Security may feature in Nepal-China talks

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KATHMANDU, May 11 – Two days after the Chinese Ambassador Zeng Xuyong publicly expressed his country’s concern at the deteriorating stability in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) today admitted that the Chinese security concerns might be discussed during the forthcoming visit of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to Nepal.

On Wednesday, speaking about Maoist insurgency, Ambassador Xuyong had said that China was concerned about the security environment in the Himalayan Kingdom, though he had added that the matter was an internal affair of Nepal. He was speaking to the reporters just days before the Chinese Premier Rongji’s three-day official visit to Nepal beginning May 14.

Rongji, who will be the fourth Chinese Premier to visit Nepal, is on a South Asia official visit covering Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Bangladesh. The three-day visit to Nepal will commence on May 14. Rongji is scheduled to come here after his three-day visit to Pakistan beginning on Friday. He is also visiting Thailand.

Speaking at a press conference today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola said that since the Chinese envoy went on record over the security issue, the subject could come up during the talks between Prime Minister Koirala and his Chinese counterpart Rongji. He further said that China had not officially spoken about the security situation in Nepal.

However, Bastola admitted that the Chinese had expressed concerns over activism by Tibetan exiles living in Nepal. The Chinese, Bastola said, "have expressed their worries on the possibility of Nepal being used against Tibet autonomous region and mainland China. But we have assured them that Nepalese soil would not be allowed to be used against any third country."

Bastola said that Nepal would also raise the nuclear arms race in the region as one of the subjects during Rongji’s visit.

But for the most part, the bilateral talks will focus on improving the economic ties between the two countries, the entry of Nepal and China into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a host of bilateral matters, besides regional and international issues.

One area of talks sought by Nepal is to formalize the transportation arrangement between Nepal and China. Nepal at present sends some food supplies to remote mountainous districts in the northwest through Tibetan territory. But this is being done on an ad-hoc basis even as the two governments continue to exchange drafts on ways to formalize the agreement.

China has also agreed in principle to open two more Nepal-China border points – Kimathanka and Mustang – besides the existing Kodari, Yari and Rasuwa. Nepal had asked for two more points Tinkar and Mugu and they are still being discussed, said Foreign Ministry officials. Once Kimathanka and Mustang become operational, Nepal and China will have six trade points, with Olangchugola being the sixth, though unofficial border crossing point.

A matter of concern for the Nepalese side is the increasing trade deficit between the two countries, to the disadvantage of Nepal. In the fiscal year 1999-2000 the imports from mainland China and Tibet amounted to Rs 8.3 billion and Rs 47 million respectively. During the same period Nepal’s exports to these places stood at Rs 1.8 million (mainland China) and Rs 510 million (Tibet autonomous region). Nepal has also asked China to grant preferential treatment for trade with the autonomous region of Tibet.

Altogether six agreements are likely to be signed during the Chinese Premier’s visit. One is Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agriculture, letters of exchange on the new road link Syabrubesi-Rasuwagadi, polytechnic institute at Banepa, economic and technological cooperation, hospital for civil servants in Kathmandu and one on the avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion

Prime Minister urges early solution to education problem PABSON optimistic about talks

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KATHMANDU, May 11- Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Friday strongly urged all the concerned parties to solve the serious problems facing the educational institutions in the country.

His call came during a meeting with a group of private boarding school representatives today who apprised him of the terror-like situation created by the Maoist-affiliated ANNFSU (R) students group.

The Ministry of Education and Sports has called a meeting on Saturday with the Private and Boarding School Organisation of Nepal (PABSON), officials of the ANNFSU (R) and the organisations of guardians following the recent attack on two private schools by the radical students’ group. The group has also threatened action against schools if they fail to heed their call for a strike for one week beginning May 14.

Various governmental and non-governmental organisations, diplomatic mission, human rights organisations, and political parties have all condemned the recent attack on the schools by the ANNFSU(R) and urged the parties concerned to solve the problems immediately.

The seven member delegate of the Private and Boarding School Organisations (PABSON) who met the Prime Minister today informed reporters at a press conference that the government is seriously concerned about the recent disturbances created by the radical students union.

Briefing the reporters about the meeting with Koirala, Bhoj Bahadur Shah, general secretary of PABSON said, "PABSON is optimistic after the seriousness shown by the government."

The meeting between the ANNFSU (R), PABSON, the organisations of guardians and the Ministry of Education and Sports scheduled for Saturday is expected to address the crux of the problems underlying the current impasse in the dialogues initiated so far, the representatives of PABSON said.

PABSON also accused the radical students’ union of politicising the schools and urging the students to take up illegal activities. However, PABSON said it was optimistic about Saturday’s dialogue.

Meanwhile, various organizations and groups have begun condemning the vandalism done by ANNFSU (R) early this week on two private schools.

A press release issued by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, RPP also raised serious concern over the deteriorating security scenario in the schools and called on all the parties concerned to arrive at an amicable solution through the dialogue.

The Embassy of India also issued a statement condemning the violence. "While every well meaning person would strive to improve the teaching standards in the schools in Nepal, it would be a serious mistake to believe that this can be achieved by vandalising the schools which impart good education," the Embassy said. It also urged HMG to provide security and protection to Indian nationals and their property.

