Ex-Gurkhas hold anti-war rally, youngest Everester joins in

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 15 : Around 2,000 ex-British Gurkhas joined by their family members and pacifists today marched on a procession to protest against the possible US strike on Iraq.

The procession, which paraded through Anamnagar to Ratnapark, waved placards and shouted slogans like ‘Gurkhas for peace not for war’.

This implied their opposition to reported deployment of the Gurkhas in anti-Iraq front by Britain, an ally of the US against Iraq.

The procession also demanded that the UN should be fully respected and international laws honoured.

A distinctly visible participant in the anti-war rally was Temba Tsheri Sherpa, the youngest person to scale Mount Everest. ‘Lets like in peace’, read the placard he waved throughout the route of the procession.

‘War creates widows and orphans’, said another placard which was repeatedly shouted by the procession.

"More than 60,000 Nepalis have either died or were taken captive during the two world wars while defending the British Empire. The UK government did not provide information on whereabouts of those to their families, in order to avoid payment of compensation," said human rights activist Gopal Siwakoti Chintan.

Chintan, a consultant to the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation, is leaving for the UK on Sunday for a hearing of the pending case in the British courts.

The hearing on the case on Gurkhas in a UK high court is scheduled from February 18 to 21, in which the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair is pleading on behalf of Gurkhas. A large number of ex-Gurkhas, who fought on the side of the British, do not receive pension.

"Gurkhas do not receive the same salary and pension as provided to their counterparts in UK but we are the first one to go to battle and die. This is a virtual slavery and wickedness," said Chintan, addressing the large gathering at a meeting held soon after the rally.

"I was not allowed to stay in Hong Kong for more than three years while my husband served the British for 17 years," said Harka Maya Rai, wife of an ex-British Gurkha, who came all the way from Damak, in eastern Nepal to take part in the peace rally.

Code of conduct on truce soon: Pun

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BIRATNAGAR, Feb 15 : Narayan Singh Pun, designated co-ordinator for peace talks with the Maoists, today said that the code of conduct during the formal talks with rebels would be announced soon.

Pun’s statement comes in the wake of demand for such a code of conduct from various quarters including major political stewards like Girija Prasad Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal.

"We are drafting the code of conduct for the formal negotiation, which will be made public within few days," said Pun, talking to the reporters at Biratnagar airport. Pun was returning back to Kathmandu after attending a programme at Salakpur in Morang.

Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has demanded that the government and Maoists draw clear code of conduct relating to truce today while addressing a mass meeting held to protest October 4 royal move in Inaruwa of Sunsari.

In a similar vein, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has urged the Maoists and government to formulate and make public a code of conduct as soon as possible in a programme at capital today.

Pun also claimed that he is in constant touch with Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai, the coordinator of the Maoists’ dialogue team. "I am constantly in contact with Dr. Bhattarai and am working to prepare perquisite for the dialogue," said Pun.

Minister Pun said that Bhattarai has accepted him as the coordinator of the government’s dialogue team. On the occasion, Minister Pun emphasized the role of the political parties in successful resolution of the Maoist conflict. "Political parties have an important role to play in resolving the Maoist conflict."

Minister Pun said, "This is a multilateral problem and it would be irresponsible on the part of the Maoists, government and the political parties to run away from it and blame each other."

Nepal may lose Korean employment offer

By Sameer Ghimire

KATHMANDU, Feb 15 : The dream of thousands of Nepali youth seeking employment in South Korea may come to naught, due to the ongoing tussle between the association of manpower agencies and the government, on who should have the right to select the manpower agencies to supply workers to Korea. The row has reportedly led the South Korean Federation of Small and Medium Business (SKFSMB) to defer its decision to take in Nepali workers.

"Chances are that SKFSMB might revoke its demand entirely," said a manpower agency official requesting anonymity. SKFSMB had put in a demand, in early December, for recruitment of over 4,200 Nepali youths for employment in Korea.

Though Nepal United Association of Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs (NUAFEE) had urged that the Association be given the right to select the manpower agency to supply the workers, Department of Labour and Employment Promotion unilaterally recommended five companies to SKFSMB.

Bharat Singh Thapa, president of NUAFEE alleged that the government has been biased towards some manpower agencies in its recommendation.

Lalit Bahadur Thapa, Director General of Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DLTM), denies the allegation.

"We asked all interested agencies to come forward with their proposal to supply Nepali manpower to Korea as soon as the embassy requested us. We suggested five manpower agencies to the Federation through the Korean Embassy on merit basis," said Thapa.

"Though the Korean Federation had asked us to recommend one manpower agency, we have recommended five. This shows we have not been biased," argued Director General Thapa.

The five agencies recommended by the government are SOS, Moon Drops, The Raj, Sky and Sun Koshi.

