Martyrs Week begins

MARTYRS WEEK: Garlands being offered in memory of Sukra Raj Shastri at Teku, where he attained martyrdom in 1997 BS.

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): A weeklong programme organised in course of celebrating the Martyrs Day in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for establishment of democracy in the country began throughout the Kingdom today.

The programme is organised every year for seven days in memory of and in order to pay glowing tributes to martyrs Gangalal Shrestha, Shukraraj Shastri, Dharmabhakta Mathema and Dasarath Chand, and various other known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives for establishing democracy and freeing the people from the autocratic Rana regime.

Sukraraj Shastri who was kept under house arrest because he met Mahatma Gandhi in India and talked about Nepal objected the arrest and came to the streets to give a speech. He was then accused of treason and hanged in a tree at Teku, Panchali on Magha 10, 1997 B.S.

Physical trainer of his late Majesty King Tribhuvan Dharmabhakta Mathema was also hanged in a tree at Siphal on Magh 13 the same year because he had helped to establish the Nepal Praja Parishad against the Rana Regime.

Likewise, Dasarath Chand and Ganga Lal Shrestha were shot dead at Shobabhagawati on Magh 15. 1997 B.S.

Mr. Chand was charged of offense against the throne while Mr. Shrestha, a student at Tri-Chandra College was accused of  speaking against the Rana regime and being involved in activities of Nepal Praja Parishad.

His Majesty's Government has following the Popular Movement of 1990 declared Martyrs Day a public holiday. Prior to this, the day was a half-holiday.

On the occasion of the first day of the martyrs week today, the martyrs week main function committee organised a condolence function at Pachali of Teku where martyr Sukraraj Shastri attained martyrdom.

Their Majesties grace Swayambara

Kathmandu,Jan. 24 (RSS): Their Majesties the King and Queen graced the Swayambara ceremony held in connection with the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah, son of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah and Princess Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, with Miss Himani Singh, daughter of  Raoraja Bikram Singh and Late Bipula Singh of Sikar, India, at Kalikasthan, Dillibazar today.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Royal family were also present at the ceremony.  

Tittle of Her Royal  Highness  conferred

Kathmandu, Jan. 24: In view of the wedding to be solemnised by the grace of god between His Royal Highness Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah and Miss Himani Singh, daughter of Raoraja Bikram Singh, His Majesty the King has conferred the title of "Her Royal Highness the Princess" on her.

This is stated in a communique issued here today by the principal press secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Koirala urges Maoists to pursue constitutional means

Itahari, Jan. 24 (RSS): NC president and ex-prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that since even those involving themselves in the terrorist activity of the Maoists are the citizens of this country, he has decided to go to the Maoist affected areas to convince them that they should come within the framework of the constitution and work together with others for addressing the common issues of nation building.

NC president Koirala was inaugurating a week-long free eye relief camp organised jointly by Lions Club of Dantakali 325 a Dharan and B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences here today.

Expressing his commitment to bringing all the Nepalese people into the democratic mainstream and carrying out development works in deference to popular aspirations, Mr Koirala expressed confidence that he will be able to persuade the Maoists into accepting the parliamentary norms and values.

Since government efforts alone do not suffice for the development of each and every sector, social organizations should continue to contribute to the task of nation building, he observed.

Stating that the government is seriously considering various ways to develop the Koshi Tappu Wild Life sanctuary in Sunsari, which is famous for the number and varieties of birds it has, into a tourist destination, he said the golf course at Dharan, beautiful places like Bhedetar and other places of religious and historical importance have already started attracting many tourists.

Nepali Congress is committed to constructing a dam on the Sunsari river so as to providing adequate irrigation facility for the land south of the highway, he said, adding JICA has already completed its field study for that purpose.

As wished by the late B. P. Koirala when he was in All India Institute of Medical   Sciences for treatment of cancer, the B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences has already been established with the joint assistance of India and Nepal and a B. P. Koirala Cancer Hospital has already been constructed at Bharatpur with the joint investment of Nepal and China, Mr Koirala said.

Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Narayan Singh Pun observed that every district of the country has the potentials for developing tourism infrastructures.

Vice-chancellor of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences Dr. Shekhar Koirala said the institute has been able to maintain a distinct identity by committing itself to human health care and regular health care campaign for rural people.

Also speaking at the function presided over by president of the Lions Club of Dantakali Purna Subedi were Laukahi VDC chairman Devkrishna Yadav and Til Kumari Limbu.

More than 150 eye patients are expected to receive cataract surgery service under the camp.

