Koirala for law to limit cabinet size

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MORANG, Oct 20- President of the governing Nepali Congress party Girija Prasad Koirala today said that his party would discuss possibilities of introducing a bill to do with the size of the cabinet.

Koirala categorically pointed at Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s recently expanded cabinet, termed it as "unmanaged,"and said that he would soon call for the party’s central committee meeting to discuss on the cabinet expansion. "I will soon call for a meeting to discuss the cabinet expansion," said Koirala.

The former prime minister Koirala, stressing the need to introduce a bill that would have provisions to manage regarding the size of the cabinet, said, "We will discuss about the bill that will allow governing part to include only 10 per cent of 205 law makers in cabinet.

Speaking at a press conference organised at his residence in Biratnagar, Koirala further said, "The new cabinet is an unmanaged one. The new cabinet should have been with only about 20-22 members".

Prime Minister Deuba Thursday had expanded the size of the cabinet to 41 members with addition of 28 new faces in the cabinet.

"I, however, do not criticise the expansion," Koirala said diplomatically.

On the occasion, Koirala also pointed out that the talks between government and Maoists will not succeed unless Maoists abandon weapons regardless of any number of talks in the future. He ruled out the possibility of an interim government as demanded by Maoists.

Nepal-India trade talks fail to make headway

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KATHMANDU, Oct 20 – Hardly five weeks remain for the Nepal-India Trade Treaty of 1996 to expire, yet the latest trade negotiations between the two countries failed to arrive at any consensus except that the two sides would hold a third round of trade negotiations in Kathmandu sometime in November.

The two-day negotiation was held at the secretarial level in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Thursday and Friday. This is the second time that officials from the two countries have met since India formally sought revision in certain provisions in the Treaty.

Nepal refused to buy the Indian idea of including new provisions in the Treaty, similar to the old Treaty of 1991, that would curtail Nepali exports to India. "India has put up such proposals that the Nepali side cannot accept," a member of the Nepali delegation to New Delhi told The Kathmandu Post.

The bone of contention that caused the failure of the talks are mandatory labour and material content, export surge and the proposed inclusion of some major exportable Nepali items in the negative.

India had in writing had submitted its proposal to the Nepali side at the onset of the talks Thursday. Among others, it demanded to include provisions on ‘labour and material content’ in goods that are exported to India from Nepal. Such a provision existed in the 1991 Treaty that required 50 per cent local material and labour in exported goods. However, the provision was waived off when the Treaty was renewed in 1996.

The Indian demands to reintroduce such a provision in the Treaty was to contain the export of so-called ‘surge items.’ India’s concern is on the increasing export of five products including zinc oxide, acrylic yarn, vanaspati ghee, steel pipes and copper twines, which it claims to have fallen under the surge net.

Almost Rs 7 billion worth of the five products of Indian concern, which contribute almost 2 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product and employ over fifteen thousand people, is exported from Nepal.

India had further proposed to continue bilateral trading on Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) basis. Resorting to MFN trading arrangement would put an end to the present preferential regime. However, Nepal outright rejected all Indian demands heralding the talks in yet another deadlock.

During the talks, the Nepali side asked India to lift the anti-dumping duties that were recently clamped on zinc oxide and acrylic yarn. Furthermore, the Nepali team also pressed India to lift various state duties and taxes. No promises from the Indian side were, however, made.

And despite the repeated Indian assurances to uphold the essence and spirit of the Treaty, experts observe that going by the present mood the contentious issues may remain unresolved even after a fresh round of trade talks.

Similarly, government officials are of the view that the trade squabble would remain deadlocked if the Nepali government does not give a proper mandate to the negotiating team. They opine that political interference may be required to sort out the differences.

"Until and unless the government gives a proper mandate to carry out the talks, no consensus seem in sight. Furthermore, the trade dispute may need political attention," said one of the high level participant at the talks.

Insurance Surcharge (ISC) triggers air transport fares hike

By Manoj M Rijal & Nitya Nanda Timsina

KATHMANDU, Oct 20 - Fares of passengers boarding the Domestic Airlines during this Dashain festival upsurged suddenly following the government’s announcement of Insurance Surcharge (ISC) on the air transportation services on October 11.

The fare upsurge amounting to an additional Rs 150 per passenger after the government issued a notification to the airlines operators citing a ‘world-wide situation of hyper-inflation in aviation insurance premium’ nearly a month following the terror attacks in the United States (US) on September 11.

