Tarun Dal to take to street in ‘scare-crow march’

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:Nepal Tarun Dal is set to organise a "scare-crow" march on December 16, protesting against the October 4 Royal proclamation, it was announced on Friday in a press conference called by the Dal at its office.

The organisation is also observing its "black-day" on Dec 16, as its annual event.

During the protest rally, it has decided to carry an effigy of Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand as a "scare-crow" and march from Ratnapark at 1 p.m.

Briefing the journalists at the press conference today, Bal Krishna Khand, president of Nepal Tarun Dal said the protest programme is also to denounce the October 4 Royal move, which he said was án attack on the constitution and on the multi-party democracy.

"Important government portfolios such as foreign ministry, home, and finance have to succumb to the Palace for taking important decision. Is this a government at all?" Khand asked, adding that it was a government of what he said a "scare-crow", which is suitable only in the potato fields at the outskirts of a forest.

"This government has hardly any effective role. It looks like a "scare-crow" in the disguise of a man," he added.

He hopes that the December 16 protest rally would pressure the King to withdraw his October 4 announcement.

The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post proved illegal

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:A petition was filed here today to stop the publication of English daily ‘The Himalayan Times’ and Nepali daily ‘Annapurna Post’ at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and Kathmandu Chief District Officer (C.D.O.), submitting hard evidences proving that the publications are operating illegally on foreign investment and management.

Ram Bahadur Subedi and Bishnu Gopal Burma of New Baneswor filed the case submitting evidences that the publications have sidestepped the law and are operating behind the cushion of the investment of quasi-citizen Rabin Shepherd Lama who holds an illegal citizenship certificate.

Sources at the C.D.O office told The Kathmandu Post that the latest petition would assist the investigations that are underway.

The petition claims that there is ample evidence to prove that ‘Annapurna Post’, circulated from Thursday, has not completed legal proceedings and is an attempt to bring foreign investment in the country through indirect routes.

According to the petition, the takeover sidestepped the Press and Publications Act, and failed to inform the administration about the printing press, change in publisher, size of the paper and various other relevant attributes.

Samata Party emphasises on total unity

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:Chairman of Nepal Samata Party Narayan Singh Pun on Friday said that the present crisis in the country could get outlet only if the king and the political parties move together with realisation of each other’s existence.

"There will be peace, law and order and prosperity in the country if the king and people’s power move together realising each other’s existence," Pun said.

Pun was addressing his party’s first-ever mass meet since its inception on Jun 18, 2002, organised to make the party’s views on the ongoing stalemate in the country.

He also labelled other political parties’ fear of the king being involved in active politics, as mere "illusion". "He has no such desire, rather he is worried about the country and the people," he said.

He also lambasted bigger parties for creating confusion among people by spreading the "false message" that the present government is without executive power and is unconstitutional.

"The government has executive power and formed on the constitutional grounds," Pun said defending the legality of the government in which he looks after the portfolio of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works.

Indirectly commenting on the ongoing protests against the royal declaration, he said "they are making the causes of present crisis as the means of attaining their political ambitions," he said.

Earlier, a rally of the party passed through the thoroughfares of the capital with cultural programmes before turning into the mass meeting at Khulla Munch.

Two senior journalists honoured

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:The Global Centre, a mass media training institute, honoured two senior journalists, Bhogya Prasad Shah and Krishna Tamrakar, here today.

"In its endevour to honour eminent personalities of the country Global Centre takes pride in having the privilege of honouring such ‘stars of mass media’ in Nepal," expressed Laxman Dutta Pant, programme co-ordinator.

Shah, 79, joined Radio Nepal in 1951 as a News Reader and worked there 32 years. In 1977 Shah became the first Director General of Radio Nepal. He has earned various national awards such as the Tri-Shakti Patta (Third), Gorkha Dakshin Bahu (Third). He has also been awarded the Royal Victorian Order-UK, Order of Merit-UK, Order of Merit-Spain, and National Order-France.

"Global Centre has conferred me with this honour at such a phase of time when others have forgotten me ," lamented Shah. He added , "I was the first person to start Parliament reporting in Nepal". He further informed that he had earlier worked with Nepal Press Institute, Nepal Telecommunication and National New Agency (RSS).

