Rebels kill three civilians
KLF destroys micro hydro plant

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KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Maoist rebels on Saturday night killed three civilians, including a former policeman, in Dhankuta, Kavre and Dadeldhura districts, our reporters quoted the security officials as saying.

Another extremist group, Khumbuwan Liberation Front (KLF), blew up a powerhouse of 250 kilowatts micro-hydro project in Bhojpur district yesterday.

A report from Dhankuta stated that a group of armed Maoists shot dead Dagal Sen Limbu, a Convention Representative of the Nepali Congress, at his home in Mauna Budhuk VDC-6.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Kavre said the rebels yesterday throttled former head constable Tej Bahadur Karki, 56, at his home in Mahendra Jyoti VDC-5. It is suspected that Karki was killed after he refused to hand his gun over to the rebels. The victim’s wife said that the rebels had also insisted her daughter on accompanying them but later spared her, warning them not to report to the police.

Home Ministry said that Shiva Singh Saud, a resident of Alital VDC-5 in Dadeldhura, died today after being beaten up by the rebels. He died while undergoing treatment at his home.

In Bhojpur, armed men of the outlawed KLF destroyed the powerhouse of 250 kilowatts micro-hydro project, built by the Chinese government in the Pikhuwa River, on Saturday evening.

The project officials said power supply to Bhojpur and its adjoining areas have been cut off. The Nepal Electricity Authority had leased the hydro plant to a private company – Pashupati Power Company – for 20 years about 13 years ago.

Chief of Pashupati Power Company, Madhu Sudan Singkhada, said about Rs 10 million of property has been damaged in the attack. He said it would take at least six months to repair the powerhouse.

Our reporter from Myagdi said the Maoists robbed a cloth shop of Jag Narayan Gauchan, former chairman of the Pakhapani VDC, at Pakhapani village yesterday evening. Gauchan said the rebels looted around Rs 2.5 million of property.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Nepalgunj said that the rebels in Rukum have created obstacles to prevent army helicopters from landing in possible plain areas.

‘Nepal can’t do without IT handbook’

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KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The two-day international Information Technology Conference organized during the ongoing CAN Info-Tech 2002 concluded here today, with a call to make available the IT-related statistics of Nepal.

Experts and professionals suggested bringing out an IT handbook of Nepal so that it can chart the developments in this sector and render it truly transparent, as it is touted as an instrument which can maintain transparency in government offices.

The gathering of international IT experts and professionals also drew the conclusion after two days’ of brainstorming that Nepal should focus on content in the development of IT. They also underlined the need of fulfilling basic necessities like safe drinking water, primary health and so on.

Nepal also needs to focus on developing infrastructure, but this does not mean that it can afford to neglect the development of IT, they said. If steps were not taken simultaneously to develop infrastructure and information technology, it would worsen the digital divide that exists in the country, they warned.

Dr Rameshananda Vaidya, member of National Planning Commission (NPC), presenting a paper on "IT Application on Poverty Alleviation" during the inaugural session on Saturday, emphasised that the rural populace living below the poverty line should benefit from IT.

Citing an example of Gyandoot (messenger of knowledge), an IT project run in one of the villages in Andhra Pradesh of India, Dr. Vaidya said that Nepal can learn a lot from this project in using IT to help the rural poor improve their living standard. He said the Gyandoot IT project has enabled the villagers, mostly farmers, to get better price for their produces and acquire information as per their needs.

He said that by creating community-based information centres in the rural areas, they will enjoy access to global information. "This will create awareness, which not only contributes to improving income but also enhancing the quality of living," he said.

During a panel discussion on "IT Revolution: Creating a Network Society in the 21st Century" Nepali IT experts Deepak Gyawali, Sanjeev Raj Bhandari and Sugat Ratna Kansakar, raised the issue that a balance should be formed between the government and market forces for the development of IT.

Dr Madan Mohan Rao of India, presenting the prospects of IT in the South East Asian region, said that Nepal can benefit from the Internet in bringing more tourists into the kingdom through the "Network Society".

