His Majesty’s message to peace keepers

Panchkhal, Aug, 31 (RSS): His Majesty the King has said it is a matter of pride for us that the Royal Nepal Army which has been sharing in the weal and woe of the nation and its populace is involved in the lofty mission of peace-keeping.

His Majesty the King made this remark in a message sent to the Bhairabnath Battalion 39th contingent which is joining the peace keeping force in Lebanon under UNIFIL at the call of the UN.

In the message, His Majesty wished all in the Bhairavnath Battalion, whose motto is "Sacrifice is Satisfaction", success in maintaining the glorious tradition of the Royal Nepal Army in the great mission of restoring peace, with discipline, professional competence and skill.

His Majesty’s message was read out by Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Girija Prasad Koirala amid a function held at the Army Training Camp, Panchkhal today.

Bamdev for peace talks with Maoists

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug 31: The Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) general secretary Bamdev Gautam has said that the government and the underground Maoists should sit for peace dialogue to end the current lawless situation.

"The government should create a suitable environment for the talks that is the only way to pull the country from the swamp of violence," Gautam said at a face to face programme organised by Reporters’ Club Nepal here today. "Both the government and the Maoist rebels have no rights to kill people."

Gautam also proposed a five-point plan for massive changes in the present system so as to bring about social, economic and political changes in the country. "We have to go to the extent of amending the Constitution for this." he said. Hesaid that the present election system should be replaced with proportional representation. "The economic liberalisation should be replaced with mixed economy at least for next 20 years and the ethnic inequality should be ended with equal opportunity for all," he said.

Violence won’t benefit people: DPM

Salyan, Aug. 31 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ramchandra Paudel has said violence and terrorism will not in any way benefit the people and Baburam and Prachanda themselves will be destroyed by violence and terrorism.

Speaking at a mass meeting organised by the NC Salyan district committee here today, Mr Paudel noted that at a time when the wave of development has reached every village of the country, it is injustice not to let the people make a living with their humble articles like spade.

Today no one can call themselves safe by hanging down their heads and all political parties should work towards resolving the problem, he said, adding the new concept of integrated development programme has been brought for Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Jajarkot and Kalikot districts.

On the occasion, member of the National Planning Commission Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel spoke about the basket fund.

Many others also expressed their views at the function chaired by DDC chairman Udaya Bahadur Bohara.

Govt removing subsidies given for newsprint

Kathmandu, Aug. 31 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta has said His Majesty’s Government has adopted the policy of removing subsidies being given for newsprint and providing government advertisements to the private sector newspapers.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Federation of Editors and Publishers Nepal here today, Mr Gupta noted that there have been constraints in continuing the subsidies being given for newsprint through the National Trading Ltd.

Stating that the process of framing laws on right to information has already begun, he reiterated that His Majesty’s Government is serious about it.

Speaking from the chair, federation president Devendra Gautam said that the weeklies have their own significance even when a number of dailies are available in the market.

Senior journalist Madhav Rimal pointed out the need to provide equal government advertisements to the private sector periodicals also.

Journalist Dev Prakash Tripathi referred to the similar problems prevailing in the field of journalism and pointed out that a specific programme had to be introduced to resolve them.

Journalists Pawan Thapa Kuntal, Ramchandra Neupane, Madhav Sharma and Narendra Aryal also expressed their views on the occasion.

Agreement on mitigations of quake effect

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, August 31: A JICA preparatory study team signed today an agreement with the Home Ministry to study on the scope of work on earthquake disaster mitigation if the natural calamity strikes Kathmandu valley.

The agreement was signed by Home Secretary Padam Prasad Pokharel on behalf of the Ministry of Home and Kenji Okazaki, team leader of the preparatory study team.

The team had arrived in Kathmandu on August 27 and had held series of talks with the authorities here.

According to JICA, the study aims to establish a comprehensive plan to abate the ominous impact of earthquake that might hit the Kathmandu valley in the near future. If such a disaster happens it could lead the nation’s centre of governance and commerce to devastation.

The JICA team and Nepali experts will jointly carry out surveys and analytical works and the outcome of the study will consist of earthquake disaster mitigation and some proposals for future works. The work is expected to start from November this year. According to the JICA press release the residents of the targeted area would be able to take benefit from the outcome of the study by as early as 2002.