PM agrees on 2 demands NC rebel camp gets partial victory

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - The lawmakers rebelling against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today gained partial victory with Koirala agreeing to reshuffle both the cabinet and the Central Working Committee (CWC).

However, Koirala did not set a time frame on when he would make such a move. This was two of the five demands made by the rebels.

"The prime minister told the CWC that he had been already thinking about the reshuffles before the issues was raised but he did not specify a time frame," Nepali Congress (NC) Spokesman Narhari Acharya told reporters after the CWC meet.

The CWC meet that began around 3:30 p.m. in the absence of senior NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai lasted for six hours where at least 26 members expressed their views on the situation arising following a signature campaign against Koirala.

The emergency CWC meeting had begun on Thursday but was postponed to today after Bhattarai did not show up for the meeting.

A four-member committee formed to pursue Bhattarai to attend today's meeting could not get him to come to the meeting. Instead he told them that since he has already told the prime minister his five demands, he will wait for a reply before attending any meetings.

Acharya said that the meeting was a "consultation meeting" called by Koirala, who is also the party president, to assess the present situation.

Koirala would not comment on the three other demands handed over by the Bhattarai camp. Their main demand being that Koirala let go of either the prime ministership or the party presidentship.

The rebels want Koirala to resign as the party president and appoint former prime minister and Bhattarai supporter Sher Bahadur Deuba as the acting president.

They also want a "full fledged" reshuffle of the Central Working Committee (CWC), the party's apex body. They claim that since majority of the members are nominated by the party president, the voice of the rebels are not heard at all.

Another demand has been reshuffling the cabinet and a new government be formed in consultation with Bhattarai and Deuba which means including equal number of people from the rebel camp. And the last but not the least demand is to postpone the party's general convention scheduled for November. They are seeking the postponement accusing Koirala's people who hold control over the CWC of denying membership renewal to the members in the rebel camp.

Acharya said that a previous CWC meet had already set the date for the convention and since preparations had already begun there was no need to change at the moment. But the dates could be moved if necessary, he added.

On the part about the change in party president, Acharya said that most members expressed the view that the party constitution does not have provision about replacing the president with an acting one and that was not necessary.

Since the beginning of this week, some NC lawmakers have rebelled against Koirala and begun a signature campaign against him demanding that he either let go of the premiership or the party presidentship.

The situation in the party had taken a bitter turn after Koirala sacked Khum Bahadur Khadka who was the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Physical Planning.

Khadka was leading the pack of rebel NC lawmakers who have been collecting signatures from NC lawmakers on a petition demanding that Koirala opt for only one position and the party presidentship should be passed on to the second generation leaders in the party.

Khadka met the prime minister for nearly an hour this morning. "Things have been settled between us for now. I reiterated my stand to him once again," Khadka said.

Parliament invaded by 'smugglers': Koirala  

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that the parliamentary exercise is in a confused state as the Parliament had been invaded by "smugglers".

Addressing the inaugural session of a seminar on the role of lawmakers in maintaining parliamentary norms, Koirala said, "Our parliamentary practice is dismal due to invasion by the smugglers".

"A constant perplexity is prevailing due to this. They (smugglers) are coming to the Parliament by spending stupendous amount and the only thing they want is to earn money by any ill means, for which they need to become minister then the prime minister," said Koirala. In order to curb such a practice, Koirala suggested the major parties should develop stern Code of Conduct and give election tickets accordingly.

Later, talking to The Kathmandu Post, Koirala said that the on-going political chaos would be settled without any major setback to the government and the Nepali Congress.

Hinting on the much-talked-about no-confidence motion, Koirala said that he was ready to face any consequences that result from a "democratic exercise." "The speculations about the break-up of the party will fizzle out; we will hammer out an amicable solution soon," said Koirala.

"The current political circumstances might appear as a huge shift in the national politics to a few people, but we have experienced many such situations in the past and solved them amicably. The same is going to happen now," said Koirala.

