His Majesty receives tika

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 20: On the occasion of Indra Jatra Festival His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev received Tika and Prasad of Shree Kumari, Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairav at the Basantapur Gaddhi Baithak today.

Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was present on the occasion. Their Majesties on the occasion also observed with keen interest the chariot processions of Shree Kumari, Shree Ganesh and Shree Bhairav and various traditional dances including the Lakhe Naach or dance.
At the function, His Majesty granted audience to heads of diplomatic missions present there.

Also present on the occasion were the Prime Minister, acting Chief Justice, the National Assembly chairman, the chairman of Rajparishad Standing Committee, ministers, National Assembly members, heads of constitutional bodies, high ranking government officials and other distinguished personalities.
A large number of people including foreign tourists were also present around Basantapur to see the chariot procession of Indra Jatra Festival.

Deuba calls CWC meet to make decision on party

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept. 20: The Nepali Congress faction, led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, has called a meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) Saturday morning to christen the party and election symbol as sought by an interim order of the Election Commission (EC).

Deuba's faction was given seven days to register under a new name after the EC on Tuesday decided that the faction, led by Girija Prasad Koirala, was the legitimate party, and was, therefore, entitled to the party symbol - the tree.

Our party, led by Deuba, will choose a different name and election symbol only for the forthcoming election, said Bimalendra Nidhi, a member of the Central Working Committee (CWC). "We will not forsake our claim to be called the Nepali Congress."

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Nidhi said, " We will most likely register the party's name as 'Nepali Congress Deuba Group' on Monday, and then decide whether to go to court regarding the Election Commission's decision on Tuesday.

"It will be to ensure our rights and not to infringe on their (Koirala's) rights."

The interim order issued by the EC had also recognised the faction led by Premier Deuba as a separate group within the Nepali Congress, but had asked it to register a separate name within a week for the election.

Nidhi said the decision on September 17 was not the final, rather an interim order of the EC. "It is only for the upcoming election that we have been asked (by the EC) to find a separate name and election symbol."

We don't intend to register a new party. We are only acting according to the decision of the EC, he said.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Deuba faction, Hom Nath Dahal, told the RSS that they would not consider the appeal for party unity by Koirala. "It is meaningless."

He said the party had already decided to summon a national gathering of the party workers on September 30 and October 1 to formulate the party's future strategies. The gathering has been deferred by two days.

Nepal renews support for anti-terror war

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 20. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh has said that as globalisation and technological advances have made it possible for terrorists to move people and funds across the world with ease, concerted efforts by nations will be essential to stamp out terrorism.

We support the on-going global war on terrorism and see the need for better enforcement of the existing international law and the conclusion of a comprehensive global convention for this purpose, Minister of State Singh said while addressing the 27th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September l9.

Singh, who is leading the Nepalese delegation to the 27th Session, said the so called Maoist terrorists in Nepal have been taking innocent lives, abducting children to work as child soldiers and destroying private homes, schools and vital infrastructure.

In view of this His Majesty's Government has launched a campaign to protect people and property, he said and appreciated the moral and financial support received from Nepal's friends.

Singh deplored any suggestion that tends to equate the government's obligation to protect its citizens with the terrorists' dastardly acts of violence.

Pointing out that Nepal's commitment to un Peacekeeping operations remains robust and that the supply of fully self-sustained troops is our goal, he said that often becomes difficult for a poor country, and the United Nations must continue to bridge the resource gaps through innovative means.
Describing total elimination of nuclear weapons in a time-bound manner as the cornerstone of disarmament endeavour, he stressed the imperative for observance of the existing international treaties, ratification of CTBT and conclusion of a fissile materials cut-off treaty.

Nuclear weapon free zones, the guarantee not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states and other confidence building measures will help the process of nuclear disarmament, he said and mentioned the necessity to eradicate chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction.

