Headline News The Kathmandu Post (Nepal)

Chinese PM ends visit, leaves for Maldives

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KATHMANDU, May 16 – After completing his three-day official visit to Nepal, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji flew to the Maldives on Wednesday on the next leg of his four-nation South Asian tour. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, senior political and government leaders as well as heads of foreign diplomatic missions bade Rongji a warm farewell.

During the visit here, Rongji oversaw the signing of six separate agreements while at the same time reaching a host of understandings on promoting trade between the close neighbours. The agreements are Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agriculture, letters of exchange on polytechnic institute at Banepa, hospital for civil servants in the Capital, Syabrubensi-Rasuwagadi new road link, agreements on economic and technical cooperation and avoidance of double taxation and evasion of fiscal evasion.

Under the economic and technical cooperation, the Chinese are providing a grant assistance of about Rs 720 million.

Prime Minister Koirala, according to a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), requested for Chinese assistance in the construction of the proposed Baglung-Beni-Jomsom road. Premier Rongji stated that the Chinese would positively consider the road project once the Syabrubensi-Rasuwagadi road is completed.

Besides the six agreements, another significant outcome of the discussions was the Chinese nod to Nepal opening a consulate in Shanghai to facilitate visas for the Chinese tourists visiting Nepal. An MoU has already been signed by the countries on tourism when Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation visited China recently. China has already put Nepal 9th on its list of outbound tourist destinations. Both the countries are likely to increase the airlinks between them. The MoFA release says that China concurred with Nepal’s proposal on this.

The MoFA release also states that Nepal urged China to grant preferential treatment to the Nepalese products in the Chinese markets. Rongji informed that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation would be sending a delegation to look into the possibility of importing more Nepalese goods in China.

Nepal also raised the issue of the visa problems of Nepalis visiting Hong Kong. PM Rongji remarked that since Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was autonomous in authority and had its own laws, the Chinese government could not interfere in the matter. "But we will convey Nepal’s concern to HKSAR." He suggested to Nepal to raise the matter directly with the HKSAR, adding, "Of, course we will help them in the matter."

Until 1998, Nepalis received "visa on arrival" basis in Hong Kong but since then it was stopped.

The two countries decided to work closely in the international arena like the UNO and the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a release issued by the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist). Nepal and China both aspire to become the members of this world trade regime.

Premier Rongji extended an invitation to PM Koirala to pay a visit to China which the latter accepted. Rongji was here on an invitation extended by Koirala .

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji spent his second day in Nepal visiting top government personalities, business leaders and also had an audience with His Majesty King Birendra at the Royal Palace on Tuesday. Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat and Chairman of the National Assembly Dr Mohammad Mohasin and leader of the opposition Madhav Kumar Nepal were among the prominent personalities who paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji yesterday.

The Chinese delegation also visited Patan Durbar on Tuesday afternoon.

PABSON talks to continue today

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KATHMANDU, May 16 - The future of some one million innocent children forced to stay away from schools continue to remain undecided as Private and Boarding School Organizations of Nepal (PABSON) did not make any substantial breakthrough in the talks today despite its earlier claim that it would open the schools from Thursday.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Umesh Shrestha, Vice-President of PABSON said that a day-long deliberations was held starting from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. between some 400 principals of mid-west region who gathered here in the capital to find a solution to the current problems. He, however, indicated that no decision could be reached even late in the evening regarding the re-opening of the schools.

The PABSON indicated that it nearly reached an agreement with the ANNFSU (R) in two separate talks which included the National PABSON. However, the talks still remain inconclusive.

Meanwhile, Amod Prasad Upadhyay, Minister for Education and Sports, said that the government would hold talks not only with the ANNFSU (R), but also with all the parties related to education sector.

Similarly, Ram Sarovar Dubey, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, said that the efforts would continue tomorrow to solve the problem through all-party meeting.

Hundreds of Principals of private schools who have gathered here pressed for a stable and lasting solution through meetings between all the parties concerned rather than a hasty solution that ultimately lead to the postponement of the meetings for tomorrow.

PABSON will hold meetings separately with the ANNFSU (R), N-PABSON and the Ministry of Education tomorrow, Shrestha informed late in the evening today. PABSON also informed that the government is willing to come for the talks tomorrow.

