Emergency move only to target terrorists: Khadka

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Dang, Dec. 18: Minister for Home and Local Development Khum Bahadur Khadka said here today that the government was doing an extensive homework to introduce some social reform programmes in the country within a few days.

"The Chairman of the National Planning Commission is chalking out programmes that the government will introduce soon," Minister Khadka told to a Press meet organised by Nepal Press Union.

Minister Khadka, came to his home district for the first time after the State of Emergency was declared in the country, made it clear that the new situation had not curtailed the people’s right to information. "The move only targets the terrorists, not the people in general."

Home Minister refuted allegations that that innocent citizens were being killed in the anti-terrorist operation by the army personnel and said the reports were baseless.

The government is fully aware that innocent people should not suffer during the Emergency period, Khadka said, adding that the government has instructed the security forces to take caution in that regard.

Home Minister Khadka is on his inspection tour of the Mid-Western and Far Western development regions to see the law and order situation there.

Khadka said the people have felt a sense of security and peace around the nook and corner of the country after the Royal Nepalese Army soldiers were mobilised for the purpose.

In a reply to a query, the Home Minister expressed the view that the government was fully satisfied with the ongoing military operation against the terrorists.

At the function, MP and Nepali Congress central member Bal Dev Sharma Majagaiya said that the State of Emergency had not affected the activities of the party. "We are handling the party’s activities smoothly and have set up regional level offices to ensure coordination between the district and the central level of the party organisation," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Khadka, who is also a NC central member, interacted with the NC workers here today, calling upon the party’s cadres to be watchful and prudent because the terrorists were targeting them.

Seeking cooperation from all the political parties and the civil society in the fight against terrorism, Minister Khadka urged the party workers to eschew differences and move ahead unitedly to eliminate terrorism and protect democracy and the Constitution.

NC central member and MP Majagaiya said that the NC workers should extend cooperation to the security forces and administration in the period of the State of Emergency.

MPs Hriday Ram Thami, Govinda Bahadur Shah, Gehendra Giri, Gyanu KC, Krishna Kishor Ghimire and Janak Giri also attended the gathering.

Minister Khadka also met with different delegations of the party’s sister oganisations, the district’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the TU teacher’s association and journalists.

Meanwhile, according to our Bharatpur correspondent, State Minister for Home Devendra Raj Kandel said here Monday that the government had decided to buy two helicopters and other latest arms for the police to curb the Maoist terrorists’ activities.

He said the decision had been reached keeping in view the fact that Nepal Police had faced problems in its fight against the terrorists as it lacked its own helicopter and other weapons.

"We might have a tough time in our fight against the terrorists if we fail to supply the police with modern arms and continue with the same old ways of combating them," Kandel clarified the reason for the decision to buy the helicopters and weapons.

He said the declaration of the State of Emergency was a compulsion created due to the activities of the Maoists.

There has been a great relief after the government mobilised the entire security mechanism against the Maoist terrorists, said Kandel. "As our action against terrorism has dismantled many terrorists, I think three months will suffice to defeat them. However, the oppositions parties should support the government in its campaign."

State Minister Devendre Raj Kandel, answering the queries of the journalists, said the Maoist terrorists could come for peace talks only when they surrender weapons. He further said, "They should return the weapons they have looted from the security personnel and should beg pardon from the people openly."

He also informed the journalists that the Maoists who had surrendered were the simple cadres and adding that the Defence Ministry had yet to clarify about whether any Maoist leaders had been killed in encounters.

NC condemns violent acts of terrorists

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 18:The Nepali Congress party has condemned the violent and barbarous attacks the Maoist terrorists have been staging against its party workers.

In a press statement issued today, the ruling party has strongly denounced the cold-blooded murder of Janak Thapa, an active Congress party worker from constituency-2 of Dailekh district, on Sunday.

"A gang of armed terrorists killed Thapa of Lakandra village in an extremely inhuman way," the release reads.

While praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul, the party has demanded stringent actions from the government to stop all such heinous activities of the terrorists.

Army Search Operation Two terrorists killed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 18: Two Maoist terrorists died in separate encounters with the security forces in Surkhet and Mugu districts Monday.

One Maoist terrorist died in a confrontation with the security personnel while a gang of terrorists tried to attack Radio Nepal’s Surkhet Station. The security sentry of the Royal Nepalese Army successfully foiled the terrorists’ bellicose plan of attacking the Radio Station there. The security forces have seized socket bombs and other explosives from the terrorists, stated a press release issued today by the Ministry of Defence.

Another terrorist died at Ghantelek area of Mugu district when he tried to break the Army’s security cordon. The security personnel, as part of their massive search and cordon operation, seized two double-bore guns from the terrorists there.

According to the Ministry, the Royal Nepalese Army soldiers deputed at the mid western Rolpa district have continued their search and cordon operation against the Maoist terrorists who have been launching their bloody campaign for the last six years in the name of so-called people’s war.

