Leaders call demand for constituent assembly irrelevant

Kathmandu, Nov. 20 (RSS): Major political party leaders of the country have described the demand for a constituent assembly put accross by the Maoists during the government-Maoists talks as irrelevant and improper in the present context.

Now that the Maoists have already dropped their demand for a republic their demand for a constituent assembly is not justifiable, the political party leaders said adding, the Maoists should, therefore, stop demanding a constituent assembly and work for empowring the people and expediting the country’s development within the framework of the existing constitution.

If need be, some improvements and amendments can be made in the Constitution for that purpose, they said.

Stating that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 was promulgated not by any particular individual, the Nepali Congress or the left front but as a fruit of the people’s revolution, they said the Constitution has made the people sovereign and guaranteed people’s fundamental rights and freedom, while at the same time, guaranteeing the right of the people, not the King, to elect the Prime Minister.

Which is why, they further said, the Maoists should drop their demand for a Constituent Assembly to break the deadlock in peace talks.

The political leaders, who were speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Reporters Club here today, said if the Maoists are sincere about peace talks they should first stop such activities as abductions, killings, extortion and intimidation. Should such activities continue the government should not remain a silent spectator in the name of peace talks.

Minister for General Administration Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu welcomed the Maoist decision to drop their demand for a Republic and said that their demand for a constituent assembly is irrelevant in the present context.

As the Constitution does not prevent anyone from going to the people with their poilitical ideologies there is no reason why arms should be raised, he said.

Nc spokesman Arjun Narsingh K.C.said as peace talks involve a very difficult process and require patience, the Nepali Congress has not demanded immediate conclusion of the talks, rather it has stressed the need to give continuity to the talks in such a manner as to arrive at positive conclusion.

The party, however, believes that confusion should allowed to continue in the country in the name of peace talks, he added.

Stating that the party has given full mandate to the government but the latter should not remain a mute spectator to such activities as killings, abductions, extortion and intimidation, he said as the government is enjoying the backing of the party and favourable public opinion it should not continue hoping against hope about a positive conclusion in the next round of talks while another party to the talks has not stopped perpetrating terror.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the CPN-UML was of the view that the Constitution, which has for the first time in the country’s Constitutional development process devolved sovereignty to the people, should not be scrapped; the Maoists must drop their demand for a Constituent Assembly.

No one is ready to accept a single-party despotic rule nor is there any rationale behind dragging people’s sovereignty into dispute, he said adding, if the country’s serious problems are to be resolved the Maoists should be liberal in practice, while for its part the government should be ready to improve or amend the Constitution after adequate home work.

RPP leader Rabindra Nath Sharma said his party is in favour of constitutional amendments, not a constituent assembly.

Facilitator of the government-Maoists talks Padma Ratna Tuladhar said that talks should be continued until they arrive at a conclusion in favour the country and the people.

Describing as positive the withdrawal by the Maoists of their demand for a Republic, he said as failure to reach a valid conclusion might put the Maoists in difficulty it is essential to extensively discuss the minimum demand put forth by them and find a proper way out.

Nepal extends Chhath greetings

Kathmandu, Nov. 20 (RSS): CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has, in his message on the occasion of the festival of Chhath, wished the creation of joyful environment to exchange goodwill as well as peace, progress and prosperity in society.

In the message, he also said let the festival succeed in propagating non-violence and expressing goodwill to one and all.

He has stated in the message, "unity in diversity and tolerance in Nepalese society is the unique characteristic of our culture. The festivals full of social and mutual specialities in our diverse lifestyles are reflective of humanitarian norms and values".

Similarly, the Nepal Sadbhawana Party has wished all Hindus of the country progress and prosperity on the occasion of the great Chhath fetival.

In a press release today, the party wished that the sun god will bestow power on the Madhishe or Terai community to fight for equality.

Transit issues of landlocked nations raised at UN

Kathmandu, Nov. 20 (RSS) : Nepal has laid emphasis on the role for UN to devote its attention towards the transit-transport, developmental needs and lack of access to sea-based resources, three key aspects of the landlocked developing countries of the world.

Delivering a statement at the second annual ministerial meeting of the group of landlocked developing countries in New York on November 14, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister for Finance and leader of the Nepalese delegation to the 56 session of the UN General Assembly, said the Nepalese delegation firmly believes that the group in all its efforts ahead ought to focus on three key aspects relating to transit-transport, developmental needs and lack of access to sea-based resources.

"Irrespective of our location in different geographical regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America, we are strongly and intimately tied in a single string of destiny by one shared geographical disadvantages and attendant hardships and impediments thereof," he said.

Transit-transport difficulties of landlocked countries such as the high cost due to distance from nearest ports, poor infrastructure, dependence on transit countries in relation to trade have been broadly recognized by the international community, Dr. Mahat said, adding that this has been attested by the General Assembly way back in 1957 and subsequently by different forums and at different times.

"There is still much to be done to improve our transit-transport infrastructure and reduce the cost of our exports and imports, so that we can be competitive in international markets," he pointed out.

