Govt names two-member talks team

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : The government today formed a two-member committee - comprising of senior cabinet ministers Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani and Kamal Thapa - to revive the peace process with the Maoist rebels.

A decision to this effect was taken during the first meeting of the Surya Bahadur Thapa-led cabinet, which was expanded yesterday.

Minister for Information and Communications Kamal Thapa, who has also been appointed the spokesperson of the government as well as the dialogue team, told The Kathmandu Post that other members to be included in the team would be named after due consultation with the political parties. "The government will start consulting the mainstream political parties immediately."

Prime Minister Thapa instructed the team members to enhance cooperation and coordination with the political parties.

Minister Kamal Thapa said that the meeting also decided to set up a secretariat of the team under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), for providing permanent institutional support to the dialogue process.

A source in the cabinet disclosed that the necessity of setting up a secretariat was felt on the basis of the past experience, when documentation and record keeping turned out to be a problem.

The secretariat has been set up as per the government policy to continue peace dialogue with the Maoists in a more systematic manner. PM Thapa had in an interview given to The Kathmandu Post on Wednesday said that the peace process would be expedited with a new spirit.

The erstwhile Lokendra Bahadur Chand-led government have already held two rounds of talks with the rebels, who waged a violent people’s war for seven years.

Two rounds of talks were held on April 27 and May 9. The Maoists have put forth their 24-point demand during the talks but the government is yet to respond to most of the demands, including the three political demands - roundtable conference, formation of an all-party government and election to the constituent assembly.

The spokesperson of the Maoists team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, commenting on the formation of the new government dialogue team, said the changes don’t make any difference, if it gives continuity to the ongoing process. "Our relation depends on the attitude that the new team shows towards implementation of the agreements reached during the two rounds of talks."

Maoists solicit parties’ support for common agenda

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has solicited support of other political parties to decide on minimum common agenda as a way out to the current political problems.

Speaking at a forum organised to discuss a common minimum agenda for a forward-looking solution to the current crisis, Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai, coordinator of the Maoist negotiating team, asked the political parties to form a minimum consensus so as to move ahead jointly.

"King’s unilateral act of appointing Surya Bahadur Thapa as the prime minister has brought the parliamentary parties and the Maoists closer, Dr Bhattarai said. "So it is the best opportunity for all of us to form a common agenda of progressive outlook and continue peoples’ joint movement."

He also demanded that the king’s ‘state power’ must be seized and the Royal Nepal Army should be brought under parliament’s control, which, according to him, can be a common agenda of the movement.

The Maoist politburo member stressed that a new constitution should be drafted, "since the current constitution has become defunct after the king’s October 4 move." He added that constituent assembly was the best way to formulate a new constitution. "But we are open to other alternatives too."

The forum was organised by the National Peoples’ Movement Committee Nepal, a sister organisation of the CPN-Maoist.

On the occasion, he also accused the government of trying to re-organise its power by deliberately extending the span of the peace negotiations. "I don’t think the negotiation will go on," Dr. Bhattarai said. "However, we will not withdraw from the negotiation table."

Narahari Acharya, a central working committee member of the Nepali Congress said that his party was never against the constituent assembly. "Nepali Congress is open to constituent assembly," Acharya said. "There is a hot debate on the issue of constituent assembly in the Nepali Congress from the centre down to the village level."

He urged all political parties including the Maoists to form a common agenda of a forward-looking approach so as to resolve the current political stalemate. "Let’s discuss this issue on a broader level."

Besides ensuring parliament’s control over the RNA and transparency in royal expenditures, the constitution should also provision referendum as a way to solicit people’s mandate in crucial issues and to safeguard peoples’ sovereignty, Acharya said.

He, however, did not delve on the process of formulating a new constitution.

Shankar Pokharel, a central committee member of the CPN-UML, stressed that only constituent assembly would resolve the current political imbroglio.

Lila Mani Pokharel, vice chairman of the Peoples’ Front Nepal (PFN) and Sarita Giri, central committee member of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) also said that the constituent assembly was only the way out of present crisis.

Govt apathy ensures 165 VDCs will go without secretaries

By Kiran Chapagain

KATHMANDU, June 12 : Due to government’s failure to implement the nearly six-month-old Civil Service Act (second amendment) Ordinance, 165 village development committees (VDCs) have no secretaries to run administrative, developmental and other works at the local level.

