PM meets top Indian leaders
Deuba-Vajpayee talks focus on Maoists

By Yubaraj Ghimire

NEW DELHI, March 21 : Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today put before his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee Nepal’s genuine concern over presence of "Maoist Network" in India and solicited the friendly neighbour’s full co-operation in curbing their activities.

There are indications of positive response from India on many other issues including construction of the dry-port in Birgunj linking with Calcutta port, reviewing the unilateral construction of Khurdalotan-Rashiawal dam by India across the Nepal border as well. Deuba shared his concern with Vajpayee in his meeting, part of which was a one-to-one in the Hyderabad House in the evening, and earlier with Indian Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Defence Minister George Fernandes who called on Deuba at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Deuba was equally responsive to India’s concern over alleged use of Nepali territory by a "third country" against India. According to indications available Nepal will soon be sending to India its proposal to update the 1953-Extradition Treaty, but had its reservation about conceding India’s demand that third country nationals also should be extradited to India if needed by it.

Deuba’s formal programmes began with reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning and presentation of the Guard of Honour. Deuba accompanied by his wife Arju Deuba and his entourage also visited Rajghat and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. But the hectic schedules began soon afterwards which continued till late night.

Speaking at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Deuba said, "it’s a good-will visit without a specific agenda. But we will discuss on major issues of bilateral and our own concern". Vajpayee was more forthright who said, "we will spare no issues". And events showed they actually did. "Both Nepal and India have been badly hit by terrorism. Entire world is fighting. And I am sure both will triumph over this evil".

Deuba is believed to have apprised the Indian leaders about the presence and growth of organisations in Delhi and around who were supporting Maoist activities in Nepal. India promised full co-operation in dealing with the problem assuring that Indian soil will not be allowed to be used against Nepal, but wanted Nepal to share its information on more specific basis.

Supporters of Maoists had burnt the effigy of Deuba at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area, but could not embark on other protest measures because of the tight security arrangements. India is also believed to have promised grant of military equipment and long-term training facilities to Nepalese security agencies which could be finalised in specifics in near future. A high level Nepali military team may soon be visiting to finalise the details. The fact that the meeting between Deuba and India’s Defence Minister George Fernandes lasted longer than with other ministers also indicates that the military assistance in terms of equipment, aircraft and training were discussed in larger details.

Deuba’s suggestion for an early decision on the project for dry-port in Birgunj, according to indications, will be finalised in two months.

Similarly the technical experts of the two countries will meet and decide necessary steps to check flooding of large parts of Nepal following construction of the dams unilaterally by India on Nepal border. Deuba is believed to have specifically urged upon India to settle the matter before the monsoon begins.

SC quashes Gurkha writ

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KATHMANDU, March 21:The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed a British Gurkha ex-serviceman’s writ petition seeking equal pay and allowances at par with the British troops on the grounds that the writ had neither constitutional nor legal issues to be addressed by the apex court.

The writ had challenged the memorandum of agreement on recruitment of the Gurkha troops between India and the United Kingdom on November 7, 1947, arguing that it contravened the principle of parity as envisaged in the treaty signed by Nepal, India and the UK on November 9, 1947. It asked the apex court to restore parity.

The writ, challenging the provision as discriminatory and exploitative against the British Gurkhas was filed before a three-member bench comprising Justices Laxman Prasad Aryal, Kedar Nath Upadhyay and Krishna Kumar Verma by ex-British Gurkha Gyan Raj Rai on July 18, 2000. The writ had named the Cabinet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee as respondents.

Justice Aryal who announced the decision said that since it was neither a constitutional nor legal matter but instead a diplomatic issue between the two countries (India and the United Kingdom) the court was rejecting the writ petition as there was no ground to issue orders asked for in the writ.

The government had already given a written submission to the court that it was exploring diplomatic manoeuvres. In its written submission of September 21, 2000, the Chief Secretary had argued that no specific time frame was mentioned. Besides, the treaty did not contain any provision of for changing it. Moreover, the government had further argued that since amendment, annulment or review was only possible after the two countries agreed on them.

