Utilise database of UNHCR, exhorts Ogata

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 4: Nepal and Bhutan should utilise the database of Bhutanese refugees prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to jointly verify the Bhutanese refugees in the seven camps in eastern Nepal, said Sadako Ogata, UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, at a press meet here today.

"Both the governments of Nepal and Bhutan have accepted the proposal to use the database," said Ogata who arrived here last Monday and left for India this morning.

The database, according to the chief of the refugee commission of the global body, is a complete one covering all the refugees in the camps. "Upon their arrivals, the refugees have registered their names, address, professions, among other information, with the UNHCR Nepal office."

Ogata’s stress for the use of the UNHCR database comes at a time when Nepal and Bhutan are still engaged in groundwork for the field verification of the 100,000 refugees in the camps. Having held the secretary level talks in Thimpu and Kathmandu recently, the two Himalayan Kingdoms are expected to hold a ministerial-level meeting before the field-verifications actually begin.

Nepal and Bhutan have held eight rounds of ministerial-level talks in the last eight years on the impending refugee issue. The last one was held last year.

"The next ministerial-level meeting should take place within this month," said Ogata. "The meeting is expected to be followed by the verification in the field."

The verification has to do with the Bhutanese refugees divided into four categories: Bonafide Bhutanese citizens, Bhutanese who have emigrated, Bhutanese who have committed crimes, and Non-Bhutanese citizens.

Asked what was the impression of the UNHCR on the refugees after compiling their database, Ogata said that the majority of the refugees are from Bhutan. "And majority of them want to go back home."

During the eighth round of ministerial level bilateral talks here, the Bhutanese side had taken out a list, comprising of around 5,000 refugees, which they said was prepared by the UNHCR Nepal office to begin the verification process. The government then had denied to discuss on the list saying that it was prepared unilaterally without taking the Nepalese side into confidence.

So, does the list that Ogata mentioned at the press meet this morning have to do anything with the list that Bhutan tabled during the eighth round of talks? "No," said Ogata, "This database has not been made available for use to-date."

"This is a complete data on the refugees’ record. My office will extend technical expertise and support to facilitate the verification process."

Asked if India should also take part to solve the refugee issue, she said: "Any party interested to help solve the problem is welcome. But, basically this has been a bilateral issue."

"I am certainly going to seek India’s support and co-operation during my visit there," she said.

Ogata is scheduled to leave for India today. She had arrived here after meeting Bhutanese authorities in Thimpu.

Thapa appreciates govt’s commitment

Butwal, May 4 (RSS): President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said that there is no alternative to the multi-party system and everyone has to adhere to the spirit of the constitution for the sake of national stability.

Speaking at a press meet held here by the party, Mr. Thapa said ten years is not adequate for assessing the democratic exercise that has taken place during that period.

It is laudable that the present government has expressed its commitment to ensuring good governance, controlling corruption and maintaining law and order in the country, he said adding, this can yield a positive outcome it is put into action.

But it is a matter of grave concern that the present government has not seriously addressed these very issues of good governance, corruption control and law and order in which the nations is entangled, he added.

In reply to a question, he said regarding such grave issues it is not sufficient to appeal through media such as radio and television.

The rpp has a good opportunity to gain political popularity since the ruling party is busy working for its own interest and the opposition has lost its identity in the face of corruption, he added.

He further said that the constitution should not be amended just because someone so wills adding that it should be specified clearly which clause and provision under the constitution is creating a hindrance.

RNAC accepts tender bid

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 4: Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) has accepted the tender bid of Babcock and Brown, an Irish Company, to lease its Boeing 767-300 for one and a half year, a press statement of the national flag carrier said today.

"According to the evaluation report submitted by a sub-committee, among all the six tender applicants, since Babcock and Brown had quoted the least price for the leasing out of the Boeing, the board of directors of the corporation last Tuesday decided to lease the aircraft," the press release said.

The eight-member evaluation committee, according to the press statement, was formed under the co-ordination of the members of RNAC’s board of Directors and Joint Chief Comptroller Rameshwar Prasad Khanal.

The corporation has already issued a letter to the Irish Company to send a draft of the agreement for the leasing of the aircraft.

Reasoning the need to lease a wide body aircraft, the national airline has stated that the Boeing Company could not make available a Boeing 767 300 ER that RNAC had plans to lease purchase. "The company said that it would be able to supply the said aircraft only 21 months after the demand is made."

