Bastola leaves for China
All bilateral issues to be discussed

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola said that Nepal and China will discuss the whole gamut of bilateral issues during his five-day visit.

"There is no specific agenda, but we will discuss all the issues of bilateral concern," said Bastola, speaking to press at Tribhuvan International Airport today before boarding his flight.

Bastola did not give a categorical answer to reports of Chinese concern over Nepal-India open border, merely saying, he had read about it in the paper (The Kathmandu Post). He, however, reiterated that all the issues, currently relevant, would be discussed.

Replying to a question, FM Bastola denied that Nepal had pro-India tilt in its foreign policy.

Bastola is accompanied by Nepal's ambassador to China Rajeshwor Acharya, Consul-General at Lhasa and some senior officials of his Ministry. He is scheduled to visit Shanghai, Hang Chou, Shiang and Beijing.

Referring to the reported Chinese encroachment of Nepalese land, Bastola said, "We are awaiting report of the researchers and once we study it, we will discuss about it."

A team of Nepali researchers had found hundreds of historical documents related to "Nepal-China border controversy" and thousands of years of old pre-historic arrow-heads in Upper Arun area in northern Sankhuwasabha district.

Dr Ramesh Kumar Dhungel, one of the researchers had said, on June 30 this year, that "the historical documents prove that Nepal officially lost two of its trans-Himalayan villages -- Lungdek and Chyanga settlements -- after the demarcation of the border in 1962".

As for opening more transit points along the Nepal-China border, the foreign minister replied that it would be decided at the official-level talks.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Kathmandu Post about the imposition of visa requirements on Nepalis wishing to visit Hong Kong, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Zeng Xuyong, said, "In case of Hong Kong, we maintain principle of one nation two policies. It is entirely up to the Hong Kong authorities to decide on the issue." Zeng added that the central government in China could not interfere in the matter.

The ambassador, who was at the airport to see off Bastola, however, said that he could forward the concerns of Nepal to the appropriate authorities on the issue.

Earlier, Nepalis, whether or not they were born in Hong Kong, could directly visit it if they had a valid Nepali passport. But, a decision by the Hong Kong government, early last year, now makes visa mandatory to those visiting Nepalis at Nepal itself.

Paras alleged of 'intentional killing'

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - People from all walks of life once again demanded stern action against Prince Paras Shah today for his alleged "intentional" involvement in murder of musician Praveen Gurung on Aug 12.

"We have enough information to believe that Prince Paras intentionally killed Gurung," said Journalist Shyam Shrestha here today. "We have been informed that Paras had quarrelled with Gurung at a local restaurant. Then immediately after Gurung left on his motorcycle for his home the Prince chased him on his jeep and hit him and absconded." Shrestha, also the Editor of monthly Mulyankan, however, didn't elaborate further.

Shrestha said that if the Palace or the State fails to punish the Prince soon then the people would be compelled to punish him. "Let us make it loud and clear, sovereignty of this country lies in the hands of its people and the people's punishment would be much severe," he added, speaking at an function to mark the 13th day of Gurung's demise jointly organised by six sister wings of the Communist Party of Nepal - Marxist-Leninist (CPN-ML).

Secretary of Nepal Tarun Dal (youth wing of the ruling Nepali Congress) Raja Ram Karki urged all the political forces in the country to collectively fight against the "stigma of dictatorship" (symbolised by Prince Paras) as they did during the popular people's movement for democracy in 1990.

"The unity, however, should reflect in outcome and not in propaganda."

Chairperson of Nepal University Teacher's Association Bhimsen Das Pradhan said that a plot to not inform the public has been designed despite the people's rights to information safeguarded by the Constitution. "The conspirators also must be brought to book," he added.

He was pointing at the intra-police circular issued by the District Police Office, Kathmandu which immediately followed a day after the murder, warning police personels not to leak any information pertaining to the Praveen murder case to the press.

Police sources on the day of the murder had informed the press that musician Praveen Gurung died shortly at a hospital after his motorcycle was hit by a blue Pajero, driven by Prince Paras Shah, with the number plate Ba. 3 Cha. 692 near the eastern gate of the Royal Palace.

