US president writes to PM
Urges Bhutan to resolve refugee impasse

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - US President Bill Clinton has urged Bhutan to use the upcoming tenth Nepal-Bhutan ministerial meeting to reach an agreement with Nepal to begin the process of verification for the repatriation of nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in eastern Nepal.

Clinton’s urge to Bhutan was disclosed in a letter the US President wrote to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday. The letter was officially delivered to the Prime Minister today, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office told The Kathmandu Post.

The US President, in the last days of his presidency, is taking special interest in resolving the decade-long humanitarian crisis which has soured relations between neighbours Nepal and Bhutan. Nine previous rounds of ministerial level talks have failed to break the deadlock over verification and repatriation.

In his letter to Koirala, Clinton said it was time to find a sustainable solution to the humanitarian problem, PMO sources said. "The President felt that it was high time to close the (seven) refugee camps for the good of both the refugees and for the good of Nepal and Bhutan," a high level official said.

The US President is also understood to have acknowledged that the tenth round of talks, which is slated to begin in Kathmandu on December 24, is a critical time in Nepal’s negotiations with Bhutan. The US President has commended Nepal’s generosity in sheltering the refugees in the camps.

Sources also say that Clinton has expressed his regrets to Koirala for not being able to visit Nepal when he came calling to the South Asian region in March. "He has expressed his disappointment for not being able to enjoy the same interesting and productive experience that his wife Hillary Clinton and their daughter Chelsea had during their trip five years ago," said an official.

Clinton’s letter, and his urge to Bhutan, puts more pressure on both the countries to reach a settlement soon. This comes at a time when Nepali officials are claiming renewed interest in the crisis shown by the international community.

In September, the European Union (EU) had asked Bhutan to resolve the issue with Nepal. The European Parliament passed its second resolution expressing "deep regret" over Bhutan’s delay in resolving the contentious issue.

And more recently, senior US officials themselves put forth a new proposal to help resolve the stalemate over refugee verification. On December 1, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth and Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the US State Department Ms Julia V. Taft disclosed the new US proposal that tried to bridge the gap between Nepal and Bhutan on the definition of a "family."

The disagreement over the definition was the main stumbling block during the eighth and ninth ministerial rounds. While Nepal has agreed to this new US proposal, which government sources claim is closer to Nepal’s stance, it is learnt that Bhutan has neither categorically rejected nor accepted the proposal.

Former Foreign Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, meanwhile, told The Kathmandu Post that US Assistant Secretary Taft had told him during her visit here that the US would urge multi-lateral donor agencies to divert international aid from Bhutan to the refugee camps through UNHCR if Bhutan does not agree to the new US proposal.

During the talks next week, both sides need to explore whether any common ground can be reached over the definition of nuclear family. If, for example, individuals had fled Bhutan, say, with their uncle with or without his/her family, what would be their present status? Will they be identified as individuals or part of nuclear family? These are the questions that need to be thrashed out, say official sources. Moreover, what is a nuclear family? Families with only dependent children or those with both dependent and independent off-spring?

According to PMO sources, despite continuing disagreement, Bhutan has agreed, during the visit of the US team to Bhutan on December 4, to recognise the role to be played by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) - which officials here claim is a big breakthrough.

"This changed stance of Bhutan could be taken as a positive step because if there is any dispute during the verification in the first camp itself, UNHCR could step in. And if Bhutan does not agree, it could well earn the wrath of international community," says a top government official.

Prince Nirajan survives major road accident

By Kedar Ojha

KATHMANDU, Dec 20 – His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan survived a major road accident last night when his car collided with a speeding police van at Samakhushi, sources said.

The car driven by Prince Nirajan collided with a police van belonging to Ward Police Office, Maharajgunj, at 11.20 pm. Prince Nirajan was immediately rushed to Military Hospital at Chhauni where he was kept under treatment for four hours. The injured Prince was shifted to Nagarjun Palace this morning at 3.33 am where he is being attended by physicians.

His Majesty King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya rushed to the Military Hospital after they received the information about their youngest son’s accident. The Royal couple was staying at Nagarjun Palace.

Police had rescued Prince Nirajan, his body guard Police Inspector Bikram Chand and two others from the badly mangled car by breaking open the door. Royal bodyguard Chand and Thapa, whose first name could not be known, were at the Military Hospital till this evening. Chand has sustained broken ribs.

A crane belonging to the Military police carried away the badly damaged car with plate number Ba 2 Cha 2335 while a crane belonging to Valley Traffic Police Office lifted away the police van with the number plate Ba 1 Jha 4196.

