Left parties stress talks between govt, Maoists

By a staff reporter

Kathmandu, Sept. 15: What do other communist parties think about the activities of the Maoists and how they think the Maoists problem should be solved? All the other Left parties intensely oppose the activities of the Maoists, but at the same time they say talks between the government and the Maoists is the only way out of the problem.

At a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters' Club today on the views of other Left parties on the Maoist issue and what should the government do, leaders of the six Left parties say the Maoists problem is the fallout of the failure of socio-economic progress in the country.

Speaking at the programme, Jhal Nath Khanal of the CPN-UML said the development indicators in the last 10 years show the country has failed to break out of the poverty cycle, which gave a fertile ground for the ultra-Leftists to thrive.

The socio-economic scenario such as 50 per cent people under poverty line, growing rural poverty, failure to carry out land reform, growing unemployment are causing the ultras on both Right and Left sides to raise their heads.

He said although his party does not agree with the Maoists both in ideology and their activities, the Maoist problem should be looked at in the context of the country's political, economic, social and ideological perspective. But suppressing the Maoists by force alone will not solve the problem, he said.

He also blamed the governments' performances in the last 10 years, their lack of vision and their failure to solve the basic problems of the country for the rise of the Maoist problem.

He said the problem has yet not gone out of hand if the government takes appropriate and timely step. He added that the UML has recently formed a task force to evaluate the Maoist problem and if the government wants the party is willing to play a role for the peaceful resolution of the problem.

Pari Thapa of the Rastriya Jan Morcha and MP said the Maoists' issue is basically a problem within the communist movement in the country. He also said his party, CPN (Masal), has vehemently opposed and criticised the Maoists ideologically, philosophically and politically, and called the Maoists' insurgency movement an 'infantile disorder' – a term he borrowed from Marx's Das Capital.

He blamed the rise of the Maoists on weak governments, fluid political situation, crumbling economy and dwindling confidence of the people on the government. The Maoists have simply cashed in on the dwindling confidence of the people on the governments and their frustration towards regressive economy and lack of developmental opportunities, he said.

"But by killing innocent people, robbing them and forcing them to participate in their movement, they are breaking all the norms of the people’s warfare." He also blamed the government on resorting to repressive methods and said the only way to solve the problem is through talks and by a strong political leadership and economic development.

Similarly Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha, coordinator of the National Movement Co-ordination Committee of the nine Left parties, said the root cause of the Maoists problem is the failure of the governments in the last 10 years to look into the problem of the people and the country.

He, however, said talks is the only solution and that the government should take the first step for starting the talks.

Amik Sherchan of the United People's Front blamed the Maoist problem on the social and economic disparity and oppression of the people. He, however, said the Maoist problem must be taken as a political problem and not terrorism. And, the only way to solve it is through dialogue, he said "For the talks to start," he said, "both the government and the Maoists must realise their mistake and also all the political parties should feel their responsibilities."

He said he feels the Maoists are not against talks, but the government's attitude has not been very positive. The government should come out with an open mind and a clear attitude. He said the Deuba Committee should either be made active or it should be dissolved. "There is no point in hanging on with a lame duck committee," he said.

Similarly, C.P. Mainali of the CPN (ML) said the Maoist movement is a violent manifestation of the political and social anomalies and disparities, and the government too reciprocated with force.

He blamed the rush to reach to power after 1990 and the economic problems for the rise of the Maoists. He also blamed the other communist parties, mainly the CPN-UML, for deviating from the Marxist principle for giving the Maoists the opportunity to exploit the situation.

He also opposed the Maoists’ political violence and said other ulterior forces might take benefit of the Maoist's insurgency movement. He, however, said the Maoists are a political force and negotiation is the only way to solve the problem. He said the government has not been very clear about it. Meanwhile, he said, there is little the other Left parties could do except call to start talks.

Likewise, Narayanman Bijukchhe said if the Maoist problem is to be solved the economic and social problem should be resolved. He blamed both the government and the Maoists for the upsurge of the violent activities. He called the Maoists the anarchists of the communist movement. He also said talks as the only solution to the problem lest, he said, others will benefit from the situation.

