HR training for lawyers winds up

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 7: British Ambassador to Nepal Ronald P. Nash presented the certificates of participation to lawyers who completed the six-month long Internship Training on Human Rights Laws and Issues of Penal Reform here today.

Speaking on the occasion, The British Ambassador said that since Nepal has ratified many international treaties on human rights, it has an obligation to adhere human rights standards. "The interns from Center for Victims of Torture, Nepal (CVICT) can be helpful in working toward this end," Ambassador Nash maintained.

The British Embassy financed internship training programme was designed for the working lawyers to enhance their knowledge on both theoretical and practical aspects of human rights law, its developing jurisprudence and the issues of Penal Reform.

The training was also aimed at making new lawyers capable to bring cases of human rights violations to the national courts using international human rights instruments, states the press release issued today by CVICT, Nepal.

During the training programme, the participants also learnt the ideas of working together with human rights organisations and national legal bodies. Member of National Human Rights Commission Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das was also present on the award giving ceremony.

Khadka gives instructions for services to entrepreneurs

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 7: The Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Supply has made special time bound provisions for the services and facilities being provided by the departments and committees under the Ministry.

A meeting chaired by Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supply Purna Bahadur Khadka at his office today extensively discussed various facets of services and facilities to be provided by the departments and committees under the Ministry.

At the meeting Minister Khadka gave instructions to the departments and committees to fulfill their responsibilities promptly and efficiently, and to implement the action in a systematic and proper manner so that the people can directly feel that the government is aware and concern to address the people's problems and expectations.

Under the time bound action, the Department of Industry will provide services related to license for middle and large industries, foreign investment, visa recommendation, patent related to industrial products, trade mark and design registration, transfer of ownership, renewal, shifting of industries and services related to investment and industrial consultations.

The Department of Cottage and Small Industries will provide services related to industrial administration, registration of industries, capital investment, capacity increment, relocation, licensing, and industrial services.

Similarly, it will provide training for skill development and industrial promotion.

All the above-mentioned services will be provided within a week's time.

Similarly, the Department of Commerce has made special provisions for providing services. Under these provisions, it will provide permission for the change of customs point, license for quota and non-quota goods.

Under the department, a provision has been made to provide transit facilities for the import of goods used in mountaineering, issue certificate of origins, and license to garment industries.

Besides, the department gives permission to clarify customs and delivers description for L/C to Kolkata.

Similarly the department will furnish the job of renewal of firm, agencies within two days.

According to the Ministry, the following services are related to the Department of Mines and Geology such as - activities concerning the excavation of mines and services related to laboratory etc.

The license for survey of mines will be given within 3 days, the same for the excavation of mines will be given within one month.

The agreement paper for general construction-related mines will be given to the DDC within 15 days.

The renewal of license will be accomplished within 3 days and the recommendation for the export of samples of mines for geo-laboratory tests will be given within 3 days.

Likewise in the services related to laboratory and others, the services related to chemical analysis of mines will be provided from 7 to 15 days, services related to identification of petrological, minerological tests will be provided from 3 to 5 days. Similarly, the notices, reports, maps and statistics related to investigation of mines and geo-scientific tests will be provided within a day. The educational tours related to rocks and mines identification will be finalised within 3 days and the information regarding earthquakes will be provided within one hour.

Army foils attempted terrorist attacks

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 7: Security forces of Royal Nepalese Army have repulsed the Maoists attacks in the army posts of Myagdi, Dolpa, Salyan and Jumla districts.

According to the Defence Ministry, Maoists suffered some casualties from the retaliatory firing from security forces at army post situated at Ghodepani of Myagdi Districts.The casualties suffered by the terrorists could not be assessed because the terrorists were seen dragging their fellows after they were injured by security forces.

However, the Defence Ministry communiqué said that the security forces have so far suffered no damage in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, the Security personnel have taken 30 persons under their custody from the different parts of the country in its efforts to quell terrorists’ activities, the Ministry of Defence stated today.

Continuing the cordon and search operations, the Royal Nepalese Army have arrested 10 suspected Maoists in Ghansikuwa, near Damauli of Tanahu District and five from Bharaula Village of Sunsari District. Likewise, the security forces have arrested four suspected terrorists each from Bhaktapur’s Jhaukhel and Sinhduplachok’s Maneshwor Village. Two persons of Harichaur of Baglung and three of Kusma, Parbat were also following army’s search operations in those areas.

