Leaders need to be morally upright: Poudel

Bhaktapur, Oct. 22 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home and Local Development Ramchandra Poudel has stressed the need for the elected people’s representatives to become development and people-oriented, morally upright and sincere so as to speed up local as well as the national development processes.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel, who was inaugurating the fourth town assembly meeting of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality here today, said since the people are supreme in democracy they should check the wrongdoing of local representatives, while the government will do its best to check corruption and take action against the corrupt employees.

He also stressed the need for the municipality to maintain its beauty and natural heritage, and properly utilize the budget in the overall development of the municipality.

Stating that some elements are perpetrating violence and terror to subvert democracy and curtail the rights of the people, he called for unity among the people and political parties to defeat such elements.

MPs Lekhnath Neupane and Narayan Man Bijukche, Deputy Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Murari Prasad Acharya and Indraman Karanjit of Nepali Congress also expressed their views.

Prem Jung Thapa of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Krishna Bahadur Dhaju of CPN-ML, Pancha Krishna Shrestha of RPP and CPN-UML district secretary Rajendra Man Shrestha said no room should be left for prejudice while allocating budget.

Mayor Madan Krishna Shrestha presented the budget estimate of Rs. 45. 3 million for the current fiscal year.

Elderly town assembly member Kashi Lal Shrestha presided.

‘Ultra-leftists bringing Mao into disrepute’

Kathmandu, Oct. 22 (RSS): CPN-UML spokesman Pradip Nepal has said that violent activities perpetrated in the name of Maoists and their conduct prove that they are terrorists.

Talking to RSS reporter the other day, Mr Nepal described the Maoist activity as ultra-leftist and said, "Nepal’s ultra-leftists are bringing Mao into disrepute".

The UML spokesman also accused the Congress Party and the NC government of not being serious about resolving the problem.

The report on the Maoist activity prepared by the Congress Party does not appear to be a work of detailed study and lacks clarity, he added.

Commenting on the high-level Maoist problem resolution committee, Mr Nepal observed that the committee does not know anything and it has no clear perspectives on the issue, nor has it studied the problem in detail.

Asked about the last-minute efforts by the committee convenor, he said, "the convenor’s readiness is not enough, nor is the committee’s preparedness enough; we have to create a conducive atmosphere for talks. I don’t think the committee will be able to create such atmosphere."

The Prime Minister should clearly put across his views about the basic aspects of the consensus if it is reached at all, he suggested.

His party has formed commissions and task forces thrice each for the detailed study of the Maoist problem and recommended measures to tackle it, he said adding, the commission headed by central party member Jhalanath Khanal will submit its report by Paush (Dec-Jan).

Given the gravity and nature of the Maoist problem, the CPN-UML has arrived at a conclusion that the solution to the problem is within talks, he remarked.

‘POL prices could drop if int’l trend is downward’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct.22: If the international market shows a downward trend in the prices of petroleum products, their prices may go down in the country as well, Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Minister for Commerce and Industries and Supplies said here today.

"If the international market shows the downward trend and if it continues for some days, we will bring the prices of petroleum products down," he said while speaking at an interaction program organised by the Reporters’ Club here today. He also made it clear that the government is still bearing the loss of 150 million Rupees due to the subsidy it is providing in kerosene.

Minister Tamrakar also claimed that the government would have to bear the enormous loss of three billion Rupees had it not decided to increase the price of petroleum products.

The government last week declared the hike in the prices of petroleum products sending the price of petrol to 47 Rupees from 40 Rupees per litre while that of diesel to 28.50 Rupees from 23 Rupees per litre.

The decision doubled the price of kerosene to 26 Rupees per litre from 13 Rupees. Similarly, the price of LP Gas reached to 550 Rupees per litre from 465 Rupees.

"The government does feel how hard it is for the general public. But the tough decision had to be made keeping in view the increasing international prices."

Speaking during the same interaction program, Bharat Mohan Adhikary, an MP of the main opposition CPN (UML) said that his party has ordered all its offices across the Kingdom to continue the protest program against the government’s decision to hike the price.

"We will be continuing the protest programs until and unless the government brings the price down," he said further warning that the abrupt and big price rise like that of kerosene may instigate the people to go against the multi-party system.

"It was an irresponsible act on the part of the government," he charged. "It did not even bother to consult with us, other opposition parties and experts."

Adhikary also charged that the government failed to provide alternative relief to the public by not adjusting on Value Added Tax or customs tariffs. "If only they had relaxed the tax and the duties, perhaps the public would have to bear less brunt despite the increase in the prices of petroleum products."

He also said that Nepal Oil Corporation – that had recommended the price rise in petroleum products – was in shambles. "The corporation is plagued by irregularities and its accounts have not been audited for so many years."

