Even as talks look possible, police to be better equipped

By A Staff Reporter

While the talks between the Maoists and the government looks like being a real possibility, the government has decided to arm the police with modern weapons.

Home Secretary Padma Prasad Pokharel while briefing the State Affairs Committee of the parliament on Monday said the decision was taken because the lack of modern weapons is making it difficult for the police to fight the Maoist insurgency. Certainly, the recent death of the policemen in the hands of the Maoists have lowered the morale of the policemen. He also said that the Maoists have begun using modern weapons.

Recently, the goverment decided to provide the police Rs. 1 billion for modern arms and other incentives for the policemen who are fighting the Maoists.

The parliamentary committee had called Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Home Secretary Pokharel and IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel to brief them on the recent incidents regarding the Maoists.

However, Minister Khadka said that the government is also willing to build an environment for talks, if the Maoists are serious about it.

The chances for the proposed talks gained one step forward, when former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba again called the Maoist to come to the negotiating table and a press statement of Prachanda, general secretary of the Maoist party again said that he is willing to meet government negotiaters.

Deuba is the coordinator of a high level commission formed by the government to find ways to solve the Maoist problem.

According to reports, the Maoists have even nominated three of its central committee members, including Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, for the talks. However, the Maoists have said to have wanted the talks to take place outside Nepal, probably in India.

Meanwhile, the government’s decision to equip the police is a signal to the Maoists that the government may resort to strong methods if the problem is not solved by peaceful means. But arming the police should not block the path to a negotiated settlement.

Bhattarai-Koirala "secret" agreement leaves nation in confusion

By A Staff Reporter

How do the top two leaders of the Nepali Congress, who almost always fight in the open, come to understandings, that too so quickly, behind doors?

Congressmen themselves have said they are intrigued with this behaviour of Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Battarai and party president Girija Prasad Koirala, but they never seem to have enough courage to try and find out what goes on when these two are alone. They seem happy to let the Old Men shut themselves in a room and wait outside only to hear that the crisis has been resolved.

The latest crisis, which almost toppled the Bhattarai-led government, looked averted when Koirala and Prime Minister K.P. Bhattarai - came to an understanding between themselves.

The reaching of the agreement was announced Friday at a dummy meeting of the party’s parliamentary party one day prior to what could have been a full-fledged discussion with MPs making charges at the government and the Prime Minister trying to defend himself.

Friday’s meeting was a make-believe one because the decisions had already been taken by the two leaders earlier. All that happened was the two leaders, after their secret discourse, came before the waiting MPs, and read out a joint statement. Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel also informed that the crisis had been resolved. All applauded and that was all.

This reporter overheard former minister Mahesh Acharya who is said to be close to the Koirala camp calling the understanding as the latest episode of the Congress drama.

Till now no one knows what the two leaders have agreed upon. When a Nepali Congress MP dared to ask about the contents of the agreement he was rebutted by the party president.

This is not the first time the Nepali Congress has resolved its crisis this way. However, most of those solutions have been short-lived. And the worst pat is, the nation has been in a state of limbo, when no work is carried out till the political scenario has cleared and a winner declared.

This time also, although the Congressmen have been told that the problem has been resolved they still don’t know how, and they are confused when the change in the government, as demanded by majority of the party’s MPs, will come.

Already, there are rumours and conjectures about the fate of the government. Some say that Bhattarai will refuse to step down leading to another show down with the party and there are also speculations that the PM is about to expand his cabinet to remain in power. This sort of uncertainty is not doing any good for the nation.

There are several ministries, specially those where the cabinet ministers have resigned, where no work is being done. Everyone is waiting for the political change first. In fact, it is a sad reflection of the present political stalemate, that many important bills are not being brought in the coming session of the parliament, because of the uncertainty.

Meanwhile some others say the prime minister will resign during the parliamentary session. But his supporters say he wants to exit in dignity after three months, as agreed upon at the Godavari agreement. But what will happen to the country as long as a lame duck government is in power just for the sake of a “dignified exit” of the PM?

When the leaders fail to disclose what they have agreed upon and make their decisions transparent such a situation will persist.

Meanwhile, the legacy of resolving such crisis only by the two leaders and amongst themselves does not augur well for the party in the long run. Moreover, it is sure even now the two have failed to find solutions in the real sense. This time also, no one can say when the two leaders will begin to sulk  again and start another political stand-off.

The absence of the second generation leaders in the major decision making processes may mean they will have to face great difficulties in managing the affairs of the party later.

Managing crisis is a delicate art, which has to be groomed and polished. But none of the future leaders in the Nepali Congress have ever been involved in this process and prepared for such eventualities.

