Maoists admit mistake; pledge to treat injured kids

By Binod Tripathee

KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : The Maoists have pledged help for the treatment of a student who was seriously hurt by their stray bullet within the compound of a local school in Bohara village on Tuesday morning. Two school children playing in ground were killed while one was hurt when the guns carried by the Maoist cadres went off accidentally, according to a source.

Maoist cadres carrying guns had entered the compound of Prabha Secondary School that morning. Meanwhile, their guns went off and killed Babindra Kunwar, 12, a grade three student and Sher Bahadur Kunbar, a grade seven student. However, Ganesh Nepali, 13, a grade four student was seriously hurt in the incident. Guardians of the victims in the incident are members of People Front Nepal (PFN) party, according to a source.

"While such an incident occurs even during cease-fire, I wonder how many should have died during insurgency," said a local.

The Maoists have admitted their mistake in the incident and the commander of the outfit has pledged full help for the treatment of the injured children, according to Lila Bahadur Thapa Magar, a central member of PFN.

The Maoists also handed over Rs 2,000 each to guardians of the deceased children. Asserting that money cannot bring to life their deceased children, the guardians appealed the Maoists to stop further killings, added Thapa.

The Maoists denied to hand over the corpses to the guardians and forcibly buried the deceased children near the local Siwakhola stream. Later, with the help of villagers, the corpses were dug out and their final rites performed by their fathers last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, PFN has dispatched a team to the site to probe into the incident, according to a party source.

Graft accused get bail

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MORANG, Feb 23  : Four employees at Rani custom office and a representative of a businessmen of Morang district have been released on bail. They were caught red handed last Thursday by the investigation and follow-up team of District Administration Office (DAO).

Those released are Prem Parajuli and Keshab Nepal, clerks; Mohan Kumar Pokhrel and Kumar Koirala, junior employees in the custom office and Mukunda Adhikari, the representative of the merchant. They were accused of indulging in graft, for providing prompt service to the merchants, according to DAO. "The bribery amount of Rs 19,000 was confiscated from them and they were released on a bail of Rs 9,000 each," said Kailash Nath Kharel, Assistant Chief District Officer (CDO).

However, a source at the custom office has discounted the DAO claim that the persons were involved in corruption. "DAO move is highly motivated towards bagging government favour. It had confiscated the amount that the merchant representative carried to clear custom tax," said the source.

NC (Democratic) lone presence in roundtable meeting with Maoists

By Kashiram Dangi

ROLPA, Feb 23 : Major political parties except for the Nepali Congress (Democratic) boycotted a round-table meeting called by the Maoists yesterday. However, members of the civil society and local media persons attended the meeting held in Korsabang village, about one-day walking distance from Rolpa’s district headquarters, Libang.

Maoists are committed to resolve the crisis dogging the country for the past few years through talks and the present truce situation should not be violated at any cost, remarked a high profile Maoist source at the programme. The programme was organised by Magrat Autonomous Region Joint District Committee.

Speaking as the chief guest at the round-table programme, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, a central member of the Maoist party said that talks won’t be possible unless the monarchial, parliamentary and the force waging people war are in a poised state.

"There has been much rumour on talks following the declaration of truce, but there has not been a breakthrough to that effect to date. This gives a sense of conspiracy," said Subedi.

Aimed to be a round-table meet, the programme turned to a round-table programme as no other political parties except the Nepali Congress (Democratic) turned up.

However, the representatives of the Civil Society, intellectuals, journalists, teachers and local merchants participated in the programme.

Free discussion in the programme revolved around round-table meet, interim government and the need of a Constituent Assembly. The Maoist side in the programme reiterated that the party is flexible for talks.

The Maoists also asked those fleeing villages to return home and that they would be given general amnesty.

In the programme, advocate Bhoj Raj Acharya, a member of the Rolpa Civil Society, presented a 25-point demands to Subedi, that is meant for the Maoists and the government for the success of peace talks.

Addressing the programme, Subedi alleged the government for not releasing the Maoist cadres held captive and for not calling the army back to their barracks.

Stressing on the party insistance, Subedi also stated that the Royal Nepal Army should be under the government and that the Maoist militia should be merged with the national army.

He also stated that the party would soon release persons held captive around the country.

Postal service a boon for devotees

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KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : Pithadhis Shri Shri 1008 Balsanta Mohansharan Devacharya inaugurated the postal counter in the area of Baraha temple on 21 February. Inaugurating the counter, Devacharya expressed his gratitude towards the Post Office for starting the service and opined that the postal service would help the devotees.

Gopal Katuwal, District Postal Chief of Sunsari apprised that people had to walk for more than two hours earlier to use the postal service in that area. For the operation of the postal service in that area, businessman Rambabu Sah has provided the building whereas the furniture and other requirements have been provided by the local Village Development Committee, guthi and the club.

Engineers flay decision to put them under DDO

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KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : Engineers at an interaction today flayed the latest government decision to put all development technicians under the District Development Office (DDO).

"The professionals should be controlled by the professionals alone and not by the officials from outside the profession," said Chetanath Pandey, executive member of Nepal Engineers’ Association.

