Explosives recovered : Attacks repulsed
Army continues search operation

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: The Royal Nepalese Army has continued its search operation and air attacks against the Maoist terrorists. In the meantime, the army has also foiled the attacks from the Maoists in different parts of the country yesterday.

A press communique of the Defence Ministry says the army fired from helicopter on a large group of Maoists after they were spotted at Chitre forest of Gorkha district on Tuesday. The Ministry says the damage on the Maoists is yet to be assessed.

On the same day, the army repulsed the Maoists attack on the army’s security team at Hatiya of Baglung district and another attack on the army’s security team at the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation’s repeater station at Nagarkot of Bhaktapur district. In Baglung, the army also arrested two Maoists involved in the attack.

The army also captured in Jiri of Dolakha district a Maoist wounded in the fight between the army and the Maoists in Salleri last week.

The communique also states the army’s bomb disposal unit has defused and rendered useless different types of impoverished but unexploded explosive devices used by the Maoists in their last week’s attacks on the police post at Gokuleshwore of Darchula district.

Meanwhile, the Royal Nepalese Army has continued its search operation in Rolpa district.

In this context, the army’s search team recovered today explosive materials and spare parts of weapons looted from the army, rifles of the police, and muskets and socket bombs of the Maoists at Chorpani in Nuwagaon of the district.

-A promise of quality journalism-
Kishore Nepal new GM of Gorkhapatra

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: His Majesty’s Government, as per the cabinet decision of November 30, has appointed Kishore Nepal as General Manager of the Gorkhapatra Corporation for a maximum period of two years.

Meanwhile, the meeting of board of directors has terminated the contract of Gorkhaptra daily's Chief Editor Shribhakta Acharya effective from today.

Similarly, Acting General Manager of the Corporation Benu Prasad Prasain has been sent back to his previous post of Deputy General Manager.

Born in 1952, the newly appointed General Manager is a Bachelor in Arts from Tribhuvan University. Nepal is actively involved in journalism since 1967 when he started as a reporter in Dinman, now defunct Hindi weekly publication of The Times of India. He has worked in many dailies, weeklies published from Kathmandu in various capacities. He was the editor of vernacular dailies like Himalaya Times, Naya Sadak and Kantipur. Likewise, Nepal was the founding editor of weeklies like Deshantar, Suruchi and Swatantrata.

He also served as the press advisor of the Prime Minister and the chairman of Nepal Television. Nepal was also the president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists and member of Nepal Press Council.

Also a recipient of Nepal Jefferson Fellow and Press Council Award, Nepal was associated with Gorkhapatra Daily from 1976 to 1979. He was also the news correspondent of the Reuters, noted British News Agency.

Nepal, before assuming the office today, was welcomed by two deputy General Managers Benu Prasad Prasain and Hum Bahadur Basyal and chiefs of various sections of the Corporation.

After assuming the office, Nepal said that his arrival at GS is due to the long and historical role of Gorkhapatra Corporation. He further said that journalists could look after the management of the publication house is evident from the examples of Reuters news agencies and other publishing houses of England.

He said that he would make special efforts to take the publications of the Corporation in colour format and would seek cooperation from all at the corporation. He expressed commitment to mobilise the Corporation's manpower to bring about reforms the different sectors.

He also said that the name of Gorkhapatra is an asset in itself and would work towards making it a competitive one.

Nepal new Chairman of Gorkhapatra

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: His Majesty's Government (HMG) has appointed Hari Prasad Nepal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gorkhapatra Corporation. He will chair the board meetings of the Corporation.

The government has relieved GS Chairman Prof Dr Parashar Koirala and board members Prahlad Pokhrel, Shiv Prasad Bhattarai and Kailash Pradhan from their respective posts effective from today.

WCD’s criteria affect hydropower projects: Experts

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec.5:Many of the criteria set by the World Commission on Dam’s (WCD) latest report may hinder hydropower development in the country, water experts said in a workshop here today.

