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VOL. 27, NO. 38, June 06 , 2008 (Jestha 24 2065 B.S.)
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RUSH ON EVEREST
Women On Top
A group of Nepalese inclusive women group toped the Everest
By A CORRESSPONDENT
As with the experience of past couple of years, this year, too, there was a rush on the Mount Everest. According to a report in The Himalayan Times, this year's Everest climbing season ended with footprints of around 257 climbers in 10 days. This year too, majority of those who made it to the top of the world were Sherpas. An official at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ramesh KC, said the season of mountaineering has ended on May 30.
"This year's season ended with lots of new records. It is as exciting for the whole year as it has ever been," he said. Namgyel Sherpa scaled the tallest peak on May 20, becoming the first to scale Everest this year.
As many as 76 people reached atop the world's tallest peak on May 23. Ang Tshering Sherpa, chairperson of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said, "Apart from setting new records this year, some mountaineers have appealed to the world to keep the environment of sacred mountain Chomolongma clean and reduce the impact of global warming."
The Eco-Everest Expedition, aimed at raising awareness about global warming, was a new initiative launched by the climbers this year. Among the climbers, who returned to the capital today, 77-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan, the oldest Everester so far, said, "I found Everest smaller than me. I felt myself so big, so high."
He said he did not face any problem during the ascent and he can scale the peak again. Veteran climber Appa Sherpa broke his own record by climbing Everest for the 18th time. He said he climbed the Everest not to set a new record, but to raise awareness on climate change. The First Inclusive Women's Sagarmatha Expedition also made history this year by scaling the tallest peak. Among the expedition members, Shaili Basnet became the first Nepali woman journalist to submit Everest. Ang Tshering Sherpa of NMA said the Everest climbing this year did not prove as risky as it used to be.
Rights Lapses
Amnesty International points rights lapses in Nepal
By A CORRESSPONDENT
The London-based international human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI), has said that both the government and the Maoists largely failed to implement human rights commitments in the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), signed in November 2006.
In its annual human rights report 2008 published on Wednesday, it said measures to address impunity for past violations and abuses were grossly inadequate in Nepal last year. Police and public prosecutors continued to fail in their duty to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights abuse. Vulnerable groups, including women and minorities, remained at risk of human rights abuses, it said.
AI also expressed concern over the lack of implementation of the recommendation made by a commission entitled to investigate the government atrocities in the April 2006 Jana Andolan, even after publicizing the report in August last year. AI further said government failed to form Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as agreed earlier, that would help improve human rights situation in the country.
The Commission of Inquiry to investigate the enforced disappearance set up on July 26 also failed to operate effectively. AI said abuses by Young Communist League continue while cadres of the Maoist party were also accused of abductions, torture and killings, including the killing of journalist Birendra Sah following his abduction on October 5 in Bara District, as well as seizing land and property and extorting money.
A number of armed groups committed human rights abuses, the report said. Factions of the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, an armed Madheshi group which split from the CPN (M) in 2004, were allegedly responsible for unlawful killings, kidnappings and bomb attacks, the report stated. AI report also said there were a number of reports of torture and rape by police and members of the security forces, some of whom were off-duty at the time. Among those raped were women with mental illness and girls.
AI said, majority of torture victims received no compensation, adding that national laws to regulate torture fell short of international standards, and were inadequately implemented. At least 29 civilians were reportedly killed by the police or armed police force, many allegedly as a result of excessive use of force.