Babu Ram Adhikari of Khoplang of Gorkha District has been caught with some ammunition and terrorism related documents. A teacher named Krishna Shrestha of Ram Shah Secondary School of the same village has also been arrested. Likewise, Ramesh Shirish, Ward Chairman from Tara Village Development Commiittee and a headmaster named Man Bahadur Thapa of Argal, Baglung District have also been taken into custody for the investigation regarding their connections with terrorists and acts of terrorism.

Meanwhile, RSS reports from Chautara: Sindhupalchok district administration office has imposed curfew in some parts of all the three constituencies of the district for an indefinite period in accordance with the Local Administration Act-2028 B.S..

According to the office, the curfew has been imposed in the area from Shahidchowk, Chautara to Thado Kholsa, west of the district veterinary service office, and in the periphery of Bhirkuna from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning.

Similarly, curfew has also been imposed in the periphery of Laxmangaunda in Chautara from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning.

Curfew has been imposed from Khakdal River of Barhabise to the hospital area and from the embankment area of Sunkoshi Hydro Power Project to Lamosanghu Bazaar area from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning.

Likewise, a curfew has also been imposed from Tipeni of Bhotenamlang VDC to Bahunepati Bazaar and the periphery of the road from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning.

Movement prohibition ordered

Janakpurdham, Dec. 7 (RSS): An all party meeting convened under Chief District Officer Narendra Raj Poudel at the district administration office yesterday has decided prohibit the movement of vehicles within Janakpur Municipality from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. in the morning in order to control terrorist activities and maintain peace and security in the area.

The meeting unanimously decided that permission should be taken from the security personnel if a vehicle had to be used for transporting a sick person to the treatment centre.

At the meeting it was agreed that ordinary persons should not wear clothes or sell cloth similar to the uniform used by the security personnel.

It also decided not to allow people to drive rickshaws without a licence and prohibit running of rickshaws without lights during the night within the municipality.

The meeting also decided to request the security force and city police to make arrangements for the security of the religious places of Janakpurdham, and the Janakour Municipality and greater Janakpur area development council to remove shops a round the Janaki temple and to keep the area clean.

The meeting was attended by NC Dhanusha district president Ramkrishna Yadav, secretary of the CPN-UML district committee Ratneswore Goit, president of NSP district committee Bijaya Lal Das, Prakash Jung Rana of RPP, Bishnu Bhattarai of CPN-ML, Laxman Gautam of SJM, chairman of Dhanusha District Development Committee Ramcharitra Saha, president of Janakpur Chamber of Industry and Commerce Ramnaresh Saha, Mayor of Janakpur Municipality Bajarang Prasad Saha and Deupty Mayor Kishori Saha.

Meanwhile, the district offices at various districts have imposed curfews with a view to ensuring law and order, in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the kingdom.

The districts where curfew has been clamped are Syangja, Dang, Dhading and Tanahu.

The curfew will be effective from this evening till tomorrow morning.

SAARC enters 16th year

Kathmandu, Dec. 8 (RSS): Established with the goals of reinforcing mutual cooepration on issues of common interests, promoting collective self-reliance among the South Asian nations and ensuring peace, stability and cooperation in the region, SAARC or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has completed 16 years today.

During this period, 10 summits have been concluded and preparations are on for the eleventh. SAARC has identified different areas of mutual cooperation and learnt to co-exist together. in line with spirit of regional unity developed in Asia in the 1980's, the then President of Bangladesh Ziaur Raheman came up with the concept of SAARC. Thus, SAARC was born out of the realisation for regional brotherhood and peace.

The heads of states and governments of the SAARC Nations- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, the Maldieves, Nepal and Sri Lanka- had met in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh on Dec 7, 1985. the very next day, they formally launched a regional body, SAARC. Dec 8 has been observed as SAARC day ever since

In fact, SAARC has come a long way passing through many phases. The first objective of SAARC set up as a regional grouping was to promote and reinforce mutual cooperation in social, economic, cultural, technical and scientific areas. The SAARC Charter passed at its first summit has expressed allegiance to the UN Charter and the principle of non-alignment. its emphasis on sovereign equality, regional integrity, national independence and non-interference in internal affairs of another country have enhanced the glory and importance of this regional body.