Sixty-three-year-old Krishna Tamrakar has been working at Radio Nepal for last 40 years. Running programmes in three languages -Nepali, Nepal Bhasa and Hindi- is a regular task for the multi-dynamic Tamrakar.

"Those who want to work in the mass media should have in-depth knowledge of language. So it is essential to first master ones language," Tamrakar suggested aspiring journalists. She is only the Nepali woman to get the Global-500 award. The United Nations confers this award for the best programme in Environment and Tourism, yearly. An Arts-graduate, Tamrakar has taken radio trainings from London, Germany, Malasiya and Holland.

Pornographic materials seized

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:Valley Crime Investigation Branch today confiscated pornographic materials from video parlors in an attempt to check activities detrimental to the society, particularly the youth. The actions took place a day after The Kathmandu Post published an investigative story on the status of pornographic consumption in the city.

The Police confiscated 32 pornographic video CDs, a television set and a video CD player from Raju Bista at Boudha, Chuchchepati. Originally from Makwanpur, 25-years old Bista is reported to have set up a mini-theatre in Boudha Tusal where he has been regularly screening pornographic movies.

On another raid, the Police confiscated 30 pornographic video CDs from 30-years old Puskar K.C, in Kavre. The necessary investigations are being conducted.

In a statement issued today, the Police have pledged to actively contribute to bring to book businessmen, shopkeepers and theatre-owners involved in making available pornographic materials.

NEA employees get-together

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13:On the verge of collapse, the employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority are not in favour of privatising ailing organisation NEA, Madan Kumar Bhetwal, organiser of 4th Central annual meeting of NEA employees told The Kathmandu Post today.

Bhetwal, general-secretary of NEA Employees Association 2051, said that they would rather prefer extensive discussions on restructuring it instead of going for privatisation head on.

The privatisation issue may feature at the two-day meet commencing here today at the NEA training center, Kharipati, Bhetuwal added .

NEA employees from 75 districts are gathering here to discuss their rights and problems extensively and come up with new recommendations for reformatory measures at the NEA management. .

The representatives of three NEA employees organisations, namely, NEA Employees Association, NEA Employees Association 2051, NEA Employees Welfare Council expressed their deep dissatisfaction today at the inaugural function at what they call " bad performance of NEA board" in matters of crucial decisions relating to their transfer and promotion of their posts and facilities.

New homes for stray animals

By Sudha Shrestha

KATHMANDU, Dec 13:The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Nepal chapter has been able to locate new homes for 21 stray dogs within a year.

A result of the efforts of the SPCA veterinary clinic at Gaurighat and Dr. Sarad Singh Yadav, the stray animals mostly dogs, have been adopted by foreigners as well as Nepalese.

"They will at least get good care and protection in their new masters’ homes instead of being thrown back into streets," says Dr. Yadav with a sigh of relief.

"Tara", a stray bitch, badly injured by a speeding car, has found a home and a loving master after being adopted by a foreigner. Most of the dogs were victims of speeding vehicles in the streets of Kathmandu and were treated at the SPCA clinic. Injured and also ailing animals brought to the clinic, once they receive treatment and a new life, are given new names.

In the streets, the pets are exposed to many dangers. Besides being run over and hit by vehicles, stray animals face the risk of cruel treatment at the hands of mischievous people who pelt stones at them and even kill them. The veterinarians' job becomes all the more difficult treating pregnant female animals, victims of ‘hit and run’ bikes and four-wheelers, as saving them is both time consuming and costly.

"Our main job is to rescue these stray animals, give them new life and provide necessary care," says Dr Yadav.

In operation since the last ten years, the Nepal SPCA has drawn animal lovers far-and-wide, including foreigners over the years.

"It is heartening to note that there has been a gradual change in public attitude in the city, however slow, towards animal treatment following an awareness campaign," said Govinda Tandan, President of the SPCA, Nepal.

However, foreigners show more care for animals. They give equal importance to any animal regardless of breed or health condition of the animal. They also make donations for animal welfare. On the other hand Nepalese owners are fussy about the breed and quality of their own pets and seldom bother about strays and other animals.