It also pointed out that it would not be proper for the SC to issue any directives, as another sovereign country could not implement its order. It asked for the rejection of the petition.

Reacting to the development, petitioner Rai said he and other British Gurkhas had no option but to accept the court decision which had "closed all doors of justice". Speaking to the reporters after the court decision, Rai said that he was not merely fighting for the pay and pension of the British Gurkhas, but also for the "honour and dignity of Nepal and Nepalis".

When asked about the next course of action, the former British Gurkha said that he would first consult legal experts and his colleagues.

Another similar case is pending before the Employment Tribunal in the UK. The petition on pay parity was filed by another ex-British Gurkha Hari Bahadur Thapa some four years ago.

Govt registers Impeachment Bill

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KATHMANDU, March 21:The government registered the much-awaited Impeachment Bill in the parliament secretariat today, proposing a probe committee to investigate the charges against the Supreme Court judges and the members of the constitutional bodies.

The Constitution has the provision that the justices of the Supreme Court and heads or members of the constitutional bodies are liable to be impeached if they are found lacking efficiency, bad conduct or are dishonest about their duties.

No one has been impeached in the post-restoration of democracy since 1990 due to lack of legal procedures.

A three-member committee comprising representatives of at least two different parties and an expert has been proposed in the Bill for the investigation under impeachment.

The Bill states that at least 25 percent of the members of the House of Representatives can put the impeachment proposal forward to remove any person from his office. The report of the impeachment investigation committee shall be submitted to the Speaker of the Lower House and must be approved by at least two third majority of the House. His Majesty the King shall then remove the impeached official from his office.

The committee will be able to levy fine up to Rs. 10,000 on anyone violating or ignoring the order of the committee or creating obstacles during the investigation of the charges.

The members, who put the impeachment proposal, should explain the causes, ground and relevant matters to prove alleged misconduct of the officials going to be impeached.

The committee can institute a medical board for the check-up of the official facing impeachment on the ground of work inefficiency due to physical and mental illnesses. It can also investigate officials facing corruption charges or delegate the responsibility to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

The government had withdrawn anti-corruption and CIAA Bills on February 13 with a view to introduce three separate Bills to bring all the officials, who are paid from the government budget, under the parameter of law.

Accordant to agreement among the parties in the parliament, three Bills aimed at corruption control will be approved by the parliament simultaneously. The Home Ministry has already registered the Anti-corruption and CIAA Bills in the secretariat.

Chaudhary flays NRB decision

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KATHMANDU, March 21:The Chaudhary Group today expressed "utter surprise" over the decision by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to allow Credit Agricole Indosuez (CAI) to sell its 50 percent stake in Nepal Indosuez Bank Ltd. to the Prithvi Bahadur Pandey Group.

"The regulatory authorities should have at least waited for the Appellate Court to decide on the case," Binod Chaudhary, president and managing director of the Chaudhary Group, told The Kathmandu Post on Thursday.

The Patan Appellate Court, which is hearing a case filed by the Chaudhary Group against CAI, is set to hear the case again on March 27.

Chaudhary’s reactions followed a day after NRB gave the green light to CAI to begin divesting its stake in Nepal Indosuez Bank Ltd a consortium of investors led by Prithvi Bahadur Pandey. While making the decision yesterday, Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Tilak Rawal justified it by saying that the Supreme Court had not issued a stay order to stop the divesture of CAI shares to Pandey.

The Supreme Court judgement occurred some time ago and was in response to a petition filed by the Chaudhary Group in which the latter had asked for a stay order to stop the divesture of shares by CAI.

Chaudhary today told The Kathmandu Post that though the Supreme Court had not issued the stay order, "the opinion of the Supreme Court was explicit that the transaction (sale of shares) would not take anytime soon and hence no stay order was issued." He also said that the Supreme Court had directed the Appellate Court to decide the case as soon as possible. Under such circumstances, NRB’s green signal to CAI is surprising, Chaudhary said.

