Three injured in Gongabu explosion

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: Security forces killed ten armed terrorists in separate encounters across the country Saturday.

Eight terrorists were gunned down in Dhuseni and Musure of Sindhupalchok and one each at Khalanga Power House in Darchula and Deulek in Baitadi.

The Defence Ministry said the terrorists killed in Sindhupalchok had been involved in attacking the administrative units in the district, laying ambush and destroying infrastructure. They include two ward chiefs of the village people’s committee, four militants, includingl two women, and a militia and a squad commander each.

The terrorists killed in Darchula and Baitadi were active members of the terrorist organisation. They had attacked the security forces with socket bombs.

The forces seized 53 detonators, pressure-cooker bombs, equipment used for laying ambush, camera flashlight, explosives, medicines, combat dresses, and terrorist documents from these places.

The Ministry said a joint team of the security forces foiled an attempt of the terrorists to attack an armed police post at Shumsergunj in Banke district Saturday night. The forces are searching for the terrorists involved in the incident.

The locals of Dhankhta district handed over seven guns of various types to the security forces yesterday.

In Kathmandu, an explosive went off outside the bus park at Gongabu when a Tata mini truck ran over it at about 4:30 P.M. The explosion damaged a motorcycle and two other vehicles. Three persons, including two on the motorcycle, were injured and are receiving treatment at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, police sources said.

At Baghbazar, security forces defused a bomb, but three others went off. No one was injured.

Our Rautahat correspondent adds: a group of terrorists exploded bombs in different parts of Gaur and burnt a jeep of the main Opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

According to Rauhat District Police Office, the terrorists exploded bombs at the Nepal Telecommunication Office and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Office in Gaur. They set fire to Nepal’s Mahindra pickup parked at the premises of the NEA.

The terrorists fled after the patrolling teams of the security forces reached those places immediately and launched an offensive. The terrorists were forced to flee after the security personnel attacked them. Some terrorists are said to have been injured.

The explosions caused minor damage to the utility units. The fire has destroyed the front part of the jeep. Deputy Superintendent of Police Parshuram Khatri said the security forces prevented further damage by defusing the bombs left in those places.

The security forces recovered bombs from the NEA premises and defused them.

According to our Dolakha correspondent, the terrorists set ablaze the Veterinary Office in Jiri and Orient Magnesite office in Kharidhunga Saturday night causing a loss of about Rs. 15 million.

The fire destroyed three buildings of the Veterinary Office and two officel buildings and six vehicles of Orient Magnisite.

UML leader calls on leftists to fight anarchy

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: The general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxists-Leninists) has called upon all the communist forces to wage an ideological struggle against the anarchy perpetrated by the extreme leftists.

Madhav Kumar Nepal said the extremist group had deviated from Nepal’s communist movement and taken to the path of murder and violence.

"The spate of anarchy, violence, murder, arson and destruction of physical infrastructure caused in the name of red terror and People’s War has defamed and weakened the communist movement," Nepal said.

"This has weakened the multiparty system ushered in through the popular movement and strengthened the reactionary forces."

Nepal said change could be brought about only through the creative use of Marxism as a science and not through blind imitation removed from the realities of the country.

"Revolution does not happen just because some groups are in a hurry or wish so," Nepal said."Both objective and psychological realities need to mature and be appropriate for this."

While offering tributes to Pushpa Lal, founder general secretary of the Communist Party, and other leaders, Nepal said: "May the day inspire us all to understand our country, its diversity, special characteristics and situation and move ahead as per the expectations of the Nepali people."

The Main Opposition leader, who issued a statement on the eve of the 53rd anniversary of the Nepal Communist Party that falls on April 22 this year, said that his party had established itself as a decisive political force because of widespread popular support for its ideology, the People’s Multiparty Democracy.

Top priority to protecting life, property: Home Ministry

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): Minister for Home and Local Development Khum Bahadur Khadka and Minister for Labour and Transport Management Palten Gurung in a joint statement here today has stated that HMG has given top priority to ensuring law and order in the country. And protecting the life and property of the people. It is prepared to take any step to shoulder such important and sensitive responsibilities, it says.

