Peace Centre at Padma Kanya Campus

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: State Council Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi opened the UNESCO Study and Peace Centre at Padma Kanya Campus today.

The Centre, set up with the support of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal and Peace Education Academy, promotes peace, non-violence, friendship, international understanding and human rights.

"War invites death, whereas peace sustains life," Dr. Rayamajhi told at the inaugural ceremony. "We should all contribute to peace in the country and beyond." He hoped the Centre would help instil a love for peace in people.

"The Centre will expand its network to other campuses and schools across the kingdom to realise its goals," the Centre Chairman Dambar Bir Thapa said.

Thapa said the Centre–established as a reference centre with around 2,000 books – would be developed into Peace Studies Department in future.

PEACE: UNESCO ideals
Two local high yield varieties of rice may replace Taichung

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Two new varieties of rice have been recommended to replace Taichung 176 and Chainung 242, widely used by Kathmandu Valley farmers until blast attacked them.

Manjushree 2 and Khumal 11 are locally crossed varieties developed after 13 years of research by the Paddy Breeding Unit under the National Agricultural Research Council. Senior scientist Kedar Prasad Shrestha led the research team.

Although Taichung was popular with the valley farmers, they were looking for a substitute after it suffered from a blast pest and yielded less due to lodging in the fertile soil. The research found Manjushree to be resistant to blast and lodging., With its average production at 8,300 kilograms per hectare, it offers a 21 per cent increase in yield over Taichung. Khumal 11 is found to yield 13 per cent more per hectare than Taichung.

Khumal 11 comes as a substitute for Taichung and Chainung which have been grown in the valley to meet the demand for beaten rice for over three decades. It is blast resistant and better than the earlier version Khumal 4.

The maximum yields per hectare for Manjushree and Khumal 11 are 10,000 and 8,600 kilograms respectively.

The National Seed Board, which has recommended 46 varieties in four decades, formally released the two varieties at a meeting at NARC today.

The new varieties will be ready for harvest in less than 150 days and also yield more rice and straw, said Bhola Man Ssingh Basnet, of the publicity section at NARC.

NARC has recommended 80 kilograms of nitrogen, and 30 kilograms each of phosphorous and potash for a hectare of farmland growing the two varieties.

Improved varieties covered 74 per cent of paddy fields in a total of 1.51 million hectares across the country last year. Total production of rice was 4.13 million metric tons, and productivity was 2,730 kilogram per hectare.

RICE: NARC research

22 NC MPs emphasise govt-party rapport

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Nepali Congress legislators have today strongly called for a strong unity within the party and better coordination between the government and the party in the face of widespread terrorism and violence.

They made an impassioned plea to the Nepali Congress to remain fully united to help maintain the high morale of the security forces and to protect the people’s democratic rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Kingdom.

"Nobody among us should be involved in any activity which would result in political confusion and instability," twenty-two Congress Members of Parliament said in their written appeal.

"We should risk our lives to keep the security personnel morale high during their fight against the terrorists," they said.

"At a time when the country is in need of a better coordination and understanding among all political parties, a strong unity within our party has also become necessary to maintain better coordination between the government and the party," they added

The legislators have pledged not to involve themselves in any activity that would undermine the government’s resolve to defeat the terrorists and restore the stability in the country.

They have also asked all the political parties, intellectuals and common citizens of the country to assist the government to prevent killings, maiming, kidnapping and destruction of development infrastructure by Maoists.

The MPs who issued their appeal today are: Khum Bahadur Khadka, Devendra Raj Kandel, Birendra Kumar Kanodia, Mangal Prasad Tharu, Narendra Bikram Nembang, Narayan Sharma, Duryodhan Chaudhary, Prakash Bahadur Gurung, Ram Janam Chaudhary, Palten Gurung, Umakant Chaudhary, Sabitri Bogati, Mahendra Yadav Madhukar, Damodar Bastakoti, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, Nagendra Kumar Raya, Dil Bahadur Lama, Gehendra Giri, Gyanu K.C., Tanka Rai,, and Shiv Raj Joshi (Dailekh).

NC: Strong party need of hour

Malnutrition remains threat to Nepalese children

By Krishna Sharma

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Although country's health sector receives a lion’s share of national budget and foreign aid, and hundreds of governmental and non-governmental organisations are working in this sector, children, are deprived of basic health facilities.

