Seismic station to be set up

By Suvecha Pant

KATHMANDU, March 3 : The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is to establish a seismic centre under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in Nepal. The exact location of the seismic station will be decided after necessary studies.

Similarly, MOST is also to form policies on the use of nuclear power and radiation mapping as well as to be a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The first meeting held by the Steering Committee, established under the chairmanship of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Upendra Devkota on February 13, especially to focus on nuclear power/energy today formed four sub-committees in these areas.

"The steering committee was established after the Minister for Science and Technology identified the need for the study and formation of policies for Nuclear Power," said Dayaram Bahadur Shrestha, secretary of MOST, told The Kathmandu Post.

Shrestha added that the steering committee, having 15 members including Minister Devkota, the Nepal Planning Commission, Vice-Chancellor of RONAST, secretary of MOST, defence secretary, foreign secretary has formed separate groups for study in various areas related to nuclear energy in Nepal.

As per the meeting’s decision, the Member-Secretary of the Committee will take necessary procedures required for Nepal to be a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under the Foreign Secretary, Madhu Raman Acharya, a sub-committee has been formed to study and present a report on the current state of CTBT in Nepal

Similarly, another sub-committee has been established under the Scientific Advisor at MOST, Prof. Dr. Kedar Lal Shrestha for the study and presentation of a report on Nuclear Energy and Radiation. For Radio Activity and Radiation Mapping in Nepal a team lead by Dr. Kamal Krishna Shrestha has been formed.

Further, the health impact of radiation mapping and radiation in cereals will be studied and the sub-committee formed under the Chief Radiologist of Bir Hospital, Dr. Bishnulal Joshi, will present a report on the findings.

"The sub-committees will perform their tasks and submit their findings to the steering committee," said Shrestha, "The steering committee will then decide on the course of action."

Donors willing to extend more aid for reconstruction

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KATHMANDU, March 3 ; The donor community has shown willingness in extending additional assistance worth millions of rupees for the reconstruction of infrastructure and to resume basic services in areas like education and health, and has urged the government to present a comprehensive development package of implementation.

A highly placed government source informed The Kathmandu Post that the major donors have already expressed their willingness to extend additional assistance for the post-conflict development programmes, but have asked for a detailed short-term package, including estimated expenditures and its sources soon.

"Donors have expressed their interest in extending cooperation in such programmes that, among others, would expedite effective implementation of the ongoing programmes and would help the people to feel change," said the source.

The government has initiated necessary homework for the development of the package, said the source, adding that if everything goes as planned, the package would be finalised by the end of next week. "We have been holding a parley of high-level meetings and the National Planning Commission (NPC), which is playing the lead role in formulating the package, has recently asked all the ministries to present development programmes to achieve the short-term objectives," he said.

In this regard, the NPC and the concerned ministries have mobilised their district-based channels to report to the centre what programmes that can be immediately implemented for producing quick people-centred results.

The donors want to exploit the opportunities brought about by the truce and they are ready to extend additional co-operation in the sectors that bring direct benefit to the people.

"If the government comes up with a concrete package on resuming the destroyed channels of delivering basic services, reconstructing sub-health posts, primary schools and airports, while ensuring their functioning as soon as possible, the government can immediately mobilise an additional grant assistance of at least Rs 5 billion," said the source.

Britain, India, Norway, Denmark, the USA, Japan, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, among others, are the major development partners that have shown interest in extending additional assistance for the package.

"With an aim to outline the draft of the package, a joint donor team had three meetings with the concerned government officials," said the source. The donors at this moment are less interested in rebuilding the destroyed VDC buildings rather they have shown interest in rebuilding public utilities, added the source.

Apart from new funds, the donors have also informed that they would also divert their unused funds to finance projects to be included in the package. Donors are also ready to finance projects like food for work programme. Similarly, the government of India has shown interest in constructing more than a dozen fully-equipped district hospitals.

Civil service amendment draft sent back to ministry

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KATHMANDU, March 3 ; Following the rifts between Chief Cabinet Secretary Bimal Koirala and some of the cabinet Ministers on the issue of promulgating Civil Service Act (Amendment Ordinance), the draft has been sent back to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MLJPA) for correction.

A cabinet source told The Kathmandu Post that the draft will be "improved" and "revised" to omit some inherited points of contentious in the draft.

"It would be unwise to forcefully pass the ordinance between rifts," said the source adding, "Decision was made to return the draft to the MLJPA for further improvements."

He also said that the draft would be reintroduced in the cabinet after necessary correction within a week. One of the main players, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Karna Bahadur Chand is retiring from next week.

The source also said that Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala was asked to send a letter of correction to a media that exposed the difference between the Ministers including Ramesh Nath Pandey and Chief Secretary Koirala.

"Koirala, however, denied to sign the letter," said the source. But Chief Secretary could not be contacted for his comments.

The unsigned statement denied that the discussion on the ordinance took place in the cabinet but accepted that the draft is being prepared. "The draft ordinance was not discussed in the cabinet on Friday," the statement said.

According to the sources, Public Service Commission, a constitutional body that looks after overall matters related to civil service in the country, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue revolving ministers’ attempt to promulgate an ordinance of a long-term effect.