Stating that the security personnel of all the agencies have been mobilised effectively to maintain law and order, they have stated that it is the fundamental right of the people to live without fear or terror. HMG is firm on ensuring that this right is not affected from any quarter, it says.

Stating that violent, murderous and terrorist activities are in the interest of none, they have, in the joint statement, mentioned that we all should have the same perception about controlling these activities unitedly.

In the joint statement, they have called for cooperation in operating public transport services, keeping the schools open and businesses, including industries, running to mantain normalcy. It states that provision for compensation for damage, if any during the period of the strike, has also been made.

A team comprising a representative each from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the organisation of transport entrepreneurs and the concerned CDO has been constituted for this purpose, the statement adds.

Help of all needed to stop activities of terrorists: PM

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the 22th anniversary function of the founding of the World Hindu Federation (WHF) and the Sri Ramnawami Hindu Unity Day organized by the World Hindu Federation, Nepal, here today.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba also worshipped the foundation stone for the building of the World Hindu Federation to be constructed at Bansbari of Kathmandu.

The ‘Shilapujan’ was performed today instead of laying the foundation stone as the process of acquiring the land for the laying of foundation of the building is still incomplete.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gave away a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and felicitation letter to Nayab Bada Gurujyu Dr. Madhav Bhattarai for his contribution to Sanskrit language.

Addressing the function, Prime Minister Deuba said those who have faith in peace and religion have to launch an ideological crusade against the tendency of the Maoist terrorists who have shown demonic characters by killing children and elderly persons in a peaceful country like Nepal.

The terrorists have been destroying development infrastructure which even an enemy does not destroy when it attacks, he said, adding that cooperation of all is needed to stop the irrational and anti-religious works of the terrorists.

At the function presided over by chairman of the World Hindu Federation Nepal National Committee Pandit Narayan Prasad Pokherel, various other speakers, including senior officials of the Federation Uparathi Bharat Keshar Singh and ex- minister Jaya Prakash, also shed light on the Hindu religion.

At the function, proposals to felicitate His Majesty the King by organising a grand Hindu Conference at the end of 2059 B.S, observing the silver jubilee of the World Hindu Federation in 2061 B.S.which was inaugurated by late King Birendra in 2037 B.S, and to pay gratitude on behalf of all the Nepali Hindus to HMG and Prime Minister Deuba for the land provided for the WHF building were made.

At the beginning of the function, a minute’s silence was observed for the eternal peace to the departed souls of the members of the Royal Family including His late Majesty King Birendra and Her late Majesty Queen Aishwarya.

All security units activated to maintain peace

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: Home Ministry today said all the security wings had been activated to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain normalcy in the county.

The Ministry has appealed to all to inform immediately to the security agencies in case they receive threats or find somebody involved in suspicious activities.

The telephone numbers to inform the security agencies in the Kathmandu Valley are 243715 and 243810 at the Ministry’s control unit, 412780 at the operation unit of the Police Headquarters, and 100, 110, 120, 130 and 226853 at the Valley Police Mobilisation Unit.

People outside the Valley have been asked to inform the nearest police post if anybody tries to violate law and order.

EARTH DAY
BEAT the heat: Earthcall

By Navin Singh Khadka

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: Formal and stereotype it may sound once again, the Earth Day this time (tomorrow), however, has come amidst alarm bells ringing for mountainous countries like Nepal, if not the whole world.

Just one week before this official celebration for the only identified living planet, a pending wrath of disturbed nature made headlines.

Around 50 glacial lakes in the Himalayas are already bursting at their seams and could spell disaster to human settlements downstream within five to 10 years, the United Nations and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development last week pointed at the troubled world’s highest ultra frigid zone.

Of the lakes that have reached the danger level, 20 are in Nepal and 25 in Bhutan.

The lakes are rapidly filling up with icy water as rising temperatures in the region accelerate the melting of glaciers and snowfields that feed them, the international agencies reported. They monitored 49 stations in the Nepalese Himalayas that showed temperatures increasing since the mid-1970’s – up by one degree Celsius, rising at the rate of 0.06 degree per year.

