Let’s work together for children’s welfare : PM

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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 – On the occasion of 74th birth anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Mother and 37th National Children’s Day, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba hoisted the national flag and the flag of Bal Mandir at Naxal, today.

Addressing the function, Prime Minister Deuba said, "While the government is working hard towards regulating and putting more importance on children’s education and health related issues, the people of all sectors should work together towards the betterment and the future of our children".

According to Ritasingh Baidya, chairman of Bal Mandir, considering the sad plight and the problems of the Nepalese children, the committee has put forward "Let’s Unite for the children" as the slogan for this year.

Representative of UNICEF, Steward McNab congratulating the success of the polio drop and the vitamin ‘A’ program for children in Nepal, assured that UNICEF would continue to support the programs, "for the future of the Nepalese children". The Minister also distributed sweets to the children and conveyed a vote of thanks to the national and international donors of Bal Mandir by awarding all of them with a certificate of appreciation.

Also present on the occasion were Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhaya, Chief of Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, ministers, Diplomats, social workers and a large number of children.

An art exhibition, in the context of the slogan "Let’s Unite for the Children", was also organized during the same program by the Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN).

In a press release issued here by the Child Development Society, Radio Nepal played various children-songs for four hours that were sung by 64 children from 11 districts of Nepal.

Meanwhile, Bal Mandir along with INSEC and the Child Development Society welcomed the decision made by the Supreme Court that gives rights to the children to open their associations themselves.

Shah Distillery MD ready to forgive perpetrators

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NEPALGUNJ, Aug 20 - The Managing Director of the vandalised Shah Distillery today said that if the perpetrators of the incident asked for apology he would "commend their conscience".

The distillery was attacked on Saturday allegedly at the initiatives of CPN-Maoist affiliated local unit of the All Nepal Women’s Association (ANWA-Revolutionary) which has been campaigning for a total liquor ban.

The company claimed that property worth around Rs 30 million was gutted in the fire.

"If they (ANWA-R) bear the responsibility, we will forgive them," said Kedar Lal Shrestha, the MD. The district president of the ANWA refused to take the responsibility for the incident.

Although Shrestha had still not lodged a formal report with the police, he has a letter to the Prime Minister and a copy of it to the FNCCI, the Chief District Officer and the police chief, revealed Shrestha.

Sources told The Kathmandu Post that the police were asked to refrain from even firing blank shots. They said the mob could have been controlled had the police fired in the air. Even the Regional Administrator had given the order to the CDO to ensure that no firing took place.

The authorities at the incident displayed extreme caution as the government and the Maoist leadership are bracing to hold talks on the Maoist problem.

The attack comes at a time when the ANWA-Revolutionary and the government are currently engaged in talks over the former’s demand to ban liquor sale and consumption throughout the country. ANWA-Revolutionary had initially announced to ban liquor from Saturday, but was later postponed.

Meanwhile, today’s bandh called by the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry passed off peacefully with most of the shops closed.

FM Mahat leaves for Thimpu
Speedy verification high on agenda

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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 Nepal and Bhutan are trying to iron out differences vis-à-vis the repatriation of about 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing now in seven camps in eastern Nepal, revealed Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.

The differences are regarding the categorization of the Bhutanese refugees. The Finance Minister made it clear that Bhutanese refugees should be grouped only into two categories – Bhutanese and non-Bhutanese.

"There is no agreement on the categorization but we are hopeful of harmonizing our differences," said Dr Mahat, referring to the categorization of the Bhutanese refugees. However, Bhutan does not want to let go the existing understanding that also includes "the Bhutanese who willingly emigrated from Bhutan" and "the Bhutanese with criminal records".

The Finance Minister was speaking to the reporters prior to his departure to the Bhutanese capital today, with a seven-member team to take part in the joint Foreign Ministers’ meet. He is representing the Prime Minister who currently holds the Foreign Affairs portfolio also.

Dr. Mahat will raise the issue with Bhutanese counterpart during the 11th Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meeting to be held in Thimpu from Tuesday.

