His Majesty felicitates

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 2: His Majesty the King has extended sincere congratulations to Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, on his assumption of the high office of President of Brazil. In a message, His Majesty has wished the President success in his new responsibilities, and expressed confidence that the close and friendly relations existing between the two countries will be further strengthened during his tenure of office.His Majesty also extended best wishes for the President's personal health and happiness as well as for the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Brazil.

HMG working to usher in peace, says PM

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan.1: The government is working in line with the aspirations and wishes of the people from Mechi to Mahakali to usher in peace in the nation, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said.

"The common people, businessmen, industrialists, intellectuals, students and civic groups want peace, and there is no two opinion on this," Premier Chand said while inaugurating the "New Road Festival-2059", organised to celebrate the 32nd Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev at Basantpur today.

The four-day festival, organised under the aegis of Dharmapath Youth Club, will last till Janaury 4. It has 103 stalls showcasing traditional methods of making beaten rice (chiura) to stalls selling utensils, clothes, foodstuffs and cosmetics. "Once peace as well as the law and order situation improves, industry and business along with other sectors will prosper," he said.

The New Road Festival is aimed at uplifting the sagging business. "The Festival will also provide guidelines for the promotion of the tourism sector by knowing the interest of tourists," he added.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of promoting Nepalese culture, religions and natural diversity to facilitate the growth of Nepalese tourism.

On the occasion, an Air Karnali helicopter flew over New Road and Basantpur and showered the area with flowers, ticker-taps and chocolates, sending the people running around to pick them up.
At the inaugural function, Chairman of Auspicious Birthday Organising Main Committee Rajesh Kaji Shrestha said that it was a matter of happiness to have the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at a time when the nation is passing through an uneasy time.
At the programme, Prime Minister Chand presented gifts to 11 persons who helped organise the festival.

High ranking Maoist leader surrenders

RSS

POKHARA, Jan. 1: Advisor-member of the so-called Maoist Joint Revolutionary People's Council central popular government Lok Bahadur Thapa surrendered before the district administration office, Kaski today with a determination to join in the development of a peaceful society and abandon the Maoist party that preaches murder and violence.

Stating that the reforms and changes wished by the Maoists party cannot be achieved through murder, violence, looting and destructive activities, Thapa declared that he would always struggle against violent policies and not be associated with any sister organisation of the Maoists.
Thapa had served as general-secretary of Nepal Magar Association, central vice-president of All Nepal Nationalities Association, founding chief of the Magarat Rastriya Mukti Morcha Nepal and also as general secretary of the former Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal.

In a statement following his surrender, Thapa said that a solution of the present problem facing the country should be reached through the monarchial, multiparty system.

Stating that before the Maoist party became involved in terrorist activities he had worked under the pseudonyms of Karnadwaj and Dharma, Thapa has also urged his daughter Amrita Thapa, son-in-law Hitman Shakya and all others involved in criminal activities to leave the path of murder and violence.
Likewise, Tanahu district No. 3 area member of the Maoist group Birendra Kumar Shrestha, also known as 'Chinkaji', has surrendered before the district administration. He had been involved in terrorist activities since the past seven years.

Stating that murder, violence and destructive activities would not bring revolution or change but only destroy the country, he has also urged the Maoist workers and guerrillas who have unknowingly been involved in terrorism and criminal acts to leave that outfit. All ground level workers of the Maoist party are forced to work with empty stomachs, all donations collected had to be handed over to the leadership and anyone leaving the party was threatened with dire consequences, Shrestha said adding that if a conducive atmosphere was provided not even one-third of the Maoists workers would continue in the movement.

The two had been under custody of the security forces for the past nine months. Similarly, Shanti Tamang, who had been declared a martyr by the Maoist group, also surrendered before the district administration today.

Tamang had been injured after being fired at while trying to escape a security forces cordon. Stating that the army personnel donated their blood to save her life, Tamang has expressed surprise over rumours spread after declaring her a martyr.

She has also urged the authorities concerned to make arrangements for a living for her such as a business or employment as she has nowhere to go following her surrender.

