St Xavier’s School celeberates its golden jubilee

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LALITPUR, Dec 3 - His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced the Golden Jubilee Ceremony of St. Xavier’s School, at the school premises, Jawalakhel, today. His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan was also present on the occasion.

On the occasion, His Majesty the King awarded ex-students Dr Ashok Baskota, Dr Suddha Rauniyar, Hira Krishna, Garjaman Subba, Bishwojit Thapa, Sher Jung Gurung, Ram Kuseley, Jagatpati Shakya and Krishna Sarki for their contribution to the country. Their Majesties also inspected the school complex.

Speaking at the function, Amod Prasad Upadhyay, Minister for Education and Sports, said the country has achieved a lot in the field of education after the dawn of democracy in 1950. "The literacy rate at that time was only two per cent, which has jumped up to 53 per cent now," he said. He also appreciated the contribution made by St. Xavier’s in the education sector of the country.

Addressing the ceremony, Fr Lawrence Maniyar, Principal of the School, said the students are made to involve in various social and cultural activities apart from the regular studies.

Former chief of St Xavier’s College and former teacher of the School Fr Charlie Law said, "Today, many praised the quality and creativity of St Xavier’s. I would hope that these educational assets would slowly move out to all the village schools of Nepal." Fr Law had entered into the St Xavier’s in 1958 as a teacher.

Rector of the School Fr Casper Miller also addressed the function, which was attended by ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, politicians, journalists, ex-students, students and their parents.

On the occasion Minister Upadhyay also informed that there are 5.5 million students currently in 37,400 schools, five universities, 219 colleges throughout the country. He also urged the civil society’s involvement in the field of education.

The school children performed the National Anthem and staged an opera titled Asatoma Sadgamaya which was graced by the Royal Couple and other guests.

The Jesuit Educational Institution was started by Fr Marshal D Moran in 1951, by establishing a Primary wing in Godavari, during the reign of Late King Tribhuvan. Then, the school was extended to Jawalakhel in 1954 and St. Xavier’s College was initiated in 1988. Almost 2,000 students have gaduated from the school so far. Currently, there are almost 2,000 students studying in all St. Xavier’s Schools throughout the country. Except two schools and one college in the valley, there are two St. Xavier’s Schools in Jhapa district.

The participation of students from various sections of the society is increasing in the school now with the introduction of co-education and day scholars in Godavari.

Economy on the block as hotel showdown looms

By Gopal Tiwari

KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - With only eight days to go before hotel workers in Kathmandu begin their long-threatened strike, there is no sign yet that hotel owners and workers have bridged the divide regarding the demand to charge 10 per cent service tax in hotel services. If anything, both sides are adamantly holding on to their rock-solid positions, and it appears likely that the tourism industry, and by extension the economy, will suffer massively in the coming days.

The latest development in the dispute occurred today when 16 tourism-related associations, including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) jointly submitted a memorandum to the High Level Committee looking into the service tax dispute headed by Prithvi Raj Ligal, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission. The committee, which was formed last month, has to propose a solution within the next two months.

According to sources, the memorandum strongly argues that the service tax should not be imposed. Otherwise, the businessmen have warned, they would close down all their hotels.

A tourism entrepreneur told The Kathmandu Post that, the hotel owners are preparing to shut down hotel services if the workers go on strike from December 11, 2000.

If that were to happen, the national economy will lose close to Rs 50 million a day, by the hotel industry’s own reckoning. That is a huge amount in a country which earned US 168 million dollars last year alone from the tourism industry.

Fearing such an economic melt-down, the entrepreneurs, in today’s memorandum, have also demanded the government to declare hotel services as an essential service under the Essential Services Act (ESA), thereby outlawing strikes by employees.

Hotel workers are unfazed, however. They say they are not worried whether hotel services will be included in the ESA. Bishnu Lamsal, Member Secretary of the Central Action Committee of the hotel unions, seems inflexible to postpone the strike and in no mood to compromise on 10 per cent service charge.

"We have handed over letters to all hotels stating that the strike would begin on December 11, 2000," he said. "If our demands are not met, the repercussions will have to be borne by the government and the hoteliers themselves."

Narendra Bajracharya, President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) is worried that if the hotel workers go on agitation, all hotel industries in the country would come to a complete halt. He charged the trade union leaders with shunning dialogue to resolve the issue. "Boycotting the meeting with hotel owners and the government will not help in finding a solution."

