PAC objects UML remark on plane deal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathamandu, May 25: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives today said that its attention was seriously drawn towards the remark made by the main Opposition Party CPN-UML regarding the Committee’s decision charging former Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation and the UML Central Committee Member Bhim Bahadur Rawal with corruption on lease deal of the China Southwest Airlines plane for the period of 28 March 1999 to 27 March 2000.

The chairman of the PAC Subash Nemwang, in its meeting, said the Committee is firm to its decision. "The decision is objective and is based on fact and truth," Nemwang said.

He further said that they had taken the decision after a long deliberation and investigation. All responsible bodies of the country should be serious to the PAC, he said.

In its reaction, the UML had expressed that the party was surprised at PAC’s decision and blamed that the parliamentary committee had made the decision without sufficient facts and details on the deal.

At today’s meeting of the PAC, MPs from Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhvawana Party strongly objected to the UML’s remark while the UML’s stalwarts mildly defended the party at the meeting.

MP and PAC member Dr. Prakashchandra Lohani and Hridayash Tripathi of the NSP said that UML’s accusation was serious. They said the remark aims at undermining the parliamentary norms and system.

Nepali Congress MP Narayan Prasad Saud said UML’s remark against the unanimous decision of all-party meet could not be taken simply. "It is a challenge to parliamentary committee and doubt to our intention."

However, UML MP Shiv Bahadur Deuja said any sovereign institution has rights to make decision. "The party can express surprise or regret to any decision, which is related to it."

Deuja further said that Nepali Congress had also made similar remark against the House body’s decision related to the ‘Dhamija scam.’ He said that the party should be responsible to its reaction.

PAC member Tirthalal Shrestha said the Committee should not be ‘wounded’ by such remark.

NC MP Ramesh Lekhak asked if a political party starts investigating the PAC’s decision then what would happen to the role of the parliamentary committee. "It does not suit to a responsible party like UML."

He suggested that the Committee should draw the UML’s attention in this regard.

The PAC on Thursday had decided that long-term lease deals endorsed by Rawal and another ex-minister Tarani Dutta Chataut at different terms at their office, were involved in irregularities in the aircraft deal. The all-party House body directed the Cabinet Secretariat and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation to initiate legal action against all officials involved in both the deals.

Following his implication in corruption of the Chinese aircraft deal by the PAC, Rawal Friday resigned from the member of party’s central committee and demanded truth be brought to public after a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, the UML has formed a three-member committee comprising of Standing Committee member and MP Bharat Mohan Adhikary, UML leaders Yubraj Gyawali and Keshav Badal to investigate the points that Rawal mentioned in his resignation letter.

It is noteworthy that UML senior leader K.P. Sharma Oli and Ishwor Pokharel are also at the Committee that is headed by another UML leader Subash Nemwang.

'Nepal-China ties cordial'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 25: Chairman of Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi said that Nepal and China have been close friendly countries for years.

Dr. Rayamajhi expressed the view, while speaking as the chief guest in an inaugural function of a photo exhibition on "One Day In Lhasa" here today.

The photo exhibition was organised on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.The organiser was Arniko Society, in association with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

Commending the role of Arniko Society for the consolidation of the bilateral relations between Nepal and China, he expressed the view that the Society would work for the further enhancement of the friendly relations.

He also recalled his visit to China during the late 50s and the talks he had held with the Chinese leader Mao.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Housing and Physical Planning Suresh Malla said that the Chinese Prime Minister’s recent visit has helped to further strengthen the age-old friendly and cordial relations between Nepal and China.

Malla also said that the relations between the two countries are not limited only to the political level. "There have been strong relations at the people to people level between the two countries," he said.

Addressing the function, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zeng Xuyong said that China and Nepal were very friendly neighbouring countries and China highly appreciated the consistent stand firmly held by the Nepalese Government in the issue of Tibet.

Ambassador Xuyong informed that China’s Central People’s Government decided to adopt a policy of peaceful liberalization of Tibet, in cognizance of Tibet’s history and present reality.

Revealing the present status of Tibet, Yuyong said that during the 50 years since the liberation, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, tremendous changes have taken place in Tibet with the support from the people of all ethnic groups in China and the endeavor of the Tibetan people.

"Now we can feature Tibet as enlightened in politics, prosperous in economy, stable in society, united in all ethnic groups and consolidated in border defense," he said.

On May 23, 1991, China’s Central Government and the then Government of Tibet had agreed on a series of issues regarding Tibet’s peaceful liberalization, and signed an Agreement on Measures for the peaceful Liberation of Tibet.