The trouble in the NC started last week after a group of NC lawmakers began a signature campaign against Koirala, insisting that Koirala should choose one between the premiership and the party presidentship. Khum Bahadur Khadka, who led the signature campaign was sacked on Tuesday from the cabinet where he held the portfolio of Minister for Water Resources, Works and Physical Planning.

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who was deposed by Koirala in March is behind the disgruntled MPs in their campaign against Koirala.

Bhattarai has put forth five-point demand that has called on the Prime Minister to resign from the party President and appoint former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as the acting president. The disgruntled MPs have also demanded for "full-fledged" reshuffle of the party's Central Working Committee (CWC).

Speaking at the programme today, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat urged the lawmakers for "introspection" saying that people were suffering largely due to the politicians, "who are unable to change their orthodox thinking." "People are more sensitive towards the protection of democracy than the politicians," said Ranabhat.

Leader of the main opposition Madhav Kumar Nepal said the constitutional and parliamentary exercises of the past ten years need to be reviewed, in order to find out "where we have gone wrong". He chided the tendency to catch a lobby in order to fulfil one's vested interest as a major setback in parliamentary exercise.

The three-day interaction programme is jointly organised by Nepal Law Society and Law, Justice an Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Parliament.

Around 50 MPs from both the Upper and Lower Houses are participating in the programme.

35 Nepali pilgrims missing in India

By a Post Reporter

BIRATNAGAR, Aug 11 - Thirty-five Nepalese are missing while 25 injured returned home after Indian miscreants attacked 60 Nepali pilgrims, including 20 women, at Kalipahari in India while they were returning from the holy Indian pilgrimage of Babadham Wednesday.

According to the 25 injured pilgrims, including 4 women and some critically injured, who reached here today, the hoodlums also looted cash and goods worth more than 200 thousand from them. It all started, they said, after some Indians travelling by  two taxis and two motorcycles forcefully stopped the bus (with registration number Na. 1 Kha 8142) while they were travelling at the jungle section of Kalipahari and started to manhandle and loot them   Wednesday. They also smashed the bus and looted its parts.

"They even fired at us," said Tanka Baniya, one of the victims. "We then scattered for safety in the jungle."

According to the victims, 25 of them who fled in similar directions found each other in the jungle."We couldn't find others who had fled to the other side of the jungle," said Baniya. "Some of them might have sustained bullet injuries."

According to another victim Kamal Shrestha, they then walked some 20 km to reach the nearest police station at Gehador. "The in-charge of the police station Suresh Prasad Singh gave us some medicine, food and shelter for the night," said Shrestha. "He also ordered repair and fuelling of our damaged bus and we reached Biratnagar."

According to the Secretary of Morang branch of Nepal Transport Workers' Association Binod Regmi, the Association has already informed the Indian Embassy in Kathamndu about the incident. "We have pressurised the Embassy to search the missing pilgrims and also provide compensations for the injured," Regmi said.

All the pilgrims are from Urlabari Village Development Committee of Morang. They had left for India on August 2.

Police 'circular' flayed

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Lawmakers today condemned the "circular" issued by the District Police Office which asked all the concerned police officers to find out the informer who fed Kantipur Publications with the information that musician Praveen Gurung was hit by Prince Paras Shah's vehicle.

Gurung was hit on Sunday by the blue Pajero with the number plate Ba 3 Cha 692, that Paras Shah was driving near the eastern gate of the Royal Palace. He was declared dead by the doctors at Bir Hospital within 30 minutes of the accident.

CPN-UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant speaking at the House of Representatives today called the order to take stern action against the police who fed the information as "unlawful". "The police who informed about the incident being punished is illegal," said Pant. "This clearly thwarts the right to information." Pant also asked the Home Minister to furnish details about the "circular".

Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition benches have been in an unanimous voice demanding legal action against Paras Shah who has been involved in such cases even in the past.

