IGIHE

Tag: InternationalNews

  • Tillerson recuses himself from Keystone pipeline issues

    {US secretary of state says he will not work on issues related to the controversial pipeline due to ExxonMobil ties.}

    US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has recused himself from issues related to a controversial pipeline project, a state department letter said.

    The former chief of oil giant ExxonMobil removed himself from discussions concerning the TransCanada Corporation’s application for a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

    “He has not worked on that matter at the Department of State, and will play no role in the deliberations or ultimate resolution of TransCanada’s application,” a letter from Katherine McManus, the state department’s deputy legal adviser, read on Thursday.

    McManus wrote Tillerson had recused himself from the matter in early February.

    The letter came after Greenpeace wrote to officials on Wednesday, urging Tillerson to recuse himself on decisions regarding the multibillion-dollar pipeline project because ExxonMobil could benefit from its construction.

    “Secretary Tillerson’s recent employer, ExxonMobil, is heavily invested in producing crude oil from Canada’s tar sands and would directly and predictably benefit from the approval of TransCanada’s Presidential Permit,” Greenpeace wrote.

    TransCanada had tried for more than five years to build the 1,897km pipeline until former President Barack Obama rejected it in November 2015 amid pressure from environmentalists.

    TransCanada resubmitted its application after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that helped smoothed the path for its construction.

    The project is designed to link existing pipeline networks in Canada and the US to bring crude oil from Alberta and North Dakota to refineries in Illinois en route to the Gulf of Mexico.

    Exxon has a majority stake in Imperial Oil, a company that operates an oil sands project in northern Alberta.

    During Tillerson’s confirmation hearings in January, some senators faulted him for failing to promise to recuse himself from matters related to ExxonMobil businesses for his entire term as secretary of state rather than only the one year required by law.

    Tillerson recused himself from matters related to the Keystone pipeline in February, according to the Department of State

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Profile: South Korea’s Park Geun-hye

    {The 65-year-old politician’s career has been marked by tragedy, triumph and a scandal that led to her eventual downfall.}

    What was once seen as a historical triumph, South Korea’s Park Geun-hye’s political career has now been marred by a corruption scandal that led to her eventual downfall.

    Elected the country’s first female president four years ago, Park was removed from office on Friday after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment following months of widespread protests with, at times, millions of South Koreans calling for her resignation.

    While Park’s presidential fate has now been decided, her career was marked by tragedy, triumph and controversy.

    No stranger to politics

    Park was no stranger to the political scene. Her father, the late President Park Chung-hee, seized power after a military coup in 1961.

    Following the assassination of her mother in 1974, Park served as her father’s de facto first lady.

    The elder Park, who was killed by his security chief in 1979, won wide respect for transforming the poor war-ravaged nation into an economic powerhouse, but was also reviled in some quarters for his human rights abuses.

    Still, many older South Koreans remembered the almost two-decade dictator’s rule with fondness and younger Park partly rode on the coattail of her father to eventually launch her own political career.

    {{Rise to power}}

    After the murder of her father, Park withdrew from public service until 1998 when she was first elected to South Korea’s National Assembly, serving five terms as a representative.

    She told US media that the Asia economic crisis of the 1990s drew her back into the political sphere.

    In 2007, she lost to Lee Myung-bak in the then-Grand National Party presidential primary. Lee went on to become president, but the country’s leaders are restricted to a single five-year term, giving way to Park’s victory in the 2012 presidential election.

    {{Park’s fall}}

    Park’s downfall began last year after a reports surfaced that alleged she and her former senior secretary and confidante, Choi Soon-sil, colluded to pressure big businesses into paying money to foundations Choi controlled.

    Park publicly acknowledged her close ties to Choi, and said the long-time friend helped her on speeches and public relations issues during the 2012 presidential campaign and 2013 inauguration.

    Park apologised on several occasions, but denied any wrongdoing .

    The reports prompted widespread demonstrations in the country’s capital, with, on some occasions, millions of people protesting in the streets to call for her resignation.

    Park was impeached in December of last year by a parliamentary vote of 234 to 56.

