Charikot (dolakha): Voters’ identity cards are to be distributed to the registered voters in constituency number two of Dolakha district from next year.

This information was given at a two-day seminar of assistant name registration officers on registration and updating of the voters’ list organised here recently.

According to the district election commission office, arrangement for distribution of the voters’ identity cards in constituency-2 of the district would be complete by the time of the local election. There are two electoral constituencies in the district.

Inaugurating the two-day seminar, district development committee (DDC) chairman Lal Kumar K.C. said that free, fair and peaceful elections were the hallmarks of a democracy.

Basanta Raj Joshi of the cpn-ml, Barma Lama of the Nepali Congress, deputy mayor of Bhimeshwar Municipality Shanta Bahadur Basnet and chief district officer Khagendra Dev Joshi also shed light on the importance of free and fair elections for the consolidation of democracy in the country.

VDC secretaries and office-bearers took part in the seminar in their capacity as the assistant name registration officers.

Kathmandu: Secretary at the Home Ministry Padma Prasad Pokherel has said that in view of the Nepal Bandh called on April 6 His Majesty’s Government has made efforts to ensure reliable security arrangements.

At a press conference held at the Home Ministry today, Home Secretary Pokherel said since the leaders of the organizers are underground they might not come out to demonstrate. So it seems that there will be no problem in opening shops and driving vehicles, he added.

As the security personal of ward police offices will not be adequate to ensure security, security personnel have been mobilized in such a manner that the distance between one security personnel and the another is not too long, he said, adding more security personnel have been mobilized in sensitive areas and arrangements have been made for the security personnel to reach the incident site within five minutes after being informed about any incident.

Replying a question, Mr Pokherel said all security organs will be mobilized to ensure security since the Nepal bandh is likely to affect national security.

As the CPN (Masal) has informed the Home Ministry about its programme scheduled for April 6, the Home Ministry will provide full security to the programme, the home secretary said.

He also made it clear that if a riot took place or seemed most likely in any place it will be declared a riot-hit area at the recommendation of the security committee of the district concerned and in such place the powers of the cdo will be delegated to the police.

His Majesty’s Government has been providing compensation to the victims of terrorism to a certain extent, he said, adding terrorist activity has caused a loss of property worth about Rs. 110 million.

In view of the Nepal Bandh police have carried out searches, interrogation and investigation.

Kathmandu: A delegation of Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal (SJM) met the Maoist problems resolution high level recommendations committee headed by ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today and submitted suggestions for a lasting solution to the Maoist problem.

In its suggestions, the delegation has stressed the need for the government to recognize the people’s war as a political problem, abide by the constitution to the letter and spirit, stop state terrorism, take concrete measures to preserve nationalism and resolve the problem of livelihood, poverty, unemployment, price hike and economic disparity, control smuggling, corruption and commission mongering.

Suppression and use of force do not help resolve the problem, the delegation said.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, committee convenor and ex-prime minister Deuba said all political parties, human rights activists and the people in general are of the view that the government and the maoists should not resort to killing and other forms of violence. Dialogue is the only right way to resolve the problem, he added.

Disclosing that a few days back a representative of the Maoists had met him to discuss matters concerning the building of a favourable environment for dialogue, he said immediately after the meeting there was a change of government and the preparation for dialogue could not be continued.

He also told reporters that he will meet the prime minister soon and discuss the issue.

Replying to a question regarding the Nepal Bandh called by the Maoists on April 6, Mr Deuba said “I hope the maoists will exercise their constitutional rights by organizing the Nepal Bandh in a peaceful manner.”

On the occasion, SJM general secretary and MP Lilamani Pokhrel said his party is opposed to the Maoist people’s war.

He described the people’s war as an outcome of the faulty views, thinking, ideological and political understanding and modus operandi, he added.

Workers of other parties and the people in general should not be framed up in the name of suppressing the maoists, he said, adding Ganeshman Singh peace campaign should not be used as an opportunity to give jobs and money to party workers.

