A view of a bridge being constructed for Mugling-Dhadingbesi road over Trishuli river.

No agreement with India on TIA security: Dr. Mahat

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Mar. 6:Foreign Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has denied India’s claim that Nepal “agreed in principle” to allowing Indian security personnel to operate at the capital’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

“The news that the government made secret agreement with the Indian authority regarding security at TIA is misleading and not true,” he said furnishing the lawmakers’ queries at today’s sitting in the House of Representatives. “We have made no such agreement with India.”

“We have adequate resources and manpower to provide security at the airport. It is our responsibility,” he said. “We do not accept the presence of foreign army in our land and therefore do not allow them to be here.”

Earlier MPs had asked for the government’s view on an AFP news report, which quoted an Indian State Minister as saying that Nepal had shown some positive signs about stationing Indian army at TIA.

According to AFP, Indian State Minister for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta said that the Indian authority wanted their army at TIA to ensure security. “Some compromise is being reached on that matter and talks are at an advanced stage,” Gupta was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Responding to Parliamentarians’ queries, Dr. Mahat said the government would make public the full text of the Indian minister’s speech, which “we are yet to receive.”

Dr. Mahat said that the security measures would be arranged as per the standard set by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and expressed hope that the frozen Indian flights to Nepal would soon resume after the security issues were resolved.

Following the hijacking of an Indian aeroplane from Kathmandu airport in December last year, all the Indian flights inbound to Nepal were suspended citing security lapses. However, the government has reiterated that no stones were left unturned regarding security measures.

Fulfill pledges, MPs tell Govt

Kathmandu, Mar. 6 (RSS): Speaking during the special hour at the House of Representatives today, chief whip of cpn-uml bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the high level committee formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to conduct a probe into opposition parties’ complaints of extensive rigging in the third general elections and to submit its report along with suggestions on ways to control electoral rigging in the future had not yet shown any interest in submitting its report during the winter session of the parliament thus far.

The government should fulfil the pledges it made before the house and people, he stressed.

Growing corruption was eroding norms and values in the country and corruption today reportedly surpassed that of the Panchayat period, the member complained.

Now that a report of the joint investigation committee of both the houses on revenue leakage had been approved by the House there was no point in delaying its implementation,  he said.

The people had been extremely affected by price hike and the last special session of the parliament had also adopted a proposal along with a resolution to provide relief the adversely affected people, he noted, demanded what to know was being done about that.

Ram Bahadur Bista of Nepali Congress said, “The people today want peace and security more than development works and employment.”

Maoist were said to have destroyed a police office at Binayak in Achham district and abducted two police personnel but nothing was known as to what happened to other police personnel there, he said.

A banking office was reported to have been robbed, he said, and demanded to know how much money had been taken away from there.

Shifting of Binayak Police Post elsewhere was quite shameful, for police morale should not sag for lack of arms and ammunition; and both the ruling and opposition parties should unite on matter relating to peace, security, nationality and democracy, he said.

Hari Acharya of the Rastriya Janamorcha said that police lathicharged the demonstrators of the Nepal National Teachers Organisation who were demonstrating peacefully in front of the Ministry of Education. The just demands of the teachers be fulfilled and the House be informed of the criteria on which the posts of the teachers be fixed, he demanded.

Lilamani Pokhrel of the Samyukta Janamorcha alleged that the law and order situation in the country was critical and police had unleashed terror and set 200 houses on fire. He said that the government should be clear on whether the Maoists problem was a problem of terrorism or a political one.

Subhash Chandra Nembang of the cpn-uml drew the attention of the Speaker towards the government’s inability to present sufficient bills in the current winter session known as bills’ session and the registered two bills were not receiving due attention in the absence of the concerned Minister.

He also demanded to know the fact regarding a published news item saying that Nepal has agreed to allow the presence of Indian security personnel at the Tribhuvan International Airport and the reports on the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane. He stressed that the misuse of the diplomatic passports be made public immediately.

Transport Insurance: Whose court is the ball in?