Also today, NC president Koirala addressed party workers at a programme organised by NC Sunsari district committee at Laukahi.

On the occasion, he alerted all democratic forces against the conspiracy being hatched by anti-democratic forces to prove parliamentary system a failure.

In a democracy every one has the rights to work for his personality development through competition; leg pulling is not in anyone's interest, he added.

Acting NC district president Ram Bahadur Basnet presided.

TIA security probe panel submits report

-BY A STAFF REPORTER

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Bijay Kumar Gachchadar receiving TIA security probe panel report in Kathmandu, Monday.

Kathmandu, Jan.24:The high-level investigation committee, formed the following day of the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight 814 on December 24 last year to investigate the security system at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), submitted its report to the government today.

Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Minster for Tourism and Civil Aviation, received the 63-page report during a formal ceremony at his office this afternoon from Hem Bahadur Singh, former Inspector General of Police, who headed the five-member investigation committee.

"The government will study the report and make its recommendations public very soon before they are implemented," said Gachhadar. "Since the report is related to national security and is also a sensitive issue, its contents will be revealed only after being studied and discussed by the Ministers’ Council."

He further said that he would "most probably present the report for discussion" in the cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday. "Then after, the report will be made officially public."

The minister also said that the government had already begun a separate investigation on the hijack episode to investigate issues like who were the hijackers, among others.

The report, according to Singh, has recommended the review of the security system at the TIA and make it more efficient in keeping with the demand of time. "The recommendations also include points for immediate implementation and for the long term as well to make the TIA’s security arrangement more reliable and trustworthy."

The recommendations, he further added, was based on the analysis of the facts derived in course of investigation, on the spot inspections and inquiry with those on duty at TIA on the day the hijack took place. He would not elaborate further on the report.

Amidst pressing queries from reporters, Singh said his job was done after the submission of the report to the government and that he was unable to comment on its content since "it was a confidential report."

The government formed the high level committee on December 25 last year after the Indian Airlines’ Airbus was hijacked some half an hour after it took off from the TIA a day earlier. The hijackers, yet to be officially identified, made the aircraft land at several airports in the region and the Middle East before holding the 155 passengers hostages in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

On the eighth day of hijacking, they released the passengers and the crew members in exchange of three militants freed by the Indian Government.

The committee, initially required to submit the report within fortnight, had extended its deadline for another 15 days.

Financial institutions need to be reformed: Acharya

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS):Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that the Nepalese banking sector would move ahead for its improvement with a new approach for the new millennium taking into consideration existing challenges.

Addressing the function held to mark the 35th anniversary of the Rastriya Banijya Bank here today, Minister Acharya said that the infrastructures of all the financial sectors and not only the Rastriya Banijya Bank (rbb) had to be changed  taking into consideration national and international economic condition.

Mr Mcharya said that His Majesty's Government would carryout works to develop the Nepalese financial institutions in a more scientific manner.

Finance Minister Acharya said that financial institutions had to play a more important role in further strengthening the economic reform programme introduced by the Nepali Congress government.

Mr Acharya stressed the need for the industrialists and businessmen to make investments taking into consideration the long term welfare of the country and not only immediate benefits.

Referring to the existing favourable conditions for making investments in the country and the improvements being made in the foreign trade sector, Mr Acharya urged the private sector to make investments in agriculture, water resources, tourism, health and other service sectors.

The Finance Minister said that the government had carried out many works to expedite mobilization of revenue and   development expenditures in order to make improvements in the economy of the country.

He said that the bank should make overall changes in its procedures of providing services and facilities to its clients and recovering loans from them on time at a time when an appropriate atmosphere has been created for making productive investments.

Speaking from the chair acting governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Prafulla Kumar Kafle expressed the view that the Rastriya Banijya Bank could still make progress if it moved ahead scientifically in accordance with its objectives despite the challenges faced by it.

Mr. Kafle said that the Rastriya Banijya Bank had made 27 per cent contribution in the collection of total deposits and 31 per cent in investments in the country.

Rbb execuive chairman Punya Prasad Dahal said that the bank faced challenges of carrying out audit at the end of the year, developing an effective system for recovering its investments, producing skilled and efficient  manpower and developing a research, follow-up and evaluation system.

President of the fncci Pradip Kumar Shrestha said that the decline in investments of the banks at a time when industries are ailing cannot be considered as favourable for the economy.

Stating that the government should be serious to create a congenial atmosphere for increasing foreign investment, Mr Shrestha said that the industrialists and businessmen were facing difficulties as a result of the closure of banks  on Sundays.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Mahesh Kumar Agrawal expressed the view that the banks would be competent if the industry and trade sectors were successful.

