Their Majesties to pay state visit to China

Kathmandu, Jan. 26 (RSS): Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah will pay a state visit to the People’s Republic of China in the last week of February 2001 at the invitation of Mr.. Jiang Zemin, president of the People’s Republic of China.

This is stated in a notice published today by the Principal Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Acharya lauds ADB’s role

Kathmandu, Jan. 26 (RSS): Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya has said that Nepal is in urgency to develop an integrated poverty reduction programme with wide geographical and demographic coverage.

Finance Minister Acharya was speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of president of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tadao Chino Thursday.

"We have created Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), which would help not only streamline all poverty related programmes but would also help design integrated poverty reduction programme to the needy area and the people," he added.

Education, health drinking water and the areas which directly benefit the poor are increasingly sharing more resources, he said, adding "the development of women, marginalized sections and underdeveloped regions are also the focus of the government’s priority. In spite of our priority for the targeted poverty alleviation programme and projects, we can not and should not overlook the projects in the areas of infrastructure development either."

Appreciating ADB’s recent initiative on sub-regional co-operation among the countries of South Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ), he said apart from identifying projects for investment, such initiative should focus on addressing key cross-border co-ordination issues and help developing appropriate enabling environment and institutional arrangements for implementation of the projects.

"Nepal is very keen to be involved as an active partner with DAB and other member countries," He said.

President of the ADB Tadao Chino said with poverty reduction as the overarching goal of the ADB, strong support should be offered to the government’s reform agenda, which also has as the ADB’s primary objective a substantial reduction in the high incidence of poverty that still pervades Nepal.

"We recognise too that Nepal, as a small and least developed, landlocked and largely mountainous country, faces many formidable challenges in achieving its development goals. But these extra development challenges make it all the more important that the country gets its policy environment right by aggressively pursuing its economic reform agenda," he added.

He also noted that key areas for Nepal included the need for improved governance, particularly civil service reform and anti-corruption efforts, decentralisation, financial sector reform, stronger domestic resource mobilisation, greater emphasis on cost recovery, as well as greater encouragement to private sector participation and investment.

Corruption ailing nation, says Nepal

Rajbiraj, Jan. 26 (RSS): CPN-UML general secretary and leader of the Main Opposition Party Madhav Kumar Nepal has said any development work can be accomplished with the support of the local people and farmers.

Addressing a mass meeting at Pato Bazaar of Saptari district organised by the CPN-UML Saptari district committee, Nepal said corruption has become a cancer of the nation and the country cannot development unless it is wiped out and action taken against those indulging in corruption.

People trying to disturb the unity of the country are the enemy of the nation, Nepal said adding that all people whether living in the Terai or the hills should become united in matters relating to nationality and development.

CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari pointed out the need to amend the constitution in order to constitute an electoral government for free and fair elections. That was why the CPN-UML has moved ahead with the proposal for an amendment to the constitution.

Central president of All Nepal Farmer’s Association and CPN-UML central member Keshav Badal, and CPN-UML central members Guru Baral and Suresh Karki also expressed their views at the programme chaired by CPN-UML Saptari district committee secretary Diwakar Devkota.

Earlier, general secretary Nepal inaugurated the ll km "Kisaan road" from Bishnupur Chowk to Fattehpur Pato Bazaar of Itahari Bishnupur VDC, so named by All Nepal Farmer’s Association.

Poudel asks students to better guard democracy

Chitwan, Jan. 26 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel has pointed out the need for students to work harder for safeguarding democracy than they did to restore democracy in the country.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the eighth national general convention of Nepal Students Union (NSU) here today, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said if students are united they can make any work a success.

Stating that the government introduced the concept of community education in order to increase the standard of education in the country, Mr. Poudel urged cooperation from all in this regard.

He also expressed the view that students should elect their leadership themselves.

NC central member Miss Sailaja Acharya said as the Nepali Congress is the main party working to keep democracy alive, all workers of the party should become united to make the party stronger.

Ex-NSU presidents Bal Bahadur K.C., Bal Krishna Khand, N.P. Saud, Dhan Raj Gurung and other speakers also expressed their views at the programme chaired by NSU central president Govinda Bhattarai.

Earlier, a procession of Nepal Students Union went around various parts of the town.

Also today, addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the Dhanyanchal Gyan Mahayagya, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said as religion makes a human being moral it should be publicised throughout the nation.

NC central member Miss Acharya urged everyone to assist the Mahayagya organised for building a conference hall.

Convenor of the Mahayagya and MP Rishi Babu Pariyar presented Rs. 400,000/ from the MP’s fund for construction of the conference hall.

Siromani Narayan Pokharel is to recite a story at the seven-day Mahayagya.

‘Court should exercise power to stop clearing of forests’

Biratnagar, Jan. 26 (RSS): Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that the judiciary has been playing a crucial role in the protection of the environment which is so closely tied to human life through its various decisions and sensitivity towards the issue.

The Chief Justice made this remark at the inaugural function of an interaction programme on "Natural Resources and Justice" and the launching of a book entitled "a collection of cases relating to environmental protection" organised under the joint auspices of the Judges’ Society, Nepal and the Forum for the Protection of Public Interests (Pro-Public) here today.

