Come up with clear demands, Koirala tells Maoists

Biratnagar, June 17 (RSS): Prime Minister and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the Maoists should come up with clear and official demands prior to sitting together with the government to resolve the problem.

Talking to journalists in Biratnagar where he reached today after attending various programmes in Terhathum, Prime Minister Koirala said the government has kept its door open for a dialogue with the Maoists. But, the Prime Minister added, so far rumours about the initiative from Maoists’ side for a dialogue is doing a round in the press sector; he has received no such information officially.

"I don’t know anything as to who has been assigned by Baburam Bhattarai for the dialogue and what agenda has been set for that purpose," he further added.

Replying to a question, NC president Koirala said Nepali Congress has lost its original spirit and vigour; there is severe lack of discipline and everyone is striving for power. Should the situation continue unabated, the party’s existence might come under question, he cautioned.

The NC government alone cannot resolve the Maoist problem, he said, calling for active cooperation of all the people in this task.

Appealing to all NC workers to form security committees in every VDC and start patrolling, he said the police personnel are doing their best to ensure security even by putting their own lives at stake.

Describing this year’s budget as a most challenging budget in the country’s history, he said if the budget is implemented successfully it would help the country to become self reliant.

The Prime Minister is returning to the capital tomorow.

Ranabhat rules for additional details from govt

Kathmandu, June l7 (RSS):Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, at the meeeting of the House of Representatives today, directed the government to present additional details about the incident at Jajarkot Panchakatiya.

The Speaker gave the ruling after Birod Khatiwada of CPN-UML asked that the government present its views on the incident before the house.

Recalling that before this also he had directed that additional information on the incident be furnished, he urged the government to inform the house about other incidents also that have taken place in the country.

Nepal, Belgium ties growing, says envoy

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS):Belgian ambassador to Nepal Guy Trouveroy has said that friendly relations between the two countries have become stronger following the restoration of democracy.

Talking to RSS here Friday, he said the development of democracy in Nepal is encouraging.

Pointing out that there has been exchange of cooperation between the two countries especially in the field of telecommunications, he spoke of the participation of Belgium in the Development of Nepal Telecommunications Corporation.

He said Nepal Telecommunications Corporation has a significant role in the development of the information system, telephones and of modern communications in Nepal.

In reply to a question, he said there is no need to fear private sector involvement in telecommunications services, adding that greater competition may mean fewer clients but also greater service orientation and this will lead to greater strength and capability in accordance with the policy of economic lebaralisation.

Besides telecommunications, cooperation between the two countries also covers dairy development and there are possibilities of joint investment in future in electronics, engineering and tourism.

Nepal is well known in Belgium, the number Belgians visiting Nepal is growing every year and prospects of cooperation between the two countries is very bright, he said.

Mr Trouveroy is resident Belgian ambassador to India and also ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives as well as Nepal.

FNCCI demands security for industrial areas

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS):Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has, in a statement, demanded that His Majesty’s Government take immediate steps for making arrangements for police personnels in the industrial estates to provide the investors a feeling of security.

Urging everyone to extend cooperation to check terrorist activities, FNCCI said that if the present situation continues the country will face a miserbale plight.

Immediately after the incident which took place at the Surya Tobacco Company in Simara, a group of about 10 armed persons forcibly entered the Colgate Palmolive (Nepal) Private Limited located at the Hetauda Industrial Estate and exploded a bomb causing a great loss of property, FNCCI said, adding that a question mark has been raised on law and order situation as the armed group had forcibly entered the industrial estate which is presumed to be a very safe place.

Stating that FNCCI had been from time to time requesting His Majesty’s Government to further strengthen the security system taking into consideration the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, FNCCI said that such incidents would have a negative impact on the local and foreign investors as well as employment affecting the people.

Summiteer Lakpa Sherpa honoured

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS):The Miss Lakpa Sherpa felicitation committee Sankhuwasaba-Kathmandu felicitated Miss Lakpa Sherpa, the second Nepali woman to scale the world’s highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha and other mountaineers from Sankhuwasabha district who scaled Mt. Sagarmatha and Mt. Makalu.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba felicitated Miss Sherpa and other successful mountaineers of Sankhuwasabha district.