A report of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has revealed Nepal as one of the countries worst affected by malnutrition. Nepal comes after North Korea, where 60 per cent of all children under five are malnourished, and after Bangladesh and Afghanistan, where small children’s malnutrition is 48 per cent.

In Nepal, as in India and Ethiopia, 47 per cent of children are suffering from the disease that prevents them from developing normally.

Cambodia, Yemen, Burundi, Eritrea, Mali and Niger are also in the list of nations neglecting proper healthcare for under-fives. UNICEF says that about one third of children in the developing world -- some 150 million -- are the victims of malnutrition.

Nepal's micro nutrient status survey, conducted a couple of years back, also identified malnutrition as a major public health problem.

"Although we have been launching national programmes for controlling vitamin A deficiency (VAD), protein energy malnutrition (PEM), iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), the root causes for malnutrition, it could be a long time before we see results," said Sharada Pandey, chief of Nutrition Ssection of the Department of Health Services.

But she says that if the programmes are implemented effectively and people become literate about basic health conditions, it won’t take long to make Nepal a malnutrition free country.

Initiated in 1993, the national vitamin A programme (NVAP) has now covered 73 districts and the result is satisfactory. "We wanted to cover the entire country but we have not yet been able to introduce NVAP in Rukum and Jajarkot due to terrorist problem," she told The Rising Nepal.

Pandey disclosed that they have also launched de-worming programme along with NVAP in 39 districts.

Health experts say that during the first three years of their lives, children are most at risk from malnutrition, and this is the time when the brain and the body grow rapidly. When they suffer from malnutrition, they lose their appetite, calories burn up, and they ultimately become weak throughout their life.

It is not just that NVAP has not reached throughout the country. Nepalese still don’t have access to iodized salt. The national report of 2001 found that only 63 per cent of the Nepalese using iodized salt. "But 91 per cent of the Nepalese use salt which has some portion of iodine," Pandey said.

The rise in the trend of bottle-feeding is another problem that has made malnutrition such a big enigma.

"It is frustrating that even the educated urban people are attracted to bottle feeding instead of breast feeding which is one of the keys to good childhood nutrition," she said.

Children younger than six months need nothing but breast-feeding, but a survey conducted by UNICEF and Central Bureau of Statistics last year has revealed that only 54 per cent mothers breast-fed their children.

Pandey said that the department was doing what it could–from launching advocacy programmes and stopping the sale of powdered milk in the children’s hospitals to spreading information about the importance of breast-feeding through mass media – to make mothers breast-feed their children.

The world is celebrating August 1-7 as International Breast Feeding Week. Nepal prepares to mark the event with the launch of awareness programmes.

Four anti-graft bills enter House

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: In response to growing public concerns over rampant corruption, the government has presented four bills in Parliament to intensify its anti-corruption drive in the country.

The ruling as well as the opposition parties have agreed to let the bills through the Pparliament in the current session. To hasten the bill, political parties have decided to discuss and make amendments, wherever necessary, on the bills directly in the House session instead of the parliamentary committees. The opposition parties are expected to put forward their amendments in tomorrow’s Hhouse proceedings.

The four bills waiting in Parliament are: a bill to regulate the impeachment procedure of the heads of constitutional bodies; a bill on special court procedure; a bill on the legal management of corruption control; and a Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (Second Amendment) Bbill.

STRENGTHENING LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The impeachment bill has provision for impeaching the heads of the constitutional bodies who are physically or mentally inefficient, have character flaws or who are insincere in their duties. Under the Constitution, heads of the constitutional bodies include those appointed by His Majesty the King by the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, as well as incumbent justices of the Supreme Court.

They could face impeachment charges if 25 per cent MPs of the House of Representatives indict on the above-mentioned grounds.

Parliament will form a three-member investigation committee, with two MPs from more than one political party and a legal expert, and the committee will complete its job within three months. If the accused is found guilty, the House will make formal impeachment charges against the accused and case will be filed against him in the court.

The bill on special court has been introduced to finalise the ‘special cases’ promptly and in effective and efficient manner.

The Special Court will consist of three justices appointed from among the judges of the Appellate Court on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. Under the provision, the special court can stop the transaction of the assets and properties of the accused, and prevent the issue of a passport or confiscate one.

The bill to update legal provisions on corruption control clearly defines corruption and bribery and specifies penalties.

