Nepal-Malaysia labour accord likely

By Manoj Rijal

KATHMANDU, Dec 17 – His Majesty’s Government is making preparations to sign bilateral labour agreement with the Malaysian Government within a month.

The government took the initiative following recent news reports that the Malaysian Government was going to whip and deport foreign illegal workers, including Nepalis.

A team of high-level government officials led by Minister of Labour and Transportation Management, Palten Gurung is said to visit Malaysia within a month, most probably in the second week of the New Year, for the same purpose.

"We are doing necessary homework to resolve the issue by signing letter of exchange with the Malaysian Government and a high level team would visit Malaysia in this connection within a month," said Minister Gurung.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, Minister Gurung said that Nepal has not signed any Labour Agreement with the Malaysian Government yet.

Hence, our main agenda will be to sign the Letter of Exchange with the Malaysian authority, he added.

"The issue of illegal Nepali workers in Malaysia will be another main agenda of our visit". However, he said that only very few Nepalis may be working illegally in Malaysia. We will make efforts to legalize them, said he.

But according to an unverified estimate, there are more than 7,000 Nepalis working illegally in Malaysia.

"We will try to consolidate our efforts in making an environment in which workers can enjoy their rights and discuss the Provision of Levy," said Gurung. As per the rules and regulations of Malaysia, foreign workers have to pay a levy of 100 ringit per month to the Malaysian Government. Many report that a huge amount of money goes on paying the levy and the procedure of paying the tax is taxing in itself.

"We will also request the Malaysian Government to simplify the taxation so that the government could collect it from the respective employers instead of individual workers, " said Gurung.

The government is making efforts to convince the Malaysian Government for establishing a Consular Office in Nepal in order to ease the existing complex procedure of getting visas and other documents.

At present, Nepali workers have to fly to New Delhi, India in order to obtain visas and other necessary documents.

Officials at the Ministry of Labour say the government is preparing to post an attaché in Malaysia to facilitate the workers. People in the know say that Malaysia is a suitable destination for Nepali workers on the basis of climate and social factors. And since Nepali Lahures spent years in Malaysia decades ago under British army, there exists a good impression of Nepalis among the Malaysian people.

Malaysian authority till date has recognized only five countries as the source country to supply manpower, which include Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Nepal.

Meanwhile, Dan Bahadur Tamang, President of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) welcomed the government’s initiative of resolving the problems Nepali workers are facing in Malaysia. If it succeeds, it would certainly help in enhancing and regulating foreign employment business, he added.

Security check, an ordinary man’s ordeal

By Ghanashyam Ojha

KATHMANDU, Dec. 18 - Frisking and checking identity cards at sensitive zones have become a normal security practice these days. But not all have to go through this often irritating process.

The VIPs and the VVIPs still enjoy a free run, without having to explain their identity, which might pose a serious threat to the erstwhile peaceful situation in the capital.

But cases have come up where security has been breached under the guise of an exclusive status. In the latest incident in India, militants stormed into the Parliament premises and sprayed bullets, leaving 13 dead. All these five perpetrators had entered the House gate in an Ambassador, the vehicle of the Indian officialdom, usually used by the VIPs. And early this year in Kathmandu, a Pakistani diplomat was caught with RDX explosives.

Take for example the country’s only Tribhuvan International Airport – the most sensitive area. The VIPs and VVIPs have separate exit and entrance gates where they are not frisked or asked to go through the security check. They have their own green cards, which prevent them being checked. Instead, the security personnel are supposed to escort them if they so demand.

This situation has hardly changed even though the Tribhuvan International Airport authority has strengthened its security apparatus in the face of the state of emergency in the country.

"We have tightened the security here, everybody must produce cards to enter here, no vehicle can pass without cards," says Ghana Nanda Bhatta, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the TIA, assuring that the security is tight enough to nab any suspects. But when asked about the important persons, he answered, "We let the VIPs and the VVIPs go unchecked, keeping up the tradition."

And the diplomatic immunity prevents these security personnel from checking the vehicles carrying diplomats. A police officer says the diplomats are a "bilateral issue" and they can only be checked if the Foreign Ministry gives necessary orders and if there is reliable information about their misdeeds.

"Yes, we are aware that anyone might do anything at this crucial hour," says another TIA police official. "But we need a letter and a representative from the concerned Ministry to check such personalities. Otherwise, they will feel insulted." He says the "diplomats and their wives get angry" when his men look into their vehicle windows as part of the routine check.

