Deuba expands cabinet, massively

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KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today inducted 28 new members in his Council of Ministers, a move analysts here say is designed to shore up his support within the governing Nepali Congress party.

The number of cabinet rank and junior ministers now stands at 41, making Deuba II look a lot more like Deuba I. While prime minister for the first time in 1995-97, Deuba established a record for assembling the largest number of ministers ever in this impoverished country: 48. But at the time, his was a coalition government made of other parties.

The expansion of the Council of Ministers today underscores the fact that the latest Deuba government is still, in essence, a coalition one in which the Prime Minister is compelled to dole out ministerial berths to key legislators within his party to retain their support.

Deuba was under pressure from his camp to expand his Council of Ministers with those close to him in retaliation of party President G P Koirala’s move of filling the Central Working Committee with his close supporters in the last expansion.

While retaining all the members of his Cabinet when he became the Prime Minister after his predecessor Koirala resigned, Deuba has inducted 17 totally new ministers. Two of them are Cabinet ministers, nine Ministers of State and six Assistant Ministers.

The governing Nepali Congress General Secretary, Sushil Koirala, partially criticised Deuba’s exercise today. "Although it is a prime minister’s privilege to expand his Cabinet, he could have chosen a small but effective team. The size of this Council is too big," said Koirala.

He added that he had suggested Deuba to chose a small team of ministers.

Nepali colts lift Youth Asia Cup, qualify for WC

By Somesh Verma

KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – A compact half century from Kanishka Chaugain and a five wicket haul by Lakpa Lama guided Nepal to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Malaysia in the final played at the Tribhuvan University Cricket ground on Thursday to lift the U-19 Youth Asia Cup 2001.

Nepal, by virtue of the win, has also qualified for the Youth World Cup slated for February next year in New Zealand.

Nepali batsmen never looked under pressure overhauling the 140-run target set by the Malaysian team after the visitors won the toss and elected to field.

Nepal started the run chase on a positive note as the openers Kanishka Chaugain and Yashwant Subedi posted the opening partnership of 50 runs – the best in the tournament. While Chaugain played a much needed anchor role milking the Malaysian bowling to score 70 runs off 110 balls, Subedi departed after scoring useful 16 runs. Chaugain belted six boundaries to the delight of the capacity crowd that cheered the home team throughout.

Bardan Chalise, who followed Subedi on the crease, also supported Chaugain well, forging a 59-run partnership— almost sealing the Malaysian fate in the match.

Coach of the Nepali outfit, Roy Luke Dias, who has turned 49 today had a double joy. "I could not have asked for a better gift on my birthday," he said.

Earlier, Nepali bowlers, showcasing one of the fine bowling exhibitions in the tournament restricted the Malaysian batsmen to 139 runs, after Malaysia opening pair posted 45 runs. But what the Nepali bowlers did thereafter was simply marvelous. From 45 runs without any loss, Shakti Gauchan and Binod Das – bowling in tandem – reduced the opponents to 47 for four. S Gopinath was the first to go with Gauchan cleaning his stumps as he tried to cut the wrong ball failing to read the length.

After Gauchan and Das wrecked the top order taking a couple of wickets each, it was Lakpa Lama’s spin web that captured the Malaysian batsmen. Lama, who was bowling flat initially, looked at his dangerous best after claiming a couple of wickets. He foxed the middle order with the loop and flight of his bowling, getting his second five-wicket haul of the tournament.

Arul Vivasyan was the highest scorer for Malaysia scoring 30 runs from 57 balls. Nor Ikhwan Roslee provided Malaysian score with some momentum scoring 25 runs off 26 balls, but was out to Lakpa just when he appeared threatening for Nepali bowlers. He was particularly severe on Sanjam Regmi, who was hit for two sixes in consecutive overs.

The reason for Malaysian failure, according to Sarath Jayawardena, Malaysia coach, was the pressure. "Our boys have never played under such conditions," said Jayawardena. "There are hardly hundreds of spectators back home to see the boys playing. I guess they were under pressure playing with so many people cheering on."

