Koirala asks Nepali envoys to work hard

Kathmandu, Sept. 12 (RSS): Prime Minister Koirala held a meeting in Geneva Monday of the Royal Nepalese ambassadors based in Europe, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While giving directives to the ambassadors, Prime Minister Koirala stated that in view of the challenges of making social and economic progress in Nepal, the missions abroad will have to work harder and remain active in promoting the larger national interests in general and economic diplomacy in particular.

Prime Minister Koirala further stressed that with the end of cold war, compared to development assistance in Nepal, the commercial co-operation has become prominent in inter-state relations and therefore, diplomatic mission should give particular emphasis on promoting Nepal’s export, tourism and foreign employment opportunities abroad.

The Prime Minister further stressed that while promoting overall national interests of Nepal, Royal Nepalese ambassadors and representatives of Nepal should express Nepal’s point of view and concern with skills and ingenuity.

Nepal’s commitment to international peace and security, our own geographical disadvantages and commitment to human rights and democracy should be made known to the international community, the Prime Minister said.

Similarly, Prime Minister Koirala stressed the need to have a co-ordinated representation of Nepal by all the diplomatic missions so that the international community is fully aware of the various policy initiatives, activities and programmes of the government in various fields of national life.

While explaining the fact that diplomatic mission are the main pillars of our international relations, Prime Minister Koirala asked the Royal Nepalese ambassadors to pursue pro-active diplomacy with dedication and to be assertive in promoting larger national interest of the country.

The Royal Nepalese ambassadors presented the current state of Nepal’s relations with the countries of accreditation, the current activities of the missions and their prospects for the future.

Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa highlighted the importance of such a meeting to review and revitalise the work of the embassies abroad.

Present on the occasion were Dr Singha Bahadur Basnyat, Royal Nepalese ambassador to uk, Mr Kedar Bhakta Shrestha, Royal Nepalese ambassador to Belgium, Mr Indra Bahadur Singh, Royal Nepalese ambassador to France, Dr Sambhu Ram Simkhada, permanent representative to un in Geneva and Royal ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Balaram Singh Malla, Royal Nepalese ambassador to Germany, Mr Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, Charge d’ Affaires of Royal Nepalese embassy in Moscow, Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya, Joint Secretary, Europe-America Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Pralhad K. Prasai, Under-Secretary, Europe-America Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other officials.

Draw power from centre, Poudel tells local leaders

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept 12: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Poudel said today that Nepal was in a better position compared to other South Asian nations as far as decentralisation of power to the local bodies was concerned.

"We still have a long way to go before reaching the state of local self governance, which can only be attained if those heading the local bodies work to give panacea to the poorest of the poor in their communities by shunning political bias," he said.

Poudel said it was now up to the local leaders to win the hearts of the people at the grassroots level through popular programmes and to draw power from the centre.

"The local bodies in Nepal should be better termed as the foundation of democracy that have been assisting the government to enhance the process of decentralisation," Poudel told the second National Council meeting of the Village Development Committees National Federation Nepal.

He said that the present struggle was revolving around those at the decision making level who wanted to avoid letting go power from their hands and those at the local level who wanted to exercise more power.

"Decentralising the Local Development Ministry alone is not enough, the question is how we can decentralise the power of the bigger Ministries to the local bodies," Poudel said.

Calling for the need to go for human centred development, Poudel said the need of the day was to work for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor.

He said ‘real democracy’ could only be depicted through the decentralisation of power to the local bodies and ensuring that each and every Nepali is made a part of the nation building campaign.

"There have been complaints that in some cases the representative of the local bodies have not been discharging their responsibilities honestly," Poudel said.

He called upon the local representatives to take up their responsibilities honestly to assist the government in expediting the process of decentralisation.

Ganga Lal Tuladhar, former CPN (UML) lawmaker and Secretary of the party’s Central Election Department said the nation building process could only be enhanced through people oriented development approach with empowered local bodies and efficient local representatives.

"We on the one hand are talking about decentralising power to the local bodies but the reality is such that the government has been distributing the gadgets for development through the Chief District Officer," he said.

He maintained that though the government had given power to the local bodies through the Local Self Governance Act, it had at the same time been indirectly curtailing their power.

