Rajan Shrestha, 7 of Mache Gaon in Kirtipur expressing his delight after participating at an sports event in the mentally impaired category at the capital's Dillibazaar to mark the 1st Disabled Children's Day on Saturday .

PM rules out compromise

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that he will not "compromise" and give up any of the two positions he is in despite the pressing demands of the rebel camp within the ruling Nepali Congress (NC).

"I will agree to three of their (rebel’s) demands," said Koirala. "I will not comply with their demand of vacating one of the positions that I am in. And there can be no compromise on this."

Koirala said that the NC imbroglio was just created to seize the position of party president.

The Nepali Congress, which has remained in power for most of the time after the democratic movement of 1990, has frequently been engulfed in intra-party power tussle. Koirala’s predecessor KP Bhattarai was the victim of a similar

campaign just five months back. The recent one being a signature campaign launched by disgruntled lawmakers of the ruling party early this month, who are now led by the stalwarts of anti-Koirala camp.

The signature campaign had led to dismissal of Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka from the cabinet. Khadka was Minister for Works, Transport and Water Resources.

Speaking at a party function today, Koirala said that he will reshuffle the cabinet and the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) and "try" to postpone the general convention but would not conform to the other two demands. With Koirala’s declaration today, the conflict rocking the NC shows no signs of subsiding for some time at least.

"The party general convention has already been postponed three times upon my request and I can still request to postpone the convention. But I would not leave any of the positions that I am in," said Koirala. "I am trying to establish a trend, anybody can come to the position of the party president if they get elected. This would end the tradition of handing down leadership by just appointing somebody to the positions."

Referring to the speculations about possible widespread irregularities during the general convention scheduled for November, Koirala said, "let’s give the authority to conduct the election to somebody else from outside the party whose credibility is unquestionable."

A brief meeting between PM Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai on Thursday had failed to make any headway as Koirala refused to step down from the positions of the party president or the Prime Minister as demanded by Bhattarai faction.

The rebel lawmakers’ demand - among others - that Koirala resign from the position of the party president and appoint former Prime Minister and Bhattarai supporter Sher Bahadur Deuba as the acting party president earlier this month brewed up the whole conflict within the party. The around 50 MPs involved in the signature campaing to oust Koirala from the party leadership have also been demanding "full fledged" reshuffle of the cabinet and CWC and at least three months postponement of the party’s general convention.

Pointing to the absence of KP Bhattarai who was supposed to be present at the function, Koirala said, "he did not come because he is also a part of the current upheaval. But all the controversy within the party is momentary and Nepali Congress would eventually emerge united as always."

No entry to five top-notch UML splitters : Oli

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - Deputy leader of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Khadga Prasad Oli today said that "five top-notch rebels", responsible for the splitting his party would not be reinstated.

"No matter what tactics they use, the rebels (CPN-ML) will not get entry into our party, because they are the porters of smugglers and vote banks of reactionary forces," said Oli.

Though the deputy leader did not name the people he termed as "top-notch rebels" responsible for splitting CPN-UML, he welcomed the party workers of CPN-ML describing them as "naive and disoriented colleagues."

"General Secretaries may continue to shake hands with each other but communist parties will not be united," said Oli without specifying who the two "general secretaries are."

Referring to the last year’s general elections Oli predicted disastrous results for CPN-ML in the next election too.

"The party (CPN-ML), which secured six per cent of the popular votes last year, will be able to garner only one per cent in the next election. That too, if the party survives till then," said Oli.

"The obstinate, selfish and senseless attitude of some of the members of CPN-UML (now at CPN-ML), proved to be a windfall for Nepali Congress," said Oli.

Oli lambasted the members of the ruling Nepali Congress for being embroiled in "petty tussles and intra-party conflicts", thus ignoring a series of national problems that merit immediate attention and action.

"NC members are holding meetings round-the-clock. But for what? Certainly not to discuss ways to address public needs and preserve national sovereignty," said Oli.

Referring to the recent destruction in the wake of natural calamities, hazards created by the controversial Laxmanpur afflux bund, encroachment of Indian soldiers in Kalapani, among others, Oli described the government as "inefficient and incapable."