Dias, on the other hand was a relaxed man at the end of the day. He commended the boys on their performance. "It was a great victory for the boys," said Dias. "The boys showed a lot of maturity today, especially Kanishka, who has been getting into 20s and 30s and not going on to make a big score."

"It won’t be easy for them to play in the World Cup, but they may well be able to come up with a few surprises."

An airline, once proud, struggles to stay aloft

By Damakant Jayshi

KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – The on-going tourism sector slump in Nepal has many reasons, chief of which, of course, is the global economic slowdown and security fears in the wake of the US terrorist strikes on September 11. But had there been no such terrorist threat or economic slowdown, Nepal’s tourism industry would still be far from its mid-1990s peak. Why?

The reason is simple: RNAC, the national carrier, has failed in almost every front, severely hitting the tourism industry. It is difficult to believe that this is the same airline which was once renowned in the region, single-handedly helping to promote Nepal abroad.

Tek Bahadur Dangi, Director, Tourism and Marketing at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), puts it delicately. "As far as we are concerned, we need a strong, reliable and competent national airline...We do get RNAC’s support in our endeavour to promote Nepal. However, had they been strong, we could have the desired support which has not happened due may be to RNAC’s limitations."

Years of mismanagement, short-sightedness, nepotism, corruption and political interference is finally taking its toll on the national airline. Take a look at the figures: Rs 990 million of accumulated losses until Fiscal Year 2000. Overdraft of Rs 698 million. Provident Fund debt touching Rs 300 million. And, above all, when once it operated over a dozen aircraft - including four jets - today RNAC holds on to just 9, two of which fly on its stretched international routes.

With such numbers, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the national airline is going down the drains. RNAC bosses too realise this. As part of cutting down its losses, the airline closed its operations on the Singapore, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris and London routes from September 1, shortly after temporarily suspending flights to Calcutta.

Something clearly needs to be done, and fast. But what?

Much has been written about what led to this sorry state of affairs. But the need of the hour, agrees almost everyone connected to the tourism and aviation sector, is to launch a rescue attempt to resuscitate an airline on whose health rests a substantial portion of Nepal’s tourism industry.

Could privatisation be the answer? Or would a tie-up with a reputed foreign carrier be a better strategy? Should professional managers be brought in, freeing the airline from its governmental yoke once and for all? The solutions are as varied as the problems. But everyone agrees that any solution has to start from the top, that is the government.

"RNAC has become the milking cow of successive governments of all hues right from the beginning," says Hemant Arjyal, an expert on aviation affairs, pointing out why politicians will be loathe to suggestions of non-interference. " It will be very difficult for them to loosen their hold on a body that gives them so much of leverage for their own ends."

To fathom just how good the "milk" is, here’s a rundown of the perks and benefits politicians extract from RNAC: free air tickets to family, friends and cronies. Doling out employment to jillabasis and relatives. Sending favoured employees on favoured postings. And most significant of them all – extracting commissions on various aircraft leasing deals, spare parts deals, in-flight service deals, etc.

RNAC officials, who are loathe to speak in public, admit in private that all this is pushing the airline to bankruptcy. They even know the solutions. "First, we have to make RNAC reliable and a competitive carrier. Then we would like to tie up with an international reputed airline," said a director at RNAC, requesting anonymity. A senior official in the Ministry for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture even suggested issuing RNAC shares to the public to raise capital for badly needed investment in equipment and services.

A foreign tie-up is just one of many solutions. But no foreign carrier is going to join hands with RNAC until the airline spruces up its service, image, and profitability.

"Frankly, I do not see that possibility (of a foreign tie-up), not in the near future at least," argues Arjyal. "Which international airlines will invest in the RNAC in its present state?" He suggested another solution: that the government should display political will to improve the affairs of the Corporation and leave its affairs to competent professional businessmen and professionals.

But RNAC’s heavily politicised employee unions are certain to defeat that proposal if and when it is introduced. Several past governments have said they would rather privatise the carrier, but none has dared actually to get it privatised.

Their Majesties perform puja in Syangja

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SYANGJA, Oct 18 - Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal today payed a homage and performed puja (religious rites) to Shah dynasty’s family deity Alam Devi Temple, a historical and religious site in Syangja.

