Responsible journalism stressed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 9: Journalists all over the world are calling for absolute freedom of Press. But it is necessary for them to remember that they must have feeling of absolute resonsibility towards the society.

Charles Fletcher, head of Baltic Media Centre (BMC), Scotland office said, this while talking to The Rising Nepal today.

Freedom of press does not mean that you can say what you like about any body. Freedom of press means you have to be responsible and you have to properly, fairly and accurately report the facts. That is true freedom of the press, Fletcher said.

Fletcher, who was in Nepal for last two weeks to conduct a training for trainers organized recently by Nepal Press Institute in Chitawan for senior mofussil journalists, said: "I found them here highly motivated to improve the quality of journalism and develop professionalism."

Replyinf to a query, former Europe Manager of BBC World Service said: "You learn journalism by doing the jobs.

Journalistic techniques and proficiency can be aqquired best through actual and practical experience. But journalist calling is too complex today and requires more training and skills on the part of practising journalists than it did years ago."

BMC was set up eight years ago to help journalists from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and from some parts of Russia, Fletcher said.

He west on: "At first we concentracted our works in the Baltic region. But since last two years, BMC is expanding its activities out of Baltic region."

BMC has a firm belief that Nepal is the logical and obvious centre for a regional development of media trainings and this is what we will be aiming to do over the coming years as well. We will be highlighting and doing a lot of media trainings for six countries around South Asia and use Nepal as an appropriate centre for it, Fletcher said.

'Main agenda of talks should be peace'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 9: Representatives of different civil society organisations gathered in Kathmandu today to hamer out suggestions that could be useful for the upcoming government-Maoist talks.

The seminar, titled "Agenda and Scope of Dialogue for Peace," was organized by South Asia Partnership-Nepal under its peace and Good Governance inititative. The discussion among civil society actors centered on the need for change or amendment of the Constitution, the sources of the Constitution the national mainstream, structural changes and other topics.

Most of the discussants talked about the need for a change in the approach to governance without which, they said, even a successful outcome of the prospective talks would not solve the Nepalese problem, hence, leaving avoid for other political forces to exploit.

For a purposeful resolution of the Maoist issue and the problems associated with it, there must be a willingness to end the economic deprivation, social exclusion and the political chaos afflicting the country, they said.

Nilamber Acharya, who chaired the session said, "The main purpose of the dialogue is to end violence. And those involved in violence need to be brought to the mainstream for peace to be established. This may need changes even in the Constitution."

Damannath Dhungana, in his concluding remarks, said that there was a need to prepare for the talks from one's own respective sector.

The gap between the two parties need to be narrowed, and not depend too much on the uneasy "borrowed" truce, for a lasting solution borrowed from extra-constitutional forces. Sacrifice is necessary for the peace to be a purposeful one," Dhungana said.

The seminar was participated in by politicians, journalists, human right activists, lawyers, intellectuals and others.

News analysis
RNAC left in the lurch

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Aug. 9: In a bizarre chapter within less than a year, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) was first maimed in the name of operating in the European route, and then "nursed" by making it pull out of the same promising sector. A striking example of how the national flag carrier was taken for a ride.

Take a closer look: It was for the same "highly valued" European market RNAC last December stirred the hornet's nest by leasing in a Boeing 767 of Lauda Air, a subsidiary of Austrian Air.

Despite the protest and warnings from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the national airline went ahead with the controversial lease deal citing that such a wide-body aircraft was indispensable for the long distance market like Europe. The corporation then even had formed a committee that advocated the need for a long-haul aircraft for the European sector.

Around half a year down the line, the corporation's version today is diametrically opposite. Citing heavy financial loss in the route, and inadequate fleet, the national airline last week decided to pull out of five destinations including the European sector beginning next month.

RNAC's loss-making in the European sector is nothing new. Ever since it started flying to London, Paris, and Frankfurt in the late-80's, the national airline has been making loss ever year, these days to the tune of Rupees 130 million annually.

