Dialogue only option for peace: Koirala

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: The Nepali Congress President has said that the Maoist terror and violence can end only through dialogue.

"Since the problems of violence and terror in other parts of the world have also been resolved through dialogue, the government must keep its door open for talks with the Maoists," President Girija Prasad Koirala said at a gathering of lawmakers at the party’s central office in Teku, Kathmandu this morning.

At the reception, traditionally held for parliamentarians after the conclusion of the House session, ruling party chief Koirala instructed the Congress lawmakers to take stock of the law and order situation in their districts and try to resolve the people’s sufferings caused by the Maoists.

He asked lawmakers to visit district headquarters and villages to create confidence in the Congress workers and supporters affected by Maoists’ violence and intimidation.

He said he supported the idea of forging a greater democratic alliance and amending the Constitution to find a solution to the current situation.

"Parliament is the right place to find an answer to any problem. My views were meant to give a message to the Maoists that the Constitutional amendment could find a way out of the present crisis and establish the authority of Parliament," Koirala said.

"To tackle the Maoist terror, joint efforts on the ideological and security fronts should be launched. The government will take care of the security front while the ideological aspect is handled at the political level."

Koirala said that both the country and the Nepali Congress were in a crisis. "Congress cadres should commit themselves to create a history and seriously analyse the sensitivities of the country," said Koirala, who gave his first public speech after returning from a six-day visit to India. "The economy is in a shambles. In such a situation, the donor nations could increase their activities and pressures."

NC general secretary Sushil Koirala stressed the need for the party to move ahead with greater unity and better organisation to fight the crisis.

He said the government should be more serious in ensuring coordination among security units and improving law and order.

"The political parties and the general people should have high morale to defeat violence, and terror."

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said the 21st session of Parliament passed important bills that would have a long-term and positive impact.

Maoists, who are weakening the country and the people, are criminals, Deuba said. "Even a foreign enemy cannot commit such a crime," he said. "All political parties are united in our fight against terror and foreign friendly nations have supported us in our campaign. The Maoists will be defeated."

He pledged the government’s support for the ideological campaign against Maoists.

All Congress Central Committee members and Members of Parliament presently in Kathmandu attended the gathering where joint general secretary Govinda Raj Joshi threw light on the tradition and objectives of the reception.

Koirala condemned the Maoists who were destroying development infrastructure and pushing the country further down on the path of deprivation.

Calling upon the government to become more active, Koirala asked the lawmakers to take the spirit of the Broader Democratice Alliance to the people’s level. The Party President usually holds a reception after the conclusion of the session of the Parliament.

Purifying technology may help solve water crisis

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Environment experts today suggested adopting small-scale water processing technologies. To address the shortage of drinking water in urban areas, people would have to change their habits, they said.

"Going for the family and community-based water processing equipment will help managing water in a sustainable manner," said Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Director of the Environment and Public health Organisation (ENPHO).

Dr. Shrestha said the gray water processing system could be installed in private homes at a moderate cost of Rs. 30,000. "This makes the polluted water drinkable and helps reduce the consumption of water in homes by a 50 per cent," he said while addressing a talk programme entitled "Sustainable Use of natural Resources- Partnership for Development".

The programme was organised by the Kathmandu-based American Center to mark the 32nd Earth Day today.

Dr Shrestha said the system could be practical for the cities such as Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to address the shortage of water.

He expressed concern over the increasing pollution in the Narayani river and Phewa Lake. He said many endangered species were facing extinction in the Narayani river and the surrounding areas due to the chemical-filled water from the Bhrikuti Paper Mill.

He stressed on the need to install water-processing systems to save the polluted river and the lake.

Ms. Mandira Singh, water resources specialist at the Integrated Centre for Mountain Development (ICIMOD), shed light on the prospects of forging partnership among nations in South Asia for developing a regional flood forecasting system.

Ms. Singh said that floods not only victimised many people but also hampered the development efforts in the region.

Speaking at the function, Binod Shrestha of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) informed the participants about its environment education activities for school students through the Internet.

Delivering a brief introduction on the Earth Day, Public Affairs Officer at the American Center, Robert Kerr said the US government had set goals to protect the environment.

Mr. Kerr said that it was a matter of happiness for the region to have the Regional Environment Office for South Asia in Kathmandu. "It extends support and cooperation and coordinates with all the nations of this region in matters such as environmental protection and hydropower development.