They pointed out the report’s obstructive conditions ranging from conducting intensive and costly assessment before building dams to hassles of frequently notifying upstream and downstream riparian countries.

"If all these terms and conditions are followed, the cost of hydropower development will go much high together with the extended timeframe," the participants of the workshop "Dam and Development" said.

Using these conditions as barometer, said Janak Lal Karmacharya of Water Development Association, has become a fashion among donor agencies. "For instance, if 50 per cent of the terms and conditions of the WCD report are not met, there is a danger that such dams would be rated negative.

That is why, he said the irrelevant points in the report should be done away with. "Or else, the assessment of the projects would not be fair."

He was also critical on the report’s criterion like performance bond that, he said, increases the project cost. "Such provisions only add burden to the project and that may cause unnecessary delay."

The participants were especially concerned with the provisions in the WCD, that they said, are not encouraging for run-of-river projects. "The report is not so useful for the run-of-river and peak-run-of –river projects," said Ramesh Shakya, an environmentalist participating in the workshop.

The country is witnessing steady growth in the number of run-of-river hydropower projects. Nepal Electricity Authority operates seven run-of-river hydropower plants while only two of its plants are storage types. Add to that the fast increasing number of private sector run-of-river hydropower plants – both that are already operating and those that are in the pipeline.

WCD report

Of the 400 MW electricity installed in the national grid, around 60 per cent comes from hydropower. Then there are big projects like 400 MW Upper Karnali, 402 MW Arun III, among others, which are all going to be run of the river type. "That is why we have got to be careful about the WCD report before it actually comes into force," participants said.

One of them pointed out that the report is silent on the issues of catchment areas. "Under its topic "sustaining rivers and livelihood", the report only talks about riparian countries but it does not mention about the catchment areas," said P.B. Adiga, one of the participants. "It has missed out these important areas that are very important for the sustainability of rivers."

The WCD report, according to water resources consultant S.M. Poudel, is ambiguous on issues of river basin, large dams, and shared rivers. "Moreover, the report requires dam builders to notify too frequently the riparian countries about the dams being made on shared rivers."

According to Dr. Upendra Gautam, Executive Member of the Water Development Association, the objective of the workshop was to make the WCD practicable in terms of local hydropower development. "Such discussions are taking place worldwide and so we should follow suit since we are also increasingly depending on hydropower."

After the construction of the large dams kicked the dust of controversy worldwide, the World Bank in 1988 formed the World Commission on Dams. The commission has reviewed global experience of the social benefits of large dams – 15 meter or more high and with a reservoir volume of more than three million cubic meter–and has made recommendations on decision-making process and basic principles for planning and carrying out such projects.

The World Bank however, has not taken the WCD report as its bible to evaluate dams around the world.

TRN editor appointed GC Board member

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: The Ministry of Information and Communications has, according to Section 8.1 (e) of the Gorkhapatra Corporation Act 2019, appointed Lok Deep Thapa, Acting Editor-in-Chief of The Rising Nepal, to the Corporation’s Board of Directors as representative of the employees of the Corporation.

Australia supports measure to curb violence

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: The Government of Australia has supported the Government of Nepal in its efforts to bring an environment of peace and stability back to the Kingdom.

In a statement issued today, the Australian Ambassador to Nepal Crispin Conroy, said the Government of Australia condemns the resumption of the armed campaign by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

In the statement, the Australian government also called upon the Maoists to cease hostilities and move to peacefully resolve the issues facing the country through dialogue within the democratic framework established by the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

TU sets up body to scrutinize certificates

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: Use of fake certificates for employment in government and state owned organisations has been a severe problem across the country. There are number of cases of such fake certificates even in civil service and state owned enterprises. However, such cases have not been brought into the notice of the concerned office yet. Having realised the severity of the problem, Tribhuwan University (TU), the pioneer university in the country has begun scrutinising the certificates of all academics or teachers of TU and its staffs. TU has formed a seven member 'High level Commission for Investigation of Education Certificates.' The commission will submit its report within two months. Tribhuwan University has already decided to take actions against those who will be proved guilty.