So why is it now, at the onset of the tourism peak season, the national flag carrier chose to pull out of the European sector, Singapore and Dubai? While its around 6,000 passengers have already bought the ticket between September and November.

True that the European sector, for RNAC, continues to be a loss-making market. But, the only changed scenario is that the national flag carrier now cannot bear the loss anymore.

So, what went wrong with the airline overnight? Highly placed source at RNAC revealed it to The Rising Nepal, the corporation reached to its worst financial crisis while it was operating the leased Boeing 767 of Lauda Air until a month ago.

For the first three months, according to the reliable source, the airline bore the loss of around Rupees 400 million for having leased the aircraft at the rate of US$ one million for a month when the air plane had to be compulsorily operated for 300 hours.

Ironically, never could the plane be flown for the stipulated time span. RNAC's log record show that the maximum time the aircraft was flown was 275 hours in one month while the money had to be paid for 300 hours a month.

With RNAC doling out money for no return on the Lauda Air Boeing for above six months, it reached the nadir last month when it could no more carry on with the operation of the "white elephant." And so the lease-agreement with Lauda Air-- that CIAA found to be full of irregularities, and therefore those involved in the deal including the then chief of RNAC are now facing trial -- had to be prematurely terminated.

The story did not end there. Hardly one month after the Lauda Jet went back, the national flag carrier last week made one more shocking-move. It sent back the Boeing 757 it had last year leased from the China South West Airlines to be used till September this year.

"Our financial status has become so weak that we had to send back this aircraft also," said M.P. Khanal, Director of Public Relations at RNAC.

So weak that the airlines -- now left with only two of its Boeing 757 aircraft for its international flights -- still owes the CSWA around US$ six million under the now terminated lease deal.

If only the corporation had a third aircraft, it would have still continued flying to the European routes, assert RNAC officials. An internal committee of the corporation had concluded that RNAC should have at least three aircraft and should continue its operation in the European sector.

But, so badly the airline is battered and bruised, it cannot even afford to operate a third aircraft. Hence, the cancellation of important routes like Europe -- where other online carriers like Austrian Air, Transavia, Qatar Airways and Gulf Air have been doing brisk business.

Hats would have been off, if only RNAC had decided to stay out of the European sector when it was making the usual loss. But, noticeably, it took the decision only after the Lauda lease deal left it almost bankrupt and when there were no adequate aircraft with it to cover all its 13 destinations. "The Lauda Jet was operated under a very bad plan," said a senior RNAC official requesting anonymity.

No wonder. And so, the national flag carrier is left licking its wound, bearing the brount of -- medicine after death.

Maoist issue main agenda
All-party meet today

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, August 9: An all-party meeting, called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, of all the parties in the Parliament and the national parties will start tomorrow morning at Singha Durbar.

According to close sources of the government, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will chair the meeting.

The major focus of the meeting is to seek the opinion and consensus of the political parties and consensus on how to go with talks with the Maoists to resolve the 6-year-long Maoist problem.

The all party meeting is being held as per the efforts of Prime Minister Deuba, who, while assuming the leadership of the government, had said that the peaceful resolution of the problem would be his government’s topmost priority.

As soon as he became the Prime Minister the government halted all actions against the Maoists to create a congenial atmosphere for talks. The government’s efforts were reciprocated by the Maoist saying that they would also stop attacks on the government security forces.

To facilitate the talks, the government has released all Maoist activists who were arrested and jailed under the Public Security Act in the different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the central committee meeting of the CPN-UML has said that issue of talks between the government and the Maoists must not be limited to rhetoric only.

On the eve of the all-party meeting as called by the government, the party also called both the sides not to do anything, which would disrupt the atmosphere of the much-awaited dialogues.

Similarly, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Central Committee meeting also called today that there should not be any more polarization between the government and the Maoist.

