RNAC to resume flights to Dubai

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13:The Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) is resuming its regular flights to Dubai beginning July 17 next month, the corporation's top official said here today.

"The decision is being taken on the basis of a feasibility study," said Ramagya Chaturvedi, Executive Chairman of the RNAC. "We have been trying to make the optimum utility of the small fleet we have."

The national flag carrier now has two Boeing 757 jets to press in its international sector. It had suspended its flights to Dubai together with other destinations including Europe and Singapore last year when two of its leased aircraft -- a Boeing 767 of Lauda Air and a Boeing 757 of China South West Airlines -- flew back.

According to the new schedule, the RNAC will now fly thrice a week to Dubai. "Since there are around 300,000 Nepalese workers in the Middle East, we are including Dubai as a destination in the region," said Chaturvedi. "We believe tourists willing to visit Nepal will also benefit from this flight."

After it pulled out of Europe and Dubai last year, New Delhi was the only entry point for visitors coming in by air from the west. "Now that Dubai will be second such entry point from the west, we believe the number of tourist arrivals from the west will rise significantly."

With around 50 international airlines flying in, Dubai has developed itself as a regional hub.

Under its revised schedule, the RNAC would fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 PM from Kathmandu and reach Dubai after four hours. The aircraft would return to Kathmandu at seven AM the following day.

"Since we have only two aircraft at our disposal and now that we have added Dubai as a destination, it may be difficult for us at times, especially when one of the two aircraft is grounded," a senior official of the corporation said. RNAC now has been flying to Indian cities New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, Bangkok, Shanghai and Osaka in Japan.

Though the corporation has no immediate plans to add new aircraft -- neither by leasing nor by buying -- the idea cannot be ruled out in the long run, Chaturvedi said. "If necessary and if the time and other factors are favorable, we may take a decision toward that end."

Until mid 90's, RNAC used to bring in 50 per cent of the total tourist arriving here by air. The highest annual tourist arrival Nepal has had was 500,000 in 1998 -- the Visit Nepal Year, the biggest tourism extravaganza the country has hosted so far. Today RNAC's share in bringing in tourists has declined drastically. Almost 90 per cent of the total tourists arrive here by air.

Besides RNAC, 12 other international airlines operate to and from here. This year alone, two international airlines -- Aeroflot and Singapore Airlines -- suspended their operation to Kathmandu.

Four Nepalese industrialists awarded

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC gave away Udhyogratna awards to Nepalese and Indian industrialists amidst a function here today.

Four Nepalese industrialists received the award given out by the New Delhi based Institute of Economic Studies. They include Laxman Babu Shrestha of Chitwan Co. E., Jit Bahadur Shrestha of NB Group, Radheshyam Shroff of Yak and Yeti Hotel and Gopal Shrestha.

On the Indian side, 20 industry, commerce and management professionals were given away the award.

Speaking on the occasion, former Minister Professor Aishwarlal Pradhananga highlighted the historical, social and cultural relations between Nepal and India. He said economic and trade partnership between the two nations had increased in the recent times.

Professor Jayaraj Acharya identified agriculture, water resources and tourism as three areas of co-operation between the two countries and said both the countries would benefit by helping each other in these sectors.

President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) Rajesh Kaji Shrestha said the renewal of Nepal-India Trade Treaty had resolved several problems. "But there are many problems yet to be solved."

He hoped some of these problems would be solved with the signing of the railway treaty between Nepal and India and the operation of the dry port at Sirsiya, Birgunj. Nepal and India are expected to sign the railway treaty in the near future.

IEC Executive Director Kulbir Singh spoke about the potential of joint investment between Nepal and India in the field of agriculture, water resources and energy.

NCC past President Mahesh Kumar Agrawal and Indian industrialist B. S. Sharma also spoke about the potential of economic co-operation between the two neighbours.

UK to host meet on Nepal soon

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13: The United Kingdom government is to host an international meeting on Nepal, a British Embassy spokesman said today.

The meeting is taking place in London on June 19 and 20 and will bring together representatives from Nepal, and from a number of regional and extra-regional governments and international donor agencies. The delegates will discuss how international partners might best co-ordinate assistance to Nepal in addressing the issues surrounding the current violence in the Kingdom.

