HM to grace Democracy Day function

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: The birth anniversary of His late Majesty King Tribhuvan and the 53rd National Democracy Day are being celebrated with enthusiasm across the Kingdom for three days from tomorrow with various programmes.

His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will grace the special function to be hosted at the Royal Nepal Army pavilion on February 19.

The same day, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Democracy Day Main Celerbation Committee Lokendra Bahadur Chand and committee members are scheduled to offer bouquets and pay hearty tributes to martyrs at the Martyrs Gate.

The Prime Minister and other members of the main celebration committee will participate in the special function to be held at the Royal Nepal Army pavilion.

Radio Nepal and Nepal Television will transmit live the proceedings of the special function.
The same day, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television are scheduled to hold panel discussions programme while Radio Nepal will also organise a symposium of national and folk songs entitled "Nation, Monarchy and Democracy".

To mark National Democracy Day, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists will organise a symposium on "Role of press in the protection of democracy."

At all district headquarters outside Kathmandu valley, the Shripanch Tribhuvan birth anniversary and National Democracy Day celebration district committees constituted under the convenorship of the chiefs of the district development committees will organise morning rallies, sports events, talks programme and cultural shows for three days.

Illumination will be carried out throughout the Kingdom in the evening of February 18, 19 and 20 to mark the His late Majesty King Tribhuvan birth anniversary and National Democracy Day.

Crown Prince opens song festival

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated today the National Song Festival organised by Radio Nepal to mark the 53rd Auspicious Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and the 53rd National Democracy Day.

On the occasion, the Crown Prince listened with keen interest to songs felicitating Her Majesty on the occasion of Her Majesty's Auspicious Birthday prepared by Radio Nepal. Seven other outstanding patriotic songs were also sung at the function.

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was also present on the occasion.

Their Royal Highnesses were also presented with a CD album of those songs by Minister for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also felicitated various artistes for their notable contributions in the field of music. Those honoured were singers Natikaji, Shivashankar, Taradevi and Fatteman; music composers Koilidevi, Chandra Raj Sharma and Ambar Gurung; lyricists Kiran Kharel, Ratna Shumsher Thapa and Kali Prasad Rijal; and folk singers Jhalakman Gandharva and Laxmi Joshi.
Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Raj Parishad Standing Committee chairman Kesharjung Raymajhi, ministers, senior governmental officials, literary figures and artistes were present at the function organised by Radio Nepal.

The objective of the programme was to increase people's faith in Monarchy, nation, and democracy as well as to promote Monarchial culture.

Speaking at the function Minister Pandey said that there was deep relationship between the Monarchy and the people throughout Nepal's history.

"The Monarchy has played a glorious role in keeping the national sovereignty intact," added Pandey.
He said that dialogues and discussions were the characteristics of the multi-party democracy and such discussions and dialogues were not unnatural. "But Monarchial culture should be the guideline to resolve all disputes," noted Pandey.

He also recalled that the institution of monarchy had played an important role in the promotion of songs and music. "His late Majesty King Mahendra had made remarkable contributions in the development of the Nepalese art, songs and music."

He hailed Radio Nepal for taking the initiative to honour singers, artistes and musicians.

The patriotic songs sung at the programme included 'Hamro Ramya Des' written by Lokendra Bahadur Chand; 'Deslai Deu Bhaner Magdain' of Nir Shah; 'Bidhiko Sashan Bhaidiye Rajya Chalchh Ainle' of Bimal Koirala, and 'Nepali Jati Mileko Jati Chhuteko Najati' of Rajendra Thapa.

Radio Nepal and Nepal Television transmitted the programme live.

A tradition of royal love for arts

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev has given continuity to the royal tradition of love, encouragement, interest and affection to literature, music and arts.

On the occasion of the auspicious birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, birth anniversary of Tribhuvan, Father of the Nation and 53rd National Democracy Day, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince honoured senior musician Natikaji, first woman vocalist Koili Devi and senior folk singer Jhalakman Gandharva at a function organised by Radio Nepal here today.

Natikaji, 78, is suffering from high blood pressure, Koili Devi, over 70, heart disease and Gandharva, over 60, is suffering from asthma.

The senior artistes of Nepal appreciated with gratitude the love, encouragement and affection of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Their late Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya had also shown similar love, affection and encouragement to famous senior singer Koili Devi at a special function held on the occasion of the anniversary of Radio Nepal in 2056 B.S.

Tara Devi has sung many of the songs composed by Her Majesty late Queen Aishwarya in the pen name of Chandani Shah.

Many songs composed by late Princess Prekshya under the pen name of Soni Shah have been collected in Radio Nepal.

Famous lyricist late King Mahendra used to visit the Radio Nepal and encourage the artistes.

Ratna Recording was established with the private investment of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is a popular lyricist under the pen name of G. Shah.

Her Majesty's birthday celebrations from today

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: The auspicious 53rd birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah will be celebrated across the Kingdom for three days beginning tomorrow.