A Foreign Ministry official, on a customary condition of anonymity, says that diplomatic immunity notwithstanding, the Ministry can indeed order investigations on diplomats if there is any reliable information on their misdeeds. "The police can arrest any diplomat if a Foreign Ministry representative is present on the spot with a proper letter," he said.

Security has been highly beefed up at Singha Durbar too, where most of the ministries and both the Houses of parliament are located. "Police personnel are always on alert and they do not leave anyone without a thorough checking at the gate," says Shiva Hari Karki, Senior Superintendent of Police at the Valley Police Office.

It is not only the police responsibility to maintain security but every citizen has to cooperate at such a crisis period, SSP Karki said. "Even diplomats and Ministers should not feel uncomfortable if their vehicles are checked," Karki said, adding, "Who knows, terrorists might put explosives in their vehicles too."

But, despite their claims, security authorities do not seem to be working towards a proper screening system for the bigwigs. The time may never even come, emergency or not, when the VIPs and the VVIPs are body-searched or asked for identity cards or vehicles scanned.

Eid to go till Wednesday

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 17 – Thousands of Muslim devotees thronged the local mosque to pray Namaz on the occasion of Eid–ul–Fitr, greatest festival of Muslims here today.

"Muslims recite Eid Namaz and Tarawi Namaz together at mosque on the occasion," says Kamruddin Miya, Executive Secretary of Jame Mosque at Ratna Park. "So to mark the festival, Muslim devotees came here this morning."

Muslims gathered here at 10:45 in the morning and exchanged greetings with each other by hugging and saying ‘Eid-ul-Fitr Mubarak, a custom followed during Eid. "Usually after having the morning delicacies, Muslims come for a group pray," says Executive Secretary Miya.

The three-day festival of Eid signifies the end of a month- long fasting of Ramazan. For the millions of Islam believers, Sunday was the last day of the month of Ramazan and following day, the day of Eid.

"The first day of Eid is very special for us as Tarawi Namaz is recited only today in a year and the two days that follow are marked by visiting relatives and exchanging greetings," says Jamiruddhin Miya, eight years old Muslim boy, with full of excitement.

Muslim believers, after taking bath, a process to sanctify themselves, proceed to the graveyard at Swoyambhu where they offer prayer by reciting lines from the holy book, Quran in the name of dead ones on the day of Eid. " It is believed that this will give peace to the soul of the dead ones," says Miya. "Whereas for women, it is not compulsory to recite Tarawi Namaz," "They can live at home and decorate themselves by putting Mehndhi on their hands and feet to celebrate Eid," says Miya.

Muslims will be celebrating Eid till Wednesday with much fanfare.

One army man, 2 Maoists killed in separate incidents

KATHMANDU, Dec 17 (PR) – One of the army men guarding the district headquarters of Solukhumbu was killed in the clash with Maoists who attacked army barracks on Sunday, according to a statement issued today by the Defence Ministry.

In the counter-attack by the Royal Nepal Army, the losses and casualty suffered by the Maoists are yet to be ascertained.

In another incident, an armed Maoist "terrorist" was killed by the army men when he tried to escape the army cordon at Manpur in Bardia district, said Defence Ministry. The army also arrested six "terrorists". The Defence Ministry also said altogether 32 suspected persons from five districts were arrested for investigation.

Issuing another statement, it is stated that one more Maoist was killed in an army-Maoist clash at Budhagaun area in Rolpa district. One injured Maoist and another woman associated with the Maoists were also arrested, said the statement.

The army also recovered many weapons, said the statements.

Meanwhile, army and police personnel guarding the repeater station at Ratanagla in Surkhet district foiled the Maoists’ attack on the station. Reports from the district said that no damage was done to the communications tower. The encounter lasted for four hours.

Our reporter quoting locals said that while no one was injured on the security forces’ side, some Maoists were killed and injured.

Meanwhile, the Maoist "terrorists" destroyed a training centre of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) at Lwanghel village in Kaski district Sunday night. According to ACAP office, the Maoists came at 8.30 p.m. and hurled bombs. In the attack, property worth Rs 600,000 were lost, including furniture and documents.

Nepali weekly editor arrested

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 17 – Police on Monday arrested Gopal Budhathoki, publisher-cum-editor of Nepali weekly, Sanghu, from his residence at about 8.45 p.m.

Budhathoki himself told this to The Kathmandu Post through his mobile phone while he was being whisked away. "I am being taken to the DIG’s (Deputy Inspector General’s) office," said Budhathoki.

