Schools to open Monday
Govt, PABSONs, ANNFSU(R) agree on temporary decision

By Nitya Nanda Timsina

KATHMANDU, May 17- Two private school organizations and All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary) today arrived at a decision to open all the private schools closed since May 14 following the arrest of the representatives of the students body.

Two of the ANNFSU (R) were arrested just outside the main gate of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the venue of the talks, on Saturday. Another reason for the school closure was the seven-day strike-call given by the ANNFSU (R) demanding 50 per cent reduction in the school fees among others.

The much-awaited decision came after nearly a week-long heated debate between the Private and Boarding School Organizations , Nepal (PABSON), National PABSON and the revolutionary students. All three agreed to resolve their grievances related to private schools amongst themselves. "Today’s meeting was constructive," said a representative of the ANNFSU (R).

After the end of the meeting, the Ministry of Education and Sports called on all the parties related to education sector for talks at around 3 p.m. However, the talks would continue for the next few days to work out a detailed framework on regularization of private schools and increasing the quality and standard of public schools, two of the other demands.

"All the schools will open from Monday," Rajesh Khadka of PABSON told The Kathmandu Post over telephone.

However, the ANNFSU (R) said they have resolved most of their contentious issues with the PABSONs, they were still not forthcoming about the decision of the PABSON today saying the solution to the problem was far from over.

The ANNFSU (R) also said the much-awaited decision was not a permanent one for the want of a conclusive government answer. However, the government officials said the demands could not be effected on compulsion for they need the recommendation of the committee requiring at least a five-week time.

"Our struggle is still continuing, come what may," said a press release signed by Purna Poudel, general secretary of ANNFSU (R) issued later in the evening today.

The government said the five-member High Level Working Committee formed last Saturday under the chairmanship of Nirmal Pande, member of the Panning Commission, would report on the reforms to be effected in the education sector after carrying out a detailed study including the recommendations made by the former commissions.

The PABSON also said it formed its own working committee following the deliberations between its members at Little Angels’ School today. The committee will submit supplementary report to the government after a detailed study. "It will play the role of "check and balance" with the High Level Working Committee of the government," added Khadka.

Dr Man Prasad Wagle, a member of the committee, said today that the committee would focus on the study of various aspects of reforms such as regularization of private schools and improving the quality and standards of public schools as per the demand of the ANNFSU (R) before arriving at a final decision within a five-week time.

‘National consensus no precondition for ISDP’

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KATHMANDU, May 17 - Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya said today that national consensus cannot be a pre-condition for the government implementing any programme such as Integrated Security and Development Package.

"Yet we certainly emphasize on feel the importance of consensus among all the political parties for effective implementation of ISDP for which we are conducting dialogue with them," said Acharya speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters’ Club. "We definitely would seek recommendation from other political parties," he added.

Elaborating on the importance of ISDP for development and security reasons Acharya said, "Mobilisation of army is just one component of ISDP and they are being deployed to ensure security as no development works can take place in violence-prone areas," said Acharya.

The Defense Minister’s comments came just a few days after His Majesty King Birendra sent a list of recommendations to the government, urging among others national consensus on army mobilization.

"Let this be clear that dialogue with the Maoist and ISDP are not mutually exclusive," said Acharya. He said that the political sub-committee under ISDP under the Chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel is for the purpose of conducting dialogue with various political parties including the Maoists.

Acharya said that the government encourages dialogue with the Maoists to solve the present security crisis. "The government wants the crisis to be solved through dialogue," said Acharya. "There is no restriction and pre-condition for dialogue from the government side but conditions are kept only from the Maoist’s side," he added.

When asked about the King’s recommendation to the Prime Minister regarding the Maoist problem and the army mobilisation, Acharya limited his remark saying that such recommendations are very routine and constitutional.

About 800 armymen belonging to the Bajrabarahi Gan has been deployed in Gorkha under ISDP to accelerate development in the region. The army will help to construct the baily bridge over River Marshyangdi at Pallungtar in Gorkha.

Government sources say that army would be mobilised from May 26 in six other districts including Kalikot, Rolpa, Rukum, Pyuthan, Jajarkot and Salyan as the first phase of ISDP. Army would be deployed in 15 more districts during the second phase of ISDP.

The political sub-committee members today held discussion with the Nepal Communist Party (United) regarding ISDP.

Census officials not adequately protected

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, May 17 – Census, a national, social and economic indicator, that comes after 10 years, does not seem to occupy very high priority with the government, if the facilities provided to Census officials or the lack of them are any indicator.

While other government officials are offered different state facilities and special allowances for visiting Maoists-affected areas, Census officials, supervisors and enumerators are not getting any of those facilities for visiting the same areas for the national mega-event.

