Govt  not cooperative: Deuba

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has alleged that the government has not been cooperating with the commission, formed to resolve Maoist insurgency, which he heads.

Deuba's statement to the closed-door Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party (NCPP) meeting was disclosed by Nepali Congress MPs here today.

Deuba reportedly demanded why the government had still not responded to the Maoist commander Prachanda's letter desiring dialogue with the government, which he passed to the government.

The MPs also mentioned that Deuba demanded clarification from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala regarding the later's comments on newspapers.  Some newspapers carried a report today quoting Koirala that the Committee already had the required mandate and nothing further was conceivable. The PM did not comment anything on Deuba's remarks in the meeting, sources said.

"I had not asked for any mandate," Deuba told The Kathmandu Post after the meet ended. "I don't know why the government is not responding to Prachanda's letter," Deuba added.

According to NCPP Secretary Benup Raj Prasai, the meeting decided to refer the loan deal with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Natural Resources Committee (NRC) to reach a solution.

It is learnt that Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya told his fellow ministers and party MPs about the possibility to disclose the details of the agreement with ADB if required.

Prasai said that the government was not against the disclosure of the deal but only wanted House of Representatives regulations to be followed in the matter. "If the House and NRC decide, the government will present the deal for discussion," said Prasai. However, he added that the House rules only require the government to inform about the issue and not necessarily hold a debate on it.

NRC has called a meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue. Lekhnath Acharya, chairman of NRC, said that his committee has already asked the concerned agency to furnish a copy of the agreement with ADB.

Prasai also added that the NCPP had informally decided to pass all the tabled bills and amendments in this session of the Parliament.

Accusing the main Opposition, CPN-UML of dual character on the Amendment to the Citizenship Act, Prasai said the Bill had earlier been passed with the support of CPN-UML and now the same party was opposing it. The Citizenship Bill has been rejected by the Upper House and was sent back to the Lower House, where the Bill is awaiting passage.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML's leader K.P. Oli told The Kathmandu Post that since the Bill had raised controversy, his party had suggested the government not to pass the Bill in haste.

According to Prasai the NCPP also committed to develop a clear cut idea about the power purchase agreement (PPA) with India before the Prime Minister's visit, and endorse it by simple majority.

7-member task force formed

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - A seven-member task force has been formed to submit a workplan after exploring ways to curb further hike in the price of electricity. The task force has been given a deadline of 45 days to submit the report.

The decision was taken by Minister for Water Resources Khum Bahadur Khadka Friday in the wake of mounting controversy that erupted after a 3.5 billion loan agreement between the government and Asian Development Bank last week.

Officials say ADB has asked the government to hike the price of electricity by up to 30 percent immediately and review the tariff every six months, besides asking NEA to put its Rate of Return at 6 percent and Self Financing Ratio at 23 percent.

The task force has been formed under the convenorship of Bidhya Nath Nepal, Executive Secretary at Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, according to Spokesman at the Ministry of Water Resources, Mahesh Man Shrestha.

Other members include, Director General at Department of Electricity Development Dr Kishor Babu Aryal, Keshar Bahadur Chand of WECS, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Officer-on-special duty at the Ministry Santa Bahadur Pun, representative of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Director of Finance at Nepal Electricity Authority Uttar Kumar Shrestha.

Govt-Oppn talks near ruins : Nepal

KATHMANDU, July 21(PR) - Leader of the Main Opposition Party Madhav Kumar Nepal today said that the on-going talks between the opposition parties and the government are on verge of ruin, dismissing government claims that it has made a major breakthrough in reaching an understanding with the opposition parties.

"The understanding is now on verge of ruin," CPN (UML) General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal told reporters at a joint press conference organized by the opposition parties at UML's Parliamentary Party Office, Singhadurbar. He refused to elaborate when asked for further comments.

The government formed a high level committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel to hold talks with the opposition parties a few month back after the Main Opposition party announced a series of protest programs, putting forth several demands.

The Poudel committee was holding talks with another committee formed under the convenorship of UML leader KP Oli until last month.

Nepal's comment came barely two days after DPM Poudel claimed to have made a major breakthrough in reaching understanding with the main opposition parties, specifically on corruption control, good governance, security measures and promotion of democratic norms, in a hurriedly convened press conference at PM's Baluwatar residence.

