DNC’s split will not affect Bhutanese movement: say leaders

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BHADRAPUR, Jhapa, Aug 10 - Bhutanese refugee leaders continue to reiterate their commitments towards the decade old Bhutanese movement despite the split in Druk National Congress (DNC), one of the Bhutanese parties in exile fighting for their rights.

The DNC split recently after the party’s prominent leaders parted ways over intra-party democracy functioning.

Some of the central committee members dismissed DNC President Rongthong Kunley Dorji and appointed Vice-Chairman Chheku Dukpa to the post due to internal political conflict and row. Dorji who was long imprisoned in Delhi, India but conditionally released later remains Delhi bound by court orders.

The DNC’s new leader Dukpa said that his party was interested to build a United Front with other Bhutanese political parties in exile. In view of the growing differences between the two factions, there exist a tug of war over the control of the Kakarvitta, Jhapa and Silguri, India based party offices. Both the splinters claim of having wide supports within the refugees population.

Chairman of the Bhutan People’s Party (BPP) RK Budhathoki said that though the dispute was purely an internal matter of the DNC, it would in no way affect the refugee movement for repatriation to their homeland in dignity.

Budhathoki said that all the Bhutanese parties will come together to build a united front to accelerate towards the repatriation of refugees. He added that a joint draft report was being prepared to pave way for the creation of United Front on consensus basis.

Govt liberal to Maoists says PM

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The government has become liberal towards the Maoists and is committed to solve the six-year-old Maoist insurgency to declare the country a peaceful nation again said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Friday.

Speaking at an all-party discussion programme on "Government-Maoist Talks-Expectations and Concerns of Civil Society" organised by Democratic Rights Protection Movement, Nepal, Prime Minister Deuba said that the force of civil society has a significant role to play at this hour to bring the Maoists to the negotiating table.

He further said that the present cease-fire has created a congenial atmosphere and a very positive situation for holding talks with the Maoists.

"I have said the government has become liberal and they (Maoists) also need to be liberal," Deuba re-iterated adding, "That’s the beauty of democracy."

Various leaders of political parties, Member of Parliaments, representatives of human rights group, teachers and academicians had daylong discussions on the possible agenda between the government and the Maoists in the upcoming talks.

The discussions focussed on the 40-point-demand particularly about the amendments to the constitution, installation of all-party interim government and republican system of governance pushed by the underground Communist Party of Nepal, CPN (Maoist) six years ago.

The speakers urged the government to keep the expectations and concerns of the civil society in the agenda before taking a groundbreaking decision with the Maoists for a lasting solution in the interest of the masses.

Bam Dev Gautam, General Secretary of CPN-ML, Narayanman Bijukchhe of Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, Leela Mani Pokhrel of United People’s Front, Pashupati Shumsher JBR of RPP, Chakra P. Bastola and Rajeshwor Devkota were also present on the occasion.

Swinging Lord Krishna beacons women in green

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The month of Shrawn (July 16- August 16) is coming to an end. Along with the month, festivals and fasting too are come to an end.

Among the many religious occasions, Krishna Jhula (swing) is one celebration held during the month in most of the shrines dotted through out the Terai belt in Nepal and in the northern parts of India. The best of the known places are Ram Mandir in Janakpur, Nepal and Vrindaban and Ayodhya in India. A large numbers of devotees gather at these places to participate in the Krishna Jhula procession.

It is mostly the women who participate in the procession. They bedeck themselves in jewellery and fineries. Green coloured cloths and bangles are preferred. And a green tika on the forehead is the most necessary and important thing during the procession.

"It is believed that Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha played on the Jhula in the jungle of Vrindaban," said Brahmin priest Arjun Prasad Rimal, 28, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit from Ayodhya, India and has been participating in the procession for the past five years. "The festival is usually held during the rainy season and month of Shrawn because it is presumed that Radha and Lord Krishna played on the Jhula during the same month," adds Rimal.

Tells another Brahmin, Pandit Narayan Prasad Rimal that in the month of Shrawn greenery abounds everywhere and that’s why the participants of Jhula procession also use green colour.

Before the procession begins a decorative Jhula is readied. Green leaves and fringe bordered dresses are used to decorate the Jhula. And delicious food and sweets are specially prepared as offerings to the God.

The portraits of Radha and Krishna are placed on the highly decorated Jhula and worshiped. A large number of women gather to hear the story of Lord Krishna and sing devotional songs.

The mass gathered for the occasion swing the Jhula one by one in full excitement all the while singing devotional songs.

"The Jhula procession is described in the religious Hindu book ‘Shrimad Bhagwatpuran’," tells Brahmin Arjun Rimal.

"Radha ra Krishna Jhuleko Sanjhi,

Samasta Jhuleko,

Birsera sara Bahiri Lila’

Pravuma Bhuleko"

(Remembering Radha and Krishna swinging on Jhula,

everything else too swings,

forgetting of all physical existence,

Lord (we) are lost in you.)

"This gives the true picture of what Jhula really means," tells Brahmin Arjun Rimal. It is believed that participating in the procession one can feel the presence of God and get peace of mind says Anju, a housewife participating in the procession.

Biratnagar campus locked over corruption issue

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MORANG, Aug 10 - The University Teachers’ Association Campus Unit, Biratnagar has locked up the Mahendra Morang Adarsha Multiple Campus, Thursday, accusing the Campus Chief of indulging in various corruption cases.

