Cook begins Nepal visit Applauds democracy in Nepal

BY A  STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr.20:British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook arrived here by a special aircraft RAF VC-10 for a two-day official visit today.

"It’s been very enthusiastic to visit Nepal because our (Nepal and Britain’s) relations have been very strong and long," Cook told reporters after he was received by Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola at the VVIP Bay of Tribhuvan International Airport this evening. 

Cook said that the highlight of his visit would be his audience with His Majesty the King and have meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Foreign Minister Banstola on a full working agenda.

"I hope to visit the British Gurkha’s Nepal camp tomorrow. Gurkhas have been the central part in the British relations with Nepal. They have been the central part of the British Army. They serve with great distinction. Most recently they were the part of the team that served in East Timor to help bring peace and security in that troubled area."

The British Foreign Secretary said that he wanted to express his appreciation on the Gurkha soldiers’ contribution and also to highlight the new pension award for Gurkha soldiers. "All Gurkha pensions have now at least doubled."

"I also want to see for my self and applaud the multiparty democracy system that has been created here in Nepal," he said adding, "That democratic process makes Nepal a firm partner with us in development."

Cook reminded that Britain is the second largest bilateral aid donor to Nepal. He said that he will be visiting a number of projects here and he would be reporting on the success of Nepal-British joint work.

The visiting British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, after arriving at the British Embassy here this evening, opened the new office of Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the   new office, Cook said "we can now work together even more closely to multiply the trading opportunities for our two countries. This will build on the work you have already started; promoting British wool in Nepalese carpet manufacturing and knitwear; displaying UK products and services at the recent Himalayan Expo 2000, with specific and successful opportunities for British business; and forging new and dynamic initiatives in IT and other areas."

He further said: We hope that as trade develops and prosperity grows trade will transcend aid as the basis for the country’s development as we move together into the new millennium."

He is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the new British Council building here tomorrow.

Cook is the first British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to visit Nepal. "It’s a general, bilateral and a goodwill visit" Foreign Minister Banstola said just before receiving Cook at the TIA this evening. "The visit is an opportunity in getting to know each other better on the entire gamut of international relations."

Cook will leave for the UK at 22:15 tomorrow evening.

RSS adds: British Secretary of Foreign Affairs Robin Cook's official visit beginning today is expected to add a new dimension to the bilateral friendly relations and promote bilateral trade and investment.

President of the Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rajendra Khetan has expressed confidence that the first-ever visit by a British Foreign Secretary will contribute to ensuring economic development of Nepal.

Stating that successful privatization of public undertakings of Britain may prove important in the context of Nepal also, Mr. Khetan noted that talks between the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and those from the business community will be important.

The visit by the British Foreign Secretary will significantly contribute to importing British technology and raw materials for exporting finished products and increasing the number of British tourists in Nepal, he said and spoke of the need to form a joint economic council in the private sector to promote bilateral trade.

Observing that the first-ever visit by a British Foreign Secretary after the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1816 A.D. is of course positive and the visit has come at a time when the Labour Party has responded our economic activities such as promoting trade and investment rather than achieving only economic assistance.

Trade between Nepal and Britain has been increasing in recent years.

In fiscal year 1997/98, Nepal exported goods worth Rs. 318.160 million to Britain, while during the same period Nepal imported goods worth Rs. 312.640 million from Britain.

Nepal exports ready-made garments, carpets, and woolen and handicraft goods to Britain, while it imports machinery parts, electricals goods, aircraft spare parts, muslin, medicines, scientific tools and goods made of good and silver.

At present, eight industries are in operation under Nepal-English joint venture.

The number of British tourists is also increasing in recent years. In 1997, a total of 2,998 British tourists had visited Nepal, while the number rose to 35,497 in the following year.

During his visit to India, British Secretary of Foreign Affairs Cook had said trade relations with Nepal will be expanded on the basis of partnership.

The 200 year old relations between the two countries has been cordial at the people's level and recruitment of Gurkha soldiers has contributed to further promoting it.

