ILO refutes news feature

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 25: The International Labour Organisation has refuted a news feature that appeared in the Himalayan Times Monday has said the ILO would look into the Maoist problem.
The Himalayan Times included on its front page of 25 November 2002, an incorrect news feature entitled "ILO team to look into Maoist problem", noting that the ILO has decided to send a delegation to Nepal this month to resolve the problems Nepali labourers are facing because of the Maoist violence".

The news feature later states that "the ILO told the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) the ILO delegation will hold meetings and exchange views with representatives of various national and international agencies regarding the Maoist movement".

These statements are completely incorrect and misleading, all the more so as they are merged with various other news items. The ILO should have been consulted directly before the Himalayan Times published this feature, an ILO statement issued today said.

"During recent discussions between the NTUC and the ILO in Geneva, difficulties faced by the trade unions and their members as a result of the current conflict in Nepal were highlighted. The ILO was requested to provide some assistance in order to promote social dialogue for peace, and to meet with partners in the world of work who are its constituents. In this context, the ILO agreed to send a senior expert from the ILO's Crisis Response and Reconstruction Programme to listen to and better understand the worker's concerns. This is the extent of the ILO's involvement in this issue."

The ILO statutes emphasise that "universal and lasting peace can only be achieved if it is based on social justice" and "poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere". These are the guiding principles on which the ILO's work in Nepal - focused on the promotion of decent work for women and men, social protection, social dialogue and fundamental principles and rights at work (e.g- the elimination of child labour, particularly in its worst forms and of bonded labour) - has been based. The ILO believes that peace and development work hand-in-hand.

Peace-keeping training ends

RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov. 25: Chief of staff lieutenant general Sandip Bahadur Shaha wrapped up the pre-deployment training of the Barda Bahadur Battalion peace-keeping force of the Royal Nepal Army at the Birendra Peace Keeping Training Centre, Panchkhal today.

The third batch Barda Bahadur Battalion peace keeping force is soon to replace the second batch Gorakh Bahadur Battalion peace force currently on peace-keeping mission in Sierra Leone, West Africa, at the call of the United Nations.

In his concluding address, lieutenant general Shaha remarked that the Royal Nepal Army has been successful in enhancing the glory of Nepal, the Nepalese and the Royal Nepal Army all over the world through such good deeds as peace keeping in different parts of the globe at the call of the UN.
RNA senior officers were also present at the concluding function.

'India labels Maoists as terrorists'

RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov. 25 : There is no ambiguity in India's policy concerning the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, according to a press release from the Indian Embassy.

The Maoists were declared " terrorists" by India even before His Majesty Government did, the press release said adding that the Government of India is committed to cooperating with His Majesty Government to deal with the challenge.

While allegations are made concerning Maoist leaders being allowed sanctuary in India or that there is a selective policy of repatriation of Maoist cadres apprehended in India, no evidence whatsoever is offered in support of such assertions, it is stated.

There is an open border between India and Nepal and it is difficult to monitor and regulate movement by insurgents across this border. However, on the Indian side, additional security personnel have been deployed to improve our ability to intercept any hostile elements from crossing the border either for sanctuary or for indulging in activities inimical to the interests of both countries, it is also stated.
There is close cooperations between His Majesty's Government and India in meeting the common challenge posed by terrorists, whatever its source, and this includes assistance and support extended by India in order to strengthen the capabilities of His Majesty's Government to deal with the threat of terrorism. The apprehension of Maoist terrorist elements in India, whether big or small, and then repatriation to Nepal, is part of this close understanding, the press release also says.

Govt committed to protect rights of women, children

RSS

BIRATNAGAR, Nov. 25: Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi has said that the present government was committed to protection and promotion of the rights and interest of women and children.

Minister Khapangi said this today while giving directives to the employees of the women's development branch, child welfare home and orphanage under his ministry at Biratnagar.

He expressed the view that all the political parties believing in multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy should extend cooperation to the government to find a way out at this critical juncture when the rights of women, children and society as a whole were being affected because of the Maoist problem.

During the course of an on the spot inspection, Minister Khapangi acquired information on the activities and problems of those organisations.

Chargesheet prepared against under secretary

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 25: Despite all the preparations, the Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today failed to file a case against under secretary Ganesh Prasad Shrestha due to lack of time. Shrestha is one of the 21 government officials currently detained on corruption charges.
"The CIAA officials had taken the file of chargesheeted Shrestha to the Special Court but could not file the case as the Court was busy hearing the cases of the ex-ministers," a CIAA source told this reporter.

Upon investigation, the CIAA found property, both in cash and kind, worth Rs. 22.6 million in the name of Shrestha and his family. The CIAA found that Shrestha, who was the chief of the Customs at Bhairahawa, before surrendering himself to the anti-corruption body some two months ago, had lawfully earned property worth only Rs. 4 million.

"We found that he had earned the remaining, i.e. Rs 18.6 million, through unlawful means," a press statement issued today by the CIAA read. "Shrestha has not been able to give satisfactory answers as to how he earned the extra money."

The CIAA is expected to register a complaint against Shrestha in the Court tomorrow seeking a fine of Rs. 18.6 million along with imprisonment. "As the CIAA has also found wealth and money in the name of Shrestha's wife, it seeks the confiscation of all the money in the name of his wife and children in accordance with article 47 of the Corruption Control Act-2059 and 2048 B.S.

A CIAA source also said that the anti-corruption body had already prepared a case against another under secretary Suresh Regmi as well as several others.

"We have collected enough evidences to file corruption cases against them," the source said. Of the 22 government officials whose houses were raided by the CIAA some three months ago, one Bharat Subedi is still at large, while the rest are already under police custody.