Govt to set date for polls with consensus: DPM

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Badri Prasad Mandal has said that the present Council of Minister was thinking of specifying the date for elections with the consensus of all the political parties and it had positive views regarding the opinions and suggestions received from the parties and people's representatives.

He was responding to issues raised by members of the National Assembly Remote Region Committee during a meeting of the committee today to which he was invited.

The committee members raised issues such as difficulty encountered by people because of the lack of representatives at local bodies, the grinding to a halt of the social security programme and constituency development because the budget had not been released, and lack of secretaries at scores of VDCs with most of them staying at the district headquarters.

They also said that though the vacancies are being filled through ordinance, it would be meaningless if the law and order situation continues as it is, the date for elections should be specified and steps taken to make relations between ministers, political parties and the Monarchy cordial.

They also said that the government should not belittle the people's representatives in the National Assembly.

Birth anniversary to be observed

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: His Majesty's Government has decided to observe the 58th birth anniversary of His late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah throughout the Kingdom on Dec. 29.

On the occasion, hearty tributes will be paid to His late Majesty by offering garlands at the statues of His late Majesty in districts where there are such statues and at the portraits of His late Majesty in other districts.

The Ministry of Home has notified the regional administrators and chief district officers in districts outside the valley to organise commemorative programmes on the occasion.

Similarly, in Kathmandu Valley, there is a programme to garland the statue of His late Majesty at Jawalakhel, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City on that day, according to the Home Ministry.

Shaha hails Nepal-Japan relations

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah has said that the assistance provided to Nepal in the economic and various other sectors by Japan is very significant.
Addressing a programme organised here today on the occasion of the 69th auspicious birthday of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, Foreign Minister Shah remarked that Lord Gautam Buddha's message of peace has left a deep impression on the Japanese and because of this bilateral relations between the two countries have further deepened.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Zenji Kaminaga said the Japanese have deep affection and love towards Nepal which is known all over the world as the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and added that Japan was willing to increase its assistance in the development of the education sector in Nepal.
At the programme, president of Nepal Japan Friendship and Cultural Association Dr. Yadav Prasad Pant, vice-president Prof. (Dr.) Durga Prasad Bhandari, former vice president Durgesh Man Singh and others spoke on Nepal-Japan relations and cooperation.

Ojha hails decision to open educational institutions

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec 24: Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha has welcomed the decision to open educational institutions since Monday. He has also welcomed the decision of the concerned party to take back its call to shut down all schools.

In an interview to Nepal Television on Monday, Minister Ojha said that the closure of educational institutions would only darken the future of students and shatter the expectations of their guardians. Ojha informed that the government had taken steps to implement the educational reforms announced recently to address the problems of the education sector. The government is also committed to fulfil the demands of the strike callers to the extent possible, he said.

Schools and campuses closed down for two weeks after the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation, Nepal (PABSON) decided on it following the announcement of the student wing of the Maoist group to shut down the educational institutions for an indefinite period. Schools and campuses opened from Monday. In a move to end the uncertainty in the education sector, the Ministry had announced a 29-point reform measure on December 6, while PABSON brought out a code of conduct for the private schools on December 21.Minister Ojha reiterated that the Ministry was committed to implement and monitor the reform programmes and the code of conduct.

Koirala meets Vajpayee

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Nepali Congress president and former prime minister Girjija Prasad Koirala met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Berhai Vajpayee, foreign minister Yashwant Sinha and Defence Minister George Fernandes in New Delhi today.According to NC party spokesman Arjun Narsing KC, cordial talks were held on those occasions on the mutual interests of the two countries and the contemporary situation.Koirala went to New Delhi to attend the wedding of his nephew Niranjan Koirala's son.

Late Prince's research makes SOS call to save dolphins

By Bhimsen Thapaliya

KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: A study done by late Prince Nirajan reveals that he had deep love for Nepal's freshwater dolphins. The young royal's university thesis presents a pioneering vision on conservation of these endangered animals.

