He says his move aims to facilitate consensus, save parliamentary system and end terrorism
Koirala resigns as Prime Minister

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 19: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his resignation today stating that he would rather prefer to give priority to new initiatives and roles in solving the challenges besetting nation than remaining in the post.

"Preferring new initiatives and roles to solve the existing problem posed before the country to the continuation as Prime Minister, I have decided to resign," said Prime Minister Koirala. The Prime Minister announced his resignation in an address to the nation broadcast through Nepal Television and Radio Nepal this evening.

After making the announcement, Koirala went to the Royal Palace to submit his resignation to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev who later accepted it. The new Prime Minister is likely to be announced by Monday next week.

Before quitting the post he held for 16 months marked with bitter infighting within his Nepali Congress party, Koirala made it public that his latest tenure has been marred by internecine NC wrangling and outside pressures.

The Prime Minister said, "I have the challenge to save the Nepali Congress from aimless and endless conflicts."

In his statement the Prime Minister said he still feels it is his responsibility to channelise the energy wasted by the oppositions - by disrupting the parliamentary proceedings - towards a national consensus and to wipe out the terrorism from the country.

Koirala said that the country is passing through extremely challenging time as the 12- year-long democracy, earned through the hard way by Nepalese people, has been weakened because of difference among all political parties, their adamancy in overlooking the parliamentary system and process, and the lack of political culture to solve issues of national interests through consensus and joint efforts.

"On the other hand, our parliamentary system has been tormented by those extremists and proponents of violence and terror who are attempting to destroy our constitutional framework," he said.

Koirala said: "I feel the only way out of these two attacks is to encourage in building a widespread consensus and joint efforts among the political parties, civil society, and all Nepalese."

Koirala said he had tried to forge a national consensus among all the political parties through his 14-point basic programme proposed before the House. The 14- point programme had reflected all the problems and painful experiences faced by all the prime ministers, ruling parties and the oppositions during the last 12 years.

His appeal was not to save his chair for him but safety measure for the future prime ministers and the prime ministerial system. It was also aimed for safeguarding the parliamentary system against regression, violence and anarchy of the ultra-Left.

The Prime Minister warned that if all the responsible political parties do not commit themselves honestly to his 14-point programme the democratic movement and its achievements could face a severe blow.

The mindless violence and terror perpetrated by the Maoists are not only against the present constitution and the democratic set up but also a preplanned conspiracy against the country’s national security.

This terrorism, nurtured both from within and outside the country, targeted at the innocent people and security personnel is as much condemnable as it is fatal to our nationalism and national unity, he said.

Koirala said the primary issue of the national polity should be to wipe out the terrorism by the mobilisation of all the security apparatus of the country and bringing together all the responsible political parties and people.

The Prime Minister praised the role of the police despite their limited means and resources to fight against the menace of terrorism.

Meanwhile, he said he believed the Royal Nepalese Army mobilised under the Integrated Security and Development Programme would succeed in ending the Maoists’ violence and insurgency.

Koirala said that his major political issue is to forge a broad national unity and to mobilise people’s power against terrorism. He said he would put all his efforts on this issue not matter what role he might play in future.

"The campaign started during his16-month tenure has reached a definite phase and this campaign must be pushed ahead to achieve a concrete result," he emphasized.

HM accepts Koirala’s resignation

Kathmandu, July 19 (RSS): His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, accepted the resignation tendered by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from the post of Prime Minister.

His Majesty has, in accordance with article 36(7) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990, also designated the present cabinet to continue in office until another cabinet is constituted.

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

His Majesty extends felicitations

Kathmandu, July 20 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has extended felicitations to President of the Republic of Colombia Mr. Andres Pastrana on the occasion of the Independence Day of Colombia.

In a massage, His Majesty has expressed best wishes for the President’s personal health and happiness and for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Colombia.

NC CWC emergency meet today

Kathmandu, July 19 (RSS): An emergency meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee will take place at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

All the central working committee members have been requested to be present at the meeting, according to a press release issued today by the Nepali Congress central office.

House panel meet

Kathmandu, July 19 (RSS): The House of Representatives Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee continued clause-wise discussions on the llth amendment to the Civil Code Bill at its meeting today.

Committee chairman Mahendra Yadav presided over the meeting.

Nepalese women close to regaining property rights

BY RITU RAJ SUBEDI

Kathmandu, July 19: Nepalese women are close to regain their rights to parental property granted to them in 1910 B.S. which had got scrapped in the revised Civil Code of 2020 B. S.

The country’s Civil Code of 1910 B.S. had given Nepalese women equal right to the parental property as their male counterparts.

However, the proposed bill has one more important matter regarding divorce, which has been largely overshadowed by the much hyped parental property issue.

If the current session of the Parliament okays the Bill proposing 11th amendment to the Muluki Ain or Civil Code approved by the Parliamentary Law and Justice Committee, it would be a landmark victory for Nepalese women on footing them equal to men.

