Over 200 stolen idols handed over to National Museum

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Nepal Police today handed over 206 idols and other objects of archeological importance, recovered by the Valley Police at different places, to the National Museum yesterday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shyam Bhakta Thapa handed over the idols and other objects of archeological importance to Rehana Banu Saiyad, chief of the National Museum amidst a function here today.

The recovered idols and other objects of archeological importance range from the ancient past to the twentieth century and are made of stone, mud and metal. The biggest idol belongs to the period of the sixteenth century while Padmapani Lokeshwor is the smallest idol of the 20th Kaumori.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nepal Police chief Shyam Bhakta Thapa said the police is committed to protect the rich heritage of the country.

Speaking at the programme, the chief of the National Museum Saiyad said the idols and other archeological objects would be exhibited in future to the public so as to facilitate scholars to study the objects. She remarked the stealing of idols is not only the problem of one country but all developing countries.

Kuber Singh Rana, chief of Kathmandu District Police Office, showing the idols to the audience present at the function underlined the need to raise awareness against idol-lifting and the theft of other objects of archaeological importance.

Call for code of conduct on ceasefire

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : More than a dozen professional and social sector organisations including interested groups today urged the Maoists and the government to immediately proclaim a code of conduct for cease-fire and institute a powerful committee to monitor its implementation.

In an interaction programme held to thrash up a common agenda for the peace talks going to be held between the government and the Maoists, the participating representatives of the organisations said that the country could not bear further violence and war.

"Adherence to the code of conducts is essential to bring the peace talks into a positive end and ensure peace to the people," they said.

The participants also stressed the need to punish those involved in gross violation of Human Rights during the seven-year-long insurgency to avoid repetition of such acts in the future.

Shanti Krishna Adhikari, secretary of University Teachers’ Association, Bharat Pahari of Nepal Engineers’ Association and Taranath Dahal of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, among others, urged both the parties to make the people focal point of their dialogue.

Basanta Mabuhang of the Federation of Nationalities said since the Maoist problem had escalated due to the problems of the ethnic nationalities, the future peace talks should focus on their problems to avert future armed struggle.

Representatives from Atanka Pidit Tuhura Samaj (Society of Terror-Affected Victims’ Orphans) said there would be apparent possibility of the continuity of the war if the problems of the victims were not addressed in the talks. "The people like us can take revenge of our partents’ murder if the talks failed to settle the dispute for ever and ensure compensation to us," they said.

International organisations or the United Nations should be invited to strictly monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct, they said.

" Brutal killings of individuals may recur in the future if the culprits of the past were given excuse," said Gobinda Bandi of Nepal Bar Association. "The fear of the outbreak of next war should not be a ground for excuse," he added.

HNN support to schools

KATHMANDU, March 3 (PR) - Help Nepal Network (HNN), an organisation of Nepalese youth, handed over a cheque for Rs 200,000 to Kamala Primary School of Lamjung for the constrution of its building amidst a function here today. HNN also handed over Rs 67, 500 to Gram Shikshya Secondary School, Kathmandu for free treatment of Hepatitis B to students. Similarly, the HNN distributed clothes to the fire victims of Myanglung, the district headquarters of Terhathum .

Speaking at the programme, Parashu Narayan Chaudhary, chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee, said, " It indicates the love shown by the Nepalese abroad to their fellow brothers at home." Meanwhile, the Awahan Group felicitated Dr.Kumar Bahadur Joshi, a renowned litterateur, and Mohan Sundar Shrestha, a musician, at the function.

Images of gods and goddesses on display

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Nepalese culture has a magical quality for an Indian-born artist, Dr. Seema Sharma Shah . Images of gods like Ganesh, the Living Goddess Kumari and different festivities find their vivid expression in her paintings that are on show in the exhibition at the Siddhartha Art Gallery from today.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Shyam Sharan, inaugurated the exhibition.

