Her Majesty arrives in Doha

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS): Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah arrived in Doha, the capital of Qatar today enroute to home after undergoing medical check-up in London.

Her Majesty is being accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Earlier His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other members of the Royal Family had reached Doha by a seperate aircraft.

On arrival at Doha International Airport, Her Majesty the Queen was received by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Royal Family.

Her Majesty the Queen was also accorded a warm welcome by Royal Nepalese Ambassador Shyamananda Suman, the Emiri Diwan of Qatar, high ranking protocol officials of Qatar and officials and employees of the Royal Nepalese Embassy at the airport.

Likewise, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah were also accorded a warm welcome by Royal Nepalese Ambassador Shyamananda Suman, the Emiri Diwan of Qatar, high ranking protocol officials of Qatar, and officials and employees of the Royal Nepalese Embassy on arrival at Doha International Airport.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah left London yesterday for Doha, the capital of Qatar enroute home after completing her medical check-up.

Her Majesty’s health condition is satisfactory, according to attending doctors.

Her Majesty is being accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Earlier His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other members of the Royal Family had left London for Doha, the capital of Qatar enroute home.

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were seen off at Heathrow Airport by Her Royal Highness Princess Jotshana Rajya Laxmi Devi Basnyat and Her Royal Highness Princess Pooja Rajya Laxmi Devi Shahi.

Among others present at Heathrow Airport to accord Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince a warm send off were Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Singha Bahadur Basnyat, the representative of the British Foreign Ministry and officials and employees of the Royal Nepalese Embassy.

Population growth hinders economic development

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS): Minister for Population and Environment P. L. Singh has said that the government is attentive towards the eradication of poverty by effectively implementing the population control programme and encouraging to establish a small happy family.

Minister Singh made this remarks while inaugurating a seminar on "The integration of population and development" jointly organised by the Ministry of Population and Environment and UNFPA here today.

There is in need for cooperation and coordination among all sections of the society for managing the population, a multi-pronged and multi-faceted area, Mr Singh said.

The unbridled growth of population will not only have an adverse impact on natural resources, infrastructural build-ups and services but also heighten poverty and social disharmony, he said, adding that the tenth plan will give priority to a long term strategy to overcome the problem.

Secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Dr. Mukti Narayan Shrestha said that as population and development are inter-linked, population management should be considered as the focal point in order to confront widespread poverty, illiteracy and backwardness as well as to provide momentum to the development activities.

Renowned demography expert Dr. Harka Gurung made his presentation on "A long term plan for population management" and member of National Planning Commission Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel on "The integration of population and demography."

At the seminar, the participants expressed concern over the high fertility rate and problem of migration which has caused alarming growth of population as well as over its serious repercussions on the social pattern in the near future. The population distribution in Himalayan Region accounts for 7.3 per cent, in hilly region 48.5 per cent and in Terai belt 48.5 per cent whereas the growth rates are 17, 68 and 15 per cent in Himalayan, hilly and Terai regions.

Secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Dr. Mukti Narayan Shrestha was on the chair

30 terrorist suspects arrested

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: The security forces on Thursday arrested 30 terrorist suspects from different parts of the country and are investigating their alleged connection with the terrorists, the Defence Ministry said today.

The forces the other day arrested five suspects from Dhupu area of Sankhuwasabha, four from Danabari of Ilam, seven from Siraha, eight from Bara, four from Gangate of Jajarkot and one from Beshisahar of Lamjung.

In an attempt to disarm the terrorists, the troops seized two guns from Dhupu of Sankhuwasabha, nine from different areas of Morang district, three from Jhodagaun of Rolpa, and one each from Surkhet and Bara.

The forces also recovered a huge quantity of looted foodstuff from Gaindakot of Palpa district and distributed them to the 77 families of the same area.

The Defence Ministry press release issued here today also stated that the local people at various parts of the country have been supporting the government’s action against the terrorists and have been voluntarily submitting the weapons to the local government authorities. The locals at Kakani of Nuwakot district on Thursday collectively submitted 19 guns to the security forces there, reads the press statement.