World Indigenous Day
Deuba: Govt ready to extend help to indigenous people

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that as the country's development is possible only with the socio-economic upliftment of the indigenous people, who make up half the country's population, the government is ready to extend every possible cooperation in this regard.

Prime Minister Deuba was inaugurating a special function organised by the Nepal Federation of Nationalities World Indigenous Day 2001 Celebration Main Committee on the occasion of the World Indigenous Day here today.

As Nepal is the country not exclusively of a certain caste but of all Nepalese belonging to various castes, ethnic groups and communities, no Nepalese should feel neglected, he said.

It is due to complicated social structure that caste discrimination still exists in our country and it will take some time to abolish this social malpractice, Prime Minister Deuba said, calling for concerted effort towards this end.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister felicitated noted scholar Dr Harka Gurung and human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar.

He also presented a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 along with a letter of commendation to editor of Kantipur daily Yuvaraj Ghimire for news coverage of ethnic issues.

Human rights activist Tuladhar described the ethnic and linguistic movement as part of the pro-democracy and human rights movement still continuing in the country and complained that ethnic groups have not been able to enjoy the goodwill and cooperation of the state.

Dr Harka Gurung was of the view that in view of the growing economic and political corruption in the country, it would be in the interest of all if the tradition of felicitating people is replaced by an initiative to punish the corrupt.

He also called for unity among the ethnic groups to ensure equal rights for all downtrodden and neglected ethnic groups.

Nepali Congress central member Bal Bahadur Rai said the Nepali Congress has been working for the upliftment of neglected and exploited ethnic groups.

CPN-ML central member Rajendra Shrestha stressed the need to stop the practice of treating the ethnic groups simply as a vote bank, and the need to promote the languages and cultures of the ethnic groups and increase ethnic representation in the National Assembly.

MP Shukra Raj Samyok, president of Rastriya Janamukti Party M.S. Thapa, academician Bairagi Kainla and others highlighted the problems facing the ethnic groups and the role of the state in uplifting them.

Convenor of the main celebration committee Balkrishna Mabuhang presided.

Swachchhanda Songmen, the first student from ethnic communities to secure the topmost position in the SLC examinations (2057) was presented with a certificate on the occasion.

Earlier, a huge procession taken out from Bhadrakali went round the town before converging for the special function at the municipal auditorium.

Inclusion of Janakpurdham into world heritage site demanded

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RSS): A four-day seminar on, "the challenges of preserving and using historic ponds" organised jointly by Pro-Public and the Greater Janakpur Area Development Council wound up the other day after issuing a seven-point declaration.

The organisers have, in its declaration, urged inclusion of Janakpurdham, a place of historic, religious and cultural importance into the list of world heritage sites.

A research centre will be established to study the archaeological, religious and cultural heritage lying in Janakpur area so that Janakpurdham can be developed as a pilgrimage centre for the Hindus and familarise the national and international communities with its importance.

Similarly, the declaration states that with the co-ordination among the concerned bodies, the boundary of the age-old ponds will be demarcated and protected on the basis of ancient inscriptions and proper arrangements for sewerage and toilets made in Janakpur.

A seven member co-ordination committee has been formed under the chairmanship of ex-mayor Damodar Prasad Upadhyaya to implement the declaration.

At the conclusion of the seminar, Dhanusa DDC chairman Ram Charitra Saha pledged that the DDC would leave no stone unturned for translating the declaration into practice.

Regional hospital soon in Surkhet, says Bhandari

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RSS): Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari has said that permission has been given in principle to set up the regional hospital at Birendranagar of Surkhet district and that arrangements have been made to build compound wall in the land there.

Minister Bhandari said that steps will be taken to build the regional hospital soon.

Mr Bhandari gave this information at the meeting of the House of Representatives today while answering questions raised by the MPs.

The Health Minister said that anti-snake venom had already been sent to Sindhuli district for treatment of people suffering from snake bites and that five persons have been trained for this purpose.

