Their Majesties to receive civic honour in Biratnagar

By Our Coresspondent

BIRATNAGAR, Dec. 14: Their Majesties the King and Queen are scheduled to visit Biratnagar from January 3 to grace civic felicitation.

Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal informed this at a gathering here today.

"Their Majesties have kindly consented to visit Biratnagar following the request of people of the eastern development region. The people in the eastern region are eagerly waiting to pay respectable audience to the beloved king and queen," he said.

For grandeur welcome of Their Majesties the King and Queen, a 1,111-member Welcome and Celebration Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Raj Parishad Standing Committee member Pandit Megh Raj Sharma.

The Committee includes former prime ministers, former ministers, ex-lawmakers, ex-presidents and vice presidents of District Development Committees, ex-mayors and deputy mayors, chairmen of the different political parties, political and social workers, businessmen, and professors, social workers, intellectuals, politicians, employees and people from different walks of life.

Speaking at the programme, Minister for Information and Communications, and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey said that the Nepalese people always feel dignified as they are protected by their beloved Shah Kings for centuries.

It is a matter of happiness and pride for the people in the eastern region since Their Majesties are paying their first visit following the accession to the throne, Minister Pandey said and adding "All should devote to make Their Majesties' visit a grand success."

Minister Pandey further reiterated that that His Majesty the King wanted to move ahead by adhering to the norms of multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy.

"His Majesty the King is quite serious to restore peace and security in the country," he said.
Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Badri Narayan Basnet said that it was a matter of great pleasure for the people of Biratnagar to welcome Their Majesties.

Chairman of the Committee Pandit Megh Raj Sharma said they would do their best to make Their Majesties' visit fruitful.

Former state minister Radha Prasad Ghimire, chief district officer Dolakh Bahadur Gurung chairman of Morang Chamber of Commerce Shankar Lal Agrawal, chairman of Morang Industrial Organisation Sushil Dhanawat, industrialist Jeeban Nepal, Jagdis Rathi of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Ram Narayan Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party also expressed their views on the occasion.

Joint forum to deal with problems to be formed

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KATHMANDU, Dec. l4: Steps are being taken in accordance with an agreement reached by a gathering of l2 organisations concerned with education, students, teachers, guardians and private schools to form a joint task force and work out a plan of action, it is stated.

The gathering was called by National PABSON and the Guardians Association Nepal.

National PABSON and the Guardians Association have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Education and Culture to take initiative with a positive outlook to tackle the problems.

US to help combat insurgency: Rocca

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, December 14: US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca, who is here on a four day official visit, reiterated the US government's stance urging all democratic political forces to come together and take a united stand against the escalating political violence that is a serious threat for the democratic and economic stability of the country. She admitted that the US government has taken note of the continued violence in Nepal that has been "exacerbated by the distance between the different political parties".

Speaking to a few senior journalists on Saturday, the high ranking US State Department official also called on the Maoists to lay down their arms and end the senseless violence. "This is the best way to show commitment to dialogue," she said. She also warned that though the Maoists have not been yet put on any official terrorist list, "this step may be taken in consideration if their violence continues unabated".

To a question put up by one of the participating journalist, Rocca explained that the purpose of her visit was a part of the close bilateral relations that the United States shares with Nepal and it was also to "show support" to the Nepalese government. "The US is very concerned about the situation in Nepal," Rocca said and added, her present visit had helped her hear the views of different people about the grave situation in Nepal.

"We recognise the threat to Nepal and the necessity to deal with the problem," she informed, while answering another query of a participant at the function.

The high ranking US official, who is here on her third official visit, also condemned the ongoing escalating violence that targets peaceful people and even involves innocent children by forcing school closures and abducting them for service in the insurgent forces.

"We are committed to help Nepal combat the insurgency by providing security assistance to the Nepalese government," Rocca said. Assistance will be provided in the form of a package including equipment, supplies and training for the Nepalese security forces, she further informed.

Rocca also revealed that the US government's commitment to assist the Nepalese government in the light of the insurgency also includes a "significant increase in the development funds to address social and economic needs- from 24 to 38 million dollars in the coming year".

This increased development assistance will incorporate many programmes to focus on the causes of the insurgency and rehabilitation of victims.

Rocca also thanked the Nepalese government for the support it has shown in the US government's combat against international terrorism.

She also made it clear that the US government has "no intention of interfering in the internal politics of Nepal". It is just the wish of the US government to see the flourishing of democracy and economy of this country and an end to the needless violence.

Rocca acknowledged that Nepal was a young democracy and it has had its problems, however, the US government is confident that Nepal and the Nepalese have a "positive" future and they cannot only survive but even thrive in the days to come.

In the end, the US Assistant Secretary of State reminded that violence has to end as "violent insurgency is not an answer" to any problem. Comparing the tactics of the Maoists in destroying Nepal's social, economic and democratic infrastructures to the tactics of the Pol Pot in indiscriminate taking of innocent lives and forced recruitment and victimization of innocent children, Rocca pointed out these are in complete violation of all human rights and "indefensible".

