No lapses on Nepal’s part World media under fire

-BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 30: No conclusion can, and should, be drawn at present on what led to the hijacking of the Indian Airlines last Friday since a high level investigation committee, formed to probe the incident, is yet to come out with its findings, said top government officials at a Face to Face programme here today.

 “It’s a complicated issue since it involves so many international rules and regulations. Something might have happened that led to the incident but that does not mean that the lapse has taken on our part,” said Dr. Narayan Khadka, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister, who was one of the speakers in today’s programme organised by Reporters’ Club. “Indian Airlines officials were also involved in the process of the departure of IC 814.”

Khadka also condemned the international media that has been unreasonably criticising the security arrangements at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). “I condemn such media propaganda that are not based on facts.”

Nepal, according to Narayan Singh Pun, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, has ratified The Hague, Tokyo and Montreal conventions on safety and security in civil aviation. “The TIA has its equipment at par with the standard fixed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Our airport is no less well-equipped than any others in the world.”

Justifying the drop in tourist arrival, especially Indians, of late, Assistant Minister Pun said that December is the month that sees the least number of arrivals compared to other months every year. “The decrease in the arrival should not be attributed to security lapse. There is no security lapse on our part.” 

Murari Raj Sharma, Secretary at Foreign Ministry, said that the government has been in touch with Taliban officials even though Nepal hasn’t recognised the Taliban regime. The IC 814, that was hijacked after it took off from TIA at around 4:30 last Friday, now sits in Kandhaar, southern Afghanistan. Before touching the Afghan land last Saturday, the Indian Airliner had landed in Amritsar of India, Lahore of Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.

After the hijackers released 25 ladies and children and a male earlier last week, the Airbus still carries around 160 passengers and crew members.

The Foreign Secretary made it clear that the government is not in a position to speculate over the hijacking issue. “We are waiting for the report of the high level investigative committee.”

Speaking during the face to face programme, Padma Prasad Pokhrel, Secretary at the Home Ministry said that TIA has made maximum use of its facilities. “Of course, there is always room for improvement but that does not mean there was lapse on our part.”

The Home Secretary also suggested that travel document and identity card should also be introduced for certain time for cross border movement of Indian and Nepalese nationals.

The preliminary studies of the investigative committee, said Khem Raj Regmi, a member of the committee, have revealed that the Indian media, particularly the Zee News’ reporting on how could the hijackers get through the TIA, is totally baseless. “On the basis of what our investigation has shown so far, it has become clear that such reportings are aimed to tarnish the image of Nepal as a tourist destination. Since the investigation is well underway, nothing can be said now.”

According to Regmi, the government has entrusted the investigation committee with two mandates: First, to find out the lapse that led to the incident and to recommend the names of those responsible. Second, to suggest what can be done to upgrade TIA facilities including its security arrangements.

“The operation system of TIA is very much normal,” said Medini Prasad Sharma, General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport. “We have had feedbacks that our airport has been better than the minimum standard prescribed by the   ICAO.”

RPP factions reunited

-BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 30:The two factions of Rastriya Prajatantra Party reunited today under the guidelines of the Birgunj convention, which gives absolute powers to the Party President but retained the Party Leader post as part of the unification deal.

The unity has scrapped Co-chairmanship even if Lokendra Bahadur Chand has been retained as Party Leader irrespective of the mandate of the Birgunj convention in 1997. Co-chairmanship was created in 1992 for Rajeshwar Devkota, a principal actor behind the split last year, who remains outside  the unification now.

Surya Bahadur Thapa, the mainstream RPP’s President, will continue to serve as the president of the re-united party, which controls 11 seats in the 205-member House of Representatives.

“We have forgotten all the elements of difference that existed in the past and have promised to work together to resolve the problems facing the nation,” said the new RPP leader Chand at a press conference held to declare the unification.

A central committee will be formed soon, according to the party leaders. RPP’s central committee consists of 41 members and the Chand camp is likely to be given 40 per cent shares. Out of the 41 central committee slots, 11 are presently lying vacant.

