IBA's report stresses respect to rule of law

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct. 8: International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (HRI) released an extensive report titled 'Nepal in crisis: Justice in crossfire, highlighting current situation obtaining in the country.

The report follows a fact finding missin to Nepal between 11 and 15 June 2002 which was organised by the Human Rights Institute.

The report details cases of human rights violations carried out by the parties to conflict the government and the Maoists - saying "Although Nepal holds one of the best records in Asia of being a party to human rights treaties, its obligations under those treaties are being frequently disregarded.

The IBAs report sets out a series of recommendations which, according to it, must be implemented to strengthen rule of law and respect for human rights in the country. The recommendations inter alia demanded that the Maoists must stop murdering and intimidations and effective procedures for habeas corpus must be implemted.

Tourism promotion can reduce unemployment

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KATHMANDU, Oct. 8: Tourism entrepreneurs have expressed the view that the prevailing unemployment and poverty could be wiped out from the country through the promotion of tourism.
This view was expressed by people concerned with tourism business at a seminar on " role of tourism industry in poverty alleviation" organised by Nepal Tourism Journalists Association here today.

With about three hundred persons directly or indirectly employed and having a share of four per cent on the gross domestic production of the country, the tourism business is passing through recession and the festival of Dashain this year will not be so good for everyone including the labourers to the entrepreneurs in this sector.

No tourist has been physically affected by the incidents happening in the country because of the terrorist activities unleashed by the Maoists, the tourism entrepreneurs participating in the seminar said the time had come to spread the message that Nepal was completely safe for tourists.

They also pointed out the need for the government and all others concerned to join hands to boost tourism in the country and wipe out the uncertainty prevailing in the country.

Those expressing their views at the programme were first vice-president Prakash Shrestha and executive director of Ecological Trekking Pvt Ltd Ramesh Dhamala.

Tourism business contributes to more than 15 per cent of the total foreign exchange earnings for the country, it was also disclosed on the occasion.

Chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board Pradip Raj Pandey said 1,100 new tourist destinations have been identified in the country and steps were being taken for the infrastructure development of these spots. President of Nepal Tourism Journalists Association P. L. Dhital presided over the programme.

90% blinds in Nepal are villagers

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct. 8: One per cent of the Nepalese population is totally blind, while two per cent population are blind on one eye, a survey on blindness has shown. The survey found that cataract, trachoma, lack of Vitamin A and injuries to the eye are the major causes of blindness.

Cataract is the biggest cause of blindness in Nepal with about 130,000 people suffering from it.

A survey on blindness for the first time in the world was done in Nepal in 1981, and a follow-up survey was done in two districts of the country in 1995. Nepal is the first country in the world to work jointly with the World Health Organisation on eye problem.

The survey found that 90 per cent of the blinds are in the rural areas, where lack of awareness on eye diseases plays a major role in rendering them blind. Eighty per cent of the blindness can be cured with timely and proper treatment.

At a programmee organised by the Ministry of Health to mark World Sight Day today, Health Secretary Mahendra Nath Aryal said that 80 per cent of the problems related to the eye could be cured by simple treatment. He said that that an apex body needed to be established to develop eye care centers and also that more eye hospitals should be set up.

On the occasion, Secretary Aryal also released a book Textbook of Ophthalmology for Paramedicals written by 12 ophthalmologists and edited by Dr. Purna Chandra Karmacharya, C.R. Panth and K. P. Adhikari.

The book is important and useful for the MBBS students, ophthalmic assistants and nurses and others related to the medical field. The book has been published by the Nepal Prevention and Control of Blindness Programme.

The book has been prescribed as a textbook for the 3-year ophthalmic studies run by Nepal Eye Hospital. Presently 25 students are taking the course.

The Eye Hospital has been running preventive programmes in 41 districts through its centres as per the World Health Organization 'Vision 2020: The Right to Sight.

Last year, the centers checked one million patients and provided operation facilities to 120,000 of them. Nepal aims to eradicate preventable blindness by 2020.

Speaking at the programmee, Dr. B. K. Malla said more skilled ophthalmologists and eye assistants were needed to provide better treatment. Dr C. R. Panth said there were 90 eye specialists and 200 eye assistants in 18 hospitals throughout the country.

Globally there are 18 million people suffering from eye diseases and 4.5 million people are totally blind.

Education for development stressed

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KATHMANDU, Oct. 8: The Society Services Committee felicitated three persons belonging to the Upreti Clan in recognition of their special contribution in various fields of the society.

Those felicitated were Dr. Trailokya Nath Upreti, Dr. Chuda Raj Upreti and regional administrator Vishnu Dutta Upreti.

Rajparishad Standing Committee member Dr. Keshur Jung Rayamajhi felicitated them by draping them with a shawl each and also released an introductory book on Upreti lineage.

On the occasion, he pointed out the need to be educated for the all round development of the country.
Dr. Trailokya Nath Upreti, Bishnu Dutta Upreti and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the programme chaired by Nil Kantha Upreti.

Three bombs deactivated at Barhabise

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct.8: The bomb disposal team of the security forces defused three bombs planted at the Barhabise Range Post in Sindhupalchowk Monday, the Defence Ministry said in its statement today.

A medical team of the security forces ran health camps at Gorkha of Gorkha district Churphugaon and Lukumkhola of Rolpa district and provided medical treatment and distributed medicines to 171 and 60 local people respectively, the Ministry said.

The CPN-UML said today that the Maoist terrorists brutally killed Ramchandra Shrestha, the party's village committee secretary of Katunje, Dhading on Monday. The party, in a press statement today, said that Shrestha was forced out of his house at midnight and was taken a little away from the house before being killed.

The Maoists also killed Gopi Thapa, another UML worker of Jeevanpur Village committee of Dhading, at about 4:30 in the afternoon, the party said. Thapa was abducted by the terrorists from Dharke Bazaar along the Prithvi Highway before killing him. The party has severely condemned and chastised the terrorists for their criminal activities of the Maoist terrorists, the UML said.