The influx of donor money means that we have been trained to expect everything to be paid by outsiders

A few week ago, while on the way to Drubar Marga from Battisputali, social scientist Hari Sharma asked me, "Who pays for your work?" I was quite puzzled as we were talking about a different subject. I remained quite puzzled as we were talking about a different subject. I remained quiet. As we had grown close over the last few years, he was well aware that I wanted to promote mental health issues in Nepal, and that ny work was paid for by no one.

Breaking the silence, Hari put forth a few more questions, "Do you believe that work that has been paid for, particularly in developing countries, is bringing desired changes? Can paid workers become real change makers?"

Before I had time to answer him, Hari, becoming a little emotional and philosophical, asked me if I had ever thought of whether anyone had paid the Buddha, gandhi, Martin Luther King, Einstein, MotherTeresa, or, currently, Obma? Still, their work has shaped or consciousness and growth through centuries.

Over the next few weeks,I became obsessed over these questions. The bleak picture of our society frequently came to my mind. I also remembered the people, institutions, and governments around the world who are paying us to bring about change. But everyday reality tells us that our society is not improving collectively. We are divided and deteriorating futher. It seems that we have failed to manage the resources that donors are generously payingsus to bring about change. Where does the money go? The answer is not easy; however, I will attempt to talk about this issue differently, but seriously.

As a donor-depentent country, we are nurturing a culture of expecttions of aid without being aware of the long term implictions, While walking aroungd and taling to people, it sounds to met that we are being trined to expect everythig to be paid for any outsiders. We feel comfrotable in nurturing our hopes in a foreign hand. It seems we can do nothing on our own; rather, we will do something only if some on else is paying for us. Can we ever count such a mind-set as a long-term loss?

Psychologically speaking, our entire society is turning to slavery by handicapping ourselves through these expectations. Tragically, we have also lost our imagination, alongwith the faith we had in ourselves. If we ask the questions- are we creating any hope for the country? What future are we leavingfor our future generations? -there are no answers; rather, only uncertainly.

 

Talking about donor resourees, Iseea fundamental fault in the huge portion of resources being spent in duplication of work rather than being spent on developing concerted advocacy efforts to strengthen the state and make it more accountableto guarantee basic needs and rights of its citizens. I am not against the involvementof non-government agencies and the private sector the social sector, but my concern is about the system that we are developing with donor resources? How are we helping ourselves in the long run?

We are also not making any efforts to create a responsible state that fulfills its basic responsibilities towads its citizens in geneal and towards marginalised communities in particular. The social, economic, and medical conditions of many marginalised communities, including people living with mental and physical disabilities, can betaken as an example.

In any developing country, current scenarios continue to resent an outlook where donors continue to pay and the state continues to fail to imporve is service system. Time continues to pass. Generations come and go, but the cycle continues. It is frustrating to be born in the third world. It is humilating to love with poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, disabilities, and mental illnesses. It is painful to know that at least go percent of people suffereing from mental and physical disabilities in the third world are poor, illiterate, and unemployed. what a hell of a life!

Generally, to avoid these serious questions, people usually say that there is still a long way to do go. But I don't believe in that. If we cannot show will power and commitment today, we can never go the long way. It may sound impractical, but I believe that without creating a society and a state that takes ownership of the marginalised -even in the absence of donor support -we can never expect a sustainable and equaitable development. Iam concerned that in the absence of state support and care, millions of people living with disabilities suffer permanent career, socia, and cultural damages, never aspiring to catch up to the opportunities their counterparts not living with any disability may get.

At the sametime, I don't see NGO and theprivate sector making adequated efforts to bring such issues into the larger social concern. Therefore, it is important for us to create a socially-inclusive message to motivate society to act in favour of the marginalised.

Can money alone finance our aspirations? Is donor money the only means be helping our state, society and ourselves? What about our moral valuses, mental health, and the dignity of being a Nepali? do we believe that change comes this way?

I do not believe that it is enough for us.

Plans are afoot to clean up the holy Bagmati, hope politics doesn't screwthings up

Shivapuri. The Bagmati River is at its pristine best here. Near theShivapuri peak (2,732 metres), a samall fountain flows from a stone spout carved in the shape oa tiger's head. Nearby, Hindu and Buddhist sages mediate and pray, for it's one of Hindusm's holiest sites. A long time ago, famous golbe- trotting Indian sage Shivapuri Baha(1826-1963) lived here, attaining spiritual peace.

Today, the Tapoban is home to several sadhus with matted hair including Todke Baba who spent several years ina tree-hide meditating. With flora and fauna aplenty and water streaming down the surrounding lush green slopes, it's a naturalist's paradise. A few hundred metes down the slope, the Bagmati gradually begins to take shape, streams and water falls flowing into it. In Shivapuri National Park, whichis a short distance north of the capital, the Bagmati flows clean. Bsut as the river cascades down the hills and flows down into the valley, it begins to get dirtier. And it all strats in the pristine park itself.

As the Bagmati passes through the villages of Mulkhara and Sundarijal, sewage pours into the pristine river that's revered by Hindus the world over as one of the holiest rivers. After meandering a couple of Kilometres through human settlements in rural and urban aeas, the river's natural charm begins to dissipate.

Holy Plung

As it enters Kathmandu's suburbs and core a areas, its volume dorps sharply, its colour changes and it turns into an open sever.And yet, by the ghats of myraid temples and monasteries that have flourished on the banks of the Bagmati- or the Bishnumati or the Manohara-hundreds of devoteses flocik everyday for a holy pooja and a holy plunge. Muchwater has flown down the Bagmati since people started worrying about the sorry state of the river; since scientists started coming up with reports suggesting that the Bagamati is dead; since campaigners started making clarion calls to clean up the mess and revive its glory.

But all is not lost just yet. Take a trip to the Bagmati- upstream, things don't look as bad as downstream. In Sundarijal, a 640 KW hydel KW hydelplantis up and running. Built in 1936, it's the country's second oldest hydel plant. The Sundariraj area also contributes 39 million litres of drinking water daily (mld) to water-starved Kathmandu. That this city of over three millionitory altogether. But the fctof the matter is this: The Bagmati continues to support life, its plight can be eased and the river can be cleaned up. More Shivapuri waters can be topped, provided there's will.

 

Symbolic
But who's going to bell the cat? In recent times, several organizations have come into being to purportedly clean up the river. While most organizations are nowhere to beseen, there are still some that seem to be doing their level best. The annual Bamati River Festival, being organized by the Nepal River Conservation Trust, a non-profit organization, can be an example. This monsoon, the festival came to a close this past weekend.

The festival does nothing grand to really clean up the river,"says Megh Ale, chairman of the trust. Everything it does -rafting, mountain bikng and hiking-rfting, mountain biking and hiking along the banks-is merely symbolic, he adds.

By taking part in various out door and spor tin activities in and along the river, it appears that the participants can relate themselves to it- supposedly the mother of Kathmandu's civilization-and, most importantly, experience first-hand the state of the Bagmati. In the absence of such campaigns, people would simply ignore the Bagmati; there's nothing pretty about the filthy, stinking river flowing through the heart of an even filthier Kathmandu. But that campaign has encouraged fat least some denizens of the city to visit the river, frolic in the waters and understand the heritage along its banks.

One big attarction of the festival is Rafting Challenge. On a recentSaturday afternoon, nerly a hundered young men and women from the city took a bus ride a Sundarijal and hopped on rafts and participated in the raft race. That took them to Uttarbahini in Gokarma, ast thepristine, green paddy fields and past the yet unspoiltrural settings, green Shivapuri and Manichur hills in the background.

Kudos to the organizers and the participants of the festival, who at least dared to go to the otherwise neglected river banks and organize outdoor activitiesin the neglected river banks and organize outdoor activities in the neglected waters. Concurrently, government officials teamed up with school students ans local voluunteers to plant 100,000 saplings in the Bagmati's catchment area. Laudable step indeed, but who's going to make sure that the plants will be nurtured?

Pipe dream?

And there are others who are working to implement an action plan that aims to clean up the river within five years. This week, the government ratified the Bagmati Action Plan, a five-year projecst that aims to clean the Bagmati and its tributaries by installing several sewage treatment plans along the banks. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 14 billion, but it's unclear who's actually goingto fund it. Recent practices indicate that most projects of this size are eithr half done ornever completed. Worse still, they are heavily politicized. Isn't the much talked about Melamchi Water Supply Projecst a classic example?

 

What suddenly happened in the state of Nepal that threatens to deraial the process of peace and transition?

Each morning, newspapers bring very disquieting news to your door. That mood is temporarily challenged by the chorus of alien birds who pour out their repertoires from the last remaining bushes of Kathmandu giving perhaps a false sense of hope. Photographs of the upper echelons of theNepal Army (NA) dominate the front pages. I have always seen Nepali army generalsinsuch tunics on special occasionslikethe horse race. Pashupati Jatra and national days. As I spent most of my early youth under the Panchayari raj introduced and hege-monised by King Mahendra, I lerant to link the semantics of the unifrom with the power structure commanded by celebrtion and power. To me, the army did exist in a twilight world beyond the fences where I thought a lost of celebration must take place. I still love to see the young soldiers occasionally galloping onbig sturdy horses raising dust in the suburb where I live.

 

The soldiers' narrative changed after the second movement for the restoration of democracy in 2006. It introduced a whole seriesof ruptures into the structure that people of my generation and I had learnt to live with. Some well formed and "other" ragtage contingents of rural soldiery appered sto march in the towns and villages. They were called the people's libertion army raised by the Maoist guerrillas who fought a war with the state for a decade. During this period, we saw that the Nepal Army considered only ceremonial was ordered out of the barracks to fight these rural soldiers. The narrative of a monolith soldiery was deconstructed. National discourse then shifted from the royal army to the"Nepal Army" and the "people's army".

Never before had I appreciated . Nepali politicians more whern they struck a series of peace deals, invited the UN to oversee the process of shifting the mode of armed confronttion to a mode of interactionand the resettlement of the Maoist guerrillas. The historic Constituent Assembly (CA) elected by the people on April 10, 2008 declared Nepal a republic. A new coalition government ledby Maoist leader Prachanda was formed amid cremonieswithapromise to work for a new federalrepublican constitution. Though the oldest party the Nepali Congress (NC) did not join the government, it promised to give cirtical and creative support to the government to bring the strands together to make ti possible for writing the new constitution of this land. But new developments that process of constitution writing.

The question tht intrigues me most is what suddenly happened in the state of Nepal that has promised sto derail the process of peace and transition? Who brought the generals to the forefront to confront the civilian government and the guerrillas to confront the same civilian order by reciprocating the moves of the NA? Was the drama of peace and reconciliation a mere army camouflage donned by those who wield guns? Can anyone have the temerity to doubt even for a fraction of a second tht the mandate given by the people - the peace marchers and the martyrs - to the political parties was for reconciliation and for the creation of conditions for writing the constitution rather than for finding new grounds of power games and confrontations as we cansee now?

The front-page headlines speak of some "soft coups" and countercoupsthat might be staged by he generals who, the media reports, are split into non-Maoist and Maost camps. The qustion is who created this rupture in the command structure of the Nepal Army? Most important of all, is that story of a rupture true?

Discourses have begun about the role of the army. The writings of P.B.Koirala, the founder leader of the Nepali Congress, are being reprinted in the media. Koirala had this to say a about the historicism of the Nepl Army. Prithvinarayan Shah, who actually did not closely groom the boys into a unified force, created the army. After the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 ending a two-year war with the Baritish, the Nepal Army became a force without a job, and it became a ceremonial entity first and later it was completely used by the Rana Shah feudal aristocracy for augmenting their power. Koiralsays inhis autobi-ography that his greatest failure was to allow the kingto groom a contingentof the army inside Narayanhiti Palace now turned into a messy museum, which helped King Mahendra to stage a couple agaisnt his first elected civilian government in December 1960 and put him and his colleagues in Sundaaarijal jail for eitht long years. B.P.didnotliveto see the other turns of history and the army's role in helping the authocratic Shah kings.

Following the political events of 2006, however, we can see that the Nepal Army helped to oversee the proces ofchange smoothly. It declared its commitment to work ernestly to makethe transition of Nepali history from a feudal order dominated by the institution of the monarchy into a democratic republican order a peaceful and smooth process. It kept its promise Credit should be given to the Nepal Army for that spirit. The people's army and its commanders too abided by the agreements made under the supervision of UNMIN. The structure is still in place.

I scan the mess of events in the newspapers. The Maoists and the UML have not quite settled their dispute; the Tharu front's agitation has paralysed the country' regional groups are rearming themselves; fire is consuming 72,000 hectares of community forests andthe Nepali Congdress is disrupting the CA meetings over the issue of the army chief Katawal being asked by the Maoist government to give an explanation for his actions. The NC promises to take out a demonstration in support of the army command structure, if need be.

Even at the time of writing this essay, a Damocles sword hangs above our heads. My simple question is who created this situation ? Who reduced the entire solidly powerfulpolitical discourse of change and peace in Nepal admired by the world to such a farcical mess as suggested by these exp ressions: "Katawal is a classmate of the Indian military chief, so he is poerful; the Maoists want to install ageneral of their favourandinduct their chain of revolutionary commend into the rmy overnight; the Nepali Congress will go the whole hog to see that Katawal is not touched by the Maoists" and so on.

I feel that the political parties and their wrong moves to acquire power are more responsible than the Nepal Army for reducing Nepal 's political and government organistions into fragile makeshift entities that can be disorlented by simple injunctions from foreign governments. To say that some army discontent will cut the volume of Maoist power or that a change in the power command will establish a revolutionary Maoist authority is a miserable misereading of a dynamic history created by the people not for traumaor dissonance of a political order but for harmoney and peace.