Rajeswar Devkota was not present at today’s announcement of party unity. When asked to comment on the unification, Devkota said that he cannot call it a real merger as it is just the unification of Thapa and Chand.

Devkota said he is for broader unification of entire nationalist and democratic forces on the basis of ideology. He added that there are many people like him who do not recognise this unification and are still outside. He however, stated that he has no intention of damaging this unification as it also comes under his vision of broader unity.  

Replying to journalists’ query about the people who were discontented about the unity move, Chand said he took the move after the central committee of his party authorised him for the same. “I have no knowledge of anyone being dissatisfied with the unity. If it is so, it should be taken naturally in a democracy,” he added.  

Initiatives had been launched in the past few weeks to reunite the two RPPs that  splintered about two years back. The parties had authorised Chand and Thapa to take unification measures. The objective was fulfilled with the signing of policy statement by both leaders this morning.

Party president Thapa said that the party’s post-unification emphasis will be on organisational consolidation. Stating that the central committee of the new party will be formed very soon, he added that the merger would not affect the position of the two National Assembly members earlier representing the Chand faction of the party.

“The party will not break again. The strongest basis for this is our past experiences that have taught us not to repeat the mistakes,” said Thapa. 

It has widely been felt that there is the need to give the nation a concrete direction. That goal cannot be materialised in divided situation. We decided to unite so we can give a political alternative to the nation, said Thapa.

People and party workers pressured us for unity and give a political alternative. When the need of nation calls us to unify, the difference of the past become insignificant, Thapa said adding that any legal hurdles on unity will be sorted out.

The policy statement signed by Thapa and Chand states that RPP will remain committed to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, constitutional monarchy and parliamentary multiparty system. Nationalism, democracy and liberalism will be our ideological foundation.

The unification will retain the mainstream party’s name, flag and statute. “It will be called RPP and not Unified RPP,” Thapa said.

Party spokesman Kamal Thapa said that the district committees of the party and its professional wings will be restructured soon in accordance with the party statute.

No midnight RNAC flight tonight

-BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Dec.   30:None of the three Boeing 757s Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) operates will be off the ground tomorrow mid night as the national flag carrier has decided to play safe with the possible threat of the much touted Y2K bug.

Of its four scheduled international flights on Fridays, it has already cancelled one flying in the European route since Gatwick Airport in London will not operate from six p.m. December 31, 1999 to seven a.m. January 1, 2000. If the RNAC flight were to operate, it would be, on its way back from London, in the air in the midnight after its take off from Frankfurt at 11:30 p.m.

RA 407, another scheduled flight of the national airline, will be grounded at Changi Airport in Singapore Friday night in case time does not suffice the aircraft to make it home before the clock strikes 12:00. The flight’s scheduled take off time from here is nine a.m. and the normal arrival time is 10 p.m. the same day.

“But, since the foggy mornings delay the flight, its arrival back also gets delayed. If that happens tomorrow, we are going to fly back from Singapore only on the next day,” says Bharat Bahadur Karki, Executive Chairman of RNAC. “We are trying to play safe.”

Two flights will take off to Delhi — one at 8:30 a.m. and the other at six in the evening which is supposed to be back by ten in the night. Of these two, RNAC will not operate the leased aircraft tomorrow night in keeping with its supplier China South West Airlines’ demand. The leasing period of the Boeing 757 comes to an end in March, 2000. The national airliner owns the remaining two Boeing 757s it lease purchased in 1987 and 1988. 

Does the RNAC decision to remain on ground at the fag end of the millennium mean it is not Y2K compliant? “We are Y2K compliant,” says Karki, “Its just that we are trying to take precautions as other big airlines around the world have decided to do so.”

