CEC Urges Parties To Reach Agreement Soon
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhojraj Pokharel has urged political parties to reach agreement soon. Addressing an interaction on Wednesday (October 3), Pokharel said, "They should agree today itself so that we do not have to wait with bated breath till the last minute." He also said that since the date of November 22 for CA election had been fixed by the parties themselves, they should not try to change it any further. Leading dailies report
Pro-Maoist Transport Union Leader Warns To Burn Copies Of Kantipur
Maoist union leaders have stepped up pressure on the Kantipur Publication. Addressing a gathering in front of the Publication office on Wednesday (October 3), Jagat Simkhada, president of All Nepal Transport Workers' Organization, which is affiliated with the Maoists, threatened that transport workers will no longer permit Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies to be carried in their vehicles. "I urge my friends not to carry them. I urge them to burn them," he said. On the other hand, Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has claimed that one-sided flow of opinion favoring media houses and not the workers had saddened his party. He warned not to link the party's name in what he termed as 'management-worker dispute.' He said that provoking the party in this manner would lead to bigger problems. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has issued a statement saying that it is deeply concerned by the disruption to media houses. "Free press is enshrined in Nepal 's interim constitution and we urge all parties to respect and uphold this principle. Disputes should be settled through the courts and not through violence, vandalism or intimidation," it said. Various organizations and rights workers have continued to express solidarity in support of the Publication. Compiled from reports
Army Chief Smells Conspiracy To Divide Na And Democratic Forces
The Nepali Army chief General Rookmangud Katawal has said that conspiracies are being hatched to drive a wedge between army and democratic forces. The NA chief said that disruptive elements were working hard to fulfil their vested interests by creating such rift. He did not clarify who such elements were. Addressing army officers in Nagarkot, General Katawal said that the rift was being created by the elements that are against national interest and do not want peace and happiness for the people of Nepal. Leading dailies report
Journos In Streets Over Kantipur Obstruction
Journalists have hit the streets to protest pro-Maoist workers' intervention and obstruction in Kantipur Publication. Journalists were accompanied by rights workers, professionals and civil society members in the protest rally, which started from New Baneshwore and ended at Maitighar where various speakers addressed the participants. 'They are trying to gag the voice of Kantipur. They may bomb the structures, but they will never suppress our voices," said Prateek Pradhan, editor of The Kathmandu Post daily. Raghuji Panta, UML MP, asked the Maoists to be ready to face criticism. "What would we need the democracy for if we cannot speak against Prachanda," he said. Likewise,
Nepal Bar Association's former president Shambhu Thapa said, "We are at a point where we have to ask ourselves if there is a democratic system in place." Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) president Bishnu Nishthuri deplored the seven parties for failing to take up the agenda of attack on press. On Tuesday (October 2), Home Ministry issued a statement deploring the vandalism and obstructive actions by pro-Maoist workers. Promising security to the Publication, the Ministry has stated that the current obstruction is tantamount to violation of right to information. The Ministry said it has already directed local administration to ensure adequate security to the Publication. Meanwhile, extending their interference in the Publication, the pro-Maoist workers have also disturbed the publishing of Kantipur and Kathmandu Post dailies from Bharatpur and Biratnagar divisions. Leading dailies report
Envoys Urge PM To Stick To Election Timetable
Reports say that the ambassadors of India , the United States and China
met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, separately, on Tuesday (October 2). The envoys reportedly urged PM Koirala to hold the Constituent Assembly election on time on November 22. Their meeting has come at a time when political deadlock has deepened with Maoists stating that they would not allow the election to take place if their demand for changing the election system is not fulfilled. In another development, British Minister Shahid Mallik made a telephone call to Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai to talk about the political situation. Leading dailies report
Unrest Affects Development In Terai
Frequent strikes and violent incidents in the Terai region are increasingly creating difficulties in implementing development activities there. The activities of the UN World Food Program (WFP) are badly affected because it has not been able to transport food items via the national highways because of frequent general strikes called by various groups. "WFP assistance should be reaching needy families living across 30 districts, but with the increase in bandhs and blockages over the last year, we have seen delivery delays," the WFP Country Representative to Nepal , Richard Ragan, told The Himalayan Times. According to him, the delay in delivery of WFP's food relief has ranged from a few days to nearly two months. "The saddest part of such obstructions is that it usually affects either the poorest people in the country or those affected by natural disasters," Ragan said. "The terrain in
Nepal is one of the most challenging on Earth, but insecurity and frequency of strikes in the Terai region has made it one of the most difficult operations I've ever managed," Ragan further said. "Delay in delivery dramatically increases the transportation costs, which means WFP is forced to provide less food to the 2.5 million hungry Nepali people that the international organization are trying to reach," he said. The WFP even warned that it would be forced to suspend its activities after one of its trucks was burnt on September 19 in Dang along East-West highway. Last Wednesday, a truck ferrying 12 metric tons food grain to Dadeldhura for WFP food aid program was attacked and set ablaze by a mob in Dang. The truck driver escaped unharmed, but all the food grain was burnt. However, the WFP alone is not bearing the brunt. Other development organizations are facing the same plight but in a different degree. Some education projects in Terai district, being implemented by some European donors are being indirectly affected due to strikes. "The school projects are not being smooth because students tend to be absent whenever there are strikes," said a European diplomat in Kathmandu . The foreign trainers who arrived here lately for educating national election observers feel insecure to go to Terai districts to conduct regional training programs. Leading dailies report