The Earth Day was launched in 1970 when thousands of people in US expressed concerns over the degrading environmental conditions. Now 184 countries, including Nepal, observe it.

ADB provides Rs 58 M for water supply project

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to His Majesty's Government of Nepal amounting to Rs. 58 million (750,000 US dollars) for the purpose of preparing the community based water supply and sanitation project.

The TA will be financed on grant basis from Japan Special Fund, contributed by the Government of Japan.

The TA is estimated to cost 910,000 US dollars of which, HMG will contribute US dollars 160,000 in the form of counterpart staff, office accommodation and transportation.

An agreement to this effect was signed today by Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala, secretary, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of His Majesty's Government of Nepal and Richard Vokes, country director for Nepal, on behalf of the Asian Development Bank.

The TA is expected to help the government to prepare sectoral strategy focusing on rural water supply and sanitation and develop project design and modality. To this end, the TA will emphasise targeting assistance to the poorest areas of the Kingdom with most acute shortage of drinking water and sanitation facilities.

The TA will probe into integrated water supply, sanitation and health and hygiene education components.

The TA also aims to substantially increase transparency and stakeholder involvement at all levels of project implementation including initial design process and complement the activities of other donor agencies active in the sector.

The TA will be implemented in three phases within ten months beginning in May, 2002.

His Majesty's Government of Nepal expresses its sincere appreciation to the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Japan for their keen interest and continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal.

Nepal leaves for Bhutan

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): A six-member delegation led by leader of the main opposition party at the House of Representatives and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal left here today for Thimpu, the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan, at the invitation of the Bhutanese government.

The delegation includes Hiranya Lal Shrestha of CPN-UML Foreign Affairs Department, MPs duo Jagannath Khatiwada and Mahendra Pandey, Gayatri Acharya Nepal and journalist Surya Thapa.

Talking briefly with media persons at the VIP lounge at the Tribhuwan International Airport before his departure, opposition leader Nepal said that his visit to Bhutan would focus on seeking an amicable solution to the long-festering Bhutanese refugee problem as early as possible and thrashing out bilateral issues for mutual benefit.

During the visit, the delegation will meet the King of Bhutan, the Bhutanese Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Envoy Nash calls on PM

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): British Ambassador Ronald P. Nash paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's office at Singha Durbar today.

Ambassador Nash is returning home after completing his tenure in Nepal.

Decision

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The meeting of the State Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives decided to make an on the spot visit of places where security forces have been mobilised and the Royal Nepal Army headquarters in accordance with the coordinative role of the committee regarding welfare works and security budget allocation.

The meeting also decided to invite the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, the Home Minister, the Finance Minister and officials of the National Planning Commission to its next meeting to discuss the major achievements after the restoration of multiparty democracy and future national plans and allocation of resources.

The meeting was presided over by committee chairman Hridaya Ram Thani.

Meeting

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives was held today under the chairmanship of committee chairman Som Prasad Pande.

A draft sub-committee for preparation of the report has been constituted under the convenorship of Suresh Kumar Karki to prepare the committee's Annual Report-2059.

The committee decided to hold a programme to interact with the private sector on acquiring membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and on the relevance of SAPTA and SAFTA.

Present at the meeting were Ekanath Ranabhat, Jagannath Khatiwada, Tirtha Gautam, Shiva Prasad Humagain, Surendra Prasad Chaudhari and Suresh Kumar Karki.

Oath of office administered

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Yogendra Nath Ojha administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed members of the commission Mrs. Urmila Shrestha, Dr. Bhim Dev Bhatta, Dr. Ganesh Man Gurung and Dr. Srikrishna Yadav.

50,000 visit Chataradham festival

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): About 50,000 devotees of Nepal and India have already visited the first Pindeshwar Kumbha festival being held at ancient Haridwar Chataradham of Barahchhetra on the banks of the Saptakoshi river from April 14.

Sri 108 Gayatriswarup Brahmachari Maharaj Mumukshu Bhavan Varanasi declared open the month-long festival.

During the festival on April 17, tens of thousand of religious minded men and women led by Brahmachari took holy dips at the river confluence there.

'Violence hurts religion'

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): Senior Supreme Court Judge Laxman Prasad Aryal has pointed out the need for people with a conscience to eschew violence and murder and emulate the morals of Lord Ram.

Yogi Narahari Nath said that the murder and violence unleashed in the country was an onslaught on religion and pointed out the need to raise religious awareness to eliminate unrest.