R.K. Mainali of CPN (ML) said that rise in prices of petroleum products has further complicated the daily lives of people. "This shows that the welfare role of the state is in the decline." He also charged that the government had washed off its hands from many other social fields like agriculture, fertiliser, among others, causing hardship for the people.

Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar, a leftist leader, said that NOC should make public what stock of petroleum products it had when the government declared the rise in the prices of petroleum products. "The corporation surely had some stock but why was it not declared and how come the same old stock is being sold under the revised prices?" He also claimed that the joint protest of the nine leftist parties will continue as long as the government does not roll back the prices of petro-products.

Pradeep Shrestha, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), said if the government had adopted certain mechanism, the price of the petroleum products could have been much less than what it is now.

He also said that the people would not have felt the shock, if the prices were increased gradually every year. "Now that the prices have been fixed so high, the government should also think about providing the alternative energy through solar and wind energies."

President of Nepal Consumers’ Forum Harendra Bahadur Shrestha said that the general people are in no position to afford the expensive petro- products especially the kerosene whose price has been doubled. "In the last 10 years, the prices of the basic commodities have risen by 400 percent."

He said that the forum will submit an ultimatum to the government very soon and would continue its protest programs.

Madan Raj Sharma, General Manager of NOC, explained that the price of kerosene had to be doubled after the drastic increase on the price of petroleum product in the international market. "The price of kerosene was increased to 366 US Dollars per kilo metric ton this year from last year’s 225 US Dollars per kilo metric ton.

The devaluation of Nepalese rupees against the US Dollars, he said, is also responsible for the price rise in the petro-products. "In the last one year the Nepalese currency was devaluated by around five rupees."

Task force to unify trade unions formed

Kathmandu, Oct. 22 (RSS): An eight-member high level task force has been formed during the talks held here today between the office bearers of the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT) to work out the basis for creating a single Federation of Trade Unions at the national level.

The task force which includes four representatives each from NTUC and GFONT comprises vice president Indra Dev Mishra, general secretary Pushkar Acharya, secretary Ramji Kunwar and treasurer Ganesh Niraula from NTUC and vice president Lalit Basnet, general secretary Bishnu Rimal, treasurer Binod Shrestha and chief of the Foreign Affairs Department Umesh Upadhyaya from GFONT.

President Laxman Basnet, vice president Indra Dev Mishra, general secretary Pushkar Acharya, secretary Ramji Kunwar and treasurer Ganesh Niraula from NTUC, and president Mukunda Neupane, vice president Lalit Basnet, general secretary Bishnu Rimal, treasurer Binod Shrestha, chief of the foreign affairs department Umesh Upadhyaya, chief of the education department Binda Pandey, chief of the women’s department Bina Shrestha, eastern regional coordinator Om Koirala and chief of the central region Uddhav K.C. participated in the talks today.

NC solves membership dispute
Shailaja announces candidacy for party president

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 22: The issue of active membership within the Nepali Congress party has come to an end. The 39th meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) after a marathon seven and a half-hour-long meeting today unanimously agreed to find a way out to the problem. This was also the sole agenda of the meeting today. The problem had been vexing the party since the list of the active members of the party was published about two months ago, leading to doubts about the successful completion the party’s general convention to be held in February next year.

However, one of the features of today’s meeting was the formal announcement of candidacy by Shailaja Acharya for the post of party presidency in the forthcoming general convention of the party.

Talking to the press after the meeting Ms. Acharya said she formally declared her candidacy for the party’s top post at the meeting. She also said she has asked for support from both Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. She also specifically said that Prime Minister Koirala and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai will not be standing for the post.

When asked how optimistic was she about her success, she replied that she would fight the election with certain values and to re-establish and to revitalise the Nepali Congress.

But Sher Bahadur Deuba, another Congress leader, said he would decided whether to stand or not after consulting with his friends and supporters. He, nonetheless, told the media that the chance of his standing for the party president is also very high. Regarding the decisions made by the CWC, he said he is earnestly waiting for their implementation.

Meanwhile, all the Central Working Committee members, barring Finance and Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya, who is out of the country, and 11 invitees, including coordinator of the central election committee of the party, advocate Mukunda Acharya, were present at the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, party spokesman Narahari Acharya said the CWC, after holding an extensive discussion, has taken several decisions regarding the issue of active membership of the party and on the 907 applications of claims and counter-claims regarding active memberships and the suggestions of the party’s district officies.

According to the decision, all those who had received the active membership of the party in 2052 B.S. and those who had formally applied by September 29 will get the membership. But those who were decided by the party in 2052 B.S. against giving the membership of the party and those who had stood up as renegade candidates and those who had proposed and seconded such candidates in the last local level election have been excluded from the membership.