Another UML MP Shiva Bahadur Deuja expressed doubts that Paras Shah would be punished according to the law. "Home Minister failed to take the name of Paras Shah who was involved in the accident, which clearly gives much space for doubt," said Deuja. "There is enough room to doubt whether the investigations would be as impartial as it should be."

Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi had on Wednesday informed the Lower House that investigation into the case had already begun.

Joshi had, however, mentioned neither the name of Paras Shah nor the model or registration number of the vehicle.

Abducted DEO's story of misery

By a Post Reporter

JANAKPUR, Aug 11 -  In a dozen of letters addressed to his family, friends and government, Maoist-abducted District Education Officer of Rukum Rajendra Prasad Yadav alleged that the government was chiefly responsible for his "misery".

Yadav was abducted by the Maoist insurgents in the remote district of Rukum while he was on official duty  two moths ago.

"Ministry of Education and Sports betrayed me by extending my posting in Rolpa for four years whereas government policy stipulates that I should have stayed here for only one year," he states in a letter (dated June 20) addressed to his son. "The biased attitude (of the government) is responsible for my prolonged stay in the district and also for my misery."

"Being a diabetic, I had been repeatedly requesting the Ministry for my transfer," he adds in the letter. Rukum is a remote district with very poor medical facilities.

In another letter to his son, dated July 9, he states: "Sores have developed all over my body due to diabetes. I couldn't sit or sleep properly due to this. I am really sinking... comfort is hard under such circumstances (abduction)."

In his first letter to his family, Yadav was, however, optimistic of his release. "Maoists are interrogating me and they would release me soon," he had written. His optimism turned into gloom over the days. "Work hard so that you could feed your mother throughout her life," he states in a letter to his son Sujit (dated July 9). "House must be leaking  due to the monsoon. Repair it...don't count on me ... the house might collapse."

Similarly, in a letter addressed to the Secretary at the Ministry (dated June 20), Yadav has expressed profound pessimism for not helping his family on humanitarian ground. "Considering my odd position, please make appropriate provision so that my family won't die of starvation."

Yadav, who wanted to groom his sons into doctors, in letters to his friends, has now urged them "to arrange some petty jobs for them."

Meanwhile, his family at Janakpur Municipality-16 is in misery. He has a 60-year-old mother,  a patient of tuberculosis. His wife, Maheshwori can do nothing but cry. She says she is running the house on loans.  His elder son Sujit is compelled to quit his studies now due to weak financial condition of the family. His  younger son is somehow pursuing Intermediate level while his two daughters Surekha and Rekha are merely fifth and eighth graders, respectively.

"Maoists are also children of their parents..," says his mother. "I hope they would return my son to me. Anyway, I thank them for not killing him."

Govt's steps on women rights under fire

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - The half-hearted effort of the government and political parties in promoting women's rights and help women attain equality came in for a sharp criticism here today.

Even the media's (especially electronic medium), role of "portraying women negatively and showing indifferent attitude to women's issues" was deliberated upon by women rights activists and mediapersons.

"Citizenship Bill, which has aroused heated discussion, is glaring example," said Sapna Pradhan Malla, advocate and woman rights activist. "Almost everyone who discussed this Bill forgot to raise a mother's inability to ensure citizenship for her children," added Malla. She further said it was against the provisions of CEDAW.

In the euphoria of the return of democracy in 1990, the interim government of NC and United Left Front had ratified the Convention of Elimination of All Forms Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) adopted by UN General Assembly. The Entry into Force nature of the Convention makes it binding on the signatory nation.

Not only this, section 9 of the Treaty Act of Nepal makes a treaty, ratified and adopted by Parliament, enforceable as national law. Moreover, the nature of CEDAW is such that if a country's constitution and law contravene the provisions of CEDAW, then the former have to be amended to follow the letter and spirit of CEDAW.