NDF-2002: Testing time for Nepal

By Raj Kumar KC

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: Held amidst a difficult situation at home, the Nepal Development Forum (NDF)—2002 meet, which concluded Thursday, brought the country donors’ conditional support worth US$ 500 million in loans for poverty reduction.

Nepal’s development partners, who were generally concerned over the tardy progress in achieving good governance, effective decentralisation and speedy financial reforms, finally endorsed the country’s poverty reduction approach and expressed their support to the new Foreign Aid Policy.

The donors’ caveat: Nepal’s development largely depends upon the Nepalese themselves and the leadership should be more committed to improving the existing state of affairs.

Economic development cannot take place unless the needy people benefit from development programmes, they said, while participating in the NDF meet in the capital city and Pokhara.

In fact, the NDF—2002 remained fruitful in bolstering the national economy, presently bearing the brunt of terrorism and recession, which will receive an annual loan worth US $ 500 million. Now it is up to the government how it uses the additional budgetary support coming from the international donors.

According to Prof. Biswhambhar Pyakuryal, "For Nepal it is a testing time. The country needs to prove itself that it can properly utilise the assistance.

If Nepal fails to provide benefits to the poor as has happened in the past, it will lose donors’ faith on the one hand, while the amount of foreign loan will continue to pile up on the other.

With the country’s total foreign loan exceeding 255 billion rupees, including 55 billion rupees in domestic borrowings, each Nepali now bears the burden of Rs 10,000.

Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, during the meeting, has assured the donor agencies that the government will do the needful. "If we fail to fulfill our commitment, we will lose our grounds to convince them again. The donors have every right to ask how their assistance is utilised," said Minister Mahat.

Can the government fulfill its commitment? Prof. Pyakuryal says, "Yes, it can. But the government should take serious austerity measures."

The disbursement should be in accordance with the donors’ pledge, otherwise, it will be very costly for the country with multiplier effects eating into the economy.

Another Prof. Guna Nidhi Sharma thinks that Nepal’s development partners are very positive towards Nepal’s development. "But their support largely depends on how we go for meaningful utilisation of aid. "

He fears that if the government fails to fulfill its commitment, Nepal will have no place to go.

"It is ‘policy tied loan’, therefore, the government should be watchful about how the loan is utilised for poverty reduction," Prof. Sharma says.

So spending the aid money is where the government should show its prudence.

It should not go under the regular expenditure, say experts.

"We should be able to capitalise on the goodwill the development partners have shown to Nepal. The goodwill is enormous," says Padma Jyoti, chairman of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

"From the point of view of Nepal’s development it is in fact a deciding moment."

‘Govt-private sector partnership essential’

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka today said that the government and the private sector must work together to resolve the problems facing the trade and industry sector.

"We need to hold discussions so as to reach down to the root of the problems," Minister Khadka told an interaction on "Problems in Trade and Industry Sector" organised by Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) here this evening.

Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Bahadur Gurung that said the inputs of the interaction would contribute in formulating appropriate trade and business policies.

NCC President Rajesh Kaji Shrestha urged the government to come up with long term schemes to revive industry and commerce and consolidate the national economy.

"We have always advocated for partnership between the government and the private sector and hope that the government will reciprocate."

He also urged the government to find out ways to encourage the industrialists and businessmen to invest more in trade and industry.

He said the government needed to gear up the process for bringing the dry port in Birgunj into operation.

Nepal Beverage Industry Association’s President Ramesh Shrestha said the government agencies working in the trade and industry sector lacked co-ordination and called for co-ordination among them to ease the procedures in this sector and, in turn, boost business.

Biplab Man Singh, Vice President of the Computer Association of Nepal, appealed (IT) to the government to recognise the information technology (IT) sector as a national industry and stressed on the need to patent software products.

Nepal Stationery and Educational Materials Industries Association’s Vice President Dinesh Shrestha said the government should take strong initiatives to develop skilled human resources and promote the service industry.

General Secretary of the Garment Association of Nepal Udaya Raj Pandey said the government and the Association should work closely to sustain the garment industry and develop it further.