The two neighbours agreed on the four categories in 1993 when Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Home Minister.

Dr Mahat also revealed that he was going to Thimphu with "concrete proposals" which he declined to disclose. However, he said the proposals would be made public after his return on Thursday.

Another objective of Nepal during the meeting will be to urge Bhutan to expedite the refugee verification process and agree to a time-bound completion of the verification process currently underway, Dr. Mahat said. "At the current pace of the verification process, it might take six years to complete it. We have to find ways to shorten the process."

Besides the speeding up of the verification process, Nepal will also take up the issue of immediate repatriation of those refugees who have been verified. The verification began on March 26 at the smallest of the seven camps housing the refugees, the Khudunabari camp in Jhapa district. This was a follow up on the agreement at the 10th JMC meet last December.

Breaking a lingering deadlock, the two countries agreed to form a 10-member Joint Verification Team (JVT) to start the identification of the refugees who now number about 100,000 in the seven camps in eastern Nepal – one in Morang district and the remaining in Jhapa.

However, the verification process has been criticized by various quarters for its slow pace. Besides Nepal’s ambassador to Bhutan, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa and Joint Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya, Dr Mahat’s team includes leader of the Nepali side in the JVT, Sushil Jung Rana and officials who are in the JVT. Mahat also said that he had taken feedback from the JVT and their experience would be helpful in shortening the lengthy process.

According to the Foreign Ministry, other aspects of bilateral relations will also be discussed during the three-day negotiations.

House disrupted for third day

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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 – The House of Representatives was disrupted for the third day today due to protests against the government’s proposed land reforms announced last week by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) lawmakers who numbered less than a dozen stormed Speaker Taranath Ranabhat demanding immediate withdrawal of the freeze in land transactions announced by the government.

Today, even RPP’s Pashupati Sumsher Rana joined the protests. Rana who represents hilly district of Sindhupalchowk too joined the protest that so far has included only members from the Terai region.

Rana hails from the clan that ruled Nepal for 104 years and in the process had amassed much land in their possession. The land ceiling being proposed by the government would force many of these people in the hills and mostly in the plain areas of the Terai in the south to give up their assets that has remained in their family grip for generations.

As soon as the Speaker called for regular business of the House and asked former Deputy PM Ram Chandra Poudel to speak during the Special Hour, RPP lawmakers disrupted demanding time for Rana to speak.

Though the Speaker tried to calm the situation down and assured he would give time to Rana, these lawmakers continued to shout for at least 10 minutes until they decided to storm ahead. The House has been adjourned and will continue on Tuesday morning.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Deuba had announced suspension of all land sales in the country by announcing a freeze in land transactions until the government introduces new land reform laws.

After Deuba’s announcement, all land transactions throughout the country came to a halt, and will continue to remain so until the promised legislation becomes law, which could take anywhere between a couple of months to a year.

Meanwhile, NSP today declared that they would launch a strong campaign if Prime Minister Deuba fails to withdraw its recent announcement on freezing of all the land transaction.

Speaking at a press conference president of NSP Gajendra Narayan Singh said that the Prime Minister should lift the ban on land transaction and the proposed ceiling on land ownership. "Failing to do so, our party would opt for various protest programmes," said Singh.

"What sort of policy is this of the government who has announced ceiling on land holdings but not any ceiling on property holdings," said Singh. A press release issued by the party said that government’s such announcement would adversely affect the national economy.

"The freeze in land transaction would only make life of the general people miserable," stated the release. "The government instead should make corrections in the existing agricultural policy."

Non-renewed distribution licence to be annulled

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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 - In an apparent bid to regulate the liquor sales, government took the decision to annul the ‘non-renewed’ license of the liquor distributors.

The government has also decided against issuing license that aspires to set up a new liquor industry for the next five years.

The decision came after Maoist-aligned All Nepal Women’s Association (ANWA-Revolutionary) called for the nationwide liquor ban almost a week ago, which was followed by three rounds of dialogue between ANWA and the government.

