HM expresses profound grief

RSS

KATHMANDU, April 21: His Majesty the King has expressed a deep sense of shock and grief at learning of the sad and untimely demise of Dr. Toni Hagen.

In a condolence message to Dr. Hagen's daughter Katrin Hagen, His Majesty said that in his demise Nepal and the Nepalese people have lost a friend and well-wisher.

Nepal will always remember Dr. Hagen for the yeoman service he rendered through his poineering efforts at development and also introducing the country to the larger world, His Majesty observed.
"The Queen along with the government and people of Nepal join us in sending our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to you and other members of your family," His Majesty said adding, "May god grant you the fortitude to bear this tragic loss". His Majesty also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Govt ready to hold talks with agenda, says DPM

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: Deputy Prime Minister and coordinator of the government talks team Badri Prasad Mandal has said that the first round of peace talks slated to commence this morning could not take place as the CPN-Maoist said it would not be able to sit for Monday's talks.

The Deputy Prime Minister refuted comments that the government lacked agenda and wanted to make it just as an 'know each other' programme. He said the government was always ready to sit with agenda.

"The government is sincere and honest for the peace talks and that it is eager to transform the ceasefire into permanent peace. The government is leaving no stone untumed to achieve that objective," stated the press release issued by Coordinator Mandal.

The talks team from both the sides were expected to meet for formal talks for the first time at 8 a.m. this morning at Shankar Hotel in Lazimpat Scores of journalists had gathered at the venue and police team had also reached the place.

Members of the CPN-Maoist for the talks team left the capital today for Kailali. They are expected to be back to Kathmandu Wednesday.

Meanwhile RSS adds, Minister for Labour and Transport Management Kamal Prasad Chaulagai has said that as the people are yearning for peace at present, instigating a movement, confrontation or conflict is in the interest of neither the country nor the people.

Inaugurating an interaction programme concerning efficient civil administration and good governance organised here today on the occasion of the 14th Foundation Day of the Nepal Civil Service Employees Organisation, Minister Chaulagai said that cooperation from everybody was necessary for the management of the country politically, socially and economically through dialogue.

Referring to the eruption of various distortions and anomalies due to misgovernance in the recent past, he said that the aim was to take the country along the path of prosperity.

Stating that it was the duty of the civil service to implement the policy of the government and guarantee an efficient administration to the people, Minister Chaulagai said the civil service needed some reforms for that purpose.

As the civil administration had to bear the brunt of politicisation in the past, it should be consolidated professionally, he added.

Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Udaya Nepali said that the Civil Service Act has already been amended 33 times and it is good to make a timely amendment to it again.

General secretary of Nepal Civil Service Employees Organisation Bhola Nath Pokharel presented a working paper at the programme.

Prof. Mahendra Narayan Mishra, member of the National Human Rights Commission Susheel Pyakurel, Dr. Govinda Thapa and other speakers commented on the working paper.Organisation president Murari Bhattarai presided over the programme.

'Astrology has wide scope'

RSS

KATHMANDU, April 21: The second South Asian Astrologers Conference organised with an objective of developing astrology as well as establishing a SAARC Astrologers Federation got under way here today.

The conference organised by the National Astrological Science Service Committee Nepal is being participated in by 500 representatives of various organisations from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives and Switzerland.

The three-day conference also aims to publicise astrology, formulate an action plan and attract the younger generation.

Inaugurating the conference, Chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee Parasu Narayan Chaudhari said although astrology has been based on theology and science since ancient times, it can have adverse effect if not practiced with proper knowledge.

The mathematics of astrology should not be different, otherwise it will be looked upon by the public with a narrow outlook, he said.

Chairman Chaudhari said the conference will give important guidance to the younger generation in its social use.

Nayab Badaguruju Dr. Madhav Prasad Bhattarai highlighted the importance of astrology.
Raj Parishad Standing Committee member Dr. Swami Prapannacharya pointed out the need to bring uniformity in astrological forecasts in the changing world context.