On the occasion Mr Deuba and Miss Lakpa Sherpa also gave away certificates to the participants of the cultural programme.

At the function representatives of various organisations also presented letters of appreciation to Miss Lakpa Sherpa while Nima Pemba Sherpa presented a cheque for Rs. 55,000.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Deuba said Miss Lakpa Sherpa will be a source of inspiration and encouragement for youths in the country.

Chairman of Public Service Commission Santa Bahadur Rai, Prof. (Dr) Ballavmani Dahal and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by the committee chairman Dr Ramesh Kumar Dhungel.

SAARC Film Federation to be established

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 17:The Nepal Motion Pictures Association is looking forward to establish the SAARC Film Federation.

The establishment of the Federation will coincide with the third Nepal Motion Picture Award giving ceremony and the celebration of the Nepal Film Festival.

"We will hold discussions with the invitees from the SAARC region associated with the film industry to give the final shape to the Federation," Chairman of the Nepal Film Festival organising committee Uddav Poudel said.

Poudel said that the formation of the Federation would prove to be beneficial to the entire South Asian film industry. The main idea behind the inception of the Federation is to create a congenial atmosphere for mutual cooperation, goodwill and trust among the film-makers of the South Asian region, he said.

Poudel said he had already initiated talks with the ambassadors of the SAARC countries based in Kathmandu and the SAARC General Secretary regarding the inception of the Federation.

"All of them have responded positively to the idea," Poudel said.

He said that he had also interacted with the President of Indian Motion Picture Association Shakti Samanta to form the Federation. He said that he would visit the SAARC countries shortly and would talk with the people from the film industry there to solicit their suggestions and views regarding the formation of the Federation.

The Federation will be first collective organisation related to the film industry in the South Asian region.

Bomb explosion in Lamjung

Lamjung, June l7 (RSS):A l4 year old boy has been injured in a bomb explosion set off by Maoists at Besi Shahar, headquarters of Lamjung district, at 3.30 am Friday.

Dhruba Sunar, son of Riksha puller Sher Bahadur Sunar who was sleeping at their rented quarters at Besi Shahar VDC ward no 9 Jhingekhola sustained injuries to both legs.

In another explosion that took place at l2.30 last night at Besi Shahar Serachowk, goods worth Rs 2,500 were destroyed and a truck parked l00 meters away was also damaged, according to police.

Meanwhile in Dhading Maoists and police clashed for two hours from l2.30 Thursday night at Maidi VDC police post.

The Maoists surrounded the police post from three sides and attacked. Exchange of fire ensued.

No one was injured in the incident, and it is not known how many Maoists were involved.

The police post was housed at the health post when the attack took place. The origional police post was destroyed by Maoists and the police had not yet moved into the new building.

In Pokhara, a powerful bomb exploded last Thursday at Agriculture Development Bank rural sub-branch along the Jalpa road in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan city ward No. 8.

Railings, two rooms and window glasses of the bank office were broken in the blast. Some parts of the building also developed cracks, but no one was injured in the incident.

No politics in education urged

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS): Taking part in the discussion on appropriation heads pertaining to the Ministry of Education and Sports under the Appropriation Bill-2057 at the House of Representatives the other day, CPN-UML's Mahendra Bahadur Pandey pointed out the need to give attention to the production of educational manpower as per the needs of the nation and compete globally.

Ramesh Lekhak of Nepali Congress said though the education policy is positive special attention should be given towards removing shortcomings in its implementation.

RPP's Krishna Charan Shrestha demanded that the government set up at least two to three higher secondary schools in every parliamentary constituency in the country and wipe out irregularities in the sent-up examinations.

Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party said education institutions are famous for producing educated unemployed, allocation of quota for teachers has been politicized and that primary education should be carried out in mother language.

CPN-UML's Mrs Vidya Devi Bhandari and Mrs Asta Laxmi Shakya expressed the view that the government has not increased budget for infrastructure development of education, attention has not been given to improve the quality of education in public schools and that radical changes should be made in the existing education policy in order to produce skilled and qualified manpower for the country.

NC's Damodar Bastakoti and Shiva Kumar Basnet said free education should be put into practice, emphasis should be given to skill oriented training, education should be freed from politics, pre-primary education should be given special attention and the government should monitor the private schools.

