Concern raised over planned Maoist meet

By Bhaskar Sharma

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – The recent Maoist parade from battlefield to a negotiating table had raised hopes for a possible breakthrough to end the unrelenting six-year long insurgency, but apprehensions have begun to surface especially because of the Maoists’ plans for September 21.

If the latest statements from the rebel leaders are anything to go by – then an estimated three to four hundred thousand Maoists supporters will gather in the capital on September 21. And if everything goes as planned, the meet would be the largest so far, even larger than the mass that had gathered at Tundikhel after the restoration of multi-party democracy more than a decade back.

The Nepalese Constitution undoubtedly allows organizing mass meets as the Maoists have planned. But question arises over the timing of the meet, especially in the light of the ongoing peace talks between the Maoists and the government. More importantly, the concern is on the impact that the outcome of the meet would have on the talks, provided that the two sides do not come to an understanding before the meet.

The Maoists so far have assured to hold the meet in a peaceful manner and have refuted reports that it is forcing people to join their meet. And certainly, looking back into the meetings held by the Maoists in the capital and elsewhere, they have largely been peaceful, but can that be guaranteed in the upcoming meet ? Certainly not, just because it would be difficult to control a crowd of that size. And if some untoward incident takes place, it might as well derail the peace talks. And this is exactly what has invoked the fears of many - though they speak of it only in hushed voices.

"The Maoists have the rights to organize an open gathering. However, the meet should be conducted peacefully," said Bharat Mohan Adhikari, a powerful leader of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), talking to The Kathmandu Post. Even Bamdev Gautam, General Secretary of the CPN - Marxist Leninist (CPN-ML) is of the view that the gathering must be done in accordance with the law.

"No activities should be carried out by the two negotiating sides that can degrade the environment for talks," Adhikari said. However, he declined to comment, when asked to express his views upon the impact that the upcoming Maoist meet may have on the peace talks. "It is the job of the government to provide security. Peace should be restored and the government-Maoists talks should not falter," he said.

But considering the present activities allegedly being carried out by the Maoists that includes threatening and extortion, including forcing schools, campuses and transporters to help the Maoists make the upcoming meet a success. And it is also in the light of these present activities that raises doubt on how peaceful the meet can be.

Moreover, allegations from various quarters are flowing in that the Maoists have in fact indulged in such anti-social activities. No doubt, it prompted the Home Ministry Wednesday to issue a statement saying that it will not stand the anti-social activities carried out by the Maoists and that it would be forced to take action if such activities persist.

However, the version of those closely affiliated with the Maoist is different. "The meet will be held peacefully. We are not compelling people by force to take part in the meet," said Devendra Parajuli, President of All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (ANNISU) – Revolutionary, the student wing of the Maoists. But going by the words that are flying around presently, this statement would be hard to accept.

Despite all commitments of the Maoists, most political parties are worried what the mass gathering would lead to. "If anything goes wrong and the meet turns violent, the government would be responsible," said Narayan Man Bijukchhe, President of Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party. However, he added, "Surely the Maoists do not intend to spoil the present environment. The meet is with the intentions of gathering good public outlook."

One round of talks between the two warring sides has already been held and the next, as per unconfirmed reports, is scheduled for coming Sunday. The second round of talks may see a smooth sailing, at least when assessed in terms of the upcoming meet. However, with the agenda of talks being sensitive, which includes declaring Nepal a republic, it is highly unlikely that the talks would yield results in the second round itself. What, if the talks is held in the post-Maoist-meet period, with bitter experiences in the mass meet? Then there may never be a comeback.

Koirala blames Palace, India for coddling Maoists

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala today dropped a bombshell, accusing the Royal Palace and India of sheltering the Maoist rebels who have been waging a violent insurgency demanding a republican state.

"The Palace and India are directing the Maoists who have been running terrorist activities in the country for the past six years," said Koirala adding that he came to the conclusion after studying the problem for a long time.

Koirala was speaking at a photographic exhibition in the capital, Thursday. The exhibition was on his late brother, B.P. Koirala, founder of the NC and Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister, and was organized by Center for Consolidating Democracy. It was held to mark the 88th birth anniversary of the late leader.

Koirala’s comments came at a time when other leaders too have expressed similar concerns. Main opposition CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal had put a slight spin of his own to similar charges last week, saying that not just the Royal Palace and India but also the Nepali Congress were behind the Maoist insurgency. When pointed out Nepal’s remarks today, Koirala replied: "What Nepal said where, I don’t know."

