—Fifty years after Democracy —
Aspirations remain unmet

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb 17: Today the entire nation celebrates the 51st National Democracy Day. Fifty one years ago, democracy was ushered in the country after the abolition of the Rana regime. However, historians and political leaders do not find any difference in people’s attitude and expectations, but today they seem to be more concerned about deteriorating condition of democratic norms and values.

Every year when the nation celebrates the Democracy Day, there arises a question as to how our democratic exercises in the past five decades have been successful in fulfilling the people’s Historians recall – the day was Falgun 4, 2007 B.S (three day before the announcement of democracy), when King Tribhuwan landed in the Gauchar (presently Tribhuwan International Airport) from New Delhi, thousands of people across the Kathmandu valley had thronged there to receive the King who had put his throne at stake for the sake of democracy. Their happiness knew no boundary.

Three days after His arrival, the announcement of the demise of 104 years Rana oligarchy and the establishment of democracy had sparked a great jubilation among the Nepalese people.

In fact the establishment of democracy had not only elevated the people’s expectations, it had also rendered new responsibilities to all the political leaders who fought for democracy and freedom.

But, clouds of confusion began to hover over the sky of Nepal’s politics. within a few years, recalls prominent historian Bhuwan Lal Pradhan.

According to him, tussle for power and partisan interest among political parties and their leaders had begun to plant frustration towards democracy after 2007.

He finds a vast different in the attitude of political leaders then and now. In the past political leaders were honest towards the interest of the nation and were not corrupt.

Pradhan, who has already witnessed number of events such as - the establishment of democracy in 2007 BS, beginning of party-less Panchayat System in 2017 B.S. and reinstatement of democracy in 2046 B.S. (1990), categorically blames the political leaders for tarnishing the image of democracy during the past decade.

Though the country has gone through several ups and downs in its five decades of political history, common Nepalese citizens have had high expectations that the reinstatement of democracy in 2046 (1990) would change their fate. However, according to historians, economists or even common citizens, things have turned despairing.

Hari Krishna Shrestha, one of the founder members of the Nepal Prajaparishad, the first political party in the country, observes that there has been a sea change in the political culture among leaders of today and those of yesteryears. He expresses frustration over the growing anomalies in the country and points out the need to overcome it at the people’s level.

Speaking at a similar vein historian Pradhan who evaluates today’s situation as much worse, focuses the need of awareness and unity among the people.

Ram Hari Sharma, another founding member of the Nepal Prajaparishad (the first political party in the country founded in 1987 BS), who has closely observed a number of political incidents, finds a vast different in the political culture of the leaders.

"Success of democracy largely depends upon the sacrifice and dedication of political leaders," says Sharma.

Similarly, 85-year-old Bharat Bahadur Bhattarai, who has also witnessed the political changes in his life, plainly speaks that lack of selfless attitude among the political leaders has created frustration towards democracy among the people. Celebration of Democracy Day becomes relevant only when people’s expectations are fulfilled.

Oppn campaign to dislodge PM motivated: Acharya

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Minister for Defence and NC central member Mahesh Acharya has said that the opposition’s campaign of dislodging the Prime Minister by accusing him of corruption simply out of prejudice and on the basis of imaginary conclusions does never conform to democratic ideals.

Talking briefly to RSS here today in the context of the opposition disrupting the regular parliamentary business over the past few days by raising the issue of an aircraft procurement deal, Minister Acharya described the allegations against the Prime Minister as ill-intended, groundless and malicious.

If the opposition raised the issue of the Lauda aircraft procurement deal in parliament by fulfilling necessary procedures, the government is ready to hold extensive discussions and reach a conclusion on this issue, he said.

Even if the opposition wants to bring the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s report in this regard to parliament for discussion, the ruling side is ready to do so, he added.

However, he wondered, why the opposition is disrupting the parliamentary proceedings thereby preventing the government from making them clear about the facts regarding the aircraft procurement agreement and putting forth its clear views.

Corruption cannot be controlled by simply announcing the names of the "corrupt" from Tundikhel or chanting slogans nor does picketing of the rostrum help resolve this problem, he said, adding rather we should strengthen the bodies responsible for controlling corruption and equip them with adequate powers if we really mean what we say.

