Hearings on petition to reinstate House ends

Kathmandu, June 26 (RSS): Hearings on the arguments held on behalf of petitioners seeking reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives concluded today.

On behalf of the 56 outgoing MPs filing the writ petition, senior advocate Mukunda Regmi presented arguments for four hours yesterday and today.

During the course of the discussion, Regmi said that even if the party had obstructed the extension of the state of emergency, dissolution of the House of Representatives was simply shifting the blame.

Wondering how the Prime Minister, who had said that the state of emergency would be withdrawn at the meeting of the parliamentary party, went hurriedly to dissolve the House of Representatives within two hours, he called upon the judges to listen to the audio cassettes of the meeting.

He said, "it is the House of Representatives where complaints about the high handedness of the state of emergency are made. But where does one go to make complaints now? The precedent of dissolving the House in a fit is found nowhere."

Senior advocate Regmi said that the government should prove on what basis elections can be held on the specified date.

He also resented the different views expressed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in 2052 that sought the scrapping of the dissolution then and his views at present.

In his written reply, the Prime Minister had not denied the issues raised by the writ petition. And by not denying, he is conceding, Regmi argued.

Presenting arguments on behalf of HMG, Attorney General Prem Bahadur Bista said that the emergency was not imposed for fun, nor has the Prime Minister any selfish interest in it.

He said that the law and order situation hadn’t changed much, and a resolution to extend the emergency was registered on the advice of the security personnel.

Bista also alleged that by filing the writ petition in court, the petitioners had only wasted time.

The Attorney General and four others from his office will present arguments on behalf of the government tomorrow also.

Those who have presented arguments on behalf of the writ petitioners so far include Madhav Kumar Basnet, Dhruva Lal Shrestha, Upendra Lal Timilsina, Nabaraj Suvedi, Sindhu Nath Timilsina, Chandeswhar Shrestha, Dhruva Koirala, Devendra Raj Nepali, Dr. Tara Prasad Sapkota, Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, Keshav Raj Panday, Harihar Dahal, Radheshyam Adhikari, Kusum Shrestha and Regmi.

Pleadings by Yagya Murti Banjade and Lalit Bahadur Basnet, and those of the Election Commission and emici curiae, will continue on behalf of the respondent Speaker. There will them be pleadings on behalf of the writ petitioners.

NSU leaders hail new NC leadership

Kathmandu, June 26 (RSS): Forty four Nepal Students Union (NSU) district presidents have heartily welcomed the election of a genuine and efficient leadership after changing the hegemonistic leadership by the historical Nepali Congress general convention held from Asar 3 to 5.

They also wished that the newly elected NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba will get strength to lead the justice-loving Nepali people on a constructive way during the tenure of the new working committee.

They have condemned the press release issued by NSU central president Biswo Prakash Sharma today and said it is a hateful act to accuse the respected party president without keeping in mind his own status after a clean NC leadership has been elected after ending a hegemonistic attitude as per the wishes of the Nepalese people.

They have also demanded dissolution of the NSU led by Sharma as it will not make any progress and called on all to come under the new leadership.

Those issuing the release are the Nsu presidents of Kalikot, Ramechhap, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Salyan, Jajarkot, Rasuwa, Rolpa, Kaski, Jumla, Dolpa, Banke, Siraha, Saptari, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Parsa, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Lamjung, Rupandehi, Myagdi,Mustang, Bardia, Dailekh, Achham, Baitadi, Kanchanpur, Darchula, Bajhang, Kailali, Rukum, Kapilvastu, Tanahu, Manang, Kavre, Rautahat, Baglung, Gulmi, Bajura and Dadeldhura districts.

NRB depicts gloomy economic picture

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 26: The country’s total expenditure rose modestly by 1.6 per cent during the first ten months of the current fiscal year 2001/02, budgetary dificit declined by 9.7 per cent, inflation recorded a rise 2.6 per cent and foreign trade dipped by 11 per cent.

This was stated in the macroeconomic report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) issued Wednesday.

This was stated in the macroeconomic report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) issued Wednesday.

Monetary Banking Sector

During the review period, broad money growth decelerated to 4.2 per cent (Rs. 9.01 billion) from 11.8 per cent last year, amounting to Rs. 223.64 billion. The sharp deceleration in the broad money is attributed mainly to the decline of 4.6 per cent in net foreign assets followed by a lower growth in net domestic assets. However, narrow money grew by 10.8 per cent (Rs. 7.61 billion) to Rs. 78.36 billion, higher than the growth of broad money but lower than its growth of 14.3 per cent observed last fiscal year. The contractionary factors of narrow money mainly a marginal increment (1.0 per cent) in time deposits as well as a notable decline of 6.5 per cent in non-monetary liabilities led to such situation, Nepal Rastra Bank said.

