World leaders greet HM

Kathmandu, June 12 (RSS): Messages have been received from various heads of state congratulating His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on His Majesty’s accession to the throne.

Emperor of Japan Akihoto and Empress Michiko have sent a message to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev expressing deep sorrow at the tragedy that recently struck the Royal Palace.

The thoughts of the Emperor and Empress are with His Majesty at this time of great sorrow knowing how very much His Majesty respected and loved his brother His late Majesty King Birendra, it is stated in the message.

The Emperor and Empress have, in the message, also sent His Majesty most sincere good wishes for the future and prayed for the stability of Nepal and the happiness of the Nepalese people.

President of the United Arab Emirates Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan has sent a message to His Majesty King Gyanendra extending condolence on behalf of the government and people of his country as well as his own at the sad demise of His Majesty King Birendra and other Royal Family members.

In the message, President Zayed Bin Sultan has also wished peace for the souls of Their Majesties the King and Queen and other victims.

President of Slovenia Milan Kucan has, in a message of to His Majesty King Gyanendra, stated that he was deeply grieved over the events that so tragically occurred in the Royal Family of Nepal and brought great loss to the nation.

In the message, President Milan Kucan has expressed to His Majesty and the people of Nepal, his heartfelt condolences and hoped for peace and prosperity under His Majesty's guidance.

President of the Republic of Korea Kim Dae-Jung has sent a message to His Majesty King Gyanendra expressing his sincere congratulations on the occasion of His Majesty's accession to the throne.

In the message, President Kim Dae-Jung has expressed the confidence that Nepal will achieve continued development and prosperity and the ties of friendship and cooperation between Korea and Nepal will be further strengthened under His Majesty's eminent leadership.

He has also wished good health and success to His Majesty the King.

Likewise, King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has, in his message to His Majesty King Gyanendra, extended congratulations on behalf of the people of Saudi Arabia and his own, on the occasion of His Majesty's accession to the throne.

In the message, the Saudi King has also wished for His Majesty's good health and happiness as well as for the progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.

Likewise, President of the Lao Republic Khamtay Siphandone has congratulated His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on his accession to the throne and offered his best wishes.

In the message, he has expressed the hope that the friendly relations and cooperation so happily existing between the two countries will be further strengthened for the benefit of the people of the two countries as well as peace, development and cooperation in the region and the world.

President of France Jacques Chirac has wished happiness, peace and prosperity to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, on behalf of the people of France and his own, on the occasion of His Majesty's accession to throne.

In the message, the French President has also wished Nepal success in the path of democracy chosen with courage ten years ago and said that in this effort, France, a long time friend of Nepal, stands by His Majesty's side.

Condolence meets in dists
Tributes paid to late members of Royal Family

Kathmandu, June 12 (RSS): Reports of heartfelt tributes paid to Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family who passed away in a tragic incident that took place at the Narayanhity Royal Palace on June 1 are being received here.

Nepal-Benelux Chamber of Commerce and Industries has paid rich tributes to the deceased members of the Royal Family and prayed for eternal peace to their departed souls.

Likewise, Trade and Economic Commissioner of Flanders Paul Hegge, trade commissioner advisor of Flanders T. N. Srinivasan and secretary Neelam Khurana said that the passing away of Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya and other members of the Royal Family is a very shocking and irreparable loss for the Kingdom and people of Nepal.

May the souls of the departed Royal Family members rest in peace, they added.

Bhaktapur: Niskalankeswore Mahadev Sewa Samiti organised a condolence meeting to pay tributes to Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Charikot: Kalingchowk Shanta Nanda Dharma Karma Sewa Sangh observed five minutes silence praying for eternal peace to the departed souls of the Royal Family.

Dolakha: RPP Dolakha district committee has prayed to Bhimeswore, Kalingchowk Bhagwati and Lord Pashupatinath for eternal peace to the departed souls of the Royal Family.

Banepa: Banepa municipality has expressed deep shock over the passing away of Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family and paid rich tributes the members of the Royal Family.

Nepalgunj: Nepal Freedom Fighters Association, Banke observed two minutes silence praying for eternal peace to the departed souls of Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Pokhara: The meeting of the board of Pokhara Sub-metroplitan City held yesterday paid rich tributes to His Majesty King Birendra, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra, HRH Prince Nirajan, HRH Princess Sruti and other members of the Royal Family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Likewise, Women Service Center, Nadipur and Phewa Publications Private Limited have prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls of the members of the Royal Family.

