Tourism experts see a new opening

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 – US leaders are no longer talking of a massive strike against terrorism but of a sustained effort over a long period. This ironically, offers opportunities for Nepal’s tourism entrepreneurs.

For one, many experts here note that Nepal is far outside the usual terrorist network so safety here is relatively better than elsewhere. And since the war against terrorism is not going to be a one-time affair but a long one, the explosive impact of such a war could be felt minimally in the Himalayan foothills.

Experts say, this could, in theory, divert tourists to the US and other western countries to destinations like Nepal. "The trick is to tap such tourists," says Pradeep Raj Pandey, Chief Executive Officer at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Following the September 11 terror attack, the hoteling industry, as well as the tours and operators in Nepal, as elsewhere, faced a spate of cancellations.

For an industry that has gone through testing times in the recent past, the latest incident in American soil thousands of kilometers away came as a rude shock.

"Nepal does not face such threats from terrorism that US does. And there is every chance that tourist who planned to visit the US or the European sector would come to Nepal rather than to risk their lives by going to places that are in the target of the terrorist," says Pandey.

However, tourism entrepreneurs stress on the need for massive campaigning to tap this opportunity. If this opportunity is not tapped and the tourism industry continues to remain this way, the national economy will suffer tremendously, say tourism experts.

Especially because the tourism industry during periods of normalcy contribute around 4 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product and almost 15 per cent of the total forex earnings. And given that the condition further deteriorates, the future of over two hundred fifty thousand people directly engaged in it would suffer.

With the possibility in the inflow of diverted tourists from other outbound destinations still large, entrepreneurs now are banking on the hopes that American war upon terrorism does not spread out on a regional level.

If the attack and fight against terrorism remains localised, then there is no reason why a better tourism scenario against initial expectations cannot be anticipated, hope entrepreneurs and tourism experts alike.

SC issues order against Rs 1m allocation to MPs

By Rudra Sharma

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 – A three-year old government decision to allocate development budget to the parliamentarians is in deep soup after the Supreme Court ordered the government today to formulate a proper Act for the purpose.

The Supreme Court issued a directive order to the government to implement the programme through a proper Act instead of implementing through the present Procedure.

The full bench of Supreme Court Justices Laxman Aryal, Kedarnath Upadhyay and Krishna Kumar Verma issued the order in response to the writ petition filed by Bharat Jangam, an anti-corruption activist.

The parliamentarians are presently getting Rs. 1 million each from the government "to implement development projects" in their respective constituencies. The Lower House of parliament had appropriated Rs. 265 million for the same purposes just two days ago.

The court also ordered that the Constituency Development Programme Implementation Procedure, 2055 is not a law and members of parliament can receive such money only after making a proper law.

This directive order from the government has created confusion among the legal practitioners on whether the present allocation of budget for the purpose has been stopped from today.

As the Procedure itself was declared void, the MPs now onwards will no more get the money from the government, said some lawyers.

But some argue that it is still unsure about its fate. As the court has issued directive order, it is a humble, not rigid, order of the Court. The government should comply with the order, they say. "But, we have a tradition not to comply such directive orders strictly," said advocate Sushil Pant.

The 9-month government of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) had actually started this programme to provide Rs. 2,00,000 to the MPs to spend in their respective constituencies. But the CPN-UML leader and then Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari refused to comment on the SC order saying that he has not read the order.

After the SC order, the writ petitioner Bharat Jangam said, "As I am working for anti-corruption movement and filing many Public Interest Litigations for quite a long time, it is my duty to save the extra expenditures of the government."

The Cabinet Secretariat, all major political parties, Ministry of Finance, Auditor General among others were stated as the respondents of the writ petition.

Though Rs. 200,000 was allocated in the first year, the amount was increased up to NRs. 1 million only last year. But many cases have been reported on the misuse of the fund by the MPs themselves.

Some of the prominent leaders like former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai of the ruling Nepali Congress and former Deputy Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal of the CPN (UML) had even given the money for charities.

The report of the Auditor General too mentioned that MPs had used the money for organizing seminars in their districts, donating the fund to various organizations, buying sports materials and some had even used it for personal purpose.

The writ petition had demanded for necessary orders including the order of mandamus since the Procedure was not made in accordance with the existing law.

Advocates Balram K.C, Dinesh Tripathi, Ramji Bista, Chandra Kanta Gyawali, Puskar Gajurel and Dhurba Koirala had pleaded on behalf of the petitioner. Deputy Attorney General Narendra Kumar Shrestha had pleaded on behalf of the government while advocates Hari Phuyal and Agni Kharel pleaded on behalf CPN-UML.

Nepal to press for duty waiver in Delhi trade talks today

By Bijay Ghimire

NEW DELHI, India, Sept 27 – As the much anticipated Nepal-India trade talks begin Friday, Nepali delegation officials are preparing to ask India to cancel anti-dumping and state government duties slapped on Nepali exports to the largest market in South Asia.