Dismal educational scenario in Nuwakot

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Nuwakot, Apr. 20:Sahila Tamang, 12, of Lachyang Village Development Committee leaves for the jungle with the cock's crow to collect fodder and firewood. Immediately after his return home, he again leaves his home to graze his cattle and goats.

Similar is the fate of the majority of the children in Nuwakot. About sixty per cent school-age kids are forced to stay away from the light of education. They have no idea of what a school is like. Asked why does not he go to the school, Sahila said, "Who will collect fodder and graze the cattle?"

Charimaya of the same VDC left school completing class III. Responding to a question on why she left the school, 15-year-old Charimaya said, "It is not proper for a girl of marriageable age to attend school." Charimaya who believes that she is matured enough for marriage is totally unknown of the frequent child rights workshops and seminars in the cities.

This is not only the case in the remote villages. The presence of the student is very thin even in Mahalaxmi Primary School and B. P. Memorial Primary School located in Bidur Municipality. Although the enrolment touches 200 in class I and II in B. P. Memorial Primary School, the number drops down to 15-20 by class V. The presence of the children from the lower class and the ethnic communities is almost nil.

"The guardians here are not aware that children should be sent to school," Bageshwori Secondary School (BSS)'s headmaster Lal Bahadur Kunwar said. "However the situation is changing gradually. The parents these days feel proud if their wards have completed primary education before joining the household and farm chores."

The figures provided by the District Education Office shows that out of 95,939 children below 10, only 38,526 have been attending schools.

"Lack of awareness among the people, indifference of the people's representatives, lack of contact and co-ordination between the teachers and the guardians, and the inconvenient location of the schools are the main reasons behind poor literacy," BSS management committee Chairman Aan Bahadur Pyakurel said.

United Lower Secondary School's headmaster Indra Bahadur Pandit too said that lack of awareness was the major factor behind the dismal educational scenario. "People still marry off their daughters before she completes 15. They have a misconception that they will have difficulty in finding a good suitor if she is provided higher education."

Inconvenient location of schools is another aspect of the problem, he added.

The guardians here engage their daughters in the household business from their childhood, as they believe that the daughters' prime duty is to take charge of the house and satisfy their in-laws once they are married.

Tourism promotion free of cost

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Apr.20:With the adventure tourism event – Trans-Himalaya 2000 – all set to kick off nine days later, the countdown has begun for the opportunity Nepal can very much cash in on to further enhance its tourist-destination image.

As 70 teams will be performing different sporting activities to cross around 700 kilometres – from Tibet Autonomous Region of China to Janakpur – during the cross country adventure sports, dozens of TV crews and above 80 journalists from around the world will be hot on the participants’ heels throughout the event.

Live coverage apart, renowned TV stations like Euro Sport International Channel, ABC of the US, NHK of Japan, and other international channels will tele-cast a 20 minute programme everyday during the around 10-day event covering environment and landscape of the event- spots, their local culture, ethnicity and lifestyles besides about the leading and last teams.

On the last day of the event, the TV channels will show a 52 minute programme encompassing the highlights of the race – being organised by Raid Gauloises, a Paris based organisation that has successfully held nine such events in different countries since 1989. Trans-Himalaya 2000 will be the tenth one in the series.

Euro Sport International will shoot a three-hour documentary on the adventure program to telecast through its channels in different European countries. Raid Gauloises will also prepare a separate documentary for rapid telecasting in different countries in a bid to promote its eleventh sporting event -- to be held elsewhere – more effectively.

Add to that the different stories on the event print journalists will ink both in their national and international newspapers, magazines, and periodicals.

All these point at one thing: Nepal will enjoy tremendous promotion in the international media, and that too, without coughing out a single penny. While shooting each five-member team performing seven activities – trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming -- vying to reach their destination, cameras will also be capturing the country’s rich biodiversity.