Regarding the ongoing row, Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, Acting President of FNCCI said, "If the 10 per cent service charge is enforced on hotel industry, its effects will be felt in all sectors of the economy".

The slowly growing Nepali economy, he rued, would collapse. It is not only hotels and restaurants that will be affected by the service, but all industries in the country will be effected by it, Shrestha said.

According to a recent study by World Tourism Organization’s (WTO), hotel industry alone employs over 4.5 million people directly or indirectly in Nepal. Each tourist visiting Nepal generates employment to nine people, the WTO report says. Moreover, the Hotel Association Nepal estimates that one day’s strike in the tourism industry results in a loss of Rs 50 million to the national coffer.

"The strike called by the hotel workers would be a big shock to the national economy," says Rajendra Khetan, Chairman of Employers Council under FNCCI and one of the members of high level committee. "I strongly appeal to workers, hotel owners and the government to sit down for a dialogue and seek an amicable solution to this long-standing chronic issue."

Prachanda reiterates talks

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - General Secretary of the underground CPN (Maoist) Prachanda has again reiterated the position that his party is ready to sit down for talks with the government, if it makes the whereabouts of its cadres public and starts releasing them.

"If the government is serious about the talks it should make the whereabouts of central members of the party -- Dandapani Neupane, Matrika Prasad Yadav and dozen others -- public," said Prachanda in an article appearing on Monday’s edition of Kantipur.

Prachanda’s fresh offer comes just four days after his comrades raided Kotbada police station in Kalikot district, killing 11 policemen and injuring seven others.

Earlier, the government had released Dinesh Sharma along with Dinanath Gautam last month after they appeared and condemned the Maoist movement in a controversial press conference. They were expelled from the party two weeks later.

"We are ready to come for dialogue given that the government makes the whereabouts public and starts releasing them without any hassles," said Prachanda. "But dialogue with just the Girija group will not be able to resolve the problems facing the people and the country. We see the need for talks with all political fronts."

He has warned that if the concerned groups do not take the proposal seriously, the Maoists are ready to fight till the end.

Referring to growing debates about the constitutional amendment, Prachanda said that there is a need for "radical change to suit the needs of country and people" instead of amendment in the Constitution.

He has labelled the supporters of Koirala government as "agents of reactionary forces".

Gujral falls ill, condition now stable

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Former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who was recently in the capital to attend various programmes, being taken to airport in an ambulance from Norvic Hospital Sunday.

KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral is in "stable condition" after suffering from heart-related chest pain, his physician said here Sunday.

Gujral, who turns 83 tomorrow, was rushed to Norvic Escort Heart Care and Research Centre in the capital early today after he complained of severe chest pain. He was flown to New Delhi in the evening on a specially equipped jet that arrived from the Indian capital with his wife, son and two doctors.

Dr Bharat Rawat, a consultant cardiologist with Norvic who attended on Gujral on Sunday, told The Kathmandu Post that the former Indian PM’s condition "is now stable".

According to Dr Rawat, Gujral suffered from a case of "unstable angina." He said that the Indian VIP has no history of cardiac trouble, though he has been troubled by bouts of asthma. Dr Rawat said that Gujral must now be kept under 48 hours observation. "His chances of recovery are good."

Dr Rawat said that when Gujral was brought to Norvic, a battery of tests including ultrasound, X-ray, electrocardiogram and blood tests were conducted on him. His blood pressure was found to be high, but it returned to normal during the day.

Gujral was scheduled to give a press conference at Hotel Yak and Yeti at the conclusion of the Citizens’ Commission of South Asia meeting. But his sudden illness intervened.

Hospital strikers warn of nationwide action

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Technical workers of the Radiology and the Pathology Departments of government hospitals in the capital are threatening to spread their strike nationwide or even resign en mass unless the government complies with their demands. These workers at Bir Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Teku Hospital, Maternity Hospital and Bhaktapur Hospital have suspended all the services except emergency since Friday demanding reinstatement of Risk Compensation Allowance that was suspended following readjustment of allowances by the government after hike in salary.

"We have been receiving this allowance since 1963 and it is not even an allowance but a share of the income our departments generate," said Dhan Bahadur Poudel, a Laboratory Technician at Bir Hospital who is leading the agitation at the hospital. The Pathology department at the fourth floor of the hospital that on any normal day would have been crowded with patients and their relatives lining up to have blood and other tests done bore an abandoned look today.