A trade delegation from Nepal is already in the Indian capital to prepare for the crucial talks, and at the moment delegation members are busy finessing their negotiating tactic. The talks are extremely important for Nepal since on it lies the fate of the Nepal-India Trade Treaty which grants Nepali goods preferential access to the Indian market. The Treaty is set to expire in December.

But India has recently asked for a revision of some of the provisions of the Treaty, citing export surge and dumping of goods from Nepal. The revision is hotly contested by Nepali authorities who argue that the Indian position is against the spirit of the Treaty. India is Nepal’s largest trading partner, but balance of trade is lopsidedly in India’s favour. Figures show that the trade volume between the two neighbours was almost Rs 74 billion in the last fiscal year.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, members of the Nepali delegation said that Nepal is disturbed by the imposition of various duties, which are absolutely against the spirit of Nepal-India Trade Treaty 1996. In practice, Nepali goods are exempted only from customs duty whereas other local and state duties are levied.

"Since such impositions have adversely affected the investment climate in Nepal, we will raise the issue seriously," said Dr Govinda Prasad Regmi, who oversees the commerce sector in the Royal Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.

The government of India had imposed anti-dumping duty on the export of zinc oxide and it has initiated a study for the imposition of the same on acrylic yarn. The Indian government has formally communicated to Nepal its intention to slap anti-dumping duties on acrylic yarn. No communication had been made while imposing the duty on zinc oxide recently.

Other issue of concern for the Nepali delegation is the recent imposition of luxury tax of 20 per cent by the West Bengal government on more than 34 goods, including tea, silk yarn, electronic goods, among others. Furthermore, despite Nepal’s opposition, India has been levying quarantine fees on the export of agricultural products.

Imposition of anti-dumping duties on zinc oxide has already led to the closure of some industries in Nepal. If the duty is imposed even on acrylic yarn exports, than industries in Nepal like the Joyti Spinning Mills and Reliance Spinning Mills would be forced to pack, officials said.

The Indian steps taken to curb Nepal’s export has shaken other industrial sectors, particularly the ghee industry which relies completely on nearby Indian markets.

"Since the bilateral Nepal-India Trade Treaty has not mentioned the imposition of anti-dumping duty on Nepal products, India can’t impose such duty on the basis of multilateral trade treaty that India has signed with other countries," said Regmi.

He further said that such duty is against the sprit of the trade treaty as the Supreme Court of India, in its verdict once, has clearly stated that anti-dumping duty is similar to custom duties.

The same issues cropped up in trade talks between the two neighbours last August in Kathmandu. At the time, India had tabled its concern over increasing exports of five Nepali products, including vanaspati ghee, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide, steel pipes and copper twines.

India had claimed that increasing exports of these products attracted the surge clause in the Treaty that allows changing provisions through mutual consultations if Nepali export increases as a result of the duty free market access facilities.

Traditional welcome to first three tourists

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 (PR)– As a part of celebration of World Tourism Day, the first three tourists who landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport were given a traditional welcome by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation (MoTCCA) and various representatives from tourism industry here.

The first three visitors – US citizen April Lander, Israel’s Alistair McEwan and another American Tracey Smith – who arrived on the Druk Air flight from Paro (Bhutan) at 8 a.m. were garlanded by the Panchakanyas and offered gifts by the MoTCCA, Tourism Service Association, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, among others.

The three will be given a free accommodation for a day in a 5-star hotel and free food and drinks by Hotel Association Nepal.

Lander, 34, of Cleveland, Tennessee, said this was her first visit to Nepal and admitted that she had not heard much about the country. Despite the trouble back home, she decided to catch the glimpse of Nepal’s glamorous culture and nature’s wonderful creations.

McEwan, who was with a companion, said that they had visited Nepal twice earlier.

"I feel overwhelmed by an amazing welcome," said Tracey Smith of Washington DC, the third tourist to be felicitated.

"This is my fourth visit. My plan in Nepal this time is to visit Bardia National Park, " she said. She works with World Wide Fund for Nature in Kathmandu.

"They are very happy and expressed satisfaction. Our hospitality has had a great impact," said Dambar Dutta Awasthi, Under Secretary at the Ministry.

Dalits complain of non-implementation of 9th Plan

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 – With the Ninth Five Year Plan in its final year of completion, the Dalit community in the country is becoming frustrated as the programmes envisaged to uplift them have not been completed yet.

The Dalit had very high hopes when the Plan envisaged programmes to uplift their socioeconomic status. But to their utter dismay, most of the proposed plans are yet to be implemented.

Dalits are the most oppressed community in Nepal, which comprises almost 20 per cent of the total population with over 60 per cent of them living under the poverty line.

