PM for party unity, asks Koirala to reverse action

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 31: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said he was committed for party unity and that it was up to the party President Girija Prasad Koirala to take steps to save the party from breaking apart.

He said that he was waiting for the party to make a decision, adding he was running out of patience. He said he was unjustly expelled from the party and demanded the withdrawal of the expulsion. He said he was willing to do anything for the unity of the party, but that unity should be real and justified.

"I want the party President to make a decision very soon." He said he wanted the party go to the elections united.

"It would be a great insult for me - who was jailed for nine years during the panchayat days - to say that I am conspiring to give away democracy me," he said at a gathering of the NC General Convention representatives, Mahasamiti members, MPs and ministers at Baluwatar.

He also said that His Majesty the King was committed to multi-party democracy and had said that he would work to strengthen democratic system.

The Prime Minister said the party had done a great injustice to him by expelling him. "I could not sleep for three/four days after the party took action against me," he said.

Premier Deuba even revealed that he was willing to relinquish the post of Prime Minister after party President Koirala began opposing him. "What I wanted was to let me work for a few more months," he said.

The Prime Minister said that he had always supported Girija Prasad Koirala.

"When Kishunji and late Ganesh Man Singh had wanted to expel Koirala from the party, I had told them that if they went ahead with that action, I would side with Girijababu," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the party President had been badly surrounded by people who were not doing good either for the party President or for the party.

"No one else has got more chances than Koirala, and every time he failed," said Deuba.

"There is no reason to believe that he would succeed if he gets another chance."

Talking about his decision to extend the state of emergency, Deuba said that the Maoists had been defeated but they were not cleared up. "There has been some relief after the emergency was declared and the army was mobilised."

"I had even gone to the party President and had told him that the emergency needed to be extended for six more months and he told me to go ahead. Then, I called an all party meeting and the opposition parties were not against it. The security forces wanted some more time to defeat the Maoists."

"When the whole world is against terrorism and they have fully backed us in the Central Working Committee of the Nepali Congress made a mistake by not extending the emergency proposal of the government," he said.

At the meeting Minister for Agriculture and Co-operatives Mahesh Acharya said that the Nepali Congress was facing a crisis now and he appealed to all not to be swayed by emotion. He said everything had been done in haste without giving much thought to the repercussions.

He demanded that the action against the Prime Minister be withdrawn. "Now that the dissolution of the Parliament cannot be revoked, there is no alternative but to go to the polls united."

He said the Prime Minister’s decision of dissolution of the Parliament had only two exits – to conduct the poll peacefully and to lead the NC to majority once again.

Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar said that democracy was in peril. "If NC is to survive this crisis, the party President has a decisive role to play."

He also accused the NC of being confined to a room where decisions are taken behind the closed doors. "It is now the responsibility of the party President to take the party out of this crisis," he said.

He said the decision to call the meeting of the NC’s General Convention was not intended to split the party but to create unity.

He said that wrong elements had prevailed in the party adding those elements must be rooted out to make the party kicking.

Another speaker Khum Bahadur Khadka said any unity in the party should be real. "The first condition for unity is that the action against the Prime Minister should be withdrawn and there should be a package programme for a broader unity of the party."

"If no attempt is made by the party President, we will be forced to take any kind of unpalatable step for saving it, which my include expelling the party President."

He said the attempt to mud-sling the Royal Family was deplorable.

Chiranjibi Wagle said that the action of the party CWC had pushed it to the verge of split. He said the onus of saving the party from split lay on the party President.

Deuba supporters mulling no-trust against Koirala

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 31: Supporters of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who are upset and angry at the expulsion of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, are contemplating on registering a no-confidence motion against the party President Girija Prasad Koirala if the banishment of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from the party is not withdrawn.

In fact, the move is already underway with the demand for calling the meeting of the party’s General Convention representatives.

The decision to go for a no confidence motion was taken by the members of the government, MPs and others. It was disclosed at a gathering of the General Convention representatives, party’s Mahasamiti members, MPs and others at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar today.

The party’s disciplinary committee had expelled the Prime Minister Deuba from the party’s general membership for three years alleging him of going against the directive of the party’s Central Working Committee

According to the Article 34 of the party statute, 25 per cent of the General Convention representatives can demand for the meeting of the party’s general convention representatives.

After the registration of the no-confidence motion against the party president at the party’s Central Working Committee, the CWC has to decide for the meeting within 60 days. The Vice President or the General Secretary will chair such a meeting, according to the statute and if meeting decides by a two-third majority the party President will be relieved of the post and a new party president will be elected.