Maoists to be disarmed at any cost: Khadka

Chitwan, Feb. 8 (RSS): Minister for Home and Local Development Khum Bahadur Khadka has said that since the present problems cannot be resolved unless the Maoist terrorists are disarmed, the Maoists will be disarmed even if it means extending the term of the state of emergency.

Laying the foundation stone for construction of a meeting hall here today, Minister Khadka reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order across the Kingdom.

He insisted that the government would work in deference to the popular wish.

At the programme, Minister of State for Water Resources Narayan Sharma Poudel underlined the need for the systematic settlement of people now settled in a haphazard manner.

Assistant Minister for Physical Planning and Works Mrs Sabitri Bogati Pathak said it is up to the government to ensure peace and security in the country.

MPs Dr. Gangadhar Lamsal and Eknath Bhat opined that the unplanned settlers should be evicted only after resolving the landless settlers problem.

City hall construction and management committee chairman and MP Rishi Babu Pariyar said cooperation was expected from all in the construction of the town hall.

A host of other speakers, including chairman of Chitwan District Development Committee Bishnu Ghimire, Vice-Chairman Jagannath Thapaliya, Bharatpur Mayor Him Bahadurpiya and Mayor of Ratnanagar Municipality Narayan Wan also spoke on the occasion.

Proceeds equivalent to approximately Rs.4 million have been collected for construction of the town hall by organizing a week-long religious programme. The rest of the funds will be collected at the local level, it is learnt from joint secretary of the construction committee Krishna Bhakta Pokharel.

Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, Nepali Congress central committee in a press statement today strongly condemned the killing by Maoist terrorists of the party’s active worker Kedar Sahani of Hazariya VDC, Sarlahi district and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

The party also extended heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

The Maoist terrorists had brutally murdered Sahani at his own home, the party said, demanding that the government take stern action against the terrorists.

Likewise, CPN (ML) strongly condemned the beating by a gang of unruly and anarchic Maoists of members of the CPN (ML) Bardiya District Constituency No. 3 coordination committee Bal Bahadurgurung and Amar Bahadurchalaini a few days ago.

Demanding that such activities should be stopped immediately, the party said in a statement that the incidents of individual killings and violence have exceeded the limit of tolerance. The Maoist party itself has exposed its autocratic charactor by making brutal attacks on the workers of other political parties which are opposed to it.

UML meet zeroes in on contemporary issues

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS): CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal presented a report at the 25th party central committee meeting today.

According to the CPN-UML, the general secretary’s report has analyzed the overall scenario of the country under different sub-headings such as declaration of emergency and the country’s situation, the significance of decisions taken at the 24th central committee meeting, foreign relations, the 11th SAARC summit, resolution of national problems and consensus, party unity, the 21st parliamentary session, the state of emergency and future tasks.

In course of deliberations on the general secretary’s report, the CPN-UML zonal in-charges apprised the meeting in detail about the role and activities of the district administrations and the Maoists since the imposition of state of emergency.

Dhanendra Basnet, Bhim Acharya, Suresh Karki, Ram Chandra Jha, Surendra Pandey, Kashinath Adhikari, Ganesh Timilsina, Shankar Pokharel, Prem Bahadur Singh, Govinda Koirala, Bhim Rawal and Urbadatta Panta expressed their views at today’s meeting.

Convenor of the party’s talks committee Bharat Mohan Adhikari presented a report on the talks going on with the CPN-ML. discussions on the report will be held tomorrow.

All the central committee members were present at today’s meeting.

The CPN-UML central committee will meet tomorrow also.

Issues of trade, industry discussed

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka today said that the government and the private sector must work together to resolve the problems facing the trade and industry sector.

"We need to hold discussions so as to reach down to the root of the problems," Minister Khadka told an interaction on "Problems in Trade and Industry Sector" organised by Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) here this evening.

Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Bahadur Gurung said that the inputs of the interaction would contribute in formulating appropriate trade and business policies.

NCC President Rajesh Kaji Shrestha urged the government to come up with long- term schemes to revive industry and commerce and consolidate the national economy.

