PM arrives in Washington today

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 5: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba left for New York today to participate in the UN Special Session on Children to be held at the United Nations from May 8 to 10. Prime Minister Deuba will reach Washington tomorrow where he will meet US President George W. Bush at the Oval Office on May 7.

Talking to the media at the Tribhuvan International Airport before his departure, the Prime Minister said that the talks with the US president would focus on the fight against terrorism.

"My talks with the US President will focus on US cooperation and support for Nepal’s fight against terrorism," he said.

In Washington D.C., Prime Minister Deuba will also meet US Secretary of State Colin Powell, senators, Congressmen and high officials of the US government. He will address the Widrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars. He will also attend a reception to be hosted by the Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the United Nations, Jai Pratap Rana.

Prime Minister Deuba will head for New York on May 8 to participate in the UN Summit for Children. He will address the summit on May 9. The next day he will co-chair the third round of table of the special session.

While in New York, Prime Minister Deuba will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Sri Lankan President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia and other leaders attending the summit. He will also meet the Nepalese living in New York.

The Prime Minister’s entourage consists of Dr. (Mrs.) Arzu Deuba, advisors to the Prime Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat and Baldev Bohara, member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Shanker Prasad Sharma and high ranking government officials.

On his way back, the Prime Minister will also visit the United Kingdom and meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Prime Minister Deuba will return home on May 16.

Portfolio

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS): Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle will, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, look after the portfolios of the Royal Palace, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Forest and Soil Conservation during the absence of the Prime Minister. Premier Deuba left here today for New York leading the Nepalese delegation to the special session on children at the United Nations and to meet US President George W. Bush in Washington D.C.

This is stated in a notice issued here today by the Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Efficiency programme for judges end

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS):   The first part of the efficiency programme conducted for the chief judges and other judges of the Appellate Courts concluded here today.

At the concluding function, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya said that these kinds of programmes help raise the image and dignity of the judiciary and called upon the judges to discharge their duties in a disciplined manner.

He also informed that the judicial council has developed a system for the evaluation of the performances of the judges.

Judicial Council secretary Kashi Raj Dahal and Chief Judge of Biratnagar Appellate Court also expressed their views on the occasion.

At the programme, commitment was expressed to be active to abide by the formulated code of conduct in both letter and spirit and complete the judicial activities within the specified time.

Participating in the first phase of the programme were 49 chief judges and other judges of various appellate courts.concludes

15 bodies from Rolpa encounter recovered

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 5: The Defence Ministry has furnished more details of the losses on the terrorists’ side following intensified operations of the security forces at Rolpa’s Lisnelek and Doti’s Khida jungle on Friday.

The security forces have found the dead bodies of 15 more terrorists in their search operations at Rolpa’s Lisnelek.

They have also found about 1,000 large size utensils, a large quantity of logistic materials and training equipment, various kinds of bombs and spare parts of weapons.

From the Khida forest the forces have recovered a telescope, 0.38 revolver and bullets, three pistols, locally made weapons, bullets for different kinds of weapons, camera, seven 10-band radios, walkman, 37 torch-lights, tape recorder and tapes, binoculars, Motorola walkie-talkie set, two boxes of medicines and stationery, four sacks of terrorist documents, socket bombs, three bucket bombs, camouflage dresses, four microphones, detonator, food items, parts of SLR, large quantities of explosives, 13 sleeping bags, police uniform, plastic grenades, foreign currency notes gold and silver coins and a gold ring.

The Ministry said the search operation is continuing.

According to the Ministry, eleven terrorists were killed in separate encounters with the security forces in various parts of the country Saturday. The forces killed three terrorists at Lamjung’s Tarkughat, three others in Doti’s Gopghat jungle, and one each in Udayapur’s Katari, Myagdi’s Babiyachaur, Rukum’s Mugma, Rolpa’s Lisnelek, and Dhading’s Tripureshwor Khahare.

The forces have seized imported pistols and bullets and spare parts, socket bombs, bucket bombs, binoculars ambush equipment, and guns from these sites.

