Land transfer on hold
Govt launches drive for socio-economic reforms

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 16: The government has put a complete ban on buying, selling and transfer of ownership of land throughout the country from today until a new law is made, as a precursor to sweeping land reforms the government has decided to implement.

One of the components of the new land reforms measures is the lowering of the ceiling of land ownership.

The government will also propose a bill regarding this in the current session of the Parliament.

Giving a statement of public importance at the parliament today, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba announced special programmes regarding land reforms, abolition of social discrimination such as untouchability, women’s property right and discrimination against women, corruption and election reforms as the first phase programmes.

The government’s reform programmes got applause also from the oppositions, especially the main opposition CPN-UML, whose leaders and MPs thumped the desks a dozen times while the Prime Minister was giving his speech.

The Prime Minister also announced the prohibition of any kind of social discrimination based on caste and on entering into the temples, monastery or other religious sites from today. "Any such act of social discrimination and practice of untouchability is deemed as punishable offence," the Prime Minister announced.

Speaking at the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Deuba said the government has decided to move ahead with the drastic social and economic reforms on the basis of the talks with the opposition parties and their suggestions and recommendations.

"The reform packages are based on the 14-point agenda for national consensus proposed by former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the Parliament plus three more points added to it after talks with the opposition parties," Prime Minister Deuba said.

The Prime Minister said the government’s decision to implement new land reform measures was necessitated by new realities including the bringing down the ceiling on land holding and to carry on with the reforms started by the first Nepali Congress government led by late B. P. Koirala in 2015.

The Nepali Congress, since in inception, carries the concept of a revolutionary land reform since its inception, he said.

He also remarked the government would make all efforts to pass the bill related to land reform by the ongoing session of the parliament and for its effective implementation.

In yet another historical and forward-looking step for social justice, the Prime Minister said that the government would take initiative to pass women’s property right bill from the present session and also formulate laws to end gender discrimination.

The Prime Minister also said a National Women’s Commission would be formed for the long-term protection and propagation of women’s rights and interest by ending all kinds of oppressions and violence against women under any pretext and to do away with evils like dowry. A bill on this will be presented in the current session of the Parliament, said the Prime Minister.

Similarly, the Prime Minister said, "a bill would be introduced in the Parliament for the uplift and development of the religion, culture and language of the ethnic people along with an academy, empowered with full authority, would be formed powerful to look after the interest of the ethnic communities.

The Prime Minister also said the government would announce in this session a 25-year-long special action plan to establish socio-economic and political rights of women, oppressed, ethnic and tribal people and to provide them special protection for education and employment opportunities.

Similarly, the government has also announced to review all existing laws to make corruption a severely punishable crime.

The Prime Minister said the government has decided to pass the anti-corruption bill lying in the parliament and make additional legal provisions for taking strong actions against corruption which include the confiscation of property gained through corruption and other illegal means.

Likewise, the Prime Minister said the government would hasten the process of providing land and assistance for building houses for the freed Kamaiyas as demanded by all the political parties. "This will be completed by the end of Magh (February/March). Similarly, Prime Minister Deuba said the government would complete providing land-owners’ certificate to the landless people by the end of this fiscal year.

On election reforms, the Prime Minister said, a national consensus has already been forged and the government would implement the report of the high-level electoral reform commission with appropriate legal provisions.

Saying that all these pledges cannot be fulfilled by the government’s efforts alone, Prime Minister Deuba called on all the political parties and political forces for a national consensus and cooperation.

After the Prime Minister ended his speech, leaders of the CPN-UML K.P. Oli, Bharat Mohan Adhikary and Subash Nemwang shook hands with the Prime Minister confirming full support on the programmes.

Response from Maoists encouraging, says Deuba

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 16: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that he is committed to a negotiated settlement of the Maiosts problem in order to bring an end to the cycle of violence.

Speaking at a reception hosted by him today for the diplomatic community at Baluwatar, the Prime Minister said that the foremost priority of the present government was to seek peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem.

"We are encouraged by the positive response from the Maoists on our initiative to stop violence and create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue," the Prime Minister said.

