Crucial NC meet ends
Koirala firm to resolve problems faced by nation

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 19: The 40th meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) ended today with a decision to implement the ‘peace movement and promotion of public awareness’ programme proposed by the party’s General Secretary Sushil Koirala. It is a political programme of the political parties and their sister organisations.

Many CWC members called the five-hour long meeting as the most harmonious one in recent times.

In his address to the meeting, former prime minister and former president of the party, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said the country’s prevailing situation calls the Nepali Congress to move forward unitedly and not to let the NC workers fall into despair. In this regard, he told the CWC that he was willing to extend all cooperation to the efforts and programmes of the party president.

In his concluding remarks, Party President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said there is a situation for the party workers to seriously keep in their minds two responsibilities. He also assured the CWC that the party and the party’s government would do everything that is required to resolve the problems faced by the country through moving the party ahead in a united manner.

Similarly, Sher Bahadur Deuba said there is a need to promote the degree of confidence within the party and only then they would be able to fulfill their responsibilities.

Another CWC member, Khum Bahadur Khadka also said the proposals and the decisions were okay, but what is more important is their implementation.

However, according to the party spokesman, Khadka did not put forth his 4-point proposal for party unity at the meeting which he had said just a two day before that he would do.

Others, who also spoke at the meeting, were Bal Bahadur Rai, Dhundi Raj Shastri, Shailaja Acharya, Dr. Ramsharan Mahat, Bijay Kumar Gachhedhar, Dil Bahadur Gharti, Nona Koirala, Chandra Singh Bhattarai, Basu Risal, Chiranjibi Wagle, Yog Prasad Upadhyaya and Maheshwore Prasad Singh. Altogether 29 members of the CWC and some invitees were present at the meeting.

Two CWC members who were absent were P.L. Singh and Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, the Minister for Information and Communicaitons. Gupta was absent due to the health problem of his family member but P.L Singh had said that he would not attend the meeting until the issue of active membership of the party is resolved.

In the morning session of the meeting, which lasted for two hours from 9 to 11 four reports and information were presented at the meeting. Apart from the report of the party’s General Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel presented report on the law and order situation of the country, suggestions regarding the Maoist problem and their implementation.

Similarly, Minister for Finance and Defence Mahesh Acharya, who is also a CWC member, presented the third report of the day on internal security and the perspective of the government. Party spokesman and a member of the Central Committee, Narahari Acharya, also presented a report on the UML’s view on the amendment of the Constitution and the formation of Nepali Congress’s viewpoint on it.

During its second session, which last for three hours from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M., the CWC meeting prescribed to the government to pursue every possible means to maintain peace and order by controlling the situation of fear and terror. Regarding the amendment of the Constitution, the next meeting of the Central Working Committee will discuss more on the party’s perspective.

Narahari Acharya, the party spokesman said the next meeting of the CWC will be held before the first week of January, next year.

Nepal, Greece to start bilateral consultation

Kathmandu, Dec. 19 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola and Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs George A. Papandreou held official talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bastola and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece George A. Popandreou have agreed to strengthen and deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries

In this context they agreed to establish a mechanism of consultations between the two foreign secretaries which would be held as and when necessary, according to a joint statement issued at the end of the Greek Foreign Minister’s visit to Nepal today.

It was also decided that the first meeting of the foreign secretaries would be held next year.

The two foreign secretaries would discuss the regional and international situations, identify the possible areas of cooperation and review the implementation of the agreed areas of cooperation during their consultations.

While appreciating the Greek scholarships in the past, Minister Bastola welcomed the offer of the Greek government to provide scholarships in the fields of tourism, archaeology and medicines.

Mr Bastola expressed his gratitude for the assurances of the Greek assistance in an environmental project in Nepal.

The two Foreign Ministers also explored the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism, environment and hydrology development.

In view of the growing prospects of bilateral commercial interactions between the two countries, the two ministers agreed to encourage the contacts of their business delegations.

Both the ministers agreed to build on their good relations and strengthen contacts and interactions between the two countries. During the bilateral talks held between them.

