Nepal to get one, lose another
UNESCO regional office likely to be shifted

By Damakant Jayshi & Satish Jung Shahi

KATHMANDU, March 9 –  Just three days before the whistle-stop visit by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to Nepal, both good and bad developments are in the offing for the country. It’s a tale about headquarters – while one is coming here, another is on its way out.

The good news is that the de jure status of the regional Peace and Disarmament Centre (PDC) in Kathmandu (for Asia-Pacific) is likely to come to Nepal physically.

While the bad news is that the regional headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is, in all probability, likely to be shifted out of the Himalayan nation.

Murari Raj Sharma, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN, who is in the capital in connection to the General Secretary’s visit, told The Kathmandu Post that there was a high probability of Nepal, currently designated as one of the only three peace and disarmament centres in the world, will be physically housed in Kathmandu with the Director’s office.

Sharma, who played a key role in placing Nepal on Annan’s upcoming tour itinerary in a revised schedule, said, "By July 31, the UN Secretariat has to submit its report to the UN General Assembly on shifting of the Director’s office after consulting all the concerned countries and the agencies." Sharma added that unlike in previous years when the Secretariat used to prepare all by itself, this time around, Nepal is providing a lot of inputs for the report.

The July report, said Sharma, would help Nepal to present better its resolution on the PDC in the UN General Assembly expected to be held in November. The prospect of the resolution sailing through has been boosted with China and India agreeing to be its co-sponsors. This is the first time that India has agreed to be one of the co-sponsors to the resolution that has a backing of more than half of over 50 Asian nations.

However, Nepal is yet to officially pursue the matter at the regional level. "We need regional consensus before taking up the issue globally and we are confident of getting the regional support," Sharma said. Nepal paid 7,000 US dollars annually, from 1988-97, for the operational costs of the Peace and Disarmament Centre in the hope of housing it in Kathmandu. However, Nepal refrained from paying the cost as the things did not move right. Now Nepal is, once again, pursuing the matter vigorously.

Speaking about the establishment of the Regional UN Peace-Keeping Training Centre at Paanchkhal in Kavre district, some 45 kilometers east of Kathmandu, Sharma said that the issue, among others, is on agenda for discussion during Annan’s forthcoming visit.

The prospects of Nepal housing yet another important centre of global importance was bolstered recently by the visits of the British State Secretary for Defence, Mongolian President and the Chinese Defence Minister to the Royal Nepal Army base.

The Nepali UN official also revealed that the UN has approached Nepal for its peacekeeping operation in another African country, Congo. Nepal has already received similar proposal for Sierra Leone.

Another positive developments is the establishment of United Nations South Asia Research Facility, comprised of regional experts to advise the country officials on various issues concerning UN.

But the possible shifting of UNESCO regional centre out of Nepal comes as a hitch to these developments. A very high-level UN official, requesting anonymity, told The Kathmandu Post that the discussions were on regarding the possible relocation of the regional office. However, he denied that it was due to the alleged reports of corruption and mismanagement in the Kathmandu office. "The discussions are part of normal re-structuring plan." He also hinted on the possibility that the relocation could take place in any of the SAARC countries.

Regarding the agenda during Annan’s brief stay in Kathmandu, Dr Henning Karcher, Resident Representative of UN mission in Nepal, said that although there is no set agenda, all areas of development will be discussed. Immediately after landing in Kathmandu, the UN chief is scheduled to embark on a mountain flight and later meet His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister and Foreign, Defence and Finance ministers and other officials.

UML ready to face mid-term poll

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LIWANG (Rolpa), March 9 - The main opposition party CPN- UML leader Khadga Prasad Oli today told his party activists to gear up for possible mid-term poll as it is the best alternative to resolve the problems facing the country.

Addressing the mass gathering in this Maoist-affected district, Oli said; "Mid-term poll can hit the country any time and you have to get ready and begin the campaign right away."

Charging Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of being involved in the controversial Lauda Air deal, Oli said that Koirala might anytime call for mid-term poll to save himself from being compelled to resign.

"All the problems should be resolved immediately, If it can’t be done, then mid-term poll should be declared, "Oli demanded. "UML is ready to go for mid-term election."

About 300 activists from Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan and Dang participated in the gathering.

GAESO Int’l meet convenes
Ex-Gurkhas press for pension parity

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KATHMANDU, March 9 - The Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organization (GAESO) once again raised their longstanding demand for pension parity vis-à-vis the British retired soldiers at the launch of their three-day International Human Rights Conference today.

GAESO move comes a day after the British government announced "substantial pension rise" of 10.9 per cent effective from April 1, 2000 for the British Gurkha ex-servicemen, put together with last year’s hike of over 100 per cent.

GAESO, which has spearheaded the issue of pension disparity since the past five years, says the present increment still doesn’t raise the pension of the Gurkha ex-servicemen on a par with their British counterparts as per their demand.