Ranging from the towering snow-clad peaks to deep gorges, serene lakes to gushing rivers and rivulets, rugged terrain to lush jungles enriched with flora and fauna, all the nature based tourism products will be there in the media to beckon holiday-makers. Irresistible for any wanna-be traveller not to talk about adventure souls. "This kind of adventure tourism sports is the first event in South Asia," said Rajendra Bantawa, Managing Director of Great Himalayan Adventures, the local liaison for Trans Himalaya 2000.

What’s more, the government holds the authority to censor all the images recorded during the event before they are made public. "That way we will be sending all the positive images," says Ganesh Raj Karki, under Secretary, at the Industry Administration Division under the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture that has patronised the event. "Apart from the adventure products, our focus will be to highlight the cultural aspects."

The government has also waived off royalty worth five million Rupees that would have been otherwise charged to foreign electronic media for shooting the event and the local taxes in the areas where the events will take place. "Police security throughout the race-route will also be arranged," said Karki.

Taking advantage of the situation will be Nepal Tourism Board – the private sector dominated body presently focussing on destination promotion -- that plans to rope in the media-men, covering the event, to disseminate information about other tourism products. "We have already asked the Japanese mediamen to do so," said Pradeep Raj Pandey, Chief Executive Officer of the Board that has Rupees 70.5 million budget for international promotion for the current fiscal year.

Publicity advantage aside, hosting adventure tourism events like Trans Himalaya 2000, the country will also hit the right chord in the swelling international travel trade, tourism pundits believe. "Sport tourism is the trump card of the third millennium," said Karna Shakya. "Both the government and the private sector will have to capitalise this event."

The national tourism industry already sees around 25 per cent of the inbound tourists as trekkers and expeditioners. Nearly 500,000 tourists visited the country in 1999. Around 60 per cent of the total incoming tourists belong to between 16 and 45 age group, meaning the major chunk of the visitors – owing to their young age -- will choose outdoor activities. Around 30 per cent of internationally travelling US tourists – the third largest visitors in Nepal – are believed to be sport-tourism oriented.

Recent UN figures show above 93 per cent of the global population by the end of this year will be below 65 years – yet another reason for travel trade to cater to the younger generation’s taste.  

But, that does not mean the aged travellers have no say in travel trade. The baby boomers too have begun to demand adventure travel, though soft ones. Interestingly, visitors with this age-bracket in certain nations have the highest purchasing power. In the US, for instance, the above 50 age group, with around US $ 130 billion in aggregate discretionary income, controls around 75 per cent of the nation’s financial assets.

Even if this age group and others choose not to sport the Nepalese adventure world, they   will have a different edge: To see for themselves the Shangri-La Nepal has to boast about. And, that will be a real bingo for the country for having hosted Trans Himalaya 2000.

Donors pledge aid to Nepal

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Donor nations and agencies are to provide cooperation worth one billion dollar  during the period of one year for the development endeavours of Nepal.

At the meeting of the Nepal Development Forum which concluded in Paris yesterday, the representatives of the donor agencies and nations expressed commitment to increase the sum of assistance if  progress of institutional and policy reforms and also the utilisation of cooperation money was intensified.

If hmg is able to effectively implement the documents of the reforms of the economic, institutional and policy measures, International Development Association (ida) alone will provide over 400 million dollars to Nepal.

The document adopted by the council of Ministers has covered all the points raised in the assistance strategy prepared by the World Bank.

The documents for reforms was presented at the Nepal Development Forum held in Paris, the capital of France from April 17 to 19.

Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya said that he was able to make the representatives of the donor agencies and nations agree in principle to the topics of the documents for reforms at the Paris meeting.

He said, "At the Paris meeting this time,  we did not strive for the approval of projects and bring in dollars. Instead, we presented ourselves somewhat in a different fashion than in the past. We held discussions with the donor nations and agencies on the policy formulated by hmg in connection with economic stability, development, poverty alleviation and good governance and tried to win their confidence."

Mr. Acharya said that the reform programme had been initiated for the development of Nepal and uplift of Nepali and if internal means and resources could be mobilised and reform programmes implemented effectively, more and more of foreign aid could be mobilised.

