SAARC summit will be held as scheduled: Rodrigo

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov 22:Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Nihal Rodrigo said that the forthcoming 11th SAARC Summit would be held in the stipulated time and that the regional meeting would not be disrupted by any event this time.

Speaking at a programme, Secretary General Rodrigo said that the date for the delayed summit was fixed only after an elaborate meeting and the written consent from the representatives of the member countries. "Therefore, I am confident about the success of the regional meet," he said responding to queries of journalists who expressed their doubts regarding the organisation of the meet due to the on-going war against terrorism.

The 11th SAARC summit is being held here from January 4 next year. Nepal was all set to host the summit in its routine time in 1997 but because of Sri Lanka’s request for the holding of the 10th Summit to mark its Golden Jubilee of independence Nepal could not organise the 10th Summit. The lack of political confidence in some of the member countries had then led to the postponement of the Summit.

As to what preparations were made for the success of the meet, Rodrigo said that the SAARC Secretariat has almost completed the office works and that the government of Nepal was preparing for the logistics, security measures, political contents and other provisions.

He further said, "this summit of the SAARC is important not only because it is going to review past performances and analyze the position of South Asia in the globe but also because it is going to have a brainstorming debate for the future strategies to be taken by the regional organisation for mutual understanding and development in the region."

Rodrigo, meanwhile, expressed concern over the access to sea for the landlocked countries like Nepal and said that at a time when the concept of free trade throughout the region is being discussed through SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) the access to sea for landlocked countries was a must. There are only two landlocked countries namely Nepal and Bhutan among the seven member countries. The SAARC is composed of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The Secretary General also informed that the upcoming summit was expected to sign on two treaties — regarding the protection of children and on the banning of trafficking of children and women for the flesh trade. "

As to what would be the other issues to be discussed during the meeting, he said that among others, issues like poverty alleviation, trade, terrorism and food security would be discussed in an elaborate manner.

Talking about the significance of the summit he said that the SAARC Summit does not open floor for bilateral issues. "However, it is significant to note that the leaders of member countries can discuss about their bilateral matters when they gather here for the summit," Rodrigo was referring to the possibility of the meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan.

‘Well-being of humanity ultimate aim of religions’

Kathmandu, Nov. 22 (RSS): Raj Parishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi inaugurated the "Dhanyanchal Mahayagya and Srimadbhagvat Mahapuran" amid Vedic rituals at Tinthana VDC-1 Bishnu Devi Naikap today.

On the occasion, Dr. Rayamajhi said the well-being of humanity is the ultimate aim of all religions. The religious tolerance and communal harmony in Nepal is exemplary for the outside world, he noted.

Tinthana VDC chairman Gopi Chandra Karki said that donations collected during the Mahayagya will be spent on the development of the Bishnu Devi area and construction of a community building.

A host of other speakers highlighted the significance of the Mahayagya.

Vajpayee will attend SAARC meet: Mukherjee

Kathmandu, Nov. 22 (RSS): Indian Ambassador Deb Mukherjee who is returning home after completing his assignment in Nepal has said his stint here, though a short one, was satisfactory.

Mukherjee, who was speaking at a Face-to-Face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club Nepal here today, said that India has not provided any protection to the Maoists from Nepal. However, he added, given the size of the country it is difficult to keep an eye on every activity.

Stating that there has been a worldwide alertness against terrorism following the September 11 attack in the United States, the Indian envoy observed that the problem of terrorism cannot be tackled alone.

Referring to a news report carried by a newspaper published from Kathmandu about security of the heads of state and governments of the SAARC during their participation in the forthcoming SAARC summit here, Mukherjee said no SAARC leader will cancel his/her programme under any threat, and the Indian Prime Minister will definitely make it to Nepal to participate in the summit.

Stating that there is no problem in renewing the Indo-Nepal trade treaty if the twin problems regarding the goods imported from third country and export surge are solved, he made it clear that we are holding discussions about this and there is no problem between us which cannot be resolved.

The programme was presided over by Club’s president Rishi Dhamala.

