Gorkha, June 6, 2009

The risk of starvation looms large in six VDCs in the northern part of Gorkha district with China refusing to reopen the Gyala and Duila checkpoints for the past almost a year. As a result, people in the VDCs, including Samagaun, Chhekmpar, Loho, Bihi, Prok and Chumchet, are facing an acute shortage of essential commodities. The villagers are compelled to walk for about a week to reach the district headquarters Gorkha bazaar, which is some 155 km away from the VDCs. As the price of essentials is unreasonably high in the headquarters, the locals buy essentials like rice, flour, salt, cooking oil and clothes from Goom Bhatang, Chonkha and Kongda areas of Koron district of China. “The price of food commodities is unreasonably high in the district headquarters. Hence, we prefer to buy them from the Chinese market,” Lopsang Lama, a local said.

“Yarshagumba is the main source of income for us, but since the closure of the checkpoints we have not been able to sell the medicinal herb in the Chinese market,” Sonam Lama, a local from Chunchet said. The Chinese government had closed the checkpoints to prevent the supporters of Dalai Lama from entering Tibet during the Olympic Games last year, Nima Lama, chairman, Chum Development Committee, said. The checkpoints were closed frequently on different pretexts even before that. “We have urged the DAO to take an initiative to reopen the checkpoints.

Khanal preaches tit-for-tat approach

Ramechhap, June 6, 2009

CPN-UML president Jhala Nath Khanal today directed his party cadres to retaliate if anyone attacks them. Speaking at a party meeting held at district headquarters Manthali today, Khanal slammed the Unified CPN-Maoist for showing anti-leftist tendencies by attacking people holding different views. “If somebody tries to attack you, don’t remain silent. Retaliate against them,” he directed his party cadres. The district chapter of the UML organised the meet to protest the UCPN-M’s attack against its general secretary Ishwor Pokharel on May 17. Khanal also asked party cadres to prepare a list of people who issue threats to them. The UML boss said the UCPNM would pay heavily for its excesses and added that the Prachanda-led government was toppled because of its anarchic activities. Khanal accused the Maoists of fascism and harbouring criminals.

Khanal said the UML-led government would go ahead as per the spirit of consensus with other political parties. “The government would specially prioritise the integration of armies, draft the constitution within the stipulated deadline and trigger economic revolution in the country,” he added.