Storm causes havoc in E Nepal

By a Post Reporter

BHADRAPUR, Jhapa, April 24 - A violent storm claimed at least three lives overnight in eastern Nepal while many others sustained serious injuries. Property worth millions was destroyed by the short but fierce storm, said authorities, which has left a trail of destruction in its wake in the form of damaged corps, flattened houses and power cuts.

The wind-storm claimed a couple - 35-year-old Bidhan Dhami and his 20-year-old wife Phulmaya Dhami - when their house in Damak-16 collapsed. Devimaya Khadka, 29, from Shantinagar-3 was crushed to death when a tree fell on her. Her 10-year-old son Tika Khadka has sustained serious injuries.

The storm, which began at 8pm, knocked down 15 electric poles, leaving parts of this district in darkness. Around 100 telephone lines have also been damaged, besides vast swathes of corn fields.

In the fareastern hub of Biratnagar, 20 houses have been damaged and property worth Rs. 3 million has been destroyed, said officials from District Police Office, Morang.

According to the police, the storm tore down 20 houses in the Bhutanese refugee camp in Pathari where Buddhimaya Neupane and Nara Bahadur Neupane were injured when a tree fell on them. Both are being treated in Amda Hospital, Damak for fractured limbs.

Officials claimed that trees worth Rs. 3 million, uprooted by the storm in Charkose jungle, have all been taken away by the villagers. According to Ganesh Karki, Area Forest Officer at Belbadi, stopping the theft has been challenging.

Vehicular movements to and from Kanephokhari, Letang and Belbadi was stopped all day Monday to control the illegal transport of the trees, said Karki.

Police said many houses in the district have been "badly shaken". The rivers have overflown the diversions and the overall transportation in Biratnagar has been affected.

US lauds environment record

KATHMANDU, April 24 (PR) - In a statement issued to mark the 30th Earth Day, the United States has commended Nepal’s efforts towards improving the country’s environment.

Earth Day began in the US 30 years ago and has now spread around the globe.

The occasion, especially in Nepal’s context, highlights the conservation of nature, protection of endangered animals, improving the air quality, promotion of pollution-free energy and better availability of the country’s immense water resources.

According to American Center, Americans agencies - USAID, Peace Corps, State Department, National Parks Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Service - have been actively pursuing environmental projects throughout Nepal.

It also highlights the establishment of the US State Department’s Regional Environmental HUB for South Asia in Kathmandu in 1997 and the establishment of the South Asia Regional Energy initiative last year, to promote country-specific clean energy development programmes, sponsored by USAID.

The key areas of the US government agencies’ involvement are in community forestry in the Mid- and Far-Western Regions, the protection of the biodiversity around the Shey Phoksundo National Park and to assist the Park’s efforts to be nominated as a World Heritage Site.

The work of Peace Corps volunteers in general conservation of nature sites and the agreement to bring an environmental education programme, GLOBE, is to help in the understanding of nature protection.

The American Center states: "The US Mission to Nepal appreciates Nepal’s efforts to promote environmental awareness, natural resource protection" and will continue "to work with Nepal on these efforts."

MPs give input on budget

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - As the government gears up to present the fiscal budget earlier than in previous years, planners today solicited suggestions from parliamentarians who in the past have complained about being left out of the planning process.

Lawmakers packed the hall of National Planning Commission (NPC) at a meeting that was closed to public and the press suggesting NPC and the government on what the next fiscal budget should include and what needs to be scrapped.

"It is us parliamentarians that debate and vote on fiscal budget but when it comes to giving our input on planning, our voice is not heard," said CPN-UML parliamentarian Rajendra Pandey. "Hopefully this time our suggestions will be considered when planners make the plans and the government drafts the fiscal budget."

Most lawmakers suggested that priority be given to development works on remote and rural parts of the country and the Rs. 500,000 allocated to each parliamentarian to spend for development works in their constituencies be increased to Rs. 10 million.

Parliamentarians from opposition parties stressed that there was no need to discuss the budget for two or more months until the session is prorogued and instead it could be passed on to the Finance committee and then endorsed saving much time.

Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya stressed that the objectives of the coming year’s budget would be giving priority and stressing on poverty alleviation programs, increase of revenue, corruption control, decentralization and economic liberalization.

Though the government is yet to formally announce its intention to convene the budget parliamentary session earlier than usual, officials at the parliament secretariat say the session could start within the next few weeks.

