Princess Helen releases book

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: Her Royal Highness Princess Helen Shah released and signed the book An Epitaph of Anoop SBJ Rana on the third death anniversary of this entrepreneur.

HRH Princess Shah presented a copy of the book to each of the 39 contributors to the book.
Anoop's wife Kanchan Rana also presented a book to HRH Princess Shah on the occasion.

The book comprises articles by 39 writers. The objective behind publishing the book as a biography is to set up a trust to carry out social service activities.Speaking at the programme, journalist Subarna Chhetri said that Anoop was a multi-faceted personality who had contributed in various spheres such as sports, business and tourism.Anil Shah, his cousin, said that he was a man of confidence.

Anoop's colleague G.N. Sharma demanded that the stadium at Sano Gauchar be named after him. "This would be a true tribute to Rana," he said.Rana, born in 1949, passed away in 1999. Anoop's youngster daughter Shasta Rajya Laxmi Rana welcomed the guests.

HMG committed to maintain peace: PM

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said that the first responsibility of the present government is to maintain peace and security in the country and hold general elections soon and then hand over power to the elected government.

Prime Minister Chand said this while addressing a function held today on the occasion of the 9lst birth anniversary of the late Tanka Prasad Acharya.

At the function, Chand launched a book titled 'Rastra Ra Rastriyata, Ajako Rastriya Sankat Ra Tyasko Nibaran' (or, national and nationalism, today's national crisis and its resolution) published by the Tanka Prasad Acharya Foundation.

The Prime Minister said that those who fought in the democratic movement will have been honoured only if the country can be saved from its present crisis and there is institutional development of Constitutional Monarchy and multiparty democracy, adding that it is only a day dream to seek the attainment of political goals through violence and murder.

Pointing out that the Maoist problem can be resolved only through the medium of talks, he said the present government is ready for that.

It is not in the national interest to destroy the infrastructures of development, impose upon the basic ritghs of the citizens and bring a crisis upon the country, he said and pointed out that it is Nepalese who are being killed.

He said the nation's problem cannot be resolved just because a particular individual or entity wants it, resolution is possible only through the co-operation of the general masses. He also said that the contributions of the late Tanka Prasad Acharya are unforgettable.

CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the critical problem facing the country today should be resolved democratically and misuse of state power should not be allowed.

He also pointed out the need for democratic forces to move ahead in a united manner and not by covering up but correcting the mistakes committed in the past 12 years.

Nepal extended tributes to the late Tanka Prasad Acharya who, he said, did not agree with undemocratic forces.

Nepali Congress leader Ramchandra Poudel said people pointing out the failures and shortcomings of the past 12 years should be able to provide a better alternative.

Everyone should think of stopping the increasing rate of violence and terror in the country and guarantee peace to the people, he added.

CPN-United leader Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar, sharing his experience of working with the late Acharya described him as a person who loved democracy. Sriramhari Sharma presided.

Motorcycle accidents beat the record

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: Most of the accidents that occur in the Kathmandu Valley involve motorcycles. In the event of an accident, 80 per cent of the riders in the front are affected, while it affects nearly cent per cent of those riding behind.

A report published by the Bir Hospital Emergency ward shows that motorcycle accidents nearly always results in head injury because the riders are not wearing a helmet, or even when wearing one, are not wearing it properly.

In order to reduce the number of casualties, the Valley Traffic Police Office (VTPO) and the Department of Transport Management are thinking of implementing an act, enacted 10 years ago, that will make wearing a helmet for both the riders compulsory.

In Bagmati zone alone, an estimated 151,855 motorcycles are registered, and 79 new motorcycles are added every day.

The VTPO has asked everyone to take the act positively and co-operate. Although the Traffic and Transport Management Act (2049) makes it mandatory for both the riders to wear a helmet, only the one in the front seat driving the vehicle has been wearing one.

The act also makes it mandatory for the front sitters of four-wheelers to wear a seat belt.

These provisions could not be effectively implemented in the past due to weaknesses on the implementation side, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surrender Bahadur Pal at an informal interaction with the media and transport entrepreneurs today. Besides, lack of public awareness has hampered the act's implementation, he added.

SSP Pal said that after implementing the act, the number of accidents should go down.

Transport entrepreneur Puspa Lal Pradhan, however, cautioned the concerned authorities not to hasten and first do the necessary homework before implementing the act. "Most of the vehicles currently running in the valley do not have seat belts," he said.

Other participants demanded that only quality helmets be imported if the act is to be made effective.
The provision making helmets mandatory for both the motorcycle riders was implemented in Biratnagar recently.

RPP prepares for third convention

RSS

POKHARA, Dec. 3: Preparations for the Third General Convention of the Rastriya Prajatnatra Party to be held in Pokhara from December 12 to 14 have reached the final stage.

Party President Surya Bahdur Thapa is scheduled to inaugurate the general convention at Pokhara Stadium on December 12 while party leader and Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand will address the inaugural function.

At a press conference organised here today, convenor of the general convention cooperation and management committee Surya Bahadur K.C. said that the party will constitute a new 21-member executive committee including a new president and two women members.