During his eight-page long inaugural speech, at the launch of the international convention titled "Discriminatory Treatment of British Gurkha Soldiers," Padam Bahadur Gurung, President of GAESO, spoke strongly against both the British and the Nepal government for failing to correct the discriminatory pension system.

Since the past five years, ex-Gurkhas have been launching a strong movement demanding pension parity, better employment opportunities for their children, and right to British residential visa.

"Our movement is not against Britain or any British national...we are for equal rights and respect of the Gurkha soldiers. We only want to point out the mistakes made by both the governments (Britain and Nepal) and rectify them," said Gurung.

"Our protests so far are in a well-disciplined manner, as per the mode we were trained to be in the Army," Gurung further said.

Gurung also slammed the British government, accusing it of "adopting various means of negative publicity, threat and repress" to disparage their movement. "Even Britain’s announcement to provide in-service equal pension to the present Gurkha soldiers is dubious as only the overseas allowances of the Gurkhas have been increased and not the basic pay. The pension is pegged against the basic pay of the soldiers," he said.

He even went on accusing Colonel Mark Dowdle (the present Defence Attache at the British Embassy) of recently issuing "Army order" to stop pension and other facilities to any British Gurkha personnel supporting their movement.

According to Dr. Om Gurung, co-ordinator of the international meet, the conference aims to decide a definitive plan to approach the UN Human Rights Court as well as the European Court to resolve the pension and welfare issues.

"The another focus of the conference is also to discuss racism and human rights violation in the British Army and to assess the problems suffered by their families back home," he said. According to Gurung, the meeting will also discuss the legitimacy of the Tripartite Treaty in the changed context and the agonizing sufferings of the Gurkha war veterans who were returned home without any offer of pension, gratuity and compensation.

The British government has so far stuck to the claim that the tri-partite agreement signed by Nepal, India and Britain in 1947 governs the remuneration of Gurkhas employed in the British Army. The British maintain that the Treaty pegs the salary of the British Gurkhas to the Indian Army’s Pay Code so as not to adversely affect recruitment of Nepali in the India Army. GAESO, however, says the agreement doesn’t stand in the way to address the issue of British Gurkha's pension disparity.

Yam Bahadur Gurung, GAESO General Secretary, said that at least 1000 foreign delegates from more than a dozen countries are attending the conference. Around 500 Gurkha war veterans from across the country, who were discharged from service by the British government without pension, gratuity and compensation are also attending the conference.

The conference is being held in preparation for the 57th Session of UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, slated to be held at the end of March, and the World Conference against Racism in South Africa, scheduled for August 2001, organisers said.

Released detainee’s whereabout unknown

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BIRATNAGAR, March 9 - The father of a student alleged to be involved with the Maoists but ordered to be released, accused the local administration of illegally keeping his son in custody.

The whereabout of Omprakash Dhakal, who was ordered to be released by the Supreme Court last Wednesday is still not known despite the court order, the father claimed. Dhakal, resident of Itahari-4 and allegedly a Maoist — student was arrested two years ago from Hile, Dhankuta district, charged with illegal possession of a pistol. But Dhakal’s father claimed that he was arrested from his house for no reason.

District Administration Office, Dhankuta, had sentenced Dhakal to two years in prison and fined him of Rs 6,000, and later the Appellate Court here had reduced the sentence to jail term only.

Dhakal was transferred to Morang Jail from the Dhankuta Jail only two months ago. Dhakal’s relatives had filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court to which the court had passed an order for his release.

Jailor Chandeswor Pokharel said that Dhakal was released but there was no one to receive him.

Issuing a press release, various Human Rights organisations have condemned the local jail authorities for complete lack of humane sensitivity in regards to release of detainees like Dhakal.

JVT delay worries refugees

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BHADRAPUR, March 9 - Over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, languishing in eastern Nepal over a decade, are worried about the snail-pace progress of the joint verification works, which was agreed to by the two sides during the ministerial talks in late December.

Verification works of the refugees has not progressed after the joint inspection of various refugees’ camps in Eastern Nepal. Though the office of the Joint Verification Team (JVT) has been set up at Damak, Jhapa, the officials from Bhutanese team are yet to arrive here.

Employees at the Damak-based JVT office say they are still not sure about the arrival of the Bhutanese team.

With the delay in the verification works, refugees say, there are grounds for fresh doubts about the Bhutanese commitment towards speedy field verification process.

The Joint Verification Team from Nepal and Bhutan had agreed to start refugee verification works following a four-hour long rigorous meeting in Jhapa on 29 January. The JVT also visited all the seven refugee camps before they agreed to proceed with the verification beginning by the end of February.

The Nepali team was led by Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry, Usha Nepal and Bhutanese team was led by Director of the Bhutanese Home Ministry, Dr Sonam Tenzing to the JVT.