He made it clear that the posts in the district hospitals would be fulfilled on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission.

In accordance with His Majesty’s Government policy of setting up one health post in all the election constituencies, primary health centres have already been set up in 160 constituencies, Mr Bhandari said, adding that permission had been given to set up primary health centres will be set up in 20 constituencies under the current fiscal year while the remaining primary health centres will be set up by the end of the current fiscal year.

Minister Bhandari had been asked question by MPs Chandramani Kharal, Ganga Prasad Nepal, Hridayaram Thani, Bijaya Subba and Lalbabu Pandit.

Tributes paid to late King Birendra
Kadirgamar opens SAARC meeting

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RSS): Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and chairman of the SAARC Council of Ministers, inaugurated the third special session of the standing committee at the Bhandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo this morning, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Colombo.

One minute of silence was observed on the occasion as a mark of respect to His late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and the late members of Royal Family of Nepal.

In his inaugural address the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka paid rich tributes to His late Majesty King Birendra as one of the pioneers and founding fathers of SAARC.

He commended the significant contributions of His late Majesty to the evolution of regional cooperation for peace and prosperity in South Asia.

The Foreign Minister emphasised the need for collective efforts to revitalise the SAARC process in the days ahead.

On behalf of all delegations of SAARC member states, leader of the Nepalese delegetion Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumshere Thapa proposed a vote of thanks.

He reiterated Nepal's determination and commitment to host the llth SAARC summit in Kathmandu at the convenience of all member states.

He underscored the need for greater cooperation among the member countries in order to be able to address issues of interest and concern to them in a collective and cooperative manner through the framework of SAARC.

Mr. Thapa expressed thanks for the tributes paid to His late Majesty King Birendra by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The working sessio n of the standing committee began this afternoon to deliberate on a number of issues and subjects contained in its agenda. The third special session of the committee is being held today and tomorrow.

The preparatory committee for the third special session of the standing committee concluded its two-day meeting on 8 August.

House of Representatives
'Budgetary allocation for health sector inadequate'

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RSS): The House of Representatives began discussions on the appropriations head concerning the Health Ministry under the Appropriations Bill-2058 at its meeting today.

Taking part in the deliberations, Lilamani Pokharel of the United People's Front, Pari Thapa of the National People's Front and Dr. Banshidhar Mishra of the CPN-UML tabled three separate proposals seeking to reduce the expenses mentioned in the appropriations head under the Health Ministry by Rs 100.

Proposing to reduce the Health Ministry expenses under the Appropriations Bill, MP Pokharel said that the government lacked clear-cut policy and programmes regarding health, it has neglected the primary needs of the health sector, there has been failure to monitor and regulate the activities of nursing homes and the health sector was not pro-poor.

Pari Thapa of the National People's Front complained that although His Majesty's Government has allocated Rs 5,420 million for the health sector, it lacked new programmes except the administration of polio drops and culling the population of stray dogs.

He said the slogan of health for all by 2000 has failed to encompass the total population till now and the policy to establish a health centre each in all the 205 electoral constituencies of the country is far from materialising.

MP Thapa also alleged that the facilities provided to health posts and health centres by donor countries have not been received by them and the provision of posting qualified physicians and installing x-ray machines has also not been implemented. He demanded a ban on the import of sub-standard medicine.

Stating that the condition of Bir Hospital which is one of the central hospitals in the country was very poor, MP Pari Thapa alleged a loss of Rs 25 million in the repair and maintenance of the C-T scan machine at the hospital.

He demanded that the matter be investigated as it has come to the notice of the public accounts committee and the administrative system of the hospital reformed besides seeing to free distribution of medicines.

He also stressed that attention should be paid with regards to curtailing women trafficking and prevention of HIV/AIDS, besides the promotion of homeopathy.

Dr. Banshidhar Mishra of the CPN-UML said that although common diseases like gastroenteritis were claming thousands of lives every year in Nepal even in the 21st century, the government was not taking the matter seriously.