Police now maintain that they are not clear on the murder case. Also, some Khadag Bhujel has been framed as the driver of the Prince's jeep to accept the responsiblity of the murder.

Earlier today, the joint agitation committee of the six ML-sister wings organised a protest rally in the capital urging the Palace and the State to strip off Prince Paras Shah's title so that he could be freed from immunity enjoyed by the royal family and then brought to book. The agitation committee also demanded adequate compensation to Gurung 's family and all the other people's families victimised by the Prince till date.

Coordinator of the agitation committee Rabindra Adhikari said that the committee would organise more protest campaigns to pressurise the Palace and the government to punish the Prince. "In the next three days, we shall conduct signature campaign for the Prince's prosecution and handover the signatures to the Palace on Aug 22," he said.

On the same day, the committee would handover the letters of memorandum to the Palace and the Prime Minister through all the 75 District Administration Offices. "We shall also block the roads to the Royal Palace from 3-4 pm on Aug 23," he added. "If the Palace still fails to punish the Prince then we shall burn his effigy and organise more severe protest campaigns."

Earlier, the committee had organised chakka jam around Ratna Park and Nirmal Niwas (residence of the Prince) Maharajgunj.

PM unaware of govt-Maoist talks progress

By a Post Reporter

POKHARA, Aug 19 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that he was unaware about "any progress" of the much awaited government-Maoist talks and that he had given Sher Bahadur Deuba "full authority" to go ahead with the dialogue.

"I have given Deuba full authority to move ahead with the talks," said Koirala speaking at a party function today. "But I am unaware how much progress he has made so far to move ahead with the talks."

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba heads the eight-member High Level Consensus Seeking Commission to seek ways to resolve the five year old Maoist problem.

"I have heard through papers that the Maoists are not coming for dialogue since Girija Prasad is the Prime Minister. Sher Bahadur Deuba has also received a similar letter but I have not been informed about it formally," said Koirala.

Koirala then chided his party lawmakers for "lacking sensitivity" especially at a time when the country is engulfed with problems like Maoist insurgency. "We are not concerned about the widespread killings, how did the need to start signature campaign arise all of a sudden?" said Koirala. Koirala's camp had ousted the KP Bhattarai government five months back through a similar signature campaign.

He said that the party's leadership should be chosen from unbiased competition. "The intra-party conflict should not push the country towards uncertainty," said Koirala.

Koirala however, made no comments about his candidacy for the party's presidentship during Congress's National Convention scheduled for November. Other leaders including Bal Krishna Khand chairman of Nepal Tarun Dal, a youth wing of Nepali Congress earlier at the function had insisted that Koirala should stand for the election of presidentship. "I am not here to give candidacy for the presidentship," said Koirala.

He said that he cannot ask anybody neither to stand for the election nor can he appoint anybody to the position of president. "Anybody can stand for the election and whoever wins will be the president. I am not in a position to ask anybody not to stand for election," Koirala said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel said that the confusion in Nepali Congress was created since everybody in the party was engrossed in struggle for power. "If we, the leaders engage in the power struggle knowingly or unknowingly that will lead to conflicts and ultimately jeopardise democracy," said Poudel.

Sushil Koirala, general secretary of NC said that the Deuba-commission had failed to resolve the problem of insurgency. "If the commission is unable to seek a way out of the problem, the government should handle the problem itself," Koirala said.

Shailaja Acharya predicted that NC would face leadership crisis after Koirala and Bhattarai. She also said that newcomers were invading the NC saying, "people like DB Lama and Sharat Singh Bhandari - former panchas - might take the leadership positions tomorrow by money power."

Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi said that the Maoist problem was a terrorist problem and that Nepal should embrace strict ways to manage such "terrorist problems."

An abrupt end to a controversial session

By Meena Kaini

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - When Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat ended parliament's 18th session Friday, he not only brought one of the most controversial sessions in Nepal's short parliamentary history to an abrupt end, but also saved Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, from possible embarrasment.