    In the weeks leading to her eventual removal, Park was also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours including the backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015. She has denied any wrongdoing.

    The South Korean Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment of Park Geun-hye

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • US deploys heavily armed Marines to Syria

    {Several hundred Marines deployed to prepare for fight to push ISIL out of its Raqqa headquarters.}

    A couple hundred Marines have deployed into Syria with heavy artillery guns, as part of the ongoing preparation for the fight to push ISIL out of its self-declared headquarters of Raqqa, a Pentagon spokesman has confirmed.

    The Marines are pre-positioning howitzers to be ready to assist local Syrian forces, according to US officials.

    The deployment is temporary. But it could be an indication that the White House is leaning towards giving the Pentagon greater flexibility to make routine combat decisions in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS).

    Military commanders frustrated by what they considered micromanagement under the previous administration have argued for greater freedom to make daily decisions on how best to fight the enemy.

    In addition, the US is preparing to send up to 1,000 troops to Kuwait in order to be ready to join the ISIL fight if they are needed, officials said.

    Proponents of the move said it would provide US commanders on the ground greater flexibility to quickly respond to unforeseen opportunities and challenges on the battlefield.

    The latest troop movements come on the heels of the recent temporary deployment of some dozens of army forces to the outskirts of Manbij, Syria, in what the Pentagon called a “reassure and deter” mission.

    Flying American flags and moving in large, heavily armoured vehicles, the troops were there to keep a lid on tensions in the area, the Pentagon said.

    Under the existing limits put in place by the Obama administration, the military can have up to 500 US forces in Syria, although temporary personnel do not count against the cap.

    The special operations fighters are ostensibly there to train and assist the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an umbrella group of Kurdish and Arab fighters that have proven to be a key ground asset in the US-led coalition’s battle against ISIL.

    Pentagon leaders sent a new plan to defeat ISIL to the White House late last month. It outlined a strategy that would likely increase the number of US troops in Syria in order to better advise and enable the US-backed Syrian fighters who will take on the battle for Raqqa.

    The military has mapped out a series of options for the Syria fight, including increased artillery support, more Apache helicopters and a more robust training campaign.

    US officials say the battle for Raqqa will look much like the fight in neighbouring Iraq, where local forces are in a fierce battle to retake the northern city of Mosul – ISIL’s last stronghold in the country.

    As troops were preparing to move into Mosul, the US set up bases outside the city to use as logistical hubs and as locations for heavy artillery.

    The moves to pre-position US troops closer to the fight, so they can be tapped as needed, are the kinds of decisions that military commanders say they need to be able to make more quickly, without going to the White House every time for approval.

    The Marines are pre-positioning heavy artillery to be ready to assist local Syrian forces

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • ‘Day Without a Woman’ marked with strike and rallies

    {Women urged to stay away from work, or wear red if they cannot, to highlight their role in US economy and society.}

    American women demonstrating how vital women are to the US economy have stayed home from work, joined rallies or wore red, as International Women’s Day was observed with a multitude of events around the world.

    The Day Without a Woman protest in the US was promoted by organisers of the vast women’s marches that drew more than 1 million Americans the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

    The turnout this time was much smaller, with crowds in many places numbering in the hundreds. There were no immediate estimates of how many women heeded the call to skip work some schools were closed as not enough staff would turn up for work.

    Many seized the opportunity to protest against Trump and his policies concerning women.

    “I believe now more than ever it’s important to stand up for women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ, the environment,” a young woman who left her retail job to join a protest in New York, told Al Jazeera. “With this administration we have to take our rights seriously and make sure everyone is heard and represented.”

    An older man also said he came out because of Trump.

    “I think he discriminates against women, has no respect for women and that’s why I want to be here. For women.”

    A crowd of about 1,000 people, the vast majority of them women, gathered on New York’s Fifth Avenue in the shadow of Trump Tower. Women wore red and waved signs reading “Nevertheless she persisted,” ”Misogyny out of the White House now” and “Resist like a girl”.

    At least 13 protesters were arrested for “disorderly conduct” after sitting in the street near the Trump Hotel, disrupting traffic.