The research report on the Karnali dolphins recommends the construction of river parks and a halt to habitat degradation to save these "magnificent freshwater dolphins on the verge of extinction".
The late royal's study thesis written as a sixth semester internship project for the Bachelor's of Business Administration (BBA) degree at Kathmandu College of Management, laments, "Conservation efforts are silent on the problems faced by the Gangetic freshwater dolphins.''
While conservation programmes have focussed on the tiger, rhino, deer and birds, concerned sectors are ignorant about this endangered water mammal. Voicing urgent concerns over the degrading habitat of this man-friendly and intelligent animal, the report says very little research has been done on dolphins, and existing data on the animal are scant.

The 250-page thesis (including appendices) entitled "Study on Gangetic Dolphin Conservation and Management at Karnali River, Royal Bardia National Park" has been jointly produced with his colleagues Vickrant Gurung and Samridhi Rana. The internship report was submitted to the School of Management, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu College of Management and King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) on 30th June 2001.

People at the local, national or international level lack the awareness that dolphins do exist in Nepal and, therefore, there is a need to conserve them, reads the executive summary of the report. "It is important that national and international communities like the WWF understand the need for freshwater dolphin conservation in Nepal."

According to the report, dolphin conservation will have two-fold benefits - it will benefit the local communities living around the national park while attracting visitors. "The benefit here is to use dolphins as a competitive advantage for the Bardia National Park over other national parks such as Chitwan." It may be noted here that dolphins that used to teem in the Narayani River have now become extinct there.

The research found a number of factors leading to the declining number of dolphins in the Karnali River in western Nepal. Dam construction has been cited as one of the threats. Construction of the Girijapur Dam on the Karnali along the Nepal-India border not only used the rocks from the river where the animals inhabited, but also used a faulty design as the dam lacked fish ladders. In the absence of fish ladders, the dolphins that travel beyond the dam to Indian territory cannot come back, the report points out.

According to the late Prince's report, increasing vessel traffic also had a toll on the Karnali dolphins. Dolphins are naturally attracted to boats, and this has resulted in their deaths by the blades of the motor propellers. Fishing malpractice has also been blamed for contributing to the death of dolphins. Hostile fishing methods are used such as explosives, poisoning, netting and hooking which bring catastrophic eventualities to dolphins as well. Sometimes dolphins accidentally fall in the net of fishermen. The poor fishermen, instead of releasing them back to river, sell their meat for profit and use the dolphin wax, the report states. The report complains that fishing licenses were also misused. The driving force that compels the local people to fish extensively is poverty, which should be addressed by finding alternative sources of income, the report says. "People acknowledge the importance of flora and fauna and welcome conservation measures only if they find alternative income sources," the report adds.

It is our realisation that by distributing awareness materials, the local community can be made aware but will not be committed to our programme. "Therefore, there is a need to appeal to the level deeper than just in creating awareness," the report has suggested.

The objective of our alternative income generation programme is to not only to generate awareness, but to bring about a change in the outlook of the people on dolphin conservation, reads the initial abstract of the research paper.

The Karnali River is left unprotected when it leaves the Royal Bardiya National Park. There is a need to extend the park area to bring such areas under protection. A scheme for developing a river park for dolphin conservation has been outlined.

CIAA files suit against ex-minister Khadka

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: The Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today filed a charge sheet against former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka in the Special Court, accusing him of engaging in corruption while awarding the contract of the Bakraha River Control Project.

The CIAA today also roped in then Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources Bishownath Sapkota, then Deputy Director-General of the Irrigation Department Amodananda Mishra, Chief of the Bakraha River Control Project Narayan Bahadur Thapa and Cao Shuangqun, the Contract Manager of China Henan International Economic Technical Co-operation Corporation, China.

The CIAA, under preamble 2 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2059 and Article 14(1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom, has demanded a fine of Rs. 40.5 million from each of them and maximum sentence for indulging in malpractice.