He also stressed the need to implement the agreement reached between the group of nine leftist factions and the government and withdraw the bill designed to amend some Nepal acts concerning internal administration.

Committee convenor Mr. Deuba and member-secretary Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, and SJM president Amik Sherchan, general secretary Lilamani Pokharel and central secretariat member Dil Bahadur Shrestha were present at the meeting.

Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola called on Mme. Sadako Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (unhcr) in Geneva yesterday and discussed the Bhutanese refugee problem with her.

During the meeting, Minister Bastola appreciated the contributions of Mme. Ogata for the cause of refugees throughout the world.

Appreciating the assistance and cooperation of the unhcr, Mr Bastola said that without which the care and maintenance of the Bhutanese refugees would have been very difficult.

Mr Bastola also briefed Mme. Ogata about the status of the negoitiations currently going on between Nepal and Bhutan.

UN high commissioner for refugees stressed the need of an early resolution of the Bhutanese refugee problem through conclusion of an agreement.

Likewise, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola met Mr Thorbjorn Jagland, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway and exchanged views on the state of bilateral relations existing between the two countries.

On the occasion Mr Bastola appreciated the cooperation and assistance being extended by Norway to Nepal especially in the field of hydro power sector.

Mr Bastola urged the Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs to extend their increased assistance to Nepal.

Norwegian Minister Jagland expressed the willingness of the Norwegian government to cooperate with His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

Meanwhile, Mr B. Mackineley, director general of the International Organization for Migration called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola yesterday and briefed him about the activities and programmes of the international organization for migration.

On the occasion, they also discussed the issue of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.

Mr mackineley expressed the willingness of the International Organization for migration to cooperate with Nepal in different areas like trafficking of women, migration awareness programme, etc.

Kathmandu: Export sector should be given priority and export strategy formulated at the governmental and the private level for the economic development of the country, it has been felt here.

Most of the participants of workshop concerning strategy for the development of export of Nepal organised by the Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry pointed out the need to formulate export strategy and move ahead.

Inaugurating the workshop, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Prithvi Raj Ligal appreciated the role played by the Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the economic development and export trade of Nepal and said that the export strategy should be formulated sector-wise and item-wise.

There was a plan to gradually improve the policy and rules including foreign exchange effecting the export trade of the country, he said adding that the export policy would be soon made  public.

First vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Ravi Bhakta Shrestha said that a lot had to be done at the governmental and the businessmen’s level and it had become necessary to implement the policy and rules concerning export promotion.

Member of the Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Industrialist Padma Jyoti said that special attention had to be paid to the environment of investment, taxation, economic activities and skill development for enhancing the pace of economic development of the country.

Vice-president of Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sunil Shakya expressed his views on the appropriateness of the workshop at the inaugural function presided over by its president Narendra Kumar Basnet.

According to an information given at the workshop, woollen carpets, Pashmina shawls, readymade garments and handicraft items are exported from Nepal.

Most of the ready-made garments produced in Nepal were exported to the USA and Germany was the largest market of Nepalese carpets, it was informed at the workshop.

Member of the Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and industrialist Suraj Baidya presented a working paper on “opportunities of the private sector in the export trade and need for changes”, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce Chandi Prasad Shrestha on “export policy of HMG” and Miss Olyand Gibs on export “policy and the international experience” at the workshop.

Nepal Rashtra Bank Governor Dr. Tilak Rawal presided over the first session and secretary at the Ministry of Commerce Mohan Dev Panta the second session of the workshop.

About fifty persons including high ranking officials of HMG, experts of the private sector, businessmen and journalists attended the workshop.

Kathmandu: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will inaugurate a Forest, Science and Technology exhibition on the occasion of Silver Jubilee year of Nepal Foresters’ Association (NFA) here in Kathmandu on April 10th.

Dr Himat Singh K.C president and Durba Prasad Acharya General Secretary of NFA disclosed it in jointly addressed press conference here today.

