First novelist of Nepal Bhasha honoured

The first novelist of Nepal Bhasa, Dhuswa Sayami was felicitated amidst a function on Monday on the occasion of the golden jubilee year 2060 of the novel in Nepal Bhasha, RSS said Wednesday.

Sayami had authored "Misa", a novel in the Nepal Bhasha fifty years ago and a dozen of his novels have been published while six more novels written by him are to be published soon, the national news agency said.

Senior novelist Govinda Bahadur Malla Gothale, Diamond Shumsher Rana and President of Nepal Bhasha Council Purna Kaji Tamrakar presented a felicitation letter and Rs. 25,000 in cash to Sayami.

Council president Tamrakar presided over the program. nepalnews.com mr Dec 17

Four pc growth in economy likely

Nepali economy is likely to register four percent plus growth rates in the current fiscal year, due to the strong growth in the agriculture, manufacturing and tourism sectors, the Kathmandu Post said Wednesday.

The agriculture sector that contributes almost 40 percent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) is expected to grow by around 3.5 percent against last year's loo growth of 2.13 percent, the daily said, quoting a preliminary estimate.

A robust growth of 7.8 percent expected in the paddy production, which holds a lion's share of 20 percent in the Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) will play a crucial vote in rebounding the low cycle of growth, the daily said.

Similarly, a 4.5 percent of growth rate in the manufacturing sector and revival of tourism and construction is expected to anchor the boom in the non-agriculture sector, the daily said.

"In aggregate, the non-agriculture sector is expected to grow by around five percent." If achieved, the growth would be the highest in the last three years, according to the daily. nepalnews.com mr Dec 17

NEA fires 55 engineers, 1,000 more in pipeline

As a part of the ongoing structural reform and efficiency enhancement initiative, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Tuesday dismissed 55 engineers, enlisting 1,000 more staffers as the people to be fired in the next six months, the Himalayan Times said Wednesday.

"We have terminated the services of 55 engineers from Tuesday. They were hired on contractual basis," the daily quoted a senior human resources official at the NEA, as saying.

The 55 engineers were working there for the past many years and included 40 civil engineers, six mechanical engineers, five computer engineers and four geologists, according to the daily.

The daily, quoting unnamed NEA officials said the NEA, which is the state-owned power authority, is further considering to axe another 1,000 staffers within the next six months.

"NEA has 2,000 temporary staffers. Those likely to get the sack range from Grade one to Grade seven and comprise semi-skilled, administrative and technical staff."

Earlier, the NEA had removed 54 junior staffers in last April, the daily said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 17

US help against Maoists to continue: Rocca to PM Thapa

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca Tuesday called on Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, and said, the "US will continue assisting Nepal in the fight against Maoist insurgency", Radio Nepal said. 

During the meeting, Rocca discussed the current political situation of Nepal, bilateral relations and other relevant issues, the Radio said. Rocca further expressed her commitment that US aid in social development of Nepal would continue further, the Radio added.

Rocca also met Ambassador-at-large Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya Tuesday, the Radio said.  Talking to reporters after his meeting with Rocca, Dr. Thapa said "Rocca raised concerns over the incidents of human rights violations in Nepal." 

"Our government is also much concerned on this issue," Dr. Thapa said. "We are committed to protect the human rights of our civilians and we conveyed the same message to Rocca," he said. 

US Ambassador to Nepal, Michael E. Malinowsky was also present during the meetings. Rocca, who is the top US official for South Asia, arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday afternoon for a four-day "routine" visit. nepalnews.com mr Dec 15

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Anti-King demonstrations in capital

At just 400 meters' distance from the Royal Palace, five parliamentarian parties, for the first time, chanted "pro-republic" slogans on the first day of the 10th phase of their latest protest against "regression" on Tuesday.

Carrying black flags and shouting anti-King slogans, the protesters chanted slogans, such as, "Down with the King" and "We want a Republic", among others. Placards read: "Long live democracy. Down with regression."

Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Standing Committee member Amrit Kumar Bohora led the demonstrations. Lilamani Pokhrel, Sunil Kumar Prajapati and Rajendra Mahato were other leaders of the alliance who led the protests.

