New anti-corruption bills to be tabled

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KATHMANDU, Feb 13 : The parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) today gave a go-ahead to the government to present two crucial Bills that would control corruption and empower the constitutional anti-corruption body, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

However, the committee expressed concern over the tendency of successive governments to present new Bills every time a new session of parliament begins.

SAC summoned Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka today to furnish replies as to why the government felt it necessary to submit new Bills in the 21st session of parliament, totally ignoring the old Bills that were tabled for discussions in the previous sessions. Successive governments have been tabling separate Bills to control corruption and empower the CIAA since the 16th session of parliament, but have not been able to push them through.

Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka informed the SAC meeting that the government was currently working to present three important Bills—the Corruption Control Bill, the CIAA Empowerment Bill and the Impeachment Bill.

"These are very important Bills and the government wants to get them passed in the ongoing session to control corruption, which is all-pervasive," the Home Minister said.

SAC Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa also emphasized the need to pass the anti-corruption Bills in the ongoing session. "This has to happen at any cost, because it is the main agenda or demand of all the political parties," he said.

Earlier in the day, lawmakers of the ruling and the opposition parties condemned the government’s recent move to slash budgets allocated to local bodies and educational institutions around the country, and said that thousands of schools have been forced to close down as a result.

The government recently brought out the Finance Ordinance to channel extra funds to meet its skyrocketing security expenses. In doing so, it has slashed the annual budgets allocated to the country’s over 3,900 village development committees (VDCs) by 50 per cent and municipalities by 10 per cent. It has also cut funds allocated to the Parliamentarian Development Fund by 25 per cent.

The government has allocated an additional budget of Rs 500 million to buy arms and ammunition, and to recruit more security personnel, apparently to fight what it calls terrorism unleashed by the underground Maoists.

Speaking during the Zero Hour in the House of Representatives, the lawmakers condemned the Maoists for intensifying their violent activities, and also demanded that the government’s security forces stop torturing the general public. They also urged the government to find a solution to the seven-year-old insurgency which, they said, is a political problem.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Hom Nath Dahal said that the government’s move to cut budgets allocated to local bodies, has seriously affected thousands of schools around the country, which are on the verge of closing down.

Lawmaker Hari Acharya of United People’s Front (UPF) said, "After cutting the budget allocated to local bodies, the government has become even more unpopular and the public opinion is swaying to the Maoist side."

CPN-UML lawmaker Yubaraj Gyawali suggested that the government seek a political solution to the Maoist problem.

"Why can’t the government that likens the rebels with mosquitoes do something to bury all the dirty ponds that are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes?" CPN-UML lawmaker Yubaraj Gyawali said. "It should be able to spray insecticides and eliminate them once and for all."

He went on to warn that the present chaos and disorder across the country could threaten the very sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. He demanded that the frequent kursi ko khel—infighting in the ruling party for power—be stopped at a time when "fears of foreign invasion are looming large".

Another UML lawmaker Ishwor Pokharel condemned the government for arresting two executives of the main opposition party’s labour wing– GFONT. According to him, the GFONT Vice Chairman, Binod Shrestha and another executive, Hari Dutta Joshi, were arrested by the security forces on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, however, the leaders have managed to get them released, according to UML lawmaker, Gokarna Bista.

Narayan Bijukchhe of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) demanded the government take steps to make its presence felt in far-flung districts like Kalikot, "where not even postal services are available, and people are living under perpetual fear of Maoists".

He also accused the ruling party leaders and workers of protecting sand smugglers—there by damaging the ecology of the Valley’s rivers—in the capital city.

Lila Mani Pokharel of United People’s Front (UPF) said the government had failed to justify the need for prolonging the state of emergency imposed in the country since last November 26. He dubbed the two Ordinances – the Terrorism and Disruptive (acts control and punishment) Ordinance and Finance Ordinance–"black laws" and demanded that they be withdrawn.

Nawaraj Subedi of Nepal People’s Front (NPF) claimed that the security forces have preyed on many innocent people while fighting terrorism, and emphasized that the government should not dare to prolong the emergency period. "Rather it should opt for a fresh round of dialogue with the rebels," he said.

UML lawmaker Shushila Nepal asked the government to immediately form the Women’s Commission, but cautioned that it should not do so without framing a law in the first place. "There are talks of forming the Commission even before formulating a law, which should not happen," she warned.

Astha Laxmi Shakya of the same party attempted to draw the government’s attention on recent incidents of robbery, hooliganism and other crimes in the capital’s Guchha Tol, Dallu and Bansbari, but stopped short of elaborating on the nature of the crimes.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Ananda Prasad Dhugana urged the government to ensure quality finishing of various infrastructure projects.

UML lawmaker Urmila Aryal suggested that special parliament entry passes be provided also to the journalists from outside the capital city, who are willing to cover parliamentary proceedings.

