Nepali colts upset Pakistan

By Rajendra Gyawali

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Jan 22 :Inspired by Bardan Chalise’s fine all-round performance, Nepal pulled a stunning 30-run upset victory over Pakistan in their second Group C outing under the U-19 World Cup on Tuesday.

Nepal, who put up a brave effort only to lose by 32 runs against England on Monday, defended a moderate total of 151, bringing Pakistan to books for 121 in 45.5 overs.

Chalise, after leading Nepal scoring list with invaluable 42 runs, came back to take a wicket when Pakistan started their chase. He also effected a run-out and held a catch to claim man of the match.

Nepal, put into bat by Pakistan captain Salman Butt, was bowled out for 151 runs in 48.5 overs.

Opening pair Kanishka Chaugain and Yashwant Subedi put on 19 runs before the latter was bowled in the 9th over while trying to negotiate Umer Gul’s express delivery. Chaugain was next to follow at 15 after adding 12 runs with Chalise.

Even as Pakistan spin-duo Kamran Sajid and Junaid Zia created problems, Chalise showed a lot of character in the middle. He shared two handy partnerships, 35 runs with Shakti Gauchan (12) for the third wicket and 33 runs with Manjit Shrestha (17) for the sixth that allowed Nepal to set up a reasonable score.

Sajid and Zia both returned with four wickets each for Pakistan while opening bowler Umer Gul accounted for two wickets.

But what looked like a moderate total was turned into a winning one as Pakistan succumbed to Nepal’s disciplined bowling and tight fielding. Nepali slow bowlers looked in ominous form, especially Shakti Gauchan and Sanjam Regmi bamboozled Pakistan batsmen to steer Nepal to the unlikely victory.

Gauchan took 3-19 off his 10 overs keeping three maidens while Regmi returned a figure of 3-27 from his 9.3 overs. Captain Binod Das and Lakhpa Lama also played their part in Pakistan’s downfall, claiming a wicket apiece.

"We took to the field with great team spirit that guided us to this win," Binod Das revealed the secret behind Nepal’s surprise victory over Pakistan. "Having set up a moderate victory target of 152 runs, we were determined not to concede an easy win to the opposition."

Nepali team coach Roy Dias, while calling it a historic achievement, urged his side not to get carried away. Nepal plays its last league match against Papua New Guinea on Friday. A win in that match would put Nepal into formidable position in the Group C.

"The match against Papua New Guinea holds the key," Dias said.

Pakistan, who defeated Papua New Guinea in its opening match, now meets England on Friday. English win in that match, given that Nepal beats Papua New Guinea, would ensure Nepal’s place in the super league.

After losing a couple of early wickets, Asim Munir who topscored with 34 runs raised Pakistan hopes at 84-3. But a couple of more wickets including that of Munir and Khaqan Arsal (24) put the Pakistanis out of contest.

And when Regmi forced the last Pakistani batsman Umer Gal to hole out a catch, a group of Nepali fans entered the ground carrying the Nepali national flag. "We’re proud of you," lauded Chandra Rai, a post-graduate student at Lincoln University.

Another Nepal fan, Gill Lehmann, who heads Nepal-New Zealand Friendship Society, joins the party: "We’d like to be part of the Nepali victory," she said.

SAARC book council on the anvil

By Nitya Nanda Timsina

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: The national publishers’ organisations and booksellers from SAARC nations is scheduled to meet for a two-day discussions on January 26-27 in the Indian capital of New Delhi for the establishment of SAARC Book Development Council next week.

The meeting intended to provide a forum for the free flow of books and other educational materials within South Asia and to protect the law on copyright and authorship among the region’s publishers and booksellers. All the national associations of booksellers and publishers from the SAARC countries will take part in the meet.

"We will press for the establishment of the Council and decide its headquarters during the meet," said Madhab Lal Maharjan, General Secretary of National Booksellers and Publishers Association of Nepal (NBPAN), who will represent Nepal in the meet.

It will also facilitate the publishers and booksellers to hold annual book fair in the SAARC countries in an alphabetical order, which will serve as a bridge among the publishing community, according to Maharjan.

Dr. Abhi Subedi, head of the Department of English in Tribhuvan University said, "Books have been the most surrogate power structure in Asia, and the opening of the Council is a most desirable step." He also said that Indian publishers have benefited largely from the monopoly of book publishing in South Asia and that the opening of a forum for publishers of all the SAARC countries would boost the small and marginal publishers in the region, to which Nepal is no exception.

Krishna Mani Bhandari, librarian at the TU Central Library, which has a collection of 250,000 books, said that Nepal still does not have adequate text-book related references and journals.

"Almost 10,000 books are published all over the world everyday but we have no access to these publications not even from all the SAARC nations," he said. Nepal currently enjoys the access to books published by the Indian publishers.

A draft statute on the proposed SAARC Book Development Council is already in the pipeline and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shown considerable interest in opening the Council, said officials at the NBPAN, which has 74 Nepali publishers and book-sellers as its members.