"The PSC, as the sole authority to look after all the matters of civil service holders," a PSC member said. "We are going to discuss the issue of government’s ignorance to consult the PSC," said the member. The constitution of the kingdom of Nepal has made it obligatory to consult the PSC before any change in the civil service is initiated.

If the draft was approved in the form as it is, the civil service holders could be fired at anytime if the government wanted to do so. The discretionary power provided in the draft ordinance had drawn too much controversy that made the cabinet return the draft for further correction.

The draft was flayed by the bureaucrats as it would revoke the existing provisions of their promotion on the basis of their academic qualifications and experience equally.

The proposed draft revokes the academic qualifications as the ground of promotion.

Maoist duo continues meeting leaders

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) once again charged the government of not yet preparing the ‘conducive’ atmosphere for peaceful negotiation.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dina Nath Sharma, members of the Maoist-negotiation team in separate meetings on Monday with the leaders of the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress (NC) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP), alleged that the government was not fulfilling its part for peaceful dialogue.

Krishna Prasad Sitoula, a NC Central Working Committee member, who met Maoist leaders said, "The Maoists complained that the government has yet to make a code of conduct public, and release the prisoners of conscience."

Sitoula said that the Maoist leaders reiterated their commitment to safeguard the achievements of the 1990 Peoples’ Movement. "They are seeking progressive solution to the current political stand off," Sitoula said.

Sitoula found the Maoists far more positive on peace talks. "I don’t understand why the government is delaying."

The Maoist leaders during the meetings also assured that they would go along with the political parties for the peace negotiation. "Maoists have not yet been clear on their outlook towards monarchy," Sitoula said. He asked them to make a content-wise discussion in the next meeting.

"We did not have discussion on the Maoist agenda of the interim government, round table meeting and constituent assembly," Sitoula said.

The Maoist leaders sought all political parties, including the NC to cooperate in peace talks, and pressure the government to create minimum atmosphere for talks. Sitoula had no answer but to show them the King. "Since they had declared cease-fire in agreement with the King, they have to talk to him regarding this," Sitoula said.

Sitoula also urged them to immediately stop nation-wide extortion, threats so that the people could feel the existence of cease-fire.

Chakra Prasad Bastola, a member of NC CWC was also present during the meeting. Similarly, the Maoist leaders Mahara and Sharma in a separate meeting with Hridayesh Tripathi, leader of NSP today also urged all political parties for cooperation. Tripathi said that the Maoist leaders reiterated their demands of constituent assembly, interim government and round table meeting. "Besides these, they also discussed about the federal system of the government and the communal autonomy," Tripathi said.

During the meeting, Tripathi told the Maoist leaders that the NSP did not have reservation on the demand of constituent assembly.

Tripathi also claimed that the Maoist leaders looked positive and honest in the peace process. "I am convinced that there will not be any threats from the Maoists to the parliamentary system," Tripathi said. Tripathi, who met the duo also during the last peace talks, found both of the men physically and mentally strong.

Similarly, during their meeting with Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the UML today, Mahara and Sharma urged Nepal to approach the Maoist leaders directly for any reported extortion of UML cadres. However, Nepal could not come to contact until late night.

UML announces agitation for all-party Govt

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : The Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) has announced month-long nation-wide people’s campaign starting March 5 in order to press their demand for all-party government.

"An all-party government should be formed immediately to resolve the current political impasse," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the CPN-UML, speaking at a press briefing at the party office, Balkhu today. "Even the king is positive on the matter."

He also reiterated his demand for the immediate dissolution of the present Lokendra Bahadur Chand government.

"The nation now is at a very critical situation and the UML wants co-operation from all political parties at this move," Nepal said.

The UML’s people’s agitation would take the message of the party’s seventh national congress held in Janakpur to all party organisations across the nation, a statement issued after the press meet stated.

The movement would make every citizen aware of the regressive moves of the present government and prepare them to safeguard the achievements of the 1990 People’s Movement.

Flaying the Chand government of having no right to hold peace negotiation with the Maoists, Nepal claimed that only an all-party national government could proceed with peace talks with the Maoists and resolve the current political stand off. "Even the king’s role is not necessary in this process," Nepal said.

He urged all political parties to stay firm in the commitment made on the October 7 all-party meeting held immediately after the royal take-over. According to him, all political parties had unanimously agreed upon the formation of an all-party government under the letter and spirit of Article 128 of the Constitution.

Accusing the government of trying to conceal the regressive moves by prolonging the government-Maoists peace negotiation, Nepal asked the Maoists to join in the UML’s people’s agitation.

"The Maoists should try to realise the gravity of the situation and move together with us in order to single out the regressive force," Nepal said.

He also reiterated his demand to the Maoists to clarify about their call of a round table meeting, constituent assembly and an interim government.

Besides ward and district level mass rallies, the one-month protest programme made public by the party includes seminars, interaction, all-party meeting, march-passes and so on.

"It is a huge agitation to put pressure upon the present government," Nepal said.

