Representation of women victims in peace talks sought

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : Women victims of the armed conflict should find representation in peace negotiations as per the spirit of UN Security Resolution 1325 concerning the protection of rights and security of women and children.

This view was expressed at the 14th interaction programme organised today by Nagarik Aawaz (citizens’ voice) on UN Resolution 1325, which emphasises the role of state in the protection of the rights of women victims and those displaced by war. The resolution was passed in October 2000 as per the spirit of Beijing declaration and working plan on Women 2000: Gender equality, development and world peace for the 21st century.

Highlighting the importance of UN resolution, Sobha Gautam, the chairperson of the Institute Human Rights Commission, Nepal said there should be representation of women war victims in all decision-making processes from grassroots to the central level.

She also informed that her organisation is set to launch advocacy programmes for village women in five conflict-affected districts on the UN Resolution 1325 along with income-generating programmes. Anjana Shakya of INHURED said indigenous communities who have been largely marginalised too should be brought into the framework of the peace process.

"The peace negotiations would not be sustainable if we ignore the voice of people at the grassroots levels," she said.

Attributing the structural violence to the Nepali education system, she said the education system in Nepal has not integrated 60 per cent of marginalised indigenous population into it.

Radha Budathoki, spokesperson of Nepal Samata Party said the present government is willing to include women in the peace talks committee. She also called on the government to deliver justice to the war-victimised women without delay. A large number of village women have been sexually abused and killed by the warring sides.

We want to see Nepal prosper: Suzuki

RSS

KATHMANDU, March 11 : The government of Japan will continue to co-operate for the overall economic development of Nepal, said a senior Japanese diplomat here today.

"Japan will continue to cooperate Nepal mainly in human resource development, agriculture, infrastructure development, social sector and environment; the five areas identified by the government of the two countries", said Kazumi Suzuki, Minister of the Japanese Embassy.

"Our co-operation also aimed at alleviating poverty through economic development of Nepal", he said. Japan is the major donor country of Nepal, which is assisting through grants, loans and technical co-operation for the last four decades.

"Japan provides around US $ 50 million annually and over 60 percent of the co-operation is grant. Our assistance targets basic human needs which includes infrastructure development, electricity, roads, telecommunications, water supply and social sectors", Suzuki said.

There is Japanese assistance in more than 30 percent of the total electricity supply in Nepal and half of the drinking water supply in the Kathmandu Valley was completed under the Japanese grant aids, it is said.

" We are quite satisfied with the achievements of the Japanese-aided project,’’ he said adding "We want to see an economically-prosperous Nepal and our co-operation will continue."

"We are working for the Nepali people", he said. "A total of 5,500 classrooms have been constructed under the Japanese grant since 1994 and the small grants for the grassroots level projects have also been crucial", he said.

Referring to the Non-Project Grant he said, "if a friend is in need , we want to extend our hands of co-operation and with this feeling the Japanese government has provided Non-Project Grant during the difficult times of Nepal.

"We have a very good monitoring and supervision system, therefore there is no irregularities in the Japanese-aided project," he said adding "we want to see the projects run effectively even after the hand over of the projects."

"We want to see economically developed Nepal and hope Nepal will be a prosperous country in the future", he said.

Probe report on CTEVT irregularities submitted

RSS

KATHMANDU, March 11 : An investigation committee formed to find out the financial,technical and management-related irregularities at the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) presented its report to Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha today.

The government had formed a three-member investigation committee under the convenorship of former chief secretary Dr. Ishwor Prasasd Upadhyaya. Members of the committee are advocate Bal Krishna Neupane and Bishnu Aryal.

On the occasion, Minister Ojha said the Council has played an important role to produce technical manpower in the country and the recommendations of the committee would be implemented gradually.

Convenor of the committee Upadhyaya said the recommendations of the committee should be implemented for the development and expansion of the Council.

NPI certificates awarded

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : The Nepal Press Institute (NPI) today awarded certificates to 27 students who successfully completed their one-year training course from the institution.

The course was started in February last year and ended in February this year. Twenty-seven out of thirty-five students enrolled in the institution has completed their course successfully.

Gokarna Bhatta stood first, Harihar Upadhyaya stood second and Thiralal Bhusal and Nirmal Humagain stood third respectively.

Speaking at the programme, chairperson of the institution Gokul Prasad Pokharel said that journalists should focus on truth and impartiality while writing news.

Next session of the institution has already been started from the first week of Falgun this year.