Domestic credit of the banking system registered a slower growth of 4.9 per cent in the review period as compared to a higher growth of 14.0 per cent during the same period last year. Deceleration in claims on the private sector as well as on the government led to the slow growth of domestic credit. Banking sector’s credit to the private sector grew only by 5.0 per cent (Rs 6.28 billion) during the review period compared to a larger increase of 14.5 per cent during the same period last year. Such a deceleration in private sector credit was due to sharp decline in international trade and slackness in tourism as well as manufacturing activities, according to the NRB communique.

During the review period, the liquidity position in the banking system remained lower compared to the same period in the previous year. As a result, weighted average interbank rate rose to 4.75 per cent as at mid-May 2002 from 4.36 per cent a year ago. Likewise, weighted average treasury bills rate increased from 4.67 per cent to 4.86 per cent during the same period. The share price in the stock market improved further during the review month in comparison to the previous month. NEPSE index registered an increase of 22.88 points to 239.09 while market capitalisation of the listed companies at Nepal Stock Exchange picked up further by 10.5 per cent to Rs. 36.33 billion from the previous month’s level. Similarly, share transactions both in terms of value and number increased during the review month.

Fiscal Sector

On the fiscal front, government cash expenditure rose marginally by 1.6 per cent during the review period to Rs. 51.29 billion compared to a marked rise of 23.5 per cent in the same period last year. Of this, regular expenditure increased by 8.8 per cent to Rs. 36.46 billion as a result of increased security expenses. The development expenditure, however, decreased by 17.0 per cent to Rs. 13.26 billion during this period in contrast to a rise of 22.2 per cent in the same period last year. Budget cut on development head along with pressing security needs led to a sharp decline in development expenditure. During the review period, government resources rose only by 4.6 per cent to Rs. 41.91 billion as compared to a rise of 21.4 per cent last year. Of this, revenue collection recorded a marginal growth of 1.0 per cent to Rs. 37.69 billion compared to a notable growth of 21.2 per cent last year. A decline in import along with slackness in the industrial, tourism and other economic activities led to such deceleration.

Foreign cash grant and non-budgetary receipts, however, increased steeply by 39.5 per cent and 101.5 per cent to Rs. 2.90 billion and Rs. 1.74 billion respectively compared to last year. Due to slow growth in total government expenditure compared to that of resources, budgetary deficit narrowed down by 9.7 per cent to Rs. 9.38 billion this year in contrast to a sharp increase of 32.2 per cent last year. In order to meet this deficit, the government mobilised foreign cash loan of Rs. 2.99 billion and issued development bonds of Rs. 3.87 billion, treasury bills of Rs. 1.5 billion and Citizen Saving Certificates of Rs. 628 million. His Majesty’s Government, however, resorted to Nepal Rastra Bank overdraft facility to finance the remaining deficit of Rs. 442 million.

During the review period, the inflation rate, on a point-to-point annual basis, registered a rise of 2.6 per cent, slightly lower than that (3.0 per cent) of last year. Of this, both the food and beverages as well as non-food and services group recorded the same rate of inflation (2.6 per cent each) as in the previous month. In the price index of food and beverages group, all the subgroups’ index rose except that of vegetable and fruits and spices which fell by 3.1 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively. The sub-groups, which registered higher increase in their price indices, were beverages (5.7 per cent), food grains (5.4 per cent), and meat, fish and eggs (5.2 per cent). Similarly, all non-food and services items excluding education and recreation (1.3 per cent decline) recorded a rise in their prices. Such sub groups are medicine and personal health (6.8 per cent), tobacco and related products (6.6 per cent), housing (3.2 per cent), shoes (2.0 per cent) as well as cloth and clothing (1.9 per cent). On a regional basis, price index for Terai recorded a growth of 3.1 per cent, while that for Kathmandu and Hills registered respective growth rates of 2.2 per cent and 1.7 per cent. The inflation rate for these regions except for Terai was higher last year.

Foreign Trade

In the external sector, total exports recorded a decline of 11.9 per cent to Rs. 41 billion during the review period in contrast to a rise of 15.3 per cent during the same period last year. Of this, export to third countries declined sharply by 38.2 per cent in contrary to a 7.3 per cent rise last year whereas that to India decelerated to 19.5 per cent compared to 26.7 per cent growth last year. Major exports to third countries like readymade garments (41.7 per cent), woolen carpet (26.6 per cent) and pashmina (72.2 per cent) registered a steep decline leading to the larger decline in third countries export. Notable increase in the export of vegetable ghee, jute goods, copper wire, noodles, large cardamom, plastic goods, polyester yarn, paper and pulses to India was the main reason leading to a rise in total exports to India.