They reviewed the international situation and exchanged views on restructuring the United Nations and ensuring the voice and interests of the smaller and medium sized countries in the international arena.

They also agreed that the new international economic order should be comprehensive and equitable.

The Greek Minister appreciated Nepal’s contribution to the United Nations peace-keeping operations around the world including Cyprus.

The Greek Minister briefed his Nepalese counterpart about recent developments in the south eastern Europe and the efforts made by Greece, together with others, to promote stability and cooperation in the region.

He also appraised the Foreign Minister of Nepal for their relationship with Turkey, the situation in Cyprus and the Balkans.

Minister Bastola welcomed the Greek initiative the International Olympic Truce in order to restore and promote the ideals of peace, which inspired the Olympic Games in ancient times.

Minister Bastola briefed the Greek Foreign Minister about the regional situation in South Asia, Bhutanese refugees and SAARC.

The Greek Foreign Minister also informed about the recent institutional developments within the European Union and its process of enlargement.

Briefing about the importance of Nepal’s economic and commercial relations with the European Union, Minister Bastola requested the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, as a member of the European Union, to lend support for enhancement of the market access of the Nepalese products to the European Union countries, in view of Nepal’s land-locked and least developed status.

Mr Bastola also sought the support and cooperation of Greece to establish a full-fledged ec office in Nepal.

Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs said greece would positively consider Nepal’s request.

Meanwhile Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs Papandreou left here today for Bangladesh after completing his four-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola.

Mr Papandreou was seen off at Tribhuvan International Airport by Minister for Foreign Affairs Bastola, foreign secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa, Greek ambassador and high ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Peace, security pre-requisites for attaining nation’s dev, says PM

Kathmandu, Dec. 19 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that as peace and security are pre-requisite for attaining all round development of the country, the present government is effortful to guarantee security of life and property of the general public and accelerate the pace of development, adding that what the police force has been doing to achieve these goals with the limited resources available to them is remarkable.

Prime Minister Koirala was addressing a joint convocation ceremony for police personnel who went through the 112th police officers basic training and 104th training for other police personnel conducted at the National Police Training Academy, Maharajgunj today.

He also expressed the hope that the Nepal Police would do its best to maintain its dignified role by ensuring the fundamental rights provided by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal given the democratic atmosphere that has been ushered into the country.

"It is natural that people have some what greater expectatios from the police since they consider it a protector of the law" he said adding "the police force will leave no stone unturned to win the confidence of the people."

As the present government is determined to fully guarantee as well as respect human rights, it hopes for continuity of co-operation in this regards on the part of the police force, he said adding further that HMG is firm on cooperating in strengthening and improving the police for the sake of ensuring law and order in the country.

Congratulating the police officers and other police personnel who are going to assume their duties in the police force after successfully completing the training, he extended heartfelt condolences to police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty and also wished eternal peace for the departed souls.

IGP Pradeep Shumsher JBR noted that top priority has been given by the police to ensuring human rights, improving their conduct, imparting training that would be instrumental in grappling with the new challenges and stamping out corruption in the first year of his assumption as head of the entire police force.

As the police force is not only a profession but also a service at the nation, there is a perpetual need of a service oriented spirit, honesty, tenacity and dedication, he added.

DIG and director of the National Police Training Academy Dhal Man Thapa, who is retiring today after 31 years of service in the police force said police personnel who have completed the training successfully have been imparted training concening terrorist activities that have surfaced in the country since a couple of years ago and additional curriculum has been introduced in this connection.

Altogether 37 police officers including 2 women went through the training. Participating police personnel other than of office rank totalled 136.

Bishwa Raj Adhikari came out first in the training from among police officers while Binod Khatri topped in another group.

A total of 15 out of 39 police officers secured first division and the rest were in second division.

Prime Minister Koirala also gave away prizes and letters of appreciation to outstanding police personnel who demonstrated skills acquired in various fields under the training.

The trainees also swore allegiance to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 2047.

The trainees who also put on a parade and mass PT display during the function, were conferred tokens of rank by their respective guardians.

