Statues of late King, Queen in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, June 2 (RSS): Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi laid the foundation stone for the statues of His late Majesty King Birendra and Her late Majesty Queen Aishwarya to be installed at Birendra Chowk at ward No. 8 of Gothatar Village Development Committee (VDC) here today.

Addressing the function organised by His late Majesty King Birendra Memorial Foundation, chairman Rayamajhi noted that His late Majesty will ever remain the adorable King in the hearts of all the Nepalese people.

He described the late King as benovolent, peace-loving, dynamic and development-oriented.

Chairman of Gothatar VDC and coordinator of the statue construction committee Krishna Hari Thapa eulogised the late King Birendra as the king who was always concerned for the well-being of the people, and the peace and development of the country.

Secretary of the foundation Rajesh Silwal said that the statues of Their late Majesties the King and Queen would be constructed within six months.

At the programme presided over by foundation chairman Tap Bahadur Thapa, Nepali Congess Gothatar VDC committee chairman Bishwanath Dahal, Radheshyam Rayamajhi of the CPN-UML, local social worker Sanubhai Thapa, foundation member Nani Kanchha Rayamajhi and others shed light on the life and personality of Their late Majesties the King and Queen.

Displaced families living under threat of Tinau river

By Our Correspondent

Butwal, June 2: Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar and 50 other families remain awake every time dark clouds hover over their heads. These people, who live virtually on the islets of the Tinau River, keep vigil throughout the night for any sign of rain.

They fear even small rains will trigger flash floods and sweep away their huts.

They say that after the Road Department displaced them from the roadside, they have been forced to live in the small islets that have formed in the river.

Deputy Mayor of Butwal Municipality say that if these people are not shifted before the monsoon starts, they could well be swept away by the floods.

Jagannath Gyanwali, a ward member of the municipality, said they should be shifted as soon as possible. He said it is the responsibility of the government and the Landless Settlers’ Commission. But the municipality says that as the Landless Settlers’ Commission is no longer in existence, the responsibility lies with the District Administration Office.

Although the Chief District Officer Sthaneshwor Devkota agrees that they should be shifted, the District Administration Office has no plans for them.

But some locals blame the homeless people, saying they only want the administration to provide them with land. "They will move away from the river as soon as the rains begin."

Mainali calls for cease-fire

Butwal, June 2 (RSS): Convenor of the CPN-ML central coordination committee C. P. Mainali has said that restoration of peace and a cease-fire declaration are the national priorities in order to make the forthcoming elections free, fair and peaceful.

Addressing a press meet organised in Butwal today, he pointed out that it was necessary to conduct the elections within the specified time in order to find a political way out for the country and make democracy sustainable.

The guarantee of a peaceful election and finding a political way out of the existing problems should be the main agenda of the forthcoming election, he said.

Replying to a query, the CPN-ML convenor emphasised that since the state of emergency and general elections are mutually incompatible, it is necessary for the government to take the initiative to lift the emergency and for the Maoists to announce a cease-fire.

Explaining that it was the national need for the Maoists to declare a cessation of hostilities, he said destruction of development infrastructure was against the tenets of Maoism.

Nepal gives away Gopal Gotame award

Hetauda, June 2 (RSS): General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist and Leninist) Madhav Kumar Nepal presented this year’s "Gopal Gotame journalism award" to journalist Chitranga Thapa amidst a function here today.

Thapa is the Mahendranagar-based reporter for the Kantipur national daily. The Gopal Gotame award is presented by the Gopal Gotame Memorial Foundation.

Addresing the function, general secretary Nepal said that the role of professional journalists has further increased to protect national sovereignty and parliamentary democracy. He said professionalism helped ensure the social rights of the people and expose corruption.

Although multiparty democracy has a bright future, and it is here to stay, people at present have negative impressions about the political parties and multiparty democracy due to short-sighted leaders, he alleged.

It is necessary for journalism to be responsible and value-based he added.

Chairman of Press Council Nepal Harihar Birahi said that it was necessary for the government to be responsible towards its duty of safeguarding the rights of working journalists and for the professional and institutional development of journalism.

Central president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Taranath Dahal said that the government and the press should go hand in hand for safeguarding multiparty democracy and nationality through the development of a professional, competent and healthy journalism.

Former MP Hiranya Lal Shrestha, Gopal Gotame Memorial Foundation secretary Dr. Dhruba Chandra Gautam, president of Makawanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Madhav Prasad Rimal, member of the foundation Gopal Giri and Mayor of Hetauda Municipality Dormani Poudel also expressed their views at the programme.

At the function presided over by chairman of the foundation Govinda Biyogi, award recepient Thapa, FNJ Makawanpur president Kaushal Pandey and others also spoke.