Embassy mooted to redress workers' woes

By Bhuwaneshor Sharma

KATHMANDU, Oct. 29: More than 70,000 Nepalese working in Malaysia are unable to express their grievances and file complaints when they are discriminated or cheated as Nepal does not have a diplomatic mission there.

The number of Nepalese working there suddenly increased to more than 70,000 within a year of Malaysia recognising Nepal as one of the five major manpower suppliers. And the number is increasing by leaps and bounds, as Nepal is unable to generate employment opportunities for the ever growing number of youths who enter the job market annually.

"It has, thus, become essential for Nepal to open an embassy in Malaysia as the number of Nepalese workers is increasing by the day," Foreign Ministry official told The Rising Nepal. "Despite the country's budgetary constraints, the government should think of seriously establishing a mission there as soon as possible…Economic potential should be our priority while establishing diplomatic missions abroad," the source said.

Remittances from manpower export has been the main source of Nepal's revenue in recent years.
"The Government can close down those embassies which are diplomatically and economically inactive, so that it can establish embassies in other countries where Nepal can benefit more," the source said.

Nepal had established a consular office in Malaysia five years ago. But a Malaysian who is not paid by the Nepalese government cannot listen to the problems facing such a large number of Nepalese, says Lalit Bahadur Thapa, Director General of the Department of Labour. Presently, any complaint in Malaysia is dealt by the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sensing the need of an embassy in Malaysia, the department had requested the Foreign Ministry to do the necessary homework last year. He is hopeful the new government will do something in this direction.

Thapa also pointed out the need of a Malaysian diplomatic mission in Nepal. Malaysia had agreed to establish a visa stamping office in Kathmandu in July this year during the visit of then Labour Minister Palten Gurung earlier in February. But this could not happen. And Nepalese workers must go to Delhi for the process. It is not only in Malaysia that Nepalese workers face problems, Nanda Raj Rai, general secretary of the Foreign Employment Association (FEA), told The Rising Nepal.

"The government should develop a mechanism so that Nepalese workers abroad do not face any problem regarding their fundamental rights and economic justice as Nepalese workers abroad have fallen victim to discrimination," he said.

Nepal earns some Rs. 69 billion from remittances, that include money paid to the 3,500 British Gurkhas in the United Kingdom.

Of about 300,000 Nepalese who have gone abroad to work with the permission of the Department of Labour, more than 70,000 of them work in Malaysia alone.

Nepal invests more than Rs. 500 million annually to run its diplomatic missions abroad. Nepal has 17 embassies, two permanent missions, 3 consulate generals and 22 diplomatic contact offices, it is said.

Nepal shares common concern in protecting fragile mountain ecosystem Crown Prince addresses global mountain summit of the last century favouring particular geographic landscape as against the mountains, HRH the Crown Prince said it is high time the pattern was reversed in favour of mountain regions. The challenges before this summit was therefore to in Nepal with a variety of activities both at the governmental and non-governmental levels, HRH the Crown Prince said perhaps the high point of these activities was the 3-day international seminar on mountains inaugurated by His mountain education, geology, medical research, mountain ethics, cultural heritage and eco-tourism, HRH the Crown Prince said.

For the first time, a mountainous region of the country had a buffer Nepal's commitment to conserve the biodiversity of the mountain region is reflected in the gorwing awareness in civil society and in the rapid increase in autonomous organisations and institutions engaged in safeguarding the environment, HRH the Crown Prince said.

Pointing out that one such organisation is the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), established in 1982 under the patronage of his late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, HRH the Crown Prince said the trust was blessed with the leadership of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev for nearly two decades. His Majesty has been gracious enough to continue to bless the trust as its patron and HRH the Crown Prince has now been entrusted with the task of leading it, HRH the Crown Prince also said .

Remarking that in the realm of mountain development, KMTNC is globally renowned for its integrated conservation and development programme that places people in the center for securing their conservation and development needs, HRH the Crown Prince went on to say thatKMTNC's contributions towards making mountain tourism both economically profitable and environmentally sustainable has been widely acclaimed worldwide.

Nepal also feels privileged to be the host country for ICIMOD, the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, HRH the Crown Prince said adding, we have been pleased to support its specialised research and programmes for the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region.

HRH the Crowns Prince hoped that the summit would be an important milestone in enabling countries with mountain regions to provide for their peoples a more prosperous, peaceful, and a sustainable future.

President of Kyrgystan Askar Akaev, speaking from the chair on the occasion, referred to the gradual loss of the originality of the mountainous areas because of the decay of the culture of tribal people, international rivalry and migration and said that effort should be made to consolidate relations among the communities living in these area to regain their originality.

Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyanpo Kinjang Dorji referred to the new development strategy pursued by Bhutan and said that the International Year of Mountains has raised the awareness of the masses to the problems faced by mountainous regions.

UNESCO Secretary General Koichiro Matsuura pointed out the need for promotion of partnership between the government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector for the development of the mountainous region.

At the programme, the Prince of Liechtenstein and Prime Minister of Tazakistan Akilov Akil Gaibul Voich also expressed their views.

