His Majesty receives letters of credence

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev received letters of credence from ambassador designate of Australia to the Kingdom of Nepal Keith Royston Gardner amidst a special function at the Royal Palace today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah was present on the occasion.

After the credentials ceremony, His Majesty the King received the ambassador of Australia in audience at the Royal Palace.

Programmes to uplift nationalities soon: PM

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has disclosed that the ministries concerned are to send teams to probe the problems faced by the freed Kamaiyas, the landless and those under the poverty line and run programmes to uplift them on the basis of the report received.
Speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of Maghi Parba or festival by the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha and Tharu Students Society here today, Prime Minister Chand gave assurances of introducing phase-wise programmes to uplift the nationalities.

He also expressed confidence that the Maghi Festival would provide guidelines for youths of the indigenous communities and nationalities not to stray from their responsibilities and to get involved in building the nation.

Extending best wishes to all Tharu brothers and sisters on the occasion of their special festival of Maghi Parba, the Prime Minister made it clear that it was because of the importance accorded to this festival that the government decided to declare this day a holiday for all civil servants from the Tharu community.

The development of all nationalities is the prime need of the day and the egalitarian society envisaged by all will become a reality only if people from all communities are included in the mainstream of development, he added.

Referring to the Tenth Plan's aim to develop the careers and enhance the income generating capacity of former Kamaiyas through skill development programmes, Prime Minister Chand said a target has been set to distribute land in excess of ceiling to the economically poor, agriculture labourers, the landless, the homeless, Dalits and the nationalities.

It also aims to run integrated and coordinated programmes for the education and health, skill development and rehabilitation of the freed Kamaiyas and enhancement of their awareness, and to help protect and promote the scripts, culture and traditions of indigenous communities, the Prime Minister added.

Also expressing their views on the occasion, central advisor to the Tharu Kalyankari Sabha Parshunarayan Chaudhary, coordinator of the organising committee Shiva Narayan Chaudhary, deputy coordinator Tikaram Chaudhary, central president of the Tharu Students Society Ramanda Chaudhary and other speakers voiced gratitude to the government for making this day a public holiday today.

They also put forth a demand to constitute the Indigenous Nationalities Academy and introduce Indigenous Decade (1994-2004) programmes in order to rehabilitate the freed Kamaiyas and stop the Tharus from falling prey to both the security forces and the Maoists.A cultural programme and a Maghi feast was also organised on the occasion.The Tharus have been original inhabitants of 22 districts from the east to the west of the country.

They have been celebrating this day as their New Year and emancipation day.Also on this day, the Tharus discuss matters relating to marriages, farming, domestic affairs and other issues.

Nation remembers 1934 amid quake warnings

By Prakriti Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: National Earthquake Day is being marked Thursday amidst warnings by seismologists that the Himalayan belt is vulnerable to major quakes.

It is 68 years ago on this day, or Magh 2, 1990 B.S. (January 1934) that a destructive quake jolted the nation, killing thousands and maiming many more. Since then, the day has been set aside to spread messages on natural disaster preparedness.

Major earthquakes occurred in Nepal in 1310, 1316, 1464, 1737, 1738, 1866, 1880, 1890, 1891, 1896 and 1990 Bikram Sambat. There is no record of their magnitude as seismometers had not been designed then. However, the 1934 earthquake is estimated to have been of 8.4 on the Richter's scale.
According to a survey conducted by the Department of Mine and Geology, quakes measuring upto 2 on the Richter's scale occur upto four times daily. Earthquakes of 2 to 3 Richter's magnitude happen upto 3 times a day, that of 3-4 Richter's once a day and quakes measuring 4-5 magnitude take place upto 5 times a month.

The study has found that earthquakes of 5-6 Richter's magnitude occur upto six times a year while quakes with magnitude of 6-7 Richter's occur every six years.

The Himalayas are witness to great earthquakes in the past centuries. Quakes of considerable magnitudes shook India's Kangada in 1905, Nepal-Bihar border area in 1934 and Assam in 1950. All these earthquakes measured about 8.5 Richters.

Major earthquakes have not occurred in western Nepal in the last 200 years. In recent years, the country's eastern parts have witnessed more seismological activities. Historical pattern of earthquakes in the Himalayan region shows that major quakes recur every two to three centuries. On this count, Nepal's western regions fall in the highly quake-prone zone of the world.

"Nepal's Terai flatland and the Kathmandu Valley are highly susceptible to earthquakes," said Sudhir Rajaure, seismologist at the National Seismological Centre. As for quakes of minor magnitude, they occur daily and are felt by seismographs only.

Given the weak geological formation of the Kathmandu Valley, the bowl shaped city may face record-breaking disastrous consequences in case of a quake measuring 7 or more on the Richter scale, geologists have warned.

