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Army chief calls for national consensus
Kathmandu, April 21: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Prajwalla SJB Rana Friday called for a national consensus before
deploying the Army to contain the Maoist insurgency. The speech made at a convocation of cadet
officers was broadcast over radio, and television and received wide publicity in the print media. “The
Army is prepared physically and mentally to be mobilised for the national interest. The army can be
mobilised to ensure peace, security and development but if the army is to be used in internal
security and development programmes, there must be strong and long term support from the
common people and political parties." Gen Rana said.
Rana also presented a grim national picture with extremism, communalism, terrorism,
secessionists and criminal elements ruling the roost. “The army is an apolitical institution with a
glorious history and the army should be used only for national interest. It is imperative that the
national interest be identified urgently,” he said. Rana however made no mention of his earlier call
for a declaration of an emergency in areas where the army was to be deployed.
Maoists insurgents control six of 75 administrative districts in the kingdom. The government
decided to deploy the army in the Maoist affected districts after daring rebel attacks in various parts
of the kingdom last month killing more than 70 policemen. The massacre demoralised the police
force triggering resignations and withdrawal of police posts from vulnerable areas.
In what some quarters described as a move to pressurise the King, Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala, some senior ministers, security chiefs and secretaries trooped to the Royal Palace last
week to urge the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Nepal Army to deploy troops
against the Maoists.
The Army has already been deployed at customs points along the borders with India and China to
cut off supply routes although the government says it is primarily aimed to improve revenue
collection. Nepalnews.com/br/at
Chinese Prime Minister visiting Nepal 14 May
Kathmandu, April 21: Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji will pay an official visit to Nepal beginning 14 May. The Tourism
Minister Omkar Shrestha said this Friday at a news conference.
Nepal and China will sign a tourism accord during the visit, Shrestha who returned from from China
this month said. Zhu is visiting Nepal as part of a South Asian tour. Nepalnews.com/br/at
Nepal’s foreign exchange holdings strong
Kathmandu, April 21: The Nepal Rastra Bank, the countries central bank has said Nepal's convertible currency holdings
for eight months of the current fiscal can meet imports for 11 months. Foreign exchange holdings
increased 18.4 percent to Rs 107608.0 million until mid March 2001.
Altogether 79.1 percent was in convertible currency while the rest of the holdings was mainly in
Indian currency. Inflation was at a record 1.4 percent low.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Nepal signs Cartagena Protocol
Kathmandu, April 21: Nepal has signed the Cartagena Protocol on bio-safety, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation
said. Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Murari Raj Sharma signed the protocol on 2 March. The protocol is at UN headquarters in New York for
signature until 4 June 2001. Nepalnews.com/br/at
Secretaries promoted, transferred
Kathmandu, April 21: The government Thursday appointed five senior civil servants to the newly created posts of regional
administrators to devolve powers to effectively control the Maoist insurgency. Chandi Prasad
Shrestha has been deputed to the eastern region in Dhankuta, Djruvaji Adhikari to the western
region in Pokhara, Prem Nidhi Sharma Gyawali to the mid-western region, Ananta Raj Sharma
Pandey will take charge of the central region from Hetauda and Sushil Prasad Bhattarai will oversee
the far western region from Dipayal. The far western region is the most seriously affected by the
Maoist insurgency.
The regional administrators including secretaries and chief officials were among 17 special class
officers appointed by the government. Lokman Singh Kakri has been appointed Secretary at the
Ministry of Water Resources while Sashi Kant Mainali has been posted to the Cabinet Secretariat.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Nepal, Tibet sign accord
Kathmandu, April 21: Nepal and Tibet signed a memorandum to upgrade trade between the kingdom and China’s
autonomous region Friday, an announcement said. The accord was signed by deputy director of the
Customs Department Madav Prasad Ghimere and leader of the visiting seven member delegation
Jhang Bi Min, deputy director of Customs at the customs office in Lhasa.
Tibet has agreed to reduce a 300 percent customs duty on Nepali exports to Tibet, a source said.