Chairman of future point of India Arun Banshal drew the attention of all towards the declining popularity of astrology.

From the chair, chairman of the conference main management committee and senior astrologer Prof. Dr. Mangal Raj Joshi said it needs study of mathematical principles to become an astrologer.
Also speaking on the occasion were Vice-Chancellor of Mahendra Sanskrit University Acharya Purna Chandra Dhungel, president of the World Hindu Federation Bharat Keshar Singh and Tilak Raj Poudel.

UNHCR special representative arriving

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has appointed Jahn Shah Assadi as special representative to Nepal. He is arriving here tomorrow to take up his assignment in the UNHCR country office.

"Assadi's appointment as special envoy by the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva is aimed at expediting the resolution of the Bhutanese refugees in forms of verification and repatriation," Foreign Minister Narendra Bikarm Shah told The Rising Nepal.

The post has been created as a positive indication to the progress made in recent bilateral ministerial talks in resolving the 12-year-long refugee problem between Nepal and Bhutan, Shah added.
Assadi is scheduled to meet foreign minister Shah on Wednesday.

The long delayed 12th round of Ministerial Joint Committee (MJC) meeting in February this year had decided to undertake the work of categorising 12,000 plus verified refugees into four groups in Thimpu, the Bhutanese capital.

A Joint Verification Team (JVT) had verified the refugees of Khudunabari camp nearly 16 months ago.
The JVT team has been in Bhutan since February to categorise the refugees. The team is expected to submit its categorisation results by the 14th MJC meet scheduled for May in Kathmandu.
Nepal and Bhutan had agreed to categorise refugees into four groups - bonabide Bhutanese, Non- Bhutanese, Bhutanese involved in criminal activities and voluntary migrants.

More than 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin have been sheltered in seven UNHCR-supported camps in two districts of eastern Nepal since 1990. They had fled the Land of Thunder Dragon to escape ethnic cleansing.

Peace key agenda of UML, says Nepal

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: A central committee meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) held at its central office, Balkhu today called on restoring peace and consolidating the democratic rights of the people.

"UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who chaired the meeting, said that peace and democracy were the key agenda of the party," a UML press statement issued after the meeting that lasted more than three hours said.

Today's meeting was called to sort out some of the problems besetting the party. But the meeting failed to touch on these issues.

"We did not discuss the issues causing a misunderstanding among the party leaders," said Kashi Nath Adhikari, secretary at the party central office. Adhikari said that the party would settle the controversial issues at another meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Just a few days ago, the party's standing committee meeting ended inconclusively after the party's leaders failed to reach an agreement over a memorandum handed over by 52 party workers to general secretary Nepal. The memorandum had accused the party leadership of being undemocratic.
At today's meeting, Nepal called for the effective launch of a nationwide agitation, which the four major political parties, including the UML, had decided to organise from early May. Today's meeting decided to include the CPN-Maoist in their agitation.

The CPN-UML has formed a three-member negotiating team comprising standing committee members Jhalnath Khanal, Ishwor Pokharel and Yub Raj Gyawali. They are to hold talks with the Maoists and prepare a code of conduct.

It has also constituted a seven-member task force to monitor the code of conduct. It includes Bhim Rawal, Rajendra Pandey, Pradeep Gyawali, Hem Raj Rai, Shanta Manabi, Ram Chandra Jha and Prakash Jwala.

The UML meeting also extended full support to the on-going agitation of the students, which began as a protest against the price hike of POL products. But the agitation has taken an ugly turn with students affiliated to the different political parties resorting to vandalism and destruction of both public and private property. The government on Sunday reduced to the price of some of the POL products in view of the declining oil prices in the international market.

Basnet for awareness on wild life conservation

RSS

KATHMANDU, April 21: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Badri Narayan Basnet gave way prizes and letters of appreciation to winning students, organisations and individuals at a programme organised by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation under the Eighth Wildlife Week -2060, here today.

Students from 17 schools had participated in painting, oratory, audio-visual and quiz contests organised to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife.

