Armed Maoists launch meetings in rural areas

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : Rebel Maoists are holding armed mass meetings in various parts of the country highlighting their demands in spite of the cease-fire announcement between the government and the warring rebels, according to reports.

A report from Myagdi stated that the rebels on Friday held a public meeting with arms in Bhakimli Village, located about 10-km south-west of district headquarters of Beni. A local who arrived in Beni said that around 70 armed-rebels forced locals, students and teachers of the area to be present in the meeting.

A teacher who was also present in the meeting said that local Maoist leaders expressed their anger against the government over its delay in forming the dialogue team. According to him, the speakers said that they were going to hold district level roundtable conference to press the government for the demands – roundtable conference, interim government and election for constituent assembly.

But said they were still in favour of the peaceful solution to the present crisis. Teachers said that the rebels are still collecting donations from teachers working in the rural areas.

Our reporter in Khotang said that the rebels have organised sports programmes amidst the presence of more than 1,500 armed-guerrillas in Aiselukharka bazaar, about 30-km north of Diktel, the district headquarters. A local teacher who refused to give his name said that the rebels have launched combat training in the area. More than 5,000 people were present in the sports programme held yesterday.

The rebels, most of who arrived there from other parts of the country, had cleaned up the entire bazaar before the programme kicked off. The militias had also dug trenches around the bazaar to give protection to their leaders and cadres.

A regional-level political leader also addressed the inaugural session and said that his party was forced to wage war against the government. He accused the government of trying to violate peaceful environment following the mutual cease-fire announcement.

"If the government fails to meet our conditions, we will have no other options but to raise arms again," said the leader in a combat uniform. But he did not give his real name. The speakers also said that the People Liberation Army was of all people and a strong national force has to be formed accommodating with the Royal Nepal Army. "But the national army should not be under the king," the leader said.

In Baglung, the rebels have already held a number of mass meetings in rural areas highlighting their demands. The rebels said that the government’s delay to form its formal negotiation team has generated confusions among the people who want to see peace in the country. A local from Amalachaur Village said that the rebels have also begun canvassing in favour of constituent assembly.

Lone gunman walks off with Rs 0.5 million

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KAILALI, Feb 9 : In a dramatic event today afternoon, an unidentified person looted Rs 500,000 from the branch office of the Rastriya Banijya Bank in Dhangadi, headquarters of Kailali district, according to sources.

At a time when the bank’s armed guards were not around, the unidentified person approached the teller counter and at pistol point made off with around Rs 5,00,00 via the back door. Later reports said that the robber had been seen loitering suspiciously inside the bank throughout the morning.

Despite the bank being situated adjacent to the Regional Police Office, the police arrived only fifteen minutes after the bank-robber had departed.

The robber, who was initially unmasked is said to have covered his face as he fled the scene. Top Bahadur KC, a local merchant had attempted to grab hold of the fleeing robber but was unable to do anything when the robber thrust a pistol in his face, say local sources

School reopens after cease-fire

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SALYAN, Feb 9 : A primary school in Chande Karenji VDC-1 of Salyan district has been reopened after a gap of three months following the declaration of truce by the government and the Maoists.

Yuva Janata Primary School (YJPS) was closed since its headmaster, Bijaya Kumar Rai, did not turn up after the long Dashain vacation during last September/October due to fear of the Maoists.

The school with 100 students had been run by two teaches. Devi Lal Nepali, the other teacher had been running the school for the past few days, according to a source at the District Education Office (DEO).

"The head-master went to his home during the Dashain festival. However, he did not return," said Sher Bahadur Rokka, the ex-vice chairman of the School Management Committee adding that the VDC was Maoist affected and the rebels would often threaten the teachers.

The DEO repeatedly corresponded with the headmaster to join the school, however he ignored it each time citing security reasons. Thus, the school remained closed, said Krishna Bhandari, a school resource person at the DEO.

"Provision was made for the students of YJPS to study at a neighbouring lower secondary school. However, very few students attended it," said Bhandari.