Andrew Mitchell, Charge d'Affaires at the British Embassy in Kathmandu said, "This is an important initiative. It will bring together representatives from Nepal, and from the international community, in the first discussion of how the international community can best co-ordinate its efforts in supporting the people of Nepal in this time of unprecedented difficulties. The meeting will address a number of issues focussing on how Nepal's partners can best assist the democratically elected government to address the violent insurgency, and meet the needs and aspirations of the people."

"We will be talking about the co-ordination of development assistance, but also about the issues of social and economic reforms, and the development of sustainable peace and progress in the country," he said.

The British Embassy said the meeting is an informal one, and it will not be a pledging conference but it will prepare an informal plan of action for next steps. The United Kingdom government has developed this initiative in close consultation with Nepal's partners, and with the government of Nepal. The initiative follows closely from the visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Washington and London last month.

Dissolution PM's prerogative: Gautam

By Our Corespondent

Mahendra Nagar (Kanchanpur) June 13:Standing Committee Member of Communist Party of Nepal-(United Marxist-Leninits) Bam Dev Gautam said that it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister to dissolve the House of the Representatives in the multi-party democracy system.

"People use their democratic right in the elections and vote to desired party that will liberate them from problems," Gautam told the second UML district council of Kanchanpur district yesterday.

UML leader said that it was not wise to doubt on the fate of the forthcoming mid-term polls since the government had expressed commitment to hold elections as per the Constitutional spirit and Election Commission had already started to hold election in fair and free manner.

He said there was no any threat from the Monarch. "It is stupid to doubt the intention and sincerity of the King," Gautam added.

His Majesty the King has expressed belief that the elections would be held in stipulated time, he said.

UML district secrtary Lal Bahadur BK and Upper House member Urba Dutta Pant also expressed their views at the meeting. Earlier, Democratic National Youth Organization organised a motorcycle rally around the market calling for peace and development in the country.

CHOPPER CRASH
Hope to find survivors takes time to die

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13:As the aerial and ground search for the missing Asian Airlines helicopter continued on Thursday for the fourteenth day, the elder brother of co-pilot Sonam Tashi Sherpa still has hope for his brother, but is very worried.

"I cannot believe that anything bad has happened to my brother. We have mobilized our kith and kin in Solukhumbu, and based on their information, it seems to us that my brother could have been kidnapped along with others," Pasang Daba Sherpa told Gorkhapatra Online in a choking voice. "Fourteen days have gone since the chopper went missing. Our Lamas are still praying for the safety of the crew members and passengers."

Flight Officer Shyam Shrestha of the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre of Tribhuvan International Airport said, "The search operation has been continuously hampered by bad weather."

The chopper got lost in a very difficult terrain, he said, adding, the possible site in Solukhumbu is a densely forested hilly area.

"The aerial search often takes place only for two hours in the morning, from 5 to 7 A.M.," Shrestha said. "But we have conducted the search on all routes from the Mount Makalu base camp to Lukla."

Sherpa said he was not happy with the rescue efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority. "Their version sounds like they are not doing enough and they are passing the buck when they say that higher authorities are more responsible," he said. "The owners of the chopper are doing their bit with the limited resources they have."

Flight officer Shrestha said that other national and international airlines have been approached, but no help was on offer until Thursday evening. "By tomorrow we will decide on the next strategy," he added.

The Asian Airlines has mobilised 54 climbers for the rescue operation. According to Phurba Chhiring Sherpa, General Manager of the airlines, they are divided into groups comprised of nine members and they are dropped by the rescue helicopters to different sites.

Every one or two days, our rescue helicopters pick them up from those sites- Sherpa said.

"All the groups are reaching Lukla tomorrow. We are going to add 25 to 30 locals to their groups," he said. "We have already completed ground search of many areas. We need some more trekkers to intensify the operation."

Rescue helicopters have already flown for 70 hours at an approximate cost of $150,000.

"But the most important thing is we need manpower for the ground search."

The MI 8 Russian helicopter took off from the base camp for Lukla with six Nepali passengers and four crew members -- two Nepalis and two foreigners-- and got lost in the high mountains in ten minutes.

Over three dozen terrorists killed
Heavy clashes reported in Salyan

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13: Over three dozen terrorists have been killed in the latest encounters with the security forces in 11 places in five districts in western Nepal.

