New petro prices fuel transport fares
Domestic air fares hiked by Rs 350

By Satyendra Timilsina

KATHMANDU, March 26 : Domestic airlines operators have unilaterally decided to impose "fuel-surcharge" of Rs 350 per passenger on the existing airfare to compensate the increase in aviation fuel price from today.

A meeting of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) today took the decision and also agreed to demand the permission from the government to collect it. The decision would come into effect only after the government’s approval.

"After analysing the cost of increased fuel price, all the operators unanimously decided to request the government to enforce the fuel surcharge," said Bikash Samsher JB Rana, president of the AOAN.

"Airlines operators are already in a difficult financial position and the aviation industry cannot sustain without the price adjustments," he added.

The government had decided to increase the price of aviation fuel, along with the price of other petroleum products, by 19 per cent, raising the price from Rs 28.8 to Rs 34.

According to the operators, the cost of aviation fuel amount to almost 35 per cent of the total cost of operation. As such, they claim, the domestic airlines’ cost would increase by Rs 318 to Rs 350, depending upon the efficiency of the aircraft.

Despite the unilateral decision by the airlines operators, the Civil Aviation Regulations bar them from implementing the decision. According to the CAAN regulations, the operators are allowed to fix the airfare, 10 per cent above or below the set fares. But most of the airlines are already flying at the maximum airfares.

The airlines, operating in hub routes (flights to remote areas) are flying with optimum airfare limit, and thus they cannot revise the airfare on their own. Only the Airline operators operating in trunk routes (from Kathmandu to major cities) can increase the fare up to Rs 200.

30-40 pc increase in public transport fares

By Sameer Ghimire

KATHMANDU, March 26 : The association of public transport owners today unilaterally decided to hike the fares of public buses by 30 to 40 per cent.

"Naturally we cannot continue with the old fares as the fuel prices have shot up remarkably," said Bishnu Siwakoti, President of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNTE).

The federation today decided to raise the fares in the short route by 40 per cent, and by 30 per cent in the long routes, Siwakoti said.

The government yesterday had decided to raise the petro-prices of diverse products including kerosene, petrol, diesel, cooking gas and aviation fuel by 7 to 65 per cent.

In response to the FNTE’s decision, government officials have strongly protested the unilateral decision. "The increment of fare should be based on the weightage of fuel in the total operational cost and not in the same proportion as price increment rate," said Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, a member of National Planning Commission.

The Ministry of Transport and Labour Management (MoLTM) has meanwhile formed a seven-member committee to review the public transportation fares.

Chhabiraj Pant, Director General of Department of Transport Management and coordinator of the newly formed Transport Fare Review Committee has termed the decision "illegal".

"Federation alone cannot decide to hike transport fares. The decision of price hike in the public transports has to be negotiated with the government," he added

The other members of the review committee, which has been asked to submit its report within 15 days include Harendra Bahadur Shrestha, Bishnu Siwakoti, Yogendra Karmacharya, Kumar Raj Joshi, Sunil Poudel and Sharad Adhikari.

Refugee repatriation process gains momentum

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 26 : Nepal and Bhutan went a step forward towards repatriation of the refugees of the Khudunabari camp, by agreeing to introduce voluntary repatriation form for the refugees who want to go back to their homeland.

This was revealed today by Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah, who returned from Bhutanese capital Thimphu, after taking part in the 13th Ministerial Joint Committee (MJC) meeting on March 24-26. "As per international norms, the refugees will be asked to fill the voluntary repatriation form," said Shah. "Those filling such forms will be able to go back. The two sides have agreed on such a modality."

The voluntary repatriation form, tabulated according to international standards on repatriation, will be made available to the refugees in three of the four categories, viz; Bhutanese forced to leave, Bhutanese who emigrated willingly and Bhutanese with criminal records. It is still not clear whether those falling in the last mentioned group will get any general amnesty, as the Bhutanese have long been claiming that their alleged "crimes" were of a "political nature". The refugees have been demanding monitoring by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as they allege most laws in Bhutan do not conform to international standards.

Those falling in the fourth category, the non-Bhutanese, won’t get any such repatriation forms.