State Minister for Science and Technology, Bhakta Bahadur Balayar, inaugurating the conference Saturday said that the government is serious about promoting information and communications technology (ICT) and has accorded top priority to make the technology accessible to the rural populace in the Tenth Five Year Plan.

"The emergence of information and communications technology (ICT) has opened new vistas and opportunities for even landlocked countries like ours. Even the remotest of our villages have the potential of tapping the global repository of knowledge, which ultimately help to enhance their quality of life," he said.

Realizing this potential, provisions are being made in the forthcoming Tenth Five Year Plan to establish 1,500 community-based IT centres in different parts of the country and provisions are also being made to provide power supplies to them through alternative energy resources where grid supply is not available, he said.

The State Minister also expressed the hope that such conferences would provide "very valuable" opportunities for the local experts and professionals to share information, knowledge, and experiences with the IT experts of international repute.

For the first time, technical papers were also presented at the IT conference organized by the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN), the organizer of CAN Info-Tech 2002. A total of 250 participants attended the conference including about 30 IT gurus from 10 countries.

Dalit commission underway: PM

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KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that much-awaited dalit commission would be constituted soon as government is busy working hard on it for the last couple of months.

"The dalit commission, which aims to uplift the socio-economic status of dalits, will be formed soon," said Deuba addressing a workshop on "Human Rights and dalits" organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)today at the capital.

Deuba also said that government has always been serious regarding demands put forward by the dalits. "We have never ignored the demands put forth by these oppressed people."

PM informed that government is speeding up the implementation of 8-points commitments made by him in the last session of the Parliament. The announcement incorporates forming dalit commission and abolishing the practice of untouchability among others.

"I will try my best to end the practice of untouchability in the country. The 8-points commitment I made during the last session of the Parliament will be fulfilled soon," said Deuba.

Similarly, Addressing the workshop, speaker of the Lower House, Tara Nath Ranabhat said that existing differences among dalits should be sorted out. "Dalit should first sort out the existing differences and work unitedly to achieve the goals set by them," said Bhat.

Ranabhat also said that reservation for the dalits in different fronts of the country would only aggravate existing problems. "Reservation will only aggravate the problems rather than solving them," said Ranabhat.

Earlier speaking in the same programme member of NHRC, Kapil Shrestha said that dalit commission should be constituted soon. "Government should seriously think about forming commission. The delay would only make the situation worse," said Shrestha.

Dalits are the most oppressed section of the society. They have been claiming that they are being discriminated by the people belonging to the so-called upper caste people from the time immemorial.

New Act on parliamentary affairs raises hackles

By Rudra Sharma

KATHMAANDU, Jan. 27: A law enacted on matters relating to the Parliament Secretariat and parliament service, has run into controversies.

Though senior officials of the Parliament defend it, many lawyers and academicians, including top officials at the Public service Commission, claim that the Act contains "at least" some flaws.

The Act was passed by the last session of the parliament.

Many argue that the Act virtually turns the Parliament Secretariat into an "NGO", and that it violates the principle of separation of powers since it will enable the legislature to carry out the activities of the executive.

But others welcome the Act’s idea of an independent parliament secretariat.

Firstly, the Act enables the Parliament to take loan directly from a foreign government, foreign diplomatic missions and the like against the prevailing practice that every loan or assistance has to come through the Finance Ministry.

Secondly, the Act stipulates that those employees who want to remain in the Secretariat are entitled to an automatic "one-step promotion" without having to comply with the procedures of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

While asked about the controversies surrounding the Act, Speaker of the Lower House, Taranath Ranabhat, said, "The Act is clear, you just have to read it to understand it. Finally the matter rests with the Supreme Court on its interpretation."

The law is being currently challenged at the Supreme Court. Considering the gravity of the case, the Court has given it utmost priority and forwarded it to a larger bench. Since the matter is sub judice, most of the lawyers were reluctant to comment on the case.

But on the matter of loans, lawyers in the know said the Parliament cannot take loans since it does not earn anything to repay them. They said it is not appropriate that the Parliament takes loans and the government pays them back.

"From what income can the Parliament pay back the loan?" asked advocate Prakash Wosti. But Wosti accepted the necessity of such an Act and said the Act envisages three kinds of government services— namely, civil, army or police, and parliament.