"We are talking about only those lakes that we know about," noted Surendra Shrestha, Regional Coordinator in Asia for a division of the United Nation’s Environment Program. "Who knows how many others, elsewhere in the Himalayas and across the world, are in similar critical state?"

The Damocles Sword indeed lurks over human civilization, especially at places like Nepal that boasts of above 3,000 identified glaciers and around 2,300 known glacial lakes. The bad news is these glaciers are retreating fast – some at 20 meters a year like the Tradkarding Glacier that feeds the Tsho Rolpa glacial lake in the Rolwaling Valley. In effect, the lake has grown six fold.

"It’s not just the risk to human lives, agriculture and property," said Klaus Toepfer, Director of UNEP. "If the glaciers continue to retreat at the rates being seen in the Himalayas, many rivers and fresh water systems could run dry, threatening drinking water supplies, fisheries and wildlife. We now have compelling reason to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases."

That sums up what the United Nations deems is the prime culprit — Global warming.

And it’s not just the world body talking about it. Other environmental agencies echo the same view. The World Wildlife Fund, for instance, brought out a report last February warning that the Himalayan alpine meadows in the country and its Savannah grassland in the Terai faced severe threats from global warming.

Home to rare plants and animals, these two areas are among the 80 per cent of the 115 most scientifically important wildlife habitats that will be ruined by rising temperature, the report "Global warming and species loss in globally significant terrestrial ecosystems" said.

Sheltering critically endangered species like the snow leopard, the eastern Himalayan alpine meadows will have lost two thirds of its area by the end of the century while the Savannah grassland that hosts the one-horned rhinos and tigers will see its significant chunk disappear, it further stated.

"This report provides us with an alarming picture of what will happen to some of the Earth’s precious natural areas," Dr. Ute Collier, Head of Climate Change at WWF said in the report.

If you think it is only certain pockets of the earth that will be troubled spots, think twice. Here is what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated: The atmosphere will be warmer by as much as 5.8 degree Celsius over the coming century, and the sea will rise by about half a metre.

Meaning, the Himalayas, and for that matter countries with settings like that of Nepal, will have to bear the brunt of the global warming menace at first hand. No matter even if it is increasingly adopting clean energy — despite its bulky bill — under the banner of carbon emission reduction.

But, what worth would that sacrifice be if the greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow thanks to the industrialised countries? The United Nations has time and again made it clear that the per capita emissions in the developing countries are far lower than in the industrialised countries.

It is the latter ones that have significantly contributed for the growth of carbon dioxide emissions by 12 fold in the 20th century – from 534 million metric tons to 6.59 billion metric tons.

Yet, there is no solution at sight. The much touted and controversial Kyoto Protocol – which US President George W Bush once called "fatally flawed" – still remains elusive.

Hence, the celebration of the Earth Day in the country amidst the bad news from the Himalayas — perturbed by human-induced global warming.

Youth organisations hold peace rally

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): Four main youth organisations took out a peace rally here today with the slogan "Protect the Achievements of the People’s Movement of 1990 and Eliminate Violence, Murder and Terror."

The peace rally organised jointly by Nepal Tarun Dal, the Democratic National Youth Association, the National Democratic Youth Organisation and the Youth Forum of Nepal Sadbhavana Party began from Ratna Park and went through the main thoroughfares of the capital before culminating in a public meeting at Ratna Park.

Ministers, leaders of various political parties, MPs and thousands of youths took part in the rally.

At the public meeting at Ratna Park, leaders of the youth organisations called upon the Maoist terrorists to immediately eschew violence and subversion and come to the negotiating table.

President of Nepal Tarun Dal Bal Krishna Khand said that the joint campaign of the youths would be extended all over the country to stop the ongoing murder and violence and to protect the democratic rights.

President of the Democratic National Youth Association Gokarna Raj Bista said that some elements were active in fishing in murky waters.

President of the National Democratic Youth Organisation Pradeep Udaya said that a gun culture was not the solution to the problem. He called upon the government and the Maoists both to immediately stop damaging infrastructure and take initiatives towards negotiations.

303 women cooperatives in Nepal

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): Altogether 303 women cooperatives are in operation Nepal.