Observing that small arms have taken more lives than any other weapons, he welcomed the agreement that emerged from the conference on small arms and light weapons last year, and underlined the need for stricter controls on possession of such arms by non-state actors.
He also urge the United Nations to relocate the regional centre for peace and disarmament to Nepal immediately and not to set terms and conditions over and obove what the other hosts of similar centres have accepted.

Stating that poverty reduction and sustainable development are an inseparable part of efforts to prevent conflicts and terrorism and to promote peace, he said developing countries must bear the primary responsibility of their development.

However, as the problems are so big and resources so limited that without additional resources and market access they cannot accelerate their growth and sustain development, wealthy nations will have to fulfil the commitments made at the millennium summit as well as at the Doha, Monterrey and Johannesburg conferences, he said.

Appreciating the pledges of the European Union and the United States to raise the level of their development assistance, he urged them to keep their word.

Developing countries also need a conducive global economic climate to grow, and for this to happen, rich nations must strive to lift the world economy from the current recession and agree on major reforms in the international financial architecture, he said.

While least developed countries in Africa and elsewhere need increased assistance and support to break loose from their poverty trap, developed nations should do everything in their power to meet the official development assistance targets, provide duty-free and quota-free access for LDC products to their markets, and help implement other provisions of the Brussels programme of action, he said.
Referring to the special problems of landlocked developing countries, he said they need targeted assistance to overcome their specific hurdles, as do the small and poor island developing states.
Recalling efforts in South Asia to build regional co-operation under the south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), he said the 11th SAARC Summit that Nepal hosted in January this year is testament to member states' eagerness to not let their political differences affect the progress of regional economic integration.

Nepal is fully committed to democracy, justice and human rights, including those of women and children, and it is strengthening the values and institutions of democracy and incorporating international human rights standards into domestic laws, he said adding that the National Human Rights Commission is fully functional and the judiciary is being revitalised.

With a view to finding a durable solution to the Bhutanese Refugee problem, Nepal has engaged in bilateral negotiations with Bhutan nearly for a decade, he said and called on Bhutan to take the negotiations as a matter of urgency and pave the way for the earliest repatriation of the refugees.
Expressing appreciation of international community help in the maintenance of the refugees, he urged them to continue this until the refugees return home.

Underlining the necessity for United Nations reforms, he said revitalising the General Assembly and the economic and social council constitutes a priority for Nepal which is also in favour to reinforcing collaboration and complementarities between ecosoc and the security council in their respective and ralated areas.

Speaking about an imperative for limited expansion in security council membership, in both categories, in a manner that preserves the council's agility as well as ensures equitable geographical representation, he said reform in its working methods must continue with a view to enhancing transparency and improving the quality of consulations, particularly with troop contributing countries.
Describing as central to strengthening the United Nations a vigorous Non-Aligned Movement and robust Group of 77, Singh said as a member of both Nepal pledges to work with other countries to reinvigorate these frameworks and to deepen co-operation between them and the United Nations.

Seven terrorists killed in fresh army action

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept. 20: At least seven armed Maoist terrorists were gunned down when the army attacked their hideouts in different parts of the country on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said today.
The security forces found socket bombs, guns, pistols and revolvers, explosives, hand-made weapons, goods used for planting ambushes, binoculars, terrorist documents, combat outfits, sleeping bags and foodstuffs from the sites.

One terrorist each was killed in encounters on Thursday in Solukhumbu, Sindhupalchok and Surkhet districts while in Siraha and Saptari two each were killed.

The one killed in Sindhupalchok has been identified as Bishnu Parajuli, so-called ward committee chief, while the other killed in Surkhet has been identified as Kul Bahadur Hulching.

The Ministry stated that a security personnel was physically assaulted and killed by the terrorists while on duty in Sauraha of Chitwan district. The security forces have launched a search for the murderers.

It also said that a security personnel, who was wounded in an encounter in Siraha on Thursday, has been airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment.