As for the Act’s effect on the fate of the Secretariat employees, they can either continue in their present workplace or can work under the Ministry of General Administration. The former can be done so by applying to the General Secretary of the Parliament, while for the latter, the employees have to apply to the Ministry of General Administration.

Another ticklish issue is the automatic promotion for the Secretariat employees.

Many flay this provision of promotion calling it unjustifiable. They argue that the Parliament of course reserves right to frame laws but they should be justifiable and have logical merit.

Spokesman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Baburam Sapkota, had this to say, "Automatic promotion is not justifiable." However, Sapkota did not want his comments to be specifically on this particular Act since the Act has been already passed by the Parliament.

A PSC minute of five months ago reveals that the new law would not make any substantial difference since most of its provisions are already contained in the existing Civil Service Act and Regulation.

Spokesman Sapkota gave the matter an intriguing twist when he disclosed: "The Act passed by the Parliament was not the one which was sent to the PSC for consultation."

Govt urged to opt for corruption control

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KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Leaders of four mainstream political parties, in a meeting held in the capital today, urged the government to opt for corruption control programmes and pro-people reform measures by formulating various social, economic and political reform mechanisms.

The one-and-half hour long meeting called by leader of Rastriya Prajantantra Party (RPP), Surya Bahadur Thapa, in his residence in Maligaon, was attended by president of the ruling Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala, acting general secretary of the main opposition CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli and leader of Nepal Sadbhabhana Party Badri Prasad Mandal. It is learnt that the leaders in the suddenly called meeting carried out discussion on wide range of current political issues, including the state of emergency.

Good news for old buildings: An award in waiting

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The owners of old and beautiful houses, who are planning to replace them with ugly concrete match-box structures, might now have to think twice before going ahead with their plans.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is offering an award, under certain criteria, for private or semi-private structures in the Asia-Pacific region that has completed above 50 years, according to officials at the UNESCO Kathmandu Office.

The award is meant to promote conservation attempts, said the officials.

The entries must be submitted to UNESCO before March 31, 2002, and the winners will be announced in September this year.

"The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2002 Awards is a means of recognising the best efforts of individuals and organisations for their contribution to the conservation and restoration of structures which are more than 50 years old," said one UNESCO official.

An Award of Excellence plaque will be given away to the best conservation effort. Two other best structures will qualify for awards of distinction, and five others will receive awards of merit, while a number of entries will receive certificates of honour.

Cultural heritage expert at UNESCO Kathmandu Office, Peter Laws, said this could give a good incentive to city-dwellers to conserve their ancient property, especially for those who are largely demolishing the buildings with history. He expressed the hope that this award will play a role in conserving the traditional architecture around the monument zones of the valley. "This will also help change the general trend of common people of neglecting what they have," Laws said.

For the awards, an international panel of conservation experts appointed by UNESCO, will consider the structures’ architectural significance, artisan techniques, materials used and the influence of the structure on the surrounding environment and community.

The applicants are required to understand the issues of conservation in relation to cultural, social, historical and architectural significance of the buildings.

Laws said the applicants can file their entries with illustrations, photographs, and other "project descriptions", along with occupant’s comments and owner’s consent.

Former Director General of Department of Archaeology (DOA), Safalya Amatya, said that the scheme could create a "drastic change" in public attitude towards conservation of private and semi-private archaeological buildings. "This is an extremely positive step. This is an issue of the pride of owner’s family, the city as well as the country," he said.

He hoped that the NGOs, local authorities and government bodies will cooperate with the locals to send in as many entries as possible and bag the award.

The awards should particularly spur conservation efforts in Kathmandu Valley since the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO, which prepares the list of heritage sites, has been not too happy with the state of buildings around the Valley’s monument zones. This has been because many of the private houses in these monument zones have been modernised. A recent General Convention of UNESCO had even said that these monuments would be put in the list of Heritage in Danger.

The UNESCO awards might also wake up the Department of Revenue, which, despite the DOA prohibiting the selling and buying of buildings over 100 years old, has not been implementing it.