Buddha's relics on display

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 : Buddha’s relics will be displayed in the birth place of Buddha, Lumbini, on August 12, in connection to display the relics of Buddha throughout the world.

The display of the relics at Muni Bihar of Inacho, Bhaktapur, will be until tomorrow. There is crowd of followers to have a glimpse of the relics of Buddha since early in the morning.

The relics will be displayed in Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, India where Buddha attained Nirvana, salvation, on 13,14 and 15 August, according to vice-chairman of Dharmodaya Sabha Laxmidas Manandhar.

The relic, which was brought from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, will be returned to Thailand on 16th August, he said.

The relics will be absorbed at the Buddhist Chaitya at the United Nations headquarters, New York, after displaying throughout the world.

Peace talks facilitators for more assertive role

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 : To make the ongoing government-Maoists peace talks a success, demands were raised for a more assertive role for the facilitators.

The facilitators, speaking at an interaction here today complained that they were not yet given any formal letter, either from the government or the Maoists’ side.

They stressed the need for providing the facilitators with a right to intervene during the talk process, if any of the parties wanted to create obstacles.

"If the parties are heading towards making an anti-people, unlawful or extra-constitutional agreement, the intervention of the facilitators could play a positive role to stop the situation from worsening," said Daman Nath Dhungana, one of the facilitators.

Padma Ratna Tuladhar, another facilitator, said a wide-ranging discussion was required on whether the facilitators should be given the role of a mediator, a guarantor or simply a messenger.

"We have not received any formal letter from them nor our role is defined yet but we are working as messengers as part of our duty as a citizen to help make the talks a success," added Tuladhar.

He also said that any failure of the domestic facilitators to bring the negotiating parties to the table could lead to a stage when we may require foreign mediators with a power to guarantee the implementation of the peace talks agreements.

Claiming that the talks could not make headway if the major political parties were not included in the process, Dhungana further added, "Even if the government and the Maoists agree upon certain points, it requires full support of the parties for implementation of the agreements."

He stressed the need for inclusion of the political parties in the process. "The state has not given a role to them but demanded their participation," said Dhungana, adding, "How is it possible?" He said the countrywide campaign launched to sideline the mainstream parties is harmful for democracy and the country as a whole.

Land for Indigenous Academy building assured

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 : The government has assured that it will provide land for construction of an Indigenous Academy (IA) building.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘nationality and indigenous’ , organised by IA, on the occasion of "World Indigenous Day" here today, Buddhi Man Tamang, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, gave this assurance. Government land for this purpose, he said, will be provided anywhere within the three districts of the Valley.

"I don’t say within the Kathmandu district but surely I will provide the open government land within Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu districts for construction of the IA building," he confirmed.

Assuring the IA members, he said " Since I too hail from an indigenous group, I can propose such a step".

He also said that it was a bitter reality that indigenous people had to fight for getting representation in the government, despite being elected. He also opined that they should get representation in the government without any compromise.

Appealing to indigenous groups, Tamang added, "whenever we get a chance, we should work towards promoting the welfare of indigenous groups."

Similarly, Harka Gurung, an indigenous expert, while presenting his paper on ‘The Concern of Indigenous in Nationality’, said that there was very limited representation of indigenous people in constitutional bodies, judiciary, executive and other top positions in government offices.

According to him, indigenous groups comprise 22.2 per cent of the nation’s population, of whom only 8.4 per cent are in positions of authority.

Local resources for income generation stressed

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LALITPUR, Aug 10 : Minister for Industry, Commerce and supplies Hari Bahadur Basnet has pointed out the need to create an opportunity of income generation using locally available resources and skills to eradicate poverty in the country.

Speaking at a programme organised by Micro Entrepreneur’s Development Programme (MEDEP) here today he said there is the need to enhance the ability of the poor in the local level.

There is the need to enhance the capacity of the people living under the poverty he said adding that the assistance provided by the foreign donors should be fully utilised to end the inequality, which is one of the reasons of the Maoists insurgency, in the country.

