Pandey, Lankan envoy discuss cooperation

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Kathmandu, February 2l.: Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Mrs Grace Ashirwatham today paid a courtesy call on Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey.

During the meet, the held discussions on matters of mutual cooperation, bilateral interest, recently announced cease-fire and peace process. On the occasion, Ambassador Ashirwatham presented her experience on matters such as conflict for a long time, the recent cease-fire and the process of peace talks in her country.

New Rajparishad chairman's profile

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Kathmandu, February 2l. Rajparishad Standing Committee Chairman Parasu Narayan Chaudhari was born to Mr Lila Ram Chaudhari and the late Mrs Krishna Devi Chaudhari in Gobardiha VDC, Dang district, in 1984 Bikram Sambat (BS) year.Chaudhari has done Masters Degree in economics. Mr chaudhari, who had taken part in the nepali congress general convention held in janakpur in 2009BS as a representative from Dang district, was nominated to the central working committee of the party the same year.He was elected to the House of Representatives from Dang district constituency-62 in the first general elections held in 2015BS.He was also the Minister for Education in the council of ministers headed by the late B.P. Koirala in 2016 BS. He had spent nine years in exile in India after the political change of 2017 BS.

Mr Chaudhari was the general secretary of the Nepali Congress from 2018bs to 2038BS. He quit the Nepali Congress in 2038BS and joined the reformed Panchayat system following policy differences with the party.

He was nominated to the Rastriya Panchayat (the then national legislature) in 2039BS and handled different ministries, He was elected the member of the National Panchayat from Dang district in 2043BS.

Although Mr Chauhari joined the Nepali Congress itself after the people's movement in 2046BS, he left the Nepali Congress and joined the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) shortly after that.
Recently he resigned from the RPP central committee.He has visited various countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Chinese envoy says Nepal capable of solving its problems

By Our Correspondent

KAVRE, Feb. 21: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hu Kyong Yong has expressed the confidence that His Majesty's Government is capable of resolving its internal problems and that peace will prevail in Nepal.

He said this while inaugurating the mid-east regional branch of the China Study Center. The Chinese envoy said that the Chinese government was keen to see the resolution to the internal problem in Nepal. There are indications that the cease-fire by the government and the Maoists will end the political problem, he said.

Stating that China was already ready to assist Nepal in its development, he said that the cordial relations between the two countries had been consolidated during the reign of His Majesty Late King Birendra and has been further strengthened by the visit of His Majesty King Gyanendra last year. Good relations exist between the two countries at the people's level as well, he said.

He also assured continued support to Nepal in its economic and social development. President of the center Madan Regmi stressed the need to broaden trade and economic ties at the people's level to develop SAARC. He said that the SAARC should be able to set up good relations with China just like ASEAN. He called for an investment climate for Chinese investments in order to raise the living  standards of Nepal.Advisor of the branch and vice chancellor of Kathmandu University Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma said that the center would help strengthening the ties between the two countries at the people's level.

Democracy Day organised in various districts

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Kathmandu, February 2l. Reports on various programmes organised across the Kingdom to mark the 53rd National Democracy Day have been pouring in.

Biratnagar: the office of newly instituted National Public Awareness Campaign at Katahari VDC was inaugurated by former VDC chairman Vidhya Nanda Chaudhari yesterday on the occasion of Democracy Day.Likewise, Nepal Intellectuals' Council, Morang organised a talk programme on ' the importance of Falgun 7 in democracy.'Various persons including council chairman Madhav Tiwari on the occasion had shed light on various aspects of democracy.Pokhara: Nepali Congress (Democratic) Kaski district committee organised a talk programme here yesterday.At the programme presided over by committee president Khem Raj Paudel, party central member Krishna Bahadur Gurung and others expressed their respective views.

Nepalganj: Banke Chief District Officer Dilli Raj Joshi felicitated 10l-year Babu Lal Kadhu, the eldest person in the district amid a programme organised to mark the Democracy Day yesterday.
Chairman of Bheri Elders and Helpless Service Center, Nepalganj Mira KC had presided over the programme.

Ratnanagar: Separate blood donation programmes were organised by different organisations on the occasion.

At a progrmme organised by Narayangadh Jaycees, some 31 persons donated their blood. Likewise, 37 persons donated blood at a programme organised by Belchowk Youth Club. Similarly, Democracy Day was marked by organising various programmes in Bhadrapur, Gulmi, Terhathum, Gorakha, Dhading, Khotang, Chautara, Baglung, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga and other places.