SC Upholds EC Decision
The Supreme Court has upheld the decision by the Election Commission to recognize the Anandidevi Singh-led Nepal Sadbhavana Party stating that it cannot interfere in the poll process already underway. In response to writ petition filed by dissident leader Rajendra Mahato demanding that his faction be recognized as legitimate NSP, the apex court bench including judges duo Min Bahadur Rayamajhi and Rajendra Kumar Bhandari said that the court cannot make decision that could affect the election. Leading dailies report
Kantipur Signs Deal With Maoist Union
After the signing of the four-point deal between the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) and Kantipur Publications, the printing, publishing and distribution of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies have resumed. The deal was signed by ANTUF chief Shalikram Jamarkattel and managing director of Publications Kailash Sirohiya, on Thursday (October 4), in presence of Maoist chairman Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. As per the deal, the two sides have agreed to take initiatives to free pro-Maoist workers arrested by the police for causing disruption of the newspapers. Likewise, the Publication has agreed to withdraw suspension of some of the workers and to withdraw charges against them. Detailed discussion on workers' demands will take place on Monday (October 8). Leading dailies report
WB To Fund Biogas Plants
The World Bank has agreed to provide assistance of $ 5 million to co-finance the setting up of 37,000 biogas plants in rural areas of Nepal. The WB-administered Global Partnership on Output Based Aid (GPOBA) has signed a grant agreement with the government under the fourth phase of the Biogas Support Program (BSP-IV). The Project will be implemented by the Alternate Energy Promotion Center (AEPC). The grant signed on Thursday is also funded by the United Kingdom 's Department for International Development (DFID). "The Project complements user contributions by the target group with an output-based subsidy in order to foster local ownership and to increase the reach of donor funding," states a press release by the WB. "The Project aims to replace traditional energy sources used by the rural population, such as fire wood and kerosene, with modern biogas plants." "Switching to biogas reduces carbon emissions as well as deforestation and decreases the frequency of respiratory infections that result from burning sooty fuels in poorly ventilated households. The Community Development Carbon Fund estimates that families will also save approximately three hours of labor per day from the conveniences of gas in addition to financial savings from not purchasing other fuels and fertilizers. Women and girls, who are traditionally responsible for colleting firewood and cooking, will be among this project's primary beneficiaries. Furthermore, access to biogas will enable families to use gas lanterns after sunset to provide light for children's studies or other household activities," the release adds. The Biogas Support Program was started in 1992 by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) together with the Government of Nepal to promote environmentally friendly and affordable energy to remote rural areas. The project has also received substantial funding from KfW. Since 2006, the BSP-IV is benefiting from funding form the World Bank's Community Development Carbon Fund in exchange for reductions of emissions of greenhouse gases. Since 1992 the Biogas Support Program has helped to install 150,000 biogas plants in rural Nepal. The local non-governmental organization Biogas Sector Partnership – Nepal (BSP-N) is serving as project implementing agency. Compiled from reports
FM Rues Politicization of Economy
Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has regretted the politicization of economic issues. Speaking at a program in the capital, on Thursday, Dr. Mahat appealed to all to look into economic issues from economic perspective. He said agitation, bandhs, and strikes were preventing the economy from expanding. "Durable peace, democracy and economic prosperity is the need of the hour,' he said. He said there was no alternative to liberal economy. "Liberal economy with the sense of social justice is needed," he said. Meanwhile, Dr. Mahat has directed the Finance Ministry to take steps to waive off interest on loans taken by people of conflict-hit regions. Kantipur daily reports
World Class Animation and Visual Effects Studio in The Offing
A MOU was signed today between Pink Slip Productions, a company based in California run by a former Disney artist and executive, KuKri Ventures Inc, a USA based investment company, Mercantile, the largest IT company in Nepal and Transcube International Pvt. Ltd., a computer graphics and animation company, to set up a world class animation and visual effects (VFX) studio in Kathmandu to service the international market. The new company, which will be called Incessant Rain Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd., will start recruiting immediately and plans to come into production by the first quarter next year.
Kiran Joshi of Pink Slip Productions, a 17 year veteran at Walt Disney Feature Animation involved in the production of classics like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and other feature animated films, says, “I have been keeping an eye out on the talent of young Nepalese graphic artists for a few years and feel that now is the time to start something in Nepal to promote this talent pool.
Sanjib Raj Bhandari of Mercantile said the international market for VFX and animation is growing at a rapid pace and a state of the art VFX and animation studio will be set up in Nepal to tap into this market.
Suyogya Tuladhar of Transcube International Pvt. Ltd., which operates a 25 person graphics operation in Kathmandu, said, “We feel that with the technical and creative assistance of experts from the US, we will easily be able to meet the quality expectations of the international market. We are excited to be part of this team and see a very bright future for Nepalese graphic artists and animators.”Incessant Rain Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd. plans to start operations with a team of about 40 and expand to a 100 within a year.
Caption for attached photo: Suyogya Tuladhar, Kiran Joshi and Sanjib Raj Bhandari after signing the MOU.