Nepal Tarun Dal, youth wing of Nepali Congress (Democratic), took out a separate demonstration pressing for the restoration of the dismissed government of Sher Bahadur Deuba on October 4, 2002. Launching the demonstration, Deuba said he would try to form an all party government if his government is restored as a solution to the current crisis.

The six opposition parties described December 16 or Paush 1, as a " black day" for the dissolution of Nepal's first elected government of B.P. Koirala 43 years ago.

The two-hour-long demonstrations, that began from the Ratnapark area, ferried major thoroughfares of the capital including Bag Bazaar, Putali Sadak, Shahid Gate, New Road, Ason and Jamal. The protest ended with brief speeches from the five parties' leaders.

Similar demonstrations were held outside the Valley also, according to district reports. nepalnews.com br Dec.16

Five Maoists killed

Five Maoists were killed Tuesday in counterattacks by joint security forces in Sunsari, Panchthar and Tehrathum districts, security sources in the eastern region said.

Two rebels were killed at dawn in Sunsari after a socket bomb attack on a joint patrol. A 10-year-old child injured in a cross-fire is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dharan.

Ram Gautam and another male rebel were killed in Sunsari in a shoot-out. Security forces recovered bombs and logistics support from the clash site.

Security forces shot dead two insurgents at Ranitar in Panchthar and one Maoist at Shankranti in Tehrathum Tuesday. nepalnews.com br Dec.16

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Christina Rocca arrives in Kathmandu

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca arrived in Kathmandu at 12:40 pm Tuesday for an official visit to Nepal. “I am happy to be here,” Rocca, who is the top US official for South Asia, told journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

In a brief talk with journalists, Rocca said her visit to Nepal is for receiving “updates” here. “I’m here to get an update of what’s going on in Nepal,” smiling Rocca said. She further said she would be able to speak more after meeting other persons here in Kathmandu.

Earlier, the US embassy sources confirmed that Rocca’s visit would be of four days and that she would have a “tight” schedule here. She is expected to report to Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Congress on the latest situation in Nepal.

The King is expected to meet with her, an official of the US Embassy confirmed. She will have discussions with Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, other government leaders, Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Pyar Jung Thapa, leaders of political parties and Kathmandu-based diplomats. 

Rocca arrives amid pledges of continued American assistance to fight a Maoist insurgency now in its eighth year. She is coming to Nepal for the first time after Washington decided to freeze Maoist assets in the United States after declaring the rebel outfit a terrorist organisation. The United States is pressing other nations to follow suit. 

Meanwhile, talking to Nepalnews at the airport premises, US Embassy spokesperson Constance C. Jones said the visit will strengthen US-Nepal relationships.

“It is good for Nepal that the US government is paying special attention to Nepal in South Asia,” Jones told Nepalnews. “This high level visit is an instance to this,” she said.

Rocca last visited Nepal in December 2002. nepalnews.com mr Dec 16

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EU expresses concern

The EU heads of mission in the capital said Monday they were 'concerned' at government's initiative to form village development forces to fight Maoists.

Government plans to train and arm villages to combat rebels with the help of the Army. The concern was expressed in a statement issued by the German Embassy, Presidency of the EU in Kathmandu..

"We do not believe that the formation of the VDFs will contribute to the resolution of the conflict. Indeed, they pose a serious risk of escalation. "We have noted the concerns about VDFs raised by international human rights and humanitarian organizations.

'These are based on the negative experience of such forces in other countries where they have often been responsible for grave violation of human rights.

"The experience indicates that the arming of civilians increased polarization and suspicion, undermines the distinction between combatants and non-combatants and leads to higher levels of violence.

"In Nepal, village development forces may also present an additional barrier to a negotiated settlement and add to the challenge of post conflict recovery."

But the statement "fully supports" the "right and duty of the government to defend the citizens and institutions of Nepal against violent insurgency." nepalnews.com br Dec.16

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Maoists torch district education office

Maoists Tuesday morning torched the district education office at Bhairawa, local official said. Some documents and two motorcycles were damaged in the arson attack.

Meanwhile, rebel battalion commander Bibek Chhetri, was among four Maoists killed in an encounter at Bathane Danda in Rolpa, security sources said.

