UNICEF urges Govt., Maoists to protect child rights

The country office of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Monday raised concerns over the plight of children in Nepal urging the warring sides to consider the welfare of the children first.

"We urge all parties in the conflict to put the welfare of Nepal's youngest and most vulnerable citizens at the forefront of all their considerations," a statement issued by the UNICEF said. 

"We note that over the last twelve months there have been increasing reports of children being involved in Nepal's conflict in the most direct way." 

The reports, the statement further said, indicate that children have been forced to work as porters, messengers, sentries and cooks.

"In addition, eight years of conflict have had a profound impact on
communities in many parts of the country. Every aspect of life in Nepal has been affected." 

As is always the case in times of war, children have paid a disproportionate price, the statement added. 

"Their families have been displaced, their villages have been attacked, their schools have been closed, their teachers have been threatened, abducted and killed, and basic health services are unavailable." 

"Children are being forced into the most exploitive forms of employment in order to survive, and are fleeing across the border into India in search of peace."

The UNICEF statement has also expressed deep concern over the recruitments of children in the Maoist militia.

"UNICEF views with the gravest concern recent reports in the media of plans to directly recruit children under 18 years of age," the statement said.

Such recruitment, after all, would constitute a breach of international laws on children rights, the statement said citing many children- related international Conventions.

"Children should be left alone, not used as pawns for political or military purposes," the UNICEF said. nepalnews.com mr March 1

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Reunion offer positive: Leaders

Leaders of Nepali Congress and NC (Democratic), in an interaction program on Monday, said NC President GP Koirala's offer for reunion is "optimistic and positive." 

NC (D) leaders, at the same time, said they expect "recognition" of their party and an "authentic" reunion proposal from the NC. 

"The party unity call by NC president Koirala is encouraging," Prakash Man Singh, an NC (D) leader said. "But it is not possible unless NC acknowledges the existence of NC (D)." Singh who seemed aggressive at times said NC must authentically propose for party unity. 

NC Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC said  Congress cadres are delighted by Koirala's reunion offer. "The meeting of NC's Central Working Committee on Wednesday will officially endorse President's call for party unity," KC said.

Terming Koirala's proposal an "icebreaking" event, KC urged the NC (D) party workers to forget bitterness and join hands for the country's better future. 

NC leader Ramchandra Poudel called upon all to realize the mistakes committed in the past and work for party unity. "We must be united to restore people's rights and democracy," he said.

Narayan Khadka, a leader from NC-D, said founding leader of NC and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is very "happy and positive" to hear the reunion offer by Koirala.

Reporters' Club, Nepal organised the program. nepalnews.com pd Mar 01 04

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NC meet backs Koirala’s reunion call, Deuba undecided

A meeting of the Nepali Congress Monday endorsed informally the proposal of party president Girija Prasad Koirala urging the breakaway faction the Nepali Congress (Democratic) to reunite. 

NC sources said the central leaders who met at the residence of Dr Ram Saran Mahat at Maharajganj this morning stressed unanimously the need of unification. The meeting reached a conclusion that the efforts to reunite both the parties should continue. 

Talking to reporters following the meeting, Koirala said unification is essential in view of the crisis the nation is facing. He expressed optimism that the NC-D would accept his proposal. “Unification campaign is going to succeed,” said he. 

NC general secretary Sushil Koirala was of the view that there should  be no more reservation towards anybody insofar as the unification process was gaining momentum. 

Another NC leader Ram Chandra Pouldel said the party leadership should act towards creating an environment so that it helps reunite the parties. Claiming that today’s meeting was an important one, Poudel said there would be hectic efforts in the days to reunite the parties. 

President Koirala in a statement issued on Friday had urged NC-D for reunion, pledging to withdraw all the disciplinary actions taken against its leaders and cadres. 

Meanwhile, NC-D president Deuba has expressed guarded view over Koirala’s offer. Speaking at a program in Bhairahawa this morning, Deuba said the party would mull reunion only when his party gets due recognition from the NC. “ But, It is not that simple,” he said. 

“Unification is not done just because a side proposes it. I cannot decide anything without a mandate from cadres,” Deuba said albeit not ruling out the possibility of unification. nepalnews.com mbk March 1 04 

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Preparations in full swing to felicitate Their Majesties in Pokhara

Preparations are underway in Pokhara to organize a civic reception of the King and the Queen, reports Monday said. No date has been fixed, however. 

A 1057-member organizing committee has been formed headed by former state minister Laxya Bahadur Gurung and sub-committees have also been formed in the 16 districts of the Western region. 

Minister for Information and Communication Kamal Thapa visited Pokhara on Sunday to take stock of the preparations concerning the civic felicitation. Thapa, according to reports, gave directions to the concerned officials to be active to make the programs a success.

Recently, his Majesty King Gyanendra and Queen Komal had visited several mid-Western districts following a civic reception in Nepalgunj on February 8. nepalnews.com mbk March 1 04 

UK to open office in Kathmandu to compensate ex-Gurkha PoWs

The United Kingdom is setting up an office in Kathmandu to coordinate the process of handing out compensation to former British Gurkha soldiers who served jail term in Japan during World War II. 

According to a report published in Nepal Samacharpatra on Monday, the British Defense Ministry officials are already in Kathmandu and an office is soon to be established here to arrange the distribution of compensation to the former Prisoners of War (PoW). 