Today was the third day since the technicians went on strike forcing many patients to turn back and opt for more expensive care through private clinics.

Since the government announced the rise in salary of government and corporation employees, the government began to review the various allowances being drawn by the corporation workers. And since hospitals were also categorized under this category, the allowance has been cut off around mid August when the new arrangement went into effect.

Under the Risk Compensation Allowance, the workers of the Radiology Department received 20 per cent and the pathology laboratory received 25 per cent of the gross income generated by the departments.

The workers divided the amount equally among themselves as a peon received about Rs. 800 while the top rankers received upto Rs. 5,000 a month. At present the emergency lab that normally gets about 100-150 cases referred are handling additional cases. The pathology department normally gets 250 cases.

"If the government does not call us for a dialogue to resolve the issue we will be closing down the emergency laboratory too. Our strike that is limited to the capital will also be spreading to other government hospitals in the nation and if not we will all resign en mass," said Poudel. "If the health sector stops operating then the government would be forced to listen to us."

Meanwhile, coincidence it may be, the workers of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) too have begun their protest programs demanding they too be eligible for the Attraction Allowance being drawn by the medical doctors.

This allowance that sums about 300 per cent on top of basic salary replaces the non-practising allowance for medical doctors which they were receiving after TUTH barred outside practice for doctors.

"The non-practising allowance was justifiable but now this new arrangement is not reasonable ... if they receive it we should be able to do the same too," said Chintamani Sharma, Laboratory In-charge and lecturer.

"Our protest is only a mild protest that has begun with working with a black band tied to our arms. Soon we will be closing down the functioning of the hospital units within a month as part of our protest programs," said Sharma. The protest is being joined in by nearly 600 of the hospital staff that includes nursing and other technicians but excludes the medical doctors.

Society where the poor pray for their ruin...

By Tilak Pokharel

Students of St. Xavier's School singing the golden jubilee song during the School's Golden Jubilee Function at Jawalakhel on Sunday.

LALITPUR, Dec 3 - Imagine a society, where a poor man asks for his own ruin and a wealthy man asks for more money from God so that he would be a billionaire and could make a golden temple for Him... the society where a wily leader asks for the post of the Prime Minister with God, offering him bundles of money.... the society where corruption is widespread.

It is the society where the King is regarded as the incarnation of God Vishnu, and where the poor and honest call God to save the Earth from ruin.

This condition of the society was depicted in a drama by a group of school kids while performing an opera in St. Xavier’s Golden Jubilee Ceremony. Their Majesties the King and Queen also graced the play.

When the master of ceremony announced the next presentation to be the opera titled asato ma sadgamaya (take me from falsehood to truth), the audience, a majority of whom were in their 30s, might have thought it to be boring. Contrary to this, the nearly 30-minute long opera went on a cheerful note among all between 5-year-old child to 70-year elderly. The children in the audience circle were enjoying the acting and the elderly were enjoying the spiritual presentation, which successfully reflected the picture of distortions prevailing in Nepali politics albeit in a spiritual way.

The presentation of the kids further mesmerised the audience. After the conclusion of the presentation, a majority of the audience were busy applauding the play while hardly a few politicians ranging from ministers to leaders applauded it. "The play has successfully lampooned the distortions prevailing in the Nepali politics," said Bam Dev Gautam, General Secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist Leninist). Leader of ruling Nepali Congress Prakash Man Singh also commented that the play was very nice.

The opera, which reflected the Nepali politics in a lively way in front of the politicians themselves, was written by senior lyricist Chetan Karki, directed by Mithila Sharma and the music was composed by Sudesh Sharma. Former Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka refused to make any comments on it.

The programme was also attended by the Speaker of House of Representatives, Chairman of the National Assembly, State Minister for Health Tirtha Ram Dangol, Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Inspector General Of Police Pradeep SJB Rana and secretaries of different ministries.

Pols divided, as always, over constitution amendment

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat today dismissed growing calls of "need" for amendment to the present Constitution ten years after it came into effect, saying there was no need for any amendment.

Ranabhat said that the rights conferred by the Constitution had not been activated by laws. "The constitution has not been fully implemented," said Ranabhat at a national seminar on Mobilising Community Resources for Sustainable Human Development organised by SAHARA group, an NGO. "Unless the constitution proves to be incompetent after full implementation, there is no need for any amendment."