The plethora of sensational news inthe media perhaps reflecsts the people's desire to locae their own space in this badly managed political history of this country.

 

Hopes arise that rainfall is finally imminent after a long and Dry Winter of Kathmandu!!

The month of March is forthe inhabitnts of the Kathmandu valley usually a period of hope tht their lives will get better. That hope is for improved living conditions in various aspects of their lives, but the cause of all improvements is increase in rainfall. Hope that water will once again start flowing out f taps and one will nolonger haveto face the discmfort of wakingup in the morning nd discovering that here isnowater with which to bathe. Hope that reservoirs at hydroelectricity plants willonce gain fill up and provide enough electricity so tht we do not have to spend our evenings bored in total drakness, counting the minuts before its time to go to bed. Hope that the skies will clear and the mountains become visible; tht tnedrils will tentatively start pushing out of the ground; the smell of freshly watered erth gret our nostrils as we venture out of our house.

But it did not rain even once this winter that just went by. And even when winter ended, there was still nosign of rain. So there was no spring. Instead, it was as though a dystopian summer had immediately followed winter. The valley begain to chke in haze and smog, and its inhavitants were afficted with vaious respiratory problems. The stench emanating from the Bagmati, instead of being wsashed away, only increased because of the heat. There is no indication that supply of water and electricity will increase to levels that will provide people with some relief. And the problems outside the valley are even greater in severity. At this time of year frmers across the hill districtsare supposed to be busy planting maize. But the earth is still hard and dry, so they continue to look at the sky and wait for rain. The FAO has forecasted that wheat productionin the hill districts is likely to decline that year, further pushing up food prices. This is particularly dishertening as for the past few years there has been an increase infood production cross the country.

Overcast skies and menacing thunder ae not normally asssocited with hope. But, for once, there have been signs forthe past three days that rainmay finally be imminent and this has raised the spirits across the country. So, far, however, we are still in the period of hope. There have been clouds and there has been thuder. But cloud formtion has not been continous and there haveonly beentracesof rain in Okhaldhunga, Taplejug, Kathhmandu and Pokhara. But experts tell us that the valley's relative humidity -- a mesure of moisture content in the air-- rose to 48 o/o on Wednesday, up from 27 on Tuesday. So it may be a few more days, but it is certain that it will rain plentifully in the days to come, and this, after a long and dry winter, is a cause for cheer.

Shopkeepers  up  in Aims

The New Road scene on Monday and Tuesday was one of chaos with shops pulling  down shutters and the shop owners taking to the streets. They were protesting against the raid by a department of the Finance Ministry on some shops to establish whether or not some of the goods and items being sold entered Nepal through legal methods. Raids by the revenue officials are not something to be afraid of. One of the more popular Nepalese sayings is: "Do no wrong and fear nobody". And yet the business community on Monday and Tuesday took to the streets? Why?

Discrimination

Can't the government - any government, for tht matter- conduct such raids? Yes, the government can and should preven tall illegal activities whether they are committed by the business community, politicians, students, journlists or techers. And this should be done without discrimination. If what a top political or business leader does something is legal but the same thing done by others is labelled illegal, then there is bound to be problems. The  protest by the business community is a reflection of the discriminatory prasctice adoped by the present government.

The country's economy is not all that encouraging. And the spending power of the people is also going down as is the purchasing power of the Nepalese rupee. A shop owner at the RB Complex where the Finance Ministry officials conducted raids told this writer just a couple of days before the raid that the business these days was far from satisfactory and that he was contemplating calling ti a day and taking up another profession. 

The  woes of a businessman begin as soon as he decides to rent a place where a showroom, shop   or workshop can be set up. First he has to enter into a contract with the owner of the premises, and tehn he or she usually has to undertake to pay the rent tx, usually 15 percent of the agreement amount, as Tax Deductionat Source (TDS).  This is the first revenue the government earns from that person's decision to open a shop . This is, of course, apart from the revenue government collects when the firm/shop is registered and when obtaining the PAN. The person is giving revenue to the gvernment even before a single supee is erned from his/her business.

Apart from this, every year, after the start of his business, most businesspersons have to pay income tax with the government, presuming that eaach of the business cannot but be in profit every single yer of its existence. To add to the fun{!), the government, especially in the case of small businesses  where proper auditing is not done, assumes that the profit increases by a two digit figure each year and tax is levied accordingly.  

On the other side is the  street  vendor. He or she does not have to register with any government or municipal agencies. The street vendor does not need PAN. He or she has sthe free use of public streets. No rent has to be paid. No one can do anything when they not only hamper the smoosth flow of vehicular traffic but also when they do not leave much space for the pedestrains. Many of the vendors at prime  locations earn several times more than an average shop.

The Home Ministry (or was it the muniicipality) at one stage sometimes ago tried to clear the streets and restore the streets for the use that they were intended to be used for. The  street vendors tookto the streets arguing that they should be given the right to hawk in the streets and pavements as they were "poor".  The "poor" street vendors took to the streets in protest  against the fficial  action, just as the business community  did erlier this week. The matter then was settled with the government forming a committee headed by none other than a former may or of the city. Everybody then knew that the "poor" street vendors had won their battle. 

They are back in business as usual. They  probably do not sell any goods that were smuggled into the country. All their goods must have cleared VAT or what have you. and the sstreet vendors do not evenhave topay taxes. (Why should they? They are "poor"). some of the "poor" sstreet vendors who led poor life styles in the past are now said to own houses, cars and bikes. And why not? As most of the street vendors are Maoist-led government to take action against them. And here one can find the contradictions in the actions of the government.    

Why should the government initiate action against the legally established  businesses that are legally established and pay all government taxes and turn a blind eye to those who are not really legal in the strict sense (Is it legal to occupy public places and run a business establishment or shop there ? ) but whose ctivitiesare at par with the established businesses?

The business community taking to the street is in line with the "new" political culture in the "new" Nepal where  everything and anything is possible through agitation. The street vendors are back in business thanks to their agittion, nd there is no reason why the present business agitation should not attain their goal through another round of agaitation. Agittion and traffic disruption have become a new way of life in Nepal and are undertken to attain specific goals. The government should and must have the necessary power to conduct raids on illegal activities, but such actions should seen to be seen to be just  by all concerned.

Just actions

The government must not take any actoin out of malice as such actions are directed towards only one section of the community while others go scot-free for doing the same thing. Most of those in the business community protests were middle class, mostly lower middle class, groups that have been most affected by the present series of raids and have to make a hand to mouth living. They are just as rich or just as poor as the street vendors and one would like to see the government take similar action against them, too, if only to make government actions seen to be less discriminatory. Can the government dare take such suicidal but just actions?

Civil society efforts against bandas are welcome and must be encouraged the Peace Committee, Jhapa, a Civil society organization, has appealed to local industrialists, businessmen, rights activists, intellectuals and media persons to help make the district a strike-and banda-free zone. Towards this end, the committee plans a gathering of all concerned stakeholders in the near future. This initiative of the Peace committee, Jhapa comes hot on the heels of a similar effort of the District Police Office, Dhankuta, which brought together leaders of political parties, civil society members, rights activists and representatives of other social bodies to declare Dhankuata banda-free from Dec. 8.

If these incidents are indicative of a general trend, we could not be happier. The country cannot afford more shut-downs, and certainly not during the period of transition when massive amounts are being spent on rebuilding, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts. How much does a day of general strike cost the country? Estimates, including one by the Asian Development Bank, put the combined daily cost to state coffers and national economy at US$100,000, at the least. Strikes cripple every sector of the society, both public and private. The service sector is perhaps the hardest hit, with essential areas like health, education, and tourism bearing the brunt. And this is excluding the indirect costs of continued strikes and bandas like loss in production, deteriorating investment climate and capital flight, all factors likely to have adverse long-term effects on the national economy.

People have to take declarations of the kind made by the Jhapa Peace Committee with a pinch of salt, for their decision to bring an end to bandas might prove totally ineffective, or impossible to implement with the use of physical force. Nonetheless, this is a step forward. And it is only civil society efforts that can be successful in bringing an end to bandas. If the government banned bandas, it would be perceived as attempting to suppress all dissent. Besides, those bent on causing mischief would find loopholes in the law anyway. For instances, soon after the Kerala High Court banned "bandas" in the Indian state in 1997, the strikes resumed, rebranded as 'hartals' to get past the court order.

Any initiative to outlaw bandas or strikes hence has to come from the grassroots level, not enforced from the top. We hope Dhankuta and Jhapa will served as role models for other districts to follow suite and that, in time, Nepal will be strike-free zone. We know, however, that this will not be easy. But these examples of Dhankuta and Jhapa may help building a broad-based civil society consensus against bandas. This, in turn, will discourage those who wish to stage strikes. At any rate, any effort to ensure that the country does not economically bleed to death in these turbulent times should be encouraged.

Home Minister Bamdev Gautam is right to crack down on street vendors, especially on crowded thoroughfares like Kalanki, Ratna Park, Jamal, and Bag Bazaar. But the measures he took were too harsh. A few days ago, Gautam assigned the Nepal Police, the Traffic Police Office, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Office and two sub-metropolitan offices to remove pavement stalls by force. A better move would have been to take the representatives of the Street Vendors Union affiliated to different political parties into confidence, and discuss with them options to end the practice of haphazard vending of goods before taking any action. Options to regulate street vending include instituting a vendor license system, providing government-owned land on lease or allowing all vendors fixed times to sell their merchandise on busy thoroughfares. Only after a system is put in place should the government have prosecuted pavement merchants who continue to do business illegally.

There are around 6,000 vendors in the corners and pavements of Kathmandu. With unemployment on the rise and migrants streaming in form villages to towns and cities, thousands of people have turned to hawking goods in the streets. Street vendors and their clamor are an integral part of life in the capital city. Holiday shoppers and tourists spend tons of cash at the pavement bazaars, But the makeshift markets often make sidewalks impassable, give opportunities to protection rackets and undercut legitimate merchants. Worldwide, there are street vendors in almost all major cities including New York, Jakarta, and even Beijing. However, unlike in Kathmandu, they have a license to operate and are not usually allowed to peddle wars on busy thoroughfares.

The streets of Kathmandu have always been a market-place where everything sells. There are thousands of vendors who use the streets for their livelihood. The problem of street vending is primarily due to the absence of laws governing street vendors. A solution would be to move the vendors off the main thoroughfares and into open -air-markets. A similar arrangement was made in 1992 when around 1,300 street vendors were moved into Bhrikuti Mandap from the pavement. Similarly, the current government has informally decided to establish zones where hawkers can operate. This is an encouraging move. But this may not be adequate: the number of vendors has quadrupled in the past 16 years. Now licensing requirements and street regulations are required to ease the vendors' crush. Proper thoughts should have been given and regulations established before taking the decision to crack down.

 

 

Efforts by Nepali society and the media to engage with its Diasporas community have so far been ineffective. That it is mostly economic and business journalists who have been covering NRN activities is an indication that Nepalese still perceive their Diasporas community chiefly as a source of remittance and investment, and remain uninterested in social and human sides of the Diasporas story. The Diaspora community has clearly been attempting to reach out and engage with changes in Nepali politics and society. The recent RNNA convention was held in Janakpur to enable NRN to gain knowledge of the political and investment climate in regions beyond Kathmandu. Further, that the conference was held in a Tarai town holds symbolic importance: It is recognition of the aspirations of Madhesi, and, by extension, of other hitherto marginalized communities. It is only to be hoped that those within Nepal make similar efforts to understand and engage with its Diasporas.

The Gurkhas have finally won a two-year long legal battle against British immigration rules that denied former soldiers retired before 1997 the right to settle in the U.K. Judge Justice Blake of London's High Court delivered the verdict in favor of the Gurkhas, ordering the Home Office to revise its instructions to the Immigration Office immediately. While handing down the judgment, the court noted that the "Gurkhas" long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown all pointed to a moral debt of honour and gratitude felt by the British people." The court ruled that the instructions of the Home Office were "illegal and needed urgent revision". This ruling, after the Home Office revises its immigration rules by the end of this year, will allow more than 2,000 families of former British Gurkhas to live in the U.K.

However, amending the immigration rules to let former Gorkha soldiers settle in Britain along will not right a two century old wrong. Following a similar lengthy court case in the past, the British government had agreed to provide the Gurkhas pensions on a par with British soldiers. But this reform, which was a major change in British pension policy, did not apply to Gurkhas discharged before 1997 when their base was moved from Hong Kong to the U.K after Great Britain handed over the territory to China. Great Britain, which is proud of its justice system, still harbors racial discrimination with regard to its pension plan. For example, a Gorkha who retired in 2007 for medical reasons with 17 years of service would receive £4,650 a year, while a British soldier in similar circumstances would be paid about £6,400. The pension scheme for Gurkhas is unjust and unfair because Gurkhas who signed up before 1997 receive between 24 and 36 percent of what a British soldier takes home.

We are happy that a beginning has been made in rectifying an historical injustice with the two court verdicts - first, the revision of the immigration rules to let former Gurkhas retired before 1997 to settle in the U.K. and, second, the decision 1997 and British soldiers. Gurkhas who fought and sacrificed their lives for Great Britain are still not treated on the same level as soldiers from the Common wealth. These soldiers from countries which in the past belonged to the British Empire become naturalized British citizens after serving four years in the British Army and enjoy rights equal to British citizens by birth. The court ruling in favor of the Gurkhas is a victory over a great wrong as British actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the British Gorkha, he said.