He also indicated that the schools would not be opened until two or three more days. However, some Principals expressed their apprehension that they could remain closed for another week.

When asked about the re-opening of schools from Thursday, L.P. Sharma, Coordinator of GEMS said, "We have been told to close schools indefinitely." He also said that hundred of parents were continuously inquiring when the schools would re-open.

Bikash Gurung, a student of class VII at Little Angels’ School said, "We were told that we would be informed tomorrow morning over phone about the re-opening of the school." I have no idea why my school has been closed," he adds.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Purna Poudel, general secretary of ANNFSU (R) who was released on Tuesday cited the government silence despite its earlier commitment to call all the parties for the talks which has hindered the process of arriving at a solution. The government’s beating around the bush has elongated the problem, he added.

The leaders of ANNFSU (R) still hope that the government will invite them for the talks. Poudel also hinted that they would withdraw the bandh given the two main demands like regularization of fee structure in private schools and providing free and compulsory education up to 10th class is endorsed and fulfilled by the government.

Nepse Index falls 11 points

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KATHMANDU, May 16 – The stock market continued to tumble for the second straight day today with the Nepse Index sliding 11 points to settle at 332 points. The slide wiped off Rs 1.2 billion worth of value from the stock capitalization.

Today’s slide follows yesterday’s 7 point tumble in the Nepse Index. A cumulative Rs 2.3 billion has already been wiped off the stock value in the last two days.

The Index is an indicator of investor confidence in the market. It has recovered to some extent after the February crash of over 22 points in a single day, but has continuously been sliding again for the last few days.

Brokers claim that the fall is natural to some extent since annual general meetings of most listed companies have ended, and no returns are expected before the next fiscal year end. However, they have blamed political instability and the recently introduced directives by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) as the more important reasons for the Nepse Index fall.

"Fall in the Nepse Index is natural at this time of the year. However, political instability and the recently introduced NRB directives are other causes. The fall has been substantial since the total effect has cumulated at the same time," says Parmeshwor Bhakta Malla, general secretary of the brokers’ association.

The NRB recently included more stringent lending and credit policies in its new directives issued for the commercial banks. Among others, the condition requiring cent per cent provisioning of loans if interest on any loan is defaulted for a year is the main cause of Index slide. Higher provisioning leads to lower net profits, and hence lower future returns to investors, which pulls down share prices. Since commercial banks command a lion’s share of trading in the Nepse floor, the slump in Nepse Index is due to a fall in their prices. However, Malla says the effect due to the new directives will not prevail in the long run. "In the long run, the directives will have a positive impact despite the short term drawbacks."

So far, the Index has fallen from its peak of 545 points last year to 332 points today, washing off market capitalization of Rs 27 billion in total. The stock market’s capitalization, which shows the market value of stocks, as of today stands at Rs 43.7 billion.

CIAA mulls over next step on Lauda case

KATHMANDU, May 16 (PR) – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has begun its "serious and marathon"discussions to decide its next step on the infamous RNAC-Lauda Air deal after the reply sent by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in response to its "sealed questionnaire".

According to one of the Commissioners, the constitutional watchdog body could reach a final conclusion on the deal in "four-five days". However, another Commissioner said that the anti-corruption body might take longer than that, "although we are giving a top priority to the case".

Replying to a question whether the PM would be summoned or sent another letter, high-level sources at the CIAA said since the "situation was fluid and any statement at this stage would be premature".

Though Prime Minister Koirala had sent the reply on May 3, the very next day of the questionnaire being sent to him, the CIAA began its discussion on the PM’s reply only on Monday. One of the Commissioners Madhav Datt Bhatt was ill and admitted to hospital and Chief Commissioner Surya Nath Upadhyaya himself was on leave which delayed the discussions.

The CIAA already ordered the detention of former RNAC Executive Chairman Hari Bhakta Shrestha and the Board member Tirthalal Shrestha on April 26. The duo are in custody at Hanumandhoka Police Station ever since. The Commission has also asked former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Datt Chataut to submit his passport and has barred him from leaving the Capital without its permission.

RNA team for Congo

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KATHMANDU, May 16 - A group of Royal Nepal Army (RNA) headed for African Country, Congo for the observation of the peace and security on the call of the United Nations Organization Wednesday.