Federation Chairman Mahin Limbu said though the Local Self Governance Act 2055 and the Local Self Governance Regulation 2056 had already come into effect, the local bodies were still facing problems in discharging their duties as the Regulations had not incorporated the true spirit upheld by the Act.

"We demand that the government annul all the Acts and Regulations that have been contradictory to the Local Self Governance Act 2055 B.S. to remove all the hindrances faced by the local bodies," she said.

She said that Federation would actively pursue its endeavours of replacing the local bodies as capable effective and responsible local governments.

Limbu said the local bodies were facing a lot of difficulties in discharging their duties owing to the lack of manpower and proper training and called upon the government to initiate steps towards resolving the problems.

Founding central member of the Federation, Narayan Prasad Koirala said the government should treat the local bodies as its partner for launching social upliftment programmes like "Bisweswore With The Poor" and "Women Awareness Programmes."

Who actually pays Tourist Service Tax, tourists or traders?

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Sep.12: Who opens the purse for the Tourist Service Tax (TST) — tourists or travel traders? Given the schism in the travel industry over the issue, the answer may vary from sector to sector.

In black and white, the idea is simple and straight, though. Designed to levy two per cent on every service rate charged to tourists, the TST is supposed to be collected by tourism entrepreneurs to fund Nepal Tourism Board — a body primarily responsible for destination promotion.

That said, the ultimate payer of the tax should be no other than tourists, of course.

But, that is not what some in the hospitality business agree to. They claim to be paying the TST from their own pockets. Hoteliers are in the forefront to fire the first salvo. Narendra Bajracharya, President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), made the claim public at a meeting here earlier this week.

If his voice really represents his pack, hoteliers have certainly joined the chorus Bajracharya is leading. Especially after the government recently decided to levy the TST on all tourism entrepreneurs through the Department of Value Added Tax. To date, only those travel traders registered with VAT office are paying the TST — recorded at Rupees 120 million last year.

The majority of these tourism entrepreneurs happen to be hoteliers since most of the hotels are registered with the VAT office. While most of the travel and trekking agents are not.

So, what is it that has made these businessmen, the hoteliers to be more precise, to claim that they shell out the money that actually tourists should?

Supply outdoing demand, explains Bajracharya. "Due to the over supply, agents bargain with us citing cheaper rates offered by our competitors. In such a situation, we have to bring our price down drastically and it is the same discounted amount that also includes the ten per cent Value Added Tax and the two per cent TST."

The heavily rebated service-rate inclusive of the taxes, according to Bajracharya, is the reason why hoteliers have to pay the TST from their own pockets.

Sounds assuring. But, not justifying enough. No doubt, cut-throat competition is a stumbling block tourism industry, including the hotels, is facing from within. But, that should not keep travel traders from collecting the taxes including the TST — the officialdom has clearly provisioned to be charged to tourists.

If it does, then the problem seriously lies with the trade regime. Agreed that the official policy has opened floodgates of tourism enterprises’ licenses courting unhealthy competition. Also pricking is the fact that the concerned government agencies have grossly failed to regulate the swarming tourism entrepreneurs.

But, an equally relevant question in this regard is: What has the private sector done to arrest the situation except from bashing the officialdom? They have no dearth of organisations — be it hoteliers or travel and trekking agents — to take the initiatives.

Elsewhere, similar organisations have run the show on quality control. Under their accreditation program, travel traders have formed cartel to ensure quality thus bringing uniformity in price. The accreditation certificates hung on their sales counters assure their clients they are at the right place. And, once that begins to happen, the quality-compromising and price under-cutting operators gradually peter out.

That way the operator comfortably earns his profit margin and collects the tax from tourists as well. If the idea has worked even in regional countries like the Maldives — not to talk about places like Singapore, Australia, among others — there is no logic why it should not work here.

All that the tourism organisations will need to do is act responsibly for self- regulation. It is this sense of responsibility on the part of the operators that will make tourists — and not the travel traders — pay the taxes including the ST.

Whether NTB utilises the tax productively or not — as questioned by many tourism quarters — can well become a separate debatable matter.