The assistance strategy prepared by the World Bank states that if the economic management was improved, revenue increased, money spent productively, and effectiveness of civil services was increased, specially institutional services enhanced, then ida would provide credit from 200 to 350 million dollars.

Similarly, this year also, efforts aimed to ensure economic management and expedite the pace of state operation could not gain stability, government's inaction and the deteriorating law and order situation continued to exist and the loan to be provided by the ida will reach us $150 million.

Minister Acharya said commitment made by His Majesty's Government to donor countries and agencies for social development and poverty alleviation, the reform agenda passed by the council of Ministers and the commitment made for its implementation has offered promises for Nepal's development and upliftment.

Public revenue is not in a position to sustain development, dependence on internal as well as external loans is emerging as a fiscal management challenge and it is our compulsion to depend on foreign means and resources for the next few years, he said and spoke of the need for us all to be serious for intensifying development works.

The Nepalese economy is now beset with a host of problems and it is because of political instability, corruption, misuse of government resources, weak fiscal sector and slackness in public revenue, he further said.

Talking to journalists after the Paris meeting, World Bank's representative for Nepal Hans Rothenbuhler said Nepal would not have to worry for aid if it strengthens its institutional capacity.

According to World Bank, export of electricity would help Nepal earn a huge income on a long-term basis and agriculture is the only alternative to alleviate poverty.

Mr Rothenbuhler also spoke of the need to create a conducive atmosphere for the private sector to expedite Nepal's development.

The documents for reforms was presented at the Nepal Development Forum held in Paris, the capital of France from April 17 to 19.

Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya said that he was able to make the representatives of the donor agencies and nations agree in principle to the topics of the documents for reforms at the paris meeting.

He said, "at the Paris meeting this time,  we did not strive for the approval of projects and bring in dollars. Instead, we presented ourselves somewhat in a different fashion than in the past. We held discussions with the donor nations and agencies on the policy formulated by hmg in connection with economic stability, development, poverty alleviation and good governance and tried to win their confidence."

Mr. Acharya said that the reform programme had been initiated for the development of Nepal and uplift of Nepali and if internal means and resources could be mobilised and reform programmes implemented effectively, more and more of foreign aid could be mobilised.

The assistance strategy prepared by the World Bank states that if the economic management was improved, revenue increased, money spent productively, and effectiveness of civil services was increased, specially institutional services enhanced, then ida would provide credit from 200 to 350 million dollars.

Similarly, this year also, efforts aimed to ensure economic management and expedite the pace of state operation could not gain stability, government's inaction and the deteriorating law and order situation continued to exist and the loan to be provided by the ida will reach us $150 million.

Minister Acharya said commitment made by His Majesty's Government to donor countries and agencies for social development and poverty alleviation, the reform agenda passed by the council of Ministers and the commitment made for its implementation has offered promises for Nepal's development and upliftment.

Public revenue is not in a position to sustain development, dependence on internal as well as external loans is emerging as a fiscal management challenge and it is our compulsion to depend on foreign means and resources for the next few years, he said and spoke of the need for us all to be serious for intensifying development works.

The Nepalese economy is now beset with a host of problems and it is because of political instability, corruption, misuse of government resources, weak fiscal sector and slackness in public revenue, he further said.

Talking to journalists after the Paris meeting, World Bank's representative for Nepal Hans Rothenbuhler said Nepal would not have to worry for aid if it strengthens its institutional capacity.

According to World Bank, export of electricity would help Nepal earn a huge income on a long-term basis and agriculture is the only alternative to alleviate poverty.

Mr Rothenbuhler also spoke of the need to create a conducive atmosphere for the private sector to expedite Nepal's development.

Nepal can attract investors: Acharya

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that the programme of comprehensive economic, organisational and policy reform announced by His Majesty's Government is not meant just for bringing in foreign investment but also for mobilising internal means and resources, encouraging investment and making wise use of capital and technology so as to build the basis for development in the country.