Baglung: The joint meeting of the heads of offices in Baglung district has expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of the members of the Royal Family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Likewise, the Officers’ Club, Sunsari, Madhav Sanskrit Vidhyashram, Fattehwal Eye Hospital, Nepalgunj, NC Lamjung district committee, the heads of the offices of Dhanusha district, Appellate Court, Hetauda, Aryal Kul Pariwar, Mahendra Ratna Campus, NC Myagdi District Committee, Miss Gyayatri Prabhat Memorial Trust, Gorkha District Development Committee, Karmacharya Milan Kendra, Dolakha, Nepal Physically Handicapped Council, Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, NC Dhanusha district committee, Morang Automobile Dealers’ Association, Jain Swetamber Terapanth Mahila Mandal, Rotary Club of Dhulikhel, Yuva Boudha Samuha, Nepal Sahakari Sanstha Private Limited, Chandanpur VDC, Guheswori Bal Shikshya Secondary School, Character Development Association, Kitini Higher Secondary School, Sajha Swastha Sewa, Nepal Art Council, Indira Samaj Kalyan Sanstha, Balkot Development Society and Tole Sahayog Samiti have expressed deep sorrow and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls of the Royal Family.

Nepal Leprosy Relief Association, Karmachari Milan Kendra-Humla, Rastriya Jana Kalyan Pratisthan, Jamuna Danda Community Forest Users’ Association, Agrawal Sewa Kendra, Inter-corporation National Independent Employees Council, Siddhashram Shakti Kendra, Sai Prithvi, Karmachari Milan Kendra-Dolakha, Kapileswore Mishra Utthaan Samiti, New Millennium Academy, Rautahat Bikash Guthi, martyr Lakhan Thapa Memorial Committee, Master Mitrasen Memorial Academy, Nepal-Portugal Friendship Association, Medicare National Hospital and Research Center, China Study Center, Community Saving Fund and Bhaktapur Siru Illectuals Society have also expressed deep sorrow over the untimely demise of the members of the Royal Family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Chautara: Civil Society, Sindhupalchowk organised a condolence meeting to pay profound tributes to Their late Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

During the meeting, one minutes silence was observed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Bhaktapur: Women workers and Child Welfare Council held a condolence meeting praying for eternal peace to His late Majesty King Birendra, Her late Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His late Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family.

Fifty six ritual lamps were lit in memory of Their late Majesties the King and Queen and floral tributes paid at the meeting chaired by chairwoman of the council Ranju Napit.

Similarly, local people of Datratreya chanted religious hymns throughout the day praying eternal peace to the departed souls of Their late Majesties the King and Queen Monday.

Chitwan: Chitwan Red Cross has passed a resolution stating that the nation and the people have plunged into grief over the sad and unexpected demise of His Majesty King Birendra and Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya.

Syangja: A meeting of the Karmachari Milan Kedra has expressed heartfelt condolence over the sad demise of Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of Royal Family.

The meeting presided over by the chairman of the centre Dandapani Sharma wished for speedy recovery of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Nepali Congress regional committees of Constituency Nos. 2 and 3 separately held condolences meetings to pay tributes to Their late Majesties the King and Queen.

Gorkha: Gorkha District Development Committee has expressed sadness over the demise of His Majesty King Birendra and other members of the Royal Family.

The meeting also prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Similarly, Karmachari Milan Kendra, Gorakha Jaycees, Landless Squatter Problem Resolution Commission-Gorkha, Nepal Teachers' Association, Nepal Trade Union and Federation of Nepalese Journalists also paid profound tributes to Their late Majesties the King and Queen and other members of Royal Family.

Dhangadhi: A meeting of Nepal Maharana (Rana Tharu) Samaj Sudhar Parishad has extended heartfelt condolences on the demise of Their late Majesties the King and the Queen.

Similarly, Kailali Jana Pustakalaya and Achham Sewa Samiti also paid profound tributes to Their late Majesties the King and the Queen.

Janakpur: The chiefs of government offices in Dhanusa district have paid rich tributes to His Majesty King Birendra, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family and observed three minute's silence praying for eternal peace to the souls of the members of the Royal Family.

The condolences meeting held under the chairmanship of Dhanusa CDO Gopal Malego also wished for speed recovery of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other member of the Royal Family.

Offices reopen in valley

Kathmandu, June 12 (RSS): After ten days of mourning and deprivation, all offices in Kathmandu Valley reopened from today.