The Ministry said the forces recovered a large quantity of food from Ambaskoti and combat outfit from Mohanyal of Kailali district.

The Ministry said one more soldier wounded in the crossfire between the security forces and the terrorists in Lisnelek on Friday has lost his life.

The government has expressed condolence over the death of the brave soldier who died in the line of duty and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Army alerts youth against being kidnapped

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 5: The security forces have appealed to all, particularly the youths, to remain alert against being kidnapped and used as human shield by the terrorists.

"We feel that conscious and organised youths can effectively resist the terrorist activities," says an appeal of the Royal Nepalese Army issued today.

People have been asked to inform the security personnel immediately in case the terrorists try to kidnap, frighten, threaten or pressure them to join the outlaws.

The Defence Ministry said the security forces, as in the past, are committed to rescuing any individual or group of people who are kidnapped by the terrorists.

The forces have also requested all not to organise picnics, feasts, religious and cultural functions in places where the terrorists could be active.

319 Maoists surrender in Chautara

Chautara, May 5 (RSS): The number of people giving up terrorism and surrendering themselves to the authorities has increased in the district. Altogether 319 persons have so far left the terrorist group and surrendered before the authorities after the security forces started intensifying their search operation in the villages following the imposition of the state of emergency in the country.

In that connection, five Maoist cadres from Sano Sirubari, Irkhu and other villages in the district surrendered on Sunday.

Those giving themselves up so far are the district committee members and village people’s government chiefs of the terrorist organization.

Chief District Officer Kabiraj Khanal expects the number of those surrendering to go up in the coming days.

‘Parties should win people’s confidence’

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS): All the powers operating within the framework of the constitution should unite to free the country of the present state of emergency.

This view came up at a talk programme on " The late Manmohan Adhikari and the present crisis situation". The programme was organized by CPN-UML valley coordination committee and the Manmohan Memorial Foundation today in commemoration of the third memorial day of the former CPN-UML party president.

Addressing the programme, leaders of the political parties represented in parliament pointed out the need to win the confidence of the people in countering the terrorists.

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed the view that as the seven major political parties of the country have agreed that the problem should be resolved through talks, the government should also heed the people’s aspirations and the decision of these parties.

Reiterating that the Maoists should give up arms and come for dialogue, he emphasized that they should accept the understanding reached between the political parties.

Politicians should learn from late Manmohan’s character of always remaining active in politics for the sake of the people.

Co-general secretary of the Nepali Congress Govinda Raj Joshi pointed out the need for strengthening the parliament for resolving the country’s problems.

He said that the seven major political parties were moving ahead with the goal of protecting and building on the achievements of the 1990 People’s Movement, freeing the people from the orgy of violence and killings and strengthening parliamentary democracy.

General secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher Rana said we should all be honest to ourselves to bail the country out from violence.

He added that late Manmohan Adhikari was an honest and humble leader who always worried about the welfare of the people and the country.

Acting national president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) Badri Prasad Mandal underlined the need for one and all to first free themselves of the crisis of confidence before seeking the people’s mandate.

Chairman of the National People’s Front Chitra Bahadur K.C. said the destructive attitude of the Maoists and the irresponsible behaviour of the government are responsible for the present evils and aberrations seen in the country.

Chairman of the United People’s Front Nepal Amik Sherchan demanded that all political parties work out a concrete mechanism for dialogue and seek a solution to the problems through the medium of talks.

From the chair, president of the Manmohan Adhikari Memorial Foundation Bharat Mohan Adhikari eulogized the contributions of late Adhikari in Nepal’s democratisation.

CPN-UML valley coordination committee in-charge Keshab Prasad Badal and secretary Krishna Gopal Shrestha shed light on the simplicity of life and contributions of late Adhikari.

The meeting wished speedy recovery to Sadhana Adhikari, late Adhikari’s spouse.

Manmohan Adhikari, the then president of the CPN-UML, had died this day on Baisakh 13, 2056 B.S.