Security forces took into 600 persons, mostly brick kiln workers, in Dang Monday during a strike called by rebels in the terai districts from east to far west Nepal. Among those detained were 250 women and children, the Rising Nepal said. nepalnews.com br Dec.16

King, Devkota meet

The King granted an audience to Rajeshwor Devkota, President of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (Nationalist). Devkota, the leader of the splinter group of RPP, said the meeting Monday lasted for two hours.

Devkota said he discussed the country's current political crisis with the King, who he said, was concerned with the country's present situation. The meeting comes as the CPN-UML has asked for an audience with the monarch to discuss issues.

Other leaders at home and abroad have also asked the King to take the initiative to resolve the crisis. nepalnews.com br Dec.16

FNCCI launches anti-corruption drive

The United Kingdom has supported an effort of the Federation of Nepalese Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to launch an anti-corruption drive; the drive is being supported by the DFID under an Enabling State Programme (ESP).

British Ambassador Keith George Bloomfield launched the programme in the capital Monday. Bloomfield said prevailing practice to award bribes for work should end and transparency be maintained in business practices.

This is the first time the FNCCI has launched such a programme. nepalnews.com br Dec.16

Bhutan launches military action

Bhutan has launched its first ever military offensive against Indian separatist rebel bases inside the tiny Himalayan Kingdom, AFP reported from Guwahati, Assam, Monday. 

“Military action has been initiated to flush out the militants from the kingdom,” said Thinley Penjor, spokesman for the Bhutanese embassy in New Delhi. He said all 6,000 troops of the Royal Bhutan Army were taking part in the action, which began before dawn on Monday.

Bhutan estimates there could be about 3,000 rebels from three Indian separatist groups inside the kingdom that shares an unfenced border with the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal.

Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha told parliament that Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuk had told Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the impending action on Saturday. 
nepalnews.com br Dec.16

Islamabad Summit will okay SAFTA accord: Rahim

The agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) will be reached during the upcoming SAARC Summit in Islamabad; Secretary General of SAARC, Q.A.M.A. Rahim said Monday.

"We are working hard to reach an agreement during the forthcoming meet," reports quoted Rahim, as saying in an interaction on SAARC Monday. "The agreement will be signed by the foreign ministers of the member countries before the SAARC leaders," Rahim said.

Commerce secretaries of the member countries are meeting in Islamabad on December 23-24 to discuss the draft paper on SAFTA, according to reports.

SAFTA talks held in Kathmandu a few weeks ago could not reach any conclusion, due to the differences between the developing and least developed member countries of the region over the issues of customs and tariffs.

"Along with the SAFTA agreement, the Islamabad Summit will also sign the SAARC social charter," Rahim said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 16 

PIA flights to Nepal from January 1

After two years of suspension, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced the resumption of its Karachi-Kathmandu flights from January 1, 2004, the Kathmandu Post said Tuesday.

The airlines was forced to suspend its flight since January 1, 2002 after India imposed restriction on PIA planes from flying through its airspace following the attacks on the Indian Parliament by the terrorists in December 2001, the daily said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has already approved the PIA flight schedules; the daily quoted CAAN Director General, Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, as saying.

As per the schedule, the Pakistan's national flag carrier will operate its Boeing 737 aircraft or an Airbus 310 in this sector and fly twice a week - Wednesday and Saturday - from Karachi, the daily said.

The PIA has been ferrying travellers to and from Nepal for the last two decades. During its operation in 2001, the airlines had carried 6,194 passengers, which is 2.1 percent of the total air passengers that arrived to Nepal in the year, according to the daily. nepalnews.com mr Dec 16

Christina Rocca arriving today

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca is arriving in Nepal on Tuesday for a four-day "fact-finding mission", according to sources at the Shital Niwas and US embassy here in Kathmandu.

During her stay in Nepal, Rocca, the top US official for South Asia, will meet political leaders, top security officials and Cabinet members, the sources said.

"His Majesty the King will also receive Rocca in audience," they said. This her second visit to Nepal after her last visit to Nepal in December 2002. 

Co-incidentally, Rocca's visit follows the visit of Sir Jeffrey James, Britain's special representative to Nepal, two weeks ago. nepalnews.com mr Dec 16

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