CWC amends statute
Limits party president’s terms of office

By Ameet Dhakal and Meena Kaini

POKHARA, Jan 18 -  Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held here today, on the eve of its 10th general convention took a crucial decision to restrict the tenure of the party president to two terms at maximum.

The CWC meeting held this afternoon at Kaski District Party Office also decided to amend the party statute for the purpose. A closed session meeting of the convention representatives is expected to endorse the CWC decision tomorrow evening.

However, the meeting rejected senior leader Sailaja Acharya’s proposal, which opposes the provision for electing 18 CWC members through general convention. The new draft of the party statute has proposed to elect of 18 CWC members through the general convention against the past practice of electing only 5 members from each of the five development regions.

The meeting also formed two committees to recommend correction on the political report presented by party general secretary Sushil Koirala and special code of conduct for party leaders prepared by K B Gurung. The first committee comprises Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel, Mahesh Acharya, Tara Nath Ranabhat and Chiranjivi Wagle. Likewise, the second committee comprises Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat, K B Gurung, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Chiranjivi Wagle.

Though the voting for the CWC members and party president is scheduled for January 22, the election fever is already high. Over 75 party members have already declared their candidacy. The prospective contenders for CWC were seen canvassing nervously. Party cadres expect the list to stretch further before it will shrink eventually. The date for filing candidacy has been set for January 20.

The final number of candidates for the CWC will depend upon whether the two contesting factions would choose to contest panel-wise. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s only challenger for the coveted post of the party president, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, talking to The Kathmandu Post said his faction would decide on the matter after extensive discussion. However, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala refused to comment on the issue. "Don’t ask me about this," said Koirala.

Party insiders say the final contest could be on panel basis. The only question is whether the candidacy and the campaigning would be made open.

Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who was in his normal jolly mood, told the reporters that anyone who has his support would win the party presidency. "And Sher Bahadur Deuba has my support," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel also held a meeting with the reporters and told that he would not stand for any panel. "I have always remained independent for the betterment of the party and will maintain my independent posture," he said.

He also opposed the election of CWC members on panel-basis.

"Such election would only sideline the devoted party workers." Poudel also said that he would contest for the post of CWC.

Meanwhile, PM Koirala today nominated 27 members as the convention representatives. According to the party statute, the setting president can elect up to 30 convention representatives. Those nominated today include NC leaders Yog Prasad Upadhyay, Chirajivi Rijal and Giriraj Kumari Prasai.

At a tea-party organised by Nepal Student’s Union, Kaski, Deuba told that he gave his candidacy to, "strengthen Koirala’s hand."

"Since Koirala has not been able to handle both the positions, he should relinquish either of the position," said Deuba. "And I am here to support Koirala in all his endeavours."

The 10th Convention of the party will begin at the local Stadium on Friday where organizers expect upto 50,000 to attend the inaugural session.

Following the inauguration, the 1,477 representatives plus the 30 nominated by party president will meet at close sessions and on Monday they will elect the party president and the 18 CWC members.

Ex-Kamaiyas grab forest land

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 18- Giving a frontal challenge to the Government, approximately 2900 ex-Kamiyas living in 41 makeshift camps in Kailali district have forcibly occupied around 1500 bighas of undesignated forest land in various places, today.

A meeting conducted by the Kamaiya Movement Mobilization Committee on Wednesday had decided to forcibly occupy forestland and allot 10 katthas of land to each one family of ex-Kamaiya, accusing the government of delaying the land distribution process.

Following the decision around 1200 families of ex-Kamaiyas started occupying various forestlands from this morning. They have occupied forestlands in Balchaur, Mahadeva, Dhangadi-12 Maneheragaidi, Geta Srilanka, Baskota, Dudaipur, Haraiya and Parewafanta.

Around 174 families of ex-Kamaiya living in makeshift camps entered the Siddhanath Community forest at Gaudi last night and have been building sheds throughout the day today.

Officials of the local forest office this morning had tried to stop the ex-Kamaiyas from entering the forest and building sheds, but failed. The local representatives and the villagers say that they will not allow anybody to occupy the community forest area.

The Kamaiyas however are determined to stay in the land that they have occupied. " We will not cut any trees. What difference does it make if we stay in open areas of the forest?" questioned Risman Chaudhari an ex-Kamaiya.

"We will build sheds and start living here in order to save our children from cold", said Kaju Chaudhari.

Dilli Chaudhari, President of BASE an NGO fighting for the Kamaiyas and the co-ordinator of Kamaiya Movement Mobilization Committee, said that the step had been taken to press the government into giving the promised land to the ex-Kamaiyas.