Destruction of development infrastructure criticised

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS):   The all party meeting held here today has stressed the need to check the destruction of development infrastructure and to immediately start the process for a peaceful dialogue by ending murder, violence and terror.

The all party meeting held in the presence of the president of the Nepali Congress and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has urged civil society, intellectuals, industrial and trading houses, social and religious institutions and non-governmental organisations to take part in the all party mass meeting to be convened in Kathmandu on May 10 and contribute to finding a solution to the present problem.

Informing the mediapersons about the all party meeting, co-general secretary of the Nepali congress Govinda Raj Joshi said that other matters relating to all party consensus would be finalised at the next round of meeting to be held after the mass meeting.

On the occasion, leader of the main opposition and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the Maoists should end murder, violence and terror while the government should take steps to find a solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, according to reports from Hetauda an all-party meeting held here under the initiative of Makwanpur District Administration Office has decided to provide additional security to the historical and archaeological sites, tourism, drinking water, health post and VDC buildings in Makwanpur district and to create public opinion against terrorism through various political parties and local people’s representatives.

The meeting also decided to assist the security forces in collecting information about the terrorists .

The meeting was presided over by Makwanpur CDO Dipak Kumar Joshi.

Present at the meeting were DDC chairman Rameswor Rana, Hetauda Mayor Dormani Poudel, NC Makwanpur president Ram Chandra Aryal, CPN-UML representative Sridhar Pokhrel, RPP district secretary Madhu Adhikari, SJM Makwanpur president Balaram Lama, NSP president Kajiman Lama and superintendent of police Prem Bahadur Gurung and journalists.

Bhattarai’s health improving

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS): Nepali Congress founder leader and ex-prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s health is improving gradually.

Bhattaria is undergoing treatment at a local Hospital for Advance Medicine and Surgery (HAMS) under the supervision of Dr. Madhu Ghimire.

According to Lalitpur Constituency No. 3 Nepali Congress Mahasamiti member and Bhattarai’s aide Madan Amatya, there has been some improvement in Bhattarai’s health compared to the previous two days.

He said Bhattarai had his regular food today.

Acharya off to Germany

Kathmandu, May 5 (RSS): President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Suresh Acharya left for Bonn, Germany to take part in the seminar on "Media Conflict and Terrorism" to be held May 7-8.

On the occasion, FNJ president Acharya will present a country paper on the problems of terrorism in Nepal.

The seminar is being organised by German Foundation for International Development and Development Policy Forum.

Koirala for unity of pro-democratic forces

Biratnagar, May 5 (RSS): Nepali Congress president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the main objective of the concept of the Broader Democratic Alliance (BDA) is to transform all those who support democracy into a formidable force and free the country from murder, violence and terror.

Inaugurating the second national general convention of the Nepal Dalit Sangh here today, NC president Koirala said the democratic alliance is also for bringing about political, economic and social transformation in the country and towards curbing corruption.

Party president and patron of Nepal Dalit Sangh Koirala also expressed the confidence that the concept would serve as a campaign towards elimination of hunger, disease, illiteracy, poverty, backwardness, and unemployment.

The Nepali Congress, since its inception, has never looked down upon the dalits. Rather, it has looked up to them as brethern, he said, adding that the first general secretary of the party was from a Pariyar family, a member of the dalit community.

He also pledged that he will always remain active in the campaign against murder, violence and terror and in the movement to emancipate the dalits.

Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya said that a political structure built on violence and terrorism has never endured anywhere in the world.

There is a clear provision in the Nepali Congress party constitution for the representation of Dalits from the ward up to the central levels of the party hierarchy, and the party has been following the provision very effectively, he added.

Stating that party president Girija Prasad Koirala is the only senior person who has the necessary capability and acumen for transforming the Nepali society, he urged all the party workers to work to make him a model personality in the whole of South Asia.

Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Narsing K.C. underlined the need for efforts towards making the broader democratic alliance campaign a reality in order to do away with conflict between party and government and to end the cycle of murder, violence and terror.

