Kathmandu, April 3: As part of its ongoing protest programme, workers of the main opposition CPN-UML surrounded the building of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) in New Road Gate today. The blocked the main entrances of the RNAC and prevented the staff entering into the office.

However, they called off the picketing after an hour. They chanted slogans against the government and demanded control of corruption in the RNAC. The protestors also demanded that action be taken against the present Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam for hijacking the CPN-UML workers in Rautahat.

Kathmandu, April 3: The main opposition CPN-UML stalled the proceedings of both the Houses of parliament today demanding ouster of Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam and action against those involved in the Rautahat incident

CPN-UML has claimed that Minister of State Alam was behind the hijacking of some CPN-UML workers in Rautahat.

Minister of State Alam’s house in Rautahat had been bombed and torched recently by Maoist insurgents. Following the incident, Rauthat has been tense. CPN-UML has accused Alam of hijacking their workers soon after the incident.

As soon as today’s meeting of the House of Representatives ( Lower House of Parliament) began, CPN-UML MPs stood and chanted slogans demanding ouster of Alam from the Cabinet and strict action against what they described as the culprit of the Rautahat incident.

After this, Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav postponed the meeting until Wednesday. Similarly, the meeting of the National Assembly ( Upper House of Parliament) was also postponed until Wednesday as CPN-UML MPs blocked the proceeding of the House.

Earlier in the morning, an all-party meeting had been held in parliament secretariat to find an amicable solution to the present crisis in parliament and ensure smooth business of the House.

However, no solution was found as CPN-UML continued to stick to its earlier demands.

Kathmandu, April 3: The meeting of Public Accounts Committee( PAC) of the House of Representatives demanded detailed financial position including latest audit report of all corporations that the government has put in the agenda for privatization.

The government has decided to privatize 30 public corporations, of which 12 are in the priority list. The government wants to privatize five corporations in the current fiscal year. Those corporation which are to be privatized in the current Fiscal Year are Tea Development Corporation, Butwal Power Company, Himal Cement Factory, Salt Trading Corporation and Rastriya Banijya Bank.

Kathmandu, April 3: Finance Committee has recommended to the government to cut down the number of ministries to 19 from the present 26 ministries.

The Finance Committee had been formed by the government to recommend to the government about the reduction of the number of ministries.

The committee presented its report in Monday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers.

The committee recommended the reduction of the number of ministries based on the report of

Administrative Reforms Commission.

Kathmandu, April 4: The government has announced that it has already stepped up security measures to counter the nationwide " arm shutdown" called by underground Maoist Communist Party.

Maoists have called a nationwide " arm shut down" on April 6.

In a statement issued today ( Tuesday), spokesman at the Ministry of Home said that the government has taken some additional measures to provide security to the people. Contingents of police would be deployed in different urban areas in order to provide security to the people . If anyone feels the need of security of police and informs the police for the same, police would immediately reach at any place and any time, according to Home Ministry.

The statement says that the government has taken this step to provide the people a sense of security by controlling criminal activities int he society.

Kathmandu, April 4: The traditional Ghode Jatra ( horse festival) was observed today with varieties of programs today ( Tuesday).

Kathmandu, April 4: Central leader of the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said today that talks were held with official representative of Maoists in order to solve the more than four year old Maoist insurgency.

Deuba told this after the meeting with leaders of United People’s Front, one of the communist factions, on resolution of Maoist insurgency in Kathmandu.

Deuba said talks were held with the Maoist leader regarding the preconditions for the official talks between the government and Maoists.

Deuba is the convenor of the high-level committee formed by the government to give suggestions for the resolution of Maoist problem.

Deuba and members of the team held discussion with the leaders of United People’s Front on resolution of Maoist insurgency. He said that UPF leaders also have cooperative attitude to solve the Maoist problems.

After the talks, UPF general secretary and lawmaker Lila Mani Pokhrel said that his party does not support the Maoist activities.

Kathmandu, April 4: The main opposition CPN-UML is to intensify its protest programme in parliament until its demands are met.