The two countries have agreed to slowly conduct the mainly barter trade through the banking
sector. The visiting delegation agreed to study a Nepali proposal to buy the Chinese Yuan collected
in Nepal at the prevailing market rate, another source said. Customs officials at the border will meet
every three months to review border trade. The next high-level meeting will be held in Lhasa in 2002.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Three killed, 18 injured by lightning
Kathmandu, April 21: A lightning instantly killed three persons and injured 18 other students of Laha village in Jajarkot
district Thursday, local officials said. Among the dead were a second grade student and a teacher.
Eight of the 18 injured are in a critical state, a local official said. Nepalnews.com/br/at
6,500 sheep, goats die in Humla, Bajura
Kathmandu, April 21: At least 6,500 sheep and goats have died in an Peste de Petit Rumnants (PPR) epidemic in the
districts of Humla and Bajura in far west Nepal, officials said. Vaccines have been imported from
France to meet the shortfall, officials said. The Department of Veterinary Services in the capital has
so far produced only 200,000 doses of the vaccine. A massive vaccination drive has been launched in the area and adjoining regions have been put on
alert. The disease was first detected in Nepal in 1992. Infected animals develop pneumonia and
diarrhoea and die of dehydration if untreated. The disease first appeared from imported Indian herd.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
US diplomat says
Nepal has resilience to fight threats against democracy
Kathmandu, April 20: The
senior most American diplomat of the newly installed American
President George W Bush to visit Nepal said Nepal has enough resilience to
fight elements opposed to democracy in the kingdom, Friday. “Nepal
government has enough resilience to fight such elements," visiting
acting US assistant secretary of state for South Asia Alan
Estham told a news conference. Estham met separately with King Birendra,
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad
Banskota, and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel Friday.
"Violence should not be used as a tool to achieve anything," he
said in response to a question. There was no prepared statement at the
30-minute news conference at
Hotel Yak & Yeti. Estham also met senior most security officials and
businessmen
during his brief stay in Nepal. Estham arrived in Nepal after visits to
India and Pakistan and leaves for the Central Asia Saturday.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Soccer administrator Shahi dead
Kathmandu, April 20:
All Nepal Football Association (Rana) vice-president Tika Ram Shahi died in New Delhi while undergoing medical treatment Wednesday, sports circles said. Shahi was being treated for heart and kidney ailments. Shahi jointed the National Sports Council in 1978 as a senior officer and supervised many soccer matches as match commissioner. Shahi was co-ordinator of the Nepali Youth Football Programme. He was regarded as an able football administrator.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Election Commission updating voters' list
Kathmandu, April 20:
The Election Commission is updating the voter’s list to make it more accurate, an official said. The first phase of the household inventory system was launched in five districts of Morang, Makwanpur, Kaski, Kailali and Banke coinciding with the New Year 2058 that began Saturday.
The Commission hopes the update will eliminate inaccuracies in the present list including the inclusion of foreigners. An estimated 14.2 million out of Nepal’s 23 million people are eligible voters. The exercise will be extended to 10 more of the 75 administrative districts within the current fiscal year ending 15 June. Denmark is financing the effort.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Nepal records 5.5 percent growth in 2001
Kathmandu, April 19:
The Asian Development Bank announced Thursday that the Nepali economy recorded a 5.5 percent growth in 2001 because of continued sound macro economic management and a relatively strong agricultural growth. “The performance in 2001 also builds on the strong outcome in 2000 when real GDP growth grew by 6.4 percent (up from 4.4 percent in 1999) furled by a strong agricultural recovery. A favourable monsoon season and wider use of fertiliser contributed to growth of 5 percent in agriculture in 2000, while the industry grew by 8.7 percent, led by a 13 percent growth in manufacturing,” the Asian Development Outlook 2001 released by the Manila based bank said. Nepal has a potential for growth rates exceeding 5 percent a year but its actual performance is still vulnerable to changes in weather and the Indian economy given India's dominance as a trading partner, the Bank said.
Inflation in 2001 is expected to rise to 5.5 percent from the 3.5 percent the previous year because of higher fuel charges, the Bank predicted. Budget deficit in 2000 remained stable at 3.9 percent of GDP while domestic revenue collection was 11 percent of the GDP, similar to 1999 but lower than budgeted.