"All the airlines will apply Insurance Surcharge (ISC) on their air transportation services with effect from October 21, 2001," states a notification issued by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation , to the Airlines’ offices at the TIA.

All the airlines had been asked to comply with the order of the government effective from Sunday. However, some of the domestic airlines started charging higher fares three days ago. Yeti Airlines increased the fare three days before the compliance was supposed to go operational. But Necon Air and Buddha Air will increase the fare from Sunday.

The fare was also increased on the cargo goods by dlr. 0.025 per kg (an increase in about Rs 4). The surcharge on foreigners is raised to two dollars, while it is raised to Rs 150 for a local passenger.

"Due to the increase in premium, Insurance Surcharge (ISC) has been raised which raised the fare," said Amrit Jung Bahadur Singh, Station Manager of Yeti Airlines at the Domestic Terminal, of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)

The imposition of Insurance Surcharge has raised the price of a ticket for Biratnagar to Rs 1,970, up Rs 150 from the recent rate. While for Kathmandu-Lamidanda, fare rose from Rs 1,280 to 1,430.

The authority at the airport said, this has been required not due to the increased demand for flight tickets during the festival but due to hyper inflation in world-wide aviation insurance premium which had a boomerang effect on the Nepalese airlines too, following the terror attacks in the US.

The hike in the fare came at a time when the busiest movement of the people is expected and when most flights record a full occupancy, especially during the festival.

However, the sources at the TIA operation section said, the total movement of flight, both international and the domestic climbed to 280 a day on October this year compared to 300 recorded during October 19 - 20 last year.

But the movement of domestic flights is expected to shoot up in the next few days, sales officials at the domestic airport said.

"We had added up one more flight to Biratnagar beside our chartered flight following the pressure from the passengers," Rawal Rana, Incharge of Buddha Air said.

Despite, the introduction of Local Passenger Charter (LPC) to provide an additional transport service to the passengers flying home for Dashain and the increased fares, the problems with the locals of hilly region not connected with net works of motorable roads seem far from over.

"Even after paying an increased fare from our trivial earning, it’s a routine difficulty to get a ticket for my district during the festivals," Kalpana Rai, a resident of Khotang - where motorable roads are a distant impossibility, said.

"I sought the help from an MP in order to ensure that I get my ticket," Min Karki, one of the students going home for the Dashain festival said. While Arjun Poudel, a government employee said that the common people without an influential person in the government do not get ticket during the peak-festival season.

Shanta Shrestha, Manager of Customer Services at the Necon Air said though the government announced to include ISC in the air fare, the air traffic has remarkably increased in this festival season as compared to the slackening last few weeks.

With the exception of Gorkha Airlines, Domestic Airlines are at their busiest season of earning despite the surcharge imposed upon them.

Maoist women re-warn to close cabin restaurants

By Seema A. Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Oct 20 – All the cabin restaurants in the Valley will have to close down by November 10 if to go by the ultimatum given by the Maoists’ women’s organisation.

The Maoist-aligned All Nepal Women’s Association - Revolutionary (ANWA-R) has warned to forcibly close down all the cabin restaurants if the government does not abide by the agreement reached between them.

"We feel that the government has merely given words to us," said Kalpana Dhamala, secretary of ANWA. "We had actually given the last ultimatum to materialise the agreement by October 12, but as the government did not agree on that, we have extended the ultimatum till November 10."

Dhamala also warned that ANWA will be "forced" to resort to violent retributions if the government remains apathetic towards the truce even after November 10.

The government had reached an agreement with ANWA after several round of talks in the third week of August to check the rampant use and sale of alcohol and close the cabin restaurants.

The Maoist women blame the government for not heeding to the agreement and again warn of resorting to violence if the same continues. And, the cabin restaurant owners flay the government for reaching such agreement without proper planning and discussion while the cabin girls worry about their future after the probable closure of the restaurants without finding alternatives.

"The government has done nothing for these people (the cabin girls)," says a restaurant owner, requesting anonymity. "But, at least, we have provided them with jobs for their livelihood."

The agreement has raised serious concerns among the restaurant owners and the workers as it is expected to adversely affect the life of thousands of people. "The government have to rethink about the agreement," the restaurant owner said.

