Japanese aid mission in Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 4: An Aid Policy Consultation Mission from Japan is currently in Nepal to review, explore and identify ways to direct Japanese assistance to Nepal.

The Mission is scheduled to hold joint meeting with the government on Tuesday and Wednesday to have wide-ranging dialogue on the economic and social development of Nepal and the Japanese Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) policy to Nepal, says a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan.

Headed by Motokatsu Watanabe, Senior Assistant for Economic Co-operation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, the Mission had arrived on Friday.

During its stay, the Japanese mission will meet Minister of Finance Mahesh Acharya, Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission Prithvi Raj Ligal and other officials of relevant ministries.

Japan has been the largest bilateral ODA donor country to Nepal since 1980. During the period between 1969 and 1998, Japan had extended 228 billion Japanese Yen (around 2 billion US dollars) aid in various forms of economic and technical assistance for Nepal’s economic and social development.

The last joint meeting, which was held in 1997, had identified five priority areas, which included human resources development, social sector such as health, medical care and education, agricultural development, building economic and social infrastructure and environmental conservation, for Japanese ODA to Nepal

Following the Nepal Development Forum held in Paris in April last year and the historic visit of the Japanese Prime Minister in August last year, the upcoming meeting is expected to review the achievements made by His Majesty’s Government, identify emerging needs of the country, and explore the ways to direct the Japanese assistance to the identified priority areas.

UML, RPP flay violent attack

Kathmandu, Feb. 4 (RSS): Main opposition party leader in the House of Representatives and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that he is stunned by the news of violent attack on the team of Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya yesterday and the death of five persons in that attack.

At a time when efforts should have been made from all sectors to having the concept of the rule of law materialized by establishing an independent and competent judiciary, a team of office bearers from judicial service have come under violent attack thereby giving rise to a question that needs to be seriously pondered, he said in a statement issued here today.

The armed attack on the team that included the Chief Justice also is a testimony to the present government’s failure to protect people’s life and property, he said, adding the government should take moral responsibility for that incident.

Condemning the attack, Mr Nepal has expressed deep condolences those killed in the incident and has wished the injured speedy recovery.

Likewise, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, at its central committee meeting here today, denounced violent attack made by Maoists on Chief Justice Upadhyaya on his way to Surkhet district on Saturday.

The meeting prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls of Register of the Appellate Court (Surkhet) Baldev Dhital and the police personnel killed in the incident, expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured speedy recovery.

The meeting presided over by party president Surya Bahadur Thapa said that the violent assault on Chief Justice, the head of the judiciary testifies to the poor law and order situation in the country.

It also criticized the present government for its failure to ensure peace and security in the country.

Similarly, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mahantha Thakur has strongly denounced the attack by Maoist terrorist gang on the vehicles carrying Chief Justice Upadhyaya and his team near Paisatthi, Surkhet district Saturday.

In a press communique issued today, Minister Thakur, while noting that registrar Baldev Sharma Dhital of the Appellate Court (Surkhet) as well as dutiful police personnel were killed in the attack, prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

Minister Thakur also wished judge Purushottam Parajuli of the Appellate Court (Surkhet) and other two other police personnel, who were injured in the attack, a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile in a press release, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs also vehemently denounced the attack on vehicles carrying the Chief Justice and his team Saturday.

It prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls of registrar Baldev Sharma Dhital of the Appellate Court (Surkhet) as well as dutiful police personnel who were killed in the brutal attack, and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

In the press release, it has also wished judge Purushottam Parajuli of the Appellate Court (Surkhet) and other police personnel, who were injured in the attack, a speedy recovery.

Unreasonable stance weakens party, says Khadka

Kathmandu, Feb. 4 (RSS): Nepali Congress youth leader Khum Bahadur Khadka is opposed to what seems as an unwillingness on the part of a section of the Nepali Congress Party to join the government.

Talking to RSS reporter at the Prime Minister’s residence today, Mr Khadka said, whether one is willing or unwilling to join the government is secondary to the grave problems facing the country today. "Unreasonable stance and decisions weaken the party and I am not in favour of allowing the party to become weak".

He, however, ruled out the possibility of his joining the government alone.

Party President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should not harbour prejudice against any party colleagues, rather he should be able to accommodate all, he added.

He also said that stronger unity in the party makes Nepali Congress active and revolutionary, and if this happened the party can face up to the challenges before the country.

All party workers are waiting for the Prime Minister’s commitments regarding party unity to come true, Mr Khadka said.

The former minister also stressed the need for top two leaders of the party Mr Koirala and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and other senior leaders to work seriously towards resolving the in-party differences in a systemic manner.

Another leader of the party Omkar Prasad Shrestha expressed the view that accusing party president and Prime Minister Koirala of rigidity at a time when he has become liberal for larger interest and unity of the party means harbouring prejudice against him.

With the no-trust motion failing to dislodge him and the 10th general convention of the party re-electing him as President Girija Prasad Koirala is freshly mandated to lead the government as well as the party, Mr Shrestha said, adding NC MPs and workers should now extend their full cooperation to Mr Koirala.

Mr Koirala’s commitment to moving ahead in unison is a clear indication of his determination to strengthen party unity, Mr Shrestha said, adding that the unwillingness on the part of some party colleagues to join the government is quite unreasonable.

Likewise, another NC leader and ex-finance Minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat said Prime Minister Koirala should be able to maintain a balance between the party and government, in order to ensure unity in the party.

The reluctance on the part of some party colleagues to join the government is not right, rather it is unreasonable, he added.

Dr Mahat also expressed the view that all friends in the party should assist Prime Minister Koirala in his determination to move ahead the party and the government in a balanced manner.