"The country is at present rudderless. The suggestion that the monarchy must be active is only a dream. Gone are the days of tyranny and autocracy," said Oli.

Opening the CPN-UML party convention of Ward-7, Oli further said that even the Maoists could not solve the pressing problems of the country since they are engaged in violent activities and suffer from the lack of principles.

"They are only good in random killings of innocent people and devastating police stations," said Oli.

Nepal says UML Maoist friendly

By a Post Reporter

NEPALGUNJ, Banke, Aug 26 - In a dramatic turnaround, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) strongman Madhav Kumar Nepal today hinted that his party had changed the way it looked at the Maoists who have been waging a bloody people’s war for the last four and half years.

Addressing a gathering of party workers here, General Secretary of UML Madhav Nepal said that Maoists should take UML as a friendly force. "The attacks carried out by the Maoists against UML cadres are actually attacks against the friendly forces," he said.

Nepal’s statement indicates recent policy shift towards Maoists whose People’s War has been condemned as terrorism by UML, the second largest party in the parliament.

Later talking with reporters, Nepal said that if Maoists claim themselves to be Communists, they should not attack a friendly force like the UML. He also said militarism, revenge and hysteria has plagued the Maoists.

Party sources said the two day workers meeting has also come up with similar conclusion. UML Central working committee member Yubaraj Gyawali had presented a paper on Maoist problem and solution. Since Nepali Congress is in power, the Maoists should fight with them, the meeting had concluded, according to a party source.

Corruption linked with election process

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for State Affairs Hom Nath Dahal today said that the present electoral process is the root cause of corruption in the country.

Speaking at a programme organised by Transparency International Nepal (TI/Nepal) Chairman Dahal said, "There is a need to reform our election process to control corruption."

At a time when three special bills to check corruption has been pending in the House, organisations like TI/Nepal can play a vital role by suggesting the required amendments in the acts, Dahal said.

"The corruption related bills can now be discussed in great detail since there was very little time (seventy eight hours) for discussion in the Parliamentary Committee before tabeling it in the Parliament," said Dahal.

Speaking on the occasion MP Pashupati Shumsere Rana stressed that the country is passing through a grave situation ‘without governance’ at present. "Over the past two centuries, the present situation of the country is the most critical," said Rana.

Rana also said, "Nepali Congress government should declare itself unfit to rule."

"It is ironic that the Nepali Congress government is involved in its own ‘internal mess’ at a time when there is a need for all parties to work together to improve the deteriorating situation of the country," said Rana. It is the need of the hour for everybody to work together when the country is confronting various problems, added Rana.

Rana also attributed the failure to pass the corruption related bills to the intra-party conflicts in NC.

Speaking on the occasion, Devendra Raj Pandey, President of TI/Nepal and also a board-member of TI said, " Nepali Congress government which has been in power most of the time after restoration of democracy, has not even bothered to understand and define the role of the state."

Pandey also criticised the apathy shown by leaders of the ruling and the main opposition parties towards programmes discussing corruption control where top leaders of both the parties did not turn up.

Speaking on the occasion, Advocate Radheshyam Adhikari said, "All people above officer level and the politicians should declare their wealth, the record of which should be kept at the Income Tax Office (ITO), and in places where there are no ITO." The records should be kept at other government office.

The report of the task-force of Mahadev Yadav, former MP to assist government to formulate corruption control bill had such recommendations, said Adhikari, adding, "however the final bill had no such clause."

"Any political leader unable to declare his income should be barred from standing for elections. The officers should be barred from promotion and also be subjected to legal action," said Adhikari. Government officials who are also providing private consultancies are promoting corruption, added Adhikari.

"Commitment is required among parliamentarians to check corruption," said Shree Bhadra Sharma, Advisory Committee Chairman of TI/Nepal.

Lila Mani Pokharel of United Peoples’ Front said that the criminalisation of politics is the root cause of corruption. "It is the tendency of exercising politics as a means of income generation that corruption is on rise," Pokharel added.