Salina, a 23-year-old girl working in one of the capital’s cabin restaurants, says that the agreement has been reached without any planning and terms it as the government’s "cruel act" against them. "At least the government should have thought about our future," she said.

However, Dhamala is not concerned about the cabin girls. She says it is the sole responsibility of the state to provide alternatives. "We simply do not want any wrongdoing and perversions in the name of earning livelihood and business," she said.

According to data provided by the District Police Office, Kathmandu, there are 125 registered cabin restaurants, 13 discotheques and 87 ordinary restaurants in the capital. But across the Kathmandu Valley, there are as many as 400 operating cabin restaurants with more than 8,000 working women.

These cabins have been used as a place for negotiations (between the girls and customers), said Yadav Raj Khanal, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Kathmandu District Police Office.

"There is no legal provision to punish those involved in sex trade in these cabin restaurants, says Khanal. "The accused at the most faces a 25,000 rupee fine from the District Administration Office."

Late marriage and pregnancy: Prime cause of breast cancer

By Shikha Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Oct 20 - Simply because of ignorance, 70-year-old Yangjen Tamang of Sindhupalchowk district, is now on the verge of life and death.

Tamang is presently undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) for quite some time.

Yangjen never realised that she has a breast cancer until her breast started changing its shape. Even after drastic change in the structure of her body part, she did not try to share her trauma with others. It was only after her breast was "amputated" that she was brought to the hospital. By that time, her amputated breast had already been putrefied with maggots. She was obviously on the last stage.

Yangjen is not the only patient suffering from breast cancer in Nepal. Though the exact number of such patients is unavailable, experts say there are "thousands" affected with breast cancer in Nepal.

Experts say that late marriage and late pregnancies are the prime causes of breast cancer. "Due to the soaring urbanisation and industrialisation, women have become more career- oriented," says Dr. Anjani K. Sharma, chairman of Nepal Ontological Society. "Late marriage that leads to the late childbirth is the major risk factor of breast cancer."

Marriage after 30 years is not a good sign because one might easily become prone to the ailment, according to Dr. Sharma.

Apart from late marriage and late pregnancies, experts say, no birth also increases the risk of this disease. "Such is the reason behind the development of the illness in Yangjen’s case who was widowed at an early age and had not had any children," says the concerned doctor.

More than anything else, women who hardly breast-feed their children have a high risk in developing this ailment. "Breast feeding is one that lowers the risk of breast cancer," says Dr. Yogendra P. Singh, a cancer surgeon at TUTH. "If a woman does not breast-feed, hormonal imbalance occurs and that might lead to cancer."

Breast cancer has been on the rise compared to many other diseases. According to WHO (2000), there were estimated to be 416,000 cases of breast cancer in developing countries in 1996. Dr. Sharma estimates to have rise in the cases from 10 to 14 per cent after the collection of data from five different hospitals of the capital. But they still do not have the exact figure.

"There are patients visiting for the examination almost every day," says Dr. Singh, indicating the rise in the number of cases. Women generally arrive late at hospital for check-up when they are already in their advanced stage where doctors could do no more than providing palliative care.

According to Dr. Singh, more cases in Nepal are in the advanced stage while almost 25 per cent of the patients are recorded to have been in the early stage.

Experts consider ignorance to be the root cause behind the increasing cases of breast cancer. But social constraints also do play key roles. A woman with a lump or any other abnormality in her breasts will most likely refuse to visit a doctor due to the taboo attached with examination by a male doctor. If this taboo continues, the number of cases might increase rampantly in the future.

Prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills, for above 10 years, risks young as well as middle-aged women of having a breast cancer, say experts. They say family history also increases the possibility of this disease.

According to the doctors, surgery and chemotherapy are the only remedies to get freed from breast cancer. Young women should regularly conduct Breast Self-Examination (BSE) to detect painless lumps on the breasts, while women above 50 should have check-ups on regular basis as the risk increases with age, say the doctors.

Late menopause, after 55, and early marriage increase the risk too, say experts. Women with age ranging from 30 to 45 are at high risks. The best way to get away with it would be to acquire preventive steps, they say.

Deuba emphasizes fight against terrorism

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KATHMANDU, Oct 20 - Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that world should unitedly fight against the terrorists who are wreaking havoc under the garb of religion."None of the world religion teaches violence.

