Gorkhapatra Celebrates Its Centenary

-By Our Correspondent

Gorkhapatra, the country’s oldest daily newspaper, celebrated its 100 years of publication yesterday (Saturday) with enthusiasm and much fanfare.

It was exactly 100 years ago that the first newspaper of the country was published using a press brought from Britain. The press was called as 'Gidde' press because of its shape of a vulture. The press is at the National Museum now.

During its hundred years, Gorkhapatra is not only the living emblem of journalism in Nepal, but also a reminiscence, a witness and even an active participant of the changes the country has gone through in all sectors in the last 100 years.

The messages of good wishes the Gorkhapatra has received on its centenary is indicative of the place it has carved in the niche of the Nepalese society and in the minds of the people.

His Majesty the King in his message on the occasion has lauded the role Gorkhapatra has played in the history of Nepali journalism and holding uppermost the interests of the country at the same time.

At the centenary function organised by Gorkhapatra Corporation, the publisher of the Gorkhapatra and several other newspapers and magazines including this weekly, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said that the personality who first thought of publishing a newspaper in Nepal 100 years ago must be a great democrat. He also said Gorkhapatra was also the first seed sown for democracy in the country.

It might be mentioned here that Dev Shumsher, the only liberal-minded Rana Prime Minister who started Gorkhapatra, was ousted from power and was exiled from Kathmandu only after three months in power. The publication of Gorkhapatra was one of the reasons of his down fall. Similarly, the first editor of the newspaper Raja Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh was forced to go to exile in Bangalore in India.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said Gorkhapatra should now carve its own path in the future. He also said there should be an open discussion about the future of Gorkhapatra.

Presently, Gorkhapatra Corporation as a whole has been a matter of discussion on whether it should continue to remain an entity of the government or it should be privatised.

Minister Gupta had earlier said that Gorkhapatra should be privatised and the government has even placed the Corporation on the list of the PEs to be privatised. Yesterday Minister Gupta said that the government would not take any decision that will be detrimental to the Corporation’s interest.

Chairman of the Gorkhapatra Corporation Prem Nidhi Gyanwali said the Corporation has plans to publish Gorkhapatra in colour and given more incentives to its employees.

Officiating Editor of Gorkhapatra Ramesh Tiwari said Gorkhapatra is not any body's private property and the government should have a clear vision about Gorkhapatra.

Similarly, Basant Prakash Upadhyaya, General Secretary of the Gorkhapatra Employees' Union 2052 said the government should end uncertainty about the future of Gorkhapatra.

Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications Shree Ram Poudel said Gorkhapatra is not only the oldest newspaper of Nepal but also it is a living heritage of the country.

Acting General Manager of the Corporation Benu Prasad Prasai had delivered the welcome speech. Prasai said Gorkhapatra has contributed towards the preservation and promotion of the country's art, culture, literature and others.

Pushkar Mathema, president of the Gorkhapatra unit of the Nepal Journalists' Federation, delivered a vote of thanks.

At the function, former chief editors of Gorkhapatra and employees of the corporation who have completed twenty five and twenty years of services were also felicitated with shawl and plaques.

Meanwhile, to mark its centenary the Gorkhapatra Corporation had organised various other programmes such as nation-wide poetry and essay competition of the school children, blood donation programme and games.

Similarly, one rupee coins and postage stamp bearing the emblem of Gorkhapatra have also been issued to mark the centenary. Minister Gupta stamped the first issue of the stamp at a function at the Corporation on Friday.

Has Bhutan Really Changed Its Mind?

-By Our Correspondent

The remarks made by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee Ms. Sadako Ogata have generated some real hopes in finding a solution to the Bhutanese refugee issue.

The UN High Commissioner recently completed her visit to Bhutan, Nepal and India.

On her arrival in Nepal from Bhutan on Monday the UN High Commissioner said that the Bhutanese King and his government told her that they were committed to solving the problem.

During her visit to the Goldhap refugee camp, one of the seven such camps, the UN High Commissioner also told the refugees that the Bhutanese government was eager to welcome them back. She even said she would ask the Indian government for cooperation to solve the problem.

The visit and the remarks of the UN High Commissioner are significant in that for the first time the UN organisation has indicated that it would get involved directly if required and that the UN body was also willing to extend support for the verfication mechanism.

The verification of the refugees, as agreed during the third ministerial meeting in 1993, seen by Nepal as crucial in hastening the process of repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees, who have been living in camps in Nepal for 10 years.

After Ogata's statements, the chances of determining a modality for the verification process look bright. The UN official has even suggested to use the database of the UNHCR in the verification saying it contains a complete list of refugees.

Meanwhile, the ninth ministerial-level meeting is expected to be held this month and only then it will be clear whether Bhutan has really changed its mind.

However, Ogata's visit is an indication that pressure is building up for both Nepal and Bhutan to resolve the problem quickly.

Banstola Visiting India Today

-By Our Correspondent

Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Banstola is leaving for India today (Sunday) on a three-day official visit on the invitation of the Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh.

Prior to his visit Minister Banstola told Sunday Despatch that he would be talking with his Indian counterpart on issues of bilateral concerns.

Minister Banstola will also be undertaking a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and matters of mutual interests.

One of the issues Minister Banstola is expected to discuss is the resumption of the Indian Airlines flight to Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, this visit is also seen as paving way for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's visit to India. Koirala is expected to make a visit in the near future. The last Nepali Prime Minister to visit India was Sher Bahadur Deuba about four years back.

Who Said What About Gorkhapatra

-By Our Correspondent

The entry of the Gorkhapatra daily into its centennial year is a matter of pride for every conscious citizen.

—Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary and the leader of the main opposition CPN-UML.

The prime responsibility of the Gorkhapatra daily on this joyful occasion is to establish itself as a reliable and trustworthy medium by facing the innumerable challenges that have surfaced in the communication sector.

—Former Prime Minister and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party President Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Gorkhapatra has entered into the 100th year crossing great many difficulties. I am confident that it will move ahead in the future in an impartial manner.

—Gajendra Narayan Singh, chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party.

Gorkhapatra has been able to maintain its identity even in different political situations and colours through patienc, perseverance and its language.

—Narayan Man Bijukchhe "Rohit", President of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party.

Gorkhapatra saw 42 years of Rana oligarchy, 30 years of autocratic Pnchayat system and it is now experiencing the multi party democratic system. So in its long journey the daily has, in the process of informing the people in economic, social, archaeological, scientific, literary and religious sectors, provided intellectual thoughts and inputs to its esteemed readers.

—Bamdev Gautam, general secretary of the CPN-ML.

Gorkhapatra has not only informed people about news but has also played a crucial role in the promotion of Nepali literature.

—Mohan Koirala, vice-chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy.

TIA Has New Security Measures

-By Our Correspondent

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has added new measures to enhance security at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA).

According to the Authority, the airport management has developed 'sterial departure hold area' and has also introduced camputorized pass system.

Besides, it has installed a second X-ray machine for the secondary screening of the checked baggages at the make-up area of the airport.

The secondary screening of the baggages will be done after completing the interline baggage check.

Source at the CAAN, said that the facility of secondary screening would be given under demand to all the airlines taking off from the TIA.

The security check at the TIA had come under severe criticism mainly from the Indian government and the media after the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane four months ago.

The Indian Airlines even suspended its flights to Kathmandu although the Nepalese authorities had denied that security was not as bad as was portrayed.

The Indian civil aviation authority officials had even held talks with Nepal. But it failed to resume the flight.

Meanwhile, the introduction of the new security measures at the airport will further increase security and safety of the passengers and the airlines.

With the installation of modern security measures and people being more alert than ever, security at the TIA can be considered as good as anywhere in the world.

Hashish Found In Vehicle

-By Our Correspondent

Police have found around 275 kg of high grade hashish inside the body a vehicle (with a plate number Lu. A. Ga. 59) last week when it was undergoing maintenance at a workshop in Lalitpur for maintenance

According to Bigyan Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Lalitpur district police office, the hashish seized costs Rs. 4-5 million in Nepal and billions of rupees in the international market.

The seizure of hashish was a bizarre incident. According to DSP Sharma, the vehicle, a Volkwagon van, brought by a German national, but he had run away leaving the vehicle at the premises of the Bhairahawa Customs office in 1991 when it was about to be checked.

The checking found nothing but the German, who had come as a tourist, never came to claim the vehicle. The vehicle was used by different government offices like the Regional Revenue Investigation Offices of Bhairahawa and Itahari for several years.

About four months back it broke down and was brought to Kathmandu from Itahari, loading in a truck to repair. When it was opened for repair and maintenance the hashish were found inside the body wrapped and neatly packed in plastic. The vehicle was given to the Civil Service Record Office for use.

However, DSP Sharma says there is no evidence about the use of the vehicle by different offices. "It is not yet clear whether the German national had indeed brought the hashish or somebody else loaded it in the vehicle afterwards."

He says that necessary investigation is underway regarding the case. He also accepts that it was a unique type case.

Meanwhile, drug abuse is said to be increasing in the country every year. Sources at the Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit say the some of the narcotic drugs abused are Nitrazipan, Diazepam, Bupremorphine and Codeine. They say even medical drugs are found of being abused in Nepal.

In Nepal too narcotics, mainly hemp and hashish are produced. Nepal hemp is considered as high quality and is mainly smuggled to India but hashish is said to be supplied globally by air, sea and land. Nepalese hemp is considered as high quality stuff.

Police sources say the Nepalese hashish is smuggled to countries as far as New Zealand, America and Japan.

The other narcotics much abused in Nepal is the heroin. But it is not produced here. According to police sources, heroin used to be brought to Nepal mainly from Thailand but after the Talibans took over Afghanistan, heroin comes from Afghanistan via Pakistan and India."

Again, Nepalese have also been found working as drug carrier in different parts of the world. In the first four months of 2000, about 18 Nepalese have been arrested in Calcutta, Delhi and Pakistan while carrying drugs, especially hashish.

Last year, 45 Nepalese were arrested on charges of drug peddling in China, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Jakarta and Vienna.