Parliamentary session begins today

By A Staff Reporter

The 17th session of the parliament is starting today (Wednesday). However, the bill session of the parliament may not see much development on this important front.

According to the parliament secretariat, the government has failed to prepare sufficient number of bills to be introduced in the parliament. This could be because several ministries are bereft of their ministers.

Meanwhile, for now the focus will be on the Nepali Congress and its activities outside the Parliament. Despite the recent understanding between the party president and government all eyes will be on the ruling party and whether this session will bring in a new government in power.

UML to heat up streets

By A Staff Reporter

The CPN-UML, the biggest opposition party in the parliament has announced a country-wide protest programme starting this Friday (March 3) with a nine-point demand.

The protest programme includes gheraos, processions and ultimately a Nepal bandh (closure) on March 27, Monday.

“The Protest programmes will be directed against the Congress’s heavy handedness and the government’s failure to curb corruption and maintain law and order situations among others,” K.P. Oli, convenor of the UML’s Protest Programme Management Committee told a press conference on Monday.

He said the protest will not end until their demands are fulfilled. The party has said it would mobilise its ‘people’s volunteers’ during while carrying out the protest programmes.

The announcement of the protest programme has come only a day after the Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala instructed his party’s MPs to come out strongly in the coming session of the parliament. The parliamentary session starts today (Wednesday). The UML backed newspapers have also said that this is the first time the party is initiating street protests in more than five years time. “This is because the UML wants the NC to hear the UML voice both in the parliament and on the streets”, they have pointed out.

Congressmen weary of short-term understandings

By A Staff Reporter

Dissatisfaction seems to be spreading among the Congressmen about the way their party leaders have been managing its crisis.

Till now, it is only Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, who have been involved in the process. And the partymen have been coyly following what their leaders say. They also seem oblivious as to how such understandings have failed to resolve the problems within the party in the long run.

What is unique in this style of managing any crisis is that it is presumed anything can be resolved if the top two leaders agree with each other.

It is rather a feudalistic way of resolving a crisis. The two leaders make some agreements amongst themselves, and they do not think it necessary to tell the partymen what has been agreed upon.

When the two oldest and seniormost leaders met at Godavari four years back, no one knew what they had agreed on.

The same thing happened last week, when the two leaders Bhattarai and Koirala shut themselves in a room and in half an hour, the crisis as big as the pulling down of the government by MPs of the ruling party itself was stopped. But no one knows what the leaders agreed on.

Even the so-called second generation leaders of the party are nowhere in the scene. They are more often the go-between or at the most are bystanders.

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel himself admitted to journalists on Sunday that no one knows what the understandings are and only “time will tell what has been agreed upon”. He also warned that if leaders cannot behave in a more responsible manner, their credibility in the eyes of the people would be eroded.

Also, at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club, former Congress MP Arjun Narsingh K.C. said that the party needs to know what was agreed upon.

There are many other Congressmen who also think the same way. They seem to have gotten weary of the ‘understandings’ between their top leaders which only patch up heated quarrels temporarily.

The growing voices of tranparency of decisions made at the highest level and more participation in the decision making process are efforts to introduce the democratic process into the party. This is correct thinking otherwise it will be useless to boast that the NC is the only democratic party in the country.

Hats off to Bhuvan K.C.!

By Dwarika Shrestha

It comes as no surprise that Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari has accepted to play a role of a villain in a new film (under production) by Bhuvan KC. In the film, Mr. Bhandari will play the role of Thakur, a top feudal lord of a state.

 Mr. Bhandari was the Minister of Culture and Sports during the time of the agreement. Mr. Bhandari is also accused of auditing irregularities in the eighth SAF Game held in Kathmandu in September last. His Ministerial job remained unaffected despite the accusation. Thus his role model really challenged the constitutional bodies formed against the corrupt practices. He is elected from Mahottari number four constituencies for a five- year period.

The House of Representatives in the Nepalese Parliament is a body of 205 political representatives. They are elected from 205 constituencies of the Kingdom for the period of five years. Like Bhandari, there are still many other representatives in our Parliament who could very well fit into the role of a smuggler, rapist and  gang fighter.

Bhuvan KC showed his brilliance by deciding to offer the role of a hoodlum very aptly to a political leader like Mr. Bhandari. Well done, Bhuvan KC! Your selection has become a matter of pride.

The night of Lord Shiva

Pashupatinath : A favourite pilgrimage site on Shivaratri.