"Most Nepalese prefer male dogs of high pedigree, showing a strong preference for males even in their choice of a pet. People seem to overlook the fact that female dogs are more sincere and obedient than male dogs," says Dr Yadav.

Despite what has been achieved so far, professional veterinarians feel that there is a long way to go before concern for animal rights takes root in the country. The inhuman treatment being meted out to different domesticated animals remains a matter of concern with them.

The campaigns to eliminate stray dogs within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, has specifically, drawn the ire of these professionals.

"Instead of poisoning dogs, the Kathmandu could have reduced the dog population through control mechanism like contraceptives. The cost of poisoning dogs are much higher than reducing their numbers," complains Dr. Tandan. It costs almost Rs 700 to kill the stray dogs while contraceptive measures, like vasectomy for dogs costs only Rs 385.

Moreover, the haphazard dumping of animal carcasses contaminates the atmosphere, exposing humans to the deadly anthrax bacteria.

Maoists set post office on fire

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DIPAYAL, Dec 13:The Maoist rebels have destroyed at least 13 sacks of mails meant for Achham, Bajhang and Bajura district while they have also destroyed an Area Post Office (APO) in Bajhang and Bajura districts recently. The sources at the Regional Postal Directorate (RPD) have called these cases as the biggest incidents of mail destruction by the Maoist rebels.

The rebels seized 10 sacks of mails being carried to Achham from Bajura and set them on fire. The rebels also seized three sacks being carried to Bajura from Bajhang and destroyed them too.

It is learnt that the Maoist rebels have destroyed Chhatra APO in Bajhang and have set ablaze Jugada APO in Bajura district. " the Jugada APO fire destroyed stamps worth Rs. 500," said an official at RPD.

Out of 411 post offices in far-western Nepal, the rebels have destroyed 229, according to a RPD source.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Ilam states that two long-serving teachers of a school have tendered their resignation at the District Education Office (DEO) following constant threats from the pro-Maoist students’ wing.

Laxman Basnet and Dig Bahadur Basnet, the teachers of Dambar Devi Secondary School of Chamauta VDC for almost 30 years have stated private affairs as the reason in their resignation letters. However, they verbally expressed that their move was due to the constant harassment by the Maoist activists, according to a DEO source.

"Young boys from the pro-Maoist group constantly came and harassed us by demanding donations so we are forced to resign," informed the source as quoting the teachers.

Many teachers from the remote parts of the district are taking refuge in Ilam, the district headquarters.

VDC secretaries’ absence hampers office work

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BAGLUNG, Dec 13:It has become a sort of challenge for the local villagers to meet their village secretaries. This has been the plight in some of the VDCs in this district when the secretaries moved away to stay at the district headquarters. This has emanated due to the Maoist rebels’ activities and the insecurity felt by the secretaries.

After this incident all the work of the VDC offices were being conducted in the District Development Committee. But recently the people of the VDCs are in a dilemma when they are facing difficulty finding these secretaries even at the headquarters. It is learnt that besides spotting just one or two secretaries the rest are not to be seen at the district headquarters. The villagers who come to the headquarters after an eight to ten days walk with the hope of meeting the secretaries often have to go looking for them at different places. It is learnt that many of the VDC secretaries have left their usual stations to attend the Civil Service Commission (CSC) examinations.

A few of the secretaries who do not have their CSC exams and are responsible for more than two VDCs cannot be located spotted at their rented rooms or lodges since their rooms are being used as an office, which they are reluctant about.

Nowadays all the works of the District Administration Office and government -related works requires the recommendation of these VDC secretaries, so the people of the VDCs have to find them if they want their works to go on smoothly. In Baglung district there are more than three lakhs people living in 59 VDCs. If these villagers cannot find their respective VDC secretaries even for a day their work comes to a standstill.

One of the villagers, Bal Bahadur, from Daerling VDC, ward-4 travelled 25 miles to meet his VDC secretary. He laments, " I had taken some time out of my busy schedule for my younger brother’s citizenship card but I had to return without it after not finding the secretary even after two days." Similar is the plight of Shan Bahadur Budda, Birkh Bahadur Budda, Bhawat Bahadur Thapa and many more from the same VDC who are in a dilemma after not finding their secretaries.