However, Nepal is yet to sign Optional Protocol to CEDAW which would enable her aggrieved citizens to approach the concerned UN body for redressal. They should have had approached the courts before soliciting UN's help. And yet, many of the provisions like the ones on property, citizenship rights, marriage, divorce, abortion and rape, among others, enshrined in the Convention have no legal protection in Nepal.

Nepal had signed CEDAW unconditionally, unlike USA, Iran and Afghanistan, among 24 others, who had signed it with some objections.

Women's right to paternal property still hangs in balance.

Another law stipulates that if someone tricks a bachelor into marrying a widow or a married woman, such widow or the married woman and the person who arranges such a marriage is liable to be punished with one year of imprisonment or a fine of five hundred rupees or both.

The marriage shall be void in case it is with married woman and voidable in case it is with a widow. However, there is no penal provision if a man commits the same offence.

The government was also required to submit Initial Report (IR) on CEDAW in the first year (July 1992) and Periodic Report (PR) after every four years. The IR was presented in July 1997 which "soon got lost". Two periodic reports are still due.

Nepal is required to present a status report on implementation of CEDAW provisions later this month. The Prime Minister is to address UN General Assembly next month where he has to make public his government's intention on implementation of UN instruments.

As for the media, the participants called for elimination of traditional portrayal of women in electronic media. The print media was called upon to treat women's rights violations as national issue instead of "treating them as women's concern only".

"More women should be encouraged to take up journalism as profession," said Dr Hira Mani Ghimire, deputy secretary at Ministry of Industry and Commerce, adding, "Once they join the media, the women should be encouraged to increase their inputs."

Ghimire was speaking as an observer in the consultative workshop on "Significance of CEDAW : Role of Media" organised by Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Sancharika Samuha which is a group women mediapersons and UNDP. 

Approve Muluki Ain bill immediately: Oli

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Deputy leader of main opposition party KP Sharma Oli, demanded that the Civil Code (Muluki Ain 1963) amendment bill must be passed "without any hesitation and delay" in this current session of the parliament.

"Inhumane and uncivilised politicians at the top brass have been unnecessarily plunging the crucial bill into chaos and confusion," said Oli at a workshop organised by All Nepal Women's Association here today.

Oli said those who are opposing equal property rights to women are scared of losing patriarchal hegemony in the society.   "It is a regressive thinking; we need to demolish the traditional norms of autocratic patriarchal hegemony," he added.

"No matter what, the bill, along with essential amendments, will be enacted in this on-going session of the House," said Oli.

Oli also slammed the idea of his party's General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who supported will system for the distribution of the parental property.  "If this system is legalised then the   parents of our patriarchal society would be biased and continue the present system," he stressed.

Speaking in a similar vein, Dr Meena Acharya castigated the "much-hyped" will system, particulary by the prime minister.

"At a time when  women's rights movements are gaining momentum, conservative and selfish males are advocating for the will system,  reluctant to share the parental property with their sisters," remarked Acharya.

"If women, like men, have the legal access to parental property, the daughters would be encouraged to take care of their parents," said Acharya, rejecting the idea that only sons look after the parents.

Likewise, at the workshop, advocate Sapana Pradhan Malla expressed her views that the will system is "grossly   inadequate and unsuitable" in the country suffering from many social and financial ills.

2 missing in boat capsize

By a Post Reporter

DHARAN, Aug 11- Two persons are missing after the boat they were commuting sank and was swept away in the Saptakoshi river in Sunsari district Wednesday.

Lalabu Chaudhary and Dev Narayan Chaudhary of Prakashpur Village Development Committee-4 went missing while the other six commuting with them managed to swim to safety after the boat sank in the river.

The incident occurred while they were returning with firewood from Shrilanka island in the river. Overloading could have triggered the accident, police said.

Floods, landslides paralyse life

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Floods and landslides triggered by incessant and untimely rain continue to wreak havoc across the country, fresh reports reaching here today said.

