Drug menace can be checked unitedly: Poudel

Kathmandu, Jan. 17 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ramchandra Poudel has said the solution to the problem of drug trafficking does not lie within the reach of a single country but in a combined effort and co-operation between the countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel made the remarks while inaugurating here today a 3-day workshop on "Precursor control in the SAARC countries" organised by Home Ministry of HMG/N with the co-operation of the United National International Drug Control Programme, South Asian Regional Office, and European Commission.

The Deputy Prime Minister said, "The substances manufactured for illicit purposes might be diverted from illicit channels to the sites where drugs are illicitly manufactured."

"Trafficking of drugs and its essential chemicals and solvents are not new to any of us; the problem is an immense concern not only to our individual countries but also to the region and the world as a whole," he added.

"The traffickers use every conceivable method to smuggle the chemicals. Since these chemicals used for illicit purposes and lawfully imported and exported, it is more difficult to regulate their uses and detect their diversion with any certainty which countries will be targeted next," he noted.

He further said, "As far as Nepal is concerned, we do not produce any type of chemicals listed in table I and II of UN Convention. However, we are using some of them in pharmaceuticals, textiles and chemicals industries in limited context."

"Attention should be given not only to finished product of drugs but also to those substances that can be used in the illicit manufacturing of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances," he suggested.

"Nepal has adopted some control measures and mechanism for the importation and utilisation of such chemicals within the Kingdom," he said.

Home Secretary Shrikant Regmi said misuse of precursor and its illicit trafficking might pose a serious threat in our region because of its proximate location between the golden triangle and the golden crescent.’

"It is therefore a high time to build regional linkages and strengthen networking mechanism to control the misuse of precursor and its illicit diversion," he said.

From the chair, UNDCP Regional Representative Renate Ehmer while noting the first phase of the project which started in l996-99, said the phase of the project tried to increase awareness of the governments in the region regarding the control of precursor.

Regional precursor project manager Devendra Dutt also expressed his view.

According to senior programme officer Sunil Nanda of UNDCP South Asian Regional Office, the project was created in l996 to regulate precursor and prevent its deflection in South Asia and South West Asia.

With a view to bringing increased awareness in the target countries, the project is helping in national policy formulation training and providing equipment and information networking in the field.

City development strategy discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan. 17: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) office today organised the second stakeholders’ meeting to finalise the Kathmandu City Development Strategy (KCDS) that aims at developing Kathmandu into a liveable city.

"The strategy aims at making Kathmandu a liveable, bankable and competitive city by ensuring the basic amenities," KMC’s officer Surya Silwal told the meeting here this afternoon. Silwal said that the strategy envisioned KMC’s autonomy to achieve this goal.

"Once finalised, the strategy will serve as a point of departure to push ahead our development plans," Mayor Keshav Sthapit said. "We now know where we stand and where we want to reach. Today’s meeting will finalise how we can go ahead."

Sthapit said that Kathmandu’s development posed difficulties but adding there were opportunities too. "The KMC can capitalise these opportunities provided the government is co-operative and supports its projects," said Sthapit, adding, "This has not been the case so far."

Sthapit said that the government had failed to be co-operate with the KMC in its plan to buy electricity in bulk and supply it to the city dwellers. "The KMC’s involvement in electricity supply can play an important role in checking the unplanned settlement as well as to pool resources," he said. "But the appeal of the Metropolis has gone unheeded."

The problems of Kathmandu have to be seen in broader perspective, said Harka Gurung commenting on the draft of the strategy and stressed on decentralisation to address the problem of overpopulation and unplanned settlement. He also called for co-ordination between the KMC and other public utility service providers.

Gurung said that the government should discourage the idea of setting up industries in Kathmandu.

"The strategy has nothing radical in it but it can be useful to address the existing problems and develop the city," he said.

Gurung said that the KMC should be more aggressive to pool enough resources for the development of the city. "The Metropolis office should make sure that the people running businesses in the city pay for the opportunities they are capitalising."

Deputy Mayor Bidur Mainali said, "My concern is whether the strategy will be implemented at all." There are a number of studies carried out and reports prepared to develop Kathmandu but they never got implemented, he added.

Mainali appealed to the civil society to be watchful to make sure that the strategy would be implemented.

The KMC has been preparing the city development strategy since July 2000 with the support of the World Bank. The Metropolis office had organised the first stakeholders’ meeting in this connection during the last week of August last year.

Rights team touring Maoists hit places

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan. 17: With a view to studying the human rights situations in the Maoist hit areas of the country, two groups from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are visiting four Maoist affected districts from the first week of February.

Member of the NHRC, Kapil Shrestha is making a 15-day trip to Salyan and Rolpa heading a four-member visiting team while members Dr. Sushil Pyakurel and Gauri Shankar Lal Das are making a trip to other two Maoists affected districts of Jajarkot and Rukum.