Meanwhile, according to TU sources Rs. 250,000 and two sets of computer have been from School for International Training of America. The representative of School for International Training handed over computers and cash amid a function here today.

According to TU sources, both institutions had entered into an agreement for education exchange in 1996. A revolving fund would be instituted by the donated amount Rs 250,000 and the interest of the principal amount would be used for the purpose of scholarship in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in the CINAS.

One set of computer will be used by CINAS and the other will be used by International Relations Center.

UML committed to democracy: Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 5: CPN-UML General Secretary and leader of main opposition party in Parliament Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the UML believes on multi-party democracy and peaceful solution of all problems.

"The Maoists are trying to impose one party rule and subjugate all oppositions, " General Secretary Nepal told a gathering of editors and publishers of national dailies at a programme organised at UML’s Central office Balkhu today.

Nepal further said that the UML strongly opposed this philosophy of the Maoists and also the cruelties perpetrated by them in different parts of the country for the last six years.

The UML chief also described in detail the cruel actions of Maoists who had killed at least 41 UML cadres and supporters across the country and questioned, "Which ideology teaches such cruelty, how can such barbaric and inhuman practices be accepted and how can they justify such acts?".

He termed the Maoists’ ideology distortion in the name of Marxism. The UML has called upon the Maoists to shun the violence and come into the path of peace, he said.

Except in some pocket areas, the Maoists have lost their popularity everywhere, noted the opposition leader.

Nepal strongly urged the Maoists’ to disband their militants as well.

He expressed the views that majority of people are now tired of the Maoists because of their activities.

On the current situation of the country, Nepal remarked that the UML did not want to present obstacle to government for the moment. "We want the present problem to be resolved peacefully and the people to enjoy peace."

The opposition leader cautioned that the government should resort to less use of power in the time of emergency.

The government should initiate the programmes for the well being of the people.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Nepal informed that he met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and apprised the PM about some lapses that the government had committed in the emergency situation.

He also informed that the UML had formed a team to monitor the present state of situation.

Kumaratunga, Khaleda Zia invited for SAARC Summit

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, on deputation as the special envoy of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, reached Colombo last night.

The main purpose of Minister Mahat’s visit is to hand deliver the respective letter of invitations from Prime Minister Deuba to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka and President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Maldives to attend the eleventh SAARC Summit to be held in Nepal from 4-6 January, 2002.

He was warmly received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka G. Wijayasiri and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bal Bahadur Kunwar.

Dr Mahat also attended a luncheon hosted yesterday in his honour by Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Colombo-based ambassadors of all the SAARC countries, Foreign Secretary Wijayasiri and senior officials of Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka were present at the luncheon.

SAARC Summit

On the occasion, Dr Mahat discussed matters of bilateral interest and present security situation in Nepal with Foreign Minister Kadirgamar.

He also briefed all present at the luncheon on the preparations made so far for the 11th SAARC Summit.

Meanwhile RSS reports that Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya handed over today an invitation letter from Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to attend the 11th SAARC Summit to be held in Kathmandu from January 4 to 6.

On the occasion, Minister Acharya briefed Prime Minister Khalida Zia on the preparatory works being undertaken to make the Summit successful and also on some of the important agenda items to be considered at the Summit meeting.

Accepting the invitation letter Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia expressed happiness about the smooth preparation going on for the Summit and wished the Summit a good success, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka.

On the occasion they also exchanged views on matters of bilateral importance.

Later in the afternoon, Minister Acharya paid separate courtesy calls on M. Morshed Khan, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, and Motiur Rahman Nizami, Minister of Agriculture of Bangladesh and discussed matters of bilateral and mutual interest.

Earlier in the morning, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh paid a courtesy call on Minister Acharya.

Earlier, as a special envoy of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya had reached Dhaka on Tuesday evening to hand over Prime Minister Deuba’s invitation to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia to attend the 11th SAARC Summit to be held in Kathmandu from January 4 to 6, 2002.

