CPN-UML announces series of protest programme against price hike

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 19:
The main opposition CPN-UML announced today series of protest programme against the price hike of petroleum products, electricity, and fertilizer.

In a press conference held at party headquarters, CPN-UML general secretary and opposition leader in parliament Madhav Kumar Nepal said the government failed to justify its decision to raise the price of diesel, kerosene, fertilizer and electricity.

Nepal said the price hike of such essential commodities has exacerbated price hike in other commodities as well and hardened the life of the people. The opposition leader demanded that government withdraw the decision to raise the price of petroleum products, fertilizer and electricity.

The government decided to raise the price of diesel by 48 per cent, kerosene by 23 per cent, electricity by 30 per cent.

The protest programmes of the CPN-UML against the price hike are:

1.Submission of a petition to the King to summon the special session of parliament to discuss the price hike
2.Nationwide signature campaign against the price hike. This would take place from November 23 to December 11.
3.Demonstration and protest rallies in all villages of the country from November 26 to December 1.
4.Demonstrations and protest rallies in district headquarters of all 75 districts and other major areas on December 2.
5.Nationwide protest rallies December 2.
6.Sit-in pogramme in all district headquarters on the first day of special session of parliament.

As a responsible party, we have taken up the issues that are directly related to people’s life. Thus we are hopeful that we would get full
support from all people and political parties against the price hike.

Mr Nepal said that if the government does not withdraw its decision to raise the prices of different essential commodities, we would announce
the second phase of protest programme.

Nepal said that the protest programme would continue until the government withdraws its decision to raise the prices of petroleum products,
fertilizer and electricity.

Finland gives 335 million rupees grant to Nepal

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 4:
Finland has agreed to provide a grant assistance of Finnish marks 25 million (about Rs. 335 million) to Nepal for the implementation of basic and primary education programme phase II.

According to Ministry of Finance, the overall objective of the programme is to improve the quality of education and reduce the drop out rates of students in the primary level.

Of the total contribution of the government of Finland, an amount of 5.2 million Finnish marks will be available as technical assistance and 19.8 million will be available for programme implementation over the period of 5 years.

Nepal raps govt for failing to solve country’s problems

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 4:

Main opposition leader and general secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal flayed the present Nepali Congress government headed by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai for completely failing to solve the country’s burning problems.

Addressing a mass meeting in Butwal, about 200 kilometer west of Kathmandu, Nepal said that Nepali Congress government has totally failed to control social aberrations, inflation, corruption and maintain law and order in the country.

The inaction of the government has jeopardized the hard-won democracy.

French teams climb Mt. Dorje Lakpa

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 4:

A four-member French team successfully scaled 6966 meter Mt Dorje Lakpa through the western ridge on October 28, according to Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation

The successful submitters are Rene Leon Robert, Marc A. Siffredi, Betrand Delapierre, and Neema Nuru Sherpa.

Likewise, other three French mountaineers also reached atop Dorje Lakpa on October 29. They are Sandine P. Rose Cochpain, Prem Lakpa Sherpa, and Kami Tshiri Sherpa.

According to Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, another 7-member French Ta Dorje Lhakpa Autumn Expedition led by Gorble Paulao climbed Mt Dorje Lhakpa from the western ridge.

Names of the successful climbers are Gorble Paulao, Bordov Michel Jean, Males Jean Francois, Suare Jean Pierre, Crocombette Albert, Bongard Alexandre, and Pasang Temba Sherpa.

India asks to postpone 11th SAARC Summit

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 4:

India has formally written to current Chairperson of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Sri Lanka and host Nepal to postpone the forthcoming SAARC summit to be held in Kathmandu this month.

India formally informed its decision to both the chairperson Sri Lanka and host Nepal today.

In a letter written to both Sri Lanka and Nepal, India has said that at the interest of SAARC, it would be appropriate to defer the summit for the time being, on account of the military takeover in Pakistan, according to a press release of Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat flew to Bhutan today to extend invitation to Bhutanese head of the government to attend 11th SAARC Summit.

The eleventh SAARC summit was scheduled to be held in Kathmandu late this month.

According to SAARC charter, the summit has to be automatically postponed if any member state asks the host country to do so.

Pakistan sharply reacts to India’s proposal for postponement of SAARC Summit

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 5:

Pakistan reacted very sharply to the proposal of India for the postponement of forthcoming SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on November 26-28, 1999.

Pakistan has described India’s proposal for the postponement of SAARC Summit as an adventurist move and said that postponement of SAARC Summit would serve the hegemonistic interests of India.

India written to host Nepal and Sri Lanka, current chairperson of SAARC, to defer the SAARC
Summit because of the military takeover in Pakistan.

The press release issued by Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu states:

Pakistan said the postponement would do incalculable harm to the Organization and weaken its capacity to push ahead with its agenda for development and stability through regional cooperation among member states. The press statement says:

The government of Pakistan is of the view that the Summit should be held as scheduled for which invitations have been already personally delivered by the Nepalese Foreign Minister. In the history of SAARC, there is no precedence of postponement, on account of political changes in a member state. SAARC has now been in existence for the last 14 years and it has made significant progress in laying down the groundwork for regional cooperation. The Organization’s fundamental principles are non-interference in internal affairs of member countries, eschewing engagement with political developments in individual countries and adoption of decisions by unanimity. SAARC must not allow itself to be dictated by one country nor should it fall victim to the prejudices of member against another.

NC team off to France to attend socialist international meets

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 5:

A six-member delegation of the Nepali Congress headed by general secretary Sushil Koirala left for Paris, France today to take part in the 2lst conference of the socialist international congress to be held in Paris from November 8 to l0.

Other members of the delegation are Arjun Narsingh KC, Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, Laxman Ghimire, Marshal Julum Shakya and Ram Thapaliya.

Nepali Congress is the member of the Socialist International.

Disgruntled NC lawmakers submit memorandum to Bhattarai

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 5:

Some two dozens disgruntled Nepali Congress lawmakers submitted a 6-point memorandum to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai today.

According to lawmaker Shiva Raj Joshi, NC parliamentarians expressed their disgruntlement to the Prime Minister and drew his attention towards some burning problems of the country.

Joshi said that Prime Minister Bhattarai assured that the government would take their suggestions seriously and try to work accordingly.

The memorandum has asked the government to take immediate and effective measures to maintain law and order, control Maoist insurgency, control corruption, withdrawal of decision to raise diesel and kerosene prices, ouster of some ministers from the cabinet and maintenance of smooth relation and coordination between the party and the government.

Mahat meets with King Jigme of Bhutan

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Nov 6:

Nepalese Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat met with Bhutanese monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuk at Thimpu, Friday, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Dr Mahat had discussion on the preparation of 11th SAARC Summit to be held in Kathmandu.

They also discussed relations between Nepal and Bhutan and recent Nepal-Bhutan talks on refugee issue.

Foreign Minister Mahat is