The standing committee, powerful body of CPN-UML that met today, decided to make its protest in parliament more effective.

CPN-UML has obstructed the business of parliament demanding resignation or ouster of Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam.

CPN-UML has accused Alam of masterminding the hijacking of some CPN-UML workers in Rautahat following the bombing and torching of Alam’s house last week.

CPN-UML has also demanded action against all others who were involved in the Rautahat incident.

Last week, some Maoist insurgents bombed and set ablaze State Minister Alam’s house.

Since then Rautahat has been tense.

Kathmandu, April 4: Suspected Maoist insurgents robbed a branch office of Nepal Bank in Gauradaha of Jhapa district, about 500 kilometer east of Kathmandu, in a broad day light today (Tuesday).

Policesaid the insurgents fled with about 4,00,000 rupees.

According to police, seven persons with fatal weapons first attacked the security guard of Gauradaha branch of Nepal Bank Limited and entered into the cash counter of the bank.

After reaching the cash counter, they asked cashier to give all the money and valuables. They robbed only about 4,00,000 rupees because the bank has the policy of keeping minimum amount in the branch offices because of security problem.

They also took away rifle and ammunition from the security guard.

The guard of the bank was seriously injured by the attack of the insurgents.

Chief constable at the Gauradaha police post Rudra Prasad Dhakal said that they had chanted slogan like "Long Live Maoism" after the robbing.

According to him, robbers fled before police reached the spot.

However, bank has not given details of the incident. Police has initiated search of the robbers.

Kathmandu, April 4: Gurkha Army Exservicemen Organisation (GAESO) is to take the issue relating to their pays and pension to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

GAESO president Padam Bahadur Gurung said that he is flying to Geneva along with other three members to take part and present their problems to the 56^th meeting of UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The team is to seek international support for their movement for the increase of their pays and pension at par with other British soldiers.

Kathmandu, April 5:  A Bhutanese human rights organisation released a digitalised database of Bhutanese refugees living in different camps of Nepal Wednesday.

AHURA-Bhutan, association of Bhutanese human rights activists, prepared the digitalised database of the refugees to be presented in the 56^th meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission to be held in Geneva.

The digital database has recorded documents regarding the origin and status of refugees living in Nepal.

Ratan Gazmer, coordinator of AHURA, said that all Bhutanese refugees living in camps have evidences that they are bonafide citizens of Bhutan.

"The database, created using the latest computer technology and which has the capability of displaying all the evidences of origin and nationality possessed by the refugees as they are, will dispel all doubts, if any in the minds of observers and policy makers, born out of Bhutanese authorities’ persistent pronouncements that not all people living in refugee camps in eastern Nepal can exercise their rights to return to Bhutan," says the press statement issued by AHURA-Bhutan today.

The database was prepared based on the one-year long survey, according to AHURA.

Gazmer said that all refugees surveyed had authentic documents confirming that they are bonafide citizens of Bhutan who must be repatriated with dignity.

Bhutanese government has claimed that all living in refugee camps are not Bhutanese refugees.

More than one hundred thousands Bhutanese refugees are living in the different camps of eastern Nepal.

Kathmandu, April 5: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, in accordance with constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, prorogued the current session of parliament effective from 2000 hrs Wednesday.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat read out the letter from the Royal Palace regarding the prorogation of the ongoing session of parliament in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives.

Kathmandu, April 5: More than a dozen policemen were killed by Maoist insurgents in some western districts of Nepal Wednesday.

According to report received here, nine policemen were killed by Maoist insurgents in Takshera village of Rolpa district Wednesday.

According to police, a group of armed guerrillas attacked a police post in Takshera before dawn and killed five cops. Police have also said that four other cops are missing, who are also believed to have been killed by the communist insurgents.

The names of those nine policemen were not known.

There were 49 policemen in the police post.

Similarly four policemen were killed in separate incidents of violence in Pyuthan and Rukum districts last night.

On Monday, five Maoists and one cop were killed in an encounter between police and insurgents in Surkhet.

Maoist guerrillas have intensified their attack for the last couple of days in order to make their nationwide strike called for Thursday a success.