As the beloved King and Queen of the Nepalese and other Royal Family members were lost in the sudden and unimaginable incident the night of June l, offices in the valley had remained closed for the last ten days.

A decision was taken to close the offices for five days from June 2 to mourn nation-wide the demise of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. But as His Majesty King Dipendra also passed away on June 4, offices were closed for another five days, up to June 8.

As the 9th and 10th of June were Saturday and Sunday respectively, offices in the valley remained closed on those days while those outside the valley opened on June 10.

As the 11th day rites for His late Majesty Birendra had to be performed on June 11, a holiday was declared for the valley on that day also.

Though some of the offices of non-governmental organisations and those in the private sector were open in the valley on Sunday, it is only from today that all offices, business establishments and educational institutions have opened.

A large number of people were seen in the offices that deal directly with the public and also in the courts of law.

However, the employees were not seen to be cheerful though they were meeting after a gap of l0 days.

As the memory of the departed King was fresh in everyone's mind, it was natural that the first hour at office was spent talking about the tragedy that had befallen the nation.

As time is a powerful healer of all wounds, it is expected that the nation’s present hurt will also heal by and by.

Journalists asked to acquire press accreditation

Kathmandu, June l2 (RSS): As the Press and Publication Act 2048 requires representatives of foreign and indigenous communications media working in Nepal to acquire press accredition, all indigenous and foreign journalists involved in the collecting and dissemination of news within the Kingdom of Nepal have been requested to engage in such activities only after acquiring their press accredition.

According to a press communique issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, Department of Information, those seeking press accredition can apply to the Department of Information during office hours with the recommendation of the media organisations concerned and proof of identity.

As the overall good of the Nepalese and their feelings would have been hurt had false, misleading and unsubstantiated details concerning the tragic and unimaginable incident that took place at Narayanhity Royal Palace on June l had been disseminated by indigenous and foreign communications media, all indigenous and foreign communications media have been requested to refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated and false information on the basis of guesswork and imagination.

Press meet organised
'Media should not publish news that hurt national integrity'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 12: Leaders of different political parties today emphasised on broad based national consensus to tackle the crisis emerging after the tragic incident that happened at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on June 1.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Reporters’ Club here, they urged the media people to be responsible while disseminating the information on such sensitive issue. They held the views that media should not publish sensational and emotional news items that hurt national integrity and sovereignty.

Nepali Congress spokesman Narahari Acharya said that political parties should adopt unified approach to respond to the event.

"Nepali Congress has taken up an objective and realistic perspective to look into the event."

Due to some constraints, the government could not bring out the facts and truth about the incident on time, he said. Acharya further said that the high level committee formed to probe the incident would also answer many questions that people are raising.

CPN- UML Standing Committee member Jhalanath Khanal said that all political parties should parley and chalk out common agenda to address the present situation.

Khanal criticised the government violated the freedom of press by arresting the editor and officials of Kantipur daily.

Kamal Thapa, spokesman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, said that all political parties, civil society and the press should maintain patience until the high level committee did not release its report on the event.

Saying the monarchy is the unifying force of the Nepalese society, Thapa urged political parties to rise above petty interest for the wider interest of the country.

He warned that there are some detrimental elements that want to fish in the troubled water.

CPN-ML leader Radhakrishna Mainali urged the media people not to publish reports that are based on their own perceptions and biases. "Everybody should be serious to the national security in the time of crisis."

Mainali also requested the political parties not to interpret the event according to their party interest.

Discussion on critical situation of industries

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 12: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) today organised a meeting to discuss the critical situation of the industries and find ways to operate them smoothly in the uncommon situation created by the ‘tragic incident that occurred in the country’.

Initiating the discussion, FNCCI Employer’s Council Chair Rajendra Khetan said the meeting was organised to mitigate the negative consequences that might surface in the unstable situation at present.

The meeting participated in by FNCCI members and trade union representatives committed to maintain restraint to pass safely through the existing critical situation and to implement minimum wage and collective bargaining agreement. "It is essential to maintain restraint to avoid negative consequences on industry and move ahead safely," an FNCCI press release said.

The participants also discussed about political instability in the country and the ensuing fear and insecurity created by attacks on industries, strikes, and unreasonable demands of the workers.