Likewise, government has also decided to annul the license of the distributors and liquor industries, that have yet to clear their revenue dues, said the source.

Government with a view to resolve the ongoing liquor crisis decided to implement the policies provisioned in the report published in 1995/1996, which further got amended in 2000.

The report was published in the fiscal year 1995/1996. Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat constituted a committee to conduct research on the ways to regulate liquor sales. Director of excise duty office, Ram Krishna Shrestha was among the member of the committee.

Report has clearly mentioned the limited time that retailers can sell liquor. Retailers must sell the liquor within the given period of time and the retailers who sell liquor are not allowed to vend other materials. Government took a decision to implement both the provisions within a week, said the source. Nationwide liquor ban called by the ANWA met with the strong opposition from the business community. They had earlier said that bank investment on the distilleries and breweries will go down the drain

Japan going the American way

By Guna Raj Luitel

TOKYO (Japan), Aug 20 – Japanese companies are in need of corporate executives who are able to take quick decisions like their American counterparts. And lately, they are trying their best to bring themselves at par with the American.

The young Japanese generation is trying not just to think like an American but are increasingly adopting the American style, even going to the extent of dyeing their hair to look like an American.

No doubt, the American-mania in Japan has given rise to a new generation of young executives now more widely called the "Hair Dyeing Generation."

"Japanese corporate executives and manager are mostly introvert. The chiefs are mostly aged and work in the traditional style, taking their own time to take decisions, and a longer time to implement them," says Masanori Kondo, assistant teacher at the International Christian University. "Executives need to be quick like the Americans."

Japan is now going through a transformation. Old management styles are being discarded and new and more efficient modes are being adopted. The Japanese companies in a bid to reduce their financial burden and to enhance their competitiveness in the global markets are cutting down jobs.

And the result of all these changes are reflecting on the lifestyles of the university students. It is in fact the swelling rate of unemployment that is pushing the Japanese University students to adopt the American style.

For an economy that has seen better days in the past, the unemployment rate has crossed over four per cent, the highest so far since the Second World War. Decision-making capacity and efficiency are the new criteria required for securing a job in Japan.

No doubt, getting a respectable job these days in Japan is a tough challenge, says Hidekei Watanawe, a student of the law faculty in the Tokyo University. He aims to get hold of a job at the foreign affairs ministry in the future. His preparations for the future have already begun.

Says Peter Dankar, an international management consultant, "American chief executives are well-known for their quick decision-making. At the same time, competing Japanese are slow. This does the maximum damage in a fast-corporate-world."

The promptness in the decision-making by executives has a direct bearing upon the profitability of corporate institutions. "Hence, it is not surprising that relatively younger American companies earn profits within a short span of time," says Kondo.

He adds that out of the six major Japanese motor companies, only two are operating at profits. He says that a glaring example of what the lack of American style of management can bring is the failure of the Long Term Credit Bank of Japan.

Each year a large number of Nepalis flock to Japan in search for employment opportunities. However, most Nepalis are in the form of unskilled or semi-skilled labour. The Japanese interest, however, is on Information Technology specialists, rather than the unskilled labour force.

"Japan is in need of IT professionals. We welcome the IT specialists from South Asia," Kondo says, adding, "We also are in need of qualified managers." Until the Japanese graduates do not conduct in the American way, the demand for specialists will always be there.

Hearing on land sales freeze begins

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KATHMANDU, Aug 20 - Hearing on four separate writ petitions filed Friday at the Supreme Court challenging Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s recent announcement on freezing of all land transaction began today.

Pleading before the single bench of Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, one of the writ petitioners Advocate Mukunda Lamichhane argued that PM Deuba as required by the Constitution could have announced such freezing only after enacting laws. "As no any such laws exist, the act of Prime Minister is unconstitutional," argued Lamichhane.

Another petitioner Advocate Madhav Kumar Basnet argued that such announcement has seized one’s right to life. "The announcement has seized one’s right to life as one can not sell his land to obtain money required for medical treatment," argued Basnet. All four petitioners argued today demanding the court issue interim order against Deuba’s such announcement.