"The call for amendment has not been made only by the Maoists, even half of the people from our party are also for it but it is unnecessary," said Ranabhat. Former minister Ram Sharan Mahat was one of the prominent figures of the ruling Nepali Congress who called for constitutional amendment.

He also said that people were frustrated since the programmes brought forward by the government had largely failed. "The programmes of poverty alleviation have become unsuccessful due to a handful people responsible to mobilise the resources themselves misuse them," said Ranabhat.

Meanwhile, at a separate programme today, the members of Constitution Draft Committee (CDC) expressed dissatisfaction over what they called as "the government’s inability to live upto the spirit of the Constitution" and said that those "accepting" and "not accepting" the Constitution should be brought under a "common forum".

This comes only days after two government sub-committees - to look at election management and law - submitted their reports with recommendation for Constitutional amendment.

Former minister and CPN-UML MP Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who was a member of the CDC, said that since people were more pessimistic about the prospects of development, his party had decided to take initiative to have some important amendments in the Constitution. "The saga of ten years is full of sorrow and regrets," he said, addressing a talk programme on Decade of Democracy and the Constitution. He said, while democracy has given an environment where people could raise their voices, it has also given way to poverty, failure of industrialisation, corruption and nepotism.

"We have been cheated by our own leaders from political, economical as well as social angles," said the CPN-UML leader, adding that the present Constitution needs certain amendments to keep the country’s future safe. He, however, failed to elaborate on which points his party was seeking amendment.

Another member of the CDC and former speaker of the House of Representatives Daman Nath Dhungana, pointed out that the problem was not with the Constitution and rather with the subsequent governments that have ruled the country after the democratic movement of 1990. "Till the time change the culture of disobeying and attitude of disregarding the Constitution continues, nobody can bring any positive changes," said Dhungana.

Nilambar Acharya, also a member of the CDC, said the country could learn a lot from the experience of the last ten years. "Absence of law and order is the most serious problem Nepal has witnessed," said Acharya. "Those in the government and in the opposition have overlooked law in these years, which is an insult to the Constitution."

Senior Advocate Sindhu Nath Pyakurel said the Constitution has remained helpless in the decade of democratic practices. "The government disobeys the Supreme Court, government body neglects Public Accounts Committee’s order, Public Service Commission is inactive and Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has no power," said Pyakurel. "The Constitution is under threat from those in the government."

Get SAARC moving: CCSA

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - The first meeting of the Citizens’ Commission for South Asia (CCSA) on Sunday expressed the concern over SAARC’s slow progress since its inception and called for close cooperation between governments, opinion makers and civil society.

Billed as "Track Two Diplomacy" for closer cooperation, CCSA which is led by former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, recommended that "the schedule of the SAARC Summit and other meetings as envisaged in the (SAARC) Charter should be maintained".

The recommendations came after two days of closed-door meeting in Kathmandu attended by former ministers, diplomats, political personalities and intellectuals from the region. The meeting took a serious note of stalled SAARC Summit which was scheduled to be held in Kathmandu last year.

The 11th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu could not be held last year as India refused to share the platform with military-ruled Pakistan. However, recent signals from both the countries indicate that some thawing of their cold relations is underway, giving rise to the hope that the Summit might be possible in the near future.

The first report of the Commission was today read out by former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Sartaz Aziz who addressed the press conference in place of former Indian Prime Minister I K Gujral, who suddenly fell ill.

The report called upon civil society of the seven SAARC countries to exert pressure on their governments to bury their differences and work closely in promoting the welfare of the people of the whole region.

Among several other recommendations, the Commission stressed the need to finalize the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Treaty by the agreed deadline of December 2001.

Pointing out that South Asia has had uneven experience with democracy, CCSA recommended that most of the region’s problems could best be addressed through a responsive and democratic polity.

When asked if "cohesive atmosphere" called for by CCSA meant that either Pakistan be governed by democratically elected government or that India accept the present status of Pakistan, Aziz said it was not under the purview of the Commission to make any such suggestion.

The former Pakistani foreign minister added that the Commission could only urge the governments to make efforts towards reconciliation. "We are neither substitutes nor alternative to SAARC. We can only urge them to work together," said Aziz.

Later speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Niaz Naik, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan said that both India and Pakistan were showing signs of reconciliation and it was good for the whole region.

Replying to a question whether India should accept military-ruled Pakistan, Naik said that it was not a question of a army chief ruling the country. "He (General Pervez Musharraf) is the de facto head of the government ... (all) need to deal with that".