The 165 VDCs will have no secretaries for one more year, as the ordinance is expiring on June 17, as the existing Civil Service Act does not allow any temporary appointments, and Public Service Commission’s records show that it will take at least one year for recruitments to be filled up in permanent posts.

"The VDCs without secretaries are likely to remain so unless the Ordinance is renewed before the deadline," Hari Prasad Rimal, spokesperson at the Ministry of the Local Development (MoLD) told The Kathmandu Post.

The government made the provisional arrangements to fill up the vacant posts of secretaries in the village development committees in December last year through the Civil Service Act (second amendment) Ordinance. Doubts surround the government’s ability and seriousness towards fulfilling the remaining vacant secretaries, as the Ordinance is expiring in five days. Moreover, Ordinance renewal requires cabinet decision, which will be another stumbling block, even if the ministry works at unbelievable pace.

Currently, in the absence of elected local bodies the importance of the government secretaries in villages is immense. Still, the ministry has not taken any initiative until the eleventh hour. In the absence of VDC secretaries, all the development works, revenue collection, administrative works, among others, in the VDC level have been adversely affected.

"It is the responsibility of respective district development committees (DDCs) to demand for secretaries to either zonal or regional offices of the Public Service Commission (PSC)," spokesperson Rimal said,

"We have been informed that some PSC offices did not respond in some, and just lukewarm response in others." He, however, denied exposing the uncooperative PSC offices.

PSC officials, on the other hand, claim that the ministry should be responsible for the lacking. "They have not approached us with their demand list until now, so how are we supposed to recruit in the posts," Babu Ram Sapkota, spokesperson of the PSC said.

According to the Ordinance, MoLD is required to inform the PSC about the vacant VDC secretaries before the latter acted upon recruitment process, adds Sapkota. The PSC, after receiving demand list will then either appoint candidates from its waiting list or give consent to respective DDCs to hire by themselves. However, another source at the ministry informed The Kathmandu Post on condition of anonymity that political interference at the local level over recruitment of VDC secretaries hindered the appointments. He added that political interferences in appointments of secretaries in 22 remote districts were recently foiled by local development officers.

According to the MoLD, there are 50 VDC secretary posts vacant in Mid-Western Development Region whereas the number in Central Region is 40. Similarly, 38 VDCs in Western Region, 28 in Eastern Region and 9 in Far Western Region are without VDC secretaries.

The Ordinance was promulgated on December 18, amending a provision in the Civil Service Act (2049 BS) that barred a temporary recruitment in civil service, as it was felt urgent to fill up the VDC secretary posts temporarily. The importance of the government secretaries in the VDCs has been felt more in the light of the absence of the locally elected leaders.

Two dozen families homeless in landslide

FUNGLING, Taplejung, June 12 (PR)- Two people were feared buried and about two dozen families rendered homeless after a heavy landslide caused by torrential rains on Tuesday night, washed away their houses in the remote Niguradin Village Development Committee, police here said.

The site of the landslide at Fungwa village of the VDC is located at about a day’s walk from here, the district headquarters.

Police said that Chautare Sherpa’s daughter and son-in-law went missing in the heavy landslide while fleeing their house at night. Their identities could not be verified immediately.

Bal Bahadur Tamang, former ward member of the VDC-8, said that the swollen Fungwa river coupled with heavy landslide swept through the Fungwa village and washed away all the houses.

The flooded river also washed away seven suspension bridges downstream and crops planted on hundreds of ropanis of land.

"Our land has been inundated with flood water after landslide hit the village," said Tamang. Locals said that the landslide that started from above the Fungwa village is still falling and it could create more havoc for the villagers, as the monsoon is yet to arrive.

Last year also, a total of 28 people were killed and hundreds of ropanis of land was washed away in heavy landslides that occurred in four northern VDCs during the monsoon. No relief has been provided by the local authorities to the victims till the time of filing of the report.

Parliamentary democracy answer to current crisis: UK envoy

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : The United Kingdom’s Special Representative to Nepal Sir Jeffrey James today expressed hope that the formation of the new government will lead to a more broad-based, multi-party government, enjoying widespread support and full executive powers, under the principles of parliamentary democracy.

"Given the challenges facing Nepal, it is important to find a solution to the current differences, based on principles of parliamentary democracy," Sir James opined during a press conference held here today.