At the programme Yogi Narahari Nath, general secretary of the World Hindu Federation Divakar Chand, joint treasuer Radheshyam Thapa, senior litterateur Sriprasad Upadhyaya, social activists Dr. Keshav Sapkota, Sheila Panta and police inspector Basant Kuwar were felicitated and announcer of Kantipur F.M. Ghanashyam Khatiwada and Deepak Baral of Himalaya Times national daily were also honoured.

Nayab Badagurujyu Dr. Madhav Bhattarai presided over the function.

Govt serious to work for children

Lalitpur, Apr. 22 (RSS): Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel has said the government is quite serious about ensuring the brighter future of Nepalese children.

Speaking at a programme organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to discuss the latest draft document of the special meeting of the UN General Assembly on Children, he said children should be looked upon as partners in development.

ILO central director Leyla Tegmo-Reddy said the special meeting will be important for the promotion and healthy development of children.

Also speaking on the occasion were UNICEF representative Steward McNab, Ministry of Women and Children and Social Welfare secretary K. P. Sharma Bhandari and Ministry of Labour and Transportation secretary Prem Nidhi Gyawali.

Wagle denies news reports

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjivi Wagle has said that all works except the development of infrastructure such as roads, water supply, housing and urban development will be carried out by the concerned agencies as per prevailing rules.

At a press conference held at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works here today, Minister Wagle denied a news item concerning construction of a tunnel and approach road for the Melamchi drinking water project published in a local daily and made it clear that the Melamchi water supply development board takes all decision including those related to financial matters in accordance with the financial administration regulations.

Claiming that the published news item was a sponsored one meant to defame him, he said that nothing in violation of the prevailing laws, rules and regulation has been done by his ministry.

Stating that no decision concerned with the tunnel for Melamchi project has been taken, he said the news item was published solely with the aim of assasinating his character.

Help for Nepal from Green Seas in Japan

Arghakhanchi, Apr. 22 (RSS): Financial cooperation of Rs 125,000 raised at the people's level on behalf of Green Seas, an institution of the Friends of Nepal in Abasiri of Hokkaido, Japan, has been handed over, it is learnt.

Leader of the team Fujibara Koichi, who had visited the Mathura area of Arghakhanchi district, handed over the sum to Jeev Narayan Adhikari, founder chairman of a local school, as cooperation to the school amid a function.

The institution had handed over financial cooperation to the tune of Rs 50,000 last year also, it is learnt.

Green Seas was constituted last year at Abasiri, Hokkaido to extend cooperation to children in the hilly region of Nepal to help them pursue their studies after Koichi came in touch with Arjun Adhikari, a resident of Mathura.

In this context, Fujibara Koichi, Thanimura Sosuke, Homma Michiko and others along with Arjun Adhikari visited Mathura on April 16 and 17 and studied the social, educational, economic and cultural aspects of the village, unmindful of the terrorist activities.

Apart from the financial cooperation, a piano, a tape recorder, a stop watch, pens and sports goods were presented this year also. Teacher Chhabi Lal Pandey, headmaster Narayan Bhushal and others welcomed the Japanese guests and expressed gratitude for their cooperation in the educational field.

School founder chairman Adhikari presided over the programme.

Topical issues discussed

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The House of Representatives population and social committee met under the chairmanship of committee chairman Narendra Bahadur Bam.

The meeting discussed role to be played by the committee in preservation of Nepali civilisation and culture and its promotion.

At the meeting, chairman of the Bagmati high level drainage improvement committee and ex-MP Bidur Poudel and cultural expert Hutaram Vaidya also expressed their views on preservation of Bagmati civilisation and culture.

The meeting held under the convenorship of sub-committee convener Dr. Banshidhar Mishra discussed aids prevention in Nepal.

The meeting of the natural resources committee was held under the chairmanship of committee chairman Lekhnath Acharya.

House Committees Meet

At the meeting sub-committee convenors on water resources, land reform and management and agriculture and cooperatives furnished information on their work.

The committee decided to demand the internal accounts report of the Nepal Electricity Authority and the report on the Mahakali irrigation project.

At the meeting of the PAC, news coordinator of space-time daily Tarun Poudel said the news and editorial were written as a negative impacts was made by the government media Radio Nepal and Nepal Television which disseminated their news after 36 hours of the submission of the sub-committee report on the space-time news and editorial on Chait 22 and 23.

He said the word game-plan was used to draw attention of more and more readers.