Two people of the same family died when the torrential downpour caused a collapse of their cowshed yesterday morning, according to our Parbat based reporter.

The victims were from Purnakala Sapkota, 55, and her grandson, Suraj, 4, of Sarau Khola Village Development Committee, said Mohan Singh Khatri, the Chief District Officer.

The natural calamity has also washed away hundreds of bighas of land and rendered several families homeless.

Meanwhile, reports from Pyuthan say heavy rainfall since the last three days has paralysed traffic on strategic Pyuthan-Maluwang road which connects Bijuwara with Ratamata bazaars.

The flooding in Jumri river has blocked several other roads in this district, said Association of Bus Entrepreneurs in Rapti zone.

Similarly, reports from Dadeldhura say that the landslides and floods have blocked some highways and roads of far-western districts and submerged about 30 ropanies of crop field.

The some section of roads from Dadeldhura to Baitadi, Doti and Amargadinagar are badly affected, said Sher Bahadur Basnet, Sub-inspector at District Police Office (DPO), Dadeldhura.

Efforts at clearing the debris have been hampered by continuous landslides, he said.

Likewise, according to a report from Biratnagar, swollen Bakra river has  inundated Baranga VDC, displaced some 300 families and swept away 500 bighas of cultivable land.

Meanwhile, according to a report from Sindhulimadi, locals and officials of the districts are demanding "immediate" relief and other materials to prevent further floods.

The flooded Kamala river and its tributaries have swept away hundreds of bighas of land and posed a threat to Kuryauli, Dedh Khoriya  and Gitiyani villages of this district.

According to Bhoj Raj Adhikari, Chairperson of Hatpate VDC, about two thousand nets are needed to construct embankments in Kamala river.

"Otherwise, four hundred households of this VDC will be submerged in the wake of another flood," warned Adhikari.

Every day, hundreds of flood victims come to the District Development Office and District Administration Office in search of food, shelter and compensation, he said.

 Another report from Chautara, says flooding in Bhotekoshi river has washed away says 400-year old temple along with the idol of Lord Ganesh at Barhabishe bazaar in Sindhupalchowk district. The temple was renovated three months ago at Rs 150 thousand, locals said.

Activist warns govt over Arun III project

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - The government should be cautious while dealing with Eurorient Investment Group USA which is working on to develop the 402 MW Arun III hydel project, an activist of Arun Concern Society warned here today.

"American Embassy in Nepal should be answerable in case Eurorient involve itself in irregularities while developing the project," Gopal Siwakoti Chintan of Arun Concern Society, a society involving local activists from Arun Valley and human rights activists, said at a press conference held here today.

His comments came two days after the Los Angeles-based company applied for survey licence to develop the project, which will be Nepal's biggest when completed.

"The group has not yet proved itself as a reliable company to start such a big project. So the Embassy needs to bear responsibility in case the company attempts to swindle us," he added.

Talking to journalists, however, the company's Managing Director Ron Nenchimia on Thursday claimed that the group of companies he is involved with is a highly experienced power developer company with dozens of mega power projects in the pipeline.

Of the 30 power projects that Eurorient is involved with in China currently, Nenchimia said, two are bigger hydro electricity projects with the capacity to generate 3,000 and 1,500 Mega Watts of electricity, respectively. 

'Budget has dawned  new environment'

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit said today that the unanimous approval of the budget for the year 2000/01 has dawned a new environment of understanding among the elected officials of the metropolis.

"We are heading toward a new age of compromise and cooperation in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), away from the never-ending clashes often backed by the interests of the various parties," he said.

The Mayor of the Capital city was briefing about the metropolis' budget and planning, that passed on Sunday to the media.

For the current fiscal year, KMC has approved Rs 1.05 billion budget in which, Rs 340 million will be collected from the internal resources, Rs 431 million from external sources and grants and rest from people's participation, private sectors and banking sector.

