Appeal seeks people’s help for army’s move

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: Ministry of Defence and the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) have jointly appealed to all the people to stay away from the vicinity of the areas where the Maoist terrorists have been living or holding mass meeting so that they would not be hurt or be injured at a time when the army has been mobilized and the State of Emergency is prevailing in order to maintain peace and security in the country.

Issuing an official appeal, the Ministry and Army headquarters’ have appealed the Nepalese people to support the attempts of the RNA to control the Maoist terrorism.

‘The Defence Ministry and RNA also expect information from civilians if they find any person or organisation involved in terrorist activities across the country,’ the appeal says. It is informed that the source of information would be kept highly confidential considering the severity of security factors.

The government has declared emergency with an intention of quelling the terrorism created by the Maoists who have been killing innocent people in the name of "People’s War" the appeal says. At a time when the State of Emergency is prevailing since November 26, according to the Clause-1 of the Article 115 of Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, the Royal Nepalese Army, according to Sub- Clause 2 of the Article 118 of the Constitution would be mobilized to guarantee the peace and security to the people across the country.

‘Success of privatisation depends on govt policies’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathamandu, Dec. 4: Former ambassador and Vice-chairman for External Affairs of American Group (AIG) Frank Wisner has said that the success of privatisation largely depends on government policies and response of trade unions or employees.

"The government should not invest for the enterprises. Rather it should mobilise its resources for well being of the public," Wisner told this at a talk programme on "Importance of Private Sector to National Development.

The programme was jointly organised by Nepal Council of World Affairs, The American Centre, FNCCI and Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Wisner who is leading an AIG delegation is currently in capital. AIG, a large US based insurance company is going to set up AIG branch in Nepal from first January of next year.

The opening of the AIG wing will be the first foreign investment in insurance sector of the country. The AIG has already operated its branches in other South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"The objective of extension of the AIG is to build up infrastructure of Nepalese economy and provide better choice to the insurance customers in the country," he added.

He informed that it would cost over 18 Million US dollars and offer employment to about 240 Nepalese.

‘Nepal and the United States have amicable relations from the very beginning of the estabalishment of diplomatic relatinos between two nations.’ He also noted that Nepal and US are now facing same problem of terrorism.

He also appreciated the role of Nepal for maintaining a balanced relations with its two giant neighbours.

Stating that the collective economy has failed to deliver desired outcome, he remarked, "The market economy has become key force in the global economy."

Democratic environment is vital for the successful privatisation, he said, adding. "The decision of privatisation should not be confined to the market situation and must be backed by reality."

He noted that corruption, which is cancer to the democracy, would ultimately lead the privatisation process to failure. "For its success, the market must be mature and stable."

On the occasion, Director of American Centre Robert Kerr, Council chairman Keshav Raj Jha and president of Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sunil Shakya also expressed their opinions.

Next year should be good for travel trade

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: Looks like the year 2002 is made for the national travel trade. Now reeling under the hardship of rapidly dwindling tourist arrivals, the industry can toast cheers about next year — declared as the International Year of the Mountains and the Eco Tourism Year.

For a destination that pioneered on adventure tourism, both the declarations could not have come at a better time. The two events have to do with what Nepal very much has — innumerable mountains, many of them most prominent and successful eco-tourism stories.

The International Year of Mountains next year will mark important meetings in the capital that would formulate policies for the sustainable development on mountains. Which means, mountain tourism — the backbone of the national tourism — does stand to benefit.

More than 30 per cent of the annual inbound tourists — recorded at around 500,000 in recent years — are either trekkers or mountaineers. Moreover, significant chunk of tour package for the visitors who arrive here for sightseeing consists of the panoramic views of mountains. In other words, mountains — the bread and butter of the national travel trade — stands to benefit from the international event, both in the short and long term.

In the short term, the event would be a free of cost publicity for the Nepalese mountain tourism. Simple logic has it that when talks on mountains are making rounds around the world, Nepal — thanks to its mountain image — would definitely be on the spotlight. To put it straight, celebrating the International Year of the Mountains would simply be impossible ignoring Nepal.