Working papers on political, social and economic matters, indigeneous people and the Terai people will be presented and discussions held on them at the general convention.

Thirteen various sub-committees and a 551-member organising committee have been constituted to hold the general convention to be participated in by about 1,328 delegates from across the country.

'Sex - abuse charge baseless'

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has denied news reports that quoted a Bhutanese refugee as saying its officials were also involved in cases of sexual abuse in the refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang in east Nepal.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, media relations officer at the UNHCR's country office Millicent Mutuli said that they had received complaints regarding sexual harassment by UNHCR officials. "But the special inspection team of the UNHCR which had visited the camps last month in this connection found that the allegations were baseless."

After discovering that 18 aid workers - 16 of them Bhutanese refugees themselves, one police officer and an official working with the Refugee Coordination Council - had sexually exploited refugee women and girls, the UNHCR gave directives to the concerned agencies to dismiss them.

"The accused were involved in all the social service organisations associated with the camps except in the Nepal Red Cross Society," a source told this reporter requesting anonymity. The UNHCR has not made public the name of the perpetrators. However, it is learnt that one of them was the ex-deputy director of the Refugee Coordination Unit.

"So far, the line agencies have dismissed all the accused, and we are trying to file cases against them so that the guilty could be duly punished according to Nepalese law," said Millicent.

According to the UNHCR, the case of sexual abuse by the aid workers in Nepal was the second such incident that has occurred in the refugee camps around the world.

One similar case of sexual abuse by the aid workers had occurred in the West African countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone in the past.

Keeping in mind the growing number of complaints about sexual exploitation of women and children, the UNHCR has brought in seven professionals to protect the women and children and has developed various mechanisms to discourage and stop such activities from taking place in the future.

"We are running protection training programmes in the camps and have also developed a form which is distributed to the unhcr staff, representatives of the Women's Forum, and to the Mother and Child Health Clinic. Everything is strictly monitored.

"However, our plan to visit each camp thrice a week has not materialised due to lack of field staff," she said. The UNHCR has only four staff members in the field.

Khapangi vows to activate Disabled Act

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: The Eleventh International Disabled day was observed with various programmes here today.A rally taken out by the International Disabled Day organising committee from Basantpur carrying awareness placards concerning the disabled passed by New Road and Bir Hospital and culminated in a mass meeting on reaching Ratna Park.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi, Assistant Minister Anuradha Koirala and other persons associated with social and national life participated in the rally initiated by Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation and Land Reforms and Management Badri Narayan Busnet.

Addressing the mass meeting, Minister Basnet said that the relief package concerning the disabled announced by HMG will be of great help to them.

Minister Khapangi expressed commitment to render services, extend cooperation and provide facilities and opportunities and conduct programmes for the accessibility of the disabled to communications and said that he would extend all possible cooperation to activate the Disabled Act.

Assistant Minister Koirala said that understanding has been reached to reserve a seat in each of the buses operated by 'Makalu' and 'Agni' transport services and provide concessions of up to fifty per cent for the disabled in bus fare.

President of the Disabled Federation of Nepal Munishwar Panday presided over the mass meeting which was also addressed by Ganesh Prasad Upadhyaya, Dipak Kumar Shakya, Hiramani Bhandari and representatives of various institutions and organisations.

On the same occasion, Minister Khapangi presented the disabled talent prize to various persons.
Those receiving the disabled talent prize of Rs. 10,001 are Shrikanta Sapkota of Kaski, Poshan Khakurel of Kabhre and Shiva Ram Karki of Ramechhap while those receiving the disabled teachers prize of Rs. 5,001 are Rupa Rai of Kailali, Kiran Acharya of Sindhuli and Krishna Bhakta Amatya of Mahottari.

On the same occasion, scholarships, orthopaedic appliances (artificial limbs), wheelchairs and tricycles were provided to 27 disabled.

Litterateur Vijaya Bajimaya, Chandra Kumar Bhattarai, Dr. Laxmi Narayan Prasad, Srikant Sapkota, Rupa Rai and Jyoti Pyakurel also expressed their views at the programme chaired by committee chairman Taranath Koirala.

Speakers at the programme expressed the view that the disabled should also reach the policy formulation and decision making levels and the law formulated for the disabled was itself disabled.

Radio service for remote parts stressed

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: Minister for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that community communications media should be taken to the remote parts of the country to intensify the momentum of development in the country.

During the course of an inspection of the Radio Sagarmatha, the first Community Radio in the entire South Asian region, here today, Minister Pandey said that the broadcasting of community radio should not be confined to the developed areas of the country.

Journalists should play an important role in protecting the national character, promoting nationalism and taking the spirit of national unity to the grassroots level, Minister Pandey added.

Minister Pandey also said that it is also the role of the mass media to ensure discussions between the state and citizens, political parties and their supporters and neutral persons and active intellectuals.

Stating that His Majesty the King had made a commitment for the conslidation of multi-party democracy, Pandey said that political parties should be strong for strengthening democracy.
Ideological differences in multi-party democracy are a part of democracy, he said and added that monarchy is the symbol of national unity and the point where all the differences converge.

Minister Pandey was welcomed by vice-chairman of the society of environment journalists Bhupendra Busnet and its director Om Khadka.