The representatives of Nepal Trade Union Congress, Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions and Federation of Nepalese Democratic Trade Unions said disputes were often initiated by parties who aimed at disrupting peace and stability. They said they would help the industrialists operate industries smoothly if the management side solved the reasonable demands of the workers.

They said the industrial relations could be enhanced if the industry operators fulfilled the basic demands of the workers and also appealed to the industries to think seriously about it.

The meeting was participated in by former FNCCI presidents Anand Raj Mulmi and Padma Jyoti, FNCCI first vice-president Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, third vice-president Binod Bahadur Shrestha and the executive members. The trade unions were represented by Rajendra Bahadur Raut, Indra Dev Mishra, Umesh Upadhyaya and others.

Tourism
Short-listed travel agents for Chinese tourists

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, June 12: Not all 500-plus registered travel agents in the country will be allowed to handle inbound Chinese tourists once they start arriving here, if all goes well, a couple of months from now.

The officialdom is already working on criterion to pick up certain number of travel agents who would be licensed to sell their tour packages to Chinese visitors. That number has not been fixed as of now, though. Official sources hoped the figure could stand at around 100 – less than one fifth of the total number of travel agents in the country.

"We are doing our part of homework to set the criterion," said Shankar Prasad Koirala, Joint Secretary, who heads the Tourism Industry Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). "The selection process will be transparent."

Officials took to their desks to short-list the number of Chinese-tourists-handling-travel agents in line with the demand of the Chinese Government, said MoCTCA officials. Since China has 65 travel agents authorised to handle outbound Chinese tourists, the Chinese authority expects reciprocation from Nepal in case of limiting the number of travel agents catering to Chinese visitors. And that means, the county will have to fix certain number of "credible" travel agents arranging holidays for Chinese tourists.

This was pronounced more clearly during the agreement – declaring Nepal as an outbound destination -- signed by Nepal and China in the Chinese capital Beijing on April 16 earlier this year. It was then when the authorities in the immediate northern neighbour had informally denied accepting all travel agents in the country to cater to Chinese tourists, according to an official at MoCTCA.

Well aware that the Chinese officials would formalise this particular demand in the next meeting with their Nepalese counterpart, the officialdom is already at work to initiate the selection process. "After we agree on the number of travel agents we should have here for Chinese tourists, we will begin the selection process," said Koirala.

Travel agents’ track record, their foreign exchange earnings, manpower, infrastructure, among others, would be considered before they are short-listed to serve Chinese tourists.

And if these are actually going to be the measuring rods, getting all the "right" travel agents may become an uphill task. Here is why: Of the 180 members of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), only 50 are actual tour operators with basic infrastructure like means of transport, manpower, among others, records with NATA show.

To make matters more complicated, not all travel agents associated with NATA have made up their mind if they would sell their packages to Chinese tourists. Responding to the association’s recent query – Who would like to cater to Chinese visitors? -- only 40 of its 180 member travel agents gave positive answer, according to NATA president Bhola Thapa. "Many are not sure because they first want to be guaranteed on the payment front from their Chinese clients."

How much interested would be the members of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), a freshly established outfit of upper-bracket travel traders, in the Chinese market remains to be seen. Almost all the travel agents of the 32-member organisation are well-equipped tour operators, according to Basanta Raj Mishra, Honorary Secretary of NATO.

"But, in the beginning, only VAT and Tourism Service Fee payers should be allowed to do this business," he said. "Or else, we will once again burn our fingers as we did with the Taiwanese market."

For the country, China is a huge promising market that saw 12 million outbound visitors last year. What’s more, these Chinese tourists are allowed to visit only certain countries recognised by Chinese Government as outbound destinations – Nepal being the 15th one.

Nepal, China to talk by this month

To materialise their recent bilateral agreement allowing Chinese tourists to visit the country, Nepal and China will hold a technical level meet in the capital by the end of this month.

"That is when we will be discussing the detailed modalities of the agreement that is so far in a framework shape now," said Shankar Prasad Koirala, Joint Secretary who heads the Industry Division at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation.

Soon after signing the agreement in Beijing in April earlier this year, the government had invited Chinese officials to discuss on the nitty-gritty issues surrounding the Chinese tourists’ visit in the country. The Chinese side had reportedly agreed to arrive here by the end of May last month.

"But they later postponed the meeting due to the three-day consecutive strike we had here," said Koirala.

If officials from both the sides finalise the deal by the end of this month, Chinese wannabe visitors would pack up and board flights, mainly from Shanghai and Lhasa, to reach here beginning next month.