    Some of the main organisers of the Women’s March – Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland – were among those arrested.

    Elsewhere in the city, a statue of a fearless-looking girl was placed in front of Wall Street’s famous charging bull sculpture. The girl appeared to be staring down the animal. A plaque at her feet read: “Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference.”

    State Street Global Advisors, the firm behind the statue, said it was a way of calling attention to the lack of gender diversity on corporate boards and the pay gap of women working in financial services.

    The nation-wide event was inspired in part by the Day Without an Immigrant protest held last month.

    School in such places as Prince George’s County, Maryland; Alexandria, Virginia; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, cancelled classes after hundreds of teachers and other employees let it be known they would be out.

    In Providence, Rhode Island, the municipal court closed for lack of staff members.

    In Washington, DC, more than 20 Democratic female representatives walked out of the Capitol to address a cheering crowd of several hundred people.

    Dressed in red, the lawmakers criticised efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi encouraged more women to go into politics, saying, “You have marched for progress. Now you must run for office.”

    In front of the White House, dozens protested against a US policy that bans international NGOs from providing abortion services or offering information about abortions if they receive US funding.

    Trump imposed what critics call the “global gag rule” in an executive order he signed just after taking office.

    {{Protest for the privileged?}}

    Some criticised the Day Without a Woman strike, warning that many women cannot afford to miss work or find child care.

    Organisers asked those unable to skip work to wear red in solidarity.

    “It’s almost impossible for a single mother, a low-income worker, a minimum-wage earner to take the day off,” Sarah Sophie Flicker, a protest organiser in New York, told Al Jazeera. “Everyone here stands in solidarity with women who can’t strike.”

    As part of the protest, women were also urged to refrain from shopping.

    A few hundred people gathered on the lawn outside Los Angeles City Hall to rally for women’s rights.

    Hundreds of women dressed in red and holding signs with photos of their local lawmakers gathered at the Utah Capitol to remind legislators they are closely watching how they handle women’s issues.

    In Denver, several hundred people marched silently around the state Capitol.

    Kelly Warren brought her daughters, ages 3 and 12.

    “We wanted to represent every marginalised woman whose voice doesn’t count as much as a man’s,” Warren, a sales associate in the male-dominated construction industry, told AFP.

    Trump took to Twitter to salute “the critical role of women” in the US and around the world. He tweeted that he has “tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy”.

    The White House said none of its female staff members skipped work in support of International Women’s Day.

    Women make up more than 47 percent of the US workforce and are dominant among registered nurses, dental assistants, cashiers, accountants and pharmacists, according to the census.

    They make up at least a third of physicians and surgeons, and the same with lawyers and judges. Women also account for 55 percent of all college students.

    At the same time, American women earn 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. The median income for women was $40,742 in 2015, compared with $51,212 for men, according to census data.

    Some women protested against the 'gag rule' that bans NGOs from providing abortion services if they receive US funding

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Apple, Samsung vow to fix flaws after CIA hack report

    {Agency allegedly produced more than 1,000 malware systems to infiltrate and take control of targeted electronics.}

    Apple and Samsung have vowed to quickly fix any vulnerabilities in their products following WikiLeaks’ disclosure of an alleged CIA hacking arsenal capable of breaking into iPhones and other devices.

    The archive claims to show the CIA exploiting weaknesses it discovers in hardware and software systems – without informing manufacturers of the flaws in question.

    “While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities,” Apple said in a statement.

    “We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security updates.”

    Samsung offered a similar response.

    “Protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung,” a statement from the South Korean electronics giant said.

    “We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter.”

    WikiLeaks claims the documents it released on Tuesday are part of a vast trove of leaked CIA documents, tools and code representing “the majority of its hacking arsenal”.

    The CIA would neither confirm nor deny the documents were genuine.

    However, “the American public should be deeply troubled by any WikiLeaks disclosure designed to damage the Intelligence Community’s ability to protect America against terrorists and other adversaries,” a CIA spokesman said in a statement.

    “Such disclosures not only jeopardise US personnel and operations, but also equip our adversaries with tools and information to do us harm.”

