Maoists damage infrastructure worth Rs. 1.25 B

By Our Correspondent

Itahari (Sunsari), June 7: The Maoist terrorist attacks on development infrastructure have cost a loss of about 1.25 billion rupees in the eastern part of the country, said a report released by the Eastern Regional Administrative Office (ERAO), Dhankuta.

The Maoists have damaged development structures in 16 districts of the Eastern Region except in Sunsari district.

The Maoists mostly targeted governmental and non-governmental service-oriented institutions like police stations, VDC offices, health posts, postal offices, powerhouses, airports, telecommunication infrastructures, roads and bridges. They resorted to fire, explosives and vandalism to damage such facilities.

"This terrorist acts have resulted in the double loss for the local people," said Laxminath Bhattarai, regional administrator of Eastern Region. He explained, "on the one hand the nation has lost a huge amount of money and on the other hand people have been deprived of the facilities and services they had been getting from the service-motivated organisations."

Solukhumbu, where the Maoists launched one of the deadliest attacks some months ago, saw the biggest loss of the lives and property in the Region followed by Okhaldhunga.

Property worth about six hundred and four million rupees was destroyed in Solukhumbu. The terrorists destroyed government offices and public buildings pushing people to face a tough and insecure life.

In Okhaldhunga, they damaged the forest office, irrigation building, DDC office, Red Cross building, and agriculture office and drinking water supply facility. It cost a loss of about two hundred and four million rupees, said the police report. The terrorists exploded Thotnekhola Power House having capacity to produce 125 kilowatt of power, compelling the locals to live in the dark.

Likewise, the terrorist attacks have caused heavy loss of property in Khotang. The terrorists used explosives to destroy several government owned buildings.

In the Maoist raid, 197 VDCs buildings, 60 regional and additional postal offices, 13 schools and four health posts were damaged in the Region.

25 Ilaka police offices, 17 police stations, and 28 Ilaka Forest offices, including ranger posts, were completely destroyed, causing a loss of about ten million rupees.

Most of the people especially from rural areas have felt inconvenience as the terrorists targeted VHF communication and telephone towers.

Similarly the people have been deprived of air travel facilities after the Maoists destroyed Taksar Airport in Bhojpur and Lamidanda Airport of Khotang. Now the people have to walk for two days to get the facilities. The Maoist' actions of destroying essential documents and files of the people have badly disrupted daily business of locals, according to Bhatatrai

To their dismay, the Maoist terrorists have compelled the people to flee to other places by terrorising them, he said.

But after the Maoists' crime crossed the limits, the people have started to raise their voice against the terrorists collectively, which in itself is a bold step in the fight against terrorism, Bhattarai added.

The government has intensified the security arrangements to provide security to the people and save the loss of the property in the Region, he informed.

'Army need public help to fight terrorism'

By a Staff Reporter

Kathmandu. June 7: Prof. Jane E. Kirtley, Prof. of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, the United States, has said that the army needs public support to fight terrorism and the people have to be informed about the army operations.

"The army has rights to protect the integrity of its operations. But the interest of the press should be reconciled while doing so," Kirtley said.

The Silha Professor expressed the view while addressing an interaction programme organized by the Kathmandu-based American Center under the theme "News or Propaganda? Terrorists or Freedom Fighter? Safety or Security? Reconciling a free Press with National Security in Times of Crisis" here on Friday.

"Nobody has rights to terrorize the people and at the same time the rights to express views shouldn't be curtailed," the journalist-cum-lawyer said.

She was of the opinion that the right to express views is not curtailed in the US unless it is proved that the views cause irreparable damage to the nation. "Freedom of press goes hand in hand with the development of democracy in a country where a true democracy exists."

"An individual can be arrested for criminal acts but that right should not be exercised to curtail press freedom," she said. She said that suppression of the views can cause the suppression of democratic debate.

She further said since the press freedom is the basic requirement of democracy, any law aimed at guaranteeing access to information must not be confined to journalists alone but also the general people as a whole.

Information is power and when that power shifts to people, it sometimes makes the government nervous. Therefore, all the bureaucrats tend to hide information, she remarked.

"I believe that the security forces and the media in Nepal will sit down together to reconcile their interests," she said.

But even in America it is yet to be decided by the court of law whether or not it is the constitutional right of the press to have access to security-related information.

But during the Vietnam war, the court ruled that the press should not print in advance the information regarding the movement of the American army, she added.

Recalling the role of media after the September 11 incidence in the US, she said the electronic media fully abided by the directives of the government. "But the print media did not do so. This is because the print media do not have to get registered with the government."

Nepali workers continue to suffer abroad

By Ram Kumar Kamat

Kathmandu, June 7: Although there are strict legal provisions to discourage the possible malpractices in foreign employment, many Nepali workers continue to suffer abroad.

Suresh Kumar Sah Kalwar, who hails from Saptari district, is an example on how Nepalese workers face problems in the foreign countries.

Sah's rosy hopes were shattered when he reached Abudhabi in March last year.

"I had gone there with high hopes but now I have returned empty handed," Kalwar says. "In one year, my earning hardly met my travel expenses."

As per the agreement between Kalwar and employer ADESCO of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he was entitled to receive 1000 DHS per month plus accommodation, medical expenses and appropriate leave. But the employer openly violated the agreement.

He complains that he tried to return home as he knew that he would be given only 600 DHS per month. "But the employer company did not give back the travel documents to me."

He says he was forced to work 3-4 hours overtime daily but he was denied remuneration for the overwork.

Narrating his pathetic story, he says he had gone there only for two years. "But they forced me to sign a contract under which I would have to work for three years," he says.

When the employer started to act ruthlessly, he tried to contact the Gorkha Re-Employment Pvt. Ltd, which had brokered the deal, but he was unable to be in contact with that company.

"But the company never responded," he says. It was possible for him to come back home only when he secretly filed a lawsuit in a labour court in Abudhabi.

"The court ordered the employer to let me go, but I couldn't receive any compensation," he says. "Even the court staff there had secret deals with such employers."

He says a number of Nepalese workers are also facing similar forms of problem there. According to him, seven Nepali workers, who were sent by another agency Sky Manpower, had the same problem and were crying for help. They had reached there in the first week of May this year.

Following the court's order, the employer released the workers. "They were still dilly-dallying to give the travel documents back," he says.

When his attention was drawn towards such a situation of Nepalese workers abroad, Lalit Bahadur Thapa, Director General at the Department of Labour, says the concerned manpower agency would be compelled to pay compensation to the victim if the latter's claim is proved to be genuine.

But Kalwar doesn't have any knowledge about that provision. "As I didn't know about it, I haven't registered my case at the Department of Labour," he says.

Bharat Thapa, President of Federation of Manpower Agencies, admits the fact that the Nepalese workers have been facing such difficulties abroad.

"It is true that some workers are denied of the agreed salary, but all those who return home are not genuine," he says. "Some of such returnees do not comply with the rules and try to punish us."

He suggests the government to open diplomatic missions in those countries where a large number of Nepalese are working.

The government also seems to have felt this need. "We have not been able to open more diplomatic missions abroad because of the budget constraint," says Pushkar Man Singh Rajbhandari, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Immediate attention has to be given first to the Scandinavian countries as they are the largest donors of Nepal. Some important international organizations are based in Rome. We need to first open our diplomatic mission there to have more international aid," Rajbhandari clarifies.

But unlike the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Labour Ministry wants to fill the vacuum as soon as possible. "We are working towards deputing labour attaches to the countries where the number of Nepali workers is over 25,000," says Basanta Kumar Upadhyaya, under secretary at the Ministry of labour.

Nepali law obligates the government to depute a labour attache in such cases. Besides, Nepal, say experts, should enter into agreement with foreign countries so that plight of Nepalese workers could be ameliorated to a great extent.

"We are trying to do so, but the problem is that most of the Gulf countries are averse to this idea," says Rajbhandari." In the absence of bilateral agreement, employers like ADESCO cannot be compelled to give compensation to the victims in cases of malpractice. According to Nepali law, manpower agencies must guarantee that the Nepalese workers get not less than US $125 a month.

But in Malaysia, they don't have similar law. Therefore, some employers pay less than that amount but in the black and white it is mentioned that they have paid at least 125 dollars a month, says Bharat Thapa.

Upadhayay opined that since the foreign employment is contributing greatly to the national economy and since there is growing market for the Nepali workers, the main thrust of the government is to use the opportunity by sending as many youths abroad as possible. "Some errors occur when we go for liberalising the rules," he added.

The Department of Labour has cancelled the registration of 39 out of 293 manpower agencies. Cases have been filed against 13 manpower agencies.

In the last ten years, more than 200,000 people have gone to several countries as foreign workers from Nepal. But others say that as many as 500,000 Nepalese workers, including the illegal expatriates are working abroad and they send back billions of rupees every year.

Nepal has diplomatic missions only in two countries of the Middle East, whereas Nepalese labourers are going to most of the Gulf countries. Nepal has diplomatic missions at 18 cities of the world including the consular offices. These missions are basically in the developed countries. But there are no Nepalese labour attaches or diplomatic missions in most of the countries where the Nepalese workers are increasingly demanded these days.

Seized arms on public display
Over 1800 terrorists killed in operation so far

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 7: The Royal Nepalese Army today demonstrated a large amount of weapons, photographs, explosives, money and other goods confiscated from the Maoist terrorists in the security operations.

The seized items will be on display for the public on Saturday and Sunday at the Royal Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chief of the Constitutional bodies, Chief of the Army Staff General Prajwolla Shumsher Rana, high government and military officials and diplomats viewed the weapons and other goods. The Prime Minister and other dignitaries also signed the condolence book kept there to honour the security personnel, who died in the line of duty.

The arms and equipment recovered from the Maoists include 29 SLR 7.62 mm, its 233 magazines and 24 bayonets; three SMG 9 mm, its 81 magazines and 6 bayonets, five LMG 7.62 mm and 237 magazines. Other things on display are 14 spare barrels, breech block, barrel and tripod of 7.62 MMG, four boxes (approx. 2,500 ammunition) of 7.62 MMG links, one base plate and three bipod of 81 mm mortar, one Chinese Sniper Rifle and its magazine, one Vary Pistol, swords and 8,111 radio two each, nine binoculars, SSB set and compass and two pull-through rod. These equipment were earlier seized by the Maoists from the Royal Nepalese Army.

Among the ammunition confiscated from the terrorists are 24,449 rounds of 7.62 mm, 1,237 rounds of 9mm, 26 81-mm HE (high explosive) bombs, 6 81 mm smoke bombs, 11 two-inch mortar HE bombs, a two-inch mortar para bomb 14 Vary Pistol cartridge, 23 No. 80 WP grenade, 19 plastic grenade, 825-kgs of explosives, 12 40-mm rocket launchers and two No. 36 hand grenades.

Also on display are arms and ammunitions, which were seized and looted by the Maoists from other security agencies. They include 181 rifles (.303) and its 3,513 ammunitions, 38 Magnum rifles and its 60 rounds, 37 shot guns, 69 pistols and its 213 rounds, 12-bore gun 180 pieces, 2,157 muzzle loader guns, 6 plastic grenades, 12 air rifles, 7 revolvers, sten gun and hornet rifle two each, 81 No. 36 hand and plastic grenade and one .38 revolver.

The RNA had also recovered Rs. 7 million, foreign currency equivalent to Rs. 350,000, 32 kg gold worth Rs. 26.912 million and more than 30,000 kgs of food grain from the terrorists. The money, gold and the foodgrains were looted by the terrorists from banks and from the common people.

According to the Royal Nepal Army bulletin 1,862 terrorists are confirmed dead and 2,652 are estimated to be dead. The number of wounded is confirmed at 198 and 271 more were estimated to be wounded.

The casualty on the side of the security forces totals 991, which include 150 army personnel, 744 police and 97 armed police personnel. Of the army, there are 10 officer, five junior commission officers and 135 soldiers.

The wounded on the security forces side are 194 army men, 1123 police and 74 of the armed police force. Seven security forces, including one army man, four police and 2 of the armed police force are missing.

The major incidents in the last six months include an unwarned attack on the RNA's company barrack in Dang on November 23 last year. In the attack RNA suffered 12 casualties and 100 terrorists were killed.

Two days later the terrorists attacked the security forces base at Salleri where approximately 200 terrorists were killed and the army suffered 4 casualties.

After the attack, a state of emergency was declared in the country.

On December 8, the terrorists attacked a security forces position at Ratemate telecom repeater station, and in the army's retaliation approximately 130 Maoists were killed and RNA suffered five casualties.

The very next day the terrorists attacked the security forces position at Kapurkot telecom repeater station leading to the death of 140 Maoist terrorists and the Royal Nepalese Army suffered two casualties.

The terrorists attack on the army's base in Achham on Feb 16 killed 55 army men, but the army's follow-up action killed 67 terrorists.

In Rolpa, the security forces' action against a terrorist training camp at Gumchal on March 17 led to the death of 65 terrorists. In another such operation at Kheda of Doti on May 2 killed 80 terrorists.

On the same say the security forces' attack on a terrorist hide out and training camp at Lisne in Rolpa killed 350 terrorists suffering only three casualties.

One of the biggest battles between the security forces and the terrorists was in Gam of Rolpa on April 7, when the terrorists suddenly attacked a temporary base of the army. In the fighting RNA suffered 24 casualties but killed approximately 200 terrorists.

In the latest security operation, 304 Maoist terrorists are estimated to be dead and approximately 141 others were wounded after the army retaliated against a terrorist attack on its base at Khara in Rukum on May 27. In the fighting five RNA men lost their lives.

Gender equality must for social transformation

Pokhara, June 7 (RSS): Chairperson of the National Women Commission (NWC) Dr. Durga Pokherel inaugurated the Western Regional seminar on "gender equality and mainstreaming under local self governance" organised by the Federation of District Development Committees here today.

The one-day seminar is being attended by the DDC chairmen, the local development officers, the women representatives of the DDCs, women development officers of the DDCs and the representatives of women related organisations of the Western Development Region.

Speaking on the occasion NWC chairperson Dr. Pokherel said the need of the day is to build a society based on equality by ending all forms of discrimination being made on the basis of gender.

Stressing the need to involve maximum number of women in the policy formulating bodies, Dr. Pokherel said that the NWC would carry out works in collaboration with the local bodies.

President of the Federation of DDCs Krishna Lal Sapkota, from the chair, said the social transformation cannot take place until gender and communal inequality are ended.

Member of the Federation and chairman of Kapilvastu DDC Ramesh Sharma expressed confidence that such seminars would contribute to improving the condition of women.

Chairman of Kaski DDC Punya Prasad Poudel said that drastic social changes should take place for the women to develop themselves.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Ganga Datta Awasti said that attention should be given to reduce the gap existing between men and women.

Member of NWC Sita Giri said that the qualified women lagging behind should be involved in development works of the country.

Programme coordinator Purusottam Nepal said that women's representation should be increased in all the sectors by making improvements in policies.

Don't misuse knowledge, mediapersons told

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): Minister of State for Information and Communications Hari Narayan Chaudhari has said that mediapersons should never misuse their knowledge and skills.

Minister of State Chaudhari was inaugurating the Media Minds Pvt Ltd and giving away certificates to the first batch of its trainees here today.

Stating that skilled manpower is produced through training imparted by skilled persons or institutions, he said the trainees should utilise the knowledge they have gained.

Director of Radio Nepal Shailendra Raj Sharma and chairman of Media Minds Hari Sharan Lamichhane also expressed their views on the occasion.

PM urged to take steps for security

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): A meeting of the industrial security group held here today has called upon Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to take immediate steps to ensure security in the industrial environment and assure the business community.

The industrial security group comprises the ambassadors of India, USA, Britain, France and Germany, the presidents of the bilateral chambers of commerce and industry and the president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The group had reviewed the security problems that had arisen from the Maoist insurgency and the steps taken by the government to resolve them.

Expressing concern over the pressure on business, the group has called upon the government to constitute an industrial security force and investment board, protect industrial property and extend all manner of cooperation to the business community.

Report on sex workers out

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): The Ministry of Health National AIDS and sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention Centre and the Family Health International have jointly organised a discussion programme on HIV/AIDS in Nepal.

At the programme, a report was presented on sex workers and their customers in the valley, syringe injection of drugs, control of syphilis among women sex workers, prostitution along the highways in the Terai, the health condition of street women and migration from various places.

The report prepared by organisations such as Kripa and New Era was subjected to extensive discussions.

The report states that professional sex workers were found at cabin restaurants, massage parlours, dance restaurants and other establishments.

They are also found at 27 different places of Kathmandu, the age of sex workers at cabin restaurants varies from 14 to 22 years, sex workers charge from Rs 100 to 1,000 and their number in the valley is between 4,000 to 5,000.

The problems faced by women sex workers are that some of the customers run away without paying, they are called bad names, society looks down upon them and rowdy people beat them up. They also suffer from sexually transmitted diseases.

Most of the sex workers and their customers used condoms for sexual contact but it had also been observed that those in the streets could not afford this.

Director of the centre Shyam Sundar Mishra, Dr. Bijaya Lal Gurubacharya, Sidhartha Tuladhar and Kajol Maskey also expressed their views at the programme.

Bomb blast injures one at Kathjor VDC

Ramechhap, June 7 (RSS): Dinesh Dhungel of local Chisapani-2 was severely injured when a bomb went off at Ward No. 8 of Kathjor Village Development Committee (VDC) along the Pushpalal road of the Manthali-Khimti-Kathmandu highway.

Dhungel, who had set out for Kathmandu by an express bus this morning, was injured while removing three bombs tied to bamboo poles.

He is undergoing treatment at the Primary Health Centre, Manthali. He has been blinded due to severe injury to the eyes and he also suffers serious injury in the mouth, according to health worker Ramhari Subedi.

Resumption of trolley bus mooted

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): Experts concerned have swung into action with regards to resuming operation of trolley bus services from Tripureshwar of Kathmandu to Surya Binayak, Bhaktapur.

The country's only trolley bus service which came into being in 1975 with a grant assistance of Rs 40 million from the Government of China has been closed since December 16, 2001 after 27 years of operation.

Participants of an interaction programme organised to discuss a study report on restarting the trolley bus service stressed that the government, local bodies and the private sector should take the initiative for resuming the trolley bus service.

The study report was prepared by Winrock International and CIMAT Consultant Pvt. Ltd.

The participants were of the view that electric vehicles should be promoted in order to reduce environmental pollution as a result of the growing vehicular emission and to substitute imported petroleum with domestically-produced hydro-electricity.

According to the study report, 25 trolley buses are in a condition to be pressed into service and an investment of Rs 30,840,000 was needed for resumption of the service.

Similarly, the report points out that there should be coordination among the parties concerned, namely the government, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Madhyapur-Thimi Municipality, Bhaktapur Municipality and the private sector.

The report recommends that the trolley bus service should be either privatised or operated by a syndicate of the municipalities or with the joint participaton of local bodies and the private sector.

On the occasion, National Planning Commission member Dr Jagdish Chandra Pokharel said that the government planned to restart the trolley bus service.

Director of Winrock International Ratna Sansar Shrestha, director of C-Mat B. M. Sherchan, Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit, Bhaktapur Mayor Prem Suwal, Bikas Pandey of Winrock International and others underlined the need to resume the trolley bus service.

Experts discuss Harisiddhi suburb development

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): A discussion was held here today among planners and experts concerned regarding the study report on the Harisiddhi Suburb Development Project under the aegis of the Department of Urban Development and Housing.

A blueprint for development of the Harisiddhi suburb area has been prepared recently in connection with the systematic and long-term development of Kathmandu valley.

The blue print for the development of the area has been prepared by the Department of Urban Development and Housing in cooperation with the Engineering Consultants Service Association.

The blue-print incorporates about 812 hectares in an area covering Harisiddhi, Siddhipur, Imadol and Thaiba in Lalitpur district. The objective is to develop well-planned modern market facilities and other physical amenities there.

In course of the discussions, the participants pointed out the need for the sustainable development of the area while at the same time keeping in mind the social, cultural and environmental aspects. They also stressed the participation of the local people in such development projects.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4.1 billion and recommendations have been made for the involvement of His Majesty's Government, the private sector and the local people in its execution.

Team leader of the project Prof Dr S R Tiwari, Kishor Thapa, Tej Kumar Karki and others of the Department of Urban Development and Housing as well as engineers expressed their views on the occasion.

Defaulters of property details to be penelised

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): The property judicial investigation commission states that the names of the individuals refusing to take forms on property particulars or those refusing to submit the same even after taking the said forms will be made public and legal action taken against them.

A press release issued today by the commission said the forms for property particulars have been sent to all the districts throughout the Kingdom through the district administration offices concerned for the purpose of filling of the property particulars by persons holding various posts since the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal--1990 or the retired employees as per a Nepal gazette notice published last February.

The forms have been made available for officials elected, nominated or appointed through other means, former ministers, MPs, DDC chairmen, vice-chairmen, mayors, deputy mayors as well as all employees of the gazetted third class level or above working in various government bodies, commissions, companies, banks, committees, corporations, authorities, academies, centres, boards and councils including the chairmen and members of the boards of directors of such bodies.

The commission has requested persons still not receiving the forms to collect the same from the district administration offices concerned as per one's convenience or to collect it from the commission offices at the Birendra International Convention Centre, Naya Baneshwar, fill the same and submit them to the commission through the district administration office.

Auspicious birthday committee

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): A 247-member auspicious birthday celebration main committee with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as chairman has been constituted here today to celebrate the 56th auspicious birthday of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev with enthusiasm on July 6, 7 and 8.

Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, Rajparishad Standing Committee chairman Dr. Keshur Jung Rayamajhi, ministers, former prime ministers, former chief justices, the deputy speaker, the National Assembly vice-chairman, ministers of state, Rajparishad Standing Committee members, the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, Supreme Court judges and Assistant Ministers are the members of the committee.

Likewise, various office bearers of the national assembly, MPs in the valley, officials of constitutional bodies, vice-chancellors and other distinguished personalities, chiefs of the political parties, political personalities, chairmen of the district development committees and mayors of the metropolitan city, sub-metropolis, and municipalities, chiefs of the social, professional and other institutions and organisations and HMG officers also are in the committee.

As per the auspicious birthday program, illumination will be carried out on July 6, 7 and 8. Prime Minister Deuba will host a reception on July 6 on the occasion of the 56th auspicious birthday of His Majesty the King.

Likewise, the Royal Nepal Army will sound reveille from the Dharhara tower on July 7 and prayers and worship will be offered at the various temples praying for the long life of His Majesty the King. The chairman of the celebration committee will offer a present to His Majesty the King while Radio Nepal and Nepal Television will present discussions programmes. Various distinguished persons will offer best wishes to His Majesty the King in the morning, as per the programme.

On July 8, Nepal Police will stage various cultural programmes and host a dinner at the Birendra International Conference Center and programmes received from various social organisations of the valley will also be included, it is stated.

Likewise, auspicious birthday celebration committees will be constituted under the chairmanship of the chairmen of the district development committees in districts outside the valley and the auspicious birthday will be celebrated by offering prayers and worship at the temples of gods and goddesses, carrying out illumination, garlanding the portraits of His Majesty the King and organising sports events and various other programmes.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting convened at the meeting hall of the National Planning Commission here today, chairman of the 56th auspicious birthday celebration main committee and Prime Minister Deuba called for celebrating the birthday with enthusiasm and in a grand manner.

Heads of constitutional bodies, ministers and distinguished persons from government and from various other sectors were present at the meeting.

Nepal, UAE sign air pact

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on operation of air services has been signed between His Majesty's Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following bilateral talks between the delegations of the two countries in Kathmandu today.

Joint-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Nagendra Prasad Ghimire led the Nepalese delegation at the talks while the United Arab Emirate's delegation was led by assistant under secretary for civil aviation of the Ministry of Communications Mohamed Yahaya Al Suweidi.

The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, according to a press release of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

At the talks, the two sides agreed to review the memorandum of understanding reached between Nepal and the UAE on 13 October 1999 as well as the provisions of the Preliminary Aviation Agreement (ASA), and incorporate additional provisions in them after making timely amendments in them.

As per the understanding reached between the two countries, the number of weekly flights of designated airlines of the two countries would be increased from the present 8 flights per week to 12 flights a week.

An agreement has been reached under which a country designating more than one airlines to operate flights between the two countries will be required to give permission for operating only 50 per cent or six flights out of the weekly 12 flights.

However, the provision of 50 per cent flights a week limit will not be applicable for the country designating a single airline to operate the flights.

As per the understanding, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) has been designated as the sole recognised airline company on behalf of Nepal under the present context while the gulf air and emirates air have been designated as the recognised airlines companies on behalf of the UAE.

The additional provisions including that of the number of passengers and cargo flights mentioned in the memorandum of understanding will make it easy for the airlines of the two countries to expand the air services, help support to achieve the target of tourism promotion and destination Nepal campaign and make contributions to boost industries, trade and investment opportunities, it is expected.

At the signing ceremony, leader of the Nepalese delegation a. Suvedi said that the memorandum of understanding will have positive impact on consolidating diplomatic ties further, promoting air transport and tourism promotion, and expanding the areas of mutual cooperation.

The provision of the specified airlines of both the countries to operate two cargo flights a week has been extended to four flights. Also, understanding has been reached to encourage the operation of the non-scheduled charter flights.

Understanding has been reached to amend some of the articles concerning flight security and tasks related to business as mentioned in the air service agreement signed preliminarily and to give final shape to the amended agreement as early as possible.

Leader of the United Arab Emirates Al Suweidi said that the airlines was making preparation to operate air services between Abudhabi and Kathmandu in the near future and the new understanding will help consolidate further mutual ties.

RSS expresses gratitude to His Majesty

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): A meeting of the board of directors of the National News Agency (RSS) held here today has expressed hearty gratitude to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev for granting an exclusive interview to the news agency, on June 4.

On the happy occasion of the completion of the first year of accession to the throne by His Majesty the King and the beginning of the second year, the board of directors has also wished good health, long life and long reign to his majesty.

RSS chairman cum general manager Purushottam Dahal presided over the meeting.

Five terrorists killed in fresh army action

Kathmandu, June 7 (RSS): Five terrorists, including three in Saisiun area of Bajhang district and one each in Samrang area of Kaski district and Rimsak area of Rolpa district, died in separate clashes with the security forces during search operation on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The security forces confiscated arms and ammunitions, pistols, magazines, explosives, communications equipment and various logistical goods from the sites of the incidents.

Meanwhile, head constable Dhan Raj Giri died on the spot when four-five unidentified terrorists, who were hiding near the Gita Nagar police post, fired at him on Thursday night.

The security forces confiscated guns hidden by the terrorists from Kharibot area of Salyan district and a large quantity of food grains as well as various ornaments from Saisiun area of Bajhang district in course of the search operation on Thursday.

Bus knocks down four to death

Siraha, June 7 (RSS): Three persons were killed on the spot and another died on way to hospital when a passenger bus (Na. 2 Kha. 4919), heading towards Katari from Gaighat of Udayapur district, ran over them at Ward No. 2, Sirubari of Pipra Village Development Committee (VDC), today, the police said.

It is learnt that the four were waiting for bus on the side of the road when the bus knocked them down and ran over.

The accident reportedly occurred when the driver lost control of the bus while trying to save an old man crossing the road in front of the bus.

The deceased have been identified as 18-year-old Kaushilya Lama, Tikaram Magar and his wife Pancha Laxmi Magar and Abodh Lal B.K. of Mahadanda VDC--9.

Police have taken the driver into custody.