The two countries also agreed to hold the 14th MJC meeting in Kathmandu from May 11 this year. The next meet will "accept" the report by the Joint Verification Team (JVT) on categorisation of the refugees of the Khudunabari camp, which is still going on. Besides "accepting" the JVT report, it will also give impetus to the repatriation process. The 14th ministerial meeting will also decide on the verification on the remaining six camps, the minister added. "Within two weeks of the JVT completing its task, repatriation process in the Khudunabari camp will begin."

However, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) told The Kathmandu Post that the Bhutanese side was way behind schedule in completing the categorisation process. Nepal, he added, has nearly completed its task of placing the Khudunabari camp refugees into four categories.

The JVT had completed the verification of over 12,000 refugees in December 2001, eight months after beginning the process. During the exercise, the two sides examined and scrutinised documents of the refugees supporting their claim of Bhutanese citizenship.

This was followed by categorisation and since February 24 this year, the JVT had been doing this. Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya who had accompanied the minister, said that the JVT report would be made public once the categorisation is completed.

Minister Shah, who led a three-member team to Bhutan to take part in the 13th Nepal-Bhutan MJC meeting on March 24-26, ruled out any third party mediation and added that the two countries are capable and determined to resolve the refugee impasse amicably. He also said that exactly when the refugees’ yearning to go back to their homeland would be fulfilled was a very sensitive issue.

Replying to a question on the resettlement on the lands vacated by the refugees, Foreign Minister Shah said, "They (the Bhutanese side) say it is temporary exercise and was done to protect the trees and plants." Over 100,000 refugees have been languishing in the seven UNHCR-run camps in eastern Nepal. The refugee exodus from the Druk Kingdom first began in the ’90s.

During the 12th MJC meeting in Kathmandu, Bhutan agreed to take back all the "willing" refugees. The 13th meet in the Bhutanese capital also decided that any differences within the JVT will be addressed at the ministerial level. Minister Shah admitted they were a few mistakes but he added that they were resolvable.

During his stay, the Minister was granted an audience by Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk and chief of the Council of Ministers Kinjag Dorje. The Bhutanese side was led by its Foreign Minister Jigme Y Thinley. Foreign Ministry officials of both the countries took part in the Thimphu ministerial meeting.

Their Majesties pay homage

KATHMANDU, March 26 (RSS) - Their Majesties the King and Queen visited the Tirupmala Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, today and paid homage to Lord Venkateshwar.

The Tirupati temple is located in a hilly region called Venkata some 20 kilometres from the town of Tirupati. The Tirupati Venkateshwar is worshipped as an incarnation of Lord Bishnu.

Discount in medical fees for TU students

KATHMANDU, March 26 (PR)- Tribhuvan University (TU) on Wednesday announced a 50 percent discount in medical fees for its students. But such a discount will be offered only at the TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.

The decision to this effect follows demands of the student groups, including Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) and All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary), which went on locking campuses. The former even vandalised TU Central Library, causing damages to the library.

TU, in view of the mounting pressure from students’ groups, decided that the students could get the concession in medical services with effect from Saturday, this month.

Four children, mother burnt to death

By Dinesh Regmi

NUWAKOT, March 26 : Four children and their mother were burnt alive to death after their wooden house caught fire in a remote village in Ghyangfedi Village Development Committee (VDC) on Sunday midnight.

Villagers said that the bodies of the five people were completely reduced to cinders, as they could not rescue them immediately, except their 60-year-old grandmother.

According to the delayed report, the five family members of Dhandup Tamang, former Ward member of the VDC, were perished in the fire when they were fast asleep inside the house at Ghyangdanda village, located about 40-km north-east of Bidur, the district headquarters. Dhandup and his elder son were out of his home at the time of the incident.

Those who were killed on the fire have been identified as Dhandup’s daughter-in-law Marmendo, 30, three grandsons - Bhim, 10, Jaya, 8, and Sukman, 6, and three-year-old granddaughter Sanja Maya.

Sixty-two years old Dhandup, who arrived here today covering two-day’s walk along with his neighbours to inform officials about the incident, said that the villagers, however, somehow rescued his 60-year-old wife, Maili Tamang, out of the fire. He said that she is out of danger and staying in the village.