If the opposition benches are really serious about controlling corruption, they should rather focus their attention on refining and making more effective the bills such as corruption control bill, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (second amendment) bill, special courts bill and the bill concerning political parties which are already under consideration in Parliament, Minister Acharya observed.

He also said that the government is expecting active cooperation of all responsible political parties in such important areas as maintaining law and order, controlling corruption, guaranteeing good governance, resolving the people’s problem and expediting the country’s economic development.

He expressed confidence that despite minor differences the Nepali Congress and its workers will be able to maintain unity and fulfil the responsibilities that have fallen on their shoulders.

Stating that some destructive elements are hell bent to perpetrate terror and violence in the name of Maoist people’s revolution, he said the nation would benefit if the youths involved in such destructive activities were able to utilize their energy in doing away with various anomalies in a democratic manner.

Demand unreasonable: Similarly, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mahadev Gurung has said it is not constitutionally, morally or politically reasonable on the part of the opposition to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation over the Lauda aircraft issue being investigated by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Talking to RSS on the Lauda aircraft issue today, Mr Gurung said it is true that since no required proposals were received despite repeated global tender calls, RNAC, which needed a wide body aircraft, initiated the process of leasing the Lauda aircraft.

The main objective of competition is competitive price but competition will be meaningless if contracts are to be awarded to those who knowingly quote higher prices, Mr Gurung said and added that the Lauda aircraft has been procured at a price lower than the prices quoted by some suppliers. The cost of Lauda aircraft lease is the lowest of any previous costs involved in similar leasing, he added.

Minister of State Gurung also said the decision of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee regarding the Lauda aircraft lease is a part of political conspiracy.

Govt committed to preserve folklore: Joshi

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Shivraj Joshi says that as the folklore depicts the true picture of Nepalese society, His Majesty’s Government is determined to preserve the unique Nepalese culture.

Inaugurating the nation-wide competitive folk songs conference organised by Radio Nepal at its premises today to mark the 51st National Democracy Day, Minister Joshi said Radio Nepal had been providing opportunities to flourish the fields of songs and music from time to time since its inception.

The Radio Nepal should strive to preserve and promote the indigenous culture and tradition of the country by getting in to the heart of the general people in this field, he added.

Democracy signifies unity in diversity and all the ethnic classes and communities should have opportunity to maintain their identity, he said lauding the initiatives taken by Radio Nepal to consolidate democracy and generate awareness among the people.

Minister of State for Information and Communications Pushkar Nath Ojha said Radio Nepal had had a vital role to play in strengthening democracy and bringing about advancement of the country through the informative programmes.

Salient features of democracy are peace and tolerance, secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications and chairman of Radio Broadcasting Services Development Committee said, pointing out that Radio Nepal should be conscious at generating public awareness through songs and various other programmes and preserving the culture of the country.

Executive Director at Radio Nepal Shailendra Raj Sharma noted that Radio Nepal has been giving priority to the programmes that reflect the Nepalese culture and tradition.

The competition is being participated in by 62 teams including individual and group representation.

‘Worried’ RNAC plans to lure Indian tourists

BY B. M. Dahal

Kathmandu, Feb. 17: Taking into account the downward trend of Indian tourists visiting Nepal, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the national flag carrier, together with the Nepal Tourism Board, has planned tourism marketing and promotional activities in major cities of India.

"We are doing necessary homework to launch a more effective promotional activities to attract visitors from India," Rajesh Raj Dali, the newly appointed Executive Chairman of RNAC, told The Rising Nepal. He said that they would be starting the activities soon.

India is the biggest tourism market for Nepal. Indian visitors make up about 35 per cent of the total number of foreign visitors coming to Nepal.

In 1999, out of 421,138 tourists who came to Nepal by air, the number of Indian tourists was 140,630. But that number went down by around 31 per cent to 95,879 in the year 2,000. The most significant drop was in the first month of 2000 when only 4,207 Indian tourists came to Nepal.

This January saw a slight improvement with 5,294 Indian tourists coming to Kathmandu by air, but the number is far less than before the plane hijack. In January 1999 the number of Indian tourists coming to Kathmandu was 9,195.