NC rebels blast PM Koirala

By Meena Kaini

KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other stalwarts of the Nepali Congress’ rebel camp today came down heavily on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for being "incompetent to lead the government and the country."

In a press conference overcrowded by partyworkers at his office in Baneshwor today, Deuba declared that he was contesting for the party’s presidency "in order to relieve the party from stagnation and give new directions to the party."

Deuba is challenging Prime Minister Koirala for the party presidency in the election to be held during the party’s tenth general convention in Pokhara next month. He is backed by Koirala’s friend-turned-foe Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

"I am not contesting the election to protest against any particular person," said Deuba in an appeal made public today. "But Girija Prasad Koirala has been stagnated due to dual responsibility and has proved to be inept to give any dynamic leadership or new vision to the party. Congress has become aimless."

Deuba said that Koirala’s leadership in the government for most of the past one decade has only "nurtured those people who run around him. He has used the party as a ladder to go to government and hold power."

Deuba said that he was the "real successor" of all the leaders - BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and Bhattarai. "Only problem is that I do not have Koirala as my last name," said Deuba when questioned if he would be able to provide the kind of leadership to the party.

In his appeal, Deuba has accused the Koirala-camp of making his attempts to bring the underground Maoists to sit for talks with the government "futile". Deuba has called the partyworkers to be on his side and vote for him in a 10-page appeal released today.

The three rebel heavyweights - Khum Bahadur Khadka, Chiranjivi Wagle and Bijaya Kumar Gachhedhar - in a single voice called for the voters to cast their votes for Deuba and said confidently that despite massive irregularities during the party’s election at the local and district level Deuba is going to win the seat of the party president.

Almost 1,500 general convention members chosen from the districts will be casting their votes for the party’s president for which only two - Deuba and Koirala are contesting.

Khadka who had aroused much scepticism about his support for Deuba on Sunday, today declared, "I hope it is clear now that I am with Deuba."

"It would have been much easier if the elections were fair in the local and district levels," Khadka said. "But whatever the case, we are going to win."

Gachhedhar said the party had been ruled on by a single family. He said that he had "reasons" to support Deuba instead of Koirala and that he would unveil them only when the time comes.

Another leader Chiranjivi Wagle who had contested the election for the party presidency against Koirala during the party’s ninth general convention said that Koirala had been a complete failure both in ruling the party and the country.

Wagle also accused Koirala of not even making attempts to resolve the problems plaguing the country after he came to power in March by ousting Bhattarai.

"The leadership of the party has to change," said Wagle. "And only the younger generation can provide new direction to the party."

National Antibiotic Policy in offing

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - With a view to improve and manage the prudent use of antibiotics by establishing coordination among human and veterinary health care professionals and consumers, the government is to announce the National Antibiotic Policy 2000 within January 2001.

The draft of the Policy was given a final shape at the Ministry of Health Wednesday and is likely to be passed by the Cabinet within the next month. "The National Antibiotic Policy 2000 will be passed by the Cabinet within January," said Padam Prasad Pokharel, Secretary at the Health Ministry, talking to The Kathmandu Post.

The main objective of the Policy is to safeguard, maintain and promote the health of humans and animals by preserving the efficacy of antibiotics through their prudent use. In addition, the Policy also aims to establish an antibiotic resistance surveillance system in the country and take measures to minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.

Similarly, the proposed Policy discourages the random and sub-therapeutic use of those antibiotics, which are used for the therapeutic purpose in humans and animals, in animal feed as a growth promoter.

The proposed Policy also contains provisions for the formation of national antibiotic control committees. Apart from monitoring and evaluation, it also focuses on research and development, and on the regulatory requirements for registration of antibiotics.

Bomb blast at police post in Bharatpur

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BHARATPUR, Chitwan, Dec 20 - In a daring attack, a group of suspected Maoist rebels hurled two bombs and destroyed an empty police station in downtown Bharatpur, this evening. The police station is located about two kilometres south of the Narayani Safari hotel, where Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel is staying. Poudel arrived here today and earlier had formally inaugurated the (11th) District Council of Chitwan District Development Committee (DDC).

No one was injured in the incident, but the newly constructed police station building is partially damaged. Residents of this central Terai town heard two explosions. And, an eyewitness said the bombs set ablaze the Yagyapuri police station at around 7 p.m. "I was reading newspaper when suddenly I noticed something burning near my house," Indra Prasad Kafle, who informed the fire brigade and the police about the incident, told The Kathmandu Post. "Then, the bomb went off and we stayed indoor utterly afraid and frightened."

