'Enact Law to guarantee right to information'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, November 15:The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 may be called as outstanding when it comes to freedom of expression and right to information, but what is hindering the implementation of those constitutional provisions fully is the lack of law/s related to it.

This was the basic conclusion of all the speakers, which included representatives of the three major parties and others involving senior journalists, at a one-day symposium on 'Constitutional Guarantee on Freedom of Expression and Publication'.

The present constitution of the country has, explicitly and in clear words, guaranteed the freedom of expression and the right to information in its Article 13 and 16 making it quite remarkable in upholding those basic rights of democracy. Such a clear utterance, the participants say, is lacking in the constitutions of even many developed countries.

Speaking at the symposium Chief Guest Madhav Nepal, General Secretary of the CPN-UML and leader of the main opposition party in the House of Representatives said the inclusion of the provisions of freedom of expression and right to information in the Constitution has made it impeccable. But, he said, the legislation and the executive in the last 10 years have failed to transform those provisions into practice through the enactment of appropriate laws.

He, however, said while defining the freedom of the press national interest, the country's sovereignty and the interest of the common people at large should also be taken into consideration. There should be an appropriate check and balance between the state, civil society and the press.

Narahari Acharya of the Nepali Congress said we should strive for maximum rather than absolute freedom, but the problem lies more in our exercise of the freedom bestowed by the constitution and in eur mindset. He also said there should be a national debate on whether the government should continue to run media and on how to take the government-owned media outside its area of influence. He even said the NC government has a definitely thinking that the government should at least take its hands off the print media.

Kamal Thapa of the RPP said the right to information and press freedom are complementary to each other, and correct information leads to creating awareness about democracy thereby the strengthening the democratic procedure. He also said the RPP is committed to assist in the formulation of laws related to freedom of press.

Raghu Pant of the UML, presenting a paper on the constitutional guarantee on the freedom of press said right to imformation is important not only for the press but also for the citizens. But he said the lack of law has been a major impediment towards implementing the constitutional provision of right to information and freedom of expression.

Suresh Acharya, President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists said the political parties and the governments have failed to live up to the spirit of the constitution regarding freedom of expression. He also said the press will fight any attempt to curb and control the freedom given by the constitution.

P. Kharel, advisor at FES, which supported the symposium, said the lack of political commitment has been the major constraint in formulating the law regarding press freedom. He also said such a law is imperative for the healthy and professional growth of the press.

Harihar Birahi, President of Nepal Press Council said the right to freedom of expression and right to information have been the major components of our constitution.

Kapil Ghimire, coordinator of Press Chautari, Lalitpur, in his welcome speech talked about the objective of the symposium. Similarly, Bijay Chalise, executive editor of Gorkhapatra, giving vote of thanks said time has come for all to realise how much pluralism we have been able to incorporate in aspects like press freedom.

SEACEN meet to mull monetary policy

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 15: A three-day seminar of the South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) kicked off here today to review their monetary policy under a liberalised financial environment.

The seminar on 'Monetary Policy in a Liberalised Financial Environment' participated in by 20 officials of the central banks from Nepal, Samoa, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand will assess various intermediate targets and discuss the alternatives to them to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy.

"I trust this seminar will be able to provide a broad perspective of monetary policy in a liberalised financial environment, particularly as a forum of discussion for the important issues that will be raised on the topic," SEACEN Centre's Executive Director Dr. Subarjo Joyosumarto said addressing the inaugural ceremony.

He hoped that the participants would take this opportunity to share and learn from one another's and the resource persons' experiences.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)'s Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal said that the Nepalese economy was facing challenges with the liberalisation of the economy and hoped that such seminars would come up with appropriate solutions.

NRB's senior economic advisor Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada delivered the vote of thanks in the function organised jointly by SEACEN Centre and NRB.

'Production factors should be duly addressed'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov 15:The stakeholders of the trade sector in Nepal today said factors like the availability of raw materials, indigenous skills, simple technology ought to be given due consideration while according priority to products to be exported from Nepal.

The stakeholders were elaborating their views at the second preparatory workshop on Nepal's round table on the trade sector within the integrated framework organised by International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/ WTO in association with the Trade Promotion Centre.

The integrated framework is a mechanism to co-ordinate technical assistance in the area of trade sector development among six multilateral agencies and other multilateral and bilateral donors.

The mechanism was organised in the aftermath of the High-Level Meeting for Least Developed Countries held in 1997 in Geneva by the WTO.