"We have always advocated for partnership between the government and the private sector and hope that the government will reciprocate."

He also urged the government to find out ways to encourage the industrialists and businessmen to invest more in trade and industry.

He said the government needed to gear up the process for bringing the dry port in Birgunj into operation.

Nepal Beverage Industry Association’s President Ramesh Shrestha said the government agencies working in the trade and industry sector lacked co-ordination and called for co-ordination among them to ease the procedures in this sector and, in turn, boost business.

Biplab Man Singh, Vice President of the Computer Association of Nepal, appealed to the government to recognise the information technology (IT) sector as a national industry and stressed on the need to patent software products.

Nepal Stationery and Educational Materials Industries Association’s Vice President Dinesh Shrestha said the government should take strong initiatives to develop skilled human resources and promote the service industry.

General Secretary of the Garment Association of Nepal Udaya Raj Pandey said the government and the Association should work closely to sustain the garment industry and develop it further.

Representatives of various other commodity organisations briefed the ministers about the problems in the respective areas. The programme was also attended by senior officials of the Ministry.

Need for promoting civic education stressed

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: Promoting civic education could help strengthen democratic norms and values, said Dr. Robert J. Stahl, Professor at the Division of Curriculum and Instruction of Arizona State University.

"Children have to be provided civic education from level one in order to create a civic culture among them. It is necessary for the entire society," opined Dr. Stahl, while addressing a lecture-discussion programme on "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Education" organised at the American Center here today.

"But talking about democracy is never sufficient to create and strengthen democracy. People need to be involved in the democratic process through civic education."

Dr. Stahl, who holds a lot of experience in the field, also participated as a resource person in a two-day seminar on "Civil Awareness" which was held here February 6-7, 2002.

He further said that the agencies working in the field of civic education must ‘practice what they preach’ so as to convince the people that their views are heard.

"Since many people do not know about democracy in Nepal, they have to be taught that it is a concept and it ensures human rights and freedom," he stated.

He, however, conceded that it is not easy for a country to design a civic culture among the people. "Creating civic culture is desirable for the future of Nepal. But it must be within the democratic framework," he said.

He emphasised the need for designing an effective curriculum on civic education which is free of political interference.

"A substantial civic education programme is necessary for Nepal. Major changes have to be brought about in the teaching process and among teachers," he said.

Organised jointly by the Society for Promotion of Civic Education (SPCE) and the American Center, people from various walks of life, especially from educational, political and media-related institutions, attended the lecture-discussion programme.

Sthapit for musical instrument research centre

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS): An exhibition of traditional musical instruments was organised here today with the objective of preserving and promoting Nepalese traditional drums which are on the brink of extinction.

Over 150 Nepalese traditional musical instruments are on display at the exhibition organised by Nepalese Traditional Musical Instruments Museum at Gorakhanath Temple at Kasthamandap.

Banjhu, kwata, paita, dhungana, otani, sarangi, murali, khaijandi, dhyangro, jhumari, madal, jhyali and mridanga are some of the traditional musical instruments kept on display at the exhibition.

Birbal Shrestha played the mangaldhun with the help of sarangi, Suresh Chandra Pradhan the murchunga and Narad Muni Hartumachhale the patbaja at the inaugural function.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Keshav Sthapit, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolis by drumming the murchunga.

In his inaugural address, Mayor Sthapit informed the gathering that the municipality is thinking of establishing a Traditional Musical Instrument Research Centre at Hyumat Tole in Kathmandu and an art village at Kirtipur.

Dharma Ratna Shakya Trisuli, a manufacturer of Nepali traditional drum stressed the need for the concerned authorities to give attention to the preservation and promotion of Nepali traditional musical instruments at a time when the masters capable of conducting training are in dire strait.

At the function chaired by chairman of the museum Ram Prasad Kandel, senior musician Ramsaran Darnal, folk singer Kumar Basnet, treasurer of the museum Nanda Sharma, general secretary Iswor Man Pradhan and others stressed the need to publicize Nepalese folklore in the international arena.