NGO federation to hold conference

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : NGO Federation of Nepal is set to hold its conference in Pokhara soon , states the release of the Federation issued here today.

The three-day conference will focus on planning future strategies and programmes with new commitments. The conference is also expected to propose amendment of its constitution and code of conduct and social development. There will also be an election of the new working committee on the occasion.

On the occasion, the participants will make presentations on issues relating to peace, governance, development and human rights situations, the release said.

UN resident representative, Dr. Hanning Karcher, veteran human rights leader Daman Nath Dhungana, chairman of AIN(the Association of International Non-Governmental Organisation in Nepal), among others are expected to attend the conference.

On the occasion, a souvenir of the federation and the book on NGOs by its chairman Gauri Pradhan is expected to be released.

New safety regulations from March 15

KATHMANDU, March 11 (PR) - With the help of the Valley Traffic Police Office, the Taxi Tempo Unit underwent a surprise checking today. Around 33 taxi meters were found irregular in the checking. Necessary actions were taken from the police and important papers of those who were found tampering with the meters were taken away. The checking was conducted in front of the Gaushala Police Post.

In the mean time, a news report from RSS states, drivers and front-seat occupants of all light vehicles will have to wear safety belts on a compulsory basis from March l5.

According to the Valley Traffic Police Office, the regulation will be applicable to cars, jeeps and vans (private, commercial, government, non-government, corporation) under the first phase.

The regulation brought in under the Traffic and Transport Management Act 2049 will be progressively extended to other road vehicles also.

For these Harijan brides, the road to the grooms’ home is three years long

By Kamal Panthi

SIPUWA, Butwal, March 11 : It might sound strange to city dwellers, but it is the common practice here in Patijiya village of Sipuwa VDC in the southern part of Rupendehi where a bride is allowed to come to the bridegroom’s home only after three years of their socially accepted marriage. During this induced isolation period, both the bride and the bridegroom are prohibited from meeting each other and are not allowed to keep physical contacts.

This is the practised marriage system here among the Harijan (the so-called low-caste ethnic group) living in this remote south-western Patijiya village, which is situated at a distance of 40 Km away from Butwal. The parents choose the perspective bride for their son, and the son usually does not object to his parents’ decision. In this community the tradition of child marriage still exists, and for those children whose parents pass away the responsibility of getting them married falls upon either the paternal uncle or aunt and in their absence the maternal uncle and aunt are obliged to take up this task.

A local Harijan of this village, Ramswarup Harijan says, " Usually the boy should have reached the age of 14, and the girl 12 before they can get married, otherwise, they would not qualify for this marriage." The day of the marriage is referred to as Gahana. On the wedding day, both the bride and the bridegroom are made to go through special make-up sessions, their faces are covered with flowers and the head is decorated with a unique head-gear, contends Ramswarup. On this day the bride’s body is smeared with turmeric paste, while the woman folk sing auspicious songs.

The better off families of the Harijans are found to demand more bride-price, Daijo when they contract the marriage, but between the same economic status families this bride-price is thing which the bride’s family can afford. According to the information provided by Manohar Harijan of Sipuwa-3 to The Kathmandu Post correspondent, the bride-price, which is compulsory, depends upon the capability of the bride’s family, and ranges from 10 kg rice, 1 to 2 kg of salt, 1 to 2 litres of mustard oil, chilly-powder, and vegetables.

Rupantar Harijan of this village is thrilled to have got a bicycle, a wristwatch, and a set of oxen from his bride’s family. Even though he may not be able to see his perspective spouse, yet his happiness knows no bounds to have possession over these commodities.

It is a great relief for the girl’s parent to give away their daughter for marriage. However, they are troubled by fear till the contract of three years terminates, after which it becomes the responsibility of the boy and his parent to look after the girl. If the perspective bridegroom dies before the dissolution of this contract, then it becomes very difficult for the bride’s parent to marry her off with another boy.

After the marriage, if by any chance the bride happens to meet the bridegroom, she can just smile at him but cannot talk, says a 16-year-old Prittam Harijan who was married two years ago.

It is learnt that this Harijan community where the illiteracy rate is as high as 95 percent has little knowledge about family planning. Therefore, they say that to have at least 3 to 4 children is to be able to maintain that echelon of male supremacy. They hold the view that to do household chorus is better than spending time in education, and therefore, do not let their children go to school or educate them at home.