In case an earthquake similar in magnitude to that of 1934 recurs, it is feared that 70 per cent of the housing structures will be destroyed. Thousands may die, international as well as domestic air services will come to a halt and the road links to the Valley will be disrupted.

Occurrence of such a quake may cause fires. It is also estimated that it would be 3 to 4 days before outside help comes. Food shortages and an outbreak of epidemic are also feared.

A research conducted by the National Society on Earthquake Technology estimates that recurrence of a major earthquake in Nepal may kill tens of thousands of people, while injuring hundreds of thousands.

Seismologist Rajaure says avoiding quake-prone areas while building houses and constructing quake-proof buildings are the best prevention. "This is because earthquakes cannot be predicted unlike weather," he added.

Amrit Man Tuladhar, an engineer at the Department of Town Development and Housing Construction, advised building adequately thick pillars, keeping the pillar to pillar distance at less than three metres and including quake security components in houses to minimise the risks.

When an earthquake occurs, it is advised that people should keep away from windows, mirrors and cupboards and take shelter under strong structures such as door frames, furniture and strong wall corners. People outdoor should rush to open fields and avoid being close to buildings, trees, electric lines and overhead bridges. It is necessary to remain cautious as aftershocks accompany an earthquake.

The National Seismological Centre has 21 seismological stations all over the country. Ironically, only nine of them are in functioning order. The 12 stations out of order are not in a position to be fixed soon given the volatile security situation, according to the Centre.

Maoists flayed at UN meet over child soldiers

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: Nepal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Murari Raj Sharma at the UN Security Council meeting on children and armed conflict on Tuesday said that children are being subjected to forced recruitment by the Maoists in Nepal.

"They have turned children into sacrificial lambs. Just yesterday, the Maoists reportedly abducted 80 children from schools. Children were often used as human shields. Young girls had become the principal target of abduction by the Maoists," the Nepalese envoy told the meeting.

He also informed the meeting that all these events had set back the clock of development in Nepal. Sharma stressed that His Majesty's Government of Nepal had done its best to find a peaceful solution to the political problems.

"The Maoists have been called to the negotiating table, but they have yet to emerge as a credible partner for peace. Nepal is committed to protecting children in armed conflict and has no children in its security forces. It has established programmes to rehabilitate children who had escaped the Maoist trap, but it would need international support in that endeavour", said Sharma.

Speaking at the daylong debate he said, "Despite international instruments, children continue to face misery and death in armed conflicts. The international community has been incoherent in its response to conflicts, and coherent action is often prevented by political considerations."

He added that it was imperative to ensure that perpetrators of violence against children did not go unpunished. Sharma continued that special measures were essential to protect girl children, including punishment. "Clearing landmines was urgent and should receive adequate funding. Effective control of small arms was also necessary. Juvenile justice should constitute an important part of national and international courts to deal with child soldiers. While a tailor-made response was essential to the solution of conflict, the root causes of conflict, such as eradication poverty and justice must also be addressed."

The meeting focused on the Secretary-General's recent report that lists 23 parties to conflicts that continue to recruit of use child soldiers.

Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan, by naming the parties that continued to recruit or use child soldiers, the international community had demonstrated its willingness to match words with deeds.

"By exposing those who violate standards for the protection of children to the light of public security, we are serving notice that the international community is finally willing to back expressions of concern with action", he stated.

As a result of the report, said the Secretary-General, those who violated standards for the protection of children could no longer do so with impunity. It was essential that systematic monitoring follow the listed parties as well as targeted measures need to be adopted against those who continued to flour their international obligations.

Annan also said that he was pleased to note the progressive development of a body of international norms and standards for the protection of children affected by armed conflict. The report's list of parties to conflict using children had broken new ground, he added.

The list provided an important opportunity for the Council to respond by, among other things, calling on parties to immediately end recruiting and using child soldiers; calling for a progress assessment; and considering taking targeted measures against the mentioned parties, including travel restrictions on leaders and their exclusion from any governance structures and amnesty provisions. He said child soldering was only one aspect of the impact of war on children. Other dimensions were many, but all of the child victims of war deserved the attention and protection of the international community.

Despite the progress made in framework, he continued, the tragic fact was that children continued to be victimised in the most cynical and cruel manner in conflicts around the world. In addition to being forcibly conscripted by government and rebel armies, children in conflict zones were at risk from landmines and unexploded ordnance; from abduction; from displacement and deprivation of education and basic healthcare; from use as forced labour in the extraction of natural resources; and from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Olara A. Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, stressed that the most pressing challenge now was how to translate the principles, standards and measures that had been put in place. It was imperative to embark on an "era of application", and the council was well placed to lead the way by example and action.

Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, was convinced that the naming and shaming of parties would help to establish a culture of accountability, one that could prevent such abuses from occurring in the future. She urged Council members to consider that list in all their deliberations, and to update it regularly expanding its scope to parties to armed conflict in situations not now on the Council's agenda. "At any given time, an estimated 300,000 children across the globe were serving as child soldiers," she said.