A four-member team comprising of Lt. Col. Surendra Adhikari, Lt. Col. Prasanta Rana, Majors Bijaya Dhwaj Karki and Ujjwal Bikram Rana left for Congo today.

Lt. Col. Sekhar Basnet of Kali Prasad Battalion bade farewell to the team appointed for a year, headed by Lt. Col. Adhikari.

British Gurkhas detained

KATHMANDU, May 16 (PR) - A group of British Gurkha soldiers have been taken into military custody at British army barracks near Belize city, Belize, a tiny central American state and are being questioned by the police over the killing of a 14-year old boy, states the BBC web site today.

"About 25 Gurkhas were outside a club on the Belize City last Thursday night, when some of them allegedly became involved in a fight with a group of local youths. A boy was so badly beaten that he lapsed into a coma and died in hospital over the weekend." states the web site.

Around six Gurkha soldiers are being inquired by the Belize police, although a team of five military police from the special investigations branch has arrived from Britain and is working alongside the local detectives.

According to Belize police, David Zabaneh Junior was with a group of friends in Raul’s Rose Garden bar on Thursday night, when a brawl involving the Gurkhas erupted.

The Gurkhas, from the 2nd Parachute Regiment based at Colchester in Essex, were at the end of a six-week training exercise in jungle warfare. They were based at British Army Training Unit headquartered at the Price Barracks nearby.

They were due to return to their base in Colchester last Saturday, but have been detained at the Belize barracks while the investigation is under way, adds the web site.

Low duty on LPG vehicles flayed

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KATHMANDU, May 16 - Environmentalists today condemned the government for offering heavy tax waiver to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles being imported to the country, despite them causing air pollution and contributing to the shortage of cooking gas in the market.

"Even the Ministry of Population and Environment has already said that LPG-operated vehicles are equally harmful to the environment like petrol and diesel operated vehicles," said Chartered Accountant and Clean Energy expert Ratna Sansar Shrestha. "But, it is quite surprising that the government is still providing those importing LPG vehicles with 99 per cent custom waiver and minimal Value Added Tax. This has to stop."

Clean energy experts and promoters of battery-powered Safa tempos, speaking at an interaction program organised here Wednesday by Clean Energy Nepal claimed that the government has already borne a loss of over 450 million rupees ever since the facility was offered last year.

Shrestha demanded scrapping of the waiver in the upcoming annual budget for the fiscal year 2000-2001. Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat is due to announce the budget sometime next month.

"What kind of country is this?" he fumed. "While one pollution results show that the vehicles are not pollution free, another continues to allow the polluters to run on the streets scot free."

Environmentalist, Dr. Usha Sharma asserted that vehicles operated on LPG are not "pollution free". "The study done a few days back clearly shows that the LPG vehicles are not pollution free."

A pollution test carried out at the Valley Traffic Police Office last month by Sharma’s team showed that the LPG vehicles running on the Capital’s streets were emitting carbon monoxide and hydro carbon gases well beyond the permissible limits fixed by the Ministry of Population and Environment.

Sharma lamented, "This will aggravate the health problems especially respiratory diseases in the Valley, but nobody is giving attention."

Expert Dr Rabindra Nath Bhattarai, consumer activist and social worker Rupa Shrestha and other clean energy activists also voiced serious concerns on the state of environmental affairs of the bowl-shaped Valley, whose air pollution level surpassed WHO’s permissible limits long time back.

However, independent environmental experts and LPG run vehicle owners say that the root of the problem is the lack of gas refuelling stations in the Valley. Entrepreneurs and owners of LPG vehicles say that the absence of refuelling stations has forced them to use cooking gas cylinders and hence the pollution concern and shortage of cooking gas in the market.

They say none of the LPG vehicles use the genuine kits and cylinders, a built-in facility in the LPG vehicles manufactured worldwide, as it cannot be used in the absence of refuelling stations.

Another Nepali arrested in Japan

By Tashi D. Thinley

YOKOHAMA, Japan, May 16 - A 45-year-old Nepali has been arrested recently on charges of murdering a Japanese person from Tokyo in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, local media reported.

According to the Japan Times, an English-language newspaper, Suku Gurung of Yokohama’s Tsurumi Ward was arrested by police on Saturday. He is suspected of having strangled Yoshimitsu Saeki, 53, on April 12 because he believed that Saeki was dating a Chinese woman he liked, the reports said citing police sources.

