PM’s India visit postponed!

It is because of the special session called by the Nepal Communist Party (UML), the proposed one week long visit to India by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai might be postponed. Though no formal announcement of the visit had been made, all the necessary preparations were already made for his visit to India, says a Foreign Ministry source. As no formal announcement was made, now there is no need to announce about the postponement, says an official in the ministry.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 11)

UML’s move a failure

The special session of the parliament being called by His Majesty the King at the request of the main opposition party the CPN (UML) does not look like it will be beneficial to the UML as it had been expected. It seems that the UML has lost the seats it had won in Rautahat-4 and Jhapa-6. The seat in Rautahat had been won by Madhav Kumar Nepal and the one in Jhapa by Khadga Prasad Oli. (It has lost also in Morang).

The UML had submitted the proposal for the special session to discuss on the price hike. This move was made to give a fatal blow to what they felt was a divided Nepali Congress government. But the Nepali Congress MPs seem united to defeat the UML’s move. However, Nepali Congress MPs themselves do not seem satisfied from Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s working style. So, possibly, after the special session of the parliament, Prime Minister Bhattarai might be changed. A homework regarding this has already been initiated.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 11)

Nepal’s DCM still missing

Nepal’s deputy chief of mission in Belgium Jagadish Aryal has still not been found. According to sources he went missing six days ago. His relatives and the Nepalese embassy in Brussels itself is looking for him, but to no avail. His disappearance has led to serious doubt about his whereabouts and safety.

(Deshantar, December 12, Sunday)

BPC Privatisation cancelled: Big setback to process

Because of the inefficiency of the privatisation cell at the Finance Ministry and the lack of vision of the government representatives, the privatisation process of the Butwal Power Company has been cancelled at the last moment last week. The privatisation process of the Company was started nearly one year ago. The cancellation of the biggest company in the country is a big setback to the whole process of privatisation. This incident has simultaneously bared open the weakness of the privatisation cell of the Ministry and also the Adam Smith Institute.

A source at the Ministry says the privatisation cell needs even a single person who is capable. This consultancy of the Adam Smith Institute has also failed. Similarly, the privatisation of the Tea Development Corporation, also under the consultancy of the Adam Smith Institute, has also been a cul de sac.

Meanwhile, a recent report says there has been significant successes of the privatisation the process. The Public Enterprises, which were encompassed by the report, were privatised under the consultancy of an American firm.

According to the evaluation, 75 per cent of the shares of the Butwal Power Company, which has a sound financial and instrastructural base, were valued at Rs. 840 million. But due to the Privatisation Cell of the Ministry, the bidders failed to evalute the value of the shares at that amount.

Intercraft, one of the bidders, bid for Rs. 740 million and, according to the proposal submitted by it, 70 per cent of the amount would be paid immediately, while the remaining 30 per cent will be paid within two years under a bank guarantee.

Similarly, IPC had bid for Rs. 670 million, and 10 per cent of the amount would be paid immediately, while the remaining 90 per cent would be paid in seven years time with loans from the banks.

In its rejected bid, the Interacraft had said that it would buy the company in Rs. 840 million if there is a guarantee of Rs. 3.30 PPA or there is an consent for electricity distribution in 10 districts. The Ministry had asked Intercraft to increase its value by Rs. 100 million to its last proposal.

According to experts, if there was an auction, the amount could have reached to Rs. 1 billion.

When the privatisation process  got weakened, the bidders began pressurising through the power centres. The representatives of both the bidders are well-known business persons.

Not only the Norwegian Embassy in Nepal wrote pressing letter in favour of the Norwegian company, Intercraft, and the British Embassy in Nepal did the same in favour of  IPC, a British company, the local representatives of the companies also called their respective ministers here to pressurise the government here.

When the Finance Ministry could not be bear the pressure of the donor countries, it cancelled the whole pressure. The decision which came only two days after the IPC withdrew its proposal, clearly indicates outside pressure.