In the future KMC is planning to utilize optimum of its existing resources and building institutional capacity to meet its goals.

He said the urban services would be provided to the citizens in an easy manner, and the local taxes would be collected efficiently.

He informed that KMC was planning a hospital named Ganeshman Singh ENT and Acupuncture Hospital in the coming year.

He said that all parties had shown their commitment to free Kathmandu from garbage problem as soon as possible.   "If the government provides a plausible location for the ultimate outlet of the garbage, Kathmandu would be clean within two weeks," he added.

Besides, KMC will levy entrance fee from foreign visitors at World Heritage Sites like Swoyambhu, Bauddha and Pashupati which will contribute in forming a Heritage Fund. Such a fund would contribute for the preservation of heritage sites.

NEA still to collect millions in Sunsari

By a Post Reporter

DHARAN, Aug 11 - Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has millions of rupees as electricity tariff due from various corporations in Sunsari.

According to NEA Dharan, it is yet to recover Rs 25.3 million outstanding as dues from various corporations by the end of the last fiscal year. 

Dharan, Inaruwa and Itahari municipalities top the NEA due list with more than Rs 14.3 million altogether. District Irrigation Office follows them with Rs 1.3 millions outstanding.

Likewise, Nepal Drinking Water Corporation is yet to clear Rs 1,376 thousand dues to the NEA while Area Forest Office Dharan is yet to pay Rs 83 thousand.

'Role of street children vital in keeping the environment clean'

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 -  No one can say for sure what Kathmandu Valley's over 1.5 million people do to the non-biodegradable refuge they discharge. But hundreds of street children (Khates) wandering about the streets are contributing to make the city thoroughfares cleaner.

And they are doing so in most significant way by performing recycling duties, young environmentalists said today, referring to hundreds of street children living in the capital who are virtually making their ends meet by selling such solid wastes as plastics, tins and bottles.

"Even the street children are making contribution to make our cities cleaner," said Kesang Doma Sherpa, one of the young environmental activists who are jointly organizing an environmental awareness nite in the capital on Tuesday, August 15.

"Unfortunately hardly anybody from our so-called well-to-do families is concerned about cleaning the city by reducing, reusing or recycling the garbage."

Besides attempting to bring the problems of disposing of non-biodegradable wastes in urban areas to the fore, the nite will focus on the concept of recycling and reusing the non-biodegradable waste to the audience.

"Non-biodegradable waste is not waste, rather it is a commodity, Sherpa said. "The long-term goal is to set up a programme for Kathmandu's street children through which they can become a respected, self-sustained entity," said Eliza Halsey, another campaigner.

The awareness nite is due to be held (on Tuesday, Aug 15) at Radisson Hotel. The programme is being organized in aid of   Jagaran, an organization which has been providing shelter to dozens of Kathmandu's street children.

Nearly 80 percent of the 300 tonnes of solid waste that Kathmanduites discharge daily is bio-degradable, while the rest is non-biodegradable, according to Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

DPM confirms soldier's death

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 (PR)- Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel today informed the House of Representatives that Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier Devi Ram Jaisi, 25, a resident of Raniban, Dailekh died from gunshot late Thursday while on duty as a UN Peacekeeper in Dili, East Timor.

Jaisi, a soldier of RNA Kebal Jung Battalion was injured by gunshots along with two other RNA soldiers.

Others injured in the attack were - Dilli Raman Kafley and Man Kumar Karki and are undergoing treatment in Dili. According to Associated Press report, Jaisi died from wounds in the chest. "The Nepalese peacekeepers were patrolling an area 30 kilometers from the border of West Timor, which is still part of Indonesia, when they were fired on by the suspected militia," says the report.

Bill approved

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 (RSS) - His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990, given Royal assent to the "Bill designed to amend some Nepal Act-2057."

The Bill passed by both the Houses of Parliament was submitted to His Majesty the King for Royal assent on Aug 10.