The 37 paintings that revolve around the theme ‘exploration of magical realm’ depict images of gods in different actions and forms like Dancing Ganesh, Ganesh with Sunflower, Ganesh with Mouse, Ganesh III, Ganesh V, Jore Ganesh, Kumari II and so on. Coming from an Indian background, Dr. Sharma’s works are perfect blends of her Indian heritage and experience in Nepal.

Dr. Sharma learnt her print-making skill from Dipak Banerjee, one of the most senior print makers of India . She has relentlessly pursued her career by participating in several exhibitions including group and solo exhibitions and won several scholarships and fellowships including coveted awards for her works in both India and Nepal.

After her marriage with the Nepali artist Uma Shankar Shaha in 1995, she developed her Nepalese perspective. Her brief stay in Janakpur with her husband gave her opportunity to explore the Mithila world.

PM’s attention on Nepalis in Gulf drawn

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Pashupati Shumser Rana urged Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand today to make necessary arrangement for the protection and evacuation of Nepali workers in the Gulf region taking in view possible US attacks in Iraq.

In a memorandum handed over to Prime Minister Chand at the latter’s office Monday, RPP chairman Rana cautioned the government that the Nepali workers in the Gulf countries would face severe trouble if the US attacked on Iraq.

Rana also suggested the government to increase the stock of petroleum to avert the likely shortage in case of possible attacks there.

"Immediate action is required to make necessary arrangements to avert the crisis of petroleum goods in the future," Rana stated in his memorandum.

Japanese assistance to grassroots projects

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : The Embassy of Japan has extended financial assistance to Miyagi International Assistance Association (MIAA), a Japanese NGO, for the implementation of a project for the construction of a health care centre and to L. Angel International Volunteer Association, also a Japanese NGO, for the construction of a pedestrian bridge.

The grant contract was signed and exchanged today between Kazumi Suzuki, Charge d’ Affairs of Japan and Shin Suzuki, MIAA, Japan at a press conference held at the Japanese Embassy. Under this grant, the Embassy will provide US $ 48,831 to construct a health care centre building consisting of a check-up room, clinic room, dispensary room, meeting room, kitchen room and other facilities at Kagati village of the Nuwakot district.

Although Kagati village is situated at a distance of 15 kilometres from Kathmandu, it lags far behind in development. There are no health service facilities and the local people, mainly farmers, are facing great difficulties in getting medical services even for minor diseases. Therefore, the project aims to provide immediate medical treatment and basic health assistance to the people in the village.

The project, which is to be carried out by MIAA in collaboration with Lions Club of Kathmandu, is to be completed within a year.

Meanwhile, the contract for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Indrawati river of Sindhupalchok district was signed between Suzuki and Fumio Nagaura, President, L. Angel International Volunteer Association.

Under this grant, the Embassy of Japan will provide US $ 63,630 to construct a 162-metre bridge. The proposed bridge is expected to serve the local villagers by providing potential access to the market linked by the village to the Araniko Highway, therefore enhancing economic and social activities in the area.

Both grant assistance have been provided by the Government of Japan under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects.

Awards given away to Dalit students

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : "The condition of Dalits are still pathetic in villages as racial discrimination has a deep root in the society", opined Kishore Pariyar who scored highest among the Dalit students in the School Leaving Certificate Examination 2002.

Sikha Darnal of Kathmandu was among the girl Dalit students to top the country.

Kishore and Sikha were awarded with ‘Jehendar Dalit Vidyarthi Puraskar’ which carries a certificate and the amount of Rs 10,000, along with toppers of the five development regions, who were granted certificate and Rs 5,000.

The award is given to 12 students from the Dalit community, one each to boy and girl topper from the whole country, and five girl students and five boy students from each of the development regions for scoring highest marks in the SLC examination.

Giving away the prizes, Dr Asarfi Shah, Assistant Minister for Local Development apprised that His Majesty’s Government aims to encourage intelligent and hard-working students as education plays an important role throughout life.