Officiating secretary of the Ministry Purushottam Ojha said the poverty alleviation programme should be launched in remote rural areas of the country.

Assistant resident representative of the UNDP Sharad Neupane said the MEDEP is the best programme launched with the joint initiative of the UNDP and His Majesty’s Government.

Joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lilamani Poudel chaired the function.

Second edition of ‘Who is Who 2003’ published

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 : Research Centre for Communication and Development has brought out the 2nd edition of Nepal: Who is Who-2003.

The book is a biographical dictionary of 2,189 distinguished personalities of Nepal representing various academic fields, professional, and specialists, according to the centre.

The book is a reliable source of information on the personal profiles of personalities of Nepal, the centre has stated.

Experts lay stress on 11th amendment implementation

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KATHMANDU, Aug 10 : People from various fields today stressed the need to implement the provisions provided in the 11th amendment of the Muluki Ain (Civil Code)and provide opportunities to women.

Speaking at a programme organised by Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre (LACC), Nayan Bahadur Khatri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said it would take some time for the implementation, as it calls for a change in the attitude of society as a whole.

However, he was critical of the provision which requires a daughter to return her share of property after marriage. "This is an unjust law as it explicitly shows the discrimination prevalent in society," he said.

The 11th amendment provides for equal rights to a girlchild in her parental property and a share in the husband’s property on being divorced, among others.

Kashi Raj Dahal, secretary of the Constitutional Council emphasised on the need of equity rather than equality. Similarly, Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, president of the Nepal Bar Association, stressed on the need to develop capacity among women to make use of their rights.

Niranjan Thapa of the Law Reform Commission said that political parties should encourage the participation of women in policy making.

Judge of Appellate Court, Rana Bahadur Bam, said the government should take initiative to make women more aware about their rights.

In the programme, a paper on "hurdles in executing Muluki Ain (11th amendment)" was presented by Surya Kiran Gurung. In the paper, lack of public awareness and the ineffective role of the concerned bodies, amongst others, have been pointed out as hindrances in the execution of the 11th amendment.

Role of renewal energy stressed

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LALITPUR, Aug 10 : Participants of a workshop organised here today by the Energy Study Centre of the Institute of Engineering(IOE) have said the renewable energy sector can be more useful as it can be developed through local resources and skills than the Mega projects in a country like Nepal with a predominantly rural and below poverty line people.

Registrar of the Tribhuwan University Geeta Bhakta Joshi said the renewable energy technology needs development for raising the living standards of the people by increasing employment opportunities and not only in maintaining clean environment at this time of global warming.

Director of the Energy Study Centre Prof. Jagannath Shrestha said such workshop would be useful for the development of the energy in the context of its global popularity.

Winrok international advisor Ratnasansar Shrestha and assistant dean of the Institute of Engineering Prof. Pralhad Raj Pant also shed light on the importance of the technology.

The workshop will discuss working papers including on use of solar and wind energy, challenges of water resources, effectiveness of the biogas and building house with low consumption of energy and green energy.

The two-day workshop is participated in by 24 gazetted senior officers of HMG.

Rebels to set up regional army headquarters

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SINDHULIMADI, Aug 10 : Maoist rebels are reportedly planning to establish a regional-level army headquarters somewhere in Sindhuli district.

Addressing a programme organised at the Lumti Scondary School in Sumnam Pokhari Village Development Committee (VDC), a Maoist commander said that they would set up a brigade in the district. The VDC is located about one-and-half-day walking distance from the district headquarters.

A local who arrived at the district headquarters quoted the unidentified Maoist commander as saying that they had already selected a secure place to establish the regional headquarters for their armed force. But the rebel leader did not say where and when it would be established. Sindhuli is believed to be one of the Maoist-affected districts in the central region.

A large number of Maoist militias have thronged in the district from the eastern region and they have already arranged adequate food supply for them, the local quoted the Maoist leader.