BY ARHAN STHAPIT

Kathmandu, Mar. 6:At a time when Nepal is inching towards a new era of trade regime and practices with the proposed functioning of Inland Clearance Depots (ICDs) and much-hyped accession to World Trade Organisation (WTO), there is the strong need for sincere efforts to make the transport related insurance industry more efficient and willing to respond to the changing market needs as a part of trade facilitation process. These were the views expressed by the trade experts and government officials gathered here Monday at the seminar on Improving Transport (Marine Cargo) Insurance in Nepal. The one day seminar was organised by Nepal Multimodal Transit & Trade Facilitation Project (NMTTFP) in association with UNCTAD and Nepal Bimak Sangh.

Going by the version of Secretary at Ministry of Commerce, and chief guest of the function Mohan Dev Panta, “the legislation for streamlining the transport services is being carried out by the government and once the draft legislation on carrier’s liability is enforced the transport industry (people) will seek insurance cover in order to protect themselves from possible legal liability.”

“The new legal regimes will create liability to the transporters which needs to be duly addressed through the reforms in the insurance policies and regulations,” project director of the NMTTFP (under Ministry of Commerce) Purushottam Ojha informed the inaugural session.

With the laws on the anvil, the rolling ball seems to be in the government’s court, or for that matter, in that of the concerned legislating bodies, if the legislation in this specific regard is the only crux of the whole problem.

“That’s not all,” the participants, however, opined. In the open floor discussions that followed two working paper presentation sessions, they identified a host of problems that they believed should be properly addressed if improvement in the transport insurance were to be made as desired.

While the cargo insurance sector is awaiting for anything concrete to come up regarding the timely enactment of the legislation, the cargo insurance ‘ball’ has boomeranged back to the court of the coteries involved in the transport insurance, as the participants in the seminar ended up with a call for constituting an eleven member task force that would be entrusted the responsibility of finding solutions to the thirteen (13) point problems identified in the seminar.

The task force has been designated to submit its recommendations to the Insurance Sub-Committee of the NTTFCP, a working group set up a few months back under the chairmanship of the NTTFC project director under the Ministry of Commerce.

Those nominated in the task force are a representative from Insurance Board, K.B. Basnet, Bimal Raj Nepal and S.R. Chaudhari (all from Nepal Bimak Sangh), Sapan Dev (Freight Forwarders Association), R.B Rauniyar (Goods Carriers’ Association), B.N. Bhattarai (Shipping Line), M.K. Daga (Surveyors/loss assessors/adjusters), Rishi Lamichhane (Customs/HMG), Ajaindra Singh (UNCTAD), and an NCC representative.

Among the problems identified, the major ones were relating to legislation including Carriers’ Liability Act (reportedly now in the pipeline), and Marine Insurance Act and lack of provision of solvency margin. Similarly, difficulties in getting recovery from losses caused by carriers’ negligence, and in paying premiums and claims in foreign currencies were other hassles. Problems also were related to short delivery, loss/damage certificate issuance, pre-dispatch survey inspection, duty insurance and multiple trans-shipments. Grievances were also raised against the custom duty levied on damaged goods as well as the provisions on freight forwarders’ liability.

“Only integrated, and coordinated efforts in this regard from all concerned can solve these problems and improve the country’s transport insurance business,” the experts deduced.

Earlier inaugurating the seminar, Commerce Ministry Secretary  Mohan Dev Panta said that the government would leave no stone unturned to achieve the ideal trading environment whereby our exports can become more competitive and our imports more affordable. 

“With the objective of bringing efficiency in trade transactions by reducing costs associated with documentation and procedures and by encouraging better management of logistic services, the government has implemented (NMTTFP),” he added.

Highlighting the importance of the concerned regulatory authorities, president of Nepal Bimak Sangh (Nepal Insurers’ Association), Om Singh said, “These authorities must act not only as police but also need to help and guide the market players properly with sincere feeling that they have to play positive role for smooth sailing of everyone’s responsibilities.”

“In absence of explicit Compensation Act, and Carriers’ Act, our insurance industry is always in quandary,” he remarked.

The issues pertaining to insurance in general, and transport (marine cargo) insurance in particular, were dealt with in the two following working sessions.

In the first working session chaired by Om Singh, Secretary of Beema Samiti (Insurance Board) Ramesh Raj Bhattarai presented the working paper on Role of Beema Samiti as a Regulatory ody in the Development of Insurance Industry while another paper on Historical Background and Current Transport/marine Insurnace Market Practices was presented by K. B. Basnyat, vice president of Nepal Bimak Sangh.

