Govt, Maoists sign code of conduct for peace talks
Govt will abide by code sincerely: Pun
Maoists will observe code seriously: Mahara

By Krishna Sharma

KATHMANDU, March 13: Nearly six weeks after the government and the CPN-Maoist announced a cease-fire, representatives of both the sides signed a code of conduct for the peace talks here this afternoon in a bid to end the seven-year-long insurgency.

The code, signed by Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun, who is also the coordinator of the government's side, and his counterpart Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, who is yet to make his appearance public, comes into effect from today. "The code must be enforced within three weeks," reads the code.

Expressing determination to keep the cease-fire intact, the mutually agreed 22-point code of conduct details the necessary steps to be taken by both the parties during the peace talks.

Minister Pun read out the rules at a press conference and said that the government would abide by them honestly.

The code says both the sides will make efforts at finding a permanent peace through the talks and will try to reach a general agreement while taking important decisions, taking into account the nation's interest.

As per the just released code of conduct, both the sides will stop their violent activities immediately and will not deploy armed forces.

The code also talks about the gradual release of persons detained by either of the sides; impartial dissemination of news and opinions of both the sides during the talks; a stop to forceful collection of cash or kind from the people; and a halt to arrests, kidnappings and unnecessary search operations.
The code also guarantees the fundamental civil rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

It says if any debate or problem arises during the implementation of the code of conduct, it will be resolved through consultations by both the sides.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, representative for the peace talks from the CPN-Maoist, who was present at the public disclosure of the code of conduct, said that his party would seriously observe the code and that it had already directed its lower level cadres to immediately release persons detained by them.
"We do not have many detainees, and they will be released immediately," said Mahara, who was the Maoists' coordinator of the peace talks held with the government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba about 18 months back.

During the press conference, representatives from both the sides said that goodwill talks to precede the peace talks would commence within a week.

"The talks will begin as soon as necessary preparations are made," said Pun. However, Minister Pun declined to give the date and the venue.

Mahara said that the focus of the forthcoming talks would be on heralding real democracy in the nation. "There is a need for a new kind of unity amongst the political forces in the country," he said. "The nation can no longer be run by a single authority." He called on the political parties to make the talks a success.

Mahara said that the Maoists' team for the peace talks would be ready within a week. As to whether he had met His Majesty the King in connection with the peace talks, Mahara made it clear that he has not met anybody from the government's side except Minister Pun.

This is the first time the government and the Maoists have come up with a detailed code of conduct to facilitate the peace talks. Earlier, the talks with the then Deuba-led Nepali Congress government were held without a code of conduct.

The 22-point Code of Conduct

* Both the sides will commit to seek a peaceful solution to the problem through talks.
* Both the sides will try to obtain general consensus before taking any important decision by remaining sensitive to national interest.
* Both the sides will stop all forms of violent and coercive activities, and stop the use and deployment of armed forces that strike terror among the people.
* None of the sides will resort to any kind of provocative activity in sensitive areas.
* Both the sides will gradually release persons detained by them.
* None of the sides will create any obstruction in carrying out work for the benefit of the people.
*The government media will disseminate news and opinions of both the sides in an impartial manner.
*They will not express statements in the media that will adversely affect the talks and peace process; they will use dignified and decent language while disseminating political information.
* There will be no forceful collection of cash or kind.
* They will not call for strikes or closures during the peace talks, but peaceful rallies and demonstrations can be held.
* Both the sides will stop unnecessary search, arrests and kidnappings.
* Both the sides will help each other in maintaining peace during the cease-fire.
* There will be no obstruction to the regular supply of foodstuffs, medicines and other consumer goods throughout the Kingdom.
* Both the sides will honour the people's right to move freely from one place to another.
* There will be no hindrance in the people's use of their fundamental rights.
* There will be no obstruction on the arrival and the movement and activities of those involved in the peace talks.
* Both the sides will help the displaced people return to their homes and be rehabilitated.
* A monitoring team will be formed through mutual consensus to look into the implementation of the code of conduct.
* If the code of conduct requires any amendment it will be done only through the consensus of both the sides.
* Both the sides will settle any debate regarding the interpretation of the code of conduct.
* The code of conduct can be terminated as per the consensus of both the sides.
· The code of conduct will come into force immediately; it must be enforced fully within three weeks from the date of its issuance.

