Bomb in carpet showroom kills one, two more go off

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 – A powerful bomb exploded in a Tibetan carpet showroom at Ekantkuna in Lalitpur district late Monday afternoon, killing one and critically injuring three others.

According to the accounts given to the officials of the Department of National Investigation (NID) by the owner of the showroom, Pema Wangyal, some disgruntled employees, who were sacked from service some two weeks ago, were behind the blast.

One of the shutters of Wangyal’s showroom, Classic Handmade Tibetan Carpets, was unhinged and there is a big hole where the bomb made its maximum impact. Glass splinters could be seen scattered on the street. The blast that occurred at 4.50 p.m. was so strong that the window-panes of a three-storied building on the other side of the street were also shattered.

Wangyal, says police officials, accused two of her former employees, Ram Rai and Subodh Singh Syangden, of orchestrating the blast. These two allegedly are the "leaders" of the 22 employees who were fired from the Bungamati factory of Wangyal some two weeks ago.

According to family sources, two other former employees, asked the showroom workers to keep a bag, saying it contained some brittle stuff, and left immediately. When one of the employees, Chintamani Timilsina, 38, tried to take the bag out, the bomb went off and Timilsina died on the spot. Two other employees, Chhiring Lama, 30, and Palmo Lama, 19, were injured. A child on the street was also injured. Witnesses said that the blast tore apart Chhiring Lama’s leg while he was trying to run away.

Army personnel too had arrived at the scene and were seen making enquiries.

Meanwhile suspected Maoists hurled a bomb at the car of Mahesh Man Shrestha, Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology, while his driver was going to pick him up. No one was injured in the strike that took place at Natur, Lalitpur.

Similarly, suspected Maoist terrorists also hurled a bomb at the residence of Deputy Superintendent of Police Kedar Rijal at Kalanki this evening. According to local police, the bomb caused minor damages, but no casualty was reported.

RBS steps in where private insurers flee

By Bhaskar Sharma

KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - The state-owned Rastriya Beema Sansthan (RBS) today began providing insurance coverage to losses resulting from terrorist activities and sabotage, after private insurers refused to do so late last week. However, in a major development late in the afternoon today, the private insurers also decided to follow suit.

"The decision to settle claims on losses due to terrorist activities and sabotage was taken by a board meeting of the Sansthan on Saturday," said Bijaya Raj Ghimire, Chief Executive Officer of the RBS. The decision of the RBS board followed the directives issued by the Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat on Friday. Mahat had asked the government-owned insurance corporation to provide coverage on damages that private insurers last week declined to cover.

It was only late in the afternoon today that the private insurance companies decided to begin covering damage claims on terrorist strikes and sabotage that they had earlier refuted. However, both the private insurers and the RBS would charge a higher premium on the insurance due to the added risk of losses under the current emergency situation.

"The premium on insurance in the RBS is only a per cent or two higher," said Ghimire. Similarly, Om Singh, president of Insurers’ Association, informed that the premium charged by the private insurance companies too would be nominal. "The additional premium would be low."

Private insurers last week had published a notice stating that they would not be able to provide insurance coverage on losses arising out of militancy. The notice had been published only a few days after the government announced a state of emergency in the nation, and termed the Maoists as terrorists.

Private businesses had sharply reacted against the decision of the Insurers’ Association to partially revoke their insurance contract, and had accused the insurance companies of forming a cartel. The cancellation of the insurance coverage on risk due to terrorist activities had affected various economic sectors, including the hotels, industry and commerce, aviation and banks.

The private sector had criticised the insurers’ decision on the grounds that the revocation came after the insured had paid premiums for months. "After taking the insurance premiums for months, unilateral revocation of the contract, even if partially, is not fair," Narendra Bajracharya, president of Hotel Association-Nepal (HAN), had earlier said.

The spate of escalated attacks on business establishments means that there is more of a need for insurance coverage. Terrorists recently had carried out bomb blasts at Bottlers Nepal plant in the Balaju Industrial Estate. They had also planted a bomb in another multinational company, Nepal Lever Ltd., situated at Hetauda, which was, however, diffused.

Colgate Palmolive, another multinational, based at Hetauda, recently suspended its production activities temporarily fearing terror strikes. "If business establishments are not protected, there’s no way the economy can function. The latest decision to cover damages by the RBS is a welcome one," said Prafulla K Kafle, Chairman of the Insurance Board.

Insurers’ Association claimed that it was forced to partially revoke the contract due to the withdrawal of re-insurance schemes by some international companies. Most international companies, in the light of the state of emergency, backed out from providing re-insurance services on damages due to terrorist activities.