The Chaudhary Group maintains that under an agreement it signed with CAI some years ago, the group has "first right of refusal" for the CAI stakes in the Nepal Indosuez Bank Ltd. It is to uphold this right that the group had filed cases both in the Patan Appellate Court and the Supreme Court.

The controversy has generated plenty of bad blood, with the French Ambassador also jumping into the fray. Last week, the ambassador demanded that the NRB quickly green-light the sale of CAI shares to the Pandey-led consortium, drawing a sharp rebuke from Chaudhary.

No reason for Kathmanduites to celebrate, this World Water Day

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KATHMANDU, March 21 : Most of them deprived of safe drinking water—let alone hydro electricity and irrigation facilities, over 23.4 million Nepalis are waking up Friday morning to watch the world observing 10th World Water Day.

And some residents of the capital city may welcome the Day with such an awful byproduct of microbiological contamination as e-coli bacteria flowing down their drinking water taps—an indication that the water is contaminated with biological (meaning human) wastes.

Friday is World Water Day—a day dedicated to recognising the importance of conservation, protection and responsible use of water as critical to human development. The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janerio.

According to a UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) press release issued worldwide today to mark 10th World Water Day, this year’s theme is: "water for development", which it says is a "fitting" one.

"Water and development are intrinsically linked," the release says. "Once viewed as an infinitely renewable and bountiful resource, water today defines and confines development aspirations—human, social and economic—in many parts of the world."

But Nepalis do not have a reason to celebrate. Though the government claims that roughly 66 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water currently, and 38 percent of the irrigable land has round the year irrigation facility, critics say the situation may not be as bright. Little more than 15 percent of the population has access to electricity.

The situation in Kathmandu Valley, which is home to over 1.5 million people, is even bleaker. With the advent of summer the Valley residents have started to literally reel under acute scarcity of drinking water. Nearly half of the Valley lacks proper water supply, and wherever the facility is available there is a problem of contamination—both microbiological and chemical.

While the studies conducted by non-governmental organisations paint even bleaker, if not darker, picture, regular laboratory tests conducted by Nepal Water Supply Corporation, the state-owned water utility, show that more than 60 percent of the Valley’s drinking water is contaminated for drinking purpose.

"We were shocked to have filthy and stinking drinking water flowing down our tap this morning," Kedar Man Shrestha, a journalist who lives in capital’s Bhotebahal locality told The Kathmandu Post Thursday. "And I became very much furious when the water utility charged Rs 300 to test the water sample. This is not fair."

In developing countries, the UNICEF statement said, demand for freshwater is increasing due to rapid growth in agriculture, industry, and urban development. "Together with the potential impacts of global warming and climate changes on earth’s water cycle, the future availability of fresh water appears more precarious than ever before."

It added, "Even in countries that currently have sufficient fresh water supplies, increasing demands, pollution, and over-exploitation put such supplies at risk. These and other issues all point to the urgent need to improve management of our water resources."

14 Maoists killed in latest action

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KATHMANDU, March 21 : Security forces gunned down at least 14 Maoists in the latest operation against the rebels in various districts and seized cache of arms from across the country on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said here today.

The Ministry said that seven rebels were shot dead in a nearby jungle of Lamki of Kailali district. The slain rebels are believed to have involved in attacking the Lamki-based area police station on Tuesday where seven policemen were killed and seven others injured.

In Syangja, the security forces killed two rebels in Phaperthung area of the district yesterday. The deceased are believed to have engaged in raiding the government facilities in the past. Likewise, one rebel each was shot dead in Syabun area of Sankhuwasabha, Bughasing area of Gorkha and Pini area of Kalikot districts during the course of operations on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Parbat said quoting the security officials that two rebels, including a platoon commander of the Maoist organisation, were killed in Khurkot VDC.