He did not clarify the basis of the words 'game-plan', 'on vested interests' and 'report prepared at the minister's cue' contained in the news and editorial.

Acting secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications Prabhakar Adhikari said the telephone talk between Adhikari and space-time network managing director Jamim Shaha was distorted.

He did not clarify the words 'the seven hundred and seventy thousand rupees' regarding the amount demanded in the telephone talk.

Similarly, the then Information and Communication Minister Shiva Raj Joshi said he had renewed in a legal way and decision was made on Chaitra 29 2057 not to allow it to forward work on the application because of conditions not fulfilled.

The discussion on the news and taped telephone talk regarding space-time will be finalised at the meeting to be held on Baisakh 16.

Likewise, the special committee meeting of the National Assembly on the Nepal Health Services (third amendment) Bill-2058 was held under the chairmanship of committee chairman Bedu Ram Bhusal.

The meeting discussed the process of clausewise discussion of the bill.

Similarly, the meeting of the law and order, displacement of people, administration and development sub committee under the National Assembly remote areas committee met under the chairmanship of sub-committee convenor Tilak Prasad Neupane.

The meeting discussed preparation of the report on the above subjects.

The meeting of the National Assembly remote areas committee was held under the chairmanship of committee chairperson Gaura Koirala.

At the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the report presented on Baisakh 6 on transport, supplies, tourism and income generation.

CPN-Masal, Unity Centre unite

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The CPN(Masal) and CPN(Unity Centre), two of the leftist parties of Nepal, have united.

The unification was announced at a public meeting here today organised jointly by the two parties on the occasion of the 133rd birth anniversary of Lenin and 54th Foundation Day of the Nepal Communist Party.

The joint press release concerning announcement of the unification issued by general secretary of the CPN(Masal) Ram Singh Shrish and general secretary of the CPN(Unity Centre) was read out at the public meeting by leader of the CPN(Unity Centre) Nar Bahadur Karmacharya.

On the occasion, leaders of various communist parties of the country wished the unified party success in unifying the leftist and democratic forces against the terror unleashed by the Maoists.

CPN-UML standing committee member Jhala Nath Khanal said that by unleashing terror, the Maoists have defamed not only Marxism and Leninism but the entire communist movement of the country.

President of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe and advisor to the Rastriya Janamorcha Pari Thapa said that leftist unity was the need of the day.

Senior leftist leader CP Mainali, president of CPN-MLM Krishna Das Shrestha and a host of other speakers said that the unification was a message of unity to the communist parties of Nepal entangled in divisions and controversies.

Bandh opposed in Jhapa district

Kathmandu, Apr. 22 (RSS): The people of Jhapa have opposed the Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists.

The district administration office organised an all party meeting here today to ensure failure of the strike and remove the atmosphere of terror.

President of Jhapa district committee of Nepali Congress Sudhir Shivakoti, CPN-UML district committee secretary Devendra Dahal, RPP district committee president Dileep Rai, superintendent of police Kedar Prasad Saud, district chief of the army, businessmen, representatives of transport entrepreneurs and journalists attended the meeting chaired by CDO Pashupati Karmacharya.

On the occasion, CDO Karmacharya said that all the bodies of security would be mobilised to ensure failure of the bandh and maintain law and order.

NC district committee president Shivakoti said that massive mobilisation of the people should be carried out to quell the Maoist terrorists.

CPN-UML district committee secretary Devendra Dahal said that by resorting to crimes such as arson, violence and murder, the Maoists were terrorising the people and achieving nothing.

Superintendent of police Kedar Saud said that it was the paramount duty of the police personnel to protect the life and property of the people.

Various other speakers also expressed their views on the occasion.

Nine terrorists killed in operations

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Nine terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in different parts yesterday. Four died in Suryapatuwa of Bardiya, three in Jilkini of Udayapur and two in Vitrigram of Rolpa.

The terrorists, including so-called main committee members of Rolpa and activists of Udayapur, were involved in laying a booby trap for a patrolling team of security personnel in Kothiyaghat of Bardiya.

Security forces have seized weapons, explosives and ambush-making tools from the sites.

Terrorists hurled a socket bomb at a security patrol in Bhotebas of Khandbari Municipality in Sankhuwasabha. A terrorist injured in the army action there has been taken into custody.

A team of security forces clashed with terrorists who were looting the Royal Cooperative at Dulegauda of Tanahu yesterday. The forces have arrested a terrorist and recovered a cash of Rs 185,000 and four socket bombs from him.