Their Majesties are scheduled to leave for Nuwakot to perform another puja at Bhiarab Temple. They will be accompanied by other Royal Family members on the occasion.

This is the first time that Their Majesties have visited outside the capital since the King Gyanendra ascended to the throne at the Naryanhiti Royal Palace this June.

It has become a tradition for the Royal Family members to visit the temple for puja. Late King Birendra and his family members had paid a visit to these temples four years ago.

20th Parliament Session prorogued

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – When elected in July, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba promised to introduce revolutionary land reforms, empower women with property rights and enforce strong anti-corruption laws.

However, as the 20th session of Parliament prorogued Thursday, it was still unclear where all these pledges made by the Prime Minister after he assumed power had disappeared.

After months of debates, discussions, protests, tussles and even conspiracy for power, the session came to an end just in time for the 205 lawmakers from the House of Representatives and 60 from the National Assembly to head home and celebrate the Dashain festivals.

The session, which is also called the Budget Session, managed to get the fiscal budget through though it was at a much later date compared to last year. The disturbances and protests made by the opposition parties forced the delay.

In July, Deuba’s predecessor and president of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala was forced to resign over the infamous Lauda Air bribery deal over allegations of kickbacks while signing the lease deal for RNAC.

The bribery allegations had cost the job of one of Koirala’s ministers and had triggered an investigation by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). The protests and demands for Koirala’s ouster had almost become a daily ritual in the House until Koirala bowed down to pressure and resigned.

In the days that followed, Koirala’s relative Sushil Koirala contested against Deuba but lost in the race. Thus, began the race or rather transfer of power to the next generation in the nation’s oldest and most prominent political party.

Koirala and senior leader of the party Krishna Prasad Bhattarai have for years held the reign of the party, earning sharp criticism for not letting go of the power to the next generation of leaders in the party.

When Deuba did take over, it was with a big bang. Immediately after that he announced cease fire and called on the Maoists to come forward for peace talks to resolve the five and half years of insurgency. The rebels obliged and agreed with the peace talks.

On Aug. 30, the almost impossible happened and representatives of a democratically elected government and an extreme communist force were sitting across a table trying to resolve the issue. The first round was mostly introductory but the second one at Bardia took up the issues. This meet was deadlocked after the government rejected the Maoist demand for abolition of the Constitutional Monarchy.

Though Deuba’s success in getting the Maoists cease their violence and turn for peace talks did earn him positive points, his other ambitious projects managed to pull him down during the session.

His much hyped land reforms programme that was widely supported by the opposition soon became the target of criticism for failing to meet its objectives.

"This was a disappointing session where not much was achieved. The land reforms programme was just a hoax and the government totally withdrew its pledge to give women their rights," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of the main opposition CPN-UML.

"We were under the impression that women were finally getting their much deserved rights … but the government had to turn back from its earlier pledge which was very unfortunate," said Chitra Bahadur K.C. of the National People’s Front.

The government had first agreed that women would be allowed to retain to parental property even after marriage, but decided to withdraw giving a major blow to the campaign for women’s rights to inherit.

One of the biggest issues, however, was the anti-corruption Bill that are still lingering in the State Affairs Committee. The Bill proposing amendment to the CIAA Act had drawn the judiciary and the legislature into a tussle after the lawmakers wanted judges to be investigated by CIAA when it involved corruption cases.

The judges were against the idea and managed to pursue the government to keep judiciary out of CIAA’s jurisdiction. The Bill is still in the committee.

"No one is above the law and no one should be immune to charges of corruption cases," said CPN-UML’s Nepal.

The next time Parliament will meet during the Winter Session that by regulations has to convene within the next six months, unless there is a Special Session called with consent of a fourth of the 205 lawmakers of the House.

‘Upper Karnali’s construction from July next year’

KATHMANDU, Oct 18 (PR)- A top official of the Singapore-based humanitarian trust willing to develop Upper Karnali Hydel project in western Nepal today sought cooperation from all sides to develop the power project, and announced that construction works of the 300-megawatt (MW) project would begin from July, 2002.

