Terrorist killed in fresh operations

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 25:In fresh operations, the security forces killed one Maoist terrorist at Pourpali area of Kalikot district and recovered three terrorists' dead bodies from Netachowk area of Sunsari district.

According to the Defense Ministry, the forces rounded up four terrorists from Sukaura area of Makwanpur district. They also seized four guns from the area.

In the search operations, the forces recovered 10 guns from Olang, Appun, Khimpu areas, 4 guns from Bhataktiya region of Achham district. A large quantity of food grains, combat dresses, electrical wires, pipe  bombs, appliances used in electrical ambush and other logistics were seized from Sisere area, which shares borders with Okhaldhunga and Ramechhap districts.

The Ministry said the terrorists killed two army personnel in Surkhet district. The personnel were kidnapped and they were killed. The security forces have been carrying out search operations in the area to find out the persons involved in the cowardice murder.

Nepal RoK trade ties discussed

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmanud, June 25:The issues related to the bilateral trade and economic activities between Nepal and the Republic of Korea were stressed at the meeting held in the FNCCI secretariat today.

First vice president of the FNCCI, Binod Bahadur Shrestha, and director general of Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA) Seok Kap Kang extensively the discussed various possibilities of extending bilateral trade and attracting Korean investment into Nepal. They also discussed the promotion of tourism and consolidation of economic ties between two nations.

While sharing ideas with Kang, FNCCI first vice president Shrestha said that Nepal has a good atmosphere for Korean investment in the areas of agriculture industry, tourism, hydropower, mines, service industry, information technology and infrastructure development. As Nepal has easy access to the Indian market, the Korean investment in industries would be highly beneficial to gear up economy, Shrestha appraised to Kang and urged him for the investment in Nepal.

Nepal can export various items like readymade garment, woolen carpet, pashmina goods, leather and leather products, handicrafts, tea, ornaments, lentils and herbs, said Shrestha. Besides, Nepal could be a good destination for Korean tourism too, he added. Trade exhibition, exchange visit of industrialists and traders between two countries and direct air route to Seoul would help further strengthen relations between the two countries, he said.

He further said that the exhibition of Korean goods in Kathmandu has help promote their market to a large extent.

KOTRA director general Kang expressed curiosity about the possibilities of investment in different areas in Nepal and said that many Koreans are still not informed about the birthplace of the lord Buddha. Hence Korean people should be informed about it, said Kang. He further said that the direct air link between Nepal and Korea would help promote tourism in Nepal.

He also assured that he would take initiative for the promotion of tourism industry in Nepal.

Kang also informed that Nepal would be invited to participate in the Korean Machinery Exhibition to be held in Korea in October this year.

Ramesh Khetan, general secretary of the Nepal–Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasised the need to create atmosphere to attract Korean investment into Nepal. More efforts should be made at diplomatic level, he added.

Khetan also noted that Korean investment would be a great help to prop up the country's economy.

Sub-standard medicines hit market

Ramechhap, June 25 (RSS): It is doubtful whether the effectiveness of most allopathic medicines being prescribed to patients during the course of treatment have been tested in a laboratory or not.

The Department of Drug Administration (DDA), the only government agency to examine the quality of allopathic medicines and its effectiveness seems to be unable to discharge its responsibility properly.

It is a general practice here that the chemists and druggists procure sub-standard allopathic medicines from Indian pharmaceutical companies at cheaper rate and benefit a lot after selling them in the local market at higher price.

Not only medicines but also other commodities are barred from entering any developed countries without certification. But here in Nepal, sub-standard allopathic medicines are imported without any restrictions.

Since the number of drug inspectors responsible for checking allopathic medicines on sale across the country are inadequate, the test of such medicine can not be conducted from door to door. Moreover, those who are assigned to do the job return without checking the pharmacy and medical stores thoroughly after greasing their palms.

What the medical doctors point out is that the exact number of the pharmaceutical companies which are allowed to export their products into Nepalese markets especially in the Terai belt is yet known.

About 30 to 40 per cent of medicines available in the local market are believed to be of sub-standard. The consumers blame the government and governmental agencies for not being serious over the examination of such sub-standard medicines being imported into the country.

No action was initiated against the party which runs a medical shop without a valid license from the authority even after a complaint was lodged at the district administration office, an aggrieved person told RSS.

Some seven medical shops are said to be dealing in medicines in the district without license from the concerned authority.