Except for the ongoing examinations, all classes and administrative works have been closed down after the campus was locked.

Chairman of the Campus Unit, Bhakti Prasad Poudel said the institution would not open unless the Tribhuvan University administration took actions against Campus Chief, Dr. Upendra Koirala.

A high-level probe committee headed by Dr. Suryamani Adhikari last year had submitted a report on alleged corruption practices after the teachers obstructed educational activities alleging the Campus Chief’s involvement on such irregularities.

The Unit chairman Poudel said that even after the probe committee found Campus Chief Koirala indulging in corruption he was still continued to hold on to such a responsible post.

Koirala, however, refuted all the allegations labelled against him and said that the teachers were prejudice toward him and they themselves were responsible for creating the unhealthy atmosphere in the campus.

The Campus Chief claimed that whatever the charges were labelled against him have already been settled.

Meanwhile, the Free Students Union and other members of the association have appealed to the Unit to open the institution and resume classes.

US DV-2003 lottery in October

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (PR) - Registration for the United States of America’s next Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery (DV-2003) will take place again in October this year, states a press release issued by American Center, Embassy of the United States, today.

Applications must include all of the information requested in the DV instructions, and must be received between noon on October 1, 2001 and noon on October 31, 2001.

There is no special application form required to enter the DV lottery, and no fee is charged to enter. The selection of winners is made at random and no outside service can improve an applicant’s chances of being chosen or guarantee that an entry will win.

Biodiversity status shows improving trend

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - A recent study conducted to find out the Bio-diversity Status of Nepal in the protected area shows improving trend.

The socio-economic condition of people is getting better. Other issues like wildlife conservation, alternative energy promotion, institutional capacity building and public participation which has direct relation with the protected area resource also shows its improving trend.

Result came out after the Nepal Biodiversity Landscape Project(NBLP) conducted bio-diversity assessment survey in Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area(MBNPCA) ,Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Project(KCAP) and Bardia-Suklaphanta (Royal Bardia National Park and Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve) sector while result was publicly declared amid National Stakeholder’s Consultation Meeting organised here today.

His Majesty’s Government initiated NBLP with the support from UNDP, GEF and NEDA with its aim to realise a more effective marriage between conservation and sustainable development.

MBNPCA is famous for its diverse climate and wide range of bio-diversity. A 34 different types of highly priced medicinal species that are found in this area make this place unique.

Similarly, Kanchanjunga, a famous mountainous range in the Taplejung district that runs from 700 meter altitude to over 3000 meter has a good potential for eco-tourism and wildlife corridor.Besides, the area can also prove to be a promising source for foreign exchange earnings.

In the same way,the biggest Terai protected area, Royal Bardia National Park(RBNP) is one of the most important parks for habitat conservation and protection of endangered subtropical species. The Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (RSWR) also deserves its importance for corridor linkage and connectivity.

Raising the issues on corridor and connectivity concept, leading soil conservationist Dr Shiva Hari Achet urged to find out the importance of these concepts in the field level also. Several foresters, resource managers and conservationists also participated in the discussion programme.

Call to eliminate gender inequality

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - A South Asia Symposium on girl children was participated by twenty-six girls and five boys from six South Asian countries,states the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) in the capital today.

A press briefing was held to brief on A Call for Partnership and Action meet held at Rawalpindi, Pakistan on July 23-25. The symposium which was jointly organised by ROSA and the Pakistan UNICEF Country Office was participated by Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal.

"We primarily focused on how these young girls and boys feel about problems like gender inequality and child marriages along with their opinions and ideas on matters related to child rights and girl’s education" says Kiran Bhatia, Regional Protection and Gender Adviser, UNICEF, ROSA.

Anjan Ghimire and Sabita Lama, who represented Nepal at the symposium, shared their experiences and expressed disbelief when they learned that in Pakistan even small girls are not allowed to expose their faces or talk freely with boys. "At least here we are not barred for such things," Anjan said.

For Sabita Lama, the symposium has encouraged her to be more responsible and strong. "It is not just us but all over South Asia that girls are not treated equally. Now I am more ready to work for this cause." The symposium called for the support of men to end all forms of discrimination against girls and to recognise girls as equal partners.

Japanese support for sericulture promotion

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (PR) - The Embassy of Japan in Nepal has decided to provide financial assistance of US$ 39,450 equivalent to NRs 2,945,000 during Japan’s FY 2001 to the Society for Action and Research for Sustainable Development (SOARS) under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Development Projects (GDP) scheme of the Government of Japan, states a press release issued from Embassy of Japan, today.

SOARS will utilize the assistance to implement the project for Rural Development Support to promote sericulture in Nepal.

The grant will be used to procure sericultural equipment, including spray pumps and masks (for disinfecting silkworms), for sericulture farmers in Dhading and 12 other districts. The assistance will enable the farmers to improve farm management and increase production which in turn will help them to raise their income.

Masaru Tsuzuku, a JICA expert on sericulture under the technical cooperation of the Japanese Government, believes that it is important to transfer new sericulture technology to Nepal for effective farm management.

A technical cooperation programme for sericulture promotion, started through JICA last year, aims at developing the institutional and technical capacity of Nepal to manage silkworm egg production and to provide technical support to sericulture farmers.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Ambassador of Japan and the Chairman of the SOARS. In fact, like the dawn of "Nepal Silk", Nepal Silk of Japanese origin, whose quality is as high as the procedure in Japan, said H.E, Ambassador Kojima while handing over the grant, adds press release.