Death toll in Kalikot climbs to 26
Govt team yet to arrive in district

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 17 : The death toll from the outbreak of a mysterious disease in Kalikot has reached 26 by Monday.

Reports from the district said five more people have succumbed to the unidentified killer disease since Sunday. One of the fresh victims include Lal Bahadur Shahi of Lalpur, who died early today.

According to our Kalikot correspondent, four people who died on Sunday in Manma include: 22-year-old Amrita Sarki, Manasha Chaulagain 37, Rati Damai 67 and Lalpura Shahi whose age could not be known.

Meanwhile, issuing a press statement, Ministry of Health on Monday said it dispatched a team of medicos to Kalikot following the spread of the mysterious disease, which claimed 26 lives in two weeks. But our correspondent in the district, dismissing the claims of the government, said that the team of physicians was yet to arrive at the district.

Of late, a team from the district led by Kashinath Banjade, chief of the District Public Health Office, has flung open a health camp to treat the patients.

Ministry statement said another team of physicians is being already alerted in Nepalgunj and is ready to travel to the district if the situation so demands.

It also said that an appropriate measure has been taken to control the spread of disease through the combined efforts of central, regional and district-level health teams.

NOC desperately seeking funds to maintain imports

By Milan Mani Sharma

KATHMANDU, March 17 : The grim financial situation of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to severely affect its ability to import petroleum products from India in the near future, say NOC officials.

NOC had Rs 4 billion in stock from past profits, but all that dwindled down to nil last week after it made partial payments to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for imports made in January. Now NOC officials say, there is no fund to pay for February imports.

"With the complete erosion of the fund, the financial condition of the NOC has become critical," said Rudra Bahadur Khadka, acting managing director of the corporation. He warned that the state-owned NOC would neither be able to pay for February imports nor make new imports on its own.

Though NOC buys crude oil in the international market, all the crude is given to IOC in exchange for refined petroleum products. NOC pays a hefty service charge to IOC for the service.

To ease the financial situation, NOC had asked the government to provide it Rs 1 billion, which the government refused. Then last week, Japan stepped in, indicating that it would provide the Rs 1 billion in short term loan to NOC. Officials are hoping that the funds come soon to avert any crisis.

The state-owned NOC says that the Rs 4 billion funds it had created from past profits were used to make up for the losses for the past eight months. From the remaining amount, it paid up Rs 1.4 billion to IOC last Friday, a day ahead of deadline. Still it owes IOC Rs 900 million in past dues. If that amount is not paid soon, then IOC could tighten exports to Nepal. This explains why NOC is seeking the Rs 1 billion immediately.

Senior officials at the NOC, despite lamenting the government’s reluctance to increase prices of kerosene and diesel that cost Rs 4 billion for the NOC in eight months, added that the remaining Rs 900 million would be paid probably on Wednesday if the Japanese loan comes through.

"On Wednesday we expect to transfer to IOC Rs 1 billion, that will be obtained from the Japanese Debt Relief Fund (DRF)," said NOC’s acting managing director Khadka. The government, after striking down the NOC’s plea, instead arranged to provide the sum through the DRF last week

Such an arrangement was made in response to the request placed by the state-owned monopolist in petroleum imports. The NOC, in the past, had acquired fund from the DRF, Japan. The fund acquired from the DRF, through Bank of Japan, would be transferred to the IOC for crude imports for Nepal.

Moreover, the NOC needs to reimburse the amount to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) within a month. But, the Ministry officials maintained silence on how the bankrupt NOC which is constantly incurring a loss of some Rs 660 million every month, would repay the money within one month. Even the NOC officials preferred to remain silent on the matter.

Preferring not to comment on the repayment, Khadka said that the acquisition of the fund would bail the NOC out from the current crisis of account settlement to the IOC. But, senior NOC officials argue that the latest "patch-up work" that the government has turned to might have serious repercussions. Instead, they are demanding the government to increase the prices of petroleum products to shore up NOC’s finances.

"Next month the NOC will need to pay about Rs 1.75 billion to the IOC for petroleum upliftment for the month of February. Added to it will be Rs 1 billion that it needs to pay back to MoF. How, will the NOC meet it?" a senior government official asked requesting anonymity.

The corporation’s petroleum import for a month averages at Rs 1.70 billion. However, its revenue generated from the sale stands at mere Rs 1.04 billion. It is this disparity between the import price and the sales price that has badly driven NOC, once among the highest profit making PEs, next to bankruptcy.

NC exercise on for House revival

By Damaru Lal Bhandari

KATHMANDU, March 17 : The Nepali Congress (NC) is to submit soon a document to King Gyanendra citing ground for the restoration of the House of Representatives (HOR) as the best way out of the current political impasse.

The document, prepared by party’s constitutional experts, cites over a dozen reasons as to why the restoration of the dissolved Lower House still remains the best choice for the monarch. It argues, among others, that the prime ministerial prerogative to announce election was conditional and failure to hold the same should mean restoration of the House of Representatives under Article 53(4).