The bill covers all Nepalese citizens, civil servants and non-Nepalese who are involved in corrupt practice. Bribe is defined as taking cash or goods or any other benefit or facility by the civil servants or those in public institutions.

The penalties put forth in the bill range from three months imprisonment for talking a bribe up to Rs. 25,000 and a fine equal to that amount, to 8 to 10 years of imprisonment for bribe worth Rs. 10 million or more and a fine equal to that amount.

The bill has also proposed for a National Awareness Centre, under the Prime Minister, to create awareness against corruption. Its function includes evaluating functions of ministries, departments, public enterprises and other offices and monitoring the income and assets of the public office-bearers.

The bill on Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (Second Amendment) Bill is meant to strengthen the country’s main anti-corruption agency and make it more efficient.

After the passage of the bill on CIAA, the Special Police Department will be abolished.

House debate focusses on terrorism

Kathmandu, Apr. 10 (RSS): During special hour of the House of Representatives today, the MPs of various political parties drew the attention of the House towards the law and order situation, terrorist activities, the reduction of funds of the local bodies for security, inhuman treatment of the ordinary people by the security personnel and other contemporary issues.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe of NWPP said that arrangements be made to complete the Manohara bridge along the road to Purano Thimi before the monsoons.

He also drew the attention of the authorities concerned towards providing relief assistance to 211 farmers of Sangu VDC affected by hailstones and the irregularities taking place at Bhaktapur district land revenue office.

Netra Lal Shrestha of RPP said that as the people of Salyan district have been deprived of basic services and facilities because of the destruction caused to basic infrastructures by the terrorists, attention should be given to rebuilding the infrastructures as soon as possible.

Protesting against the reduction in the development budget of the district, Shrestha demanded that the integrated security development programme be launched in the district. He also urged the persons concerned to lay down their arms and end violent and destructive activities taking place in the country through dialogue.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the CPN-UML objected to the reduction in development fund of the local bodies. He stressed the need to speed up development activities by holding elections of the local bodies in time or by extending the tenure of the people's representatives.

Referring to the widespread misuse of the state of emergency, Pandey said that 18 labourers of Dhading district had been killed in Kalikot district recently. He demanded investigation of the incident and immediate relief assistance for the sufferers.

Ramkumar Chaudhary of NC said that the security personnel were harassing the party workers in Saptari district.

Regretting that the police personnel at Ranipokhari police office had used bad language against a person of his district who had gone there for obtaining a driving licence, Chaudhary alleged that tendency of taking bribes for carrying out work is increasing in the police offices.

Navaraj Subedi of RJM said Pyuthan district is in darkness after the terrorists destroyed the Jhimruk Hydroelectricity Project. He demanded that electricity be supplied by linking the transmission line with Andhikhola-Palpa- Sandhikharka.

Stating that the on going development projects have come to a standstill because of the reduction in development budget of the local bodies, Subedi demanded necessary funds for river control and drinking water projects in the district.

Chandramani Kharal of CPN-UML drew the attention of the house towards illegal felling of trees taking place at Laljhandi forest of Kanchanpur district.

Govinda Bahadur Shaha f the NC expressed profound gratitude to HRH Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev for visiting Achham district an acquiring information of the security situation there after the Maoist terrorists completely destroyed Mangalsen.

Recalling that the Maoist terrorists had destroyed two houses belong to him and looted foodgrains from there a few days back, Shaha said that he considered it as a minor incident as the whole nation was on fire today.

Gupta opens philatelic exhibition

Kathmandu, Apr. 10 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta inaugurated an exhibitiion of postage stamps related to Israel organised by the Israeli Embassy and the Nepal Philatelic Society here today on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the foundaing of Israel.

On the occasion, Minister Gupta said one can learn from Israel that given confidence, commitment, courage and zeal one can built not just a house but a state on devastated land.

Remarking that Nepal was the first among Asian countries to recognise Israel as an independent country, Gupta said we from Nepalese soil wish Israel success in overcoming terrorism.

Pointing out that for the past 54 years Israel has stood up to terrorism with great determination, he said Nepal too is suffering from terrorism.

He also released a booklet, 'Philately', published by Nepal Philatelic Society.

Isreali Ambassador Avraham Nir spoke of extremely harmonious relations between Nepal and Israel and expressed confidence that the area of bilateral cooperation would expand in future.

