Bhutan delegation arrives for crucial round of talks

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Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola(R) and his Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Y Thinley having conversation after the latter's arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday.

KATHMANDU, Dec 24 - If the bonhomie shown by the Foreign Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan on Sunday is anything to go by, then the possibility of a breakthrough during the Tenth round of ministerial level talks is real.

But false hopes have been raised many times before, and it is still an open question whether the same camaraderie will carry over between the two leaders when they sit down to begin difficult negotiations tomorrow.

The three-day official talks is beginning Monday at Shital Niwas, that houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Bhutanese delegation led by its Foreign Minister Jigme Y Thinley arrived today for the talks.

"We are expecting a Christmas breakthrough," said Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chakra Prasad Bastola, just minutes before Druk Air, carrying the Bhutanese team, landed at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday. "It is high time for a breakthrough. We’ve put in a lot of our time and energy for an amicable resolution (for the repatriation of the refugees)."

Bastola expressed the hope that Bhutan would respect international urging to resolve the vexed refugee imbroglio amicably. He added that the atmosphere for the talks was getting better.

Echoing the same sentiment, his Bhutanese counterpart Thinley, after ending his courtesy call on Bastola at Shital Niwas, said: "An atmosphere of cordiality and friendship has been established. That is what will enable the kind of progress we hope to be able to achieve."

Earlier, at an impromptu meet with the press at the airport, Foreign Minister Thinley said Nepal and Bhutan, "close neighbours...and the children of the Himalayas are engaged in a very constructive dialogue to solve a common problem". Thinley added that both the sides would endeavour to find a mutually satisfying solution.

On Bhutan’s reaction to the recent US proposal on the verification process for the repatriation of the refugees, Thinley declined to make any categorical comment. He said the visit of the two US assistant secretaries to Nepal and Bhutan was a last farewell courtesy call of the outgoing Clinton administration. The issues discussed with the US were, said Thinley, UN reforms, American policy towards South Asia and of course, "the problems of the people in refugee camps in eastern Nepal".

Insisting that the two countries were engaged in bilateral talks on the issue, the Bhutanese foreign minister said that they were open to suggestions from their well-wishers. "We will see whether the (US) proposal will come up for discussion during the current talks."

He denied that the US delegation have threatened to lobby the multi-lateral donor agencies to divert international aid from Bhutan to the (seven) refugee camps in Nepal if Bhutan did not shed its dilly-dallying tactics to resolve the repatriation issue. "It will be very interesting as to what I will have to say on this subject after our talks conclude."

Thinley also did not elaborate on media reports about Bhutan’s acceptance of the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the verification and repatriation process. He merely said, "Let us see." On the verification process, the most crucial factor in the Nepal-Bhutan talks and arguably the single-most issue to decide the success or failure of the present round of talks, Thinley said "we talked about beginning the verification process, the beginning of the end to the problem", referring to his talks with Bastola during today’s courtesy call.

Meanwhile, three refugee bodies called for the inclusion of the representatives of the refugees, UNHCR and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Tenth ministerial level talks. Two of them said they would organise a sit-in of the refugees tomorrow at Shital Niwas to press for their demands, that includes invitation to Tek Nath Rizal as the head of the refugee delegation. Rizal, the leader of the Bhutanese political opposition, was released from prison in Bhutan a year ago.

GAESO to internationalise its movement

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KATHMANDU, Dec 24 - The Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO), which has been spearheading a controversial battle for pension parity in the British Army, today announced that it will host an international human rights convention in Pokhara next year to "internationalize" its movement and press the British government to address the plight of the Gurkhas.

The GAESO announcement came today, exactly a year after the British government announced an increment of minimum 100 per cent in the pension being drawn by former British Gurkha soldiers on Dec 24 last year. GAESO has been maintaining that the hike in the British Gurkha pension is "still unfair" and does not quite clarify the status of the Gurkhas in the British Army.

The convention, slated to be attended by major international rights groups, will be held on March 9, 10 and 11 next year. The Pokhara convention is being held prior to the international human rights meet in Geneva, GAESO officials said.

"We plan to raise the issue of wide discrimination within the British Army at the international arena," said Padam Bahadur Gurung, president of GAESO, to reporters today. "Even the tri-partite agreement (between Nepal, India and Britain), which the British Army has been always pegging to not increase the pension of the Gurkha soldiers, is against major international conventions on equal opportunity signed by Nepal, Britain and India."

The British government maintains that according to the tri-partite agreement signed by the three countries in 1947, the remuneration of Gurkhas employed by the British Army is pegged against the Indian Army’s Pay Code so as not to adversely affect Nepali recruitment in the Indian Army.