Meanwhile, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, human right activist, said there is still a crisis of confidence, which has become a drag for the talks. He even said the government must work to bring the Maoists to the negotiating table before the process of finding a solution to the problem is sought.

MCOMS first among pvt colleges to turn out docs

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Fulbari, Pokhara, Sept.15: In an epoch making event, above 60 students here became the first batch to pass out as medical doctors from a private institution in the country today.

Of these fresh medical graduates, 43 are Nepalese to have become the first batch of medical doctors from Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) here. These doctors, who are already practicing their profession, have earned temporary recognition from Nepal Medical Council – the authority in the country to allow doctors to practice their medical profession.

Affiliated with Kathmandu University, the college’s second MBBS batch is undergoing an internship training at its own 450-bed hospital. Six batches of MBBS students, including those who passed out today, have so far enrolled in the college.

Established in 1994, the college in its graduation ceremony today awarded the first and second batch students securing distinctions in the final exams. Inaugurating the function here today, Health Minister Ram Baran Yadav said the hospitals of the private institutions should be able to address the local health related problems and needs.

He proposed the idea of making the intern students of such institutions work in villages from around a year during their internship. "At a time when facilities have concentrated only in the Capital Valley, the private institutions’ teaching hospitals can play an instrumental role to prevent and control epidemics like Encephalitis."

Another benefit Yadav pointed out at the private medical institutions is the diversity of students. He said that students in such colleges can learn a lot from each other’s home experience.

The passing out medical graduates agreed to that. "We indeed got to learn many things from the diversity of students," said Dr. Eva Pradhan, who topped the first batch. "Not only from students we also learnt many things from the diversity of teachers since they come from many countries."

Dr. Kamal Raj Joshi, the topper of the second MBBS batch of MCOMS, said that the government should introduce a rotation system to make medical students work in villages. "If some incentives are introduced, doctors would surely go and serve the villagers."

One of the six private medical colleges in the country, MCOMS has students from SAARC nations including the non-resident Indians and other countries. Every year, the college is allowed to admit 100 students for the four and half year MBBS course. Of these seats, 20 per cent is allocated for government scholarship to be awarded to Nepalese students.

The initial years saw 60 per cent of the total number of students in a batch as Nepalese. Of late, however, that number has dropped to 40 per cent. The college charges fee-paying Nepalese students above 1.6 million Rupees for the entire MBBS course. Indians are required to pay around 2 million Rupees while the students from other SAARC nations are charged US Dollars 60,000. Students from the rest of the world are required to pay US Dollars 65,000 for the entire course.

Apart from Manipal College in Pokhara, the other private medical colleges include Kathmandu Medical College and Nepal Medical College in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj Medical College in Nepalgunj and College of Medical Sciences in Bharatpur and Bhairahawa.

The government runs two medical colleges -- Tribhuvan University’s Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu and B.P. Memorial Medical College in Dharan – with teaching hospitals.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony today, R.B. Desh Pandey, Minister of Industries of the Indian state of Karnataka, India, said that the private sector should be allowed to take the lead in offering higher education. Referring to the success story of the private sector in education field in his state, Pandey said that around 35,000 medical graduates pass out every year in Karnataka.

Stressing on the healthy relations between Nepal and India, Minister Pandey said the Karnataka Government would be happy to assist the institutions in Nepal if the government allows the private sector to run the higher education. "No one should forget that the new millennium is going to be the era of knowledge."

Dr. J.S. Nagra, Principal and Director of the MCOMS said that the first batch of students exhibited superb performance. "Among all, the Nepalese students were the best." Dr. Nagra also said that the college has been successful to set a trend in Nepal’s private sector’s medical educational industry. "The result of our first batch is a proof that we are result-oriented and this has helped to erase all the doubts on our performance."

To press his point home, Dr. Nagra pointed at the Manipal Teaching Hospital – where the MCOMS students have already begun to take their practical lessons. "Though we have been running the hospital basically for tertiary care, the hospital has latest medical facilities like CT Scan and Cobalt therapy for cancer treatment."