For much of the past several weeks, Koirala has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with his predecessor and former prime minister KP Bhattarai. Situation was such that Bhattarai's supporters were even preparing to move a vote of no confidence against Koirala in the Nepali Congress' parliamentary party. That possibility has been averted for now, but not for long, since lawmakers can still register a motion in their respective parliamentary party irrespective of the House's session.

Speaker Ranabhat's action also leads many analysts to believe that he was intent on saving Koirala from the opposition who were gunning for him in the aftermath of his famous declaration that parliament had been invaded by smugglers.

Whatever the case, the ending of the 18th session brings to a close one of the most controversial sessions in Nepal's 10 years of democratic history. Altogether 13 Bills, including this year's annual budget, was passed.

The session was originally called, as always during summer, to pass the budget. This year's budget turned out to be quite revolutionary in terms of its pay-hike proposal for civil servants. Another significant departure from past budget announcements was that it was unveiled much before the end of the fiscal year, thus allowing disbursment of funds at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

While the budget was the highpoint of the Koirala government during the 18th session, its low point perhaps was the controversial passage of the Bill brought to make sixth amendment to Nepal Citizenship Act-1963.

The Bill was hurriedly passed in the Lower House by a unanimous vote, only to be rejected by the Upper House which again sent it back to the Lower House without any suggestions - the first such incident in Nepal.

The communists and other opposition parties, which had been asleep when the Bill first passed the Lower House, woke up to the possibility of turning the bill into a political capitalisation machine. But despite their howls of protest, the governing Congress saw the bill through, and sent it for the customary Royal Assent.

Other important and controversial bills that were coming up in the House included the Bill for the Emancipation of the Kamaiyas, the groundbreaking Bill that grants women with equal right over their parental property and the Bill to regulate the activities of the political parties. While the last one was cleared by the Lower House with some amendments, it will have to wait at least six months before the Upper House approves it. As for the other bills, they will also have to wait. The bill that amendments the Civil Code, and thus purports to provide equal rights to women, is being seen as a piece of document that empowers women of Nepal. But the fact that women leaders and activists themselves are not too happy with some of the provisions in the bill ensures that the bill will become controversial when it is taken up for debate by future parliamentary sessions.

Other bills that are certain to be controversial are the three anti-corruption bills that were registered in this session - to strengthen the CIAA, establish special court to look into corruption cases and a department associating the special police and revenue investigation department that would be directly overseen by the Prime Minister. But they never came up for debate. Those bills are significant because Koirala, when he assumed power in March by ousting his rival K P Bhattarai, promised to bring corruption to book. Four months down the line, when Koirala gave his concluding remarks to the House of Representatives Friday, he could not boast that his commitments had been fulfilled and had to limit himself talking about the decision to liberate Kamaiyas and the much controversial Citizenship amendment bill as major achievements.

Some of the most colourful, and nasty, moments in parliament's 18th session emerged over the controversy ignited by former Minister of State for Forests and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Aalam. He is the same person whose antics in Rautahat - alleged kidnapping of a communist supporter - led to the abrupt end of the 17th session as well.

After Aalam was fingered by a judicial probe to be involved in the kidnapping, Koirala, who all along had defended him, demanded his resignation. Aalam created a furore in the House by accusing his district rival and main opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal with torching his house, which led to the abduction of a communist supporter in return.

The communists were so infuriated with the remarks that they attacked Aalam when he was accusing Nepal from the rostrum. The resulting brouhaha stalled the House session for two consecutive days.

However, one issue that stalled the Lower House even longer - for three days to be exact - was the loan agreement signed by teh government with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The US 50 million dollar agreement (Rs 3.52 billion) signed in July is intended for upgrading Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). But the opposition claimed that ADB had attached such stringent conditions that NEA would have to raise electricity prices by 30 percent immediately, and review it every six months.

When Damber Khatri was forced to use a gun...

By J. Pandey

BANKE, Aug 19 - Damber Khatri, 14, from Pame, Surkhet cried a lot when he was forced to use a gun for the cause of 'People's War'. But his tears failed to convince the stonehearted Maoists, who handed him a heavy gun on his shoulders instead of books and pen on his bag.

A group of four gunmen abducted him at gunpoint for the purpose of the so-called 'People's War.'