1 killed, 2 hurt in bomb attack in Rautahat

Post Report

RAUTAHAT, Gaur, Jan 18 - One man was killed and two others were seriously injured Thursday evening after an unidentified group hurled a powerful bomb in the downtown area here, police said.

Dhruba Narayan Singh, 35, from Gaur Municipality-2, who was talking to his friends at a shop died instantly, while Manoj Sharma, 35, and Prabhu Singh, 40, from the municipality-1 sustained serious injuries due to the explosion.

Condition of Sharma, who was rushed to the Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital, is very critical, according to Dr Murari Prasad Upadhaya.

Superintendent of Police (SP) at Rautahat District Police Office, Ram Chanrda Khanal, said that all the major entry and exit points were sealed immediately to stop the culprits from getting away. The explosion took place about 50 metres away from the Gaur-based customs office.

Nepal, India to upgrade power exchange limit

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 – The sixth meeting of Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee concluded here today, with officials agreeing to upgrade existing power exchange limit and deciding to review the price of electricity exchanged by the two neighbours.

Under the agreement, Nepal and India will upgrade their current power exchange limit of 50 megawatts to 150 megawatts. The officials have also agreed to immediately review the per unit power price of Indian Currency Rs 1.60 (NC Rs 3) which was valid only up to December 31, 1998.

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Bishnu Bam Malla, and Planning Division Member of India’s Central Electricity Authority, K.N. Sinha signed an agreement to this effect Thursday. Sinha was heading a seven-member delegation from India.

"We have made some major advances and solved a number of problems," Sinha told reporters at the end of the five-day meet here today. "We will immediately start implementing what we have agreed here on reaching New Delhi."

He also said that the government of India will do its best to ensure uninterrupted power supply in Nepal’s Terai areas like Janakpurdham and a few other places, where frequent power outages have been major complaints.

"We have to fulfil the quality and quantity of power supply to your satisfaction," he told Nepali officials at the end of the meeting, adding: "We will continue to explore more possibilities of power exchange in future."

NEA chief Malla said that the agreement would help Nepal sell its surplus hydro-electric power to India. With new hydel projects coming into operation one after another, NEA is currently generating as much as 430 megawatts of power, up from less than 300 megawatts six months back.

Under the agreement reached today, power will be exchanged from three more Nepal-India transmission lines, while the existing nine transmission lines will be improved or upgraded.

Nepali officials are also said to have informed their Indian counterpart about the problems seen in the transmission lines in the border areas, the headway made in constructing Butwal-Anandanagar, Birgunj-Motihari and Dhalkebar-Sitamadi transmission lines, besides other issues.

According to a press release issued after the meet, the officials also discussed the possibility of constructing a Nepal-India High-level Direct Current transmission line as directed by a higher level officials’ meeting in October last year. The meeting stressed the need to immediately carry out a feasibility study of the proposed line.

Farmers continue to suffer

By Ram Sharan Sedhai

CHITWAN, Jan 18 - To find out just how precipitously the prices of paddy have fallen this year, all you need to to do is compare the price of a sackful of paddy with a sackful of rice husk, the fine by product of rice mills.

In Chitwan, this Terai district which forms part of Nepal’s food belt, the price of a 100 kilograme bag of coarse paddy is Rs 700. And the price of an equal weighty bag of rice husk is Rs 600.

Of course there is a difference of Rs 100 between the two, but considering that farmers spend months of time, money and energy cultivating paddy in the fields, the price this year has been dismal. The reason is, ironically, a good harvest this season, and the flood of cheap but better quality imports from neigbouring India.

Hem Prasad Uprety, resident of Khairahani Village Development Committee (VDC) ward no 6, who keeps a couple of milk buffaloes, says he has been buying fine rice husk at Rs 600 per quintal. Badri Prasad Pathak, a farmer of Birendranagar VDC ward no 4, who keeps 42 cows which are largely fed on fine rice husk, says he has been buying the husk at Rs 600 per quintal but on occasions has paid as high as Rs 900 per quintal.

Owners of local rice mills say, there is a high demand for rice husk but the supply is low. As a result, price of rice husk has hit the roof and now nearly matches that of paddy. The short supply of rice husk is attributed to the low sales of paddy that is leading to less work for the rice mills, and therefore less production of rice husk. But the story here is not so much the dearth of rice husk or its sky-rocketing prices, but the glut of imported rice and the resulting fall of paddy prices in Nepal which has hit local farmers hard.

