‘Trahote’ fest observed in Kaski

Pokhara, Apr. 11 (RSS): Kaski District Tamughi Committee organised the "Trohote Festival" with the objective of promoting the culture of the Gurung community and refining the cultural and historical identity of the Nepalese people here Tuesday.

A colourful procession participated in by the youths of the Gurung community went a round the municipality raising swords, beating drums and cymbals and dancing in protest of prevailing illiteracy, backwardness, poverty and high ranking involved in corruption and meting out injustice.

The Trohote festival was participated in by the youths, men and women of 15 Tamu (Gurung) Samaj (society).

Kolma Bahakot Tamu Samaj, Sopal Tamu Samaj and Deep Tamu Samaj received cash prizes of Rs 2,000, Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,000 after being declared first, second and third respectively in the competitive Trohote festival this year.

Likewise, Tanu Sahayog Samiti-15, Dhandruk Tamu Samaj and Tanahu Tamu Samaj received cash prizes of Rs 700 each in a lucky draw.

Rajparishad member Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, deputy mayor of Pokhara Municipality Man Bahadur Gurung and Rup Kumari Gurung gave cash prizes to the Tamu Samaj declared first, second and third in the competition.

At the function chaired by president of the Tamu Ghi Kaski Karma Tamu, chief guest Surya Bahadur Tamu of Nada Tamu Samaj threw light on the importance of the Trohote festival of the Tamu (Gurung) community.

Space Time Network asked to undergo scrutiny

Kathmandu, Apr. 11 (RSS): The Ministry of Information and Communications has required the Space Time Network (STN) Pvt. Ltd. to submit to the ministry all evidences as per the National Broadcasting Act 2049 B.S. and the National Broadcasting Regulations 2052 B.S. and as specified by the terms and conditions in the license, for technical examination.

According to the Ministry, the Space Time Network has also been required to not proceed ahead with further activities until the technical examination and final inspection are over.

In Korea, authorities can’t dictate much to media

FROM LOK DEEP THAPA

Seoul, South Korea, Apr. 11: A strong leadership is very important for economic development, said Ms. Chang Myong Sue, the Publisher and President of the two of the oldest and biggest dailies in South Korea. Speaking to this correspondent at her office in downtown Seoul, she said, "This is very important, but it is difficult to maintain the right balance between political stability and economic progress in a true democracy".

Ms. Chang, who joined the Hankook Ilbo, a Korean language daily with a circulation of 1.5 million, after graduating in journalism from the Ewha Woman’s University in 1963, was appointed as the President and Publisher of the publishing giant in August 1999. She was the Chief of the Editorial Section of the daily before she was appointed Publisher.

Talking of the media in her country, Ms. Chang expressed the opinion that the media sometimes could be too powerful. "The political leadership is elected, but there is a monopoly in the media and this can sometimes lead to the media having too much power," she said. However, she expressed the belief that if this power is utilised for democracy and economic development, then it is alright.

She recalled the period when there was no political freedom in the country in the sixties and seventies, and the leadership concentrated only on economic progress, "and there were many (political) victims during that dictatorial period, she said. "The task is not so simple for the present leaders, because they have to deal with the opposition as well as the demands of the workers," Chang viewed.

Asked if there still were restrictions on the Korean media, she replied, "Honestly, no". However, she revealed that the government does the fiscal examination of all the publishing houses, "And, some have alleged, that is when the government uses its power to put pressure on the media". But, as the power of the media is virtually insurmountable, it is not easy for the authorities to dictate much to the media, the first woman Publisher and President of a publishing house in Korea said.

Talking of the feasibility of the English newspaper market in this country, Ms. Chang informed the market was very small, with the circulation of the Korea Times at only 25,000. But she expressed the belief that as it has become almost a fashion in Korea to study English, the market could become much larger in the near future.

In a separate meeting, Managing Editor of the Korea Times, Han Dong Soo, also expressed the belief that the readership of English newspapers was growing very fast. "We have foreigners and tourists as our readers and also the members of the intellectual section as out regular customers, but as it has become a fad to learn and speak English, we are expecting the circulation to grow," he said.

On his country’s rapid economic progress, the newspaper editor expressed the belief that many mistakes were made in the haste to achieve development and earn wealth. "We are now seeking to amend such past mistakes, but it will take some time to know whether such restructuring has become successful".

A man who knows a lot about Nepal, Han also was of the opinion that many South Koreans took Nepal as a spiritual haven. "Our people are very much impressed by the simplicity and integrity of the Nepalese people and there are many Koreans who have come back from their Nepal experience and written books and essays on it," he informed.

Publisher Chang also said that she knew much about Nepal. She told of how her organisation had sponsored different mountaineering expeditions by Korean mountaineers to Mt. Everest and Mt Annapurna. "We, through the Ewha Women’s University, have also provided medical services in some parts of Nepal," she said.