Replying to a question on the current political situation in Nepal, after the October 4 royal move through which King Gyanendra had assumed executive powers, the UK envoy said that Nepal was in a very unique and difficult situation at present, in the absence of any parliament and with no prospects of elections in the foreseeable future.

"It is very difficult to see how the elections can be held without a negotiated settlement," Sir James said, referring to the Maoist conflict.

He called for rebuilding of democratic structures, pointing out that such structures at the local level have been abolished. He suggested it was up to the Nepali players - the political parties, the king and the civil society - on how this will be achieved. "I do not want to try to prescribe how a return to full democracy can be achieved."

The purpose of his visit, his second since March as Special Representative after his appointment in February, he said was to "see what new opportunities might have opened up, to help push the peace process forward, that is the top priority". Moreover, to learn what has happened since my last visit, he added.

"We remain convinced that there can be no acceptable military solution to the conflict," he pointed out. However, he added that Britain was committed to training and other non-lethal assistance, to enable the security forces to counter any resumption of hostilities. But he also said that this assistance was designed in such a way as "to ensure that the army do abide by international norms and standards".

Speaking on the US putting the Maoists on its terrorist watch list, he said there was no intention "as our laws and practices are different". He also added that he had no intention to meet the Maoists during this visit.

While urging both the government and the Maoists to conclude the human rights agreement which is being finalised, the envoy emphasised that the code of conduct should be fully observed and respected in good faith by all sides. "We look forward to a successful outcome to the peace process, consistent with stability in Nepal."

Sir James also said that this meant an overall agreement, embracing constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy, under which all sides renounce the means and use of violence for political ends; and all parties are free to participate in national elections. "These seem to me to be the essentials of any agreement likely to be acceptable to a majority of the Nepalis and true to the principles of parliamentary democracy.

Replying to a question on his experience with Nepal’s neighbours, Sir James said that part of his job was to strengthen international cooperation for Nepal and said that he had already met officials from India, the US, the UN and the International Monetary Fund.

Five-party movement lacks clarity: Oli

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : At a time when the five-party joint movement against the October 4 royal move has entered its fourth phase, an influential leader of the CPN-UML, KP Oli said that the movement lacked clarity in its goal.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme held at Reporters’ Club here today, Oli said, "Now the movement should be pushed forward with a specific goal."

Oli further said that it should be clear whether the objective of the movement was to revive the House or to form an all-party government. " We should also be clear if our intention is something else - to install a prime minister of our choice."

He claimed that he was in favour of a massive movement against regression but said that the ‘snail pace’ movement launched without any specific demand would not reach its destination.

Oli strongly ruled out the possibility of revival of the dissolved House of Representatives, one of the two main demands put forward by the five agitating political parties before the king, adding, "It would provide another pretext to the king for further encroachment of the constitution." He seemed somewhat critical of the party leadership, saying that parties were rushing to score points from the movement. " There is competition even among the agitating parties to gain an upper hand in the movement."

Such a competition coupled with parochial party interests has dampened the spirit of the movement and hampered its progress. Refuting rumours that some influential UML leaders including himself were defecting the party to join the government, Oli said, "It is baseless and is never going to happen."

Oli also stressed that the king had a role in resolving the present crisis. "Since he is the person who is responsible for the present turmoil, he must take the first step to resolve the impasse."

Arjun Narsingh KC, Nepali Congress spokesman admitted that the movement lacked clear objectives but said a committee comprising of representatives from all the five parties was doing homework for further clarity. " The parties will come up with a single stance within a few days," said KC. Justifying the rationale behind the demand for House reinstatement, he said, "It was the only way to bring back the derailed constitutional process onto the right track."

KC said that his party was ready to discuss, among others, the issue of House reinstatement with PM Surya Bahadur Thapa, provided if he called a meeting with an intention to find a way out of the present political stalemate. He claimed that revival of the dissolved House was possible only through the use of Article 127 of the Constitution since the article’s main objective was to stop the constitution from being defunct.

Hillary’s best-selling book looks far beyond market returns

By Akhilesh Upadhyay

NEW YORK, June 12 : Former US First Lady Hillary Clinton’s tell-all memoir Living History has been on a record-breaking sales spree since its release on Monday. But to many Americans, the book certainly looks beyond the immediate market returns, possibly to 2008 presidential race.