Nepali Congress bigwigs, especially those close to former premier Koirala, have always held the Palace responsible for dithering to mobilize the army against the rebels who have been waging a violent "people’s war" in rural districts demanding a republican state. And after King Birendra, along with his all families members was murdered on June 1, the statement by top Maoist leaders that they had an "understanding" with the late monarch has also fueled suspicion on the Congress side.

Koirala, who was Prime Minister during one of the most violent times in recent Nepalese history finally threw up his hands and resigned in late July, paving the way for Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to come to power. Since then, a cease-fire with the rebels has been in place and the government and the rebels are both talking to resolve the conflict. But continued Maoist extortion and threats have compelled Deuba to issue stern warnings in the days that have followed the peace talks.

"Under no circumstance should the government appear weak during the talks," warned the septuagenarian leader, adding the government must not compromise on the issue of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, the achievements of the 1990 people’s movement.

Koirala today also objected to the Maoists extortion racket as well as their open, arms-laced rallies and meetings at public places despite the fact that negotiations with the government were still on. If the Maoists failed to desist from such activities, Koirala said, "In these circumstances, the talks must not be held."

The former Prime Minister also urged the government to put a halt to Maoists’ plans of holding a huge public rally in Kathmandu on September 21. There have been widespread reports of extortion, threats and attempts to commandeer hotels, schools and buses by the rebels to make their planned rally a success.

Property Rights Bill delayed in Parliament

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 - For a while it looked like the politicians were living up to their promises of getting the much-awaited Property Rights Bill through Parliament at the earliest, until the change in government changed all that.

The Bill proposing to make 11th amendment to the Muluki Ain (Civil Code) that was being sprinted through the parliamentary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has taken a screeching halt since Girija Prasad Koirala was ousted and Sher Bahadur Deuba took over as the Prime Minister.

Since assuming office late July, Prime Minister Deuba has concentrated much of his efforts into resolving the Maoists issue through peace talks and the controversial land reforms that has earned him the wrath of many lawmakers including some of his own from the ruling Nepali Congress (NC).

"The Prime Minister himself is the Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare who is busy these days with issues like the Maoists and land reforms," said Chairman of the Committee Mahendra Yadav. "And until there is representation and participation from the government side there is no point in proceeding ahead with the Bill."

Yadav said government participation is a must since it they are the ones who will ultimately be enforcing whatever new laws are implemented.

"How can we proceed with discussion on the Bill until there is government involved. The Prime Minister has promised us that he would look into the matter," Yadav said.

This controversial Bill better known as Property Rights Bill since it grants daughter rights to parental property had been passed on to this Committee since it was sent there by the House of Representatives just a few days before it prorogued last summer.

Prime Minister Deuba, who heads a 13-member cabinet, has kept half the ministries to himself including the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare. He has not even appointed any assistant or state ministers to help him run these ministries.

The government’s introduction of the controversial proposal for land reforms and the protests against it has engulfed most of the attention and time of Parliament and political parties.

Champions of the property rights for women say that the land reforms is in fact brought at the right time and it should include the provision that would allow daughters to be equal share holders who will be entitled to equal and rightful stake in parental property.

"This land reforms Bill should complement the property rights for women and should be considered and moved ahead at the same time," said a member of the committee.

At present women can stake their claim only after they reach the age of 35 and only if they remain unmarried until then. However, in the case of men, once they reach 16, they will be an angsiyar or someone eligible to stake their rights on property.

Women rights activists want all that changed and women too should be considered an angsiyar once they reach the same age as their male counterparts.

The committee, discussing and amending the proposed Bill, has so far decided that daughters would have equal rights to parental property and they would now allow women to retain parental property even after marriage.

The initial Bill had proposed that though women would have equal rights to parental property, they would have to return it after they are married off which has been severely criticised by women rights activists as a lame loophole in the proposed Bill.

Since then, the committee members are now busy working on details of the proposed Bill hoping to wrap up the amendment process, which promises to be lengthy, and present it for voting during the present Budget Session of Parliament.

House deliberates Land Reforms Bill

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – The difference within the governing Nepali Congress on the proposed land reforms move came to the fore once again, this time in the parliament, even as the Land Reforms Bill (5th Amendment) was taken up unanimously on Thursday for its consideration.