Meanwhile, a press statement issued by the Nepal Human Rights Organisation raised serious concerns on the activities of ANNFSU (R) condemning their act of atrocities on the innocent students and threatening their lives by setting fire to their class rooms and using explosive materials. "Such violent incidences have serious repercussions on child psychology," it warned. Various organizations called upon all the students’ organisations to solve the current problems and allow the schools to run peacefully.

Bad roads, human factor contribute to road mishaps

By Shree Ram Subedi

KATHMANDU, May 11- Were the recurring bus accidents in the last few days inevitable? Or were they caused due to bad and narrow roads, avoidable human error and the authorities’ negligence?

Such questions are being raised in the wake of the latest bus accident that occurred yesterday when eight people died. A close look at the cause of accidents reveals all these factors lead to the ever-increasing accidents.

Over-loading of passenger buses with cargo loads, overcrowding of passengers, travelling on bus roof-tops, carelessness of the drivers (especially those conductors and helpers who graduate to the driving seat) are common occurrences in Nepal. This all happens due to the lack of education and awareness among the concerned parties. Add to this, lack of enforcement of existing rules.

Traffic data shows that there have been 35 accidents in past week alone. The death toll has been 22 around the Kathmandu Valley only, the latest when eight people died Thursday (one more died later in the hospital) when their bus plunged off at Goldhunga. At least 70 people have succumbed to death in various accidents in the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2057/2058 in the Kathmandu Valley alone, according to Valley Traffic Police Office (VPTO).

Moreover, as experts point out, the conditions of road "trigger" the avoidable accidents. Take the Goldhunga accident . Though multiple reasons were responsible for the accident, the narrow road, the police say, was the chief reason. There was also an illegally parked truck on one side of the Pasang Lhamu Highway.

In contrast, say police officers, accidents on better and wider roads have been decreasing in recent years. Yadav Adhikari, Superintendent of Police at VTPO claims that the number of accidents on the Mahendra or East-West Highway has come down over the years. Those that do occur do so chiefly due to driver’s error.

Though 42 passenger buses run from the Capital to Trisuli and Rasuwa on the Pasang Lhamu Highway, the passenger traffic is always high in this route. The winding road causes vomiting to the passengers and majority of them wants to travel on the roof top. Overcrowding also forces the passengers to sit on rooftops.

The law-enforcers blame the people for this. "The public deceive police at check points and go to the roof after crossing it," says Ichhya Gurung, Assistant Sub-Inspector at Balaju Police Office.

There were 70 packs of eggs over 700 kg in weight on the roof of the bus on Thursday, according to the egg trader Abdul Jalil, who sustained injury on the mishap. Passengers allege that the police do not monitor goods loaded on bus tops, which make the vehicles dangerously unstable.

Senior traffic police officials accept that the responsibility to some extent goes to the enforcing agency too. "We are strictly prohibiting to travel on the roof top of bus immediately" informed Adhikari.

Urge US for tariff relief: Garment entrepreneurs

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KATHMANDU, May 11 - Garment entrepreneurs have said that the government must strongly urge the United States to provide Nepal with the same facilities that it has granted to the Sub-Saharan African countries, if garment exports are to pick up again.

The US government last year had dismantled tariff and quota barriers for textile and clothing imports from the African countries, whose per capita income were below US $ 1500.

"Since Nepal too has per capita income of less than 1500 dollars, Nepal falls within the criteria set by the US government for removal of import barriers," says Uday Raj Pandey, general secretary of Garment Association Nepal. Nepal’s per capita income presently is around US $ 250, according to government figures.

Though the GAN has repeatedly asked the government to pursue the matter through the diplomatic channels, the government so far has turned a deaf ear to the garment entrepreneurs’ calls, it is alleged.

If Nepal is allowed duty free access into the American markets, it would mean a reduction in tariff for American importers by as high as 21 per cent. "Reduction in tariff would enhance the competitive edge of the costly Nepali garments," says Pandey.

"We have time and again asked the government to take measures to safeguard the garment industry in the context of the challenges brought by globalization, but the government has not taken any action," says Kiran Sakha, a garment entrepreneur.

UML urged for dialogue with all parties

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KATHMANDU, May 11- Former diplomats, ex-governors, former members of the Planning Commission and bureaucrats today, suggested the main opposition party CPN-UML to initiate dialogue with all concerned parties in order to pull the country out of the existing crisis.

The former civil-service men were speaking at an interaction program organized by the CPN-UML on the current crisis in the country at the capital today.

General Secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that his party was trying its best to "free the country from both the Maoists who are trying to rule the country by force and the government that has been thrusting bad governance."

Mohan Man Sainju, former vice chairman of the Planning Commission said that it would be much better if the main opposition party left the streets and started dialogue with all the political forces in the country.

There were sixteen distinguished personalities participating in the program who expressed their views regarding the present situation of the country. Ex-governor Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, former home secretary Revati Raman Pokhrel, former foreign minister Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and ex-ambassador Mukunda Dhungel, among others, spoke in the program.

