UML to keep eye on Govt, Maoists

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 29:The CPN-UML has stated that it will endorse the state of emergency only after making a deep analysis of the activities of the government and the Maoists since its proclamation.

Making the assessment that the Maoists have not been brought under control, innocent people and the activists of the non-Maoist parties had been killed, the abuse of administrative machinery had increased and terror has not declined, the party has alleged that the state of emergency has not been able to achieve its set objectives.

Speaking at a training programme for party activists organised by the CPN-UML Valley Coordination Committee in connection with the state of emergency and the ordinance designed to prevent terrorist and disruptive activities, CPN-UML Standing Committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the specter of financial crisis looms larger than the Maoist problem.

Stating that the government had resorted to irrational decisions in raising the security budget, curtailing the development budget meant for the villages and imposing additional taxes, he said it was ironical that the government did not have any idea of increasing economic development activities in the country.

Pointing out the need for massive economic, social and political reform including amendment of the Constitution to take the country ahead, Adhikari said the main political parties have agreed to evolve a common minimum programme in a transparent manner.

He also called for initiating the task of reforms including amendment of the Constitution from the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

At the gathering chaired by the Valley Coordination Committee secretary Krishna Gopal Shrestha, committee in-charge Keshav Prasad Badal said that the cadres should be alert during the period of emergency while Bhanubhakta Dhakal said that CPN-UML leaders and people’s representatives were being arrested without any valid reason.

Hundreds pay respect to martyrs

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 29: The Sukraraj tree stands atop a raised pulpit at the threshold of Teku Hospital alongside the busy thoroughfare of the Teku Road reminding people one of the darkest chapters in the history of oppressive Rana rule. People all over the country offered flowers and received tika on their forehead as Martyrs’ Week came to an end on Tuesday.

Sukraraj Shastri has been the first great Nepali personality in history to attain martyrdom 61 years ago. While Ganga Lal Shrestha, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasarath Chand, among other martyrs, were executed for raising their voices against the Rana regime.

The Rana’s regime in Nepal marks a watershed in the entire history of Nepal. It was the time when slavery, hunger, oppression of the masses continued unparalleled while on the other hand a few aristocratic Ranas led blissful lives.

Martyr Sukraraj Joshi was hanged for delivering his provocative speech at a mass gathering in Indrachowk defying Rana’s autocratic style of governance. But the struggle led by the Martyrs was the harbinger of a new era of democracy that marked the beginning of an end to Ranas’ 104 years of oppressive regime in Nepal.

One of the branches on which Joshi was hanged on to death 61 years ago in 1941 (Magh 10, 1997 BS) exists no more but the dark leafless tree stands majestic looking immortal over hundred years.

"These martyrs fought against the Rana’s oppressive rule to bring the country to this state of enlightenment and glory," said Chunda Bajracharya, a senior local here offering flowers to the statue.

"There was a jail here behind the hospital and a tree, which continues to survive. The great martyr was hung here on one of its branches before hundred of detainees," she added recalling the darkest chapter of history in Nepal. It is said that one of the detainees fainted to see, before his eyes, his guru hanged to death on this day.

The Sukraraj Tropical and Infection Hospital lies a few steps away where the tree stands. A memorial statute of martyr Sukraraj Shastri was erected here two years ago. The physicians and the staff-members today garlanded and offered prayers to the great martyr marking the day.

"Martyrs’ Day was marked today to consolidate democracy and develop the sense of nationalism in the people," said Dr. Punya Bahadur Thapa, director at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infection Hospital.

Meanwhile, speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Nepal Tarun Dal in Lalitpur, Tara Nath Ranabhat, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said no elements can wipe away the history of martyrs.

The Nepal Tarun Dal also felicitated its members who attained martyrdom at the hands of Maoists, a press release said. The All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) also organised a sports event for the students to commemorate the day in the capital.

Snowfall in nearby hills instills hope

With the state of emergency holding on, the ghost of the June 1 Royal massacre living on, and the mercury constantly going down, it was a winter of discontent for around 1.5 million Kathmanduites. The second half turned out to be worse than the first. And as the seventh anniversary of the Maoist insurgency looms large in the horizon, these are trying times.

It goes without saying that a capital city can never switch off the political heat. Something or the other always keeps happening. Most talk is now about former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s proposal of a broader democratic alliance to address the problems bedevilling the country. Then there is the matter of reunion between the CPN-UML and its breakaway party, CPN-ML.

But all political talk took a backseat when, all of a sudden, the city witnessed the season’s second wave of black clouds moving eastwards. Originating either in the Mediterranean or the Arabian Sea, or a result of low…oops high…pressure somewhere near the Line of Control (LOC) that partitions India and Pakistan, the clouds wept again much to the delight of the near-parched terrain of the Nepali hills and plains.

Much more than anything else, the mid-winter precipitation gave one or two hills that surround this historic city—and the little towns and villages near it—some snow. No sooner had the ear-to-ear news of snowfall on the hilltops of Daman and, possibly Phulchoki, made it to the ears of the not-so-busy folks of Kathmandu, Hetauda, Birgunj, Bharatpur and Pokhara, the hill stations began drawing people, most of them youngsters.

Daman elders said that snowfall of the kind that occurred this week came after a gap of five long years. Indeed, not many Nepalis have touched, or played with snow, despite the fact that most of the world’s highest mountains are in this country.