"Due to the rugged mountain terrain, fragile environment and high cost of development goods on account again of geographical distance, our per unit development cost is much higher than the coastal states, making us high-cost economies," he said.

"Therefore, this is another important area where we need to impress upon the international community to pay special attention to our difficulties and to help us alleviate them."

"We need to place increasing focus on this important but often neglected difficulty that our countries collectively confront," he added.

Chhath festival today

Kathmandu, Nov 21 (RSS): The traditional Chhat festival is being celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of the Central and Eastern Terai Region today.

On the occasion the men and women take a holy dip in the river and lake and observe fast on the day of "panchami" and eat "khir" made of milk, rice and brown sugar as prasad in the evening and give the prasad to family members not observing fast.

On the day of "Shasti" that fall today the people take a holy dip and stand in the river and pond and worship the setting sun in the evening and spent the whole night offering prayers.

On the next day the rising sun is worshipped by the people and the festival concludes.

It is believed that if the Chhat festival is celebrated with a clear consciousness, it will lead to the welfare and happiness of the family members and fulfilment of ones wishes.

According to cultural expert Dr. Ramdayal Rakesh, the ancient culture of workshipping the sun exists not only in Nepal and India but also in Japan.

It is believed that the rays of the rising and setting sun cures various diseases, generates energy and provides Vitamin "D" to the body.

Dr. Rakesh says it is mentioned in the Mahabharat that Kunti, Draupadi and the five Pandavas had observed the "Shasti Brat" (fasting) when they spent 14 year in the forest and one year in hiding.

Prof. Chandeswore Mishra says that the people are being attracted towards observing the "Shasti brat" as its fulfills ones wishes.

‘Govt has full mandate from party to solve Maoist issue’

Biratnagar, Nov.20 (RSS): Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala has said the party has given full mandate to the government to solve the Maoist problem peacefully.

Talking to journalists organised by the Nepal Press Union Morang here today, Koirala made it clear that the government-Maoist talks may fail not because of the government or party but because of the Maoists themselves.

Demanding that incidents of violence, murder, terror, threats or loots should be stopped, the NC leader noted that there can be no compromise on irreversible provisions of the Constitution.

The Maoists should come with a clear vision about what they want in the next round of talks and the government will have to respond accordingly, he added.

All the political parties and the governemnt have agreed that the Maoist is an unpolitical party, he said, adding that there is coordination between the party and the government.

Koirala also spoke of the need to take into consideration the need of mobilising the army for maintaining peace and security.

Speaking of the need of discipline in the party, he said Nepali Congress will never split and those who spread such rumors will themselves break.

Chief of the NC Organisation Department Krishna Prasad Sitaula demanded that there should be a unity between all the political parties for democracy and spoke of the need to resolve the Maoist problem and those within the party.

The function was chaired by chairman of the Nepal Press Union Morang Hemraj Regmi.

Mahat urges Norwegian help in entry of Nepali goods to Europe

Norway, Nov. 20 (RSS): Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat met members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs under the Norwegian National Assembly in the Norwegian capital Oslo today.

Matters concerning bilateral and multilateral cooperation were discussed on the occasion.

According to member of the committee Hakon Blankenborg, Norway has included Nepal in its list of priority nations for development cooperation.

At the meeting, Finance Minister Dr Mahat said that Nepal expects continued Norwegian cooperation in the social development sector, consolidation of democracy and promotion of hydroelectricy and rural telecommunications.

Participants at the meeting also underlined the need to resolve the Bhutanese refugee problem in Nepal soon.

Norway lauded the economic reform measures initiated in Nepal.

Finance Minister Dr Mahat also urged the Norwegian Parliamentarians to help Nepal secure preferential entry for its exportable items like carpets, garments and pasmina into European markets.

Also today, the Finance Minister met the deputy director of NORAD and its Asia regional director and lauded NORAD’s contribution to Nepal’s social development sector.

Dr Mahat is currently on an official visit to Norway.

Make peace talks result - oriented, urges UML meet

Kathmandu, Nov. 20 (RSS): A meeting of the CPN-UML Standing Committee here today has called upon the government to be serious about making the dialogue with the Maoists result-oriented and also about the proposal for a 22-point national consensus including that related to amendment to the Constitution.

The party has stated that consultations with the opposition parties should also be made more effective and result oriented.

Party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal presided over the programme.

After the meeting, party spokesman Pradip Nepal issued a press statement stating that continuous assault on the people at a time when talks were being held between the government and the Maoists has further undermined the law and order situation and made the life of the common people more miserable.

He further stated that the politics of the country would not be geared towards the right direction by prolonging the talks.

He has likewise stated that national consensus is absolutely necessary to cope with the present issues facing the country.

80,000 TB patients in Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 20: There are about 80,000 tuberculosis (TB) patients in Nepal while 38 per cent of the total TB patients in the world are found in South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) region. This revelation comes at a time when there are fears that TB, a communicable disease, will remain uncontrolled for a long time.