During the function chaired by Nepal Philatelic Society chairman Subarna Ram Joshi, Mayor of Kathmandu Keshav Stapith and Director General of the Department of postal service Mukunda Sharma Poudel also expressed their views.

Bhupalman awards to be presented

Kathmandu, Apr. 10 (RSS): 'The Bhoopal Man Singh Karki Youth Award' for 2002 is to be presented to Prof. Dr. Arun Sayami in recognition to his contributions to health services, social service and literature.

Similarly, the 'Bhoopal Man Singh Karki (Youth Music) Award--2002' is to be presented to Bulu Mukarung for his tireless contribution to the promotion of the Nepali language through his long association with the field of Nepali music.

Likewise, the 'Bhoopal Man Singh Karki (Youth Literature) Award --2002' is to be given to Sesh Raj Shivakoti for his research and study on distinguished writers and involvement in the promotion of Nepali.

All the awards carry a purse of Rs 25,000 each.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Bhoopal Man Singh Karki foundation council chaired by its founder president Bhoopal Man Singh Karki.

'I am committed to NC policy', Gupta reacts to party action

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: The Central Disciplinary Committee of the Nepali Congress has expelled Minister for Information and Communications, Jaya Prasad Prasad Gupta from the general membership of the party for one year.

The Committee, in a press statement today, declared the statement given by Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta and published in several newspapers against the party’s directives, policy, ideology, code of conduct. The party objected to statements made by Gupta to various newspapers and on April 4 asked him for explanations. He provided a written explanation four days later.

According to a statement signed by chief of the press department of the party, Purushottam Basnet, the disciplinary committee took the decision because it disagreed with the explanations.

The controversial comment by Minister Gupta referred to the statement the Chief of the Army Staff, General Prajwolla Shumsher Rana had given at the convocation ceremony of the Army officers’ training. Gupta said that the major political problem facing the country today was the failure of one group to accept the role of another group: "There is a majority government in the parliament, but the opposition party is not ready to acknowledge the role of the government. The issue went to the extent that MPs of the ruling party themselves have come out openly against the government. The opposition parties, in a bid to force the government to accept its demands, are obstructing the parliamentary proceedings."

He added that although the country was in a state of emergency, the government had failed to achieve the expected results. The government, he said, needed consensus, but instead, the ruling and the opposition parties had started politics of confrontation. "This kind of politics will not lead us to a solution for the current problems. Our democratic conduct and practices are not that useless as it might seem from our failure to manage the situation."

Minister Gupta said that in the last 12 years they had done more to intensify the conflicts than to resolve them. According to his statement, the country saw the state of emergency now, but the politicians’ consciousness had been in emergency long before this.

The minister said that now there were fears of conflict between the Parliament and the army. "Members of the army know and can understand politics, but had not previously used political language. Now, they have. This should be seriously evaluated. This has dragged the army into controversy."

Minister Gupta said that the state must take responsibility for what the Chief of the Army Staff had said. "The Prime Minister has said in Pokhara that he would clarify everything and that the government’s views will become clear. There is no need to obstruct the parliamentary proceedings."

But, Gupta said, situation could become more complex if, instead of correcting the mistakes pointed out by the army chief, attempts were made to forge a national consensus against the army, who put their lives at risk.

Gupta said the police had failed to stop terrorism and only the army could provide security. "But a political game has started within the parties and between the ruling and opposition parties to outdo one another. If the goodwill and dedication of the whole army are questioned, solely on the basis of the army chief’s statement, things could become more complicated."

The Minister said that terrorism could not be defeated on the strength of the army alone. There should be extensive political mobilisation. The army had been raising the issue of political mobilisation, he said. "But where is the political mobilisation? The army has not been getting the cooperation from the parties. Instead of providing support for the army, we have raised another controversy."

It was because of these comments that the disciplinary committee of the ruling party expelled Minister Gupta from the party.

In his explanation to the party, Minister Gupta made it clear that he did not intend to degrade the party or anyone else. "I expressed what I saw and felt about the current situation. I made my statements in a different context, and was not speaking in favour of the army chief’s comment."

In his explanation, he had said that he could not understand why the statement had became an issue of disciplinary action. He said that he was astonished to receive the expulsion letter several days after the print media announced he would be kicked out of the party. He said tolerance of divergent views were the basis of the party’s unity and its continuity. But the latest action has changed that, he said.