Ironically, the House was able to conduct its business after the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) boycotted the House of Representatives today.

The unusual scene of two NC lawmakers of opposing and supporting the government’s move was on display in the House of Representatives today. Surendra Chaudhary, NC lawmaker and former Cabinet minister in the Girija Prasad Koirala government opposed the new land ceiling, terming it as an assault on the farmers of the Terai "whose only resource and life is agriculture".

Chaudhary also spoke of the difference in the attitude of the hilly people and the Terai ones regarding land. He pointed out that the people whom he represented were different from the ones represented by former Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel who wanted the ceiling to be lowered still. Then Rajendra Kharel of NC raised a point of order.

Referring to the Article 36 (d) of the House which says that no member can unleash personal attacks on another member. Joining him on the issue, the former minister said that as a lawmaker it was his sovereign right to raise his concern in the House.

"All the leaders like Poudel and the leader of the main opposition M K Nepal are talking about revolutionary land reforms. It is nothing but an artificial land reform," thundered Chaudhary, much to the discomfort of some of the ministers present at that time. He added that the need of the hour was bigger farms and progressive taxation instead of fragmenting the land any further.

Kharel, after objecting to Chaudhary pointing out Poudel and Nepal, lambasted Pashupati – Shumsher Rana of RPP who too demanded probe into the people "who used to wear hawai chappal (cheap sandals) a decade ago and now were owning hawai jahaj company (airlines)".

"Pashupati Shumsher Rana is a descendant of those who lost everything in gambling, went to the jungle, kept elephants, built the Singh Durbar and lived a lavish lifestyle by plundering the nations. And now he is giving a progressive lecture in the House on probity," said Kharel.

Earlier, Rana had said that his party was not against the Bill but would not take part in its proceedings as it was anti-people and walked out of the House with his party MPs.

Soon after, Rajendra Mahato of the NSP said the PM’s statement that he would solve the citizenship issue before distributing the land was hollow since no steps have been taken in this regard. Then the party MPs walked off.

Taking part in the discussions on the Bill, Bharat Mohan Adhikari of CPN (UML) said the Bill was disappointing and accused the government of reneging an earlier agreement with his party on implementing the Badal Commission’s recommendations on land reforms. Keshav Badal of the UML had recommended a ceiling of four and a half bighas in the Terai. The present Bill proposes 11 bighas in the Terai.

Lilamani Pokharel said that no one – neither the UML, the farmers or the landlords – were happy with the Bill.

Later, replying to the questions raised by the lawmakers, PM Deuba said that if everyone was unhappy with the Bill, then it is full of justice. Deuba reiterated that the government’s objective was to increase the productivity of the land and give land to the landless.

India to regulate far-western border with Nepal

By Chitrang Thapa

MAHENDRANAGAR, Sept 6 - The newly founded Indian state of Uttaranchal plans to deploy paramilitary forces on the Nepal-India border in a bid to control, what it’s officials say, "cross-the-border crime and other illegal activities."

The forces are to be deployed from September 17.

Indian officials said that only a few selected customs points would be opened for the movement of peoples from both the countries effective from that date.

The new measure is being instituted after the Union Home Ministry decided to replace the existing border police with a central paramilitary force along the Nepal-Uttaranchal border area.

The four far-western frontier districts of Nepal - Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Darchula - border the three districts of the Uttaranchal State of India - Udham Singh Nagar, Champavat and Pithauragadh.

According to published reports in the local Indian press, the Indian government plans to deploy around 560 men from the elite Secret Service Bureau (SSB). They will be stationed at 14 different points along the 285 km long border shared by Nepal and Uttaranchal.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post earlier, Governor of the Uttaranchal State Surjeet Singh Barnala had said that the Nepal-India border along the Mahakali River was being tightened in order to control the "growing anti-India activities across the Nepal-India border." The river serves as a boundary at major stretches between the two countries.

Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Durga Prasad Pokharel, however, denied such activities had occurred along the border as claimed by the Indian side.

India’s unilateral decision to mobilise the paramilitary force along the border is certain to cause great inconvenience to people living on the border areas, especially those living on the banks of the Mahakali River in Darchula district.

Since local Indian newspapers have already reported that border crossing would be allowed only through the 14 points, most other traditional points of exit-entry would be closed to peoples of both sides, causing inconvenience.

