‘Buddha’s teaching more relevant in present world’

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has said that understanding and following Lord Buddha’s teachings can contribute to help reach out and build bridges to those individuals, communities and nations left behind in the wake of globalisation and maintain an atmosphere of peace, harmony and brotherhood in the world.

His Majesty the King said this in a message to the 2lst general conference of the World Felloswhip of Buddhists being held in Bangkok, capital of Thailand.

In the message, His Majesty said that Prince Siddhartha, born in Lumbini, Nepal, whose teachings as Lord Buddha, with its emphasis on peace, compassion and tolerance two and a half-millennium ago, assume even greater relevance in the present competitive world.

His Majesty also extended best wishes for the success of the conference as well as of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in its endeavours.

His Majesty’s message was read out by Lok Darshan Bajracharya, chairman of the Dharmodaya Sabha which is the regional center in Nepal for the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

His Majesty has been a patron of the World Fellowship of Buddhist ever since its founding.

The King of Thailand, the Presidents of India and Sri Lanka and the head of government of Myanmar are also patrons of the fellowship.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, also in a message on the occasion, said the Buddha’s compassion for suffering humanity, his concern for man’s affliction resulting from ignorance and malice, and his efforts to free man from bondage, his urge for universal brotherhood, peace and non-violence have always been sources of inspiration for the entire human society.

Prime Minister Koirala called upon the World Buddhist Society gathered at the conference to take a lead role to preach Lord Buddha’s teachings and inspire human society to embrace the goals of righteousness as the moral aspect of our lives.

Mr Koirala wished the conference every success and also wished that it would be conducive in the cause of peace and understanding among nations.

The Nepalese delegation to the conference led by Dharmodaya Sabha chairman Bajracharya also includes general secretray Subarna Shakya, treasurer Padma Jyoti, joint treasurer Sagar Man Bajracharya, advisor Marshal Julum Shakya and Lumbini branch secretary Ratna Man Shakya.

Women’s programme to get preference

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala has stressed the need to develop a concrete infrastructure for protection of the rights of women.

Mr Koirala said the government would give priority to development of new infrastructures for education, income generation, employment and skill-oriented programmes for women.

Prime Minister Koirala made these remarks while inaugurating a two day workshop on affirmative action programme for the women at the completion of its three year phase 1 activities jointly organised by Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust (SKMT) and Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) of Bonn, Germany here today.

Democracy was restored for the development of the country and welfare of the people, he said, adding the voice raised by the people for the development of the country and for employment is not out of anger but with the feelings for national development.

The role of every citizen is equal in the development of the nation, he said, adding the Ministry of Women And Social Welfare was established for the welfare of women.

Our society is a conservative society and many obstacles are faced due to the attitude of leg pulling, he said.

The Prime Minister said women are more sincere and reliable in comparison to men on the basis of their works and skill.

His Majesty’s Government is committed to the development of women and they should be involved in income generation activities, Mr Koirala said, adding that SKMT should introduce such programmes.

Advisor of the programme K. K. Pandey said the programme was launched for sustainable development.

Coordinator of the programme Babita Thapa said altogether 400 women were included during the first phase of the three year programme.

SKMT has invested Rs. 858,000 for the programme and Rs. 215,000 has been collected as savings.

The function was chaired by SKMT chairperson Sujata Koirala.

Representative of Arbeiterwohlfahrt, Germany Klaus Grimm and Shanta Thapa also expressed their view on the occasion.

In the second session of the workshop, chairperson of Maiti Nepal Anuradha Koirala said girl trafficking is a very serious problem of the country. Flesh trade takes places at the dance clubs and discos in Kathmandu, she added.

Hoteliers warn not to pay taxes

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec.7: Under the banner of the freshly established Industrial Friendly Relation Committee (IFRC) — an alliance of 16 tourism related organisations — hoteliers have warned that they would not pay the taxes and revenues and they would not also service their loans if hotels remain closed from December 11 next week as threatened by hotel employees’ unions.

A press statement of the IFRC issued today pointed out a six-point "dire consequences" if hoteliers are forced to close down their hotels from December 11 next week.

"Since there will be no income due to the shut down strike, hoteliers will not be able pay the Value Added Tax and other revenues," the press statement read. "Similarly the loans and interests will also not be paid to financial institutions."

Hoteliers, in the same press statement, have stated that they would not be able to provide salaries and other facilities to their staff. "Once the hotels are closed, it will take at least two/three years to regain their earlier status. For that reason, hotels will have to heavily lay off their staff."