    According to the documents, the CIA has produced more than 1,000 malware systems – viruses, trojans, and other software – that can infiltrate and take control of target electronics.

    US intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Wednesday they have been aware since the end of last year of a security breach at the CIA and were focusing on contractors as the likeliest source of documents being passed on to WikiLeaks.

    The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters news agency they believed the documents were authentic.

    {{WikiLeaks exposes alleged CIA hacking programme}}

    The White House said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump was “extremely concerned” about a CIA security breach.

    “Anybody who leaks classified information will be held to the highest degree of law,” spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters.

    One official with knowledge of the investigation said companies that are contractors for the CIA have been checking to see which of their employees had access to the material that WikiLeaks published.

    In Germany on Wednesday, the chief federal prosecutor’s office said it would review the WikiLeaks documents because some suggested the CIA ran a hacking hub from the US consulate in Frankfurt.

    “We’re looking at it very carefully,” said a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office. “We will initiate an investigation if we see evidence of concrete criminal acts or specific perpetrators.”

    WikiLeaks alleges devices such as smart TVs are being targeted by the CIA.

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Suicide bomb blasts hit wedding near Iraq’s Tikrit

    {Suicide bomb explosions target wedding ceremony in a village near the Iraqi city of Tikrit, officials say.}

    At least 26 people have been killed in suicide bomb explosions at a wedding party in a village near the Iraqi city of Tikrit, medical and security sources have told Al Jazeera.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday’s attack in Hajjaj village, located 20km north of Tikrit.

    Security forces cordoned off the area and imposed a wider curfew for fear of more attackers.

    A police source told Reuters that two blasts hit the wedding and two more targeted security forces at the scene shortly afterwards. There were ongoing clashes between security forces and fighters in the area, he said.

    Iraqi security forces retook Tikrit from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – ISIL, also known as ISIS – in April 2015.

    In November, ISIL bomb attacks hit Tikrit, north of the capital, Baghdad, in an apparent diversionary assault as Iraqi forces drove back the armed group’s fighters in their stronghold of Mosul.

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • UN: 200,000 die each year from pesticide poisoning

    {Report says pesticides are having ‘catastrophic impacts’ on human health and environment while failing to end hunger.}

    An average of about 200,000 people die from the toxic exposure of pesticides per year across the world, the United Nations says, calling for tougher global regulation of substances meant to control pests or weeds for plant cultivation.

    The UN report – published on January 24 and which is being presented to the UN human rights council on Wednesday – said although pesticide use has been correlated with a rise in food production, it has had “catastrophic impacts” on human health and the environment.

    “Equally, increased food production has not succeeded in eliminating hunger worldwide. Reliance on hazardous pesticides is a short-term solution that undermines the rights to adequate food and health for present and future generations,” the report said.

    It lists an array of serious illnesses and health issues with suspected links to pesticides, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, hormone disruption, birth defects, sterility, and neurological effects.

    “In some countries, pesticide poisoning even exceeds fatalities from infectious diseases,” it said.

    The report blamed “systematic denial, fuelled by the pesticide and agro-industry” for “the magnitude of the damage inflicted by these chemicals”.

    In an email statement sent to Al Jazeera in response to questions about the UN report, the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs cited an unnamed government spokesperson as saying there is not enough proof to show that pesticides are harmful.

    “The government makes decisions on pesticides based on science and we are committed to ensuring pesticides are available only when the scientific evidence shows they do not pose unacceptable risks to people and the environment,” it said.

    According to the UN report, people can be exposed to dangerous levels of pesticides in a wide variety of ways, ranging from farmers who use it on their crops to babies drinking their mother’s contaminated breast milk.

    “Few people are untouched by pesticide exposure. They may be exposed through food, water, air, or direct contact with pesticides or residues,” it said.

    The UN report also highlighted profound effects on the environment.

    “Pesticides sprayed on crops frequently pollute the surrounding ecosystem and beyond, with unpredictable ecological consequences. Furthermore, reductions in pest populations upset the complex balance between predator and prey species in the food chain.