Minister Acharya was accorded a warm welcome upon arrival at the Zia International Airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Reaz Rahman, Charfe d’Affaires of the Royal Nepalese Embassy Arun P Dhital and high ranking officials of the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh.

His Majesty felicitates

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): His Majesty the King has extended cordial felicitations to President Madame Tarja Halonen of the Republic of Finland on the occasion of the Independence Day of Finland.

In a message, His Majesty has expressed best wishes for the President's personal health and happiness and for the progress and prosperity of the people of Finland.

His Majesty has also expressed confidence that the friendly relations between Nepal and Finland will grow from strength to strength in the years to come.

PM greets Lipponen

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has extended sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen of the Republic of Finland on the occasion of the Independence Day of Finland.

In a message, Prime Minister Deuba has wished Prime Minister Lipponen good health and happiness and the people of Finland progress and prosperity.

NC to study impact of emergency

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): A meeting of the Nepali Congress central organisation department today has decided to visit various districts of the country to study the impact of the State of Emergency.

In the preliminary phase, it will visit the districts of Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Terhathum, Ramechhap, Chitwan, Kavrepalanchowk, Baglung, Syangja, Rukum, Dang and Kailali to study the impact of the emergency.

The meeting decided to launch various programmes of the organisation in all the three districts of the valley by maintaining coordination with the party presidents of the three districts and the convenor of the Central Region Development Coordination Committee. The meeting also appointed department member and MP Shiv Prasad Humangain as member-secretary of the department.

Chief of the department Krishna Prasad Sitaula had chaired the meeting.

Keep identity cards Home Ministry urges to all

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): In course of making more active security personnel in order to avoid any untoward incidents, the Home Ministry has urged one and all to keep with them some kind of documents (citizenship certificate, voters' identity card, driving license or other papers) for their identity while travelling in public places from 10 pm to 5 am in Kathmandu.

The ministry also urged the people to dial up the telephone Nos. 243715 and 243810 of the Home Ministry, 412780 of the police headquarters and 100, 110 and 120 of police control if any undue pressures or threats are given to them.

Curfew in 4 districts

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): The District Administration Offices of Dang, Dhading, Sindhupalchok and Syangja have imposed curfews at places including the district headquarters from 7 p.m. today to 5 a.m. tomorrow to ensure law and order in those districts.

Curfew in Siraha dist

Siraha, Dec. 5 (RSS): Keeping in view the law and order situation of Siraha district, the district administration office has imposed a curfew in major town areas like Lahan and Mirchaiya bazaar in the district from 8 at night today to 4 in the morning next day pursuant to the rights provided for by the Local Administrative Act.

According to district security committee chairman and CDO Bhola Prasad Shiwakoti, all the retail outlets in Lahan and Mirchaiya Bazaar need to be closed by 8 at night and the names of the clients who come to stay at hotels and lodges need to be submitted at the district police office and district administration office.

Similarly, no vehicles will be allowed to operate on the route from Chouharsa to Madar Bazaar, a border town in India, from 8 at night to 4 in the morning next day. Notification has also been issued to the general people not to move in groups.

The district administration office has also made arrangements for hot-line telephone service to inform about any suspects staying at any private residence or hotel or lodge.

All the people of the district have also been requested to give prompt information about any untoward incident or any suspect at sight to any of the nearby police office since the security personnel have been deployed throughout the district to protect the life and property of the general people and to bring the violence and offensive activities under control.

The identity of the informer will be kept secret, it is stated by the district administration office.

'Dhankuta people feel safe'

Hile (Dhankuta), Dec. 6 (RSS): The people of Dhankuta district, who were under constant fear of Maoist attacks, are feeling safe following the declaration of a State of Emergency.

With the Royal Nepal Army starting patrols in the district, the people have seen a decline in Maoist activity. Hence they feel quite safe.

The local administration has arrested teachers Thakur Baral and Jagat Pokharel of Dhankuta Multiple Campus, Megh Raj Shankar, Chhatra Shankar, Lal Bahadur Nepali, Balkrishna Sharma and some others for suspected involvement in Maoist activity.