Some religious fanatics in the name of religion are creating trouble in the world and it is high time we checked their activities," said Deuba at the prayer meet on peace organised by Nepal-India Human Development and Friendship Association in conjunction with the Everest Foundation Nepal held at the capital.Deuba also said that if the terrorism is to be checked then it is necessary to identify its root causes.

"To restore peace across the world, identifying the root cause should be the first step."Different religious communities prayed for the peace at the prayer meet. Representatives from Hindu, Islam, Christian and Buddhist organisations in Nepal prayed for the peace.

Likewise, addressing the meet, leader of the main opposition, United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), Madhav Kumar Nepal said that terrorism has been a grave problem in the world. "The recent terrorist attack on America where over 6000 innocent people died is an example of rise in terrorism."

Similarly, former Home Minister and current Member of Parliament of India said that religion and Human Rights can play a significant role in checking terrorism. "World should focus on the poverty reduction. If it is alleviated then the problem of terrorism will not arise.

Describing World Peace as a must for eliminating poverty, deprivation, inequality and discriminations from the world, Prime Minister Deuba said Nepal is ready to face up to any challenge in the way of helping the vision of World Peace come true.

Speaking about the social, religious and cultural similarities in Nepal and India, he expressed confidence that the friendly relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in the future. "At a time when South Asia is seeing a lot of strife all countries in this region should be serious about restoring peace in the region."

Chairman of the Rajghat Gandhi Memorial Committee and general secretary of the India-India Human Development and friendship committee Nirmala Deshpandey underlined the need of spreading lord Buddha’s message of "non-violence and peace".

Various other speakers including president of the India-Nepal Human Development and Friendship Association Lama Lobjan and Joint Secretary of the Everest foundation Gopal Sharma also spoke at the function chaired by Nepal-India Human Development and Friendship Association Mani Lama.

The prayer meeting for "World Peace against terrorism" was held under the leadership of the holymen of six different religions on the occasion.

Those providing the leadership at the meeting were pundit Tejnath Sharma from among Hindus, Rimpoche from among Buddhists, Mohammod Asad from among Muslims, father KB Bogati from among Christians, Atmananda Lingden from among Kirants and Buta Singh from among Shikhs.

Norms, restrictions of judiciary, press discussed

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KATHMANDU, Oct 20 – Senior officials of the judiciary including the Chief Justice and media persons Saturday discussed the norms and restrictions of the third and fourth estates of the nation.

During a seminar on Media and Judiciary organised jointly by Nepal Press Institute and Judicial Council Secretariat in the capital today journos bothered with many lawsuits in the past just for reporting the matters relating to the court openly expressed their problems before the chief justice. While the officials of the judiciary said the journalist reporting court matters should be well apprised about the judiciary as it is a sensitive institution.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay said media persons should disseminate information about the judiciary keeping in mind the nature and the character of the judiciary. "Some misunderstandings may occur if the reporters are not well informed about the function and the procedure of the court," the Chief Justice said. he also said that the press should also adopt the principle of social responsibility.

The seminar was largely dominated by the on going conflict between the judiciary and the Parliament. Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Account Committee Subas Nemwang said a justice who is entitled to review a legislation should not render public speeches. Nemwang said judiciary should entertain and adopt fair criticisms, although unfair criticism of the judiciary are severely harmful.

On the other hand Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal said the judiciary could not entertain even the slightest interference from outside as its function was too fragile.

Presenting a paper justice Aryal said the present constitution annulment of which is being demanded by some quarters, is in practice already annulled by the forces within the constitution. Commenting on the paper of Justice Aryal advocate Radheshyam Adhikari said the press should attain maturity over the passage of time.

Participants of the programme also assessed the role of the media in democracy. Former speaker Damannath Dhungana said the press now is ‘reactive’ but it had to be ‘pro- active’ as well. Dhungana also said that there had to be someone to watch the media.

The participants also expressed some important views about the existing relationship between the judiciary and the press. Dhungana said the judiciary and the press are now scared of each other. While former minister Nilambar Acharya said the judiciary should accept the press interference as an assistance. Journalist and Member of Parliament Raghugi Pant who was sued with several cases of contempt of court in the past said that the court is still not liberal in the contempt of court cases relating to the journalists, although, it has contributed significantly in the protection of press freedom.

Other journalists present on the occasion said the judiciary should ensure an environment so that they can carry out "informed reporting". They lamented that there was no proper mechanism in the court to provide information to the journalists.