"Don't you have any interest to get involved in our party?" the teenaged boy preparing for the exam of class six was questioned. He said he wanted to study and had no interest in such activities. Despite his pleas, they led him toward the forest.

"I resisted them weeping a lot," Khatri said. The boy said they had also recruited other boys of his age in their warfare. Khatri was abducted from his village about four months ago. He, having escaped from the abduction, is now in police security.

Khatri had to face hard times in the Maoist shelters. He was taught how to handle guns.

"When I physically turned to be unfit for handling the gun, they told me to work as a mess boy and guard their shelters," Khatri recalls. The Maoists led him into a jungle, covering five-day walks, somewhere around Matela VDC of Surkhet district.

"We stayed there for a long time. They used to sing, dance and give speeches. They used to get angry if the villagers showed unwillingness to attend their cultural shows, which normally took place at night," he said, "There were six girls among the group of 15 guerrillas and a boy of my age."

The task of guarding the shelter at night was as difficult for him as handling the gun.

"I remembered my mother when I could not get food and sleep," he recalls. He used to fall asleep while guarding their shelter whole night.

The rebels used to hide at daytime and order him to bring red mulberries from the neighbouring jungle.

He was once taken to his home sometimes after his recruitment in their camp. Khatri's parents humbly requested Bhishma, the male leader and Raksha the female one, to release their son, but in vain.

The rebels threaten the youngsters with rumors that police would kill them if they flee their camp.

Khatri and another abducted boy ran away on one fine day (Asar 28) when they were told to buy newspapers from a neighbouring market. However, they are not secure from them.

Youngsters in the mid-Western region have felt insecure when the Maoists resorted to abduct them for recruiting in their camp.

The incidences of such abductions by the rebels are common in the Maoist-hit districts such as Rukum, Rolpa and Jajarkot.

The claims of the Maoists that they have dealt fairly with the enemy side in accordance with the Geneva Convention are baseless and far from truth.

Not only the rebels have abducted the teenage boys, but they have also killed them. They killed five children in Panchkatiya on 25th of Jestha.

Kamal Singh, 3, Meera Singh, 6, Dale Oli, 6, Jeet Bahadur Oli, 10, and Drupadi Oli, 13 year old had been killed in the Panchkatiya bomb blast in Jarkot.

Rajendra Bahadur Singh, Deputy General Inspector of Police, who had been to UN Peace Keeping Force, the Hague during 1995 to 1998, says guerrilla warfare is terrorism.

DGIP Singh says that the rebels have even violated the common norms of human law.

Amnesty International, London recently warned Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Pushpakamal Dahal, leaders of the Maoist rebels, of recruiting under-age boys in their warfare.

Amnesty International has confirmed that, at least 30 minor boys have been forced-recruited by the Maoists.

Peaceful Swoyambhu stupa tense

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - Authorities looking after the prehistoric stupe of Swoyambhu and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City have locked horns over entrance fee and other issues at a time when the season of Buddhist prayer rituals has started.

KMC decided to slap an entrance fee at Swoyambhu on August 6 in board meeting. Earlier, a Swoyambhu Management and Conservation Federation (SMCF) had the sole right to levy fee and use it in the name of preservation of the holy hill, enlisted as World Heritage Site.

SMCF was established in 1955 with representatives from 24 clubs and organisations working in Swoyambhu area to conserve the Buddhist shrine located in a North West hill of Kathmandu.

After the decision, tension mounted around the peaceful stupe area when SMCF's volunteers gathered to protest KMC's schedule steps.

SMCF Chairman Ratna Bahadur Bajracharya said SMCF's work has brought some visible changes in and around Swoyambhu. "A lot of development activities have taken place here. Although their concordance with the World Heritage Site is a matter of evaluation."

Chairman Bajracharya appreciated the huge concrete wall-with-stupas around the main hill and huge Buddha statue which have created a big intricacy among government bodies and heritage experts. The masterplan recognised by Department of Archaeology to develop Swoyambhu forbids any new constructions in the hill. Beside, the Building Code of Kathmandu Valley Preserved Monument Area 1992 prescribes constructions only in traditional Nepali style, with brick construction exposed.

