Govt puts price on heads of terrorist leaders

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: The government today announced a five-million-rupee reward for each of the three top terrorist leaders, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), and Mohan Vaidya (Kiran) dead or alive.

Anyone who finds them and hands them over dead or alive to the security forces will receive the reward, the Home Ministry said today.

A reward of Rs. 3.5 million has been announced for Post Bahadur Bogati, Nanda Kishor Pun, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, C.P. Gajurel and other leaders of their rank.

The of reward for the so-called central committee leaders of the terrorists is Rs. 2.5 million, so-called bureau in-charge and platoon commander will fetch Rs. one million each.

Anyone providing information leading to the arrest of these terrorists will receive half the amount.

An individual giving information about or handing over a GPMG/40mm, rocket launcher, and 81 mm mortar to the security forces will be rewarded with Rs 400,000 each.

The reward for an LMG is Rs 300,000, for an SLR Rs100,000, a .303 rifle/SMG Rs 75,000, and for a factory-made pistol/ revolver Rs. 25,000.

The government has guaranteed security for those who cooperate. Jobs and secrecy of their information and source of income have alsol been promised.

This is the first time the government has put a price on the heads of the terrorist leaders who have been leading a six-year-old Maoist insurgency.

The government has so far released the photographs of 40 wanted rebels.

Meanwhile, security forces have gunned down 21-armed Maoist terrorists across the nation. The terrorists were involved in terrorising and intimidating people. The security forces have arrested 23 suspects and are interrogating them.

The Defence Ministry said that seven terrorists were killed today at Kalidaha of Salyan district while five were killed yesterday at Beldangi of Kanchanpur. Three terrorists were shot to death at Peuka of Rolpa, two each in Mangsingh of Sankuwasabha and Sedha of Dang, and one each in the Jajarkot’s Rimna and Achcham’s Takuradanda.

The security men arrested 17 terrorists in Salyan and two each in Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga. One terrorist each was nabbed at Ilam and Kailali.

The security personnel recovered pistols, guns and bullets, combat fatigues, explosives, equipment for laying ambush, different sizes of bombs, binoculars and foodstuffs from the sites of the encounters and from those arrested.

The Defence Ministry has called upon the common citizens to perform their daily task unhindered and without any fear as the security personnel, instructed with the shoot-at-sight order against persons involved in disruptive actions, are actively engaged in maintaining law and order.

The forces airlifted an injured seven-year-old boy of Dandakhark of Dolakha district and brought him to Birendra Military Hospital. Bikash Chapagain,7, had fallen unconscious after falling from a hill.

The child, who was being brought to Kathmandu in an ambulance, had to be taken back after the Moists set a barrier on the Lamosangu-Jiri road.

Intellectuals distress at state of Jorpati school

Bhaktapur, Apr. 23 (RSS): Local intellectuals are distressed at the sorry state of Jorpati Secondary School, the only public school in Bhaktapur district located at Nagkhel village development committee.

At present, 128 students are studying at the school upgraded to secondary school in 2040 B.S. The school was established in 2016 B.S.

The number of students has diminished after some 21 students studying in grade 10 appeared in the examination of school leaving certificate.

However, Glory English School, North Point School, Mount Herman School and Simaltar English School run by the private sector are making headway day by day.

His Majesty’s Government has been providing Rs. 85,000/- per month to the school through the Bhaktapur District Education Office.

Ram Gopal Karmacharya who has assumed his duty as the headmaster of the school since the last two months called a guardians’ meeting to review the poor functioning of the school.

Headmaster Karmacharya is of the opinion that if the VDC needs a sound public school, there should be extensive improvement in its functioning and physical facilities, otherwise, it should be closed down.

A seven-member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of school management committee chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa to recommend measures for its smooth running and advancements after the guardians participating in the meeting corroborated the view for its improvement and admitted their fault in not extending necessary cooperation to the school from time to time.

Nepal awaits new WTO entry talks

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: Necessary preparations for the integration of the Nepalese trade regime with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have reached the final stage. Documents for the second round of negotiations that is likely to be held in mid-June in Geneva, are almost ready, according to officials at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS).

"We are just waiting for the date of negotiations." says Prachanda Man Shrestha, Chief of the WTO Division at the MoICS.

The second round of negotiations will be crucial from the point of view of fulfilling the other WTO requirements.

The government officials say that the process as demanded by the Geneva-based WTO is almost fulfilled.

Nepal has already answered 362-plus queries of the WTO in April 1999, however it still wants Nepal to clarify its position on various issues including the tariff.