Arsenic inTerai water very high

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Birganj, February 2l. A one-day workshop on 'arsenic in water and measures of precaution' organised jointly by Nepal Red Cross Society, Parsa and environment and population organisation, Kathmandu concluded here today.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Mathura Shrestha said the amount of arsenic found in the water from tube well in Terai districts of Nepal is 0.05 mg per litre whereas the normal standard according to World Health Organisation is 0.01gm per litre.

Arsenic to this extent has been found in 20 different Terai districts of Nepal, he said. Research work in matters related to arsenic and its harms was started from Sunsari and Jhapa districts 2 years ago.
Dr Bandana Shrestha on the occasion pointed out the need to make the local people aware about the possible harm inflicted by arsenic.

World meet of community broadcasters kicks off

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 21: The world meet of community broadcasters that seeks to strengthen international campaign for social change through mass communication, started here today. Around 250 community radio broadcasters from 30 countries are taking part in the week-long conference known as known as AMARC-8, denoting the 8th meet in the series. It is the first time the AMARC conference is being held in Asia. The last meet was held in Milan, Italy four years ago. The international meet aims to develop Nepalese community radio as a model for the South Asian region. Not only the Frequency Modulation (FM) radios, but audio towers and wall newspapers in Nepal have set a pioneering example in the region.

The conference will also establish AMARC Asia, a new regional network of community broadcasters and frame an Asian plan of action. This seeks to build a South-centred platform for participation in global strategies for the information society.

The 8th AMARC meet that carries the thematic message of "Voices for a better world: Community media and social justice" tries to apply community broadcasting drive as a crucial means of democratic empowerment through popular access to mass communication. During the meet that winds up on February 27, community radio practioners will share experiences, form fresh networks, acquire new skills and adopt international plan of action for the next four years, the organisers said at a press conference.

Special emphasis is being placed on advancing the role of Asian women in community media as an integral part of charting out an Asian plan of action. The meet is being organised by the Montreal-based AMARC International in partnership with Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) and Radio Sagarmatha.

Various measures initiated for NEA reforms

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Kathmandu, February 21. Minister For Water Resources Deepak Gyawali inaugurated the third national general convention of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) employees welfare council here today. On the occasion, Minister Gyawali said that various measures have been initiated for reforms at the NEA.

He said the government decision to make the nea's 18 distribution centres as semi-autonomous bodies was one of the important steps towards NEA reforms. The Minister said besides nea there is a need of extensive reforms at the Ministry of Water Resources also.

Expressing remorse that the Nepali side has been weak in various pacts and agreements in which foreign countries are a party, he said the Nepali side has been slighted in the power purchase and sales agreement also. He said the impending peace talks between the government and the maoists would also focus on the political, social and humanitarian aspects.

On the occasion, various speakers pointed out the need to review the power purchase agreement signed with India and giving priority to nepal's national interests in such pacts and on doing away with various irregularities such as in the purchase of goods and equipment for NEA. President of the NEA employees welfare council Bal Kumar Shrestha presided over the programme.

Reactionary developments intolerable: Thapa

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Kathmandu, February 2l. Former Prime Minister and former chairman of the RPP Surya Bahadur Thapa has said that the country will not put up with reactionary developments no matter what the circumstances.

Addressing an interaction program for party central observers organized here today by the party central committee, Mr Thapa said the country is today advancing on the path of reform. Refuting publicity to the effect that Mr Thapa is turning the party towards a reactionary path, he said the party leaders and workers should commit themselves to establishing the RPP as a leader in political reform, economic development and social change.

He said the party's stance on Constitutional Monarchy and multiparty democracy is clear, adding that talks between the government and the maoists should be transparent and they should take the political parties into confidence.

On the occasion party central member Bhuvan Pathak and Prem Bahadur Bhandari presented a working paper on the party consolidation program and its views in the present context. RPP President Pashupati Shumsher JBR was also present on the occasion.

Regional meet on data needs assessment held

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 21: A five-day regional workshop on "Data Needs Assessment and Action Plan" was organised by South Asia Regional Initiative USAID, Energy Information Administration in collaboration with Centre for Energy Studies (CES), under the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University.

According to a press statement issued by CES here today, 22 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the workshop. Addressing the closing ceremony today, Dr. Mark Rodekohr, Director of Energy Information Administration under the U.S. Department of Energy, said that the workshop was fruitful. Prof. Dr. Jib Raj Pokharel, IOE Dean, said that the cost of electricity should be brought down through efficient management and reducing leakages.

CES Director Prof. Jagan Nath Shrestha said that the recommendation for establishing energy information centre at CES with close cooperation with WLCS is not only timely but also very essential for energy forcasting and analysis.Michael DeTar, Director of Regional Environmental Hub, US Embassy, said that energy and environment are closely related. He emphasised the need to develop clean energy.