RNAC aircraft purchase deal should be transparent

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): There is growing sign of His Majesty's Government's  resolve to   control corruption and commision-mongering in development projects at a time when various segments of the society are emphasising the need to end corruption and the practice of commission seeking.

Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, in the course his inspection visit to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation recently, directed the official concerned to make transparent the amount of commission available on rnac aircraft purchase deal and deposit the amount thus received in the government fund.

This directive of the Prime Minister is regarded as an important step in the history of air service itself as well as an effective commitment of the Prime Minister to eradicating corruption and commission-mongering.

The board of directors of rnac recently decided to buy a wide-bodied boeing-767 and sought His Majesty's Government's approval for the same.

rnac which is operating air services to Europe, Japan, Singapore, India and other countries has only one boeing 656. The contract on acquisition of China South West's boeing -656 on lease for one year expires on march 20, 2000.

rnac has been operating the aircraft acquired on lease since 1950. Before that, the national   flag carrier had four aircraft including boeing 727 and boeing 757, of which two boeing-757 were sold. At present, rnac has only one boeing -757, one avro and eight twin otters in operation.

Asked whether rnac needs to buy aircraft, rnac former executive chairman Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa replied: "it is indeed very good for rnac to buy aircriaft, and a proposal for aircraft purchase was made during my tenure itself."A boeing aircraft is said to cost about us $ 80 million at the present international price. The aircraft can be in service for twenty years, given good maintenance and repair."

As regards the amount of commission likely to be offered in an aircraft purchase deal, thapa said commission might not be granted if purchse was made directly from the manufacturing company, "though amount of commision is a matter agreed upon between buyer and seller."

rnac has to buy aircraft in order to be able to more competitive within the country and in the interantioan arena., says former minister for tourism and civil aviation Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Mp.

The Prime Minister had issued directives to make purchase deal relating to development and construction  transparent  and we, too, moved resolutions in the parliament calling for transparency in such deals, he recalled.

He is of the view that if His Majesty's Government forms a committee  on aircraft purchase to call open quotations from various companies and makes transparent the quotation of lowest bidding then commission can be turned into revenue.

Committees for squatters

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): Minister of state for Land Reforms and Management and chairman of the Landless Settlers Problems Resolution Committee Dr. Ganga Dhar Lamsal has, as per the decision of the commission, formed landless settlers problems resolution committees in Sunsari and Siraha districts.

The Sunsari district committee headed by Devendra Katuwal has Dinesh Chandra Giri as co-convenor, and Bindeshwor Yadav, Bam Dewan, Allahudduin Hussain, Agamlal Chaudhari, Raghunandan Chaudhari, Nasib Lal Yadav and Bishworaj Sharma as members.

Likewise, the Siraha district committee formed under the convenorship of Mohammad Razaq Rain Includes Panna Lal Mandal as co-convenor, and Hari Bahadur K.C., Yogendra Prasad Yadav, Tek Nath Mahato, Rajdev Saha, Dev Kumar Tamang, Rambalak Singh and Ram Ekbal Yadav as members.

JICA Chief meets PM

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): President of jica kimio Fujita called on Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the latter's residence, Baluwatar today.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Bhattarai thanked the Japanese Government and jica for their continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal.

The jica president appreciated the democratization process that is taking firm roots in nepal and the achievements made in the economic sector over the years.

Traininig for personal secretaries of MPs

Lalitpur, Jan. 24 (RSS): The three-week training programme for personal secretaries of members of parliament organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary affairs under Parliamentary system consolidation project concluded here today.

The personal secretaries of 79 mps took part in the programme where they were trained on how to enhance the importance of the mps in the Parliament, increase the participation of mps in public works and maintain coordination between development-related bodies.

Giving away certificates to the participants, Minister for Law and Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Tarani Datta Chataut said personal secretaries of the mps have an important role in maintaining cordial relationship between the people and the mps, in managing daily activities and enhancing the participation of mps in development works.

Secretary at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Srikrishna Gautam said the ability of mps can be evaluated by the role of their personal secretaries.

Executive director of Nepal Administrative Staff College Shambusharan Prasad Kayastha, joint secretary at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Bal Prasad Shrestha and other speakers also shed light on the importance of the training programme.

Explosives confiscated

Hetauda, Jan. 24 (RSS): Police confiscated explosive materials from a truck na.a.kha. 7445 enroute to Hetauda from Kathmandu while it was checked at Nawalpur police post last night.