Kul Shekhar Sharma, TI/Nepal Advisor, said that ‘punishment’ is the strongest means to control corruption. "Sovereign people themselves should make a move to punish the corrupt," said Sharma.

UNFPA officials involved in irregularities

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - UNFPA recently announced the findings of a disciplinary panel and of a series of management audit reviews that investigated staff responsibility for overpayments in the recent construction of medical clinics and associated buildings in Nepal. These reviews concluded that there has been falsification of official records and serious irregularities in the procurement process and subsequent award of contracts to third parties.

In light of these findings, UNFPA has taken action to separate from service the former UNFPA Representative in Nepal and four local staff members. One more case remains under active review, it is learnt.

The special audit and review panels were established at the request of the Executive Director, Dr. Nafis Sadik, in late 1999, when allegations arose concerning the award of contracts in 1998 for the construction and renovation of various medical facilities. Independent expertise obtained in recent months confirmed that contracts were awarded at prices that exceeded cost estimates and market prices prevailing at similar sites throughout Nepal. This is still under investigation.

Site inspections are being conducted nationwide to ensure that the construction has been completed in a satisfactory manner. UNFPA has deferred the hand-over of the buildings to the Ministry of Health until the necessary corrective action can be taken. The concerned Nepalese authorities have been duly informed, according to UNFPA.

As a follow-up to the disciplinary findings, UNFPA has initiated a review of its procurement practices to establish whether improvements may be introduced to safeguard in integrity of the procurement and contracting process.

UNFPA has reaffirmed that its staff members will be held accountable for any serioius negligence and mismanagement. The organization stressed that it is the responsibility of all staff to ensure competence, efficiency and integrity in the course of their duty, and to report expeditiously any major violations which may lead to loss or jeopardize the integrity and reputation of the Organization. Recovery action will now be considered against the parties involved, says UNFPA.

Authorities indifferent about stolen cars

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - Numerous stolen cars enter Nepal through Raxual and Sunauli entry points each year, but the police and administration have become indifferent to check such criminal activities, sources say.

So much so, the investigative section of the Valley Traffic Police (VTP), solely responsible for dealing with illegal vehicles in Kathmandu Valley, has not maintained an official record of confiscated vehicles.

Smugglers and thieves are taking advantage of police indifference and lax Nepali customs officials to spread their network in Nepali cities. The racket has a strong link with Indian gangs, according to police.

"You cannot call it indifference. It is a deliberate negligence on the part of the police. Police do not keep an official record, because powerful people who buy stolen cars turn the heat on them," says a traffic police on condition of anonymity.

Another reason for not keeping records lies in the intention of the police to conceal their colleagues’ name who manipulate and use stolen cars for their personal use, sources said.

The official version of the police is, however, quite different.

"It is just a rumour. Some of the vehicles in the police custody are being used for patrolling and other emergency uses," says Pawan Prasad Kharel, Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The car thieves and their accomplices enter Nepal with families and in packed cars as tourists, produce fake documents and pay nominal customs duty.

As per the new laws, any vehicle entering Nepal from India is required to pay Rs 360, if its a public vehicle and Rs 250 to other private cars at the border points. In return, registration plate numbers are given to them.

Contrary to the regulations, the cars have been pouring into the country dodging the customs duty in Butwal, Bhairawa or Birjung, according to police.

In the last fiscal year, a total of 17 Indian brands- Maruti Jeep, Tata Sumo- described as unclaimed cars by local traffic police, has been handed over to Birgunj Customs Office.

"We have collected Rs 5 lakh 56 thousand from the auction of those cars," Suresh Regmi, Chief of Birgunj Customs Office told our reporter stationed at Birgunj.

Likewise, according to data provided by Customs office in Kathmandu, 18 unclaimed or illegally imported cars were auctioned in the fiscal year 1998. Last year, 24 cars, both of Indian and other foreign brands were auctioned off.

Insurance forgery has also helped in the recent upsurge in car theft. Indians sell their insured cars to thieves and extract huge lumpsum amount from the insurance companies on the pretext that their cars have been stolen.