Pandey stresses on role of tourism in economy

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey said that the tourism industry could make significant contributions to the national economy and in nation building.

He was inaugurating the launch of the Destination Manang 2004 Campaign, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebration of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal and Manang Youth Society here today.

Development of the tourism industry is linked with the overall development of the country, and it is a very sensitive sector, which tends to be influenced by both national and international incidents, he said.

"Proper utilisation of foreign exchange is important both to attract and to increase the number of tourists into the country," he said. This has been ignored in the last few years, he added.

Minister Pandey said that if the image of the country is to improve, positive messages of the country should be disseminated through the national and international media.

He said that late King Mahendra had made significant contributions for the development of Manang, and its rich art, culture and historical significance.

He said that the private sector and the government have equal roles to play in the development of the tourism industry and added that the government was ready to cooperate with the private sector in promoting the business.

Destination Manang 2004 Campaign will be a year-long campaign to promote the Himalayan district, and it will follow the Destination Nepal Campaign 2002- 2003.

Other speakers at the programme were Dr. Harka Gurung, Nepal's first tourism minister; Suman Pandey, president of TAAN; Tek Bahadur Dangi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board; and Tripple P Gurung, president of Manang Youth Society.

Code of conduct important step to lasting peace: Pandey

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: His Majesty's Government has taken an important step in preparing the code of conduct so as to transform the cease-fire into a lasting peace, said Minister for Information and Communications and government spokesman Ramesh Nath Pandey.

"The government has made continued efforts to restore permanent peace in the country," said Minister Pandey after an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand here this morning.

The meeting was organised to inform the political parties about the code of conduct, which was made public late afternoon.

Stating that the government had been organising all-party meetings to incorporate their valuable suggestions while preparing the code of conduct.

Pandey said that he had requested leaders of various parties, including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and president of the Nepal Worker and Peasant Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, to attend the meeting.

The government wants to move ahead by enlisting the support of the parties, he said.

In this connection, the government recently organised two all-party meetings one for those parties represented in the dissolved House of Representatives and the other for those unrepresented.

Major parties hail code of conduct

RSS

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: Major political parties of the country have welcomed the code of conduct to be followed by the government and the Maoists after the cease-fire announcement between the two sides made public today and expressed their commitment transforming the impending formal talks between the two sides into durable peace.

Representatives of different political parties speaking at a Face-to-Face programme organised by the Reporters' Club Nepal here today, stressed that both sides should adhere to the code of conduct in letter and spirit.

They were also of the view that the talks to be held now between the government and the CPN-Maoist should be result-oriented and successful, and that it should free the country of the cycle of violence, killings and destruction.

Spokesman of the Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh K.C. said that the government and the Maoist sides should both fully abide by the code of conduct announced today.

Member of the CPN-UML standing committee Bharat Mohan Adhikari remarked that the cease-fire between the government and the Maoists has rekindled hopes among the people.

Central member of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Kamal Thapa termed the cease-fire agreement between the government and the Maoists and the code of conduct made public today as the big achievements of the government.

Central member of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) Sarita Giri called upon the political parties to fully support the government in transforming the government-Maoist talks into a state of lasting peace.
Central member of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Deep Kumar Upadhyay, stating that his party was in favour of holding talks with the Maoists from the very beginning, said the Nepali Congress (Democratic) will extend full cooperation to the government in order to help transform the government-Maoist talks into a state of durable peace.

Convenor of the CPN (ML) C.P. Mainali underlined the important role of the political parties and the civil society in transforming the peace currently holding in the country into a state of permanent peace.

General secretary of the CPN (United) Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar said his party was from the beginning in favour of cease-fire with the Maoists and pledged full support on behalf of his party in making the talks fruitful and result-oriented.

Nepal, India agree on power exchange modalities

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: Nepal and India have agreed that the power exchange between the two countries should be divided into three categories - electricity made available under agreement at the government level; power made available through mutual exchange; and electricity traded on a commercial basis - based on the price of electricity The agreement was reached at the 7th meeting of the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee held in New Delhi held March 9-11.

At the meeting, the Nepali side apprised its Indian counterpart about the technical aspect of commercially exporting electricity to India. The two sides also agreed that Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) would discuss with the Power Trading Corporation (PTC) of India on this issue.