He added that the objectives set out in the ninth plan for the development of the health sector were far from being fulfilled and that the assistance of foreign donor agencies was going down day by day. He also said that attention should be paid to make public and transparent the details of all grants received since 2055 BS.

MP Mishra spoke of the need to review the health policy introduced some ten years back since the policy is far from being implemented. He alleged that the distribution of means and resources in the health sector was done on a hotchpotch basis, demanding clear policies regarding the kind of health services that ought to be implemented in particular areas of the country.

Lalbabu Pandit of the CPN-UML complained that the quality of health services was utterly lacking given the amount of investment made in the sector. He alleged that the nursing homes were turning into business centres rather than centres for providing health service.

Calling for a ban on the import of sub-standard medicine and stern action to curb the increasing menace of quacks, he said provisions should be made under which doctors in government service would not be allowed to work in the private sector for a minimum of five years.

Ramnath Adhikari of the Nepali Congress said that many good things have been introduced under the appropriations head of the Health Ministry which aims at bringing health services to the people's doorsteps. He pointed out that doctors should be posted at each health centre and medicines also supplied.

Stressing the need for setting up a hospital and a trauma centre in Dhading district in view of the large number of accidents that take place along the busy Prithivi Highway every year, MP Adhikari also called for repair of the 15-bed hospital in Dhading Besi which was damaged by earthquake. He also complained of lack of doctors in Dhading district.

Brijesh Kumar Gupta of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party called for proper follow-up and evaluation of works so far carried out under the Health Ministry, a halt to the black marketing of medicine at the hospitals, high evaluation of doctors posted outside of Kathmandu Valley and a provision to transfer lower level hospital staff.

Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, alleging that the Ministry of Health was mired in corruption, nepotism and favoritism, said it should be freed from such vices and its reputation improved. He also complained of lack of physicians at the health posts and health centres in rural areas. He stated that there were only seven out of the full quota of 17 doctors at Janakpur Zonal Hospital.

Dilaram Acharya of the National People's Front demanded complete curtailment of women trafficking, scaling down the increment of hospital charges at the Kanti Children's Hospital, containing the growing business activity taking place in the name of nursing homes and providing adequate facilities to government hospitals.

Yog Narayan Yadav of the CPN-UML complained that the budgetary allocation for such a sensitive sector like the health sector was inadequate and demanded that provisions be made for qualified doctors and effective medicine for containing the spread of malaria and dengue fever in Dhanusha district, keeping tabs on political activities at Janakpur Zonal Hospital, giving emphasis to improving the sanitary condition at the hospital and providing adequate number of doctors as per the number of postings.

Haribhakta Adhikari of the Nepali Congress expressed the view that massive public awareness programmes need to be launched to resolve the problems in the public health sector. He urged the government to be sensitive towards quelling growing negligence in the health sector.

Netra Lal Shrestha of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party complained that many people in the countryside were compelled to lose their lives as a result of inadequate health care facilities and that the people of such areas were deprived of basic health care as health workers posted to these areas by the government fail to go there.

Kamal Prakash Sunuwar of the CPN-UML demanded that His Majesty's Government make special provisions for posting adequate number of doctors in the rural areas. He complained that although it has been long since efforts have been made to set up a regional level hospital in Manthali, the efforts have not yet paid out.

Ram Kumar Chaudhari of the Nepali Congress stressed that improvement in the health sector is necessary for the socio-economic development of the country, saying that whatever the government was doing in the sector, it was doing well.

Renu Kumari Yadav of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party called on the government to pay its attention towards making the Saptari district hospital well-equipped and increasing the infrastructure of the hospital.

Tirtha Gautam of the CPN-UML alleged that the government was not serious about improvements in the health sector. She said that health programmes which have been participated in at the international level by Nepal should be evaluated properly and that the government should make efforts at the development of Ayurvedic Hospitals and dispensaries throughout the country.

