Mori completes historic visit
Pledges assistance; Calls for expansion of Security Council

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Aug 25 - The prime ministers of Nepal and Japan called for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council without further delay here today on the occasion of the latter’s historic visit to the country.

Both Girija Prasad Koirala and Yoshiro Mori were in agreement that the Security Council needed to be expanded in both permanent as well as non-permanent categories. At present, there are five permanent members and 10 non-permanent ones, which are elected for a term of two years. The issue is likely to be raised in the UN Millennium Summit at New York on September 6-8.

Though widely believed that Japan would be seeking Nepal’s support for its candidature in the Security Council, Mori did not mention the issue during the meeting. "Our PM did not ask for Nepal’s support to its claim to a permanent seat in the SC," clarified Ryuichiro Yamazaki, press secretary of Yoshiro Mori. Yamazaki was addressing the press after Mori’s luncheon meeting with PM Koirala.

The expansion of the Security Council to include ‘new powers’ such as Japan, India and Germany has been suggested by various fora.

Narayan Shumsher Thapa, Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it at a separate press briefing at Shital Niwas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both the sides described the visit as "satisfactory and fruitful" and the talks between the two leaders as "comprehensive and constructive". The purpose of Mori’s visit was "to strengthen the good rapport and facilitate the exchange of views" between the two countries.

The upcoming visit of Crown Prince Dipendra to Japan is another opportunity to further enhance the cordial bilateral relations between the two countries, Mori was quoted.

In response to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori’s request to ratify CTBT, Narayan Shumsher Thapa said, "Nepal has already signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and is in the process of ratifying it."

During prime ministerial meeting, Mori called for Nepal’s ratification of CTBT. "If Nepal did so, it would send a strong message to India," he said. Both India and Pakistan are yet to sign CTBT, despite strong international pressure.

During the meeting with Mori, Prime Minister Koirala requested for Japan’s cooperation in solving the Bhutanese refugees issue, which has become a major problem for Nepal, especially since India insists it to be a bilateral issue.

Mori replied that he had discussed the problem with Sadako Ogata, High Commissioner at UNHCR. Yamazaki said Japan pledged 1.3 million dollars for the refugees and another one million dollars for food under World Food Programme.

Koirala was asked to ensure an improved law and order situation in the country. "Prime Minister Mori has requested security and safety for the Japanese volunteers working in various projects throughout Nepal," said Yamazaki. Foreign Secretary Thapa said that there were about 300 such volunteers working in Maoist-affected areas in Nepal.

The Japanese Prime Minister also pledged to 'energise SAARC'. He has also put forward a proposal to set up a Japan-SAARC Special Fund to invite people from the South Asia region to participate in seminars in Japan.

Prime Minister Mori’s visit has highlighted IT sector, as it was announced today that 50 Nepali youth would be provided IT training in Japan under "Mori Fellowship". Besides, five thousand youth would also be invited under educational and cultural exchange programme from the South Asian region.

Japan has also pledged a number of economic assistance for Nepal, according to which Nepal will get a grant of Rs 1.14 billion rupees during the Japanese fiscal year for construction of primary schools under Basic and Primary Education Programme II and as debt relief measures. Japan has also announced grant amount of 300 thousand dollars for the relief of flood victims.

In a major achievement, Japan has also promised to help Nepal in its river management ("flood control and declamation of land for agricultural purposes"), construction of bridges in rural areas and an alternative roads between Kathmandu and the Terai region.

Earlier, after being received by Koirala, Mori was given a guard of honour at the airport. All along the route he travelled, Mori was greeted by cheering school children and adults alike waving Nepalese and Japanese flags.

After an audience with His Majesty the King, Mori was seen off by Koirala and his ministers.

Besides regular business...

LALITPUR, Aug 25 (PR) - All hearts were out when the visiting Japanese PM Mori briskly stepped aside security cordon here at the medieval city of Patan and took some time off to let off a few dance steps to the beat of the traditional drums.

As the Nepalese drummers began their beat along with the music to honour the foreign dignitary, PM Mori performed a short dance raising his hands and twisting his body and legs accompanying the local dancers.

Mori, who visited Patan Durbar Square as a pleasure tour, was also seen observing the traditional fine arts with keen interest in the historical city. Later, a little after presenting a Namaste to the crowd at the Krishna Mandir, PM Mori even sent his black Mercedes ahead and shook hands with the school children after requesting the security personals to follow a little behind.