It has been viewed as a calculated mid-career move by an extremely ambitious woman who has her sights set on the White House. The leading Democratic fund-raiser, Hillary early this week ruled out bidding for the 2004 presidency but has kept the option open for the 2008 race.

In a country where politicians live and die by their pubic image, the book has already done Hillary some good.

It has improved her image, according to USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll which asked 1,029 adults their opinion about the former First Lady after the release of the book. The poll gave Hillary 53 percent approval rating, her best since she was elected to the Senate in 2000.

On Monday, the retail sale of Living History hit an estimated 200,000-mark, a first-day record for the publisher Simon & Schuster which paid Hillary $ 8 million in advance for the book.

The memoir also set the world’s largest book-seller ablaze-Barnes & Nobel outlets sold 40,000 copies in the first 24 hours, its record first-day sale for non-fiction.

Here in Manhattan, people started arriving the night before at a Barnes & Nobel outlet where the New York senator made an appearance and signed autographs on Monday.

The 562-page volume gives the American public a ring-side view of Hillary’s eight roller-coaster years in the White House, including her response to President Clinton’s belated confession of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern.

Hillary writes that her husband lied to her until August 15, 1998, days before his admission of the affair to the Grand Jury.

"I could hardly breathe," Hillary writes of the painful moment. "Gulping for air, I started crying and yelling at him, ‘What do you mean? What are you saying? Why did you lie to me?’ I was furious and getting more so by the second."

Despite what seems like a revealing narrative, many aren’t very impressed by the book, insisting that money, and nothing else, was the only motivation behind the book.

The Clintons still have to clear huge legal bills accrued during President Clinton’s second term in office, thanks to the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

To others, the book gives Hillary the opportunity to silence her would-be critics by saying that she has already made public her positions on various controversies surrounding the Clinton presidency, a move that could come in especially handy if she decides to run for the White House.

"Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s new book...", observed The New York Times in its editorial yesterday, "is reminder that the memoir-and especially the mid-career memoir-is an inherently insincere art form.

"Every autobiographical writer struggles with the question of how to create a portrait of the self. But for Senator Clinton, the portrait she is trying to create is both personal and political."

A columnist laments that the differences between "Living History" and the greatest of all American political biographies, "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant" are obvious. An outstanding military mind, Grant saved the Union during the Civil War and later became the 18th U.S. President from 1869-77.

Lohani’s economic challenges; same as two decades ago

By Prem Khanal

KATHMANDU, June 12 : When Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani entered Bagh Durbar (Finance Ministry) in 1984 as the finance minister, the economy was on the verge of stagflation - coexistence of high inflation and unemployment - along with crippling growth rate and most importantly, a collapsing foreign currency reserve.

After a gap of two decades, visibly delighted Dr Lohani entered the ministry today, readying to face almost the same Herculean challenges that he had faced then, but with a difference; the economy currently has a comfortable foreign exchange reserve.

Another coincidence; when he became minister back in 1984, the global economy was reviving from a severe economic downturn, now, the global economy is on the process of revival after the burst of global economic bubble in 1999. Then Dr Lohani had tactfully cashed the soaring international demand and almost doubled the exports within two-year tenure. It is yet to see if he will be successful to rescue the troubled exports this time.

Dr Lohani, 59, was the chief architect of economic liberalisation that Nepal opted as the economy was sensing a looming disaster. The disaster did occur in 1985, compelling Nepal to call international assistance to stabilise the economy. Dr Lohani garnered strong donor support, which tripled the foreign aid to Rs 9.5 billion by the time Lohani left the office. He thinks the timely decision of liberalisation worked as a great cushion at the time of fall.

In his last tenure Dr Lohani piloted a massive financial sector reform programme, despite stiff resistance. The programme was aimed at accelerating the almost stagnant economy. His budget of the fiscal year 1984/85, for the first time allowed the joint-venture banks to operate in Nepal. "The policy of enhancing the domestic financial market by allowing joint venture banks is the best option to mobilise available resources and channelling it for necessary investments," he was quoted as saying.

Then he had told The Kathmandu Post that reform measures were not initiated under the foreign pressure. The policies, including joint venture banks were aimed at improving the financial condition of two largest government banks by creating a healthy competition in the financial market.