Maoists have made government offices, factories and other public undertakings their target of attack. In Makwanpur, they hurled a bomb in factory of Lever Nepal. Similarly, they attacked on two vehicles of Nepal Electricity Authority in Pokhara today.

There have been reports of minor scuffles and attacks in different parts of the country.

Kathmandu, April 5: The main opposition CPN-UML has critised the prorogation of the 17^th session of parliament.

His Majesty the King prorogued the 17^th session of parliament effective from 2000 hrs Wednesday.

CPN-UML issued a press statement today and said that the 17^th session of parliament was prorogued in haste a t a time when the opposition parties had raised some serious national issues in the House.

However, it thanked all the political parties for extending cooperation in the CPN-UML’s move in parliament.

The main opposition had been obstructing parliament proceedings demanding resignation of state minister for Forest and soil conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam. It has accused Alam of masterminding hijack of some of the UML workers in Rautahat.

Kathmandu, April 6: The whole nation was virtually paralyzed by the nationwide shutdown by the underground Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) today. Shops remained closed and vehicles totally stayed off the road in all urban centers of the country. In Kathmandu as well as some other towns outside Kathmandu, there was an atmosphere of terror and " dead silence".

According to the spokesman of Home Ministry, the strike passed of peacefully throughout the country except some sporadic cases of violence in some western districts of Nepal.

Home Ministry spokesman said that life was normal in the country.

Some cases of clash between the police and Maoist insurgents and incidents of bombing took place in some western districts of Nepal like Rukum, Rolpa, Kalikot, Pyuthan, Jajarkot and Salyan. Supporters of strike damaged some vehicles to force them to stay off the road.

Police arrested more than 50 persons in connection with the incidents of violence in different parts of the country.

However, no major incidents of violence were reported during the strike, said Gopendra Pandey, spokesman at the Home Ministry.

According to him, the strike was peaceful because of the government’s extra security measures throughout the country.

The Home Ministry said that the strike had a partial affect in urban centers while there was no affect in the rural parts of the country.

Kathmandu, April 6: Chief of Army Staff of China Fu Quan You arrived at Kathmandu Thursday evening for a six-day official visit to Nepal.

General Fu is visiting Nepal at the invitation of chief of the army staff of Royal Nepalese Army General Prajwalla Sumsher JB Rana.

Fu is heading a nine member military delegation of China.

RNA chief of staff Rana received the chief of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

By Nepal news Correspondent

Kathmandu, April 7: Five Nepalese women are leaving for Lukla tomorrow ( April 8) to attempt the 8848-meter Mt Everest, the tallest peak in the world. The five women of Nepalese women Millennium Everest Expedition Spring
2000 are to begin their accent to the peak of Everest from Base Camp on April 14.

Susma Koirala Memorial Trust is the main organizer of the expedition. They have a plan to reach the top of the Everest on May 15, 2000.

Kathmandu, April 7: Leaders of different political parties engaged in soul search today about the achievement of ten year's democratic rule in the country.

They were of the opinion that despite several weaknesses, democratic system has no alternative, which needs to be consolidated. However, they were critical of other parties about their role in the last ten years of democratic system.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said today that the government of the Nepali Congress is serious about security of the people and the country and  would  do every thing for the same.

Addressing a function in Kathmandu today, Prime Minister Koirala said that the government was seriously considering forming  Security Council in order to maintain strict security system in the country.

The Security Council would be formed in accordance with the constitution, he said.

He  assured that he would solve several  burning problems facing the nation at present including Maoist insurgency and Kalapani issue.

The priority of the present government is to maintain law and order, control corruption and ensure good governance in the country. For this, the government would forge a workable understanding with opposition parties and seek their cooperation.

In the ten years of democratic history, the country has seen democracy take its root. Parliamentary democracy has been consolidated and mature in the ten years, he said.

The programme was organised to mark the tenth anniversary of restoration of democracy in Nepal. The programme was organized by Reporters’ Club, Nepal.