Former chairman of the VDC Shamdeng Sherpa suspected that they might have forgot to put out the fire that was used to cook allo on the ground floor of the house before they went to bed.

The fire-victim said that property equivalent to Rs. 300,000 was gutted by the fire. "I am ruined. Now, I have no clothes to change and nothing to eat," lamented Dhandup.

Nuwakot Chief District Officer Ganesh Prasad Dhakal said that he would provide him with relief materials and cash amount to perform the last rites of the deceased.

Major private hospitals, nursing homes blatantly flout consultation fee rules

By Perina Pathak, Suvecha Pant & Tejasuee Rajbhandari

KATHMANDU, March 26  : Defying the Doctor’s Consultation Fee Regulation 2002, major private hospitals and nursing homes in Kathmandu are exacting unauthorized fees from the patients.

An investigation carried out by The Kathmandu Post in six major private hospitals- Norvic Escorts and Research Centre, Om Hospital and Research Centre, B&B Hospital, Hospital for Advanced Medicare and Surgery (HAMS), Medicare Hospital and Kathmandu Hospital- found that these hospitals have violated the various provisions of the Regulation.

The Regulation, which came into effect from December 2002, has fixed the fee structure of doctors and set up rules on follow up fee. It has divided doctors into four categories - MBBS graduate, diploma holders, Postgraduate MD and MS degree holders, and Super Specialists- and has fixed their fee structures in the range of Rs 75 to Rs 275.

On follow up fee, the Regulation says, if a patient comes for a follow up within ten days, the doctor should examine the patient free of charge. However, if a patient comes for a follow up for the same health problem within six weeks, he can be charged only 50 per cent of the initial fee.

The above Regulation is applicable to nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.

Various patients visiting different private hospitals and clinics provided documents to us that showed the violation of the Regulation.

Anu Shrestha from Lazimpat has been visiting Om Hospital for regular check-ups with Dr Bhola Rijal. In the past three months, she visited the hospital thrice and was charged the full fee each time.

Similarly, Kishan Kadel (name changed upon request) has also been on regular check-ups at the B&B Hospital for the past one month. On his second visit, three weeks after the first, he was again charged full fee, though he was entitled to pay only half as per the Regulation.

Hospital for Advance Medicine and Surgery (HAMS) also charged Mukesh Dahal (name changed upon request) full fee during three follow-up visits, all within a month.

Madhu Ghimire, Senior Physician at HAMS, even charges Rs 500 fee for regular check ups during the morning hours. The fee ceiling, according to the Regulation, cannot exceed Rs 275. B&B Hospital and Om Hospitals also do not fully comply with the fee structure set by the Regulation.

Similarly, it is also mandatory that the private hospitals and nursing homes display the Regulation notice in public, preferably at their counter, for knowledge of the patients.

But the investigation found that Norvic, HAMS, Kathmandu Hospital, B&B Hospital, Om Hospital, and Medicare did not display the notice of the Regulation at all.

When inquired, most of these health institutions showed no interest to abide by the Regulation.

"None of the nursing homes and clinic are interested to follow the Regulation," said Dr Bhola Rijal, Chairman of Association of Private Health Institution in Nepal (APHIN).

"If we follow the Regulation," said Rijal, "Our institutions might collapse financially."

Rijal also argued that the Regulation does not give relief to the general public. He, instead, argued that the check-up fees should be increased.

Dr Madhu Ghimire, Director of HAMS, also made it clear that his institution has no interest abiding itself by the Regulation and said, "We provide services as per our demands."

He also blamed that the Regulation was formulated without a scientific basis and said, "Its enforcement by the government will only result in low quality services in the health sector." Dr Hari Kishore Shrestha, Managing Director of Om Hospital and Research Centre,

blamed that the Regulation has violated the personal independence of nursing homes. He also accused the government of formulating the Regulation "for its own publicity."

Health Minister, Dr Upendra Devkota, himself a renowned surgeon, took a personal initiative to formulate and implement the Regulation. The government officials, on the other hand, vowed to enforce the Regulation.

Tanka Mani Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry told that it would take stern action against violators of the Regulation.

He, however, conceded that no such action has been taken thus far. "There has been no complaints from the public in the last three months since the Regulation came into effect."