Also taking part in the discussion, CPN-UML's Mrs Tirtha Gautam, Dr Bansidhar Mishra and Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi pointed out the need for an extensive improvement in the present education system, an all party consensus towards quality development and management of the curriculum and stop corruption and irregularities in education.

MPs Krishna Kishore Ghimire, Narendra Bahadur Bam and Kailashnath Kasaudhan of Nepali Congress welcomed the programmes introduced to upgrade the standard of education, pointed out the need to keep higher education under the authority of the government and increase the effectiveness of education monitoring and evaluation programmes.

CPN-UML's Durga Linkha and Chandramani Khanal pointed out the need to give emphasis on technical and vocational education as per the needs of the nation, make sanskrit optional in secondary schools, include experts in the school management committees and fix a specific criteria for opening schools and colleges.

Also taking part in the discussion, CPN-UML's Gokarna Raj Bista, Nara Bahadur Hamal and Prem Bahadur Singh said the government has not been able to provide physical facilities and sufficient post for teachers in public schools, a concrete education policy based on the reports of the National Education commission and Higher Education Commission should be introduced and that politicisation of the education sector should be stopped.

Likewise, MPs Dr Gopal Koirala, Harinarayan Chaudhary and Mohan Bahadur Basnet welcomed the decision of the government to increase women participation in education and establish a model school in backward areas of every district, teachers should be trained and sportsperson enhancing the pride of the nation should be honoured.

Pashupati Chaulagain of the CPN-UML said that the present education system is unscientific and unproductive, complaining that management of higher education has been ignored.

Keshav Thapa of the Nepali Congress remarked that increase in investment in education, special importance given to education and emphasis given to basic and primary education, non-formal education, vocational education are the positive aspects of the budget.

CPN-UML's Phatik Bahadur Thapa spoke of the need to provide textbooks to students on time, standardise the curriculum, allow various ethnic group people to have primary education in their own mother tongue and allocate budget for two higher secondary schools in gulmi.

NC's Gehendra Giri demanded that women teachers at primary schools should be made permanent, 10+2 education system improved, job-oriented education provided at public schools, sports councils opened in districts without delay and schools' physical condition improved.

Ananda Prasad Pokhrel of CPN-UML complained that dependency has increased in the education sector, the basic primary education programme has been politicised, slc exams is tainted with rigging, fake certificates have been recognized and public schools have been ignored.

Shiv Prasad Humagain of the Nepali Congress urged that there should be uniformity in public and private schools, curriculae be amended from the lower school level, a bill on siddhartha university be brought soon and one covered

Hall in Panauti and Banepa each be built.

Urmila Aryal spoke of the need to monitor and evaluate the literacy programme, provide special schools for dalits and stop political appointment in board of directors.

NC's Janakraj Giri said teachers' facilities should be increased in order to make teaching a dignified profession and a polytechnic college and an agricultural university should be opened in far western region.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the CPN-UML spoke of the need for the government to be serious about selecting qualified teachers, make effective and transparent slc exams, gurantee rights and interests of employees working at schools, and emphasize technical and vocational education.

NC's Rajendra Kharel noted that the government is serious about providing quality education for which different programmes have been worked out, teacher quota have been distributed on equal basis and every teacher should admit his children to his own school.

Damber Singh Sambahamfe of the CPN-UML observed that there is a wide gap in the ratio of successful students in public and private schools, education has been commercialised and teacher quota at proposed schools in Panchthar district is inadequate.

Krishna Prasad Dahal of same party complained that school supervisors do not regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of school teachers, and school management committees have been formed in violation of the local self-autonomy act and education regulations.

Mahendra Prasad Yadav, also of the same party, noted that there should be a single organisation for the rights and interests of teachers, arrangement should be made to provide education in mother tongues upto primary level and all parties should take a resolve to remove illiteracy.

Prakash Jwala of the same party observed that the present education system is unlikely to face the challenges of the 21st century, low fund has been allocated for technical and vocational education and more schools should be opened in Salyan district and teacher quota increased.

CPN-UML's Basanta Kumar Nemwang said as compared with the budgets in the past, this year's budget for the education sector is less and corruption in education should be stopped.