Meanwhile, l0 rhinos have been translocated to Royal Bardia National Park from Chitwan National Park.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Basnet said wildlife week is a result oriented programme for informing people about the importance of conservation and environmental balance in human life.
Minister Basnet said students were being used in vandalising property at a time when efforts were being made to restore peace through successful talks and he called on parents and civil society to help make the talks successful.

How is it justifiable for the big parties stay away from the talks and then say that these talks will not be successful without them, he asked and added that students should not be used as a means for fulfilling their political interests.

At the function presided over by joint secretary at the Ministry of Forest Madhusudan Bista, other speakers including Director General of the Department Dr. Swoyambhuman Amatya and Shyam Bajimaya shed light on programmes.

Maoist leaders, NHRC discuss rights situation

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: The Nepal Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today called on the CPN-Maoist to implement several points related to human rights in the code of conduct as the party has now become a responsible political force in the country.

NHRC officials and leaders of the CPN-Maoist had met at the NHRC today to discuss the situation of human rights in the present context of the cease-fire. The NHRC had drafted the 22-point code of conduct to be followed by both the government and the Maoists since a cease-fire between the two was announced nearly three months ago.

A press statement issued by the NHRC said that it also emphasized the important role of the government and the Maoists in dealing with issues related to disappearances, publication of names of people killed in the conflict, assistance for the victims of torture and the rehabilitation of displaced people as well as children affected by the conflict.

Leader of the negotiating team of the CPN-Maoist Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said that his party was committed to the Human Rights principles adopted by the United Nations and also agreed to cooperate with the NHRC in the protection of human rights in the country.

The meeting was attended by the NHRC chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri, commissioners Gauri Shankar Lal Das and Shusil Pyakurel and acting secretary of the commission Kedar Poudyal while Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Krishna Bahadur Mahara represented the Maoist side.

Opening of Mountain Museum postponed

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: The grand opening ceremony of the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, scheduled for May 29 to coincide with the first conquest of Everest 50 years ago, has been postponed till early next year.

An executive committee meeting of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has decided to postpone its opening since artifacts related to mountaineering have yet to be collected.
The IMM, being constructed at the initiative of NMA, with the support and cooperation of His Majesty's Government, various foreign alpine clubs and individuals, will now be formally opened on February 5 next year."We are still collecting artifacts for the museum," Ang Tshering Sherpa, the NMA President, told The Rising Nepal today. "The hectic schedule for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the first ascent of Mt. Everest in May this year has also forced us to postpone the opening ceremony."
The construction of the museum's structure is complete. According to Sherpa, all Everest summiteers have been requested to bring their artifacts and biographies with them during their visit to Nepal in May this year. Most of the donors to the museum are from Japan.

An artifact collection committee has been formed under NMA vice-president Zimba Zangbu Sherpa.
The museum, which will be an additional tourist attraction, is expected to increase the number as well as stay of tourists in Pokhara. It will display, document and record the progeny, natural history, and cultures of the Himalaya and other mountains in the world. It will also chronicle the history of mountaineering on the Himalaya and other mountain ranges, and be used as an educational and recreational center for mountaineers, tourists, students and researchers.

The museum will contain a hall dedicated to the Himalaya, a hall on international mountains, a hall of fame, and a hall of expeditions.

Japan gives aid for increasing food production

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 21: The Government of Japan will extend a grant assistance of Rs.324 million to Nepal to increase food production, a press statement of the Japanese Embassy said today.
Japanese ambassador Zenji Kaminaga and Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, signed and exchanged notes today on behalf of their respective governments.

The assistance will be utilized for the development of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and in increasing food production.The Agricultural Perspective Plan ( APP ) has placed emphasis on fertilizers as one of the priority inputs necessary for raising agricultural production. In light of this, the grant assistance to increase food production is significant.The Japanese government had provided assistance for a similar purpose last year. On the occasion, Japanese ambassador Kaminaga expressed sincere hope that the continued support extended to His Majesty's Government of Nepal in its development efforts would help in the socio-economic development of Nepal and improve the well-being of the Nepalese people.