King committed to democracy : Deputy PM

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:At a programme organised by the Teli Kalyan Samaj, a society of Terai-based communities, to honour Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal and Assistant Minister for Local Development, Dr. Asarfi Shah, yesterday, the Deputy PM appealed to all the Madhesi communities to unite politically for the upliftment of the Terai region.

Referring to the October 4 move by the king, Mandal claimed that the move was the correct one and that all recent rhetoric and activities against the king are biased and unnecessary.

He assured the gathering that the king was committed to democracy, adding, "True, there is danger for democracy, not from the king but from the so-called leaders themselves."

"All Nepalis, be it Madhesi (plainsmen) or Pahadi (hill people), want democracy but not the domination of certain groups over the rest of the people in the name of democracy, as it was during the last 12 years," Mandal said. He reiterated that there was no other option for democracy.

"My selection as Deputy PM by the king, is a symbolic recommendation for all the Madhesis, to unite for the future of the country. My appointment to this post should be an inspiration for all Madhesis," Mandal said adding, "First I am a Madhesi then I am Deputy PM."

During the programme, the society submitted a five-point demand to the PM through Deputy PM, Mandal. The society has demanded reservation of seats in the civil service, free scholarship, hostel facility, girls colleges in every district of the Terai region to promote women’s education, and land for the establishment of the society’s academy.

Other speakers demanded equitable representation from among communities like Rastriya Janjati Parishad and others.

Nepal-China ties highlighted

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:A delegation of high ranking diplomats from the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China paid a courtesy call on Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Panday at his office today.

The delegation led by Ambassador Mei Zhaorong spoke of the close ties subsisting between Nepal and China. On the occasion, Ambassador Mei expressed appreciation over Nepal’s support both in its bilateral relations and in the international arena.

He also recalled that all generations of Chinese leaders have had the best of relations with Nepal and its leaders and expressed confidence that this close relations will continue between the fourth generation of leaders in China and the present leadership in Nepal.

At the same time, Minister Panday spoke of the "problem-free" relations between the two countries and praised the tremendous progress made by the people of China as an industrialised country.

Children's mental health in disastrous situation discussed

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:An interaction programme on the mental health of children in disastrous situations was organised by the Mental Health Project and the Mental Disease Department, Medical Science Teaching Department. The main objective of the programme was to highlight the impact on children experiencing disastrous situations, which often lead to mental disorders if not treated properly.

Anil Adhikari (name changed), a 12-year-old from the mid-hilly region, was brought to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, as with symptoms of mental disorder. He suffered from behavioural shock, numbness, denial and unpleasantness.

Further investigations by health professionals however, brought out the true history of his case. Anil, who had witnessed the killing of his father, had been relocated to Narayangadh for security reasons and for his safety.

Traumatised children like Anil are often brought to the children’s ward of the hospital for further treatment. Six children per week, suffering from mental trauma are brought in, with 10 percent of them being severe cases to the child guidance clinic of the Hospital, said health professionals.

Highlighting the case of Anil, Vidya Dev Sharma, Associate Professor of Mental Health Project and Mental Health Department said that there might be various factors leading him to be a traumatised child.

"First, it could be the displacement of the child from his native environment to an unknown place with no emotional attachment. The second reason might be that he was told to forget about the whole incident and consider it as a dream", said Sharma.

"Twenty to thirty percent of the total population might suffer from mental health and forty percent of this are below 18 years. It is also seen that while ten percent are severe in nature, thirty percent might be at risk while the rest are normal", said Navraj Koirala, lecturer. However, there are less than 26 psychiatrists and less than 75 hospitals beds for mentally-ill patients in the country.

Sharma further said that those falling under the risk stage are the most vulnerable lot as they are at risk from both the government and groups like the army, the police, the Maoists or any other pressure groups. These children undergo physical, social, cognitive and emotional changes and such differences can be understood only after studying the children’s age, problem identification, situation and symptoms, he added.

Pointing out the above case, Sharma said, "In dealing with such cases of disaster situations, the child should be told the reality of his father’s death and not separated with his family members". This would further increase children’s inability to cope with the reality, he added.