Computer technocrats with the airline claim that the Boeings RNAC flies are not date sensitive — a Y2K clean chit. “Equipment like Flight Management Control, Auto Pilot, among others, are not date sensitive, “ says Pushkar Wagle, Deputy Director of RNAC’s Corporate Department, who handles computer related issues in the national airline. “The manufacturer of Boeing has also assured us that the aircraft is Y2K compliant.”

Boeings, like that RNAC flies, have two computers in the cockpit — one each for the pilot and co-pilot. These computers, RNAC pilots say, will display 2000 as 1111.

Flight safety, however, is not limited with the aircraft alone. Equally crucial is the role of ground where sophisticated equipment are installed to guide the incoming and outgoing aircraft. Instrumental flights, meaning not depending on pilot’s visibility, very much depend on ground equipment like radar, VOR (that provides direction to flying aircraft), among others.

It is this technical back-up for aircraft that can go haywire as a result of the Y2K bug ultimately endangering the flight safety. “What happens if pilots get wrong direction signals from the ground equipment that is malfunctioning due to the date change?” asks Captain V.K. Shrestha, Chief Instructor Pilot with RNAC.

While flying back from Changi Airport, for instance, RNAC has to rely on the ground civil aviation facilities of half a dozen countries — Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, India and Nepal.

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has already prescribed a standard up-to-date Y2K compliant software of Arithmetic Message Switching System — a ground equipment that guides operating flights. “Since the CIAA has confirmed all the civil aviation facilities in countries above which RNAC flies are Y2K OK, we have no doubts,” says Wagle.

And what if they are not? “In that case we’ll do raw flying,” assures Captain Shree Ram Sharma, a senior pilot with RNAC. With today’s highly sophisticated civil aviation technology as a background, raw flying stands for manually operated flight. “It’s something like the way we used to fly Dakotas in international routes in the old days,” says Sharma.

IFSC should serve Nepal’s economic interest

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): A discussions programme was held at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar, in the presence of Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai on the establishment of International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Nepal.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister directed that an experts team undertake further studies on the basis of the studies and investment reports received so far and be prepared for implementation.

During the course of discussions, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, former finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, National Planning Commission (npc) vice-chairman Prithvi Raj Ligal, chairman of Employment Promotion Board Amar Raj Kaini, chief secretary Tirtha Man Shakya, secretary at the Ministry of Finance Ram Binod Bhattarai, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Satyendra Pyara Shrestha and senior advocate Harihar Dahal also expressed the view that as the first stage of the study had been completed in accordance with the objectives of the International Financial Transaction Bill 2054 B.S., International Financial Services Centre should be established considering the interest of Nepal.

Dr. Narayan Khadka, who is chief advisor to the Prime Minister, said that International Financial Transaction Bill 2054 B.S. had already been prepared on the basis of all party consensus and a report of the experts’ team.

He urged those present to hold extensive discussions and provide appropriate suggestions to take the task of the establishment of International Financial Services Centre.

A task force with npc member Dr. Shankar Sharma was constituted to undertake further studies in this regard and hold proper consultations as directed by the Prime Minister.

Deuba urges hostages’ release

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the failure to achieve the freedom of the passengers of the Indian Airlines Airbus-ic 814  which was hijacked before it reached its destination in New Delhi after departing from the Tribhuwan International Airport seven days ago has made us all suffer.

Mr Deuba said it is the prime responsibility of all who are sensitive to the hostage passengers facing a insecure state for such a long time at  Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan to free them.

In a statement,  Mr Deuba  called on the governments concerned and all the friendly nations who have diplomatic relations with the Taliban government as well as the United Nations to take special measures from the humanitarian point of view for immediate release of the hostages by giving the issue  top priority.

Meanwhile, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa has said that the New Delhi-based Nepalese Embassy is alert to see to it that the hijacking which has taken place unexpectedly would not weaken the foundation of Nepal-India relationships and not lessen the understanding subsisting between the peoples of the two countries.

Talking to rss today, Dr. Thapa noted that some sections of Indian media have sensitized the issue by disseminating unconfirmed reports about the hijacking of the Indian Airline plane ic-814 and they have been told not to do so.