They have been identified as Sanjaya and his accomplice Shahas. But their real identities were unknown. Security sources said that the rebels were shot dead when they tried to break the army circle.

The statement added that the security forces also seized cache of arms and explosives from Gorkha, Surkhet, Sankhuwasabha, Dang and Rupandehi districts yesterday. Two soldiers of the Royal Nepal Army were injured in Masot Khola area of Dang where the rebels attacked them with crude bombs, the statement added. The injured soldiers are undergoing treatment in a Military hospital in Kathmandu.

In yet another incident in Rautahat district, a group of suspected Maoists shot dead a Nepali Congress cadre, Habib Ansari, 40, at Prempur Gonahi VDC-9 on Wednesday. He was taken about five kilometres away from his house before killing him. Earlier, the rebels had posed as policemen of National Investigation Department and took him away. The Rautahat District Police Office has arrested two persons in connection with the incident. Security personnel have been mobilised in the area, police said.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Biratnagar said quoting the security officials that a Lieutenant of the Royal Nepal Army and a civilian died instantly in an accidental shooting by a sentry in Khandbari, the district headquarters of Sankhuwasabha, during curfew hours on Wednesday evening.

Lieutenant Subas Khadka, Chief of the Khandbari-based army barrack, and Laxman Tamang, a resident of Khandbari-1, were returning to their residences after having snacks at a nearby hotel at around 8.10 p.m. when the security guard opened fire at them. Sources said that the sentry had warned them to halt before shooting them.

"Don’t you even recognise your boss?" locals quoted Tamang, a friend of the Lieutenant’s, as saying before the shooting occurred.

"We heard three rounds of bullet fire," the locals said. The District Education Office, Land Revenue Office and Karmachari Milan Kendra have been converted into a temporary army barrack in the district headquarters.

Deceased Lieutenant’s body was airlifted to Kathmandu while Tamang’s body was handed over to his relatives after carrying out the post-mortem in a local hospital. District security officials have remained tight-lipped to comment on the tragic incident. An official said that a meeting of the district-level security committee was called today in connection with the incident.

‘Kathmandu Valley lake drained 10,000 years ago, but not by Manjushree’

By Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, March 21 : Was it really Manjushree, the deity from Tibet, who drained all the water from a huge lake that supposedly existed over what now is Kathmandu Valley? Or was it Hindu God Vishnu, who, with his Shudarshan Chakra, drained all the water from the Chovar gorge?

"We don’t think so," say scientists from Japan, who recently completed a three-year research project on the geology of Kathmandu Valley, which is now home to over 1.5 million people. Rather, they say, the huge lake was drained naturally due to the outburst triggered by natural events as landslides and floods.

And it did not happen at once, according to them. The lake water got drained at several intervals, the last being 10,000 years ago.

Disclosing the team’s findings of the three-year-long research, Dr. Tetsuya Sakai of Japan’s Kyoto University, one of the scientists involved in the project, told The Kathmandu Post that the lake was formed approximately two million years ago and was drained by "natural - not divine - forces".

"The natural outburst, possibly triggered by landslides or floods, occurred at least five times," Dr Sakai said.

Besides, mythological stories suggest that the lake was either drained by Manjushree, a Tibetan deity who came to Kathmandu all the way from Tibet, or by Hindu Lord Vishnu who used his Shudarshan Chakra to cut open the natural dam near Chovar that blocked the lake water.

After thoroughly analysing the sedimentological data collected from various terraces in the Valley, the Japan-Nepal joint research team has concluded that the lake was formed as a result of a huge landslide that possibly blocked the outlet of water several kilometers south of Chovar.

The point lies somewhere between Bhandarikharka and Babiyagaun along the Mahabharat mountain range, according to the researchers.

The lake was spread all over the 500-sq km Valley and its water rose to the maximum height of about 1,450 meters above sea level near Chapagaun, says Professor Hideo Tabata, another scientists in the team.