Children are easily affected by direct assault or exposure to violence; witnessing assault or violence, suffering loss of immediate family and unrelated exposure through media. The common risk factors leading them to such situations can be poverty, marital conflict, alcoholism, violence and unemployment, according to the health professionals.

‘Take account of gender equity while dispensing justice’

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya has said the provisions relating to gender equality mentioned in legal and constitutional documents shall be deemed meaningless if judges and legal practitioners do not believe in the real essence of gender roles and equality.

Inaugurating an interaction programme on "Gender Equality and Justice" organised by Pro Public, a forum for the protection of public interest, yesterday, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said that the judges themselves should believe in gender equality when dispensing justice.

The three-day programme, constituting an important element in the national level initiative, was undertaken in the area of gender equality, under the aegis of Asia Pacific Advisory Forum.

Former Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, shedding light on the present situation of gender equality in Nepal said, "The development of gender equality should be the prime focus rather than focussing on women development".

Former chief justice of India, A. M. Ahamadi said law could be developed either in legislative forms or in innovative methods. He cited that progress can only be made if the judges are willing to innovate, which according to him, is the duty of all judges.

"The powerful pen of the judges should be used to downplay the prevailing gender discrepancies and preservation of legal justices of the people in the country". He said that judges need to work in close connection with the field and result-oriented NGOs.

Regional programme advisor of United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Chandani Joshi said not only the government but also the civil society, NGOs and human rights organisations have an equal responsibility for developing gender equality for a just society.

The programme aims mainly at provoking judges’ attention towards the development of gender equality. The programme was presided over by forum president Dr Srikrishna Shrestha and representatives from Indian non-governmental organisation SAKSHI along with representatives from Nepalese NGOs.

Stress on drug abuse control

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:The three-day long workshop of the narcotics experts from SAARC countries ended today by adopting the recommendations on Drug Abuse Control.

The participants suggested various ways to overcome the problem of the misuse of legal medicines. They also expressed their views on what the government and NGOs can do in order to prevent primary use of drugs and the need for the networking among the Law Enforcement Agencies of SAARC. They argued that the problem could not be tackled by a nation alone and the cooperation between the government and non-government agencies of SAARC is very essential.

There were altogether 28 participants from the SAARC nations.The meet was held from 21st December where the participants had presented their country reports of drugs situation and what their country has been doing to control the abuse of drugs in their country.

Interaction on Sherpa child book

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:An interaction programme was organised yesterday at Thankot on the recently published children’s book Mingmar on ethnic Sherpas.

Commenting on the book written by noted child litterateur Tej Prakash Shrestha, prominent litterateur Ramesh Bikal said the book was simple and easy-to-understand. Likewise, president of the Nepal Child Literature Society, Dr Chudamani Bandhu, said the Mingmar would help understand lifestyle and culture of the Sherpa community as a whole.

The author through the book has tried to bring out lifestyle and culture of the Sherpas who live along the northern belt of the country. Mingmar is the name of a Sherpa child and the stories have been also put in English version so that it can cover a wide majority of readers.

On the occasion, other personalities active in the field of child literature such as Janak Prasad Humagain, Bishwombhar Chanchal, Dr Mahadev Awasthi, Dr Kabita Ram Shrestha, Shashwot Parajuli and Saurav Kiran Shrestha commented their views on the book. During the interaction, the participants said suggestions should be sought from experts before the publication of any book.

Card-design show to be held

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:The solo exhibition of card design by Devendra Pandey is going to be held from Dec 29, 2002 till January 3, 2003 at the Nepal Art Council gallery, which was disclosed yesterday at a press meeting.

Pandey, who is popular for various card designs is better known for pop-ups style, which he first introduced in Nepal. Other medium Pandey works with are multi-pop-ups, twist out, cut-aways all based on realistic art.

Artist-cum-designer Pandey has given Nepali touch in his cards. Almost all the paintings and art works of the cards are based on Nepali context and include culture, settings, mode of life and Himalayas, which are very nicely presented in the cards.

"In the exhibition altogether 55 cards will be exhibited, which were prepared during the two-year period," said Pandey.

According to Pandey this exhibition may be the first exhibition of cards going to be held in Nepal. "Also the exhibition is an experimental one because every design is done through applied art."