Terrorism doesn’t work: Joshi

Kalikot, Sept. 12 (RSS): Minister for Home Govinda Raj Joshi has said that persons involved in the murder of ordinary people and children cannot seize power and rule the country, and if they think they can it is merely a day dream.

The Minister for home made this remark while participating in an all party interaction programme held on peace, security and development in Kalikot district today.

Terrorism has not succeeded at any place in the world, he said adding, the government would not spare anyone found involved in terrorist activity.

He expressed hope that the murderous activities surfacing in various districts will soon be contained.

He also made it clear that the government has kept the door open for anyone who agrees to hold talks within the parameters of the constitution.

He said he respected the voices raised by the people of the district in protest against terrorists activities and disclosed that the government has introduced a basket funding programme for the benefit of the people.

During the programme, MP Tilak Prasad Neupane asked the government to come up with appropriate measures to contain the Maoist problem.

Another MP, Prem Bahadur Singh, observed that all political parties should extend co-operation in a good spirit to seek a solution to the Maoist problem.

Satya Bahadur Shaha of RPP, Kashichandra Neupane of CPN-ML, Naradeep Shahi of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Jaya Kishan Satyal of Rastriya Jana Mukti, Tul Raj Bista of CPN-UML and NC acting president of Kalikot Durga Bahadur Shahi also expressed their views at the programme held under the chairmanship of Kalikot DDC president Dip Bahadur Shahi.

On the occasion, the Kalikot CDO spoke about the law and order situation of the district.

Also today, Minister for Home Joshi, issuing directives to the chiefs of government offices, said the civil servants should understand the feelings of the people and act as their helpers, not as their rulers.

The Maoist victims organisation, Kalikot had apprised the Minister of the problems being faced by them.

The police personnel who shoulder the responsibility for peace and security should execute their duty as true servants of the nation, he said.

Inspector General of Police Achyut Krishna Kharel noted that police personnel should extend maximum services to the people with the limited means and resources available to them.

Also today, addressing a gathering of the party workers here today, Minister Joshi appreciated the role played by the people of Kaliot district for the restoration of democracy in the country and called on the party workers to act as warriors for protecting democracy at a time when a big responsibility for safeguarding democracy has come upon the shoulders of the Nepali Congress party.

Central chairman of the Nepal Tarun Dal Bal Krishna Khand called for unity among young students to clamp down on terrorist activity.

Minister Joshi also made an on the spot inspection of the Ilaka police office at Kotabara today.

Japanese artistes present Nepali dances

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept 12: To mark the 30th anniversary of JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperative Volunteers) the Royal Nepal Academy and Maya Nepali Music Institute jointly organised a cultural programme entitled "Japan in Nepal (Vol. 3): An encounter with Nepali Culture-2000 at the Royal Nepal Academy Hall Monday.

Japanese and Nepalese artistes presented a variety of popular Japanese and Nepalese dances, much to the delight of the audience.

Right from the moment the cultural programme kicked off with the Japanese Lion Dance that was accompanied by instrumental music and ended with the last item, another Japanese group dance, the Sorambushi, the audience were glued to their seats.

And whenever popular Nepali songs and dances were sung and performed by the Japanese artistes, the audience not only clapped in unison but also loudly applauded their efforts to present them.

On the occasion, the Japanese artistes presented the Kirat Rais’ Sakela Sili dance, the Sorathi dance of the Gurung community, the Tamang Selo of the Tamang community and the Jhankri dance. Similarly, they also sang popular Nepali songs like "Resam Phiriri" and "Jau Jau Relai Ma" which prompted the audience to join in.

Altogether, three Japanese dances were performed.

A group of hearing impaired Nepalese children danced the Dhime Dance whereas two Japanese women recited a few stanzas from the Great Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s Munamadan and poet Bhupi Sherchan’s Ghume Mechmathi Andho Manche"

Going by the enthusiastic response from the audience, the cultural fest, organised by the Royal Nepal Academy and the Maya Nepali Music Institute, can be said to be a huge success.

The cultural programme was jointly assisted by the Japanese Embassy in Nepal and JICA, the implementation arm of the Japanese government’s assistance to Nepal.