Nepal to attend crucial INB meet

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : Nepal as a member of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) will again attend the sixth meeting of the Inter-governmental Negotiation Body (INB) which is scheduled to be held on February 17 – 27 in Geneva. The sixth meeting of the INB is held in order to garner support from all 192 countries for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Nepali delegates who represented His Majesty’s Government of Nepal during the fifth INB meeting also held in Geneva, today at an interaction programme said that Nepal has been in support of the FCTC throughout the series of INB meetings and will do so in the forthcoming meeting too.

Meanwhile, the delegates also said that the success of the meeting, in other words, draft preparation of the convention is strictly bent on having the support of all nations. "If on or the other nation doesn’t support the convention this time too, we will have another INB meeting," said Dr Chattra Amatya, Department of Health Services.

Director of Resource Centre for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC), Shantalal Mulmi who had also attended the fifth INB meeting said, "Problems and diseases are always borne by the least developed nations, who have less resource and lesser funds. The fifth INB could not reach to the ratification because the three most powerful nations, namely America, Japan and Germany did not agree to sign the convention".

Rishi Rajbhandari of the Ministry of Health, who also attended the INB meeting, stressed that there are a lot of advantages to Nepal if the FCTC is ratified. While at present Nepal doesn’t have a law against tobacco, according to him, such a law can then be easily and conceptually framed against the backdrop of the rules of the convention.

Under the ratification of the convention, each nation would work towards demoting, renouncing and stopping the promotion, production and advertisement of all kinds of tobacco. It would also seek to curb black marketing and smuggling of tobacco that invades taxes, making tobacco more accessible and cheaper.

Likewise, the cigarette packs will be deemed to have defined statutory warnings, negative health impacts and will not be allowed to use diffusive connotations like ‘mild’, ‘low tar content’ and ‘light’. Nepal has the highest number of women smokers and almost 73 percent of the population smoke cigarettes, leading to death of 15,000 people every year, states the press statement issued here by the RECPHEC.

Welfare of children emphasised

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : Gore Bahadur Khapangi, Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare,

speaking at the sixth annual function and felicitation programme of the Buddhist Child Home, Jorpati, held today, emphasised that the ministry would provide support to the Home.

"The children are the future and we should ensure that the future belongs to children by showing them the right direction", said Khapangi.

The Buddhist Child Home established in 1997 has been providing shelter to orphans, mostly children picked up from the streets. At present, there are 14 children ranging from 11 months to 13 years. Apart from food and lodging the home provides free education and medical facilities.

During the programme, Minister Khapangi distributed certificates to Pushpa Man Shrestha, Nina Heming and Devi Bahadur Thapa, and several others for providing constant support to the organisation. Sarita Shrestha also distributed 15 blankets to the children.

Chinmoy bags award

KATHMANDU, Nov 24 (PR) - International self-transcendence advocate 71-year-old Shri Chinmoy received the most prestigious Jesse Owens Humanitarian Award on November 17 in Chicago at the formal twelfth annual awards of the Jesse Owen Foundation.

According to the press statement issued here today from the Shri Chinmoy Centre, Nepal Chapter an office representative of the Shri Chinmoy Centres International, his peace movement has been valuable to many nations struggling for democracy and the betterment of mankind for what the award was given.

77th birthday of Shri Satya Sai Baba celebrated

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : On the occasion of 77th birthday of Shri Satya Sai Baba, Shri Satya Sai Center, East Kathmandu organised a special cultural programme at Royal Nepal Academy here today. In the programme devotees participated in the bhajans (hymns), dance and prayer programme conducted by the centre.

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, former Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya and Bada Gurujyu (chief priest) Dr. Madhav Bhattarai were also present in the function and expressed view about the spiritual paths, which is the right way for the human development.

In the function a documentary was demonstrated, about the social work the centre is conducting in various fields.

Shri Sai Baba was born in 1926 November 23 in the village Puttaparti in India. And in 20th October 1940, when he was only 14 years old Baba announced that his deeds in this earth has started. From the very day people are following Baba’s preaching about peace, love, religion, truth and disharmony.