However, Chairman of the Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF), DB Rana, said that the verification process might commence soon but that alone doesn’t guarantee the early repatriation of the refugees.

Chief of the Chandragadhi-based Refugee Coordination Unit, Jaya Narayan Mandal, said he is hopeful that the Bhutanese verification team will arrive in Jhapa by the end of the second week of March.

CDO defies SC order

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SIRAHA, March 9 - Local authorities refused to release Janadesh Weekly Editor Krishna Sen today despite orders issued by the Supreme Court on Thursday for his release.

Sen however was still in custody at Rajbiraj Jail till late Friday.

The Supreme Court’s full bench on Thursday had issued a habeas corpus writ releasing Sen who had been in detention for nearly two years.

"The Supreme Court’s order states that Sen, who was in jail as per Public Security Act-2046, be released. But the District Administration Office, Siraha, had prosecuted Sen in a case related to possessing arms," said Chief District Officer (Siraha) Chandra Bahadur Karki. "We are seeking clear order from the Supreme Court as the type of these two cases are different."

In-charge of the Rajbiraj Jail, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Tek Bahadur Gurung on Thursday had said; "Sen could not be released today as the jailor had already left when the order from the Supreme Court reached here at 5:30pm."

The Supreme Court had ordered the release of Sen in response to writ petition filed at the Supreme Court after Sen was arrested nearly two years ago and detained under Public Security Act - 2046, on charges of assisting the Maoist movement.

Teachers yet to receive allowance

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KALIKOT, March 9 - The government had fixed remote area allowance equal to the civil servants for government employed teachers in 25 different remote districts of the country as an incentive.

Yet, the teachers serving in this remote area of the country despite the harsh conditions, have not even received their regular allowance during this current fiscal year.

The budget allocated to the District Education Office for the entire year is said to have been exhausted after paying second quarterly salary and allowance. The teachers now are not even getting their regular pay.

While presenting the budget for the present fiscal year the government had announced that the government employed teachers in 25 remote districts would receive allowance equal to the civil servants. But later around mid-August last year a cabinet meeting decided that the teachers would get allowance up to 32 per cent only of their salary.

The teachers of the remote areas had opposed the decision and had taken to the streets. The government had then sent a circular to all the District Education Offices mentioning that the teachers would again get 75 per cent allowance equal to that of the civil servants.

According to the District Education Office accounts decision, the allocated sum of Rs 40 million was spent from the second quarterly budget and Rs 10 million was taken from the third quarterly budget. Now, although Rs 30 million is required for the third quarter the District Education Office has only Rs 500,000 at its disposal.

Dip Bahadur Shahi, Chairman of District Education Council and the Chairman of District Development Committee accuses the teachers of neglecting their work. "The teachers for the past 2-3 years have stayed in the district headquarters and have been taking their salaries for nothing," he says.

Most of the teachers in the district for the last few years have stayed in the district headquarters fearing the Maoists. It is also learnt that most of the government schools in the district are supervised by the Maoists.

‘Kathmandu Process’ kicks off

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KATHMANDU, March 9 – The three-day annual Asia-Pacific disarmament meeting, popularly known as "Kathmandu Process" on non-nuclearization kicked off here today with calls to make South Asia a nuclear-free zone.

Today’s focus of the regional disarmament meeting was on Mongolia’s nuclear-free status and nuclear threats to regional security, among others, under the topic of security environment and aspects of the Korean Peninsula came up for discussion in the closed session.

The 13th regional disarmament meeting on "Prospects for future confidence-building" was hosted under the auspices of Peace and Disarmament Centre, Kathmandu.

Delivering his speech in the inaugural session today, Evgeniv Gorkovskiy, Director and Deputy Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations said that the regional discussion, though informal and non-binding, went a long way in easing tensions between conflicting nations. Gorkovskiy added that the "Kathmandu Process" contributed to both the creation of the UN Register of Conventional Arms and the international tackling of the problem of small arms and light weapons.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Romi Gauchan Thakali expressed the concern over nuclear weaponization of South Asia carried out in 1998. Both India and Pakistan had carried out tit-for-tat nuclear tests back then. Thakali also reiterated Nepal’s commitment to ratify CTBT which it has already signed.

The Assistant Minister welcomed the UN Security Council’s five permanent members’ joint statement on the nuclear weapons-free status of Mongolia. He also said that Nepal was now fully prepared to physically house the Peace and Disarmament Centre in Kathmandu.

Later speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Director Gorkovskiy denied that the annual regional disarmament conference had lost its effectiveness, especially in the light of North-South (Koreas) direct talks. "The Kathmandu centre is still the best forum to thrash out contentious issues among different nations." He admitted that with the easing of tensions Asia-Pacific, it appeared as if the "Kathmandu Process" had lost its teeth.

Gorkovskiy also admitted the possibility of India and Pakistan nuclear status coming up for discussion in the next two days, though informally."It depends on the participants if they want to do so."