This information was provided at an one-day interaction programme on "Participation of Women for Development of Cooperatives" organised by the National Cooperative Association Women Committee here today.

Most of the participants taking part in the interaction programme expressed the view that not only freedom but also a concrete policy is necessary for running and developing cooperatives in the country.

They suggested proper coordination between the cooperatives, training facilities to speed up cooperative activities and necessary cooperation and concessions from the government.

Former Minister and advisor of the National Cooperatives Association (NCA) Radhakrishna Mainali lauded the efforts being made to involve the Nepalese women lagging behind economically and socially in the national mainstream of development through the medium of cooperatives.

Co-chairman of the National Cooperative Board Biswobandhu Gautam stressed the need to carry out social development works through cooperative movement in a country like Nepal with unfavourable geographical conditions.

Acting president of the NCA Omprakash Sharma expressed the view that development of women would take place automatically if they were provided skill-oriented training and financial assistance for employment.

At the function chaired by convenor of the NCA Women Committee Tulasa Rimal, Lalita Paneru and Bunu Poudel of the Women Association had expressed their views.

The NCA Women Committee has constituted sub-committees in 10 districts to provide training on cooperatives.

The interaction programme was participated in by 60 women from Lalitpur and Nuwakot districts.

Good governance key to decentralisation

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that decentralisation will only get formal shape through good governance.

Speaking at a one-day national workshop on strengthening decentralisation and good governance in Nepal organised by the Political Science Association of Nepal (POLSAN) in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) here today, Nepal said the dalits, nationalities and women and the poor as well as the problems of the Terai and the remote areas should be incorporated in decentralisation process.

He opposed the idea that the local bodies should be depoliticised and said that if it is done, the place will be taken by power, community and religion and will turn out destructive.

Nepal also called for consideration of the structure of local bodies proposed by Dr. Harka Gurung.

Central member of NC Ram Chandra Poudel said the rights, development and facilities of the local bodies should be increased for materialising democracy.

Poudel said over politicisation of the local bodies has troubled the helpless people.

Vice president of RPP Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said the present crisis is created by not taking the people into confidence and not providing them rights. The time has come for freeing local bodies from politics, he added.

FES Nepal resident representative Dr. Alfred Diebold said Nepali leadership should have strong political will to resolve the present problems and should eliminate graft and corruption at the central level so that the value of democracy at the local level does not become too high for the poor.

At the function presided over by Polsan President Bhuwan Pathak, executive member of Polsan Prof. Shyam Kishore Singh and Polsan Research Board president Dr. Shastra Datta Pant also expressed their views.

At the workshop, secretary of the Judicial Council Kashiraj Dahal presented a working paper on "decentralisation and disputes: settlement mechanism in local bodies," Rabindra Khanal on "Conflict resolution in local governance: provisions in local self government act 1998," Dr. Shastra Datta Pant on "Ethnicity and Decentralisation in Nepal," decentralisation expert Dr.Durga Poudyal on "Concept of decentralisation in the context of balanced development in Nepal," DDC federation president Krishna Prasad Sapkota on "Local governance in Nepal" and Dr. Krishna Bhattachan on "Traditional local governance in Nepal".

‘Tenth Plan must stress on women’s education’

Kathmandu, Apr. 21 (RSS): Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel inaugurated an interaction programme on the necesary strategies and programmes to be taken for women and the backward class in the Tenth Plan here today.

On the occasion, he said that there would be contributions in the advancement of women only if economic, social and employment generating programmes could be conducted in the rural areas.

Minister for Finance Dr. Ramsharan Mahat said that the living standard of the rural women and people with low income could be raised if prerequisites of development could be provided at the local level.

National Planning Commission (NPC) member Dr. Nirmal Pandey said that programmes such as these would be helpful at a time when the Tenth Plan was being formulated.

Chairman of National Women’s Commission Dr. Durga Pokharel said that the Tenth Plan should stress on women’s education.

MP Yangkila Sherpa said that there should be provision of training for entreprising women.

Founder cum chairman of Women Awareness Centre, Nepal Pratibha Suvedi and Harikrishna Upadhyaya presented a working paper on the occasion.