UML leaders today revealed that UML's Oli had sent a letter to the government asking DPM Poudel to furnish replies on the opposition demands "a few hours" before Poudel called the press conference Wednesday. The letter had a deadline of 24 hours.

Oli today said he has already received replies through another letter from Poudel. "We have received a well written letter," Oli told reporters, "but the intention is not good. Solid achievements should come out of the talks. We held talks (with the government), but felt no improvement is their attitude."

Trust to rescue Kamaiyas from financial crisis

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - The government will set up Kamaiya Welfare Trust to collect all the financial assistance provided by various organizations, Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddha Raj Ojha said here today.

Talking with The Kathmandu Post here Friday, Ojha said that the Trust will be headed by the presidents of the respective District Development Committees. The Trust will be responsible for channelling the funds provided for the rehabilitation of the Kamaiyas (bonded labours).

"The government has accorded top priority to rehabilitate the Kamaiyas," he said, without elaborating.

Following a landmark cabinet decision on Monday, the government decided to outlaw the practise of bonded labour which was existing in five district of the western regions--Dang, Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.

The government also decreed that those keeping bonded labours will be jailed for up to 10 years. According to non-governmental estimates there were about 200,000 Kamaiyas in the five western districts.

So far, the government has already expressed its commitment to frame a law eliminating the practice of bonded labour, besides pledging to launch skill development programs.

Minister Ojha did not divulge what the government was doing towards framing the law, but said Landless Squatters Problem Resolution Committee, too would be mobilized to rehabilitate the Kamaiyas who now have become landless literally.

Ojha's statement came a day after Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), one of the NGOs struggling to liberate Kamaiyas, publicly declared that "we are ready to provide any type of assistance and support in our command and authority to this campaign".

Nearly two dozen NGOs--both local and international--had joined hands in the peaceful movement aimed at liberating the Kamaiyas.

Ghimire, new Editor of Kantipur

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - Yubaraj Ghimire has been appointed as the editor of Kantipur daily, a sister publication of The Kathmandu Post, with effect from today.

Before joining Kantipur Publications, Ghimire worked as a programme producer for BBC Nepali Service, London.   He also served as an Associate Editor and columnist for Indian Express daily.

Yogesh Upadhaya, the outgoing Editor, will now work as Consultant Editor for the Publications that brings out five periodicals. Upadhaya will be continuing his position as Editor of Saptahik vernacular weekly and Sarvottam monthly.

In a brief program held at the head office of Kantipur Publications today, Chairman Hem Raj Gyawali welcomed and congratulated the new Editor.  He expressed hope that Kantipur would progress further under the new leadership.

Chairman Gyawali also praised the role of Yogesh Upadhaya for his contributions in the development and institutionalization of the publication.  He expressed confidence that Upadhaya would be as successful in his new role of Consultant Editor.

Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya said that the management had taken the decision of changing the Editor of Kantipur to provide a new dynamism to the Publication according to the changing time. MD Sirohiya also expressed his confidence that Kantipur would further enhance its commitment towards professional journalism under the leadership of the new Editor Yubaraj Ghimire.

Congratulating the new Editor, Upadhaya, the new Consultant Editor hoped that the new leadership would take the newspaper to newer heights.  He also pledged all his support to Ghimire.

Newly appointed Editor Ghimire expressed his gratitude to the Publications and outgoing Editor Upadhaya.  Despite a long experience in foreign media, Ghimire said that he would begin the new job from the scratch.  "I will give a new look to Kantipur and move ahead with a high spirit," he said.

Ghimire was born in Ramche village, Manjang of Lamgunj district and migrated later to Chitwan.  He began his career as a journalist in 1982 with Indian news agency UNI.  He holds a Master's degree in Sociology from Patna University.

Ghimire was Special Correspondent from Patna for The Telegraph English daily of Calcutta. In 1992 he became Special Correspondent of India Today magazine.

In 1995 Ghimire became Assistant Editor of Outlook weekly for three years.  He has also contributed for various Indian magazines like Sunday, Rabibar, Frontline etc.  His articles have also appeared   in The Independent of England and Strait Times of Singapore.