Although foreign pharmaceutical companies can carry out an analysis of their products in any independent laboratory after receiving production licenses, laboratory test certificates and letter of guarantee, but no businessmen in the border markets take note of this provision.

Nepal approve the recommendation of World Health Organisation regarding the quality of allopathic medicines though it is not in a position to check international standard of such medicines.

In fact, the chemists and druggists themselves concede the fact that medicines of a number of pharmaceutical companies except a few companies are not prepared as per the standard production methodology and are also bereft of chemical combination during tests carried out by World Health Organisation from time to time.

The druggists and chemists here tend to force their clients to buy the medicines they can derive a huge profit from. They do not hesitate to offer another brand of medicines that are quiet different from the one that has been prescribed by the doctors.

Such businessmen admit the fact that a number of Indian pharmaceutical companies offer them attractive commission for procuring sub-standard medicines.

The authority to examine the quality of allopathic medicines has been delegated to the Chief District Officer in view of the lesser number of drug inspectors at the DDA's disposal, but detailed information about the companies which fail to meet the international standard in its products have not been delegated to him.

The tendency to sell sub-standard medicines to the clients on the part of the chemists and druggists is on the rise due to their inadequate knowledge about medicines and its chemical combination and failure in taking stern action against such businessmen.

No one can blame the sub-standard medicines even if it leads to an unanticipated incident like death .

"Nobody has come to my office to date on such a disputable issue about sub-standard medicines", Ramechhap CDO Prem Narayan Sharma states.

Peacekeepers back home

Kathmandu, June 25 (RSS): The fourth and last batch of Devi Datta battalion peace-keeping force deployed in Sierra Lone at a call of the United Nations returned home today after completing its assignment.

The batch led by Lieutenant Colonel Victor Rana includes 203 officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks.

Lieutenant General Victory Rana welcomed the peace keeping force at the Tribhuwan International Airport.

High ranking Royal Nepalese Army officers and family members of peace-keeping force were also present on the occasion.

HM graces programme organised by industrialists

New Delhi, June 25 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev graced a luncheon meeting and interaction programme organised in honour of His Majesty here today by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

Speaking on the occasion as ordered by His Majesty, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka called on Indian industrialists and businessmen to make maximum utilisation of the provisions of the trade treaty concluded between Nepal and India.

Expressing satisfaction over India being Nepal's biggest trade partner, Khadka said His Majesty's Government wants to see the economic and trade relations between the two countries reaching new heights.

He also expressed the view that trade interactions will be held continually in the mutual interest of both countries.

On the occasion, FNCCI president Rabi Bhakta Shrestha expressed hope that Nepalese industrialists will benefit from the technological advancement of India and mentioned that Indian businessmen have opportunities to invest in Nepal.

He said appropriate areas for investment in Nepal are tourism, hydro power, agriculture, forestry, mining and human resources.

FICCI ex-president Brij Mohan Lal said the long term proposals presented by FICCI and CII have been accepted by both the countries and added that Nepal has found a special niche in the hearts of Indians.

From the chair FICCI president R. S Lodha said although trade has been increasing between Nepal and India, there are greater potentialities.

He also suggested that a joint task force should be constituted to work on developing Nepal as a tourism destination besides supplying hydropower generated in Nepal to India.

Awareness to fight drugs abuse stressed

Kathmandu, June 25 (RSS): An awareness raising cultural programme was staged here today to mark the International Day Against Misuse and Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs.

Songs and dances depicting harmful effects of narcotic drugs were presented at the programme organised by social awareness project against HIV/AIDS and narcotic drugs addiction.

Inaugurating the programme, Rajsparishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Keshur Jung Rayamajhi said that massive awareness raising programmes were necessary to provide long and healthy lives to people and save them from drug addiction.

Director of the Narcotic Drugs Demand Decreasing Project Dr. Choplal Bhushal and chief of the narcotic drugs control and natural disaster prevention division Dilli Sapkota also expressed their views at the programme chaired by convenor of the project Divakar Paudel.

Lawers contend House dissolution

Kathmandu, June 25 (RSS): Advocates pleading today on behalf of 56 NC MPs filing writ petition for reinstatement of the House of Representatives by annulling the recommendation for its dissolution pleaded that the recommendation should be annulled as it is not constitutional since it lacks the backing of a cabinet decision.

They said all the three previous recommendations for house dissolution had such decisions behind them but this time the recommendation seems wilful and arbitrary.