Cases field against four on SLC exam irregularities

Kathmandu, Dec. 19 (RSS): The Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases against four individuals in Appellate Court, Patan on charges of committing irregularities while examining the answer papers of some students who had appeared in the S.L.C. examinations organised by the Education Ministry, Office of the Controller of Examinations in 2055 B.S.

One of the accused in the case is (currently) Deputy Director of Distance Education Centre Kedar Chandra Khanal, who is accused of illegally adding, as an examiner, 23 marks to what student Krishna Dhungana (symbol No. 0291074 D) had secured in office practice and book keeping paper increasing the total marks to 65 and thereby putting him on the second place in the list of top 10 students.

Likewise another examiner, Kirti Prasad Pandey, who is currently working at S.I.T.A. School, is accused of adding 15 marks to what student Rakesh Kumar Gupta (symbol No. 0290863 A) secured in health paper increasing his total marks to 91 thereby placing him eighth among the top 10 students.

CIAA has also accused Basuki Raj Regmi, currently a teacher at Birendra Military Higher Secondary School, of adding 15 marks to the marks a student with symbol No. 0290892 D had secured in Nepali paper thereby helping him illegally to obtain the pass mark (32).

Similarly, as claimed by CIAA, Ishwor Prasad Sapkota, currently working as vice principal at Padma Kanya Secondary School, had illegally helped a student with symbol No. 1270651 E get through the examination of mathematics paper by adding 24 marks and bringing the total marks he had obtained to 39.

Bhimsen Khatri, currently working as headmaster of Ganesh Secondary School, Chapali, has also been accused of helping the same student get through the examinations of geography paper by adding 20 marks to what he had actually secured.

CIAA has also decided to demand departmental action against then controller of examinations Haribol Khanal for failing to fulfil his duty properly and instruct the Ministry of Education and sports to rectify such irregularities in examinations.

NEA’s no to tariff hike could cost ADB, WB loans

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Dec.19: Since there will be no rise in power tariff, Asian Development Bank (ADB) would not release its loan for the rural electrification project, prompting the World Bank to withhold its fund for another power development project, a senior official at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said.

At a time when ADB has not released an almost one year due US Dollars 50 million loan for the rural electrification scheme, NEA is writing to the multilateral agency stating it cannot meet its aid condition – increasing the power tariff.

"We have no choice but to write to the ADB," Bishnu Bam Malla, Managing Director of NEA told The Rising Nepal. "We cannot increase the tariff, it’s not viable."

ADB sanctioned the US Dollars 50 million loan last year conditioning, among others, that NEA’s rate of return and self financing ratio should go up to six per cent and 23 per cent respectively from the present four and 14 per cent.

To make the rate of return reach the ADB-prescribed mark (six per cent), NEA will have to earn an annual profit of three billion Rupees – double the present amount.

The rate of return will have to be further pushed up once NEA’s under-construction Kali Gandaki "A" hydropower project by next year adds up around 20 billion Rupees to its present Rupees 50 billion asset. And that will mean yet another up-tick on the electricity price.

"Considering our present asset, we will not be able to earn the required three billion profit to attain the six per cent rate of return," said Malla.

And that is not something ADB would like to hear before releasing its loan for the rural electrification project. "The covenants of the loan will have to be met for the money to be released," stressed Richard Vokes, Resident Representative of ADB. "Without the conditions met, it will be like spending money in the black hole."

To put the condition involving rate of return and self financing ratio straight, the tariff has to be hiked by around 60 per cent. NEA last year did abide partially and increased the price of electricity by 30 per cent reaching it to around Rupees 6.5 per unit – the present average power tariff.

But, that was not enough for the ADB-okayed loan to be effective. Result: The bank is standing its grounds for the tariff to go up and for its two other conditions – clear NEA’s arrears and introduce the Electricity Theft Act – to be met.

The Act, according to Malla, will be brought very soon through ordinance. What will still remain another major challenge for the authority is the arrears that has shot up to above Rupees two billion – Rupees 60 million to be collected from different municipalities and Rupees 40 million from government agencies.