Harilal Joshi of the Nepali Congress complained that the management of bodies under the Health Ministry was not satisfactory, pointing out the need for massive change in the modus operandi of the management of bodies under the Health Ministry to make health services more accessible to the people.

He suggested formation of a mobile team at the Health Ministry to monitor whether the doctors are on duty or not.

Shankarnath Sharma Adhikari of the CPN-UML alleged that the slogan of health for all was limited to rhetoric alone and that the district hospitals utterly lacked necessary equipment and medicine. He said regional mobile health centres should be set up in each and every development region and the doctors provided with necessary incentives.

Khemraj Bhatta Mayalu of the Nepali Congress said that the Health Ministry should be serious and sensitive in matters of public health. He complained that more than 70 percent districts were facing the shortage of doctors and more and more people were dying of contagious diseases due to the lack of proper health care services.

He said that the health policy and health service should be rural-oriented and complained of the shortage of doctors in Bardiya district for which reason the people of the district had to go to Nepalgunj for better health care facilities.

Om Prasad Ojha of the CPN-UML said that the child mortality rate has not come down as envisaged in the ninth plan. He stressed systematisation of naturopathy, homeopathy and acupuncture services, improvement in the condition of the district hospitals, establishing of Health Care Centres in each and every constituency within the current fiscal year and the fixation of the hospital tariff at private hospitals.

He also called for setting up paediatric hospitals in all the development regions as well as 20 per cent reservation for people from the backward and deprived communities at the private hospitals.

Ramesh Lekhak of the Nepali Congress called on the Health Ministry to be serious about making the health services which are the universal rights of the people widely accessible and bridging the ever-widening gap between the private hospitals and the public hospitals in terms of the quality of their services. He also asked as to why the concept of regional hospitals was aborted.

Nara Bahadur Hamal of the CPN-UML complained that the budget allocated for the health sector was inadequate. He suggested improving the physical facility of zonal hospitals, the district hospitals and Ilaka health posts so as to enhance the people's access to basic health facilities. He protested the privatization of health services.

Hridaya Ram Thani of the Nepali Congress appreciated the policy to increase the number of primary health care centres. He, however, complained of the difficulty caused due to the shortage of doctors in the rural areas and stressed decentralisation of health services. He also demanded proper supply of medicines and construction of a regional level hospital in Surkhet district for providing health services in a coordinated manner.

Kunta Sharma of the CPN-UML complained of paucity of budget for the health sector, lack of improvement in the health sector despite huge investments and the poor shape of the district hospitals due to the shortage of manpower. The MP said that Bir Hosptal should be developed into a central level hospital.

Tanka Prasad Rai of the Nepali Congress expressed the hope that all the Nepalis would be able to get adequate health services with the policy of health for all which has been adopted by the government. He also underlined the need for improving the physical infrastructure of the district and Ilaka level hospitals.

Ganga Prasad Nepal of the CPN-UML said that lack of adequate budgetary allocations in the health sector would hit at the roots of the sector. Lack of technical manpower in the rural health sector, he said, was hampering the provision of quality medical services to the people of these areas, pointing out the need for improving the quality of the health services country-wide.

Dilliraj Sharma of Nepali Congress said though budget for the health sector is comparatively low the appropriation has been made considering the country's situation and economic condition.

He drew the attention of the government towards giving emphasis on treatment system based on health education, increasing efficiency of village health workers, bringing physicians within legal parameters and mobilising them to districts and villages, reforming the health education act and making legal arrangement for kidney transplantation within the country.

CPN-UML's Devilal Thapa pointed out the need to reach health workers and medicines to every village of the country in order to prove the significance of the slogan "health for all", send sufficient doctors to many districts in Karnali zone, make remote areas accessible in terms of health service and run mobile health camps.

Tara Samyangya, also of the CPN-UML said available means and resources should be mobilised to move the health sector ahead, health services should be reached to the poor people and special attention should be given towards promotion of locally produced medicines.