Commenting on the issue, Kim Zin Sik, Public Relations Officer of the Korean Embassy said, "We are not the deciding party in this matter. Since the private sector in Korea, and not the government, has demanded Nepali workers, our role is only to mediate between the Nepal government and the Korean Federation".

Whether the Korean Federation will retract its offer or not, is a moot point, but past experience is haunting local manpower agencies. Amidst a similar controversy in 1996, another group of entrepreneurs in Korea had cancelled employment offer at the last moment.

An employee at Moon Drops Manpower Agency, one of the stronger contenders to the contract, said that there was a high chance of cancellation of the request.

According to Dan Dhwaj Basnet, Deputy Director General, the Federation was offering monthly salary of NRS 40,000 to each Nepali worker, while the cost for entering Korea would come to around NRS 180,000.

Though the fate of the Korean job offer remains unclear, some local agencies have started distributing forms to send workers to Korea. The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MLTM) has already issued a public notice to discourage such practices.

‘Cases in London could cast shadow on future recruitment’

By Damakant Jayshi

POKHARA, Feb 15 : The UK government might put an end to Gurkha recruitment in its army if it loses the cases under review by the High Court in London.

This was hinted to The Sunday Post by a senior British army officer stationed in Kathmandu. "Yes, there could be an impact," admitted Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Griffith of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR), replying to a question in the capital. "It might bring an end to the historical relationship between the British army and the Gurkhas."

Lt. Col. Griffith did not elaborate as to how any adverse verdict would affect recruitment. One reason, admit British officers, could be the "prohibitive cost" if the government were compelled to bring all payments and benefits at par with native British soldiers.

However, he did say there were chances of compromise, hinting at an out-of-court settlement. The High Court is expected to give its verdict in four cases relating to discrimination in pay, pension, and war compensation, among others.

Beginning this Tuesday, applications filed by ex-British Gurkha soldiers with the London High Court against Britain’s Defence Ministry, demanding equal pay and pension, vis-à-vis native British soldiers are to be heard. The verdict is expected in the first week of March. A judicial review by the High Court will look into the merits of the cases.

British Gurkha war veterans, however, said that the cases were justified.

The Sunday Post caught up with one of the living Victoria Cross holders, Tul Bahadur Pun, 82, who won the medal for ‘exemplary gallantry during the Second World War, to know his views. "This is injustice," said Pun here, referring to the pension that he receives which is less than that of his British counterparts. "Earlier we did not know about the discrimination but we felt let down once we became aware of the discrimination."

However, Pun also said that he was not looking for equality with British natives on the question of pensions. "We want the existing gap to be narrowed down," added Pun, who had to "sell" his VC to his unit, 6th Gurkha Rifles, for Rs 40,000 some years back, due to hardship. Currently, he receives 108 pounds sterling as VC allowance.

Griffith also alleged that Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO) which is spearheading the four cases was "politically motivated". "There is strong suspicion of the whole affair being politically motivated," he iterated.

GAESO has refused to be held responsible to the end of recruitment from Nepal, if and when it happens. "We won’t be responsible for any end to recruitment of Gurkhas," said Mahendra Lal Rai, secretary at the GAESO. "It will be the responsibility of the governments of Nepal and Great Britain."

However Rai was equally emphatic about dismissing the possibility of no more fresh Gurkhas into the British army. "We believe this is simply not going to happen. With the drop in the rate of British citizens joining the army, the government has no option but to continue with the recruitment," said Rai.

Even Griffith admitted that there was a drop in the rate of native British soldiers, coupled with early retirement.

The GAESO also refuted the charge of political motivation. "We have no political support or motive," replied Rai. "We just want justice for all the retired soldiers who have become victims of British government discrimination."

The battle lines are clearly drawn and all eyes are on the London High Court. At stake is not only the pay and pension as demanded by ex-Gurkhas but also the fate of future recruitment. This year itself there were over 20,000 applicants for the 230 openings in Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Nepal seeks clarification from Govt, Maoists

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KATHMANDU, Feb 15 : Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist & Leninist (CPN-UML) today urged the king and the Maoists to clarify their stance on multi-party democracy and people’s sovereignty.

Speaking at a function organised to convey the message of the party seventh national congress in the capital, Nepal said that the king and the Maoists should make their views clear regarding people’s sovereignty and the multi-party democracy. "People cannot stay in dark, it is their right to know this fact," Nepal said.

He said that the constituent assembly, interim government and round table meeting as the conditions put forward by the Maoists are merely the procedural matter.

He urged that all the constitutional parties should exhibit unity to fight regressive forces at such critical political situation. "The regressive forces are trying to reap the benefit of the dissimilar voice raised among the political parties," Nepal said.