    “Pesticides can also decrease biodiversity of soils and contribute to nitrogen fixation, which can lead to large declines in crop yields, posing problems for food security.”

    Jay Feldman, executive director of the Washington DC-based non-profit environmental organisation Beyond Pesticides, told Al Jazeera the $43bn organic food industry in the US is the best example of how the world does not need to rely on pesticides.

    “There are non-toxic approaches that could meet food production goals, fight starvation, and not contaminate the environment,” said Feldman.

    He highlighted how developing countries are much more susceptible to harmful impacts of pesticides because of a lack of regulation.

    “Developing countries lack any infrastructure to ensure those handling the chemicals are using them to avoid causing dangerous levels of exposure or contamination.

    “We don’t export nuclear technology to countries that we don’t trust would use it properly … so we should not be exporting hazardous materials or technologies to countries that we know do not have the proper system to ensure protection of public health and the environment.”

    He also explained why organic farming is much more cost-effective and productive for farmers in developing countries.

    “Pesticides are a very expensive technology. When we are talking about subsistence agriculture, relying on pesticides becomes an economic burden for farmers largely due to growing weed and pest resistance that requires farmers to keep purchasing stronger pesticides.

    “However, with organic practices, we rely on natural ecosystem services which cycle nutrients in the soil naturally, making costly synthetic fertilizers unnecessary.

    “And if we want to feed the world, the attention to soil biology, organic matter in soil, and natural nutrient recycling, are the only sustainable and cost-effective approaches.”

    {{Agroecology}}

    Paul Towers, a spokesman for Pesticide Action Network North America, an environmental group, told Al Jazeera about a growing movement towards “agroecology”.

    “Agroecology is the science behind sustainable agriculture, from the ground up. It encourages democratic, decentralised decision-making by farmers and incorporates practical, low-cost and ecology-based technologies for productive farming.

    “Not only do agroecological farming methods strengthen ecological and economic resilience in the face of today’s climate, water and energy crises, they offer a path forward for growing food to feed us all.”

    Farmers are among those affected most by pesticide poisoning.

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • North Korea bans Malaysians from leaving in murder row

    {Malaysia quickly responds by imposing a similar ban on North Koreans as tensions swirls over killing of King Jong-nam.}

    North Korea has barred Malaysians from leaving the country, sparking tit-for-tat action by Malaysia, as police investigating the murder of Kim Jong-nam sought to question up to three men hiding in the North Korean embassy.

    After Pyongyang announced the move, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak swiftly called for the immediate release of its citizens, instructing police “to prevent all North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country until we are assured of the safety and security of all Malaysians in North Korea”.

    “This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms,” Najib said in a statement, adding that he had called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.

    The North’s foreign ministry notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the ban and said it had hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, the North’s KCNA news agency reported.

    “All Malaysian nationals in the DPRK will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved,” the official Korea Central News Agency said on Tuesday, citing the foreign ministry.

    Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters that there were 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three at the embassy, two UN workers and six family members.

    Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said Marican also said the government will need to check the exact numbers because some Malaysians might be in the country on approved tours or some other business.

    “Initially, we were told Malaysian government’s ban only affected the North Korean embassy staff and officials. But through the prime minister’s statement, it’s clear that it extends to all North Koreans in the country.”

    Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur had unusually strong links for years, but have been set at loggerheads following the assassination of King Jong-nam by two women using VX nerve agent.

    Seoul has blamed Pyongyang for the assassination and Kuala Lumpur has sought several North Koreans for questioning, although the only one it arrested was released for lack of evidence.

    According to KCNA, Pyongyang’s foreign ministry expressed hopes that the Malaysian government would solve the issue in a “fair and timely manner based on goodwill”.

    The North has yet to confirm the dead man’s identity, but has denounced the Malaysian investigation as an attempt to smear it.

    Malaysia expelled the North’s ambassador as diplomatic tensions soared, and Pyongyang retaliated late Monday by formally ordering out his counterpart – who had already been recalled for consultations.

    Malaysian diplomats and nationals in the North would be allowed to “conduct business and live normally” while the travel ban is in place, it added.