On the occasion, the Auspicious Birthday Celebration Citizens Main Committee is to assemble at the statue of His late Majesty King Mahendra at Durbar Marg, proceed the west gate of Narayanhiti Royal Palace and offer bouquets, felicitations, gifts, souvenirs and badges to Her Majesty the Queen, wishing her hapiness, peace, progress, good health and long life.

To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand will inaugurate the Kathmandu Festival to be organised at Basantapur from February 20 to 22.

Likewise, Her Royal Highness Princess Shobha Shahi will tomorrow inaugurate the Children's Park at Kanti Children's Hospital complex.

Prayers and worship will be held at various maaths and temples and illumination carried out in the evening tomorrow.

Parties back govt for peace

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: Six political parties present in the all-party meet organised at the Prime Minister's office this afternoon hailed the government's policy level decision about transforming the ceasefire into a permanent peace. But the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, the two major political parties, failed to attend the meeting.

The much awaited meeting was attended by president of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana, acting president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi, and leaders from Nepal Samata Party, Nepal Hariyali Party, and RPP (Nationalist).

The political parties said that they would work together with the government in maintaining peace in the nation thereby transforming the ceasefire with the Maoists into a permanent peace.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand told the press that it was unfortunate that the major political parties refused to participate in the meeting that was planned to discuss as to how the ceasefire could be changed into a lasting peace.

He said that he was surprised when the parties failed to turn up without any prior information.
Although there were news reports about their refusal to take part in the meeting, they had not sent any notification to this effect. "I was expecting them at the meeting," Prime Minister Chand said.
"Their absence is unfortunate, but the peace process will take its course," Premier Chand said.
Chand said that it was the first time the democratic parties had put forwards conditions on maintaining peace in the country.

"The government has always left its doors open for talks, but they (political parties) have closed theirs. We will, however, continue to approach them and seek their cooperation," Premier Chand said.
He said that the government expected support from all the political parties, organisations and civil society to fulfill its mandate of restoring peace in the nation, and then holding elections.

The Prime Minister also informed that the peace talks with the Maoists had already been initiated.
"We are discussing and working on the code of conduct to be maintained during the peace talks," Premier Chand said, adding that the government had called for the all-party meet to discuss these matters.

Answering queries regarding the major political parties' demand for a powerful all-party government to resolve the Maoist issue, Prime Minister Chand said that it was an absurd idea as the present government, with representation of several political parties, was capable enough to deal with the problems facing the country.

Meanwhile, RSS adds that Spokesman of His Majesty's Government and Minister for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey said the leaders of the political parties taking part in today's meeting lauded the efforts made by the present government for the establishment of peace in the country.

The participating leaders also expressed concern over the absence of some political parties from the meeting even though they were invited in writing, he added.

PM to address Kuala Lumpur Summit of NAM

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand is leaving Kathmandu for Kuala Lumpur on February 22 to participate in the XIII Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to be held from 24 to 25 February 2003.

The XIII NAM Summit is expected to take stock of global peace, security and development issues. Among other things, the summit will also discuss matters related to disarmament, the reforms of the United Nations, international terrorism and revitalisation of the movement in the changing global context.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Chand will highlight Nepal's unflinching commitment to the NAM and seek the movement's continuing indulgence in the interest of the least developed countries, among others.

Prime Minister Chand is scheduled to address the summit in the afternoon of 24 February.
Earlier, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the XIII NAM Summit and will also attend a luncheon to be hosted by Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The same day, Prime Minister Chand will also attend a dinner to be hosted in honour of the heads of state and government by the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

On 25 February, Prime Minister Chand will attend the plenary meeting of the summit. The same afternoon, he will attend the closing ceremony of the NAM Summit.

Prime Minister Chand is scheduled to leave Kuala Lumpur on February 26 and arrive in Kathmandu the same day.

Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse Mrs. Subhadra Chand, Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah, Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya and some other high officials of His Majesty's Government.

Permanent representative of Nepal to the United Nations Murari Raj Sharma and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Malaysia Janak Bahadur Singh will join the delegation in Kuala Lumpur from New York and Bangkok respectively.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah will also lead a Nepalese delegation to the NAM ministrial meeting to be held on 22 February.

Monarchy symbol of national unity: Pandey

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 18: Minister for Information and Communications Rameshnath Pandey has said that the Nepali people regard monarchy, the symbol of national unity, as the point of convergence when reaching conclusions, on a collective basis in debates, ideological clashes and differences of policy arising in the natural conduct of democratic politics.

Minister Pandey made this remark in a message given to Radio Nepal and Nepal Television today on the occasion of the auspicious birthday of Her Majesty the Queen and the King Tribhuvan Jayanti and 53rd National Democracy Day.

Pandey, who is also coordinator of the celebration programme committee, said as His Majesty the King and all Nepalis are fully committed to democracy this has a bright future in Nepal and the country that has been exercising democracy since the past more than half century wishes to stride towards a prosperous future through honest observance of the democratic governance system.
Monarchial culture is the ideological basis of the proud history of Nepal that did not let its flag of freedom down even during dark phases of the history when the entire South Asia region succumbed to the expansion of imperialism, Minister Pandey said adding that Nepali politics matured as a result of the multiparty democratic values resulting from monarchial culture.

