Their Majesties the King and Queen at the Golden Jubilee function of Radio Nepal last Sunday. Also seen are Minister for Information and Communication Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta and Director of the Radio Nepal Mukunda Acharya.

Nation tensely awaits Maoist Bandh

By A Staff Reporter

Even as the high level committee formed by the previous government to find a solution to the Maoist problem flounders, the whole nation tensely awaits the bandh (closure) called by the insurgents on Thursday. Departing from the routine political strategy of calling for a peaceful bandh, Maoist leader Comrade Prachanda announced through a press statement sometime back, that this time his party would organise an “armed bandh”.

The government has taken this as a warning that the Maoists will resort to violence, not only in the remote districts in Mid-Western Nepal where they have a strong presence, but also in places like Kathmandu and other bigger townships around the country.

Security has been tightened in Kathmandu days ahead of the bandh and it has become a routine affair for the police to make checks on all vehicles during the evenings. With a stray incident of a petrol bomb being hurled at a shop near the centre of the City in Ganabahal, the people have been even more threatened. It was reported that the Maoists had demanded money from the shopkeeper, and   when he refused they threw the petrol bomb in his shop.

Police armed with weapons are seen patrolling all parts of the City during the day time as well.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who heads the high level committee for finding a resolution to the insurgency problem, said that all he can do now is submit the report prepared by the committee. “I have not been given any mandate to pursue talks with the Maoists,” Deuba said recently. Earlier, the Bhattarai government had given full powers to Deuba to initiate dialogue with the rebels.

Observers point out that though the people fear some untoward incidents may take place on Thursday, the police express confidence that they have things under control. More than one hundred suspects, including one who threw the petrol bomb at Ganabahal, have been arrested and police say they will be released only after Thursday.

Though, it is also certain that just to show their presence in the Capital, rebel supporters will also try and create violent activities. Spread thin over the City and all across the country, it will be more difficult for the police to counter the hit and run tactics of the Maoists.

The people are also fearing that the police may unleash unwarranted force, just because they have been given full power to counter any threat from the insurgents.

UML's move to control corruption

By Dhana Thapa

The main opposition party in the Parliament, the CPN-UML is ending its month long protest programme with a massive show of strength in Kathmandu this Saturday (April 8). The party is bringing in supporters from all over the country and organising a mammoth mass meeting at the Open Air Theatre that day.

UML supporting newspapers have been hyping the incident from days ahead. But apart from the hackneyed cliches that the communists are so fond of mouthing, one noteworthy programme during this huge mass meeting, is the intention of the UML to bring to book the corrupt people of the country.

For several days now, the party, according to its scheduled protest programme, has been gheraoing (encircling) different government ministries and offices which are considered centres of corruption. Even if it is just a political stunt, this is a praise worthy initiative from the main opposition party.

There is no doubt that most of the problems seen in the country at present, including the Maoist insurgency, undevelopment and poverty, all are in some ways the by-product of a corrupt administration. Of course, it is not true that corruption has come in with democracy, a concept that has been largely stamped in the mind of the people in general. Yes, it may have escalated, but it has to be understood that this social malaise had greatly eroded the national economy right from the Panchayat days.

If we look back in history, it can be presumed that the institutionalisation of corruption started from around 1980 or so. Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, many of the ministers under him during that time, powerful bureaucrats and even some officials in the Royal Palace, they all contributed in sowing the seeds of corruption and encouraging those involved in such corrupt activities.

Sadly, the trend was not reversed when the people ushered in multi-party democracy with much enthusiasm. Instead, right from the time when the Interim government took office, politicians opted to take advantage of their power and position. The situation got worse when a majority government of the Nepali Congress was voted in. That government was led by none other than Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala himself.

Now with almost a decade of multi-party democracy, the country seems to be mired deep in institutionalised corruption, where those in power seem to get away with anything.

Therefore, the present movement of the UML, to make public the names of those people involved in corrupt activities and also start a campaign against them, is a positive development. However, there are evidences that many officials during the UML rule were also involved in corruption. It will not be enough and fair if the UML points at the corrupt  people of the other parties only. The UML campaign will gain credibility in the eyes of the people if it can unmask corrupt people from its own party as well.

For now, just this token initiative from the main opposition party to create awareness among the people about the evils of this malpractice is a step in the right direction.

Massive show of strength by UML on Saturday

By A Staff Reporter

Hundreds of thousands of NCP (UML) supporters will arrive in Kathmandu this Saturday. The main opposition party in the Parliament, has already started a door -to-door campaign in many districts of the country, including Kathmandu, to urge its supporters to participate in a massive mass protest to take place in the Open Air Theatre.

The UML intends to wind up its month-long protest programme, which included a Nepal bandh organised last Monday, with this meet in Kathmandu and it also intends to mark the completion of 10 years of the historic success of the popular Peoples’ Movement.

A source in the party informed that more than 200 buses are bringing in thousands of UML supporters from districts as far as Jhapa and Sunsari and then hundreds of others from nearby districts will come marching in that day.