The round table on the trade sector for Nepal has a two-pronged objective of presenting the country's overall framework for developing its trade sector and mainstreaming that development into its overall poverty reduction strategy. Next it seeks to identify a number of priority objectives and technical assistance projects to build up Nepal's capacity in trade sector.

Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, First Vice President of FNCCI told the inaugural function of the workshop that Nepal's social and economic development would depend on its capacity to participate in the international market.

He said the products of the least developed countries were facing a setback as far as their trade in the international front was concerned. The international agencies ought to collaborate with private entrepreneurs in Nepal to enhance their competence on goods that have good prospects in the international market, Shrestha said.

Dr. Govinda Regmi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Supplies said HMG had approached the International Trade Centre (ITC) for technical assistance in order to enhance the trade sector in Nepal.

Dr. Thierry Noyelle, from the ITC said the trade sector in Nepal was perceived to be lacking vision. The preliminary exercise should focus on identifying the potential items that could be accorded priority for trade in the international market.

"It is up to the stakeholders to put forward the criteria regarding which items hold a brighter prospect for the promotion of Nepal's trade and they should assist in formulating an action plan for the trade sector," he said.

Nepal at present has carpets, garments, mixed basket of agriculture products being exported to the Indian market, tourism and remittances from Nepalese working abroad as the four or five viable areas of trade.

"We want to find out whether there is any possibility of moving from these five options to a wider basket," Noyelle said.

Immediate past President of Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Chiranjibi Agrawal said woollen garments and medicinal herbs occupied a significant proportion of Nepal's trade in a hidden form and hence need to be given due consideration when according priority to the commodities.

The stakeholders emphasised the need to promote products that were endemic to Nepal and depended on indigenous knowledge. They also underscored the need to include the development of the IT sector as a potential area for Nepal

The round table is expected to come up with a strategy for the trade diversification and trade development of Nepal.

HM opens Gifts for Living Planet Campaign
Prince Gyanendra Prince Philip stresses conservation receives gifts

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Bhaktapur, Nov.15:His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated the celebration of Journey to Kathmandu: Sacred Gifts for Living Planet Campaign here today.

The campaign is a part of the World Wildlife Fund's 31st annual conference being held in Kathmandu.

Their Majesties the King and the Queen graced the musical procession with different flags of 11 religions and with symbols of different plants and animals during the inaugural ceremony at the historic Bhaktapur Darbar Square.

Their Majesties also graced the prayers offered by different faiths and witnessed the traditional cultural dances during the celebration. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra was also present during the occasion. Also present on the occasion were the Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, heads of constitutional bodies, high government officials and diplomats.

His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra delivered his welcome speech during the occasion. On the occasion, HRH Prince Gyanendra, who is also the Chairman of the Patron Committee of The Journey to Kathmandu Program, said that the Journey to Kathmandu: Scared Gifts for Living Planet Campaign was a continued process in conservation efforts.

Having mentioned several environmental threats the Earth is facing now, HRH Prince Gyanendra said that conservation of the different parts of the Earth is the crying need of the hour. "This is the time to come up with a tangible program for conservation."

HRH the Prince said that it was high time a road map was devised toward that direction. Commenting on the relation between religion and conservation, HRH Prince Gyanendra said that there have been many useful interactions between the two parties after the 25th annual conference of WWF in Italy where a similar celebration -- pegging religion with conservation -- had taken place in 1986.

His Royal Highness Prince Philip received the sacred gifts offered by 26 different organisations from different countries -- Nepal being one of them. Similarly, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh also gave away appreciation certificates to the religious representatives.

"The only population of threatened black-necked cranes found outside China, as well as bar-headed geese, and other water birds, plus species such as snow leopards, Asiatic Ibex and lynx are getting a helping hand from Nepalese Buddhists through a commitment to ensure the protection of Tsomoriri Sacred Lake and other high altitude wetlands in the unique habitat where these species survive," a WWF press statement said here today.

Offering his vote of thanks, Prem Suwal, Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality, said that his office has the objective to make the historic city clean. "To achieve this objective, we are strictly abiding by the economic discipline, transparency, people's participation and prudence."

He further said the his office is committed to preserve the indigenous architectural fabrics of this ancient and historic city for which "we are marching ahead to settle the waste-body disposal by recycling it into compost manure."

As planned by the WWF, representatives of 11 different faiths made their commitments to contribute for the conservation of one or the other element in the ecosystem.

Around 600 conservationists from around the world and leaders of 11 religions have gathered in the capital to celebrate the 39th annual conference of the WWF.

The international organisation for conservation has had its program office in the country for the last two decades.