Similarly, those who have been certified by at least two of the party local level units for defecting to other parties and the renegade candidates and those who had proposed and seconded such candidates in the last general election have also been denied the membership.

The CWC has also decided to give active membership to those given such membership in 2053 in Solukhumbu and Kathmandu districts. Similarly, persons, who had entered Nepali Congress from other parties and deemed by the party president as fit to be given the active membership of the party will also be given the active membership.

According to spokesman Acharya, the new understanding will increase the active membership of the party by not more than 2,000 to the list of 105,000 active members published by the party about two months ago. However, one CWC member Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar says the new arrangement will increase the number by about 8,000.

All leading Congress leaders, including those who had been voicing his dissatisfaction over the list seem happy about the way the problem was sorted out. They all agree that the problem has been solved but some, especially those who were voicing their disgruntlement over the list, stressed on the full and complete implementation of the agreement.

Speaking about today’s meeting and the understanding reached regarding the active membership of the party, CWC member Arjun Narsingh K.C. said the debate regarding active membership was solved and he was satisfied with the decision.

Similarly, another CWC members Bijaya Kumar Gachhedhar said the meeting has solved the issue of active membership. He also said he is content with the decision, but he will be fully satisfied only when the decisions are implemented are fully and honestly. He, however, pointed out that there were instances in the past when the decisions of the party had not been fully implemented. He said this decision must be implemented at once as it affects the preparation of the party’s coming general convention. "The full implementation of today’s decision will go a long way in bringing to an end the debates and differences within the party and that they would go to the 10 general convention of the party in an atmosphere of healthy competition," he said.

In his comment to the press following the meeting, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in his usual tone said there has never been any dispute inside the Nepal Congress, agreements reached in the past have been implemented and the decisions made today will also be implemented.

Another CWC leader, Khum Bahadur Khadka also said the problem of active membership has ended and that party will go to its general convention unitedly and compete in a healthy manner. However, he warned that if today’s agreement is not implemented fully, the party may have to face a grave accident.

Likewise, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said the problem has been resolved with the consensus of all and all of us believe that the agreement will be implemented fully.

Meanwhile, Sushil Koirala said today’s decision is a collective decision and that he would abide by it fully. He also emphasised that the decision will be fully implemented. He said the decision will benefit the Nepali Congress.

At the meeting coordinator of the central election committee of the party clarified about the directive of the election prepared by the committee. Lastly, the CWC has decided to instruct the government to increase the amount of kerosene under coupon saying the present provision of three litres of kerosene per family per month as too little.

Join hands to combat trafficking of women: Pant

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 22: Minister of State for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Pant today inaugurated a regional workshop for senior police officers to enhance cross-border collaboration to stop human trafficking. The two-day long seminar participated in by five South Asian countries is organised by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

" This workshop has started the ball rolling and though this workshop marks a modest beginning, everybody including human rights organisation should join hands to combat this heinous crime of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation," said Minister Pant.

"As far as the people are concerned, and particularly as far as the poor and the exploited are concerned, it is the police which represents the face of governance, a governance that upholds human rights or one that permits blatant abuse," said Chandni Joshi, regional programme director, UNIFEM explaining the need for the police personnel to come together and interact. "

" Globally, the sex trade generates up to 8 billion dollars each year and S. Asia in the last decade has seen a dramatic increase, said Joshi underlining the gravity of the problem.

"Once women land up in the sex trade, because of the organised crime syndicate, they have very little chance to escape from it," said Pradip Samser Rana, IG of Police.

"Victims of sex trade should not be treated like criminals but encouraged to press charges against the traffickers and be provided with temporary shelter, assistance and protection. My experience says that there are many things which can be done out of person to person relationship with the counterparts. It is quicker than the long and tedious official route." said Pradip Samser Rana, the IG of police.

Tika Dutta Niraula, Jt. Secretary at the Ministry of Home, said that along with legal effectiveness, social awareness as well as better financial conditions are important to combat the problem of human trafficking.

TAGSA member, Shanker Sen from India said that S. Asia should occupy a place in the Hall of Shame as men out number women by 74 million, which means seven crore women are missing. Referring to human trafficking as a ‘diabolical problem, Sen said, the master minds of this crime have not been touched. Sen stressed that the lower ranking police personnel need greater amount of sensitsation as it is they who are in direct contact with the victims as well as criminals. "More effective deterrent would be "certainty" of punishment not " severity" of punishment, added Sen.

Mohan Man Sainju, TAGSA member, emphasised the need for interdependence among agencies and the need for both, along term and a short term perspective and said that police can play a crucial role by collaborating with communities and civil societies.

Harindra De Silva, TAGSA member said public sensitisation is essential as it will be easier to stimulate a bottoms-up approach rather than a top-down approach.