A British high court had in November 2002 ordered the Ministry of Defense to provide compensation to the former PoWs to the tune of 10,000 pounds (nearly 1.3 million rupees). The decision of the UK government to open an office in Kathmandu is in line with the same. 

In 2000, the Gurkha Army Ex-servicemen’s Organization (GAESO) had dragged the British government to court, demanding compensation to the former PoWs.

The daily cited information from the embassy officials that process to register claims for compensation would start from 1st April. It is said the process may take as long as two years before the PoWs actually get the amount. 

It is still not clear how many former British Gurkha soldiers were made captives by Japan during the war. While filing the writ petition, GAESO had submitted signatures of a total of 347 former PoWs. 

“We have been preparing the list of Gurkha PoWs. The number has gone over 1000 by now and the process is still on,” Krishna Kumar Rai, acting chairman of GAESO is quoted in the report as saying. 

The report further says the British Defense Ministry has hardly any record on former Gurkha PoWs. As the Gurkhas were recruited on a tripartite agreement of Nepal, India and Britain, embassy officials hope that the Indian Defense Ministry could provide important clues.

When Nepalnews contacted British embassy officials for comments, they confirmed the news reports about setting up of an office but declined to provide details. nepalnews.com mbk/rs March 1

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Govt. to place teachers in schools soon

At a time when most community schools in the rural Nepal are in the verge of closure, the government is set to fill up some 30,000 vacant teachers’ posts in the community schools of the country, Rajdhani dainik reported Monday. 

“The Teachers’ Service Commission will announce vacancy for some 30,000 teachers as soon as it finishes publishing results of the last teachers’ exam,” Rajdhani dainik quoted Education Minister Hari Bahadur Basnet as saying. 

Moreover, Minister Basnet said the Education Ministry will fill 50 percent of vacancies in schools through competition among temporary teachers, and the rest through open competition.

Noteworthy, more than 28,000 teachers’ posts are currently vacant in the country, the report added. nepalnews.com pd Mar 01 04

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Elephants terrorize Triyuga municipality

A herd of elephants destroyed 9 houses and about 50 quintals of grain 
in Triyuga municipality on Saturday, various reports said. Scared of 
the elephants, the residents had to spend the whole night in the 
nearby forest. 

According to the reports, the elephants destroyed the houses of Chakra Bahadur Magar, Bhal Raj Rai, Tej Bahadur Rai, Bindrashyam Raim Durga Rai, Sapana Rai, Tej Bahadur Rai and Jaya Bahadur Rai. nepalnews.com rs March 01 04

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UN's special regional headquarters in Kathmandu

Kathmandu will house the regional headquarters of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the whole Asian region in the area of poverty, crisis prevention and HIV/AIDS, a report said Monday.

"The decision to develop Nepal as the headquarters has already been finalised and will be implemented from July 1, 2004," the report by The Kathmandu Post said, quoting Hafiz A Pasha, the UN Assistant Secretary General.

"Nepal had been a centre for South Asia, now it will be serving as the centre for all of Asia in the areas of poverty alleviation, crisis prevention and recovery and HIV/AIDS," Pasha further said.

That centre would be spending a minimum of US $ 6 million annually in the focused programs all over Asia, the report further said.

"We have already acquired a new premise just opposite of UN centre at Pulchowk (Kathmandu), and the number of staff has also been doubled for the purpose," he added. nepalnews.com mr March 1 04

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Maoists open fire at businessman

Maoist rebels Sunday afternoon opened fire at Dhupeswor Jha, a pharmacist in Bagewa VDC of Dhanusha district severely injuring him, published reports said Monday. 

According to the eye witnesses, some six armed rebels opened fire three times at Jha in his own pharmacy, reports added.

Jha who is currently undergoing treatment in Kathmandu, was accused of being involved in plying against the Maoist’s ‘Peoples war’. nepalnews.com pd Mar 01 04

Nepali Congress to meet today

A crucial but informal meeting of Nepali Congress's Central Working Committee (CWC) will be held at the party's central office at Teku, Kathmandu on Monday, a source said. 

The meeting is expected to discuss pros and cons of reunion with the NC (Democratic) led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, the source further said.

The CWC meeting on Wednesday is likely to officially endorse NC President Girija Prasad Koirala's call for party unity, according to the Himalayan Times. Meanwhile, youth Leaders of NC (D) Sunday held an informal meeting in Kathmandu to discuss the unification offer, the daily added. 

Nepali Congress (NC) Secretary Sushil Koirala Sunday said the official CWC meeting Wednesday will officially endorse President’s call for the party unity.

“I am positive on the President’s call for the party unity,” Koirala said. ”The President’s call will be discussed in the CWC meeting on Wednesday which will turn into our party’s decision,” Koirala added.

Koirala was addressing a program Sunday organized by Nepal Students’ Union in the capital to celebrate their victory in the recent union elections.

Meanwhile, according to Rajdhani dainik, former Prime Minister and President of NC – Democratic, Sher Bahadur Deuba speaking at a program in Nawalparasi commented on Koirala’s call as “positive”. “Party unity is possible only when the NC acknowledges the existence of our party,” the daily reported Deuba as saying.

Possibilities of reunion between the NC and NC (D) has grown high after Koirala issued a statement in Biratnagar on Friday urging the ex-Congress men to return to the parental party. He, however, did not categorically called upon the NC (D) to reunite with the NC. 
nepalnews.com mr/pd Mar 01 04

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