The only working paper in the second working session came from Matthew Marshal, director at International Underwriters Association, London and International Insurance Specialist of UNCTAD, Geneva. Marshal’s paper on the Practice of Marine and Carrier’s Liability Insurance in International Market dealt exclusively with cargo insurance. Director General at Department of Customs Banshidhar Ghimire was on the chair.

Training held for women office bearers

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Mar. 6:Rasuwa district court judge Shyam Kishor recently inaugurated the training organised for women office bearers elected to village development committees of Rasuwa district. The training was organised by Rural Development Foundation in association with the Rasuwa District Development Committee.

In his remarks honourable judge Shyam Kishor emphasised on the need to organise trainings for the benefit of women office bearers to enhance their effectiveness. President of the Rasuwa DDC Bhim Lal Hirachan welcomed the initiative of the Foundation to conduct training in his district. He said, “women office bearers in Rasuwa districts are not aware of their rights and responsibilities. The training will prove to be a beneficial event, “says the press release of Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion President of the Foundation Krishna Man Pradhan said”, It is difficult to imagine of an effective local government without real participation of women”. Highlighting the objective of the training he added the training will impart them essential knowledge to make their role fruit bearing”. Vice president of the Foundation Bharat Man Pradhan, Secretary Shiv Kumar Shrestha and local development officer Dhruva Prasad Khakal expressed their view on the utility of trainings.

Representatives from 18 VDCs of the Rasuwa district took part in the two day training held in the district headquarters. There were 80 participants taking part in the training. Women’s legal rights, participation of women in local development planning process in VDCs and leadership development were the subjects the training focussed on. Hon. Judge Shyam Kishor gave away certificates to the participants at the concluding function.Trainers Mrs Neeta Gautam, Shiva Kumar Shrestha, Bhimarjun Acharya, Devidutta Bhatta and Amita Dixit conducted sessions.

Bhaktapur to host int’l meet on cultural tourism

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Bhaktapur, Mar. 6:The World Heritage City of Bhaktapur, Nepal will host an international conference focusing on the development of locally managed cultural tourism industries from April 8-16, 2000. This is stated in a press release issued by the Bhaktapur Municipality today.

The conference, organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Municipality of Bhaktapur and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) will focus on how tourism can be utilised to benefit communities without destroying the cultural and natural assets upon which it is based. Other municipalities and VDCs such as Kathmandu, Patan, Banepa, Panauti, Changunarayan, Khokana etc. will also be supporting the Conference. The Department of Archaeology and the Nepal National Commission for UNESCO are also kindly helping in this event.

Culture, Heritage Management and Tourism, which is expected to bring more than 150 participants to Bhaktapur, will focus on how the demands of increased tourism can be reconciled with conservation initiatives while offering development opportunities for inhabitants of some of the world’s most precious - and endangered sites, adds the release.

Conference is part of a broader UNESCO/Government of Norway project, bringing together community representatives from eight heritage sites from the Asia-Pacific region to present research findings and work with panels of cultural, tourism and economic development experts to create site specific tourism plans.

Participating sites are: Bhaktapur, Nepal, Hoi An, Vietnam, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Levuka, Fiji, Lijiang, China, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, Melaka, Malaysia and Vigan, Philippines.

The project and conference is based on the premise that tourism, as the fastest growing and one of the most profitable industries in the world, offers unparalleled opportunities for the economic development of local communities living in or near heritage sites in Asia and the pacific.

The conference, says UNESCO Resident Representative to Nepal, Yoshiaki Kitamura will focus on how the revenues of tourism can be captured without causing substantive damage to local culture and heritage.

‘Tourism is often viewed as an easy way of making money, especially for communities still facing hardships from the economic downturn, ‘Kitamura said. ‘But if it is left unplanned and unregulated, the potential for negative impact on culture and the environment is substantive.

‘This conference and workshop will allow residents of some of our region’s most precious and most popularly visited heritage sites the chance to meet and to work with Nepalese and international experts to develop strategies that link tourism development and heritage preservation.’

Mayor of Bhaktapur, Prem Suwal says that he expects that the conference will not only allow Bhaktapur the chance to showcase local efforts in heritage preservation and tourism development, but also allow sites from around the region to gather and learn from each other’s experiences.