Sylvain Leveque, the chairman of the Trust - which is a member of Euro Asia Capital Holdings Inc, also said in a packed press conference held in the capital Thursday that the project would be completed by 16 July, 2008. "This project and this huge investment is an award for Nepal’s young democracy. We respect this process and hence this huge investment," Leveque said.

He also claimed that his company has already developed hydel projects in Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Iraq, and Ethiopia.

The private trust, which plans to develop the project on a 30-year Build Operate Own and Transfer (BOOT)-basis, will be investing US$ 700 million in the impoverished region, according to him. While US$ 500 will be invested in the hydel project, the company plans to channel the remaining amount on "humanitarian projects" aimed at uplifting the socio-economic status of the region such as re-forestation, re-electrification.

"Part of the amount will also be invested on cement and urea plants in the region," Leveque said, adding: "But it all depends on the success of Upper Karnali."

The company, however, could not sign the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of the hydel project with the Ministry of Water Resources as planned earlier. "The agreement paper is ready and it will be signed once the Minister (for Water Resources) manages to get some time for it," he said, pointing at the busy schedule of the Cabinet minister.

Under the agreement, he said, NEA would buy the power generated from the project at the rate of Rs 2.90 per unit during the dry season. In the wet season, NEA would buy 50 percent of the power for Rs 1.45 per unit and the remaining 50 percent for Rs 2.90 per unit," he added. The price of electricity is considered as the cheapest among those negotiated by the state-owned power utility in recent times.

It has been agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Elysee Frontiere and the government that the investor shall own 70 percent of the shares, while the remaining 30 percent will be owned by the NEA.

As time flies, tradition of flying kites wanes

By Kiran Chapagain

KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – Sixty-nine year-old Bharat Pradhan still feels nostalgic whenever someone talks about the tradition of kite flying.

Pradhan remembers his heyday when he used to spend the whole festival days either on the roof of his house or in the nearby playground, jostling with his friends for flying the kites.

Even today, Pradhan, former chief director of Nepal Electricity Authority, remembers "those" days when kite flying was the in-thing. It is this nostalgia that prompted him to go the Engineering College, Pulchowk on Wednesday where the 18th Nepal-Japan Friendship Kite Flying Competition was organized.

"There seemed to birds flying all over the sky," says Pradhan remembering his old days. But to his great dissatisfaction, he does not see many people flying kites though the festive season of Dashain has already begun.

Pradhan blames modern entertainment means for people’s dwindling interest in kite flying. "There were no other means of entertainment when I was a child," says Pradhan.

And the times have definitely changed as this age-old tradition of flying kites has waned alarmingly, thanks to other means of entertainment. "There are too many other means for entertainment like watching television, playing cards and other games," says 21-year-old Nabin Khadka of Anamnagar. "So I have stopped flying kites now a days."

However, Satish Dangol, an 11-year-old schoolboy, says that the young generation is not being indifferent to flying kites. "We have very little time from study to fly kites," says Satish Dangol, who stood third in the child category of Nepal-Japan Friendship Kite Flying Competition.

Other people feel its due to the lack of open space in the capital that people are discouraged to fly kites. "A majority of the people in Kathmandu have to fly kites from the roof of their houses which is very risky," says one enthusiast.

Even the increasing cost of kites, thread and lattai are preventing people from enjoying this traditional practice. "We have to import all these from Indian cities of Kolkata and Patna," says Bhupendra Karki of DK Kite Center, Maitidevi. "The total set costs about Rs 100 to Rs 500 depending on their sizes."

Fifty-year-old Binod Manandhar of Dilli Bazaar said that people used to rely on indigenous technology in the past. "Kites were made of Nepali paper and lattai are made by local carpenters," says Manandhar, one of the participants in this year’s Kite Flying Competition.

According to Britanica World Book, kites are regarded as the oldest form of aircraft, probably originated in China about 3,000 years ago. The practice of kite flying spread from China, through Asia, and as far as New Zealand. In the past, kites were used for military and scientific purposes. Kites have been used to measure the weather as well. In the 1800s and early 1900s, for instance, meteorologists operated kite stations that flew box kites equipped with weather measuring devices.