Court hearings on Khadka's case begin

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan.1: The three-member bench of the Special Court began hearings today on the charge sheet filed against former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka who has been accused of abusing his authority while awarding the contract of the Bakraha River Control Project.

The Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a charge sheet against Khadka on December 24, accusing him of causing financial damage to the nation worth Rs. 40.5 million while awarding the contract to China Henan International Economic Technical Co-operation.
The CIAA has been demanded that he be sentenced for a maximum of five years along with a fine equal to the damage caused to the nation.

Along with Khadka, the CIAA had filed charge sheets against the then Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources Bishownath Sapkota, Deputy Director-General of the Irrigation Department Amodananda Mishra, Chief of the Bakraha River Control Project Narayan Bahadur Thapa and Cao Shuangqun, manager of China Henan Construction Company. The CIAA has also demanded maximum sentence and a fine from each of them.

CIAA prosecutors Prem Raj Karki and Yuba Raj Subedi pleaded before the court not to release them on bail as they had misused their authority and harmed the nation. Joint-Attorney General Prem Raj Karki said that Khadka and his associates had illegally taken financial benefit by paying in foreign currency to the construction company, thus violating the Financial Administration Act. He accused them of making the decision to award the contract with the motive of benefitting personally.

Another Joint-Attorney General Yuba Raj Subedi accused all of them of indulging in corruption and ignoring the other competitors bidding for the project. Subedi pleaded that they should not be released on bail.

Advocate Borna Bahadur Karki, pleading on behalf of Narayan Bahadur Thapa, requested the court to release him as he had done no harm to the nation while awarding the contract. The prosecutor on behalf of Khadka and associates will continued on Thursday.

Khadka, Mishra and Thapa were detained by the CIAA on October 30 and have been in judicial custody. Sapkota and the contract manager of China Henan Company have not been detained so far.

Law on helmet, seat belt into full effect Safety helmets sell briskly

By Preeti Subba

KATHMANDU, Jan 1: The Act that requires both the driver and the pillion rider to wear safety helmets has been enforced from today. Although two wheeler drivers have been sporting safety helmets since 1992, the headgear for the pillion rider came into effect only from Wednesday.

The Transport and Vehicular Management Act 2049 has clearly mentioned in a clause that the driver of the four wheel vehicle and the front passenger should fasten their seat belts, and another clause states that the riders of two-wheelers should wear safety helmet.

But how many people really know what a safety helmet is? "I know we have to wear safety helmets to protect our heads, but I don't know what constitutes a good head gear," said Krishna Man Shrestha of Samakhushi who was in Teku to buy a helmet. Shrestha, who considers safety is a priority, also thinks an individual's purchasing power will decide what he gets. "Good helmets are so expensive."

Surendra Gupta of Tripureshwor-based Shiwa Motorcycles Parts says full face helmets are safer, however, the quality specifications only the manufacturer can tell. "Only a few people are aware about the safety value of helmets. Most of us see it only as a legal compulsion," says Gupta. "We are here to meet the demand for helmets. On the subject of safety and requirement, it is best to ask the traffic police," says Shambhu Yonzon, of Vivek Auto Parts Center at Teku. The price of his helmets ranges from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,500.

Catalogues describe a good helmet as one that will break but not disintegrate in the event of an accident. Bindu Ratna Tuladhar of Star International at Ramshahpath is a helmet importer with 20 years' experience in the field. He says mostly Italian, Belgium and Japanese-made helmets are of high quality as they specially designed for speed racing. The exterior part is made of fiber glass while foam lines the interior part.

"Whether half face or full face, both helmets protect the head well. The only difference is that the half face helmet will not protect the chin. But on the other hand, the chin can be reconstructed, not the head," he said. Most customers go for the look of helmets. "Some customers want unique pieces, but they are not concerned about the safety," said Tuladhar. A common helmet will protect the head if the motorcycle has been cruising at normal speed or 30/40 km/hr.