Mori did not only express his delight in Patan. On his return, the Japanese PM displayed his even softer side by coming out of his car on the Bagmati Bridge at Kupondole and shook hands and talked with the children who were there to welcome him. Coincidentally, the Bridge on which he got off was build with the Japanese assistance.

Earlier, the Panchkanyas (five little girls) offered garland and flowers to PM Mori on his arrival at the airport, hotel and departure. An overwhelmed Mori bent down and talked with and kissed each one of them.

Large cache of arms seized from Maoists

KATHMADNU, Aug 25 (PR)- Police confiscated a large cache of arms ammunitions and explosives yesterday from the Maoist rebels following an encounter with the insurgents at Jarayokot Village Development Committee in Sindhuli on Wednesday, according to police.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Upendra Kant Aryal said that a striking force of police, chasing the insurgents after Wednesday’s encounter, seized a 303 rifle, four socket bombs, six kilograms of gunpowder, 24 pieces of combat suits, 48 pieces of gelatins and pressure cookers from the camps of the rebels.

Two police personnel and three rebels were killed while three police personnel and two children were injured in the six hour police-insurgent confrontation at Jarayokot VDC Wednesday.

The striking force led by Police Inspector Mohan Kumar Shrestha seized the munitions at Bhimstha VDC after the rebels absconded following a stint encounter with the striking force, police said.

Meanwhile, a report from Gorkha district stated Thursday that the rebels attacked Deputy Chairperson of Chhoprak VDC Ganesh Shrestha with hammers. Shrestha has been rushed to Kathmadndu for treatment.

According to our Rukum based reporter, Maoist activists Thursday, abducted Prakash Rokaya, reportedly a retired policeman of

Kalikot district at Pwang VDC-7 in Rukum.

Similarly, the last rites of Sub-Inspector of Police Chandra Prasad Mishra was performed Thursday at his home village Tirtikha VDC, Kapilvastu, police said. He was killed Wednesday in an encounter with the Maoist rebels at Rudrapurgadhi, Nawalparasi district.

In another incident, the rebels looted Thursday two licensed-guns from former DDC member Sitaram Yadav and Ganesh Kumar Singh at Sitapur VDC, Siraha, locals said.

At 6, Inder is no unusual but married

By Sujit Mahat

MALANGAWA, Sarlahi, Aug 25- Six year old Inder Malli is just another child next door. The only thing peculiar about him is: his marital status is not "single".

His parents - Sobhit and Krishna Malli - got him married last March. But he has no idea about who his wife is or where she is.

According to his father Sobhit, Inder’s wife will come to stay with the family once he starts earning and is able to support the family.

And now the Malli couple are on the lookout for a suitable bridegroom for their second child, four years old Poonam Malli. "I am working day and night to save money for my daughter’s marriage," says Sobhit. "I had to spend Rs 15,000 for my son’s marriage and I must spend at least Rs 20,000 for my daughter’s marriage."

Ranjeeta Malli, a five year old daughter of Gatar Malli is already married to a six year old from Pasa village, Sitamadhi, India. Her husband too will come to take her once he is capable of earning a livelihood.

This is the story of Dom community living in the tarai belt of the country.

The advocacy campaigns against child marriage primarily by the NGOs might have brought some changes in perceptions about it, in other areas. But not in the Dom community.

This community is neither touched by the advocacy programmes nor is anybody in the community thinking about changing it. Child marriage, for them is a deep rooted tradition and they only want to uphold their tradition.

What is the right age for anybody to get married? The answer would differ from place to place throughout the country. The most acceptable answer would be: girls should be at least over 16 and boys above 18.

You would be utterly dismayed by the answer the Dom people will give for the question. For them any child who is no more breasted is eligible for marriage.

The parents are just petrified to let their child get any older than eight years. "They do not get a suitable mate once they are over eight years of age," says a local Dom.

The marriage code on Muluki Ain (civil code) states that anybody who gets a girl below the age of ten years married shall be penalised a cash amount from Rs 5,00 to Rs 5,000. They will also be put into jail for three months to three years.

These legal provisions do not touch the Doms, not that they are aware of. "We do not know the law," says Krishna Malli. "This is our tradition."

Sobhit has yet another reason to give on why they go for early marriage. "Who will look after my daughter if I die before she becomes 16 and gets married," says he.

"Now if I get her married somebody will be there to look after her even if I die tomorrow," says Sobhit pointing at his four year old daughter.

Once the girl gets married, she does not return to her husband’s house until he comes to take her. During the gap of years till she finally comes to stay with her husbands family she does not even visit her husband’s house even once. And it is the other members of family who remain in touch with eachother.