Almost all the cards that will be displayed during the exhibition are master works, so they are made through air bus and paper-craft technique.

From the cards the artist is trying to show various subjects of Nepal that an artist can give to card lovers. "As Indian cards have occupied the card market in Nepal, so I thought if we could bring out cards with Nepali style and fulfil the demand of Nepali buyers, the cards can be a lucrative business," he said.

According to Pandey, the main aim of the exhibition is to make Nepali buyers aware that cards are also produced in Nepal. The cards produced in Nepal include Nepali styles and culture along with various historical monuments, nature and people.

Broker cheats Rs 5.5m from Nepali workers in Saudi Arab

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DHARAN, Dec 23:A Nepalese broker in Saudi Arab disappeared with Rs 5,500,000 entrusted to him by many Nepalese workers there to be delivered to their families in Nepal.

A fax message from Sullabh Gajmer, a resident of Bajhagara, Dharan-15, presently employed at Riyad, Saudi Arabia, states that the Nepali broker, Raju Pakhrin, a resident of Dhading has disappeared after collecting the money from many of the Nepalese working there.

This is the second time that Pakhrin has fooled Nepalese workers with such a huge amount of money. More than 30 Nepalese workers were cheated in this incident.

According to information provided by Gajmer to The Kathmandu Post, Pakhrin had been involved in money transaction and transfer business (Hundi) for a year. Earlier, just six months after establishing his business, Pakhrin had vanished with Rs 3,000,000 from 50 Nepalese.

However, he re-appeared before these Nepalese with a story that some agents had deceived him and resumed his old business assuring that he would return the workers their money, as soon as he got back the money from his ‘agents’.

In the second incident, Pakhrin once again was successful in luring these Nepalese workers in Saudi Arab saying that this time he will reach their money intact to their respective homes.

"These Nepalese who have left their country due to financial weakness, suffering the scorching heat of this desert to accumulate a little money, somehow never seem to be free of the clutches of cheaters and impostors here either," says Gajmer.

It is alleged that in another incident in Bangkok, Pakhrin had cheated 40 people out of Rs 2,500,000.

Three injured in security action, CDO’s home set on fire

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KATHMANDU, Dec 23:Three people sustained injuries after security personnel on patrol opened fire for self-defence when a group of unidentified persons allegedly pelted stones at them at Natol, Lalitpur on Sunday night, according to the Defence Ministry. The Ministry said that a soldier was also injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, a report from Baglung said that Maoist rebels on Sunday set ablaze the house of Nanda Prasad Sharma, Pyuthan Chief District Officer (CDO), at Tityang Village Development Committee. Locals said that the rebels, hundreds in number, forced the family members out of the house and set it on fire.

In yet another report from the district, the rebels looted Rs 10,000 in cash and 27 tolas of gold from Narjung Argeja’s house in Khunga VDC. Krishna Thapa, office secretary of the Janmorcha (People’s Front) Nepal, said that they would organise a mass meeting to protest the incident.

Our reporter in Parbat said that the rebels have imposed a ban on movement at night in the southern part of the district. Locals said that the rebels imposed the ban after their two regional-level leaders fell to army action in Uram Pokhara VDC about one-and-half months ago. The rebels also conduct inquiries and checking to the strangers who pass through these VDCs. The VDCs, located on the southern part of the district, are believed to be Maoist strongholds.

Meanwhile, a report from Dolakha said that Dolakha district committee of the CPN-UML has condemned the rebels for locking the house of Basant Raj Karki, a UML cadre and former chairman of Jafe VDC. The rebels sealed off his house forcing all his family members out of the house last week.

Police seize 32 kg hashish

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MAHENDRANAGAR, Dec 23:A team of police led by Inspector Brikha Bahadur Rawal confiscated 32 kg of hashish from the premises of Karna Bahadur Budha’s house in Mahendranagar Municipality-8, today. The hashish was found inside a bag covered by leaves in a ginger plantation.

Police raided the house following the tip off that the import, export, collection and sales of hashish was rampant in the area and that huge amount of illegal drugs poured into the area from hilly regions.

