15 terrorists killed in fresh skirmishes

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): Fifteen Maoist terrorists have died in latest encounters with the security forces at various places in the country, the Ministry of Defence stated today.

Two terrorists died at Nanglibang area of Parbat district on Saturday when security forces retaliated against an attack. Socket bombs and terrorist literature have also been recovered from the scene.

Terrorists with pseudonyms of "Chaune", "Pradeshini," "Susheela," and "Kalavati" and their so-called area commander also died in an encounter with security forces during a search operation at Thakrudwara area of Bardiya district.

The deceased had been forcing local villagers to join their terrorist outfit and were harassing them. They were also involved in various disruptive activities, it is learnt.

The security forces have seized socket bombs, equipment used in setting off underground explosions, cartridges and terrorist pamphlets.

Two terrorists were killed in a Skirmish during search operations launched by the security forces in Saimarang area of Kaski district. The security forces confiscated weapons, socket bombs, equipment used in electrical ambushes and terrorist documents.

One so-called area commander of the terrorists with the pseudonym ‘Madhav’ was killed in counter attack by security forces when the terrorists were laying an ambush on a security patrol in the Bhachok area of Kaski district Sunday.

The security forces confiscated ammunition for various guns and equipment used in the electrical traps.

Similarly, in encounters Sunday between the security forces and Maoist terrorists, two terrorists were killed in the Tofa area of Saptari district. Security forces confiscated weapons, explosives and terrorist documents from the site.

Also Sunday, one terrorist died in an encounter at Ranighat area of Surkhet and the security forces confiscated pistols, other weapons, ammunition and explosives from the site.

During a search by security forces in Salyan area of Solukhumbu Sunday, they confiscated pistols and other guns, ammunition, gold ornaments, watches, video tape cassettes, explosives and combat dresses hidden by the terrorists. They also confiscated guns from the Bharatpur area in Chitwan district.

Similarly, two terrorists were killed on the spot in crossfire with the security forces at a stream between Baban VDC and Mahadev VDC. The security forces were on a joint patrol, the Ministry of Defence stated.

If you’re forgetful new IDs might help

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): Did you leave behind any important documents including your license, citizenship certificate or important goods in a taxi cab you travelled on? Were there any suspicious persons, or did the driver try to charge you more fare and posed hassles to you?

If you have suffered from such problems, the traffic police has made arrangements for pasting photograph of the driver and sticker of the vehicle number on the left side of the windscreen of the vehicles on hire.

This is expected to help the police and the passengers to resolve above problems as one copy of it will be with the traffic police office and it will be easier to remember the vehicle number and name of the driver.

Pasting of such IDs have begun in taxis, tempos and microbuses in Kathmandu Valley where nearly 170,000 vehicles ply and the number of taxis, tempos and microbuses number more than 10,000.

The programme was initiated today on the occasion of Traffic Week -2059 B.S. which began Sunday.

IGP Pradip Shumsher JB Rana inaugurated the programme.

Now, the passengers of public transport vehicles will have remedy for their problems if they care to note the driver’s ID and vehicle number.

Govt to bring down poverty to 21% by 2015

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 10: The government is fully committed to reduce the poverty to 21 per cent in the next 13 years by addressing the problems as pointed out by the Millennium Development Goals Progress Report–2002, said members of the National Planning Commission today.

Pointing out the report’s claim "the country is not yet on track to achieve the millennium development goal as targeted by the world’s leaders during the Millennium Summit in September 2002," they said that the government would accord the highest priority to implement the recommendations of the MDG Report in line with the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

"Our main objective is to eradicate poverty. Hence, MDG’s focus on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal education, promoting gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases would help us to narrow down the level of poverty to a great extent," they said.

Releasing the Millennium Development Goals Progress Report 2002 – An Agenda for Action an Agenda for Partnership published by United Nations Country Team of Nepal, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr. Narayan Khadka said the publication of the Nepal Millennium Development Goals Progress Report 2002 has been very useful to work on poverty alleviation.

Nepal endorsed the MDGs and remains fully committed to achieving the targets set the Millennium Summit, he said.

"We are in the process of finalising the PRSP that coincides with our Tenth Plan (2002-2007). The next fiscal year budget (2002-2003) which is based on the Medium Term Framework (MTEF) will reorient the government spending by improving its efficiency and targeting towards the key sectors that benefit the poor within the framework of the Tenth Plan /PRSP," Dr. Khadka noted.

The government has also recognised the structural weaknesses of the economy. Besides, the good-governance is a key to better delivery mechanism and hence accountability, transparency and efficiency, he said.

It is high time that all of our development efforts towards eliminating poverty be translated into concrete actions – actions that are implementable as well as realisable and supported by the national government and the international community, he said.

Member of the NPC Dr. Shankar Sharma said that the institutionalisation of poverty monitoring is essential for the poverty alleviation. The MDG would be a guideline for poverty monitoring.

Citing the case of Uganda that it had reduced the poverty to 20-percentage in ten years, Dr. Sharma affirmed that the government would be able to bring poverty down to 21 per cent by 2015. However, he said that the government would be able to address the problems related to drinking water, primary education, and gender equality.

There is a high correlation between the MDG and PRSP of the government for addressing the problem of poverty eradication.

Dr. Henning Karcher, UN Resident Coordinator said that the Millennium Goal campaign, as we call it, has the potential to change the world. He further said that the developing countries would make some efforts by implementing pro-poor policies and programmes, practising good governance, introducing reforms and respecting human rights.

He also expressed hope that MDG would help narrow down poverty in developing countries.

Zenji Kaminaga, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal said, "Nepal needs to exert more effort to promote its own socio-economic development. Although some improvements are evident, poverty is still widespread especially in the rural areas."

Steady improvement in the social sector is needed. For this Nepal has to accelerate self-help efforts based on ownership and good governance. The PRSP that the country has prepared through wide consultation process including the NDF-2002 and which is going to be the nation’s 10th Five Year Plan. He also said that the strategies mentioned in the document would be translated into reality in resolute manner when they are finalised.

As poverty alleviation is the prime goal of the country, adequate attention should be given to capacity building and financing for development, said Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Koirala.

He also expressed hope that MDG would help reduce the poverty as targeted by the government.

China assures help for Beni-Koralla road

Jomsom, June 10 (RSS): Chinese ambassador to Nepal Wu Kongyong has said that the government of the People’s Republic of China will take initiation in constructing the proposed Beni-Jomsom-Koralla road that links Nepal with Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Kongyong was speaking at an interaction programme organised by Mustang DDC here the other day on the conclusion of his two-day visit to Mustang.

Ambassador Yong noted that the assistance being provided by the People’s Republic of China to HMG will help expedite its development activities and reduce poverty to some extent.

He also expressed the commitment to give continuity to the assistance in the days to come.

Member of National Assembly Srimaya Thakali expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its continuous co-operation in the development endeavours of Nepal.

She also urged the Chinese government to play a lead role in the construction of motorable road in Mustang, a formidable challenge before the people of Mustang district.

Mustang DDC president Nirmal Kumar Gauchan noted that people of both countries will benefit immensely after the construction of Beni-Jomsom-Koralla road.

The proposed road will also be of great help for the tourists who are desirous of visiting Mansarobar via Mustang, he said, adding that visa system should be simplified in order to promote tourism between the two countries.

Mustang CDO Ram Sharan Chimauriya expressed the confidence that the friendly ties subsisting between the two countries would be consolidated further in the days ahead.

Wool shortage hits carpet sector

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 10: The Nepal Carpet Exporters’ Association (NCEA) has demanded that the government should immediately issue license for the import of wool at the recommendation of the NCEA to end the monopoly of only a few persons in the business.

A delegation of NCEA representatives, led by its acting President Deepak Kumar Bhattarai, today met Secretary of Industries, Commerce and Supplies Bhanu Acharya and apprised him about the problems facing the carpet industry.

The NCEA said that the artificial shortage of wool had hit the industry hard and demanded a stern action against those involved in creating such situation.

"Either the Ministry should take immediate step for the issuance of license for the carpet exporters to import the wool or develop new provision in which carpet exporters, as per their necessity, could directly import wool from the foreign countries. If the government develops such a provision, it will end cartel of wool and would help regulate the supply of wool in the country," it stated in a press release.

Wool is the most important raw material of the carpet industry and 80 per cent of wool is imported from the New Zealand.

According to the Association, a limited people, in the name of spinning industry, are importing wool and selling it in the local market. They, instead of supplying spin wool yarn, are openly selling raw in black-market in Chabahil area. They have also increased the price of the wool by creating an artificial shortage of the wool in the market for some times, it stated. "In the last three month, the price of the wool has increased by 30 per cent." The price hike has further aggravated the situation.

Similarly, it has been found a difference of US 20 to 30 cent per kg of wool while opening the LC in pro forma invoice while making import recommendation, said the release. "It has become urgent to find out the quality of wool, imported by these people and the amount of wool they have sold and stocked in their godown."

The Association has also demanded the import of quality wool for the sweater industry on the basis of export performance.

The Carpet and Wool Development Committee should set up a monitoring cell comprising of the representatives of wool importers, carpet exporters and the government to regulating its import, monitoring its price and ending foreign deviation of foreign currency through over invoice.

"If the government implements the above recommendations, Nepalese carpet can easily compete in the international market," it said. Such suggestions will help regulating the supply of wool, ending black marketing of the imported wool, saving the foreign currency and stabilising the price hike of the wool, the Association stated.

Nepali Congress must not split, says Ranabhat

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that the Nepali Congress should remain united to resolve all the problems of the country and discharge the national duty of entrusted to it.

Speaking at a Face-to-Face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club today, he expressed the confidence that the rivalry within the Nepali Congress, the ruling party, could be resolved through understanding and said that the party will not split under any circumstances.

Stating that the disciplinary action against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba would be withdrawn and he too would ponder running the affairs of the government in line with the basic principles of the party, Ranabhat said that as all the leaders and activists of the party were for unity, the present problem would be resolved without difficulty.

The Prime Minister seeking a fresh mandate needs a party and no Prime Minister could face elections without a party, he said adding that the problem would be resolved and the party would face the elections united.

Stating that he had met Prime Minister Deuba, party President Girija Prasad Koirala and founder leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and presented his views, Speaker Ranabhat told the journalists that all the three leaders were in favour of unity in the party.

As it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to recommend dissolution of the Parliament there is no option now other than holding elections, he said adding "in my capacity as Speaker, I would say there was no reason to dissolve the Parliament. No mother would like to see the death of her son in her own lap."

There is no reason to be suspicious of the elections not being held in time, he said and pointed out that numerous countries hit by terrorism have held elections without any impediment.

Stating that responsible members of the party including himself were making efforts to ensure unity in the party and get rid of the uncertainty in the country, he said a unity package programme for the party had been moved forward and it had borne fruit.

Club president Rishi Dhamala was on the chair.

‘Solution must to fill constitutional vacuum’

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): A seminar was organised here today by the Contemporary Study Centre on the ‘role of participatory democracy for the resolution of the constitutional and political crisis in the country’.

At the seminar, discussions were held on the working papers presented by Prof. Krishna Khanal and Prof. Krishna Hachhethu entitled "Present political crisis and constitutional outlet" and "Reconsideration on the participatory democracy in Nepal" by Dr. Siera Tamang.

Commenting on the working papers, former Speaker Damannath Dhungana said a way out should be sought as there exists a constitutional vacuum in the country and pointed out the need that we should rise above constitution for the resolution of the present problem.

Dhungana said as Nepal’s terrorist problem has been internationalised, it has become more dangerous, adding that the Prime Minister should look for an outlet by organising a political conference at this stage.

Society president Dr. Lok Raj Baral said that problems have arisen because participatory politics has not been taken ahead in Nepal and expressed the confidence that full participation of people in politics is necessary.

Presenting the working paper, Prof. Krishna Khanal said that the time had come for the people to exercise the rights constitutionally vested in them.

Siera Tamang, who presented another working paper, said that democracy is a system that should remain under the control of the people, and there should be not only structural but also qualitative change.

Chakra Prasad Bastola of the Nepali Congress, Jhalanath Khanal of the CPN-UML Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Prem Raj Gautam and others commented on the working paper.

‘Disabled need friendly treatment to show talent

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): Thirteen-year-old blind girl Sabitri Poudel inaugurated the 15th central convention of Nepal Association of the Blind here on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, she said the blind could also become capable, self-reliant and productive citizens like the other normal people if they are given the opportunity for education and are provided different kinds of skill-oriented training.

Miss Poudel, a grade 7 student at Namuna Machhindra Secondary School, who was the chief guest at the programme, gave away cash prizes and certificates to various resource persons including teacher Siya Lal Sutihar of the Shree Secondary School, Morang, teacher Dhruba Kumar Shrestha of the Amarjyoti Janata Secondary School, employee at the Kathmandu Valley Community based Rehabilitation Centre (CBR) project Subarna Kumar Shrestha and association central office employee Ram Kumar Khadka.

Similarly, certificates were issued to Mrs Chanchala Devi Manandhar, Bhagawari Prasad Sharma, Gauri Shankar Kumar Pradhan, Mrs Urmila Shrestha, Mrs Bishu Manandhar, Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Umesh Shrestha, Santosh Kumar Pradhan, Mrs Annie Gardner Baidya, Capt Binaya Kumar Shrestha, Dr Prem Lal Shrestha and Dr Roshan Shrestha who have taken the life membership of the association.

Likewise, Miss Kunti Poudel, a blind student at the Ram Mani Campus, Manigram, Rupandehi district, was given the "Chhinnalata Scholarship Award—2058 B.S".

On the occasion, association president Kamal Rupakheti, from the chair, said the various social institutions and organisations as well as charity institutions in the country should make generous contributions for the disables’ cause in the context of foreign donor nations cutting back on their assistance in view of the prevailing situation in the country.

Association general secretary Rajan Bahadur Raut said that the association has rehabilitated some 3,696 persons through the community based rehabilitation programme it has extended to 12 districts.

Founder president of the association Dr Laxmi Narayan Prasad, general secretary Kumar Thapa and Gajendra Bahadur Shrestha also expressed their views at the programme.

‘Humour satire eases tension’

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS): A programme was organised here yesterday by the Humour Satire Society Nepal (HASANE) on the occasion of the memorial day of renowned humorist Keshav Raj Pindali.

On the occasion, litterateur Bairagi Kainla said as laughing is good for healthy life, we should promote humour satire through literature.

Advisor to HASANE who was on the chair Baldev Majgaiya said humour is needed at this time of tense environment and Nepal can win an identity through the genre internationally.

Member secretary of RNA Dr. Tulasi Bhattarai said the Academy will help the humour satire genre at a time when we are having no atmosphere for a free laugh.

HASANE chairman Dr. Ramkumar Pandey said the institution will be developed as a humour foundation and a humour -satire honouring trust and a ‘Hasaneghar’ (laughing house) has also been planned.

Litterateur Mohan Raj Sharma said universal values should be associated with humour.

Poet Chetan Karki said though the condition of the country is not such that we can laugh, we should not stay away from making efforts for the same.

At the programme presided over by Bairagi Kainla, various poets including Surya Bahadur Piya, Baldev Majgaiya, Dinesh Adhikari, Ram Kumar Pandey, Gyanuwakar Poudel, Chetan Karki, Nawaraj Karki, Bimal Nibha, Sriram Singh Basnet, Bam Bahadur Thapa ‘Jitali’, Bishnu Tiwari and Bishnu Prabhat recited their poems.