Built with the cost of 1.2 billion Rupees, the hospital sees 250 out-door patients and admits the same number of patients on average everyday. Presently with its 450 beds, the hospital plans to have a total of 750 beds. "Most of the patients here get treatment free of cost," said Dr. D.P. Saraswat, Medical Superintendent of the hospital. "Our hospital has outstanding manpower like the senior-most cardiologist in the country and also the only immunologist in the country."

Medical professionals also applaud the hospital’s performance. "Apart from having the latest technologies, the hospital is also capable of offering post-graduate studies in different branches of medical science," said Dr. Hemanga Dixit, who is a member of MCOMS governing board. "Besides the increase in the number of hospitals, the private medical colleges will also play a significant role in increasing the number of medical practitioners."

Presently, around 2,600 doctors are working across the Kingdom. Which means one doctor has to treat 15,000 Nepalese – whose population has been recorded at 23 million in the country.

PM returning home today

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, on his way back from the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, is arriving home tomorrow after stopovers in Europe, where he met prominent western leaders.

Koirala, who signed a couple of international conventions on child labour before leaving New York – the venue of the UN Summit – for Geneva, met Swiss President Adolf Ogi and discussed Swiss assistance in Nepal.

Before leaving for Geneva, Koirala addressed the UN General Assembly stressing the need to do away with the scarcities. "All too often we have failed to remove the root causes of conflict: poverty and exclusion."

The Prime Minister's address called for the world community to help the poor countries to finance by meeting the agreed targets, broadening debt relief measures and encouraging foreign investments. He also appealed to the developed countries to open markets for the products – both manpower and commodities – from the poor, third world countries. "The global financial architecture and global trading regime must be more responsive to the need of the poor countries," he said during the address.

Koirala said that the developing countries had always remained in the shadows of world attention and a landlocked country like Nepal was among the worst off. 'The development partners must help them both with adequate resources to remove their development constraints, and with duty-free and quota-free access to their products," he said. "The transit countries should provide better transit facilities to the landlocked countries so that they can also join the global economic mainstream."

Koirala also stressed the need to restore an optimal balance between the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.

The Prime Minister also met with Nepalese Ambassadors based in Europe and instructed them to give particular emphasis on promoting exports potentials of Nepalese goods and manpower to the European markets and publicising Nepal as a destination for European visitors.

He also told the Nepalese envoys to pursue a pro-active diplomacy with dedication and to be assertive about promoting larger national interests of the country.

After that the Prime Minister went to the Belgian capital of Brussels, where he met leaders of the European Union who have lately urged India to take political initiatives to resolve a decade old refugee problem in Nepal.

Koirala's arrival in Brussels was pre-ceded by a resolution passed by the European Union that called for the speedy repatriation of close to 100 thousand Bhutanese pro-democracy fighters who have been living as refugees in the makeshift camps of eastern Nepal. "Indian authorities should take full account of the humanitarian situation of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal," said the resolution.

The resolution, passed in Strasbourg, France, asserts Indian mediation to end the decade old problem of the refugees who enter Nepal via India, which borders both the Himalayan Kingdoms. In the past, India has sent back the refugees marching peacefully to their homeland and has refused to negotiate between the two countries saying the two neighbours should resolve the problem bilaterally.

While in Geneva, Koirala met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who early this year visited Bhutan, Nepal and India where she appealed to the leaders to find an early solution to the refugee problem. The Prime Minister also met Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Koirala’s last stop before returning home was Hanover, where he attended Expo-2000, which is also participated in by Nepal.

Melamchi residents raise doubt over benefits from mega-project

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Weeks before the official approval of the much-hyped Melamchi Water Supply Project, the residents of the affected areas have raised doubt over the benefits they are supposed to get from the ambitious project.

Expected to be complete by September 2006, the project that will quench the thirst of the parching capital will supply 2,000 litres of water per second to some half a million thirsty Kathmanduites. The 400-million US dollar project, yet to be officially approved by the donors, includes construction of 26-kilometre tunnel, 34-km motorable road, headwork plant, water treatment plant, storage and rehabilitation of pipes for distribution.

A mission of the major donors that includes NORAD, ADB, Japan and SIDA is soon arriving in the capital for the official approval of the country’s largest water supply project.