Lawmakers, Kunta Sharma and Om Prakash Ojha, of the same party demanded that the emergency period be brought to a full stop as soon as possible. "The government should also stop killing and torturing the people it has arrested," Sharma said.

Another UML lawmaker Gorakh Bahadur Bogati urged the government to make its presence felt in the districts of Karnali by ensuring adequate supply of food grains ahead of the dry season.

NC lawmaker Govinda Bahadur Shah attempted to draw the government’s attention on the "dilapidated" highway linking Sanphebagar of Achham district, and demanded that the "blocked road" be repaired on time.

Rastriya Prajantantra Party (RRP) lawmaker Govinda Bikram Shah wanted the Chaurjhahari airport, damaged by Maoists in early January, to be brought back into operation. He also asked for helicopter services to facilitate the movement of thousands of people of Rukum and Jajarkot.

UML lawmaker Shiva Bahadur Deuja demanded that the construction works of Sindhuli-Bardibas highway that came to a grinding halt after last week’s Maoist attack on Bhakundebensi police outpost, be re-started immediately.

Lawmaker Sherdhan Rai of the same party sought an end to corruption, while lawmaker Shankar Sharma Adhikari alleged that the government has "thrusted terror over terrorism" by cutting development funds.

Another UML lawmaker Suresh Kumar Karki wanted to know when the government would "downsize the jumbo cabinet", while Sohan Prasad Chaudhari of the same party took a potshot at the "minister who saved his land" by selling it hours before Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba banned all land transactions last year.

UML lawmaker Harka Man Tamang demanded that a list of those affected by Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve be prepared and those displaced be amply compensated.

Taking special time, former deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Poudel condemned the Maoist violence, while Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mahesh Acharya refuted media reports which said there were widespread irregularities while privatizing the Nepal Tea Development Board last year. He was holding the portfolio of Finance Ministry then.

Four ‘terrorists’ arrested

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KATHMANDU, Feb 13 : Security forces arrested four suspected "terrorists" from different places in the capital today.

The arrests have been made at a time when the supporters of the outlawed CPN-Maoist intensified their activities to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the so called "people’s war".

According to police sources, the four persons distributing leaflets at New Baneshwor area of the capital were arrested Wednesday afternoon. The leaflets called upon the Nepali people to help bring "people’s war" to a success.

According to an official at the Ministry of Defence, security has been tightened as there were reports of Maoists distributing the leaflets in the capital.

The security personnel, in plain cloths, too have been deployed in sensitive places of the capital, the source said. "They are well equipped and given authority to take necessary action against the suspects," he added.

Today’s distribution of leaflets is being taken as a part of the protest programme of the three sister organisations of the out-lawed CPN-Maoist. They have already given a memorandum of 21-point demands to the government, the deadline for which is March 3.

UML, ML merger on Friday

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KATHMANDU, Feb 13 : The much-talked about unification of the country’s top two communist parties – Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and its foe-turned-friend CPN (ML) – is finally taking place on Friday, signifying a major development in Nepal’s political scenario.

The main opposition CPN (UML) and CPN (ML)’s merger has been seen here as a significant development as this is expected to have a major impact on the nation’s politics.

This merger, to be announced formally on Friday at the local City Hall, would further consolidate the position of the main opposition party. Prior to the unification, both the parties have sat for several rounds of negotiations since last year.

Though the CPN (ML) does not have representative in the present parliament, it received a significant popular vote during the last general election. A group of dissenting workers led by present ML General Secretary Bam Dev Gautam within the CPN (UML) had split to form the CPN (ML) in 1998 ahead of the general elections.

Going by the number of votes these two parties received during the previous general election, they would have gained a majority in the present parliament.

The UML-ML unification process gained momentum after the main opposition CPN-UML fulfilled two of ML’s "tough" demands some three weeks ago. The ML’s fulfilled demands included the opening of the controversial Mahakali Treaty that was signed with India in 1996 for scrutiny and the restructuring of the entire party system after the reunification.

Budget cut likely to affect agro census

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 13 : Employees at Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) set off today to the villages of 46 districts across the country to compile data for the 5th National Sample Census of Agriculture (NSCA). But the government’s decision to cut down 25 per cent of the allocated budget is likely to have adverse effect on the whole process.

The government recently decided to cut down the budget to meet the growing security expenses to quell the Maoist insurgency.

The proposed budget for NSCA was Rs. 60 million but they received only Rs. 50 million, according to Dr. S. M. N. Subhani, Deputy Director General of CBS. Out of this too, the government has provided only Rs. 35 million.

As the portion of the total budget has already been spent on training and setting up the offices in all the 75 districts, the CBS might face problems completing the census, officials at the CBS said.

The CBS officials say that plans and policies had to be changed due to the unexpected cut off in the budget. They say that, expenses earmarked for the activities like publicity have also been reduced.

"We had to change our plans after the government decided to cut off the budget by 25 per cent," says Dr. Subhani.