Meanwhile, three civilians were injured in a Maoist-laid landmine blast in Narayan Municiplaity in Dailekh, according to a report from Banke. The victims have been identified as Dambar Ale, 46, Ram Bahadur Ale, 33, and Bhim Bahadur Ale, 36, all from Belapur VDC.

The army airlifted the injured people to the Bheri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgunj for treatment. Doctors said they were brought at the hospital in a state of unconsciousness. Police suspect that the rebels had actually planted the landmine to ambush the security forces.

Locals gear up for 13 km-long road construction

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BIHUN, Baglung, Aug 10 : People of Bihun and some neighbouring VDCs in Baglung district are gearing up for the
construction of the 13-km-long Bihun-Lekhani-Suldanda road. To meet the estimated construction cost of five million rupees, the villagers have been selling their agro-produce or working hard to earn more so as to invest on the road construction.

Akshara Devi Kandel sold some millets and maize stored in her house and collected
Rs 3,500 which she donated to the Road Constriction Committee. Ujeli BK, another villager does not have arable land of her own. However, she worked for daily wages for some 20 days earning Rs 50 per day. She handed over Rs1,000 to the committee. BK is quite glad to have done so. Similar is the case with rest of the villagers.

Villagers themselves took up the road construction work as the government failed to allocate any amount for the purpose, according to Manibhadra Sharma, the outgoing VDC chairman.

"Villagers constructed one and half kilometres of the road with their own hands. Now, we have got a bulldozer. The pace of constriction works will be faster now," said Sharma.

"We have completed a difficult portion of the road by breaking down a large rocky portion. That alone cost us nearly one million rupees," said Surya Prasad Kandel, a local.

Villagers have also appealed to the VDCs, DDC and other bodies for construction of the road.

Bihun VDC contributed Rs 50,000, the DDC gave Rs12,000 and Gaja Youth Club handed over Rs 200,000, according to sources .

Similarly, Jagaraj Kaucha, a villager, contributed Rs 50,000, Khadga Bahadur
Risa donated Rs 50,000, Rita Devi Risa gave Rs 20,000 and Gauri Pun pitched in with Rs15,000, according to the committee. The jubilant locals aim to complete the road before the Dashian festival this year.

Children’s clubs key to success of development programmes

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DANG, Aug 10 : Children’s clubs, established initially in the five VDCs of Dang under the decentralisation programmes about five years ago, have brought about a sea change in the status of women and children in the district.

These clubs, the numbers of which have multiplied many fold, have been instrumental in launching various awareness programme concerning children and women’s health and other development activities, according to sources.

Originally, the Ministry of Local Development and the National Planning Commission jointly established five such clubs in five VDCs in 1998 with the aid of UNICEF Nepal. The clubs were established for effective implementation of programmes concerning health, nutrition, drinking water, sanitation and education of women and children.

Such clubs and their programmes are growing popular in the district with their numbers ever on the rise. Presently, there are over 80 children’s clubs in some 10 VDCs.

Children from the clubs help their members at times of difficulties, conduct sanitation and discussion programmes on child rights, organise street skits on various awareness raising issues, and urge villagers to
use iodised salt, have regular medical check-ups and nudge them to get social events registered.

Such clubs are also found publishing wall magazines, which have been very effective in launching social awareness campaigns, add sources.

"Children’s clubs are playing a key role," said Krishna KC, a DDC official.

Geeta Sharma, the outgoing chairperson of Pawan Nagar VDC, opined that club activities have been instrumental in wiping out various social ills.

Man looted of Rs 600,000

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BIRATNAGAR, Aug 10 : A group of unidentified gang looted property worth Rs 600,000 from the house of a businessman located at the heart of the city in broad-day light today.

Businessman Mukesh Bothara claimed that a group of seven looters looted Rs 50,000 in cash, 50 tolas of gold and one kilogram of silver from his house at Tinpaini of Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis.

Morang police Chief Chhokpa Sherpa doubted the claim that such a huge amount of property could have been looted from an ordinary oil merchant and added that the nature of the looting seemed to be mysterious.