Nepali, another teacher who has been handling 100 students all alone said that his work has been quite difficult and also informed of the degrading of educational standards with the lack of manpower. In his talks with The Kathmandu Post, he demanded the authorities concerned to employ another teacher in the school at the earliest.

King Gyanendra 's birth anniversary concluded

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : On the conclusion ceremony of the programmes organised by the 56th birth anniversary of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev Main Organising Committee people from various walks of life were felicitated .

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand felicitated Kesher Jung Rayamaji, Chairman of the Raj Parisad Standing Committee. On the other hand Rayamaji felicitated PM Chand with a certificate and a dosalla (shawl).

PM Chand also felicitated representatives from various organisations, members of the main organising committee and other social workers.

Addressing the function PM Chand said that Shah Dynasty has been the patron of Nepali people from many years. "His Majesty is very committed toward the constitutional monarchy and we all have accepted the guidance of His Majesty," said PM Chand.

Kesher Jung Rayamaji said that the declaration of cease- fire in the country has been welcomed by people all over the nation and that it would play a vital role in re-establishing peace and stability in the country. "Even the tourist have welcomed the development and are very delighted with the announcement of cease-fire," he said.

Thanking the ministers for their contribution to appeal the Maoists to come for dialogue Rayamaji said, "We all are very optimistic that the ‘people’s war’ will end very soon through peace talks and mutual understanding from both sides."

Focus on technical education

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : Technical education policy is not lacking in Nepal, only its updating and comprehensiveness is lacking, said Devi Prasad Ojha, Minister for Education and Sports, speaking in an interaction programme in the capital today on ‘Engineering Education: Dilemma to the Policy Makers’.

"Long-term vision is pervasively lacking in our culture. I admit that there are problems in the education sector, but I will not concede that it is hopelessly plagued with problems only," he said dismissing pointed statements from experts of technical education, blaming the government solely for the sorry state of affairs in engineering education sector in the country.

Replying to queries regarding whether or not technical education will ever be affordable to students from less fortunate economic backgrounds, the minister said that there is not a single country in the world where technical education is accessible to all.

"The important thing is to increase the number of scholarships awarded yearly to needy students. Like the medical sector, the engineering sector should also be bound by policies to grant compulsory scholarships to a prescribed percentage of selected students every year," the minister said. Presently, a mere 250 needy students are being awarded scholarships for engineering education in the country every year.

Speaking earlier in the programme, professor Deepak Bhattarai raised concerns over the lack of comprehensive eduation plan in the country, the random affiliations granted to private colleges, the mushrooming of new universities as well as various other grey areas in the education scenario of the country.

"Development of some countries into world powers can be attributed to the large number of universities established there," said Bhattarai, adding that while expanding and promoting education infrastructure in the nation is essential, it is also important to frame standards and make sure that they meet the prescribed standards.

Also speaking on the occasion, Bharat Raj Pahari, general secretary of Nepal Engineering Association, said that engineering education in Nepal seems to have lost its way amid lack of comprehensive policies. He also added that the private sector’s entry in the field of engineering education has produced a serious lack of discipline in the sector.

Interacting in the programme, freshly graduated engineering students raised their voices regarding the need to co-ordinate education sector with the employment market. They said that discussions focused on promoting technical education in the nation is meaningless if we cannot make sure that there are sufficient employment slots in the job market.

Need for constituent assembly stressed

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : Scholars at an interaction today suggested the political forces to adopt the constituent assembly elections only if there was possibility of political stability through it.

Speaking at an interaction on "Reforms in the present Constitution" organised by Godavari Alumnae Association in the capital today, Bharat Raj Upreti, an expert in constitutional law, said amendment of present constitution but not the abrogation right solution to solve the present problems revolved around the constitution.

"The issue of an election to a constituent assembly is futile until and unless it guarantees for political stability," said Upreti.

Dr. Krishna Hachhethu, research scholar at CNAS, opposing the views of Upreti said the election for a constituent assembly was inevitable since it was the only meeting point for both the government and the Maoists.

"It is the only point up to where the government can show its flexibility and the Maoists can use it as a point of safe-landing," said Hachhethu.