Koirala urged to rescind Deuba’s expulsion

Kathmandu, May 31 (RSS): A programme of discussions involving members of the dissolved House of Representatives, members of the National Assembly, ministers, members of the Nepali Congress General Convention and General Committee, Nepali Congress district committee presidents, DDC chairmen and former MPs from the Eastern Development Region available in Kathmandu was held today.

Nepali Congress central member and Minister for Water Resources Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar chaired the programme.

On the occasion, all the district representatives from the Eastern Development Region expressed their views on the present deadlock in the party.

Ministers Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, Bal Bahadur K.C. and Narendra Nemwang, ministers of state Hari Narayan Chaudhari, Laxman Mehata and Keshav Thapa and deputy speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav were present on the occasion.

In course of the discussions, all the participants stressed that party president Girija Prasad Koirala should take the initiative for withdrawing the expulsion order issued by the party against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other topics like the need for the party to go to the elections as a united force.

In an appeal adopted unanimously by the meeting it is stated that for the sake of maintaining party unity, the improper disciplinary action taken against Prime Minister Deuba should be revoked first without any precondition and the party president himself should take such a lead.

The party president should also give assurances that a favourable climate would be created in which all members keeping allegiance to the party can enjoy their rights as bona fide members of the party, the appeal reads.

It is stated in the appeal that there is no alternative to complete unity within the Nepali Congress in the present circumstances in which a strong presence of the Nepali Congress has become essential in each and every district for the continuity of the parliamentary system in the country.

The party’s interference in the constitutional role of its own government, especially the act of expelling the prime minister from the party’s general membership that also when the political situation had become vitiated, has further given rise to dissension, the appeal reads.

This sort of decision, instead of encouraging us all in facing the situation in a unified manner, has worked to shake the confidence and determination of innumerable party workers and well-wishers throughout the country, it further said.

Our country is undergoing grave problems since some years. In this connection, terrorism unleashed by the Maoists has reached the highest point of barbarism and created serious threats to the parliamentary democracy established after a long struggle and many sacrifices. Unfortunately, a possibility of division is discernible in the Nepali Congress at a time when the need for extensive consensus and unity within the party is being felt across the country, it said.

Moral values should guide legal practitioners: CJ

Kathmandu, May 31 (RSS): Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that the cooperative and coordinative role of all the sectors concerned is necessary to materialise the concept of an efficient judicial system envisaged by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990.

Chief Justice Upadhyaya made this remark while inaugurating the three-day tyraining programme for advocates organised by the profession development committee of the Nepal Legal Practitioners’ council here today.

Mr. Upadhyaya said that the legal practitioners shouls carry out their duties and responsibilities on the basis of moral norms and values by maintaining an exemplary conduct and professional dignity.

It is possible to provide justice focussed on the people only through development of the bar and bench in the present era of globalisation, the Chief Justice said, adding that we should provide good justice to the people at an appropriate time with little expenses.

Noting that judicial dignity and professional efficiency provides additional energy for institutional development, Upadhyaya said that the new generation of legal practitioners would work towards this direction.

Attirnet general Prem Bahadur Bista, from the chair, said that the legal practitioners should work by upholding their dignity.

President of the Nepal Bar Association Sindhunath Pyakhurel expressed the view that such training programmes would help to produce skilled manpower capable of meeting new challenges.

Former president of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal threw light on the necessity and importance of the training programme.

HMG okays Lease Forest Policy

Kathmandu, May 31 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government has approved the Lease Forest Policy-2059 with the objective of attracting private sector investment for development of forests in the country, according to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation.

The Lease Forest Policy is expected to create a conducive atmosphere for attracting private sector investment by simplifying procedures for lease forests and making it more transparent.

The Lease Forest Policy will help promote tourism, maintain environmental balance, create job opportunities in the remote ares, develop entrepreneurship and increase revenue.

The Lease Forest Policy is being formulated for striking a balance between demand and supply for forest products by mobilising forest resources, protecting forest and management of forests resources, increasing job opportunities and income of the poor and marginalized people and increasing productivity of forest.

Under the Lease Forest Policy, the shrub land, the forest land recovered from encroachers, the reclaimed forest area destroyed by natural calamities, the forests areas covered with less than 20 per cent forest and the soil erosion prone areas can be leased by the regional forest directors by calling the private sector.

Provision for an evaluation committee comprising regional forest director, chief account controller of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and legal officer of the Department of Forest under the convenorship of director general of the department of forest has been made for evaluation of the proposals received for leased forests.

Separate working procedures have been made for leasing forests to industries and institutions, and to the families living below the poverty line as their nature and objectives are completely different.

Under the Lease Forest Policy-2059 B.S., lease forests will be provided to organised institutions and industries through ministerial level decision while arrangements have been made to provide the district forest officer full powers to lease forests to the communities living below the poverty line.

HM inaugurates photo exhibition

Kathmandu, May 31 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated the photo exhibition entitled "Swargiya Shree Panch Birendrako Samjhana Mero Tasbirharuma"(Memories of His Late Majesty King Birendra in My Photographs) amidst a ceremony held at the Birendra International Convention Centre today.

Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was also present at the inaugural ceremony.

On the occasion, Their Majesties the King and Queen witnessed the photographs on display with keen interest.

The photographs of His Late Majesty King Birendra taken by brigadier general (retd) and royal physician Dr. Khagendra Bahadur Shrestha are on display the five-day exhibition.

On the occasion, Their Majesties the King and Queen were presented the photographs of His Late Majesty King Birendra by Dr. Shrestha and his wife.

Altogether 166 photographs of His Late Majesty King Birendra taken during his childhood and visits to different parts of Nepal and foreign countries as well as photographs of Her Late Majesty Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family taken during the period of 2022 B.S. to 2057 B.S. are on display at the photo exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that His Late Majesty King Birendra was always worried about the development of the country and the Nepalese people.

Deuba said that His Late Majesty was an very experienced and democratic king.

Prime Minister Deuba said that he had received a lot of inspiration and guidelines from His Late Majesty during his 18 months of premiership.

Deuba expressed confidence that the photo exhibition of His Late Majesty will further enhance the dignity of the institution of the crown and develop close relations between the institution of the crown and the people.

Royal physician Dr. Khagendra Bahadur Shrestha said that there are no words to illustrate the multi-dimensional personality of His Late Majesty King Birendra..

The photo exhibition is being organised to reduce his mental agony caused by the demise of His Late Majesty as well as to pay tributes to His Late Majesty, Dr. Shrestha said.

Dr. Shrestha expressed the view that the photo exhibition would help to enliven the memories of the moments spend with His Late Majesty in his capacity as a royal physician.

Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C., The former prime ministers, the heads of diplomatic missions and high ranking officials of the Royal Nepalese Army and police were present on the occasion.

Crown Prince opens rally

Kathmandu, May 31 (RSS): On the occasion of the World No Smoking Day 2002, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated a mass rally taken out to mark the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament 2002 amid a special function here today.

On the occasion Minister for Health Sharat Singh Bhandari presented HRH the Crown Prince the programme booklet and a badge.

Diwakar Raj Rajkarnikar, chairman of Nepal Cancer Relief Society presented HRH the Crown Prince with publications brought out on the occasion of World No Smoking Day and Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar, chairman of Advertising Avenues Nepal Ltd. with a t-shirt, a hat and some materials of the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament.

On the occasion, Minister Bhandari said in view of a rise of people taking tobaccos under the influence of fashionable trend, indecent behaviour and attractive advertisements, a bill has already been drafted to prevent the people from consuming tobacco at public places and control such a malpractices.

He also expressed confidence that the bill would be passed by the next session of the Parliament.

Referring to various researches of national and international non-government organisations which have demonstrated that not only the developed countries but also the under-developed countries like Nepal have not restrained from consuming tobacco and tobacco products, he said that smoking triggers dangerous diseases like cancers of the lung, mouth and throat, heart diseases and asthma.

As the government’s efforts alone is not sufficient to control this malpractice, national and international non-governmental organisations should extend co-operation to the government in its efforts, he added.

Minister Bhandari also called for being cautious about the expensive treatment of diseases developed from smoking.

On the occasion Bhandari announced giving up consuming tobacco from now onwards and urged all to give up the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products.

Chairman of advertising Avenues Nepal ltd. Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said as live broadcasting of FIFA World Cup Football Tournament 2002 poses a big challenges before the private sector of Nepal, the concerned government agencies should support its bid to broadcast the most famous sport event of the world.

Nepal Cancer Relief Society chairman Diwakar Raj Rajkarnikar suggested implementation of stringent measures to control tobacco consumption and an anti-tobacco campaign in the rural mass.

The rally commenced from Durbar Marg and passed through Kamal Pokhari, Kamaladi, Ghantaghar, Ratna Park, Bhotahity, Ason, New Road, Mahankal and ended on reaching Tudikhel.

Government officials, students and representatives from various non-governmental organisations took part in the rally organised under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Gealth, Nepal Cancer Relief Society and advertising avenues Nepal Ltd..

Meanwhile, a motorbike rally was also taken out to mark World No-Tobacco.