Khadka, Mishra and Thapa have been in judicial custody since October 30 for abusing their authority in awarding the contract without calling a tender as demanded by law. The commission also filed charge sheets against Sapkota and the construction company. Sapkota is currently in the USA and only recently resigned from his post as chairman of the Teachers Service Commission after the CIAA indicted him in the case with Khadka.

The three-member bench of the Special Court continued its hearing on the charge sheet filed against former Minister Chiranjibi Wagle. Advocates Mahadev Prasad Yadav, Radheshyam Adhikari and Parashuram Koirala pleaded on behalf of Wagle and requested hisrelease without bail.
After that, CIAA prosecutor, co-Attorney General Prem Raj Karki, pleaded not to release Wagle given the seriousness of the case. Karki also said that Wagle should seek an apology for his irresponsible comments made about the Chief of the CIAA in the premises of the Court last week. Wagle had accused the Chief Commissioner Suryanath Upadhyaya of being affiliated with the Maoist terrorists.
Likewise, the court today interrogated former minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta over the charge sheet filed by the commission Monday afternoon. The CIAA had filed a charge sheet against Gupta, then Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications Prabhakar Adhikari, Divisional Engineer Sohan Bahadur Nyachhun, technical officer Anup Nepal and Managing Director of Kantipur Terrestrial Television Network, Kailash Sirohiya, on Monday. The CIAA has demanded a two-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 25 million from each of them. The commission has demanded an additional three-year term for Gupta and Adhikari.

Indian envoy calls on Ojha

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Ambassador of India to Nepal Shyam Sharan called on Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha at the latter's office here today.

Discussions were held on the occasion on the educational sector and other matters of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Indian Ambassador Shyam Sharan said that provisions for higher studies scholarships have been made for students of the remote and backward regions.

Minister Ojha expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the government of Indian in the development of the educational sector in Nepal and expressed confidence that there would be cooperation in this sector between the two countries in the days to come also.

Minister Pun calls for consensus to end crisis

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun has said that there is no alternative to a comprehensive constitutional and national consensus to free the country from unrest and crisis and safeguard democracy and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.
In a brief interview given to Nepal Television and RSS here today, Minister Pun said, "at present, the nation and democracy are in difficulty. If the country and democracy are to be saved, a genuine result-oriented national consensus is needed."

Pun regretted the lack of unanimity among the big political parties in general and the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML in particular on overcoming the current crisis in the country.

It would be in the interest of everyone including the Monarchy, democracy, the Constitution, the nation and the people if a way could be found to overcome the crisis, he added.

Pun said that the allegation of the political parties that the King was seeking to become active in politics was unfounded.

He said, "invocation of Article 127 of the Constitution was the only option for doing away with the impediments encountered in exercising the provisions of the constitution. Exercise of this Article has made the present Constitution dynamic and at the same time, it is in favour of democracy."
Referring to the vision of His Majesty the King that political parties should be made strong to consolidate multi-party democracy, he said, "His Majesty does not think of becoming active in politics and making the political parties weak."

He said that peace, stability and prosperity in the country could be achieved only if the monarchy and people power co-exist and move together.

Referring to the keen desire of His Majesty to ensure law and order and tranquillity in the best interest of the country and the people, he said, "the King is the symbol of national unity, protector of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 formulated after the historic people's movement and the centre of faith of the Nepalese.

In response to a question, he said, "what for are they demanding the constituent assembly for? If there is no constitution at present, then what kind of provisions will there be in the one to be formulated after the constituent assembly. What is the present constitution lacking that cannot be achieved without a constituent assembly."

Furnishing a reply to another question, he said, "In Nepal, corruption takes place from the higher level. If it has to be prevented, the Prime Minister and the Ministers themselves should not be corrupt in the first place."