A committee comprising of representatives of His Majesty's Government of Nepal, NEA, and Power Grid Corporation and Central Electricity Authority of India will be formed to devise a mechanism to operate the electricity traded.

Both sides notified each other about the initial works carried out by them to install the Butwal-Anandnagar 132 KV transmission lines needed to trade power.

India has also agreed to construct the Birgunj-Motihari and Dhalkebar-Sitamadi 132 KV transmission lines as soon as obstructions in the transmission of electricity from India's east to its southern parts is improved and looking at the amount of electricity it may import from Nepal.

The Nepalese side has proposed exporting power from the exchange points of Gaur and Malangawa. The meeting also agreed to import electricity through Darchula, Jauljibi and Huti of Nepal.

The two sides agreed that the supply of electricity from the Koshi and Gandak projects would be discussed during the Koshi-Gandak Joint Committee meeting.

The Nepalese side was led by NEA's Executive Director Janak Lal Karmacharya and the Indian side by Santos Kumar, member of the Central Electricity Authority (power system).

'Peace process should not ignore women'

RSS

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: Women victims of insurgency should be represented and their voice also taken into account in the peace talks to be held between His Majesty's Government and the Maoists.
Participants of an interaction programme here today demanded that since the armed conflict between the state and the Maoist has directly impacted the women and children, issues of their concern should be raised in the peace talks.

The participants at the interaction programme 'Women's voice for permanent peace' organised on the occasion of the 93rd International Women's Day by the Informal Sector Services Centre (INSEC) here today said that permanent peace would be impossible if the problems besetting the women are not incorporated in the peace process.

At the programme, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun said the active participation of women would ensured in the government-Maoist peace talks.

The peace process cannot move ahead without the participation of women who comprise more than half the country's total population, he said. He added that women's participation in the peace process has become inevitable with more than 30 per cent women involved actively in the Maoist movement.
Stating that a code of conduct has been prepared with the objective of making the cease-fire systematic and maintaining durable peace in the country, he said the talks process would be initiated very soon.

Chairperson of the National Women's Commission Dr. Durga Pokharel stressed that the state should provide concrete relief assistance and guidance to the women affected by war and women involved in the war.

At the programme presided over by INSEC general secretary Subodh Raj Pyakurel, CPN-UML central member Bidya Devi Bhandari, RPP central member Roshani Karki, president of Nepal Women's Forum Neelam Barma, Durga Shov of the National Dalit Commission and Kabita Aryal of INSEC also expressed their views.

Directives on foreign-affiliated institutions

RSS

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: His Majesty's Government has instituted directives concerning imparting of higher education in affiliation with Foreign Educational Institutions, 2003.

As per the directives, individuals or organiations wishing to impart education of higher secondary or higher levels in affiliation with foreign universities or educational institutions can do so only after fulfilling the conditions laid down under the directives, it is stated by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

In case of educational institutions which have been imparting such education in affiliation with foreign institutions or universities since before implementation of the directives, permission should be acquired from the Ministry of Education and Sports within six months of the directives coming into force.

Educational institutions failing to do so will be considered automatically closed .

The directives also provide for an 11 member evaluation and monitoring committee under the chairmanship of the minister, minister of state or assistant minister for education and sports.
The committee can formulate policy, regulations, etc. concerning educational establishments.

Historical miniature camera on display

By Saroj Kumar Acharya

KATHMANDU, Mar. 13: A miniature camera, probably a Second World War spy gadget, is on public display at a collector's shop at Atko Narayan temple of Basantapur, Durbar Square.

The camera, measuring 16 centimetres high and 3 centimetres wide, runs on 16 mm film. It can easily be concealed inside the palm of a hand. The design is surprisingly simple. On one side, there is a small latch to click the camera. There is also a safety slide, which prevents the click. After every click it has to be wound again to click again.

The camera, named Coronet Midget, is made by the Coronet Camera Company, Birmingham, and a brass plaque affixed on the camera says 'Coronet Midget 16mm the British patent applied for design registered'.

Senior press photographer Bhim Gurung says this is the smallest box type camera and is very rare. The box of the camera is made of fibre, but its pattern look like that of wood.

Collector Jayahari Jha did not disclose how he got the camera, but said the camera probably made its way into Nepal through an Englishman who came to India during the Second World War.

Jha said he would put the camera on the antique goods show at the Patan Museum on April 18. He said he had received big offers for the camera, but would not sell it.