It takes about two weeks for the budget session to convene from the date the parliament secretariat forwards the proposal to the Royal Palace.

Finance Ministry officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the government is proposing to present the fiscal budget estimate by the end of May or early part of June.

But before that the government needs time to present its proposed programmes and policies for the fiscal year.

Once the parliament does convene, it takes at least a couple of days before the programmes and policies are presented by His Majesty the King. Another three to five days for discussion and voting on the resolution to thank His Majesty. And couple of more days of break before the budget estimate is read out by the Finance Minister.

The government is yet to formally inform the parliament secretariat about its moves. However, Finance Minister Acharya, when he was still holding the same portfolio under then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, had officially informed that the government would present the budget by May 16 and to plan the calendar accordingly.

However, after he resigned and the changes in prime minister, Acharya took over the same portfolio. He is yet to sent a new proposal.

Govt makes changes in RNAC committee

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - The government has made changes in the managing committee of the national flag carrier the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation.

The decision taken by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, has appointed Tirtha Lal Shrestha and Siddha Raj Joshi as the members of the board.

According to a source close to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut, Mahesh Basnet and Mahesh Banstola, former board members appointed by the Krishna Prasad Bhattarai government, have been relieved from their post.

Likewise, Joint Secretary of the Aviation Ministry Shankar Koirala and Director General of Civil Aviation Authority Nepal Nagendra Prasad Ghimire have not been included in the board this time.

Rampant corruption reported in the country

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - Do you think there is corruption in Nepal? "Yes," said an overwhelming majority of respondents in an opinion survey by Media Services International (MSI) which has been conducting a series of such surveys since July 1999 in various parts of the country.

Over 98 percent of 1197 respondents gave a "Yes" vote while only 0.3 percent said "No," according to the survey report issued today by MSI. Among the "Yes" voters, 51.3 percent said the level of corruption is very high.

The Revenue Office is said to be the "most corrupt" (19 percent), ahead of the Customs Office (17 percent) and the police (15 percent) in the list. Others offices that followed accordingly were the court, local administration, tax, forest, electricity, telephone, municipality, roads, drinking water, hospital, army, survey department and land reforms office.

Government employees (21 percent) were found to be the most corrupt, followed by parliamentarians/political leaders (20 percent), ministers (19 percent) and policemen (18 percent).

Corporation and NGO employees, journalists and teachers were the next in the list.

When asked if "your work was ever completed after bribing someone?," 60 percent said "immediately" and 13 percent said "it took time" and 2 percent said "no."

Seventy-five percent of the interviewees admitted to having bribed someone at least once, 22 percent said "no" while 2 percent made no comments. As a way to stop corruption, 33 percent suggested "legal action," 19 percent "corrupt people should not be given political protection," and 18 percent said "salary of government employees should be raised."

"Can anything be done in Nepal without bribing?"

"No," said 51 percent of the respondents while 38 percent said "Yes".

The opinion survey was carried out in 12 districts -- Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Morang, Jhapa, Chitwan, Kaski, Rupandehi, Parsa, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Banke between Jan 12-21. Of them, 75.5 percent were male and 24.5 percent were female.

The MSI, in assistance with London-based Westminster Foundation for Democracy, has carried out 10 such opinion surveys on issues ranging from the status of women, primary education to ethnic communities.

According to Ram Pradhan, Executive Consultant of the MSI, a next survey report on "The Status of Environment" will be readied by next week which will be followed by a survey on "Open border with India."

Law Minister for market friendly laws

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mahanth Thakur today said drafting laws which are compatible with the market economy system adopted by the country since the past few years stands at "the top of the national agenda".

Minister Thakur stated as all the economic activities are based on the legal system of the country, the law should be updated as to match the economy. "Nepal is seeking World Trade Organization (WTO) membership, it is high time our law back the liberal economy and competitiveness," said Thakur addressing a workshop on legal drafting jointly organised by Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs (MLPA) and Legal Service Training Centre.

Chairperson of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal said it was not fair that MLPA alone have the ultimate authority to censor laws drafted by all the ministries. He also complained Legal Reform Commission, responsible for drafting bills, was not activated.

Chief Secretary Tirtha Man Shakya said that it was very unfortunate that the lawmakers create laws without pondering on the implementation side and it was greatly affecting "good governance."

General Secretary at Parliament Dr Ishwore Prasad Pokhrel said that all the ministries should have manpower capable of drafting bills in line with the spirit of the parliament. Some 22 officials from different ministries are participating in the four-day workshop.

