'Monarchy midpoint of ideologies'

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: The thought that Monarchy, the symbol of national unity should be the midpoint of all ideological differences in the country today has been termed as relevant and in the interest of the nation by thinkers here.

Though ideological differences, policy disputes and other kinds of differences are obvious in multi-party democracy, it would not be in the interest of the nation if an understanding and consensus is not reached after taking the differences to the point of unanimity, they said. In this connection, in a chat with Nepal Television on Tuesday, former vice-chairman of the Royal Nepal Academy, senior journalist and intellectual Madanmani Dixit said there is no history that the Monarchy as an institution in Nepal has carried out any work against the people and that it is the prestigious aspect of Nepali history.

The dignity of the King should be maintained in the constitution not as a rubber stamp but as a King, he said adding that if so then it would be easier for the King also to work being fully based on the constitution.

The recent message by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has given a new view about the complementary aspects of relations between the Monarch and people, he added. Referring to the issues of transparency being raised by various political parties in connection to the government-Maoist ceasefire, Dixit said transparency is the main basis of democracy but looking out for transparency in grave issues of the country means misuse of transparency itself.

Dr Dixit also expressed unanimity with the Communications Minister's view that instead of leveling accusations against others in the name of democracy and mutli-party the political parties should evaluate their failure and mistakes.

Talking about conduct as per the constitution, Dixit said amendments can be made to the constitution with an amendment proposal but it is not good to speak out indifferently before the amendments are made.He also expressed the view it would be proper to represent political parties as well as various classes of the society for peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem.

Ex-RNAC chief charged with biggest corruption case

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: The Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today filed a case of corruption at the Special Court against Ramagya Prasad Chaturvedi, former Chairman of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, for amassing wealth beyond his means.

The CIAA said that Chaturvedi, who earlier had just five bighas of land, now owned properties worth Rs.77.1 million in his and his family's names. The CIAA has also made his wife and children as defendants.The CIAA, in the writ, said that Chaturvedi could disclose sources for only Rs. 8.1 million worth of property. "The remaining Rs. 69 million were earned by abusing authority while he held several plum positions at the National Construction Company of Nepal (NCCN), among others," the writ claims.

The CIAA is also investigating into his involvement in the corruption cases in the Bakraha and Rapti River Control Projects.Meanwhile, RSS adds, in a charge-sheet against Chaturbedi, the CIAA has presented what it called evidence arrived through investigation that Chaturvedi has Rs 1,667,602 in his accounts in banks in Nepal and Rs 14,485,363 in cash in the New Delhi-based SBI Bank and United Bank of India. It is also stated that he has a locker at a bank in India.

The investigation also showed that Chaturbedi's son Abhisek has a share of Rs 3 million in Om Hospital and Research Centre, Chaturvedi himself has a share of Rs 3 million in Nepal Medical College and a share of Rs 500,000 in Shikhar paints, according to the CIAA. The CIAA has in the charge-sheet sought to confiscate all types of the illegally amassed property, the source of which could not be established.

His Majesty's Government carries out all works pertaining to the construction of development-related physical infrastructure from foreign loans and assistance through the National Construction Company Limited (NCCN), the CIAA has maintained in the charge-sheet and elaborated that as HMG went on increasing the project cost through NCCN, there was a simultaneous growth in the property amassed by Ramagya Chaturbedi.

The charge-sheet also states that Chaturbedi's wife Asha has absconded after explaining her case at the commission for some days while his son Nitesh and Abhisek and daughter Aditi have not even come to explain their case before the CIAA. The CIAA has further stated in the charge-sheet that they have been named as the defendants only for the purpose of confiscating the property in their names.

The CIAA has sought confiscation of all the amount (i.e. Rs 69,182,535) earned by Chaturbedi through corruption, a fine of equal amount and a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. The CIAA also stated that this is so far the biggest corruption-related case in terms of the amount of property, the source of which could not be established.

Political parties demand consensus in peace talks

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: Four political parties represented in the dissolved House of Representatives today demanded that the upcoming government-Maoist talks be based on consensus among the major political parties of the country. The parties said they have taken the announcement of the cease-fire positively.

"A code of conduct and enough homework are needed to develop confidence and keep the cease-fire intact," said a joint press statement issued by the four parties-Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal -Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), Jan Morcha Nepal and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP).

NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jan Morcha President Amik Sherchan and NWPP President Narayanman Bijukchhe attended the meeting called by the NWPP at its central office in Bhaktapur Wednesday.

The leaders demanded that the government and the Maoists maintain transparency and carry out substantive works to make the talks successful. The meeting has asked the CPN-Maoist to stop the round-table meetings they are organising at the local levels until there was political understanding at the central level. "There is urgent need for unified peaceful movement in the country to restore the people's rights," read the statement.