He, however, maintained that the strong democratic forces would ultimately prevail over any of such ‘conspiracies’. Lauding the government-Maoists cease-fire as a positive event, Nepal asked the Maoists to immediately stop their spree of extortion and killing across the country to ensure peace.

Nepal also reiterated the demand of transparency in the government-Maoists negotiation.

He stressed that there were many works left before entering into formal talks with the Maoists. "All political parties must be taken into confidence before the talks take place," Nepal said.

He hinted that UML was ready to lead all-party government if needed. "UML would not backtrack if responsibility is imposed on it," Nepal added.

"UML wishes the success of government-Maoists dialogue," Nepal said, adding "it will not be obstacle for the talks."

Committee formed to monitor NGOs

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KATHMANDU, Feb 15 : The government has formed a high-level committee to revise its policies on the non-government organisations(NGOs). According to a cabinet source, the committee is to be headed by Minister for Information and Communications, Ramesh Nath Pandey.

The source also said that the main task of the committee is to review the performance of non-government organisations in the country. The decision was taken during Thursday’s regular cabinet meeting.

Other members of the committee are Minister for Education and Sports, Devi Prasad Ojha, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narendra Bikram Shah, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Kuber Prasad Sharma, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Narayan Singh Pun and Minister for Water Resources, Deepak Gyawali.

Number of street children increasing in Kathmandu

By Nitya Nanda Timsina

KATHMANDU, Feb 15 : Like every schoolboy, Guddu Muslim’s ambition was to lead a life among the elite and powerful in the government, but the barely eight-year-old boy ended up collecting battered shoes and plastic waste from the streets of Kathmandu.

Avoiding the snaps and growls of stray dogs, Guddu now spends most of his days on the cold streets of Kathmandu, collecting battered shoes, slippers and plastic bags for his bosses’ factory at Kalopul.

"I am scared of the dogs as I go around collecting these things," he said as he watches a ferocious looking street dog passing by. He twitches his nose at the dog, which keeps barking at him. "I don’t harm the dogs, but these dogs chase me and bark at me wherever I go," Guddu says.

Such abandoned children are increasing daily in Kathmandu, says Gauri Pradhan, chairman of the Concerned for Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN).

CWIN estimates show that there are nearly 1,200 street children in the valley. Three years back, there were less than 800. "This is due to migration and urbanisation trend," says Pradhan.

According to Pradhan, these street children have now begun sleeping on ‘junk-heaps’ rather than on the open street.

Meanwhile, with a large plastic bag over his shoulder, Guddu’s 12 year-old friend, Taprej Muslim, steps out from a heap of garbage near Kupondole and struggles to cross the busy road. It was half-past eleven yet, they have not had a morsel to eat all the morning, Guddu and his friend go about collecting plastic scrap.

They walk along the road eyeing the huge frying pans of roadside snack shops and eateries, on which attendants turn perpetually bubbling curry and other food items. The aroma of samosas and freshly steamed momos must have a tantalising affect on Guddu’s empty stomach. He smacks his mouth and swallows involuntarily.

"For a boy of his age, who spends most of his days collecting dirty things from garbage bins, life must be hell for him," a neatly clad student of a private school tells his friends gathered around a dinning table for their lunch.

These street children receive 20 rupees each at the end of the day for whatsoever they collect. If they are starving in the day, they could beg the amount early.

Separated from his family in Janakpur, at a very young age, Guddu is left to fend for himself. "I was in class one in Janakpur, when I came to Kathmandu," he recalls.

"I am working for my sahoos (masters)," says Taprej Muslim, who came to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj five years ago. He does not remember when he came to Kathmandu, but concedes that his parents had left him here to earn some money for himself.

Six child rights NGOs, including CWIN, ‘Helping Hand’ and ‘Sathi’ claim to be actively involved in providing health clinics, night shelters and ‘co-operative kitchen’ to street children. They also run counselling centers. Besides, these child-centred NGOs have also opened rehabilitation and vocational training centres.

The world of the street urchin, the world of commercial exploitation by the rich and unscrupulous, is a kingdom of confusion and struggle. Born with hope and vision to lead a dignified life, Muslim ended up in an unwanted job, where even street dogs chase him.

NSP meeting inconclusive

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RAJBIRAJ, Feb 15 : Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) could not put forward clear political agenda on the national political issues today as the controversy surrounding the party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal continues to deepen.

The party meeting, which concluded in Rajbiraj today ended inconclusively as it failed to decide its stance on the issue of constituent assembly, round talks meeting and interim government, the pre-conditions for dialogue between the government and the Maoists, according to a party source.

The party had earlier vowed to clearly spell out its stance on the current political situation following the declaration of cease-fire.