Tenth Plan stresses social investments

Prem Khanal

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – No prizes for guessing the focus of the upcoming Tenth Five Year Plan. Just like other Plans before it, particularly the last one, the Tenth Plan too plans to focus on – what else – poverty reduction.

According to the newly prepared Approach Paper for the Tenth Plan, the government will strive its best to reduce poverty level in the country to a manageable 30 per cent. That is certain to be a tough challenge, especially in light of the fact that poverty levels actually grew, not got less, in recent years to hit an all-time high of 42 per cent.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) recently did a mid-term review of the current Ninth Plan and found that, from that 42 per cent, poverty level had slightly been reduced to 38 per cent. The goal of upcoming Tenth Plan is to reduce it further to 30 per cent.

The upcoming Tenth Plan with sole objective to achieve that goal, the government plans to spend a whopping Rs 732.21 billion in capital investment during the Tenth Plan, a major chunk of which would be borne from national savings. The plan, which will cover fiscal year 2002/03 through 2006/07, will invest heavily in the social sector as a way of reducing poverty level.

According to the Approach Paper prepared by the NPC, soaring national savings mainly due to a surge in export and remittance flow, has enabled to bear 85.5 per cent of the total proposed capital investment against 70.07 per cent proposed in the Ninth Plan. During the Tenth Plan period, Rs 626.6 billion would be financed from the national savings and the remaining Rs 105.5 billion from foreign assistance.

The encouraging healthy growth in the national savings has also enabled Nepal to reduce its foreign assistance dependency in the periodic plan. The share of the foreign assistance in the fixed capital investment has been declined to 14.5 per cent from about 30 per cent in Ninth Plan.

Of the total national savings, private sector is expected to play a dominant role. As per the paper, the saving of private sector is projected to be Rs 600.3 billion, which is almost 95.8 per cent of the total national savings.

Unlike in the last periodic plan, the government saving in the upcoming plan has been proposed to increase to Rs 26.3 billion, which would be 4.2 per cent of the total projected saving in the plan period. Government’s savings during the Ninth Plan period were estimated to be negative at Rs 1.29 billion.

Despite being the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and main source of livelihood for over 80 per cent of the total population, the plan has proposed to invest Rs 85.7 billion only in the agricultural sector. The amount is a mere 12.4 per cent of the total fixed capital investment for the Tenth Plan. Such proposal in the Ninth Plan was 16.80 per cent.

Similarly, in the non-agricultural sector has been proposed to absorb major chunk of 87.6 per cent of the total investment, against 72.95 per cent of the total investment in the last periodic plan. Of the proposed investment of Rs 603.8 billion for the non-agricultural sector in the upcoming plan, private sector will bear a lion’s share of 73.5 per cent whereas government investment will remain at rest 26.5 per cent.

Of the seven sub-sectors of the non-agricultural sector, social service has been earmarked with the largest share of the investment to speed up the anti poverty campaigns. Despite the healthy growth in macro economic fundamentals, the poor performance of the social sector, during the Ninth Plan, has been blamed for less-than-expected achievement in fighting against poverty. The sub-sector alone will absorb Rs 157.2 billion, which is 26 per cent of the propose investment in non-agriculture sector.

Similarly, with allocation of 20.2 per cent of the proposed investment, Communication and Transportation has stood as the second largest absorber followed by electricity, Gas, Water, Finance and Real Estate that have attracted 18.7 per cent and 17.47 per cent of the total proposed investment respectively.

Indra Jatra began with bang, ends in fervour

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – Basantapur Durbar Square in the heart of the capital turned into a festive mood today to observe Kumari Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) on the last day of the eight-day Indra Jatra festival.

The most celebrated personality among the thousands who visited local Basantapur today was His Majesty King Gyanendra. His Majesty visited the Kumari House at Basantapur and received the auspicious tika from 4-year-old Kumari Priti Shakya, the newly designated Living Goddess.

Prior to the King’s arrival, thousands of devotees living in downtown Kathmandu, gathered at Basantapur when the chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav were taken around different parts of the city.

Thousands of people, along with the tourists, thronged at Basantapur to have a glimpse of the traditional chariot festival held every year. Ninety year old Tirtha Muni Maharjan, one of the devotees in the crowd said, "We celebrate this festival very cheerfully every year. I feel, this is the best time of the year."