Kidnapped pilot, passenger freed

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept 20: Captain Arun Malla and passenger Indra Bahadur Gurung, who were abducted by the Maoists Thursday after torching a Karnali Air helicopter at Jubu in the Everest region, were released this evening.

Managing Director of Karnali Air and former minister Narayan Singh Pun told The Rising Nepal that Maoists had "unconditionally freed" them in a jungle in Khotang this morning.

"A helicopter will be dispatched to Aaiselukharka, a local trading center in Khotang, early tomorrow (Saturday) morning to pick them up," Pun said. They will probably be in Kathmandu by 9 A.M.
Pun said that he received a call from Captain Arun Malla this afternoon. "He said that he and his passenger Gurung were safe, and that they had arrived at Aaiselukharka after a five hours' walk from the place they were freed. They told me no harm had been done to them."

Maoists had attacked and set fire to the 5-seater French-made Ecuriel helicopter immediately upon landing at Jubu helipad in Solukhumbu district at about 10:30 Thursday morning. The helicopter had been chartered to bring a mourner to Kathmandu.

The Maoists released three passengers shortly after the incident, but took the two captive.

Karnali Air had bought the ill-fated chopper in 1997. The estimated cost of the helicopter is 650,000 US dollars (over 50 million rupees).

Earlier, the US Embassy had condemned the destruction of the Karnali Air helicopter and the abduction of the pilot and the passenger by the Maoists in Jubu in the Everest region.

"Such senseless destruction helps no one," a press statement issued by the embassy today read. "It only hurts Nepalis in remote, inaccessible areas who depend on such air transportation for medical and other emergencies."

The statement had called on the Maoists for the immediate and safe release of the abductees and for an end to further acts of destruction and violence.

This is the second time that Maoists have targeted a helicopter on an emergency mission in the rural area. They had destroyed a Russian-built MI-17 helicopter owned by Air Ananya in Jiri a few years back.

Terrorists set fire to forest office in Sunwal

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NAWALPARASI. Sept. 20: the Maoist terrorists set fire to the Ilaka Ranger Post Office at Sunwal VDC of Nawalparasi district on Tuesday, reducing it to cinders.

Before hurling a petrol bomb at the office, the terrorists had taken a ranger and 5 other employees out of the buildings, Parasi district forest office said.

The terrorists physically assaulted ranger Surendra Prasad Gupta, forest guard Ganesh Prasad Thakur, forest protector Idris Miya and Raghunath Choudhary two weeks ago, injuring them seriously.
Similarly, the terrorists had also detonated a bomb at Amarapuri VDC on Tuesday and vandalised immovable property.

Sixty five benches and chairs and 25 plastic chairs together with official documents were set on fire, it is learnt.

Gender equality should be globalised: NPC VC

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 20: A two-day national conference on review of the Beijing action plan kicked off in the capital today under the joint auspices of Beyond Beijing Committee, Canadian Co-Operation and Oxfam.

The conference aims at thrashing out issues and problems relating to women and Children's Rights and charting out strategies and a future course of action in this regard.

An action plan will be designed after discussions on what and which policies passed by the fourth women's conference in Beijing in 1995 have been enacted, what achievements were derived and what might be the appropriate strategies for its effective implementation.

Inaugurating the conference, Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr. Narayan Khadka said women would be given emphasis in the tenth plan as an agent of change for brining about advancements in women's health, education and income generation.

Noting that gender equality should be globalised to grapple with difficulties and challenges faced by women in society, Vice-Chairman Khadka said a special action plan should be mulled and implemented to streamline them into the country's development process.

Chairwoman of Beyond Beijing Committee Tula Rana presided over the inaugural function at which Indira Rana of National Human Rights Commission, Laxmi Rai of National Women's Commission and Rishi Babu Pariyar of National Dalit Commission called for effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and UN Convention on Child Rights to end all kinds of discrimination against women.

Programme co-ordinator Tulasa Lata Bajracharya threw light on the objective of the conference.