Even Minister for Industry Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka has often noted "Nepal should identify its areas of opportunities and challenges before entering into the WTO. It is a challenging task."

However, social activists say the general public, farmers and other stakeholders are not informed about the pros and cons of the WTO membership.

Prachand Man Shrestha clarifies that Nepal has fixed the tariff rate in between 60-80 per cent. "But it may vary from one commodity to another."

Going along with the present rate of tariff-that is around 12 per cent (the lowest in the South Asian region), Nepal’s major industries will be in jeopardy and the country will have nothing to export of its own.

Though the government officials sound quite determined and optimistic about Nepal’s accession to the world trade regime and expect dozens of concessions as a least developed country (LDC), the reality is different.

Tariff rates which are considered as one of the most important things in the world trade are still under the review.

It is to be noted that the government had reduced the tariff rate to 12 per cent after 1990 in order to accelerate its economy towards liberalisation. But the galloping trend of liberalisation has failed to yield any positive outcome.

Prof. (Dr.) Guna Nidhi Sharma who thinks Nepal’s accession to the WTO is a must so as to reduce India’s monopolistic attitude, says that the government besides joining the world trade club should identify its products in which it can take more benefits. ‘Otherwise, getting membership does not help promote our economy.’ The most important thing in the WTO, according to Prof. Sharma - is tariff.

The adjustment of tariff in our case should not be generalised. It should be product-wise, he maintains.

However, the process of revision of tariff has just begun, according to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI).

His Majesty’s Government and the FNCCI have made joint efforts to find out appropriate tariff rate of various items. It would help present our views to the WTO.

However, joining the WTO is different from becoming the members of other organisations. Various pros and cons should be taken into consideration before entering into the club. It may be recalled that Nepal had applied for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) membership in 1989. And it submitted the Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime in July 1998.

Bandh evokes mixed response

Kathmandu, Apr. 23 (RSS): The bandh at the call of the Maoists evoked a mixed response in the capital today.

While the shops along the main roads remained closed out of fear of possible violence by the Maoists, those in the interiors of the city were open.

Likewise, only a small number of vehicles were seen plying the roads.

Because of the Bandh, most of the schools have scheduled to conduct classes only from April 28 and had given the last few days as holidays. Accordingly, they remained closed today also.

Special provisions were made for the convenience of tourists, and some of the taxis had covered their number plates.

When asked for the reason for covering his number plate, one taxi driver waiting for a customer at Thamel said. So that the Maoists will not harass us for operating during the bandh."

Vehicles of governmental and non-governmental organisations and those of the private sector were also seen on the roads today.

As it rained in the capital in the afternoon, there was less activity than normal.

Likewise, reports of the impact of the bandh from various parts of the kingdom are pouring in.

Bharatpur: Shops at Narayangadh Bazaar, Ratna Nagar Bazaar and Bharatpur did not open because of the bandh. Long distance and local buses also did not ply.

Humla: The bandh did not evoke any response at Simikot, the district headquarters.

Mahendranagar: Shopkeepers here opened their shops during the so-called Nepal bandh today and conducted business as usual.

Likewise, educational institutions also remained open and classes were held. However, the transport service was disrupted. Security personnel had encouraged the shopkeepers to open their shops.

Dhangadhi: The Nepal bandh did not evoke any response here. Long distance buses and trucks kept off the roads, but rickshaws, bicycles and motorbikes operated unhindered.

Business was transacted as usual. Regular classes were held at most of the educational institutions and the proficiency certificate level and graduate level examinations at Kailali multi-purpose campus were conducted smoothly.

Meanwhile, an all party peace march was taken out today against violence, terror and the Nepal bandh.

The peace march that commenced from the district administration office passed through the main thoroughfares of the municipality.

Itahari : Protest rallies against the Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists were held in Duhabi, Itahari and Inaruwa today. Various political parties, the business commuity, the police and administration participated in the rallies.

Despite the Maoist bandh, the examinations at the campus concluded without hinderence.

Syangja: Shops in the main commercial area, educational institutions and industries remained closed. People visiting the district headquarters in connection with their work were down to a minimum.

Patients were carried to the hospital by people and by bicycle. An ambulance was also pressed into service to bring patients from distant places.

Kapilvastu: Life in the district was peaceful with no untoward incident reported. Private and public vehicles stayed off the road.

Bhaktapur: Thirty percent of the shops in Bhaktapur municipality remained open. While private and governmental vehicles were seen running, most of those on hire stayed off the roads, CDO Ram Prasad Khatiwada said.