It is not that all these marriages arranged by the parents have a happy ending. Some get broken too. Should a condition to break any marriage arise, the village Panchayat gets to decide on the compensation that has to be paid by the party asking to end the marriage.

Narayan Malli, a resident of Malangawa municipality-3 says that his wife did not agree to come with him when they were old enough. "But I got Rs 10,000 compensation from my in-laws," says Narayan.

Despite this deeprooted tradition, there are some who would like to change it for the better and end up being ridiculed by the community. "I want to educate my daughter and get her married off at the appropriate age," says Bali Malli, a retired employee of the municipality pointing at his daughter, five year old Mamata. "I can perceive sarcasm in everything that the villagers talk about," says Bali.

The district court says that there is nothing it can possibly do to stop this tradition. "We can initiate actions if any cases on child marriage are filed in the court and proved," says an officer at the court.

But till now no cases of child marriage are registered in the court and taking actions against those practising it is still far off.

Call to develop Kaligandaki gorge into national recreation park

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 25 - A prominent conservationist today suggested the government to develop Kaligandaki gorge area in west Nepal as the country’s first national recreation zone the unique site in the country’s protected area system.

"The deep canyon of the Kaligandaki river in western Nepal carries very unique features which you can’t find anywhere else in the entire Himalayas, if not in the world," Karna Shakya, capital’s renowned tourism entrepreneur and a former park warden said.

"The Kaligandaki gorge could be developed into Nepal’s first nature recreation park just as the USA’s Grand Canyon National Park," he said, referring to Florida’s nature recreation park which he said attracts two million tourists each year.

The deep gorge, besides bisecting the eastern and the western Himalayas, also possesses "very important" evidences of the Himalayas’ natural history in its sedimentary layers.

"World’s attention has not yet focused on the Kaligandaki gorge," Shakya said. "But once the world communities get to hear or know about it, then they will see with their own eyes the mysteries and wonders of the Kaligandaki gorge."

Gushing down from between Mt Dhawalagiri and Nilgiri near the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Kaligandaki river has been flowing since time immemorial. To quote Shakya’s paper presented today, "the river has been flowing even before the Himalayas were formed (as a result of collision between the Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates) hundreds of thousands of years ago."

Famous for Saligram (black ammonites revered by Hindus as incarnation of Lord Bishnu), the river originates in Mustang area -- another unique place in the alpine desert of the Himalayas.

"It (the Kaligandaki area) is not only Nepal’s natural heritage," Shakya said, "once the world gets to know this place it will surely be included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List."

Shakya was speaking at a talk programme organized here today by UNDP’s Park and People Programme and King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC).

SEAR countries to work together with private sector

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 25 - The health ministers from ten South-East Asian Region (SEAR) countries have decided to work in close cooperation with the private sector to eliminate the most perilous diseases of the region such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

At the conclusion of a three-day long eighteenth ministerial meeting of the WHO member countries here today, Health Minister of Nepal Dr Ram Baran Yadav said that the meeting focused on the inter-country cooperation for the fight against the diseases.

"The meeting has directed Nepal to develop materials in the prevention of kala-azar, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and encephalitis in collaboration with WHO," Minister Yadav said.

The health ministers of Bhutan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the state ministers of Bangladesh, Maldives, and Thailand took part in the meeting. Sri Lanka was participated by its additional Health Secretary.

The meetings of Health Ministers from WHO - South East Asia Region (SEAR) takes place annually since 1981 to exchange views and experiences in areas of health development, and promotion of inter-country cooperation and regional solidarity.

Talking to journalists at a press conference organised here today, Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei, Regional Director of WHO-SEAR said, the meeting focused on the collective efforts of both government and private organizations.

"Health is an issue of everyone’s concern, so people should also need to take initiation," Dr Rafei said. Since 1978, average life expectancy of the region has increased by 24 years, despite emergence of many new diseases.

Commenting on Nepal’s 150th rank out of 191 member countries on the World Health Report 2000 of WHO, Dr Rafei said, "Data is only to make people aware. It does not fully rate the overall health status. Nepal and other countries of this region have improved the health situation significantly in past years."

In the press conference Indian Health Minister Dr CP Thakur denied that the brothels in Mumbai and in other parts of India are fostering HIV epidemic in the region.

He said, "The brothels are illegal, still people unaware of HIV/AIDS go there." However, he did not say how the Indian government was planning to control such "illegal" brothels.

In the year 2001 WHO-SEAR meeting for the Health Ministers of South-East Asian region will be held in Male, the capital of the Maldives.