‘As both a participant in this project and host of this conference we are very pleased to be part of this initiative and to have the opportunity to delve further into issues in tourism and heritage preservation.

‘While tourism increases throughout the region, members of heritage communities need to become more aware of how they can benefit most from increased revenues.

‘We expect that through this conference and project, we will have the opportunity to examine how we as a community can gain from tourism both economically and through the preservation of our heritage,’ he said.

Pradeep Raj Pandey, CEO NTB says, “Nepal in general and Bhaktapur in particular is fortunate to have a conference of this magnitude. Ours is the only country in the world to have 7 world cultural heritage sites within a radius of 20 kms. Hence it is paramount that we conserve these sites as our national treasure for the people of this world.”

The conference will run for 10 days at the New Municipality Building, Bhaktapur, and will incorporate highlights of the Bisket Jatra. A series of field trips will take delegates into the major heritage locations of the Kathmandu Valley including Patan, Kathmandu, Khokhana, Panauti, Swoyambhu, Pashupati, Baudha and Changu Narayan.

Wagle urges local bodies to be self reliant

Bhaktapur, Mar. 6 (RSS): Minister for Women and Social Welfare and Local Development Chiranjibi Wagle said the government introduced the B. P.  with the poor and women awareness income generating programmes  in order to uplift the backward communities in the country.

Inaugurating the eighth District Council meeting of Bhaktapur district here today, Minister Wagle said the local bodies should help the government in identifying the targetted group and urged the local bodies to become self-reliant by making  maximum use of local means and resources.

President of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe said if the government cannot make itself corruption-free then other bodies under the government will not be either.

He also pointed out the need to make transparent the donations received from foreign countries for development works in the country.

Bhaktapur ddc chairman Govinda Suwal presented an estimated budget of Rs. 258,792,353/ for the fiscal year 2000/2001.

Demanding that the government declare Bhaktapur a cultural city, Mr Suwal pointed out the need to construct the damaged bridge over the Manohara river which links Kathmandu to Bhaktapur and also built a road from Nala-Tathali-Bageswori-Chaling joining Kathmandu.

Eldest member of the Council Jitbahadur Moktan Presided.

Govt mulling to restructure Police organization: Minister Khadka

Kathmandu, Mar. 6 (RSS):Minister for Home Purna Bahadur Khadka has said that as violence, murder and terror does not solve any problem but complicates them further the government calls for giving up these kinds of activities and holding talks to reach a peaceful solution which will be in the interest of the nation.

Responding to queries raised on law and order situation by mps at the House of Representatives today, Home Minister Khadka said,”as constituting a separate armed police services within the Nepal police has found to be relevant, a task force has already been constituted to provide suggestions for determining the  organisational structure and responsibilities of the police.”

Mr Khadka informed the House that since the 16th session of Parliament, 28 people and 53 police personnel have been killed in ambush of the terrorists while 158 terrorists died in entcounters with the police.

He added “Since 2052 B.S., 187 local people and 144 police personnel have died in ambush of the terrorists while 174 terrorists died in encounters with police and two terrorists were killed in encounter with the local people bringing the total number of people killed to 120.

Informing that 3,778 of the 5,374 persons arrested in connection with terrorist activities have been released and action initiated against 1,596 persons, Home Minister Khadka said that police had seized country-made guns, 12 bore guns, 117 locally made pistols, twelve 303 rifles, seven revolvers, 25 pieces of grenades, 453 hand bombs, 95 pipe bombs, 187 socket bombs, 22 pieces of pressure cooker bombs, 403 kg of gelatin, etc.

He also informed that property worth about Rs 110 million had been damaged in terrorist activities so far.

Stating that nine police personnels were killed and 10 others injured in an attack of a group of terrorists on a police striking force at Raralihi of Jumla district on the night of January 3, Mr Khadka said that the terrorists had taken away 17 303 rifles, two pieces of shot guns, two magnum rifles and three pistols from the police.

On the same night, the terrorists raided the Rastriya Banijya Bank located at Falebas of Parbat district and absconded with Rs 2.2 million in cash and jewelry, he added.

The Home Minister said that seven local people and two terrorists were killed in an encounter between police and terrorists which took place at Kalika Primary School located at  ward No. 3 Dugala of Dhaku vdc in Achham district on January 14. Two muskets, four hand bombs, one kilogram of gunpowder, five pairs of combat clothes and two dungarees were found at the site of the incident, he added.