ANNFSU to probe ministers

KATHMANDU, April 24 (PR) - Not to be undone by CPN-UML, CPN-ML’s student wing All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) today said it will carry out a "thorough investigation of everyone who have held ministerial positions since the restoration of democracy."

Early this month, CPN-UML released a list of "corrupt individuals", many of whom are CPN-ML heavyweights as former Deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam, former Tourism Minister Yam Lal Kandel and Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit.

Pradeep Nepal, spokesperson of CPN-UML claimed that his party does not have any "corrupt faces". ML members, including Mayor Stapit, have since gone on record to state that Nepal had come to see him for a "settlement fee", adding his name was included in the UML list when he refused to comply with his demand for a huge amount of money.

"We will investigate, comparaing the past and present property of all those who have held the position of ministers in the last 10 years," said Rabindra Adhikari, coordinator of the ANNFSU’s 15th National Conference organising committee. "We will make the report public within three months. The study will be based on the facts achieved from the locals and the local authorities."

At a press conference organised by the ANNFSU today, student leaders said the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) should be made stronger in order to penalise the "real corrupts". It demanded for a commission to probe the property status of public officials.

"It is not that all political leaders are corrupt," said Adhikari. "The commission has to be able to investigate and penalise the accused." The student organisation plans to hold protests against the Purnagiri Dam which, "will submerge the land where thousands live". The 15th national conference starts on April 27.

Some 1,000 participants from all over the country will take part in the four-day meet. Representatives from students unions of Algeria, Burma, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India and Bhutan will also be present.

Women climbers begin acclimatizing

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - The team of Nepalese Women Millennium Everest Expedition, Spring 2000, who reached camp II on April 22 will head for camp III on April 27.

According to a press release issued by the Secretariat of the Expedition Organising Committee here today, the team are going back and forth to acclimatize.

Kesang Diki Sherpa, one of the five climbers of the team, however, could not join the acclimatization process owing to her ill health. Kesang Diki has fever and cough resulting from influenza.

The press release states she had her medical check-up at the Pheriche Hospital on April 20 and is recuperating at Pangboche at her relative’s house.

The five member team is headed by Lakpa Sherpa with Mingma Sherpa as deputy leader. Other members are Dawa Yangji Sherpa, Dolma Sherpa and Kesang Diki Sherpa.

Meanwhile, Captain M.S. Kohli, a prominent Indian mountaineer, has congratulated the women for their effort to climb Mount Everest.

In a press release issued today, Captain Kohli has said: "I am very delighted to know that five Sherpa women would be attempting Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) shortly. This is a very thrilling news and I would like to wish you all a grand success."

Lauding the Sherpas’ role in the history of Himalayan climbs, Kohli states "Without Sherpas, the history of Himalayan climbs would be very different. The problem is the raising of necessary funds which at times becomes very difficult."

He has expressed confidence that weather permitting, they will all get to the top.

He has also recalled how, when he was the president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, he tried to send two Nepali women in the All Women Expedition to Mt Everest.

"I was keen to take two women climbers from Nepal. Therefore, I offered to the Ministry of Tourism to send two Nepalese women mountaineers with us," he states. "I was surprised that there was no positive response and after writing several letters I finally flew to Kathmandu, met the Prime Minister of Nepal who agreed to send two Nepali women..the women were not upto the mark."

Rights activists condemn abduction

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 24 - Human rights organisations today condemned the recent abduction of a former minister and his son, demanding their "immediate release".

On April 14, former assistant minister for Land Reforms Reg Bahadur Subedi, 58, and his son Suresh Subedi, 24, were abducted from their residence in Gajul, Rolpa, by a group of over 200 armed rebels.

This was the first time, the Maoist insurgents abducted a person who in the past has held the position of a minister.

"The abduction of a person who is not involved in armed conflict is against the International Humanitarian Law," says the joint statement issued by nine human rights organisations today.

"The Geneva Convention does not permit to keep hostage," said Kapil Shrestha from Nepal Human Rights Organisation.

The statement has been signed by Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Kapil Shrestha, Krishna Pahadi (HURPES), Gopal Siwakoti Chintan (INHURED International), KB Rokaya, Krishna Gautam from INSEC, Govinda Khatri from CWIN, Hemant Sharma CVICT and Bir Singh Thakuri from Rolpa Development Society.