The government and the Maoists should be committed to the achievements of the Popular Movement of 1990 and ensure the success of the forthcoming talks, it said. The meeting also decided to draft a framework for a peaceful and united movement in their next meeting.

Meanwhile, RSS adds, President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana hassaid the main political parties need to move ahead with a common agenda for making the government-Maoists dialogue result-oriented. Pointing out the need for all concerned bodies to be responsible in transferring the present cease-fire into a state of permanent peace, president Rana said the government-Maoists talk should be conducted based on national consensus.

In a precise interview to RSS, president Rana said the recently declared cease-fire between the Maoists and the government has emitted the rays of hope for peace in the country. Multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy can prosper only in permanent peace, he said. Highlighting the possibility of a common agenda based on the consensus of all political parties, president Rana said the political parties should move the country to the direction of progressive reform as inspired by the ideals achieved by the People's Movement -1990.]

He appealed to the Maoist side to justify the necessity of interim government, round-table conference and Constituent Assembly in the present context, which are their main demands, in a transparent manner.

Viral influenza in Bajura

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: People have been affected from cough, fever and headache since January 19 in some wards of Jukot VDC in Bajura district. The District Health Office Bajura has sent a team of health workers along with medicines, the disease control division of the Department of Health Services has disclosed. The Royal Nepal Army, police and the district administration have also been drawing information on the situation arisen from the viral influenza in the VDC. Additional teams are ready at the Health Services Directorate of the Far Western Region, said division chief Dr. Govind Ojha.

ADB keen on promoting Nepal's private sector

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is keen on promoting the Nepalese private sector for the socio-economic development of the country, said Hans-Peter Brunner, the ADB's visiting senior economist.

He said that the bank was ready to extend financial support to Nepal in Information Technology and human resources development, according to a press statement issued by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), today.

Brunner met and discussed with representatives of the FNCCI and its acting president Binod Bahadur Shrestha on issues ranging from financial sector reform to the promotion of private sectors. "The government should focus on promoting the private sector for employment generation and economic progress," Shrestha said. The privatisation process in Nepal must be transparent, he said drawing the attention of the ADB economist.

Shrestha also met David Watson, consultant at the Department for International Development (DFID), UK's international aid agency. They discussed about corporate governance, institutional development, and human resource management, the press statement reads.

Interest free loan to Myanglung fire victims

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: The Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) has started disbursing loan for the construction of houses and the income generation programme to the fire victims of Myanglung, the headquarters of Terhathum district.

Loan up to Rs 20 thousand at 4 per cent interest will be provided and it should be paid back within a period of ten years for the construction of the houses.

The process has been initiated to extend the period of repaying loan by five years for the families who have not yet paid it back, according to manager of the loan department of the ADB main banking office, Arjun Thapa. Seventy-five per cent of the old loan will be borne by HMG and 25 per cent by the ADB. It implies that the affected families need not pay any interest.Likewise, the ADB will float loan up to Rs 25 thousand per family in the first phase to take up agriculture, poultry, cottage industries and non-agricultural or any other vocation.The interest on the loan will also be borne by HMG and the ADB, it is learnt. If necessary, revision could be made in the implementation of the credit assistance scheme for the benefit of the fire victims, the main office has stated. There are 211 families affected by fire at Myanglung.

Home Minister opens training programme

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa inaugurated the special weapons and warfare training organised for senior officers of the Armed Police Force at the Armed Police Force Mahavidhyalaya, Kakani today.Speaking on the occasion, Minister Thapa said as the duty of Nepal Police is very challenging the trainees should utilise the knowledge gained in the training.Training like this is also essential to face challenges that have to be faced with the changing circumstances, he added. On the occasion, Minister Thapa presented certificates to the best trainees of the armed police basic training.Home secretary Tikadutta Niroula said it is a matter of pride to join the armed police forced dedicated to the nation, Crown and the people and expressed confidence that the police force would remain dedicated to its objectives.Acting Inspector General of Armed Police Force Sahabir Thapa pointed out the need to become disciplined in putting into practice the knowledge gained in the training and remain alert to protection of human rights in the area of jurisdiction.

TRN journo Lamsal bereaved again

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 12: In less than three weeks of his mother's death, Assistant Editor of The Rising Nepal Ramesh Lamsal has been bereaved of his father, Hari Prasad Lamsal, who died today at his residence in Phulbari Village Development Committee of Khotang district in East Nepal. He was 86.Late Lamsal is survived by his four sons and a daughter.The TRN family wishes for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expresses heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.