"Now everything has been negotiated and managed. We will also start providing insurance claims on damages arising out of militancy," said Singh. However, he did not elaborate whether the international re-insurers agreed to provide the necessary backing to the Nepali insurance companies.

Experts view that the latest decision of the private insurers to begin paying out claims on damages arising out of terrorist activities may be due to fears that their clients would desert them and move to the state-owned insurer. Nepali insurance companies have made considerable pay-outs in the past on account of violence. According to estimates, in the two-three days of Maoist attacks just before the declaration of emergency, insurance companies had to cough up around Rs 150-200 million.

Tourist arrivals dip by 42 pc

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 – These are harsh days for Nepali tourism. And it doesn’t need statistics to say that. But here’s the latest Nepal Tourism Board figure: there has been a 42 percent slump in tourist arrivals this November when compared to the same period last year.

This includes a 42.05 per cent decline in the arrivals of Indians, and a 43.4 percent dip in tourists coming from countries other than the southern neighbour. The latter figure is the worst for the whole year as far as non-Indian arrivals are concerned. NTB figures say that 24,515 tourists arrived in November, as compared to 43,130 arrivals in the same period last year.

But the news would not surprise Nepal’s tourism entrepreneurs. For the last six months, it has been a downhill ride all the way. In October, the total slump was by 34 percent. And the Indians stayed away in a big way—last year October, there were 50 percent more Indian tourist bookings.

The November statistics come second in the ‘worst-list’ after the 56 per cent decline in June following the royal carnage. In the case of total tourist arrival for the first 11 months this year, there has been a 17 per cent fall when compared to last year. A total of 342,959 tourists flew into Nepal last year during this period, while only 283,120 flight arrivals have been recorded upto last month. Tourism watchers say this low figure is because of a 30 per cent plunge in the number of Indian tourists.

Not so long ago, Indians used to constitute one-third of the total number of tourists. Even now, more Indian nationals visit Nepal than of any other nationality. But the Indian share this last month was a measly 18 per cent. The corresponding figures for United Kingdom and the USA was 13.15 per cent and 9.15 per cent respectively.

The only solace for Nepali is that the news is equally bad for the other major tourist countries. Will 2002 bring in any good news?

Disabled people cry foul

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 – As the world marked the 10th International Day for the Disabled today, it was just another day at office for the disabled among Nepal’s population. Reason: Nepal government has no provision of holidays for the disabled on their special day.

So it was yet another day when the promise was made that next year a holiday would come into effect. "We were unable to get the Parliament to ratify December 3 as a public holiday this year. But we will definitely see to it that the disabled will get their holiday next year," said the Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare (WCSW), Rajendra Kharel, at a programme organised today by the National Federation of Disabled (NFD).

But no one was really buying the Minister’s statement. "We have been consoled like this for years but we are not going to believe anything," said an irate Muniswor Pandey, Chairman of NFD. "Nepal is the only country in South Asia where the disabled are not given a holiday today," the Chairman said. And for good effect, he went on to say that women do get holiday on March 8, the International Women’s Day.

The official count of disabled Nepalis is around 240,000, while there are 150 organisations working for them.

Pandey had other grouses. He said governments have failed in drafting the promised Five-Year Plan for the disabled, which has meant that there is no one who is really concerned about the welfare of the differently-abled. Almost 80 percent of the disabled are unemployed, Pandey added.

But it is not that governments have not come up with any plans for the well-being of the physically handicapped, the mentally retarded, the deaf and the blind. A Special Education Plan was started way back in 1964 as a model programme to improve disabled lifestyles. This Plan was supposed to cover 218 schools in 35 districts, and was intended to give their literacy rate a leg-up by 5 percent. The literacy component of the Plan came into picture four years back, when the literacy rate among the disabled was a meagre 1 percent. Present figures don’t show any improvement on that count.

A 21-member committee of the WCSW Ministry, under Article 18 of the UN Convention, is now in place to address the problems of the disabled.

The committee is responsible, among other things, for lobbying the government, and officially organising functions on Disabled Day. Today’s programme was the first such organised by the Committee.

But among the hundreds gathered at the Bhrikuti Mandap to mark the day, there were many who thought the disabled were not getting their due. Many had come after watching Indian channels full of coverage of the Day. But if they thought the NTV crew would be there to capture the function, they were disappointed. Asked participant Tej Kumari Tiwari, who is without hands, "It is very much a special day, but where is our media, where is the national television?" Yes, where?

Meanwhile, speaking at a program organised by Nepal Disabled Women Society(NDS), Hari Narayan Chaudhary, Minister for Information and Technology, said,’ The parents should play the strong role and there should be strong co-ordination, networking should be developed among the 80 institutions and organizations working for their welfare’.