By A Staff Reporter

It invariably rains on that day, the day of Shiva Ratri that falls on 4th March. The most revered deity of the Hindus, the night, which is “ratri” is celebrated in a unique environment. Devotees from even across the border, from India, flock to Pasupatinath, a favourite pilgrimage site for most Hindus. Across the country, young men make it a point to light bon fires and make sweets with bhang (cannabis) mixed in it or prepare a sweet drink that gives you a kick, courtesy bhang mixed in it. This is also a time to see all types of Sadhus, those who have renounced their worldly ways.

Till very recently, youngsters were free to steal some vegetable and firewood to enjoy the festive night. This tradition has slowly started to vanish these days, but for devotees and also the Royal Nepal Army, which observes a parade at Tundikhel,  Shivaratri is a special day.

Vision 2020 to cure blindness

By A Staff Reporter

In a significant step to tackle the high rate of preventable blindness, Indonesia has launched its National VISION 2020 programme for the country. Launching the programme, Vice President of Indonesia,   Megawati Sukarnoputri said that this is an important area for action as  the actual number of people affected were probably larger than the reported 1.5 million cataract blind.

She said a big movement is needed to clear the backlog, and that this initiative would provide the necessary impetus.

Madame Sukarnoputri also voiced her concern about the increasing number of children suffering from poor eyesight, referring particularly to those needing refractive correction. She felt that more research is needed on this subject to ascertain the numbers affected and to understand the cause of this increase.

Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Dr Achmad Sujudi said the country would initially make a plan of action for the first one year. Based on that experience the programme would be accelerated. He hoped that the backlog of cataract blind would be cleared within the next decade.

Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Region pointed out that, world over there are over 180 million people who are either blind or visually impaired. A third of them live in this Region.

Of the ten countries of WHO’s South-East Asia Region, the highest prevalence rate of blindness is in Indonesia. Dr Uton cautioned that if urgent steps are not taken now this figure would double in the next 20 years.

He added that blindness perpetuates the poverty of the poor. The global cost of blindness costs Indonesia one billion dollar every year. Preventing blindness is, therefore, both an ethical as well as an economic imperative, he said.

As part of WHO’s global VISION 2020 programme which focuses on preventable blindness, top regional and global experts in the field of Ophthalmology, Vision care and International NGOs, met in Jakarta last week for a 4 days consultation. The objective was to draw up a Regional strategy for the next 20 years, which would form the basis of National country plans.

SAP to celebrate solidarity week

By A Staff Reporter

South Asia Partnership-Nepal (SAP-Nepal) is organizing a five-day celebration titled “Solidarity Week” on the occasion of completion of its 15 years of operation in Nepal.

Though SAP-Nepal started functioning mainly as an INGO, in 1994 it modified its role and transformed itself into national Non-Government Development Organisations (NGDO). It started working by providing various kinds of support services to NGOs like funding, training, information, consultation etc. promoting the institutional development of its partners working for community development.

Currently, it has taken a deepening strategy by focusing on the subject of governance-and is working with a certain number of organisations building their capacity to understand the issues in governance and to develop a common understanding among all so as to deal with the arising problems in solidarity among NGDOs.

In the 15 years of its operation, it has been able to build relationships of various kinds with around a thousand non-government organisation in 62 districts of the country.

The five-day long programme is targeted at strengthening solidarity to promote governance and will be participated by all partner and non-partner organisations, professionals associated with SAP-N, resource persons and trainees, volunteers and former board and staff members.

South-East Asia, Guinea worm free: report

By A Staff Reporter

India, and other countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region have been officially certified as Guinea worm (also known as Dracunculiasis) free. The 4th International Commission for Certification of Dracunculiasis gave the clearance on 15 February 2000, a press release said.

This was on the basis of the report of the International Certification team, which visited India in November 1999, and investigated sixty-two villages in the five endemic states, as well as on the basis of the detailed documentation  provided by the Government of India.

25-year-old Banwari Lal of village Aau, in the Jodhpur District of Rajasthan in India was the last reported case of Guinea worm, in July 1996. Since then, no case has been reproted. After the end of Small pox, Guinea worm is the second disease to have been eradicated from the Region.

This is a triumph for public health and intersectoral collaboration. The gradual push back of the disease was made possible by a programme that brought together three key departments: health, water supply and rural development. It is also a tribute to sustained efforts by UN Agencies like UNICEF and WHO and the support provided by donor agencies.

It is also the success of a massive effort in communication, of high levels of advocacy, and social mobilisation, backed by practical ground level action by the various departments.

According to estimates, in 1947, India had 25 million cases of dracunculiasis. In 1983- 1984 when the Goverment of India launched the Guinea worm eradication programme, there were around 39,792 cases in 12,840 villages in seven endemic states. Concerted effort saw the end of the disease in each of the seven states.

Guinea worm is among the tropical diseases that cause prolonged suffering, and has been prevalent in India since Vedic times. This water-borne disease, prevalent in rural areas with inadequate safe drinking water, causes severe pain, and incapacitation for varying periods, and in some cases permanent crippling. Now the disease only remains in some countries of the sub-Saharan Africa.

Early detection can help cure cancer

By A Staff Reporter

Breast disease is one of the leading causes of death in the Indian subcontinent. Though cancer can be cured if detected in the early stage, it is the second largest killer worldwide after heart disease.

But the rising incidence of breast disease in the South Asian countries is basically due to public unawareness of early symptoms associated with the breast diseases, said doctors.

Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Centre organized a one-day free Breast Clinic and a talk program on “Should you have a cancer check-up?” on Sunday to raise awareness among the general people in Nepal.

Doctors at the talk programme on Breast Cancers organized by Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Center.

Visiting doctors from Breach Candy Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, Dr. Arun P. Kurkure, Ms. Hon. Consultant Oncosurgeon, and Dr. Sanjay Navani, Surgical Pathologist and Immunohistochemistry joined Norvic-Escorts’ surgeons and staff to check-up more than one hundred patients having breast diseases of different types.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kurkure highlighted on the importance of making people aware about the early symptoms and Breast Self Examination process. The talk program, which was participated in by patients, their relatives and journalists, was held prior to the start of the Health Camp. Dr. S. K. Bhattacharya, Medical Superintendent at the Center, conducted the program. Dr. Bhattacharya expressed the view that cancers are no more fatal these days provided that it is  detected on time.

“We don’t have to worry about cancer if it is detected in its early stage,” said Dr. Kurkure and added, “Since cases of breast cancer are in the rise in India and Nepal, various preventive measures should be taken by women.” He also advised a 3-step Breast Cancer preventive measure on the occasion.

According to this, women should be able to carry out self-Breast Examination first. If they feel nodes in their breast, then they should consult doctors for further examination. The third step, he advised, was mammogram and ultrasound examination for the confirmation of disease.

Those women with family history of breast cancer, who had early menarche and late menopause, late first pregnancy or no pregnancy at all are likely to have breast cancer. Beside that, other activities causing hormonal imbalance in the body may give rise to breast cancer, Dr. Kurkure said. 

He also advised women to visit Breast Clinic once in a year. “Bringing women into examination programme at a younger age could provide an early opportunity for patient education and increase their access to, and better utilisation of health care,” Dr. Kurkure said.

Likewise, a symposium was also held on Breast Cancers at the latter half of the day. More than 50 renowned general surgeons and physicians took part in the symposium. It was chaired by Dr. Mahesh K. Khakurel, President, Society of Surgeons of Nepal. The gathering discussed on the scientific papers presented by noted doctors from Nepal and India.

Prof. Anjani Kumar Sharma lauded on his theme ‘Breast Cancers-Nepalese Perspective’. Dr. Yogendra Prasad Singh, Consultant Surgeon at TUTH, presented his paper on ‘Factors Related to Auxillary Lymph Node Metastasis in T1 Breast Carcinoma’.

Similarly, Dr, Navani and Dr. Kurkure presented papers on ‘Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Breast Cancers’ and ‘Recent Advances in Breast Cancers’ respectively.

Speakers appreciated Norvic-Escorts’ efforts in organizing such medical symposium, which are beneficial for both patients and doctors. Norvic-Escorts has been organizing various medical symposium and seminars by giving opportunities to interact between Indian and Nepalese doctors besides organizing public awareness program in cardiology and oncology.

Poudel says press must counter anti-democrats

By A Staff Reporter

Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel quite frankly admitted that unless the political leaders themselves developed a respectable image, the people’s faith in politics would continue to erode.

Speaking at an “informal” gathering with journalists at his official quarter on Sunday, the Deputy Prime Minister said that at present also, the same type of understanding, like that had happened in Godavari some months back, had taken place between the two top leaders of the Nepali Congress. “We don’t know what was agreed upon in the “Godavari understnading” and we don’t know what has happened now,” Poudel said with a sarcastic note.

However, he refused to speak further on the present political impasse that is taking place within the ruling party. Poudel said that time will reveal what was agreed upon.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister emphatically said that he has always taken a stance for “clean and upright” politics, right from the time when he was the Speaker of the House of Representative.

On an optimistic note, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also looking after the Information and Communication Ministry said that after the re-ushering in of democracy, much has been achieved by the Parliament and the press. “There is no reason to be pessimistic,” he said.

Indicating the Maoist insurgency, Poudel said that some elements were trying to unsurp the hard won democracy by using the present weaknesses seen in politics as a weapon. “The press should counter such elements who are anti-democrats through intellectual arguments,” he added.