Speaking about the other priorities, Prime Minister Deuba said that His Majesty’s Government was committed to enhance the law and order situation of the country and bring about a perceptible change in the lives of the common people.

"Consolidation of democracy with Constitutional Monarchy, sustainable development and social progress in an environment of peace and stability are also the priorities of the government," he said.

Talking about the need to accelerate the development process to address the issues of growing unemployment and regional imbalances which have led to disenchantment and frustration in the people, Prime Minister said, "For that peace is essential and for peace the end of violence and dialogue are indispensable."

Stressing on the importance of poverty alleviation, the Prime Minister urged the donor communities also to concentrate their efforts towards alleviating the problems of development of the remote areas and the backward communities.

"On our part, we are also committed to promote good governance and root out corruption by strengthening the anti-corruption institutions and transparency in the activities of the government," the Prime Minister pointed out.

The Prime Minister further said that while consolidating the gains of liberal economic policies, the government would continue to take lead role in developing social and physical infrastructure in the country.

"While making efforts for a higher level of growth and targetted programmes for the needy, the government will pursue its policies with a vision and determination," he said.

Saying that Nepal has always followed an active foreign policy of peace, cooperation and international understanding, Prime Minister Deuba said, "Our foreign policy has been guided by the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual goodwill and cooperation." Similarly, he said, "It is our conviction that South Asia could march ahead towards greater prosperity and peace with an enhanced level of regional cooperation in the core areas of activites."

The Prime Minister added, " We are also steadfast in our adherence to the objectives and principles of the UN Charter, nonalignment and fundamental principles of international relations.

In an increasingly globalised world, we believe that there is no alternative to a higher level of cooperation and shared approach in dealing with the international economic and political issues, he said and added that it was with this view that Nepal has been playing its due role in the international arena.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa gave the welcome speech and thanking the diplomatic community for their cooperation.

IPC’s faulty ‘bidding’ for BPC shares

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Aug. 16: Without submitting the necessary documents, Independent Power Corporation (IPC) "participated" in the bidding process for the shares of the Butwal Power Company (BPC), the American-British joint venture company counter-claimed today, contradicting official claim.

"We have participated in the bidding process but with a secondary role," Sue Laker, a top official with IPC told The Rising Nepal over the phone from London this afternoon. "Unlike in the previous bidding, this time Chaudhary Group (CG) is in the lead role."

IPC’s statement comes in sharp contradiction to the officialdom’s claim that the London-based company is not a participant in the bidding process for BPC’s 75 per cent shares the government has floated for privatisation. Notwithstanding the official version, CG also claimed that it was together with IPC in a consortium to bid for BPC shares.

So, why the conflicting claims? In what could be a pointing clue to the confusion, the technical bid of the CG did not contain its Joint Venture Agreement with IPC, sources at Finance Ministry said. Meaning, IPC, even if it had tried to bid for the shares together with CG, could not establish itself as a bidding partner with certain equity. "I wish we had included that document in the bid," Laker admitted.

Interestingly, and ironically enough, the equity agreement, according to Binod Chaudhary who heads CG, has been included in the financial bidding — that would now be returned to him unopened because his technical bid was declared disqualified last week.

The only other bidder to qualify in the technical bidding is Interkraft Nepal — a consortium of a Norwegian company together with 11 Nepalese companies — whose financial bid is tentatively scheduled to be opened at the Finance Ministry tomorrow, ministry officials said.

What makes the CG-IPC partnership case more knotty is this: The two, according to Laker, are yet to decide on how much should be their respective equity as partner bidders for the BPC shares. Chaudhary, however, defended that the equity ratio would be decided only after they are clear about the debt on the purchase of shares.

But, more than anything else, it was the missing technical documents that could not prove the consortium of the CG and IPC, highly placed officials at the Finance Ministry said. "If there were the documents that showed CG and IPC of having entered into an agreement on technical grounds, perhaps their bid would not have been disqualified."

To get through the technical bidding evaluation, the bidder is required to have the experience of having produced at least 30 MW of electricity. "In the technical bidding (of the CG and IPC) there is no such document that met the minimum electricity-producing criteria," said the official. "In other words, the technical documents were only of CG that has almost no experience of producing power while there was not a single supporting paper of IPC’s participation."