Agenda: Curbing poverty
Nepal all set as host to 11th SAARC summit

BY KRISHNA SHARMA

Kathmandu, Nov. 22: Keeping in mind the current political atmosphere in the region, Nepal, as host country, is planning to focus solely in achieving the objectives and formulating policies during the forthcoming 11th SAARC Summit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Summit will be business-like and without too much fanfare. However, there will be no dearth of the famous Nepalese hospitality and other formalities during the much-awaited Summit, which is going to be held in this Himalayan capital city from January 4 next year.

The Nepalese government has decided to propose poverty alleviation as the main agenda in the upcoming Summit.

"Since South Asia houses almost a quarter of the world’s poor, it is now urgent and imperative for SAARC to address this social evil in a collective manner," Spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Gyan Chandra Acharya told The Rising Nepal clarifying the reason behind choosing the issue of poverty eradication as the main agenda of the Summit.

During the three-day Summit, SAARC leaders will have a brainstorming session regarding the extension of the concept of free trade throughout South Asia. SAARC plans to introduce SAFTA in near future.

Similarly, two protocols will be signed during the Summit - on the protection of children and to end the trafficking of women and children. South Asia has been home to the largest congregation of child labours in the world and is also notorious for flesh trading and violation of rights of women and children.

Acharya said that the Summit may also provide the leaders an opportunity for informal talks on bilateral issues. The SAARC Charter does not allow bilateral issues to be raised in the Summit.

"It is a positive sign that along with the leaders and community mobilisers there have been growing realization among the common people about the negative aspects of the exploitation of children and women. This will help us eradicate such maladies from the region," SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo said about the significance of the two treaties, which will be signed this time.

Nepal is hosting the meeting for the second time since its inception in 1985. Nepal had hosted the third SAARC Summit in 1987. The 11th Summit was originally scheduled in 1998, but was postponed several times.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the government along with its six main preparation committees and three sub-committees is mulling for the every success of the Summit.

Spokesman Acharya informed that everything has been well arranged and the agenda were also fixed for the upcoming regional meet. With the help of 30-member advisory board which is experienced in organising such a grand meeting, we are continuing our preparations, he said.

"Almost 90 per cent of the preparation was completed when the date for the 11th Summit was fixed in 1999.

Different committees and sub-committees will look after the foreign affairs matters, financial matters, security, transportation and physical planning matters and matters concerning with culture, cleaning campaign, health and at the airport.

According to Acharya, the Press and Publicity Committee is working to establish a well-equipped media centre to facilitate the flow of information regarding the Summit activities.

Meanwhile, foreign affairs experts believe that all the regional leaders would participate and commit themselves in a proactive manner to sort out the complexities of the region and realizing that without united efforts the region would not push forward in the path of development.

Assist govt for development, says Chaudhari

Biratnagar, Nov. 22 (RSS): Minister of State for Information and Communications Hari Narayan Chaudhari has said that the people and political parties should assist the government in carrying ahead development works since the efforts of the MPs and the government alone would not be sufficient to that end.

Speaking at a reception organised in his honour by Tanki Sinawari Model Village Development Committee (VDC) at the VDC office building today, Minister of State Chaudhari said that radio and television transmission would be extended to the nooks and corners of the country and postal and telephone services likewise extended to every village.

Minister of State Chaudhari expressed his determination to make efforts to lower the mobile phone tariff so that the general public can also use this facility.

Nepali Congress Biratnagar town president Kedar Bahadur Basnet wished every success to Minister of State Chaudhari in his mission.

Purbanchal University Controller of Examinations Kabiraj Neupane, Dangrahar VDC chairman Ashok Rijal, Bal Chandra Majhi of the Nepali Congress, Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis Ward No. 5 president Chum Narayan Sardar and Madhav Koirala spoke on the need for cooperation from all sectors for the development of their locality.

Chairman of Tankisinawari model VDC Bhuvaneshwar Mandal presided over the programme.

Khadka hails local bodies’ role for strong democracy

Kathmandu, Nov. 22 (RSS): Home and Local Development Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka has said democracy will be strong only if local bodies become strong.

Khadka, who was inaugurating the seventh town assembly meeting of Lekhnath Municipality here today, noted that politics should not be allowed to come in the way of development and construction works.

Stating that the government is making every effort to facilitate the government-Maoist talks, he remarked that it is surprising that the Maoists are not carrying out works in keeping with the promise.