He argued that intervention of KMC would hamper such development activities.

Still, he showed green light to KMC and invited for further discussions if KMC had better plans. He added, "We don't want disputes and want to work in peaceful environment.

Subarna Shakya of Gyanmala Bhajan Khalaa said KMC should try levying entrance fee at other monument areas before "attacking" Swoyambhu, which is now under SMCF's supervision.

Lok Darshan Bajracharya, the former member secretary of Lumbini Development Trust said that the master plan itself was "fantastic and almost impossible to implement". He regretted that Swoyambhu hill is being encroached from all sides.

SMCF collected Rs 24 million last year from entrance fee. SMCF has been collecting the fee since January 1997. Urban Development through Local Efforts, a GTZ supported project, supported Swoyambhu for infrastructure development but from 1 January 2000, the support stopped on the ground that SMCF was capable of managing overall activities of Swoyambhu area.

Chairman of Ward No 15 Iswar Man Dangol said locals sought Ward Office's help for development of Swoyambhu but SMCF only encouraged the Tibetans and manages to construct illegal gumbas and walls. "The appearance of the World Heritage Site would become absurd if some people with vested interests keep giving permission for illegal constructions."

Deputy Mayor Bidur Mainali said SMCF must be ready to come under a net. "We are not earning money but just trying to bring SMCF under a net."

Katmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit said that the development process in the Swoyambhu area must be systematic. "There must be a system which will guide each and every step being taken there."

He charged that Swoyambhu area is witnessing wayward development. "New constructions are taking place in all directions without a guideline."

He said that levying entrance fee is only a means to introduce transparency in donations Swyoyambhu was collecting and KMC wanted to regulate activities under strict implementation of the masterplan. "KMC is not going to use the money it will get from Swoyambhu for other purposes. KMC will form a Heritage Fund and it will be used to preserve and reconstruct the dilapidated monuments."

Japan's Nepalese appeal for Mainali release

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - The Japan Nepal Society has appealed to the Japanese government to release immediately a detained Nepalese national who was acquitted by a Tokyo lower court after three years of trial.

Govinda Prasad Mainali was charged with murder of a female employee of an electric company in May 1997. On April 14 this year Mainali was acquitted by Tokyo District Court due to lack of "decisive evidence". However, Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office appealed to Tokyo High Court against the decision, recommending Mainali's detention during the appeal process.

Mainali was detained throughout the three-year trial.

A statement by the Society demands that "fair and appropriate measures be taken according to the spirit of international human rights law (International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights), and as required by the Constitution of Japan".

The statement quotes Amnesty International, saying "Mainali's decision is in contravention of his rights under Japanese law (Code of Criminal Procedure)".

The statement of the Society also states that "not guilty" verdict of the district court must be fully respected. "We find it unconscionable to accept the Tokyo High Court's decision ordering Mainali's renewed detention on the grounds that 'a reasonable suspicion exists that he committed a crime', when earlier requests from the prosecutors were rejected by both the District Court and the High Court," says Eiji Yamamoto, President of the Society.

The Society termed Mainali's re-detention by the High Court as "discrimination against foreign nationals in its most severe form" and called for normalizing of "extremely abnormal judiciary" as soon as possible and restore Mainali's human rights without further delay.

New means for ADR needed: Chief Justice

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 19 - Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya today said that new means of "alternative ways to resolve dispute have become necessary to let the court concentrate into key issues at a time when it is flooded with all sort of cases."

"Supreme Court has to seek new means of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) when it is busy dealing with petty cases marginalising its effectiveness," said the Chief Justice, speaking at a two day program on 'alternative ways for dispute settlement and law practitioners' organised by International Commission of Jurist-Nepal Section.

In Developed and Industrialised countries just 10 percent of the cases are solved through court decision while 90 percent are settled through alternative means, said Chief Justice Upadhyaya.

Arbitration, conciliation, mediation, negotiation and adjudication are some means of 'Alternate Dispute Resolution'.

"Since experts are needed to solve complicated cases, ADR is gaining worldwide acclaim," said Chief Justice Upadhyaya.