And the deep water provided a perfect habitat to such big aquatic beings gharials, if the fossils of carp fish, gharials and algae found by the research team is anything. "We found many fossils of gharials and even plunket - a type of algae that is found on the lake bottom," said Professor Tabata.

Such a huge lake, however, started getting drained and followed what now is the course of the Bagmati River. The first time the lake got drained was around 30,000 years ago, according to Dr Sakai. The scientists say they have found evidences of rapid falls in the lake’s levels, and of two simultaneous outburst events around the same time then.

"This outburst event brought the lake level down to the Thimi level," Dr Sakai explains, adding that this resulted in the formation of several smaller lakes such as the one dammed by Gokarneshwor gorge, another dammed by Pashupatinath gorge and yet another dammed by Chovar gorge.

Pointing at the different terraces inside the modern Kathmandu Valley—such as the Thimi, Swoyambhunath, Pashupatinath—the scientists say that they were formed as a result of the rapid movement of water during the outburst events and the simultaneous falls in the lake levels.

"When there were sudden outbursts there was a sudden fall in the lake level, too, and the water rapidly moved from one end of the Valley to the other end," Professor Tabata explains. "In the event the sediments deposited on the lakebed got transported, forming what now are the terraces."

After another major outburst event 14,000 years later, all the water from the Valley’s smaller lakes found their way out. "The last major lake outburst event occurred around 10,000 years ago," says Dr Sakai. "This was due to massive erosion at the point further south of Chovar (along the Mahabharat mountain range)."

The researchers-more than 20 from different universities of Japan and four from Tribhuvan University-embarked on the project in November 1999. The detailed geological research project was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Education of Japan.

"It is a kind of dream come true," says a gray-haired Professor Tabata, heaving a sigh of relief, "for having brought many scientists-paleo-ecologists, structure ecologists, and petrologists and sedimentologists among them-to the historic Kathmandu Valley."

"The research is still incomplete and we need a few more years," he quips.

The researchers are also holding a talk programme 4 p.m. onwards at the Japanese Embassy, Panipokhari, Friday, during which time they plan to disseminate the findings of their research to the general public.

Smuggled chemical fertilizer seized

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KATHMANDU, March 21:A patrolling team of Royal Nepal Army (RNA) on Thursday seized four trucks loaded with 840 sacks of chemical fertilizer that were being smuggled in from India in Bairhani of Nawalparasi.

A jeep and a motorbike were also confiscated along with the fertilizer, said an army source asking for anonymity.

The sacks of fertilizer were being taken to Parasi, the headquarters of Nawalparasi, through Maheshpur. The people of Bairhani had informed the RNA about the smuggled goods.

The RNA also arrested four people including Subash Agrawal, a businessman of Parasi. Those arrested people were said to have good relation with the Minister of State for Home Affairs Devendra Raj Kandel whose house is located just 200 metres away from Maheshpur customs office.

The RNA source also claimed that the confiscated motorbike is owned by Gun Nidi Tiwari, the personal secretary of Kandel. Tiwari has investments in some businesses in Parasi, according to the source.

The chemical fertilizer worth Rs 560 thousand, the trucks of registration numbers Lu 1 Kha 2555, Na 2 Kha 5098, Na 2 Kha 5980 and Na 2 Kha 3006 and the arrested people are presently held at Bhairahawa Customs Office, according to the office.

Govt flayed for demolishing houses

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KATHMANDU, March 21:A ruling party member at the House of Representatives lambasted the government for victimising the people living along the highway throughout the Kingdom by launching " bulldozer terrorism".

Govinda Raj Joshi of the Nepali Congress, speaking at the special hour in the House, accused the government that it was trying to "fish in foul water" during the state of emergency by demolishing the houses built along the roadside.

"The owners of the many houses recently demolished by the government have no other property to live with," said Joshi adding that the government has made all of them land-less squatters.