The rising price of chemical fertilizers, agricultural tools, pesticides, labour cost and the hike in the price of petroleum products have pushed up the production cost, but the price of paddy has touched a five-year-low.

Amrit Mainali, resident of Khairahani VDC ward no 8, Japkauli who cultivates Sabitri, medium-level paddy, says, "The price of coarse paddy should be at least Rs 1,000 per quintal just to cover the production cost. But there is no indication of price rise in the near future". He recently sold 100 quintals of Sabitri paddy to a local businessman but the price has not been fixed, in anticipation of a price rise in a couple of months’ time.

His is an exceptional case. Most of the farmers cannot wait for months to sell their products. Similarly, the merchants who deal in paddy, rice, wheat, mustard and other agricultural products have their own woes. Ram Chandra Dallakoti, who has been in the business for the last ten years, says he suffered a net loss of Rs 1.5 million by buying Sabitri paddy at Rs 1100 per quintal last year, which is being sold at Rs 800 this year.

"The unrestricted imports of better quality rice which are cheaper than the locally available ones are flooding the market, pushing the prices of all types of paddy to a very low level", says Dallakoti with a sigh.

Badri Prasad Bartaula, owner of the Ganesh Rice Mill, Parsa Bazaar, says, "Since the Indian rice and paddy entered the local market, business has declined, affecting both the farmers and the millers. Unless the government controls the unrestricted inflow of Indian rice and paddy, the farmers and the businessmen are doomed to suffer".

In Parsa Bazaar, a major market for agricultural products in Chitwan, the price of a quintal each of fine Mansuli rice, medium range Sabitri and coarse paddy are being sold at Rs 900, 800 and 700 per quintal respectively.

Asia Invest to help promote business

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 - Nepali business organisations are attending a series of meetings conducted by the European Community under its Asia-Invest Programme (AIP), which is designed to offer a wide range of support to Asian companies, including those in Nepal, in building strategic business alliances.

According to a press release issued here today, the meetings, scheduled from January 19-24, is to take place with Genevieve Dehoux, Senior Project Manager for the European Community’s AIP.

The meetings mark the beginning of one of the first active business initiatives under the AIP over the next two years, the release says.

The Euro 45 million programme has been initiated with a view to help companies develop internationally by providing information, training and help in finding partners. AIP will also help in improving industrial management and planning skills, says the release.

AIP also awards grants to aspiring business organizations as help to reinforce their international services. Both European and Asian applicants can apply for grants under the programme, states the release.

"Nepal is little known as an investment destination among the European business community. That is what the Asia-Invest Programme is helping to address....and promote the country as an investment destination in Europe," the release quotes Dehoux as saying.

‘Mafia involved in cheating foreign job seekers’

By Tilak Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 –  On the afternoon of January 12, narrow premises of the District Police Office (DPO), Hanumandhoka, was crowded with more than 100 people. Angry and infuriated, they were threatening to chop off both hands of a man in custody.

The man, Gokarna Katuwal (KC), the Director of Samjhana Overseas Company, Maharajgunj - a licensed manpower company - was arrested by a police-team after more than 100 overseas employment seekers registered applications demanding action against him and the company.

The police kept him in custody for a day and later referred him to the Department of Labour, the authority responsible for monitoring the overseas employment and activities of manpower companies. Officials say investigations are on, and complaints against him are continuing to pour in. By Thursday, a total of 171 complaints had been registered against him and his company.

As the authorities go ahead with their investigations into this particular case, aggrieved people and knowledgeable government officials say the tendency to swindle is on the rise. Thanks largely to the sudden upsurge in the number of manpower companies—and foreign employment seekers.

Director General at the Department, Deep Basnyat, says that ‘big Mafias’ are active in such a form of swindling business. And such swindlers are not only Nepali nationals, according to him. ‘Mafia’ from different parts of the world are active in Nepal in tricking the innocent people by starting joint ventures with Nepali partners," he says.

According to him, such fly-by-night companies are basically based in the Middle East, Europe and some Asian countries like South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. "These companies not only trick individuals, but also trick the companies in, say, a country like Nepal," he adds. A fake company of Latvia (in former USSR) had recently tricked a sum of Rs 8 million from Global Overseas Company of Nepal, says Basnyat.

After Foreign Employment Act 2042 was enacted in 1985 and the Regulations were framed two years ago, the Department has licensed a total of 193 manpower companies —all of them based in the Valley. Among them, the licenses of only 147 companies are valid now, while legal actions were initiated against 46 other companies involved in irregularities of a kind or another.