In the programme, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat said the achievement of ten years is that people are conscious about democracy and they want democracy to be consolidated, despite several hardships they are facing.

Opposition leader in parliament and general secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Nepal said that political parties and leaders have to maintain their clean image to safeguard and consolidate democracy. Although there is no alternative to multi-party democracy in the country at present, leaders and parties have to be honestly accountable to the people and the country and work accordingly.

Kathmandu, April 8: Five Nepalese women left for Lukla today to attempt the 8848-meter Mt Everest, the tallest peak in the world. The five women of Nepalese women Millennium Everest Expedition Spring

2000 are to begin their accent to the peak of Everest from Base Camp on April 14.

Following are the members of Nepalese Women Millenium Everest Expedition:

1. Lakpa Sherpa  (team leader), 26, is from Balakharka of Sankhuwasabha. She obtained mountaineering training at Manang.
2. Minga Yangzi Sherpa (deputy team leader), 33, is a mother of two children. She has received training in ice and rock climbing from Austria and also participated in several expeditions as a helper.
3. Dawa Yangzi Sherpa, 21, is a trekking leader and received training in mountaineering from Austria.
4. Dolma Sherpa, 23, participated in mountaineering training organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association.
5. Kasang Dikki Sherpa, 26,received training from Austria.

Susma Koirala Memorial Trust is the main organizer of the expedition

They have a plan to reach the top of the Everest on May 15, 2000.

Kathmandu, April 8: In what is seen as the show of strength, the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) held a massive rally in Kathmandu today and announced the names of what it described as the most corrupt people.

In the list of most corrupt people CPN-UML announced today, names of Minister for Water Resources, Works and Transport Khum Bahadur Khadka, former Deputy Prime Minister and general secretary of CPN-ML Bamdev Gautam, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Keshav Sthapith, and several other politicians, government officials and businessmen are included.

These are the names of some notorious corrupt people against whom our movement would be intensified in the future, announced a central leader of the CPN-UML from the podium at Open Air Theatre.

Addressing the rally, opposition leader in parliament and general secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal announced his party’s continuous movement against corruption in the country.

He challenged the government to find corrupt people in his party and take action.

" If any leader and worker of our party are corrupt, they should also be brought to book", he said.

Nepal accused the government of doing nothing for the control of corruption.

He said that the government has harassed the workers of opposition parties in the name of controlling Maoist insurgency.

Another senior leader of CPN-UML K.P Oli accused the government of proroguing the 17^th session of parliament in haste and said the government did not have moral courage to face opposition in parliament.

Kathmandu, April 8: Nepal Mountaineering Association felicitated the first conqueror of Mt Everest Sir Edmund Hilary in Kathmandu Saturday.

Sir Edmund Hillary scaled the Mt Everest, the tallest peak in the world, in 1953 along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.

In the felicitation programme, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut said that Edmund Hillary has made a great contribution in he field of tourism, education and public health.

Kathamndu, April 9: British Foreign Minister Robin Cook is visiting Nepal on April 20-22, according to British Embassy in Kathmandu.

During his visit to Nepal, Cook is to meet with His Majesty the King, Prime Minsiter Girija Prasad Koirala and other leaders and discuss Nepal-Britain relations and cooperation.

" If you ( human rights activists) can snatch away the weapons from the hands of Maoists, I will also snatch away weapons from the police", Deuba said.

He said any problems cannot be solved through violence and killing and asked the Maoists to come to the negotiating table to solve the problem.

" I am confident that Maoist problem can be solved through dialogue", he said.

He asked two major parties (Nepali Congress and CPN-UML) to work together, many of the problems of the country can be solved.

Kathmandu, April 9:

The weekly web poll jointly conducted by Mercantile Communications and Kantipur Publications has shown that an overwhelming majority of the people disagree with the strike called by political parties at different times.

A whopping 89.8 per cent respondents said that the strike called by the political parties did not at all represent the sentiment of the people.

Only 8.7 per cent respondents said " Yes" to the question whether strike called by political parties represented the true sentiment of the people.

A nominal 1.6 per cent said " Don’t Know".

