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King wants active monarchy: Parties Party leaders, in an interaction program on Wednesday, said, King Gyanendra's recent interview in the Time magazine is a signal that the King wants an “active monarchical system” in Nepal. “King’s interview is against the spirit of Constitution and multiparty democracy,” CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam said. Urging the King to become “sensible and responsible”, Gautam said his party accepted the King on the basis of tripartite agreement in 1990. “If the King doesn’t reconcile with the parties, it’s people who will decide the fate of monarchy.” Gautam further informed that the UML’s standing committee held on Wednesday has criticized the interview as “anti-constitutional”, which has obstructed a national consensus. At the same program, Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat said the monarchy is not a “headache” for his party but their actions have become controversial. “King is constitutional and he must remain within the periphery of Constitution,” he said, adding, “It’s the job of the parties to conduct politics.” General Secretary of United People’s Front, Lila Mani Pokharel said the interview is a “threat” to political parties, people’s rights and the press itself. “Parties must outline a clear strategy against the monarchy which is hindering democratic practice in Nepal,” he said. Leader of Nepal Sadvawana Party (Anandi Devi), Hrideyesh Tripathi said his party supports constitutional monarchy. “But the King should not cross the limit.” RPP leader Balaram Gharti Magar and leader of RPP (Nationalist), Rajeswor Devkota said the interview shows the King’s commitment for multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. They said the parties and the King must come to a negotiation table to resolve the existing crisis. “King is committed to form a national consensus. Parties must not misinterpret the King’s ideas in the interview,” according to them. Reporters’ Club Nepal organized the interaction program. nepalnews.com pd Jan28 04 Related
News Nepali-B’desh Joint Business Council formed Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) have set up a Joint Business Council (JBC) to promote bilateral trade, an announcement said Wednesday. To this effect, FNCCI President Binod Bahadur Shrestha and FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 23 in Dhaka, it was informed at a press meet held by FNCCI in Kathmandu on Wednesday. “The main objective of the Council is to develop the bilateral trade, to enhance investment, to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and to promote tourism,” Shrestha said. Shrestha, at the same time, said, Bangladesh government has expressed commitment to open the Chittagong port for Nepali businessmen. At present, Bangladesh has provided permission to Nepal to operate through Mongla port. Lentils is one of the major export items to Bangladesh but the lack of effective Letter of Credit (LC) has adversely affected the export, he said. “If both the countries effectively endorse the LC system, as much as 35 metric tons of lentils can be exported to Bangladesh,” he said. Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, M. Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh is committed to develop the bi-lateral business with Nepal. “The JBC can be instrumental to further promote economic relationship between the two neighbors,” the envoy said. nepalnews.com rs Jan 28 04 Related
News Tension flares as students step up agitation Students continued their protests in different parts of the country on Wednesday also. Reports from districts said dozens of students have been arrested while at least half of dozen protesters have been injured in confrontation with police. In Nepalgunj, the army had to fire shots in the air as students began pelting stones in a military vehicle in front of Mahendra Multiple Campus at 11 in the morning. Tensed students then marched city streets slamming use of use from the government. Similar incidents were witnessed in Biratnagar where students clashed with the police. Police used several rounds of tear gas cells to disperse the agitators near Mahendra Morang Campus. Major parts of Biratnagar remain shut at the moment. Likewise police have arrested at least 50 students in Janakpur, injuring five. Following the incident, students have announced Bandh (closure) in Janakpur Bazaar. Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, students have staged lathi julus (stick rally) from Ratnapark this afternoon, which they said was an attempt to warn against “regression”. Hundreds of protests, with sticks in hand, marched city streets, chanting ant-King slogans. Earlier, the students took out a torch procession from Ratna Rajya Campus and Pashupati Multiple Campus. Police have arrested Sagar Pandey, chairman of Free Students’ Union of Pashupatu Campus, it is learnt. The agitators have warned of black outs this evening in some parts of the city if the arrested students are not released immediately. Some 40 students who were arrested during Tuesday’s protests haven’t been released yet. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 28 04 Related
News 'Pashupatinath darshan package' launched in South India Shri Jagad Guru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kama Koti Peetham has launched "Pashupatinath darshan package" in Chennai, India, a statement from Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said Wednesday. Jagad Guru launched the package on Monday amidst prominent media gatherings organized by NTB in association with Royal Nepal Airlines and Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), the statement said. Addressing the function, Jagad Guru said," Nepal is a tapobhumi where Lord Shiva resides and Lord Pashupatinath is even above 12 jyotirlingams." He also emphasized about the socio-cultural and religious ties that bind Nepal and India together. He also mentioned in details about the religious significance of various To cover the event, there was a high presence of electronic and print media from Chennai and nearby cities, according to the statement. Similarly, a press meet is scheduled to be convened in Bangalore on January 28, Mumbai on January 30 and Delhi on February 2nd, 2004 to highlight the package, the statement added. The Pashupatinath darshan package has been introduced to commemorate the holy festival of Mahashivratri, on the 18th February 2004. India generates one-third of the total tourists traffic flow to Nepal. Due Related
News Dr. Joshi honored with prestigious award in USA Dr. Tulasi Joshi, Professor of Geography at Fairmont State College, and a native of Nepal, was presented with the "Cyrus R. Vance Award" for International Education in West Virginia, USA recently, a statement said Wednesday. Dr. Joshi received the award during a function at the West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston by Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary of Education and the Arts, the statement said. He was one of the 20 educators and educational organizations nominated for the award representing K-12 and postsecondary education from all parts of the state, according to the statement. The award includes a unique Blenko-designed hand blown glass decanter and a $5,000 prize to be used to further the winner's efforts in the promotion of international education and understanding. "I
am really overwhelmed. It was a total surprise," Joshi said.