In their bid to completely disarm and defeat the terrorists, the security forces the other day recovered a large number of arms and ammunitions which the Maoists had looted from the RNA’s Dang barrack. They seized 52 guns and retrieved magazines of various arms, barrels, spare parts, explosives, communication sets and combat dresses.

The security forces have also seized 20 guns from various places of Gorkha and Dolakha districts, states the press release.

UML team meets Minister Wagle

Kathmandu, Dec.18 (RSS): A delegation of the CPN (UML) valley coordination committee met Minister for Physical Planning and Work Chiranjivi Wagle and apprised him of the problem of land acquisition at Tinkune Koteshwor.

The delegation led by UML standing committee member Pradip Nepal included valley coordination committee incharge Keshav Badal and member of the central committee Krishna Gopal Shrestha, among others.

The delegation strongly demanded that due compensation be provided to the land owners and structures constructed upon fulfilling specified criteria be not demolished.

Mongla Port could benefit Nepal: Envoy

Kathmandu, Dec. 18 (RSS): Officiating secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Madhuraman Acharya hosted a reception in honour of Ciril Sikdar, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Nepal on completion of his tenure in Nepal.

On the occasion, officiating secretary Acharya expressed sincere appreciation for Bangladesh for her cooperation to Nepal in its endeavour to bring about social and technological development.

Acharya hoped that mutual cooperation between the two countries will be further diversified in the days ahead.

Bangladesh Ambassador Sikdar expressed the confidence that Nepal can accelerate the pace of development by properly utilising the Mongla Port in Bangladesh.

Nepal and Bangaldesh should go hand in hand in rooting out poverty and backwardness, the common problem of both of the countries, he added.

Also present at the reception were the heads of the diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other distinguished persons.

CJ:Deliver justice promptly

Kathmandu, Dec. 18 (RSS): Speakers at a review programme organised to mark the l2fth year of the Judicial Council constituted in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 referred to the role played and challenges faced by the council.

There is a Constitutional provision for constituting a judicial council under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice for purposes of recommendations and consultations regarding appointments, transfers, disciplinary action and dismissals for judges and for judicial administration.

At the programme, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya said we can take pride in our judiciary and made it clear that steps were being taken to reform the judiciary and make it more efficient.

Stating that there was less backlog in court cases in Nepal compared to neighbouring countries, he said we should be cautious and alert towards the quick dispensing of justice.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Bikram Nembang said that judicial verdicts should be facts-based and without flaws and that justice that is prompt and high of standard should be dispensed in view of the changed circumstances.

Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki said that the Judicial Council should function responsibly and independently and not as a part of the Supreme Court. He suggested that the council should be well-equipped.

From the chair, senior Supreme Court Judge and council member Laxman Prasad Aryal said that as the Judicial Council is a pillar of judiciary, it should be strong to make the judiciary efficient and the judges should be accountable to the people.

Member cum secretary of the Council Kashi Raj Dahal, Judge Kedar Nath Upadhyaya and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Prem Bahadur Khadka also expressed their views at the programme.

Upper Karnali developer prepares to come with guarantee

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec.18: The wannabe developer of the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project will produce all necessary documents for the generation license of the 300 MW scheme within the December 20 deadline this month, the project’s local partners here have confirmed.

Elysee Frontier (EF), a Singapore-based French Company, has already readied the required documents to prove its financial capability to fund the 450 million US Dollars project, according to Prakash Khadka, Director of Elysee Nepal Electricity Authority Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project Limited, a joint venture between the French Company and NEA to develop the Upper Karnali Project.

"We are getting the proof of fund (the document that would prove EF’s financial status) of around 500 million US Dollars from EF any time now," he said. "We will apply for the generation license within the stipulated deadline."

The Lloyd’s Bank of London will most probably give the financial statement for EF, said Khadka. "That is the document we will be submitting to the government."

DED officials, however, said they have not heard anything from EF, so far. NEA office bearers echoed the same message.

Like any other Independent Power Producers, EF too has to acquire the generation license from the Department of Electricity Development (DED) before it actually begins the construction works of the project. For that permission, it has to compulsorily produce its financial status to build the project and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NEA.

The French Company did sign a PPA with NEA last October but the authority’s board is yet to approve the agreement as it is also waiting for the documentary evidences of EF’s financial status.

EF last year came in through the Fast Track Committee – chaired by the Prime Minister — that instructed the DED to give it the survey license for Upper Karnali Project. That way the French Company did not have to compete like other investors had to for 22 other hydropower projects the government opened to the private sector last year.

The Upper Karnali Project site is on the Karnali River in the Mid-Western and Far-Western development regions. The longest river in the country, the Karnali River basin borders with Tibet to the north, the Mahakali River basin to the west, the Siwalik Hills to the south and the Gandaki River basin to the east.

Designed as a peaking-run-of-river project, the scheme site is already connected with the East-West Highway. Geographic location aside, what makes the project more attractive is its aspiring developer’s electricity price-offer – the cheapest in the country, so far.