The government still wants to resolve the problem through talks peacefully, but if the Maoists continue their violent activities, the government will not remain silent, he added.

General secretary of Nepal Municipality Association Bidur Paudel urged the government to introduce a bill during the next session of Parliament to develop the local bodies as local governments.

Various other speakers including acting DDC chairman of Kaski Srinath Baral, Pokhara Mayor Krishna Thapa and Vyas Mayor Dhruba Wagle also expressed their views at the function.

Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Shaligram Paudel presented an estimated budget of Rs 109.994 million for the current fiscal year.

‘Public awareness key to combat corruption’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 22: Political leaders of various parties pointed out that corruption has become pervasive in the Nepalese society and this has threatened to break up the democratic system and institutions of the country.

They have emphasised that public awareness was key to combat corruption which they said, has been developing as a ‘dangerous’ culture of the society.

They shared the forum at a function organised by the Independence Thinking Forum (ITF) here today to mark its sixth anniversary. The topic of programme was "The Role of Constitutional Bodies in Corruption Control".

The leaders were unanimous that if the anti-corruption campaign is to take meaning in real terms and a corruption-free society is to be set up, first of all corruption must be curbed from the upper levels of politics and bureaucracy.

Speaking at the function, former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said the pressure of conscious people was a must for fight against corruption was to make a headway.

Chand accepted that the political sector has been most affected by corruption. "A big change is necessary to eliminate corruption from the level of political leadership."

He said that first seed of corruption is sowed during the elections with political leaders taking money from businesspeople and from the national coffer to ensure their victories. He also said that the constitutional bodies lacked power and mechanism to control corruption.

Former deputy prime minister and Nepali Congerss leader Ram Chandra Paudel termed the corruption as the mental disease and human weakness. "Violence and corruption are currently two great diseases of the Nepalese society."

Only a democratic set up could end corruption, Paudel said and added, "A sense of transparency, accountability and responsibility are necessary to check the corruption."

CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal said that the political leaders had wasted away the 12-year of democratic exercise by not being involved in building the nation. "The misuse of such golden opportunity is itself a great corruption."

Khanal pointed out the need of new vision and commitment to successfully fight against the corruption.

Kamal Koirala of CPN-ML said that the corruption had infected every sector of public life because Nepalese people have remained indifferent to it. "We should convince the people that corruption is also crime like any other crime."

Kuber Sharma of Hariyali Party said that honesty, merit and integrity now carries no meaning in the society. Sharma held the view that top level political leaders and bureaucrats, who were tainted with financial irregularities, were hardly brought to the justice and it was only the people of lower rung who faced punishment.

Likewise, ITF’s chairman Bharat Jangam, professor Khagendra Bhattarai and convenor of the programme Dinesh Tripathi has also expressed their views at the function.

On the occasion satirist poet Chatyang Master recited some stanzas aiming at political and social anomalies.

At the programme former Prime Minister Chand gave away letters of appreciation to 36 people from different walks of life for their contribution in the field of anti-corruption movement.

TU’s 28th convocation ceremony concludes

Kathmandu, Nov. 22 (RSS): The 28th Convocation Ceremony of the Tribhuvan University (TU) concluded here today.

During the ceremony, Minister for Education and Sports and Pro-Chancellor of TU Amod Prasad Upadhyaya conferred the degrees of bachelor, masters and Ph.D. on the students.

Minister Upadhyaya also presented medals to the students who came out first among first division holders in different academics.

Delivering a convocation speech, chief guest Dr. Mohammad Sultan Pharuki, Senior Professor and Chairman of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Karachi, Pakistan, observed that education should be utilised by all for the betterment of human-beings selflessly.

Stressing the need for proper utilisation of academic proficiency to narrow the gap between the haves and the have nots, Prof. (Dr) Pharuki called for waging a struggle against poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and illness.

The technological advancement made by the prosperous and powerful countries in the world should be brought into one’s own country and this should be used for the upliftment of the thousands of people living below poverty line, he added.

Prof. (Dr) Pharuki also appealed to all the students completing their studies to bring into use the knowledge and skills they have gained for the good of the nation and its people.