Defence Ministry regrets comments

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: The Defence Ministry has regretted recent "irresponsible comments" made by political leaders, intellectuals and senior journalists about weapons being purchased by Nepal and says such comments not only demoralise the army personnel but help to boost the morale of the terrorists whom they are fighting.

"The Defence Ministry's attention has been drawn to the irrelevant statements and comments made by some responsible leaders of major political parties, intellectuals and senior journalists expressing doubts about the proper utilisation of the weapons received by the Royal Nepalese Army," a press statement of the ministry said today.

"Such negative statements and rumours affect the morale of the security forces who are fighting the terrorists by placing their lives at great risk for the sake of the country and people," the statement reads. "There is a feeling these light comments on issues as grave as defence matters have been made without so much as a thought about their consequences."

According to the ministry, His Majesty's Government has been receiving assistance and even buying weapons and other military equipment from neighbouring countries and other friendly nations, especially the United States and the United Kingdom.

Equipping the army in accordance with the times and replacing old weapons with new ones is a process that goes on in the army of any country around the world, it said.

The Ministry, calling on all not to believe in the recent comments made by the political leaders, has expressed regret at these negative news reports.

As far as the statements that the mobilisation of the army was undemocratic and that it should be placed under the parliament are concerned, the ministry said a National Security Council has been formed as in other countries with the prime minister, a people's representative, as the chairman and Defence Minister as member.

The Ministry statement adds that the Constitution has provided the head of state the right to mobilise the army on the recommendation of the National Security Council.

Pandey, Japanese minister discuss bilateral cooperation

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 15: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey, who is leading the Nepalese delegation to the Asia Regional Conference of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), called on Senior Vice-Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunication of Japan Norifumi Kato Tuesday in Tokyo.

Minister Pandey and Senior Vice-Minister Kato discussed on the issue of bilateral co-operation between Nepal and Japan on the occasion, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo.
Minister Pandey on the occasion expressing satisfaction over the sound bilateral relations that exist between the two countries thanked the people and government of Japan for the continuous economic co-operation being extended to Nepal.

Minister Pandey said that there are many projects, which are accomplished with the Japanese economic cooperation that bear direct benefit to the people of Nepal.

Pandey highlighted the important role played by the monarchies in both the countries in cementing the friendly relations.

The Japanese Senior Vice Minister Kato assured Japanese government's continued support for the development of telecommunication and broadcasting in Nepal.

Japanese government has been the largest donor country to support Nepal's development efforts.
Minister Pandey met with Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and   Telecommunication of Japan Toranosuke Katayama and discussed on the matters of mutual interest, the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo said.

Minister Pandey also met with Yoshino Utsumi, Secretary General of International Telecommunications Union.

Also present on the occasion were Nepalese delegation members Mukund Prasad Acharya, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications and Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission, Royal Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo Mohan Krishna Shrestha.

Issue of presidential post to stir UML convention

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 15: The CPN-UML's seventh convention does not look like it will be smooth sailing. Although the UML leaders have little dispute over much of the political agenda, whether or not to introduce the post of party president is expected to stir hot debate among the party's functionaries at its national gathering to be held in Janakpur next month.

K.P. Sharma Oli, rival to party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, today said that he would not budge from his stance to reintroduce the post of party president even though majority of the members voted against it at the recently concluded central committee meeting.

The meeting has also prohibited him from floating the idea among the party workers until the convention kicks off.

"I am against the dictatorship of a single person in the communist party. I want it to be a truly democratic party to suit the 21st century," standing committee member Oli told a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters' Club here today.

"The General Secretary system concentrates power in a single person. So adding the post of president in the party will decentralise the power at different levels. It is the key to collective and unified leadership in the party," he said.

Oli also suggested that the tenure of the party general secretary should not exceed more than two terms. "The general secretary must display his capacity within the two tenures and groom his predecessor," he added.

Highly critical of the party leadership's feudalistic mentality, Oli slammed them for not allowing him to put forth his idea before the party workers. "And what better way to introduce my ideas than through the media," he said.

Globally, all power is vested in the party's general secretary in line with Lenin's "people's democratic centrality theory".

Following unification between the CPN-Marxists and CPN-Marxist-Leninist immediately after the advent of multi-party democracy in 1990, the post of party president was created in a mark of respect for late Manmohan Adhikari. The party latter scrapped the post after the demise of Adhikari in 1996.

UML general secretary Nepal recently said that the party had removed the post of president as it was against the Leninist principle.

Oli claims his proposal will be a milestone in the history of the communist party in and outside of the country. "It will stimulate party life."

He also lashed at remarks that the ongoing debate would split the party. "Healthy discussion and debate will not divide the party," he said.

On the future course of the party, Oli said that it would go on the offensive after its national convention and launch nationawide protests to bring the country on the "right track".