He also informed that the ministry has set up a Monitoring and Evaluation Division and a Doctor’s Service Division for regular monitoring of the Regulations.

"In the near future a team will be sent to the nursing homes to evaluate whether the regulations are being followed," said Dr Hari Nath Acharya, Chief of the Monitoring Division.

Sharma said that the ministry is currently focusing on public awareness for the successful implementation of the Regulation "The Ministry is increasing its public campaign for effective implementation," said Sharma.

Public offences on the rise

By Pragya Koirala

KATHMANDU, March 26 : The cases of public offences in the capital have increased dramatically in the first seven months of the Nepali calendar year. Last month alone recorded almost double public offence cases than a month ago.

According to the police record, in first seven months of the ongoing year 795 persons were convicted for the public offence, and 780 were arrested. In the period police took 335 cases to the court. The record is pretty high as compared to 892 crimes and 871 arrests in 12 months last year.

Public offence is a crime of obstructing anyone in carrying out his or her responsibilities and also to create disturbance in the public places. If someone creates vulgarity or uses any obscene words or signs, or physically and mentally harasses women or blackmails anyone, the act is considered a public offence.

Obstructing the efficient working of necessary public services like postal services, media, transportation, electricity services etc, and creating violence and terror among people and destroying other people’s property are also the crimes under public offences.

"The increase in public offences can be attributed to the increased vigilance of the police," said Kuber Singh Rana, Superintendent of Police at the Valley Police office, Hanumandhoka.

The sharp increase in population in the valley is the main reason for the increase in public offences. The increased population, according to Rana, contributed to higher rate of unemployment, which in turn increased the crimes. The drug abuse, bad effects of media and increasing number of night entertainment centres are also attributed to the increased public offences.

"It is seen that due to lengthy legal procedures in other types of crimes, police tend to control the general offenders under public offence," said, Shankar Shahi, a commoner.

Oppn parties flay petro price hike

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 26 : Major and minor political parties and their sister organisations today came down heavily against the government decision to hike the prices of petroleum products. They have urged the government to withdraw the decision.

The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist, issuing a statement here today, flayed the government decision terming it "an extreme example of non-sensitivity and irresponsibility of the present government towards the poor in the country". The party has also threatened the government of launching protest programmes if the decision is not reconsidered.

The government on Tuesday raised the prices of all petroleum products bringing them on par with the prices across the border and to relieve the ailing Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) from its financial crisis. This is the second time prices of petroleum products have been hiked by the present government, which assumed power in October, 2002.

Similarly, Nepali Congress Party (Democratic) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), United People’s Front, Nepal have demanded the government to reconsider its decision of price hike, coupled with a suggestion to check irregularities and corruption in NOC.

Likewise, Nepal Trade Union Congress and All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary), a pro-Maoist students’ wing, National Democratic Students’ Organisation, student of RPP, have also flayed the price hike.

Parties rap Maoist demand for constituent assembly

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 26 : Leaders of various political parties today questioned the motives of the Maoists behind raising the demand for constituent assembly.

Maoists’ demand for constituent assembly would ultimately do more harm than good. It would either convert the country into a republican state or on lines of an absolute monarchical system, leaders warned in a discussion organised jointly by Forum for Intellectual Debate and Public Policy Discussion Centre.

"Bypassing political parties in peace building process invites danger," said the political leaders.

"Maoists rest happy with the open market economy but at the same time they demand constituent assembly. The contradiction is confusing," said Taranath Ranabhat, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said that the Maoists have failed to illustrate clear reasons why presidential system was essential. "Is it the North Korean style of government they desire ultimately?" he asked.

Ram Chandra Poudel, former deputy Prime Minister and NC leader said that a kind of mistrust between the king and political parties had started immediately after the constitution was instituted. "Attempts at demoralising parties and negating democracy are nothing more than the handiwork of conspirators," he said.

Similarly, RPP representative Rabindra Sharma said many questions were still unanswered. One of them, he said was the question of constituent assembly.

Radhakrishna Mainali of CPN-UML said the Maoists’ claim that they are ultimately for a republican state. "If so, convince people why a change is necessary in the existing constitution?" he asked.

However, Sashi Shrestha, representative of People’s Front supported the concept of constituent assembly.