Koirala survives no-trust vote
Deuba camp boycotts, questions validity of voting

By Binaj Gurubacharya and Meena Kaini

KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today survived a no-trust vote brought against him by rebellious members of his ruling Nepali Congress (NC).

The rebels who boycotted the vote are now questioning the validity of the process that they claimed is against the party’s Constitution.

The proposal of no confidence, when put to the vote at the NC parliamentary party today, received 69 votes against it while there were none in favor. Two members abstained from voting whereas Koirala’s rival Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was not present during voting. The rebels who boycotted the voting numbered 41.

The rebels led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba were demanding that the voting be held through a secret ballot while the NC Parliamentary Party (PP) stuck to its earlier decision to hold an open ballot.

"We have decided to boycott the voting as we don’t want to be part of a conspiracy to split the party," Deuba said after leading the rebels out of the meeting hall.

For the past few days, Deuba has been trying to get the PP office to reconsider its decision to hold open ballot.

The rebels feared that such a move would discourage some of their new supporters who were still undecided, or were afraid to go openly against Koirala. Their fear did come true when the number of 56 MPs supported them plunged to 41.

The defectors include Nagendra Raya, Mehendra Raya, D.B. Lama, Sabitri Bogati, Lekhnath Acharya, Ram Janam Chaudhury, Prakash Koirala, Mohammad Aftab, Shiv Raj Joshi, Janak Giri, Kasher Man Rokaya and Dilli Raj Sharma.

Koirala, who has held power during most of the post democracy years, still holds big influence in the party and has many of his aides in key positions in the party.

The PP meeting that began in the morning was adjourned till 3 p.m. after the rebels raised the question over open balloting. When the meeting did resume, the rebels walked out in protest.

Political analysts here say, the Deuba camp wanted a face-saving way out of the no-trust vote since it was apparent that had the vote proceed on an open ballot basis, he would lose. And the secret ballot-open ballot issue provided that exit for the rebels.

Meanwhile, the rebels are now claiming the voting is not valid since the proposal was never presented in the PP meet today.

"The proposal was not even presented by us on the floor of the parliamentary party so how can any one say it has failed. It is still alive," said Chiranjivi Wagle, a rebel member.

The PP and Koirala side however are claiming of crushing the no-trust move staying within the bounds of the party regulations.

"The voting was conducted in accordance with the party’s Constitution. The claim that Deuba did not present the proposal on the floor is not true since he did speak during the time he was given to make the presentation before he decided to leave," said NC spokesman Narhari Acharya.

There is a provision in the party’s constitution for secret ballot while choosing a leader but is silent on voting on a no-confidence motion.

The rebels have been accusing Koirala camp of conspiring to bring faction in the party by using the mode that so far has been used only to divide the treasury and the opposition parties in parliament.

The 69 votes that went against the no trust proposal matches the number of the support he got when he was contesting for the leader of the PP after ousting Bhattarai from office last March.

Koirala then received 69 votes while Deuba got 43 at that point. Deuba, Bhattarai’s protege, since then has emerged as Koirala’s competitor and has announced his candidacy against Koirala for the coveted post of party president during the General Convention scheduled for later this month in Pokhara.

Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, who opted to remain neutral during the voting later told reporters he was trying to initiate party unity and decided to abstain voting.

"As the prime minister and party president, Koirala has to play all the role he can play with his strength and if the party is to split then history will always hold him responsible," Mahat said.

Thousands march with calls for national unity

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KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - Thousands of people from various walks of life today marched through the streets of the capital calling on the citizenry to uphold communal harmony and national unity.

The rally comprising hundreds of CPN-UML workers and leaders, businessmen, intellectuals, academics and people from other walks of life started from Ratna Park at 12 noon. The Main Opposition Party leaders, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Bharat Mohan Adhikari and others were at the forefront of the peace rally.

"Uphold communal goodwill; Mountains, hills and plains - we are not strangers;" those in the rally chanted as they held placards and banners with similar messages high. The procession went around the city’s major thoroughfares before converting into a corner meet at Indra Chok.

The rally was organized barely a week after at least seven people lost their lives in separate incidents of riots over Indian film star Hrithik Roshan’s purported derogatory remarks which he vigorously denied having ever made.

Another rally in the series that were conceived at an all-party interaction program held at UML’s parliamentary party office Wednesday is due to start from the capital’s Khulla Manch or the Open-Air-Theatre on Sunday afternoon.