Under the PPA it has signed with NEA, EF would sell the electricity it would produce from the Upper Karnali Project at the rate of Rupees 2.90 per unit on average. During wet season, when the national power grid – with the installed capacity of around 400 MW – has excess power supply, EF will charge 1.45 Rupees for the first five years.

NEA currently pays an average of seven Rupees per unit of electricity to other private power producers. And that is not all. The French Company is also giving NEA Upper Karnali hydel-plant’s 30 per cent shares – free of cost. Add to that the developer’s claim that it would plough back the profit from the project for the local development. "This is the best deal we have ever had," senior NEA officials say.

How come the charity and, more importantly, the free lunch? The money to be invested for the project, according to Sylvian Leveque, Chairman of EF, is a special humanitarian fund aimed at young democracies like that of Nepal. He had told the press last October that his company has invested on different stock markets around the world that would generate special humanitarian fund for development works across the globe. "But the condition for access to such fund is that the profit from the projects we invest on should be ploughed back for local development."

Contributions of Dilli Raman Regmi lauded

Kathmandu, Dec. 18 (RSS): Leaders of various political parties and intellectuals recalled the contributions of the late Dr. Dilli Raman Regmi on the occasion of the 88th birth anniversary of the senior politician.

At the function, chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committe Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi referred to the role played by Dr. Regmi in the democratic movement said that he was a Gandhian leader.

Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyay said if we are to lead our society towards modernity, we should internalise the thinking of Dr. Regmi and gave assurances that the government will preserve and promote the property handed over by him to the nation under a trust.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the CPN-UML said Dr. Regmi was a democratic institution in himself and referred to his inspiration and his faith in democracy.

General secretary of the CPN-ML Bamdev Gautam said a true tribute to Dr. Regmi, who said the state should run on the basis of good governance and morality, would be to emulate his values and norms.

Spokesman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Kamal Thapa said Dr. Regmi who was in favour of peace, non-violence and humanity was a confluence of the ideologies of all the political parties.

At the function presided over by Dr. Dilli Raman Regmi Trust chairman Beni Bahadur Karki, various other speakers including president of the Nepal Prajaparishad Ramhari Sharma and trust vice chairman Himalaya Shumsher Rana also shed light on the multi-dimensional personality of Dr. Regmi.

Press sector draws praise

Kathmandu, Dec.18 (RSS): A meeting of Press Council Nepal chaired by chairman Harihar Birahi today has appreciated the press sector which fulfilled its reponsibility with patience and understanding by giving importance to national interests at a time when people’s fundamental rights have been suspended with the declaration of a state of emergency.

Stating that the press has faced some inconveniences due to suspension of several rights guaranted by the constitution and acts, the meeting urged His Majesty’s Government to honor the role of the press to keep the people informed, and ensure its acess to information.

The Press Council also demanded the immediate release of the journalists who have been arrested recently and urged the government to become sensitive since journalists have started feeling insecure even while collecting news and writing analysis remaining within the specified parameters.

The field of journalism is developing fast since the restoration of democracy. The process of taking ahead the field of journalism as industry with huge investment has increased by being attracted with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and the policy pursued by the government. This is a positive achievement.

But journalism is different from other industry and trade and is a sensitive field. Journalism is not motivated by profit nor by employment. Therefore the capital to be invested in it should be transparent.

The capital, the source of which is not mentioned and foreign investment is not preferred in journalism which is a very serious and sensitive matter.

Therefore the Press Council calls for transparency and legal procedure to be followed in making investment and permission be granted to only Nepalese nationals or institutions in running mass media and calls upon hmg to make immediate legal provision in this regard, if necessary.

The meeting also took the decision to draw the attention of HMG in implementation of the decision of providing advertisements to periodicals not evaluated or categorised by the audit bureau of circulation as it has been found that advertisements have been provided to these category of periodicals also.

Music Nepal Award presented

Kathmandu, Dec. 18 (RSS): Persons contributing to music were honoured on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Music Nepal with the Music Nepal Award -2057.

Thus honoured were musician Alokshree and singer Yam Baral of the modern music album ‘Man’, Khem Raj Gurung of the folk song album ‘jiwan Part 2’, the producer of Laxmi Puja Films Gopal Karmacharya and musician Shambhujit Baskota for the film songs album ‘Ashirbad’, the brosis band for the pop album ‘bro-sis’ and Devi Bhakta Shrestha, seller of the Sangit Saugat Birtamod Jhapa from among sellers.

Similarly, ‘Lahana’ cassette of Manoj Sewa and ‘Antaral’ cd cassette of Ganesh Rasik were released on the occasion.

On the occasion, culture expert Satya Mohan Joshi gave away the awards and released the cassette album.

Joshi said Nepali civilisation and culture is old and glorious and research should be done from mechi to Mahakali without limiting it to Kathmandu only by institutions like Music Nepal.

Manager and proprieter of Music Nepal Santosh Sharma informed that 1,254 albums have been so far relseased since the founding of the institution.

Senior lyricist Kali Prasad Rijal said dual tax should not be levied on lyricists and litterateurs in this sector.