Capital’s mushrooming Gombas worry experts

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, May 11 – The tendency of Nepalis to overindulge in whatever is the flavour of the month is now extending to Buddhist gombas (monasteries), worrying archaeology and cultural experts.

The case in point is the construction of yet another monastery on the hill of Swoyambhunath, which critics say, is in violation of the Swoyambhunath Conservation Master Plan (Swoyambhu 2000), recognised by the Ministry of Culture in 1989.

The master plan proposed strict controls on new construction 11 years ago but no such check has been put in place. As a result, new gombas are sprouting here and there on the Swoyambhu hill and also across the Valley.

Devi Prasad Adhikari, the Archive Officer of Monastery Management and Development Committee (MMDC), said that the number of monasteries in the Capital has grown exponentially in the past decade.

A survey shows that there were only 49 monasteries in Kathmandu district a decade ago. "But the number might be between 200 to 300 by now," says Adhikari.

Even the community groups, which normally ought to welcome the emergence of new gombas, are not happy with this trend. Raju Lama, the chairperson of Ghyang Guthi, just one such group at Swoyambhu, said that the construction of Lamaistic monasteries in the central as well as surrounding foothills of the Kathmandu Valley has gone beyond control. "Their growth has hit the maximum limit," he said.

The director general of Department of Archaeology (DOA), Sanu Maiya Rana admits that the department has failed to control such activities. "We tried to control it, but couldn’t succeed."

No one can pinpoint exactly why so many monasteries are coming up, but they say that most of the funds are pouring in from outside for the construction of new monasteries. Even though, the permission to build new gombas is required from the municipality or the concerned Village Development Committee. Yet in many cases, construction is being carried out without such permission.

At the heart of the debate is whether such large number of monasteries are needed for the relatively small number of Lamaist Buddhist adherents in the Kathmandu Valley.

"How many gombas does this valley need," asks Buddha Ratna Bajracharya, a pilgrim at Swoyambhunath. "Why can’t they share the same gomba for praying?"

Bajracharya says that the growing number of Tibetan-style monasteries is the indication of the flow of migrants, either from neighbouring countries like Tibet (China) and Bhutan or from other mountainous districts of Nepal. "Making of a monastery gives them a means to live here permanently," he says, adding that it also provides them an opportunity to squat upon public land.

But such talk is brushed aside by other interest groups. Ratna Bahadur Bajracharya, the chairman of Swoyambhu Renovation and Management Federation, supports the construction of more such monasteries on the Swoyambhu hill saying that they at least protect the hills "from being messy."

Although Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has no specific programme to bring this mushrooming of monasteries under control, Mayor Keshav Sthapit said that he is prepared to take some necessary steps to control it.

"If nobody does anything to control this cultural encroachment in the city, I am ready to do something to bring them under regulation," he said.

Construction of a religious shrine compatible with the local surrounding can be taken as value-adding for conservation, he says. "But if this takes the shape of competition, it is sure to degrade the natural landscape."

Immigration denies travel for young woman

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KATHMANDU, May 11 – A young Nepali woman was prevented from flying abroad Friday with her British fiancé by immigration authorities at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the third time they have stopped her.

Ramila KC, 19, claims she married Shimon Mjithia, a British national of Indian origin at a private ceremony at Guheshwori in Kathmandu attended by her friends and relatives. The couple said that they would be married in a more elaborate ceremony in London, but immigration authorities refused to let her fly out with her Muthia. KC said she had the necessary passport and visa, but immigration officials still would not relent, asking her instead to furnish a marriage certificate.

"I married the man simply in the temple of Guheshowri a few days ago. We did not go for official marriage certificate here because we are planning a court-marriage in England," KC said.

Officers at TIA Immigration Office said that generally when couples come they have to produce marriage certificate, passport with visa before they are allowed to board aircraft. "We do not stop any people unnecessarily if they have all the documents," an officer said on condition of anonymity.

But legal experts say there is more to this. Because of discriminatory laws, immigration officials routinely turn away Nepali women from flying abroad if they are unaccompanied by a male relative.

Survey on women’s right to ancestral property

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KATHMANDU, May 11 - The dispute of whether to allow female members of family share the ancestral property or not is taking a concrete shape as a survey done from a government body has shown a positive indication.

The result of survey done by a team associated with Law, Justice and Parliamentary Management Committee, released today states that 92.8 per cent of the samples demanded amendment in the present system of division of ancestral property.

The responsibility of feeding the family falls upon both of the parents, according to 98.5 per cent. Likewise, 91.5 per cent of the sample says that both men and women should have rights to divorce after acquiring the property.

But 56.5 per cent of the opinion stood for having the women returned their acquired property if they had married with a foreigner.

However, the ideas are shared in the case of the portion that should go to the parents. Only 33.1 per cent, that is the biggest, said that the property should be divided among the sons and daughters after separating the amount the property needed.

Chairman of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Committee, said that the report represents the voice of the people and the committee also is in the position to forward changes in the present system and lift the existing part of discrimination against women regarding division of ancestral property.