Likewise, local people foiled an attempt by a gang of armed Maoists to destroy a police post at Jitpur VDC in the district.

With the Maoists fleeing to safer places out of fear of action by the security forces, hopes for peace have rekindled. The security forces have been mobilised for the security of life and property, according to CDO Shambhu Koirala.

Meanwhile, l3 Maoist workers have given themselves up to the District Administration Office.

The Maoist workers, one of them member of the so called Maoist ilaka people's government Mohan Gurung, cited their opposition to the criminal activities being perpetrated by the Maoists throughout the country and their desire to live as normal citizens as the reason behind their surrender, according to the CDO.

SC issues mandamus

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus to the Teachers Service Commission to settle the remaining works with regard to recruitment of permanent teachers as per the advertisement published in 2052 since the written examination and interviews have already been carried out.

A joint bench of Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and Justice Kedar Prasad Giri had issued this order.

Teacher candidates Gopal Prasad Bhandari, Tanka Prasad Gautam, Hari Sharan Pandit and Sharmila Paudel had filed writ petitions.

The directive of the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to take necessary actions against writ petitioner former education minister Govind Raj Joshi has been also nullified.

Former education minister Govind Raj Joshi had filed a writ petition against the CIAA's decision on Chait 29, 2057.

The CIAA had stopped appointment of 14,000 teachers by accusing the Minister of making the fifth amendment to the education regulations, 2049. A total of 84,000 candidates had passed the written exams and had even attended the interviews.

Those pleading on behalf of the petitioners senior advocates Ganesh Raj Sharma and Kushum Shrestha and Motikaji Sthapit and Mukunda Regmi, Yagya Murti Banjade and Lalit Bahadur Basnet.

PM attends reception

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba attended a reception hosted by Thai Ambassador Powthep Vanachinda on the occasion of the auspicious birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibool Adulyadej of Thailand here today.

Others present at the reception were the Chief Justice, the chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee, leader of the main opposition party, ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, chiefs and representatives of diplomatic missions and other distinguished individuals.

Best wishes conveyed

Kathmandu, Dec. 5 (RSS): As commanded by His Majesty the King, chief of the Royal Household Sardar Sarada Prasad Pradhan today went to the residence of Ambassador of Thailand to Nepal Powthep Vanachinda at Maharajgunj and conveyed best wishes on behalf of His Majesty on the occasion of the auspicious birthday of the King of Thailand and the National Day of Thailand.

Security arrangements in Kailali discussed

Dhangadhi, Dec. 5 (RSS): A meeting of chiefs of all the district-based offices convened at the district administration office today decided that the chiefs of the government and non-government offices, banks, corporations and agencies operating in the district will make arrangements for a fully reliable internal security mechanism at their respective offices.

The meeting, called by the district administration office in view of the present situation of the country, decided that services which the general people are entitled from the offices would be provided in a prompt manner, the office chiefs would be allowed to go out of the district only with the prior approval of the concerned department and division and with permission from the district administration office, development and construction works would be expedited and any public programmes to be organised at the service-centre and VDC level would be carried out only after informing the security agencies about the programmes and the rehabilitation of the former Kamaiyas would be effectively pursued.

Actions initiated

The meeting has also constituted a two-member follow-up committee for the regular follow up of these decisions.

Addressing the meeting, chief district officer Khagendra Dev Joshi called upon all the civil servants to fulfill their respective duties and responsibilities sensetively, keeping the present situation of the country in mind.

Meanwhile, the district administration office, Kailali, has initiated action against employees who were found absent from office during a surprise check carried out by the district administration at the district-based government offices which have the most contact with the general people.

Twenty-two gazetted class employees and 219 non-gazetted employees were found absent during the surprise check conducted from 10:10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. today.

A large number of employees of the district hospital, the district development committee, municipality, the district education office and other offices directly concerned with the general public were found to be absent from duty in course of the surprise check, the district administration office stated.