Vice Chancellor of TU Navin Prakash Jung Shah said that TU is steadfast in its efforts to run the university on the basis of an analytical study and strategic plan to achieve its ultimate goal under the present changed context.

Improvements and gradual modifications in the teaching methodology of traditional subjects under the university have been made compatible with needs of the 21st century, he said, adding that new courses of master degree on environmental science, food technology, statistics and rural development have been started in line with its policy.

Calling on the students completing their studies to move ahead to free the people
from poverty and economic backwardness by adhering to the rapid developments taking place in the fields of science and technology, Vice-Chancellor Shah said they should play a catalytic role to bring about advancement in political, social, economic, academic, science and commercial sectors of the country.

Those students receiving academic degrees of Ph.D., post graduate and graduate levels include 961 under the Faculty of Management, 491 under the Faculty of Humanities, 307 under Faculty of Science, 220 under the Faculty of Law, 164 under the Faculty of Education, 112 under Engineering, 41 under Institute of Medical Science, four under the Institute of Forestry and two under the Institute of Agriculture.

‘Child, maternal mortality rate big challenge’

Kathmandu, Nov. 22 (RSS): Minister for Health Sarat Singh Bhandari, inaugurating the third national convention of the perinatal society of Nepal here today, pointed out the need for programmes designed to improve the situation of women in poor health in order to reduce the high rate of child and maternal mortality which is a major challenge in Nepal’s health sector.

Stating that due to the geographical situation of Nepal, transportation facilities are not available in all parts of the country and as a result, many pregnant women die without getting proper care at the time of child delivery.

He also urged all sections of society to become conscious of the need to raise public awareness for bringing about tangible improvements in the health status of women.

Health Minister Bhandari hoped that the convention will be fruitful in chalking out a strategy for the formulation of programmes aimed at reducing the child and maternal mortality rate by improving the overall perinatal health of women.

Minister of State for Health Mohan Bahadur Basnet stressed the need for launching a national campaign in order to raise public awareness of the importance of proper health care for expectant mothers and reducing the child mortality rate.

Representatives of India, Bangladesh, Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries and expert representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) spoke on the status of child and maternal mortality in Nepal at the programme presided over by secretary at the Ministry of Health Mahendra Nath Aryal.

Late Chataut remembered
Maoists escaping from talks, says PM Deuba

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 22: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today accused leaders of CPN (Maoist) of backtracking from the talks. Deuba said the Maoists are trying to escape from the talks.

"The government is still ready to hold the 4th round of talks with the Maoists to settle the problem in a peaceful manner. But the Maoist leaders have started to blame that the government was not serious about the talks which is not true," said Premier Deuba.

Deuba further said that Prachanda and other leaders of Maoist would be responsible if any untoward incident takes place in the country.

Addressing the 72nd birth anniversary of the late N. D. Prakash Chataut, a dedicated social reformer and member of the Nepali Congress, here today. The function was organised by Unnayan Family.

Recalling late Chataut, he said that he was not only an ideal politician but also a harbinger of social reforms and literary figure of western Nepal. "Late Chataut used to fight injustice and he had made a lot of contributions for the social and political development. His untimely demise was a big loss to all of us," he said.

The Prime Minister expressed the view that following late Chataut’s ideals and behaviours would, in the real sense, be a true homage towards him.

Chataut had died in 2009 B. S. in a plane accident while coming to Kathmandu from Simara to participate in an international socialist conference. There is a collection of poems penned by late Chataut.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Education and Sports N. P. Saud lauded late Chataut as a source of inspiration.

Saud further said that a good understanding among the political parties alone could help address the national problems.

Chaired by Shiva Raj Panta, former minister, various speakers spoke about the contributions of late Chataut in the social, political and literary sectors of the country.

Dr. Durga Prasad Bhandari said that late Chataut was an energetic personality with constructive thinking. "He was always ready to do something for the nation and the people," Dr. Bhandari commended.

At the function, former ministers Narayan Dutta Bhatta, Lal Bahadur Khadayat, Tarini Dutta Chataut, late Chataut’s brother R. D. Prabash Chataut, Shree Krishna Gautam and chairman of Unnayan Family Achyut Raman Adhikari shed light on the activities and contributions of late Chataut.