Ten minutes later, a team of policemen rushed towards the bombed police station to check things out. They waited till the fire was doused completely but returned without entering the police station premises at about 7:40 p.m. The police officials were not immediately available for comment. The attack comes 12 days after police opened fire at a gathering of pro-Maoist, All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) at Harikirtan Chowk in Chitwon, killing - Gauri Sapkota - and injuring four others. Soon after Sapkota was killed, the underground rebels had publicly vowed - and even warned of retaliation. The bombed police station lies about one kilometre away from the Chowk.

Meanwhile, our correspondent from Kalikot writes that a group of suspected Maoist rebels allegedly opened fire at a patrolling police contingent at Fuko, several hours walks northwest of district headquarters Manma. Chief of District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Yogeshwor Niroula said that about seven rebels were injured in the clash but claimed that no police personnel were injured.

He informed that, about 40 policemen and 200 rebels were involved in the encounter. This is the most serious clash between the two sides after the Maoist rebels raided the Kotbada Police station in the northern part of the district and killed 11 policemen some three weeks ago. Kalikot, the western hilly district, has remained as one of the major Maoist insurgency flash points. Over fifteen hundred people have lost their lives since the insurgency broke about five years ago.

Education ultimate victim in battle for ‘betterment’

By Pradeep Silwal

KATHMANDU, Dec 20 – The Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary) , have declared that the closure of the schools last week in the capital city and other parts of the country was an indication of the widespread support of the public for their demands, ostensibly related to the reforms in the country’s education sector. But they know better.

All they wanted to do was to gauge public psyche, which is constantly fed with the news of bombings of remote and isolated police posts in Dunai or Bhorletar. The closure displayed that public do not have confidence in government’s ability to protect them from harm even in the capital city. A phone call, a letter and some rumor were enough to close down schools. Some of the teachers who tried to resist them were publicly humiliated and the government apparatus remained a mute spectator, letting the fear spread deep and wide.

Some of the people supported the moves made by those students who called themselves revolutionary. It does not take an expert or a revolutionary to point out that the educational system in Nepal is in shambles. The successive governments in the post-1990 period have given enough reasons to the people to be fed up and to be demanding for a change.

But the methods the Maoists employed would further worsen the educational system even if they had genuine interest in improving it. Closing of educational institutions, be it in the name of whatever reforms won’t improve education. ANNFSU (Revolutionary) is only throwing the baby along with the bath water. When the students are forced to remain out of their classes and their teachers humiliated in public, no one can believe that it is for the improvement of educational standards.

Public schools became the main target of pro-Maoist students last week, though private schools are the major culprits in taking exorbitant fees. It is understandable that the government-run schools do not have the means to provide donations to the warfare Maoists are waging in the name of oppressed poor people as compared to their wealthy private counterparts. The soft corner of the Maoists towards the private schools is thus understandable.

Performance of government-run schools is far below private schools because, among other things, they do not have enough budget even to repair a broken black board. Though the government spends a large chunk of national budget in education, 90 per cent of that money is spent on teachers’ salary. After the government made school education free of charge, public schools are surviving on a meager government budget. Since the community does not support the schools, which are losing their credibility among the teachers themselves, ANNFSU’s latest moves to prevent raising any money from the students will finally put the last nail on the coffin.

The boom of private schools is a recent phenomenon in the educational history of Nepal. Before private schools started to dominate top ten positions in the highly acclaimed SLC examinations, many brilliant students came from those public schools, including Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, politburo member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). It therefore appears a totally misplaced concern of the Maoists.

If such attacks on schools increase, the ultimate losers will be the children of those poor people whose cause the Maoist supporter students uphold. The rich can always send their children abroad but the anarchy will spoil the future of millions of poor children.

Officials repent illegal construction

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KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - Officials today admitted that there had been wrong doings in the construction of the structure on the perimeters of Rani Pokhari and pledged to take action against the people involved.

"It was wrong to give permission for the construction of the shopping complex on the perimeters of Rani Pokhari and even though the person who is responsible has resigned we intend to pursue the case and make sure he and other junior officials involved are punished," said Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Udaya Raj Soti.

Work on the construction of the one-storied business complex had been suspended and the structure demolished after the media raised the question of the construction.

The Ministry then asked the Public Garden and Auditorium Development Committee (PGADC) to block the construction.

Soti who heads the PGADC said the decision had been wrongly made by the project manager beyond his authority and though he has quit his job after the controversy popped up he would still be punished.

"Now we are coordinating with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City on building a garden at that particular site," Soti said.

The controversy had also led to the review of the construction of a shopping mall on the northern edge of the City Hall that had been leased to a private party.

The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had blocked the construction of the mall to review the papers and documents on the case.