Maharjan represents the sentiments of majority of the residents in downtown Kathmandu as this whole area remained festive throughout the week.

The final day of Indra Jatra festival, Thursday, is also known as Nanicha Ya, during which Kumari was taken out of her house to different places. "Today’s Jatra is an additional part of the festival," says Tej Ratna Tamrakar, Hakim (chairman) of Hunumandhoka Palace.

According to Tamrakar, Nanicha was a daughter of a carpenter who was very beautiful. Once one of the Rana Prime Ministers saw her while he was passing through her house in Kilagal and immediately fell in love with her.

Then he took Nanicha to his palace and kept her as a mistress. One day, she requested the Prime Minister to take the chariot of Kumari from in front of her house. He assured her to fulfill her wish.

It is believed that in request of Nanicha, the Rana Prime Minister started this tradition of Kumari Rath Yatra from Kilagal, honouring his beloved. Since then, this additional part of the age-old festival has been named after this mistress.

After the Kumari Rath Yatra came back from going around different parts, the Lingo hoisted in front of Kal Bhairab in the beginning of the festival was pulled down, indicating the end of the festival. The Indra Jatra began last week by hoisting the Lingo brought from Nala.

According to Tamrakar, the locals participating in the festival take pieces of this Lingo to their home. "People believe that if they take this piece home, demons or ghosts won’t haunt them."

Waterlogged streets make traffic chaotic inCapital

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – The beefed up security for the royal visit to Hanumandhoka and the waterlogged streets created a chaotic traffic situation in the Kathmandu Valley Thursday.

Motorists and commuters were stuck for hours in the traffic moving at snail’s pace. The rush hour in the evening took a worse turn when rainwater blocked the poorly maintained drains and flooded the main intersections.

The scene at Maitighar, which is the major junction for vehicles plying through the three districts of the Valley, was clogged with knee deep and at some places waist deep water stalling many smaller vehicles like three-wheelers and taxis.

Vehicles trying to avoid this intersection jammed the narrow side lanes through Thapathali and Babarmahal. These lanes were jammed even until 8:30 p.m.

Other waterlogged areas included Jamal, Radodip and Tripureswor.

Though King Gyanendra and his entourage made their way through to Hanumandhoka to pay visit to the Living Goddess Kumari at around 8 p.m., traffic had been controlled since 4:30 when larger vehicles were totally prohibited from entering the city while smaller vehicles were restricted.

Commuters trying to return home were stranded in the downpour until late in the night. The bus stops around the main city were crowded with drenched commuters peeking for a ride home.

Taxis were also not allowed to enter the main areas like New Road, where people tried to flag down just about anything hoping for a lift to reach home.

SC verdict on Deuba’s case likely on Sept 13

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – About half a dozen lawyers flayed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s August 16 announcement, on ‘radical land reforms,’ today during a final hearing on the writ petitions filed against the latter’s decision.

And two government attorneys pleaded on the positive aspects of the government’s decision.

After the pleading from both the sides, the special bench of the Supreme Court decided to give the verdict on September 13.

The special bench of the Supreme Court comprises Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay, Justices Laxman Prasad Aryal, Kedar Nath Upadhyay, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi and Govinda Bahadur Shrestha.

Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki argued that the government announced the programme as per the principles of the state. One such principle stresses the need for equitable distribution of economic resources of the country on the basis of social justice so as not to limit such means and resources within a specific class of society, he said.

As it is a policy matter of the government, it should not have been discussed in the court, Karki said, adding that the notice published by the government in the Nepal gazette on August 28 has changed the context by lifting the land sale freeze.

Government attorney Krishna Ram Shrestha said the demand of the petitioners has now been fulfilled as the government has already filed the Bill in the Parliament.

Speaking on behalf of the petitioners, senior advocate Kusum Shrestha argued that it was not the matter of Land Act but the interpretation of the Constitution. It is the people’s right to own property and it could never be infringed until and unless this is guaranteed by the Constitution as the fundamental rights.

Other lawyers pleading on behalf of the writ petitioners argued the government could not infringe people’s rights to property as per the Constitution of Nepal.

Advocates Dhruba Lal Shrestha, Madhav Kumar Basnet, Mithilesh Kumar Singh, Surendra Mahato and Ram Krishan Gautam pleaded on behalf of the petitioners.