They said article 16 of the constitution provides for right of the people to know the reasons for such recommendations.

Advocate Harihar Dahal said that the recommendation on the dissolution was ill-intentioned as the House was dissolved sensing the failure of emergency proposal and the meeting of the National Assembly was prorogued at a time when it could exercise powers as per article 115 (6).

Advocate and National Assembly member Radheshyam Adhikari said once the proposal is presented at the House it becomes a matter for the parliament to decide upon and not for the government. He asked if the entity which has to endorse the proposal could itself be massacred.

He said the House could be dissolved only after withdrawing the emergency as per article 115 (11), and added that it could not be dissolved with the emergency passed by a two thirds majority still intact.

MP Adhikari said at a time when the right to go to court after suspension of civic rights has been curtailed, to dissolve the House which has a right to look into and examine them is not justifiable.

MP Adhikari said it is not proper to push people to elections after prohibiting them from speaking or listening, blindfolding them and putting chains on their feet.

Senior advocate Kusum Shrestha said it was objectionable that the Prime Minister had stated in his reply that recommendation of Article 53(4) for the dissolution of the House of Representatives was not restrictive even when prior opinion was that it was restrictive.

Stating that in a country with democracy and a democratic constitution rights should be exercised with reason and in accordance with the law, he said the Prime Minister had recommended dissolution to avoid facing the House of Representatives, and this was without any reason and was ill-intentioned.

Senior advocate Mukunda Regmi objected to the summoning of the House upon return from a foreign tour and without undertaking homework on the emergency.

He argued that the recommendation for dissolution by the Prime Minister without a cabinet decision and against precedent was irresponsible.

The hearing will continue tomorrow also.

Provision of microphones was also made at the bench room during the hearings today.

Nepal, India sign deal on hydropower development

New Delhi, June 25 (RSS): In the presence of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) chairman Ravi Bhakta Shrestha and federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) chairman R S Lodha signed a letter of understanding on setting up two separate task forces for mutual cooperation in the fields of water resources and tourism development.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and officials of the federations of industry and commerce chambers of the two countries.

According to the letter of understanding, the two task forces are to be formed within the coming three months and agreement is to be reached on kick-starting the process of planning for giving concrete shape to the new business partnership.

FNCCI and FICCI are to set up a task force with the involvement of business groups, high level government officials, experts concerned, development banks, international organisations and other bodies interested in hydropower development in Nepal for the development of hydropower in Nepal.

Emphasis has also been laid on the need for involving third country investment and technical expertise for the development of hydro power in Nepal.

The letter of understanding also suggests that the governments of both countries reach a power purchase agreement for their mutual benefit.

FNCCI and FICCI have also reached undertstanding on mutual cooperation in giving priority to Nepal as a tourist destination.

FICCI is to work with FNCCI to organise programs and conferences for developing Nepal as an attractive tourist destination and to attract Indian tourists to the package programs to be offered by Nepal, it is also stated.

Their Majesties grace reception

New Delhi, June 25 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced a reception hosted in honour of Their Majesties by Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa at the Royal Nepalese Embassy this evening.

Present on the occasion was Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Also present were Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, members of His Majesty's state visit entourage, high ranking officials of the Indian government and heads of diplomatic missions in New Delhi.

Similarly, leaders of various political parties, senior journalists, artistes, renowned personalities and distinguished Nepalese citizens in New Delhi were present on the occasion.

Earlier, His Majesty the King granted audience to officials of the India–Nepal friendship association and the international cooperation council separately.

Present on the occasions were Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa.

His Majesty grants audience

New Delhi, June 25 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah granted audience to Sonia Gandhi, the opposition leader in the Indian Parliament, at Rashtrapati Bhawan today.

Present on the occasion was Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Also today, His Majesty granted audience separately to Indian defence minister George Fernandez and Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani.

Present on both the occasions were Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya, Charge d'Affaires of India to Nepal Ashok Kumar and high ranking Indian officials.

Similarly, His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted audience to former Indian Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar at the Rastrapati Bhawan this morning.

Likewise, His Majesty the King granted audience to Krishna Chandra Pant, vice-chairman of Planning Commission of the Republic of India and Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resources at the Rastrapati Bhawan today.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekha Bahadur Thapa, Charge d'Affaires of India Ashok Kumar and senior officials of both of the countries were present on the occasion.