Soti today appealed to PAC members to lift the stay order since it was a reasonable deal and beneficial for the City Hall itself.

"PGDAF is a body that has to sustain on its own resources and has not received a single paisa from the government. And that is why we decided to lease the plot," he said.

He added that after nine years and nine months the building would belong to the City Hall and the decision was made since such a construction would clear the garbage in the area and generate income that could be used for the maintenance of the City Hall, the Balaju Water Gardens and Mahendra Hostel.

PAC members have decided that they would tour the area on Thursday and only decide on the case.

"If this deal would not harm the City Hall and its perimeters and is done with sincere faith then there is nothing wrong," said N P Saud, a member of PAC.

However, another PAC member Lilamani Pokharel raised the question that the land for the City Hall was taken by the government from private citizens for the purpose of building the City Hall.

"These kind of business dealings go against the main purpose the land was taken by the government and may be instead the land should just be given back to the original owners," he said.

PM opens 6th national industrial exhibition Stresses fight against terrorism

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BUTWAL, Dec 20 - The Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, on Wednesday, urged all political parties to form people’s security committees at the village level to free people from the existing fear of killing and terror.

Inaugurating the sixth national industrial exhibition organised by the Rupandehi Industries Association to mark the 56th auspicous birthday of His Majesty the King, PM Koirala said, "The ongoing killing and terror is not the sole problem of a specific political party, rather it is a national problem. So every political party should have a common stand to fight it".

Koirala added that the country’s development has been obstructed by the so-called People’s War waged by the underground Maoists.

"This problem cannot be resolved with a single effort of any specific party. Let us form people’s local level security committees encompassing all political parties," PM Koirala said.

The proposed people’s security committees to be formed at village and urban level are to include cadres of all political parties and assisted by the police. He proposed that such committees should initially be formed in the Terai districts and later expanded to the hill districts.

PM Koirala claimed that the Maoist People’s War had no popular support and added, "People want development, not destruction." Koirala further pointed out that it was quite irrelevant to blame the government for not being able to ‘deliver the good’ to the people when the nation was facing shortage of resources.

He was of the view that the country’s development was heavily dependent on water resources, tourism and industry and reiterated that the government was committed towards the industrialisation of the nation.

PM Koirala said that the government had already issued directives to the Agriculture Development Banks to waive interest for loans up to Rs 30,000 taken by farmers. He also asked the banks to extend agricultural loans to the farmers at less than 10 per cent interest.

He also revealed that this year’s surplus food-grain would be utilised in the Integrated Development Programme, which will be implemented soon in the five Maoist-affected districts.

Addressing the function, Member of Parliament Surya Prasad Pradhan viewed that the national industrial exhibition being held in Butwal every year had made a significant contribution to the national economy.

The exhibition to end on December 30 is being participated in by 157 industrial establishments from across the country. Organisers hope to do business worth Rs 10 million and attract over two hundred thousand visitors.

Illegal construction still going on despite objections

By Razen Manandhar

LALITPUR, Dec 20 - The construction of a concrete building next to an ancient stupa is still going on despite protests by local people and objection raised by a concerned international heritage sites team.

It was because of such concrete buildings around the historical monuments that The World Heritage Site of Kathmandu Valley was nearly kept in the Heritage-in-Danger List in the UNESCO’s last international conference at Cairns, Australia.

Last week, a team of The International Campaign for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Kathmandu Valley (ICSCHKV) had also objected to the construction of the building near the ancient stupa site.

A local, Anil Rajbhandari, started constructing a concrete building on his land of plot no. 456 two weeks ago, which is just a metre away from the Ashoka Stupa, believed to be commissioned by the daughter of the 3rd century BC Indian Emperor Ashoka.

The land on which the building is being constructed was a public property some three decades ago and it also partly encroaches upon a 240-year old rest-house or pati too, the locals claim.

Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City (LSC) informed that, it approved the long-awaited building construction on the condition that any basement wouldn’t be made and the height also would not exceed 18 and a half feet.

But, architect and conservationist Prof Sudarshan Raj Tiwari said that the building would probably be much bigger than what the municipality has allowed. "The basement is being made now and the raft foundation is not necessary for a two or three storey building," he added.

He also said that building at that place would obviously disturb the ancient monument, which is already surrounded by ugly structures from all sides.

Shyam Maleku Shrestha, a local, said, "The building owner had faced several orders to stop construction in the past, whenever he tried to build it. But this time he finally came to the stage of actually building it."

Buddhist scholar Prof Asha Ram Shakya said that the area around the monument is rapidly being encroached upon. "Any such construction should be banned at a time when we all have to work together to conserve our heritage sites."