A recent mid-term evaluation of the Ninth-Five Year Plan, which largely focuses on the poverty alleviation, shows that poverty rate has been reduced to 38 per cent from 42 per cent as against the target of 32 per cent. However, people belonging to this community still remain deprived and marginalized like before.

"The Ninth Five Year Plan is in its final year of completion but most of the proposed plans still remain to be implemented," says president of Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) Durga Sob. "Not even 25 per cent of proposed plans have been implemented."

"Dalits in rural areas are still facing this practice of untouchability. They are deliberately boycotted from the society, which clearly reflects that proposed plans are yet to be implemented," Says Sob.

The proposed plans in the Ninth Plan includes uplifting the socio-economic status of the oppressed sections by modernizing their traditional skills, to end social inequality, free education to the dalit children and the mandatory utilization of allocated budget among others.

"The plans which are being implemented are not that effective. I admit that few programmes like income generation has been implemented in a bid to improve the living condition of the dalit community but has not been effective," says Ganesh Nepali, advocate at the Legal Right Protection Society (LRPS), also known as the Dalit Lawyers Forum.

One of the important programmes- proper utilization of allocated budget , is yet to be implemented, says Nepali. "This clearly shows the government’s negligence towards this community."

On the contrary, the government is not ready to accept that the proposed plans in the Ninth Plan have remained just in the paper.

"Programmes like income generation, specifically targeting the Dalits, have been implemented in various parts of the country. This has definitely helped improve the living standard of the people belonging to this community," claims Man Bahadur Biswakarma, vice- chairman of Committee for the Upliftment of the Deprived Communities (CUDC), which is under the Ministry of Local development. "The programme regarding the primary education to the Dalit children has been running quite effectively."

However, he admits that there are many plans and programmes that remain to be implemented. "Every proposed plans cannot be implemented," says Biswakarma. "The positive programmes will continue in the Tenth Five Year Plan."

Though the large section of Dalits is Hindus, they have been blaming the caste system in the Hindu religion as one of the main reasons behind their backwardness. Dalits claim that they are discriminated and subjected to different forms of atrocities from the so-called upper class Hindus.

Old woman killed on charge of witchcraft

Post Report

MAHOTTARI, Sept 27 – At a time when the Simardahi witch-hunting incident is still fresh, a 60-year old woman was severely beaten to death on charges of practising witch-hunting in Bela Ekdara in the district on Wednesday.

Malechhiya Devi, mother of three sons, was first dragged out of her house and fed human faeces and tortured by Nawal Kishor Yadav, Bijo Yadav, Jitan Yadav and Dularchan Yadav, according to the lady’s family members.

The elder daughter-in-law of Malechhiya Devi said, "My mother-in-law was beaten to death and then faeces was forced down her throat."

The dead body was sent for post-mortem 24 hours later at the district hospital in Jaleshwar. The lady’s body had marks of multiple injuries and her clothes had stains of faeces, said the hospital staff.

According to the lady’s husband, his wife died as she was left unattended and unconscious throughout the night "as villagers were afraid to do anything for fear of police". She died on the way to the district headquarters.

Malechhiya Devi’s death comes after a witch-hunting incident at Simardahi village in the district in which a lady, Mrani Devi, was severely beaten who had to be hospitalised. Some 1500 women were publicly humiliated.

Oppn rap govt decision to support US action

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 - Opposition lawmakers today criticised the government’s decision to support possible retaliatory attacks by the United States in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"The decision by the government to support one nation’s attack against another nation is against the Constitution and the provision made in it," said Pradip Gyawali of the main opposition CPN-UML.

Gyawali said the Constitution says Nepal’s foreign policy will be based on the non-alignment and the Prime Minister should reverse the decision made by the Cabinet.

The government had announced that Nepal would fully co-operate with the United States in its fight against terrorism following the attacks on World Trade Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington that claimed thousands of lives.

The decision follows the support world-wide for US President George Bush’s call to unite in the fight against global terrorism.

Gyawali further alleged that the government had acted irresponsibly by taking the decision on such an important matter of foreign policy without consulting the opposition.

He said a move like that could put a country like Nepal in the midst of a messy war. "There should have been consultations before taking such a serious leap in the policy," he said.

"Under which law and which constitution did the government is allowing the Nepali airspace for the flights and the ground to refuel the American fighters?" asked Lilamani Pokhrel of the United People’s Front. "The government has shown its complete incompetent by bowing to the pressure of a imperialist power."

Speaking during Special Hour, CPN-UML’s Pashupati Chaulagai alleged India of interfering in the internal affairs of the country with the statement of the Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh over the state-run television channel.

"The Indian minister in the interview over Doordarshan on Sept 15 has interfered in Nepal’s internal affair. Saving of the Constitutional Monarchy and dealing with the Maoist insurgency is Nepal’s internal affair but the Minister has stated Maoists as terrorists and our government is keeping silent over the issue," Chaulagai said.