Gurung also flayed the British government for "hiding vital information" on Gurkha soldiers who had served under the British Army during the World Wars, saying "Britian wants to shy away from the compensation money they have to grant to the Gurkhas who have fought for them."

Only recently, Britain sidelined Gurkha soldiers, who were held as Prisoners-of-War (POWs) by the Japanese during the Second World War, from the compensation of 10,000 pounds it announced for their British counterparts. The data of exact number of Gurkha POWs has not been provided by Britain so far.

According to Gurung, GAESO will also be gathering some 200 handicapped Gurkha war veterans in the Pokhara convention from across the country who had served the British but have never even received pension. GAESO has been accusing the British of sending back many Gurkha soldiers after the World Wars, with only money enough for their transportation back home, and even denying proper medical expenses and pension.

Gurung even claimed that five such living war veterans whose bullet had not even been extracted out from their body had attended the preparatory meet for the March convention held in Pokhara last week.

Speaking on the occasion, Hiranya Lal Shrestha, a leftist leader now aligned with the CPN-ML, accused both Britain and Nepal for not addressing the Gurkha issue properly.

A few years ago, Shrestha, when he was the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee, had prepared a report recommending the government to resolve the pension disparity issue diplomatically with Britain.

He was with the CPN-UML then.

Since the last couple of years, Ex-Gurkhas have been demanding payment for those dismissed from service, pension payment at par with their British counterparts, better employment opportunities for their children, and right to British residential visa.

Its other three demands include setting up a Gurkha Welfare Fund to assist children of Gurkha soldiers and their families and equal treatment for in-service Gurkhas.

PM Koirala favours leadership handover

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BIRATNAGAR, Dec 24 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) is amending its constitution to bring the younger generation to the leadership position.

"I myself want to hand over the leadership to the younger generation," said Koirala while talking to party’s general convention members and representatives from the eastern development region as a part of his campaign for the upcoming party elections. Koirala is contesting for party presidency with former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who is backed by Koirala’s rival Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Koirala said that the trend of appointing people to powerful positions has ended in the party. "Look at my and Kishunji’s age. We should retire and then it is your turn," Koirala told his partyworkers. "The younger generation has to be patient till then."

Koirala, who came to power in March by deposing his friend-turned-foe Bhattarai with a promise that he would restore the situation of law and order, stem out corruption and provide good governance today said that he is looking for national consensus in these issues. He further said that various conspiracies were going on to fail him in his endeavours. He did not elaborate on who was playing the "games".

Meanwhile, the rebel camp of the party is preparing to file a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

"We have majority against the Prime Minister and we will be filing the no-trust motion soon," a leader of the dissident group said. He, however, failed to specify the date or the number of lawmakers the rebel camp has on its side.

Permission likely to scale Mt Machhapuchhre

KATHMANDU, Dec 24 (PR) - After a four-decade-long ban, government is likely to grant permission to mountaineers to scale Mount Machhapuchhre again.

According to Sankar Koirala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, the government has been doing its homework on opening more peaks for climbing and Machhapuchhre is in the list.

It was in 1956 that for the first time, route mapping was done for this peak which stands 6,696 meters tall. The local Gurung community, then, had opposed to any expedition that tried to climb their sacred Mountain. They had said that the mountain was abode to their God of livestock, so no untouchable, egg, poultry or woman could pass over it.

In 1957, expedition led by British Colonel Jim Robert had tried to scale the peak for the first-time ever despite the local’s protest. But, the expedition had to be abandoned just 150 meters short of the peak due to bad weather. Environmentalist and former minister for Tourism Dr Harka Gurung agrees that the permission to climb the mountain should be granted.

Gurung sees no reason for this peak to remain closed for climbing. Speaking to The Kathmandu Post after a function held here, he said, "The British expedition had demanded that the peak be closed after they failed to scale it. But, there is no such religious constraints to deny permission to climb the mountain."

From garbage to cooking gas: A solution for Kathmandu?

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Dec 24 – Tucked away in the filing cabinets of a dingy room within the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation’s building is a mountain of files, some of them gathering dust for years.

In those files, some say, are solutions to the capital city’s growing garbage disposal problem. Small-time entrepreneurs, garage inventors, and even some cranky types have all put forth varying proposals to KMC to rid the city of its perennial garbage problem.

But KMC, a huge bureaucracy as it is, has yet to sort out the genuine from the cranky. Dozens of proposals are lying there awaiting some sort of a decision.