(Deshantar, December 12, Sunday)

CJs enjoying more previleges than they are entitled to

All chief justices after 1990 are taking more facilities than they are entitled by the law. All chief justices from Biswonath Upadhyaya to the recently retired Mohan Prasad Sharma, who is to be retired in a couple of days time, are taking the vehicle facility against the law.

According to reports, chief justice Sharma is using three more cars in addition to one official Mercedes Benz. According to the regulation any chief justice is entitled to only one vehicle.

Similarly, former chief justice and the chairman of the constitution reforms committee, which made the present constitution, Biswonath Upadhyaya is still using the vehicular facility of that of the incumbent justices of the Supreme Court. He is using a Toyota Corolla, with private registration number. The car is being privided by the government along with a driver. In this regard advocate  Bharat Raj Uprety says this is against the concept of an independent judiciary. He says, the government has not forgotten his favour to the government on the decision of Bhadra 12, 2052. That day the Supreme Court had decided with a split vote to uphold former Prime Minister  Girija Prasad Koirala’s recommendation for a mid-term poll.

Likewise, Surendra Prasad Singh, who succeeded Upadhyaya is still using a Maruti car with the government registration number. Singh had retired almost three years ago, on Falgun 3, 2053.

The other two chief justices, Trilok Pratap Rana and Om Bhakta Shrestha, are also still using government vehicles.

According to the regulation, the chief justices should return the official vehicles by the 7th day of their retirement.

Again, it is not only the judges of the Supreme Court, former registrar of the Supreme Court and presently the chief commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Madhav Dutta Bhatta has still not returned a motorcycle he has taken from the Supreme Court when he was the registrar. This is even mentioned the annual report of the Commission itself.

Likewise, the acting registrar of the Supreme Court Nirmal Kumar Dhungana has taken a RX 100 motorcycle, in addition to an official car. Likewise former registrar of the highest court, Badri Kumar Basnet is still using a Kawasaki Bajaj outside the official facility he is entitled. He is currently the judge of the Appellate Court in Baglung.

Meanwhile, the registrar’s office of the Supreme Court has written to those who are still using the official vehicles contrary to the regulation. Spokesman of the Supreme Court Kashi Raj Dahal says some vehicles now been returned, and they are pursuing for the others.

(Nepal Samacharpatra, December 12, Sunday)

RPP factions start unification talks

The RPP and the RPP (Chand), the two factions which had split two years ago, have begun talks for reunification. According to a source, in the talks, which began recently, the RPP was represented by Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, party’s spokesman Kamal Thapa and Rabindra Nath Sharma and the Chand faction was  represented by its spokesman Narayan Dutta Bhatta, Ram Krishna Acharya and Deepak Bohara.

In the talks the RPP side has proposed three agenda wich include the total acceptance of the decision of the party’s second national convention at Birgunj, no additional post should be created in the name of unification and the acceptance of the party’s constitution and norms.

The Chand side has demanded that Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Rajeshwor Devkota should be given some honourable position and the pursuance of the unification dialogue should be between Surya Bahadur Thapa and Pashupati Shumsher Rana from the RPP and Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Rajeshwor Devkota from the RPP (Chand).

The source has claimed that the  central committee meeting of the RPP on December 16 and the Chand’s central committee meeting one week later could be important for the unification of the two parties.

(Nepal Samacharpatra, December 12, Sunday).

Japanese ambassador on the Maoist

Embassador of Japan to Nepal, Mitsuyaki Kojima, has called the Maoist movement in Nepal as ‘violent activity’ and has suggested them to come under the democratic procedure and take part in the election.

He was speaking at the Interface programme of the Reports’ Club Nepal on Thursday.

He also said the minority Maoists’ activity of infringing upon the right of the majority people can not be called as correct.

Because of the Maoists’ activities, Japan had to take its hands off from several projects, he said.