The Committee the other day unanimously approved the controversial clause of the Bill that grants the daughters equal right to parental property as the sons and they would not have to return it after marriage.

The decision, thus, has settled the most of the controversy over the clause of the bill that bars women to retain property after marriage.

The women right activists and other radical groups have become euphoric to the decision and called it ‘revolutionary’.

However, Ms Indira Rana, member of the National Human Right Commission does not want to term it revolutionary. She said, "The decision is praiseworthy."

According to Rana, the legal provision to grant equal right on parental property to daughters is not new in the Nepalese society.

The Civil Code enacted during the reign of King Surendra Bir Bikram Shah in 1910 B. S. had ensured the daughters’ property rights, said Rana, who is a lawyer as well as an woman right activist. However, the daughters would forfeit the right if they eloped or married against the will of the parents, she said.

Rana said that the provision was scraped in the revised Civil Code of 2020 B. S., which is existence till the date. This code said the daughters would have only right to inheritance of their parent’s property if they would not marry till 35 year-old.

This provision has comes under the spirit of the Constitution, which is the main law of the land, that grants equal right to son and daughter, she said, adding, "The other laws that contradict the Constitution are automatically nullified."

Those who are for equal rights to women, say such a provision is also in line with the 1979 UN Convention that speaks against all kind of discrimination of women. Nepal is also a signatory to the Convention.

With the endorsement of the Bill by the House body, many have hoped that the 20th session of the Parliament will pass it. The bill which was pushed in the parliament a couple of sessions ago has remained shelved due to frequent disturbances of the House proceedings.

"From our side, we have finished all preparations regarding the Bill," said Mahendra Yadav, chairman of the Committee. Now, it is the House that has to approve, said Yadav, who led the parliamentary committee to such a historic decision.

Yadav said that the Committee has made some revisions to the Bill sent to it for discussion by the parliament.

Ms Rana also expects that the ongoing session will approve the Bill. "The House will endorse it since the Parliamentary Committee has ratified," she said.

Meanwhile, there are many who view that if the revised Bill is approved by the parliament and comes into practice, it would lead to the social disintegration.

But Ms Rana does not believe in such argument. "The society will gradually digest the changes."

She said that there should be provision of compulsory education for daughters up to high school level.

It is not that the newly proposed Bill only speaks for the women. There are some other important provisions that actually curtails women’s rights provided by the existing laws particularly on matter of divorce. The Committee chairman said the Committee will take a decision on the issue of divorce by tomorrow.

In the new proposed law, there will be two options for the husband and wife if he or she wants to divorce. ‘Either there will be conditions or will for the separation," said Gyan Prasad Bhattarai, secretary of the Committee

If the new law gets implemented, it will grant some more rights to husband in the matter of divorce, he said.

It will modify the existing legal provision on divorce that is more liberal to women, Bhattarai added.

He said that the conditions would be equally applicable to both the wife and the husband.

One of the conditions is that the husband and wife must deal out their portion of inheritance to all members of family prior to divorce, Bhattarai informed.

Besides, the Bill has made changes in the existing legal provisions regarding marriage and abortion that will have significant impacts on the social life.

The Bill pertaining the parental rights of women that was tabled in the parliament in 2056 B.S., has seen lengthy debate and discussion in and out of the House. In 2053 B.S. the Supreme Court ruled the cabinet to amend in the existing laws that was discriminating to women.

Chopper-ride restricted for passengers in remote areas

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Jhufal, Dolpa, July 19: On security grounds the government has recently introduced new rule for helicopter operation in remote areas like this requiring operators to acquire permission from the Chief District Officers before ferrying limited number of passengers in their choppers.

The otherwise more than 20 passengers-carrying helicopters like MI17 can now carry only seven – that too if the CDO grants the permission. In case of rescue missions, the top government official in remote districts can allow such Russian-built helicopters to carry as many as 21 passengers.

"The new rule is meant for the safety and security of the remote districts," said Medini Prasad Sharma, Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). "The news was circulated to all the CAAN offices in the remote districts after we got the instructions from our higher ups."

Earlier this week, CAAN had released a telephone circular to its district offices in remote areas requiring Air Traffic Controllers to contact the Director General of the Authority before allowing any helicopter to carry passengers. "But since I couldn’t handle all these affairs from Kathmandu, the authority had to be delegated to the CDOs."

Senior officials at CAAN said the official restrictions on helicopter operations in districts like this have to do with the Maoist insurgency in such areas. "The move is aimed at screening travelers’ activities in such districts."

Civil Aviation officials in these districts, however, are having tough time convincing the locals. Already hit by slashed number of flights due to monsoon, the general mass here claim that the new rule for helicopter-operation will only further worsen their travel-woes.

"That is why they have been regularly reaching our offices and protesting against the new arrangement," said Kailash Sharma, an ATC at the Jhufal Airport – the aerial gateway to this district. "And the sad news is none of them get convinced."

ATCs from nearby airstrips in Surkhet, Salyan, among other districts, shared similar troubled experiences with Sharma over their radio sets. "One of them even had to close the airport earlier this week because the locals and their leaders even surrounded the office protesting the new provision," said Sharma.