The Nepal Government has rightly broken the 13 year old system of extending by two years the term of police officers who were due to retire. The other day, the cabinet decided to relieve Inspector General of Police (IGP) and 10 other senior police senior police officers who had completed 30 years of service in the Nepal Police. This is perhaps the first time that the government has retired such a large number of top cops. The decision has obviously allowed junior police officers to be promoted to higher ranks. It also prevents the police force form becoming embroiled in unnecessary controversies. But the fear of breaking the "chain of command" in the police force persists.

In 1990, the government amended the Civil Services Act making it mandatory for civil servants and police officers who had completed 30 years of services or reached 59 years of age of quite. At that time, many bureaucrats and police officers were forced to leave government service. But in 1992, the succeeding government reversed the decision, and gave itself the choice of adding two more years to the term of police officers coming up for retirement. This was the beginning of the politicization of the police force. This practice weakened police morale as the seniors who got a new lease of life often engaged in corruption or interfered with police work. These senior members of the force ingratiated themselves to the home minister and corrupt political leaders to have their terms lengthened. The cops had to bribe them to get promoted. If their request were turned down, they complained of "injustice and political revenge".

In 2006, the government refused to extend the term of office of Inspector General of Police Rajendra Bahadur Sing. It caused controversy, and set off a public debate about extending the service period as the government bestowed the bonus only on those who were loyal to the political party in power. Fortunately, this time the government decided not to extend the term of senior police officers only because there were a number of them expecting an extension. The decision is very encouraging even though the government took it out of compulsion. If the government legislate a new Police Act preventing the extension of the tenure of police officers at the discretion of cabinet members, a practice that has helped to bring down morale in the Nepal Police will be ended. The country now more than ever need s a police force that is effective and efficient to maintain law and order. The government should thus enact such al law for the police force.

 

The earlier the better!!

That the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is going to slap up to 35 hours of load shedding per week is an indication of how Nepal has been enduring an energy crisis for years. Providing security and crating a conductive environment for investors along will not help achieve the double-digit growth being publicized by the Maoists who think that they hold a magic want to change the fate of this country. Last year, especially during the dry season, the NEA imposed 40 hours of load shedding per week. Later, the rolling blackouts were reduced to 24 hours per week owing to a rise in the water level in the reservoirs of the country's power plants. The basic need for economic growth is energy. Nepal witnessed sluggish economic growth for a decade because of an energy shortage and the Maoist insurgency. Maoist leaders should thus realize that security, social and industrial discipline and energy security are three crucial prerequisites that determine the flow of investments.

It is heartening to note that the Maoists, who reduced the country's economy to rubble, have at last started discussing business and strong economic growth. Recently, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries revealed the agenda of double-digit growth with a bang. And political leaders, academia, and the private sector have become attuned to the economic term. The CPN (Maoist) is more ambitious. Its commitments, as expressed in the CA election manifesto, are to bring investment and factories to Nepal's urban and rural areas, crate employment for all increase a Nepali's average annual income to US$ 3,000 and enable all to enjoy decent education, health, and other basis services. But double-digit growth will remain elusive and mere political rhetoric unless the country manages to fulfill its energy requirements before attracting investments in a big way.

It is obviously the Maoists' responsibility to correct the situation on this front. Private sector leaders and planners opine that the country could easily attain a 6 percent growth rate if the government made adequate power available and stepped up security and industrial discipline. It required noting but a strong commitment and enforcement of the laws that are already in place. Correcting the security situation along will not encourage domestic investors to put in money. The Maoist-led government must start working on the basic and make them work properly. The existing status of infrastructure - particularly energy-will not permit Nepal to achieve the targeted growth rate. It has been reeling from a petroleum crisis for over five years. Power outages have not been tapped to the extent of meeting industrial needs. This energy constraint must be done away with. Big drams come true only when the stakeholders care enough to act sensibly on the basics.

 

The unilateral obstruction to the export of garments should not have come from India as it provides duty-and quota-free access to the Indian market to a majority of Nepal's exportable items. India has already been imposing a 4 percent customs duty on cotton products in addition to a 4 percent countervailing duty. Garment exporters have long been complaining that the imposing of duties is against the Nepal-India Trade Treaty that guarantees duty-free access to Nepali product except for a few items. The imposition of customs duty on the MRP is against global business practices. Even more disturbing is the apathy of the Indian government to address the problem despite the fact that the Nepal government has already lodged a protest with the concerned Indian authority. As Rs 40 million worth of consignments have been stranded at the eastern border, a speedy decision is expected from the Indian government.

Importantly, it is not only concern over the shipments that have been held up at the frontier, but also anxiety over the future credibility of the garment sector. During the last couple of years, Nepal's garment industry has gained the trust of foreign buyers for its quality products and punctual delivery. What worries exporters terribly is the gained the trust of foreign buyers for its quality products and punctual delivery. What worries exporters terribly is the lengthening deadlock at the border checkpoint, which, if it were to continue, could endanger future supply contracts in the pipeline. So the governments of India and Nepal should work on sorting out the problem before it starts affecting Nepal's leading export industry. We urge India to immediately withdraw the unjustifiable barriers, ensure the smooth flow of Nepali products to India, and respect the letter and spirit of the Nepal-India Trade Treaty.

Kidney Transplant in Nepal - Now Possible and its far cheaper too

 

Kidney patients of Nepal can now undergo kidney Transplants within the country, and it is much cheaper than in India or elsewhere abroad.

Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu on Thursday announced that it conducted three successful kidney transplants recently. Prof. Dr David Francis, transplant surgeon from the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, was involved in three transplants carried out on August 8, 10, and 13 by a team of Nepali doctors and health workers. Dr Guna Kumar Shrestha was license holder for the transplants. Transplant licenses are provisioned by the Kidney transplant Regulations 2058.

The first transplant was carried out on Hemraj Shrestha, 36, of Budanilkantha. His wife Gyani Pandy donated her Kidney for the transplant. The second transplant was carried out on Satya Shrestha of Sankhu Suntole VDC -1, with a kidney from her husband Krishna Bahadur Shrestha. A third transplant was carried out on a woman from Ghaling VDC -2 in Bhaktapur. She received a kidney from her father.

"I was thinking of taking my wife to India but god blessed me with the service here within the country," said Krishna Bahadur, who looked healthy in his hospital bed. "I feel normal except for a bit of pain where the kidney was removed."

AT a press meet organized by the hospital, Dr Mhesh Khakurel, its executive director, said, "A transplant that would cost about Rs. 1 million in India is now available here for about Rs 300,000".

Coordinator of the transplant team and team leader of the hospital's nephrology department Dr Divya Singh, who played a key role in making the transplants happen, said the life of a transplanted kidney could go up to 50 years depending on the age and health of the donor. The younger and healthier the kidney the longer it works, Dr Singh said. She also said that even second and third transplants can be carried out on a patient. She said the hospital targets carrying out two transplants a week.

Dr Francis, who is to be involved in about seven more transplants before he returns to Australia, said. "I was confident of getting involved in the transplant here in Nepal." "Quality of doctors here is extremely high." He said he came to Nepal to assist the program because he was confident the transplants could go ahead and the hospital was well-equipped for the purpose.

The Transplant Coordination Committee had issued permission to the hospital on August 4 after amending the regulations. Only Bir Hospital had permission for transplants. But Bir does not provide the service since the very first transplant carried out there was a failure - the recipient's body rejected the donor's kidney. However, the recipient is still alive and is on dialysis.

After a transplant the patient has to take medication continuously, at a cost of about Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per month for the first few years. This would decline to about Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 per month in later years.

Dr Khakurel said TUTH needs a huge amount of money to conti9nue the transplant service. Dr Bhola Raj Joshi, one of the surgeons involved in the transplants, said, "We will tray to divert the ministry's budget to support kidney patients at the hospital and ensure continuation of the service," he said.

Dual pricing in diesel, which Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) announced as a strategic move to lower oil losses and provide relief to the needy, is meaningless move to address the current oil mess. We think so because even with the implementation of the new move, the financially bankrupt corporation will continue to incur losses, and interestingly, the plan is being implemented only in diesel market. In addition, it is hard to believe NOC's claim that full-fledged implementation of the system Countrywide will lessen its loss on diesel by mere 12 percent from Rs. 750 million. Even if it is true, it will hardly make any substantial difference in the financial health of the corporation to dramatically improve supplies. Hence, without losing more words, we believe this is another futile effort.

Instead, the Post fears it could prove disastrous for consumers as well as reforms, which the country's state-monopolized petroleum sector direly needs. In the past the government had introduced dual pricing on kerosene but did not work. While the state-supported relief never reached the targeted groups due mainly to lack of an effective distribution mechanism, it spurred a lot of leakages and anomalies in the market. Even though the corporation has segregated retailers for commercial buyers and public vehicles, commercial consumers can still buy the fuel from the private dealers assigned to retail fuel to the relief-targeted group. In addition, the difference of Rs. 10 for the same product could further flourish black marketing. No market inspection and control mechanism has been put in place to check such wrong doings.

Hence, we urge the government to do away with the experiment and take a bold action on the pricing front, which is now a much-needed step. Instead of searching for permanent solutions, we have said many times that adjustment of fuel prices on a par with global prices is the only long-term solution. The government must not waste time taking cosmetic measures. For that no materialize, the government should immediately implement a Comprehensive Petroleum Sector Reform Plan that, among others, should clear state's position in providing subsidy to petroleum products. Plans like extension of subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas, consumed by relatively better off families, should be abandoned. The government, therefore, should set up a system that will regularly adjust the prices in like with the international trend. Bear in mind: Nepal has no other option except this, if it seriously wishes to address the long-running fuel crises in a sustainable manner. Only with the open pricing policy can the government attract the private sector into the oil business, and thus end the mess prevailing in the sector.

The other day, agitating women rights activists threatened to launch fresh protests if the government continued to dilly-dally setting up an autonomous women's commission to end all forms of violence against women. The rights activists from Kathmandu as well as far and mid Western regions have been staging a relay hunger strike for the past three weeks demanding action against the perpetrators of the murder of Laxmi Bhora. The protestors, repeatedly harassed by security personnel, have also demanded adequate security for women continue to face domestic violence at both rural and urban pockets of the country. The cases of hundreds of Nepali women, who are repeatedly tortured, abused and even mercilessly murdered, was strongly felt after Bohara's murder came to light.

A health volunteer and a rights activist from Kanchanpur district, Bohara was beaten to death by her in-laws a month ago. Although the perpetrators of violence were taken into police custody, they were later released on bail and the case was shut down permanently. Over the past few years, incidents of gender-based violence have shot up dramatically. Violence against women has taken a variety of forms. Cases of domestic violence against women are more rampant than other forms of violence. It is estimated that one-third of the women are subjected to one or the other form violence by their husbands' families. It is unfortunate that despite a steady increase in incidents of gender-based violence, the country has no specific law to punish the perpetrators. Since the government does not take domestic violence as an offence, most of such cases go unreported and unrecorded.

It has been over 17 years since Nepal became a signatory to the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. However, there have been no major achievements as far as ending violence against women is concerned. Of course, the government has enacted a considerable number of laws relating to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. There is also a government-administered National Women's Commission in place. But it looks after only registered cases of gender violence and has no right to investigate independent cases on its own. The need of the hour is to first treat domestic violence as a criminal offence punishable by law. But enactment of law alone will not bring about any change in the society. More important is to let people know that there exists a law against domestic violence and that it works. Equally necessary is to form an autonomous body that would investigate all cases of domestic violence and book the perpetrators of violence to justice. it is high time the government seriously considered the demand of the women protestors.

The turmoil gripping the region overshadowed the 15th SAARC summit. India suspected Pakistan's hands in bombing the Indian embassy in Kabul two weeks ago. In response, Pakistan has made commitment to probe the Kabul blast. Sri Lanka has been fighting a do-or-die battle in eastern part of the island with the Tamil militants. The Lankan president pressed the need to combat terrorism. The Druk prime minister stressed greater cooperation among the member-states instead of discussing the refugee repatriation. Eviction of two-thirds of Bhutanese refugees has hit Nepal - Bhutan relationship at low ebb. Bangladesh has still been reeling under the military junta with no sight of holding parliamentary election. The Taliban have intensified the attacks on Karzai's Afghanistan.

Amid such debate about terrorism, the outcome of the 15th SAARC summit was the signing of four agreements, which include establishment of development fund to initiate the process of fund setting up of South Asian regional standards organization, convention on mutual assistance in criminal matter and protocol on accesses was more on combating terrorism that commitment to work for the benefits of the region. However, discussions and signing of agreements alone will not yield any tangible result. The heads representing eight countries must be committed to put the agreements into practice. SAFTA was signed on January 6, 2004 during the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad. The agreement was to enter on January 1, 2006. But it has been in a limbo due to bilateral differences between/among SAARC member-states. So, the heads of the states should work for building a strong bond and fraternity.

SAARC was founded in 1985 with an aim of deepening economic cooperation. But bilateral differences and terrorism have stymied its progress on the economic front. In fact SAARC summit held every two years has become a platform for condemning each other in the name of terrorism. The 15th SAARC summit opened on Saturday with the theme; "SAARC: partnership for our people" did discuss wide range of issues including food security, energy and environment. But the heads of the states did not make firm commitment to deepen the economic cooperation. Implementation of SAFT will, no doubt, bring the member-countries closer to each other. Combating terrorism and sharing information among the SAARC member-states may not contain the terrorist activity. Unless the SAARC member-states work hand in hand with a genuine effort to fight terrorism, it will be hard to prevent cross border terrorism. The focus of the summit should have been on mutual cooperation and commitment to the economic benefits of the people of the region. Only economic cooperation and development can fight terrorism.