Ohashi new WB Country Director

KATHMANDU, Jan 4 (PR) - Kenichi Ohashi has been appointed to the post of the World Bank Country Director for Nepal with effect from December 17, 2000, a WB press release said.

According to the press release, Ohashi, a Japanese national, had joined the Bank in 1979 as Economist in the Treasurer’s Department where he was involved in the management of the Bank’s portfolio of liquid assets. In 1986, Ohashi was transferred to the East Asia and Pacific Region as Senior Economist in the Malaysia, Papua-New Guinea and South Pacific Country Division. In 1989, he joined the Co-financing and Financial Advisory Services where he served as the Advisor to the Vice President for two years.

From 1991 to 1996, he worked in the WB’s Resource Mobilization Department as the manager of the Replenishment Policy Division and was deeply involved in the International Development Assistance (IDA) 10 and in the IDA 11 negotiations. In 1996, Ohashi was transferred to the Africa Region as Country Program Coordinator for Kenya. In 1999, he became Country Coordinator for Nepal and Sri Lanka Country Units of the South Asia Region. An Economist by training, Ohashi holds a BA from the University of Tokyo and a Ph D from the Cornell University.

Nepal, Bhutan form refugee verification team

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KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - Nepal and Bhutan have exchanged the names of the members of the Joint Verification Team (JVT) on Thursday, a week after the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed in Kathmandu during the Tenth round of talks to form the team to oversee the refugee verification process.

Nepal has designated Usha Nepal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home, to lead the Nepali side in the JVT. The team includes officials from Home, Foreign Affairs and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries. The Bhutanese side will be led by Dr Sonam Tenzin, Director at Bhutan’s Home Ministry.

Sometime later this month, both the team leaders will visit the refugee camps in eastern Nepal and will also oversee the logistics of setting up the office there, officials of the Foreign Ministry said. The teams are to stay there and conduct the verification of the refugees on a camp-by-camp basis. Bhutanese refugees, now numbering almost 100,000, have been languishing in seven camps in the eastern parts of the kingdom for a decade.

The Tenth round, held in Kathmandu from December 24 to 28, had agreed on field verification of the refugees on the basis of family as a unit of verification. In the absence of family, an individual will be the basis of verification with 25 years as the cut off age for such individuals. The meeting last month had agreed to exchange the names of JVT within a week and conduct the first visit by January 31 this year.

With Nepal and Bhutan agreeing for joint field verification, the first of the stumbling blocks for the repatriation of the refugees to Bhutan has been removed, say experts.

On Milky Pond: Reviving a forgotten tradition

By Tilak Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Jan 4 – Eleven years is a long time, long enough for an age-old ritual to be forgotten. But there are people out there who won’t, or cannot, forget. And they do everything to revive a forgotten tradition.

"Dudh Pokhari: Chhori Cheli Lai Ghumaune Jatra" is a documentary that records one such attempt at tradition-revival by a group of young girls of the Gurung community in a village of Kaski district. The title of the documentary, which was screened here on Wednesday, itself reveals what it is about. The Nepali title loosely translates to Dudh Pokhari: Festival of travel for unmarried daughters.

The documentary tells the tale of a daring attempt on the part of 14 Gurung girls to climb uphill to Dudh Pokhari (Milk Pond), about 17,500 ft above the sea level to honour and follow an important but waning ritual of the Gurung community.

And that was trapped by Amrit Gurung in his camera in the form of wonderful documentary that was screened here Wednesday.

The documentary is all about the tradition of unmarried girls of the Gurung community going to Dudh Pokhari in Lamjung district, a tradition which has been mostly discontinued for years now.

But last August, the young Gurung girls from Tangting village of Namarjun VDC of Kaski district made that traditional journey to the pond. Elders of the Gurung community are happy that this journey by the village girls has given re-birth to a fading cultural tradition.

"There is no dramatisation in the documentary," director Gurung told The Kathmandu Post, immediately after the screening of his masterpiece. "It is specifically dedicated to the Gurung community".

How the girls arrived at the decision to make the trek, and the great fanfare in their village which ensued thereafter, has been captured for posterity in the documentary. Altogether, 18 guardians from the village accompanied the girls to Dudh Pokhari.