"One incident after another, India is striking at the sovereignty of the country and yet our government continues to keep mum over these matters," he said.

However, General Secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) Sushil Koirala said he needed to thank the Indian minister for the comments.

Koirala said that if the peace talks fail then it is the Maoists who will be held responsible for it. "Nowhere in the world has there been a case when the government has sat across the table and talked with terrorists," Koirala said.

This is the first time a senior member of the ruling party has called the Maoists a terrorists since the peace talks began last month in a bid to resolve the nearly six years of insurgency.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives approved the Bill proposing first amendment to the Value Added Tax Act that was presented by Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat.

Other important Bills related to the finance sector like the Insurance (second amendment) Bill, Income Tax Bill and the Excise Duty have also been presented in the House with recommendations by the Finance Committee.

Mahat accuses Maoists of breaking peace talks

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 - Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the country should be free of acts of terror and the talks with the Maoists are continuing to gain this objective.

While speaking at a face to face program organized by Reporter’s Club here, Minister Mahat accused the Maoists of drifting away from the peace process by making additional demands.

"They have been asking the government to make public the whereabout of their people. From the Dinesh Sharma case, the government has been sincere and has been continuing to release not just the ones detained under the Public Security Act but even those held under other criminal charges," Mahat said.

Mahat, however, accused the Maoists of failing to keep their end of the bargain and asking for more demands to be fulfilled that has delayed the talks.

"The government sat down in the talks without making any pre-conditions, and yet they keep adding new demands. What has the scrapping of the Public Security Regulations or Integrated Security Development Program got to do with the talks," he said.

The second round of peace talks held at a jungle resort in Bardia had been deadlocked after the Maoists negotiators demanded abolition of Constitutional Monarchy, dissolution of the Parliament and a new Constitution. The government flatly refused.

Annan urges to allow Afghan refugees

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 (PR) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Tuesday urged the concerned governments to allow the Afghan refugees enter into their territory.

A press release issued here today by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), quoting Annan, says, "In accordance with international law, the borders must be open to civilians seeking refuge."

Many Afghans, who are trying to flee their country in search of secured location, are finding it difficult to cross the borders and the plight of the civilian Afghan population is indeed desperate, states the release.

At the same time, the international community must send swift and generous help, so that the refugees do not become an impossible burden on the neighbouring states, the release says quoting Annan.

Taiwan to begin charter flights to Kathmandu

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 – Mandarin Airlines of Taiwan will begin Taipei-Kathmandu direct flights from October for the convenience of Taiwan tourists visiting Nepal, according to sources at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation.

However, there is still some confusion regarding the nature and status of the flights since Nepal does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which the communist China considers a breakaway province.

Officials at the Ministry said that since they are chartered flights, it does not matter whether Nepal has recognised Taiwan or not. But officials at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said that a prior approval of the Foreign Ministry is mandatory whenever flight service from a new country is started.

When contacted, Foreign Ministry officials denied having any knowledge on the flights, which is set to begin from the first week of October.

The Tourism Ministry officials admitted that the whole affair pointed out a lack of co-ordination between different ministries.

Mandarin Airlines would use a Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the weekly flights. Currently, Taiwan tourists have to change flights in Singapore or Bangkok to come to Nepal and spend a night at the airport hotel.

Maoists hold secret meeting in Jhapa

By Lila Baral

BIRTAMOD (Jhapa), Sept 27 – Top Maoist leader "Comrade" Prachanda and other politburo and central committee members of the party held an important meeting here Tuesday at a shelter in Duwagadhi Village Development Committee, a Maoist source said.

The source said that the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a. "Comrade" Prachanda arrived here via India.

The source said that this high-level Maoist meeting, attended by about 15 to 20 of its central leaders, assessed the current political situation in the country, particularly the changing political environment after the terrorist attacks in the US.

The meeting also discussed the second round of peace talks with the government and drew strategies for the forthcoming third round of the dialogue.

It has not been decided yet when the third round of talks would be held as both sides are alleging each other of not being honest in resolving the problem created after the "People’s war" waged by the Maoists.

The source said that the leader of the Maoist dialogue committee Krishna Bahadur Mahara and member Agni Sapkota appeared in this eastern district all of a sudden that day and went towards the unknown destination in the evening.

The police here confirmed that the two leaders were last seen getting off a van (Ko 1 Pa 1914) at Dhaijan village but they could not track down their movement later. Police also said that the Royal Nepal Army had stopped Mahara and Sapkota for an inquiry at Char Ali based army barracks for about 20 minutes before they were finally allowed to go to their destination.

The source said all the leaders left Jhapa after the meeting on Wednesday for their respective destinations, many of them towards Darjeeling and Siliguri in India.