The exhibition will be organised for two days and about 30 governmental, non governmental and seamy governmental organisation will participate. To enhance the knowledge of general public on the forest will be the aim of the exhibition. It is expected that about ten thousand persons will visit the exhibition.

Kathmandu:Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya today said that the government would not change its fundamental policies directed towards the rural infrastructure development, poverty reduction and social justice.

“Poverty reduction through economic reforms should be the topmost priority of any government regardless of political ideology,” he said at a seminar on “Economic Policies and Change of Government” jointly organised here today by Tradex ñ2000 and Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights (ADHR). “Even if a government changes, it cannot afford to deviate from this basic principle although the strategies to this end could be different.”

Minister Acharya said that the government needed massive investment for the development of countryís infrastructure, including road, electricity, education, health and safe drinking water. “We need to look for the possible factors for the growth of Gross National Products (GDP) that plays crucial role in meeting the targets of poverty reduction and infrastructure development.”

Agriculture, one of the most important sectors for the countryís economic development, could be exploited to generate income and create employment opportunities, he said.

“Since the government alone will not be able to meet with this huge amount, private sectorís role in mobilising savings would be of utmost importance in this regard,” he said. “For this, the government has to create a favourable condition to encourage national as well as foreign investment and open up the markets for free competition in the country.”

However, the growth of GDP alone would not reduce the poverty that is deeply rooted in the rural parts. About 90 per cent of the rural people live under poverty, he said. “The government has to expand its investment in producing skilled human resources, education, health, drinking water and rural infrastructure development. The short-term growth would trickle down unless the government diverted the structure of its investment to these sectors.”

Stressing the present need for privatisation of the state-owned organisations, he said the government couldnít afford to invest the money needed for the infrastructure development in factories and industries that produce cigarette or shoes. “The private sector is all out there for this. Privatisation is not an escape for the responsibility but a choice of priority to provide people with social justice through some developmental activities. And we need to forge an all party consensus for this.”

Pointing the role the banks could play in economic reforms, Acharya said that they have to be made competitive by introducing modern information technology. “Large companies have taken loans from the banks but have not paid back them in time. We will stop such malpractices but the civil society too can have its role in it.

Presenting a paper on “Foreign Investment Under Multi-Party System in Nepal” at the seminar, Professor Hari Basha Jha said that Nepal could economically prosper if she crated a favourable environment to attract foreign investors in the country.

Commenting on the paper at the function chaired by ADHR President Bimal R. Pandey, Prof. Dr. Mohan Prasad Lohani, Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Mahesh K. Agrawal, Jagdish K. Agrawal and Tradex ñ 2000 President Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said that the gap between policy making and its implementation was the major hindrance of Nepalís economic development.

Kathmandu: Gurkha Army Ex-Service Organisation (GAESO) President Padam Bahadur Gurung is leading a four-member team to participate in the 56th United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting to be held in Geneva.  The team will attempt to attract the international public support for their plea, said the campaigning Gurkhas here today.

Since last five-years the retired Gurkha soldiers are campaigning in Nepal for equal treatment to the Gurkhas at par with their British counterparts in the British Army in pension and other welfare benefits. This is the first time they are taking their plea to international platform.

Nevertheless, the issue captured international attention when a Gurkha soldier was killed in Kosovo mid last year and British newspapers highlighted the unequal amount of death gratuities their government was providing to the family of the Gurkha soldier and his British counterpart. Later in October 1999, the British government raised payments to the families of Gurkha soldiers killed in service to match the amount received by a British soldier responding to a recommendation made by the Ministerial Working Group on Gurkha Pensions and Gratuities chaired by British Armed Force Minister John Spellar.

“We are taking the issue to international platform because we have lost faith that the governments of Nepal and Britain are serious to find a solution diplomatically,” said Padam Bahadur Gurung. He also flayed both the Nepalese and British governments for failing to follow the suggestions forwarded by their respective parliaments for resolving the unequal-treatment issue. The Human Rights and Foreign Affair Committee of Nepal’s dissolved House of Representatives had suggested that the Gurkha issue was a national issue and should be resolved diplomatically. “The recommendation has not been tried by the government so far,” charged Gurung.

On the other hand, the British Ministarial Working Group formed to deliberate and report on Gurkha pensions by the end of last year was dissolved with the announcement of a hundred per cent increase in Gurkha pensions in the last week of December 1999. The British government decision drew a harsh criticism from a fraction of campaigning Gurkhas in Nepal.

After attending a Human Rights Commission Meeting, two of the team members, GAESO President Gurung and Sociologist Dr. Om Gurung, will visit universities in six European nations to attract support from Western intellectual circle, according to a press release issued by GAESO. And on their return to Nepal, veteran Human Rights activist Rhishikesh Shah will visit United States to discuss the Gurkha issue with international rights lawyers and activists.

Kathmandu: His Majesty the King graced the Ghode Jatra programme organised by the Royal Nepalese Army at Tundikhel today.

His Majesty presented prizes to the leaders of three teams for best performance.

His Majesty was accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Royal Family were also present on the occasion.

Also present were Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, Raj Parishad Standing and Committee Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi.

Charger horse jump, musical ride, fire jump and show jump were some of the highlights of the programme.

The ministers, the heads of the constitutional bodies, mps, the heads of the diplomatic missions, high ranking government, army and police officers were also present at the programme.

Large number of people thronged Tundikhel to watch the Ghode Jatra programme.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated Nepal Trade Fair-2000 amidst a function at the Birendra International Convention Centre today.

Organised by the Trade Promotion Centre, the trade fair aims to identity Nepalese exportable products and develop and promote Nepal’s export trade thereby providing a bulwark of Nepal’s economic development.

At the five-day fair there are 99 stall displaying agricultural products, industrial goods, handicrafts and Nepal’s present export items as well as those having potential for export in the future.

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Koirala said,”We, like other nations of the world, need to strive for economic development of the nation with our entry into the new millennium.”

“It is imperative to protect, promote and encourage our export trade so as to give a definite direction to the country’s productive sector and there is no two opinion about it,” the Prime Minister noted, adding: “This will broaden the base of production and service sectors particularly linked directly or indirectly with exports.”

“The country’s productive sector can neither flourish nor be durable until domestic labour and skill scattered over the country, original product and production potentialities are brought in line with productive front and system,” Premier Koirala said.

If this sector is to be made self-reliant it will be necessary to revive and promote rural cottage industries flourishing in the villages, though fraught with extinction in many areas, he said.

We should start thinking right now on how to develop the potential to tackle the challenges that might crop up after the country would get the membership of the World Trade Organisation, and His Majesty Government was quite serious about this matter, he said, adding that co-operation from private sector industrialists was quite essential in this task.

On the one hand, the industrialists and entrepreneurs of the country can judge for themselves what trade prospects the items   and services on display at the trade fair hold out, while on the other, the foreign visitor and traders’ reaction, interaction and their express opinion at the fair can serve as guidelines for  improving Nepal’s exportable products and their promotion, he said.

On the occasion, Minister for Industry and Commerce Ramkrishna Tamrakar said that the trade fair would play significant role in the identification and diversification of export items and trade.

We could put up a good impression in the world if we protected and promoted our natural assets and culture and traditional industries, he added.

Minister of State for Industry and Commerce Narendra Bikram Nemwang said it was necessary to make export trade strong and effective as this would pave the way for economic development of the nation.

Commerce secretary Mohan Dev Panta said necessary efforts were under way to chalk out strategies to promote export trade on a durable basis through joint endeavours of the government and private sector.

Fncci chairman Pradip Kumar Shrestha presided over the function.

Trade Promotion Centre executive director Hari Adhikari shed light on various aspects of Nepal’s export trade.