Stating that the Council of Ministers was actively implementing the five-point directives issued by His Majesty the King, he said that the government was firm on restoring peace and order in society and holding elections to the House of Representatives and local bodies.

Appealing to the Maoists to Shun violence, Minister Pun said, "if the Maoists are to consider the sensitivities of the Nepalese people who are tired of violence and the gun culture, they must give up violence."

He also called upon the Maoists to Shun extremism and obstinacy and come to the negotiating table.

'Civic reception to bring King closer to people'

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: Intellectuals have lambasted political parties for dragging to controversy the civic reception of His Majesty the King scheduled to be held in Biratnagar on January 3.

Academicians say that such a civic reception of the King is quite natural and appropriate in a democratic system. They have asked the political parties not to misinterpret the direct interaction of the monarch with the people.

It is undemocratic to think that the people should go through the political parties to have direct contact with the monarch, said Achyut Raj Regmi, former president of the World Hindu Federation. It is erroneous to try to create obstacles when the people want to felicitate their King, he added.
In a Hindu state, the King is an incarnation of God. The wrong attitude shown by leaders of the political parties will make them unpopular as the people will get negative impressions, Regmi said.
Regmi, an ex-minister, said the current state of the country is a result of the political parties' failure to work in accordance with the spirit of democracy. It is high time a good political culture is evolved. Otherwise, the nation will be mired in ruins.

Professor Madhav Acharya said that there is nothing wrong with the wish of the people to revere the King. This is something that brings the people and the King closer, he added.

Acharya suggested that the political leaders work to raise the respect and dignity of the constitutional monarch rather than pushing the issue into controversy. Leaders should not feel threatened that the direct contact of the people with the King will overshadow them.

Civic reception of a monarch is an important event in the Nepalese tradition where monarchy has remained a respected institution, said Acharya. He said that the institution of monarchy is most revered in Hindu culture. The intimate bond developed between the people and the King will help to eliminate the political aberrations, he said.

"The civic reception of the King will give an opportunity for the suppressed people to haven direct access for interaction with the monarch," says Dr. Haribhakta Neupane, an intellectual and generalsecretary of the Sanatan Dharma Sewa Samiti. He said that the civic reception of the royal couple scheduled to be held in the eastern development region of the country should be warmly welcomed.

Neupane appealed to all the political parties to make the civic reception a grand success.
Meanwhile, RSS adds from Biratnagar, that Chairman of "His Majesty King Gyanendra-Her Majesty Queen Komal Civic Reception and Felicitation Committee" Pandit (Pt.) Megha Raj Sharma has expressed the confidence that the civic reception to be accorded Their Majesties on Jan. 3 in Biratnagar would reflect the faith and reverence of the people towards the King.

Talking to RSS representative here today, Pt. Sharma said His Majesty the King is the symbol of national unity and the Nepalese people have great faith and reverence towards His Majesty. He expressed the belief that this faith and reverence of the Nepalese people in the institution of the crown would find expression during the civic reception of Their Majesties.

The 81-year-old social worker Sharma, who has been the member of the Raj Parishad since 2049 B.S., recalled that he first had the opportunity to be acquainted with His late Majesty King Tribhuvan, the father of the nation, when His late Majesty visited Dharan in 2008 B.S. in connection with the inauguration of the Pindeshwar Sanskrit Vidyapeeth there.

He said that he also had the opportunity to conduct the Royal tour of His late Majesty King Mahendra in Dharan while a secretary at the Dharan Public High School when His Late Majesty King Mahenra visited Dharan.

I also availed of the opportunity to conduct the Royal tour of His late Majesty King Birendra when His late Majesty visited the area in connection with the inauguration of the Sri Krishna Gau Sewa Sadan in 2044 B.S. in his capacity as the chairman of the Gau Sewa Sadan.

In reply to a query concerning preparations underway for the civic reception, Pandit Sharma said all the arrangements being made by the civic reception committee for that purpose were moving ahead on an enthusiastic note and that all the sub-committees were also carrying out works under their responsibility in high spirits.