Oppn to stall House until ADB accord made public

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - Five opposition parties today announced that they are going to stall the house proceedings as long as the government fails to provide the details of the agreement reached between the government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the House.

At a press conference organised by the opposition parties today, leader of the main opposition CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that their demand for the details of the agreement was in accordance with the regulations of the Parliament and that they would continue  stalling the parliamentary session on Monday, when the house is scheduled to meet next.

"The government is complying to any conditions put forward by foreigners," said Nepal. "The people are being slapped with whatever the price increase the foreigners demand."   

The five parties -- CPN-UML, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, National Peoples Front and United Peoples Front (UPF) are demanding details on the loan conditions put forth by the ADB that would lead to hike in electricity tariff.

The House proceedings has been stalled for the last two days.

Yesterday a truce between the opposition and the government had been reached to let the house proceedings go on without interruption when the Minister for Water Resources Khum Bahadur Khadka agreed to pledge in the House that the electricity tariff would not be hiked. The truce, however, broke instantly after Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya refused to give copies of the agreement saying that it was not possible to hand out copies of each agreements reached by the government to the lawmakers.

"The ruling party is of the opinion that the agreement reached by the government and ADB cannot be provided to the Parliament as it is not according to the law, where as the regulation of the House of Representatives permits the ministers to furnish the details of the agreement," said Subash Nemwang, CPN-UML MP.

According to House of Representatives Regulations, any minister has to make the report or agreement available to the House if he quotes or gives a preview of a signed agreement or report. But if the agreement or reports can have adverse effect to National Security or is against the national interest, it does not have to be made public.

"We have continuously demanded the government to make the agreements and the conditions giving rise to price hike public. The government is just mum over all this," said Leelamani Pokharel, UPF MP. "People have a right to know why the prices are being raised."

A loan agreement of US $ 50 million (Rs 3.52 billion) for Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was reached between the government and  ADB last Thursday. According to the loan conditionalities, the government is required to hike the price of electricity by 30 percent immediately and review it every six months.

Only last year, the government hiked the price of electricity  up to 30 percent which currently costs Rs 6.50 per unit on an average which even officials admit makes Nepal's electricity price the costliest in the world.

Reports of irregularities over rural electrification project

By a Post Reporter

            KATHMANDU, July 21 - The rural electrification project that is being blamed for possible hike in electricity tariff is hitting new controversies with reports of irregularities while appointing a consultant for the Detailed Design Survey.

            Rural Electrification and Distribution System Enforcement Project (REDSEP) had appointed the government-owned Nepal Engineering Consultancy Service Center (NEPECON) to conduct the study in 37 districts of eastern, central, western and mid-western development regions without calling for tender bids.

            "The regulations require that tender be called before awarding a contract or appointing a consultant and the lowest bidder is awarded. But since it was not done like that there has been irregularities here," lawmaker for the main opposition CPN-UML Pradeep Gyawali said.

            The consultant is being paid Rs. 41.6 million to draw up the plans for electrification in these districts and should complete work by the end of the current fiscal year that ends in next July.

            "There has been no irregularities here. It is because of the time bound by the donor agency and within the clause of regulations we appointed the consultant," REDSEP Project Manager Ganesh Prasad Raj told The Kathmandu Post.

            Raj said that the clause in Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)'s Financial and Administration Articles allows appointing a consultant which has over 50 percent ownership of the government or NEA without calling for tender bids and through negotiations only.

            NEPECON has already begun work in four districts -- Sunsari, Tanahu, Sindhuli and Dang -- one district each from the four development zones and to represent both the plains and hilly districts.

            Raj said Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials who visited Nepal in January this year had set conditions that the work on the study would begin by April and that was one of the reasons why the consultants had to be appointed in a haste.

            Initially the project had selected only 22 districts but earlier this year another 15 were added to the 25 schemes in the initial districts.

            Another point raised by MP Gyawali was that since ADB had already done an initial survey there was not need to spend such amount in a new study.

            However, Raj said that the Project Preparation Technical Assistant, a consultant, appointed by ADB is paid for by the bank and does not include in the total cost of the project.

            ADB had paid US$ 450,000 to New Zealand-based Worley international for the primary work that was completed in March last year.