The embassy has made efforts to make diplomatic missions of 54 countries based in New Delhi understand that the incident is not a result of negligence on the part of Nepal, but of chance, the ambassador said, adding such incidents have occurred also in countries where security is very tight.

Dr. Thapa also made it clear that the report that one of the hijackers is a Nepali has not been founded yet and this is nothing more than a speculation.

Meanwhile, according to afp, one hostage was allowed 90 minutes for treatment at a Kandahar-based hospital today.

Indian Muslim leaders have condemned the hijacking for the release of Kashimiri Muslim terrorists as “non-Islamic”.

Imam Saiyed Ahmad Bukhari of Medieval Jama Masjid, New Delhi pledged full support of Indian Muslims to the efforts being undertaken by the Indian government.

Representatives of different Muslim schools also met the Prime Minister and expressed concern over the inicident.

They said, “this is totally non-Muslim. Islam is a peace-loving religion. Their act is against the teachings of Koran.”

HMG forms probe team

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government has constituted a six member investigation commission under the chairmanship of former attorney general Prem Bahadur Bista to investigate into the crash of the Skyline Airways twin otter aircraft at Burja hills of Sukaura VDC in makwanpur district that was on a regular Simara-Kathmandu flight on December 25.

This   is stated in the press release issued here today by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Meet requested to seek info on hijacking

Kathmandu Dec. 30 (RSS):The meeting of the National Assembly delegated legislation committee was held here today under the chairmanship of the committee chairman Basu Dev Bhatta.

The meeting  decided to request the Home Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation to be present at the meeting of 1:00 P.M. on December 31   to seek information on the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Aircraft on December 24.

The meeting also prayed for the eternal peace of those killed in  the accident of the Skyline Airways twin otter aircraft on December 25 and expressed hearty condolence to the bereaved families.

Command post in touch with Kandahar

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): The command post set up in connection with the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane (IC-814) is having frequent contact with the control tower of Kandahar Airport to inquire about the condition of the passengers.

In the process it contacted the control tower at mid-night (Wednesday-Thursday) and again at 12:05 hours Thursday.

According to the Tribhuvan International Airport, Civil Aviation Office, onging bilateral talks on ending the hijack have made some good progress, but details of the talks could not be known.

The command post has quoted the control tower as saying that the  condition of the passengers and the aircraft is normal while supply of drinking water and medicines to the plane is continuing and there is no critical situation.

The civil aviation office has requested the relatives of passengers or mediamen to call telephone No. 498775 for contact with it in that connection.

The passengers aboard the hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft were provided food and water and their health examined today.

The command post set up at Tribhuvan International Airport Civil Aviation Office contacted the control towers at Kandahar and New Delhi airports while talks were being held with the hijackers.

Arrangements have been made for the relatives of the passengers held hostage in the Indian Airlines aircraft and the mass media to call telephone number 498775 for the flow of information.

PM stresses preservation of all castes, languages

Lalitpur, Dec. 30 (RSS):Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has said our country is a common garden of all regardless of their castes, creeds, languages and religions and preservation of all these is a common responsibility.

Mr Bhattarai made this remark while inaugurating a programme organised by the Tamu Lhochhar main organising committee on the occasion of the 2584th Lochhar festival here today.

Stating that religious tolerance, culture and original civilization of the Gurung community are the ornaments of our nation, the Prime Minister observed that the Gurung community have played a very significant role in restoring democracy and maintaining peace and security in the country.

The Gurungs should emphasize, particularly, science and technology, he said, adding all the Gurungs should now engage in the task of creating a new society and enhancing the dignity of the nation.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister felicitated different individuals of the Gurung community for their important contribution to the nation.

Those who were felicitated were ex-mp Basant Gurung, poetess Toya Gurung, ssp Baburam Gurung, lyricist Harka Bahadur Gurung, players Teju Gurung and Krishna Gurung, Dr. Vidya Laxmi Gurung, Colonel Bishnu Bahadur Gurung, Dev Bahadur Gurung, Dawa Gurung, Tashi Gurung, Chitra Bahadur Gurung and Kabur Gurung.

