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Guilty will be punished; PM assures PAC on Lauda Air deal

Kathmandu, Dec 21:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assured the Public Accounts Committee of parliament that the government would take stern action against guilty in the Lauda Air deal.

Prime Minister Koirala went to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting today to explain the deal relating to leasing the Lauda Air jet aircraft by Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation.

Prime Minister Koirala said that there was no intention of violating the directives of parliamentary committee and that anyone who is found guilty in the case will be punished.

RNAC brought the Boeing 767 jet aircraft on lease for 18 months despite directives issued by the PAC not to implement the deal until the parliamentary committee completed its investigation on the deal.

As RNAC brought the plane against the instruction of the parliamentary committee, PAC summoned Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut to clarify the issue.

Minister Chataut said that RNAC was an autonomous body and it brought the plane for the interest of the corporation.

PAC decided to invite the Prime Minister to explain the issue, as the committee was not satisfied with the explanation of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister.

PAC has maintained that the action of brining the plane against its directives was contempt of parliament.

Koirala also asked the parliamentary committee to maintain a clear-cut boundary of jurisdiction of parliament and executive.

Earlier, PAC chairman Subash Nembang said that the issue has created a crisis of confidence and conflict between the parliament and the government. nepalnews.com yl

Prince Nirajan Injured in Car Accident

Kathmandu, Dec.21: Prince Nirajan, the youngest son of King Birendra, is recovering at home after he was injured when a car he was driving collided with a police van Tuesday night near Mahargunj, sources said.

The Prince returned home after treatment at a hospital and is not serious, a source said.

But his aide suffered a broken rib, the same source said.

Some policemen in the van were also injured, reports said. nepalnews.com br

Government Bows to Pressure, Announces Losar Holiday

Kathmandu, Dec.21: Government bowed to pressure from the Gurung community and declared a holiday for all Gurung government employees on Losar which will be celebrated this year on December 30, an official announcement said.

Gurungs had threatened to go on a nation-wide protest to meet their demand. Losar is Gurung's new year.

The decision falls short of the demand to declare Losar a national holiday. nepalnews.com br

Five Maoists Killed

Kathmandu, Dec.21: Five Maoists were killed and four others were injured Wednesday in an exchange of gunfire with police at Furkot village in Kalikot district, police said.

The rebels were killed when they  attacked a police patrol in the insurgency affected district.

More than 1500 persons shave been killed in a communist insurgency that enters its sixth year February. nepalnews.com br

Society of Nepalese Students formed in Germany

Kathmandu, Dec 21: Nepalese students studying in different parts of Germany formed an association called Society of Nepalese Students/Germany.

A gathering of Nepalese students studying in different parts of Germany was organised in Hannover on December 16, which formally created the association.

According to a press release sent from Hannover of Germany, the objective of the Society of Nepalese Students/Germany is to work for the rights and welfare of Nepalese students studying in Germany and promote Nepalese culture.

 Nepalese students from Hannover, Berlin, Sudenburg, Oldenburg, Regensburg, Frankfurt, Dortmund, and Bochum were present in the gathering, states the press release.

Royal Nepalese Ambassador Bal Ram Singh Malla was also present in the gathering that created the organization. Ambassador  while addressing the gathering, said that such efforts of Nepalese students in Germany are very positive.

This is the first organization of Nepalese students in Germany, according to press release.

The gathering formed a seven-member ad-hoc committee of the Society, which comprises Shiva S. Adhikari ad coordinator and Bindhya Sharma, Milan Poudel, Hem Raj Sharma, Sanjaya Gorkhali, Prajwol Shrestha, and Naresh Shakya as members. nepalnews.com yl

India to Train Nepali Air Force Personnel

Kathmandu, Dec.21: India has expressed " its willingness to support and train" Nepali air force personnel in India after a meeting with Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya and visiting Chief of the Air Staff Chief Marshal A.Y.Tipnis, the official National News Agency said Wednesday without quoting sources.

Acharya asked for training personnel of the air transport wing of the Royal Nepal Army in India at a meeting Wednesday with Air Marshal Tipnis. Nepal does not have an independent air force and is under the wing of the army. nepalnews.co. br

Clinton Bids Farewell
Kathmandu, Dec. 21: In what diplomats called a farewell message, outgoing US President Bill Clinton told Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala he expected next week's ministerial meeting between Nepal and Bhutan will help resolve the 10-year-old Bhutanese refugee issue between the two Himalayan Kingdoms.

The US President has, in a letter sent to PM Koirala, also expressed regret for not being able to visit Nepal during his regional tour of South Asia in March, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said. But the spokesman did not reveal if the sentiments were made in a farewell letter to Koirala as claimed by diplomats. Clinton said his wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea had a productive and interesting trip to Nepal prior to his South Asian visit. Clinton leaves office January 20 after completing a two term presidency. nepalnews.com br

Additional Norwegian Help For Melamchi

Kathmandu, Dec.21: Norway will provide an additional Rs. 545 million to Nepal to prepare the final design of the Melamchi diversion scheme of Melamchi Water Supply Project to supply drinking water to Kathmandu. 