The only document present, according to officials, was IPC’s statement that it would technically support CG if the latter comes out of the bidding process a winner. "Yes, we had stated that we would support CG if it becomes successful to get the BPC shares," Laker agreed.

And it was this big "IF" that led to the disqualification of the CG-IPC technical bid, Finance Ministry officials asserted. "How can you say you have already reached into an agreement of being partners on technical grounds, when there still is such a big ‘if’?" Such a conditional agreement does not win the recognition of a legal entity (between the two establishments) — as demanded by the Terms of Reference of the bidding process, they explained.

Meantime, Choudhary, as he had told this daily last Tuesday, maintained that CG and IPC had together bid for the BPC shares. "IPC confirms my claim."

Amidst the claims and counter claims, the bidding process for BPC has run into controversy for the second time in the last two years. Even during the first bidding process last year, the final bidders were Interkraft Nepal and IPC together with CG. Then, the entire process had to be cancelled after IPC pulled out crying foul over what it called the government’s favouritism for Interkraft.

Before that, both the parties were asked to revise their financial bids — in which Interkraft had earlier quoted Rupees 135 per share (conditional) and Rupees 90 per share (Unconditional) while IPC had offered Rupees 109 per share.

In their revised bids, Interkraft had quoted Rupees 115 per share while IPC chose not to change its earlier price.

BPC’s 75 per cent share amounts to 6.2 million shares with the present price tag of Rupees 100 each.

Established way back in 1980’s, the power company has the installed capacity of 17.1 MW with two of its power plants — Jhimruk (12 MW) and Aandikohola (5.1 MW). It also owns 15 per cent shares of the 60 MW Khimti Hydropower Project.

Singh’s visit significant for Nepal to put forth its views

BY LOK DEEP THAPA

Kathmandu, Aug. 16: The August sun is almost as prickly hot in Kathmandu as it is in New Delhi, but the hot weather does not seem to be stopping the chill that is creeping into Nepal-India relations in recent days, at least if we are to believe certain segments of the Nepalese media. From the stalled Trade and Treaty talks to the issue of the inundation of the Lumbini area, there seems to be a difference of opinion between officials of the two countries, say observers.

However, at such a time, it is indeed of much significance that none other than the powerful Indian Minister for External Affairs and Defense, Jaswant Singh, is arriving in Kathmandu tomorrow on a three-day "goodwill" visit to Nepal. This should be seen as a clear signal from India that it wants to iron out any bilateral differences and also thaw out the chill that may have seeped in the otherwise tested relations between the two close neighbours.

However, it is also logical that Nepalese political leaders and also bureaucrats must be able to clearly put forward Nepal’s stance on all outstanding issues and convince the Indian leader of Nepal’s goodwill towards India. But this is easier said than done. To do this, both politicians and bureaucrats here must have done their homework well and be fully versed in the problems that Nepal is facing in its ties with its bigger neighbour.

There have been many occasions in the past, when Nepalese officials seemed to be poorly informed on different issues, be it the Tanakpur issue almost a decade back, or even the Laxmanpur bund controversy that dogged the government just before former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala went on an official visit to India. It is useless to blame India for gaining the upper hand when our own leaders and officials are ill prepared in participating in a bilateral debate.

But at the same time, miracle resolutions of problems should not be expected through one visit. Understanding and patience from both the countries is a must. For Nepalese officials, it is just that this opportune moment to put forth directly the problems of Nepal to such a senior member of the Indian government should not be wasted.

Like mentioned by former Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Yadav Kant Silwal while talking to this daily the other day, the visit must be taken as an opportunity to understand India’s position on different issues and at the same time also inform India about Nepal’s stance on such matters.

One must understand that Nepal-India relations are based on goodwill, trust and the time immemorial social, religious and cultural inter-action among the people of the two nations. Political and official misunderstandings may come and go, but the unique and historical ties go on for ever. This is an important aspect in the bilateral relations between the two nations that cannot be overlooked.