One of the weekly’s staff said that the arrest was probably due to publishing of some excerpts from top Maoist leader Prachanda’s statement that appeared in today’s edition of the weekly. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has been declared terrorist by the government.

Shanbhu Shrestha, president of Press Chautari protested the arrest, accusing the democratic government of undesirable act even though the press was sensitive in the present circumstances.

Budhathoki was former president of the Kathmandu branch of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, and present advisor of the body. He is also the general secretary of the Society of Editors and Publishers.

Reporting news in the time of emergency

By Tilak Pokharel

DANG, Dec 17 – It was early morning last Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to be precise. That was when we heard the knock knock on the door of our tiny room in a ramshackle building that passes for a hotel in Dang Valley.

The Valley, which serves as the operational base for the Royal Nepal Army in its "cordon and search" operation against Maoist rebels in the western hills, was just coming out of its overnight curfew-laced slumber. The air outside our room was heavy with the morning chill, and we had no intention to get out of bed early despite our plans for the day – to travel to Holery in Rolpa district. But the knock knock was worrying.

Since arriving here from Kathmandu, I and a group of journalist colleagues from our sister newspaper Kantipur were on the lookout for fresh information to report for our respective newspapers. We intended to roam about in Dang, Salyan, Rolpa and Rukum filing stories as we saw them.

In the time since we landed here, we had been in and around Dang talking to locals, travelled to Kapurkot village in Salyan district where only five days ago the Royal Nepal Army had clashed with hundreds of Maoist rebels, seen the charred remains of a military armoured vehicle. All this information had found its way onto the pages of our newspapers.

That we were operating without much of a hindrance right in the heart where the army was launching its operations was no less of a surprise. But the surprise was about to wear off. For, high level government officials in Kathmandu, who had read our reports, had decided that they wanted us out of their operational areas.

From the outset, we knew the assignment would be difficult in these troubling times. We could be barred from visiting areas we wanted to visit, or worse, could be detained.

But since Friday, troubling signs were beginning to emerge. The phone in our hotel began ringing off the hook from the evening. The calls invariably were either from the nearby army barracks, the local CDO office or the police station. All of them were warning us not to venture out of Dang Valley.

"We suggest that you not venture out to the Maobadi areas," an army officer had told us politely. "But if you still dare to become a Rambo and take risks, we have nothing to say.... Remember that you can get caught in a cross-fire between the army and the Maobadis."

All these thoughts raced through my mind as the knock on the door grew louder. It was time to open up the door and face the consequences.

I slowly got out of bed, still in half-asleep condition and hauled myself the few steps to the door. Gently I unlocked the door and peered outside. It was the hotel boy.

"Sir," he said. "Two government persons have come to meet you. They are outside the hotel." I told the young boy to send the visitors up to our room since we still had to dress up.

We all had assumed that some security officials or someone from the CDO office had come to get us. They would either order us back to the capital or detain us. We were right, they were army officers, a major and a captain.

They immediately stepped into our room and without much delay politely began telling us – "We just received orders from mathi bata (from higher ups in Kathmandu) that you people should no longer stay here... You are prohibited from going to the Maoist areas... Do not even think of defying the orders. We are like machines, we do what we are told…I’m sure you understand."

Of course we did. In any case, it came as a relief that they were only ordering us out of Dang, nothing more. With our movements curtailed, there was no point in hanging around. We decided to leave town. Later we found out that similar orders were given to an Indian and Italian television news crews who were also in the area filming the army operations.

Two killed, 11 injured in road mishaps

Post Report

SYANGJA, Dec 17 - At least two persons were killed and 11 others sustained injuries in two separate road accidents on the Siddhartha Highway, police here said Monday.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jagat Bahadur Bista, a 19-year-old boy identified as Man Bahadur Baral died when a loaded truck en route to Butwal from here hit Baral’s motorbike at Tulsi Bhanjyang.

Baral succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in the Mission Hospital in Tansen. The police have arrested the truck driver, Sher Bahadur Thapa, for necessary investigation.

Likewise, a 41-year-old man, Aait Bahadur Nepali from Keware Bhanjyang VDC-6, died after a passenger jeep in which he was travelling met with an accident at Jagat Bhanjyang on the same highway. Nepali succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara on Monday. The police said that 11 others, one of them seriously, sustained injuries when the jeep en route to Waling from Jagat Bhanjyang met with the accident.