According to the members of the visiting teams, their visit is an infrastructure building measure for minimising the violation of human rights and ending the Maoist insurgency movement. In the five-year long Maoist insurgency movement the death toll has touched the 1,700 mark so far.

"By studying the Human Rights situations there we are planning to bring to light the reality so that pressure could be given to both the government and the Maoists," member Shrestha said at a brief meet with the press today.

Citing the Maoist insurgency movement, there has been more human rights violations now than in any other movement in the country’s long history he added that their upcoming trip was to find proofs of how and where human rights have been violated.

The teams will not only study the situation of the right to education, health, socio-economic potentialities and other basic human needs in the Maoist hit areas but will also hold discussions with the local government officials, civilians and the Maoists as well.

This is the first attempt the NHRC is making regarding the Maoist insurgency after it was established some six months ago.

Meanwhile, member duos Dr. Pyakurel and Das are visiting Rajbiraj today to study the Rajbiraj firing incident and will visit Nepaljung coming Tuesday to study the Nepaljung incident that took place recently.

Convention to embolden desire for leadership change of NC: Koirala

BY SUNIL K.C./ NARAYAN UPADHYAYA

Pokhara, Jan. 17: President of the Nepali Congress and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has reiterated that the forthcoming General Convention of the Nepali Congress would open doors for the change of hands of the party’s leadership.

Talking to the press upon his arrival at the Pokhara airport, Koirala said, "An event like General Convention is nothing new to a political party, but this convention will pave way for the transfer power to the party’s second generation leadership."

Although he did not elaborate the time frame for such a transfer, he said the sooner the path is ready the faster the transfer would be. The Prime Minister had arrived in Pokhara this afternoon.

Minutes before Koirala’s arrival, Party leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had arrived together.

Deuba, who would also be standing for the party’s presidency, said if elected (as the party’s president) he would extend every possible support to the present government.

Bhattarai said he would support Deuba’s candidacy for the party president. He also said that he had advised Koirala to hand over the rein of the party to the second generation. "Time has come for both me and Koirala to remain out of the party’s leadership."

Meanwhile, Pokhara, the venue, is witnessing hectic activities for the convention. Organisers at the party’s district office are busy making finishing touches and last minute adjustments for the party’s biggest congregation held every four years.

Several thousand Congressites, which include ministers, MPs, party’s bigwigs and workers and others are attending the meet that will formally open on Friday.

The convention will be formally inaugurated at the Pokhara stadium on Friday. The venue has been adorned with the party colour and the party’s four-star flags. The main thoroughfares of the town are also covered with party’s posters, flags and pamphlets.

The closed session of the convention will be held at the Dipendra Sabha Griha.

However, before the convention, the party’s central working committee will meet on Thursday and many congressmen expect it to be a hotly debated affair.

At a press meet today, NC’s Shailaja Acharya said she would put proposal on revising the CWC’s decision of electing 50 per cent of the CWC members through an open and nationwide voting.

She said several other leaders like Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Taranath Ranabhat also fear the open election could bring rift within the party and also sideline the party’s old and experienced workers. She said she has also talked to both the senior leaders of the party about this.

But other Congress leaders refute Shailaja Acharya’s fear.

Even Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koairala said the new structure of the CWC and the open voting will not affect the party adversely.

"This is only a suspicion of some, which will not come true in any way," said Koirala.

Deuba also said the new provision of electing 50 per cent of the party’s CWC members would not affect the solidarity within the party. He said the decision has been made and he wants it to be implemented. He also said he would be disclosing his agenda and rationale for fighting for the party presidency tomorrow.

Likewise, Minister for Finance and Defence Mahesh Acharya, who is also a member of the CWC, party’s General Secretary Sushil Koirala and also party spokesman Narahari Acharya expressed similar views. Minister Acharya said the new provision is an evolutionary and a positive step and that he would stand by it.

Party spokesman, Narahari Acharya said the decision will come into affect after the General Convention of the party endorses the CWC decision.

Meanwhile, rumours are rife about the election being fought on panel basis. But Prime Minister Koirala said time has not yet come for the party to fight the election on panel basis.

Deuba also said he has not thought about making his panel.

Despite the likes of Shailaja saying the election would be fought with covert panels with money and enticement predominating, Minister Acharya said the Congressmen are mature enough not to indulge in panels and money game.

On the first day in its closed session on Saturday, the General Convention is expected to approve the decisions made by the last CWC meeting regarding the expansion and the election of its members. The filling of the nomination will pen the next day.

Today, Sushil Koirala and Mahesh Acharya also said they would be standing for the party’s highest decision making body. Narahari Acharya, the party’s spokesman also said he would stand for the CWC saying this would put his years of service to the party to test.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister has already announced his candidacy for the CWC.