He said he has felt that democratic process is getting strengthened in Nepal. “Although Nepal has everything to curb corruption, but they are not being used properly,” he said.

(Bimarsha, December 10, Friday).

Minister Khadka distributed Rs. 7.0 million

Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has started misusing the special funds of the Home Ministry. In the past, the money was distributed to intellectuals, teachers and university teachers for various causes. This time, the money which is estimated to be about Rs. 7 million, has been distributed in the name of Maoists victims to the workers of his own constituency.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 11)

ML’s mass meeting, Bamdev announces street agitation

Nepal Communist Party (ML) organised a mass meeting Friday in the capital and announced the beginning of its street protests. The ML, which does not hold even a single seat in the House of Representatives, however is divided on the programme of launching street protests. Bamdev Gautam, General Secretary of ML, said there were no alternatives except launching protest programmes. ML also strongly condemned the government for not considering its 32-points demand presented to the government last month.

(Saptahik Janasatta, Saturday, Dec. 11)

Prakash Koirala lucky and fortunate by birth

Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has registered Prakash Koirala’s name in the list of prime minister’s candidates.

Though he is from Koirala family, he is intellectually close to a person like the former Panchayati Prime Minister Marich Man Singh. He has the guts to oppose India in spite of the money and facility he gets from the deep love of Indian people for his daughter Manisha Koirala, who is a top actress in Mumbai. Despite his protest against former prime minister Koirala, he gets support from him also. He blames Khum Bahadur Khada as Mafia agent, Khum Bahadur does his best to support him. Prime Minister Bhattarai, who is against Koiralas, has also been impressed by him. It is because of this, the government has now shifted from Singhdurbar to Rautahat. He does not need to say a word. He does not need to spend. Which other person is such a lucky MP? He was MP in the past too. But, neither did he spoke in the parliament nor he visited his constituency.

Possibly, he will do the same thing this time too. But he can afford to do this because he is the son of B.P. and also because, he is the nephew of Girija Prasad Koirala.

Prakash Koirala has won the election even before the first vote was cast. He will be honoured by many medals within a couple of days. It is a tradition of Nepalese politics. Nobody likes remembering his role during the people’s movement period. What contribution has he made for bringing democracy?

Nobody knows how may villages have been visited by him. But, presently, he has been presented to disrespect Girija Prasad Koirala.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Dec. 11)

Maoists’ strategy changed

It is because of the tough attitude of the government, the Maoist party has changed some of its basic strategies. Last week, police arrested a labourer named Dinesh Sharma suspecting him of being involved in the Maoists movement. No importance was given to Sharma’s arrest. But not only the police but also the public were surprised when no less than the Maoist leader Prachand called for his release by issuing a statement.

The Maoists party has not given any party status to living party workers in the past, except two persons. Dinesh Sharma is the third person. Prior to this, party status of General Secretary Puspa Kamal Dahal and Polit Bureau member Babu Ram Bhattarai had been made public.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Dec. 11)

Bill Gates to visit Nepal

Commerce Minister Ram Krishna Tamrakar said he had invited billionaire Bill Gates to visit Nepal when he met him during the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle. Bill Gates himself informed Minister Tamrakar that his father had shown interest in visiting Nepal a couple of months back.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Dec. 11)

People in favour of govt.

At a time when the government had taken some unpopular decisions to strengthen the economy of the country, people have given mandate to the government in the by-election of Jhapa and Morang. They have ratified the decisions taken by the government as the decision taken in favour of the nation. The victories of the Nepali Congress candidates in Jhapa and Morang shows that the government is popular among the people.

(Asan Bazar, Saturday, Dec. 11)

Charge of rigging

Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of Nepal Communist Party (UML) and opposition party leader, has charged the Nepali Congress of massive rigging in the by-elections of Rautahat constituency no. 4. According to him, Congress hooligans captured 10 voting booths and UML workers were stopped from voting.

Nepal has warned that if the Election Commission does not cancel the voting of 10 booths it would take tough action.