Sushila Paudyel, President of NDS, said, ‘The government should prevent the discrimination and violence against disabled women and children by implementing the national policy for disabled as soon as possible’.

Ramzan signifies more than fasting for Muslims

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, Dec 3 - Shaira Khatun, 10, will spend the next 13 days without eating or drinking during the daytime. Not because she is on a strict diet but she and thousands believers of Islam religion strictly fast during the whole of month of Ramzan.

During the fasting known as Roza, food and drinks are not taken during the day for the entire 30 days. The month of Ramzan, which started from November 17, is the greatest festival of Islam community.

"We take food and water after sunset and before sunrise but for the whole day we follow tough fasting," says Kamruddin Miya, Executive Secretary of the Jami Mosque at Ratna Park.

Between 200-300 believers of Islam visit the two popular Marg Jami Mosque and Kasmiri Shahi Jama Mosques situated at the corner of Durbar Marg and Ratna Park. While on Friday, which is the religious day for Muslims, more than 2,000 people come to these Mosques to pray.

According to Miya, people who are travelling or physically ill and women who are pregnant are not required to follow the Roza. "However, it is compulsory for all those who are above the age of 12 to fast," he said.

Those who are not able to fast for various reasons, they give food to 10 poor people or alms equal to that amount.

Islam devout in this month of Ramzan gives 2.5 percent of their wealth to poor people or to Madrasa, which are schools teaching their holy book of Quran, as Jakat or donations. "Therefore both rich and the poor celebrate the Ramzan month with equal enthusiasm because even the poor gets enough money from the rich to celebrate," says Miya.

The Islam community believes that during the month of Ramzan, Allah handed the holy book Quran to his follower Mohammed Salalaho Allaihe Waslam.

And find out Mohammed’s self-discipline, God ordered him to take the fasting during this month. "Mohammed passed his examination and later he taught all the Islam followers, which is still carried out by us and will tomorrow by our decedents," says Maulana Magsud Allam Rizwi, the priest at Kasmiri Shahi Jama Mosque.

Every day believers of Islam read Namaz five times a day, which are named as Fajir, Johar, Ashar, Magrib and Isha. " Tarabi Nawaz is read at 7.45 pm which is an addition only during the month of Ramzan," says Miya.

Islam followers during this month spend most of their time in the mosques and read the Nawaz to show their unity. And as the dusk, people gather at mosques to hear Quran read out by Hafij, an Islamic teacher. Quran is a holy book, which consists thirty parts and each part is read out daily throughout the month of Ramzan.

"Our body is like a machine that works throughout the year and during this month, it gets enough rest," says Rizwi. "Those who take Roza will get rid from all kinds of diseases and they will remain healthy."

Medical doctors say that self-denial of food and other bodily pleasure throughout the day for a month will not weaken the body but helps to grow the habit of self discipline, for which Muslim are taking Roza.

Dr. Shyam Bahadur Pandey says if the fasting is properly done it will cause no harm. But if one was to fast throughout the day and feast throughout the night, it may do more harms than good, he says.

Fasting is not permitted to those suffering from diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, high blood pressure, and asthma and those suffering from stomach problem, says medical expert.

"Taking Roza is not just avoiding food and water but it is a commitment from your whole body," says Rizwi. "You can’t use foul language, see bad things, attack or assault anyone, if you are involved in these things then you are not being truthful."

According to Miya, Roza is complete rejection from sex from dawn to dusk. And if one was to complete the days of Ramzan truthfully, then only would God accept the fast.

Surya Nepal Masters 2001 Golf from today

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KATHMANDU, Dec 3 – The Surya Nepal Masters 2001, country’s coveted event in golf calendar, will tee off at the par-72 Gokarna Forest Golf Resort tomorrow.

The five-day event, which is being organised under the sponsorship of Surya Tobacco Company and co-sponsorship of Regal Business Link will begin with a day-long Pro-Am tournament. Some 100 golfers both professionals and amateurs are expected to compete in the event.

The winner of the contest will qualify to represent Nepal at the Famous Grouse Shotgun Foursomes in St. Andrews, Scotland next year.

The real event, Rs. 1.4 million Surya Nepal Masters, which starts on Wednesday, besides the local participants, will draw more than 75 golfers including several famous names from the South Asian region.

The tournament, following its successful organisation over the last eight years, has established itself as an important event in the Asian golfing circuit. The tournament continues to enjoy recognition from the Professional Golfers Association of India (PGAI) as a part of their official tour.