Dali also blamed the negative growth rate of Indian passengers, first to the unfortunate plane hijacking and to repeated bandhs, strikes, the Hritik Roshan incident and even the expanding Maoist activity in the country.

"We have to make efforts to bring about changes in the attitude of the prospective Indian visitors," Dali said and added with that in mind we have decided to start marketing and promotional activities in India.

RNAC has been operating scheduled flights to four major and touristically important destinations - Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Calcutta - of India. RNAC’s Indian connection, especially the Delhi route was once the most profitable one.

Since the last one year RNAC has been witnessing decreased passenger movement in its Delhi and Bangalore routes has decreased.

Dali said apart from all other reasons, the system of seeking passports from Indian visitors might have also discouraged many Indian visitors. This system was introduced by the two governments after the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane in December 1999.

Indian passengers, who earlier could directly exit from the airport after custom check, now have to show their passport at the immigration. This might have discouraged many Indians, who want to come to Nepal with their families. Making passport, or including them in their passports, for the minors could be a real hassle.

Dali said, as it is a political issue there is little RNAC or the NTB could do about it. But he said unless the government looks into it and a system is worked out by both the governments, marketing efforts alone will not be sufficient to increase the number of Indian tourists."

Meanwhile, the RNAC’s chief executive said the airline has already decided to add frequencies to its destinations in India and in other countries.

RA is also planning to include two new destinations - Riyadh and Seoul - in its flight schedule. With the introduction of the fourth plane to its fleet of three, RNAC now has aircraft to go for expansion of its flight.

He, however, informed that RNAC has received good bookings in its Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok routes for the upcoming spring season.

He also said the airlines inability to operate direct flights to Europe has made its European sector not beneficial.

"Due to lack of wide-bodied aircraft, we have not been able to reap comparative benefit from the highly lucrative European market," he said.

With the introduction of a wide-bodied plane, RNAC may now look towards its European sector to make profit.

The RA chief conceded what the tourism had been saying for a long. "The national flag carrier could give a boost to the country’s tourism business through improving the management, launching more effective marketing activities in the world tourism market and lease-purchasing wide-bodied aircraft."

Established as a commercial organisation on July 1, 1958, RNAC has not only made Nepal known to the world as a tourist destination but also contributed a lot for the socio-economic development of the remote parts of the country by linking them to the capital.

Although RNAC was constituted as an autonomous organisation, it has not been able to function independently and autonomously. Political interference in its decision-making process and functioning has been blamed for majority of its woes.

Dali said the government has to issue necessary guidelines and directives to RNAC. "But RNAC must be allowed to move ahead as an autonomous business organisation." It can meet its aims and fulfil its objectives only if it is made free from all types of interference and pressures, he asserts.

RNAC’s management has to be improved besides having necessary equipment and trained and efficient manpower to enable it to compete with other international airlines.

He also said that with the government adopting an open sky policy since the last decade, the number of private airlines in the domestic sector and foreign international airlines have increased tremendously in the country.

"This clearly shows how potential our aviation industry is. So, a joint effort is necessary to consolidate the national flag carrier, thereby giving a boost to the national economy," he said.

Meanwhile, Captain G. P. Rijal, who has spent more than three decades with the national flag carrier, said RNAC has not only marred by political interference and misguidelines but also mismanagement and internal corruption.

"Either the airline has to be brought to the joint venture with reputed foreign airlines or it has to be privatized. We must seek lesson from a series of blunders made until now," Rijal suggested.

He further said that there are still rooms to improve the condition and restore the image of the airline. "But there should be sincere efforts if RNAC is to be given a new lease of life."

Democracy needs to be strengthened: PM

Kathmandu, Feb. 18 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has in a message on the occasion of the 51st National Democracy Day said as healthy exercise of democratic system will lead to proper development of democracy as well as economic development of the country we all should be careful about our responsibility while exercising the fundamental rights envisaged in the constitution.

Mr Koirala also said as there is no alternative to democracy it should be institutionally consolidated in order to enhance people’s faith in it and this would be a true tribute to our martyrs.

Conveying heartfelt tributes to all known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives for establishment of democracy in the country, Mr Koirala has in the message expressed hope that the Democracy Day would inspire all to commit themselves to democratic norms and values and unitedly work for the overall development of the country.