Police arrested Basanti Devi, wife of Budha, as her husband was not available for further investigation. Hashish is found produced, illegally, in some of the districts like Bajhang and Bazura of the Far-Western region. Hashish from the region is often exported to India via Kanchanpur district.

The quantity confiscated was the largest seized in the past 4 years, according to a police officer of the District Police Office.

Viral influenza claims 12, over 16,000 infected in Jumla

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JUMLA, Dec 23:Viral influenza, the disease that has held remote Jumla district in its grip since mid-November has reached an epidemic proportion. The death toll by the disease has reached 12 of late. Five died of the disease in two consecutive days last week and over 16,000 are infected with it in several parts of the district, according to a district hospital source.

To make it worse, lack of medicines and absence of doctors in the hospital has only complicated the situation, according to sources. Four patients from Patarasi VDC-2 and 3 died last Tuesday while one from Patmara VDC-7 died of the disease last Monday.

The disease has seriously affected many from VDCs like Dilli Chaur, Guthi Chaur, Patmara, Bumbhra Chaur, Kanaka Sundari, Chanda Nath Mahat, Kartik Swami and Depalgaon and others.

However, Dr. Juna Bajrachrya, a doctor at the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control Centre, (DEDCC) said that DEDCC has received no reports about the outbreak of the epidemic in Jumla.

Despite the provision of three doctors in the hospital, not a single is present in the district hospital and health workers from INF, an NGO have been supplying medicines to the victims.

"Concerned body is apprised of the situation here with an appeal for the prompt management of drugs and doctors in the hospital," said Bimal Raj Achrya, the Chief District Officer (CDO).

Cosmic Air to operate daily flight in Dhangadhi

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KAILALI, Dec 23:Cosmic Air, a private airline, is to start daily flight services to the main business centre, Dhangadhi, of the far-western region from Tuesday.

The commencement of this regular flight may prove to be a boon for people of that region who normally had to suffer a 24-hour, risky and tire-some journey. However, the locals are still pessimistic of the assurances of the concerned authorities.

Earlier, a Twin-Otter plane of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), had been operating twice-a-week flights, on Saturdays and Tuesdays to Dhangadhi, which was later discontinued. The RNAC had also promised a service to Doti, which never materialised.

Though the local people of the far-west are sceptical of the news, Cosmic Air, which has been operating flights to various parts of the country, is determined to start regular flights to Dhangadhi from Tuesday.

Cosmic Air, which had initially started out with a MI-17 helicopter in 1997, started flight services to various destinations across the country with an Avro and a Twin-Otter, both introduced in 1998. The private domestic airline has regular flights connecting Biratnagar, Tumlingtar, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Jomsom among other destinations, from Kathmandu.

From Tuesday onwards Cosmic Air will also be conducting regular flights to Simara of the mid-western region.

According to Gajendra Shah, Station in-charge of Raika Tours and Travels, Dhangadi, agent of the Airline, there will be daily flights from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi at 1:30 in the afternoon, with the return flight to Kathmandu scheduled for 2:55 pm. One-way fare has been fixed at Rs. 4,200, for the approximately one hour twenty minute flight.

Dhangadhi in the far-western region is expected to be the first ever destination to be connected by the Cosmic Air among the many other private airline companies.

Over one thousand families deprived of electricity

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MANTHALI, Dec 23:Over one thousand families in Ramechhap and Dolakha districts are deprived of electricity for the past three months following the destruction of Jhakre Hydro-electricity Project (JHP). The 600-kilowatt capacity JHP was being developed as the first co-operative electric project in the country.

The rebels stormed the powerhouse at Jhisepu of Thulopatal VDC of Dolkha as it was readied to be handed over to a co-operative organisation three months ago.

Maoist vandalism has caused the loss of over three million rupees to the hydro project, according to Madan Upadhyaya, the Chief at Jhakre Rural Electricity Development Project (JREDP). JHP was constructed to supply power for the construction of Khmti Hydro-electricity Project (KHP), a mega project.

JHP catered electricity to eight VDCs in both the districts, the sites affected by KHP. The beneficiaries were enjoying the electric facilities at Rs.1.50 per unit, which is very cheap in contrast to the facility provided by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

With two turbines were destroyed by the Maoist attack, only one turbine is functioning at present. The rebels also destroyed other tools worth over twenty million rupees being transported to JHP for repair works on the way, according to Upadhyaya.