Asian experts stress need for quake mitigation steps

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : In order to discuss mutual problems relating to earthquakes and to seek practical solutions for the mitigation of quakes, seismologists, engineers, disaster mangers, legal experts and professionals from all over Asia have congregated for a three-day international conference, which commenced here on Sunday.

About 200 participants from twenty of the most earthquake-prone regions of Asia and representing more than 75 organisations working in the field of earthquake risk assessment and mitigation, awareness and management are taking part in the fourth General Assembly of the Asian Seismological Commission and Symposium on Seismology, Earthquake, Hazard Assessment and Risk Management.

The international conference, the first of its kind being held in Nepal, is being jointly organised by National Society for Earthquake Hazard Assessment and Risk Management- Nepal (NSET) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre.

The conference-cum symposium is expected to discuss ways to mitigate the damages caused due earthquakes in the continent, which experts say is the most vulnerable zone in the world.

Dr Upendra Devkota, Minister for Health, Science and Technology inaugurated the meet at a function here on Sunday. In his inaugural speech, minister Devkota lauded the efforts going on in the continent to enhance the capacity for earthquake mitigation, by focusing on regional seismological issues, earthquake hazard assessment and the impact of earthquakes on society.

Speaking about the efforts being made in this direction in Nepal, Devkota said, "Nepal has started to take a few but significant steps in this direction". He, however, could not give details of the preventive measures that Nepal has initiated.

He also announced that the Nepal government is going to force hospital and other medical institutions to meet certain seismological standards. According to experts, most hospitals, except Patan Hospital, in Nepal are very vulnerable to earthquake.

Prof Krasae Chanawongse, president of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, said that the continent is hit by repeated disasters, triggering big losses to human life and property. In 2001 alone, 2,891 people were reported killed and over 140 million people were affected by disaster in Asia, he said referring to World Disaster Report.

Prof Wu Zhongliang, executive member of International Association of Seismology said that his organisation will continue its co-operation to the Asian Seismological Commission in every aspect related to the study of seismology, engineering seismology and earthquake engineering for the reduction of such disasters.

Voicing that earthquakes are a major threat to the socio-economic sectors of many developing countries in the continent, Serguei Balassanian, President of Asian Seismological Commission, urged the countries in the continent to take timely seismological measures before any quake shakes the continent.

Amod Mani Dixit, general secretary of NSET said that awareness about the safety measures of earthquake can significantly contribute to a reduced toll.

Nepal-Japan photo exhibition

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : Japan-Nepal Photograph Exchange Society (JNPES) organised a photographs exhibition of the famous Japanese photographer and Journalist, Kenichi Komatsu today, states the press release issued by JNPES.

The exhibition "The Gods of the Mountain Kingdom, Himalaya-Mustang, Dolpo" will be held for three days starting from today at Patan Museum.

The exhibition includes 50 photographs of Komatsu which has been photographed in Mustang to Dolpo in the last twelve years. The release reveals that Komatsu aims to take pictures of people living in difficult geographical and climatic conditions around the world.

Three Maoists shot dead

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KATHMANDU, Nov 24 : Three Maoist rebels preparing an ambush were shot dead by the army in its continuing search operation in Bhojpur district on Sunday.

The incident occurred in ward 8 of Gupteswore Village Development Committee (VDC) three kilometres west of the district headquarters. Those killed have been identified as Usha Pradhan, Surendra Karki and Mandip Rai. Two army personnel were slightly injured in the incident which took place early on Sunday.

Meanwhile, following the vandalisation of more than 30 VDC offices in the recent past, reports received on Sunday say that the Maoists set fire to 15 more VDC offices.

After 10 o’clock in the night, a group of rebels vandalised the offices and set fire to office stationery and other assets. The rebels collected items from all the VDCs, piled up stationery, furniture, doors and windows at one place before setting them on fire.