Considering this inconvenience at the DDC, the Local Development Officer, Bhawani Prasad Parajuli reiterates, " it has been a few days since we have seen VDC secretaries," and adds, " however I have tried to find an authorised person so as not to hinder the villagers’ works."

Dacoits decamp with large amount of property in Jaleshwor

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MAHOTTARI, Dec 13:A group of masked dacoits looted around Rs. 150,000 in cash, 42 tolas of gold amounting to Rs 516,000 and 676 tolas of silver from five families in Dhirapur VDC-1, 10 Km away from the district headquarters of Jaleshwor.

Around 30 armed dacoits first detonated five hand bombs to scare the villages around 11 p.m. on Thursday night and then started the plundering which lasted for approximately three hours, said one of the local eyewitness. These dacoits were heard talking in Hindi, it is learnt.

According to the information provided by the District Police Office’s Crime Investigation branch, these dacoits looted Rs. 40,000 cash and 11 tolas of gold and 300 tolas of silver ornaments from Ramtul Ansari’s house, Rs. 25,000 cash and 10 tolas of gold and 100 tolas of silver ornaments from Kheghru Shah, Rs. 60, 000 in cash and eight tolas of gold and two and a half kg silver ornaments from Mohammad Kamruddhin Ansari’s house.

Quoting the other victim’s version , the police informed that the dacoits looted cash amounting to Rs. 10,000 and 10 tolas of gold and 80 tolas of silver ornaments from Isha Ansari’s house, while cash amounting to Rs. 20,000, and 3 tolas of gold and 25 tolas of silver from Bhola Shah’s house.

According to eye-witnesses, these dacoits were seen fleeing to the southern direction to the Indian border after looting.

Govt for talks with Maoists: Mandal

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BIRTAMOD, Dec 13:Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal today disclosed that the government is trying hard to hold talks with the Maoists with the help of some human rights activists.

Talking at a press meet here, Mandal clarified that parliamentary elections will be held as soon as the Maoist insurgency is solved. However, he did not divulge the identity of the human rights activists or the organisation that has been requested to play the role of a mediator.

He also alleged the bigger political parties of the country of being non-co-operative and creating further difficulties.

"The big political parties of the country, CPN-UML and NC have turned their backs on the crisis facing the country and are rather pestering the government by indulging in unnecessary debates," said Mandal.

He also claimed that the government is committed to safeguard the norms and values of democracy.

One abducted from Nepal-India border

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BARA, Dec 13:An elderly person has been abducted from his house in Dewapur-Teta VDC, situated 25 Km away from the district headquarters and adjoining the southern part of the Indian border.

According to the information provided by the Area Police Office at Simraungad, the abducted 60-year-old Ram Sunder Shah Teli, after finishing up his supper went to bed and was found missing the next day.

When he could not be seen for quite a long time his nephew, Birendra Shah, went to search for him. Teli who is survived only by his wife and belongs to a middle class family is learnt to be a supporter of the Nepali Congress.

The police inspector at Area Police Office Simraungad, Dinesh Chapagain informed The Kathmandu Post correspondent that necessary search and investigation is underway but nobody has been arrested so far.

In this regard the victim’s family alleges that it is the work of some kidnappers from the other side of the border for ransom.

Meanwhile, Babulal Raya Yadav, a resident of Bara, Kachorwa-5, who had been involved in different criminal activities on both sides of the border has been arrested by the Indian police.

According to the inspector at the Area Police Office Simraungad, Dinesh Chapagain, who told The Kathmandu Post correspondent, Yadav had been arrested at the Champaran-Jetana post in eastern Bihar, India. He possessed two guns and three rounds of bullets.

Chapagain further said that effort is underway to contact the Indian police and inquire into this incident.

Orange farming popular in Kavre

RSS

PANAUTI, Dec 13:Orange farming has become very popular in Kavre district for the last three decades.

Orange farming is being done in a commercial scale in Panauti municipality, Pasthali, Sunthan, Malpi, Sharada Batase, Balthali, Kushadevi, Chalal, Ganeshthan and Patlekhet.

According to the reliable information, about 325,000 trees of orange have been planted in Kavre district alone.