The victim said that the looters took all his family members under their control and looted cash and jewellery.

Bothara said that the robbers had arrived in a Maruti van and had also disconnected the telephone line before entering his house.

Bothara’s wife said that some unidentified people had enquired about the time of her husband’s return from India. Chhokpa said they would investigate into the incident.

Passengers looted at gunpoint

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MAHOTTARI, Aug 10 : An unidentified group of looters abducted two passengers from a bus heading to Malangawa from Janakpur and looted Rs. 110,000 from another this evening. The incident occurred in Laxminiya jungle along the Mahendra Highway, some 52 kilometres north of Jaleshwor, the district headquarters, according to police.

The six looters were travelling in the same bus. As the bus approached along the route in the jungle, they stopped the vehicle and looted cash from Dev Narayan Dhami at gunpoint. Dhami is a resident of Sarlahi Hariharpur-6. The two abducted passengers could not be identified, according to Bal Krishna Thapa, the Deputy Inspector of Police.

‘Honesty vital for peace talks success’

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BIRGUNJ, Aug 10 : Intellectuals here have said that as talks is the only proper and democratic medium of maintaining permanent peace in the country both the government and Maoists side should show honesty in order to make the talks easy and result oriented. Speaking at a workshop on "Democratic resolution of the present crisis" organised by the democratic thought society, Birgunj unit here on Saturday, the intellect speakers said war and conflict cannot given a farsighted solution to the country and cooperation and good will of both the sides is essential in order to make the talks successful.

Vice-president of the society Dr Kulananda Lal Das said armed conflict has had a negative impact on the human interest and development of Nepal so both the sides need to display maximum flexibility and make the peace process result oriented. Prof. Indu Sherbar Mishra pointed out the need to maintain an understanding through the medium of talks and constitute an all-party government that will hold elections and the elected government brings changes as wished by the people. President of the society Om Prakash Rungta presided. Advocates Rameshwar Sedai and Dipak Raj Bhandari, social worker Tara Shumsher JB Rana and Madhu Rana were of the view that all sectors of the society should assist in making the talks successful. On the occasion, the general meeting of the society constituted an 11-member new working committee under the chairmanship of Tara Shumsher JB Rana.

Transportation stalled along BP Highway

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KAVRE, Aug 10 : Transportation along the BP Highway was stalled for five hours today due to a clash between students and bus staffs. An agitated group of students damaged a bus, as the situation became intense.

The incident occurred at the Batasedanda of the highway. The issue surfaced after the staffs of a bus following a conflict severely beat up one of the students heading for Sanjibani and Purna Sanjubani schools in Dhulikhel.

An agitated group of students damaged a bus numbered Ba. 1 Kha. 6104. The situation returned to normalcy after talks between the students and the vehicle staffs with the mediation of of Narendra Dahal, the Chief District Officer (CDO) and Ksheri Raj Ghimire, the Superintendent of Police.

The injured student is undergoing treatment at the Dhulikhel Hospital. The driver of the bus is under police control while the errant staffs are absconding, according to police.

Lives of wild buffaloes at risk

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INARUWA, Aug 10 : Six wild buffaloes that had strayed from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve a year ago and reached the Ramdhuni jungle are reported to be in danger of loosing their lives.

The endangered species of the wild buffaloes were searching for grazing areas when the left the reserve to enter the forest, some 10 kilometers from the reserve. The herds of wild buffaloes are said to be grazing in the paddy field on the northeast of the jungle and farmers are fencing the area with naked electricity wire in order to check them thereby putting their lives at risk.

Last week one wild buffalo was injured after coming into contact with electricity current but before we reached there it managed to escape into the jungle or else we would have killed it, says a farmer of Singiya-6 expressing his anger on the animal that has been damaging crop that keeps him alive all the year.

Forest guard at Manpur Range-post Bisun Chaudhary says that the herd of buffaloes have been living near the Sunsari river southeast of the Ramdhuni temple for the past one year. "Earlier we were very happy to have one of the endangered animals inside our community forest, but when they began causing damage to our crops we are bewildered," says Damber Khatiwada of the Manpur community forest users’ group.