IGP Shrestha's murder Maoist's declared plan

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb.21: The murders of IGP of the Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha, his wife Nudup and bodyguard sub-inspector Surya Bahadur Regmi was a meticulously plan act, and a part of the CPN-Maoists' declared plan of wipe out political, administrative and security pesonalities.
The IGP, his wife and the body guard were gunned down near the Bagdol cross road at Jawalakhel Ring Road while they were on a morning walk on January 26.

A five-member probe committee headed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Keshav Baral has found that the special task force of the CPN (Maoist) in Kathmandu Valley was involved in the killings. The committee submitted its report to Inspector General of Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa on Thursday.
The report has found four persons - Harke alias Umesh Tamang, Bibek alias Krishna Hari Sainju, Asha alias Jujubhai, and an unidentified person who looked like Rolpali Magar - of being directly involved in the incident.

The report said those providing active support to the killers have been identified as Gopi Krishna Nagarkoti, a resident of Panauti Municipality Ward No. 10 in Kavrepalanchowk, who has been living in Kathmandu for the last 10-12 years working in garment factories; Sita Karanjit, a resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 20 at Jaisidewal, and currently living in rented room at Bagdole in Lalitpur and working in a garment factory; and Kamal Bista, a resident of Pakha VDC in Kalikot district, and working at Heritage Fashion Garment at Bagdole.

Sainju, who was injured when the weapon he was carrying had gone off, was arrested from the incident site. Nagarkoti was arrested from his room, and two electric detonators, an empty magazine of a small Chinese pistol, and some documents were found in the room. The murders used Karanjti's room as shelter, and about three or four days ago they had given Karanjit two Chinese pistols and its bullets for safe keeping. Karanjit and Kamal Bista were arrested during investigation.

The report said that Umesh Tamang, who is yet to be arrested, was involved in making plans for the murder, making arrangement for weapons, to keep vigil at the incidence site and also to shoot. He has also been identified as being involved in several terrorist acts in the past through the garment workers union.

The report also said that Jujubhai, who is also absconding, was the other who had fired at IGP Shrestha, his wife and the body guard in the morning of January 26 killing all three. He was also actively involved in terrorism in the Valley in the past, the report said.

Nepal lacks skilled pathologists

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Kathmandu, Feb. 21. The number of skilled and qualified pathologists in the country is negligible.
Although there are some 4003 people, including technical and non-technical, working in the pathology services in Nepal, only 53 are qualified specialist pathologists.

A majority of the qualified pathologists are working in the Kathmandu Valley alone while only nine specialist pathologists are providing services in Birgunj, Pokhara, Biratnagar and other towns.
In this backdrop, the fourth congress of the Association of Clinical Pathologists of Nepal (ACPN) began here today.

At the congress, extensive discussions will be held on the ways of upgrading the number of pathological doctors in the country, the ways of enhancing the quality and reliability of pathological services and making an assessment of the works done so far and the problems encountered by the sector.

Some 250 clinical pathologists from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, including Nepal are taking part in the two-day conference. Fifty working papers on pathology are to be presented in course of the congress.

Inaugurating the conference, Minister for Health and Science and Technology Dr. Upendra Devkota called upon all those working in the field of clinical pathology to help materialise the objective of providing specialist medical services to every Nepali citizen within the ten years.
Stating the health services cannot become reliable and dependable in the absence of quality clinical pathology services, he pointed out the need for the people involved in the sector to be responsible towards their duty.

On the occasion, Health Minister Devkota felicitated Dr. Durga Man Joshi for his long service in the field of clinical pathology services. Secretary at the Ministry of Health Mahendra Nath Aryal disclosed that a health service work guideline is being prepared in order to make the clinical pathology services more standard and reliable.

President of the Clinical Pathology Association Dr. Sarala Malla pointed out the need for synergy between the government and the private sector to expand and upgrade clinical pathology sector.
Dr. Durga Man Joshi, ACPN general secretary Dr. K.B. Karmacharya, Dr. Ibihara, Dr. B.K. Nair, Dr. Anwar Hussein and others also expressed their views on the occasion.

RNA offer streatment to those injured during operation

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Kathmandu, Feb. 2l. The Defence Ministry has heartily requested to all concerned who were injured during the process of the action of the security at various place in the kingdom to contact the camp of the Royal Nepal Army convenient to them to receive medical treatment.

In a press statement published here today, the Ministry has called upon those injured during the operation carried out by the forces to ensure law and order in the country that they will be provided medical treatment on humanitarian ground without any prejudice.