    Earlier, Malaysia decided to cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country. North Koreans are now required to obtain a visa as of March 6 before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, citing the deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

    Malaysia expelled North Korea's ambassador as diplomatic tensions soared following the assassination

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Clashes on Pakistan-Afghanistan border kill 15

    {Ten fighters and five soldiers dead after border posts targeted in attacks claimed by a faction of Pakistani Taliban.}

    At least 15 people have been killed in clashes on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Pakistani Taliban fighters attacked three border posts in Pakistan’s Mohmand tribal area, according to the military.

    A Pakistan military statement said on Monday that 10 fighters were killed and five soldiers lost their lives in the attacks that occurred late on Sunday.

    Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,500km-long border, which is largely unpatrolled and disputed by Afghanistan.

    “[This attack] emphasises the need for required physical presence on the Afghan side of the border,” the statement said.

    “Terrorists are a common threat and must be denied freedom of movement or action along the border.”

    In a statement emailed to journalists, the Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

    “This attack was a part of Jamaat-ur-Ahrar’s previously announced Operation Ghazi, which targets the enemies of Islam and is ongoing with full force,” the statement said.

    The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks last month, including suicide bombings against police in the eastern city of Lahore; attacks on government employees in the northwestern town of Ghalanai; and an explosion in a court complex in Charsadda district.

    Pakistan sealed all border crossings with its northwestern neighbour following those attacks, which together with the 88 killed at a shrine in Sindh province claimed more than 120 lives.

    Pakistan’s foreign office announced on Monday that two border crossings would be reopened for 48 hours on Tuesday to allow stranded visitors in either country to return home.

    That announcement came hours after a senior Afghan diplomat was summoned to the foreign office to protest over the latest border attacks, urging Afghanistan to “take firm action against terrorists operating from its soil to prevent recurrence of such incidents”, according to a statement.

    The statement said a soldier was killed in a similar attack on a border post in Pakistan’s Khyber tribal area.

    Afghanistan denies it has allowed its territory to be used against Pakistan, accusing its neighbour of giving sanctuary to leaders of the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

    {{Pakistan denies the charge.}}

    Last month, both countries exchanged lists of fighters they believed to be hiding in each other’s territory, demanding action be taken against them.

    Pakistan sealed border crossings with Afghanistan following last month's attacks

    Source:Al Jazeera

  • Rajbiraj pre-election rally turns deadly

    {Police open fire after supporters and opponents of upcoming local election clash, leaving at least four people dead.}

    At least four protesters have been killed and four others injured in Nepal after security forces opened fire at a political rally, according to police.

    Thousands of officers were deployed on Monday to the southeastern town of Rajbiraj, where the Unified Marxist and Leninist party had organised a get-out-the-vote rally before local elections set for May 14.

    Members of the Madhesi ethnic community, who oppose the upcoming polls, held a counter-protest. The police opened fire at the protesters when they began hurling stones at the leftists.

    An 18-year-old man died at a local hospital, while three others died at another hospital in Dharan, a town about 80km east, said Sarbendra Khanal, a spokesman for Nepal Police.

    “The area is still tense. Protesters have set at least four vehicles on fire and have obstructed the highway,” Khanal said, adding that about 40 security forces were injured in the clashes.

    Khanal said that the leaders of the party that organised Monday’s rally were escorted back to their homes in the east of the country.

    Thousands of officers were deployed on Monday in Rajbiraj [Shreedhar Poudel/AFP]
    The opposition party has been critical of the protesters’ demand seeking greater rights.

    Nepal’s coalition government announced last month that polls would be held on May 14 for more than 700 local bodies, the first local elections in 20 years.

    The government’s move has met fierce opposition from the Madhesis, who protested by shutting down the southern region bordering India for a day.

    The polls were delayed for years because of civil war and political infighting, but the protesters have refused to participate in the elections and are demanding amendments to the country’s new constitution.

    The Madhesis say the constitution discriminates against them by limiting their representation in state institutions.

    They have long called for the redrawing of provincial boundaries to ensure greater representation for their community.

    The Unified Marxist and Leninist party organised a get-out-the-vote rally

    Source:Al Jazeera