Hachhethu also said that the election for a constituent assembly was essential to ensure political stability in the country claiming all the five constitutions promulgated by the King in the last six decades failed to render the nation a right political track. "Present constitution is technically dead and new constitution should be framed by the people, the people’s representatives," he said.

Dr Nobel Kishor Rai, former Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Germany stressed the need for election to a constituent assembly to avoid all sorts of political instability in the country.

Shris Sumsher Rana, a senior journalist said there was need to reforms in the practices of the political actors and not in the constitution. He also said the election for a constituent assembly was a risky game as nationality could be affected if the people failed to use their votes wisely.

Dalits demand constitutional rights

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : Most of the activists and supporters of the Dalits movement voiced for the special privileges and constitutional rights for the Dalits in the new constitution today. Dalits are the highly discriminated community in Nepal and most of the people killed in the people’s movements belong to the Dalit community.

Responding to the current political situation in the country and its consequences faced by Dalits, Jagaran Media Centre today organised a meeting and an interaction programme on ‘Dalits Movement and its reference in the Constituent Assembly’.

Binod Pahadi, senior journalist and the advisor of JMC stated that the condition of Dalits are even more pitiable after the people’s movement after 1996 and expressed grief over the loss of so many innocent lives ."As Dalits are being killed in the name of terrorist, constitutional rights are must for their security and welfare ", Pahadi opined.

He further said that the new constitution should consider social, political and educational rights and justice too .

Speaking on the occasion, Padam Lal Biswokarma, chairman of Nepal Utpidit Dalit Jaatiya Mukti Samaj remarked that the cease-fire is the outcome of the patience of the Nepalese people and not merely the efforts of the Maoists and the present government.

He also emphasised the constitution should make provisions for reservation for Dalits along with the end in social and racial discrimination.

Talking on the current situation of Dalits, Shaker Pokhrel, Central Committee member of CPN UML said that the only long-term solution to the problems of Dalits is that they should always make their voice heard to the whole country.

He also said that the constitution is not the solution to every problem as the main problem is the safeguarding of the nation .

Santa Bahadur Nepali, advisor of Jaatiya Samata Samaj complained that the constitution has provided limited democracy to the people and lacked the guidelines for the overall development of the nation. "Dalits movement is not only a movement for social justice but it is also a cultural movement", said Shyam Shrestha, editor of Mulyankan.

He opined that the present political practice should be transformed and every district should be maintained according to the linguistic and cultural majority. Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, chairman of Nepal Bar Association, Man Bahadur BK, chairman of Nepal Dalit Sangh, and Swanam Lama, spokesperson of Ekta Kendra Masaal also shared their views on the agenda at the function.

Step towards control of HIV

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KATHMANDU, Feb 9 : As part of continuing efforts to reduce the spread of HIV in Nepal, Solid Nepal, in conjunction with faculty of education, Tribhuvan University, recently organised three workshops to consider different aspects of education about sex and relationships.

In the first workshop on helping master trainers to develop participatory teaching methods, Simon Blake of the UK National Children’s Bureau helped master trainers develop ways of running classes that encourage participation and discussion from the students’ side. Twenty-five master trainers from Tribhuvan University benefited from the workshop and felt that they had gained a lot of new skills to be used in helping teachers to conduct effective lessons and discussions.

Similarly, presenting on the workshop on researching sensitive issues, Roger Ingham and Nicole Stone of the Safe Passages to Adulthood programme pointed out that good research is needed on young people’s attitude, knowledge and behaviour in relation to sex and relationships so that effective ways of promoting sexual health are developed. They further stressed that responses and interventions in the area must be based on knowledge gained from research rather than on inaccurate and naive assumptions or prescribed directives.

The third workshop was focussed on curriculum development for sex and relationship education. The workshop was attended by 20 staff from T.U, senior staff from the ministry of education curriculum development centre and some youngsters. The workshop featured insightful presentations on the latest researches from different countries on what is effective in sex and relationship education. The researches show that providing more information to young people does not lead to an increase in sexual experimentation.

The workshops were sponsored by the UK DFID funded Safe Passage to Adulthood Programme based at the University of Southampton, UK.