The period of the web poll was between April 2 and April 9.

Kathmandu, April 9:

Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya said today that based on the success of first phase of economic reform programme, the government will soon introduce the second phase of economic reforms.

Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya told this in a function organised by Nepalese Chambers of Commerce in Kathmandu today.

Acharya also asked the private sector to invest more in order to increase production and ensure long-term growth of the country.

In the same programme, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala asked the businessmen, bankers and industrialists to invest more in the sector that directly contribute to the government’s programme of poverty alleviation.

Bankers and business community now has to think of uplifting the social and economic condition of the poor and downtrodden people in the country, said Prime Minister Koirala.

He also said that any problems facing the industry sector can be solved though mutual understanding and cooperation between the government and industrialists.

Koirala also stressed the need for bringing about reforms in the banking and industrial sector.

Kathmandu, April 9:

CPN-ML challenged the CPN-UML to prove its accusation of corruption against some of its leaders and workers in a mass meeting in Kathmandu.

In a statement issued by CPN-ML chairperson Sahana Pradhan on Sunday, CPN-ML has said that CPN-UML’s accusation of corruption against some of our leaders and workers has drawn our attention.

The statement challenges the CPN-UML to prove its accusation.

The statement states that the present leaders of the CPN-ML went to government when they were in CPN-UML. So CPN-UML and its general secretary Madhav Nepal is responsible for any kind of corruption.

" Madhav Nepal is responsible as every thing was done on his instruction", the statement said.

CPN-UML announced recently in a mass meeting that CPN-ML’s general secretary Bamdev Gautam, its leaders and workers like Yamlal Kandel and Keshav Sthapith were some of the most corrupt people.

CPN-ML also demanded investigation of property of all politicians and action against them.

Regmi panel submitted its report to the government today with recommendation of creating a separate armed security force of semi military type in order to deal with Maoist insurgency.

According to the report, the armed security force will be under Ministry of Home and have separate security general.

The proposed armed security force is to be created under separate law.

The report has stated that the initial number of armed security personnel in the armed security force would be 15156.

It will be equipped with automatic and semi-automatic weapons and will be stationed in all five development regions.

The panel had been formed two and half months ago to recommend necessary measures for equipping and enabling the present police force to tackle the Maoist insurgency.

The panel was headed by former Home Secretary Khem Raj Regmi.

The jurisdiction of the separate security force will be to control terrorism, ethnic and communal violence, abduction and separatist activities in time, according to the report submitted today.

Kathmandu, April 11:

The newly appointed American ambassador to Nepal has fallen into serious controversy because of his racist background.

According to Akhilesh Upadhyay in The Kathmandu Post, the appointment of Thomas Furey as the US Ambassador Designate to Nepal has outraged Nepalis and Americans alike for his alleged racist background.

Furey adopted a Nepali infant from Kathmandu’s Bal Mandir when he was posted in the US embassy in Kathmandu in 80’s but later returned the child to the shelter home because of child’s dark skin, according to an American who was then working in Kathmandu’s World Bank office.

Robert Cardinalli, who now occupies a senior position at USAID in Cairo, has appealed to the US Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urging him to block the appointment.

Kathmandu, April 11:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has declared his property. According to details of property, Prime Minster Koirala owns nine kathas of land in ward No 9 of Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan City and the 2.213 kathas of land at Dayaniya VDC of Morang district currently being used by BP Service Center.

According to cabinet secretariat, the land in Dayaaniya VDC is to be handed over to BP Service Center. Koirala also owns a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep bought with customs facilities.

Kathamndu, April 11:

Narayan Sumsher Thapa has been appointed secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His Majesty’s Government took this decision at the cabinet meeting today, according to cabinet secretariat.

Narayan Sumsher Thapa is the senior most official at the Ministry Foreign Affairs, who succeeds Murari Raj Sharma.

The post of Foreign Secretary was vacant after foreign secretary Murari Raj Sharma was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Kathmandu, April 11:

The main opposition CPN-UML announced its 2nd phase of protest programs against the government today.