Directly Observed Treatment System or DOTS, is considered the best method to control TB. This particularly strategy has been implemented in all the 75 districts of Nepal and covers 85 per cent of the affected population while 90 percent of all newly detected TB cases have been covered by DOTS.

"DOTS has achieved the target of case detection and cure rate ahead of the target fixed by World Health Organization (WHO)," Sarat Singh Bhandari, Minister for Health said today at the inaugural function of the 11th meeting of the Governing Board of SAARC TB Centre (STC) and workshop for Preparation of Strategic Long Term Plan of STC for TB and HIV/AIDS Control in the region.

He further said that efforts should be intensified to combat TB and HIV/AIDS— the dreaded diseases— from the grassroots level as they are spreading their wings rapidly in SAARC region. For this a clear vision is needed to achieve the target, he added.

Minister Singh also said that the government was very happy at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SAARC and World Health Organization (WHO) to work for checking the spread of TB and HIV/AIDS, through collective efforts, in the region and also for the selection of STC and National TB Centre (NTC) by WHO as its collaboration centre.

The three-day programme was attended by delegates from SAARC member countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka.

Mohan Bahadur Basnet, State Minister for Health, who chaired the programme, said, " For public awareness about the dangers of TB, health education should be strengthened and availability of free diagnosis and treatment service should be in place."

He also said that DOTS strategy should be expanded to cover all TB patients in the country as it has proved as effective tool in treating TB patients successfully.

He further expressed the hope that there would be greater co-operation and co-ordination among all to achieve the goals of TB control programme.

Nihal Rodrigo, Secretary General of SAARC, said that with a high priority to control tuberculosis, SAARC has decided to establish SAARC TB Centre (STC) in Nepal as the centre’s objective is to promote meaningful co-operation among SAARC member countries to prevent and control TB effectively and collectively.

Speaking earlier, in his welcome speech, Dr. D.S. Bam, Director of SAARC TB Centre, said that STC has also organised training programmes for national, regional and district level programme managers in Maldives, Bhutan, and Kathmandu. Such programmes have greatly helped make possible the availability of trained manpower for National TB Control Programme at all levels.

He also said that STC wants to formulate the strategic Long Term Plan for TB and HIV/AIDS Control by working together with all by sharing knowledge and experience. As for the meeting, he informed that it would formulate the Strategic Long Term Plan of SYC to deal with TB and HIV/AIDS by collective efforts of all member countries and stakeholders.

Preparatory meet held for WSSD

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 20: Infant and child mortality rate are 75 and 104 per thousand in Nepal, as revealed by a paper presented at a one-day National Preparatory Workshop for World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), organised by the Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) here today.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, joint secretary of MOPE, Janak Raj Joshi said that the workshop was organised for exchanging information and make recommendations that would be helpful for the preparation of the Country Assessment Report for the WSSD. He further said that workshop is also aware of the participation of representatives from different forums representing indigenous people, women, youth, industries, farmers and so on,

Member of National Planning Commission Hari Shankar Tripathi, in his inaugural speech, said that the agenda presented in the workshop will be the reflection of the national conclusion for the Johannesburg 2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio + 10), which is going to be held from 2-12 September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Since the end of 1996, the Sustainable Community Development Programme (Nepal Capacity 21) has been implemented in Nepal and it is assisting His Majesty’s Government by promoting development programmes for poverty alleviation without environmental degradation.

In Nepal, with the joint effort of Nepal Capacity 21, UNDP and National Planning Commission (NPC), skill development programmes have been implemented in 6 districts.

In the world summit in 2002, the governments, civil societies, UN agencies, multilateral financial institutions and other major development workers will gather together. The meet is to review the progress made since the UN Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Nepal is also to participate in the summit and will present the achievements made in the past ten years since the implementation of Agenda 21.

Mukti Narayan Shrestha, Secretary at MOPE, had chaired the opening session.

‘Govt-NGOs cooperation must for uplift of children’

Kathmandu, Nov.20 (RSS): Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has spoken of the need to work out plans for building children’s future keeping in mind the country’s situation.

Mr Ranabhat was speaking at a discussion programme on "achievements made in Nepal after signing the children’s conventions" organised jointly by the central children’s welfare committee and the Society for Children’s Development on the occasion of international children’s rights day here today.

Stating that hardly are there any children in Nepal who are not engaged in any work, the Speaker said that the Maoists should stop using children in war.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and member secretary of the Central Children’s Welfare Committee Krishna Prasad Sharma Bhandari underlined the need of cooperation between government and NGO’s while working out plans for the development of children.

Other speakers of the programme spoke of the need to ensure social security for children, implement children’s programs properly, amend children’s laws that are contrary to the conventions and make free primary education effective.

Others expressing their views were member of the society Surendra Dhakal, society chairman Sharad Sharma, president of the child NGO’s Federation Upendra Keshari Neupane and soceity’s general secretary Mrs Chapala Koirala.