Pandit Sharma who is continuously in social service since 1997 B.S. has translated the "Tarun Tapasi", an anthology of poems of poet laureate Lekhnath Poudyal into Hindi in prose form.
The Nepali Sahitya Bhandar which he founded in 2017 B.S. has published several literary books and contributed to the promotion of Nepali literature.

Khapangi emphasizes welfare of women

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LALITPUR, Dec. 24 : Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi has pointed out the need of women's participation in all the sectors of national forum for the development of the country.Inaugurating a two day consultative workshop on women development organised by Women Development Training Centre here today he said women themselves should be involved to end the conservative bad tradition prevailing in the society and the government is active to make the anti discriminatory law effective.

Speaking from the chair Assistant Minister for Women, Children andSocial Welfare Anuradha Koirala stressed the need to carry out the women oriented programmes to the grass root level for the welfare of women.

Representative of the UNICEF Suomi Sakai said health, education and employment opportunities should be carried to the rural level to uplift the condition of women.

Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Bijaya Raj Bhattarai said the ministry is active to fulfil the commitment made in the national and international forums for the welfare of the women.

Director General of the Women Development Department Nabin Kumar Ghimire said the participation of women in all the district level activities is essential for the upliftment of women.

The consultative workshop is being participated in by 40 specialists from the government and the non governmental organisations.

RPP ready to face elections, says Rana

By Our Correspondent

KAVRE, Dec 24: Newly-elected president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana today said that his party was ready to face the elections anytime the government announced them after restoring law and order in the country.

Rana said this at a function organised by the RPP Kavre District Working Committee to welcome Rana and other newly-elected central committee members on Tuesday.

"At a time when the government is working to hold the general elections by forging a consensus among the different political parties, the RPP is ready to extend support to the government," Rana said. He also called upon the party workers to prepare for the forthcoming polls.

At the function, Rana stressed the need for understanding among the different political forces that respect the Constitution.Reiterating RPP's commitment to the multi-party democracy and Constitutional Monarchy, Rana said: "There is a need to bring the deteriorating political scenario of the country back on track by addressing the problems of the people.

"I am determined to develop the RPP as a key democratic force. It will notmove back from the challenges facing the nation," he added.RPP Central Committee member Jagat Gauchan said that the RPP functionaries should launch a crusade against widespread corruption and distortions afflicting the country.

Central committee members Bhuwan Pathak, Govind Raj Khaniya, Ms. Roshan Karki, president of the Democratic National Youth Organisation Pradeep Uday and Manik Lal Shrestha also expressed their opinions at the programme presided over by the RPP Kavre president Gopal Singh Musyaju.

Govt to decide on payment of dues to farmers

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec. 24: His Majesty's Government will soon take appropriate decisions regarding payment of dues to farmers supplying sugarcane to Birgunj Sugar Mills and the remaining wages and salary of workers and employees in the context of a team constituted by the government to study and make recommendations on the problems encountered in the operation of the sugar mills already submitting its report, according to the Ministry ofIndustry, Commerce and Supplies.

The ministry has also heartily appealed to all sides concerned to extend their cooperation by calling off all agitation programmes.

Meanwhile, in Sarlahi, sugar cane growers have become agitated after the Indushankar Sugar Mill at Harioun, Sarlahi unilaterally fixed the price of cane in the face of strident demands for a higher price.
The mill which paid Rs l45 per quintal of cane last year lowered the price to Rs l30 this year . The farmers have responded by deciding to withhold sugar cane from coming Thursday to bring the mill to halt.

The price dispute is expected to affect the 2l,000 Bigha of standing sugar cane in the district .
Cane growers federation chairman Kapil Muni Mainali said the federation has been demanding since the past two years that the price of cane should be Rs l68 per quintal, but this has not been possible because of the large imports of sugar from India. He, however, added that last year's cane price should not be reduced.