Govt urged to reveal facts on killing of school children

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BAGLUNG, March 11 : The government is shying away from its duty of finding facts on the death of two innocent children at Bohora village even after three weeks of the incident, alleged the victimised families. Meanwhile, the political parties in the district have asked the government not to conceal the facts of the incident in the name of creating a conducive environment for the talks.

The CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress (Democratic) and Peoples Front Party (PFP), issuing a press release have threatened to take to the street if the government fails to reveal the facts on the incident.

In the incident that occurred after the truce, the government due to Maoist threats is trying to dismiss the issue, said Krishna Thapa, a local.

On February 18, two school children at a local school died on the spot from bullets from guns carried by Maoist cadres. The Maoists had been entered the school compound with arms. While Bhabindra Kunbar, 12, a grade three student and another grade one student died on the spot, Ganesh Nepali, 13, a grade four student had critically hurt in the incident.

After conducting a field study, PFP came with a report that the incident was not an accident but was well planned.

"The Maoists and the government are trying to hide the facts of the incident," said Fagulala Nure, the district PFP chief.

The PFP report also concluded that there have been other similar cases from the Maoist side after the truce.

School’s act of clearing jungle receives flak

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DOLAKHA, March 11 : A local school’s move to clear the jungle in Suspa Kshemawati VDC of Dolakha district is detrimental to the environment, alleged locals. The management committee of Kshemawati Secondary School unilaterally cleared shrubs and grass from the jungle to plant Amriso to boost the school’s economic status. Amriso a tall grass, serves as a raw material to many industrial products.

Terming the school’s move as illegal, some locals have also filed complaints to the concerned authorities demanding action against those involved in clearing the jungle.

"Clearing of shrubs from the jungle that covers over 100 hectares is detrimental to the environment. Around 40,000 plants were removed by the school’s action," alleged Ram Chandra Shivakoti, a local.

Around 600 locals were involved in clearing the jungle at the call of the school. However, the jungle is not registered under the school, according to sources.

"Clearing shrubs from the jungle of the sloppy area invites high risks," said Dinesh Shivakoti, an ex-DDC member.

A source at the District Forest Office (DFO) said that action has been initiated against those who indulged in clearing forest without its permission.

"Action is underway towards that end. However, upon inspection, no tall trees were found damaged during the jungle clearing drive," said Ram Krishna KC, a ranger.

A massive landslide in the jungle area, around two decades back had washed some houses and claimed the lives of four persons.

"Clearance of the same jungle has high potentiality to evoke such a disaster again," said Murari Raj Shivakoti, another local.

Some locals were plotting to get the forest registered in their names. So, the school decided to plant Amriso for its protection. Those professing the school’s move as ‘environment detrimental action’ are motivated by vested interests, according to a school teacher.

Meanwhile, our report from Sindhuli stated that the District Forest Office (DFO), buckling under pressure from the locals is set to take action against an alleged timber smuggler.

The smuggler has been identified as Kedar Basnet, a resident of the VDC. "Around 50 to 55 trees were found felled in the forest area during an inspection. The accused has been ordered to present himself in the DFO within 15 days for interrogation in connection with the case," said Mahesh Hari Acharya, chief of DFO.

However, during the site inspection by a team of journalists, around 200 trees were found smuggled, according to the journalists.

In the past, smugglers were active in broad daylight, felling and smuggling trees from the forest areas of Chure in Nipate VDC. The smugglers covered their faces with cloth and indulged in timber smuggling claiming themselves to be Maoists, according to locals.

Locals allege that DFO officials along with the outgoing VDC chairman were indulging in timber smuggling and that the DFO was trying to reduce the number of trees smuggled. An alleged smuggler is the brother of the outgoing VDC chairman, Ghanashyam Basnet.

Electricity office suffers 30 pc loss

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GAIGHAT, March 11 : The sub-branch of the Electricity Authority Office at Gaighat has gone through a loss by 30 percent in tax collection in six months on electricity bill in the current fiscal year. During the same period last year, when Rs. 72.8 million had been collected from the consumers, this year only Rs. 52.9 million has been collected, informs the electricity office here.

90 percent of this tax had been paid by the Udayapur Cement Factory. But a drastic decrease in this amount has been seen in the last three months due to the factory not functioning properly, said an employee at the electricity office talking to The Kathmandu Post correspondent. In the last fiscal year a sum amounting to around Rs. 160 million had been collected from the bill payers, he added.

If this situation exists throughout this year, it is learnt that this electricity office will have to bear a loss of more than Rs. 50 million this fiscal year.