He also remarked that untouchability is the crude form of illiteracy and education can only draw out the people from the darker world.

Kaji Man Bishwokarma of the eastern development region got the award for scoring the highest marks in the region. He scored 70 percent.

Riban Magrati and Deepa Diwali from the central development region who got 83.63 percent and 75.25 percent respectively were awarded with prize for scoring the highest from that region.

The western development region was represented by Jeevan Pariyar and Sushila Gaire, who obtained highest by scoring 84.38 percent and 69.87 percent respectively.

Kumar Dulal of mid-western development region scored 66.63 percent and was granted the award whereas Padam Ram Pahari of the far-western region got the award for scoring 66.75 percent.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, Riban Magrati, who lives in Kirtipur said that the general notion of the people is still orthodox. He also narrated the incident where his sisters were not allowed even to stand nearby the public tap when she had gone to fetch water.

He also related his bitter experience of discrimination among his friends.

However, Magrati along with Kishore Pariyar sounded optimistic when they pointed out that they feel proud to have their own identity and it is not very far off when racial discrimination would be alien to the Nepali society.

Clean-up programme marks Mahashivaratri

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Members of Spiny Babbler numbering more than 60, along with mental patients, celebrated Mahashivaratri in a unique way yesterday. In the foggy morning, they took to cleaning the area around the Lalitpur hospital collecting two truckloads of bricks, stones, medical waste and construction materials lying around the hospital.

The tedious cleaning-up under a programme, ‘Taking on Responsible Roles: Contributing Literature, Art and Labour’, took an interesting turn after it was followed by an arts session involving live music performance and sharing of experience in the hospital through the medium of poetry, story, essay and art. Patients, volunteers and young artists shared their experiences and observed an art exhibition prepared by mental patients.

This programme was conducted as a part of Spiny Babbler’s ‘People at Risk Programme’ that works with Kanti Hospital, Lagankhel Mental Hospital, Pin shelter house for girls at risk, Prisoners Assistance Mission and ROKPA shelter house for street children. Backed by professional psychologists and medical personnel, Spiny Babler tries to help people through the arts.

Folk musical programme held

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KATHMANDU, March 3 : Different artistes performed with their traditional Nepali musical instruments to highlight Nepali culture and music during the 12th Sumadhur Lok Sangeetik Yatra (melodious folk musical tour) organised by the Nepali Folk Instrument Museum (NFIM) at the Basantapur Durbar Square here today.

With its central theme of "folk music for peace," the objective of the programme was to focus the diminishing value of folk music.

Beginning with the melodious tune of paluwa (leaf) and madal by Dhan Bahadur Ale, various artistes played folk instruments that highlight traditional Nepali culture.

Folk instruments like murchunga, khaichadi, sahane, shanka, jor-murali and sarangi were the main attractions of the programme.

Locals warn of demonstrations against mid-Marsyangdi Hydel Project

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UDIPUR, Lamjung, March 3 : Locals of Udipur region have given warnings about demonstrations if mid-Marsyangdi Hydro-electrical Project fails to employ locals for the ongoing construction work as promised.

According to the terms agreed at the onset of this project the local people there had been promised to be included in the construction. So, the local people have handed over a memorandum to the DDCJV office in Udipur letting them know about the consequences if they failed to give them employment.

According to the terms of agreement reached for this 70 Mega Watt project, high priority was to be given to the most-affected region such as Bhote-Odhar, Udipur, Chiti, Bharate, and the Sundar Bazaar. The chairman of the Mid-Marsyangdi Corporation and Co-ordination Society, Shibendra Kadel reiterates that this project has violated the contract by employing locals for very lowly labour works only and that too in a small number.

Enough human resource, which would be required for the project is available in this region itself, it is learnt. Kadel expresses his discontent that the people outside of this region who with advantage of fake certificates and who worked in the previous Kaligandaki project, have been employed again for this project by barter of commission. He further contended that there has been a deliberate effort to discourage skilful and qualified locals seeking employment to the project, saying that they have vacancy for menial labour only, while those wanting to take up labour work are being employed on a trial basis.