Finance Minister Acharya, who returned to the capital today after participating in the Nepal Development Forum meeting in the French capital Paris, said there is ample scope for bringing foreign investment to Nepal if  reliable economic structures and mechanisms for development could be put in place through mobilisation of internal means and resources and streamlining to facilitate the development process.

He said this reform program has been advanced by hmg for the development of Nepal and upliftment of the Nepalese people. Our need today is to strengthen institutional structures, control corruption, reform the financial sector and make optimum use of means and resources, he added.

He said it will be a great help in the effective implementation of  the reform program if there is political stability in the country and awareness and support among the responsible political parties.

In answer to a question, he said the Nepalese people, civil society and responsible political parties should exercise sensitivity towards the development of Nepal and the upliftment of the people.

Mr Acharya said the reform program is not complete in itself but requires further refinement, additional input and new policy-wise reform.

He said a direct assault on poverty in Nepal cannot be made without rising above minimum levels of savings, investment and economic growth rate.

He observed that in his concluding remarks at the Nepal Development Forum meeting in Paris, he said at this critical juncture of  economic reform and development Nepal's friends are prepared to support her and her people more actively and intensively.

National Planning Commission vice chairman Prithviraj Ligal said the meeting had agreed on giving the government responsibility as the main player and for coordinating among donors.

Traffic rules hit Butwal rickshaw pullers

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Butwal, Apr.20:New traffic rules coupled with people's growing attraction towards taxies have posed uncertainty to the future of more than five thousand rickshaw-pullers in this town.

The traffic police have introduced a compulsory license system for the rickshaw pullers saying that the step was taken to control the rising road accidents.

The new provision of license was introduced to curb the road accidents and to make the rickshaw puller more responsible, the traffic police sources say.

Similarly, the Butwal Municipality has stopped the registration of new rickshaws citing that the excessive growth of the vehicles has caused road congestion.

The new registration was stopped since number of rickshaws is comparatively greater than their users in the town, the Municipalities sources say.

The rickshaw pullers say that the growing tendency of the public to use taxies and tempos (three wheelers) has worsened the situation adversely affecting the only source of their livelihood. This caused a great reduction in their income, they say.

"My earning has come down from 150 rupees in the past to less than 50 rupees now," says Phirta Kewat of Motipur in Kapilvastu district.

There are 30 taxies and 20 tempos operating in the locality.

Legal provision made for more investment

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Minister for   Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramkrishna Tamrakar has said that private investment of Britain is expected for industrial development, export promotion and improvement of the national economy.

In a brief chat with RSS, Minister Tamrakar referred to the encouragement and promotion of foreign principles for economic development as mentioned in the directive principle of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and said that legal provision had also been made for the protection and promotion of foreign investment after pursuing the open and liberal economic policy after the restoration of democracy.

He called upon the  British government to extend cooperation to Nepal for development of technology, industrialisation, infrastructure development, trade and commerce.

Minister Tamrakar informed that Nepalese and British private sectors had established 16 industries while the British multi-national companies had set up seven industries in Nepal.

Mr Tamrakar said that foreign investment had been attracted in Nepal because of unrestricted access of Nepalese goods into India, the possibility for exporting Nepalese  goods to Tibet autonomous region and transit facility through Bangladesh.

Crown Prince grants audience

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Patron of the Nepal Olympic Committee His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted audience to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Solidarity Project manager Mrs Betrix Hurse and Solidarity manager of Olympic Council of Asia Mr Haider Abbas Farman here today.

Chairman of the Nepal Olympic Committee Rukma Shahsher Rana was also present on the occasion.

Likewise, Mrs Hurst and Mr Farman also paid a courtesy call on Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya at the latter's office today.

During the meeting, Mrs Hurst and Mr Farman said that IOC would continue to provide assistance for development of sports in Nepal through the Nepal Olympic Committee.

Mrs Hurst and Mr Farman are on a five-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of the Nepal Olympic Committee.

Mrs Hurst held three rounds of talks with the NOC chairman and NOC general secretary and attended the meeting of the NOC executive committee.