The remaining Rupees one billion arrears is the public money which, for the NEA, should not be a tough nut to crack.

ADB, however, is adamant that its all three covenants should be met. "If they are not met there will be no loan," said Vokes.

The rigid stance of the ADB has spelt a double trouble for NEA. With ADB not releasing the loan, the World Bank has not come up with its loan for a power development project either, NEA officials believe.

"Since ADB has not released the loan, the World Bank (WB) too has followed suit," said Malla.

The WB-committed project basically has to do with two components – establishing a power development fund and expanding NEA’s transmission and distribution network.

The project is something of a replica of the Power Development Fund – the idea that came up as an alternative to the Arun III after WB decided to pull out of the controversial hydroelectric project in 1996.

World Bank officials, however, said the bank has nothing to do with ADB’s decision on not to release the loan. "Our bank has pointed out that NEA’s book keeping is not upto the mark," said Rajib Upadhya, senior external affairs specialist of World Bank.

"There is no big link between our bank and ADB’s decision."

NGOs, govts asked to address health issues

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 19: Nepalese Participants to the People’s Health Assembly (PHA) held in Dhaka from December 4 to 8 today called upon the concerned agencies working in the health sector to generate awareness at the community level relating to the People’s Health Charter endorsed by the Assembly.

The participants said the network of NGOs working in the health sector must lobby to draw the attention of the policy makers towards the genuine health issues raised by the Assembly.

The People’s Health Charter endorsed at the end of the five day Assembly, which witnessed the participation of over two thousand participants from 98 countries around the world has emphasized the need to pursue governments and NGOs to be receptive to the health needs of the people.

The Health Charter builds on the views expressed by the people from different parts of the world whose voices have rarely been heard before. It encourages people to develop their own solutions and to hold accountable local authorities, national governments, international organisations and corporations.

The five- day Assembly had vehemently criticised the World Bank and the IMF for neglecting the health issues of the people around the world and had demanded to put an end to the commercialisation of health services.

"After acknowledging that the ‘Health for All’ motto of the Alma-Ata Conference held in 1978 was not being upheld by the World Health Organisation as the years passed by, NGOs around the world decided to organize the PHA with the view to forge solidarity and voice for the health needs of the people," Dr. Sharad Raj Onta said.

He said that world’s economic order was different at the time when the Alma-Ata Conference was held to develop a policy which called on the governments around the world to work towards attaining the highest possible standards of health.

With the flow of time the world entered into a new era of globallisation, which gave a different orientation to the WHO and other international bodies leading them to push the health issues to the back seat, Dr. Onta of the PHECT Nepal said.

He said that the PHA, was a historical event of the new millennium, which had the people’s participation calling for ending commercialisation of health services and holding government’s and institutions responsible to the health requirements of their citizens.

"The National Health Policy of Nepal does not contradict the recommendations of the People’s Health Charter but it is not comprehensive and needs to be reviewed," Dr. Onta said.

Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha, Chairman of the PHA National Preparatory Committee said that Nepal’s participation in the Assembly was very fruitful.

Of the 75 Nepalese participants who attended the PHA, 52 were from 21 different NGOs and the rest were representative from different communities from different parts of Nepal who are directly affected by the perversions surfacing in the health sector, Dr. Shrestha said.

Nepalese participants made their deliberations on 12 thematic workshops at the PHA, he said.

There were 15 issue papers presented at the PHA. Three of the issue papers were presented on behalf of Nepal, Dr. Shrestha said.

He said that the People’s Health Charter which calls for governments to become pro-public on health matters has been translated into Nepali and will be publicised all over the country.

‘Pay well to get best of judges’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 19 The pay scale of judges should be such that it not only takes care of their hand-to-mouth problem but should be able to attract food and competent people to man the benches.

This was the view shared by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, J. Clifford Wallace, at an interaction here Tuesday.

Titled "How To Combat Judicial Corruption and Misconduct" the programme had brought people from the legal profession, the police and those related with combating corruption, including the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

"When salary is too low, everybody knows that judges have to be corrupt to make their ends meet. So corruption exists such a situation instead of the rule of law," he said.