So, why the locals’ ire despite the government’s move based on security reasons? Knowledgeable sources here blame the inconsistent official policy over the years on the operation of the MI 17 helicopters — that have proved to be boon for the locals in these areas as they can hop to their destinations paying modest fares.

The Russian-built helicopters have often been in controversy in the country with the officialdom sometime allowing them to carry passengers and sometimes not. In the mid- 90’s, they were even grounded citing unsafe to carry passenger. Even before the debate – whether these fixed-winged aircraft are only cargo carriers – died down, they were back to business transporting passengers once again.

"It is because of this ever changing policy people here find it very hard to believe that the latest rule for helicopter operation in remote districts is based on security grounds," said an ATC here. "Moreover, they say that the same helicopter carries more than 30 police personnel at a time during emergencies."

Helicopter operators said they do understand the new security-induced arrangement but say the provision is impractical. "We agree that security is an issue in these areas but the idea of getting the permission from the CDO is just not practical. How can we meet the official whenever passengers wish to embark our aircraft?" said Sharad Lacoul, Managing Director of Manang Air that operates MI 17 helicopters in this and the neighbouring districts. "We believe this is a temporary measure and that there will be some positive changes soon."

Dolpa tower, pilot out of touch

Obstructing terrain and monsoon-induced bad weather apart, Dolpa District’s only airstrip these days has on offer one more risk: Crippling communication gap between the airport tower and pilot.

The Very High Frequency (VHF) equipment installed at the Dolpa Airport’s Tower has been out of order for more than a month now keeping its Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and the incoming and outgoing pilots out of touch.

The ATCs in the tower can very well speak to other towers across the kingdom through the working High Frequency equipment. But, when it comes to helping the fliers in navigation through communication, they become helpless thanks to their VHF that has gone kaput.

"We had informed our head office about the VHF machine’s state more than a month ago, but nothing has been done till now," said Kailash Sharma, an ATC at the Dolpa Tower, demonstrating the malfunctioning microphone of the VHF.

Medini Prasad Sharma, Director General at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said that he had received the message about the out-of-order VHF equipment at Dolpa Tower. "I have already asked my subordinates to make the necessary correction."

Pilots flying to this remote airport warn that the flights are indeed risky due to the communication gap with the tower. "Lack of communication with the Dolpa Tower does hamper our flights," said Captain Subash Rijal, a pilot with Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, who regularly flies to Dolpa. "No doubt, it is risky to fly without such communication aid."

Located on a mountain lap at an altitude of around 2,500 meters, the Dolpa Airstrip has a Short Take Off and Landing runway where aircraft can approach only from one end making an abrupt right turn from a long stretch of mountain-pass.

Govt policy checks use of polythene

Kathmandu, July 19 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government has introduced a firm policy to discourage the use of polythene bags which have proved to be very harmful to environment and human health.

Health hazardous chemicals are used in the production of such polythene bags which are excessively used in the daily life of everyone from upper classes down.

Taking this into consideration and the ill effect on the environment the government has made a provision in the current fiscal year budget to ban the production of polythene bags of less than 20 micron.

Polythene and plastic never decay and play a big role in increasing air pollution. Burning the polythene bags also leads to increase in global warming and may affect the balance of nature with the production of gases like hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, cyanide and Benjin, say experts.

Cattle also have died after consumption of polythene bags and the bags have also led to decline in the fertility of soil as well as pollution of ground water.

Dioxin, a very hazardous chemical, is used in the production of sub-standard polythene and plastic bags and this may kill plants as well as lead to diseases of the skin, heart and kidney in humans.

According to statistics, on an average one person uses 14 kgs of plastic bags in one year in the world. The ratio has been found to be three kgs in India and one kg in Nepal.

Nepal is a home to more than 350 plastic producing industries and the country does not have "incinerator" technology for the scientific destruction of polythene bags.

Meanwhile, the government has taken up a policy of gradually reducing the use of plastic bags and increase the attraction towards alternative means, according to the Ministry of Population and Environment.

Govt of Denmark to provide over 10m to strengthen CIAA

Kathmandu, July 19 (RSS): The Government of Denmark has agreed to provide a technical assistance of DKK 1.19 million (equivalent to Rs.10.27) for a project to support institutional strengthening of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

The assistance consists of four different components, viz equipment; in country training, workshops and rehabilitation of the training hall; regional training, workshops, and tours; and expert services.

The main objective of the project is to enhance the institutional capability of the CIAA in combating corruption. This assistance is being provided under the framework of Danish support in the area of human rights, good governance and decentralisation.

A supplementary agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Denmark at the Ministry of Finance.

Bhoj Raj Ghimire, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Chresten Peterson, Charge D’ Affaires at the Royal Denish Embassy, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed its sincere appreciation and thanks to the Government of Denmark for the assistance and also for its continued interest in the development of Nepal, particularly in the area of governance.