The writ filed Friday had argued that it was unconstitutional to freeze sale of property, including land, since the Constitution guarantees each citizen the fundamental right to buy, sell and hold property. The separate writs were filed by Advocates Namasa Karki, Madhav Kumar Basnet, Surendra Kumar Mahato and Uttam Shrestha.

Fasting women in red throng Shiva temples

By Pragya Ghimire

KATHMANDU, Aug 20 - Thousands of women devotees thronged Pashupatinath temple and other Hindu shrines to observe the Teej eve festival, one of the biggest festivals of Hindu women also known as Haritalika.

Women observe fasting and stay awake the whole night of the festival praying Lord Shiva for the sake of their husband’s prosperous and long life. Unmarried women celebrate this festival to have been blessed with competent and good husbands.

This day, women visit their in-laws and relatives, prepare special food items and sing typical songs throughout the night, on the eve of Teej day

On this occasion, women look dazzling and glowing in red dress, bangles, ornaments combined with beautiful red tika on their foreheads. Tilhari, made of red, green and yellow beads (potes), which they receive from their husbands during the wedding, is one of the important ornaments of the occasion.

Women visit Pashupati Nath and other Shiva temples for prayer. Generally, they eat ‘Dar’, specially prepared food made of milk ‘ricepudding’ etc. The following day is called Haritalika on which the married women drink water only after the permission of their husbands.

According to the Hindu mythology, the story behind this festival is Goddess Parvati’s revolt against her parents as they refused to get her married to Lord Shiva. Parvati, who is still regarded as the lady of virtue and compassionate feeling, gives her heart to Lord Shiva who does not possess anything of his own. This leads Parvati’s father to refuse him as the prospective groom of her daughter.

Parvati opposes her father and starts to live in a cave and offer prayers to Shiva. But after some days in Bhadra Sukla Tirtha (the day on which Teej is celebrated) Parvati bathes, makes a Shiva Lingam out of sand and offers puja, then fasts for 24 hours even not taking a single drop of water. She dances during the night to ward off her hunger and sleepiness.

On the following day, Shiva appears and blesses her that she would get what her heart desire. Along with Parvati, Shiva gave blessings to women kind, who fast 24 hours without taking even a drop of water, would get their wish fulfilled, their husbands would have long, healthy and prosperous life. After Parvati’s devotion, her father agrees to marry her off to Shiva. Since that time, this age-old story has been inspiring Hindu women to fast on Teej.

Teej is not only popular among married women but also equally enjoyed by unmarried youngsters. They fast and pray to Shiva for handsome, loving and brilliant husband, at the same time give continuity to the age old culture.

Pratikchhya Gautam, 23, a college student, says, "I like to see women dressed in red along with ornaments and their energetic way to celebrate Teej festival. I believe that my devotion will be rewarded with my wish."

In villages where women hardly get time to visit their parents’ due to the domestic work, Teej provides them an opportunity to share their feelings with their relatives and friends.

But unlike other women, Anuradha Koirala of Maiti Nepal has a different plan to observe this occasion. She is planning to dance with her own girls those living in her rehabilitation centre. "I’m really looking forward to have special meal and dance with my girls," says Koirala. She also plans to sing awakening songs in front of police booth at Gaushala.

Social activist Dr. Shanta Thapaliya says the trend of celebrating Teej is changing according to time. "The conventional thought like drinking water without the permission of husband or before puja is no longer considered crime," Thapaliya said.

"Nowadays women are persuaded to drink liquid substances even during the fasting." Even the doctors suggest that staying 24 hours without any food is harmful to health. According to Dr. Sheela Poudel, fasting could cause acidity, dehydration and some people even faint. But Thapaliya’s experience of the past 38 years says that the most interesting aspect of Teej is the family get-together, entertainment and at the same time preserving the tradition that makes every Hindu woman proud.