The VDCs which were attacked were Shivpur, Tilaurakot, Jahadi, Ramnagar, Sisawa and Kajarhawa, Bhagwanpur, Bidyanagar, Shivanagar, Lalpur, Bisnupur, Bithawa and Udayapur.

Similarly, a report from Bardiya said Maoist rebels looted nearly 100 quintals of rice from a house in ward number eight of Deudakala VDC. The report said four armed rebels had taken control of the tractor which was about to transport the rice to Nepalgunj.

Rebels have issued orders to the residents of the VDC to take permission from rebels whenever it comes to transport grains from the area.

Police resurface

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SURKHET, Nov 24 : Sixteen police personnel out of 18, who had gone missing after the rebels hit the headquarters of Jumla district, have made contact with the Ilaka Police Station in Chinchhu.

According to information passed on by the Ilaka Police Station in Chinchhu, the policemen who were abducted by the rebels were set free at the end of the function organised by the rebels in a primary school in Dhime VDC. They made contact with the police soon after.

Those who have come into contact are Sub-Inspectors Jai Bahadur Dhami, Bajura and Fan Bahadur K C, Pyuthan, assistant Sub-Inspectors Santa Bahadur Shahi, Dailekh, Buddhi Sagar Bastakoti, Tanahu, police constables Bag Bahadur Chand, Dailekh, Balaram Neupane, Nuwakot, police constables Lal Bahadur Khadka , Dailekh, Guman Singh Gharti, Pyuthan, Navin Jung Shah, Salyan, Mohan Singh Gurung , Jumla, Harka Bahadur Khadka, Dailekh, Dilli Oli Surkhet, Top Bahadur Giri , Rolpa, Rishav Paudel, Arghakhanchi, Govind K C, Pyuthan and Ram Bahadur KC of Nuwakot.

Maoist diktat closes schools

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RAJAPUR, (Bardiya), Nov 24 : With the Maoist rebels stepping up their activities in the Rajapur area of Bardiya district, educational institutions are facing difficulties, with most private schools closed and some governmental schools to follow suit soon.

Maoist strictures disallowing schools to charge fees to students has led to the closure of private schools while those funded by the government are finding it difficult to continue. The area has 55 schools of various levels.

With the closure of private schools, government schools have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of students. This has created difficulty in conducting classes with not enough class rooms and shortage of teachers, according to teachers.

According to school sources, no supervisors have turned up to monitor the situation of schools for the past year.

"The fragile security reason has prevented supervision of the schools", said an official at the District Education Office (DEO).

Amar Shahid Dasharath Chand Higher Secondary School (ASDHSS) is one of the schools that affected by the Maoist demands. "Since the rebels have banned fees from students, ASDHSS is not in a condition to continue," said Ajaya Kumar Jha, school Headmaster.

According to Jha, the school-teachers have not received their pay for months, and the rebels harass school-teachers to pay donations as well.

Security operation continues in Lamjung

By Damodar Neupane

LAMJUNG, Nov 24 : Security forces are carrying out a massive search and destroy mission in the jungles around Phulingiri after weekend clashes with the rebels, which defence sources maintain, may have killed over 50 Maoist rebels.

Following a combined ground and aerial offensive conducted by the army on Sunday, the rebels have scattered into the hilly terrain. The aerial campaign is being waged in view of the likelihood that the rebels may have taken shelter in villages.

The rebel raid, which started last Friday, was intensive in the Gauda Village Development Committee (VDC) of the district. Since no one other than security personnel have moved into Ilampokhari after the incident, there is no word on the actual scenario. Military sources have not revealed the actual turn of events although they claim that the number of dead on the rebel side could be 50. There is also no word on the loss incurred by the army.

Meanwhile, a rumour that the rebels would strike the district headquarters, Beshishahar, has caused panic among the local people of Beshishahar. Since the rebels had reportedly told the villagers surrounding the district headquarters to volunteer to serve as human shields, many locals have fled the town in panic.

Locals say that the rebels were still planning an attack on Beshishahar, citing claims that they were looking for human shields in the surrounding villages. There are also claims that many of the people who died yesterday could be innocent people used as human shields. Security has been tightened in the area with night-time curfews.