The four-day summit will hold discussions on various topics including the protection of the biodiversity and sustainable development of the mountainous region.

Heads of government and head of state of various countries, representatives of non-governmental organisations, senior officials of the united nations, and representatives of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, numbering 700, are attending the summit.

Meanwhile, HRH the Crown Prince attended a luncheon hosted by President of Kyrgystan Akaev in honour of the leaders of delegations participating in the Summit.

10 terrorists killed in operation

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct. 29: Ten Maoist terrorists were killed by the security forces in their latest search and cordon operations carried out in Bajura, Rukum and Terhathum districts on Monday.

A press statement, issued by the Defence Ministry, said that eight armed terrorists were shot dead at Pandusen area of Bajura district in the Far-Western Region of the country. According to the statement, one Maoist each was killed in Gotamkot area of Rukum in Mid-West and Dandagaun area of Tehrathum in north-east.

Security forces found socket bombs, explosive weapons from the areas.

Likewise, two more dead bodies of terrorists killed in the fierce fighting at Rumjhatar airport in Okhaldhunga in eastern Nepal have been found. This brings the number of dead to 34, although many more terrorists are believed to have died in the battle that lasted seven hours on Sunday night.
Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa flew to Rumjhatar today and inspected the site of the fighting and gave directives to the security personnel stationed there.

At roughly 10 p.m. on Sunday, some 2,500-3,000 Maoists had attacked the army camp guarding the airport. The security personnel had recovered 32 bodies on Monday in and around the airport. Two more were found today. In the battle, two Royal Nepalese Army men also lost their lives.

According to the Defence Ministry statement, temporary health camps, run by the security forces, distributed medicines free of cost to 85 local people of Gorkha district and 19 local people in Kalika area of Dolpa district on Monday.

Likewise, a revenue team of the security force sized various goods worth about Rs. 132,000 while being smuggled out of Lumbini zone.

CJ stresses quick, fair justice

RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct. 29: The three-day tenth judges conference participated in by the justices of the Supreme Court and chief judges of the Appellate Courts got under way here around the theme "problems and prospects of the judiciary."

The conference will discuss mainly the role and creativity of the judiciary, judicial discipline, contempt of court and raising the efficiency of judicial manpower in the present context.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, inaugurating the conference, said that those working in dispensing justice should be more active and work with dedication to raise the faith of the people in the judiciary through judicial discipline and creativity.

He pointed out the need to pay attention to building and mobilising a necessary system and machinery in order to provide quick and quality justice to the people without any hassles and in a fair manner.

Stating that the challenges faced by the judiciary at present were heavy case load, court management and enhancing the efficiency of manpower, he laid emphasis on developing a system of dispensing justice in line with the modern age.

It is the duty of all the judges to maintain standards, creativity and effectiveness in the task of administering justice, the chief justice said and expressed the confidence that the conference will act to raise the dignity and prestige of the court.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dharma Bahadur Thapa said that cooperation from one and all was necessary to ensure law and order in the country and ensure the rule of law for the sake of good governance and to build a society free of corruption.

Stating that it is desirable to respect the feelings and aspirations of the masses for finding a way out of the present uneasy situation in the country, Minister Thapa pointed out the need for everyone to be alert and committed to provide services and facilities to the people in a simplified and accessible manner.

Attorney General Prem Bahadur Bishta, Supreme Court Registrar Vishnu Prasad Pandit, Chief Judge of Appellate Court, Patan, Khil Raj Regmi and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Komal Prakash Ghimire also expressed their views at the function chaired by senior Supreme Court Judge Kedar Nath Upadhyaya.

Khadka, Wagle under CIAA's interrogations

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct. 29: The Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for the second consecutive day this week interrogated former Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka on alleged malpractices while awarding the construction contract of the Bakraha River Control Project. Former minister Khadka is accused of awarding the contract without calling for a tender as required by law.

This is the third time Khadka has appeared in the Commission to furnish replies to the queries put up by the CIAA. He had reached there about 10.30 am and spent about six and a half hours before the commissioners. After the interrogation, Khadka refused to talk to the press who were waiting outside for his comments. About 200 supporters of Khadka had assembled in front of the commission today. Khadka is also the party general secretary of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), led by Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The CIAA today also interrogated another former minister Chiranjibi Wagle for three and half hours. This is the fifth time Wagle has presented himself before the CIAA.

He is accused of abusing power while minister in different ministries.

Talking to the press, Wagle said that he submitted detailed reports of his property, including that of his son. Meanwhile, the Special Court today authorized the CIAA to detain Ramagya Prasad Chaturbedi, General Manager of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, and Anand Khanal, Joint secretary at the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning, for 25 more days for further investigation.

Chaturbedi and Khanal were arrested on Friday on alleged corruption and abuse of power while awarding the contract for building the Rapti bridge. Chaturbedi was the general manager of the National Construction Company Nepal (NCCN), a state owned construction company, and Khanal the Director General of the Roads Department when the contract was awarded to Lama Construction three years ago.

The CIAA has asked the Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, to freeze the accounts and lockers of the two.