However, Nepali booksellers and publishers pin their hope saying their books are not yet listed under exportable and importable lists by the government. "It has thwarted our efforts for a free movement of books across the region," said Maharjan, who is also the General Manager of Mandala Book Depot.

Mofi Dul Huq, a prominent publisher from Bangladesh, has been stressing the need for a common forum of Nepal and Bangladesh. Prominent educators and readers here say that the opening of the Council would benefit Nepal.

Nepal has not been able to directly exchange books and publications with other countries in the region, especially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Booksellers and publishers in Nepal say they directly import almost 90 per cent of the books from India.

Meanwhile, the 15th New Delhi World Book Exhibition is schedule to begin in New Delhi from January 28. An estimated 1000 publishers and booksellers from around the world are expected to convene in India’s capital. The NBPAN is representing Nepal at the exhibition where it will display some 300 Nepali books.

Emergency tenure depends on Maoist activities: PM

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has reiterated that the state of emergency, declared on November 26, would be extended depending upon the activities of the Maoists.

"The Maoists are creating an environment themselves by continuing their terrorist activities, forcing the government to prolong the state of emergency," PM Deuba said at an interaction programme on ‘Emergency and Restoration of Peace’ organised here today by Foundation for Parliamentary Studies and Development (FPSD).

"If they want the emergency to be immediately called off, they have to first lay down their arms and surrender to the government," Deuba said.

Deuba also called upon the intellectuals and professionals, who are well known as the members of the civil society, not to justify the culture of seeking the solution of all problems at the gunpoint.

"You should be able to persuade the Maoists to lay down arms and seek solutions through amicable means rather than pressurising the government for talks," Deuba said.

Responding to the questions raised by different speakers before him, Deuba said that the democratically elected government and the parliament have been established with people’s aspirations.

Referring to the Maoists’ demand of a Constituent Assembly, Deuba called Maoists to take part in the election and take their slogan to the people. "The government is ready to adopt all measures to ensure free and fair election," he further said.

Deuba also informed that the government would even seek foreign assistance if the internal resources were insufficient to maintain law and order in the country.

But the participants at the programme urged the government not to prolong the state of emergency and suggested looking out for other ways to tackle the Maoist problem.

Member of the CPN (UML) Standing Committee Jhala Nath Khanal said that the party would make responsible decision and play a crucial role during the time of prolongation of the state of emergency.

"We are sensitive towards the nation, its people, democracy and democratic Constitution," Khanal said, adding, "The solution of all the problems should be sought from within the existing Constitution, and drastic change is possible within it."

Spokesperson of the ruling Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said that the democratic government was always open for talks with the Maoists if they lay down their arms. "But NC will not tolerate the issue of Constituent Assembly election as the pre-requisite of the talks."

He made it clear that the ruling party was conscious about the possibility of misuse of the emergency and has already cautioned the government on the issue.

CP Mainali of CPN (ML) stressed on initiatives of other parties to bring the Maoists to the table and suggested making other parties’ activities open during the emergency. "Ultimate solution is the political process, so the option should not be totally sealed off."

Central Working Committee member of the Nepali Congress Nara Hari Acharya said that the laying down of the arms from the Maoist side is the precondition for the talks. Dr. Madhu Ghimire suggested the Prime Minister to be clear on the issue that the army was working under terms of reference provided by him or they have their own terms of reference at present situation. Raghu Panta of CPN (UML) said that the government could not go beyond the people’s mandate and it has no right to allow the election of a Constituent Assembly.

Ethnic groups let down by delay in forming academy

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: The Bill on constituting an Academy for Nationalities, approved by the Parliament’s last session, is yet to take shape much to the disappointment of ethnic groups across the country.

The academy is yet to be constituted although the Bill was passed by the Parliament in September last year.

"Since it has been a long time since the Bill was approved by the Parliament, we are compelled to raise doubts over it," says Bal Krishna Mabuhang, General Secretary of Federation for the Nationalities.

"The blame will solely fall on the government if the academy is not formed soon. We really want to constitute the academy which will work for the welfare of ethnic groups. The delay reflects the government’s reluctance to uplift the socio-economic status of the ethnic groups," says Mabuhang.

However, government officials say that everything is going according to procedure, and they are now awaiting the mandatory royal seal of approval for the Bill to become an Act.

"This particular Bill is in line to receive the royal assent. But because the government has been giving priority to other Bills like the one related to Finance, it is taking time," says Hari Rimal, Joint secretary at the Local Development Ministry.

Rimal assures that the academy will be constituted as soon as the Bill gets the royal nod. "I cannot say when but it will be constituted soon."

Activists of ethnic groups accuse the government of "deliberately" being indifferent to the Bill. They have also been accusing the government for not letting ethnic communities formulate for themselves plans and policies which involve their welfare.

"It’s quite surprising that the academy is yet to be constituted after being approved by the Parliament long time back," says Dr Chaitanya Subba, an expert on ethnic groups.