The scintillating black stone trails, big rocks and snow bound mountains were majestic in their grandeur. The scenery bewitched almost everyone present at the video presentation. As much the audience was enjoying it, the girls in the video were having equally tough time in walking along the difficult trails – climbing uphill and then hurling down again. And, many suffered the attack of high altitude sickness.

For three days before and three days after the journey, the people of the host community along with the participants sing Dudh Pokhari Song in Gurung dialect. Singing and dancing, staying overnight in sheep-pens, they finally reach the destination after trekking for 7 days. After the ritual bath in Dudh Pokhari, the pilgrims do not stay there for long. There is a belief that young girls should not stay too long at Dudh Pokhari and other shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.

There is another saying that the Dudh Pokhari pilgrimage becomes complete only after visiting Namun Pass, Muktinath and other shrines.

Jail reforms still undone

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - Though five months have elapsed since the Parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) submitted a report on jail reform, its major recommendations have not been implemented.

The committee, in its report submitted on June 16, had suggested short and long-term plans to improve the pathetic condition of jails throughout the Kingdom. It had suggested for speedy construction of jails with ample facilities and shifting them away from the cities and towns. Provision of employment to the prisoners depending on their skills was another major recommendation. All of these remain unimplemented.

"The internal reforms which incur little economic burden have been attained but due to lack of adequate funds, we have not been able to implement major reforms," admits Chief Jailor Rudra Nath Basyal of the Central Jail.

The report had also urged the government to renovate the central jail buildings, which were constructed about a century ago. "The renovation work cannot take place unless the government releases fund," Basyal added.

Education for the children of the jail inmates is another unattained issue. Though the children go to school there is dearth of education materials, let alone the library, says Buddhi Kumar Danuwar an inmate who is also working as a Chowkidar (gatekeeper) at the Central jail.

Similarly the demand of the prisoners for hike in their allowance also remains unfulfilled. Each prisoner gets Rs 15 as daily allowance and 700 grams of rice, which they complain as "insufficient." Unfortunately, the report submitted by the SAC too didn’t accept this demand.

The SAC’s Chairman and lawmaker Hom Nath Dahal says it is the responsibility of the committee to prepare recommendation but it is the government which should execute it.

Mukunda Sharma, Secretary of the SAC is also of the opinion that the concerned authorities are silent on the implementation of the report. " However, we keep on pressing the government," Sharma says. The SAC has called a meeting next week to discuss the issue. "We are not silent after submission of the report but are pushing hard to implement it."

Dharma Raj Dhungana, Director of the Prison Management Department says the department has already issued a circular to the district jails to implement the recommendations of the committee to the possible extent but very few have complied.

Maoists escalate attacks

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KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - The underground Maoists attacked various police posts in many districts and severely tortured people and policemen, Wednesday night, reports received from across the country said.

The Maoists guerrillas set fire to a Ghodamara-based police station in Jhapa, Wednesday night, police here said. The police post is located about five kilometres east of the district headquarters.

According to head constable of the station, Som Prasad Anpgain, there were no policemen staying at the post when the Maoist attacked.

Some luggage and two bedsteads were found burned to cinder in the four-room building, Anpgaign said.

The guerrillas had already fled the scene long before the police reinforcement arrived. The post was established close to the south-eastern Nepal-India border with a view to control theft and crime in the area in 1992.

This is the second Maoists attack targeted at a police station in the district following their raid on the Kunjibari-based police post about nine months ago.

Meanwhile, a report received from Manglung, the district headquarters of Teharathum, stated that the rebels torched a Lasune Bazaar-based police post Wednesday and severely beat up the head constable. The police post is located about six hour trek away from the district headquarters.

An eye-witness said that Maoist guerrillas surrounded a local hotel where the policemen were having their dinner and abducted head constable, Krishna Prasad Adhikari. Later, Adhikari was found to have been severely flogged.

A police reinforcement was sent to the site to take stock of the situation, Thursday morning, the police said.

Similarly, the Maoist rebels broke the limbs of Dambar Bahadur Rana, former Majhkot Village Development Committee (VDC) chairman and VDC-level chairman of the ruling Nepali Congress party in Tanahu, Wednesday. Rana was reportedly attacked, accusing him of indulging in corruption. He was rushed to Kathmandu for treatment Thursday.

A fresh report from Arghakhanchi said that, the Maoists set fire to an office of Small Farmer Project at Arghatos VDC Wednesday night, Health Assistant Meena Shrestha from the VDC told The Kathmandu Post over telephone. The VDC lies about 15-km east of Sandhikharka, the district headquarters. Shrestha estimated that property equivalent to Rs 600,000 was burned to cinder.