During the review period, imports both from India and third countries declined. However, the rate of decline in the imports from third countries remained higher (14.2 per cent) than that from India (2.2 per cent). As a result, total imports also declined notably by 9.6 per cent amounting to Rs. 87.07 billion in contrast to a rise of 8.5 per cent in the same period last year. A decline in the import of textile, thread, rice, transportation goods and spare parts, chemicals, cement, paper, agri-equipment, chemical fertiliser and other machinery and parts led to the short fall in the imports from India while the sharp reduction in the import of gold and silver, edible oil, raw wool and silk, thread, video, TV, transport and communication equipment, and other machinery and parts caused the decline in imports from third countries. Such decline in total imports was mainly attributable to the depressed demand as a result of slackness in economic activities.

Despite higher decline of exports in comparison to that of imports, a large import base resulted in trade deficit to narrow down by 7.3 per cent to Rs. 46.07 billion during the review period while such deficit had recorded a rise of 2.8 per cent in the same period last year.

Based on the available balance of payments statistics for the first eight months of the current fiscal year, a steep decline of of 62.9 per cent in services net resulted in a substantial increase of 86.0 per cent in the current account deficit of about Rs. 10.02 billion despite an increase of 14.4 per cent in transfer net. Last year such deficit was a lower level of Rs. 5.39 billion. As the large current account deficit could not be met by the inflow of both official capital net and miscellaneous capital net, overall balance of payments (BOP) remained negative by Rs. 3.86 billion rupees. Such balance of payments position had recorded a surplus of Rs. 9.45 billion in the same period last year. Total foreign exchange holdings of the banking system increased marginally by 1.8 per cent to Rs. 104.5 billion as at mid-May 2002 compared to the same period last year while this has registered a marginal decline of 0.63 per cent from the level of mid-July 2001. Of the total reserves, the share of convertible currencies went down to 72.7 per cent this year from 78.2 per cent last year while that of non-convertible currency rose proportionately to 27.3 per cent this year from 21.8 per cent last year.

‘Follow up needed to make best out of HM’s visit’

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 26: Foreign affairs experts today said that His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s visit to India had opened up new avenues in Nepal-India ties and called for necessary follow-up to avail of the opportunities created by the visit.

"His Majesty’s visit to India has added glory to Nepal’s image," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh told a face-to-face programme here this afternoon. "The King’s visit has been fruitful in terms of addressing the issue of terrorism and consolidating the economy."

He said that the government had made necessary preparations to make the visit a success.

Former Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said the goodwill-cum-state visit of His Majesty the King had created opportunities to enhance relations between the two countries. "It is a goodwill visit, so it is not a visit to resolve outstanding issues between the two neighbours. But the visit has created a favourable environment which the government should try to utilise to resolve bilateral issues."

Dr. Mahat said the visit had developed good understanding between the two nations and said it was necessary to follow up to make the best of the opportunity. "But things will not improve unless we keep our house in order. The visit of His Majesty and the environment it has created will mean little to the country unless we resolve the problems of terrorism, political instability, governance and corruption."

Obviously, the King’s visit has been fruitful in developing goodwill and better understanding, and in creating a favourable environment to solve outstanding issues," UML leader Jhalanath Khanal said. "But the government does not seem to have done the necessary homework to resolve issues like reviewing the 1950 Treaty, regulating the open border, inundation of Nepalese land due to the construction of dams and barrages near the border by India, presence of the Indian army in Kalapani and water resource development."

Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Vice President Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said His Majesty’s visit was very important in the present context. "It has enhanced Nepal’s dignity and increased Nepal’s credibility internationally. The government should be able to utilise this opportunity in the right way."

"A stable and secure Nepal will be in the interest of India and vice versa," said Dr. Lohani. "These two countries should push ahead with their economic ties in a way that benefit each other."

National Assembly member Ramesh Nath Pandey too stressed on the need to improve the internal situation to avail of the environment created by His Majesty’s goodwill visit to India. The visit concludes Friday.

The face to face programme was organised by the Reporters’ Club.

Maoists to blame for poor rights situation

Lalitpur, June 26 (RSS): National Human Right Commission ( NHRC) Chairman Nain Bahadur Khatri has said that both the government and the Maoists should end violence for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Addressing a talk programme organised here today by the Centre for Victims of Torture (CVICT) and NHRC on the occasion of Anti-Torture Day, Khatri said the human rights situation in Nepal since the Maoist activity began has become worse.

He said many petitions against human rights violations by the government have been filed at the commission since the imposition of the emergency.

Khatri said there are incidents of human rights violation by both HMG and the Maoists, and this is not good. Both sides should stop such violations, he added.

He said the state should not mete out physical and mental torture to people taken into custody by it.

He said the Maoists should not kill anybody including members of the general public or the security forces or inflict mental or physical torture.

Urging the Maoists to seek a solution to the problem through dialogue and stop violence, he called on the government to be serious about resolving the problem in a peaceful manner through dialogue.

At the programme presided over by commission member Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, various other speakers including commission secretary Dr. Shankar Kumar Shrestha and CVICT president Dr. Bhogendra Sharma called for seriousness on the part of both HMG and the Maoists to safeguard human rights in Nepal.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the Human Rights and Peace Society organised an interaction programme here today concerning effective steps to be taken for the elimination of torture.

It was pointed out at the programme participated in by about 50 persons including human rights activists, army and police personnel, civic society and journalists that special steps should be taken to see to it that human rights are not violated as torturing anyone under any circumstances is violation of human rights.

Secretary at the National Human Rights Commission Shankar Shrestha pointed out the need to create an environment for the constitution of special courts to undertake hearings against torture.

Colonel B. K. Sharma said that the Royal Nepal Army has been fighting to reduce the violence capability of the Maoists and not to kill or torture and opening fire to foil attacks by the Maoists is a human right of the security personnel to live.

President of the Nepal Chapter of Amnesty International Pradeep Pokharel said that provisions for punishment of those indulging in torture should be made.

Senior Superintendent of Police Chuda Bahadur Shrestha said that a unit has been set up in the police for the elimination of torture and violation of human rights by them.

Society vice-president Purushottam Dahal said that if a process of proving crime is adopted, the criminals will be punished and at the same time torture would be put to an end.

Society president Krishna Pahadi presided over the programme.

Their Majesties arrive in Kolkata

Kolkata, June 26 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah arrived in Kolkata today on completion of the state visit programme in New Delhi.

Her Royal Highness Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah is accompanying Their Majesties.

Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and Indian Charge D’affaires in Nepal Ashok Kumar are also in the entourage.

Their Majesties the King and Queen were received by Governor of West Bengal Dr. Viren j. Shah at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport upon arrival here.

Also present at the airport to receive Their Majesties were Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddha Deb Bhattacharya, high ranking officials of the state, Royal Nepalese Consul General Yuvaraj Bhushal and distinguished Nepalese in Kolkata.

Earlier, Central Minister of State for Railways Digbijaya Singh bade farewell to Their Majesties the King and Queen at the Military Airport at Palam, New Delhi.

Also present to bid farewell to Their Majesties were high ranking officials of the Government of India, office bearers of India-Nepal Friendship Association, and distinguished Nepali citizens in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev granted audience to Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddha Deb Bhattacharya here today.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and Indian Charge D’affaires Ashok Kumar were also present on the occasion.

Similarly, Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah granted audience today to Governor of West Bengal State of India Viren J. Shah and Mrs Shah.

Her Royal Highness Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was also present on the occasion.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and Indian Charge D’affaires Ashok Kumar were also present.

Meanwhile, Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced a dinner hosted in Their Majesties’ honour by Governor of West Bengal State of India Viren J. Shah and Mrs Shah this evening.

Her Royal Highness Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was also present on the occasion.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa were likewise present.

Also present were Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddha Dev Bhattacharya, Indian Charge D’affaires to Nepal Ashok Kumar and senior officials of the West Bengal government.

Education terrorised in Rolpa

By Our Correspondents

Liwang, Rolpa, June 26: Educational activities have failed to reach full circle in the District of Rolpa in the wake of the Maoist violence and terror.

The different education related programmes have been badly hit by the terrorist activities, the District Education Office of Rolpa said.

According to the office, the district, known as the bastion of the Maoists, has two higher secondary, 21 secondary, 38 lower secondary and 232 primary schools. It has a 29 per cent literacy rate. Women’s literacy is only about 16 per cent.

The district has 20 resource centres and only as many resource persons to run various education-related programmes. These centres used to hold meetings on management, physical reforms as well as extra-curricular activities in the schools of the district. Meetings to award scholarships to ‘untouchables’, talented and girl students also used to be held. The centres also ran feeder hostels in Rolpa and Rukum where 20 girl student of secondary schools were receiving scholarship under the girls’ education upgrading programme. Altogether 205 girls studying in lower secondary schools and 572 primary school girls were receiving scholarships, District Education Officer Bodhi Prasad Khanal said.

All these educational activities in the remote villages of Rolpa have come to a halt after the terrorists issued a notice that said the resource centres needed their approval before launching such programmes.

The District Education Office said that the resource persons deputed in the different parts of the district could not perform their jobs well, as the terrorists did not allow them to do so.

"We even do not know whether the schools in the remote villages are teaching the curriculum approved by the government," the official said. "Officials are threatened if they go to inspect the schools without the permission of the Maoists. The terrorists could rob them of their official documents."

The kidnapping of Narayan Subedi, the headmaster of Gajul High School and Chairman of the Nepal Teachers’ Association, Rolpa, has sent panic in all the teachers of the district." The kidnapping of Subedi, also the general secretary of Nepal Red Cross Society of Rolpa, is an example of extreme barbarism," persons related to the education sector said.

Maoist extremism does not stop here. The terrorists have stopped the employees of Children Development Centre and Informal Education Programme from attending their work.

Meanwhile, the District Education Office has not yet received the SLC results published about two weeks ago due to damages to the telephones and other means of communications.

Khanal said that the district had not received its full quota of teachers. He said that the district has a provision for 10,046 teachers.

Arts to help anti-drug campaign

Lalitpur, June 26 (RSS): Minister of State for Health Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said that the entire society could be changed through the arts and journalism.

Inaugurating an awareness raising programme concerning prevention of drug addiction and helping support the development of youth organised by the Creative Artistes Group at Lalitpur on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Addiction, Minister of State Basnet said that the field of journalism and arts should take initiative in raising the awareness of civic society and ensure their participation in reforms.

Various cultural programmes were staged at the programme organised around the theme "Prevent drug addiction, help support the development of youth".

"The Creative Artistes Group presented a play entitled "Sawadhan (Be Alert)" while various other artistes presented dances, music, songs and poetry aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction.

Publisher of the weekly ‘Rastrabhumi" Bharat Mani Gyawali and group treasurer Dhan Bikram KC also expressed their views on the occasion.

Chairman of the Creative Artistes Group Prakash Raj Manandhar chaired the programme.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Devendra Raj Kadel inaugurated a photo exhibition and a talk programme concerning de-addiction organised by the Brahmakumari Rajyog Services Centre here today to mark the International Day against Misuse and Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs.

On the occasion, Minister of State Kadel pointed out the need for each and every person to present himself as an example of not resorting to drug addiction in order to resolve this vexed and delicate issue.

With the joint endeavour of civic society and social and religious organisations and the government, the problem of addiction that had assumed alarming dimensions for the last few years could be resolved, he added.

Similarly, in Janakpurdham, on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Dhanusha district Administration and Bramhakumari Rajyog Sewa Kendra jointly organised a peace rally against drug trafficking and drug abuse here today.

The rally which started from the district administration office passed through Vidhyapati Chok, Shiva Chok, Kadam Chok and turned into a talk programme after returning to the same place.

Speaking at the talk programme, manager of Bramhakumari Rajyoj Sewa Kendra, Janakpur Ganga Mata said that everyone should play an active role from their respective places in order to save oneself and the society from the menace of drug abuse.

Chief District Officer Ratnakaji Bajracharya, from the chair, stressed the need to generate awareness against drugs among the people.

Assistant Chief District Officer Beni Madhav Gyawali, Bramhakumari Srijana, Bhagwati, Prabha and others also expressed their views on drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Teachers outnumber students in TU departments

Kathmandu, June 26 (RSS): Some of the Central Departments of Tribhuvan University, Faculty of Humanities are on the verge of closure despite population growth, increasing public attraction towards education and the centralised education system.

Even the T.U. Central Departments like history or political science that were smoothly running along with the establishment of the university, are facing the problem of students drop out since the last five or six years.

Departments like Hindi, Sanskrit, Newari, etc have been running for years although the teachers outnumber the students.

Various reasons like narrow scope of getting jobs after completing studies, monotonous teaching methods, use of traditional educational materials, lack of necessary physical infrastructure have contributed to the decline in the number of students, says the concerned department chiefs. And most of the students hold jobs

Among the 150 students, only 15 or 18 attend the classes regularly, says the chief of the Political Science Department Prof. (Dr) Shadmukh Bahadur Thapa.

Since most of the students are office holders and Sunday is a public holiday, the classrooms are over crowded on Sunday, he said.

An office worker at the Department of History informed that there are 21 teachers working while only 6 or 7 out of 30 or 35 students attend the classes regularly.

Likewise, only 1 or 2 out of 4 or 5 students enrolled attend classes in Sanskrit and Hindi, say the heads of Sanskrit and Hindi Departments, Prof. (Dr) Ramchandra Jha and Prof. (Dr) Suryanath Gope respectively.