But Mayor Buddhi Raj Bajracharya claims that the building is being made under the criteria set by the municipal office. "We can’t stop any citizen from building house on his land so long he has the land ownership document."

Department of Archaeology (DoA) blames lack of efficient legal and legislative provisions to protect such monuments of historical and archaeological importance.

Director General of DoA, Riddi Baba Pradhan said, the department has no right to stop such constructions because the supposed 2300 years old monument has not been legally recorded as a historical monument yet. According to her, categorising of the monuments is essential before her department can take any action against such construction.

"We just attest the application for building permission, municipality is the body which approves it," she said.

Documents at LSC show that Rajbhandari got the permission in September 1999. The blue print of the building bears signatures of the mayor, executive officer, acting engineer and representative from DoA.

Defending the permission, acting engineer at LSC Map Approval Department, Badri Tamrakar said that LSC gave the nod to build the house because Rajbhadari had followed all the criteria and also had the permission from the DoA, which is vital in such a sensitive area.

Pro-Maoists meet in capital

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KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - Leaders of pro-Maoist organisations - All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary), All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) - said they would come up with harsher measures if the state continues "state terrorism" and uses force against them.

Speaking at a protest gathering jointly organised today by these three sister organisations of Nepal Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) at Mahendra Ratna Campus to "denounce" the killing of Gauri Sapkota, 24, in Chitwan last week, Umesh Sedhai, member of ANTUF said, "Till now, we have resorted to peaceful means of agitation. But, if the state opens fire at our peaceful meetings, we will be compelled to use arms".

"Where are their (state’s) laws, order and the Constitution? Are they following ‘their’ Constitution?" questioned Sedhai.

Sapkota, a law student, was shot dead when police opened fire at a meeting of ANWA (Rev) in Harikirtan Chowk, Bharatpur, Chitwan on December 9.

Addressing the gathering, Kalpana Dhamala, General Secretary of ANWA (Rev) questioned the legitimacy of Nepal’s commitments on international treaties and conventions on human rights. "The government is making fun of the Constitution and the multiparty democracy in the world," she said, adding, "we will be compelled to carry guns if the government does not stop extra-judicial killings".

General secretary of ANNFSU (Rev), Purna Paudel informed that ANNFSU (Rev) is going to form Swoyam Sevak Dal (student volunteers’ teams) to combat the state’s highhandedness.

US visa getting tougher as immigration mounts

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KATHMANDU, Dec 20 - If your visa application has ever been rejected here by the United States Embassy, have you ever wondered why such a decision was made?

As the number of immigrants heading for US is going off the roof, embassy officials here claim that they can explain all rejections. In most cases, they say, due to lack of "strong situation" convincing that the applicants are really returning back to their home country.

Talking to reporters, Paul M. Cantrell, consul here at the American Embassy, today said that it is "tricky and difficult" to issue visas in Nepal, where there is a tremendous desire to immigrate to the US.

Out of a total 13,000 applications in Nepal last year, almost half of them were approved to fly to the United States.

"We have found considerable amount of fraud involved so we have to be very very careful while issuing the visas," Cantrell said.

US Embassy has been in the spotlight ever since media reports highlighted its tough visa policies, rejecting visa even to Nepali women married to American green card holders. A man who needed urgent medical treatment too, was rejected a visa. The man’s story had even appeared in The Kathmandu Post.

"People requiring emergency medical treatment also have to overcome same sections of our visa laws as everyone does...We also have to evaluate if the patient can afford the treatment and does not require any public funding," said Cantrell.

In case of women who had married US green card holders but were rejected, Cantrell said that there was a certain "waiting period" involved before visas are issued in such cases.

"A legal permanent resident has a certain right to petition for the visa of their spouse. However, there is a certain waiting period as there are many people waiting elsewhere too," Cantrell said.

United States has been issuing two different types of visa, known as Immigrant Visa (IV) and non-immigrant Visa (NIV). IV is issued to ones who are pursuing to settle down in the US, while NIV is issued to the ones who want to go to the US for a limited time.

Recently, the more popular visa is the H1B, an IV type, which allows professionals to work in US companies.

But, what about the Nepalese students who have lived illegally in the US and are rejected when they re-apply for a visa to continue their studies after returning home?

"He wouldn’t get a visa if he re-applies for a visa being out-of-status. It would be unlikely that we’d issue another one," Cantrell said.

Reports say that there are some 5 million illegal immigrants in the US, including many Nepalis who had gone abroad for further studies. United States, so far, does not have any exit control laws, which would forcefully drive off illegal immigrants to their home country.