During the mass meet, the UML leaders will sincerely review the events of the past ten years and they will also make a public announcement of the high level people involved in corruption. The source also informed that the next phase of protest programmes of the UML will also be announced that day.

CP: I am the architect of ML

By A Staff Reporter

C.P. Mainali, who was recently ousted  from the CPN-ML, has ruled out any   possibility of joining other parties including the CPN-UML.

“There is no chance of my joining to other parties. I am a Marxist-Leninist and I am also one of the architect of the CPN (ML),” he said. Mainali was the founder General Secretary of the CPN (ML). Talking to the Independent he said, “Going back to CPN (UML) will be a wrong step for me,” he said and stressed that “it is also inappropriate”. “Similarly, I am also not going to join any other parties,” he said.  

After he was expelled from the CPN (ML) last week, political critics have been speculating that Mainali will join either CPN (UML) or CPN (Marxist) to form a new party.

Mainali expressed that his ouster as the party’s Organization Committee chief was a consequence of growing difference of opinion on the party’s principles with the top leaders. The party workers have been expressing dissatisfaction over the deviation the party showed in it’s principle in the past  few months. “My duty is to lead the party to its goal as had been demanded by its worker,” Mainali said.

The rift between him and the party’s General Secretary Bamdev Gautam had reportedly been increasing for the last couple of months, specially after CPN-ML’s humiliating defeat in the last general election.

As the Party’s 12th meeting of the Central Organization Committee kicked off on March 25, Gautam had proposed to expell Mainali on the grounds that the later was involved in creating divisions among the party workers. He was also charged to disobey the party’s principles. Following this meeting, last week, the committe decided to expell Mainali. He was also asked to submitt written self-criticism within fifteen days, Otherwise, the party had threated to take further action.

This decision has raised a huge problem to Mainali’s political career. However, Mainali is of the opinion that such situation comes to every politicians life. “I will stick to fullfil my princilple, whether I am in the party or ousted,” he stressed.

Robin Cook to visit Nepal

By A Staff Reporter

British Secretary of State, Robin Cook is visiting Nepal from April 20 to 22. This will be the first visit of British Foreign Minister to visit Nepal.

During his visit, Cook will inaugurate the office of the Nepal-Britain Chamber of Commerce   on the 21st April established within the premises of the British Embassy in Kathmandu.

Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, Andrew Mitchell, Deputy Chief of Mission at the British Embassy said the theme of Cook’s visit is to establish dynamic new partnership between Britain and Nepal in economic cooperation and also to uplift democracy and share views on peace and human rights.

Nepal can be made important for US

By A Staff Reporter

William Jefferson Clinton, the President of the United States has come, conquered and gone from India, but like in most cases, the after shocks of this visit till seems to be lingering here in Nepal. Days after the Presidential visit to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan ended, top level Nepalese intellectuals were debating about the visit at a prime time programme on NTV.

Participated in by Foreign Secretary Murari Raj Sharma, who has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, former Nepalese envoy to the UN Jaya Raj Acharya and former MP Hiranya Lal Shrestha, the programme tried to discuss various aspects of Clinton’s visit to South Asia.

In the course of the discussion, Foreign Secretary Sharma tried to explain that a US President never makes a goodwill visit. “There has to be strategic political interest or economic interest before a US President visits any country”, he said.

This could be true to a large extent. However, like he made a very short visit to Bangladesh, where it is said US companies have showed interest in gas there, the US President could have been convinced to come to Nepal as well.

If our diplomats were worthy of the plenipotentiary title that they carry, then any issue could have been used as a bait. Nepal’s strategic geo-political situation, the country’s nascent democracy, Bhutanese refugee issue, the unique natural and cultural offerings that Nepal has, anything could have been used to entice a soon to retire US President.

There is no reason why Nepal can’t be made important for the United States, through skillful diplomacy and strong logic.

After all, except for wooing a drooling Indian crowd, what accomplishment took place during President Clinton’s four day long India visit?

The world is poorer by one less VC

By A Staff Reporter

It is with deep sadness we learnt of the death of Havildar Gaje Ghale Victoria Cross (VC) late March 28 while undergoing treatment in New Delhi, India.

Havildar Gaje Ghale was born in Barpak Village of Gurkha District in 1919. He enlisted as a boy soldier in 1934 and on completing his recruit training joined the 2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Froce). 2/5th Gurkha Rifles was a part of 48 Gurkha Brigade of the 17th Indian Division that played a major role against the Japanese forces in the Burma Campaign during 2nd world war.

He won the VC for his daring action against the far superior Japanese forces on the Chin Hills of Burma on 27th May 1943. An Indian army pensioner, he retired as a Subedar Major in the Honorary Rank of Captain.

According to the news sources late Havildar Ghale who was one of the 13 Gurkha recipients of the Victoria Cross was one of the 6 living Gurkha VC recipients. He is survived by his wife, four sons and four daughters.

The deepest sympathy and condolences of the British Government, British Embassy and British Gurkhas Nepal go to his bereaved family, says the British embassy press release.

Apartment hotels

By A Staff Reporter

This is a novel business in town that has yet a long way to go. But that does not seem to detract novices from starting this business. A few apartment hotels that exist today are between two and four years old.

Though business may not have been exciting, they have not had to close down either. They charge anywhere from 35 to 65 US $ per day - discounts increase by 10 - 15 per cent depending on the length of stay. Deluxe apartment hotels charge more.

To name a few, Hacienda apartment in Maharajgunj has 14 apartments, Sagarmatha apartment has eight and The Roadhouse Inn has seven. Foreigners and NGO workers seem to comprise a majority of the clients in apartment hotels. The apartments provides all in house services with additional charges and a fully equipped kitchen. It could very well be a home away from home for a price, of course.

HMG and UMN partners in rural development

By A Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Local Development and the Rural Development Department of United Mission to Nepal (UMN) recently concluded two day workshop on rural development coordination, in Dhulikhel.

The participants discussed how to achieve effective coordination and communication between UMN and government line agencies at district and central level. They also discussed their respective roles and responsibilities, future planning and how to mobilize local resources effectively.

Joint secretary of the Ministry of Local Development Surya Saran Regmi concluded that the workshop was successful in moving forward rural development activities. He also pointed out that DDC chairpersons and others seemed to be satisfied with the UMN activities in their respective districts. Pointing at the future action plan, he said that is would be worthwhile to include the approach of the Local Governance Act in rural development programmes for better effectiveness. At the end, he expressed his expectation from UMN of strengthening capacity building of local units of government.

Commenting on the effectiveness of the workshop, the DDC chairperson of Dhading District expressed that the workshop will help strengthen relationships for mutual coordination and cooperation in order to make rural development activities more fruitful in the future.

All the Prime Minister's men

By A Staff Reporter

When newly appointed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his cabinet a fortnight back, people were not surprised when he retained more than a dozen  ministers of the Bhattarai cabinet, but mainly those who had deserted Bhattarai.

Koirala has rewarded 10 out of the 11 ministers, who had resigned from the Bhattarai cabinet, with only Narayan Singh Pun, assistant minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation being left out.

For the Civil Aviation Ministry, Koirala selected his trusted man Tarini Dutta Chataut. This ministry is considered a plum one at the moment, not only because RNAC is again going to sign a new lease agreement for a new plane, but it may even be purchasing a new aircraft. Many feel this will mean a hefty kickback for whoever is involved in the deal, leave alone the Minister in charge.

Meanwhile, many had thought that Khum Bahadur Khadka, who had played a crucial role for Koirala in the election of the party’s parliamentary leader, would get the prestigious Home Ministry for his cooperation. Khadka, with his 13 supporting MPs, had tilted the balance in Koirala’s favour in the election.

Instead Khadka has been given the Ministry of Water Resources and Works and Transport, both considered lucrative ministries for earning commissions. He was also compensated by being made the third senior minister in the cabinet after the PM and DPM.

For the Home Ministry, Koirala again chose Govinda Raj Joshi, considered as one of his most ardent loyalists.

Meanwhile, Ramchandra Poudel has been retained as the Deputy Prime Minister, and he has been given a non-glamorous, but important ministry of local development.

As expected Mahesh Acharya has come back to the Finance Ministry, and for Shital Niwas it is Chakra Banstola. Jaya Prakash Anand Gupta, one of the most vociferous supporters of the PM, has been given the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the newly elected MP Amod Upadhyaya, brother-in-law of Nona Koirala, the Prime Minister’s sister-in-law, will handle the  Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, the quartet, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Govinda Raj Joshi, Jaya Prakash Anand Gupta and Amod Upadhyaya are being considered the most influential ministers within the cabinet.

Despite being totally ‘under represented’ in the new cabinet, Bhattarai supporters in the Nepali Congress have remained quiet now. But it can not be said when they will begin to feel that they are being side-lined. Koirala has been promising that he will reduce the number of the ministries, thereby its size also. But if he tries to reduce the size of the government he may face tough challenges from within his party.

"Shalom" Garden of Peace gets underway

By A Staff Reporter

Braving the heat and dust on April 2, in Mahankal Chaur near Bouddhanath; the mayor of Kathmandu, Israeli embassy staff and school embarked on the mission of clearing out an area of four and half ropani and turn it into a garden for the local children and the elderly. The site clearing campaign for the garden was also participated by the local inhabitants.

Einath Granov, wife of the Israeli Charge d’ Affairs, Shlomo Granov, said that the garden is named Shalom, which means peace in Jewish. The planting of hundred trees and hedges is slated for May 7, after repair work in the area is completed.

The mayor of Kathmandu, Keshav Sthapit said that eight other similar parks have already been developed with the help of other embassies. He said that Kathmandu municipality is working with the embassy as partners whereby the embassy will fund the project and KMC with the help of locals will undertake the maintenance.

Einath remarked that it was a special moment which heralded the process of converting the barren land into something life giving.