Hoteliers have also stated that they would not be able to pay the bill of the basic utilities including water, telephone and electricity and that they would not be able to pay the individuals and companies the due amounts.

The six-point warning comes at a time when both the hoteliers and their employees’ unions are still at loggerheads on the 10 per cent service charge dispute.

While the hoteliers, backed by other tourism-related organisations, are still out-rightly denying to levy the 10 per cent service charge, the labour unions are adamant on their demand. The hotel employees’ unions have demanded that the 10 per cent service charge should be levied to hotel clients to be paid as tips to hotel staff.

All the tourism related organisations joined hands with HAN supporting its cry against the 10 per cent service charge.

Hoteliers, in their fight against the service charge demand, effectively garnered support of other tourism organisations. It did so with a catchy reason: If hoteliers are made to levy the 10 per cent service charge, the labour unions will demand the same from other tourism components as well.

In response to the unions’ warning that they would resort to shut down strike if their demand is not fulfilled, tour operators have already begun to inform their clients about the possible close down of hotels from December 11.

International tour operators and the clients themselves have begun to cancel their trips, according to travel agents.

"Once the industry is closed down, the nation will suffer the loss of above 30 million Rupees every day and the national coffer will lose at least five million Rupees as revenue each single day," said Pravin Pandey, Honorary Secretary of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Nepal Chapter, at a meeting here today.

During the meeting, PATA Nepal Chapter also passed a resolution to post in the website of Nepal Tourism Board the updated developments on the 10 per cent service charge impasse. "The developments will be posted in our website," said Tek Bahadur Dangi, Marketing Director of the Board.

Former President of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) R.R. Pandey said that it has become necessary to inform the international market about the developments in the national tourism industry. "It is necessary because it will help stop the unfounded rumours in the Nepalese industry."

Other tour operators said that flow of information would help Nepal to be in safe point in case the clients who do not get tourism services here resort to legal actions against tour operators.

WTO blasted for making medicines expensive

BY AMBAR MAINALI

Savar, Dhaka, Dec. 7: The delegates attending the Peoples’ Health Assembly on its fourth day lambasted the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for not giving due consideration to minimise the adverse impacts on the health of the poor people around the world.

"Our aim should be not only fair trade, but trade with a human face," Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh, Abdul Jalil said.

The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, which comes under the jurisdiction of WTO, he said is "likely to have an adverse impact on public health programmes by making medicines costlier and unaffordable by the poor masses."

Jalil called for amendments of to the TRIPs Agreement relating to patents for pharmaceutical products and chemicals to ensure the welfare of the common masses.

Mike Rowson of the Med Act, United Kingdom criticized the way serious public health issues were being decided by trade bodies like the WTO. The WTO he said lacked a clear-cut policy on public health and treated health as part of any other ‘service industry’.

He said that the dispute settlement body of the WTO also lacked transparency. "It has only administrators and lawyers who do not have the slightest idea of the health concerns and priorities of the people around the world," he said.

Other discussants showed their differences regarding the agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and said that it was ‘complex’ and raised question on lack of its definition of "International Standards.’

The panel discussants charged that the multinational companies were more profit oriented than service oriented all over the world and were polluting the environment and were also violating the peoples rights in all sectors."

The speakers during the morning session underscored the need for governments to monitor the ‘technological monopoly’ of the multinational companies.

The topic of discussion for the morning session was "Environment and Survival."

The dangers being posed to human lives owing to the anti-personnel landmines also figured during the deliberations in the morning session.

Countries like USA, India, China were appealed to sign the international treaty on anti personel landmines.

Kazi Faruk from Bangladesh said that the rich were polluting the environment producing pesticides, fertilizers etc. "But they are blaming us for degradation," he said.

"It’s a conspiracy to marginalize the poor. That’s why the civil society in Bangladesh raised their voice in promotion of ecological agriculture," Faruk added.

The five-day assembly will conclude tomorrow with the endorsement of the Peoples’ Health Charter.

Dialogue on service charge urged

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 7: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut said today that both the hotel employees’ unions and the hoteliers must hold a dialogue to solve the present deadlock regarding the 10 per cent charge to be levied on services in the hotel industry.

Minister Chataut urged both the parties to do away with their confrontation in order to save the country’s tourism industry.

Chataut expressed these views while speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by Reporters’ Club Nepal on Thursday.

"Should the present situation come to light in the international media, it will not only harm the tourism industry, but the country’s economy as well," he said.