Many of the locals were very happy when they learnt about big projects like these being conducted in their locality with the prospect of getting employment but their expectations have turned sour. It is learnt that even though they have little hope of getting work as per their qualifications yet they have been going to the project office everyday to get some form of employment.

A local of the Sundar Bazaar-3, who has a Masters Degree in Arts, Toyanath Dhakal sorrowfully says that he has been told that there is no work for him, which suits his qualification, and he has now been trying to get into the job offered by this project. Now the project is almost complete yet Dhakal has not been given any work yet.

However, the project states that 418 people from this region have been employed in this project. The authority has sent an additional list of 378 to the contractor, it informs. The manager of this project, Govind Sharma, says that they have been giving more priority to the Lamjung locals for employment. They employed outsiders only when they could not find enough locals and added that since this project was a nation-wide project, it is obvious that they incorporated people from other regions too.

The total investment of this project, which was started with the financial assistance from German government, is at Rs. 13.6 billion. The German donor agency, KFW, has an investment amounting to 85 percent, while His Majesty’s Government and the Nepal Electricity Authority contributed the remaining. At present all the infrastructure construction are underway.

Maoists launch door to door campaign

FUNGLING, March 3 (PR) - The villages in Taplejung district wear a new look following the truce. The Maoists have launched a door to door campaign and are busy winning over public confidence, according to sources.

The Maoists are visiting houses and asking people not to be afraid of them, according to a teacher who came to Fungling, the district headquarters recently. "They are requesting locals to vote for their party in the election which follows the election of the constituent assembly," said the teacher.

The Maoists have also stopped extorting money from teachers, according to the teacher. However, they are threatening that they will not spare anyone who spies against them, according to the teacher.

"There is a commotion in the villages following the free movement of Maoist cadres.

Drugged man burns wife for dowry

By Amrit Bhadgaunle

POKHARA, March 3 : In one of the worst cases of family violence here, a drug addict set fire to his wife after pouring kerosene over her.

Radhika Adhikari, 29, the victim of the inhuman cruelty meted out by her own husband, is fighting for her life at the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara, said doctors attending to her.

Hari Adhikari, the husband had carried out the felony at his residence at Bagar in Pokhara Sub-metropolitian City-1 on February 14.

That fateful morning, while the wife was busy in the kitchen the drugged husband began beating his children, a son aged six and a daughter aged five. When the children’s mother intervened to stop the beating the furious husband turned his attentions to her, poured kerosene on her and set her alight.

The neighbours rushed to the rescue of Radhika and admitted her to the hospital. Her face has been burnt beyond recognition and she can hardly speak. The doctors say that she is in a critical state.

The husband, who suffered burns during the incident, is also undergoing treatment at the same hospital, but under police surveillance, according to police.

The couple, married in 1996, did not have a happy existence, especially as the husband had been mentally and physically torturing the wife accusing the wife of not bringing in enough dowry, according to Himlal Achrya, Radhika’s father.

"Since the son-in-law complained that the dowry was not enough, I paid him over Rs 100,000 immediately after the wedding. He had pawned my daughter’s jewellery in the bank and I procured them three times. Finally he sold them off," lamented Acharya with tearful eyes.

Integrated pest management for paddy started

RSS

NUWAKOT, March 3 : The 16-week Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Farmers’ School for Chaite paddy crop began at Labdhulawale in ward no-5 of Khanigaon VDC of Nuwakot district here the other day.

Altogether 25 farmers including eight women are attending the school organised by the District Agriculture Office.

Local farmers were encouraged to take part in the IPM training following participation in the three-day interactive workshop organised at the intiative of local Bageshwari IPM Farmers’ Group, says assistant crop protection officer Purushottam Hada.