Neali Congress central member and chief of the women’s department Mrs Nona Koirala observed that the dalits’ status could be raised only through economic, political and social reforms.

Central member and chief of the party coordination department Dil Bahadur Gharti pointed out the need for protection and promotion of democracy in order to uphold law and order and raise the socio-economic condition of the dalits.

Nepali Congress Morang district president and MP Ashok Koirala opined that positive transformation in the living conditions of the backward and Dalit communities can be brough about through affirmative action and awareness.

MP Bijul Kumar Bishwakarma said that a bill aimed at improving the lot of the dalit community would be introduced in the coming parliamentary session.

From the chair, central president of Nepal Dalit Sangh professor Mana Bahadur Bishwakarma pointed out the need for strengthening democracy for doing away with evil practices in society and improving the living conditions of the dalits.

Senior vice-president of Nepal Dalit Sangh Khadga Bahadur Basyal Sarki and general secretary Bhim Baraille underlined the need for putting into practice the ideology and programmes of the party for the uplift of the dalit community.

Two hundred and sixty-four persons, including association presidents, secretaries and general convention representatives from 56 districts across the Kingdom as well as central committee office-bearers and nominated members are taking part in the two-day general convention which has the slogan "Reservation: the Basis and Sole Prerequisite of Dalit upliftment."

The national general convention will also elect a new leadership.

Apartment concept still new to Nepalese

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 5: Four years after the formulation of the Joint Housing Ownership Act, the concept of showing apartments has still not caught the eyes of the people. The concept of living in apartment complexes is still an alien idea for most Nepalese. But with the growing population, scarcity and rise in the price of land, apartments are the only solution to solving its impending housing problem and accommodating the existing population and future migrants.

There already are some promoters investing in apartment complexes. Oriental Construction and Development Co. Pvt. Ltd. is developing a Rs. 250 million housing complex. The planned complex, called Sunrise Homes, will be built on 32 ropanies of land at Balkumari near Koteshwor.

"Thirty five per cent of the apartments are already booked," said Sumit Kumar Agrawal, promoter of Sunrise Homes. They have two mock-ups and the actual construction will start from May 15, he said. The plan is to construct 10 blocks of apartments with a floor space of 1149 square feet to 1930 square feet. The apartments carry a price tag ranging from Rs.1.67 million to 3.76 million.

Agrawal said the complexes were meant for modern style living and would have all facilities including 24-hour treated water supply, electricity back up through generators and an allocated parking slot for each unit. The flats will be handed over to the customers within 18 to 24 months of the booking date, he said.

But Agrawal said they want a land-sharing agreement rather than flat ownership as mentioned in the Act.

The law says that the responsibility of security, repair and maintenance as well as management of the complex will lie with the developer even after handing over the flats. It also says that if the complex suffers damage, the developer should bear the cost of repair and maintenance.

Agrawal says they want a land sharing agreement which means, the owners should be responsible for their ‘houses’ once they take over, and the promoter or the developer will have no link whatsoever once the keys are handed over.

"At the most, we will look after the complexes for one year and then hand over the management to a committee formed by the owners themselves." There are several provisions for the owners to take over the management if they want.

"If all the owners of the complex agree to take over the management of the complex and submit in writing to the developer, they can obtain the responsibility." Other provisions, for the owners to take over the management, are if the developer or the company goes into liquidation or goes bankrupt or fails to look after the complexes.

Agrawal said it was imperative that people should look forward towards living in apartments. "Already many people are living jointly in rented rooms, and an apartment is not much different except that you own it."

The law contains several ‘dos and don’ts’ to help run the apartments smoothly. The law says each apartment must be registered separately, and it can be bought, sold and rented as individual houses, and the land can be used by all the owners proportionately.

The law has laid down collective responsibilities such as paying for the security, repair and maintenance and insurance.

In a bid to promote the concept of living in apartments, the law has given concessions. The registration fee, while buying and selling, and also other taxes can be partially or completely waived. The law also encourages the construction of apartment complexes for private use.