Sushila Nepal, also of the same party, said health services have been privatized and commercialised, government has not introduced a good health policy, special attention should be given to women' health, a child hospital should be establishment and Ayurvedic Hospitals modernised.

Bir Bahadur Lama and Prakash Jwala, also of the CPN-UML said the government has limited the health programmes announced by the United Nations and budget appropriation in the health sector has been centralised, there is lack of physical and technical manpower in public hospitals and a new policy should be introduced for the development of an important sector like health.

The House of Representatives will meet again at 11:00 am tomorrow.

Eliminate atomic weapons: Deuba

Lalitpur, Aug. 9 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that as human beings and natural and organic resources as well are equally vulnerable to atomic explosions it is the need of the day to envisage a world free of atomic weapons.

Prime Minister Deuba was speaking at a colloquium on, "The Effects of Atomic Explosions: Vision of an Atomic Weapon-free World" organised by Nepal Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organisation (NAAPSO) on the occasion of the 56th Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Day.

He also wished that the world would never again see horrendous carnage like those that Hiroshima and Nagasaki saw.

As many countries are in an arms race to establish themselves as atomic powers at a time when a wider popular opinion should have been built in favour of lifting human society out of poverty, unemployment, disease and illiteracy, the world should focus its attention on eliminating atomic weapons from the face of the earth, he said.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat stressed the need to ban the production and use of atomic weapons so as to ensure world peace, the arms race that the world is witnessing today has used up a huge amount of resources which otherwise could have been utilized in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor.

Since the world has already witnessed carnage precipitated by the use of atomic weapons, this is time to promote world fraternity and goodwill so as to build an atomic weapons-free world, he said.

From the chair, deputy leader of the Main Opposition Party CPN-UML K.P. Sharma Oli said at a time when people are living in fear due to escalation of the arms race Nepal strongly advocates world peace and urges the global community to promote solidarity and see to it that the Hiroshima-Nagasaki tragedy is never repeated.

Dr Kamal Krishna Shrestha presented a paper highlighting various aspects of the scourge of atomic explosions.

NAAPSO general secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Khadka said that it is high time the global community paid due attention to eliminating atomic weapons.

Don't use talks as a ruse, UML tells govt, Maoists

Kathmandu, Aug. 9 (RS): The Central Committee meeting of the CPN (UML) concluded here today with various decisions.

In order to streamline organisational works, the meeting has designated Keshav Badal as convenor for the central development region, Guru Baral as secretary of the eastern region, Ghanendra Basnet as Mechi zonal region, Bhim Acharya as Koshi zonal incharge, Keshav Badal as the Valley incharge, Ishwor Pokhrel as secretary of the Central Secretariat, Yubaraj Gyawali and Raghu Pant as members of the Secretariat, Yubaraj Karki as secretary of the Central Party Office, Ishwor Pokhrel as Chief of Planning and Monitoring Department, Bharat Mohan Adhikari as chief of the Elections Department and Devraj Ghimire as chief of the Youths, Teachers and Engineering Department.

The meeting also recommended nomination of Krishna Raj Verma and Laxmi Bhakta Upadhyay as members of the Central Advisory Committee.

In today's meeting of the committee, Bharat Mohan Adhikari presented an estimated budget for fiscal year 2058/59.

The meeting passed along with recommendations the proposals presented by Bishnu Rimal and Rajendra Pandey about Social Service Department and the Department of Local Development. The meeting also decided to hold the fourth meeting of the National Council of the Party in Dhangadhi from Dec 27-29.

The meeting demanded that dams and embankments being built by India unilaterally should be demolished and His Majesty's Government should take initiatives for this. The party also called for cooperation for flood and landslide victims.

The party also urged both the government and the Maoists not to use the talks as a ruse but to push ahead on the basis of all party talks and consensus.

The CWC meeting held under the chairmanship of party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal since August 4 has passed 7 different proposals.