Rocca leaves Nepal today (Sunday) for Pakistan on the completion of her four day visit.

New women members elected to central committee

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POKHARA, Dec. 14: Pratibha Rana, Renu Kumari Yadav, Roshana Karki and Durga Shrestha are the new women members of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Central Committee.

They were elected today by the third general convention of the party being held here.

The Constitution of the party following amendment by the present general convention provides for 20 per cent of the total number of central members to women.

Election was held today for the chairperson and 18 elected members of the 45-member central working committee. Counting of the votes is still underway.

Join hands to resolve crisis, says Chand

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POKHARA, Dec. 14: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said that everyone should join hands to resolve the present crisis and the problem of deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

At a Face to Face programme organised by the Reporters Club of Nepal at Pokhara today, Prime Minister Chand said that if the talks being held with the political parties for the creation of conducive atmosphere to hold elections soon yields results, it will be conducted at the appropriate time.
He expressed the view that as the government had declared the Maoists as terrorists, there would be no change in its views unless decisions were taken otherwise.

Some of the non-governmental organisations had been working to some extent to hold dialogue with the Maoists but nothing tangible has emerged so far, he added.

Stating that all the articles of the Constitution are active at present and none of them had been suspended, Prime Minister Chand said that His Majesty had made commitment towards the Constitutional Monarchy, multi-party democracy and the fundamental rights of the people and the government was also committed for the protection of these.

Stating that he neither dissolved the local bodies nor the House of Representatives, and therefore blaming him was improper, Prime Minister Chand said, "The system of making mistake and blaming others is not proper."

Reporters Club president Rishi Dhamala presided over the programme.

Government effortful to restore peace, says Mandal

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BHADRAPUR, Dec. l4: Deputy Prime Minister and Nepal Sadbhavana Party acting national chairman Badri Prasad Mandal has said that the present government is exerting itself to free the people from the Maoist problem and restore peace in the country.

Inaugurating a conference of party workers organised at Birtamod by the party's Jhapa section here Friday, Mandal said political parties having faith in multiparty democracy and Constitutional monarchy should move forward in an organised fashion.

Sadbhavana Party joint general secretary Amrita Agrahari said the party is always committed to its aims.

Sadbhavana Party Jhapa chairman Surya Narayan Ganesh was on the chair.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Mandal told journalists in Birtamod Friday that His Majesty's Government is effortfull towards restoring peace and security in the country to return daily life back to normal and to hold the elections as soon as possible.

Pointing out that political parties having faith in multiparty democracy and Constitutional monarchy should work out a consensus among themselves, he said the elections can be held if there is consensus among all the political parties.

Stating that the present government will not retrain the democratic exercise in any way, he said everything is being done within the Constitution.

The Constitution should be interpreted in the interest of the country and not in the interest of any individual or party, he added.

No alternative to pluralist values: Pandey

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BIRATNAGAR, Dec. 14: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Rameshnath Pandey said multi-party democracy is the best governance system accepted worldwide so we too should feel confident on the path towards it.

Speaking at a press gathering organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Morang here today, Minister Pandey said both the King and the people are in a democratic system and exercising in democracy.

Stating that His Majesty the King has expressed commitment to consolidation of multi-party democracy, Minister Pandey said it is the result of the monarchy that our national independence is secured and the national unity consolidated.

As journalism is a very sensitive sector the journalists should not always look for sensational news, Minister Pandey, who is also spokesman of the government, said adding that the mission of the journalism sector is overall interest of the nation, and the journalists should use their pen accordingly.
It could result a big disaster for the nation if the conflict among the Nepalis themselves is not resolved and nobody wins in a civil war, the nation is the only looser, he added.

He also urged journalists to give serious attention to the dissemination of news relating to the Maoist problem which has become a serious problem for the nation.

Vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Morang Mahendra Bista presided.

Meanwhile in Itahari, Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that the Nepali media persons should be active to compete with the modern media at a time when a lot of development has been made in information technology around the globe.

Speaking at a programme organised at Radio Nepal Transmitting Centre Tinkune, Dharan today Minister Pandey said if we could not compete in accordance with the developed modern information technology, it will have a negative impact in our national development.

Stating that in the context of Nepal, the electronic media Radio Nepal has an important role to play, he said, adding that the media persons should bring the voice of the people to the media and government policy to the people in an impartial manner.

Journalists should not disseminate news being very close to the political parties, he said. The present government is very sensitive for the development of independent media and consolidation of the mass media in the country, the minister added.

Journalists should be always serious about the nation, national integrity and multiparty democracy and the media persons working in the radio should be more sensitive to these issues, he said.
His Majesty the King is also very happy by the contributions of the private sector media for the development of arts and culture of the country, he said, adding that the journalists should not be prejudice in the dissemination of information.