The technicians should be allowed to enjoy full authority to approve the cost estimate and other technical and financial bids of the development infrastructure development works," added Pandey.

Presenting a paper on structural changes of the engineering services in the country, Behari Krishna Shrestha, a senior engineer said there was a need for drastic change in the concept of central and district level projects.

"All the district level projects should be brought under the jurisdiction of District Development Committees (DDCs) irrespective of their size," said Shrestha.

All the engineers who attended today’s interaction stressed the need for enacting changes in the present Local Self-Governance Act (LSGA) in order to make the engineers fully responsible for all sorts of infrastructure development works in the district level. They also said that the LSGA was not implemented properly.

Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal assured the engineers that the government’s motive to put the engineers under Local Development Officer was not to humiliate them but to make a sound coordination in the development works.

National Dalit Commission presents strategy paper

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KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : National Dalit Commission is set to co-ordinate an interaction programme with public bodies to eliminate racial discrimination and untouchability prevailing in the country, revealed a strategy paper released by the commission.

The strategy paper was presented at a programme organised by NDC to interact on the formulation and counselling of the Commission’s Strategy Paper.

The programme was chaired by Padam Singh Biswokarma, chairman of NDC.

The paper highlighted various programmes and the objectives of the commission. At the same time NDC has also highlighted the concerned bodies related to the programme and the development of Dalits.

The strategy also emphasises on the establishment of the National Dalit Source Centre and national recognition of the Dalit community.

Various people involved in the Dalit movement were present at the programme namely, Man Bahadur Biswokarma, president of Rastriya Dalit Manav Adhikar Sarokar Kendra and former member of Parliament, Maan Bahadur Biswokarma, president of Nepal Dalit Sangh, Dhaal Bahadur Biswokarma, president of Rastriya Jana Uthan Sansthan, D B Sagar president of Dalit NGO Federation.

The commission will come with a definite strategy in the near future, considering the suggestions and complaints of concerned people.

Programme to create awareness about brain attacks

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KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : Every year around 50,000 people are suffering from brain attacks. With the number of patients on the rise, Jaya Stroke Foundation (JSF) is organising an awareness programme.

Brain attack is the sudden blocking or damage of the brain vein, leading to stopping of the brain cell, thereby paralysing the patient.

Explaining about the programme, Divya Ratna Hada, General Secretary of JSF said that due to lack of awareness, people suffering from brain attacks are not getting treatment on time. "Therefore to fulfil this need, JSF has been established to create awareness among the people about the disease."

Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, Assistant Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation inaugurated the programme.

Laxmi’s life story, an inspiration for women

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Kathmandu, Feb. 23 : Empowering Nepalis women is not possible unless they cultivate their in-built qualities themselves. This message was put forth by Laxmi Sharma, a successful business woman.

She was talking to an audience comprising of women today at an interaction programme organised by Swati Ko Abhiyan, a NGO working for women’s empowerment.

Laxmi Sharma did not hesitate displaying pride in her own story of ups and downs, both in personal and professional life. However, she attained the pinnacle of success after emerging from a personal tragedy. Deceived by her husband, a young Laxmi, then an illiterate mother of three daughters ventured to drive a tempo in the streets of Kathmandu for the first time for a living. Undaunted by the barbs of a conservative society, she went about her work to become the first woman tempo driver in the country.

When she met a foreign lady, who gave her an idea about the button industry, her life took a different turn. She entered into the new business with immense zeal and confidence. After 18 years in business, Laxmi Crafts today has become synonymous with her signature products and established her as one of the leading business women of the country. She has been showered with both international and national honours including the national young entrepreneur award.

The buttons produced by her factory are much in demand in foreign markets such as Germany, US, UK and other countries. Last year alone, her turnover touched one core 27 lakhs.

Despite piles of banks loans, Laxmi considers herself a successful business woman. " I am not afraid of piles of loans in banks. Actually, loans create successful business people," she quipped with a smile.

She has elaborate plans for her factory and herself in the days to come.

While she through her factory expects to train many skilled button producers like her, opening an old age home and campaigning for protection of animal rights are also issues up her sleeve.

Posthumous honour for noted poet

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KATHMANDU, Feb 23 : Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Pashupati Shumser Rana gave away Excellent Manuscript Award to late poet Janak Prasad Sharma amidst a function in the capital today.

The award, which was set up by Bagar Publications, was handed over to Dr. Suman Dhakal, son of late poet Sharma.

Rana also gave away Gopal Prasad Rimal Award to poet duo, Manjul and Gopal Prasad Parajuli. Bagar Awards on children’s literature, social service, education, music and songs, and technology were given away to Jakan Prasad Humagain, Padma Jyoti, Punya Prasad Neupane, Shankar Shah and Mahesh Bikram Shah and Mohan Bahadur Kayastha and Bishnu Bahadur Singh respectively.

The chairman of the function, Hemraj Gyawali, litterateur from Sikkim Shiva Pradhan and son of late Sharma, Dr Dhakal highlighted the importance of literature in the society.