More than the facilities and allowances, the officials need security to work in the Maoist-infested areas. Over 1600 people have been killed since the beginning of the Maoist movement since insurgency that started in 1996.

Dwelling on the issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel said that until now there has been no demand from the Census officials for security. "If there is any demand for security in the Maoist-hit areas, we are ready to provide it," said Poudel. He further said that if any security demand is made, it would be dealt by the Chief District Office (CDO) who is authorised to provide security to the Census officials.

Radha Krishna G.C., Deputy Director of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said, "Since Census plays a significant role in portraying the situation of the people of the country and is done in the interest of the people, I think there won’t be any intervention from the rebels," said G.C, adding, that no extra manpower has been mobilized in the Maoist-affected areas.

"If the officials are offered extra allowances and other facilities then rebels might be curious to know why it is not the same as in other districts and might intervene," opined G.C. There are many instances of government officials not being allowed to work in Maoist-affected districts.

When asked about the financial aspect of the Census, he answered that Rs 280 million has been allocated by the government which is fairly a good sum. However, he added that to make this Census exercise a success, Rs 300 million is needed.

According to Tirtha Raj Baral, an area Census supervisor of Kathmandu ‘A’ there is no special allowance or any other facilities offered to the supervisors visiting Maoist- hit districts " I think government should seriously look into it; it is a question of life and death," said Baral.

He further said that the allowance they get is not that satisfying. "Since there are two phases in the Census, such meager amount won’t be enough," lamented Baral.

The first phase of Census 2001 got kicked off on May 14. The government officials say two phases have been set up to make this Census more effective by collecting authentic data. The first phase focuses basically on family listings and another concentrates on population count. Second phase of the Census is scheduled to be held from June 11.

According to Census experts, the first census, which was held in 1911 focused on head count only, and not on other aspects of the people and this trend continued till 1941. The experts say that only after the Census of 1951 it was felt necessary to include economic and social status aspects too. As for the current Census, many new features like drinking water facilities, category for the disabled people, deleted from the last Census, have also been included.

There are about 26,000 Census officials including supervisors and enumerators who will be involved in collecting data on the situation and number of the people living in the country. They have been trained time and again by the CBS to collect authentic data, say CBS officials.

UML bent on staging strikes

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KATHMANDU, May 17 - Even as intellectuals suggested CPN-UML to refrain from calling bandhs the main opposition party today made it clear that it was intent on going ahead with the strikes, and called on intellectuals and professionals to participate in its movement against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The UML General Secretary along with his senior party colleagues Thursday listened to intellectuals, lawyers and professionals commenting on its "Oust Koirala" movement that has been going on for months, and later said that the street demonstrations and other methods employed by the party are UML’s compulsions.

"We also do not want Nepal bandhs," Nepal said, "but we have been forced to do that. For the Koirala government is not in a position to listen. The fact that Koirala is corrupt has already been made clear by the constitutional anti-corruption body. But he is so dangerously hooked on to power and the prime ministerial chair he just does not listen to our calls that easily."

CPN-UML, which spearheaded an opposition movement against Prime Minister Koirala in the parliament early this year, has resorted to street demonstrations against Koirala along with six other left parties. As part of its protest program, the alliance has warned to stage Nepal bandhs for three consecutive days beginning May 25.

But human rights activists, University professors and other professionals speaking at an interaction program called at UML’s Parliamentary Party Office Thursday suggested UML to follow constitutional and creative means to oust Koirala from his chair.

"There has to be other methods of mass mobilization rather than obstruction of parliamentary proceedings," said Senior Advocate Krishna Prasad Pant.

Senior journalist Govinda Biyogi and Human Rights activist Sudip Pathak demanded alternatives to bandhs after bandh, which has become a regular feature of post-1990 politics and protests.

"People are fed up with bandhs, some other means of carrying out protests is the need of the hour," said Pathak, while stating that hundreds of thousands should be brought to the streets of Kathmandu to ask for Koirala’s resignation.

Human Rights activist Rajesh Gautam and Dr Arun Sayami also flayed the opposition parties for taking to streets and staging strikes, and emphasized on the need of constitutional exercise even while carrying out protest programs.

Human rights activist and lawyer like Sindhu Nath Pyakurel expressed deep concerns on the state of affairs and alleged that the Koirala government has gone on to violate Constitution and affect constitutional bodies. Many other intellectuals also expressed their views at the program.

‘Maoists send positive signals for talks’

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KATHMANDU, May 17 – The underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has expressed its willingness to meet the members of a committee of Human Rights activists, which is attempting to broker peace talks between the government and the rebel party.

Human Rights activist and leftist leader Padma Ratna Tuladhar of the Shanti Barta Jana Samiti (people’s committee on peace talks) Thursday said the Maoists have already sent him letters expressing willingness to meet them and subsequently meet the government representatives.

