'Rivers at border should be utilised for mutual benefit'

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MAHENDRANAGAR, Dec. 25: Minister of State for Irrigation of Uttar Pradesh government, India has said the rivers bordering the countries should be utilised for the equal benefits of the two countries.
State Minister Singh, who was in the course of visit of Banbasa barrage built at the border, said no projects and intra-structures will be constructed by the Government of India which inflicts any adverse impact to Nepal and Nepalese people.

Responding a question, the State Minister said if any embankments or other infrastructures constructed by one country harms to another, it would be wise in such cases to utilise and control the effects under mutual understanding rather than provoking controversies. State Minister on the occasion also expressed the Indian government's commitment of helping Nepal settle the Maoist problem.

Beautiful Ilam hit by Maoist terror

By Bishnu Gautam

ILAM, Dec. 25: The hard-working people of Ilam district in east Nepal were leading a peaceful life just a year ago although many parts of the country had been engulfed by the violent Maoist activities. They didn't imagine that the Maoists would compel them to leave their homes. Today a large number of people from the western part of the district are living either in the district headquarters of Ilam Bazaar or at Birtamod, an emerging town in neighbouring Jhapa in the Terai, to avoid potential physical attacks from the Maoists.

"I have shifted my shop to Ilam Bazaar from my own home in Mangalbare due to the fear of Maoists," said a local small trader who refused to mention his name. Mangalbare is an important business centre of the district, just 30 kilometres west of the district headquarters. The people of 13 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Mangalbare sell their farm products, mostly potato and cardamom, and purchase food and other everyday items.

"After the government removed the police post and the only bank from Mangalbare bazaar last year, following increased attacks by the Maoists on banks and police posts in other parts of the country, it has turned into a parade ground for the Maoists," said an elderly businessman who also shifted his shop from Mangalbare to Ilam Bazaar.

Last week, the Maoists held the entire Mangalbare market to ransom and raised funds at gunpoint, he added. They even damaged the local telephone service and isolated the entire area. With the increasing movement of the Maoists in the villages, a large number of youths have already left the village for India or the Gulf countries in search of jobs.

"If we stay in the village, the Maoists will take us away to work for them. So we have no option," said Prakash Guragain, a young man from Siddhithumka who has finished his I.A. exams. About two weeks ago, the terrorists seized the house of Madhab Bhattarai, headmaster of a local high school in Jamuna VDC located to the north of Ilam Bazaar. Luckily, Bhattarai was able to escape from a window and arrived safely at Ilam Bazzar. His family now lives in a rented house in the district headquarters.

"The situation is going from bad to worse. The Maoists are collecting funds from the farmers and teachers. They give life threats to those who do not handover the ransom," said a teacher of local Mahendra Ranta Multiple Campus. The people, especially the former VDC chairmen and vice chairmen and the less well-to-do farmers who are unable to afford their living in the district headquarters, continue to live at home under constant fear.

As soon as the sun sets and darkness sets in, they shut their doors and stay inside. "Every evening when I go to bed, I am not sure whether I will see the sun next morning," said a former VDC vice-chairman.  The increasing activities of the Maoists have also badly affected the culture and traditions of the local people. There are no fairs, a part of their lives. There were no fairs at Gajurmukhi and Maipokahari, both popular religious sites in the districts, this year. All the marriage ceremonies that used to be held at night are now performed in the daytime.

The Limbus who used to fire guns during their marriage and other auspicious ceremonies no longer do so as the Maoists come hounding for these weapons.  "I did not hear any firing in the villages during the recent Dashain festival," said another teacher of the local campus. According to Madhab Ghimire, a local journalist, about 17 people have been killed in the district since November last year. Among them eight were ordinary people killed by the Maoists while the remaining nine were Maoists killed in confrontation with the security forces.

Among those killed by the Maoists was Ghimire's brother-in-law, a former teacher. He was hanged and later shot in the jungles of Soyak VDC on the very night when the government declared a State of Emergency in November last year.  "In the same VDC, a gang of seven terrorists raped a college girl in front of her parents after tying them. Unable to bear the trauma, her mother committed suicide the next day," said a relative of the victim. Even a Human Rights Organisation has included the incident in its report.

UML leader extends best wishes

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 25: General secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has extended best wishes to the Christian community of Nepal on the occasion of the Christmas Day today. In a message here today Nepal said the Christmas is an important festival which is being observed as the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, symbol of human welfare, light of the world and centre of faith of the followers of the Christian religion.

Unity in diversity and religious tolerance is our identity, Nepal said in the message and added this has made our culture very beautiful, interesting and fascinating.

NSC rally to mark Crown Prince's birthday

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KATHMANDU, Dec. 25: The National Sports Council (NSC) is to take out a greetings rally on December 30 on the occasion of the auspicious birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

This information was given at a press conference held here today by the auspicious birthday rally sub-committee constituted under the auspicious birthday sports events organising main committee with NSC chairman and Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha as the chairman.

The rally will commence from Dasharath Stadium and pass by New Road Gate, Ason, Kantipath, the Royal Palace Main Gate and King Mahendra's statue before reaching the stadium, it was stated on the occasion.

Officel; bearers, coaches and sportspersons affiliated with 42 institutions and organisations concerned with the NSC as well as members of the general public will also take part in the rally, committee convenor and general secretary of Nepal Karate Federation Dava Gurung said.

Route has been planned for the day in coordination with the traffic police, it was also stated at the press conference. Also, the Wado-Ryo Do Remei Association Nepal will organise a nation-wide sports event at Balbikas Boarding School on January 4 to mark the auspicious occasion, it has been stated in a press release.