Maoists admit timber smuggling

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SINDHULI, March 3 : Maoists have admitted that under its patronage deforestation had taken place in the district and that they had set fire to 19 sheds at Kapilkot during the insurgency. A senior party member has expressed commitment that the party, in future, would keep vigil on the district forests.

Amidst repeated complaints from locals that forests in the district underwent deforestation under the Maoist patronage, the district in-charge of the party known as ‘Prabhat’ confessed that smugglers took undue benefits from the party.

"We had permitted timber contractors to take fallen trees but they cut down trees and indulged in smuggling, cheating us," said Prabhat adding, "We have now decided not to let a single log to be smuggled out."

He also said that Forest Consumers’ Committees (FCC) would be formed in villages and that locals would be motivated in the protection of forests. "FCCs can be registered in our ‘Public Government’. We shall help the locals in safeguarding the forests," said Prabhat.

The Maoists admitted to having burnt down 19 sheds in the area saying, "The owners of the sheds had encroached on the forest. Since they disobeyed our repeated orders to evacuate the site, we were forced to set the sheds on fire," said Prabhat.

Those encroachers were mostly landlords, who moved to other places for further encroachment, according to Prabhat.

Dola Parikrama begins in Dhanusha

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JANAKPURDHAM, March 3 : The 15-day Dola Parikrama of Mithila Bihari began as per religious traditions from Kachuri of Dhanusha district today.

The Dola Parikrama that begins on the second week of Falgun ends following a Parikrama of Janakpurdham on full moon at the end of Falgun.

This religious custom remains as the symbol of cultural and religious unity between Nepal and India and is carried out in various religious places of India as well.

The Dola Parikrama of Mithila Bihari that was initiated from Kachuri today will rest after travelling two kilometres south to Hanumagadhi this night.

The Dola of Janaki taken out today from Janaki Mandir will also rest at the same place.

Both the Dolas will then proceed for Kalyaneshwor Mahadevsthan of India tomorrow and then rest one night each in Fulhad, Matihani, Jaleshwor, Madai, Dhruva Kunda, Kanchanwan, Sathoshar, Parbat and Dhanushadham.

Sadhus and Santa, women, elderly and thousands of devotees accompany the Dolas for 15 days.

Taking part in the Parikrama is believed to help waive out sin and benefit the family.

Efforts on for protection of two natural ponds

By Tika Sharma

TERHATHUM, March 3 : The protection of two ponds, which has importance for nature lovers and which exist within the protection region where Rhododendrons thrive in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale has just been completed.

Rs. 350,000 has been spent for the protection of this natural pond, Lam, which is 200-metre long and 40 metre wide and which is situated in Mawadin VDC in Terhathum district at an altitude of 2,940 metres. Similarly, for the protection of the second pond, Gufa, Rs. 400,000 has been invested recently. This pond has been the centre of attraction for thousands of domestic as well as international tourists and is 150-metre long and 60 metres wide, and at an altitude of 2,890 metres, is found in Nundhaki VDC.

From this region of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale alone, which is rich in bio-diversity, 28 species of Rhododendrons have been reported. The co-ordinator of the management committee for the Lali Guras Protection, Lakshman Tiwari, informs that the World Protection Society Nepal, which has been involved with this sector since a few years, has provided the fund for the protection of these ponds.

Since the edges of these ponds had weakened and was of any tracks, cement walls have been constructed over the weakened edges, while 4-feet wide track for observation purpose has also been completed, said the head of the World Protection Society Shailendra Pokhrel, to The Kathmandu Post. Also, work of keeping the ponds and the areas around them clean are underway.

It is learnt that from the Gufa pond region the enchanting natural view of more than 10 districts can be viewed. Due to the wildlife and various types of medicinal herbs found in this region, a market is quickly being developed around the pond. The locals of the Gufa Bazaar expressed their optimistic view of how Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale can be developed into the tourist destination of the eastern region if proper protection of the flora and fauna especially of the various types of Rhododendrons found around this region can be effected.