Six different writ petitions were filed by Namasa Karki, Madhav Kumar Basnet, Surendra Kumar Mahato, Uttam Shrestha, Silki Gautam and Krishna Bastola.

Govt yet to clear landslides in Arniko Highway

By Rajeeb Tamrakar

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – The Arniko Highway, linking Kathmandu to Khasa of China, has been cut off for the last three weeks. But the government is yet to take any concrete step in resuming the traffic smoothly.

Massive landslides in Chaku and Daklang villages, about 106 kms north from here, have prevented vehicles on this highway, which is the only link for thousands of commuters and business people importing Chinese goods to Kathmandu.

But, even after the blockade, hundreds of commuters are travelling through the same highway in a very dangerous condition. Those willing to go to Tatopani at the Nepal-China border have to change three vehicles and walk few kilometers in the perilous tracks.

Ram Sharan Shrestha, clerk at the ticket counter of Arniko Highway Transporters’ Association, said dozens of people come there every day in anticipation of reaching their villages. "Those who came to the capital for medical treatment are in deep trouble, as they are not fit enough to walk through the highway," Shrestha told The Kathmandu Post. He said that many of these people are still stranded in the Valley.

Even the businessmen are in trouble. The goods they have imported from China are stranded in the border. "It’s been more than three weeks that our goods have stuck at the border," says Amit Shrestha, one of the businessmen. "It seems, this year’s Dashain will be ruined."

Keshav Bahadur Rayamajhi, general secretary of Trans-Himalayan Trade Association, blames the government for not paying proper attention to the maintenance of the only highway. He says, "We even met Chiranjivi Wagle, the Minister for Physical Planning and Works to speed up the construction work but all we got was assurance."

Further worsening the situation, the locals of Daklang village have obstructed the maintenance work, demanding proper compensation for their land used to make a diversion.

However, Tanuk Lal Yadav, Project Manager of Arniko Highway Project, claims that the government has already offered compensation to the locals. He accused that a group of middlemen is trying to extract more from the government than they actually deserve.

Despite the government claim, the locals have refused to accept it. And the government has even published a notice on Wednesday’s Gorkhapatra, requesting the land-owners to receive the compensation.

Yadav blames Sindhupalchowk District Development Committee for issuing license to extract stones from quarries randomly, which resulted in frequent landslides in these areas. "The DDC is issuing license on stone quarries without paying any heed to our warnings," he said.

Monsoon to continue till Sept last

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 – Active monsoon rains will continue to lash many parts of the country till the third week of September, officials at the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said here Thursday.

The present monsoon season began on June 3, one week earlier than the expected date. Though the total rainfall till now has been satisfactory in other parts of the country, it was far below the normal in Eastern Region, according to senior meteorologist Bijay Man Vaidya.

This minimal precipitation in the eastern region will have a long-term effect on the food production, as this region produces the highest amount of food grains in the whole country. Experts have already predicted that crop production in this region is expected to plunge by over 25 per cent due to lack of enough rain.

A study conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) says that around 25-Village Development Committees in Morang, 21 in Ilam, seven in Taplejung, 36 in Jhapa and six in Siraha have been severely affected by drought.

The heaviest rainfall has been recorded in Pokhara with total downpour of 701.6 mm while Dhankuta had the lowest rainfall measuring 59.5mm in June.

The monsoon intensified in eastern Nepal from August with a maximum downpour of 703.1mm in Okhaldhunga.

During the month of August, the rainfall was normal in eastern region, excess in the central and mid-western regions and below normal in the Far Western region.

Maoist extortion leads to garments’ closure

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 6 - More then 95 per cent of the garment industries, the largest foreign exchange earner of the country, have closed down as a result of Maoist activities, mainly extortion.

And the brunt of the closure is faced by almost two hundred thousand workers who are directly or indirectly employed in the garment sector. Garments worth almost Rs 13 billion was exported last year.

Most of the garment entrepreneurs, including other industrialists, claimed to have received letters asking for financial help from All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (ANNISU) - Revolutionary and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF).

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has expressed serious concerns over deteriorating law and order situation in the country that too at a time when the government and the Maoists are engaged in peace talks.

"The business sector of the country is now in doldrums. If security cannot be provided to the business community, no time will take for the country’s economy to collapse," said Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, President of FNCCI.

"The government and the Maoists must take seriously over this issue," he stressed. The garment exports is likely to go down by over 60 per cent this fiscal year, entrepreneurs said.