In the course of reforms, Lohani went further and revoked the administered interest rate on both deposit and lending, which contributed in enhancing competition in the market. On the other hand, the decision to clamp a minimum interest rate mechanism in deposits did protect interest of small depositors.

He had also permitted the state-owned Agriculture Development Bank to operate commercial banking transactions, which he had argued was necessary to improve its financial health and to channel urban-concentrated resources for rural development. But the decision is often criticized, as economists argue that ADB’s focus to rural areas and agriculture was faded.

Dr Lohani, did PhD in Business Administration from University of California in 1968, is blamed for adopting an ‘ad hoc expansionary monetary policy,’ which fuelled both the inflation and imports that ultimately depleted foreign currency reserve to record low level of Rs 77.4 million, July 1985.

Apart from swallowing foreign exchange reserve, the high inflation greatly eroded the competitiveness of Nepali goods and compelled a devaluation of Nepali currency by almost 15 per cent. He, however, refutes the charges and says wrong policies of early eighties were responsible for the financial turmoil, and claims that he did a good job to minimise the damage.

In his last conversation with The Kathmandu Post about two months back, he had implicitly expressed his sadness for the emergence of a situation in which he had to quit Bagh Durbar, as he had many incomplete missions. Now, the opportunity is once again in his hand.

200 affected by diarrhea in Bhojpur
Viral influenza gradually subsiding in Dolakha

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BHOJPUR, June 12 : Around 200 people of 50 households in Chyangre Village Development Committee, located about 15-km east of here, have fallen sick as a result of diarrhea over the last few days.

Uday Karki of the VDC said that almost all the family members in some households were also found to have suffered from diarrhea that chiefly spread in the locality due to the consumption of impure water and poor sanitation.

He said that most of the people were suffering from diarrhea at ward Nos 5 and 7 of the VDC. Health workers stationed at a local health post said they were facing difficulties in dealing with such a large number of people suffering from the disease.

Parshu Tiwari, a teacher at Panch Kanya Higher Secondary School, said that the school has also been closed indefinitely, as most of the teachers were also affected by the contagious disease.

Gyan Bahadur Basnet, an officer at Bhojpur District Public Health Office (DPHO), said that a team of medics had already been sent along with medicines to the affected area, after they received information about the epidemic. He said that no deaths have been reported from the disease so far.

Meanwhile, a report from Dolakha stated that a mobile team of medics examined around 600 people suffering from viral influenza in the northern Sunkhani Village Development Committee, according to officials at the Dolakha DPHO.

Around a dozen schools, including the privately run ones, have been closed down indefinitely after the contagious disease spread in the area, affecting almost all the school going children since last week. Health worker Bharat Khadka, who was leading the mobile team, said though the disease was gradually subsiding, it would take at least two weeks to fully bring it under control.

Nepal’s anti-trafficking efforts not up to the mark: US report

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : The US State Department in its 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) released yesterday said that the Government of Nepal did not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

However, it said that the government was making significant efforts to do so despite severe resource constraints, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy here today.

The State Department issues the report to US Congress as required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The law was enacted in October 2000 to combat human trafficking by ensuring the effective punishment of traffickers and enhancing protection for victims.

The TIP Report said that no changes were reported for Nepal as it has still been placed in Tier 2 (Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Act’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards).

Noting "pioneering efforts" in preventing trafficking, it called for more vigorous efforts to prosecute all forms of trafficking, stronger co-ordination of law enforcement efforts, and serious efforts to curb corruption so as to improve Nepal’s anti-trafficking efforts.

Four of the other SAARC countries - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - are also placed in this group. Bhutan and the Maldives are not mentioned in any of the categories. Thirty countries are included for the first time in the TIP report due to increased information on the scope and magnitude of trafficking.

Student unions, Education Ministry meeting today

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KATHMANDU, June 12 : The seven student unions will sit for talks with the Ministry of Education tomorrow to discuss the demands related to private and public schools.

Although the students reached an agreement with Tribhuvan University on 17 of the 68 demands yesterday, an agreement is yet to be reached on the remaining with the government and other universities.

"We have not stopped our agitation yet," said Rajendra Rai, President of All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU). The talks, which will be led by Lava Prasad Tripathi, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports from the government side, is to be held in Tripureshwore tomorrow morning.

