More than 1,000 political activists have been rounded up across Nepal since King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed power a week ago, a leading political party said yesterday.
Among those being held, apparently to prevent them organizing anti-monarchy protests, were leaders of political parties, trade unions and student groups, according to Arjun Narshingh, spokesman for the opposition Nepali Congress.
"About 400 of those arrested are Nepali Congress activists," Narshingh said, adding that Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, general secretary Sushil Koirala and five central committee members were among them.
Narshingh said that for the first time his party had been able to collate figures of those arrested outside of the capital Kathmandu due to the restoration of telephone links.
Ordinary Nepalese yesterday rushed to call friends and families abroad after the phone lines were restored.
Hundreds of thousands of Nepalese living overseas hadn't been able to contact relatives since Gyanendra's crackdown, which followed the ouster of the country's previous government led by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The restoration of international phone lines -- a day after domestic services were up and running -- was one of the first indications of normalcy returning to this Himalayan kingdom.
Soldiers still patrolled streets in Kathmandu and other cities, and some highways remained blocked. But schools were reopening, and domestic and international flights were running on schedule.
Meanwhile, Nepalese troops backed by helicopters have attacked Maoist camps in the jungles in the west of the country, as part of a new offensive against the rebels launched.
Dozens of Maoists have been killed in the strikes on training camps and shelters near the western city of Nepalgunj, reports said yesterday, but the army said it was still waiting for details.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS