Cell phones to be made affordable: Pandey

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 15: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that the government was doing the necessary homework to bring cell phone services within the reach of the lower and middle class customers."It gives me satisfaction to inform you that Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) has successfully completed its preparation of extending and improving mobile phone services for the use of a larger number of people," Minister Pandey said while inaugurating the mobile phone services to two other cities, namely Hetauda and Narayangadh, here this afternoon. Until now mobile phone services were available only in the cities of Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Birgunj.Existing tariff being reviewedReminding of NTC's preparation to introduce pre-paid phone service, the minister said the government was reviewing the existing tariffs of mobile phones.Inaugurating the mobile facilities in Hetauda and Narayangadh from Kathmandu, he made direct calls on the mobile to the Chief District Officers of the respective districts and congratulated them for entering the new age of communications.Minister Pandey also said that the government was trying to introduce mobile phone services to the people of other cities and towns as well."The mobile facility will reach the Far Western towns of Dhangadhi and Mahendra Nagar by next month, and within two months it will reach other towns," said he.The NTC has extended its mobile phone capacity from the existing 60,000 to 110,000.RSS adds: Local users purchased 36 Mobile Phones sets today and there was a big crowd with applications for depositing money for the new service, it is learnt. The construction of one tower each at Bastipur and Manahari of Makwanpur district for operate the mobile phone service is in the final stages, it is learnt. After completion of the towers, any place along the Pokhara highway of the Western Region can be contacted directly from Jhapa and Kakadbhitta of Mechi zone. Kathmandu, Birgunj and Bharatpur in Chitwan district can be contacted directly by mobile phone, it is reported. President of Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Madhav Risal and a host of other speakers also expressed their views at the mobile phone sets distribution programme.

Spiritualism for nation building emphasised

RSS

KATHMANDU, Apr. 15: Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal has said a person's moral thinking and spiritual sentiments can contribute greatly in the building of a nation.

Mandal was addressing a religious programme organised by the Gurudwara at Kupandole, Lalitpur on the occasion of the Baisakhi festival of the Sikh Community.

On the occasion, he said Baisakhi is a glorious occasion not only for the Sikhs but for other religious communities as well.

He wished that this festival would bless us all by removing aberrations all over the country.

Mandal said improvement has come about in the country's situation since some months past and as the government is engaged in peace building, all should cooperate in this endeavour.

Also speaking on the occasion were Raj Parishad member Satya Pal Sachdev and Gurudwara management committee officials.

Similarly, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Prasad Sharma has said that there is the need of purification in feelings to bring changes in the life style of an individual.

Speaking at a function organised on the occasion of the 2602 birth anniversary of Lord Mahabir and non violence day he said the sacrifice and the philosophy of non-violence shown by Lord Mahabir is relevant still today.Advisor of the prime minister Prem Bahadur Bhandari said non-violence is the basis for permanent peace in the society.Director of Jain Niketan Jayant Pragya said message of non-violence, love, fraternity and friendship propounded by Mahabir are more relevant in the present materialistic world.

Violence and counter violence does not help the nation to move ahead and the preaching of Mahabir is not exploitation but equality in the society, she added. Chairman of Nepal Jain Council Dinesh Kumar Naulakha chaired the function.

DPM warns against derailing peace process

RSS

KATHMANDU, Apr. 15: Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal has said that one and all should be alert against elements trying to undermine the Nepali people's aspirations for peace and progress.
The Deputy Prime Minister was inaugurating a national level art and poetry exhibition entitled 'Art, a hope for Peace' organised by Siddhartha Art Gallery and the world peace publicity forum here today.
Accusing the major political parties of trying to undermine the peace talks out of party interests and their craving for power, he said such unfortunate activity would not benefit the country and people.
He said it is paradoxical to announce an agitation by pushing young students to the forefront, adding, the people should know those who are against peace.

Welcoming the backing of a large section of youths in the campaign to establish peace, he said all should assist in the task of handing down a peaceful and beautiful Nepal to the future generation.

At the programme, Deputy Prime Minister Mandal launched a collection of art work and poetry on peace by children titled 'the children's declaration for peace'.

He also gave away prizes and commendation letters to outstanding child talent.Executive Director of Siddhartha Art Gallery Sangita Thapa, Hari Dhakal of the World Peace Publicity Forum and Bishwambhar Ghimire shed light on the objective and importance of the programme.Eight hundred art works and poems are on display at the exhibition which will last for l0 days.

Royal Message expresses vision for future, opine politicians

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 15: Political leaders, intellectuals and businessmen have taken the Royal message given on the occasion of the Nepalese New Year 2060 B.S. very positively.

They said that the message was relevant and significant in guiding the nation towards the path of progress and prosperity.

"The message contains clear-cut directions and vision to restoring lasting peace and stability in the country," they said.

Former chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Raymajhi said that the message was very important and relevant.

Dr. Raymajhi said that since peace was a prerequisite for the social, political and economic development of the country, His Majesty the King had given topmost priority to it. "Peace is the aspiration of the people and necessity of the country. This fact is clearly reflected in the message," he said.

Stating that His Majesty has shown a desire to see smiles on the face of every Nepali and that they led a happy, content life guaranteed of two square meals a day, Dr. Raymajhi said, "This statement is of great importance for all the Nepalese."

To see that the thrust of the message materializes, all should extend cooperation to the present government so that a lasting peace can be established in the country.

He said the country was moving towards the restoration of a lasting peace following the cease-fire in the country. The political parties should reconsider their stances and help the government in its bid to achieve a durable peace.

Recalling his recent visit to some districts of the western parts of the country, Dr. Raymajhi said that people of the areas were happy with His Majesty the King as they now feel as sense of security after the Monarch assumed executive powers.

CPN-UML leader Radha Krishna Mainali said that His Majesty had shared the concerns of all the Nepalis in the message. The thrust of the message is the restoration of a permanent peace. "The message is timely, short and weighty."

Another left intellectual Hiranya Lal Shrestha said that the message reflected His Majesty's concern for rebuilding the country. "For a permanent peace, there is a need to transform the country socially and economically, which the message has clearly outlined," Shrestha added.

National Assembly member and noted industrialist Roop Jyoti said that message contained a vision for the future Nepal. "The message has brought about a wave of hope among the traders and common people as it focused on peace, security and good governance," added Jyoti.

He said that His Majesty had emphasised on political stability which was the key to the development of all sectors. "The wish of the King to see a brighter future for all Nepalese is the central theme of the message and should be pondered by all seriously."

Saying that His Majesty the King had stressed on a liberal economy, corruption-free society and transparency in the Royal Address, which took place during the civic reception in Biratnagar some months back, Jyoti said that these have outlined a clear direction for the future of Nepal.

Now it is up to the government to materialize the essence of the message, he said.

Former envoy Dr. Jay Raj Acharya said that the message stressed on optimism and a brighter future for the Nepalese by burying the pessimism and acrimony of the past. "It is highly praiseworthy and relevant."

Politician Dhundi Raj Shastri said that the Royal message reflected the reality of the country. "The decision of the political parties to launch a joint agitation will not do good to the country," he said.

Spare no efforts to solve Maoist conflict: Envoy

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 15: There is no internationally accepted definition of terrorism. The main problem is that people regarded as terrorists by one government are frequently seen as legitimate freedom fighters by others. And history is littered with terrorists, who subsequently became presidents such as Nelson Mandela or Yasser Arafat, said Keith George Bloomfield, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Nepal today.

Speaking at a talk programme on " Terrorism and Counter Terrorism" organised by Nepal Council of World Affairs (NCWA) and Nepal Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), the British envoy said, "In Nepal, the Maoists were dubbed terrorists shortly after the September 11 attack, and the removal of this tag just over a year after it was first applied was sufficient to bring about the current cease-fire and peace talks."

"To the Nepalese Maoists, an understanding of these three different approaches to the term 'terrorism' can shed light on some of the key political issues. It is, for example, undoubtedly the case that Maoists committed atrocities, acts which would normally be classed as terrorist acts and which are in fact illegal under the Nepalese law," said ambassador Bloomfield.

He further said that the Maoists and human rights organisations would also claim that the government committed unlawful acts such as torture and extra-judicial killings, though they would probably stop short of labeling these acts as terrorism as the armed forces are normally exempt from these legalistic definitions of terrorism.

"But to seek to find and prosecute all those Maoists who have broken the law or committed terrorist acts during the hot phase of the conflict would be an impossible task, running, moreover, directly counter to the widespread desire for a negotiated peace," he said.

In terms of the Maoists' motives, many would argue that in fighting for social justice and an end to poverty, unemployment and corruption, the Maoists are espousing legitimate political causes, which in the face of the failure of the State to address these issues justify the armed struggle, he said.
The terrorist tag simply reflected the changing policy of the government towards the Maoists and their attitude to negotiations, Ambassador Bloomfield said.

"Since I have been in Nepal, I have been struck repeatedly by the common features of the Maoist conflict compared to other armed insurrection movements in other parts of the world. I have seen the same self-deluding analyses on the part of those who have most to lose in the conflict, the same faith in their ability to solve the problem without outside mediation; the same tendency to blame foreign powers and the same refusal to face up to the need for profound change," he said. If I have one message today it is this: To resolve the Maoist conflict in Nepal, you need all the help and advice you can get, said Ambassador Bloomfield. In response to a query about the relationship between the Maoists and terrorists, he noted that the Maoists had links with similar groups in India. They had potential links to terrorists, he added. However, Bloomfield admitted that the root cause of the movement was poverty. President of the NBCCI Rajendra Kumar Khetan stressed the need to make common efforts to tackle the problem of terrorism. President of the NCWA Keshav Raj Jha stressed the need to share experiences to tackle the problem.

Himalaya Kumar Singh, secretary general of the NCWA, said that Nepal had shown unwavering solidarity with the Americans after September 11 and shared utmost determination to tirelessly fight terrorism worldwide.

SARS has not been detected in Nepal yet

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 15: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has so far, not been found in the country, said Health Ministry and World Health Organisation (WHO) officials at a briefing today.
Altogether 3169 cases of SARS have been reported in 21 countries of 4 continents. Similarly the number of death tolls globally due to SARS has reached 144, according to WHO's latest report. The disease is taken as the first sever new disease of the 21st century with global epidemic potential.
Nepalese government has established a national preparedness center to enhance mechanism to face the possible threat and prevent spreading of SARS, said Dr. P.B.Chand, director of Epiodemology and Disease Control Division (EDCD). The center is aimed at detecting and respond to any suspected case of SARS.

The government has requested all passengers coming via Tribhuvan International Airport to fill in the SARS surveillance form. This is done out as a part of preventive measures to control the disease. The government also has recommended postponing non-essential travel to SARS affected countries.

High fever at 38 degree Celsius, cough or breathing difficulty are the symptoms of the disease.
Most of those affected have been hospital workers looking after SARS patients and close family members of these patients. The disease is fast transmitted through air, said WHO medical officer Anhton Fric. The disease is believed to weaken the defense system of the body.

Of 7000 people filling the forms at TIA, no body was reported of being contaminated from SARS. About 15,00 people come to Nepal using air root. The government also has requested to make necessary arrangement to major hospitals of Kathmandu, added Chand.

Teku Infectious Disease Hospital has been identified as a referral hospital for SARS in Nepal and necessary arrangements have been made for this, said Dr. Chand.

Countries such as China, Canada, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom and Vietnam are major SARS affected areas, according to the WHO. The disease was first identified in February in Hong Kong this year. No specific treatment are found to cure the disease.

No need to rush for RNAC privatisation: Study team

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 15: A six-member study team today presented its report on the current state of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) to Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA) Kuber Prasad Sharma and has suggested not to privatise it immediately.

The finding comes just days after the Tourism Minister of State Rabi Bhakta Shrestha said that the ministry was thinking of re-engineering and transforming the national flag carrier into a public limited company.

The government had formed a study team under the coordination of Gobardhan Khadka on RNAC staff, about three months ago to find out the real condition of the corporation within 45 days so that an appropriate and timely decision could be taken to reform the country's only public airline.

The report explains in detail how the 45-year-old corporation incurred loses during the Nineties.
The report cites corruption, political intervention, financial indiscipline and lack of sincerity among its employees and the government's lopsided decisions to open up the sky to other air services as the major reasons behind the deteriorating state of the airlines.

"After an extensive study, the team found that both internal and external reasons were behind the poor air services during the last decade and in the early years of this century," coordinator Khadka said.

On the occasion, Khadka and other RNAC union leaders said that the government's decision to provide fifth freedom to Qatar Airways to fly via Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur, where RNAC was planning to fly, was against the interest of the national flag carrier.

Minister Sharma said that it was the past government which had awarded such facilities to Qatar Airways. "The ministry will not do anything that is against national interest," said Minister Sharma.
The minister also gave directives to all the RNAC employees to work for the interest of RNAC and the country.

"Employees are the saviors of any institution. They should be true to their institutions. Should the government find any employee not performing his or her duty properly, it will not only take departmental action but also mobilise institutions run by Surya Nath Upadhyay and Bharat Mani Jangum."

He expressed satisfaction that in just six months of him becoming minister, they were able to disseminate the truth about RNAC and stop rumours that the corporation was going bankrupt.

Handing over the report to MOCTCA secretary Riddhi Baba Pradhan, Minister Sharma said that the ministry would implement the report at any cost. He said he would ask the Public Service Monitoring and Inspection Office and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority if the employees themselves fail to sort out the weaknesses mentioned in the report.

Referring to his conflict with the then Prime Minister and President of the Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala over the corruption scandal in RNAC while he was a parliamentary member, Minister Sharma said that he worked in RNAC's interest in the past, is doing so at present and would continue to work for its well-being in the future.