She also met member-secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC) Binod Shanker Palikhe and the NSC coaches and instructors.

NOC has apprciated the works being carried out by Mrs Hurst and Mr Farman for development of sports in Nepal and expressed confidence that it would receive more cooperation in future.

Mrs hurst and Mr Farman are scheduled to return tomorrow.

Senior leftist leader Nirmal Lama felicitated

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):The Jana Abhinandan Samaroha Samiti (People's Felicitation Committee) felicitated senior leftist leader Nirmal at a function here today.

Mr. Lama, a freedom fighter and one of the architects of the present constitution is now undergoing cancer treatment at Teaching Hospital. He is in critical condition.

He is now living on saline water after his oesophagus failed to work.

At the programme, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said Mr Lama has the qualities what a good man should have and he has been honoured today because of his dedication to the nation and the people.

Stating that Mr Lama was a leader no matter which party he took to, Mr Bhattarai observed that the new trend of honouring individuals while they are alive may inspire others to work for the nation and the people.

CPN-ML president Mrs Sahana Pradhan said Mr Lama, after he joined the communist party, has all along been working in favour of the nation and the people.

Senior advocate Damannath Dhungana noted that Mr Lama earned great respect and love from the people because of his judgement that organization is above power and ideology is above the organization.

A host of other speakers including CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari and member-secretary of the Nirmal Lama treatment committee Amik Sherchan also spoke at the function chaired by convenor of the committee Padmaratna Tuladhar.

Call to make local bodies effective

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has underlined the need to make local bodies effective to expedite development works.

Mr Koirala was inaugurating the sixth council and the third convention of the federation of district development committees in Lalitpur today.

Stating that the present government has given top priority to maintaining consensus among all parties for the country's development, the Prime Minister remarked that all the people's representatives no matter which party they belong to should work with a feeling that politics is for democracy and development is for people.

The process of decentralisation has been given a push to extend the fruits of development to the grassroots, he reiterated that he will not lag behind in taking hard decisions to control corruption and maintain law and order.

Minister of State for Local Development Suresh Malla noted that the present government is determined to carry out development and construction work through local bodies.

CPN-ML president Sahana Pradhan and MPs Yubaraj Gywali and Pari Thapa also spoke at the function chaired by federation president Madhav Paudel.

Passing of ‘Oppressed Bill’ demanded

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS): A delegation led by National Assembly members Bijul Kumar Biswokarma and Ratna Bahadur Biswokarma Wednesday met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and requested him to implement the resolutions adopted by His Majesty's Government for the uplift of the downtrodden people.

The delegation comprising, among others, vice-president of oppressed development committee Ganesh Pariyar, central member of Nepal University Teachers Association Basanta Biswokarma, chairman of Baglung district Constituency No. 1 of the Nepali Congress Padma Singh Biswokarma and director of oppressed development committee Sambhu Hazara Paswan sought the representation of the downtrodden people in the Council of Ministers, constitutional bodies and other decision making bodies.

The delegation also demanded the constitution of a powerful and independent oppressed council, priority for the admission of the downtrodden students in the technical schools, immediate provision for appointment of at least one eligible oppressed teacher in every high school.

Likewise, the delegation also demanded the formation of a high level commission for eradication of the caste discrimination, conducting programmes at governmental level against caste segregation and untouchability, passing of "Oppressed Bill" in the forthcoming session, and appointment of the downtrodden in the governmental and semi-governmntal organisations, including commissions and boards.

Likewise, a delegation of Okhaldhunga district headed by former minister and NC central member Bal Bahadur Rai today met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and demanded that the centre of higher secondary being shifted to another place should be retained where it was earlier, and apprised him of various problems of the district including  that of transport, roads, bridges, health, education, irrigation and upper Sagarmatha.

The delegation comprised MP Homnath Dahal, DDC chairman Prem Narayan Premi, NC Okhaldhunga district committee secretary Deep Prasad Khatiwada, treasurer Dilli Prasad Khanal, NC general convention representative Ramhari Khatiwada and DDC member Netra Bhattarai.