SAARC has identified different venues of cooperation and moved through for further streamlining mutual cooperation among the countries of the region and strengthening the mutual relationship. the areas of cooperation identified so far include agriculture, communication, education, culture, sports, environment and climate, health, population and children's welfare, narcotic trade and control of drug addiction, rural development, science and technology, tourism, transport and women in development.

REGIONAL COOPERATION

Since the inception of SAARC, four different regional conventions and agreements have already been signed. these include SAARC Food Security Storage, SAARC Regional Convention against terrorism, SAARC Regional Convention against Drug Abuse and SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA). Similarly, the SAARC agriculture information center, SAARC TB Center, SAARC records center, SAARC Hydrology Research Center and SAARC Human Resources Development Center have also been set up with the objective of continuing concerted efforts for mutual cooperation.

Likewise, the dialogue and deliberations that is being held at the joint forum in connection with alleviation of poverty, which is a major common problem of the entire SAARC region, can be considered an achievement in itself. the programme of poverty alleviation was adopted at the Fourth SAARC Summit meeting vowing to alleviate poverty at the regional level by 2002.

Likewise, several programmes of mutual benefit and exchange of cooperation aimed at promoting common self-reliance among the people of the region have been adopted by various earlier summit meetings of the regional forum.

President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is the only SAARC leader who has participated in all the ten SAARC summits held so far. Similarly, Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wanchuk has continously attended the SAARC Summits from the first summit to the ninth. But at the tenth SAARC Summit in Sri Lanka, Bhutan was represented by chairman of the Bhutanese council of ministers.

However, His late Majesty King Birendra had participated from the first to the fourth SAARC summits from Nepal. Thereafter, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai took part in the fifth SAARC Summit, former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala in the sixth, seventh and tenth SAARC summits, then prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari in the eighth SAARC Summit and ex-prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand in the ninth SAARC Summit.

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is the first woman head of government to attend the SAARC Summit in SAARC history. She attended the fourth SAARC Summit in Pakistan for the first time in 1988.

A lot of exercise on matters of mutual interest, peace and cooperation has been done by all the member countries in the sixteen years of SAARC history. The deliberations on common problems and exchange of comraderie by the heads of state or governments of each member country that has taken place at all of the SAARC Summits is considered as the major achievement of the SAARC process.

Ever since its inception, Nepal has remained committed to this regional cooperation forum. in this connection, the significant role played by one of the founding leaders of SAARC His late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah for the consolidation of the SAARC organisation with the sole conviction that SAARC can be the only reliable means for deciding the fate of the people of the region affilicted by poverty, illiteracy and backwardness is still fresh in the memory of the people of this region.

Acharya, Sattar discuss SAARC bilateral issues

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives and special envoy of the Prime Minister, Mahesh Acharya called on Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar in Islamabad on Friday.

During the occasion, the two ministers exchanged views on various matters concerning SAARC as well as the bilateral relations between Nepal and Pakistan, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Acharya said that His Majesty’s Government of Nepal is keen to welcome Minister Sattar to the forthcoming 11th SAARC Summit.

In response, Minister Sattar said that he was very much looking forward to visiting Nepal to attend the SAARC Summit and the SAARC council of ministers meeting.

Present on the occasion were Rashed Saleem Khan of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Foreign Under Secretary Gopal Bahadur Thapa and Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Islamabad Muktinath Bhatta.

Later in the evening, Minister Sattar hosted a dinner in honour of Minister Acharya.

Prominent among the invitees were Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of Pakistan Khair Muhammad Junejo, senior officials of the Pakistani foreign ministry, former secretaries and former ambassadors.

Plan on anvil to build capacity of contractors

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Secretary at the Minister of Physical Planning and Works Dinesh Chandra Pyakhurel, speaking at the concluding session of the seminar on "Procurement of civil works" jointly organised by the Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal (FCAN) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), said that His Majesty’s Government is ready to give priority to the contractors of the private sector while carrying out civil works.

Pyakhurel said that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has constituted the Contractors Development Council with the objective of making the Nepalese contractors capable of taking part in international tenders.