At an interaction organised here today, the Melamchi people demanded that the areas affected by the project be given due attention with the employment opportunities to the locals and infrastructure construction, including road, electricity, water supply, irrigation, education and health services. "Besides, the villagers who are directly affected by the construction works should be reasonably compensated," said the Sindhupalchok residents, most of whom are based in Kathmandu.

However, the concerned authorities, including the government officials and politicians, consoled the anxious villagers with the assurance that the mega project had special package for their social and economic progress and the areas’ infrastructure development.

"The 14 villages, defined as the project-affected area in and around the Melamchi valley, will receive a substantial amount of money for various purposes, including road construction, rural electrification, water supply, irrigation, education and health services," lawmaker Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said at the interaction organised by Melamchi Area Development Committee to discuss over the project’s benefits to the locals.

Everyone should rise above the personal or political level and think positively towards the successful completion of the nationally prioritised project, said Dr. Mahat, the former Finance Minister who claimed to have placed the project on the top priority during his tenure some four years ago. "Otherwise this project too would slip out of our hand like the Arun Hydropower Project."

He said that the donors would not approve the project without being assured of the social and economic welfare of the concerned area. He also warned those who were making fuss about the project that the government would do anything to safeguard the national interest attached with project .

Joint Secretary at the Minister of Housing and Physical Planning Arun Kumar Ranjitkar said that the government was committed to help complete the project within the scheduled time.

Executive Director of the project Dinesh Chandra Pyakurel informed that the multi-million dollar project would be approved soon after the arrival of the donors’ mission within a few days’ time. "Then we will begin the work within a couple of months," he said. "The tunnel construction will take some five years."

Pyakurel said that the affected people would be compensated as per the existing land prices without reducing the depreciation of their houses. "We have already set aside some 100 million rupees for the purpose."

Also expressing their views at the programme chaired by the Committee chairman Ram Hari Chaulagain were Kathmandu District Development Committee Member Mijendra Kaji Shrestha, Sindhupalchok DDC Member Bansha Lal Tamang, former lawmaker in the National Assembly Baburam Nakarmi, former chairman of Sindhupalchok DDC Chandra Lal Shrestha and various Melamchi residents affected by the project.

Govt effortful to boost industrial sector, says DPM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel today said that modernisation and democratisation were the two major challenges facing the nation.

"Modernisation and democratisation have a complementary as one supports the other," Poudel said addressing the inaugural session of FNCCI's 34th annual general meeting here this morning.

"Industrialists have a crucial role to play for building the nation," Poudel told the participants of the two-day meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "The government is always effortful to boost the industrial sector."

Poudel said that agriculture development was the key to national development and appealed to the private sector to supplement the government's efforts to promote this sector. "The government is working at the war-footing level to develop agriculture and expects the same degree of involvement from the private sector."

He said that government was trying its best to maintain transparency to push ahead the development work effectively and appealed to the private sector to follow suit.

Addressing the special session, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya said that the government was ready to do anything to facilitate trade and industry provided the business community responded responsibly.

"The government and the business community are not opponents with conflicting interests," Acharya said. "The government however cannot be the representative of a particular group with vested interests."

Acharya said that the two parties, instead of blaming each other, should sit together and find ways to enhance trade and industry and add to national coffers.

Acharya, in line with the Deputy Prime Minister, said that the government was preparing laws to curb corruption and maintain transparency and asked the private sector to co-operate. Dwelling on the problem of under invoicing in imports and its negative impact on the implementation of value added tax, Acharya said, "How can the government just wait and see if the business community tries to take advantage at the cost of public interest?"

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ram Krishna Tamrakar urged the private sector to begin preparations to face the challenges that would surface with Nepal's accession to World Trade Organisation.

Tamrakar said that the nation had to specialise on certain products and at the same time stressed on the need to diversify trade.

Earlier, FNCCI President Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that the country's private sector was capable enough to provide the world class services provided the state supported it.

FNCCI's first Vice-President Rabi Bhakta Shrestha said that the apex private sector body should be driven by national interest and not by the interest of a certain group under it.