Reports say, the victim was first killed and then his car deliberately crashed by Gurung to make it appear as if the victim died in the crash. Police sources said that the Chinese woman in question was helping Gurung obtain a spouse visa.

Police said Gurung, who works at a factory in Tokyo, has admitted killing Saeki, an auto parts engineer from Tokyo’s Ota Ward. The car in which the body of Saeki was discovered collided with a tree on a street in Kawasaki around 7:40 p.m. on April 12. He had been killed between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to police.

Gurung’s arrest follows the much publicized imprisonment of Govinda Mainali, a Nepali migrant who was convicted of murdering a Japanese woman. Mainali’s conviction was overturned by a higher court last year and he was freed, only to be arrested again after an appeal court re-convicted him. His case has drawn widespread criticism of the Japanese criminal justice system.

Low duty on LPG vehicles flayed

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Shrestha demanded scrapping of the waiver in the upcoming annual budget for the fiscal year 2000-2001. Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat is due to announce the budget sometime next month.

"What kind of country is this?" he fumed. "While one pollution results show that the vehicles are not pollution free, another continues to allow the polluters to run on the streets scot free."

Environmentalist, Dr. Usha Sharma asserted that vehicles operated on LPG are not "pollution free". "The study done a few days back clearly shows that the LPG vehicles are not pollution free."

Sharma lamented, "This will aggravate the health problems especially respiratory diseases in the Valley, but nobody is giving attention."

They say none of the LPG vehicles use the genuine kits and cylinders, a built-in facility in the LPG vehicles manufactured worldwide, as it cannot be used in the absence of refuelling stations.

New US opening leads to scramble for ‘green card’ among Nepali aliens

By Akhilesh Upadhyay

NEW YORK, May 16 - He zipped through the morning. A hurried shave, a quick shower, and a fast tea before pulling on his baggy green trousers and a black Banana Republic T-shirt. All in less than half an hour.

"Mornings are always this way," said Sushil Aryal, 27, as he prepared to leave his one-bedroom apartment in Queens, ignoring an unattended bed and an embarrassed aunt. "Why don’t you come over to Ginger? We can talk leisurely." He then strode toward the nearest subway, New York’s extensive railway network.

Ginger is Ginger Café, a restaurant specializing on Indian cuisine in Manhattan, New York’s hub, epicenter of America’s business world, and home to hundreds of sky scrappers. Half an hour later, Aryal got down from the train at 5th Avenue, negotiated the rush hour traffic, and arrived at Ginger on 38th Street to begin another long day. "I don’t get home until 11 p.m.," he said. "All seven days a week."

Last month as illegal immigrants all over the United States tried to beat a deadline for a windfall opportunity to register for employment and residency, hundreds of the so-called Indian restaurants became a lifeline for semi-skilled Nepalis. While New York and Washington D.C., two cities with the largest concentration of Nepalis, are believed to have received most applications for green cards, there are reports that Nepalis have filed for adjustment of their status all over the United States – Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles. Experts say the new law could help more than a million immigrants and their relatives all over the United States.

Aryal, who employs 22 Nepalis in his three Indian restaurants—two of them outside New York, has sponsored seven Nepalis for green cards, one of them his own room mate Rinji Sherpa of Tarting-1, Solu. "Rinji does tandoori here," said Aryal as he explained the profile of his seven-member staff on the phone from Ginger. "Unlike most waiters in the city, most of our staff are in their 30s and over, and everyone, like Rinji, has his own area of expertise."

Section 245(i) of the immigration law, passed in the waning days of the Clinton administration, provides opportunity for green cards to individuals who have overstayed their visas without leaving the United States. The illegal alien needs either an employer, or a relative, who is either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident—as Aryal himself—to submit a labor certification or a visa petition in his or her behalf by April 30.

On 14th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan, Dhurba Onta said he has sponsored three Nepalis for his restaurant, Darbar East.

By a rough estimate, between them New York’s four Nepali lawyers are handling more than a hundred Nepali applications, which will take at least two years, and over $10,000, to translate into green cards. "Many Nepalis have opted for ‘American lawyers’ too," said Ramesh Shrestha, an immigration lawyer, "probably assuming that we aren’t competent enough." He said 40 per cent of his Section 245(i) clients were Nepalis.

