No alternative to democracy, says Sushil

Kathmandu, Dec. 4 (RSS): Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala said seeking alternative to democracy through murder, violence, terror and looting in the name of Maoism can be nothing than stupidity.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters’ Club here today, General Secretary Koirala said democracy does not mean a system where only a limited class rules, problems in it is solved through equal participation of all the people.

Mr Koirala said Nepali Congress is the main political power in the country.

The future of the country is linked with the future of the party, he said, expressing confidence that the policy and principles to be approved by the forthcoming NC General Convention will put an end to the confusion within the party.

Responding to queries from journalists, Mr Koirala pointed out the need to consolidate the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in order to check corruption.

Expressing the determination of the party to resolve all the problems of the country, Mr Koirala said the pledges made by the Prime Minister and NC President to maintain law and order, wipe out corruption and ensure good governance in the country is becoming successful to a great extent.

Replying a query concerning the leadership of the party following the 10th general convention, Mr Koirala said there is no alternative to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and this is proved by the two-third majority received by him in various phases of the party’s local elections.

Mr Koirala also announced that he would file his candidature for the post of central member of the party.

Mr Koirala said he would support a leader with an able and strong determination to run the country and party rather than on the basis of generation.

Club president Rishi Dhamala presided.

Woman claims she is discriminated

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 4: Nepal’s Constitution, that grants an equal status to man and woman, is facing a serious question probably for the first time in its history from a woman of western hilly district of Syangja.

"If the country’s constitution has guaranteed equal rights to both man and woman then why should there be discrimination in the laws and regulations? In case, a law clashes with the spirit of the constitution, then it is evidently invalid," says a petition of Tara Devi Poudel registered at the Supreme Court of the country.

Tara Devi who had married her brother-in-law Babu Ram Poudel, after the demise of her husband, Iswari Prasad Poudel, is now facing a charge of incestuous relationship from her distant relative—Diwakar Upadhaya.

Upadhaya had accused them of incestuous relation and had petitioned the Pokhara district court to punish them for violating the laws pertaining to incestuous relation. He had appealed to the court to stop the pension that Tara Devi has been drawing as a widow of her former husband as she is now married to her brother-in-law.

The laws in Nepal allow a man to marry his sister-in-law after the death of his wife or after their divorce. But it prohibits a woman from marrying her brother-in-law under the similar condition.

The two accused —Babu Ram Paudel and Tara Devi - have been living as husband and wife ever since the death of Tara Devi’s former husband Iswari Prasad in 1990. Now, Tara Devi also has a son of three years in addition to two daughters from her former husband.

PAC to record statement about Lauda deal

Kathmandu, Dec. 4 (RSS): The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to record the statement of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut on December 7 in connection with the leasing of the Lauda Airlines aircraft by the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) against the PAC decision.

The PAC took the decision to this effect at a meeting held here today.

The PAC had issued directives to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and RNAC on November 20 not to proceed with the process of acquiring the aircraft on lease until further notice.

It had also constituted a three-member sub-committee to investigate the deal of the lease and submit a report to the PAC.

The sub-committee went through the documents of the agreement and submitted a report to PAC on November 22.

According to the report, the sub-committee found the agreement on leasing the Lauda Airlines aircraft irregular, ill-intentioned and against the interest of RNAC and issued directives to the Ministry and RNAC not to move ahead the process of lease.

But RNAC brought the aircraft to Kathmandu on lease effective from December 1 against the PAC directives, PAC members alleged.

At the meeting, PAC chairman Subas Nemwang said that the government’s action in matters related to the leasing of the aircraft against the decision of the Parliamentary Committee has made a mockery of the democratic norms and values as well as the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

All the members present at the meeting expressed the view that when the government worked against the decisions of the committee, it would have an adverse impact on the very structure of multi-party system.

Annan calls for recognition to volunteerism

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the International Year of Volunteers 2001 in New York by urging governments and institutions worldwide to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of volunteers.

"Societies need to recognize and promote volunteerism as a valuable activity. They must facilitate the work of volunteers, and encourage volunteer action at home and abroad," said Mr. Annan. "By calling upon volunteers and building partnerships with civil society, governments can help increase the efficiency of public services, and ensure that they reach more people".

In these few words, the General Secretary highlighted the four objectives of IYV: recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerism, according to UNIC press release.

In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. HMG of Nepal was signatory to the resolution. The Bonn-based United Nations Volunteers (UNV), which has close to 5,000 UN volunteers serving in the field annually, was designated as the year’s focal point.

"I believe that the contribution of volunteerism in creating and enhancing economic and social capital is one of the best-kept secrets of the modern world," said UNV Executive Coordinator Sharon Capeling-Alakija. "Volunteerism remains largely undervalued and overlooked as a positive force for social development. IYV 2001 can turn that around."

The global launch of IYV 2001 takes place on 5 December 2000, the annual International Volunteer Day, with national events throughout December in more than 100 countries all over the world. Key objectives of the year will be to recognize the work of millions of volunteers from all walks of life and build global networks among them.

In Nepal the National Steering Committee for IYV has scheduled the launch of IYV to be celebrated by the opening of a 3-day Exhibition of Voluntarism. This event will take place in the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall from 15-17 th December and is expected to involve the participation of over 50 national and international organisations that operate in the voluntary sector.

PL Singh urges PM to call CWC meet

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: Nepali Congress central committee member P.L.Singh has asked the NC party president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to call for the special meeting of the NC central working committee and collect views from the CWC members regarding the political developments existing within the party.

Issuing an open letter to the Party President and Premier Koirala today MP Singh has urged him to end all the anomalies and aberrations by discussing issues regarding the free and fair elections in the Party’s upcoming general convention and the debate on the active membership of the party.

In the letter he has also requested NC president Koirala to accept his conditional resignation if he denies to call the CWC special meeting which he thinks is essential to solve the problems. He expresses his hopes that the problems could be solved if the dialogues are held in a congenial atmosphere within the partymen.

Govt for raising standard of education

Biratnagar, Dec. 4 (RSS): Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya today inaugurated the Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) branch office at Sijuwa VDC ward No. 3 Sijuwa Bazaar of Morang district constituency No. 1.

On the occasion, Minister Upadhyaya said that the present government was making efforts to carry out development schemes with new ideas thereby raising the living standard of the people.

The minister said that all the conscious citizens should be responsible towards the nation and the society and unite to defeat the disruptive elements opposed to development at a time when the country was gearing ahead towards building a new and modern Nepal.

Stating what the people today need was standard and employment oriented education, Mr Upadhyaya said that the government was sensitive in making the education standard and skill and employment oriented with innovative ideas to liberate the people from the evils of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.

Morang DDC vice-chairman Tuluram Rajbanshi and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the function chaired by manager of RBB supervision office Krishna Prasad Sharma.

On the occasion, Minister Upadhyaya deposited Rs 505 and opened the first saving accounts at the bank.