Chief Justice also said that the courts' burden can also be reduced if various committees like a reconciliating committee can be formed.

Speaking on the occasion Justice Laxman Aryal stressed the need for separate law for mediation and other mode of dispute settlement. "Court and ADR supplement each other with ADR reducing the burden of cases at the court," said Aryal.

"Arbitration Act-1998 needs to be amended to increase its effectiveness and for international recognition," said Advocate Balram KC. Arbitration can prove fruitful in cases like transfer of foreign technology, added KC.

The Arbitration Act was formulated influenced by the 'UNCITRAL: Uncitral model law on international trade law'of the United Nations.

Nepal in the past fifty years has made wide use of court practices for solving disputes, as a result of which about 64,000 cases are pending in courts. There are 33,000 cases pending in the District Courts, 14,000 in the Appeleate Court and about 16,000 in the Supreme Court of all the pending cases.

Heavy traffic jams Tribhuban Highway

By a Post Reporter

HETAUDA, Aug 19 - Traffic police have faced long queues and traffic jams on Tribhuban Highway after the vehicles started using this old route following the blockade of Prithivi highway by landslide.

The problem was created after a massive landslide occurred in Krishnabhir of Prithvi Highway on August 11. The section of Prithvi Highway links the capital with most parts of the country. Tribhuvan Highway was then taken as an alternative.

Some vehicles from Kathmandu are taking about 15 hours to arrive here. Vehicles leaving the capital yesterday evening have not arrived here till this evening because of long traffic jam in Simbhanjyang-Aghor portion of Tribhuvan Highway.

According to District Traffic Police Office (DTPO), the major cause behind the long traffic jam is narrow road with innumerable bends.

Police have introduced one-way traffic system from yesterday to ensure smooth flow of traffic. But many vehicles from different parts of the country are waiting their turn for moving to Kathmandu, forming a long queue in this town sitting on the foothills of Chure mountain range.

"DTPO has requested the Valley Traffic Police Office, Kathmandu to stop vehicles from departing from the capital after 4.00 pm today," said Inspector Milan Pratap JBR of DTPO.

"There are almost 1000 vehicles queued in Shikharkot-Chuniya portion alone," Inspector Rajendra Khadka of Area Police Office Palung told The Kathmandu Post.

"Both driving crew and passengers are hungry for last two days," a passenger arriving here on foot said. Foodstuffs are very expensive and not easily available.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inspected the landslide site and clearance works going on at Krishnabhir of Dhading district today. He directed the administration, department of roads and the police to work quickly to remove the debris.

Maoist threats causes hundreds to languish in Musikot

By a Post Reporter

MUSIKOT, Rukum, Aug 19 - More than a hundred people from various Village Development Committees (VDC) here in the district have been languishing at the district headquarters owing to the Maoist threats.

35 person among of them are VDC Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen taking refuge in Musikot since the break of the Maoist insurgency in the district in 1996.

Mankumari Bista from Chunwang VDC-7 has been living in the district headquarters as an internal refugee over a couple of years when her husband was killed by the Maoists. She fled to Musikot when she felt insecure at her own village following the transfer of a police-post at Chunwang to the district headquarters.

Bista is now working in Musikot as a labourer on a daily wage basis to eke out her existence, giving up any hope of returning to her home in near future.

Yuni Prasad Gharti, President of Hukam VDC, has a similar story to tell. He has been working as a labourer at the construction site of Burtibang-Musikot road since he fled his village following the threat of the rebels.

"As long as the Maoists stronghold exists in my village, I cannot go back to my home," said Gharti, adding that the land he owned at the village has been left untilled.

Many of the VDCs have remained non-functional due to the absence of the elected representatives.

Most of the people languishing at the district headquarters are the cadres of ruling Nepali Congress and the main opposition Communist party of Nepal (UML).

Nanda Bahadur Bista, President of Chulang VDC and District Secretary of National Federation of VDCs, urged the concerned bodies to provide technical skills for those taking refuge in the district headquarters.

Presently the government has provided seven hundred rupees every month to each person stranded in Musikot under the Ganeshman Singh Peace Campaign programme.