Whatever the exact number, the biggest beneficiary of the bonanza among the Nepalis in New York are going to be restaurateurs and nannies, say long-term residents and lawyers here. While most Nepali men are employed in restaurants, women work either as baby-sitters, or housekeepers, said Khagendra GC, a Columbia University graduate who has been practicing law in New York since 1987.

To his pleasant surprise, GC found that Nepalis were well prepared to cash in on the once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity, and their level of awareness was better compared to Bangladeshis or Pakistanis, both among New York’s fastest growing immigrant groups.

But it still didn’t stop scam artists from misinterpreting the complicated law, making false promises, and charging exorbitant prices to desperate immigrants. Many foreigners mistook Section 245(i) for general amnesty, akin to a 1986 law that led to legal status for almost three million illegal immigrants.

The out-going Clinton administration lobbied for a similar law, but the proposal died in Congress amid Republican opposition.

A middle-aged Nepali woman, who has been in the Unites States for several years, for instance, almost became a scam target early this year. As her visa approached the deadline, and she hopped from one lawyer to another in desperation, she was told that she could buy herself a green card for $12,000. To her, going home not only meant losing out on a monthly savings of $1,500 but a possible mid-life crisis. She later found a sponsor for her green card.

But finding sponsors isn’t the end of the story. What follows is a time-consuming and costly ordeal that entails more than $4,000 in legal fees alone. First, the immigrant applies for a labor certification; once this is approved, his employer makes a petition on his behalf for employment; finally, the immigrant makes a second petition for residency or adjusting the status as an employee.

Aryal said, "It’s a long laundry list. Medical examinations, employer’s public notice, tax statement…" He received his green card two months ago after three years and three months, more than $14,000, and endless visits to the lawyer’s office.

But hardly anyone is discouraged by the thought of a long haul, frustrating that the wait may be. "I fully realize," said Ginger’s Sherpa, "that the green card is going to cost me a lot of time and money. But I will be able to raise that kind of money within one year." Sherpa, who worked as a trekking guide in Nepal till 1995, said he makes $600 a week. Like most other Nepalis, he lives frugally. Typically, most live in shared apartments and spend $600 a month on board and lodging.

For instance, Aryal, together with Sherpa, contributes half the monthly rent of $750 for his aunt’s apartment in Sunnyside, which along with Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Astoria, and Woodside, is the hub of New York’s estimated 5,000-odd Nepalis. (No one has any authentic data, and estimates vary wildly – from a conservative figure of a couple of thousand to 25,000 for the Tri-state Area– New York, New Jersey and Connecticut put together.)

Rajesh Parajuli, a Pokhara resident managing a restaurant in uptown Manhattan, said a waiter in his restaurant makes anywhere between $300 to $1,000 for a 60-hour week, his earnings largely depending on tips. Onta, who started Darbar East in 1997, said his waiters’ weekly take-home is at least $350.

While New York—perhaps least hostile among U.S. cities to undocumented immigrants—has a high number of working-class people applying for green cards, the nature of applicants in other urban centers is more likely to be mixed, said a lawyer. Opinions are divided over which city has the most number of Nepalis—whether it is DC, together with neighboring Maryland and Virginia, or New York.

Galab Dhungana, a lawyer in midtown Manhattan, said many of his green card clients are professionals from outside New York. "They are well qualified people who lost their status because they failed to get sponsors for H-1 visa."

Many software experts in the Silicon Valley in California are on H-1B visa, which is sponsored by an employer for temporary employment. It is given for about three years and then extended for a maximum of three more years. By that time, most H1 holders manage to get a permanent status.

Compared to New York, the number of restaurant workers and domestic helps is low in the Silicon Valley and the West Coast in general, according to Deepak Neopane, a software engineer based in America’s prime high-tech location. He said the reasons are many: the cost of living is high in the sprawling West Coast cities; public transportation, unlike in New York or DC, is almost non-existent; and the nature of business the South Asians are involved in the two coasts are essentially different. "No city is even close to New York when it comes to public transportation," Neopane said.

In the West Coast, South Asian business typically means the high-tech sector while in the East Coast it’s hotel, restaurant and motel. Neopane estimates that there are some 300 Nepalis engaged in high-tech jobs in California.