On the occasion, executive director of Radio Nepal Shailendra Raj Sharma and chief of the Dharan Transmission Centre Chandra Bhushan Lal Das shed light on the present situation of Radio Nepal.

PABSON asks schools to remain close till next week

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 14: Private and Boarding Schools' Organisation Nepal (PABSON) Saturday said that it had decided to close down the educational institutions for more a week days as dialogue is underway to resolve the problem in peaceful manner.

"The PABSON took this decision to create more conducive atmosphere for the ongoing talk between the Ministry for Education and the student wing of the Maoist group, that called an indefinite educational shut down from last Monday in the Kathmandu Valley and from the last Wednesday throughout the country," a PABSON statement said.

Different human rights organisations have facilitated for the talks, it said.

In the existing situation, it is not possible to run the educational institutions, said Bhoj Bahadur Shahi, general secretary, PABSON.

It will re-notice to open the classes if the concerned parties find a solution prior to this week, he said "It is a national problem."

The organisation has also appealed to students, teachers, parents and civil society to play role in this regard.

All educational institutions had stopped the classes after the All Nepal National Federation of Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R) called an indefinite strike in the schools and campuses from December 9 pushing the future of thousand of students into darkness.

The Ministry of Education had issued 29-point reform package with the objective of wiping out the existing state of uncertainty in academic sectors.

But the striking student group did not budge from their stance. They have been demanding with the government to withdraw labeling of 'terrorists' on them.

Shahi said that the concerned bodies should be flexible to break the deadlock.

On Saturday, a team of PABSON met the Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha seeking the role of the Ministry to solving the problem.

During the meet, Minister Ojha had said that the government was very serious to the problem as well as ready to solve it.

Currently, more than seven hundred boarding schools across the country have closed down due to fear and terror of Maoists insurgency.

This has affected thousands of students, teachers and employees.

Transboundary scheme to check hazardous wastes: Chaulagain

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 14: Minister for Population and Environment Kamal Prasad Chaulagain has stressed the need to the implementation of the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

Speaking at the 6th conference of the parties on the control of hazardous wastes and their disposal in Geneva, Switzerland Friday he said the Basel Convention should be implemented to control the hazardous wastes and their disposal.

Since the entry into effect of the Basel Convention, both the developed and the developing countries have shown a great concern on the environmentally sound management, transboundary movement and the safe disposal of hazardous and other wastes, he said.

He said despite the availability of the technologies to manage environmental issues, nations of the world are still working hard to sort out the ever burgeoning challenge of waste management.

"It is indeed an appreciable step that since the adoption of the Basel Convention a universally acceptable and agreeable consensus has been established to control the movement of hazardous and other wastes across national boundaries", Chaulagain said.

Charting of standards for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes is another achievement, he added.

Minister Chaulagain said "the developing countries in particularly need higher rate of economic growth. For that matter, enhanced level of economic activities demand a higher level of input both at the technological and physical level. This will naturally create pressure on the already scarce natural resources. Furthermore, the use of improved technologies would have their own externalises. Basel Convention thus aims at minimising the externalities due to increased economic activities easing the pressure on the environment".

"Since a decade ago, after the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, we are constantly pursuing a path to sustainable development'', he said, adding that the policy documents have explicitly recognised that poverty is one of the major obstacles in attaining sustainable development.
"Realising this fact, the development plans have accord the topmost priority to party alleviation", he noted.

"With a view to streamlining environmental policies in the overall development process the establishment of a separate Ministry for Population and Environment has been a major breakthrough. In the process, Nepal has joined hands with the international community in meeting the global environmental concerns by being a party to 16 different environmental conventions including the Basel Convention."

In addition to the progress in creating the necessary legal and institutional frameworks, expending advocacy programmes are other important steps we have initiated, he said.

"We realise that without the support from the non-governmental organisations and the private sectors, effort of the government in addressing environmental concerns will remain incomplete."

That is why we are equally active in domestic partnership with civil society. However, much more still needs to be done to make a real difference, he added.

The major sources of hazardous wastes in Nepal emanate primarily from agricultural wastes, hospital wastes, domestic wastes, wastes from industries, photo-chemical wastes, wastes from mining and chemical wastes from research and development, he informed.

"Urbanisation process is rapid in Nepal. One of the problems associated with the urbanisation is the management of solid wastes, which may include hazardous and other wastes as defined by the convention, serious intervention in waste management has no become essential'', Environment Minister said.

At present, Nepal is not involved in the large-scale transboundary movements of wastes except scrap metals. As scrap metals are the waste products, legal requirements as stipulated by the convention need to be compiled, he added.

"Further intended use of the materials and waste management need to be ensured. We do not yet have a national definition on hazardous wastes. The provisions of the Article 4 of the convention are yet to be met."

Chaulagain said controlling the illegal trafficking of hazardous and other wastes demand a change or framing a new legal regime vis-à-vis the Basel Convention.

As database on hazardous and other waste is at its rudimentary form, Nepal is constrained in meeting the provision of the article on transmission of information, he added.