ADB expert Robert Rothari had apprised the 50 participants of the two-day seminar of the procurement guidelines of ADB, and the terms and condition of international competitive bidding and local competitive bidding systems adopted by ADB.

On the occasion, the local participants requested the donor agencies to increase the criteria for local competitive bidding from the existing one million to three million U.S. dollars taking into consideration the enhancement of the capacity and efficiency of the Nepalese contractors.

Stating that the seminar had been very beneficial for the Nepalese contractors, the participants stressed the need to bring uniformity in the procurement guidelines of the ADB and World Bank and the Financial Administration Regulations of His Majesty’s Government.

The participants also drew the attention of the ADB towards the loss of time and funds suffered by the Nepalese contractors as a result of the disqualification made by the ADB headquarters of the pre-qualification tenders submitted by them for the Melamchi Drinking Water Project with the approval of the ADB Resident Mission in Kathmandu.

Quake socks Darchula

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the richter scale with epicenter at Manipal rocked Darchula district at around 10:35 a.m. this morning, according to the mines and seismological office, Surkhet.

Condolence

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has, in a condolence message, said that he was shocked on hearing about the demise of president of the Nepal Peasants Association and former MP Suryabhakta Adhikari.

Deuba has wished for eternal peace to the departed soul and extended heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family during this hour of grief.

Noting that the late Adhikari had spent eight years in jail during the democratic movement of 2007 B.S., Deuba said that the Nepali Congress had lost a dedicated politician and Nepal a faithful citizen as a result of the demise the late Adhikari.

Forest to get special priority in Tenth Plan

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): A dicussion programme was organiSed by the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation yesterday in connection with formulating the Tenth Plan for the forest sector.

Speaking on the occasion Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha said that the forests will not be allowed to be used for other purpose in order to reduce the pressure on forest from every sector.

After the restoration of democracy in the country, community forests have been expanded, and forest, wildlife and watershed protection works carried out more effectively, Mr. Shrestha said, stressing the need to give special attention in the Tenth Plan to development of forest resources as it would contribute to tourism and forest-based industries.

Shrestha said that the private sector should be encouraged to develop hotels in the leased forests, wildlife developed in the private sector and other income generation programmes launched.

The minister said that forest development programmes should be launched with the participation of the private sector.

Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Surendra Hamal expressed the view that all the programmes to be carried out under the leadship of the Ministry in the forest sector. The National Planning Commission should play the coordinating role, he added.

Member of the National Planning Commission Harishanker Tripathy said that special programmes should be introduced to generate revenue as the forests were generating more indirect than direct income at present.

Secretary at the Ministry Chandi Prasad Shrestha said that special programme should be launched for protection of the Chure region and watershed management as it would contribute to conservation of the arable areas.

He also stressed the need to create an atmosphere of competitiveness in utilisation of forest resources in the country.

On the occasion the participants expressed the view that overall development of forest resources could take place only by according the forest sector national priority, management of forests should be carried out intensively to increase productivity of existing forests, and bio-diversity conserved for promotion of agro and tourism industries.

NSP meeting

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): A national executive meeting of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) will be held under the chairmanship of party president Gajendra Narayan Singh at Saptari Sewa Ashram, Rajbiraj on December 9.

The meeting will review the current political landscape and the future course of action of the party, it is mentioned in a press release issued by the party here today.

His Majesty nominates

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): His Majesty the King, in His Majesty's capacity as patron of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), has nominated His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev as chairman of the KMTNC in accordance with the KMTNC Act 2039.

This is stated in a notice published today by the principal press secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Condolences expressed

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Shiva Raj Joshi has expressed condolences on the death of Mrs Kaushila Shahi, mother of Karna Bahadur Shahi, Nepali Congress General Convention representative and member of the party’s Dailekh district working committee, at the age of 95 on Thursday.

Minister of State Joshi paid tributes to the departed soul and extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

Similarly, Nepali Congress district working committee president and former assistant minister Ganesh Bahadur Khadka, former Nepali Congress district president Jagat Jung Thapa, Nepali Congress general convention representative Chakranath Yogi and former DDC vice-chairman Khadka Bahadur Sijapati have also expressed their condolences on the passing away of Mrs Shahi.