(Sambodhan, Friday, Dec. 10)

Both RPP to be united!

Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which was split because of personal ambitions rather than differences in political ideology, is trying to be united again. RPP Thapa is interested in party unification but RPP Chanda has not shown much interest. Many informal talks had been held before for party unification. But no concrete result has been arrived at. RPP (Chanda) General Secretary Padma Sundar Lawati has been admitted in Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. So, the decision taking has been delayed, says a RPP Chanda source.

Some of the leaders within RPP feel that Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party UML have taken benefit from RPP division and if the party is not united again, both the parties will be in a “nowhere” situation in the coming election. Sources close to RPP Thapa say leaders including Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa, and vice-chairman Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani are in favour of party unification. On the other hand, RPP Chand Chairman Lokendra Gahadur Chanda is also in favour of party unification. He says that the unification will be beneficial to the leaders of both parties. However, some are opposing the unification fearing that they might miss their post in the party after unification.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, Dec. 9)

Irregularities in food supply

Complaints have been registered at the Prime Minister’s Office, Commander-in-Chief’s Office and the Police Headquarter regarding the irregularities in the tender for food supply for police and army.

The tender was called from all over the kingdom. Hooligans were used in Chitwan and Rajbiraj to stop small contractors from submitting tenders. It is because of massive use of hooligans and gherao to CDO offices, only a few had submitted tenders, it is said in the complaint.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, Dec. 9)

Ministry dishonoured court’s decision

The Ministry of Tourism has dishonoured the decision of Appellate Court Patan. On December 1, the court had issued a notice on a case related to a tender filed by PKS International.

Instead of following the order of the court, offices under Ministry of Tourism decided to offer their contracts to Greenline and Universal organisation. It is also said that a figure in the tender has also been corrected.

The tender application was called for the opening of a duty free shop at the Tribhuvan International Airport terminal. Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Tourism Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar are involved in the present scam.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, Dec. 9)

Agenda of Bhattarai’s India visit

Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has seriously been preparing for his India visit. Possibly this coming Monday or Tuesday, the date of the visit will be formally announced.

Some of the remaining problems will be solved during Prime Minister Bhattarai’s India visit. It may be recalled that considerable agreements had been reached during his visit to India as the interim prime minister nine years back,

During PM Bhattarai’s India visit, the final shape will be given to the controversial and much talked about Integrated Mahakali Development Project. Technical experts of both the countries have already prepared the DPR and an office regarding this was opened in Kathmandu last month. As both sides are prepared, there will be an agreement during Bhattarai’s visit, says the Ministry of Water Resources.

Similarly, it is said that India is ready to arrive at a solution of the Kalapani problem. Meanwhile the Nepal side expects that India will agree on the implementation of the Pancheswor Multi-purpose Project and purchasing of electricity generated from the Karnali Project.It also expects progress on the issue regarding the down stream benefits.

An agreement regarding the expansion of railway service in Nepal will be signed. Both sides have been doing homework for direct flights between Kathmandu and Banglore and Ahmahadabad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that Indian will announce assistance in the field of road, health and education.

Other issues that will be discussed during Bhattarai’s visit include SAARC summit, Bhutanese refugee problem, and 1950’s treaty among others.

(Naya Rastra Pukar, Thursday, Dec. 9)

Zero reliability Of ZEE TV

On December 8, 1999, a news regarding the special session called by His Majesty the King was aired by “ZEE News”.

In the news His Majesty the King’s name was reported as Birendra Pratap Singh. People say making such mistakes is an old culture of Indian media and TV channels. But Indian channels never make a mistake while taking the name of the Bhutanese king nor do they make any mistakes while taking names of ministers of states.

What is reason behind taking the Nepalese king’s name wrongly? What is the reliability of  such news channel which can not take the name of its neighbouring country’s King name correctly?

(Naya Rastra Pukar, Thursday, Dec. 9)