However the bank also said the government’s ambitious development expenditure and revenue targets in 2001 will be difficult to achieve. The Bank called for greater commitment to agriculture to reduce poverty, boost domestic resource mobilization and introduce more broad based tax reforms The Bank also called for meaningful civil service reforms and governance reforms to reduce poverty.
Nepalnews.com/br/at.
Training for trainers
Kathmandu, April 19:
For the first time in South Asia, the Royal Nepal Army and the United Nations will train 40 trainees from 23 countries beginning 24 April-11 May in peace keeping operations, an announcement said. The core of trainers is being developed to bring work uniformity in international peace keeping operations, the announcement said. This is the 11th such seminar being held in the world. Nepal was chosen for the venue as the kingdom intensifies diplomatic efforts to upgrade the Royal Nepal Peace Keeping Service Training Centre in Panchkhal into the regional training
centre. Nepalnews.com/br/at
Term extended
Kathmandu, April 19:
The term of temporary justice Kedar Prasad Giri of the Supreme Court has been extended for another two years beginning Thursday, an official announcement said. Giri’s first two-year term ended Thursday. Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhaya extended the term after being granted permission from King Birendra and the approval of the Judicial Council.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
Pokhara, Komagane sign sister city accord
Kathmandu, April 19: Pokhara and Japan’s Komagane city signed a sister city accord in the resort town Wednesday in the presence of
Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat. Pokhara sub metropolis mayor Krishna Thapa and mayor of Komagane Masajumi Nakahara signed the agreement. Pokhara will provide free primary health facilities to visitors from Komagane and establish a Komagane-Pokhara study centre. The Japanese city will help build a friendship park, extend assistance in city planning, community sanitation and set up a maternity hospital. Members of the Japanese delegation planted saplings of Sakura flowers flown in from Japan for the special occasion, reports said.
Nepalnews.com/br/at
3 million children
to be given Vitamin A
Kathmandu, April 18: The Ministry of Health in cooperation with
several international donors and national social organisations is to give
Vitamin A capsules to more than 3 million children below 5 years of
age under the National Immunisation Programme. The national Vitamin A
immunisation is being carried out to reduce the Vitamin A deficiency
related diseases in Nepal on 19-20 April. 40,200 health workers,
volunteers and local women are being mobilised for the purpose.
The government has been
conducting Vitamin A programmes for the last couple of years,
significantly reducing the number of Vitamin A deficiency related
diseases, according to the Ministry of Health. Under the programme,
Vitamin A capsules are administered to children twice a year. Nepalnews.com/yl/at
Left parties
continue street protest; slam govt
Kathmandu, April 18: Like previous two days, six leftist parties
took out a protest rally and held a mass meeting in Kathmandu today accusing
the government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of pushing the
country towards more chaos and anarchy with its "arrogant and
dictatorial attitude".
Leftist parties including
main opposition CPN-UML slammed the government for intervening in their
peaceful protest and arresting their leaders. Leftist leaders vowed to
force Koirala to step down saying their protests would go on until the
premier resigns.
Opposition parties have accused Koirala of indulging in corruption and
failing to solve country's problems and have demanded his resignation.
Koirala has denied opposition's allegation and refused to step down under
pressure. Nepalnews.com/yl/at
NTB to promote Nepal in
India
Kathmandu, April 18: The
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has announced a three-month tourism promotion
campaign in neighbouring India from 1 May to promote Nepal as a
"safe, fun and value-for money destination," for Indian
tourists. The Nepal Festival of Life Campaign is the first major effort
being made by NTB to promote the country as a tourist destination after
the December riots drastically reduced the number of Indian tourists.
Major highlights are the NTB privilege
card, festivals and activities tailor-made for Indian tourists.
The NTB will distribute privilege cards to
visitors who will be entitled to benefits and discounts at hotels,
restaurants, department stores and other places. Indian visitors will
enjoy priority darshan and puja at Pashupatinath. Minister of State for
Tourism Mahadev Gurung will launch the campaign in New Delhi on 20 April. Nepalnews.com/br/at
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