A small outfit calling itself Social Environment and Engineering Concern (SEECON) also plans to put forth a proposal to KMC if only the metropolitan authorities show some interest. The outfit claims to have developed a new, easy and inexpensive technique which helps households turn everyday kitchen waste and other biodegradable garbage into cooking gas.

Sanjeev Bajracharya, SEECON’s managing director, even claims that the technology is inexpensive and can be set up by individual households without much of a fuss.

One would imagine that any such proposal to rid Kathmandu of its perennial problem would be welcomed by KMC, whose main responsibility is to keep the capital clean and healthy. But not so, it seems.

Shyam Chitrakar, the member of KMC’s body for solid waste management said that many such proposals are awaiting decisions in the KMC office. "But we have not yet decided how to make use of them," he said.

While SEECON awaits a green signal, it is continuing with its research. "Our laboratory tests were successful and now an experiment on a larger scale is going on in a suburb of Kathmandu Valley," Bajracharya said.

SEECON claims that all it requires to install such small gas plants in the backyard are equipments worth Rs 10,000 as a one-time cost.

A simple mechanism of a cement Hume pipe, an outlet with tight lid with an inlet in the lid, a steering rod and pipelines to deliver the gas into the kitchen, is all that is required. All these can be fitted into a one square metre space in the kitchen backyard, Bajracharya said.

An ordinary family of 6 members produces 3.32 kg of organic garbage which is enough for the plant. Gas formation from the garbage starts within three days, but one has to wait for 42 days to accumulate gas enough to use in the kitchen stove.

"Anything you leave in the kitchen and garden will be useful," says Bajracharya. "You just need to keep plastic, glass and metal away. And you keep steering the plant daily -- that would generate sufficient amount of cooking gas you need for a family."

The plant owner has to add garbage from top and at the same time, he also has to clean out the used-garbage residue from the bottom outlet. The residue can also be used as manure.

The technique sounds attractive, but only if KMC allows it to proceed. The KMC collects about 350 metric tonnes of garbage each day, 70 percent of it comprising of organic waste – a plentiful supply for the gas plants.

Bajracharya is expecting helping hands form municipalities in this field. "Municipalities should take initiative to collect the sludge from individual plants and transform it into manure," he said.

Shanta Ram Pokharel, chief of KMC’s Environment Section said that KMC should welcome such proposals without delay for solution of garbage has become one of the major problems of the metropolis. "KMC has been in search of any such technology which uses garbage as source of energy. It should take advantage of this technology."

Two sides of Karnali river severed as broken bridge lies unattended

By Gunaraj/ Harihar/ Kashichand

RENGILGHAT, Kailkot, Dec 24 - Navin Bam does not go to school these days. He spends his time playing around not because he hates going to school but the Maoists have made it impossible for him to reach there.

Navin , 13, used to study in class six at Shankar Lower-Secondary School situated at the other side of Karnali River from his village. "I want to go to school. But there is no bridge. I cannot cross the river," says he.

Just a day ahead of their attacks on Kotbaada Area Police Station on Nov 29, Maoist rebels had pulled down the suspension bridge that linked 17 Village Development Committees with the headquarters of this remote hill district in the Mid-west for the last 23 years.

Daily life of this district has been severely affected after the Maoists pulled down the suspension bridge and local people hold the insurgents responsible for the added inconvenience in their lives.

Poor students are staying in their homes, children of comparatively rich parents have already sent their children to schools down in Terai district. Locals of this small bazaar on the banks of Karnali River say at least five children from this bazaar have left for Kailali in the Terai.

According to Sumitra Shahi, a teacher at Karnali Primary School, at least thirty students from both sides of the Karnali River of this small bazaar have been deprived of their classes. Some of the school children were witness to the fall down of the bridge. The terrifying sound of the fall of the bridge had frightened them.

Mohan Bir Shahi, 58, of Rengilghat who returned to his village at the other side of the river after his treatment in city with his son and daughter-in-law was waiting for his turn to cross the river by hanging on a pully fixed on thick iron rope. Even brave youths shivered at the dangers involved in such a feat simply to cross the river.

"We would have repaired the bridge on our own and would not wait for the government to start the work, but the Maoists did not allow us," says Shahi.

Gorakh Bahadur Bam, an employee of the Land Revenue office said, "The Maoists have taken the pulling down of this bridge, the lifeline of this district, as a demonstration of their strength." He was returning from his house in Ramnakot which is three days walk from the district headquarters.