Meanwhile, Nepal Tarun Dal published a statement here today expressing profound grief at the tragic demise yesterday morning of leader of the Nepali Congress and president of Nepal Farmers Association, Surya Bhakta Adhikari.

The statement signed by Dal president Balkrishna Khand states that in the death of Adhikari who had made significant contributions in the Democratic Movement of Nepal, the country and especially the democratic forces have suffered an irreparable loss.

Likewise, Nepal Trade Union Congress, Nepal Freedom Fighters Association, and Nepal Oppressed Association have issued separate press releases expressing profound grief at Adhikari’s untimely demise.

Review meet of UNDP/GEF funded projects

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): A tripartite review meeting of UNDP/GEF funded projects has conducted at the auditorium of the Central Zoo, Lalitpur.

The meeting was chaired by member secretary of KMTNC Jai Pratap Rana.

KMTNC with support from UNDP/GEF has been implementing a Tiger-Rhino Conservation Project in Chitwan and a Biodiversity Conservation Project in Upper Mustang.

On the occasion, Rana mentioned the background and philosophy of the projects.

Alessandra Tisot, deputy resident representative of UNDP and the national programme directors of both projects also spoke at the function.

The meeting reviewed past performance and also discussed the issues faced while implementing the programme.

The meting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Finance, UNDP, KMTNC and DNPWC.

Buddhist meet
informed of works in Lumbini

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Vice-chairman of Lumbini Development Trust Omkar Prasad Gauchan returned home after taking part in the meeting of the World Buddhist Brotherhood Federation executive committee being held in Malaysia from December 1-2.

On the occasion Gauchan informed the participants of the meeting that conservation works of the Maya Devi temple and other archaeological areas excavated in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha is targetted to be completed within the next two years.

He also informed the Buddhist gathering that the central canal, pedestrain road along both sides of the canal, arrangements for drinking water and taxi park works would be carried out with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank in accordance with the Lumbini Development Master Plan.

Gauchan said that the meeting decided to constitute a special Lumbini committee with the objective of extending concrete cooperation for development of Lumbini.

Kumaratunga, Gayoom invited for SAARC meet

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Minister for Finance Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, as the special envoy of the Prime Minister, called on Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, president of the democracy socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the current chairperson of SAARC, this afternoon in Colombo and handed over to her the letter of invitations from Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to attend the llth SAARC Summit to be held in January 2002 in Kathmandu, .

During the meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, the Minister apprised her of the on going preparations for the llth SAARC Summit in Nepal and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern.

Present on the occasion were Lakshman Kadirgamar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and Bal Bahadur Kunwar, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

The Minister of Finance met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the chairman of the SAARC Council of Minister, and discussed matters relating to preparations for the llth SAARC Summit to be held in Nepal.

Dr. Mahat, while on a visit to the Maldives earlier, also handed over the letter of invitations from the Prime Minister to Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of the Maldives, to attend the llth SAARC Summit.

The Minister also held consultations with Fathulla Jameel, Minsiter for Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, on preparations for the llth SAARC Summit and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Dr Mahat will return home on 8th December, 2001.

Promise of job in Taiwan, Ireland is fraud

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): A meeting of the central foreign employment advisory committee was today presided over by Minister for Labour and Transport Management Palten Gurung at his office at Singha Durbar.

At the meeting, Minister Gurung referred to the programme to be introduced by HMG for promoting foreign employment, its importance and the present situation in this regard.

Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Shiva Raj Joshi and secretary at the Ministry Poshan Nath Nepal were also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion has issued a notice poionting out that as HMG has not given any permission for sending workers to Taiwan and Ireland so far, nobody should submit their passport or money to any person or agency in this connection nor such persons or agencies be lent credence.

The department has also stated that if anyone has any information in this regard, the department or the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management should be informed together with relevant evidence.

Bijukchhe for refined ideology

Bhaktapur, Dec. 7 (RSS): President of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, inaugurating the 14th district convention of Nepal Revolutionary Youth Association (NRYA) here today, called upon youth to undertake a vigorous reading of Marxist, Leninist and Maoist ideology and deepen their ideological knowledge.

He expressed the view that the Maoists' call for a constituent assembly is inappropriate at this stage.

NRYA central coordinator Gyan Sagar Prajapati said that the youth should be conscious and organised in these present times.