With all its reputation as city of yuppies, he believes Silicon Valley has its share of people who are on unlawful status "as anywhere else in the U.S. But you don’t go around asking personal questions." Many New York residents echo his sentiments, saying room mates avoid discussing their visa status with one another.

Three categories of illegal immigrants qualified for the green card under Section 245(i): those who entered without being inspected by an immigration officer; unlawfully employed; or those who failed to maintain lawful status in the U.S. Though it entails a $1,000 penalty, Section 245(i) crucially allows immigrants to adjust their status without leaving the U.S.

All that is required of the immigrant is that he establish that he was present in the United States on December 21, 2000, the day the law was enacted, said Shrestha, the immigration lawyer. "Section 245(i) doesn’t even demand whether you entered the country legally and illegally."

4 policemen injured in Maoist ambush

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KHANDBARI, Sankhuwasabha, May 16 - At least four policemen were seriously wounded on Tuesday in a land mine blast laid by Maoist rebels in a jungle of Matsya Pokhari village development committee-4, about 12 km north of here, the district headquarters, police said.

A dozen policemen, on regular patrol around the Maoist stronghold, were trapped in the land mine explosion while returning here from the Hedangana-based police striking outpost.

The police constables wounded in the incident have been identified as Rajesh Timsina, Anil Kathet, Rajan Poudel and Surya Chapagain.

The District Police Office said all the injured were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment Wednesday. The police and rebels exchanged fire for a while following the land mine explosion. But no casualties were reported on both sides, police said.

Sources, close to the rebels said all the policemen survived the explosion due to its "low intensity". An eyewitness told The Kathmandu Post that he saw the rebels carrying a five feet long electricity pole towards the VDC from Mane Bhanjyang a few days ago.

Meanwhile, the rebels destroyed a police bit located in the middle of Khandbari bazaar by exploding a pressure cooker bomb on Tuesday night.

Shrapnel of the home-made bomb also shattered some window panes of the houses situated close to the bit. Maoist rebels have recently announced a "do-or-die" campaign in the three eastern hill districts - Sankhuwa Sabha, Tehrathum and Dhankuta and intensified their anti-establishment campaign.

This is the first time in the district that the rebels have ambushed the policemen since the rebels declared the People’s War six years ago during which more than 1,700 people have been killed all over the country.

Concerted efforts to end debt bondage stressed

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KATHMANDU, May 16 - A two-day South Asian consultation on debt bondage organized by the General Federation of National Trade Union (GEFONT) was inaugurated at the Capital Wednesday with the objective of abolishing all cases of bonded labour in Nepal, Pakistan and India.

The representatives who gathered here urged for a concerted efforts of trade unions and social organizations to remove the practice of bonded labour and debt bondage widely prevalent in the region.

N.B. Khatri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission who was also the chief guest said that a worst form of contemporary exploitation like trafficking in women and children is prevalent in South Asia although their practices are prohibited.

Citing the situation faced by thousands of former Kamaiyas, he said the lack of resources along with untouchability and "de facto discrimination" are common social evils in Nepal which need to be eliminated.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Mike Dottridge, Director of Anti-Slavery International, London, while presenting his papers, said that the two-day meeting will focus the efforts being made to abolish bonded labour at three levels- national, South Asia sub-regional and at the international level.

Leyla Tegmo Reddy, Director, ILO said debt bondage has been standing against the core belief of the ILO. Bonded labour is a violation of human labour and human dignity which should be solved through collective efforts of all, she added.

Thirty per cent of former Kamaiyas numbering some 17,000 children are currently working away from home. "Child labour elimination, starting with debt-bondage, its worst forms, is a key area for ILO action in Nepal, " she added. She also outlined the role of trade unions in the eradication of bonded labors in Asia.

"I hope this final meeting in Asia will help to further consolidate a joint regional position of trade unions on forced labour and a renewed commitment for its eradication," she said.

Mukunda Neupane, chairman of General Federation of National Trade Union GEFONT, said in his concluding remarks that a concrete action plan will be formed from the out-come of the two-day consultation meeting.

Hillary to head Everest conquest celebrations

KATMANDU, May 16 (PR) -Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to climb the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest has agreed to be the Honorary President to the Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee (MEGJCC).