Joshi also accused the government of ignoring the party directives to stop victimising the people. He also even as flayed the Minister for Local Development who had promised to give six- month period for the shopkeepers around Ranipokhari to shift to another.

" Contrary to his commitment, the government launched " bulldozer terrorism" in other parts of the country too," he alleged.

The meeting of the House today mostly concentrated on discussion on the Bill to control domestic violence. Subash Nemwang of the CPN (UML) suggested for adding minimum limit of the punishment to the victimizers, separate arrangements for investigation into physical and mental torture and a separate mechanism for preventive measures, which has not been provided in the Bill.

Urmila Aryal of the same party suggested the government to ensure separate shelter for the victims during the investigation of the cases against domestic violence.

Australia keen on supporting corruption control

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KATHMANDU, March 21 : Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Crispin Conroy, today said the Australian Government is keen on supporting the corruption control measures and the extension of community forest projects in Nepal.

"Corruption issues are becoming more serious in Nepal," Ambassador Conroy said. "Some donors (including the Australian government) are willing to consider additional assistance on corruption control in Nepal."

Speaking during a face-to-face programme organised in the capital, Ambassador Conroy emphasised on the extension of the community forest projects supported by the Australian Government. "We are keen on extending the community forests in Nepal for several years," Ambassador Conroy said.

According to him, there are two "model" community forest projects – one in Kavrepalanchowk district and another in Sindhupalchowk – supported by the Australian Government. "Despite the internal conflicts, these projects have run very well," he said.

The community forests have been run by the local groups with active participation of women, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Conroy also said the Australian Government has been granting Australian dollars 7.5 million per year as assistance in various sectors. He also revealed that the number of Australian tourists visiting Nepal is 10,000-12,000 per year.

Other major sector of Australian assistance in Nepal, according to Conroy, is containing HIV/AIDS.

Smuggling goes on, inspite of local awareness

By Dharma Prasad Poudel

TAPLEJUNG, March 21:The people of northern parts of Taplejung district are now a changed lot. They have started working together for the conservation of endangered species of wild animals these days while till some time back most of them were involved in smuggling of these animals and rare herbs.

The smuggling of rare animals and herbs flourished in the area since the time the customs office in Olangchungola was vacated some12 years back. It was during this time many of the locals took to smuggling of rare animals and herbs found aplenty in the local forests.

But after the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) was established here some four years ago, it changed the poachers into ‘environmentalists’ with various of its awareness programmes, training, and support for starting small businesses and other ways of earning a living.

Even as the locals are now aware and have stopped poaching, smuggling of these rare animals and herbs have not stopped. They are still being smuggled to bordering Tibet and since there is no employee in the customs office, it is going on unabated. "Although the people are aware about conservation of these animals and herbs, the smuggling still remains as no government officials are present in the area," says Chhumbe Sherpa, the Deputy Chairperson of Olangchungola Village Development Committee (VDC).

The KCAP run under a joint programme of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and National Parks and Reserves Conservation Department aims to conserve the bio-diversity and to financially develop the four local VDCs – Olangchungola, Yamfudin, Tapethok and Lelep.

The project has formed 32 Mothers’ Groups in the region and has funded with 50 thousand rupees to each of them in order to support them start income generating programmes. The project also distributed piglets to 25 of these groups, according to Angphuri Sherpa, the Planning Director of the project.

"The project is trying to attract around 5,000 people of the region to the alternative profession supporting them financially," said Sherpa. The project covers the area of 2,035 sq. km.

The villagers of Lelep and Yanfudin used to welcome tourists trekking to Kanchanjunga base camp with dried meat of rare wild animals like yak, deer, bear and musk deer, but the tradition has been changed now, says Gyaju Bhotia, the Chairperson of Lelep VDC.

"Countless wild animals were killed in the last decade," says Bhotia. "The skin, bone and bladders of these animals were sold in the Tibetian market as medicines but now hunting has stopped," People now chase animals back to conservation area if seen in the nearby areas, he adds.