Hotel unions have threatened to shut down all hotels if their demands are not met by December 11 (Monday). Hoteliers say taxes are already too high in Nepal due to the 10 per cent VAT and 2 per cent Tourist Service Charge. Any additional tax will scare away tourists, they say.

Prithvi Raj Ligal, Vice-President of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and co-ordinator of a high-level committee formed by the government to seek solutions to the issue, said that decisions cannot be taken on an ad hoc basis considering its repercussions.

"We have not only to see international practices where such charges are levied, but also think of the overall implications," Ligal said.

Ligal said the union representatives have not attended meetings of the committee despite frequent requests.

He further said that as the confrontation is not beneficial for both the parties, they should be flexible in finding amicable solution. The committee’s interim report will be ready in two months which will submitted to the government.

Pradeep Raj Pandey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), who is also the member secretary of the high-level committee, said tourism, as an international business, could suffer badly if the issue of service charge is not tackled.

Speaking on behalf of the hotel industry, Yogendra Sakya, President of Nepal Incentive and Convention Association (NICA) and former president of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said "unbalanced labour laws" were responsible for the present situation. "Industries are established under the open market economy while the labour laws are based on social justice."

He, however, said that the issue can be addressed only when the government shows its seriousness and the unions become flexible in their stance.

Similarly, Narendra Bajracharya, president of HAN, said the service charge must not be levied forcefully.

Industrialist Rajendra Khetan said that if the unions close down the hotels, the country will witness a budget deficit.

Expressing his views at the face-to-face programme, Laxman Basnet, President of the Nepal Trade Union Congress, agreed that the strike called by the employees will have far-fetching implications for the country’s tourism industry.

"But it is the last resort of the employees."

He further said that the misunderstandings between the two sides emerged after the industry demanded that the hotel industry be brought under the Essential Service Act.

He said the problem could be solved through talks. He ruled out that the introduction of service charge would create problems.

Likewise, Madhav Neupane, President of Nepal Independent Hotel Labourers Union, said that the unions are ready to hold talks to solve the problem.

Another union leader, Achyut Raj Pandey, President of Nepal Tourism and Hotel Workers Association, claimed that the introduction of the service charge was beneficial for the workers, hoteliers and the government.

Pandey also said that clients were aware of the service charge as it is a global practice.

‘End feudalism, imperialism’

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): General secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, inaugurating the 4th national conference of the Democratic National Youth Association (DNYA) here today, said that the youths should launch a movement against feudalism and imperialism as well as exploitation and aberrations taking place in the country.

Expressing the view that the communist movement would succeed only if the people can be united, Mr Nepal said that genuine communist should be able to respect others holding different views.

Ordinary reforms will not help to to bring about widespread changes in the country, Mr Nepal said, adding that drastic changes have to be made in the existing political, economic, social and cultural sectors.

The CPN-UML general secretary said it is necessary to make amendments in the Constitution inorder to bring about dynamism and changes in the country.

Referring to the discussions being held between CPN-UML leaders and the prime minister and the leaders of the ruling party yesterday, Mr Nepal said that the ruling party was also infavour of amending the Constitution in connection with political, economic and social issues.

Mr Nepal said that a three-member committee had been formed to hold talks with other political parties on this issue.

Member of the CPN-UML standing committee and president of the All Nepal Farmers Association Keshav Badal said that the youths play a major role in taking the movement to the level of the farmers, workers and people.

Secretary of the CPN-UML valley coordination committee and member of the CPN-UML central committee Krishna Gopal Shrestha called on the commander youth workers of the CPN-ML to return to their main party.

At the inaugural function chaired by convenor of the 4th DNYA National conference preparatory committee and MP Pashupati Chaulagain, the heads of the party’s class organizations, representatives of other youth associations and foreign sister organizations wished for the success of the national conference.

The national conference is being attended by about 1,000 representatives and observers from 75 districts, and representaives from the World Democratic Youth Association, Palestine, India, Bangladesh, Algeria and Brazil.

The theme of the five-day DYNA national conference is education, employment and good governance our campaign: effective youth movement our identity."

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has constituted a three member committee comprising Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Jhalanath Khanal and Ishwar Pokharel to hold extensive discussions with various political parties including the Nepali Congress on matters relating to amendment in the Constitution.

The decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the CPN-UML standing committee held in Kathmandu Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has called upon all the party leaders, cadres, committees, supporters and well-wishers to make the National Immunisation Programme to be conducted from December 9 to January 20, 2001 successful.

In a press release, the party has called upon the parents to ensure that polio drops are administered to children below the age of five years.