The rains did not only drench the mountainside terraces and the Terai farms that are without any irrigation facility, but they also helped convert our city’s dusty roads into muddy and filthy ones. Alcohol, sekuwa and chhoela intake was suddenly on the up, and the small-time roadside eating and drinking joints as well as the big-time restaurants and bars of the city did brisk business.

Even as the nation continues to remain abuzz with tales of adventure and perils of the security forces guarding our city and fighting terrorism around the country, this week’s snowfall brought some brightness in the hearts and minds of those who have been tormented by the country’s crisis situation.

As the black clouds begin to dissipate from the Nepali sky, everything will look much more silver-tinted. You never know, but this might just herald a new dawn for Nepal and Nepalis. Let us hope the whiteness of the snow will wash away the insurgency blood in the far-flung hills and terraces that were once sparkling green.

Now the nation and the city—and its people—are all training their eyes on the empty House of parliament, which is scheduled to open on February 10. A functioning parliament and a functioning democracy will definitely help make things brighter. And a little snow is always a big help.

Late Koirala’s statue unveiled; Chandra Shekhar in Biratnagar

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BIRATNAGAR, Jan 29: In a function organised to unveil a statue of late democracy activist Krishna Prasad Koirala here Tuesday, former prime ministers Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala and former prime minister of India Chandra Shekhar and other leaders spoke at length on the need to consolidate democracy.

Former deputy prime ministers Ram Chandra Poudel and Shailaja Acharya were also present at the high-profile function organised by Krishna Prasad Koirala Trust. The statue of late Koirala, father of former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, sits at the premises of the newly-constructed Trust building at Jadaha Village Development Committee (VDC), in Sisbani area. The event coincided with the Martyrs’ Day.

Speaking before the mass and appearing quite jolly as usual, former prime minister Bhattarai recounted old days of democratic movement and also praised the performance of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s governement, who is said to have his blessings.

"The government led by Deuba is working democratically so everyone should wait for at least one year to evaluate the performance," he said, adding that he would be at the forefront to confront with anyone trying to work against the government.

Admiring late Koirala’s role in the country’s democratic movement he said, "His (late Koirala’s) thoughts and determination made his three sons (Matrika Prasad, Bishweshwor Prasad and Girija Prasad) prime ministers of the country." He also welcomed the government’s move to use of security forces against the outlawed Maoists and insisted on its continuity until the rebels put down the weapons.

Indian leader Chandra Shekhar requested the governments of the region not to use force against the poor people and said, "Poor countries should not fight against each other; instead they should fight against poverty," said Chandra Shekhar. He also praised late Koirala’s performance and said he was a warrior against poverty.

Talking to journalists after the programme, he said the decision to impose the state of emergency in Nepal was a ‘difficult decision’ by the government. He refused to talk about internal situation of Nepal. On Nepal-India relations he said, "The relation between India and Nepal is based on cultural and social values.’’

Forest area dwindles in Udayapur

By Shyam Rai

GAIGHAT, Udayapur, Jan 29: The forest area of Udayapur district decreased at the rate of 1.3 percent per annum for last 15 years, forest office sources said. According to District Forest Office (DFO) the forest area dwindled to 56 percent from 70 percent.

The government decided to run Forest Management Action Plan to conserve the forest last year but the target of the action plan is seen so distinct to achieve. "The five year plan has a target to earn more than 139 millions rupees but all the programme of plan couldn’t be run," says Shekhar Yadav, District Forest Officer.

The action plan focuses on community partnership in the forest and regular production and utilization of the forest products along with the evaluation of social and economic situation related to the forest, according to Yadav. The action plan was instituted in 18 districts of Terai region.

The district has the most high density of the forest but population increment and encroachment is decreasing the forest area day by day. The deforestation has already shown the adverse effects on the biological diversity of the area, according to the experts.

"The record at DFO shows that Udayapur had 231,067 hectares of forest 15 years ago. But now the forest area is only about 98,718 hectares," says Yadav.

"The deforestation has caused less agricultural production and affected the environment of the district," says Yadav ,"The wild animals, like wild elephant, tiger, dear has disappeared and Nilgai, Gaurigai, Black bear and wild buffalo are disappearing."

Elderly people living miserable life: study

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POKHARA, Jan 29: Elderly people in Nepali society are still living a miserable life, a recently conducted research study revealed here.

The report prepared by Nepal Participatory Activity Network (NEPAN), an NGO, showed that most of the elderly people of all tribes and races renounce their family members and live alone due to negligence of their kin and kith. The research study was conducted among the 565 elderly people of the 15 districts of the country.

"Even though the elderly people are living a lonely life, they want to live together with their families and die at their homes," said Amrit Yonjan, Coordinator of the research study. A seminar on ‘Situation of Elderly People in Nepal: Regional Findings and Suggestions’ was held here on Monday.

The research showed that the condition of the elderly people in the Mushar and Dalit communities is more pathetic than that of those in the Rai and Limbu communities. "The Rais and the Limbus people are supported by tribal institutions," said Yonjan.

The study also revealed that elderly women mostly look after their grandchildren and work in the kitchen while the elderly men generally remain active in social works. "The elderly people, however, should not be considered as burden to the family members and the community. Their roles are no less significant than that of the younger generation," said Mahesh Sharma, a member of NEPAN.

The study report has suggested providing free health check up twice a year and fixing the elderly allowance at 60, 15 years less than the current age for such facility.

"We also want opportunity along with the state allowance," said Dhama Lama, a 73-year-old participant of the seminar. There are around 1.5 million elderly people in Nepal, according to the recently concluded 10th National Census.