Of the 46 companies, the cases of seven companies are currently pending in the district courts. The Department does not issue license to open a manpower company outside the Valley. Before the Regulations were introduced, the legal actions were was taken by the police.

The government gives permission to send Nepalis to work in a total of 18 countries in the Middle East, East Asia including Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. According to Basnyat, the government is "diplomatically" looking for new and developed countries like America, Britain, Japan, and Germany, to send Nepalis for work.

83,000 teachers to be interviewed

By Pramod Poudel

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 - The Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) has finally started interviewing 83,000 teachers who had passed the entrance examinations held nearly four years ago. The interview resumed yesterday after the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) gave a green signal.

The CIAA last Friday had ordered the MOES not to go ahead with the interviews, but later conceded to the ministry’s argument. The ministry had requested CIAA to allow the interviews to be carried out immediately as officials were already deployed to various parts of the country.

Even as CIAA gave the ministry a go ahead with the interview on Monday, it has ordered the ministry not to publish the final list of the selected candidates as the case is still under the investigation of CIAA.

It all started after the government advertised for 14,000 teachers nearly five years ago and to which 83,000 candidates, all securing 35 or more marks, were declared eligible for the interview.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) guideline, however, requires that only 20 per cent additional applicants above the advertised figure can be made public for the interview. However, a list containing 83,000 was made public after the education regulation set 35 as the required minimum marks.

Moreover, after the result of the written exam was published, the government had even made permanent all those temporary teachers who had served for more than a year. A writ petition was filed against this decision at the Supreme Court, to which the court had issued mandamus last year ordering to proceed as per law.

Then the controversy arose regarding the fairness of the examination. Eventually the government, after nearly a year’s delay, constituted the "Teachers Selection Investigating Commission" under the chairmanship of the former Supreme Court Justice Mahesh Rambhakta Mathema, which was to submit its report within 45 days of its constitution. But, the government did not make the report public nor did it implement the recommendation.

The Mathema report stated that the procedures that was set regarding the selection violated many regulations. The report had also stated that even while scrutinising the answer paper through random sampling, immense irregularities while marking the answer papers had been detected.

"No homogenous marking was seen while marking the answer sheets. Some papers were checked leniently while some very strictly," stated the report. "Even additional marks had been added to already checked papers. It was found that as high as 30 marks were added in some papers."

The report also stated that there were no set standards by which the papers were examined. Those papers that were to secure better marks had obtained poor marks while the poor papers allotted high marks.

The answer papers should have only code number but not the name and roll number of the examinee. "However there were such answer papers which were not coded but had the name and the roll number. Some answer papers were found containing a sort of identifying suggestions," stated the report.

"There were even papers where the signature of the examiners were missing," stated the report.

The commission’s report had concluded that the commission had found massive irregularities and had questioned the rationale of such competitive exams recommending the government to conduct a re-examination through establishment of National Education Service Commission.

Army to guard explosives for Surkhet-Jumla highway

By Dilbhusan Pathak and Motilal Poudel

SURKHET, Jan 18 - The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) will take over the responsibility of keeping safe the explosives that will be used on the construction of Surkhet-Jumla highway.

The proposed 220-kilometre long highway would link Karnali Zone, the only zone in the country without motorable roads, with the national road network.

The government on Tuesday decided to give RNA the responsibility of security of the explosives so that they remain safe from possible attacks by Maoist guerrillas, according to Secretary at the Defence Ministry Padam Kumar Acharya.

"The decision has already been made and all we need to do is fulfil the remaining process and the work should begin soon," he said.

Due to the fear of attacks, work on the road had been stalled and Rs. 180 million out of the Rs. 250 million budget allocated during the last fiscal year was frozen.

Chief of the road project Ram Naresh Jha said the move would help accelerate the construction work.

This year too, the government had allocated Rs. 353 million, however, without the explosives to blast through the rocky terrain, only digging of soil was carried out.

Member of Parliament Prem Bahadur Singh however accused the government of failing to supply the explosives and resources for construction of the highway.

"This highway could change the future of this entire zone and yet the government has failed to supply the necessary resources for construction," Singh said.

The highway that is estimated to cost Rs. 2.48 billion is expected to be completed in the next four years. Two of the 14 bridges have already been constructed. Of the 220 kilometres, 46 will be in Surkhet, 86 kilometres in Dailekh, 63 in Kalikot and 25 in Jumla.