Delivering his welcome speech, C. D. Rajbhandari, President of Arniko Society, said that after the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, Tibet has leaped from a feudal society into a modern civilized society.

"A lot of infrastructure developments have taken place in this Earth’s Third Pole. Tibet now boasts of modern industry, agriculture, modern science and technology with monumental progress in medicine, environmental protection, energy resources development, communication, among others," Rajbhandari said.

He further said that the construction of Syabrubesi-Rasuwagadhi sector of Kathmandu-Kerong Highway would facilitate a new route of trading between Nepal and Tibet.

At the function, Jhalanath Khanal, leader of the CPN (UML) and former minister, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s spokesman and former minister Kamal Thapa also spoke about the various aspects of Nepal-China relations.

Lakpa Sherpa scales Mt. Everest again

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 25: Miss Lakpa Sherpa, member of the Noguchi Asian Group Everest Cleaning Expedition 2001, successfully climbed Mt. Everest from the Tibetan side on 23rd May at 9 AM.

Miss Lakpa has become the first Nepalese woman to scale the world’s highest peak for two times.

According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, Asian Trekking (P) Ltd. that has handled the team, she has already descended safely to the Advance Base Camp, which is at a height of 6,400 meters.

During the spring last year, she, as a team leader of the New Millennium Nepalese Women Expedition Team 2000, had reached the top of Mt. Everest.

More rainfall in country this year

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 25: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that there is more than average of rainfall in the country during this year’s pre-monsoon period.

The Department said the country, minus some places, had recorded more rainfall during the last 25 days than the average precipitation in May. According to the Department, Kathmandu had 36 per cent more precipitation during this period. Eastern Nepal’s Dhankuta had 55 per cent over the average while Birendranagar had 117 per cent more.

The Department in a special bulletin has said that this year’s monsoon is likely to begin a few days earlier than the previous years. It is expected to enter eastern part of the country in sometime between June 5-7. The monsoon usually begins on June 10 in Nepal.

'Role of SMEs vital for economic development

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 25: State Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Krishna Prasad Sitaula today said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can play a vital role to strengthen the national economy and called for government-private sector partnership to promote them.

"The government is willing to work with the private sector for the development of the SMEs," Sitaula told the inaugural ceremony of a two-day national conference on ‘Small and Medium Enterprise Development in Nepal’ here this morning.

"SMEs can play pivotal roles in creating dynamic and market-oriented economic growth, employment for the growing work force especially in the rural areas and for reducing poverty in Nepal," UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Henning Karcher said. "However, SMEs in Nepal need further assistance, guidance, and an appropriate policy environment and clear-cut strategies to cope with the challenges of globalisation and widening free trade."

Karcher said entrepreneurial skill development, market linkages, appropriate rural technology, micro-credit and people’s participation were five crucial components for the success of the SMEs and emphasised on joint effort to promote such enterprises.

"SMEs in Nepal are vulnerable due to low capital base, seasonal operation, use of obsolete production technology, low productivity and low product quality," FNCCI President Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said. He hoped the conference would come up with a vision to address these and other problems facing the SMEs.

"SMEs are gaining importance, particularly in a developing country like Nepal," Representative of The Asia Foundation Nick Langton said. He said appropriate policy coupled with proper implementation would steer the development of SMEs.

Welcoming the participants, Chairman of the Centre for Development and Governance (CDG) Bishwa Keshar Maskey said the conference sought to present the synthesis of the findings and recommendations of eight regional seminars and round tables and to articulated five important themes for SMEs development in Nepal. The themes chosen for the conference include strategy development, policy and legal reforms, entrepreneurial and management development, information technology and e-commerce, and gender mainstreaming.

Maskey said the government as well as the private sector had been unable to set the priority to create a viable mechanism for steering the development of SMEs in Nepal. "Time has come to build a business culture in the country so that the modernisation of SMEs will serve as a beacon for production revolution, sound management, and innovations for national development."

Delivering the vote of thanks, FNCCI’s First Vice President Rabi Bhakta Shrestha stressed on government-private sector partnership for the development of SMEs which he said could play vital role in the overall economic development of the country.

The conference organised jointly by CDG and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) with the support of The Asia Foundation.

SMEs comprise over 90 per cent industrial establishments of the country. They constitute 85 per cent of all the industrial employment and ovr 76 per cent of industrial output.

'Six left parties not acting for political end'

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): Leaders of the six left parties have said they were compelled to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister for giving the country a positive direction and that it was not for political benefit but to free the country from growing corruption.

They made this remark while speaking at an interaction on "Mass strike: opposition politics or national need" here yesterday .

CPN-UML standing committee member K.P. Sharma Oli wondered what will be the condition of the country if this government is allowed to remain in power for the next three years.

He also informed that the CPN-UML central member Bhim Rawal who was implicated in the China South West Airlines scandal has tendered his resignation as the party’s central member and party foreign department member.

Leader of the Rastriya Jana Morcha (RJM) party Chitra Bahadur K.C. said the national media had been misused by the government against the people’s movement.

NWPP president Narayan Man Bijukchhe and SJM general secretary Lilamani Pokhrel said the mass strike is in favour of the people in the long run.

The programme was presided over by Press Chautari Chairman Shambhu Shrestha.

Support IISDP scheme: DPM

Gorakha, May 25 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Ramchandra Poudel has called on all political parties to rise above party politics and prejudices in order to make the Integrated Internal Security and Development Package (IISDP) a success.

Addressing an-all party gathering of various political parties here today Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said political leaders working at district level should not be entangled in politics at central level in order to expedite development works.

The government does not believe that the law and order situation can be maintained with the help of arms and ammunitions, he said adding that Royal Nepalese Army has been mobilised in the Maoist-hit areas to launch development programmes and maintain peace and security.

IISDP has been put into action first of all in Gorakha district, he said, adding local politicians have significant role to play in the successful implementation of the package.

The package can be modified with the passage of time and the suggestions to be received for its effective implementation will be considered positively, Mr. Poudel emphasised.

Deliberations will be held on its effective implementation by bringing planners, MPs and office-bearers of the district development committee at one place he said adding that additional funds can be apportioned for the programme in the next year.

Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Pant called on all to extend co-operation to successfully implement IISDP.

Central member of Nepali Congress Chiranjibi Wagle noted that IISDP was introduced to accelerate the pace of development in rural areas.

President of NC Gorakha district Chin Kaji Shrestha and representatives from Nepal Sadbhawana Party and RPP and RPP (Rastrabadi) also expressed their views.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel has urged industrialists and businessmen to rise above their professional interests and extend utmost cooperation and suggestions to make the integrated security and development program (ISDP) successful.

In a meet with officials of the Gorkha Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, Mr Paudel said a handful of individuals driven by political arrogance and interests have weakened and destroyed all aspects of law and order and development by perpetrating violence, murder, looting, etc.

Chamber president Ishwor Kaji Shrestha also spoke at the function.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Ramchandra Poudel laid the foundation stone for construction of the Anbukhaireni-Gorkha 33 K.V. transmission line sub-station at the district headquarters of Gorkha here today.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said the sub-station to be set up at a cost of 10 million rupees under the integrated internal security and development package will illuminate all VDCs of the district and provide a foundation for development.

He also expressed conviction that the package would move ahead as a model in providing a good sense of security and development to the rural people victimised by terrorist activities.

Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Panta said the electricity sub-station would boost secuirty and development in Gorkha district.

DDC chairman Chet Man Shrestha presided.

Memorandum

Gaur, May 25 (RSS): CPN-United Rautahat district working committee has handed in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, through the Chief District Officer, demanding that releif be provided to the farmers for heavy loss incurred by hailstorm last week.

The party demanded waiving of the loans of the farmers and declaring rautahat as a hailstorm-hit district where more than 30 houses with tile roofs were damaged, two persons including a boy were killed and large tracts of maize and vegetable fields and fruits trees were battered by recent hailstorm.

Syuchatar people affected by Kulekhani

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): People of local Syuchatar have come out in agitation demanding compensation to farmers affected by the Kulekhani sub-station and various high-tension power lines criss-crossing over the locality.

The Public Concerns Committee, a body constituted by people affected by the high-tension line, is staging a sit-in at the main gate of the Kulekhani sub-station pressing for the fulfillment of a ten-point demands.

The committee says that it was compelled to go for the sit-in protest as repeated attempts to draw the attention of the concerned department about the negative impact of a large number of electricity poles and high tension lines criss-crossing the area on the health of the local people and the natural environment of the place were not given any considerations.

Election for 16 NA members on June 27

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): The election of 11 National Assembly (NA) members to be elected by the House of Representatives including one woman member and five more members to be elected to represent the five development regions is to be held from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM on June 27, according to the Election Commission.

The seats of the l6 Upper House members are falling vacant from June 26.

Eleven members are to be elected by members of the lower house while the members representing the five development regions will be elected by DDC chairmen and vice-chairmen, VDC chairmen and vice-chairmen and mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities in the development regions concerned.

Nepal welcomes

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): When asked to comment on the recent development to initiate talks between India and Pakistan, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nepal welcomes this as a positive development.

It is hoped that this will create a conducive atmosphere to promote peace and stability in the region, he added.