JVT sorting out verified refugees

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : The Nepal-Bhutan Joint Verification Team (JVT) is currently working on the task of categorising the verified refugees in the Bhutanese capital, Thimpu, internet edition of Kuensel, the Bhutanese English language weekly, reported on Saturday.

The meeting comes in the wake of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meeting, which was held in Kathmandu in the first week of February. The JVT is expected to come to a conclusion after they finish off the task of categorising the refugees and exchanging notes on the issue.

The JMC had issued orders to the JVT to accomplish the task of categorising the Bhutanese refugees and submit the same at the next meeting of the JMC meeting which is scheduled to be held in Thimpu on March 24.

Since the JVT has compiled information about 12,095 refugees stationed in the Khudunabari refugee camp, they are currently categorising the total number into four categories: bona fide Bhutanese nationals forcefully evicted, Bhutanese nationals who have emigrated on own volition, non-Bhutanese and Bhutanese nationals who have moved out after committing crime back at home.

"The leaders of the two teams said they were trying to meet the deadline," Kuensel report said quoting the concerned officials. The leader of the Nepalese delegation Sushil SJB Rana has been quoted as saying, "We have to work as quickly as possible. It has been a long exercise and there are nine camps left."

Other members of the delegation are Kedar Poudyal, under secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Kedar Poudyal, Ganesh Rai and Basanta Rai who are under secretaries at the Home Ministry.

Bhutanese leader of the delegation, Dasho Sonam Tenzing, Director General of Registration Department, has been attributed to have said that the JVT was making "earnest efforts to accomplish its technical responsibilities as mandated by the JMC." Nepalese team is scheduled to come back only after the completion of the categorisation, sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Conflict hit children facing mental disorders

By Mohan Budha Aer

KAILALI, March 3 : Pushpa Bhandari, 14, was returning from school when she sustained injuries in crossfire between security forces and rebel Maoists at Chisapani village. In eight months since the injury she has recovered from the bullet wound, but the mental trauma compelled her to drop out from grade seven.

"The nightmare of the incident haunts her, whence she reacts unusually and loses control over herself," her sad father Bhakta Bhandari said. Her mental disorder ignites even at a small gathering of people.

Pushpa is one among 200 children in this district who have become victims of the seven years of violent conflict, and many are suffering from mental disorders.

Hirachan Chalaune, 16, is another victim of mental disorder. His father Fauj Bahadur was shot dead in suspicion of Maoists.

The children directly affected by the insurgency face tough struggle to return to normalcy, say child heath counsellors.

Eight children of a family at Lalbojhi village became orphans after their father Bhagiram Chaudhary and his two wives were shot dead in crossfire between the two warring sides. These hapless children were the witnesses of their parents being killed in front of them. They are now languishing in the village with nobody to take care of them.

Kalpana Joshi of Baliya village often reacts violently and she has become poorer in studies after her father was shot dead by the rebel fighters last year.

Many children interviewed were found to be quite abnormal soon after they lost their family members in the conflict.

After the cease-fire was announced on January 29 some organisations have come forward for the welfare of affected children.

Children of Ram Awatar Rana are now taking refuge in a shelter run by Maiti Nepal after the rebels killed their father about five months ago.

A rehabilitation programme called Impact Minimisation of Conflict on Children and Minors has been implemented in 12 Village Development Committee (VDC) of the district to take care of these children. This programme has been jointly run by Backward Education Society (BASE) and Nepal Red Cross Society, Kailali with financial and technical support from Save the Children..

BASE’s field staff Kamala Gyawali said that her organisation identified at least 40 children and minors who lost one of their parents during the conflict in Thapapur, Josipur, Sadepani, Pahalmanpur, Beladevi and Shripur VDCs.

Likewise, District Red Cross Society, Kailali has also identified 60 additional orphans in Lalbojhi, Khailad, Baliya, Tikapur and Bhajani VDCs. These VDCs are the worst insurgency affected VDCs in the district.

Gyawali said that BASE and Red Cross Society, Kailali have launched joint campaign to find out those children directly affected by the conflict so that a long-term welfare programme could be introduced.

Nepal wants to sell power at ‘reasonable price’

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Nepal will bargain for "reasonably better price" of electricity with India at the seventh Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee meeting, which will start in New Delhi on March 9, a senior official with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said.

During the meet, Nepal will propose to review the existing tariff of electricity that the two close neighbours have been exchanging for the few years, the official said. "We can’t tell you how much, but we will definitely want reasonably better price," he added.

Currently, the per unit price of the power exchanged by Nepal and India stands at Nepali Rs 4.35. The NEA has been trying to sell the surplus electricity - of about 80 MW during wet season and half of that during dry season - to India, after 144 MW Kali Gandaki project came on line a few months ago.

However, India proposed a price of Nepali Rs 2.40 for a unit, much to the dismay of Nepali officials who were expecting a higher price.

The meeting was initially scheduled for January 2001, but could not convene due to the unwillingness of the Indian side.

The meet is widely considered here as a crucial one, because it will pave the way for future power exchange and transactions with India, which would need another 100,000 megawatts of power in its system by 2012. And much of the hydropower potential still remains untapped in Nepal.