Nepali woman missing in Saudi

 

One Nepalese woman named Kopila Pariyar, who went to Saudi Arabia for employment some seven months ago, has been out of contact since past three months.

Pariyar, an inhabitant of Paluwa in the district, was sent to Saudi by an agent via Mumbai, India. "She told me over telephone that her employer confined her into a room and misbehaved, "said Rajan, the victim's brother. Her relatives alleged that she might have been sold by her husband Ratna Bahadur Darji of Okhre-6 claiming he took no initiatives to find her; Kopila married to Darji, who allegedly forced her to go abroad, four years ago as his second wife.

The Nepal Medical Association's (NMA) decision to close down all the hospitals in the capital in protest against the violence at Everest Hospital is unethical, immature, and irresponsible. When the public has been calling for the end of the strike culture, shutting down hospitals in such a manner is unfortunate. Even if other organizations were to resort to bandas, hospitals should not stop providing service to the people. If medical practitioners follow the YCL way of asserting their rights, no government or institution can save this Country. No one is as highly regarded by society as Doctors. They are well educated, and they are aware of the principles of their august profession. And, which prevents hospitals, ambulances, the media and other sectors form refusing to work. A responsible NMA should not have declared a strike.

I'm not saying that the attack on the doctors and Everest Hospital by the family members of Narayan Shah, 39, who died under controversial circumstances on Saturday, was justified Patients undergoing surgery can die unexpectedly. These things happen. Also, the family should have adopted proper channels to protest medical malpractice. It is quite evident that the doctor was as fault and bungled Shah's treatment. The patient had gone to see the doctor at Bir Hospital who asked him to undergo an operation at a private and expensive hospital. When the case got complicated, he was sent back to the same public hospital. The circumstances show that the doctor wanted to earn a hefty sum out of the patient. But when he realized that the case was problematical, he tried to protect the image of the private hospital. This is an unethical practice.

The NMA's complaint against the government is valid. It is the state's duty to provide security to doctors and hospitals. But we can not penalize the public for the government's incompetence. There is no doubt that the police and the administration have been impotent in enforcing the rule of law. But when doctors go on strike, they can only lose their moral authority. The NMA could have urged the doctors to wear black arm bands in protest against the weak administration. Furthermore, as the NMA is a professional organization, it should have come forward to address the situation and punish the guilty, no matter who it is - an NMA member or somebody else. I can only request the NMA and the doctors to maintain their moral authority in society. If even doctors start forgetting their moral responsibilities, we are certainly doomed. Incidents of family members attacking doctors for malpractice happen frequently due to lack of laws about providing compensation to victims. The NMA, Nepal Medical Council, and concerned government authorities should work on and reach an understanding, the earlier the better.

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Tuesday celebrated its Golden Jubilee against a back-drop of failing performance.

Inaugurating the celebration, chief secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimiree said the airline lay on its deathbed. "A new dose of life has to be injected into it if it is to survive," he said.

The troubled corporation is operating one single aircraft on international routes as its management could not get its other plane maintained on time while it" scouted for commission".

The craft has been stuck in Brunei for the last 11 months as its return to Kathmandu kept getting postponed.

"In the history of Nepal Airlines Corporation, I have never seen such frequent cancellations of international flights like during this year, Shishir Sharma, a Nepal Airlines Corporation captain, said.

The corporation is fast losing out on bookings to other airlines. Average occupancy during the past month was around 50 percent, said a Nepal Airlines Corporation official.

In the mid-1990s, Nepal Airlines Corporation owned 4 Boeings and 12 other aircraft including Twin Otters and Avros that were used on domestic flights. The fleet has been slashed to one operational Boeing and two to three Twin Otters.

Speaking at the celebration, Nepal Airlines Corporation Managing Director K.B. Limbu said there was enough market and manpower, but it was unable to provide service because of lack aircraft. We are working on rearranging our routs on the basis of profitability, he added.

He said the airline carried 105,091 passengers in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.

 

Now the resignation of Prime Minister Koirala has paved the way for the Maoists to form the new government. The NC has decided to remain the opposition bench, while the CPN - UML has opted for honoring the Maoist leadership. The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has formally come to an end. The credit must go to Mr. Koirala for bringing the coalition to a justified end. His role in rescuing the country out of the political stalemate is commendable. Had Koirala not been there, the 12-point Agreement, Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CA Election, Declaration of a Republic of Nepal and formation of the Maoist Government would have never been possible. But many who believe in power will now try to give that credit to Pushpa Kamal Dahal instead of Koirala.

Let us hope the new government listens to Mr. Koirala's plea to give continuity to the culture of coalition and unity. He has also requested all the political parties to pursue the ideals of democracy, inclusiveness, and pluralism. Koirala has rightly mentioned that it is the responsibility of the new government to address the woes and worries of the poor including the widows, orphans and the disabled. The looming question: Will the Maoists follow his advice? The Maoists are only good in 'use and throw' business. They decided to do away with Koirala only after the king was ousted. Until then, the Maoists had been sticking to their theory of 'tactical flexibility and strategic rigidity.' But whether Mr. Koirala remains in politics or not, his principles, ideals, and commitment to democracy are going to stay no matter how fiercely the anti-democratic forces try to convert the country into an authoritarian state. The Nepalese people will always be grateful to octogenarian Mr. Koirala for restoring democracy, ushering in the politics of coalition and for his immense contribution to the peace process.

Boy rescues toddler trapped in Gorge at Pokhara

22 hours after a two and half year old child fell into in a 60 feet deep gorge of the Seti river, Pokhara and a team of adult rescuers gave up their rescue attempt, a 12-year-old boy saved her Wednesday(25 June 08).

The toddler - Aradhana Pradhan - was rescued by local boy Kamal Nepali, 12, who had the courage to enter the "Death Trap". Kamal is a resident of Tudunga in the lake city.

He volunteered to rescue the child after teams of locals, policemen, Nepal Army personnel, and five rescue members from Nepal Canoeing Association in Kathmandu made strenuous but unsuccessful rescue attempts. The gorge located near Pokhara Stadium is so narrow that the rescue teams could not enter it.

The only child of John Pradhan, a pastor at local Church, and his wife Esther, accidentally fell into the gorge when the family had gone there Tuesday afternoon for prayers and to participate in some funeral rites near a Christian cemetery. The Pradhans, who are Indian national, have been living here for the last five years.

Many locals and relatives of the toddler, who attempted to rescue her immediately after the accident, said she was crying and calling out to her father for help.

"When we searched for her after she went missing, we heard her crying for help from inside the ravine," said Pradhan. "We tried to enter in the direction of the sound, but we couldn't go beyond 10 feet."

Anuradha, who was crying and shouting for help till 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, was all quiet thereafter. Those who were involved in the rescue along with family members and others and had spent the night near the accident site, became worried and started fearing the worst after the child fell silent.

After the rescue teams were unsuccessful in their attempts, Kamal, a first grader at a local government school, arrived at the scene and readied himself to go into the gorge, at the behest of his older brother Salum.

Officials at the local administration office became worried about the risk the boy was taking. But Kamal proceeded on nonetheless.

Soon, to everyone's surprise, he came back up with the help of a rope, cuddling the little girl inside a bag. She looked very much exhausted and had a small scar on the forehead.

Everyone present there, who were gloomy and exhausted, now beamed with delight and patted and commended Kamal for his bravery. Many competed in offering money to the "savior". A local Boarding School, announced free education for Kamal through secondary level.

"I don't have any words to thank him, "said the overjoyed father of the rescued child. " I don't want to limit myself to just merely saying thanks; he has become my own son now."

"We've just gotten our first son. He has new parents, "said Esther, who had been almost unconscious due to shock and lack of sleep.

Following the rescue, the little girl was rushed to Manipal Teaching Hospital by ambulance. After treatment at the emergency unit, she was taken to the Intensive Care Unit as her body temperature was unexpectedly low.

However, neurologist Lype Cherian, who is involved in the child's treatment, said that she did not have any serious internal or external injuries and her condition was normal.

'It was narrow and dark but I wasn't scared'

When those present at the scene asked Kamal if he didn't feel scared in such a deep gorge, he answered, "It was a very dark and narrow path; but I crawled and reached near the little girl".

She responded when he called out to her, Kamal said. "As I approached her, I found her sitting, leaning forward. Then, I put her on my lap and fed her juice before placing her in a bag and coming back out with the help of a rope".

A Japanese photographer and other fours including a minor had fallen into the same gorge earlier, and were rescued alive.

Chief District Officer Baliram Prasad Singh, who was present at the site, said he would initiate work very soon to encircle the area with barbed wire.

 

Rashmi Taneja, Founder, and Chairperson of the Trust, in her statement said that Thapa has become a victim of extreme and unfortunate circumstances.

India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Thapa on charges of being an accomplice in the Arushi-Hemaraj double murder case in Noida, Uttar Pradesh in India.

The trust urged the media to intervene and highlight Thapa's case so that he is spared the ignominy and humiliation he is being subjected to on a daily basis in the ongoing investigation that has been perpetrated against him, it said. "This is a matter of grave concern, as it is tantamount to gross violation of the law, "the trust added.

According to it, the Nepali community would like to express their opinions openly but they are fearful of losing their livelihood and they are equally concerned about the potentially adverse repercussions of their families back home.

Yam Prasad Banjade (Hemraj), the domestic help at the house of a dentist couple in Noida, New Delhi, was found dead at the doctor's house.

Earlier, police suspected that Hemraj had fled after murdering the 14 year old daughter of the dentist - Arushi Talwar. A tam of policemen was even dispatched to Nepal to search for Hemraj.

 

Yarchagumba has been spotted at Khadbari and Matsyapokhari VDCs in Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal. These areas that are only 2000 meters above sea level.

Surprised by this find, experts have called for a proper examination of such Yarchagumba before it is brought to market.

According to the experts, the newly found Yarchagumba could pose a health hazard. Therefore, extensive research has to be carried out on this strain before promoting its collection for sale.

"If this is a new species of Yarchagumba then tests are essential to identify its pros and cons for human health," said Durga Bahadur Karki, a Yarchagumba researcher.

Only a couple of weeks ago, to persons were reportedly taken ill after consuming Yarchagumba in Bajura district of Nepal.

Staff at the District Forest Office (DFO) said, it could have been due to the consumption of this newly discovered Yarchagumba. DFO has already sent some samples of the Yarchagumba to the Forest Department and Ministry of Forest for study.

Meanwhile, some Yarchagumba traders have said that if this strain of the fungus does not contain its valuable ingredient (i.e. aphrodisiac) for which it is known around the world then it may also hamper the burgeoning Yarchagumba trade.

 

Opening a museum is easy, but maintaining the palace which covers over 730 Ropanis of land (more than 4 million square feet), preserving the historically important objects, and continuously promoting it in the national and international arena is difficult. The government should hand over the management of the museum to a competent authority capable of not only handling and preserving the culturally and historical important objects, but also of converting it into a commercially sustainable project. Let us not go around with a begging bowl to preserve our property. Not only Nepal, many countries in the world have converted their former royal palaces into commercially viable museums. We can learn how China, South Korea, and other countries preserve such museums. The huge area in the heart of the capital could also be converted into a pleasant park like New York's Central Park. We hope the government will take a timely and proper decision to preserve, project and promote the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

Narayanhiti should also become a place to learn the true history of Nepal's Shah Dynasty. Until now, the Nepali people have been told only the history that successive Shah Kings wanted the people to know. But now we deserve to know the truth. We need to know the facts. Our school kids should know how lunatic some of the kings were what dirty games were played within the royal palace and how people were killing each other in the contest to snatch power. The true story of the 2001 royal massacre should also be dug out and told to the public. In a nutshell, the Narayanhiti Palace Museum should be a place that will reveal the ills of the totalitarian system to the people. In order to achieve such objectives, we have to put an efficient system in place. If not, it will also turn into just another old museum like the rest.

World records in mountaineering have been made to death, especially when it comes to mountains which are above 8000 meters, not excluding Mt. Everest (8,848 meters). Everest has been a subject of wide public interest - from mountaineering and politics to global warming - for as long as it has been discovered. This year the fever probably went two degrees higher.

On May 22, 2008 a record 86 mountaineers climbed Everest from Nepal side, the highest ever to have climbed on a single day, breaking the previous record set on May 30, 2005 when altogether 65 had scaled Everest and 62 in 2002. This season a total of 32 expedition teams another highest figure received the climbing permit among which 300 were foreigners and 600 Nepali climbers.

This year, media hype about the Beijing Olympics and the plan to bear Olympic torch to the top of Everest took in much of the publicity and coverage unlike any time before. This intensified further after China imposed ban on all Everest expeditions starting as early as March. Nepali side, complying up on the request of Chinese government also followed suit and disallowed, under strict security supervision, mountaineering expeditions to March beyond South Col between May 1 and 10. The subsequent Tibetan demonstrations that dramatically followed in almost swept the Nepali tourism industry off its hook during the whole of March.

After having taken to 20 cities around the world, the Olympic Torch was successfully taken to the peak of Everest from the Chinese Everest Base Camp by five torch-bearers on May 8, "We made it, Beijing welcomes you," exclaimed Tibetan woman Cering Wangmo as she stood holding torch as her other four compatriots unfurled Chinese and Olympic flags. The entire episode, one of the highly dramatized and historic events till now, was broadcast live on Chinese television.

Within 12 days of the Olympic torch, deluge of expeditions were finally released to make it to the summit. This season the first successful ascent took place on May 20. As reports of successful ascents started filtering in, local and international press had much stories to cover as far as making and breaking of world records were concerned.

First, it was the indisputable Appa Sherpa who made it to the Everest summit on May 22 a mind-boggling 18th time breaking his previous record. As usual speculations about whether he will stop climbing the Everest was running the mill. Although he has repeatedly spoken of retiring from commercial climbing, this year Appa told the press that he wanted to draw world's attention to the effect of global warming on the melting of Himalayan glaciers. "Climbing Everest is thrilling as ever but the world should be concerned about the possible hazards to mountain because of global warming and melting of glaciers, 47 year Appa was quoted as saying. On the other hand, has only fueled international press to indicate mountaineering as a childish game.

But it sure was a different ball game for Nepali septuagenarian Min Bahadur Sherchan. At 76 years of age, Sherchan became the oldest man to climb Everest at 8:40 in morning of 26 May, upsetting the previous achievement set by Japanese Katsusuke Yabagusgawa, who had made to the summit at the age of 71 last year, "I want go galvanize the entire senior population in Nepal into enthusiasm and devotion to achieve a better life even in old age," remarked Sherchan in his website dubbed 'Senior Citizen Everest Expedition'.

In what can be termed as the first expedition of its kind 'First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition (FIWSE) - 2008 team, consisting of Aasha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Maya Gurung, Nawang Phuti Sherpa, Nima Doma Sherpa, Pema Diki sherpa, Pujan Acharya, Shailee Basnet, Sushmita Maskey and Usha Bista successfully climbed Everest thus breaking a new ground and making a symbolic gesture for women liberation and empowerment. FIWSE is first ever expedition comprising only Nepalese women from various ethnic, geographic and professional backgrounds. The total number of Nepali women climbing the summit of Everest has reached 16, from 6 till last year.

Shailee Basnet became the first women journalist to climb Everest on May 24. "She never informed us about her decision, we only found it out in Gorkhapatra, expressed her mom. TV journalists Mingma Dorje Sherpa of Nepal Television also climbed Everest on May 23, both following in the footsteps of Kantipur journalists Ang Chiring Sherpa and Nepal Television journalist Kami Sherpa.

Similarly, Australian Mother Cheryl Bart and her 23 year old Daughter Nikii became the first mother-daughter pair to climb not only Everest but the tallest peaks of all continents. They reached the top of Everest on April 1 after having climbed Mckinley Denali, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson Massif, and Kosciuszko.

By climbing Dhaulagiri (8,167m) on May 2, Austrian Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner became the first woman in the world to climb 11 peaks over 8,000 meters (26,246 ft) without the support of breathing apparatus. She has clearly taken a lead in a bid to become the first woman to climb all fourteen 8000m peaks. Italian Nives Meroi and Spanish Edurna Pasaban are the other two who have already climbed 10 peaks so far. In another achievement, Ecuadorian mountaineer Ivan Vallejo became the 14th person in the world to climb all the 14 peaks that are above 8000 meters.

From this year the Nepali government has officially begun observing May 29 as the International Everest Day to mark the 1953 victory of Hillary and Tenzing. NTB, government, and private sector organize various programs on May 28 and 29 to mark the celebration, which included rallies, mountain film festival, cleaning programs, Namche cultural program etc.

Following is the speech of farewell of Former King of Nepal Gyanendra Shah before he evacuated Narayanhiti Palace on Wednesday

Dear Nepalese brothers and sisters,

This country which came into being 240 years back as garden of four castes and thirty-six sub castes as imagined and established by our ancestor His Majesty, the Great King Prithivi Narayan Shah, is going through a period of very serious and sensitive upheaval. It is well known that the Nepalese Monarchy which has always been activated for the people's prosperity and progress has always been working together and cooperating with the happiness and woes of Nepalese people. Burning examples of that are unification, preservation of nationalism, democratization, and modernization though the united efforts of the king and national integrity as equivalent to the value of our lives. Our committed energized feelings towards these values and standards have remained constant from the past and are equally strong in the present and will remain so in the future.

I would like to inform every body concerned that when seven years back because of an unnatural, unexpected and tragic incident while shouldering the responsibility of Head of the state according to the national heritage and ages of old monarchical traditions, I had no other interests except considerations for the sovereignty, independence, national pride, territorial integrity, peace and institutional development of democratic, and overall progress of all the citizens. In the then Hindu Kingdom of Nepal, the birth place of Buddha the efforts started, with the best of intention trying to ensure the peace and prosperity in the country were not successful overtime, which I have already accepted earlier. The chain of events and ensuring results are obvious to everybody like an open book.

I would like to express, with God as my witness, certain thing which I couldn't express earlier because of my official responsibilities but which was troubling my inner heart all the time, through you dear journalist friends to my Nepalese brothers and sisters and the international community. May be we should call it a destiny that when I was innocent child, I had neither any wish nor desire nor any possibility of having a distinct role except the compulsion to have to quietly accept the crown. Likewise, for the second time when an unimaginable and horrifying event took place on the night of Jestha 19, 2059 (02 June 2002), I could not express through word my internal pain when I was compelled and tied up by the chains of tradition and duty without being even able to shed tears over the mortal remains of those respected and beloved family members and lighten the burden of pain at the gruesome destruction of my close relatives. Even at that time some people blamed and accused me and my family with great indiscretion and cruelty but we had no alternative but to tolerate that too, nor were there people who spoke on our behalf. Being prejudiced against me and my family members the efforts which were continuously started through different means by taking advantage of those circumstances and events, have been very painful to us and are still so. Other members of Royal family who were wounded and but survived the incident in the Royal Palace are still alive. They are also witness to it. The bullet fragments, which couldn't be taken out for technical reason are still in the body of my wife who was also wounded and survived. The detailed facts had also come out from the medical doctors involved in their treatment. The high level Royal Investigation Commission had already made public the detailed report about the incident. When all Nepalese people and the Royal Family were over- whelmed with grief, at that time, to level accusations and blame in this way seems to be a strategy to damage the goodwill of the Nepalese people towards the institutional of Monarchy and to spread ill will, which was also not compatible with human suffering.

Likewise, I have also heard false rumors about allegations that I have property abroad. All my property is in Nepal. I have no movable or immovable property in foreign lands. The property which had been bequeathed to me form my ancestors, according to Nepalese laws are also not in my name and I have institutionalized it maintaining that property and have only conserved it. During the last seven years neither have I added to any property nor I have taken any actions by which the traditional property of any members of the Royal family. I believe that I would also have rights to maintain private property according to the prevalent laws of Nepal.

Respecting Constitutional Assembly elections and the decision taken by the constituent assembly meeting on Jestha 15th, I am cooperating in every way towards the successful implementation of that decision. I have not also thought of leaving the country. I would like to leave in my own Motherland and contribute in whatever way possible for greater good of the country and peace in this land. I believe that there will be support from all sectors.

I pledge to be completely dedicated to the independence and territorial integrity of the nation of Nepal which was formed and has remained independent and sovereign because of the blood, sweet and sacrifice of the great ancestors of us Nepalese, wherever and whatever circumstances I may be in. I love the independence of this nation. My feelings and sentiments are that of sanctity, individuality and original values of this independent nation should always be preserved. My heartfelt good wishes are for the overall welfare of the self respecting common Nepalese people.

Today, on this date, I have handed over the Crown and Scepter used by the Kings of Shah dynasty and which has remained as heirloom in this dynasty to the Government of Nepal for safekeeping and protection for ages to come.

Finally, on behalf of my family members and myself, I would like to express my sorrow, if anybody has been inadvertently hurt by actions of my own or of the members of my family while I was working as Head of State for the welfare of Nepal and the Nepalese. I would like to express gratitude to all citizens, constitutional organs, judicial sector, security organizations, civil servants, teachers, professors, students, farmers, laborers, industrialists, businessmen, intellectual youths religious organizations, journalists, civil society, personnel working in the Royal Palace service and all others form different walks of life and all the other associated Nepalese inside and outside Nepal who extended their cooperation to me. I would also like to thank the friendly neighboring countries who have always wished well for Nepal, the international community and representative of diplomatic corps. I would also like to thank the members of the Committees for Security and management recently deputed by the Government of Nepal. I would like to thank the government of Nepal for all the help and cooperation extended to me. I also hope that like now, I would keep on getting the same level of necessary cooperation from the Government of Nepal in the future too.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!

Jaya Nepal!!!

Appa Sherpa climed Mt. Everest Record 18th time

 

 

Appa Sherpa, smashing his own world record, climbed Mt. Everest for the 18th time Thursday, when 76 more climbers made it atop the highest peak on the planet. This is a single day record for the Nepali side.

Appa, along with his team member, scaled the 8,848 meter mountain early Thursday morning, said Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association. However, the Tourism Ministry is yet to confirm this.

A veteran guide, he is part of the Eco-Everest Expedition, which aims at highlighting the impact of glacial melt and global warming in the Himalayas.

Five Nepali women were also among today's climbers, the largest number of Nepali women to climb Everest at one time. Poojan Acharya, who scaled the peak with the First Inclusive Sagarmatha Expedition 2008, became the first Brahmin female to climb Everest. The other four women include Susmita Maskey, Maya Gurung, and Nwang Phuti Sherpa. They were accompanied on the ascent by five altitude workers.

An official at the Tourism Ministry said the ascent by 74 climbers 45 Nepali and 29 foreigners has been confirmed. Another official at the Ministry said three more including Appa reached the top today.

Appa, 48 first scaled Everest on May 10, 1990 as a high altitude worker for the Kiwi-Everest Expedition. Since then, he has reached that summit every year except in 1996 and 2001. He ascended Everest two times each in 1992 and 1997.

After completing his 12th Everest ascent, Appa announced his retirement in 2002, citing family reasons.

But he abandoned his retirement plans and returned to mountaineering the next year. In 2006, Appa moved with his family to Utah, USA to ensure good education for his children.

Mt Everest has been ascended over 3,000 times since 1953 when Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary made it to the summit for the first time.

 

US President security advisor didn't know difference between Nepal and Tibet

It seems US President George W. Bush's security advisor, Stephen Hadely, did not know the difference between Nepal and Tibet.

In an interview conducted by George Stephanopoulos of AABC television in the US on April 14, Hadley repeatedly confused Tibet with Nepal.

"If contries are really concerned about Nepal, we shouldn't have this sort of non issue of opening ceremonies or not. They should do the hard work of quiet diplomacy to urge the Chinese government in their interest -- to take advantage of this opportunity to do something, "Hadley said while asked about the issue of Chinise crackdown against Tibetan protessts.

It did not end here. "The way to deal with the issue of Nepal is not by some -- a statement that you're not going to the opening ceremonies.. "he further said.

"What he's doing on Nepal is what we think the international community ought to be doi8ng, which is approaching the Chinese privately through diplomatic channels and sending a very firm message of concern for human rights, a concern for what's happening in Nepal, urging the Chinese government to understand that it is in their interest to reach out to representaives of the Dalai Lama, and to show, while the whole world is watching China, that they are determined to treat their citizens with dignity and respect. There is an opportunity here, "he added.

Hadley did not realize his mistake, nor did interviewer Stephanopouls attemps to correct him during the interview.

Later, White House spokesperson had to correct the mistake. "In his ABC interview , Mr Hadley referred at least a half dozen times to Nepal when he seemed clearly to be speaking to Tibet." A White House spokesman later contirmed that Mr Hadley had misspoken, the New York Times said.

Who's next Prime Minister of Nepal?

 

There is no question now that the Maoists have the greatest claim over the coveted position. They have become the largest single party by far? However, there was confusion initially whether Prachanda would take up the position himself or send in his second man, Babu Ram Bhattarai, for the job. As Bhattarai was also head of the Maoists' shadow government, it was thought likely he would head the real thing also. However, Prachanda has now made it clear that none but he himself would be in the driving seat. Though the CPN (Maoist) had projected their supreme commander. Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, as the first president-to-be of the Democratic Republic of Nepal, he has now staked his claim to the position of prime minisster. This may be because the Interim Constitution confers all the executive powers on the PM. So, Prachanda seems to have decided to stop being typecast as president.

 

Yet, apart from a silent challenge from his own deputy, Prachanda faces many other hurdles to realizing his prime ministerial dreams. The first and foremost hurdle is to secure the unanimous support of all the other political parties. As per the Interim Constitution, the Prime Minister should be nominated unanimously, or failing that, by a two-thirds majority. As the Maoists have not even reached the  51 percent of seats in the Constituent Assembly for a simple majority, a two-thirds preponderance is out of the question. If the elected Constituent Assembly baggles over the majority issue, the Maoists will have a tough time sercuring the top job. In that case incumbent Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala or any other person supported by all the non-Maoist parties can snatch away. Prachanda's prospects (if those parties manage to cobble together such a common posistion).

We believe that the Maoists should not be denied their legitimate claim to form the government and take the their legitimate claim to form the government and take the position of PM. However, we believe they should not be handed over power without some minor changes in the present constitution requires a two-thirds majority to unsent an incumbent prime minister. As the Maoists have so far not established their domocratic credentials, the two-thirds provision should be changed to a simple majority. In that case, if the new consititution is not framed within the stipulated 24 months (plus or minus six months), the Maoist government can be brought down by a simple majority. Moreover, the other parties should not acquiesce to the Maoist ascent until they hand over or destory all their arms and disband the YCL. If the othere political parties successfully enforce these two conditions, handling over power to the Maoists should not be a big problem. But those parties should give up any uncalled -for greed for a share in the government and should not try to recover some of their electoral expenses.

Climate Change Impacting Human Health

 

Health hazard caused by climate changes range from higher risks of extreme weather events to changes in the dynamics of infectious diseases to which Nepal is not an exception, health experts said at Kathmandu on Monday.

"Compared to the past, disease burden in Tarai regions of Nepal has increased due to climatic change," warned DG of Department of Health Services at a program organized to mark World Health Day. This year's slogan is 'Protecting health from climate change".

A statement from World Health Organization (WHO) released on Monday said the earth is warming, the warming is accelerating, and human actions are responsible. If current warming trends remain uncontrolled, humanity will face more injury, disease, and death related to natural disasters and heat waves; higher rates of food-borne, water-borne, and vector-borne illnesses; and more premature deaths and diseases related to air pollution said the statement.

"Moreover, in many parts of the world, large populations will be displaced by rising sea level and affected by drought and famine. As glaciers melt, the hydrological cycle shifts and the productivity of arable land changes. We are beginning to be able to measure some of these effects on health even now, "said the statement.

Dr Saraju Kumar Baidya said "Climatic change will add to the diseases burden including diarrhea".

 

The understanding signed by Prime Minister and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN (UML) General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and CPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dhal on Tuesday underscores the essentially and immediacy of helping conduct a credible, peaceful, free and fair Constituent Assembly Election on April 10. While applauding the pact that will hopefully lead to an end to the daily madness we are made to witness across the country, we have no reasons to rest easy. Simply because there have been numerous such pacts in the past each of which was aimed at facilitating the first CA Election in the country. Most of them have been implemented only partially, if at all. These accords were not struck among and between the 7parties but also between the SPA Government and various agitating groups.

One really positive aspect of agreement is that the three leaders are constantly talking and trying to thrash our understanding. But it really boils down to just one thing: Implementing the agreement sincerely, honestly and in letter and spirit. Else the parties can go on signing more promises all without any meaning while the situation on the ground remains the same: fractious, divisive and bloody. It should not be lost on anyone why the agreement was necessitated. The content and tenor of the 10 point pact leaves no room for doubt, either. The CPN (Moist) refusing to accept the writing on the wall and egged on by motivated experts and analysts has been involved in nearly all the clashes reported so far. True, they have lost more people than the other parties since the CA Election was announced and we strongly demand that the government probe such killings and ensure punishment to the guilty. The Maoist leadership has an enormous responsibility and it stands to benefit immensely as well by taking the current electoral exercise to a logical conclusion.

The leaders of the other two parties whose cadres have clashed with the Maoists could help the latter in putting an end to all violence, but electoral calculations have come in the way. From the NC's Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel to the UML's Nepal and K.P Oil, none have desisted from publicity criticizing and deriding the Maoists. That is not the way to respond to provocations from a party in panic and at a loss about the turn of events. We ask these parties to act responsibly too. Rein in your cadres, stop making inflammatory speeches, and honor the election code of conduct. We also ask the Election Commission to assert itself and start cracking its whip at code and violation. Use the public commitment of the three leaders - expressed on Monday and reiterated the following day to accept the EC's actions against transgressors. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) could help in monitoring and helping the EC to conduct a smooth election.

Despite the killing of electoral candidates, frequent violations of the election code of conduct, mudslinging between leaders and clashes between cadres, all the political parties are busy knocking on the doors of voters. And they have also been promising that the election would be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

At the same time, human rights issues have been pushed forward to occupy a prominent place, in the election campaign. All the major parties, including the Seven Parties Alliance (SPL), have pledged to sustain peace, preserve the rule of law and project human rights. The attention being given to human rights by the candidates inspires hope that the Constituent Assembly Election will take measures to remedy the pattern of grave human rights abuses.

The manifestos of all the major parties agree that the widespread human rights violations should end. They have demonstrated the crucial role of human rights in rebuilding trust among all the Nepalese. People across the country are thinking of electing their own representatives who are likely to speak up for them when drafting a new constitution.

Thanks to voter education and such other awareness campaigns, the public is quite aware that the CA election is not parliamentary election. They know that the polls will elect a fresh body to write the country's constitution.

Nevertheless, the time has come to examine the political background, capability and, most importantly, the human rights records of the candidates. The state's efforts to deal with past injustices and human rights abuses should go together with the elections. The candidates, regardless of their public position, should prove that they have never been accused, charged, convicted, or interrogated with regard to any past human rights abuses.

In order to maintain lasting peace and consolidate the concept of the rule of law, the people's inherent right to life including other fundamental rights enshrined in national and international laws must be protected. Past injustices should not be forgotten without a proper investigation being done. People who were victimized during the conflict have not yet received justice.

The voters also have a duty not to elect candidates who are known to have violated human rights so that they cannot hold office in the state administration. The contestants should be required to sign an integrity pledge stating that they have not committed any human rights abuses or acts of corruption and nor will they do so in the future.

Numbers of commissions like the Rayamajhi Commissions and the judiciary have indicated various persons for committing human rights abuses and asked the government to dismiss them from their posts and initiate action against them. Even then, these people are not only enjoying state protection, they have the nerve to stand in the election.

There is always a need for political commitment. Democracy's strength depends on the capacity of the political parties and the civil society to be effective organs of political and economic development. The issue of creating anew Nepal seems to be the prime agenda of all the political parties. But they are fighting among themselves and disrupting each other's election campaigns. They could have reached a consensus on the mater of new Nepal insisted of thrashing and killing each other. Their behavior provides opportunities for anti national forces to try to derail the peace process and the CA polls.

Efficient and fair institutions that enjoy civic trust are needed to create a new Nepal. For that to happen, candidates for the CA must be elected based on their human rights background. This will help to achieve the objective of forming an effective and legitimate transitional justice policy. If human rights violators were to be elected to the CA, it would be an endorsement of their criminal behavior.

Restoring law and order is a precondition for institutional, political, and economic development. To facilitate the move to democracy and the rule of law, people who have been proven to be responsible for human rights violations should be removed. Such action is crucial to making the constitution drafting process a success. The delay in revealing past injustices have jeopardized the endeavor to establish a new and just Nepal. And it will be great candidates.

Qatar, UAE main megnets for Nepali labour The number of Nepali workers leaving for overses jobs increased by 33.24 percent in the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2007/08 compared to the same period last fiscal year. According to the data of the Department of Labor, the number of jobseekers heading for abound three dozen countries sweeled to 154-400 during the period from 113879 recorded previously. The numbr of employees travelling to Saudi Arabia, the fourth most popular destination for Nepal's migrant workforce, soared by 21 percent to reach 26,329 from 21,632 during the same period last year. However, Malaysia, which was the largest recipient of Nepali workers last year, saw a whopping 30 prcent decling in arrivals, with an intake of 33,507 persons compared to 48,171 perviously. Breaking down the departures bymonth, 21,588 workers left for overseas jobs during the period mid-Februgayr to mid-March, down from21818 during the preceding month Qaatar topped the list of receipient countries duringthe month, taking in a total of 6,775 nepali workers. The numbr of workers leaving for Malaysia andthe UAE increased to 5,389 and 5,450 duringthe review month as compared to 4,486 and 3,929 resectively during the preceding month. Howerver, Saudi Arabia saw fever Nepali workers coming in where arrivals fell to 2,275 from 4,962 previously.

Maoist Defeats in CA Poll Unacceptable Said Prachanda CPN(Maoist) Chairman Prachanda, said his party would not accept the poll results if regressive forces, conspire for Maoist' defeat in the Consstituent Assembly (CA) election. Addressing an election rallly at Pathari of Morang on Wednesday, he claimed Maoist would never lose inthe poll as the west was their "base area" and people inthe east have also been taking part in the Maoist programs invery large members lately. "As the west is our base area, ourvistory is indis putable there," Pranchanda asserted "And in the east too, I"hv already sensed our victory after seeing the mass of people in our programs and their commitment to a new Nepal". "In such a situation, when people support is only for Maoists, poll (result) will not beacceptable for us if conspiracies are hatched to defeat us," he said. Prachanda also informed that during a meeting with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula in Biratnagar on Tuesday, he had told the later that Maoissts were ready to accept the people's verdict in the CA poll. "However, upon seeing such support of people in the eastern region. I can never agree if regressive elemens might defect us, He said.

Grow More Food in Nepal A food deficit caused by poor harvests has hit the poor people really hard, especially in western Nepal, The situation is likely to worsen in the days ahead even if the government imports food grains to meet the rising demand. Food scarcity is a world wide phenomenon. The World Food Program (WFP) is already straining under the increasing prices of cereals in the international market. India, due to its own acute shortages, has already slapped a ban on the export of wheat and rice. Even rise exporting countries such as Vietnam and Thailand have limited their shipments. So, unless the Government gives priority to the agricultural sector, the country will continue to face a food deficit. The government must be blamed for the poor harvest as it failed to give precendence to the farm sector. Making Nepal self-reliant in food has never been on the governnent's agenda. Vast swathes of arable land remain dry during the winter. And every summer, floods cause havoc in the plains, destroying standing crops worth millions of rupees besides, the agricultural sector sways to the vagaries of the monsoon. Until recently, Nepal imported food grains from India to meet its requirements. The open border system has made it easy for Nepal to bring in grain shipments, but a severe scarcity in India has affected this country as well. Many poor families now are struggling to cope with the food shortage. The WFP provides a grain picture that food stocks in 38 districts have dwindled by 50 percent in less than year due to sharp increases in prices. Although Nepal produced 17 percent more food this year, there still isn't enough to go around. Officials estimate that food prices will increase by 10 percent every month till the next harvest. Insufficient rain and soaring petroleum prices, which have raised transportation costs, have also aggravated food secutiry. Rising wheat prices in the international market have already affected the poor people who had switched to wheat because of continuing shortages. WFP figures show that over 3.8 million poor people in the country are facing a food scarcity. There is no option now but to invest heavily in agriculture so that Nepal can once again become a rice exporting country. India has managed to produce enough food grains to feed one billion people. Nepal too can make radical moves so that it becomes selfsufficient in food grains. The need of the hour is to develop irrigation and use new technology to raise the production of food grains.

Nepali Cittizens "Yes", Voters "No"

 

Talking about the upcoming CA Election makes Govinda (a nepali citizen) feels some what put of as he is not going to be able to exercise his franchise in the once-in-history Constituent Assembly poll on April 10.

He is missing out on the epoch making election because he, along with his wife and brother, can not travel all the way back to their constituency in Sankhuwansava, a remote village of Nepal. He can not close his sole source of earnings, a cyber in Kathmandu for very long peiod.

Neither can be exercise his franchise in Kathmandu as the existing Electoral Rolls Act allows him to vote only in his own constituency.

He fells sad that he is missing the historic event since he is not allow to use my franchise right here in Kathmandu even though he is a bona fide citizen.

Like Govinda , thousands of other citizens, who are away from their respective election constituencies and can not go back there shortly, stand to be deprived of the vote.

The election law does not provide for any temporary voting list, thus denying people living away from home and who can not get back to their constituencies the right to vote. Only those who have land or other permanent property in the place of their current sojourn are registered as voters there after furnishing their migration certificates.

Besides, thousands of election observers being deployed by various organizations will also not be able to enjoy their right to vote, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

"I am being deprived of the vote as I am registered as a voter in Biratnagar and can not go there since I have to work on polling day as convenor of the National Election Monitoring Alliance,"said Subodha Raj Pyakurel, a human rights activist.

Simalarly, hundreds journalists who can not go to their respective home districts because of their journalistic duties during the election, are also going to miss the opportunity to vote for the CA:

Interstingly, NHRC members also are being deprived of their right to vote in the historic elction."Since we have to go to different parts of the country for election monitoring, we are going to miss the chance to cast our own vote as the law lacks any provision for voting from any place that we reach," said NHRC member Ram Nagina Singha at a press meet on Monday. Singh and other NHRC membrs raised this issue of disfranchisement with the Election Commission (EC) on Monday, urging the EC to take the matter seriously. NHRC has maintained that the existing legal provision violates a citizen's right to vote. Even election observers have demanded that the EC make some arrangement to ensure their rights to vote according to Pyakurel.

Government officials working at diplomatic missions abroad are also going to be deprived of their vote as the EC is not going to set up polling booths there. Hira Bahadur Thapa, spokersperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affiairs, said there are about 75 officials working in Nepal's diplomatic missions abroad.

But, diplomats and officials working at such missions said they wished their voiting right would be respected."It would be better if our voice is heard and we are able to caste our votes," said Murari Raj Sharma, Nepal's ambassador to the UK, over the phone. "Personally I am feeling put off at being disfranchised ."Howerver, the EC says that it can do nothing about the disfranchised lot ." The EC can do nothing now to address the problem, "Laxman Bhattarai, spokesperson of the EC, said.

Only US$ 970 for Korean Job for Neplease

 

A job asprient has to pay only US 970.28 before being recruited in South Korea under the Emplyment Permit System (EPS) of Korean government, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management said on 23rd March 2008 (Sunday).

Issuing a statement, the Ministry also said the exam of Korean Language Test (KUT) would be held on March 29 and 30. A total of 31,525 job seekers have applied for the exam, which is going to be held at 20 exam centers in Kathmandu.

The ministry has cautioned job aspriants to beware of any individual making false promise of job opportunity in Korean, a lucrative labor destination for Nepali. EPS allows Korean employrs to fulfil labor deficit in domestic market by recruiting foreign workers who would be entitled to equal wages and other benefits with their Korean counterparts.

Nepalese Political Parties Engaged in Blame Game before CA Election

 

The major constituents in the ruling seven-party alliance have accused each other of violating election Code of Conduct by disrupting their electoral programs in different parts of the country.

While the NC blamed CPN (Maoist), the CPN (UML) accused both NC and the Moists of obstructing their electrol progrms.

Issuing a statement on Friday, the NC said that at least six paty supporters have sustained injuries in Makawanpur district when Maoist cadres attacked them on the charge of attending NC's electoral campaign at Chhatiban VDC.

Denouncing the ongoing violent incidents unleashed by the Maoists, the NC said that the blatant attacks on the democratic norms and election Code were the result of a defeatist mentality.

It has also urged the government to take stern action against the perpetrators and create a conductive environment for free and fair elction by ensuring law and order situation.

Similarly, the CPN (UML) said that the Maoists cadres tried to disrupt its program at Sunkhani Yamuna of Sindhupalchowok district by attacking its party cadres, including the party candidate  Arun Nepal, who is contesting the election from Sindhupalchowk-1. Due to Maoists's attacks, some UML cadres, including district committee member Ram Prasad Pyakurel, have sustained injuries.

According to a statement issued by the ULM, Maoists and NC activists have been obstructing the UML's party leders and cadres in launching electoral campaigns at Sunkhani, Lamidanda, Mali Kavre, Mirge and Sunarawati of Dolkha constituent-2 since March 16.

In Nagthana of Sunkhani, four UML's cadres were injured. In Mali, 16 Maoists caderes along with Khukuris had tired to attack our caderes. the UML statement said.

The Maoist cadres also barred UML candres and election candidates on Friday from carrying out electoral campaigns in Rameshhap-1 and Gorkha-3 the UML said.

According to the UML statement , Maoist manhandled its local cadres and seized their mike from Keureni of Khimi VDC of Rameshhap district. Likewise, the Maoists had restricted UML cadrs and candidate from Gorkha=3 Bikal Shresatha at Ramchwok of Chaupani-6 while they were going to attend election program at Bartak VDC saying that they could not enter into their "so-called" Maoist base ares.

 

Denouncing the ongoing incidents, the UML has urged the Maoists to stop such undermocrtic and irresponsible activities in order to create a free from fear atmosphere for the upcoming election.

Respect people Dr. Bhattarai

It is really a bad news for film makers at the Hollywood that we, Neplease, are producing the finest class of comedians here in Nepal, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, a top leader of Maosist, really made every Nepali laugh their head off when he said if the Maoists are to lost the CA Election, the revolution will continue. I really can't figure out what revolution means to him. It is shocking to know that the Maoist top brass is still not ready to face the public verdict. It is unclear who Dr. Bhattarai is referring to as the unsatisfied groups.

 

If he and his party are in a utopian mindset that the public sympathy and good gesture will continue forever. I can only warn these Nero of modern times to be ready for the backlash.

 

The economy of our country is on the backtrack and the rising prices of basic commodities are already enraging the public. Dr Bharrarai should experience the life of common people. Life at the remote hills of the west of Nepal which were most affected during his party's insurgency is beyond our imagination.

 

The upcoming CA polls have provided us an opprotunity to have our say and to get the justice from the state we were deprived of till now. So, everybody should come together and we should try to make the upcoming polls a grand success, whatever the results.

 

Those who do not respect the people are not going to get anything back. Nothing, not even conspiracies, is going to stop us now.

 

For what Dr. Bhattarai said on the above topic you can see it at this post

http://www.nepalnepal.com/Social/blogs.php?action=show_member_post&ownerID=19&post_id=358

Common Sense in Politician of Nepal

 

I dont' think I would be rude in saying that the Neplease Politicians have lost their common sense. It's not the first time that they have attacked leaders and cadres of other political party, campaigning for the elections. If they had the common sense, I don't think they would repeat their activities over and over again.

 

Some time back, YCL leaders in Darchula attacked Nepali Congress leaders. Then it was Rastriya Janasakti Party's cadres in Dhankuta. And this time, they have injured more than a dozen ULM leders in Ramechhap. They have't stopped talking big about themselves in their election campaigns, they cannot tolerte. Is this why they are in the government then ? Not to let other parties's win people's heart? Is that why they signed the peace agreement with the Seven Party Alliance? Forget Maoism's pure thoughts, do they respect simple "democracy" that common people undrstand?

 

Talking about their election campaigns, the country is yet to decide the fate of monarchy and they go on sticking their leader's photographs as the first prsident of the country. Well, they could win and their leader might be the "first president" too. But let perople participate in the fair election first. Let the campaigners freely campaign first. Then only we will find out who bacomes the first president for the country that Rather than trying to monopolize every thing they could just observe how election campaigns are making the headlings across the world.

 

Take an exaple of Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama, the closest competitors for the Domocratic Party in the US. They know the competition is very tough and they know that their victory could change the fate of the entire country. That is why, they are trying to win more primaries but in doing so, they don't disrupt each other's campaigns. Hillary's cadres don't beat up Obama's cadres (or vice versa) just because they think the competition is teech cleanching and they desperately need to win.

 

Sadly in Nepal's case, we don't even have a month for the elections, which has been postponed several times in the past. Though they ae in the government, the Maoists have not kept their promise to ensure safety in the country. They haven't yet stopped killing, abducting, and extorting people. Has Prachanda, in particular;disclosed the status of people disapperard by them? If not, why is he threatening the prime minister to disrupt electioons if the stte doesn't meet their 23 point demands? The question then arises-do they really want elections? May be they want but what is obvious is their fear.

 

It is our common sense to infer the chaos they are creating by disrupting election campaigns is suggestive of their lack of cofidence to win people's heart. It's high time they used their common sense. If they believe people are with them, they need not be afraid to let other parties campaign peacefully. But if they continue violating the basic norms of democracy their ballot boxes would greet then only with vacum.

Conflict will continue if Maoists lose: Dr Bhattarai 

 

The meaning of Constituent Assembly(CA) poll will questioned if progressive forces like maoists are sidelined by the poll, a senior Maoist leader said on Friday.

 

"I think the decadelong confict will not find its justification if we (Maoists) are defeated in the Constituent Assimbly poll,"senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said at an interaction with media poersons here.

 

He also claimed that conflict will continue in Nepal if the issues raised by Maoists in the past are not addressed following the CA poll.

"We (Maoists) fought for ten years for republic, constituent assembly and new ideas. We alone can address the issues, for wihich we raised arms in the past. So we must come to leadership to take the decade-long conflict to a justified conclusion, "Dr Bhattarai said, adding "Otherwise, unsatisfied forces will resume armed struggle through we don't want it.

While starting that the CA poll isn't yet free from risks, he said, "Conspiracies are being hatched to carry out big political assassinations to abort the poll,"he said.

He accused the ULM of drifting away from leftist ideology and said, "It is hight time people chose real leftists." 

 

 

Big 3 differ on transitinal head of state in Nepal

The political parties may have decided to abolish the minarchy through the first meeting of a fdreshly elected constituent Assembly, but they are still undecided and hold divergment views on how to elect the new head of state and whether it will be a ceremonial or an executive head.

Since electing the head of state comes in the agenda immediately after the election of the constitument assembly lack of consensus on this may delay-even derail the political process.

The Post talked to three major parties-Nepali Congress, UML and Maoist to find our what their plans are for the transitional head of state. The answers when varied, to say the least.

The Maoists seem must clear-whether or not they have the right approach is altogether a different matter-about the transition and have also mentioned this in their eclection manifesto. They want the members of the consitituent assembly to elect an executive president and the prime minister. Maoist ideologue Dr Baburam Bhattarai said, "The meeting will decide the powers of the president and the prime minister on the very first day when it will also decide to abolish the monarchy."

He said the president will be head of state and have executive power, which means the prime minister will play second fiddle something like the French model. What the Maoists are proposing here is not just a change in the head of state but a total change in the form of governmet-from a prime minissterial to a presidental system.

Dr Bhattarai also claimed that the very first meeting of the CA will amend the Interim constitution, effecting change in the model of the governmet.

This, alas, is not how the NC and the UML envision the transition for the head of state.

The UML is completely silent on the issue in its election manifesto and a Nepali Congress leader involved in preparing the party's election manifesto conceded that they haven't given any thought to the issue."We may discuss it tomorrow and come up with a suggestion in the manifesto," he said, requesting to remain unnamed. Still, some senior UML and NC leaders offered their take on the issue.

ULM leader Raghu Panta said,"The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly will elect a prime minister who will serve until a new consititution is formulated and he will also function as head of state".

He also downplayed the differences amount the parties over the issue. "Since the constituent assembly is a powerful body and has authority to take decisions on any issue there should be no problem."

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula also said the issue will be resolved amicably."The first meeting will enforece a republic, amend the constitution if required and elect a new president."

But will that be an executive president? The NC has already said it is in favor of an executive prime minister and a ceremonial president. Sitaula said, "The powers of the president and prime minister is an issue to be decided by the CA."

 

The question is what if there is no quick consensus on the issue and how will it play our with the king watching from Narayanhiti ? Genral Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said," We have already agreed that we will take a decision through consensus." 

Black Market of Goods in Nepal

 

 

I was greatly surprised when my neighbor displayed two cylinders of cooking gas in spite of its acute shortage in the market. I asked her, "Where did you get it ?" She proudly replied, "Oh this, I bought them at a slightly higher price from our shop-keeper". She also told me that she bought the two cylinders despit having  one cylinder already in stock.

This attitude of my neighbor represents the common attitude of hundreds of Nepali housewives. When goods are in short supply in the market, they tend to store extra quantity of goods which leads to further shortage. We can see the queue of vehicles in petrol pumps and people holding a number of empty gas cylinders in the gas shop. Other goods are also in  shortage. In such a situation the back market is expanding.

However, we are responsible for increasing the black market because of our tendency and poor judgment. It is the main cause of black marketing. When we see a large number of vehicles queuing in petrol  pumps, we join the queue whether we need it or not at the moment. When we know about the shortage of gas in market we purchase couple of gas cylinders for storing. We only  store when we see the signal "No" in shop or hear the rumor of scarcity. In ordinary situation we never care.

Now, many things in the market are in shortage, expecially petroleum products. Therefore, we tend to add more gas cylinders in our stock and buy more petroleum products than we need. The trend to purchase more than required during banda has helped the black market flourish.

In this sense, we ourselves are the promoters of the black maket. No matter if we are really in need of extra stock or not, a majority of Nepalis have the tendency to spend extravagently on goods and store them for the future. This aggravates the situation when there already is shortage of goods. The common people do not  have stocks at home and are obliged to buy at the price asked by shopkeepers in the wake of high demand caused by the shortage.

It is funny to see people purchasing things whenever they hear rumors of a weeklong strike, even though they possess these commodities sufficient for 2 months. It is this tendency that supports the thriving black market. Hence, as a conscious consumer, we should help prevent the black market. Let us not rush to buy extra quantities of goods which are already in high demand and short supply.

Neplease Government Vechicles get drumped young

 

 

A Nepali Government owned Mitsubishi Lancer parked under the open sky is covered by a thick layer of dust. It has stayed immobile inside the premises of Singha Durbar, the main Government offices premises, for over a year view minor and the black Mitsubishi is corroding under heat and rain.

 

According to Home Ministry officials, Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav used the luxurious car registered as BA 1 JHA 5529 in the past. For a year, she has not cared to maintain the vehicle despite receiving money for this proposes.

Mechanical Engineer said the engine of this vehicle has been badly damaged as the vehicle was used without changing engine oil for a few years.

Two expensive cars from Toyota Motors have also been dumped inside Singha Durbar for over a year now. One of the vehicles (BA4CHA 6050) was used in the past by Joint Secretary of Home Ministry and another one (Ba4Cha 7735) by the Chairman of Law Reform Commission. Both vehicles were rendered useless due to the same reason: no change of engine oil.

These vehicles only represent the tip of the iceberg though. Most government vehicles have similar problem said Puspa Shrestha, who looks after vehicles of the Home Ministry. "The government has no budget to repay all vehicles," said Laxman Bahadur Thapa, under Secretary at the ministry.

Owing to lack of timely maintenance, most government vehicles end up prematurely useless and are auctioned at the price of scrap metal.

Recently, the Home Ministry selected 30 vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi cars and dumped then at an open garage to auction at the market price of iron.The Ministry has almost completed the process for an auction, said Thapa.

But the selection of vehicles for auction has also come under question. Some of the vehicles have proved not entirely useless. Two of the vehicles selected for auction by the Home Ministry were recently sent outside the valley for use by government officials in Rolpa and Gorkha according to Thapa.

Even engineers of Heavy Equipment Division, Minbhawan, who recommended that the vehicles be auctioned off, have been demanding those vehicles for use by officials.

According to record of past auctions obtained by the Post, 48 expensive vehicles including Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota Land Cruiser were put on auction in similar manner by the Home Ministry in 1996 BS, after being left without repair for years.

Back then, a Toyota Land cruiser (BA-A-JHA 1717), bought at the price of Rs.44 million was sold for Rs.260, 800 while another Toyota (BA-A-JHA 1153) was sold for Rs.60, 000. Similarly, a Mazda (BA-A-JHA 1153) was auctioned at Rs.58, 000 and a Benz car (BA-A-JHA 833) car Rs 50, 0000. Records say the vehicles were auctioned as they consumed too much fuel, needed engine overhaul and denting and painting. Some vehicles were auctioned off without any specific reason.

To repair old vehicles, the government needs to spend from Rs.100, 000 to Rs 200,000 said engineers. However, the ministry has been planning to buy at least 15 new vehicles instead of repairing old ones.

Thapa admitted that the ministry would buy new vehicles. When asked about the damaged vehicles, he said there wasn't sufficient budget to repair them.

In total, the home ministry has 138 vehicles. Of them, 19 are not in operation. On record, the ministry spends hug amounts on maintenance and fuel. In the last eight months, over Rs.3.6 million has been spent on fuel and over Rs.1 million on maintenance.

 

 

 

 

"Send Home a friend" Program Lauched in Germany

 

Nepal on Saturday launched 'Send Home a friend program in Germany, which is intended to lure the Nepali diaspora aboard to send friends back home.

As part of new marketing strategy, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Avation (MoCTCA) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) have implemented the program since last January, which will extend until the end of the year.

However, non-resident Nepalese said the government should promptly unveil necessary supporting measures toe make the campaign a success.

Dil Gurung, president of Non-Resident Nepali Association, Germany said despite is commitment and announcement to provide privilege card which gives discounts for tourists going to Nepal in restaurants and hotels-the government has not been able to do so yet.

"It has to coordinate with local restaurants, hotels, departmental stores, airlines and decide how much discount the privilege card holders can get and distribut the card at the earliest, "he said.

Stressing the need for effective role of Nepali diplomatic missions abroad, he said the embassy must apply economic diplomacy effectively. "Furthermore, the embassy has to set up a seperate tourism desk, recognizing its contribution to the economy," he said.

He said that air accessibility problem is creating roadblock in sending more tourists to Nepal, adding that the government must bolster the status of the troubled national flag carrier by expanding its fleet. "Europeans prefer to travel on direct flights. So, the government has to do the needful to connect Nepal directly with Europe," he said.

Ram Pratap Thapa , honorary consul of Nepal in Germany said the government has to expedite the "Send Home a Friend" campaign, saying that it has been very slow so far.

He also suggested that the government revise its visa policy. "Its visa fee for those getting it at the airport in Nepal should be the same as here in the embassy, "he said, "Moreover, the visa should be multiple and valid for at least five months." He said these are small steps but will goa long way in attracting tourists.

Thapa, who is also vice-president of NRN International Coordination Commitment that NRNs ae ready to extend support to the government by sending at the launching program, Pranchanda Shrestha, chief executive officer of NTB said NRNs could play a crucial role in boosting tourism through word of mouth.

International Women's Day Reports on South Asian women

Only 15.5 percent South Asian Women are wage earners or salaried against 24.4 percent of men in South Asia, shows a latest report by a United Nations agency.

"Those women who enter the labour market face greater risk of unemployment than men," the report made public on Friday March 08, 2008 by International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Howerver, the 'Global Employent Trends for Women March 2008' has painted an optimistic picture stating that women's move into more productive sectors and increasing productivity can push earnings to above the proverty threshold.

South Asia has untapped femel potential and sizeable decent work deficit. Of  511 million working age women and 540 million men,only 174 million women have a job compared to 422 million men.

It also says the number of employed women grew by almost 200 million over the last decade to reach 1.2 billion in 2007 compared to 1.8 billion men across the world.

"However, the number of unemployed women also grew from 70.2 to 81.6 million  over the same period," it said. Findings of the report show that  female unemploymetn rate stood at 6.4 per cent compared to the male rate of 5.7 percent.

Women are more likely to get low productivity, low paid and vulnerable jobs with no social protection and basic rights.

"The burden of vulnerability is still greater for women than men, especially in the world's poorest regions," the report states. It shows that improvements in the status of the women in labour markets throughout the worlld have not substantially narrowed down gender gaps in the workplace.

Access to labour markets and to decent and productive employment is crucial in the process of creating greater equity between men and women, suggested the report.

Businessmen organize protest

 

In response to rising incidents of attacks on businessmen community took to the streets, shutting down business in Kathmandu demanding security on Sunday March 2,2008.

 

Expressing serious concerns over the growing incident of killings, physical assauts, extortion and abduction, businessmen demanded that the government provide security and create favorable environment for business apart from bringing the culprits to justic

Business leaders flayed the government for the deteriorating law and order situation and indifeerence shown toward mounting   inscurity among business perople in the country.

As a part of the protest, they are organizing a mass meeting at Basantapur of Kathmandu on Monday Feb 3, 2008.

 

Speaking at corner meet organized in New Road, Binod Kumar Chaudhary, President of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, complained that the government did not pay heed  to the demand for security for business people.

 

Chandi Raj Dhakal, President of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Surendra Bir Malakar of Nepal Chamber of Commerce flayed government apathy towards to deteriorating security situation and demanded stern action against   those involved in cirminal activities.

 

Interpol chief lauds Nepal Police

 

Secretary General of International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Ronald Noble on Friday Feb 29, 2008 lauded the efforts made by Nepal Police in apprehending internationally notorious outlaws.

 

Speaking at a press meeting in the Kathmandu, Secretary General said Nepal Police investigation officials are competent and at par with international standards,"Nepal police are very able to identify, locate, and arrest those wanted, he said.

 

Noble said Nepal Police had successfully handled over half a dozen international cases  to prove that it is equally competent with police organizations in developed countries. He said the recent arrest of the alleged kidney kingpin Dr Amit Kumar in Nepal was testimony to the fact."I am very satisfied for the great work in apprehension of Dr Amit Kumar, who was wanted internationally via Interpol red corner notice, he added.

 

On the occasion, Noble also informed that a Nepalese police deputed at Interpol Headquarters in France from this year."Based on the request of Inspector General of Police, Interpol has agreed for the first time to have a Nepalese police officer deputed from here to the (Interpol) General Secretariat in Fran ce he announced.

 

He also said Interpol is planning to create a websites that describes works of all 186 Natinal Central Bureau . "Ghe first of that Natinal Central Bureau will be Nepalese police force,"he aded.

 

On the occasion, Noble gave away appreciation letters on behalf of Interpol to police chief Om Bikaram Rana, AIG Keshave Prasad Baral, SSP Upendra Kanta Aryal, SP Devendra Subedi and DSP Sher Bahadur Basnet Sub Inspector Raju Khim Bhadur Tamang and constable Lila Gurung for the arrest of Dr Amit.
 

World Bank announces Nepal Development Marketplace 2008

Twenty-five innovative ideas and invantive partnerships from across Nepal will be awarded cash gramts of up to Rs 5 million  cash to implement this ideas under the Nepal Development Marketplace 2008 program.

 

The World Bank said the program was aimed at promoting fresh thinking and harvesting the most innovative ideas about peace and development, expension of lovelihood opportunities and delivery of basis services of the poot.

 

Nepal Development Marketplace is open to anyone with a good invovative idea to share," Susan Goldmark, country representative of world Bank for Nepal, said at the launch of the program on Saturday March 1, 2008. The last date set at April 17, 2008.

 

The proposals reflective the them Securing Peace through Development must be in the areas of health, eduction, water and sanitation, agriculture, irrigation and food security, infractructure enercy small business mocro enterprise  support, informatin and communication technologies and employemtn creation.

 

 Breast Cancer preventation in Nepal

 

 

Don't neglect health after surgery over 50 percent breast cancer patients after they go through surgery. Owing to this, Nepal does not have exact figures of the mortality rate due to breast cancer, doctors said here Feb 26, 2008.

 

"Without being in touch with the patient continuously for five years after surgery, it is not possible to say how many woman die of breast cancer," said Dr Prakash Sayami, while speaking at five day training on Breast Cancer Screening at Teaching Hospital of Kathmandu. Even after surgery, cancer can recure.

 

He also said that if the Breast Cancer diagnosed in the primary stages, 50 percent of  patients can be saved. He said his analysis of the cases dealt with by hospitils shows that the trand of women visiting hospital for treatment in same among women is rural and urban parts of the country.

 

Making her preventation at the program organized by Department of Surgery. Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Rural Women Unity and Development Centre Nepal. Dr Benu Lohani of the hospital said mammography, a special kind of x-ray, would be best for women above the age of 40 to detect breast cancer in the early stages.

 

For women between the age of 40 to 59, mammography needs to be done once in years, and for women above 50 it needs to be done annually. Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and B.P. Koirala Bharatpur Cancer Hospital have this facility which costs Rs.550.

 

Similarly, Dr Y.P. Singh said that a study of 700 women who received services from Tribhuvan University teaching Hospital shows that 60 percent of the cases were below the age of 50, while 40 percent were above 50. However, this is exactly, the opposite compared to cases in developed countries. In development countries, bresat cancer is the commonest caner affecting women.

 

Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Crime Division Hanumandhoka, launch its website from Sunday 24 Feb, 2008 .

 

The newly launched website can be logged on to "www.crime-div.govt.np".

 

Press releases, latest developments on cirme trends and other information related to crimes in Kathmandu Vally among others, will be postead in the website, according to Metropolitan Police Crime Division Chief.

 

Tharu welfare council against seperate Madesh state in Nepal

 

Tharu welfare council said on Feb 22,2008  that the country should, not include the settlement of Tharu community under an autonomos Madesh state in this transitional state in this transitional phase.

 

Claiming that the government is preparing to address the demands of agitating tarai groups, TWC Udayapur commettee strongly opposed the autonomous one Madhes state deman. ATWC statement also claimed that Tharu people are not madhesis. The council warned it would launch protest if the Government violated the sentiments of Tharu people.

 

 

Nepali Women come back, after lost her health at Kuwait

 

Nepalease lady who was 40 years old, Manmaya Bhattarai, had been to Kuwati to fulfill her dreams of eaning money. But after spending 11 months of miserble life there, Bhattarai is now back home lying in a hospital bed.

 

According to Bhattarai, she is just one among 12 others taken to Kuwait by a team that allegedly involved her own relative Kishore Adhikari neighbours Rita Maji and Santabir Rai. She added that Adhikari took Rs.12,000 from her and left her in Karkarbhitta border near India. Majhi helped her cross the border and Rai took her to Mumbai, India.

"I went through such a hellish life in Kuwait that I can not express it in words, Bhattarai said, sobbing at B.P.Koirala Health Science Aaademy. Having worked as a domestic helper, Bhattarai was verbally and physically abused through out her stay there. Swellings, scars and cuts are visible all over her body.

 

She was not given any salary for her work. When she could not tolerate the situation any more, she requested her employeer to send her back to Nepali."  He show some mercy at that time and I could come back," Bhattarai said.

 

So, I want to send the message from NepalNepal.com to all others womens or their family that who are trying to go Gulf Countries for the work they must be more careful.

Wrong facts about Nepal on Indian Government Websites The Web-sites of India's Ministry of External Affairs relating to Nepal has not been updated since July 2005. Consequently, in contains erroneous facts about Nepal. The website "www.mea.gov.in" mentions King Gyanendra as the head of the state of Nepal, which he is no longer. It further says that Dr Tulsi Giri and Kriti Nidhi Bista are the vice chairman in the Government of Nepal. Mr. Giri and Bista were vice-chairman in the king led Government between Feb 2005 to April 2006. Though developments that occured in other countries have been updated in the website, information about Nepal has not been changed despite epoch-making development in Nepal after July 2005. Indian Official are still using "His Majesty's Government of Nepal" in official correspondences to address Nepal's Government though they were requested to use "Government of Nepal" in such documents.

Kidney traffickers snaring poor peoples of Nepal

More than 70 worker have already sold their kidneys in India who are working in carpet factory in Jorpati, Kathmandu. They sold kidney for just Rs.25,000.00

 

It was an attrcative offer for them whose income as a carpet factory worker of Jorpati, Kathmandu was barely enough to feed their families.

 

Many individuals end up parting with their kidneys in India without their consent. According to factory worker's, many Nepalese are taken to India with jobs, only to be duped later into parting with their kidneys. Kidneys sold by or stolen from Nepalese fulfil the needs of rich Nepal's also, kidney traders are found hanging around dialysis Centers in capital in search of clients.

 

Nephrologist Dr Risi Kumar Kafle said that ever 100 Nepali patients return annually form Indian hospitals after receiving successful kidney transplants.

 

Dr Kafle said that those are however the recorded cases only the real figure must be much higher. According to him, a patient spends some where between Rs 500,000 and Rs.1,500,000 in Indian hospitals for a transplant.

Power Cut crisis in Nepal to worsen for next 5 years

Nepal's power distributor, Nepal electricity Authority, on Monday Feb 4, 2008 said  it can do little to deal with the chronic power crisis in the country.

 

The country would face increasingly worse power cuts till 2012/13, when  hydro-power projects in the pipelines are expected to start generating Electricity. The country will face a still worse power crisis for the next 5 years.

 

The only way out in power import from India. Unfortunately both demand and price of power in Indian market are rising too steeply to make this an easy option for us.

 

Currently Nepalese people are facing the Power-cut for 8 hours in a day and 48 Hours in a week.

 

Nepali omithologists on Monday Feb 4, 2008 said they have diserured a new bird, sub speies in Koshi Wildlife Reserve. The new bird is named "Nepal Rufous-vented Prinia" (Prinia burnesil nepalensis). or Prinia burnesii nipalensis scientifically. A team of Nepalese ornithologissts has discovered a new sub-species of bird at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR).

 

Rufous-vented Prinia's other two species are identified. One Prinia burnesii burnesii is found in Pakistan along the tributaries of Indus River and adjacent Punjab in India, and the other Prinia burnesii cinerascens is found in Assam, India along the Bramhaputra river systems and adjoining states of India and Bangladesh.

 

The new bird recorded in Koshi Tappu shows somewhat intermediate characters between these two subspecies and appears to form a link between them. Experts says that the adult of this newly found subspecies has overall olive-grey to light brown plumage. The head and nape are greyer compared to the browner back, wings and tail. In most individuals, there is faint whitish supercilium which reaches behind the eye. The head is densely streaked compared to back and n the back, the streakings are bolder compared to the ones in head. The juveniles are similar to adults but slightly less marked on the head and body. Light rufous under-tail coverts were visible in one young bird caught.