Democracy must be reflected in our political conduct: HM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 18: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has said that the objectives of a democratic polity are the overall prosperity of the nation and the welfare of its people.

Giving a message on the occasion of the National Democracy Day today, His Majesty the King said democracy should not be confined only to the philosophical realm; it must be reflected in our political conduct as well as in our way of life.

His Majesty said, "Multi-party democracy can be consolidated through the fulfilment of the aspirations of the people in a secure environment, made meaningful through good governance and dignified through the observance of human rights."

The full text of the message is as follows:

Beloved Countrymen,

On this historic occasion of the National Democracy Day, we pay homage to our august grandfather, the late King Tribhuvan and all those who laid down their lives for the cause of democracy.

The objectives of a democratic polity are the overall prosperity of the nation and the welfare of its people. In our country, we have been engaged for 50 years in the exercise of democracy. Democracy should not be confined only to the philosophical realm; it must be reflected in our political conduct as well as in our way of life. Multiparty democracy can be consolidated through the fulfilment of the aspirations of the people in a secure environment, made meaningful through good governance and dignified through the observance of human rights.

Remaining alert in safeguarding our national interest and unity and mindful of our rights and duties, may this day inspire all Nepalese to forge ahead and work for the well-being of the people and the task of nation-building.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!

Jaya Nepal!

NEPAL-MYANMAR TALKS
Focus on to explore areas of cooperation

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar Win Aung at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar in Yangon on Friday.

Welcoming Foreign Minister Bastola, Mr Aung expressed satisfaction on the ever-growing relations of friendship, understanding and cordiality subsisting between the two countries and stressed the need to explore areas of common interests to further strengthen and deepen these relations in the days ahead, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Both foreign ministers agreed to explore all possible areas of cooperation between the two countries with open mind and work together for attainment of common goals for mutual benefit.

Minister Bastola agreed that the rhythm of talks since the courtesy call on the chairman of SPDC in the morning was up to Nepal’s expectation and added that enhanced bilateral relations would provide strength to both the least developed countries in managing their economies.

Pointing out that Buddhism and the people of Nepalese descent were two important factors bringing the people of the two countries together, the minister stressed the need for developing a mechanism for broader cultural exchange between the two countries.

Responding to this call, the Foreign Minister of Myanmar said that a draft of memorandum of understanding on cultural exchange was being developed by Myanmar with a view to reaching an appropriate agreement with Nepal.

The Nepalese side stated that in view of the existing air service agreement, direct flight need to be resumed between Nepal and Myanmar.

The Myanmar side agreed to this and suggested that Nepal could think of utilising Mandalav International Airport as an option for air connection between the two countries or beyond.

Informing that private airlines were coming up both on the domestic and international flights in Myanmar, it was hinted that arrangement for private airlines operations could be made if the national flag carriers were not equipped to fly to the agreed routes.

A need to explore and identify tradable items between the two countries was strongly felt. Both countries agreed on the possibilities of trading in primary products on the basis of each other’s needs.

Both countries agreed that there was a possibility of promoting tourism between the two countries, particularly pilgrimage traffic from Myanmar to Nepal and visitors from Nepal to Myanmar.

Restart of air services is expected to lead to the promotion of international tourism between the two countries.

Promotion of high value products such as gems and jewelry by facilitating the private sector companies of both countries was also seen as another possibility between the two countries.

The possibility of using land and sea routes for increasing trade was also discussed. The Myanmar side informed that some important infrastructures were coming up, which can facilitate the use of these alternative routes in the future.

It was agreed that the embassies of both countries located in the respected capitals would be asked to facilitate the process of interactions between the governments and the people of the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bastola also extended an invitation to his counterpart to pay an official visit to Nepal on a date convenient to both sides, according to the ministry.

Menawhile, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola paid a courtesy call on chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe at the People’s Assembly in Yangon on Friday morning.

On the occasion, the two dignitaries exchanged views on common issues of bilateral, regional and international interests, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Discussion was also held on exploring the ways and means to further strengthen the age-old ties of friendship, cordiality and mutual cooperation between Nepal and the Union of Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Bastola was accompanied by the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Charge D’affaires of the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Yangon.