A party source anonymously claimed that the document would also be circulated to the diplomatic missions in Kathmandu after it is endorsed by the party’s upcoming Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled for March 20. Following the endorsement, the document would also make to the party’s website as its official document.

NC’s fresh effort for House reinstatement has come in the backdrop of the last week’s agreement with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist & Leninist (CPN-UML) which had offered the monarch with two options: either reinstate the House of Representative or form an all party government. The eventual purpose being to restore the "derailed political process".

The source, however, claimed that NC had renewed its attempt for the House revival before the NC and UML - including the other two small left parties - agreed to ask the constitutional monarch to either to reinstate the House or to form an all-party government last week.

The source also revealed that NC President Girija Prasad Koirala had held a two hour long secret meeting with Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand on March 8 during which the latter had asked Koirala to come up argument presenting a perfect case for the House reinstatement. Chand had rejected the idea of forming an all-party government, source claimed.

Following the meeting between Prime Minister Chand and Koirala, a meeting of heads of constitutional bodies, too, was held.

"The meeting had reviewed the political scenario in the backdrop of Maoists joining the mainstream and concluded that reinstatement would be the best alternative since it would pave way for parliament dealing with the rebel outfit," said the source. This was followed by royal audience, which has seen Koirala referring to the peace process in a positive way.

Govind Raj Joshi, NC Joint General Secretary, on Monday conceded that the only thing that could happen any time was the reinstatement of the Lower House. "We are confident about it since this is best way to bring about the constitutional changes sought by the Maoists."

Meanwhile, public remarks coming from Prime Minister Chand that there was no basis for either all party government or restoration is to ensure political correctness since advocating restoration of the HOR could undermine the position of the CPN-UML in the general public.

JICP to submit report to king

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 17 : Judicial Inquiry Commission on Property (JICP) is submitting its report to the king on Tuesday that points finger at more than 2,000 officials, who held public posts after 1990, as having amassed wealth illegally.

The Commission has found, according to a source, some 2,000 officials having acquired property disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The Commission, appointed by the King on the first week of March last year, had investigated more than 30,000 cases.

The source said that, mostly the officials who held posts in public offices dealing with revenue collection and infrastructure development acquired wealth illegally.

The source, however, informed that the list also contains substantial number of political leaders. "There are a number of politicians, mostly the former ministers and member of parliament who served during the period of hung parliament between 1994 and 1998," said the source.

According to the source, a substantial number of political appointees in the government corporations have also been enlisted in the report.

The Commission had distributed around 40000 forms to the people who had held public post in the post 1990 period.

Thought the Commission has no mandate to take legal action against the implicated officials, the 1,000-page report is expected to be a helpful document for the government and other anti-graft constitutional and statutory bodies to identify and punish the corrupt officials.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority can take action against the 2,000 persons implicated in the Commission report.

Moment of truth for both United Nations and United States

By Akhilesh Upadhyay

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 : The United States today abandoned its longstanding call to the United Nations to authorise military action against Iraq, and instead called on the UN arms inspectors to leave Iraq.

The move will have far reaching implications, say analysts, both for the United Nations, which was earlier asked by Washington to face its moment of truth today, and the go-alone United States. The 15-member Security Council has stood firmly against the war proposal which needs at least nine votes for passage.

Only four members - Bulgaria, Spain, Britain and the United States - were in favour of a new resolution authorising military action against Iraq while China, France, and Russia - all with veto powers - opposed the call for war. And as many as six members remained "undecided."

As the official day began here today, many said that the March 17 deadline was merely symbolic as the United States and its allies were unlikely to seek a vote on the second UN resolution authorising the military intervention. Washington says that it will accept nothing short of Saddam Hussein’s exile. President Bush will talk about the latest situation on Iraq tonight in a nationally televised address.

But this is as much a moment of truth for the United States as it’s for the United Nations, the world’s dominant economic and military power, say analysts. The underlying argument: In deciding to go to war without the United Nations sanctions, the United States has made it clear that it will not hesitate to dismiss the world opinion when it clashes with strategic U.S. interests.

In a news analysis yesterday, The Washington Post brilliantly summed up this historical moment as the United States prepares to abandon its established international role of a largely passive giant, patiently exerting its influence through diplomacy, to an assertive military machine ever eager to "overreach."

"Even a successful result [in case of war in Iraq] contains risks in the eyes of those who have pondered the recurring cycle in human history in which power leads to hubris, hubris leads to overreaching, and overreaching leads to collapse. Victory could tempt the United States to overreach."

The Post added if the U.S.-led coalition invades Iraq without clear support from the United Nations, there is no doubt that the United States, and its place in the world, will have changed. "And so there is a sense in these tense days that existing rules are being broken-or rewritten, updated, smashed or subverted. The verb you choose speaks volumes about your viewpoint."