In the long run, the international year would help mountain-conservation and sustainable development, experts say. According to an official at International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), though the event has no direct connection with travel trade, it would certainly boost mountain tourism. "That is because we would be discussing on how do we preserve the mountains that massively contributes to the Nepalese tourism."

And there will also be something directly related to tourism — that has witnessed around 15 per cent decline on tourist arrivals in the last eleven months compared to the same period last year. The Eco-tourism year, declared by the United Nations, is certain to put the country on the center-stage of the international event year. Crowned with smash-hit stories like that of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the country could increasingly become a "crowd-puller" among eco-friendly visitors.

The fact that there are 16 different protected areas covering around 20 per cent of the nation’s area speaks volume about how eco-tourism is working in the country. It has already won laurels protecting endangered flagship species like rhino, tiger, snow leopard and read panda, among others.

The Eco-tourism Year, according to UNDP officials, would spread the message around the world why ecologically sound tourism is necessary. That means bingo for the national travel trade.

Travel traders, however, have said that they would like to know more about the events. "We should be informed about the events if they are directly related to us," said Suman Pandey, President of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN). "So far, we have no idea on what would be happening during the events."

That coordination appears more crucial since next year would also mark the Destination Nepal Campaign — a tourism extravaganza designed to promote the country as a tourist destination. Planned to be held between 2002 and 2003, the tourism bonanza would also coincide with the 50 years celebration of the ascent of Mountain Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest).

Major breakthrough
Army arrests area commander, continues to foil Maoists’ bids

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 4: The Royal Nepalese Army has made a major breakthrough today when it captured a Maoists area commander and arrested some more Maoists following its cordon and search operations.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the army, while searching the Chitre Pass area situated in Gorkha District, arrested Gobardhan Gauli, the terrorists’ area commander of Lamjung, Tanahu and Gorkha districts.

The same army team has arrested a teacher of Mahendra Lila Secondary School, Shyam Raj Adhikari, of the same Chitre area after searching his house. The army team seized various chemicals, socket bombs, appliances for making pipe bombs along with Rs.14, 385 together with nine hundred Indian currency notes collected from donations.

The army has also confirmed that 200 Maoists were killed in last week’s retaliatory attacks in Salleri of Solukhumbu District.

The Defence Ministry communique said that a large number of headless bodies of the terrorists were scattered in the nearby villages. Likewise, the last rites performed by the villagers after last week’s incident also confirms that the terrorists suffered about 200 casualties at the hands of security personnel.

Meanwhile, the Royal Nepalese Army has foiled all the Maoist terrorists activities in various places in the country and in the process killed them in substantial number.

According to a report received from Gorkha, Bhava Dutta Pokhrel from Amarsingh Village Development Committee –2 was killed on the spot while he was trying to flee from the area cordoned by the armymen. The army had cordoned the area following the information received about Pokhrel earlier.

Meanwhile, the RNA soldiers have foiled the planned terrorist attacks at Sunkoshi Hydro-electricity Project of Sindhupalchowk and Nepal Telecommunications Corporation’s repeater station installed at Ratamata of Rolpa district.

According to the Ministry of Defence, one Maoist terrorist named as Prakash Lamichhane died while undergoing treatment at Dhulikhel Hospital. He was injured while he was running away from the security personnel.

Likewise, the security personnel have continued their "Search and Cordon" operation in Nuwagaon of Rolpa district. According to the Army headquarters, an additional team of 45 soldiers has been deployed at the venue for assisting the search and cordon operation. The soldiers were airlifted to Nuwagaon from High-altitude Warfare School of Mustang.

The Ministry press release further states that the security personnel have recovered more magazines, spare-parts and communication equipment looted from the Army barrack of Dang district. They have also seized some improvised grenades of the Maoist terrorists and recovered the documents of Dang branch of Agriculture Development Bank.