Citing yet another reason, RNAC has said that the Boeing 757 it has leased from China South West Airlines (CSWA) will be flying back on June 27 this year upon the expiry of its lease period. "Since only two months remain for this aircraft to fly back, the corporation compulsorily needs a wide body aircraft to press in its international routes."

Apart from the leased aircraft, RNAC has two Boeing 757s of its own. The national airline has been flying into above one dozen international destinations.

The selection of Babcock and Brown to lease the Boeing 767 comes after RNAC floated the global tender for the third time. Its two previous tenders earlier this year had failed to attract qualified bidders.

GEFONT against hasty privatisation

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmnadu, May 4: Third National Congress of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) ended with adoption of a 16 point resolution that promises a volume of goodies to Nepalese workers.

The resolution protests against non-implementation of Labour Act, "blind privatisation" of public enterprises and immediate stoppage of unfair labour practices. And, demands end of subcontracting, compulsory security provisions for workers in adventurous jobs, provision for issuing identity cards to workers, formation of permanent wage board, diplomatic protection to Nepalese migrant workers and guarantee on right to unionise.

The congress also elected new national committee of GEFONT that is chaired by Mukunda Neupane. The congress elected Lalit Basnet, Bishnu Rimal and Binod Bhattarai on the posts of Vice Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer respectively.

Newly elected GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane said that the national political environment is now favourable to push forward strong trade union movement. "There are adequate opportunities to dynamise labour movement and to increase successful intervention in national policies," he said. He also noted that absolute non-alignment lost its significance, but involvement and resistance has become inevitable. "Instead of boycott and isolated opposition, respected involvement and firm resistance in various international forums is our stand for the days to come," he declared.

Calling for international solidarity of workers to safeguard workers’ rights world-wide in a context of globalised economy and trade, Neupane pointed out the immediate need of establishing South Asian level network of trade unionists. He further noted that in order to make the national workers’ movement stronger, Nepalese unionists needed to focus on incorporating agriculture workers into their movement.

Neupane also declared the launch of "GEFONT Campaign in the New Millennium" that includes campaigning for workers’ education, organisational expansion, unified trade union movement, social security, implementation of labour laws, gender equality, workers’ co-operative movement, security of migrant workers and expansion of international relations with trade unions from abroad.

Lama in critical condition

Kathmandu, May 4 (RSS): Senior communist leader Nirmal Lama is in a very serious condition.

Mr. Lama has been in coma for the last three days and there was no progress in his health since he was admitted to the Teaching Hospital on April 6 after experiencing difficulty in respiration due to a chest infection.

Mr. Lama, who had been suffering for a long time from cancer of the oesophagus had undergone treatment in Bombay, India and at Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, Chitwan.

Since Mr. Lama is experiencing intense pain, he has been given morphine as advised by physicians, president of the United People’s Front (upf) Amik Sherchan said.

It is learnt that his condition further deteriorated today.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, mps and leaders of political parties have gone to the Teaching Hospital to inquire about Mr. Lama’s condition. Every day 500 to 1,000 people are said to visit the hospital to inquire about Mr. Lama’s condition.

His Majesty’s Government has provided the entire cost of Mr Lama’s treatment in Bombay and has further assured him it will bear other costs as well, according to Mr. Sherchan.

Mr. Lama, who gave much importance to the "Singha Durbar Gherao" protest programme called by the United People’s Front on May 1 and said it should be different from others, and who also at one point said he would not die until it was over, was visibly happy at the success of the programme, mp sherchan said.

He fell unconscious a day after completion of the programme, Mr Sherchan added.

‘Narrow gap between rich and poor’

Kathmandu, May 4 (RSS): Chairman of the National Assembly Dr Mohammad Mohsin said that in view of the ever-growing gap between the richest and the poorest countries, the moral responsibility of the former towards the latter need to be further emphasised.

Dr Mohsin made this remark while addressing the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference being held in Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Besides helping heavily indebted nations with debt-relief schemes and favourable trading opportunities, the developed countries are required to fulfill their commitment by earmarking one per cent of their gnp for the development of resource-poor nations, he added.

He also stressed the fact that so long the spectre of stark poverty, illiteracy, health hazards and joblessness will continue to haunt more than half of the world’s unfortunate millions neither the project of international peace could be brightened nor the evolution of a just and democratic global order could be facilitated and sustained.