Today, kites are used less often for these purposes. However, since the 1970s, there has been a growth of interest in kites as a pastime, according to the World Book.

There is no information available when and how the kite flying was introduced in Nepal. According to mythological stories, people started flying kites to send messages to the God of Rain, Indra, informing him that no more rain is needed as the plantation season is already over.

Maoists demand release of all detainees

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KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – The long-awaited third round of talks between the government and Maoists is still unsure as the latter’s top negotiators refused to sit on the table until the former releases all the detained rebels.

"We will not sit for any further talks with the government unless it releases our comrades," said Krishna Bahadur Mahara, chief negotiator of the Maoists for the peace talks with the government.

"Though there are other tough demands ahead, we are now limiting our demands to the release of all Maoists detained by the government," Mahara told a crowded press conference here today.

Mahara claimed that the government has detained more than 300 Maoists in various jails across the country and the government has not made public the whereabouts of almost 72 Maoists.

"The number of Maoist detainees might have gone up since the police rounded up six of our comrades in Darchula district and 13 in Kailali in past few days," claimed Mahara.

Both government and the Maoists have held two rounds of peace talks on August 30 in Godavari and on September 13-14 in Bardia - for the peaceful resolution of the Maoist insurgency that has already claimed more than 1,800 lives in the past six years.

"If the government does not release all the Maoists before the Dashain festival, the talks will not take place at any cost," said Mahara who along with other Maoist negotiators arrived in the capital yesterday, probably for the much delayed third round of peace talks.

To make favourable environment for the upcoming third round of talks, the government on Tuesday had released two Maoist leaders - central committee member Matrika Prasad Yadav and another leader Ajab Lal Yadav.

In a press statement, the Maoists claimed that they have stopped all activities like extortion spree, looting, vandalising and donation collection.

They also claimed that the Maoists have released all captives including policemen. "If anybody comes with evidences that we still hold someone captive, we are ready to release them," the statement says. Other Maoists leaders Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Agni Prasad Sapkota, Matrika Yadav, Ajab Lal and Ishwori Dahal were also present at the press meet.

Vitamin A programme kicks off in 73 districts

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KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – The two-day provision of Vitamin A supplements, given to children in the age 6-60 months twice a year began today in 73 districts of the country.

Organizers’ say that by April 2002, the remaining two districts will be added to the program. The two districts where this vitamin supplement programme could not be held are Rukum and Jajarkot, two of the most severely Maoist-hit districts.

Over 42,000 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) who are trained and active in the Vitamin A programme today rendered their services to 3.1 million children in the 73 programme districts of Nepal. With over 3.1 million children receiving regular vitamin A supplements, 30,000 deaths are averted each year, and infant mortality rate has decreased by 24 percent.

A survey report prepared by Nepali Technical Assistance Group (NTAG), in 11 districts following the October 2000 round found that coverage levels ranged form 93–100 percent. The district that have participated in the national Vitamin A programme since it began in 1993 have maintained coverage levels of at least 85 percent and most of them staying above 90 percent with only limited outside support, the report adds.

At an inspection and evaluation programme organized today by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a number of guests, including people from the print and the electronic media, were taken to a few sites where Vitamin A programme is being conducted. The organizers claim that Vitamin A programme, which is accessible to more than 300 VDCs through about 40,000 FCHVs, has been a success.

Speaking during the inspection at the Manmaiju VDC Ward 5 at Nepaltar, Larry M Dinger Charge d’ Affairs of the American Embassy said, "Everybody – the mothers, children and the FCHVs – are clearly enthusiastic and it is a bit of celebration ... of life".

According to the Joanne Hale, Director of USAID, the chief donor for the Vitamin A programme, the USAID has since 1993, utilized US $ 15 million for Vitamin A programme in Nepal. Citing the importance of the programme Hale said, "80 percent of the USAID money is used for such health programmes."

Ram Kumar Shrestha, director of NTAG, remarked that Nepal has a lot of natural resources and with the help of international agencies through the Ministry of Health, they are being utilized and today one can see the success of such programmes.