The technical assistance is in addition to funds already provided by the Norwegian government for the project, according to the Ministry of Finance. The assistance will be used as continued technical assistance for consultancy services for the Melamchi diversion scheme. An agreement was signed Wednesday between Nepal and Norway for the additional assistance. An aid consortium headed by Asian Development Bank is pushing the project. nepalnews.com br

PM's Hometown in Flames

Kathmandu, Dec.20: Students went on a rampage in Biratnagar Wednesday, the hometown of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, torching nearly one dozen vehicles to protest the mauling of a student one day earlier by transport workers, reports from the industrial town said.

At least 20 persons were injured, two seriously, in police firings as shopkeepers downed shutters as a precautionary measure.

Clashes started in the morning and continued until late evening bringing businesses to a halt in Nepal's oldest industrial town.

Students have threatened further protests if transport workers are not penalized. nepalnews.com br

Deuba announces candidacy for NC president

Kathmandu, Dec 20:

As the tenth national convention of the ruling Nepali Congress is just a month away, its central leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba formally announced his candidacy for the post of party president.

In a press conference in Kathmandu today, Deuba said he wanted to contest for the post of party president of the Nepali Congress in the forthcoming national convention to give a new vision and direction to the party.

Present party president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has also announced his candidacy for the party president.

“ My candidacy is not against any individual but for change and development of the party”, he said in a crowded press conference.

Deuba said that Koirala represents status quo whereas he (Deuba) represents change and new thinking, new vision and new culture in the party.

“ As an old man Koirala’s thinking, working style and vision are old and outdated”, Deuba said.

According to Deuba, Nepali Congress was in need of new direction, new vision, new vigor and enthusiasm, which, he would provide.

Deuba also criticized Koirala for failing to fulfill his promises made before he assumed power as Prime Minister.

Law and order is poor, economy is in bad shape and development activities are stagnated, said Deuba.

Deuba also unveiled his programme to be implemented if he was elected party president in the forthcoming national convention.

" My programme is democratic socialism, which ensures food, shelter, clothes and justice for poor and downtrodden", Deuba said.

Deuba’s candidacy has been supported by Koirala’s detractors like Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Bijaya Gachhadar, Khum Bahadur Khadka and Chiranjibi Wagle. Khadka, Gachhadar and Wagle were also present in the press conference.

Despite Deuba’s announcement for his candidacy, Koirala is most likely to be elected party president in the forthcoming national convention for the party. nepalnews.com yl

PM Koirala Inaugurates  Industrial Exhibition

Kathmandu, Dec.20: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Wednesday launched a 10-day national industrial exhibition in the west Nepal  town of Butwal to promote business and industry, reports from the town said.

Nearly 157 stalls are exhibiting  products of small, medium and big industries to propel the national economy.

The exhibition aims to draw local consumers to increase sales. nepalnews.com br

Five Examiners Released on Bail

Kathmandu, Dec.20: Lalitpur appellate court released on a bail of Rs.10,000 each Tuesday five examiners accused of corruption and tampering with results of the school leaving certificate examinations last year to benefit students who had either failed or propel them in a merit list.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) presented the five persons to the court after completing investigations.

Kedar Chandra Khanal, Deputy Director of the District Education Centre, was among the accused.

This is the first time such cases have been filed against examiners. Allegations are rife that schools bribe officials of the Education Ministry to manipulate results. nepalnews.com br

Rhino Gores Two Women 

Kathmandu, Dec.20: A female rhino Tuesday gored a mother and daughter severely injuring them inside the Royal Chitwan National Park there the animal is protected as an endangered species, reports said. 

The rhino attacked Gauri Maya and her 18-year-old daughter as they were collecting reeds on the first day of the week-long harvesting season when the Park is opened locals to collect reeds. 
The injured are being treated at Bharatpur hospital. 

Meanwhile, a female rhino was injured Tuesday in a duel with a male rhino in another section of the park, another report said. There are nearly one horned 600 rhinos in the protected forest. nepalnews.com br 

Businesses Call for Price Cut 

Kathmandu, Dec.20: Citing the fall of price of crude in the international market, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tuesday asked the government to reduce prices of petroleum products in Nepal as well. 

The Federation said the price of crude has slipped to $27 per barrel from $37 three months ago. 

Government hiked the price of petroleum products coinciding with the increase in price of crude in the international market amid protests of consumers and opposition parties in parliament. 
The move had an inflationary impact on the Nepali economy. nepalnews.com br 

Nepal, Bhutan Refugee Talks Next Week

Kathmandu, Dec.20: The Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan will hold the ninth round of ministerial level talks to untangle the 10-year-old Bhutanese refugee issue in the Nepali capital next week, a Foreign Ministry  official said.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Thinley is arriving in Kathmandu Sunday as head of his country's delegation to resume the  talks; Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola will lead the Nepali delegations to the parleys.

The talks are being resumed after mounting international pressure on Bhutan to resolve the issue with Nepal where nearly 100,000 refugees of Nepali and Hindu ethnicity live in UNHCR administered camps expecting to return home after being forcibly evicted from their homes in southern Bhutan which is a Buddhist state.

The United States earlier this month formally urged Bhutan to begin identifying the refugees in the camps for repatriation by interviewing family heads to determine their nationality of all refugees as Thimpu insists of an individual head count that would make thousands stateless.

Nepal insists identifying refugees by interviewing family heads as aid fatigue is creeping in threatening the flow of international aid to the displaced persons.

Nepal continued to internationalize the refugee issue and this week lobbied for Greek support with visiting Foreign Minister George A. Papandreou as India refuses to intervene to resolve the dispute. Bhutan claims the refugees are illegal immigrants. nepalnews.com br