"Government has always ignored the demands of the ethnic groups and this delay in forming the academy is one of the many examples. The academy should have been constituted long time ago after being passed by the Parliament," says Dr Subba.

The Academy for the Nationalities which the ethnic groups have been demanding for a long time aims at uplifting their socio-economic status. The academy will be working independently as an autonomous body.

10 rebels killed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: At least ten Maoist "terrorists" were shot dead and three others injured across the country in last 24 hours in search and cordon operation launched by the security forces.

The Home Ministry issuing a press release said that five rebels were killed today by the security forces during a clash in Shankarpur Village Development Committee (VDC), Kanchanpur district. Eight guns and documents related with the Maoist movements were seized by the security personnel from the site.

Similarly, press release issued here today by the Defence Ministry said that three rebels were gunned down by the armed forces following an exchange of fire in Gahate area of Lamjung district.

The security forces were able to recover three guns, one socket bomb, explosive materials and a 150 meters long wire for ambush purposes at the site.

However, no casualties were reported on the security forces’ side.

Two other Maoists fell prey to the armed forces in Gothmai area of Rolpa district following a clash. It is learnt that rebels were preparing to plant an ambush when they encountered with the armed forces.

Three rebels were injured by the armed forces near the confluence of River Modi and River Kali Gandaki, the release added.

It is learnt that armed forces traded fire with Maoist rebels after the latter ambushed the armymen on the way backing to the barrack after conducting the search operation. The rebels are reported to be missing in the River Kali Gandaki. Two guns, a socket bomb and explosive materials were recovered from the site by the security forces.

The release further added that altogether 22 suspected rebels were arrested by the armed forces across the country. Security forces arrested 20 suspects in Kuin area of Dang district and two others in Bailhara area of Dhankuta district.

The release also said that altogether 65 rebels surrendered throughout the country before their respective District Administration Offices (DAO). Meanwhile, our Salyan-based reporter said that Maoists set off a powerful bomb in Agriculture Development office in Lanti Bhotechaur leaving it completely destroyed.

Likewise, our Myagdi-based reporter said that locals in Sikh and Doha areas handed over their guns to the security forces.

Novel tourism scheme aims to ease rural poverty

By Tilak Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: At a time when the once lucrative tourism industry is suffering a downturn, the government along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and other partners have jointly launched a tourism programme aimed at for rural poverty alleviation.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Co-ordinator, Dr. Henning Karcher, said, "The basic idea of the programme is to organise and manage the village tourism so that the local poor will get benefited."

Begun four months ago, the programme, which is co-financed by UNDP, Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) and the British government’s Department for International Development (DFID), will help and encourage the local people establish tourism-related enterprises such as restaurants, gardens, local dishes, said Karcher, adding, "It is the best idea to harvest the tourism industry in Nepal."

Other partners of the programme include Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MCTCV), Ministry of Local Development (MLD), respective district development committees (DDCs) and village development committees (VDCs).

Karcher said the programme is being implemented closely with the DDCs and VDCs with social mobilisation.

Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP, Bhesh Dhamala, who is looking after the programme said the concept of such programme was developed two years ago and it has been four months since the process of implementation was initiated.

"The concept of so-called ‘quality’ tourism categorically failed and the new concept was developed by targeting the mesmerising villages of Nepal," said Dhamala. "Eighty per cent of the money coming from such ‘quality’ tourists go back to the foreign countries. We later came to realise that the seemingly low-quality tourists invest more than any other does."

The concept of village tourism has two founding components – nature-based tourism (in the Sagarmatha region) and culture heritage (in Lumbini region).

According to Dhamala, the programme has already undergone implementation in the Chepang community of Chitwan district, Dolpo region, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) region and Lumbini region (birthplace of Buddha).

"We have picked up the socio-economic status of the Chepang tribes as the subject of tourism in Chitwan, while we have found 2,660 year-old pre-Buddhist religion in the Dolpo region," added Dhamala. He also noted that many paintings of the pre-Buddhist religion are still intact in the Dolpo region.

Prior to the programme implementation, Programme Management Unit has already been set up with the professionals under the MCTCV. Dhamala said the NTB will lead the programme. The programme has tried to test almost four rural-based sustainable tourism models for poverty alleviation, he said.

The programme will involve the focus groups such as low-income households, disadvantaged groups, women, ethnic minorities in tourism-related activities, ventures and services. The process involves a community working its way through the Development Wheel over a period of time. The programme will be implemented in three levels – micro, meso and macro.

In the micro level, micro-enterprise training such as poultry farming, vegetable gardening, porters, lodge management, trekking guide and crafts producing will be provided. In this regard, the MLD through its Periodic Planning Exercise is developing a matrix of to prioritise potential development activities in 36 districts.

According to the initial planning, the programme may last for three to five years.

Since the programme is new to Nepal, a technical advisory group has already been formed and sustainable tourism development committees will be formed at the places where the programme activities are implemented.