The 50 years after the World War II was a period of patient diplomacy, characterised by such key sentiments as "contain," "deter," and "erode." "The United States rarely attacked," said the Post. But this could change.

Indeed, many analysts say that the world changed forever on March 5 when leaders of France, Germany and Russia met in Paris to discuss their response to the impending war on Iraq. The Moscow-Paris-Berlin axis, according to this theory, goes beyond the question of regime change in Iraq; it defines emergence of a new European alliance aimed at containing the United States.

At the Portuguese archipelago of Azores, President Bush yesterday, with his key ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, unambiguously told reporters that his patience was running thin. It was time for muscular diplomacy.

"Tomorrow is a moment of truth for the world," Bush said after he met prime ministers of Spain, Portugal, and Britain. "Tomorrow is the day that we will determine whether or not diplomacy can work." Portugal is not a Security Council member.

"Saddam Hussein can leave the country, if he’s interested in peace," said Bush. "The decision is his to make. It’s been his to make all along as to whether or not there’s the use of military."

Polls show a majority of Americans appear to be growing impatient with United Nations diplomacy and would approve of a US-led attack on Iraq. The New York Times poll last week revealed two-thirds of Americans say they believe military action should be taken against Iraq. Fifty-five percent say they would approve of a war even without the backing of the United Nations.

A month ago, US public opinion was seen as evenly split on whether the UN was doing a good job in Iraq. Now, 58 percent of respondents say it is doing a poor job.

Bush’s approval ratings, at near 80 percent this time last year, continue to fall. Several polls put public support for the president at about 53 percent. Also, only 39 percent said they would vote to re-elect Bush, compared to 54 percent a year ago.

‘Hooliganism’ smears the festival of colour

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 17 : Holi, a traditional Hindu festival of colour, was observed today with fun and frolic in 54 hilly districts across the kingdom, including the Kathmandu Valley. The festival will be celebrated tomorrow in 20 districts of the Terai belt.

People in Kathmandu were seen observing the spring festival smearing "Abeer" or red vermilion powder on each other in streets right from the daybreak. With their coloured faces, young people were roaming around the thoroughfares of Kathmandu with singing and dancing.

As the whole Kathmanduites were obsessed with the festival, the whole city wore a festive mood. Even foreigners were seen enjoying the festival in major tourist hubs of the city.

Being the day an official Holiday, all government offices, educational institutions and private offices remained closed. Few shops in major bazaars in Kathmandu like Ason, Putalisadak, New Road remained open.

The festival, taken as the symbol of proximity, fraternity and love is however loosing its traditional colour every passing year in Kathmandu valley. Sprinkling dirty water, throwing water-filled balloons known as lola, hooliganism and alcoHolism in the name of celebrating the festival has distorted its value and importance in recent years.

Despite Home Ministry’s stern warning that those found involved in throwing dirty water and lolas to passers-by and hooliganism while celebrating the festival on the eve of the festival will be punished, these ill-practices were seen profoundly.

Police vans were patrolling around the thoroughfares of Kathmandu to see no hooliganism and unwanted practices take place. According to Kuber Rana, chief of Kathmandu District Police, the police have arrested a number of people involved in hooliganism and throwing lolas to passers-by from different places of Kathmandu. The Lalitpur Police also arrested a few.

Apart from these misbehaviours attached with the festival, Holi has its own historical and religious importance, which is generally celebrated by smearing colours on one another in a friendly spirit. Every year Holi is celebrated in the middle of the bright fortnight during the month of Falgun (March).

Hari Ram Joshi, a renowned cultural expert describes Holi as a festival to celebrate good harvests.

Legends have it that, an arrogant king Hiranyakasyap wanted to kill his pious son Praladha, who against his father’s will worshipped Lord Vishnu.

He made several abortive attempts to kill his son. Finally, the king’s sister Holika who was immune to burning sat with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while Holika burnt to death. This festival is said to have come into being on the death of this legendary demon Holika.

To commemorate the burning of Holika huge bonfires are made on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

Every year the festival commences when a huge ceremonial pole, traditionally trimmed with multicoloured cotton strips (locally known as cheer) is duly erected at Basantapur Durbar Square in front of the Kumarighar, where the living goddess Kumari resides.

This ritualistic pole represents a legendary Kadam tree, the favourite of Lord Krishna. According to legends, it was on this tree that Lord Krishna hung his women devotees’ (gopinis) clothes as they were bathing in the Yamuna river, naked.

And this festivity continues all day long until the cheer is finally lowered in the late afternoon of Fagu Poornima (tomorrow) which marks the end of Holi celebrations.

Meanwhile, news reports from various hill districts said that the festival was observed with joy and enthusiasm this year, thanks to the cease-fire. From past few years people couldn’t enjoy the festival due to violence.

Dispatches from Far-westernern districts in Nepal, Doti and Achham said that people in the region marked the festival singing Deuda, a traditional dance of the region. They wore Jhakula, a traditional dress as they sang Deuda.