"I am not saying this in my defence alone. Let us decide with a liberal thinking what identity should we give to our party as we move ahead. That's my request."

Gupta said, "Our views, inspiration we have gained, and why we join a party, could be regarded as personal matters. These things can be seen differently in the context of furnishing clarifications. For a member of any political party, party discipline, policy, principles, ideals and code of conduct must be inviolable. I am wisely committed to them all."

He asked: "Is it, or is it not, possible for a minister and party member to defend the Nepali Congress when the majority of speakers are opposed to his party and the government? Can he not talk about the overall political situation without even naming a party? What is more appropriate: to remain numb even when the party and the government are being vehemently attacked, or to give out objective facts? Is it an act of indiscipline in a parliamentary system to promote the viewpoints of the government? Was the same thing I did as minister in the government before Sher Bahadur Deuba's a breach of discipline?"

"I feel I have been unjustly charged on grounds which conflict with the party policy, principles, ideals and code of conduct," Gupta said.

"If what I said in a particular context amounted to indiscipline, let us examine all the views the top leaders of the party have aired this year. Where is the evidence that they reflect a sense of duty and responsibility towards the government?"

Referring to the clarification sought three months ago from him, Gupta said he was asked to justify why he thought the party leadership was trying to change the government leadership.

Gupta cited the party general secretary's interview in a weekly newspaper, where the latter said he thought the signature campaign against the government was natural. The party spokesman said that the power game to change the government was a result of a longstanding internal conflict and it was going on. "Are these remarks different from mine?" Gupta asked.

Govt ready to reform industrial policy

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Industrialists and traders across the country have pledged to work with renewed vigour and join hands with the government to bolster the country's economy on the occasion of Industry and Commerce Day-2058.

Inaugurating the Industry and Commerce Day–2058 organised by the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the government has mobilised its security apparatus to overcome murder, violence and destructive activities.

Prime Minister Deuba said that the security units have been involved in controlling the brutal activities of the Maoist terrorists. "The Maoist terrorists are showing their defeated mentality by blowing up physical infrastructures such as drinking water projects, telecommunications system, power house and government and VDC buildings," he said adding "They just want to influence the general people by instilling fear and panic in them after losing their support.

The government has introduced sick industries rehabilitation programme in order to revitalise them and the policy measures have already been taken to get the indigenous products consumed within the country, the Prime Minister said.

He said that the Nepalese industries enhance the quality of their products to compete in the global market apply innovative technology and efficient management and use locally available raw materials to a great extent in order to show its presence in the global market.

Referring to the reforms made in the existing industrial policy, foreign direct investment and commercial policies to create congenial atmosphere for the investors within and outside the country, he said that the government is ready to refine the existing policies to match the exiting requirements.

The country lacks exportable items on the one hand, while exportable Nepalese itmes fail to compete in the international market on the other. At this situation, our policies and legal frameworks should be directed towards enhancing competitiveness of such items, the Prime Minister said.

The recently renewed Nepal–India trade treaty has implied intention of encouraging maximum use of indigious raw materials which in turn accelerates industrialisation in the country thereby minimising unemployment problem and retaining a greater chunk of the turnover generated through export within the country, he said.

As the formulation of a long term industrial development plan has reached its final stage the government has formed an investment promotion board in order to interwine one economic sectorr with another in a bid to bring uniformity in the sectorwise investment policy, he noted.

Prime Minister presented FNCCI Award to Surya Tobacco Pvt. Ltd. The Prime Minister also presented letters of appreciation to Asian Printers Nepal, the Standard Chartered Bank and the Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Prime Minister also released a special souveniour on the occasion of the Industry and Commerce Day.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, speaking on the occasion, pointed out the need for dailogue to ward off differences between the government and private sector and resolve the problems faced in foreign trade.

President of FNCCI Rabi Bhakta Shrestha called for discouraging the tendency of threatening to close down business firms, soliciting donations and instigating labourers in order to cause a serious impact on the national economy.

First vice-president of FNCCI Binod Bahadur Shrestha urged the government to ensure peace and security in the country to develop industry and trading sector and attain all round development of the country.

At the function, the message send by His Majesty the King wishing for the success of the Industry and Commerce Day-2058 was also read out.