 |
| King Gyanendra and Queen Komal at a temple in Tansen |
THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Nepal office chief Ian Martin advised the Supreme Court (SC) to work independently and efficiently for the establishment of rule of law in the country. “The judiciary should decide matters impartially, on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason,” Martin said, addressing a two-day central working council meeting of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) on Friday (June 3). He added, “Our mandate includes advising the judicial branches of the government to ensure all human rights legislations and judicial decision are consistent with relevant international instruments and commitments.”
EXPERTS HAVE SAID THAT NEPAL SHOULD establish Designated National Authority (DNA) to mobilize resources and increase access to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to benefit from accession to Kyoto protocol. “projects proposed after January 1, 2004 would be eligible for the CDM. The CDM projects should be tangible and should contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases emission. Transportation, bio-fuel and industries could be some of the most beneficial areas for CDM,” said Ngamindra Dahal, of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), speaking at program on “Prospects and Challenges for Nepal after Ratifying Kyoto Protocol.”
THE FIRST NON-SHERPA LADY from Kathmandu Moni Mulepati to have successfully climbed Mt. Everest has added another feat by marrying with her beloved Pemba Dorji Sherpa at the Everest Summit. On May 30, when this couple set their feet atop the highest mountain in the world, they chose to marry with each other to celebrate their achievement. Mulepati, 24 is a Newari lady hailing from Jhonche in Kathmandu whereas Sherpa is a mountain guide. The two had met each other two years ago while undergoing a mountaineering course at Langtang. Both had planned to tie the knot once they reached the summit. “Soon after we reached the summit, we took off our oxygen masks and married (by exchanging garlands),” Sherpa said, “We also wanted to send the message of equality of caste by holding inter-caste marriage in Everest,” he added. Sherpa has scaled the Everest twice. “We only knew about her plan to scale Everest not about her wedding. But what she did was good. We accept her decision whole-heartedly,” said Mohan Mulepati, father of the bride.
THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON Corruption Control (RCCC) has released (on bail) four out of six accused in the allegations of irregularities in Melamchi project. Former Secretary Tika Dutta Niraula, executive director of the project Dhruba Bahadur Shrestha, deputy director Deepak Kumar Jha and contractor Jip Chhiring Lama were released after they deposited the bail amount of Rs 5 million each. Two other accused including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former minister Prakash Man Singh have refused to deposit the bail amount. They have been saying that the RCCC itself is an unconstitutional body.
FOLLOWING THE ONSET OF PROLONGED DRY season, Kathmandu valley residents experienced the hottest day in one decade on Wednesday (June 1) when the mercury level soared to astounding 35 degree Celsius, according to a news report by Nepal Samacharpatra daily. According to Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, weatherman at the Airport Weather Forecasting Division, it marked the hottest day in last 11 years. Earlier, the valley had experienced 35.2 degree Celsius in 1994.
JOURNALISTS HAVE VOWED TO CONTINUE with their struggle until and unless the press freedom and civil liberties are fully restored. They have expressed outrage at the continuing restriction in broadcasting news from FM radio. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) took out a protest rally in the capital on Sunday (June 5) to voice their opinion. The journalists demanded restoration of press freedom, permission to broadcast news in FM radio, revocation of decision to ban Communication Corner, among others. “We will struggle till our rights are restored,” said Bishnu Nisthuri, president of FNJ.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SOURCES HAVE REVEALED that efforts are on to schedule a meeting between King Gyanendra and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others, on the sidelines of the forthcoming Second South Summit (June 15-16) in Doha. Although nothing has been finalized yet, the foreign ministry officials are said to be working to schedule the King’s meeting also with other leaders including Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. King Gyanendra is also scheduled to address the Summit. Likewise, the King could also meet with the visiting Chinese head of state or government. Britain is the only country that has publicly suspended the arms supply to Nepal after February 1. Therefore, any meeting with Tony Blair would assume great significance. Likewise, although the King met with Indian PM Singh during Jakarta conference, a number of events have taken place since. “Apart from other agenda, we want to request them to look at February 1 action from positive perspective and to resume the non-lethal as well as necessary lethal weapons to the army,” said a source at the Ministry. The Doha Summit is going to be utilized by the participating countries to lobby for their perspective about the proposed reforms in the United Nations Security Council ahead of the September UN General Assembly where each of the country would have to submit their stand on the issue.
RENOWNED MOUNTAINEER APPA SHERPA has broken his own record by climbing Mt. Everest for 15 times. According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sherpa set his foot atop the Everest Summit at 6:30 am on Tuesday (May 31). He was a member of ‘Everest Climbing For A Cure Expedition.’ According to Umesh Kumar Singh, chief of the mountaineering section at the Ministry, said that along with 48-year-old Appa, Dawanuru Sherpa, 40, and John Christopher, 36, of the United States also reached the summit.