Meanwhile, a high-level army officer today refuted a news report regarding the killing of six non-Maoists by the army in Khumel of Rolpa district.

He said that the news, which had appeared in a vernacular daily on November 30, was false and baseless and was aimed at creating illusion among the civilians.

According to our Rautahat correspondent, police today arrested 14 armed terrorists while they were trying to attack the security personnel. Quoting Rautahat district police office our correspondent says that the security personnel are mobilised everywhere in the district in order to maintain law and order situation.

In connection with maintaining peace in the district, the police today arrested Maoist terrorist affiliate Terai National Liberation Front’s district member Bindeshwor Raya Yadav along with Dhuplal Raya Yadav, Jivan Sah Teli, Bachhu Pathak, Rambiswas Prasad Kalwar, Jaishilal Raut Kurmi, Ramakant Raut and Ramithulal Raya Yadav.

DSP Mahendra Kumar Pokharel said that many other suspected have also been arrested for necessary investigation.

Thapa calls for making contract bidding simple

Kathmandu, Dec. 4 (RSS): A two-day seminar on "procurement of civil works" began here today under the joint auspices of the Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal (FCAN) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The seminar aims at thrashing out the problems of the differences between the tender policies of ADB and financial rules and regulations of HMG and ironing out such differences.

Inaugurating the seminar, Minister of State for Physical Planning and Works Keshav Thapa called for making the national contract bidding system more refined and simple.

Priority should be given to local contractors in the projects to be constructed with the financial assistance of international donor agencies such as Asian Development Bank and World Bank, Thapa said, adding that His Majesty’s Government is strictly adhering to the policy of making such construction works much competitive and transparent.

Dr. Richard Vokes, ADB resident representative said that the cooperation between Nepal and ADB started in September, 1968 and such assistance has increased substantially since then.

As of 30 November, 2001, ADB has provided loans amounting to about 1.9 billion US dollars in various sectors (covering both the public and private sectors) and 223 technical assistance grants amounting to about 101 million US dollars, he said, adding that the total net loan amount of the currently active ADB-financed projects in Nepal is about 630 million US dollars.

Jip Tshering Lama, president of FCAN urged ADB to concentrate its activities on technology transfer, technical know-how, simplification of the differences between the tender policies of ADB and HMG’s financial rules and regulations suitable for the local contractors as well as the development of skill and management capabilities of construction industry of Nepal in order to build up the management and technical skills of the local contractors.

Nepalese construction industries are qualified to execute works of about 300-400 million US dollars linked with our development plans.

First vice-president of FCAN Y. B. Karki and second vice-president Rajesh Babu Shrestha also spoke on the problems being faced by Nepalese Construction Industry.

Fund set up for disabled, says Kharel

Kathmandu, Nov.4 (RSS): Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel said a disabled emergency welfare fund has been set up with a view to assisting children who become disabled in accidents.

Kharel made this remark while inaugurating a seminar on "implementation of UN rules on equal opportunities to the disabled in the context of Nepal" organised by the International Disabled Day organising committee Nepal here today.

Stating that disability is not because of vice or virtue, but because of accidents and therefore equal opportunities are to be provided to them, he noted that from the next year, His Majesty’s Government will provide a public holiday to all the disabled in all offices, corporation and private factories.

Member-secretary of Social Welfare Council Dr Tika Pokhrel said His Majesty’s Government has been carrying out various works for the welfare of the disabled despite being constrained by limited means and resources.

Chairman of impact Nepal Dr Laxmi Narayan Prasad, presenting a working paper on the disabled, demanded that arrangements be made for easy movement for the disabled in ministries, departments, meeting halls, sports venues, schools, cinema halls and other public places.

President of the Nepal Netrahin Sangh Nar Bahadur Limbu, member of the organising committee Govinda Adhikari and others also spoke at the function chaired by president of the National Disabled Federation Munishwor Pandey.

The rule on equal opportunities to the disabled were passed by the United Nations in 1993 and Nepal had signed it the same year.