Our reporter from Ilam said that the Jirmale-based police post was also torched by the Maoist insurgents Wednesday. The rebels looted four sets of police uniforms during the attack. This is the first time ever that the rebels have attack a police post in the district.

A dispatch from Chautara, the district headquarters of Sindhupalchowk, stated that the rebels hurled socket bombs and exchanged gunfire with police in two police stations there. According to the local administration, Maoists hurled a powerful home-made bomb at Irkhu police station, about six-km east of Chautara, Wednesday. But nobody was hurt in the half an hour exchange between the rebels and the police.

Likewise, the insurgents hurled two bombs and fired at a police post at Melamchi, Wednesday night, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rabiraj Shrestha. He said that the Maoist attack caused no damage to the post and no policemen were hurt.

SC orders amicus curie on British Gurkha case

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KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - In response to a writ petition seeking the government to take proper initiative for talks with the British government to ensure same level of treatment of British Gurkha Army soldiers with their British counterparts, the Supreme Court today passed an order that amicus curie be sent from the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The order was passed by the bench comprised of Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, and justices Govinda Bahadur Shrestha and Kedar Prasad Giri. Giving the case a top priority, the bench ordered to send three amicus curie from the Bar to help the court.

Retired British Gorkha Officer Gyan Bahadur Rai had filed a writ petition five months ago stating that the Memorandum of Agreement on Recruitment of Gurkha Troops between Nepal, India and Britain on November 9, 1947 stated, "...in all matters of promotion, welfare and other facilities the Gurkha troops should be treated on the same footing as the other units in the parent army so that the stigma of mercenary troops may for all time be wiped out."

"However, the British Gurkha officers are being treated as per the agreement between Britain and India on November 7, 1947," the petition had stated.

The petiton had stated Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Law Ministry among other as respondents. Advocate Ramjee Bista had pleaded from the petitioner’s side.

CJ stresses enlightened judiciary for gender equity

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KATHMANDU, Jan 4 - Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya today stressed the need for the judiciary to update its skills and legal knowledge to respond effectively to the issue of gender justice and equality.

Upadhyaya was speaking at an inaugural ceremony of a four day programme on Judicial Gender Equality Education and Human Rights - Broadening the Spectrum organised by NGOs Pro Public and Sakshi.

"Only an enlightened judiciary can protect human rights and secure gender justice, and for this judges should be provided with continued legal education to keep them informed about gender equality issues," said Upadhyaya.

Speaking further Upadyaya said that principles and standards laid down by instruments such as Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) need to be internalised in the judging process.

"The State should take initiatives to introduce bold positive measures aimed at improving the plight of women as envisaged by the equality clause and the directive principles and policies of the state and the international human rights conventions," he added.

Kalyan Shrestha, justice of the Appellate Court, Butwal, stressed the need for amendment of such acts that were gender biased.

Chandni Joshi, UNIFEM Regional Programme Director stressed the need for the highest level of judiciary to come together for women’s issue. Naini Kapur, Director of Sakshi (India based NGO) said that gender issues should be treated as human rights.

Justice Claire L’ Heureux Dube of the Supreme Court of Canada, said, "Violence against women is so pervasive throughout the world that the international community has adopted a number of human rights instrument to specifically address women’s issues." Adding, "Most notable among these is CEDAW. Nepal is among the many countries that are party to this convention, described as the definitive international legal instrument requiring respect for and observance of the human rights of women."

Upper Bhote Koshi starts trial production

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CHAUTARA, Jan 4 - The 36-MW Upper Bhotekosi hydro-electric project, a privately run power plant, started trial generation Wednesday, Managing Director of the Project Dr Sandeep Shah said today.

Construction of the 90.9 million dollar, controversial power project was started in January 1996 as a joint venture between Harza Engineering, USA, Panda Engineering, USA and Himal International Power Corporation, Nepal.

Water of the snow-fed Bhotekosi river is channelled through the three-km long tunnel from the dam site at Larcha at Tatopani VDC to the power house at Jhirpu of Phulping Katti Village Development Committee (VDC).

Shah said that the energy produced on trail basis has been connected to the national grid of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) at a sub-station of the Sunkosi hydel project, about 25-km south of the project.

Shah hoped that the project would start full generation within three weeks time.