Also expressing their views at the programme presided over by NRYA 14th district convention coordinator Rameshwar Bohara were NWPP district representative Chandra Bahadur Ulak, Ukesh Kanwa of the Nepal Revolutionary Workers Association, district president of Nepal Revolutionary Teachers Association Uddhav Sujakhu, district president of Nepal Revolutionary Women's Association Kamala Maiya Suwal, Ram Prasad Prajapati of Nepal Revolutionary Students Association, Kaji Bahadur Pancha of Nepal Revolutionary Peasants Association and Pancha Ratna Sainju of Nepal Revolutionary Labourers Association.

Courtesy call

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Zenji Kaminaga paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's office today.

On the occasion, talks were held on matters of mutual interest.

TU result

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Office of the Controller of Examinations T.U. today published results of the three-year bachelor's course second year held under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in the months of Asad/Srawan.

New US envoy

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Ambassador of the United States of America to Nepal Michael E. Malinowski arrived here today.

He was received at the Tribhuwan International Airport by ADC to His Majesty the King and a protocol officer.

'No cutback on education budget'

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 (RSS): Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyay has said the government has made the seventh amendment to the Education Act with the objective of improving the education system.

Upadhyay, who was speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters' Club today, said the amendment aims at strengthening education management, ensuring quality teaching and making teachers accountable to students.

Stating that the government will fully abide by the verdict of the Supreme Court, he noted that the education service commission will advance necessary works.

The state of emergency has been declared as per the constitutional provisions with the aim of maintaining peace and security in the country, he said, adding that the government is fully alert to see to it that people's rights will not be restricted.

The Education Minister also made it clear that there will be no cutback on the budget for education.

'Govt has full support from Nepali Congress'

Chitwan, Dec. 7 (RSS): Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala has said that after the Maoists withdrew from the talks despite the flexibility demonstrated by the government, and resorted to terrorist and disruptive activities, the State of Emergency has been declared and the army has been mobilised for maintaining peace and security.

Talking to pressmen at Narayangadh today, Koirala noted that the Congress Party has thrown full weight behind the government.

The NC leader also called on all the people and party workers to help the government.

63 suspected terrorists held, 279 surrender

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Biratnagar, Dec. 7: The District Administration of Morang district has arrested 60 Maoist workers under suspicion of them being terrorists. Chief District Office Dolakh Bahadur Gurung says they are being investigated.

Gurung also said that 29 Maoist terrorists were attacked at the remote village of Tandi of the district.

Gurung also said there has been massive search operation of the army, armed police and police to control and contain the activities of the Maoist terrorists. "The terrorists cannot escape," he said.

He also said there has been an all-party consensus to control the Maoists’ terrorist activities. Under the agreement the vehicles are prohibited from plying from 8 P.M. in the evening to 5 A.M. the next morning and all shops except chemists and pharmacists are closed from 8:30 onwards.

The CDO also said three terrorists have surrendered themselves before the district administration office.

Meanwhile, RSS adds from Charikot (Dolakha), Gupta Bahadur Basnet, forest assistant and Gautam Thapa, forest guard of the district forest office, and Upendra Pradhan, computer operator of Gramin Bikash Tuki Sangh have been arrested and investigation initiated against them on the suspicion of being involved with the Maoist terrorists.

Meanwhile 276 office-bearers of the so-called village people’s government and class organisations affiliated with the CPN-Maoist terrorists have surrendered to the authorities, it is learnt.

Life unaffected by threat from terrorists

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 7 The disruption in normal lives tried to be caused by threats from terrorists failed miserably. People in general did not heed to it.

Although few shops at the city centre were closed, life in most parts of the Kathmandu Valley was normal. Shops in almost all other parts of the Valley were open and it was business as usual. Vehicles both private and public and also three-wheelers were seen plying on the streets till late in the evening but at slightly less in number.

The government has provided full security as mentioned in an appeal of the Home Ministry yesterday and there were no untoward incidents. There were security personnel at every corner and intersection of the Valley to foil any attempt to obstruct the normal functioning of the city.

Unlike several strikes in the past, people looked assured of safety and security and life appeared perfectly normal without disruption of any kind.

According to RSS: asked about the law and order situation, Home Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Panday told RSS that with the security personnel further activated, no untoward incident could take place.