But still, sometimes the media in both Nepal and India have tended to over-react on certain issues. Here, it is not surprising that the Nepalese people have blamed the Indian electronic and some print media in projecting a false image of Nepal and events in this country. The Nepalese are correct in saying that this will not benefit anyone.

Verification of facts and tolerance on misgivings would be the best medicine for a smooth and bump free relation for both the countries.

Meanwhile, it has been proved time and again that mutual cooperation in matters like trade and investments among others, have benefited both the countries. Like mentioned by Professor of Political Science at the Tribhuvan University Panna Kaji Amatya, "Nepal should try to convince its big neighbour for a win-win situation for both the countries".

Former diplomat and foreign policy expert Dr. Mohan Lohani also supports such a policy and says, Nepal must be able to take benefits from India through diplomatic means.

For now, that the goodwill visit does not come with any fixed agenda means that the whole gamut of relations between the two countries can be discussed during talks that the Indian External Affairs Minister will hold with Nepalese leaders and officials. This open and flexible environment during the visit must be utilised fully to understand India’s point of view on different matters, and also convey Nepal’s stance.

The present government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is serious in resolving the different problems facing Nepal and continuing the good relations the nation enjoys with other countries. Like mentioned by Prime Minister Deuba himself at a reception he hosted for foreign diplomats today, there can be no differences on the fact that Nepal’s "foreign policy has been guided by the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual goodwill and cooperation". He also rightly emphasised that the whole of South Asia marched ahead towards greater prosperity and peace with an enhanced level of regional cooperation.

Nepal also naturally attaches great importance in further cementing the close relations that it enjoys with immediate neighbour India. And there is no better time than the present visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to reiterate this fact.

After all, as said by Dr. Mohan Lohani, an environment, where both Nepal and India can benefit through mutual cooperation, can be created through diplomatic endeavors. For such an environment to continue, both India and Nepal will have to show goodwill, tolerance and understanding, which have been present at all times and will surely be further enhanced during the present goodwill visit of the Indian Foreign Minister. After all, there is no chill that cannot be thawed with understanding and goodwill.

Meet discusses scope of govt-Moaists talks

Kathmandu, Aug. 16 (RSS): Participants at a programme organised here today emphasised the need for integrated national consensus as well as all party effort in order to make the talks to be held between His Majesty’s Government and Maoists significant, creative and successful.

Speaking at a day-long consultative seminar on "Subject and boundaries of peace talks" organised by South Asia Partnership (SAP) Nepal here today, the participants were of the view that the main agenda of the talks should be peace and good governance and for this discussion should be held on the possibility and necessity of amendment or reforming of the constitution, sources of constitution, national mainstream, change in present structure and other relevant issues.

They also expressed the veiw that efforts should be made to empower the poor, provide equal opportunity in employment, uplift women, dalits, indigenous and oppressed community, nationalities and Madhesis and include them in national mainstream of development.

Speaking on the occasion, former Speaker Damannath Dhungana said the civic society should bring pressure to bridge the gap between government and Maoists and resolve the problem through the medium of talks.

As the efforts being made towards making the talks successful are heading towards a positive direction attention should be given towards not derailing the peaceful atmosphere prevailing all over, he added.

Human rights leader Padma Ratna Tuladhar expressed the view that the talks being held between the government and Maoists in order to stop violence and murder should not be limited to the parameters of the constitution.

Changes should be made in the works and action of the governance of the state for socio-cultural, economic and political equality and justice, he added.

Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya of Citizen’s Forum Nepal suggested that the constitution should be amended radically if necessary for putting an end to anomalies and aberrations in the socio-economic, political and education sector of the country.

From the chair, ex-Minister Nilamber Acharya said new foundations should be built for the creation of an egalitarian society by seeking out solution to the Maoist and other problems of the country.

CPN-UML central member Keshav Badal said many problems of the country will be resolved if a revolutionary land reform is enforced in the interest of the tenant labour community.

Executive Director of SAP Nepal Dr Rohit Kumar Nepali, director Tirtha Gyawali, vice-president Dr Ganeshman Gurung, Malla K. Sundar of CPN-ML, Dr Shanta Thapaliya, journalist Shobha Gautam and other speakers also expressed their views.