photographer Yatra Thulung.
Here you will find Nepal travel photos, by Yatra Thulung: All the places, towns and villages, districts and zones / states of Nepal travelled by Yatra Thulung.
Photos are categorised by districts and some of the districts travelled or visited by Yatra Thulung are: Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura, Banke, Bardiya, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Dhankuta, Dhanusa, Doti, Ilam, Jhapa, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Kapilvastu, Kaski, Kathmandu, Kavrepalanchowk, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Magdi, Manang, Morang, Mustang, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sankhuwasabha, Saptari, Sunsari, Taplejung, Terhathum and more photos are being uploaded.

Website: www.ikimaPhoto.com

Thulung Photo is a photo site and photo gallery by Nepalese living in Sydney, Australia. Here you will be able to find lots of photos of Nepal as well as Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji and Micronesia.

Website: www.ThulungPhoto.com

Young Nepali woman from Baglung, Western Nepal carrying dokho. Its a normal regular domestic work to bring grass and leafy branches for cattle at home.

source: cringle

Garbage in Kathmandu after 5 days strike workers strike.

source: ejhrap’s flickr

Street kids in Nepal.

Source: instablogsimages

SP Ramesh Kharel

Home made Nepalese Food. नेपाली खाना