There are as such no definite standards for safety helmets in Nepal. The Traffic Police Department has not clarified on this matter. But a source at the traffic police said that they are not the ones to make policies, they are only the implementors. "We just want the riders to build the habit of wearing helmets first, and then only we will think about setting up the safety standards," says a traffic police source

Traffic police extra vigilant

By B.P. Aryal

KATHMANDU, Jan. 1: Traffic police were extra vigilant today on the motorcyclists - stopping two-wheelers on which the pillion riders were not wearing the safety helmets as demanded by the new regulation. They were either cautioned with their registration number noted down or were asked to get down.

Many passengers on two-wheelers, even women and children, were seen wearing the helmets, many of them gleaming ones. Traffic police said about 90 per cent of the back riders wore helmets today as demanded by the newly imposed regulation of the Vehicular and Transport Management Act 2049.
In a bid to prevent casualties, the Valley Traffic Police Office (VTPO) and the Department of Transport Management have made it mandatory for all pillion riders to wear helmets from today.

"While checking, we found that only about 10 per cent of the pillion riders were not wearing helmets," said a senior official of the VTPO. "We have warned them and noted down the motorcycle numbers."
Although an act was enacted 10 years ago making helmets compulsory for riders, only those in the front have been wearing them.

Most of the accidents which take place in the valley involve motorcycles. In the event of an accident, 80 per cent of the front riders and nearly cent per cent of those riding behind are affected.
According to the act, any motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet can be fined anywhere between Rs. 200 to 1000.

Pillion riders without helmets were asked to get down by the police. But after walking some distance, they were again back on the hind seat, said the traffic police. A report published by the Bir Hospital Emergency Ward shows that nearly all motorcycles accidents result in head injury of the pillion rider, which in most cases is of a serious nature.  An estimated 155,000 motorcycles are registered in the capital, and 79 new two wheelers are added each day, according to the VTPO.

The new regulation that makes helmets compulsory for pillion riders was effectively enforced in Biratnagar in east Nepal recently.

'None can stop people from civic reception'

RSS

BIRATNAGAR, Jan. 1: DPM Badri Prasad Mandal has said that no one can distract the wishes of the people of the Eastern Region of extending hearty felicitations to their King and Queen. Talking to RSS after taking stock of the preparations from the felicitation committee officials, he said every one who has true commitment and faith in monarchy have looked at the felicitation function with glory and respect.

He also said HMG has prepared all the security bodies to face any obstruction to the function. He said it is clear to all that all the resources and means have been spontaneously arranged in local level, the truth will not be concealed and there is not HMG liability in this.

'Sharing people's concern Nepalese monarchs' tradition'

By Ritu Raj Subedi/Sharad Raj Subedi

BIRATNAGAR, Jan.1: Minister for Home, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said that it has been a tradition of the Nepalese monarchs to address public meetings during Royal visits in the country.

"It is not unusual for the Monarch to address a public gathering" Minister Thapa told The Rising Nepal today. There are many examples of the King addressing the people during such visits, he added.
He further said that it is a tradition worldwide for the King to go to the people to share their concerns. "I do not understand why the political parties are protesting against the civic honour?" questioned Thapa.

He said that His Majesty the King would grant audience to the people collectively. The government has arranged for the security of the people during the civic reception of Their Majesties, he said. So, there is no reason why security matters will affect the public participation in the event, he said. All people want to make the event a grand success. He also informed security forces would patrol the highway up to Janakpur. "If it is found necessary, security personnel will escort people while they come here," he said,The government has also made provisions for primary treatment of the people, and manage beds in hospitals, informed Thapa.

He said that when he came here to acquire information about the people's participation, he found them very enthusiastic. "People are enthusiastically involved in the preparation of the civic reception. People from Itahari, Inurwa, Janakpur, Sarlahi, Kathmandu and the eastern hills are ready to come here to see the auspicious programme," the Home Minister said.He also informed that they had completed more than 90 per cent of the preparations.Meanwhile, Minister Thapa has said that elaborate and extensive security arrangements have been made for the civic reception and felicitation programme in honour of Their Majesties on behalf of the people of the Eastern Region scheduled for Jan. 3 in Biratnagar.