"MEGJCC has great pleasure in announcing that on his recent visit to Nepal the legendary mountaineer has consented to be on the post", states a press release issued by the committee, Wednesday.

Nepal is celebrating 50th anniversary of the "Conquest of Mount Everest" from June 2002 to May 2003 with various events and programs.

Sir Hillary along with late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa scaled Mount Everest for the first time on the 29th May 1953.

"Sir Edmund Hillary’s association with the committee would undoubtedly add impetus to take the mega-event to greater heights and success," adds the release.

The year long events and program, aimed at promoting Nepal as multi-tourism destination, includes Everest marathon, mountain biking at the foot of the Everest, white water rafting on Bhote Koshi, gatherings of Mt. Everest summiteers, invitation football tournament and cricket extravaganza among others.

Bhandari-Ashrit statues unveiled

By Ganesh Raj Acharya

DASDHUNGA, Chitwan, May16- "Revolution is only an approach to solve the existing problem of the country and not even a single component of the country including administration, security is functioning well", said Bamdev Gautam, general secretary, Communist Party of Nepal, Marxist and Leninist(CPN-ML) unveiling the newly erected statue of Madan Bhandari and Jib Raj Ashrit on the eighth death anniversary in Dasdhunga, today.

Speaking on the existing problems of the country, Gautam added, "There is no substitute for talk to solve the Maoist problem of the nation and from this place I request all nationalists to come together".

Nationality is on danger and despite our different ideology, it is a time for all communists to come in a single forum to mitigate the current national crisis, urging the national consensus, general secretary Gautam said.

However, Gautam, in delivering speech didn’t comment on the Maoists and their activity but criticised CPN (UML).

Hundreds of people gathered for the programme.

"Some Communists are in jungle, some are in country area and this faction in the Communist force is making us weak to achieve our goals," Rajendra Shrestha, leader of the CPN (ML) said. "CPN(UML) sheds crocodile tears in the name of people but they have no intention to tackle problem on consensus basis".

Student leaders of ANNFSU passed their time mostly highlighting their activities and their role on welfare of nation.

In the programme Maya Gyawali, widow of Ashrit said," I don’t want to comment on the accidental death of our leaders right now, but I believe that if Bamdev comes to power then only it is possible for us to know the facts."

The statues and garden were built on the initiation of All Nepal National Free Student’s Union (ANNFSU), a student organisation affiliated with CPN(ML).

Meanwhile, in Kathmandu the main opposition party CPN-UML’s Valley Protest Program Co-ordination Committee, organised an interaction program "Madan Bhandari in Context of Revolution", on the occasion of the 8th death anniversary of Madan Bhandari and Jeev Raj Asrit.

Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that doubts that there are doubts Madan Bhandari was killed in a conspiracy and UML wanted to bring out the truth to the public.

Several left leaders including KP Sharma Oli and Iswore Shrestha were present in the program. Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was the chief guest of the program.

Flood forecasting framework discussed

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KATHMANDU, May 16 - With a vision that timely forecasting of floods can save lives and property, experts from the Hindu-Kush Himalaya region and various international organisations have converged here for a consultative meeting on developing a framework for flood forecasting in the region.

Minister for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhary on Wednesday opened the four-day meet participated by experts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The meeting is jointly organised by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, and supported by HMG’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).

"The 1993 flood disaster in Nepal claimed more than 1,300 lives and caused enormous damage to property and infrastructure," Chaudhary said at the start of the meet. "It has taught us a painful lesson on why timely flood warning systems should also be in place on some of the major rivers in order to save lives and property and avoid disasters."

Dr Adarsha Pokharel, Director General at the DHM called for an urgent need to carry out extensive research for an enhanced data acquisition and management, analysis and plausible interpretations of hydro-meteorological data on the basis of which flood forecasting is done.

ICIMOD Director General Dr J Gabriel Campbell, New Delhi-based UNESCO Director MS Alam and other experts also emphasized the need for effective flood forecasting mechanism in the region.

Flash floods and landslides routinely leave trails of destruction in the region every year. In Nepal, floods and landslides are considered as the second biggest killer after epidemics, with the average annual toll standing at 350.

Between 1983 and 2000, at least 2,300 livestock and more than 6,700 houses and 4,760 hectares of arable lands have been damaged by landslides and avalanches, according to data made available by the Home Ministry.