"Consumers throng to the office demanding prompt repair of JHP. The present insecurity situation has threatened its repair works," said the Chief Upadhyaya.

Owed by the Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD) and Himal Power Company, JHP aims to light around 4,000 households after the completion of its five-year master plan, informed the sources.

Low oil seed production discourages farmers

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SIRAHA, Dec 23:Most of the oil seed mills of Siraha district, which is very famous in the production of the oil seed, are being closed due to the decrease in the oil seed production for the last few years.

It is quite difficult to get pure mustard oil in the district after the oil seed mills started to close down for some years in the district. Some of the mills in operation are also being closed down due to the scarcity of the mustard in the district, some businessmen complained.

A total of 188 metric tonnes of oil seed was produced in 470 hectares of land in the district last year.

Though the farmers planted mustard in 500 hectares of land this year, the production is not expected to be as expected, said Geni Lal Yadav, junior technical assistant of the District Agriculture Office Siraha.

Considered fertile land for the production of oil seed , the production has decreased by about 50 percent in the district and the farmers are very much worried, the local businessmen said.

" After the decrease in the oil seed production in the district, farmers have started to make small grain seed bead and sell in the market which has created negative impact in the health of the people, " secretary at the Cottage and Small Scale Industry Association Ram Chandra Prasad Gupta said.

The local consumers are compelled to use the oil of peanut, sunflower and soybean due to the lack of mustard in the district. The local farmers have started to catch up alternative profession due to the decrease in the production of mustard, local people said.

The production of the district could not supply even 10 percent demand of the district, therefore, the local businessmen import oil seeds from neighbouring Sarlahi and Rautahat districts and Jayanagar of neighbouring India.

Over 75 oil seed mills out of 107 registered mills have been closed down in the district, according to the Cottage and Small Scale Industry Office Siraha. Due to the closure of the mills over 500 people have lost their jobs in the district, the office said.

The oil seeds mills are being closed due to the open border with India, decrease in the oil seed production, lack of raw materials and skilled men power, therefore, the government should pay special attention about this fact in time, local people and businessmen said.

All-party committee formed to address Maoist victims’ grievances

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MANTHALI, Dec 23:An All-party Committee has been formed to identify and settle those people who fled their homes due to Maoist activity and involve them in the relief programme to be conducted in Ramechhap, at an all-party meeting organised by the DAO at Manthali on Monday.

Though the number of people who fled their homes in the wake of increased Maoist atrocities and threats is said to be quite high, the list of names of displaced people registered at the District Administrative Office (DAO) is quite low. According to leaders of various parties, there are estimates that at least 15 to 20 displaced persons from each VDC. However, the records at the DAO, does not exceed 145 names at present.

Trilok Prasad Shrestha, the Chief at the DAO however, reiterates that only a few of the displaced people have registered with the office and more need to be identified. He added that various political parties should take active initiatives in finding out the actual displaced locals.

"The actual displaced people have not been able to come to us, so we need to cull out the actual ones," said Shrestha, adding that administrative mechanism alone was not sufficient to resolve this problem.

Once the Maoist displaced have been identified, they are to be categorised into various groups and involved in income-generating programme, is one of the objectives of the committee.

"If the government allowance, being provided to displaced persons, was invested in income-generating programmes, it would assist in the subsistence of many displaced families," opines chief of the DAO, Shrestha.

It was revealed in the all-party meeting organised by DAO at Manthali on Monday, that purchase and procurement of various equipment and machinery, useful in knitting of yarn, sweater, and in making of chairs and other useful house-hold appliances, if incorporated in the programme would prove effective.

The participants also expressed their opinions that if the displaced people could be settled at the district headquarters their life could be improved as they can easily avail of loans provided by banks and various financial institutions for poultry farming, pig farming and other ventures. The participants at the meeting also expressed their optimism to the effectiveness of the proposed programmes to be undertaken.

Shrestha, addressing participants of the meeting, said that only after the All Party Committee identifies the actual displaced people and hands over the report, will they be able to finalise the type of income-generating programmes.