He said the preparations for the event are going on enthusiastically and he found the people are so keen that they are desperately looking forward to the event. Talking to mediapersons here today, he said there would be overwhelming participation from the people in the function due to the beefed up security measures. Also today, giving directives to the concerned officials at a meeting on security organised with the objective of giving out information regarding the security situation in connection with the civic reception and felicitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen here on Jan. 3, the Home Minister directed them to further consolidate the security arrangements.

On the occasion, Chief District Officer Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sarada Prasad Parajuli and the regional chiefs of the Royal Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force briefed Home Minister Thapa on the security situation. Meanwhile, RSS adds from Biratnagar, Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa took stock of the preparations of the felicitation of Their Majesties on January 3.

The distinguished persons from Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Udayapur will be given the badges on 17, those of Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Terathum, Dhankuta, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Khotang on 18 and of Morang on both days.

Meanwhile, the local cable network has been launching news on felicitation for 45 minutes each in the morning and evening, co-ordinator of the publicity sub committee Dinesh Subedi informed. The programme can be viewed at 8:30 in the morning and evening in the Eastern Region. Meanwhile, in Itahari, Home Minister Thapa has said that the Institution of the Crown, the symbol of Nepalese faith and unity, should be viewed from a wider and more extensive perspective. Home Minister Thapa is in Sunsari in connection with acquiring information on the final preparations going on for the civic reception to be accorded Their Majesties the King and Queen on Jan. 3 in Biratnagar on behalf of the people of the Eastern Development Region.

He said those harbouring a narrow mindset about the Institution of the Crown would have to repent.
Stating that the so-called Mechi-Koshi bandh or Mechi and Koshi zonal level closure called by the Maoists would not have any impact on Their Majesties' civic felicitation programme, he said it is the responsibility of the people of the Eastern Region to make the general strike unsuccessful. Security has been beefed up and made very dynamic, he said, adding that the Home Ministry has made arrangements for posting security personnel every kilometre so that the people would be able to move freely.

On the occasion, former minister Dil Bahadur Shrestha, chief district officer Sthaneshwar Devkota and office-bearers of the local management committee Ram Kumar Subba, Ramesh Shrestha, Keshab Sitaula, Krishna Khanal and Khagendra Shrestha apprised Home Minister Thapa of the security arrangements and the management aspects.

It is said that apart from the vehicles regularly plying to Biratnagar, arrangements have been made for an additional 50 buses and 50 trucks for the event.

Biratnagar curious about Royal address

By A Staff Reporter

BIRATNAGAR, Jan.1: People here have been expressing curiosity about the Royal address that will be delivered during Their Majesties' civic reception here on Friday. They believe the Royal address will prove crucial in steering the country out of the present crisis.It will help end the current impasse on the economic, political and social fronts.

"I hope the upcoming Royal address will focus on how to improve the existing deteriorating conditions of the country," said Rajan Shrestha, president of Hotel Association Nepal, Biratnagar. Shrestha said that it should be directed at bringing about positive changes in the business and commerce sectors.
"The industrial sector is on the doldrums. So His Majesty the King should kindly pay attention to it," he added. I look forward to listening to His Majesty's address," said Binita Ojha, 17, a student studying at the intermediate level. "What His Majesty will say is certainly a matter of curiosity."  "The Royal address must concentrate on ending corruption," said Bastimal Chorodiya, a hotel operator here. He said that the nation did not witness desirable development activities in the past 12 years. "Therefore, His Majesty should give top priority to accelerating development," Chorodiya added. Laxmi Raj Bhakta Nepali, a noted social worker, said that people of the region were further enthused knowing that His Majesty was scheduled to address the civic reception.

"All the political parties have failed to put an end to violence, corruption and mismanagement. The Royal address should be directed towards ending these social maladies," added Nepali, who has recently been honoured by the Nationalist Civil Society, Biratnagar.

He said that His Majesty the King should revive hope of the people in the Royal address. Echoing Nepali's views, Ram Babu Dahal, an intellectual, said, " If the Royal address stresses on resolving the existing anarchy, confusion and violence, it will definite rekindle new hope among the people.

Dahal also emphasised that His Majesty the King give continuity to regional visits, since His Majesty has followed the regional development concept propounded by His late Majesty King Birendra.