According to makwanpur district police office, the confiscated explosives includes a big amount of gelatine, fuel cap and gun powder.

Some people travelling in the truck have been arrested on suspicion and the incident is under investigation, it is stated.

GC Director Kiran Gautam passes away

-BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan. 24:Kiran Gautam, Administrative Director of Gorkhapatra Corporation (GC) passed away at Manipal Hospital in Banglore, India, Sunday night. He was 45.

Gautam, who had liver problems, died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. He is survived by a wife and two sons.

Born in November 20, 1955, Gautam entered the corporation service in Paush 2036 B.S.

Meanwhile, Gorkhapatra Corporation Employees Association 2052, authorised trade union of the corporation, has expressed profound grief over the death of Gautam and wished the eternal peace of the departed soul.

In a statement today, the union said that his death is a great loss to the organisation which has shocked the corporation family. It expressed condolences to the bereaved family members of late Gautam.

Ten-point declaration for tiger conservation

Dhaka, Jan. 24 (RSS):The first General Assembly of Global Tiger Forum (GTF) has adopted a ten-point Dhaka Declaration on tiger conservation to protect the 7,436 existing members of the endangered species in 14 countries.

GFT officials said in Dhaka, the secretariat of the Tiger Forum in New Delhi would promote inter-state protocols to save the big cats from extinction.

The forum has earmarked endangered tigers living in different jungles including the Sundarbans, Royal Chitwan,  Valmiki, Parsa and Bardia, Sohelwa, the May-U Range and Chin Hills and Royal Manas and Phipsoo for protection under the inter-state protocols.

The GTF will prepare a new database on the tiger population and country and specific tiger action plans by January in the year 2001.

"All countries would be asked to eradicate trade in tiger parts and derivatives in accordance with cites (convention on international trade on endangered species) and if necessary, dispose the existing stockpile (of tiger products) by January in the year 2001," secretary general of GTF S. C. Dey said.

He said, apart from approaching international donors for conservation programmes in tiger range states and to strengthen operations of GTF, the Forum will also facilitate training of wildlife managers and researchers to share lessons on tiger conservation and enrich experience of enforcement officers.

The declaration, according to dey, expressed desire to create GTF website by January of 2001, if funds are available.

The member-states of the forum will assist the secretariat in encouraging all tiger range states and developed nations to join the forum, he added.

"Loss and degradation of habitat, reduction of the prey base of the tigers, poaching and international illegal trade and enhanced human development needs are the four key issues that would affect the future of the endangered big cats," the GTF leaders observed.

Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, United Kingdom and observers from Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (cites) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) international endorsed the declaration.

The GTF leaders left Dhaka for Khulna to visit Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans that dot the coastline of the bay of Bengal and accommodates 362 Royal Bengal Tigers. 

Elders inspect prison, Balmandir

Mahottari, Jan. 24 (RSS):The team of the National Assembly Social Justice made an on-the-spot inspection of the prison, balmandir, women development section and non-governmental organisations at Jaleshwar and acquired information on the obtaining situation there.

Leader of the team and chairman of the Social Justice Committee of the National Assembly Jivan Prem Shrestha said that the objective of the team was to collect information on the prevailing human rights situation and protection of the rights and interest of children and the upliftment of disabled, helpless, incapacitated, oppressed and indigenous people.

The team is comprised of whip of the ruling party in the National Assembly Mahendra Kumar Mishra, whip of the main opposition party Surendra Pande, MPs Kaiya Chaudhari and Ambika Panta, Rishi Babu Pariyar, Bijul Kumar Bishwakarma, Shanta Manavi, Mrs Bisweswar Dahal and committee secretary Birendra Bahadur Karki.

VAT leakage investitaged

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): A joint inspection team of the Department of Value Added Tax (VAT) and VAT office says as some taxpayers have been found to have caused leakage in vat   it is starting a probe in that connection.

The leakage  came to light during its inspection at various parts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Those causing leakage of the tax are Garuda of Thamel, Dipamkar Utse, Tanki and Marsyangdi Hotel and Tajifji Restaurant and bar also of Thamel and Potala Guest House.  

Likewise, Hotel Tilicho at Keshar Mahal, Kamal Hotel at Kamalpokhari, and Tansen restaurant at Durbar Marg are also evading tax.

Likewise, investigation is on into the tax leakage by the Memon Export and Import, Manakamana Electronics, Summit Nepal Trekking, Parimita International Green Line International, Shrijana Cotton Weaving Industries, Standard Kastha Industry, Amar Wood Industry.