'Press freedom should not be exercised in a wrong way'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said today that the acts of glorifying violence against innocent people witnessed in some sections of the Nepalese media, thereby weakening the people's faith towards democracy, had become a matter of serious concern and worry.

"The government does not intend to curtail press freedom enshrined in the Constitution but it would augur well for the nation as a whole if the press discussed the issue of glorification of violence and drew a demarcation line regarding the role of the press on such sensitive issues," Minister Gupta said.

Speaking to media and political representatives at the Ministry of Information and Communications today Gupta said the interaction had been organised with the view to draw the attention of the press towards the anomalies related with the use of press freedom by the press in Nepal.

"There is nothing like absolute freedom and the press too should acknowledge this reality when it comes to reporting issues of violence that ultimately could, in the long run undermine the very system that had been re-installed ten years ago," he said.

He said that there were many examples in the recent months when the press had presented exaggerated reportings on violent related issues in such a the manner so as to glorify them.

"Such exaggerated reporting would in turn have adverse impact on society as well as the law and order situation in the country," Gupta said.

He said that the National Broadcasting Act and the National Broadcasting Directives implemented by the government has drawn the attention of the press towards exercising an extra degree of caution on sensitive issues related with law and order and issues that are linked with the national security and sovereignty.

The government through a Cabinet decision had endorsed a decision to make some amendments to the Press and Publication Act, which would incorporate the provision of suspending the publication of a newspaper if it was found to be publishing news that would be detrimental to the security of the citizens.

The amendment proposal however could not make its way to the Parliament in the wake of reservations expressed by the press and other political parties.

"We want the people from the media to thoroughly discuss the issue and come up with suggestions as to how the present perversion related with reporting of violence-related issues could be done factually so as to avoid the printing and broadcasting of exaggerated news that could spread fear in the society," Gupta said.

Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi who just returned after inspecting the Maoist-hit districts said, " I found that the people in the Maoists affected areas have a very poor impression of the press and the human rights activists."

Joshi said the victims of Maoist insurgency lamented that the press had not given priority to their sufferings and had instead highlighted the perpetrators of violence, the Maoists, which needs to be given a serious thought.

Joshi said that though it was up to the press to print whatever it perceived to be of news value, it would be against press freedom to disseminate news that would spread terror in the country.

Nepali Congress Spokesman Nara Hari Acharya said that he too had come across many news stories that had glorified violence.

"The press in Nepal enjoys the freedom to disseminate its views, but it should at the same time exercise caution not to cross the line as there is a limit to freedom in every society," Acharya said.

He said that the government should not hurry in taking decisions relating to controlling the freedom of press. Rather it should hold more interactions with the media representatives to work out the modalities to rectify the perceived lapses.

Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Shree Ram Poudel said though the press enjoyed unfettered press freedom in Nepal, there are limitations to the freedom it can exercise.

He said that the press must be sensitive towards issues when covered would give rise to terror in the society and affect the nation's sovereignty.

CPN(UML) lawmaker Raghuji Panta said the ruling Nepali Congress instead of pointing figures to the press must shun differences related to the Maoist issue within the party.

He charged the government of not being able to find a solution to the Maoist problem and said the only way out of the quagmire was to hold peaceful dialogue with the Maoists and bring them into the mainstream of the existing political system in the country.

Panta said that though his party was completely against the Maoists' insurgency, it was also strictly against the idea of curtailing press freedom.

Surendra K.C. of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party said though the Nepali Congress had gone to the people seeking their mandate to restore law and order in the country it had failed to live up to its commitments.

Mukti Mandal of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party said that his party did not believe in violence. He said that the government was delaying to hold dialogue with the Maoists to end violence.

Lila Mani Pokharel of the United Peoples' Front Nepal held the government responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

"The government cannot curtail press freedom by making unjustified excuses", he said.

General Secretary of the Nepal Journalists Federation, Taranath Dahal, said the government cannot narrow the scope of press freedom by making excuses.

"The NJF requested the government not to activate the clause on suspending any newspaper as provisioned in the Publication Act and the government did respond positively," he said.

President of the Nepal Press Union Kul Chandra Wagle said the Nepali Congress being a democratic party is an ardent supporter of free press and it would be imbecile to think that it is for curtailing press freedom.