            Representatives of ADB and the Finance Ministry had signed a US dollar 50 million (around Rs 3.5 billion) loan last week to fund rural electrification and power sector reform programs under the government's Eighth Power Project.

            NEA officials later admitted that the conditions set by ADB could lead to hike in tariff by 30 percent that has managed to trigger uproar from both the public and in the Parliament.

            Last year, the government hiked the price of electricity up to 30 percent, of which 25 percent was for Industrial purposes and 30 percent for general consumers.

Govt-Maoists talks futile: Minister Hamal

By a Post Reporter

BHADRAPUR (Jhapa), July 21 - It will be a futile attempt to hold talks with the Maoists as they are involved in acts of terrorism, State Minister of Labour and Transport Management Surendra Hamal said here today.

"Though the government has formed (Sher Bahadur) Deuba Commission to hold talks with the Maoist leaders, I personally see no ground for holding talks," Hamal said.

He was speaking at a programme organized in this far-eastern Terai hub to mark the 18th Biseshwor Prasad Koirala (BP) Memorial Day.

Hamal, a lawmaker from a Maoist affected district of Rolpa, further said the Maoist insurgents are busy terrorising people, and added, "Only the wearer knows the pinch of shoes".

"Maoists have unleashed a reign of terror in the mid-western hills much as the people in this district were troubled during the time of naxalites (ultra leftists) movement in the late sixties," he added.

Addressing the function, State Minister for Industry and Commerce Narendra Bikram Nemwang, reiterated the government's commitment that it was committed to peace and security, good governance and corruption control.

Expelled workers close godowns

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, July 21 - The agitation staged by the expelled workers of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) today took a fresh turn after they closed down all godowns of the country's only international airport.

"We have closed down all the godowns for indefinite period since the government has failed to heed our just demands," said Kedar Nath Dahal, General Secretary of Nepal Custom and Airport Labourers Union.

For the last 70 days, the Union has been protesting the government move to sack 297 employees staffed at TIA after the Christmas-eve hijacking of Indian Airlines plane, IC-814.

The Union leader has also warned to take "stern moves" if the government continues to ignore their demands, which among others include, reinstatement of the sacked staff hired on daily wage basis.

SC orders for House records

KATHMANDU, July 21 (PR)- The Supreme Court has issued an order to present a tape record of a recent deliberation in the House of Representatives which had seen lawmakers speaking against the verdict of the Special Election Court Lalitpur.

A single bench court of Justice Top Bahadur Singh today issued the order while hearing on petition filed by Advocate Rabi Raj Bhandari. Bhandari filed a petition at the Court claiming the deliberations on June 28 in the Lower House had some statements that attempted to defame the Court.

The petition was against Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat, Main Opposition Party Leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (UML) lawmakers, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Rajendra Prasad Pandey and Sher Dhan Rai, and the publisher and the Editor of Kantipur daily, the sister publication of this newspaper.

The Special Election Court Patan on June 27 declared RPP candidate Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani elected from Nuwakot-1 with a margin of only one vote, removing UML lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lohani from the Parliament.

CPN-ML sit-in at Indian embassy

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU,July 21 - Activists of All Nepal National Free Students' Union (ANNFSU) and other organizations affiliated to CPN-ML today staged a sit-in in front of the Indian Embassy protesting against India-built controversial Laxmanpur barrage near Indo-Nepal border.

A protest letter was also presented to the Indian government. The protest letter, addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, demands that the Indian government demolish the barrage and start "technical reforms" immediately in the inundated areas.

India started to construct the barrage on Rapti river in 1981 and completed it in 1985. The afflux bund and newly built embankments near the Indo-Nepal border pillar in the mid-western Terai district of Banke have started to inundate at least half-a-dozen villages on the Nepali side.

The embankment has completely inundated five VDCs of Nepal--Bihatani, Holia, Fatehpur, Gangapur and Mateiya. The inundation has so far displaced 9,957 families and destroyed 1,723 houses and a number of school buildings, temples and health posts, reports say.

The letter also states that four other VDCs -- Narayanpur, Katkniya, Talphant and Laxmanpur -- are on the verge of "imminent submersion".     

"The attitude of the Indian government towards Nepal has always been problematic," reads the letter with reference to "unequal treaties" like Indo- Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 and the "secret treaty" of 1965.