In a press conference organised in the party headquarters at Balkhu, central leader of the CPN-UML K.P. Oli said that the 2nd phase of protest programme mainly aims at exposing corrupt people andblack marketeers.

Oli said our programmealso aims at putting pressure on the government to take action against corrupt people and black marketeers.

The 2nd phase of protest programme includes mainly programs at the district level. Under this programme, party workers will picket at district level offices and monitor the activities of the civil servants in the district level offices like district administration office, land revenue office, customs office, land reforms office etc, said Oli.

If necessary, party workers would take action against corrupt people and those who exploit the innocent people, Oli said.

Similarly, CPN-UML is to call a nationwide general strike on May 23. Oli said that they would force to close the government offices as well on the day of general strike.

Kathmandu, April 11:

The chief of People’s Liberation Army of China General Fu Quan You returned today after completing his six-day official visit to Nepal.

General Fu had arrived at Kathmandu on April 6 at the invitation of chief of the army staff of Royal Nepal Army Prajwalla Sumsher JB Rana.

Kathmandu, April 11:

The government has announced that it would set up juvenile tribunals in all 75 district courts of the country.

The jurisdiction of the juvenile tribunal is to look into the cases related to children and child delinquency.

According to Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, the decision would come into effect from April 14, this year.

Kathmandu, April 11:

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut announced today that he would order an investigation into the recent decision of the Board of Directors of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation to take the Boeing 757 aircraft from China South West Airlines on lease basis.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Minister Chataut said that the decision of the RNAC was against the instruction of the Ministry to hire the aircraft through global tender.

" All aspects of this would be thoroughly investigated", said Chataut.

Chataut also said that the agreement which has already been signed between RNAC and China South West Airlines was also not fair as it has given upper hand to the supplier. As per the agreement, if RNAC has to reject the aircraft provided by the supplier, RNAC will have to pay 50,000 US dollars.

" It has made things further worse and difficult", he said.

Kathmandu, April 11:

He registered the case in Kathmandu district court demanding maximum punishment to CPN-UML and its leader Pradip Nepal and compensation from them.

Similarly, Mayor of Kathmandu Keshav Sthapith accused CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Nepal of instructing him horse trading the lawmakers four years ago.

For this work, I gave Nepal 30 million rupees for " purchasing lawmakers" when I was in CPN-UML .

Since I did it on Nepal's instruction, he should also be blamed for that.

Sthapith criticised CPN-UML for taking his name as one of the corrupt people recently.

CPN-UML organised a mass meeting on April 6 in Kathmandu in which CPN-UML leader Pradip Nepal had read out the names of what he described as most corrupt and smugglers of the couture.

Bhusal has accused CPN-UML of defaming him because he did not give donation to the party and its worker in the last general election.

Bhusal is a businessman

Kathmandu, April 12:

Nepal has welcomed the proposed summit meeting between North and South Korea to be held in June this year.

The Summit is being held in Pyongyang in June this year.

According to a press statement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is a significant and positive development in the relations between two Koreas.

Kathmandu, April 12:

President of the Nepali Congress dissolved three district committees of the Nepali Congress and formed new ad hoc committees.

Those dissolved district committees are Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Syangja district committees.

According to a statement issued by Nepali Congress central office today, those district committees could not accommodate all party workers and carry out activities accordingly, which forced the party president to dissolve them.

Koirala also formed ad hoc committees in all three districts. Shyam Lal Shrestha, Lekhnath Neupane and Shankar Pandey head the new ad hoc committees in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Syangja respectively.

The disciplinary committee of the Nepali Congress had recommended to the central committee to dissolve those committees.

Kathmandu, April 12:

Experts, lawyers and women activists demanded a separate family tribunal to look into the cases relating to women.

In a programme organised in Kathmandu to discuss the issues pertaining to women and gender equality Wednesday, participants raised issues and problems currently being faced by Nepalese women.

As a chief guest Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay said that family tribunal was necessary to deal with the cases related to violence against women and other issues related to women.