Shanker Basnet, member of Ramdhuni forest users’ committee says that they have been staying awake throughout the night to ward off the animals and are also finding difficulty in going into the jungle.

However, ranger Tankanath Dahal of the reserve says that the reserve will soon bring back the wild buffaloes into the reserve with the help of elephants.

The endangered species of wild buffaloes can be found in Nepal only in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

Encephalitis claims one, 5 serious

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GHORAHI, Aug 10 : A patient suffering from encephalitis died this morning while undergoing treatment at the Mahendra Hospital in Ghorahi, the headquarters of Dang, while five are held chronic by the disease in the district.

The deceased has been identified as Bharahamani Chaudhari, 27 of Sonapur VDC, according to Abdul Bharukh Khan, the Medical Recorder at the hospital. Four more encephalitis patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital, as informed by Khan. One encephalitis patient is undergoing treatment at the Primary Health Centre, Lamahi.

Marshyangdi plant resumes partial operation

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TANAHUN, Aug 10 : The 69 megawatts Marshyangdi Hydropower Project, shut down due to heavy flooding in its powerhouse last week, has resumed partial power generation from today, according to officials.

The powerhouse technician, Ghananath Chiluwal, said that about 300 kilowatts of power was generated from the country’s second biggest project. He said that power from the project came to a standstill due to huge deposits of sediment and mud in the three turbines. Chiluwal said that they had been able to clear about 95 per cent of the sediment from the powerhouse and full capacity operations will resume in a couple of days.

He further added that there has been a huge deposit of boulders and sediments in the outlet section and it was impossible to remove them until the flood water level in the Marshyangdi River reduces. Chiluwal said the project suffered a heavy loss of around Rs 120 million, as a result of last week’s floods, that swept away four vehicles, caused severe damages  to sophisticated equipment and toppled a few transmission lines at Bharatpur.

Need to generate clean environment emphasised

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BUTWAL, Aug 10 : The developed countries have used most of the natural resources and there is environmental injustice in the world, said participants of a seminar held here yesterday.

People of developed nations have used more than 10-fold energy compared to the people of developing countries and even they are not ready to take responsibility of the overuse of the natural resources, environmental pollution and its degradation creating serious problem in the universe, according to a study.

On the other hand 1.2 billion people are living in absolute poverty and about 2 billion people are deprived of drinking water in the world. The forests and hills, source of drinking water are in a state of desert.

About 56 percent of the resources of the world are being used by 15 percent of the population of the developed countries. The future of two billion poor people living under the poverty line is in the hand of 200 richest people of the developed countries of the west.

Their excessive use of energy has melted snow, there is landslides and floods and our water and soil is polluted by their pesticides, the participants said.

The valuable natural resources of the developing countries are their raw materials and the people of developing countries are buying the same things from the developed countries after procession.

The participants of the seminar on media and environmental justice organised by Justice Forum Kathmandu said there is the need to implement environmental justice to get rid of such injustices.

They also stressed the need to generate awareness about the clean environment and injustice in the environment sectors. They said that media should play an important role to bring out such information to the people and help generate awareness, bring out the causes of the poverty, inform the public about the false cultural behaviour of advertisement, market and consumer oriented culture and generate awareness about the environmental justice. Speaking on the occasion, judge of the appellate court Hetauda Kalyan Shrestha said there is the need of dissemination of information on environment to make a sustainable relations with the climate, soil, forest and wildlife of our country.

Prof. Pramod Kumar Jha and Dr. Ram Prasad Chaudhary stressed the need of protection of biodiversity of the country. Director of the forum Chiranjibi Bhattarai said there couldn’t be environmental justice at a time when the rights of the people is being violated.

From the chair, former justice of the supreme court Laxman Prasad Aryal said sovereign people should be involved in the decision making process related to the important public issues.