Judge Wallace also said that it is a mistake to have the executive given responsibility for anti-corruption activities as they tend to pressure judges to make decisions in their favour.

"The judiciary should be given such responsibility with enough powers so that it is impenetrable by the executive but transparent to the public," he said.

But if it is an issue concerning crime in the judiciary, like tax evasion by judges, investigtion should be carried out outside the judiciary.

"You need a flexible approach in rooting out corrupt activities from the judiciary," he said answering to a query.

"A competent judge who is an alcoholic is unacceptable to a bench, but instead of immediately starting impeachment it would be wise to convince him privately that he needs to quit if he wants to continue as a judge. And, many times this works," Judge Wallace said.

The programme was organised by CELLRAD, a local law sector NGO, with the cooperation of the Asia Foundation.

The Asia Foundation Country Director, Nick Langton, had introduced the eminent judge to the audience.

Yuva Raj Sangraula of CELLARD had presented some Nepalese cases where justice was denied to persons because of court delays or abuse of authority by the judges. "One does not have to take bribe to be corrupt," he said. "Even misuse of one’s aurhority can victimize innocent people."

Crime, poverty, illiteracy ailing us, says Poudel

Kathmandu, Dec. 19 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Ram Chandra Poudel has said that crime, poverty and illiteracy are major factors that affect Nepalese society, the development process and the country as a whole.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel was speaking at a seminar on ‘effective countermeasures to combat organised crime in criminal justice processes’ jointly organised here today by the Home Ministry and the United Nations Asia and Far-east Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), Tokyo.

"Nowadays we are increasingly concerned about transnational organised crime and the relationship between its various forms", Mr Poudel said adding, "the tangible nature of international crime networks exceeds geographical and national boundaries".

Besides this, money-laundering, high-tech crime, acts of violence, juvenile delinquency, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, the scourge of trafficking in persons especially women and children, illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms and corruption are of grave concern, he said.

Pointing out that we have to foster universal adherence to the international instruments concerned with the fight against such crimes, he said joint effort is needed in devising and implementing possible measures to counter criminal activities arising from world-wide organised crime networks, he added.

"We must recognise the importance of penal reform, the independence of the judiciary and prosecution authorities and the international codes of conduct for public officials," he further said and called for using and applying United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice in law and practice.

We need to adopt a collective approach to the prevention of crime in our society, and furthermore we have to decide to take more effective concerted action in co-operation and co-ordination with each other to combat the world crime problem, and to attain this objective, governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and various segments of civil society, including the mass media should come together, he said.

Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki said the concept of global village came into being along with the revolution that has taken place in information technology, enhancing the interaction between people and at the same time it has created complexities in organised crime.

He said despite our best efforts to quell such elements, the development process has been hindered.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Mitsuaki Kojima said combating organised crime and dispensation of effective justice are indispensable for ensuring social stability.

Similarly social justice and lasting peace and harmony based on law and order is vitally important in securing the fruits of economic prosperity, he added adding that for the fair distribution of the benefits accrued from socio-economic development to the people of Nepal social stability must be in place.

In the age of globalisation and thanks to the remarkable progress in transportation and information technology, cross-border movements of peoples, financial resources and information are becoming more and more active year by year all across the world, he added.

Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Sri Kant Regmi said crime in our contemporary world is prevailing as an unwanted element which is stretching its tentacles from individual to individual, society to society and nation to nation.

Resident representatives of the Japan International Co-operation Agency Ken Hasegawa said it is a global phenomena that there has been an increasing trend of international co-operation and at the same time growing complexities in terms of increasing poverty-stricken people. The number of organised crimes has increased and there is widening gap between rich and poor.

Director of UNAFEI Mikinao Kitada noted that UNAFEI has, so far, convened a total of 21 seminars in the asia and pacific region and this is the second time in Nepal.

The 4-day seminar aims at finding ways and devising mechanisms to control organised crime to strengthen effective counter-measures.