Ganga Prasad Nepal of the same party noted that emphasis should be given to women's and vocational education, a regulatory body should be formed for monitoring higher secondary schools, temporary teachers should be made permanent and a covered hall constructed in Sindhuli.

Jagannath Khatiwada, also of the CPN-UML, stressed the need to work out an educational policy which can transform society, enable public schools to compete with private ones, provide educational materials to village schools and increase teacher quota in Udayapur district.

Mustang project gets aid

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS): A project document for implementation of the Upper Mustang biodiversity conservation project was signed between His Majesty's Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Finance Ministry the other day.

The total programme cost is estimated at US$ 2.215 million including the baseline cost of US$ 190,000, according to the Finance Ministry. The global environment facility (GEF) will provide US$ 0.75 million. UNDP has committed US$ 130,000 for the project.

Likewise, the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) will provide US$ 0.75 million and ICIMOD US$75,000 for the project while King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), which is designated as the implementing agency on behalf of HMG/N, will bear US$ 320,000 including baseline cost.

The main objective of the project is to conserve biodiversity of actual and potential value and preserve globally important habitats and biodiversity of the Upper Mustang.

Through the adoption of an ecosystem approach for conserving biodiversity, the activities of the project will involve building institutional capacity of the people to protect their environment, develop data collection of essential information and undertake demonstration activities in rangland management and tourism activities. The grant assistance will be utilised to support and strengthen the local governance and decentralised planning, coordination and implementation of development activities through social mobilisation.

The project is expected to bring rural peoplel of Upper Mustang together in self governing community institutions in order to enhance participation, increase accountability and mobilise additional local resources for creating better investment opportunities for local development.

Madhav Prasad Ghimire, joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Dr. Henning Karcher, resident representative of the UNDP signed the project document on behalf of their respective agencies.

His Majesty's Government has expressed its sincere appreciation and thanks to GEF and UNDP for providing continued assistance and support in priority areas of rural socio-economic and natural resources management of Nepal.

'Reduce use of plastic bags'

Ilam, June l7 (RSS): Ilam Municipality organised a gathering at which it was decided that the use of plastic bags will be phased out in view of the environmental problem it creates.

The gathering, which concluded with slogans such as let's reduce the use of plastic, let's not discard plastic haphazardly, also stressed the need for popular awareness against increasing pollution. The gathering, chaired by Mayor Mahesh Basnet, stressed that garbage containers should be placed at public places throughout the town, discarded plastic recycled and public awareness aroused against environmental impact.

It was disclosed on the occasion that organic and inorganic waste has been separated from the town's garbage and fertiliser prepared from the waste by way of demonstration.

Blood donation programme

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 17:Nhu Pucha, an NGO working for the development of Nepalese culture, literature and the children's welfare organised a blood donation programme Saturday.

According to the President of the Pucha Mr. Gautam Ratna Sthapit, eighty-one people have donated blood at a day-long programme.

'Provide relief for homeless'

Kathmandu, June 17 (RSS): Leader of the Main Opposii-ton and general secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has demanded that the government provide immediate relief and undertake construction works as hundreds of people have been rendered homeless and movement of people has come to standstill due to incessant rains and floods in Bajhang and Doti districts causing damage to bridges, settlements and farms in various parts of Seti zone.

Meanwhile in Mahendra-nagar, flooding in the Mahakali River following incessant rain at the beginning of the month and the collapse of a barrage in the border area in Kanchanpur district have led to inundation of paddy seedlings cultivated on some 200 biga of land in Mahendranagar Municipality Ward No 11, 12 and 13. The barrage lying at Badepur along the boundary between Ward No 12 and 13 has collapsed at 5 points.

Similarly, some 200 biga of land in these wards have been covered with sediment due to the inflow of river water some 300 metres from the Sarada Barrage.

Floods have damaged a portion of a 60-metre spur adjacent to the Royal Shuklaphant Wildlife Sanctuary at Pipariya.

A preliminary survey conducted by the district irrigation office reveals that a one metre high barrage will have to be erected along an approximately 500-metre portion the Mahakali River to avert possible damage in case of major flooding by the river. A team comprising the DDC president, the CDO, Mahendraangar Town Development Committee chairman Dharma Raj Joshi and senior divisional engineer Ram Sharan Jha has made an on the spot inspection.