The Defence Ministry said two security personnel attained martyrdom in two separate incidents Wednesday while fighting against the terrorists.

The Ministry said a heavy fighting was going on between the armed terrorists and the security forces in Salyan district. The fight has resulted in a huge loss on the terrorist side, and the security forces too incurred some loss, the Ministry said. But the details have not been specified.

A soldier attained martyrdom when an ambush exploded at the bridge over Tila River in Tatopani Village Development Committee (VDC) in Jumla district.

Five terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security personnel at Kudari Village Development Committee of Jumla district Wednesday. The terrorists killed there have been identified as Chandra Bahadur Budha alias Birodh, Gyan Bahadur Shahi alias Patan, Hasta Bahadur Bhandari alias Ratam, Laxman Rawal alias Karne and Bishnu Maya Khadka alias Tibrata.

Five other terrorists were killed in the defensive action of the security forces in Raak area of Jumla district after the terrorists targeted the forces with an ambush. One soldier died in the line of duty in the encounter. The Ministry said the forces seized weapons and ambush equipment from the site.

Terrorist Dil Bahadur Thapa was killed in the action of the security forces in Badichaur VDC of Surkhet district yesterday.

Five more terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kalyanpur VDC of the same district. The forces recovered one .303 rifle from there.

The forces killed three terrorists including so-called section commander Bhumishwari Bali alias Seema, Rupak and Ganga Gharti alias Rama in course of their search operation in the same VDC. The forces killed another terrorist in Chepang area of the same district. They recovered .303 rifle and its bullets, socket bomb, a pair of binoculars, and a camera from the site of incident.

One terrorist each died in separate encounters with the security forces in Dhamire and Dagase of Gulmi district Wednesday. The forces recovered one SLR and 21 bullets, and two socket bombs from Dhamire and one SLR with two magazines, bullets, socket bomb, ambush equipment and logistic materials.

The forces killed four terrorists in Bhartapur and six others in Bhajani of Kailali district. The forces seized nine muskets and bullets from Bhartapur.

The Ministry said six other terrorists were killed in Lalbojhi area of the same district. The forces recovered gun, pistol, explosives, and a tractor, and arrested a terrorist with illegal documents.

The forces killed one terrorist in Kaseri area of Dailekh district Tuesday. They seized the socket bomb and terrorist documents from the dead terrorists.

The forces recovered a large quantity of bucket bombs from Thaya area of Humla district.

Deuba, Koirala meet, no breakthrough yet

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 13:Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met with Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala this evening, but the talks failed to strike any break through in the current stalemate within the party.

The Deuba-Koirala face to face, first since the NC President expelled the Prime Minister from the party for a period of three years, was held at Koirala's residence at Maharajgunj. Congress leaders who have been standing solidly behind party unity had made initiatives for the meeting.

Sources said Deuba had explained his position to Koirala, who is believed to have assured the Prime Minister of reaching the decision after consultations with party colleagues.

Even as the Congress middlemen were making efforts to ease the tension between Koirala and Deuba, both leaders are prepared for a showdown with preparations underway for holding the General Convention as called by the Prime Minister.

Koirala has already registered Nepali Congress at the Election Commission in response to a recent call by the Commission. The Prime Minister, Koirala's presidential rival, has been dropped from the party's new working committee.

"In this context, the gathering of General Council members remains quite crucial," according Homnath Dahal, a former lawmaker from the House of Representatives.

"Since the General Council is the supreme body within the Nepali Congress party, the General Council members are the ultimate decision makers," said Bimalendra Nidhi, an elected member of the Congress Central Working Committee. "The decision of the General Council members becomes final."

He warned that Koirala would be held responsible in case the party fails to remain united.

The Koirala faction had taken disciplinary action against Deuba, who remains expelled over the Prime Minister's move to call the House session in a short notice in a bid to extend the state of emergency to fight terrorism.

Deuba has repeatedly maintained that the motion to renew emergency for another term had been registered at the parliament secretariat only after getting Koirala's approval.

People to choose between terror and peace: PM

Kathmandu, June 13 (RSS):Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the mid-term elections to be held on November 13 will be a referendum in which the people will choose peace or terror.