"Indian insurance companies do not take the trouble to enter

Nepal to check the authenticity of their claim," says Jagadish Pokharel, Inspector of investigative section of VTP.

Criminals who mastermind the car-theft racket, operate on a large scale , spreading their tentacles in India and in Nepal.

Normally, they produce fake documents at border points, obtain the number plates of cars registered in Nepal, that are beyond repair or crushed into disuse because of accidents.

One such car with the number plate - Ja Aa Cha 133 - has been seized by Revenue Investigative Unit Pathlaiya, Birgunj.

Interestingly, the Maruti car is being used by the officials in Birgunj.

People trying to procure a car quick and cheap might not be knowing that they could find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Gangs, though till now unidentified and described as "Mafia", provide home service at a very cheap price.

They strike a deal with Nepali counterparts. Indian car lifters comply with the demands of the agents and hand over the stolen cars after paying nominal customs duty required for temporary registration.

Innocent people fall into traps for they are unaware as how car thieves worm their way to win the confidence of unsuspecting clients.

According to our reporter stationed in Bhairahawa, stolen cars with Indian number plates can be easily purchased at the rate of Rs 22 thousand and 80 thousand in Butwal and Bhairahawa.

"Criminals have adopted new tactics. They enter from one border point and exit from another point to avoid police detection, says Binod Singh, Superintendent of Police in Bhairawa.

Most stolen cars are dispatched from Delhi and other Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Tamilnadu, Utter Pradesh and Bihar.

Texts on human rights to be adopted by schools

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - Both private and public schools of the country are going to adopt a curriculum on human rights to teach secondary level students.

Fourty five schools from within the valley are going to adopt this course within weeks and other schools outside the valley will adopt this course once seminars on the curriculum will be conducted for the teachers of the respective regions, said Durga Bahadur Shrestha, advisor of Peace Child International Kathmandu section.

Shrestha was speaking at a seminar on Student-Teacher Participation in Human Rights Education organised by Peach Child International. Representative teachers from the 45 schools participated the seminar.

The course is based on the rights granted by Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) 1989. Nepal is a signatory of the both international treaties.

The course describes and relates the articles of the treaties in relevance to different incidents violating human rights in the country. The course also describes the developments made on the field of human rights in Nepal.

Practical teaching with relevant examples and field visits is one of the major implications of this course. This course will make the students aware about the incidents of violation of human rights in the country and make them develop right attitudes towards protecting the human rights, said Sushil Pyakurel, member of Human Rights Commission.

Ten other seminars will be given to teachers from other parts of the country such as Pokhara, Biratnagar and Birgunj, said Shrestha.

Diplomatic channel holds dead body in Bahrain

By a Post Reporter

TEHRATHUM, Aug 26 - Dead body of a Nepali from this district working in Bahrain is yet to be brought home due to lengthy diplomatic channel between the two countries.

Mitra Singh Limbu,31, of Pauthak Village Development Committee-9 of Tehrathum died of "electrocution" in Bahrain on August 13 where he was working for the last one year, according to a fax sent to his family by his brother-in-law Padam Limbu from Bahrain on Aug 14.

On his fax message he had urged the family to send a letter of authority from the family members and also arrange for Nepalese government documents so that he could formally bring the dead body home. Padam had escorted Mitra to Bahrain last year after he could not find any job in Nepal, according to the family.

Padam had also attached the post mortem report signed by the Public Health Director of Bahrain on the fax message to the family.

Then the Limbu family immediately appealed at the Pauthak VDC Office for the recovery of the dead body. The VDC Chairperson Netra Prasad Pathak himself went to District Administration Office (DAO) to seek government’s recommendation for the early recovery of the dead body, according to the VDC Office.

The DAO, however, maintain that it could do nothing for the time being since the Centre hasn’t informed the Office about the death, adding that it is corresponding with the "concerned unit" regarding the death case.

According to the laws, Bahrain government should inform the Foreign Ministry and the Customs Department about the death. The Foreign Ministry then informs the Home Ministry which in turn informs the concerned DAO.

Meanwhile, Padam is compelled to stay by the dead body till the Bahrain government receives the formal approval from the family and the government.