The Chief Justice urged ‘community thinking’ for the protection of the environment as "environmental pollution has a negative impact not only on the animals, plants and humans but on the social, economic and cultural sectors as well".

He said there were sufficient laws governing environmental protection in the country as provided for by the constitution and the court has sometimes overturned the government’s decisions in such matters for the implementation of these laws after Nepal became party to several un conventions and UN declarations on environment.

General-secretary of Pro-Public, advocate Prakashmani Sharma said that the judiciary should exercise its special powers to stop the rapid clearing of forests by the people and assist in protection of the environment and in the balanced development of the country.

Senior environment lawyer Narayan Belbase stressed protection of bio-diversity, proper utilisation of its by-products and genetics research.

He also pointed out the need for unity of action among various agencies, public awareness and balanced development policies for the protection of the environment.

Supreme Court Registrar and General Secretary of the Judges’ Society, Nepal Shriprasad Pandit said that the society was established in 2052 Bikram year with the objective of sharing of judicial experiences and imparting of new knowledge and information among the judges, the development of environmental law, bringing about uniformity in crime control and enhancing the compentence of the judiciary.

From the chair, Supreme Court Justice and chairman of the Judges’ Society Nepal Harischandra Upadhyaya said that the society had carried out several activities for the protection of humanitarian norms and values in the society, promotion of gender equality and the protection of natural resources.

Thirty judges from various districts of the Kingdom are taking part in the four-day interaction.

Advocates Prakashmani Sharma, Bhoj Raj Aiyer Lal Bahadur Thapa and Bishnu Prasad Pokharel are the members of the editorial board of the newly-launched book "A Collection of Cases Relating to Environment Protection" published by the Pro-Public.

Nepal-India ties emphasised

Kathmandu, Jan. 26 (RSS): On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Republic Day of India, the ambassador of India to Nepal, Shri Deb Mukharji, hoisted the Indian flag at the Indian embassy grounds today.

The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of Indian nationals.

After reading out the President’s message to the nation, the ambassador spoke about the long tradition of co-operation and multi-faceted relationship between Nepal and India.

Referring to the tremendous potential for creating economic growth through co-operation, ambassador Mukharji said that sincere efforts would be continued to further enhance mutual trust and co-operation between the two countries.

Students of Kendriya Vidhyalaya presented a cultural programme to add gaiety and fervour to the occasion.

The flag-hoisting ceremonies on this occasion were also held at the pension paying offices at Pokhara and Dharan.

Let’s pool efforts to tap IT: Chaudhary

Kathmandu, Jan. 26 (RSS): Minister for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhary has said that there should be collective effort by the government, the non-government sector and civic society for the development of information technology so as to identify and utilize national resources for wiping out backwardness from the country.

Speaking at a day-long discussion programme on information technology and e-commerce for development organised by the Centre for Development and Governance here today, Minister Chaudhary expressed hope that the discussion would provide recommendations for bringing out maximum output from the industry and commerce sector at the national and international level.

National Planning Commission member Dr Rameshananda Baidhya said that as information technology is an effective medium for development every class in society should have access to it and that the government has been playing the role of motivator for the development of this sector.

Chairman of the Centre Prof. Dr Biswakesar Maskey said accelerating development in information technology has brought about radical changes in the world and the discussion programme should concentrate on challenges and legal provisions pertaining to e-commerce and its use in developing countries.

Chief of the International Trade Centre, Geneva Dr Bernard A. Ansel expressed the view that Nepal, a landlocked country full of mountains, could benefit from information technology and for this it should increase its activities at the national, regional and international level.

Economic advisor to Nepal Rastra Bank Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said as a society based on knowledge is essential for the development of information technology Rastra Bank has given priority to this end and is providing cooperation as far as possible.

Third vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Binod Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) Lochan Lal Amatya and other speakers also expressed their views.

Around 80 experts from the concerned governmental and non-government sector took part in the discussion programme aimed at providing suggestions and recommendations to the government for the development of I.T.under the 10th plan.

Rich tributes paid to martyr Dharmabhakta

Kathmandu, Jan. 26 (RSS): Rich tributes were paid to martyr Dharmabhakta Mathema amid a function held today at Siphal where he was executed and a minute’s silence was observed in his memory.

During the function held by the 101-member Martyr Day main celebration committee under the chairmanship of Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolis Keshav Sthapit, various speakers highlighted the contributions made by the martyrs for ushering in democracy in the country.

Mayor Sthapit called for action in conformity with the spirit of the martyrs.

Martyr Shukraraj Shastri’s nephew Prayag Raj Joshi noted that as the martyrs had laid down their lives for democracy for the betterment of the nation and its people, the nation should pay respect to them by observing the martyrs day across the country.

Martyr Dharmabhakta’s fellow party activist Harikrishna Shrestha said that the martyrs had made praiseworthy efforts by founding Praja Parisad in order to usher in democracy in the country.

Noted historian Bhuwan Lal Pradhan called on one and all to follow the trail blazed by the martyrs.