"Receiving this honor makes me feel good about Fairmont State because
it was the work of the institution that made this possible." The
Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts of West Virginia Joshi
has been a professor at Fairmont State for more than 30 years, He has served as a member of the FSC International Education Committee since 1973; for some of those years he was chairman. He was instrumental in the establishment of the international student scholarship program and International Week observed on campus every year. He
received his Master's degrees from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and the
University of Hawaii, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of In 1989, Joshi, helped establish the Nepal Scholarship Program at Fairmont State. In 1991, Joshi arranged the annual international convention of the Association of Nepalis in America (ANA) at Fairmont State attended by more than 300 participants including Nepal's Ambassador to the U.S. Nepali communities and friends of Nepal in America including ANA have supported the Nepal Scholarship Program. Currently, there are 22 Nepali students attending Fairmont State. At present, he is the chairperson of ANA's scholarship committee and the coordinator of the Nepal scholarship program at Fairmont State. nepalnews.com mr Jan 28 04 WHO cautions ministry over possible outbreak of bird flu The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned the Health Ministry about the possible outbreak of bird flue in Nepal, reports Wednesday said. In an emailed letter to the Health Ministry, the WHO has said that the deadly disease could make inroads into Nepal any time if precautions are not taken in time. Reports mentioned Dr Bhuwanesshowori Das Chautat of the Department of Health as saying that the world body has suggested the ministry to form a team of experts so as to exert into warding off the possible outbreak of the disease. Although nothing is mentioned about what precautionary measures are being taken to avert the threat, department officials, report said, were quick to claim that needful will certainly be done. When Nepalnews wanted clue on this, no officials could be reached for comment. The WHO’s cautionary note comes in view of growing cases of bird flue in some Asian countries – Thailand and Vietnam being the hotspots. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 28 04 Maoists set up teaching hospital, industry in Rolpa The Maoists have established a teaching hospital and an industry few weeks before they mark the 9th anniversary of the insurgency on February 13, according to a report published in Nepal Samacharpatra, a vernacular daily, on Wednesday. The hospital named People’s Medical College set up at Thawang, Rolpa district was inaugurated by Diwakar, a politburo member of the Maoist party, a few days ago, the report said. A Maoist heath worker is quoted in the report as saying that two MBBS doctors have been giving classes to 50 students. The hospital has long been providing treatment to Maoist cadres injured in clashes with security forces. The Maoists have also set up factories at an unknown place in Rolpa. The products are known to have been circulating in Maoist strongholds. The industrial estate under the name ‘Jaljala Regional Industries’, report added, produces dry food, candles, garments and soaps. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 28 04 Related
News Thai citizenship to 1,200 Nepali families Thailand has announced it will provide citizenship to 1,200 Nepali families, who have been living in the country for business and other purposes for a extended time, Space Time said Wednesday. Such an announcement came in the 4th meeting of Nepal-Thailand Joint Consultation Commission that concluded in Kathmandu Tuesday, the daily said. In the meeting, Secretary at the Thai Foreign Ministry, Dr. Tez Bumang said, "Thai government is undergoing preparations to issue citizenships to 1,200 Nepali families living in the country." He further said that the Thai Ministry for Internal Affairs has already issued directives to concerned authorities regarding the issuance of the citizenship. After having received the citizenship certificates, Nepalis concerned will enjoy rights and facilities at par with the native Thai citizens, the daily said. An agreement was also signed to issue long-term visas to Nepali businessmen, who have to visit Thailand frequently, the daily said. The Thai team also expressed commitment to help build a maternity hospital in Lumbini, according to the daily. nepalnews.com rs Jan 28 04 MVA to burn Maoist leaders' effigies Maoist-Victims Association (MVA) said Tuesday it will burn the effigies of Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai on 13 February, for issuing threats to dissolve MVA, a daily said Wednesday. "We decided to burn the effigies of Maoists' leader as a voice against the threat from them to dissolve our organization,'' Annapurna Post quoted MVA President Ganesh Chilwal, as saying. According to Chilwal, the Maoists have sent a letter to them asking not to run programs against the Maoists. Moreover, they Maoists have also been charging the MVA of amassing donations from different embassies to conduct programs against Maoists. Chilwal, however, rejected such allegations. He said, "We will operate our programs in a more influential way in the future." "We have been celebrating 13 February as a black day in Nepal's history. It's the day when the Maoists begun bloodshed in the country," he said in justification to the MVA's effigies burning plan. nepalnews.com pd Jan28 04 Related
News Diseases claim 18 lives in Bajura Death toll by pneumonia, common cold and measles has reached 18 including four children in Bajura in the past one month, a published report said Wednesday. While the disease has already assumed epidemic proportion gripping some 17 VDCs, health institutions in affected sites lack adequate drugs, the Kathmandu Post said. Authorities have been supplying low quality drugs to health institutions in the district as the Maoists started to take away 25 percent of the drugs from them, according to the daily. nepalnews.com mr Jan 28 04 |
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