One cannot protect the independent existence of a country by forgetting one's culture, the main thrust of social harmony, one's background and the basis of one's independent personality, Pandey said in the message adding that this conclusion in history is more relevant in the present world than in the past.

We Nepalis have to become more sensitive today than yesterday in our commitment toward our freedom and towards democracy, he added.

8th World Hindu assembly to be held in Nepal

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GORAKHPUR, Feb. 17: The Seventh World Hindu General Assembly held at Gorakhpur of India has passed a proposal to accept His Majesty the King of Nepal, the only Hindu Kingdom in the world as the King of all Hindus across the globe.

An 11-point proposal including a complete ban on cow slaughter and assistance to Hindu orphans was also passed by the assembly.

Some 28 countries including Nepal took part in the general assembly. It was decided on the occasion to hold the next World Hindu General Assembly in Birgunj of Nepal.

The three-day assembly held at Gorakhshapeeth also stressed the need for stopping the mistreatment and injustice meted out to Hindus and set up service-oriented industries to provide employment opportunities for Hindu youth.

Vacancy of judge at Special Court to be filled up soon

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: The Judicial Council has clarified that the vacancy of a judge (member) at the Special Court will be filled after some time. There is a provision for three members at the Special Court including chairman and there was no impediment for the two members to clear the court cases, secretary to the Judicial Council Kashi Raj Dahal has stated. The Judicial Council will make recommendations to fill the vacancy. Judge Damodar Sharma who had been on deputation at the Special Court with his post still remaining at the Appellate Court Patan has been transferred to the Dipayal Appellate Court as per the decision of February 7.

Body to formulate atomic policy formed

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: His Majesty's Government has constituted a 15-member directive committee with the Minister or Minister of State for Science and Technology as chairman to carry out a study of natural radiation including identification, survey, research and processing of various goods and formulate an atomic policy.

The vice-chairman of the committee is the member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) in charge of science and technology, and its members are the vice-chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST), the secretaries at the Ministries of Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Health.

The other members are the chief scientific advisor at the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Director General of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the departmental head (Radiology) of Bir Hospital, the chief (Radiation Oncologist) of the B.P.K.M. Hospital, Chitwan, the chief geologist of the Department of Mines and Geology and the senior nuclear chemist and the departmental head of nuclear physics at Tribhuvan University while a joint secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology will be member secretary.

The committee has been constituted with the objective of ensuring the safety of the people in case of atomic accidents in neighbouring countries and carrying out continuous identification, monitoring and evaluation of the level of physical and environmental radiation, and informing the public of the findings of the atomic sciences.

The peaceful use of atomic energy would be an important contribution in making the country dynamic, modern, prosperous, and strong while at the same time a necessity has been felt to develop and use atomic energy in sectors such as agriculture, industry, medical sciences, food and power for the overall development of the country up to the international standard, the ministry has stated in a press release issued here today.

'No fee' at primary level to hit public schools

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb.17: Primary schools in the public sector where millions of children study are to face the financial problems due to the government's decision not to charge any fee of the level from the coming session.

Education and Sports Ministry publicising the 29-point decision about 3 months ago had declared not to take any kind of fee from the primary schools of the public sector, said Minister Devi Prasad Ojha. Saying that the law prohibits charging any kind of fee in the primary level, he said that the decision would be implemented from the coming session.

If so, educationists doubt, many schools would not be able to run due to the lack of economic sufficiency. According to them, the economic factor plays an important role in maintaining the standard education and it could not be fulfilled without physical infrastructures such as roofs, furniture and education materials, which many schools are still deprived of.

There are about 24,000 thousand primary schools throughout the country. The government provides budget to run 17,000 of them and the local communities operate rest. Those schools to which the government allocates the budget, except the monthly salaries and allowances, get Rs. 11,000 for each school and Rs. 300 for each teacher as miscellaneous expenditures. But they are inadequate even to buy chalk, dusters and other education materials.

Due to the provision of not providing the budget for other staff or peons, they are paid from the school's administrative expenses. Those personnel are paid at least Rs. 800 a month each chipping off Rs 9,600 out of Rs. 11,000. The rest Rs. 1,400 is spent on examination, renovation, and sports materials. But that is not enough. To meet those expenses the schools have been charging fees from the students. But, if schools are barred from charging tuition fees, how would they run, experts wonder.
Regarding this, a higher official of the ministry on condition of anonymity said, "We are thinking of allocating sufficient budget to meet the cost of running the schools. But he did not say where the government would get the money from.

Nepali Haj pilgrims safe, says Ministry

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 17: All Nepali Haj pilgrims currently in Mecca and Madina of Saudi Arabia are safe, says the Home Ministry.This year 123 Nepali Muslims left for the Haj pilgrimage and all of them are safe and sound, adds the ministry quoting chairperson of the central Haj committee and leader of the Haj pilgrims Saiyed Firoz Shaha.