Mr Khadka said that six police personnels were killed and five others injured in a booby-trap set up by terrorists at ward No. 8 Piple of Khalanga vdc of Jajarkot at 09:30 a.m. on January 14. The terrorist took away eight 303 rifles,one 22 magnum rifle, one pistol and one communication set from the same place, he added.

The Home Minister said that three police personnels and five terrorists were killed and eight police personnels injured in an encounter which took place between police and terrorists after the terrorists bombed the Kalimati Rampur Ilaka police office of Salyan district on February 26. The terrorist took away some arms and a communications set, he added.

Mr Khadka said that five police personnels were killed and two others injured in a booby-trap set up by terrorists at ward No. 1 of Bhalayakharka vdc in Lamjung district on February 9.

The Home Minister said that of the total 39 policemen and a servant based at the Ilaka police office of Ghartigaun in Rolpa district, one police inspector, 15 police personnel and a servant were killed when a group of about 200 terrorists bombed the Ilaka police and an encounter took place between the police and terrorists for a few hours on February 19.

Five rifles and one shot gun was destroyed in the fire and the terrorists fled away with 32 pieces of 303 rifles, three magnum rifles, two pistols and one shot gun, and Rs 1.2 million belonging to the police personnel and Rs 335,550 sanctioned for construction of the Ilaka police office, Mr Khadka said.

Stating that the terrorist had used No. 36 grenades, Mr Khadka said that shells of the ammunition used by the terrorists found at the site of the incident indicates that they were using powerful modern weapons.

The Home Minister informed the house that six houses and seven cowsheds were burnt at Khara vdc of Rukum district on March 3 when police fired on terrorists and bombed the houses where the terrorists were hiding and firing on police personnel. One policeman of killed in the incident, he added.

He said that the bodies of four of the 17 people killed in the encounter have not yet to be indentified. Seven of those killed were wearing blue dungarees used by the police force.

Nine muskets, 300 meters of electric wire, two meters of fuse wire, one kilogram of gunpowder, three pieces of detonators, nine pieces of cape and eight Khukuris used by the terrorists have been recovered from the site of the incident, the Home Minister said.

Mr Khadka said that four police personnel including head constable were injured in an encounter between police and terrorists after a group of about 200 terrorists attacked the Ilaka Police office at Binayak of Achham district on March 3.

Stating that assistant sub-inspector Devi Chand Thakuri and sub-inspector Uttam Bahadur Chand were kidnapped by the terrorists from the Ilaka police office, he said that the terrorists escaped with eleven 303 rifles, one magnum rifle, two pistols, one revolver and one high frequency comunication set.

A massive search has been launched for the two kidnapped police personnels, the Home Minister said.

Mr Khadka said that the terrorists also raided the Nepal Bank Limited located at the same place and absconded with five 12 bore guns, cash and other goods worth about Rs 7.6 million.

He said that a group of terrorists raided the Rastriya Banijya Bank sub-branch office located at Hatiya vdc in Baglung district and burnt official documents on March 5.

The Home Minister said that the terrorists had killed one teacher in Nawalarasi on December 31, two employees in Rolpa on January 10, one person in Rolpa on January 12, one person in Surkhet on January 14, one person in Rolpa on January 15, one person in Kavre on January 16, one person in Kapilvastu on January 27, two persons in Rukum on February 3, one person in Sindhuli on February 14, one person in Acham on February 15, one person in Kalikot on February 18, one person in Jajarkot on February 19, and one person each in Kavre, Okhaldhunga and Sindhupalchowk on February 24.

The Home Minister informed the House that 73 terrorists were killed during encounters with the security personnels in Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Salyan, Kalikot, Sindhuli, Gorkha, Achham and Siraha districts.

Mr Khadka said that the three-member investigation committee constituted under the chairmanship of the joint secretary at the Home Ministry to make an on the spot investigation of the incidents which took place at Raralihi of Jumla district, Dhaku vdc of Achham district, Rampur Kalimati of Salyan district, Ghartigaun of Rolpa district and Khara of Rukum district on different dates and to submit a report within 15 days has already commenced its work.

Vistors at Manakamana temple lining up for Darshan of the 'wish fulfilling goddess' in Gorkha district.