On the occasion, director Khadka said that the society was actively working for the development of community radio across the country and reiterated the commitment of Radio Sagarmatha to the development of the country.

Thapa calls for collective efforts to face key issues

RSS

BIRATNAGAR, Dec. 3: Minister for Home and Law and Justice Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said that in present context when all the parties and civil society have accepted law and order as a serious national problem a collective effort with a single approach should be made to resolve the problem.
Speaking at a programme organised by Reporters' Club, Morang unit here today, Home Minister Thapa said security is a very sensitive issue and urged journalists not to write anything that could have an adverse affect on the security system.

Journalism is not a medium limited to criticising only, it should encourage individuals and society towards creative work and this could add to the developmental work of the nation, he added.
Responding to a query, the Home Minister said as article 128 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal provided for an interim period it became be defunct after completion of that period.
One cannot specify the exact number of days it would take to resolve the Maoist problem but elections will be held as soon as there is a favourable environment and for this all parties and civil society should assist, he added.

Minister Thapa said comments that the present Council of Ministers does not hold executive rights are wrong, and as the proviso signified by the wording "until other arrangements are made" in the Royal Address came to an end following Constitution of the cabinet the present cabinet does have executive powers.

Asking where the Constitution says that elections can be postponed, Thapa said it was the recommendation made to postpone elections that was an attack on constitutional practice.
Reporters' Club Morang President Shekhar Regmi presided.

Meanwhile, Minister for Home and Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Thapa has said that as our society today is facing problems of various kinds at two levels prominent figures of society have an important role in resolving such problems.

He was speaking at the international disabled day and orthopaedic implements distribution programme organised by the community-based rehabilitation programme here today.

Minister Thapa said social workers who donate money and time selflessly are a source of inspiration for society and wished contentment for such personalities.

CDO Dolakh Bahadur Gurung said the disabled are entitled to similar rights as the abled and lauded the efforts made by the rehabilitation programme.

District education officer Tanka Prasad Gautam, chairperson of the programme Bani Nepal and other speakers also expressed their views.

World population hits 6.21 bn mark:UNFPA

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: The world population today hit 6.21 billion, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced while launching the state of the world population-2002 globally. The report is the 25th in its series since 1978 when the UNFPA started announcing the world population.

Coinciding with the launch of the report, the UN special agency looking after the population activities of the world, today unveiled the new logo of the organisation which it said was changed to cover its areas of duties and goals.

The report comes importantly with the theme 'poverty and its relationship to population questions' at a time when it is realised by people of every quarter of life that population activities are the main concerns for a prosperous world community.

At the launching ceremony, the UNFPA country team in Nepal also made public the population report of Nepal, stating the Himalayan Kingdom is home to 23,151,423 people. The report puts the average life expectancy of the Nepalese people at 59.7 years. But the report does not mention any data about the Nepalese living below the poverty line, although the world population report cites says poverty has declined and that the present generation has learnt to live in smaller family sizes than its parents.
Launching the state of the world population report-2002 here this afternoon, vice chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Shankar Sharma said that the upcoming 10th five-year plan was highly compatible with the theme of the population report.

"As we are going to address poverty, the theme "People, Poverty and Possibilities" best corresponds to our goal," he said.

Vice chairman Dr. Sharma said that along with a greater focus on reproductive health for promoting economic growth and reducing poverty, the developing nations like Nepal now needed to improve their financial, tourism and trade sectors to bring about positive changes within a very short span of time.
Talking for the first time about monitoring development activities in the country, Dr. Sharma said that the NPC was on a war footing to meet its target of mapping the works done by the INGOs and NGOs in the country. "First we would map the works and areas of works of the 109 INGOs which have been working in various fields since long.

"Then we will study the activities of the NGOs so that the government's development activities do not overlap," he said.

Launching the world population report in London today, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the UNFPA, said, "Developing countries that have invested in family planning, smaller families and slower population growth have achieved higher productivity, more savings and more productive investment.

"Still, fertility and population growth are highest in the 49 least developed countries," she maintained.
The report has underlined the threat of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its close ties with poverty. "The poor people are vulnerable to HIV infection because they are defenceless to all health risks; they lack knowledge and power to protect themselves; and they have less access to information and services for HIV/AIDS prevention," stated a press release of the UNFPA.

During the launching ceremony, Assistant Minister for Population and Environment Gopal Dahit and specialist at the UNFPA G. Giridhar spoke while UNFPA representative in Nepal J. Bill Musoke gave a welcome speech.

UML hails British Court verdict

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec. 3: CPN-UML has stated that the British High Court has done justice to the Gurkha ex-army soldiers, who were prisoners of war for long, by giving a verdict in favour of their appeal for compensation.

Stating that the British High Court's verdict is the victory not only of the writ petitioners but also of the whole Gurkha army soldiers and Nepalese people, the party in a press release issued here today has extended congratulations to all the ex-Gurkha army soldiers and Nepal Gurkha ex-army Association.
The party has also expressed its wishes that the British High Court will do justice by giving verdict in favour of the Gurkha soldiers on the issues of equal pension and other appropriate demands.