"If the talks are not successful tomorrow, we will continue with our plans to close all the schools indefinitely from June 15," said Gagan Thapa, general-secretary of Nepal Students’ Union (NSU). Thapa, however, hoped that the talks would end on a positive note.

Thapa also made it clear that whatever conclusion was drawn tomorrow, it would not affect the functioning of TU. However, Rai said that the student unions would monitor the commitment of the university in the next month and act accordingly. "The agitation against TU has only been postponed," he said.

July 12 is the date set for a meeting between the TU officials and the students. Earlier the students held a press conference in which the 26-point agreement signed between the unions and TU yesterday was released.

Record setting trekkers arrive at Pashupatinagar

By Bikash Sangraula and Madhav Ghimire

PASHUPATINAGAR, Ilam, June 12 : A team of trekkers led by British adventurer Rosie Swale arrived at the eastern frontier of the country today, 69 days after they commenced the trek from the western frontier of Hilsa, Humla. This is the first time the feat has been achieved at one go.

After spending yesterday night in Ilam, the 14-member team arrived at Pashupatinagar today afternoon, to be welcomed by a huge gathering which accompanied the team to the Nepal-India border.

"I love Nepal, " said Rosie after setting her foot across the border, triggering cries of jubilation from hundreds of people who had gathered there to see the historic expedition complete. The town of Pashupatinagar was all active throughout the day due to the arrival. The towns folk welcomed her with Lakhe dance, offering khadas, vermillion and later a cultural program as well.

The trek was organized to collect funds for keeping up medical facilities in the remote district of Humla. At present, Nepal Trust has revamped a health post and set up four other health posts in the district apart from improving facilities in the only hospital in Humla.

Hari Prasad Limbu, director of Nepal Trust, said today that four more health posts will be set up in Humla soon. Humla is one of the most remote regions of the country with unproductive soil and very poor transportation and communication infrastructures.

Renchin Lama, a member of the team and a resident of Humla said that the journey is special not only in its social value, but also because it has helped to bring out various secret of Nepal hitherto unknown. "There is lot more to Nepal than we know. This trek has uncovered the unknown," he said.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, Swale said that the trek was difficult. "We went through blizzards and snow. We got lost in jungles, spent nights under the stars and were attacked by leeches and snakes." There were perceptible leech-marks on Rosie’s feet. The team also went through difficult passes like Tushila (5,500 m), Thorangla (5400 m), Nara (4500 m), Gomar Larke Danfe, Shalpa and Maure.

Despite the hardships, Rosie found the trek a life-changing experience. "For people with dreams, we have managed to get across the message that anything is possible," said the 58-year-old grandmother. She also disclosed that contrary to the expected 1500 km, the trek stretched across 1700 kms. However, the team measured the length of Nepal in 69 days, 15 days less than 84 days expected earlier.

The only other female member of the team, Pema Dolma Lama, a health worker based in Humla, said that the trek was smooth. "Two of our team members discontinued from Kakani and two from Tumlingtar due to health reasons. The remaining 14 also suffered minor health problems during the trek, particularly high altitude sickness and diarrhea. But there were no major hiccups."

Lama believes that the trek was a revealing experience for her in terms of discovering the country and its people. "We are more interested in going abroad. A trek to remote Nepal is a more rewarding effort," she said. Lama understood the hardships of Nepalese women more closely during the trek. "My participation in the trek shows that Nepalese women can achieve what men can," she said joyously.

Thapa Govt will be short-lived: Koirala

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DHARAN, June 12 : Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala today said that the Surya Bahadur Thapa government would also be short-lived because the king used him as a last resort to deal with the national crises.

Talking to reporters at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, where he had gone for a health check-up, Koirala said, "Although the king has picked him (Thapa) up as a last resort, his government will also not long last."

He also stressed that the king should make public the details of his current property. "It is necessary to declare his property because it has been transferred from one family to another," he added. He, however, was quick to add that he did not have any malice toward the monarch while raising the issue of his property.

He claimed that the movement launched by five major political parties was peaking and reiterated that it would continue until the dissolved House of Representatives was reinstated.

His party has been maintaining that the only solution to the crises facing the country is the revival of the House, which was dissolved on May 22 last year on the recommendation of the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Earlier, senior doctors at the institute had advised him to rest for some days. The doctors diagnosed that he had a problem in his chest due to chain smoking.