"We are more focused on gathering authentic data this time rather than spending on the publicity," says Subhani. "We have given strict instructions to the employees to be serious while gathering data."

The first phase of the NSCA began today amid lots of expectation with around 2,500 enumerators sent to collect data on agricultural status of the people across the country. CBS had earlier provided a two-week long training to these enumerators.

"We were highly focused on providing proper training to the enumerators so that they succeed in compiling precise data," said Ramesh Chandra Das, Deputy Director at CBS.

The first phase will cover 46 districts while the second will cover the rest. The second phase of the NSCA is scheduled to begin from April.

NSCA is exercised at regular intervals of 10 years like the National Census. Data is compiled in all 75 districts through sampling procedures.

CBS said that the NSCA would reflect the actual situation of the nation’s agriculture sector. More than 80 per cent of the people across the country depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

The data generated from the NSCA would help the government devise future plans and programmes to develop the agriculture sector.

CWC members demand action against Gachchhedar

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KATHMANDU, Feb 13 : Three Central Working Committee(CWC) members of the Nepali Congress Party demanded disciplinary action against Minister for Water Resources, Bijay Kumar Gachchhedar, here today.

The three members , Binay Dhoj Chand, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Sunil Kumar Bhandari, filed a complaint against the minister and CWC member, to the party’s central disciplinary committee.

They have claimed that Gachchhedar had violated party norms and discipline by using derogatory words against party president Girija Prasad Koirala and the nominated members in the CWC, while the CWC meeting was about to conclude Tuesday.

Gachchhedar had blamed Koirala for making decisions arbitrarily on the strength of the "Bhajan Mandali"(subservient pimps) of nominated members of the party.

"We have taken this as a case of serious misbehaviour against the party president and the members of the party," said, one of the petitioners.

Govt opens private TV proposals

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KATHMANDU, Feb 13 : The government today opened the proposals submitted by eight private companies who are vying to establish and operate terrestrial television stations. The proposals opened today contain applications for both national broadcasting as well as metro channel. The government plans to award one licence for national broadcasting and one for metro station.

A working group formed to carry forward the process headed by Suresh Kumar Pudasaini, advisor to the Ministry of Information and Communications, opened the document in the presence of the applicants at the ministry today, after a delay of over two months.

Pudasaini said that the Ministry had mandatorily demanded the interested applicants to resubmit their sealed Request for Proposal Document (RFPD) disclosing the specific nature of investment of the promoters. The demand was aimed at uncovering foreign investment in the media, if any.

The government had also asked that each proposal be accompanied with a five per cent security bond.

But today when the proposals were opened, majority of the documents was found to be wanting, Pudasaini said.

For instance, the RFPD of Himalayan Television Pvt Ltd, which had applied for metro station, neither submitted any sealed proposal nor security bond. Instead, it simply submitted a request for extending the deadline for submitting the required document, officials said.

Similarly, Nepal Environment Journalist Forum and Space Time Network, the applicants for metro station, did not submit sealed document while Nepal Environment Journalists Forum failed to show security bond. Except for Annapurna Media Transmission Pvt Ltd and Kantipur Television Network Pvt Ltd, other applicants have not clearly mentioned the nature of investment.

Ministry officials said that Kantipur Television has submitted security bond of Rs 25 million, Professional Broadcasting Rs 16.5 million, Annapurna Media transmission Rs 6 million, Space Time network Rs 5 million, Shangri-La Channel Rs 2.5 million and Image Channel Rs 1.75 million.

But except for Kantipur Television Network, the validity of security bond of the other applicants has expired, ministry officials said.

Annapurna Media has said that it would have foreign investment, while Kantipur Television Network has stated that it is a fully locally financed company.

A senior official said that the ministry has formed a three-member committee to evaluate the bids and submit a report to the Minister for Information and Communications for final decision. He also said that the committee would submit the report within 15 days.

A total of nine companies had applied for the first time, but when the government called them to resubmit their proposals by specifying certain clauses, Prime Broadcasting System did not participate in the second time, reducing the number of competitors to eight.

Mentioning the evaluation criteria, Pudasaini said that out of total 100 score, 40 marks is given to financial aspect in which 20 marks for investment and 10 marks each for nature of investment and bank guarantee. Likewise, 20 marks is set aside for commercial aspect, 30 for technical aspect and 10 for production and broadcasting.

The government, in line with its policy of liberalization, opened the establishment, operation, and maintenance of terrestrial television station to the private sector in October 2000 and asked for proposals in the second week of October 2001.

Shangri-La Channel Pvt Ltd, Kantipur television Network Pvt Ltd, Annapurna Media Transmission Pvt Ltd, and Professional Broadcasting Pvt Ltd had applied for both nationwide network station and metro station.

Similarly, Nepal Environmental Journalists Forum, Image Channel Pvt Ltd, Prime Broadcasting System Pvt Ltd, Space Time Network Pvt Ltd, and Himalayan Television Pvt Ltd had applied only for metro station.