Leader of the main opposition party and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal noted that Nepal is a common garden of diverse cultures and religions and unity among them is our speciality.

Stating the preservation of languages and cultures of all communities is the prime responsibility of the state, Mr Nepal spoke of the need for the government to be serious about uplifting the living standard of economically, socially and politically backward communities.

The CPN-UML leader also presented letters of appreciation to Painyu Kholetamu Samaj, Satmane Deurali Samaj and Tamu Bauddha Sewa Samiti that came out first, second and third in the pageantry competition.

Minister of State for Labour Ram Bahadur Gurung remarked that the present government is determined to preserve and promote every language, culture and religion.

Mr Gurung presented the shields and prizes to the winners of various competitions.

Ganjman Singh Gurung and labour advisor Nawaraj Gurung also expressed their views at the function chaired by chairman of the main organising committee Aash Bahadur Gurung.

Unity glorious aspect of Nepal, says Khadka   

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): On the occasion of the 55th auspicious birthday of His Majesty the King, Minister for Information and Communications Purna Bahadur Khadka released a book titled “Shree Panch Birendra Tatha Mausufka Bhramanharu”(His Majesty King Birendra and His Majesty’s visits) authored by poetess Shanti Chaudhari.

On the occasion, Minister Khadka said that some historic decisions have been taken for the development of language and culture after the restoration of democracy in the country.

The present government is committed to provide continuity to the development with optimum use of the available means and resources, he said.

Referring to unity in diversity as the glorious aspect of Nepal, Mr Khadka expressed the view that the government owned mass media should give maximum space to motivate the mass media of the private sector.

He expressed the conviction that the book covering experiences and auspicious activities including the visits by His Majesty the King will be useful for every sector.

Senior journalist Bairagi Kainla said that more than 70 languages are spoken in the country and   special programmes should be conduced from radio and TV to safeguard the endangered languages.

Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Keshav Sthapit, former minister Parashu Narayan Chaudhari and a host of other speakers shed light on the literary contributions made by Shanti Chaudhari at the programme chaired by president of Tharu  Kalyankarini Sabha Narendra Chaudhari.

No impact of Y2K in Nepal’s medical sector

Kathmandu Dec. 30 (RSS): The Ministry of Health has announced that the Y2K problem will not cause any untoward impact in the equipment used to provide medical services to the patients  during their treatment in Nepal.

According to the press release issued by the ministry,  the equipment given on the list are categorised in Y2K compliant, non-compliant and unknown on the basis of a study carried out on the information received from  internet and  local suppliers about the equipment provided by the health institutions run in the government and the private sector.

Directives have also been issued to use only the Y2K compliant equipment and not to use the non-compliant equipment and the unknown categories.

The Ministry of Health had demanded a special list of equipment from the representatives of  20 hospitals with a view not to let the impact of the Y2K problem in the health sector but  only 13 hospitals despatched the list.

Nepal receives Chinese grant assistance

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): The government of the People’s Republic of China has agreed to provide a grant assistance equivalent to approximately Rs. 679 million to His Majesty’s Government to support the development of the national economy of Nepal, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance.

The grant would be used for projects mutually decided by both the governments.

For the purpose an agreement on economic and technical cooperation was signed here today between His Majesty’s Government and the government of the People’s Republic of China.

The agreement was signed by secretary at the Ministry of Finance Ram Binod Bhattarai and ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Zeng Xuyong on behalf of their respective governments.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed sincere appreciation to the government of China for the grant assistance and for its continued support to the socio-economic development of Nepal.

Condolence book at Indian Embassy

Kathmandu, Dec. 30 (RSS): A condolence book will be open at the Indian Embassy from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Today and tomorrow for those who wish to pay their respects to former president of India the late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, it is stated by the embassy.