As elaborate security arrangements had been made, no untoward incident took place.

Mahottari: Governmental and public service offices functioned smoothly while classes were not conducted even when most of the schools remained open.

Shops were open at most of the places in Jaleshwar Matihani, but those along the highway were closed.

Parbat: Vehicles numbering 300, including buses, trucks, vans, jeeps and motorbikes enthusiastically took out a rally at the Parbat portion of the Pokhara-Baglung highway. Representatives of all the political parties, businessmen, transport operators, teachers, employees and the public at large participated in the rally.

Makawanpur: Shops remained closed and vehicles stayed off the road at the various VDCs, Hetauda municipality and Hetauda industrial district.

Janakpurdham: District level leaders and activists of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, the CDO, the Superintendent of Police, president of the district Chamber of Commerce and Industry, social activists, labourers, students and businessmen took out a peace march. They urged people to open their shops. The shops opened gradually one after another.

Few vehicles were seen on the road.

Rajbiraj : After an all party peace rally went around the municipality, some of the shops opened while short distance vehicles were also seen along the roads.

In Pyuthan, the certificate level second year examinations of Tribhuwan University were conducted peacefully, Sworgadwari Campus Chief informed.

The call by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pyuthan helped foil the Nepal bandh in the district headquarters. Shops and offices opened as usual and no effect of the bandh was seen.

In Sindhuli, the main bazaars were fully open. The I.A. And B. A. level examinations were held peacefully in Sindhuli campus and educational institutions were also open. But transport vehicles did not ply.

In Siraha, the bazar opened due to the request by the all party gathering, including the police administration, but other bazars in the district did not open.

Similarly, the ilaka police Lahan arrested six suspects staying at the Bhagawati lodge. Necessary investigations are underway.

In Pokhara, the bandh did not have any impact.

Pasang Lhamu’s courage worth emulating: PM

Kathmandu, Apr. 23 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the late woman mountaineer of Nepal Pasang Lhamu Sherpa has held high the achievements of Nepalese women.

Deuba made this remark while offering floral tributes at the statue of the late Sherpa at Boudha Chuchchepati in Kathmandu on the occasion of the Ninth memorial day of her ascent of the world’s highest peak.

The Prime Minister said the courage of the late Sherpa is worth emulating and unforgettable in the history of Nepalese mountaineering.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. said the late Sherpa was declared a national heroine of Nepal.

Born in a remote village she had been successful in enhancing national prestige for which the nation will always remember her, he said.

Sherpa reached the summit of Mt. Everest on Baisakh 10, 2050 B.S. She died while descending from the peak.

Also speaking on the occasion were chairman of the Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation Ram Hari Joshi.

Donation

Kathmandu, Apr. 23 (RSS): Executive chairman of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation Ramagya Chaturvedi handed over a cheque of Rs. 350, 989.47 for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to the Prime Minister. The money is five days’ salary of RNAC staff in the month of Chait.

Luncheon

Kathmandu, Apr. 23 (RSS): Officiating Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gyan Chandra Acharya hosted a luncheon here today in honour of British ambassador Ronald P. Nash who is returning Home after completing his tenure in Nepal.

On the occasion, Officiating Secretary Acharya expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended by the British government in Nepal’s development endeavors and expressed confidence that British cooperation will continue in future as well.

Ambassador Nash said private sector participation is indispensable for economic progress in Nepal and stressed the need to promote such participation.

Dialogue is the only way to resolve the problem created by the Maoist terrorists, he said, adding that it is equally necessary to work with sensitivity to end various the evils and aberrations and the economic irregularity so Rampant in the country.

Present on the occasion were high ranking officers of the Foreign Ministry and the British Embassy and distinguished personalities.

Joint meeting

Kathmandu, Apr. 23 (RSS): The visiting Nepali parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Taranath Ranabhat to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a joint meeting with members of the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang on Monday.

Matters relating to mutual interest and exchange of cooperation and experiences were discussed during the meeting.

Emphasis was also laid on the further expansion of and consolidation of cooperation and understading between the government, parliament and people’s level of the two countries.

Speaker Ranabhat led the Nepalese delegation at the meeting while the Korean side was led by chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly Choi Tae Wok.

Earlier on arrival on Saturday at the Pyongyang airport, the Nepalese delegation was welcomed by the chief of the foreign department of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

The delegation also made an inspection tour of various sectors of the DPRK.