Citrus fruits like orange, lemon and others have been planted at an area of 1,080 hectares of land in Kavre district, according to the District Agriculture Office, Kavre.

The production of orange has decreased drastically in Kavre district due to various kinds of diseases that create problems in the roots and fruits of the orange trees, said Durga Prasad Upreti, assistant planning officer.

It is quite difficult to get a market for the orange of this area due to low quality, farmer Bhimsen Thapa of Malpi said.

It would be better if a juice factory is opened in the area so that the farmers would also get appropriate price and it would not be necessary to hang around the cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and surrounding areas to sell the fruits.

Farmer Ram Hari Sharma of Balthali sells orange of about Rs. 25,000 every year. He is the farmer to start the orange farming in the district.

District Agriculture Office Kavre has started a campaign to control the insects that badly affect the orange farming, office chief Khem Sharma said. The District Agriculture Office has been distributing 20 to 30,000 orange seedlings every year at a reduced rate in accordance with the demands of the people.

A small kind of orange has been developed since 2058/59 to be planted in about 500 hectares of land by controlling the arthropod of the orange.

With the launching of the Insect Control Programme in the district, the quality of the orange has been improved in the district, District Agriculture Office said.

Maoists are terrorists, says Home Minister

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BHAIRAHAWA, Dec 13:Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa today said that Maoist activities show that they are ‘terrorists’.

Talking to reporters, the Home Minister, refuting his earlier statement, said that the present government has not revoked the ‘terrorist’ tag labelled against the Maoists by the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government. He said that the government would think over withdrawing the label in case of conducive atmosphere for negotiation with the rebels.

He further added that the government was hopeful for talks with the Maoists but said that it was in the initial stage and the rebels have not officially proposed the government for the same.

When further asked if the dialogue was possible with the ‘terrorist’ he, citing a recent example of Sri Lanka’s peace overture with the Tamil Tigers, said that the government was ready to sit for negotiation, as the Maoist issue was a national problem.

Buses stranded in Tamaghash as curfew imposed at night

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PALPA, Dec 13:The passenger buses which leave Kathmandu, Butwal and Palpa for Gulmi’s headquarters, Tamghas, have to be stranded for many hours in-between before they reach their final destination due to the curfews that were recently imposed around that region. This has forced many passengers to spend the night in lodges and hotels.

Since the curfew starts in Tamghas and the surrounding region from 7 p.m. in the evening, the buses that are en-route Tamghas are forced to halt for the night at Harthok, Argali, Riddi of Palpa, and Balekhsar of Gulmi. The passengers of the buses that reach Gulmi and Riddi bus-parks late in the night cannot find proper lodges and hotels.

Though around 12 buses leave for Tamghas headquarters everyday from the Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneur Committee premises, only around three to four reach in time, while the others reach Tamghas only at eight to nine the next morning, said a local, Jeevan Shrestha.

The committee informed that only buses which leave Butwal and Palpa around 11 a.m. in the morning reach Tamghas at the scheduled time. It takes around seven to nine hours for a bus to reach the headquarters from Butwal and Palpa which are 125 and 80 Km respectively from the headquarters.

Silgadi-Sanfebagar road reopens

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DIPAYAL, Dec 14:Resumption of vehicular movement along the 65-kilometres road connecting Silgadi of Doti and Sanfebagar of Achham this week has come as a great relief to the populace in several districts in the mid and far-western Nepal.

The most frequently used dusty road had remained non-operational for the past six months following massive damage caused by the monsoon flooding this year. This had severely affected the populace in the district like Achham, Bajhang, Bajura, Mugu, Humla and Kalikot who solely depend on Sanfebagar, the regional hub.

Vehicular operation started on the route after the Department of Road carried out normal repair works on it. However, the Department of Road this year had delayed repair-work owing to security reasons, according to sources.

With the road re-opened, the soaring prices of basic commodities in Sanfebagar is coming down. "Despite the inconvenient road with numerous ditches along it, we are catering to the needs of passengers," said Ganesh Bahadur Bohora, a bus driver on the route.

With the resumption of the road, around eight buses from Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar ply along the route daily, the number of cargo trucks being around 10.