Nepal has always stood for peace and has supported the total elimination of nuclear weapons in a time bound manner, Dr Mohsin said, adding we strongly oppose cross-border terrorism of any kind and sponsored by any quarter and commit ourselves to ensuring that Nepalese soil is never misused for undermining the stability of our friendly neighbours.

Noting that Nepal’s active participation in un-sponsored peace-keeping efforts amply testify our commitment to peace, the Nepalese delegation leader reiterated that Nepal opposes dogmatism and hegemonism of any kind- whether racial, cultural, lingual or religious.

Our deep concern with regard to ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Burundi and East Timore testify to our moral commitments, he noted.

The brutal expulsion of more than 100,000 people of Nepalese origin by the government of Bhutan in early 90’s has deeply shocked us, said Dr Mohsin, adding these people are still languishing in camps and we want them to go back to their homeland with dignity and honour.

Stating that Nepal has been trying to resolve this crisis through bilateral dialogue, but nothing of substance has been achieved so far, he remarked that we would like to solicit the support and cooperation of the international community to help us resolve the crisis.

Member of the Nepalese delegation and mp Tek Bahadur Chokhal spoke of the need to enhance the role of the developing countries for world peace, stability and development.

Another delegate and mp Harkaman Tamang urged the ipu to carry out cultural, educational and social programmes

According to parliament secretariat, leader of delegation Dr Mohsin, members Basudev Risal, Tek Bahadur Chokhal, Harkaman Tamang, Sitanandan Raya, Gaura Koirala, Brijesh Kumar Gupta and Royal Nepalese Honorary Consul General For Jordan Yusuf H. Murad attended a reception hosted by speaker of the lower house of parliament Abullari Mazali last evening.

The third non-formal meeting of a group of the Asia pacific countries was also held at the conference venue Wednesday.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Mohsin.

Nepal has been elected chairman of the group for 2000.

Journalists urged to be united

Kathmandu, May 4 (RSS): Reporters’ Club Nepal organised a symposium on "Freedom of Press and the right to information in Nepal" to mark the International Press Freedom Day here today.

At the symposium chairman of Press Council Nepal and senior journalist Harihar Birahi said that the interest of the people on mass media had increased following the restoration of democracy.

Chief Editor of Gorakhapatra Corporation Ramesh Tiwari said that the International Press Freedom Day should be able to introduce press freedom in places where it has not been introduced.

Acting general manager of Nepal Television Durga Nath Sharma said that the role of press is vital in eliminating social distortions.

Senior journalist Malla K. Sunder said that all the journalists should unite to strengthen national unity and democracy.

Chairman of Kantipur Publications Hemraj Gyawali said that the communications policy had not been implemented fully.

Chairman of Nepal Press Institute Gokul Pokharel said that the journalists should always present factual reports.

Senior journalist Somnath Ghimire said that law concerning rights to information had not been formulated.

Chairman of Shangrila Channel Nir Shaha said that the private sector mass media had been successful in making the government aware of the people’s grievances.

President of the Reporters’ club Nepal Rishi Dhamala presided.

Meanwhile, His Majesty’s Government has appointed senior journalist Ganesh Ballabh Pradhan chairman of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti for a maximum period of two years and editor of Rastriya Samachar Samiti Indra Bahadur Shrestha general manager until further arrangements, according to the Ministry of Informations and Communications.

The newly appointed chairman Ballabh holds a Shastri degree in Sanskrit literature from Benaras Hindu University, India and masters degree from Tribhuvan University.

The chairman has been involved in the field of journalism for a very long period. He had served as special correspondent of rss from 2018 to 2019 B.S. and editor of Matrinbhoomi Weekly, Janmabhoomi daily and Janambhoomi weekly.

Mr. Ballabh also worked as executive member of the Sanskrit Students Association, member of the Nepal students association central secretariat, joint secretary nc Kathmandu district committee, central member of the Nepal Journalists Association, member of the Royal Nepalese Film Corporation Investigation Committee, treasurer of the social service national coordination committee and member of the communication policy task force formed by His Majesty’s Government.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed General Manager Shrestha began his journalist carreer as assistant editor of rss in Kartik 1, 2030 B.S.

Mr. Shrestha, who hold a masters degree in political science, served as editor of the rss English desk.

Earlier Mr. Shrestha had served as rss acting general from Magh 18, 2052 to Asar, 2055 B.S.

Meanwhile His Majesty’s Government has relieved rss chairman Purander Ghimire and rss General Manager Devprakash Tripathy from their respective posts.