May 13, 2005

Late Pokhrel

An unidentified group shot dead a popular Hindu preacher and chairman of World Hindu Federation – Nepal , Narayan Prasad Pokharel on Friday morning at Dudhraksha of Rupandehi district – 30 km wet of Butwal city – where he was performing Purana recital ritual for the last seven days to raise funds for a local Rampur multiple campus. Pokharel, 50, is arguably the most popular preacher of Shrimad Bhagvad Purana and is widely sought-after by social organizations and communities wanting to raise funds through such religious rituals. The assassination of Pundit Pokharel has plunged the local community into grief. His body was airlifted to Kathmandu on Friday where his last rites were performed in Pashupati Aryaghat. Along with him, his assistant Khageshwore Bhattarai was also injured when a group of unidentified persons barged into the place where Pundit Pokharel was residing and riddled his body with bullets. Pundit Pokharel was the most prolific fund-raiser and reports say he has helped raise funds worth Rs 1.9 billion in the last one decade. These fund were raised to build campuses, schools, hospitals, temples, old-age shelter homes, community buildings, bridges and drinking water schemes in around 1132 different places. Political parties and human rights organizations have condemned the assassination of Pundit Pokharel and have demanded judicial inquiry to find out the culprit. Meanwhile, reports say the Maoist-affiliated Dalit Mukti Morcha (Dalit Liberation Front) has owned up responsibility for the killing Pundit Pokharel. According to report by Nepalnews, the BBC Nepali Service on Friday quoted a Maoist leader as saying that their organization had decided to ‘eliminate’ Pokharel for allegedly “indulging in various crimes in the disguise of religion.” Maoists have blamed him of indulging in sexual exploitation, amassing property illegally and trying to garner popular support in favor of monarchy, according to reports. Compiled from reports.

Maoists Could Be Dragged To International Court: RNA

Charging them of killing unarmed soldiers in cold-blood, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has said that the Maoists can be dragged to the international criminal court. At a press meet on Friday, the RNA showed a video clip of Krishnabhir incident of November 16 where the Maoists brutally killed three RNA soldiers after they were taken into their captivity. RNA spokesperson Brigadier General Dipak Gurung also showed the photographs recovered from the Maoists. In the video clip, four soldiers were initially shown in their captivity. Later a television journalist who reached the site showed the Maoists releasing one soldier ‘on humanitarian ground.’ “We are surprised why the TV journalist who showed the release of one soldier did not show the killing of the remaining three?” Gurung asked, “That journalist can be taken as a witness.” Likewise, at the press meet, the RNA also presented an audio clip said to be that of Maoist chairman Prachanda in which he mentioned stripping off all responsibilities of Baburam Bhattarai. The RNA also informed that it has brought back its soldiers accused of sexual misconduct while serving as UN peacekeepers in Congo and added that they were being subjected to court martial. Leading dailies report.

Budget Program For Helping IDPs

Finance Minister Madhukar SJB Rana has said that concrete programs will be introduced in the next budget to help the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He has also requested for assistance from international development partners and donor communities for the purpose. Addressing the 34th meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB) board of directors, FM Rana said that around 600,000 people were suffering the woes of internal displacement due to conflict. He said they required humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation. The Finance Minister added that the government was giving priority to such programs where there is direct participation of local people. The minister said that it was the challenge before the world community to help prevent a country from becoming a failed state due to the onslaught of terrorism and protect such democracies. Leading dailies report.

NRN Investors Urge For Better Environment

The Non Resident Nepalese (NRN) investors have said that the government is not forthcoming about creating the environment conducive for their investment. They said that although they wanted to help their country at this difficult time, they were still waiting for the NRN Act to allow them to invest. Dr. Upendra Mahato, chairman of International Coordination Council of NRN, said that clarifying legal status of NRNs would help in drawing their investment and through them also the investment of multinational companies. “Prime minister, finance ministers and industry ministers had assured of their commitment to introduce the act but it has not come up till now,” he said. Dr. Mahato said that he had invested in the country even though the government did not create the environment but added he was not able to inspire other NRNs. He suggested reduction in tax rates and other policies to attract their investment. “The white gold flowing in Nepalese rivers and natural beauty should be used as instruments for economic growth. It would take maximum five years to make Nepal rich but one has to have appropriate plans,” he said. Dr. Shankar Sharma, vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) said that the government was ready to cooperate if the NRNs approached with good proposals. He said that the government was even ready to spend money on the NRNs’ projects if they are good. Leading dailies report.

RCCC Files Charge-Sheets Against Deuba

The spokesperson of the Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC) Prem Raj Karki has said that the commission has filed charge-sheets against former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and six former ministers alleging them of ‘abusing government property’ while distributing the Dashain fund. The commission has demanded Rs 3.86 million bail amount from Deuba. After Deuba refused to pay the bail amount saying that he had committed nothing wrong, the commission sent him to custody. Earlier, on Wednesday, the commission had sent him to seven days of detention in relation to charges of irregularities in Melamchi project as well. Deuba has been refusing to record his statement before the commission, which he says is unconstitutional. Leading dailies report.

Nisthuri Wins FNJ Elections

Bishnu Nisthuri won the election for the post of president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). He secured 407 votes defeating his contender Gopal Budhathoki. Nisthuri was the general secretary of the previous FNJ team. Likewise, Sanjaya Santoshi Rai (eastern region), Shiva Gaule (central region), Gangadhar Parajuli (western region), Krishna Prasad Basyal (mid-western region) and D.R. Panta (far western region) were elected as vice presidents. Mahendra Bista is the new general secretary, Balram Baniya is secretary and Hemanta Kafle treasurer. Five members who were elected include Surya Thapa, Raju Silwal, Ramji Dahal, Bishnu Chhimeki and Purna Basnet. Leading dailies report.

Inadequate Budget For MDGs

A study has shown that the government is short of Rs 500 billion of resources to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within 2015. In order to work for the attainment of MDGs in six major areas, the investment worth Rs 1130.44 billion has to be pumped in between 2005 and 2015. Out of which, the government’s contribution would require to be around Rs 866.98 billion and it will face the shortage of Rs 494 billion. “If the internal conflict continues and government expenditure is further affected, this imbalance could further increase,” said Bal Gopal Baidya, leader of the team that conducted the study on need assessment for MDGs. The study covered goals in areas like hunger/poverty, education, health, drinking water and sanitation and rural infrastructure (transport and electrification). Baidya presented the study finding at a program organized by National Planning Commission (NPC) and UNDP. As per the study, there is a shortfall of budget by 35 percent in the area of hunger/poverty; 24 percent shortfall in education; 15 percent shortfall in health; and 13 percent each in drinking water and sanitation and rural infrastructure. The study has also pointed that the government investment made in these sectors this year are also well below the requirement. It has pointed that the budget this year was only 48 percent of the requirement in hunger/poverty; only 47 percent of the requirement in rural infrastructure; and only 51 percent in drinking water and sanitation. “Most government investment is required in education followed by hunger/poverty and health,” said Baidya. The study has also shown that the foreign assistance to meet the MDGs should be double the present amount. Speaking at the program, UN Resident Coordinator Matthew Kahane said that the progress was falling in many areas of MDGs due to the conflict. Kantipur daily reports.

Nepal Ready To Become Transit Point Between India And China

The one-year-long internal homework to develop Nepal as a transit point between India and China has received a fresh impetus after the political approval to this proposal. King Gyanendra had communicated Nepal’s readiness to become a transit point during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao at the sidelines of recent Asian-African Summit in Jakarta. One year ago, during the commerce secretary-level Inter Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting between India and Nepal, the former had proposed to use Nepal as transit to reach Chinese market. Following the proposal, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had carried out a study and submitted its recommendations. “After the King’s directions, this subject should now be positively pursued,” said Purushottam Ojha, Secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management. Ojha, who has worked for a long time in transit sector, added, “We now need to have a trilateral agreement and start working on north-south transit road development.” The Ministry’s report had recommended that Nepal should provide the transit facility with the objective of expanding its service sector and physical infrastructure development. The report has also identified three alternative routes for the purpose apart from the existing Birgunj-Kathmandu-Tatopani route. The three routes include Bhairahawa-Kushma-Lomathanka-Leje (Kaligandaki corridor), Birgunj-Mugling-Galchhi-Trishuli-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung (Trishuli corridor) and Biratnagar-Dhankuta-Kimathanka (Arun corridor). Experts opine that out of the proposed routes, a suitable one should be identified and developed as per the trilateral understanding. Experts have said that while providing transit facility, Nepal should try to maximize the benefit for its transport entrepreneurs, freight forwarders and other service sectors. Even the Ministry’s recommendation speaks about trans-shipment issue to provide benefit to Nepalese entrepreneurs. As per its recommendations, goods coming from India should be transferred to Nepalese trucks at a dry port in the border and they should then be transported to Chinese border. “This will help the internal transport business, hotel and other service sectors,” the report states. At present, dry ports or Inland Container Depot are functioning in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Birgunj while another one is being planned for Kakarbhitta. A ministry official added that the country would need to build dry port in Tatopani, Kimathanka and other border points with China as well. Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Binod Bahadur Shrestha has informed that the federation is going to hold a trilateral discussion among businessmen and traders of the three countries on the issue of Nepal working as transit-point. The discussion would be held within six months. Shrestha said that given the rapidly expanding economic relations between India and China, Nepal can benefit a lot from working as transit-point. Kantipur daily reports.

India For Restoration Of Democracy In Nepal

India has said that its policy towards Nepal would be focused towards restoration of democracy here. “We have decided to focus our policy towards restoration of democracy in Nepal,” Indian Home Minister Shiva Raj Patil told the conference of MPs and South Asian NGOs in New Delhi on Sunday. Responding to concerns expressed by Nepali representatives on the impact of India’s decision to resume military aid to the democratic rights, Patil said, “It is up to the Nepalese whether they want monarchy or other political system. But India wants to see democracy in Nepal.” Kantipur daily reports.