Cunina Nepal elects new office bearers

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KHANDBARI, Nov 24 : A meeting of Cunina Nepal held recently formed its central and district level committees, according to Taraman Gurung, Chairman of Cunina Nepal.

Cunina, Nepal is a Belgium-based non-government organisation working in Nepal, the Philippines, Haiti, Congo and Brazil to provide education to orphans and poverty-stricken children deprived of the right to education.

The Central Committee under the Chairmanship of Taraman Gurung, includes Lakpa Dolma, as Vice-chairperson and Tendi Sherpa, as treasurer. Pasang Sherpa and Chini Bhutiya have been selected as the chief advisors of the organisation while Singha Bahadur Roka and Chitralekha Adhikari are its members.

The newly formed district committee of the organisation at Sankhuwasaba is led by Rengin Sherpa. Kul Bahadur Shrestha, Subhadra Bajracharya, Rajib Shrestha and Harishore Thapa Magar are the other members of the committee.

Cunina Nepal is educating 163 deprived students in Kathmandu and Sankhuwasaba currently, according to Chairman Gurung.

"Set up in 1998 by Belgian climber Dr. Louse German, the Cunina Nepal is also providing scholarships to students studying at Barun Campus in Khandbari, district headquarters of Sankhuwasaba", Gurung said. Besides, the organisation has also set up a library at the campus. At present, Sophie Vangheel, wife of late Dr.German, is looking after the organisation.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the organisation in Nepal, Taraman Gurung said the organisation has already fixed 8 taps in the remote village of Num in Sankhuwasaba. "We are also planning to run health camps in remote villages in the future," Gurung said.

Free cleft-lip correction

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GAIGHAT, Nov 24 : A four-day free cleft lip surgical operation concluded at the district hospital in Gaighat district today. Thirty-three people from Udayapur, Saptari, Siraha and Khotang districts benefited from the operation.

Conducted jointly by the district hospital and Youth Society Nepal of Biratnagar, the operations were performed by Dr. P.S. Bohora and Dr. Shambhu Karki.

Ex- British armymen take to agro-farming

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POKHARA, Nov 24 : For most Nepali youths the chance to serve in the British army is a matter of good fortune. Though not paid at par with their British counterparts, the ex-British armymen in Nepal draw comparatively huge salaries and majority of them are found leading a lavish retired life.

Probably no ex-British armymen are inclined to adopt agriculture after retirement. However, two ex-British armymen, Captain Padam Bahadur Gurung and Gyan Bahadur Gurung have set an example in Pokhara by being immensely involved in agriculture.

Jeet Bahadur Gurung, 65, at Fulbari of Pokhara started his retired life by rearing cows some twenty years ago. He would sell around 100 litres of milk then. Later he started poultry farming in his own house.

Around a decade ago, he started rearing pigs by leasing 32 roppanis of land at Bijayapur area. Now his business is running well.

Another ex-British armyman, Captain Gyan Bahadur Gurung residing at the airport side in Pokhara has followed suit. He too rears pigs. Around 1,000 people are employed by Captain Gurung.

Initiation by the Gurungs has inspired many others to be involved in agriculture.

Like all the Lahures or soldiers, they had acquired a three months training on agriculture before retirement from the army. While others remain busy leading a luxurious life, these two applied the knowledge gained in the training.

"Since agriculture is considered a menial profession in Nepal, I decided to uplift it," said Captain Jeet Gurung.

Initially, he had taken a bank loan of Rs 2.4 million for investment. According to him, he has now invested over six million rupees in the business.

His profession has gained popularity and people from several parts of the country come to him to buy piglets.

He was decorated with the Gorkha Dakshin Bahu and the Sewapadak by the late His Majesty King Birendra for his devotion to the profession.

However, Gurung is dissatisfied with the government for not encouraging farmers.

"Over a dozen piglets and 10,000 hen died on account of wrong medicine prescribed by the District Animal Health Service, a few years ago. Since then I have been treating the animals myself," said Gurung.