"They have already sent a letter to us expressing their keen desire to hold talks with the government," Tuladhar told The Kathmandu Post Thursday night. "In their reply to a letter (sent by us) the Maoists have shown interest to meet us. One of their top leaders will be meeting us soon."

The rebels, however, have not made it clear which of their top leaders is meeting the activists and when. "They have indicated the unavailability of their top leaders to come and meet us at this point. It might take a few more days before we fix the date and venue for talks with us."

Members of Tuladhar’s committee have met Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel early this week, during which Poudel is known to have expressed the government’s keen desire to hold talks with the Maoist leaders.

"Poudel said that the government wants to hold one or two informal talks before sitting for formal talks to end the five-plus-year-old insurgency (which has claimed nearly 1,700 lives)," Tuladhar said of the talks Thursday.

He added that the committee would make both sides sign a concept paper before bringing the two sides before a negotiating table. "Before that the two sides have to create a conducive environment for talks and might require to declare cease-fire."

Other members in Tuladhar’s committee include former speaker and human rights activist Daman Nath Dhungana, rights activists Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, Sudip Pathak and Gauri Pradhan.

CIAA verdict on Lauda deal likely by Tuesday

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KATHMANDU, May 17 - The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is likely to reach its verdict on the controversial RNAC-Lauda Air deal "by Tuesday", according to high level sources at the Commission.

"The Lauda case is in a very critical stage and by Monday or Tuesday the CIAA will reach its final verdict," said one of the Commissioners. He declined to make any further comments.

CIAA had sent a "sealed questionnaire" on May 2 to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to which the PM sent a sealed answer the very next day, challenging the jurisdiction of the constitutional body to question Cabinet decisions. The PM also answered the five questions asked by the CIAA on the infamous Lauda B-767 jet deal.

The CIAA has 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.

Ram’s story finds a ready audience in Brussels

By Ameet Dhakal

BRUSSELS, May 17 – Ram Prasad Bajgain, a 35-year-old farmer from Kavre, Nepal, may have spoken to the villagers a number of times on the importance of community development initiatives but he had never dreamt of addressing a UN press conference in Europe.

All that happened in a short notice of eight days. And, Wednesday, he shared a dais next to Eddy Boutmans, Belgian Secretary for Cooperation and Development and addressed the press conference in his native language held at the European Parliament building.

Ram did not only address the press conference but has also made it to a number of billboards (that reads: Everyone should be given a chance) in Brussels that feature small works that are shaping the future of the villages and people in the Least Developed Countries. He is among the five different people to feature in such billboards and only the second among the community workers picked up by the United Nations to address the press conference in Brussels.

Ram, a school dropout, told the press conference about his aspirations, the daily challenges his community faces and how a little support from an international funded project is changing lives in his village. He is a member of a group, which works to mobilize small savings in the picturesque village of Kushma Devi—nestled in the Himalayan foothills, 100 kilometres east of Kathmandu. "By contributing Rs 10 per day in a saving fund and by mobilizing the saving we have been able to bring a difference to our lives," he told the curious participants at the conference.

Supported by UN-sponsored Participatory District Development Project (PDDP), Kushma Devi Village has been able to get electricity, run adult literacy classes, lend to farmers for income generating activities, force the farmers to build toilets, plant trees and send their children to school. And Ram Prasad is one of the driving forces behind this pioneering community work.

After electricity, the village is now concentrating on drinking water.

"We thought that electricity was the most important, so that is what came first," Ram said. "Now, we need a reliable source of freshwater. The entire community is behind this decision because we are the ones who made it, not someone who lives in a district far away."

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the villagers themselves are financing the project. Ram told the press conference that there is a lot that communities can do to help themselves. "All they need are the resources and the ability to make the right decisions," said he.

Ram, the father of two, makes his living growing wheat and rice on small plots of land. Recently, he branched out and planted orange and persimmon trees, which he hopes will produce enough to sell fruit in the local market.

After hearing Ram and a lady from Benin in the press conference, the Belgian Secretary of States, Cooperation and Development said, "The LDC Conference should not be about the paragraphs and lectures but about the people like Ram."

UNCDF Executive Secretary Normand Lauzon said, "Solutions to poverty are best addressed through the empowerment of local people like Ram." Addressing the UN Conference today, Lauzon explained in length how people like Ram can make a difference to their local community and urged to support people like him.

Though Ram looked happy and relaxed after the press conference Wednesday, there was also a trace of regret in his voice. "I should not have dropped my studies. If I had good education, may be I would have opportunities better than just addressing the conference through the interpreter," said Ram. Obviously he has a lot to share with the people in the conference but language is a crushing barrier. "But I will not repeat it with my 11-year old son and 9 year old daughter," said Ram in a determined voice.