The Prime Minister while meeting representatives of foreign media at his office today, made it clear that he had no option other than to seek a fresh mandate by dissolving the House of Representatives as his own party Nepali Congress' central committee had decided to ask for withdrawal of the motion registered by the government at Parliament to extend for another six months the emergency that was enforced against terrorism.

He said the government will provide every cooperation to hold the elections peacefully including security to the Election Commission.

Prime Minister Deuba expressed the view that the peace-loving Nepali people will provide a fresh mandate to him to maintain peace by putting an end to terror.

In reply to a query, Prime Minister Deuba said he had called a gathering of general convention representatives, the supreme body of his party, on June 16 to specify a future course after discussing the action taken against him by the party.

Stating that the gathering will take place in the fixed place and time, he said he was always in favour of party unity and will be committed to abide by whatever decision the participants of the gathering will make after holding discussions.

National meet on primary education

Kathmandu, June 13 (RSS): Community owned primary education programme is under implementation in various districts across the country under the joint sponsorship of the Ministry of Local Development and the UNDP.

The programme is currently under implementation in Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Kapilvastu, Okhaldhunga and Rautahat districts in line with the government's commitment of providing primary education to all Nepalese by 2015.

In this connection, a national meet on community owned primary education was held here today with the objective of sharing the experiences gained during implementation of the programme and suggesting appropriate measures for its effective implementation in future.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Local Development Duryodhan Singh Choudhary said all responsibilities including management and the functioning of schools have been handed over to the local bodies.

The government is determined to reach the fruits of development to the people's level through the medium of education, he added.

Minister of State for Education and Sports Narayan Prasad Saud referred to the government efforts for advancing education sector with the co-operation of both local bodies and the community and said education sector has been witnessing impediments in its progress due to an increase of expenditure in security measures.

Residential representative of UNDP Dr. Henning Karcher pointed out the need for public participation and awareness generation as essentials in attaining the target of primary education.

At the inaugural function, Okhaldhunga DDC president Prem Narayan Premi also spoke on the significance of the primary education.

Reverse action against Deuba, demand NC workers

Kathmandu, June 13 (RSS):Eleven Nepali Congress General Committ members, constituency party chairmen, general convention representatives and district committee members have requested party president Girija Prasad Koirala to withdraw the action taken against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Immediately and bring about total unity and trust within the party.

They have spoken of the need to tackle the differences between party and government and rectify weaknesses and put an end to the state of extreme confusion and uncertainty among all party workers for the sake of nation, democracy, the constitution and party unity.

They have in a letter written to the party president requeted him to give to the people a message that the Nepali Congress is capable of resolving its disputes and differences through a rational decision taken out of his long political experience.

Those written the letter were general committee members Santosh Kumar Meyangbo (Subba) and Punya Prasad Dhakal, constituency president Chandrabir Nembang, Party MP candidate Surya Narayan Singh Tajpuriya, general committee member Srinarayan Rajbanshi, general convention representatives Bhagirath Poddar, Uttam Kumar Subedi, Kedar Mani Dhakal and Dev narayan Rajbanshi, consitituency president Kashilal Maden and district committee member Tarabir Katuwal.

Likewise, a meeting of the Nepali Congress district working committee Taplejung chaired by acting president Dhana Bikram Iwaram in the presence of sister organisation presidents has passed a special proposal unanimously expressing serious concern at the action taken by the NC disciplinary committee on the Prime Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur and on the political events developing in the country.

The proposal requested party president Girija Prasad Koirala to reinstate emotional unity in the party by withdrawing the action on Prime Minister and NC leader Deuba, and to take part in the next elections with a strategy to garner a majority.

The general committee members signing the proposal are Dhanabikram Iwaram, Keshav Prasad Dahal, Dipendra Kumar Sendhang, Pratap Prakash Hagram, General Convention reprentatives Mohan Kumar Rai, Lila Bokhim, Bijaya Patangwa, Dharma Singh Karki, Chhabi Gurung, Tek Bahadur Lingden, NTD president dinesh Ojha, NSU president Gajendra Kumar Sambiyo, president of ex-servicemen's association captain Bhupal Singh Rai, Nepal Farmer Association president Yandra Bahadur Gurung and NC constituency No. 1 and 2 presidents Padam Bahadur Palungwa and Rabindra Onyam.