Maoists have lost some sympathy gained from local women by banning

liquor and gambling by destroying this bridge considered as the lifeline of the district. Says a local woman of Manma-5, Siala, "They have done a grave mistake by destroying the bridge. I would say that even if they would put a knife at my throat."

Carpet exporters worried

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KATHMANDU, Dec 24 - Manufacturers and the exporters of the woollen handmade carpet have urged the government to take timely initiative to arrest the declining trend in the export of the carpet.

In fiscal year 1998/99, Nepal exported 2,604,475.87 square meter of woollen carpet, which went down to 2509452.43 square meters in the fiscal year 1999/2000 and the export figure of first five months of the current fiscal year is also not very encouraging.

Officials of Central Carpet Industries Association (CCIA), at a press meet organized today, expressed apprehension that, even if the export rises in the remaining months of the current fiscal year, it is unlikely to match the quantity exported last fiscal year.

They were much worried about the competitiveness of the Nepalese handmade woollen carpets than the current down turn seen in the business. Since we are a landlocked country and have to import raw materials from abroad, our production cost naturally goes higher than that of our neighbouring countries, they said.

The strike has halted the import of raw materials and the export of finished products which has caused an estimated loss of Rs 100 million till today, according to Ashok Kumar Murarka, second vice president of Industry Association of Morang.

Though we have not calculated the exact loss caused by the bandh, it has seriously affected the garment industry, he said.

Meanwhile, Merchants Association Morang, issuing a press release today, asked the government to immediately restore law and order as the bandh has not only affected the commerce and industry but is also creating a feeling of terror and insecurity among the general public.

A clash between the local bus operators and the local students regarding the bus fare four days ago has spilled into the four days long closure. The riot-police still remain on alert at various sensitive parts of the city and neighbouring localities to avert any possible untoward incidents

Shikhar-Beat Contest wraps up

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KATHMANDU, Dec 24 - The Annual Shikhar Beat Contest closed its gala show in the capital today, declaring The Mystic Band as the Best Band of the Year among 20 contesting Nepali Bands.

A large number of audience enjoyed the event. The enrapture vibe among the audience could not be watered down despite the interruptions attempts by few hooligans.

The contest began yesterday and was aimed at promoting new musical Nepali Bands. The Cannons and The Slaabs were declared as the first and second runners-up in the contest.

Likewise, The Best Tone, which bagged the award for best rhythm guitarist, took home the Best Lyrics award too.

The vocalist of Prerna Samuha, lead guitarist of The Axe Band, bass guitarist of The Mrityunjay Band and the drummer of The Cannons were given separate awards for their individual efforts and performances. Neo Akriti got the prize for the Best Composition.

"These programmes should be held more often...It encourages women to come up in the public to display their talent," said Rashmi Singh, vocalist of The Cannons after the event, who was one of few female artists participating in the contest.

Much to the dissatisfaction of many, The Sparkle, the country’s first all-girls band, had to return home empty handed, though their performance took the crowd by storm.

The contest, organised by Vogue Advertisement & Event Management, carried a cash prize of Rs. 75,000 for the winner. Likewise, 1st and 2nd runners-up were awarded Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 20,000 each. The individual prize winners took home Rs. 6,000 each.

Around 20 musical bands were selected from some 80 applicants from across the country to contest in the two-day final event held in the capital, organisers said.

5 left student wings announce protest programmes

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KATHMANDU, Dec 24 - Five student wings of left parties of Nepal, today, announced a series of protest programmes aimed at "abolishing all educational anomalies".

All Nepal National Free Students Union (Revolutionary) - the student wing of underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), CPN-ML associated ANNFSU, CPN-UML associated ANNFSU, CPN-Masal associated ANNFSU and ANNFSU (2022) - a student wing of CPN (Unity Centre), today, announced their protest programmes.

At a press conference organised today, the organisers said, they would submit a 14-point demand to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Wednesday.

According to the organisers, they will carry out the publicity campaign from December 30 to January 13, 2001.

Their other programmes include - submitting demand paper to each District Education Office on January 8, organising regional mass gatherings in Biratnagar, Jhapa, Rajbiraj, Janakpur, Chitwan, Pokhara, Baglung, Butwal, Dang, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar on January 22 and unfurling black flags in all boarding schools on January 30.

The organisers have warned that they will organise other protest programmes for indefinite period if the government fails to fulfil their demands.

They have demanded that the government bring all private schools under government control and free secondary level education.

The other demands include - rolling back the decision to phase out intermediate level, making Sanskrit optional, annulling the existing national anthem, stopping the unfavourable agreements with international donors including World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund.