First blind climber scales Sagarmatha

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): Twenty-four persons including mountaineers and guides successfully scaled the World's highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha or Everest on different dates between May 23 and 25.

Two new records were also set in course of the successful summit bids made by three different mountaineering expedition teams.

Erik Weihenmayer from Colorado, USA became the first blind man to reach the top of everest while Sherman Bull, also from the USA, has become the oldest man to reach there, at the age of 64. he is a doctor by profession.

His son Bradford Bull, 33, was also among the successful climbers. They both set foot atop the summit on May 25.

Other successful mountaineers reaching atop Everest on May 23 were two members of the German Everest Expedition 2001 Edurne Pasaban Lizarribar of Spain and Ivan Vallejo Ricaurta of Ecuador, and Silvio Mondinelli and Gian Mario Merelli of Italy and Dawa Sherpa of Nepal from the Canadian Step Stone Everest Expedition 2001.

Likewise, those reaching the top of Everest on May 25 apart from Erik Weihenmayer were Americans Jeff Evans, Michael O'donnen, Eric Alexander, Chirs Morris, Luis Benitez, Didrik Johnck, Charles Mace and Charles Michel Brown. They were members of 2001 NFB Everest expedition team.

Also achieving the feat from the same expedition team on May 25 were Ang Sonam Sherpa, Lhakpa Tshiri Sherpa, Pemba Chhoti Sherpa, Ang Pasang Sherpa, Phurbu Bhote, Ang Kami Sherpa, Lhakpa Tshering Sherpa and Chhuidim Nuru Sherpa of Nepal.

All the mountaineers were permitted to climb the World’s highest peak from the south east ridge during the spring season of 2001, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

CIAA files cases against ten on Lauda

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases at the Appellate Court Patan today against 10 persons involved in irregularities and corruption in connection with the RNAC-Lauda Aircraft deal.

Those chargesheeted are then Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut, then RNAC executive chairman Hari Bhakta Shrestha, members of the RNAC board of directors Tirtha Lal Shrestha, Siddha Raj Joshi and Gauri Nath Sharma, two chief executive officers of the Lauda Air Italy and Austria, director of the RNAC finance deparment Upendra Upadhyay, acting director of marketing department Ram Raj Upadhyay and officiating director of the corporate department Pushkar Wagle.

The CIAA has claimed that immediate past Minister Chataut, RNAC executive chairman Hari Bhakta Shrestha and board members Shrestha, Joshi and Sharma should be subjected to punishment as per the Corruption Elimination Act-2017 and Rs 389.767 million in loss recovered from them proportionately.

But directors of departments Upadhyay and Wagle should be subjected to punishment only as per the Corruption Elimination Act-2017 BS.

In the context of the Lauda Air deal already being signed by the chief of an autonomous body and sanctioned by the board of directors, corruption was seen in the deal on the basis of the approval obtained from the Council of Ministers for a proposal seeking foreign exchange. The CIAA decided to caution the Prime Minister in writing to beware of such activity involving irregularities including corruption committed on the basis of such a cabinet decision.

Stating that the cabinet decision to recommend foreign exchange for RNAC for operating its services by bringing in a 767-300 E. R. from Lauda Air company was not a policy decision, the CIAA made it clear that as per the CIAA act, no person holding any public post can escape responsibility of providing information on the ground of secrecy.

However, local representative of the Lauda Air Dinesh Shrestha of ICTC cannot be chargesheeted, it is stated in a CIAA press release today.

Meanwhile, the Appellate Court Patan has ordered that Hari Bhakta Shrestha, Tirtha Lal Shrestha, Siddhar Raj Joshi, Gauri Nath Sharma, Upendra Prasad Upadhyay and Pushkar Wagle be remanded in custody and presented before the court on May 28.

Justices Buddhikanta Mainali and Bhupadhwoj Adhikari are expected to seek explanations from Hari Bhakta and Joshi, sources said.

Correct wrong path, Acharya urges UML

Biratnagar, May 25 (RSS): Defense Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that the present constitution of the country has provided ample opportunity for the expression of public opinion and mobilisation of public manpower against dissatisfaction, inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Inaugurating the fifth district convention of Nepal Press Union (NPU) Morang branch here today, Mr Acharya called upon the CPN-UML to correct the wrong path taken up by the party and come to an understanding.

The struggle for development and protection of democracy is challenging, Mr Acharya said adding that everyone should always be aware and creative towards protection and promotion of democracy.

On the occasion Minister Acharya also presented a financial assistance of Rs. 2100 provided by the NPU Morang to the ailing editor of Sandesh weekly Pusparaj Gadtaula.

Speaking at the programme, chairman of the Press Council Harihar Birahi emphasised the need for journalists working for democracy to play their role in the consolidation of democracy and overall interest of the country.

Nepal Press Union Morang president Hemraj Regmi presided.

SC verdict on weekly off days on June 22

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS):  The Supreme Court is to give its verdict on whether to continue with the two days a week leave or not on June 22.

Chairman of the Forum for Free Thinking Bharat Jangam had filed a writ petition arguing that 52 additional Sunday leaves are unconstitutional.

A special bench of Supreme Court Justices Arbind Nath Upadhyay, Hari Prasad Sharma and Ramnagina Singh decided this yesterday.

Eight women rescued from being sold

Parasi, May 25 (RSS): Eight women from Lwang Ghalel Village Development Committee (VDC), Kaski district, have escaped from being sold into prostitution with the assistance of the Indian police.

The eight women who were on their way to India by using a clandestine route at the Nepal-India border in Nawalparasi district were arrested by the Indian police at Thuti Bari in India.

The women were reportedly going to meet one Bam Bahadur Gurung of Syangja who had taken Rs 25,000 each from them promising to find jobs for them in Kuwait and told them to see him in Gorakhpur, India, in transit to Bombay and then to Kuwait.

The Indian police handed over the rescued girls to the District Police Office, Nawalparasi.

The eight women who have been rescued are Rasika Chhetri, Hela Gurung, Lalita Gurung, Binu Gurung, Purna Maya Gurung, Teenu Kumari Gurung, Kalika Tamang and Dil Maya Gurung.

The District Police Office, Nawalparasi, has sent the women to the Kaski District Police Office for their repatriation to their parents.

SWC, Interplast Germany sign agreement

Kathmandu, May 25 (RSS): The Social Welfare Council (SWC) and the Interplast Germany E. V. Section Nepal signed a five year agreement on carrying out various development programs in Nepal at a function here today.

Under the agreement, the program needs a minimum of US $ 60,000 a year.

Similarly, the SWC and the L-Angel International Volunteers Association of Japan also signed a five-year agreement on carrying out different development programs in Nepal at a function here today.

Under the agreement, the volunteers association will provide at least US $ 50,000 annually.

Those signing the agreement were SWC member-secretary Dr Tika Prasad Pokhrel and medical a. project director on behalf of IPGN Dr Andreas Setye and member of the L-Angel International Volunteers Association of Japan Shizuhiro Iwashita on behalf of the association respectively.

PM comes clean in plane lease scam

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 25: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala came clean out of the Lauda Air scam as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today indicted the then Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutt Chataut, seven persons associated with RNAC and two with Lauda Air of being involved in corruption, irregularities and abuse of authority.

In its decision on a petition accusing of corruption and irregularities in the Lauda Air deal, the CIAA has today charged the then Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutt Chataut, Executive Chairman of RNAC Haribhakta Shrestha, RNAC board members Tirtha Lal Shrestha, Siddha Raj Joshi and Gauri Nath Sharma of being involved in the abuse of authority with malafide intention of personal gains for themselves and other and to intentionally cause loss to RNAC while leasing aircraft from Lauda Air.

The Commission has also accused the Chief Executive Officers Andrea Molineri Lauda Air Italy and Otmar Lenz of Lauda Air Austria of the same charges.

CIAA has also claimed that they should be punished according to the Corruption Elimination Act –2017 and the loss of Rs. 389.767 million incurred to RNAC because of the deal be recovered from them proportionately.

The CIAA has also accused three senior officials of RNAC, Director of the Finance Department Upendra Prasad Upadhyaya, Acting Director of the Marketing Department Ramraj Upadhyaya and Officiating Director of the Corporate Department Pushkar Wagle of submitting false report to the RNAC board and has claimed that they be punished according to Article 16 (a) of the same Act.

In this regard a charge sheet was also filed against six of the accused at the Appellate Court, Patan today.

According to a press statement of the Commission, when the deal with Lauda Air was already done by the Chief Executive (Executive Chairman) of the Corporation and also was it approved by the board of directors of the Corporation, corruption was done in the name of approval for foreign exchange facility through cabinet decision.

So, the CIAA has decided to write to the Prime Minister to remain vigilant against attempts of corruption in the name of cabinet decision.

However, the Commission, in its decision, has said that it could not agree with the Prime Minister’s reply to its sealed letter, saying the decision to give permission for foreign exchange facility can not be a called a policy decision.

Meanwhile, the Commission has also decided to write to nine officials of RNAC- Acting Deputy General Manager Birendra Mohan Saud, Acting Director of the Engineering Department Keshar Bahadur Thapa, Officiating Director of the Department of General Services Gautam Das Shrestha, Acting Director of the Department of Operation Bishwambhar Man Amatya, Acting Director of Flight Support Department Ganesh Thakur, Acting Director of Customer Services Department Dhruba Prasad Sharma, Officiating Director of Foreign and Public Relations Department Mrs. Anjan Bista, Acting Director of Internal Audit Department Gyanu Lochan Sapkota and Officiating Director of Quality Assurance Department Bishwonath Shrestha to remain conscious and aware towards their duties in the future.

During its investigation, the Commission has talked and consulted with the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, the then Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and joint secretary, member of the board of directors of the Corporation, pilots who had gone to Vienna to check the plane, Managing Director of ICTC and the local agent of Lauda Air, and concerned officials of Lauda Air and government in Austria.

Regarding the local agent of Lauda Air, three commissioners of the Commission had opined against any accusation and two commissioners were for accusation against Dinesh Lal Shrestha, local agent of Lauda Air.