Chang also recollected how all Koreans steadfastly followed two slogans, "Let’s work hard to be rich" and "If we can do, we do", to achieve the present economic status. But she admitted, such drastic economic progress in this nation, which was quite poor till just three decades back, has brought along problems in matters relating to culture and spiritualism. "Most people think only about money and not of the rich culture they had. This is not good," she opined. She hoped that Nepal would not repeat similar mistakes in its endeavor to achieve similar progress.

In the end, Ms. Chang, who has won such prestigious awards in journalism like Choi Eun-Hee Woman Journalist Prize and the Prize for Glorious Ewhaian among others, expressed the belief that with hard work and caution, a right balance can be struck in achieveing economic progress while not losing sight of one’s culture and traditions.

PM, NC leaders pay tributes to late Jamarkattel

Kathmandu, Apr. 11 (RSS): The body of NC Tanahu district treasurer and district committee chairman of the Bisweswar With the Poor Programme Bishnu Prasad Jamarkattel, who was shot dead by the Maoists at Dulepani village, Tanahu Tuesday was cremated at the Pashupati Aryaghat here today.

Earlier, NC president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala paid tributes to the late Jamarkattel and draped his body with the four-star party flag as a mark of respect to him.

Likewise, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel holding the home portfolio, Minister for Local Development Govinda Raj Joshi, NC central committee members, and a large number of NC leaders and activists paid their last respect to the late Jamarkattel.

RDSC to establish children liaison centre

Nepalgunj, Apr. 11 (RSS): The Rural Development Service Committee (RDSC) is to establish a children liaison centre and a children reform home in Banke district in the near future.

The committee has conducted a survey for identification of children at risk, compilation of their data in order to re-unite their family member as well as provide education and launch an awareness drive under the Milijuli (partnership) programme.

According to the preliminary report, the children living at risk in the district stand at 254.

The committee aims at mitigating the number of children at risk within next five years by introducing a set of programme designed for the well-being of the children.

Street children in Banke district are about 150 while child porters accounts for six per cent, tempo cleaners four per cent, labourers at hotels and restaurants 29 per cent, factory workers 21 per cent, workshop labourers 15 per cent, shepherds nine per cent, riksha pullers two per cent, brick factory workers four per cent and bonded labourers nine per cent.

Children going to India via Nepalgunj are about 300 to 500.

Children here, have been victimised because of poverty, illiteracy and social malpractices such as overseas employment.

Keeping the harsh reality in mind, Milijuli programme has been introduced to help develop the children living at risk and rehabilitate the disabled and helpless children.

Under the Milijuli programme, a children communication and resource centre will be set up, children materials distributed, school education provided, scholarship granted, children health and consultative service provided and a revolving fund set up to meet the children emergency needs, it is stated by the committee.

Such programmes will be introduced in Nepalgunj Municipality, Kohalpur, Khajura Bazaar, Rajha and Jamunaha.

NC meeting postponed

Kathmandu, Apr. 11 (RSS): The meeting of Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party scheduled for 3: 30 p.m. today has been postponed because of the special programme of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, secretary of the NC Parliamentary Party and Minister of State for Water Resources Benup Raj Prasai told RSS

Senior party leaders were to address the meeting today.

According to secretary Prasai, MPs had presented their views in Tuesday’s meeting.

Chinese journalists visit Pokhara

Pokhara, Apr. 11 (RSS): The sixth team of All China Journalist Association left for Kathmandu today after completing a three-day visit to Kaski district.

The team led by Yan Liqiyang observed the sites of cultural and religious importance and also visited the industrial estate.

Pokhara sub-metropolitan office and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Kaski had organised receptions in honor of the delegation.

Various speakers including Pokhara mayor Krishna Thapa and central member of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bhusan Ghimire expressed the view that the exchange of visit by the journalists would contribute to promoting bilateral ties.

Earlier, the Chinese team had visited Lumbini in the Western Development Region. The team is here at a week-long invitation of the FNJ.

Maya Devi temple site conservation discussed

Kathmandu, Apr. 11 (RSS):  An international technical meeting was organised by Lumbini Development Trust, UNESCO World Heritage Center and UNESCO Kathmandu office presentation of archeological site of the Maya Devi temple of Lumbini world heritage site.

The meeting took place in Kathmandu and Lumbini between 5-9 April 2001, with the participation of relevant national authorities from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Archeology, Lumbini Development Trust, representatives of NGOs, UNESCO and international and national experts in the fields of archaeology, conservation, site management, site presentation and development.

After the examination of several design proposals, guiding principles for conserving the site and designing and appropriate protective shelter for the Maya Devi temple remains, the marker stone and the nativity image of Lumbini were adopted.

A conceptual design for a "golden pavillion within the sacred garden of the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini" was recommended for embodying the holy character of the place but also the site’s universal significance as a centre of pilgrimage of one of the great religions of the world as well as an extremely important but fragile archaeological site.

It is hoped that these recommendations will be followed by the national authorities concerned to achieve positive tangible results in the conservation and presentation of this unique world heritage site.

ROK envoy calls on Thakali

Kathmandu, Apr. 11 (RSS): Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Nepal Royoo See-Ya paid a courtesy call on Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Romi Gauchan Thakali at the latter’s office today.

On the occasion, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest.