PM rules out engaging foreign troops to curb terrorism

From Lok Deep Thapa

Kolkata, Mar. 24: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, on the eve before he winds up his India visit, termed his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other Indian dignitaries as "very much satisfactory."

"There is tremendous goodwill towards Nepal and Nepalese issues," Prime Minister Deuba said and added "feels good" about the outcome of his official goodwill tour of India.

When asked what specific security agreements had been made with India, the Nepalese Prime Minister replied that India had committed itself to give "arms and logistic support" to Nepal in its effort to control terrorism. However, PM Deuba ruled out the possibility of any foreign troops coming into Nepal.

"No, no,......no foreign troops, "he said, when querried if there was any possibility of such a seenario. He also expressed satisfaction about the full assurance given by India not to allow its territory to be used by terrorists against Nepal.

Referring to the dry port constructed by Nepal at a great cost with loans from the World Bank, Prime Minister Deuba appreciated the fact that India had shown keen interest to make this port operational. "It has to be made operational very soon," he said. The operation of the dry port at Birgunj would not only facilitate Nepal traders tremendously, it would also considerably bring down the cost of goods going out and coming into Nepal.

At the moment Nepalese goods are mostly shipped through two parts in Kolkata. The joint press statement of the Prime Ministers has mentioned they have ‘directed that within the next two months, the two sides should hold negotiations and conclude the bilateral agreement on the operation of the Birgunj-Raxaul rail-link and the Inland Container Depot (ICD or dry port at Birgunj.

When asked about the rumours that he may meet representatives of Maoist terrorists while in Kolkata, Prime Minister Deuba flatly ruled out the possibility of any such thing happening. "I have termed them as terrorists, as illegal. How can I meet them?" he questioned. However, he stated that he was here in the eastern port city of India to control the Maoist terrorists. "I have come here to control them, not see them," he said. He revealed that he will raise this issue while meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya tomorrow (Monday)

When querried about the slackness in implementing the political understandings reached between the political leaders on a bilateral basis, PM Deuba said he will personally monitor the follow up of things. "I myself will pay attention to these issues," he said.

Prime Minister Deuba is returning home to Kathmandu tomorrow morning after concluding his six day long official goodwill visit to India.

Meanwhile talking exclusively with this correspondent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh expressed the belief that the goodwill visit to India by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, has been extremely successful in bringing an understanding at the highest level on ways to resolve the problems, both "big and small", between Nepal and India.

"The leaders of both the sides came to an understanding that all the problems should be solved in time, and in an open and friendly manner, the Minister of State said while taking to this correspondent just a day before PM Deuba winds up his India visit.

Minister of State Singh was of the opinion that the understanding reached between the Nepali and Indian Prime Ministers, not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to the interest of the other, was in itself a manifestation of the goodwill the two neighbours have for one another. "As the Maoist terrorist problem has becomes a major issue for Nepal, this problem was also discussed during the talks and the Indian side condemned the Maoist violence," he said.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Deuba had held talks on a host of issues ranging from the Kalapani to the inundation problem in Nepal with his Indian counterpart, Minister of State Singh expressed satisfaction that understanding had been reached on many issues, as has already been mentioned in the joint press statement of the two PMs.

Talking about the Science and Technology agreement signed between Nepal and India, Singh revealed that work on the establishment and construction of an Institute of Technology in Nepal would began as soon as we find land.

Earlier Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa expressed the opinion that the official goodwill visit to India by Prime Minister Deuba has been successful in forging better understanding between the two neighbours.

"Coming as it did when both Nepal and India were going through troubling times, the goodwill visit has achieved a lot in creating a better understanding of each other’s problems," Dr. Thapa told journalists accompanying the PM. In spite of the age-old cordial ties between the two culturally, socially and religiously inter-linked neighbours, some "uneasiness had crept into the warm ties because of several events in the recent past, said Thapa. "The PM’s visit has been able to smoothen such bumps in the bilateral relations, because problems were discused in an open and friendly manner," he said.

However, envoy Thapa expressed concern over the fact that the implementation of different agreements reached at the political level was not satisfactory. "This could be because of our own weakness or due to indifference," he said. Thapa was also of the opinion that such failures at the bureaucratic level had a negative impact on the minds of the general people.

Replying to questions, he strongly stated that Nepal’s Prime Minister does not need to go anywhere else to meet other Nepalese who may have different political and other beliefs. "The land within Nepal is enough for this," he said.

Talking about the terrorist problem Nepal has been suffering for some years now, envoy Thapa expressed the opinion that Nepal does not want to take its troubles outside or seek outside interference to resolve its problems, including terrorist activities.

"However, because of the almost 1,700 km long open border we share with India, we have been compelled to talk of the terrorist problem with India, as the terrorists in Nepal and India are taking advantage of the open border situation," Thapa said.

He also pointed out the firm commitment made by both the Prime Minister of Nepal and India that they would not allow each other’s territory to be used for terrorist activities. "How higher can such an understanding go?" questioned Thapa and went on to express confidence that others too would be inspired to work more sincerely and actively to implement such agreements.

Ambassador Thapa also informed that the Indian PM had clearly stated he would not allow any damage to be done in the Lumbini area due to the construction of an Indian dam downstream.

Thapa also denied allegations that the present trip had been arranged in a hurry. "We knew four months before the trip would take place, he informed.

HMG initiats measures to control tuberculosis

Kathmandu, Mar. 24 (RSS):Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that as about 11,000 people in Nepal die of tuberculosis annually the government has in view of the gravity of the problem, initiated necessary measures for its resolution.

Speaker Ranabhat, who was inaugurating a special function organised at the Dasharath sports complex on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day today, also felicitated various distinguished persons making significant contributions in controlling tuberculosis and presented the "Diksha Daksha" award.

Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari said that at a time when 60 per cent of the country’s economically active population is affected by tuberculosis, the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) has proved very effective in controlling this disease.

Director of the National Tuberculosis Centre Dr. Dirgha Singh Bam stressed the need for all sectors of the society to collectively fight TB and ensure that TB patients take their medicine regularly.

On the occasion, Dr. Bam also announced the institution of a "Rana Samudra Bam" award, out of the prize money he has won, to be presented to deserving persons from 2003 onwards.

Senior artistes and singers presented awareness songs and dances at the function.

An exhibition of traditional costumes and cultures of various ethnic groups was also organised at the function which brought together school students in large numbers and representatives of various donor organisations cooperating in controlling TB In Nepal.

Various publications on TB related subjects were also released on the occasion.

Earlier, in the morning, a rally originating from Basantapur had gone around the city.

Meanwhile, in Bhadrapur a rally was taken out from the Anti-tuberculosis Association of Nepal Bhadrapur branch office on the occasion of the 121st World Tuberculosis Day today.

The rally, participated in by Nepal Scout volunteers, students, office-bearers of Anti-tuberculosis Association of Nepal and the general people, went around the local town before turning into a gathering at the association’s office.

The rally was taken out at the joint initiatives of Anti-tuberculosis Association of Nepal Jhapa district branch, the Jhapa district public health office and britain-Nepal Medical Trust.

Addressing the gathering, Rajparishad member Mrs. Dil Kumari Shrestha, public health officer Bhogendra Raj Dotel, representative of Britain-Nepal Medical Trust Leela Shrestha and Anti-tuberculosis Association of Nepal Jhapa district member Mrs Subhadra Subedi threw light on efforts that will have to be undertaken in tuberculosis control programme in Nepal.

Anti-tuberculosis Association of Nepal Jhapa district president Sharan Pradhan presided over the programme.

On the occasion, the students coming out first, second and third in an oratory contest on the topic "let’s stop tb and fight against poverty" were given prizes.

Gurung calls for reduction of districts to 25

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 24: To enlarge their areas of revenue base and reduce administrative costs, the number of districts in the country should be brought down to 25 from the existing 75, Dr. Harka Gurung, a noted development thinker, told an interaction here today.

"Such reduction will help save about two billion rupees annually, meaning a saving of two-thirds of the present administrative costs," Dr. Gurung said at a talk programme on "Fragile Districts, Futile Decentralisation" organised by Society for International Development, Nepal Chapter (SID).

Dr. Gurung, noted for his thoguht-provoking intellectual remarks, said that agenda of district consolidation need resource mobilisation, which requires delegation of certain functions to the local bodies instead of expanding the central administration that has stunted local initiatives and capability.

Districts can function as autonomous bodies only if they have adequate resource, he said, "This would mean curtailing the present highly centralised budgetary allocation system and instead empowering districts with more taxation authority."

Dr. Gurung further said that conceptual clarity on the forms and functions in the decentralisation process was needed.

"Delegation, decentralisation and devolution are not evolutionary stages but discrete forms. Delegation and decentralisation are basically related to exercise of administrative authority in which the lower hierarchies are allowed tenancy while devolution, on the other hand, is related to political authority, including autonomy, in local governance. In the Nepalese context, the centre is too pervasive and the districts too weak without economic viability," he said.

Stating that there is paucity of analysis on the economic status of the districts with a fragile financial base, Dr. Gurung said that there was wide income variation among the DDCs according to their geographic locations.

The five-year average income ranged from Rs. 0.6 million for mountain districts to Rs 1.9 million for the hill and Rs. 6.3 million for the Terai ones. Thus, on an average, a Terai district was 10.9 times more resourceful than a mountain district.

The average revenue of a district comes to Rs. 571 million, he said. But only nine districts exceed this average. They, by volume, are Kathmandu, Paras, Morang, Rundaehi, Chitwan, Sindhupalchowk, Jhapa, Lalitpur and Dhanusa –districts mostly with customs revenue source. Likewise, only eleven out of the 75 districts have a surplus.

He said that the problem of decentralisation has less to do with legal framework or implementation strategy for local governance. "The districts can not exercise autonomy without adequate financial base."

From the chair, Dr Biswho Keshar Maskey said that Dr. Gurung’s presentation should spark off a necessary debate about the need as well as an alternative strategy and extent of decentralization in local self-governance in Nepal.

Commenting on the paper of Dr. Gurung, senior economist Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha appreciated the idea of reducing the number of the districts and stressed on the zonal approach and concept of proportional development of the districts for the consolidation of the local bodies.

Dr. Dwarika Nath Dhungel noted that discussions needed to be held on the issue at the professional levels. He said that the concept of reducing the number of districts was also the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission- 2048 BS.

Dr. Balgopal Baidhya, Dr. Surya Lal Amatya, Dr. Jagdish Chandra Pokharel, former minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Durgesh Man Singh, SID Vice-President Keshav Bhakta Mathem and Okhaldhunga VDC chairman, among others, also expressed their views at the function.

Security forces gun down 10 terrorists

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, March 24: Ten terrorists were killed in security operations in different parts of the country on Saturday.

Security forces gunned down six terrorists in the jungle of Belvar in Bardiya district, two in the jungle of Chisankhu in Lamjung, and two others in Baseri area of Myagdi district – one of them identified as Jatil - in separate encounters, according to the Defence Ministry.

The forces seized the guns, locally made weapons, and various kinds of bombs from these places.

In course of their search operations following an encounter with the terrorists in Bhawanidanda of Palpa last Tuesday, the security forces recovered eight shotguns and four 12-bore guns from a nearby jungle yesterday.

The Ministry said the public in Baglung district collected 16 guns and handed them over to the security forces Saturday. Similarly, people from Arghakhanchi handed over six guns to the forces on the same day, the Defence Ministry informed.

Tarun Dal president Bal Krishna Khand presided.

‘No interference in Radio news dissemination’

Kathmandu, Mar. 24 (RSS): Minister of State for Information and Communications Harinarayan Chaudhary has made it clear that no pressures have been put on Radio Nepal in news dissemination.

Chaudhary made this remark while addressing a colloquium on "Radio Nepal News, shortcomings and their improvement" jointly organised by Radio Nepal and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Radio Nepal Chapter here today.

Stating that the government always wants to keep Radio Nepal equipped with means and resources, the State Minister also spoke of the need for Radio Nepal to pay attention to the problems facing different language speaking people from Mechi to Mahakali.

There is no competition between Radio Nepal and FM Radio programmes, he said, adding that private electronic media disseminate news as views and vice versa.

He also spoke of the need for Radio Nepal to always work in favor of the country and the people.

Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC observed that Radio Nepal has become more balanced and impartial than before and it should act on people’s wishes.

KC also pointed out the need of dissemination of reliable news, quality management and honesty towards work in employees.

CPN (UML)’s Shankar Pokhrel stressed the need for Radio Nepal to appoint efficient people, improve the style of presenting news and make its services more effective.

RSS chairman and general manager Purushottam Dahal remarked that there is no competition between Radio Nepal and other FM stations.

Stating that Radio Nepal is an effective medium for the country’s development and speaking of the need to remove linguistic and editing errors, Dahal claimed that no government media are free from government interference.

Radio Nepal executive director Shailendra Raj Sharma expressed the view that government media are experiencing a lack of freedom in the absence of political tolerance.

FNJ general secretary Taranath Dahal spoke of the need to pay attention improving the quality of Radio programmes.

Chairman of the FNJ Radio Nepal chapter Khagendra Khatri presided over.

In the second phase of the programme, senior journalist Ram Krishna Regmi had presented a working paper on Radio Nepal.

CJ tells judges not to be influenced by any quarter

Kathmandu, Mar. 24 (RSS): Chairman of the Judicial Council and Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay has underlined the need for judges to act on the laws, precedents and all-accepted norms of justice and to remain uninfluenced from any quarters.

Upadhyay made this remark while winding up a three-day first phase training program for district judges organized by the Judicial Council here today.

Chief Justice Upadhyay Supreme Court justices Laxman Prasad Aryal, Kedarnath Upadhyay, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi and Govind Bahadur Shrestha, and chief judge of Appellate Court Patan had presented working papers on various subjects.

On the occasion, secretary of the Judicial Council Kashiraj Dahal remarked that knowledge obtained at the training program and exchange of experiences will help the trainees enhance their performance in their day to day work.

Gorkha district judge Yagya Prasad Basyal also spoke at the function participated in by 49 district judges.

World Poetry Day marked

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 24: A total of 37 poems in various languages—Nepali, Newari, English, Hindi, Maithali, Bhojouri, Tamang, Bangla, French and Limbu— were recited on the occasion of World Poetry Day here the other day.

The United Nation’s Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) had decided to observe March 21 as the World Poetry Day in 1999.

"Art is incomplete in itself without poem, which is the reason to celebrate World Poetry Day," said Yoshiyaki Kitamura on the occasion. He also recited a poem in Japanese language.

Inaugurating the function, Mohan Koirala, Vice-Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy, said that it was the historical event to organise such a programme in a historical place like Nasal Chowk. Koirala said that such programmes have to be organised regularly in historical places.

Organised by Leeza: Nepalvasha Kabita Dabu, the programme was chaired by its president Nabin Chitrakar. About 150 literary figures had attended the programme.