Kathmandu, April 12:

An environmental group called Explore Nepal is to launch a new and fresh campaign against pollution.

In a press conference Wednesday, Bharat Basnet of Explore Nepal said that it would launch programme to phase out polluting vehicles from Kathmandu and persuade the people not to use plastic bags.

Its programmes are to begin from the New Year Thursday.

Basnet said we would put pressure on the government to take necessary measures to maintain clean environment in Kathmandu.

He also informed that a village called Prakashpur in Morang district would ban the use of plastic bags from New Year 2057. Prakashpur village has become the first village to ban the use of plastic bags in Nepal. Explore Nepal has also demanded closure of Himal Cement Factory, which, it said, one of the most polluting factories in the Valley.

Kathmandu, April 13:

Senior advocate Sambhu Prasad Gyawali passed away at about 0215-hrs NST Thursday morning at Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital.

He was 75.

Born in August 1924 in Kapilvastu district, he was educated in India. He served as judge in appellate court, member and chairman of Law Commission, secretary at Ministry of Law and Justice, Attorney General, and several important political and administrative position.

Kathmandu, April 13:

His Majesty the King appointed Major General Vivek Kumar Shaha His Majesty’s military secretary. He is appointed as acting chief of the His Majesty’s press secretariat.

Shaha succeeds Lt General Shanta Kumar Malla, who retired from his service.

Kathmandu, April 13:

His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev asked all Nepalese people living within and outside country to work for enhancing the glory of Nepal and nation building.

In the New Year 2057 message to the nation and the people, His Majesty the King said:

On the occasion of the advent of the New Year 2057, we extend our best wishes to all Nepalese for their good health and well being.

Enhancing the glory of Nepal and dignity of the Nepalese people, as the world continues towards modernisation, should be our New Year’s Resolution. It is also essential that the people’s enthusiasm and participation in the task of nation building be enhanced through proper evaluation of the situation prevailing in the country. The hardships faced by the people must be mitigated and the problems obtaining in t he country tackled so that the people feel they have ample opportunities for development.

Remaining sensitive towards the people’s aspirations and answerable to our future generations, may all Nepalese succeed in making the New Year prosperous and happy by maintaining peace, stability and national unity, His Majesty stated in the New Year message.

14-year Temba Tshiri sets out for Everest

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, April 13:

A 14-year Temba Tshiri Sherpa of Dolkaha left for base camp today to climb the Mt Everest, the tallest peak in the world. Temba wants to set world record by climbing 8848 meter Mt Everest at the age of 14.

If succeeded in his attempt, he would be the youngest person in the world to climb Mt Everest. A Buddhist by birth, Temba has a plan to reach the top of Everest on May 18,2000, the day of Lord Buddha’s anniversary, and install an image of Lord Buddha on the peak.

Kathmandu, April 13:

The government is mulling over to appoint regional commissioners in five development regions. Prime Minister Koirala said Thursday in Kathmandu that the regional commissioners would be appointed in all five-development regions in order to effectively maintain law and order and carry out development activities.

It would be in line with the concept of decentralisation. However, Koirala did not elaborate. However, it aims at controlling Maoist insurgency.

Koirala also informed that the government has already submitted the petition to the King for the reduction of Ministries. After approval from the Palace, the government would immediately implement it. The government has proposed to reduce the number of ministries to 21 from the present 26.

Koirala also said that the government would control Maoist insurgency more effectively.

He said those who are trying to weaken and subvert democracy would themselves be eliminated.

Kathmandu, April 13:

Two senior leaders of CPN-ML namely CP Mainali and Bamdev Gautam, who had been locking horns for the last couple of months have announced truce.

CP Mainali formally made self-criticism for his recent remarks in the press against the party general secretary following which the truce was announced.

The party had sacked Mainali from the post of organisational chief and sought clarification on his remarks against party general secretary Gautam and made self-criticism.

The party had also warned that if Mainali did not make self-criticism, he would be expelled from the party.

However, Mainali apologized for his remarks in the party politburo meeting Thursday.

Following his apology, the wrangling between the two leaders came to halt at least for the time being.