A local resident, who was injured in the crossfire, is undergoing treatment in Pokhara.

Security forces defused 10 pieces of explosives in Gabahal of Lalitpur and a ready-to-go bomb made of about 40 kgs of explosives in Pachorkha of Dang, according to the Defence Ministry.

Experts stress copyright law enforcement

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Elated at the approval of the Copyright Bill by both the lower and upper houses of the parliament early this month, authors of various art works and intellectual property experts have now laid emphasis on the effective enforcement of the law.

The long awaited new Copyright Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on Chaitra 19, 2058 BS (April 1) and okayed by the upper house with amendments to it on Chaitra 31, 2058 (April 13). The bill has been put up for the royal assent following which it will come into force according to the existing laws in Nepal.

To the chagrin of Nepali artistes and authors, the existing Copyright Act-2022 has come under strong criticism for inadequate and unscientific provisions and particularly for ineffective implementation towards the protection of the creators' right to their works.

With the approval of the new copyright bill by the parliament, however, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC assured the authors and copyright activists of the effective and strong implementation of the new law.

"Now the government is also mulling over bringing out Copyright Regulations which will be done very soon," Minister KC said, while speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Copyright Protection Society of Nepal (CPSN) in Kathmandu, Monday.

"Despite high rhetoric, little has so far been done for the preservation of art, music and folklore, but the passage of this copyright bill is something concrete done towards this end," he added stressing the immense importance of copyright protection.

"The promotion of art, culture and music is indispensable for tourism development too, so the ministry will very shortly make the announcement of a team for the promotion of folklore and music," Minister KC said.

The Copyright Protection Society of Nepal (CPSN) general secretary Santosh Sharma stated the approval of the new copyright bill as a positive development achieved at time when Nepal is in the process of entering the World Trade Organisation and when the provisions of the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Properties) agreement will become operative for LDCs like Nepal from January 1, 2006.

This TRIPS-compliant copyright bill has also opened up new avenues for Nepal to join the Berne Convention, so that Nepali works are also protected in the countries, which are signatories to the international convention, he said.

"The new development in the copyright sector in Nepal has enhanced the role of the copyright collection societies comprising members from the civil society," he said. "The government should also step up actions to develop human resources in the IP sector, particularly law enforcement officials in police, customs as well as justices for which technical support may be solicited from such international IP organisations as World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)."

Litterateur and lyricist Iswor Ballav, Member of Parliament and IP activist Bijay Subba, CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal, and Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, and Tourism and Civil Aviation Bimal Bahadur Deuja also expressed their views on the occasion.

At the programme chaired by the CPSN vice president Bishnu Gopal Shrestha, general secretary Santosh Sharma and treasurer Kumar Basnyat presented the annual report and audited financial reports respectively.

Photos of more terrorists out

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: The Royal Nepalese Army today made public the photos of some persons linked with the Maoist terrorist group.

Stating that the people in the pictures are involved in terrorist activities working at different rank and file of the terrorist organisation, the public has been requested to inform the nearest security office if they are sighted.

Photos of some persons affiliated with the terrorist organisation was made public before.

RSS adds: The terrorists whose names have been made public along with their pictures are Agni Sapkota, Amar Tamu, Chuda Kadel, Dinanath Gautam, Dinesh Sharma, Hari Bahadur Chuman also known as Amit, Jaganath Khanal aka Dinesh, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Gam Bahadur Rayamajhi, Uma Bhujel aka Shilu, Mukunda Neupane aka Sashil, Mesh Bahadur Bhandari aka Ram Prasad, Rita Dhakal, Mangal Kumar Shrestha aka Sagar, Palu Aryal aka Nisha, Pampha Bhusal, CP Gajurel, Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal, Basanta Prasad Gautam and Post Bahadur Bogati.

Before this also, the Royal Nepal Army had made public the names and pictures of 20 persons including Puspa Kamal Dahal.

They are Puspa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), Baburam Bhattarai, Mohan Baidhya, Dev Gurung, Hari Bhakta Kadel, Hira Kazi Pyakurel, Khop Bahadur Kadel, Hitraj Pandey, Chandra Prasad Khanal, Prakash Rijal, Abinash, Ram Prasad Banjade, Rekha Sharma, Shankar Ghimire, Shankar Tamang, Siruram Dhakal, Srinath Adhikari, Rit Bahadur Khadka, Rejesh, and Chandra Kishor Pun.