Kathmandu, Feb. 25: The National Human Rights Commission recommendation committee met under the chairmanship of committee chairman and Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar today in connection with the recommendation of names for appointment as chairman and members of the commission.

The meeting extensively discussed the issue and decided to reach a conclusion in this regard by calling the next meeting as soon as possible, according to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Lalitpur, Feb. 25 : Roshan Tuladhar, Navin Gorkhali, Upendra Paudel and Punya Prasad Sapkota have received the Kulratna Tuladhar Medal and cash prizes instituted in memory of late Kulratna Tuladhar, the first dean of the Institute of Engineering.

Tuladhar, Gorkhali, Paudel and Sapkota received the award for obtaining distinction marks in diploma of Engineering in 2052 b.s., 2053 b.s., 2054 b.s. and 2055 b.s. respectively.

Vice chancellor of Tribhuwan University Navin Prakash Jung, presenting the awards here today, said the institute has played a significant role in producing skilled manpower.

Dean of the institute Dr Jeevraj Pokharel, campus chief Dr. Mukunda Prakash Pradhan and Dr. Sudarshan Raj Tiwari also expressed their views at the function.

Kathmandu, Feb. 25:  A team of surgeons headed by noted neuro surgeon Dr. Upendra Devkota performed an operation successfully for the removal of brain tumor (pituitary adenoma) at Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Centre in Kathmandu.

According to the centre, Mrs. Sarala Rai, 32, who underwent the operation performed through nasal passage, is now at post operative ward and under smooth recovery.

The operation which took about an hour to complete involved the use of sophisticated zeiss operated microscope and “c” arm control (x-ray video).

Such an operation is the first of its kind at Norvic-Escorts. However, similar kind of operation was carried out first at Bir Hospital by Dr. Devkota himself in 1998.

Lahan, Feb. 25 : Chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Mohsin has expressed the view that it will be helpful for the development of the country if investigative journalism is given emphasis by journalists without reposing faith in only one political principle.

Dr. Mohsin made this remark while inaugurating a one-day national convention of the presidents, secretaries and treasurers of the district branches, sub branches and organisations associated with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (fnj) organised by the fnj central working committee here  today.

He said  that the journalists had to raise their voice against corruption of political figures and parties, adding that journalists have an important contribution  to make in the promotion of democracy and its stability in the country.

Chairman Dr. Mohsin also stressed the need for all political parties to unite for the development of the country as economic development alone can make democracy strong and sustainable.

The problems of corruption, indiscipline and political violence cannot be resolved only   by one political party,  he said, adding that only national consensus based on participation can resolve these problems.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communication Ram Chandra Paudel, in a   message, wished the national convention success.

Mr Paudel said as the press has the responsibility of generating public opinion for preservation of the present constitution , it has to play its role accordingly.

A clear presentation of the overall aspects of development can be expected only from a disciplined press, he added.

The present government has a positive attitude for extending all possible cooperation for the institutional development of  the press sector, he further added.

The Prime Minister’s press advisor and former fnj president Kishor Nepal,  wishing the convention success on behalf of the Prime Minister, said the journalists have a important role to play in improving the politics of the country.

From the chair, fnj central president Suresh Acharya said the Federation is concerned with the preservation of the freedom of expression and the right to information, adding that the convention will play an important role in working out  a strategy for the Federation.

Fnj general secretary Taranath Dahal said the convention was organised to formulate future programmes and policies of the fnj  and added that the federation has initiated works for the development of the journalism sector.

On the occasion, eastern regional fnj vice president Kaushal Chemjong, Siraha ddc vice chairman Lilanath Shrestha, mayor of Lahan municipality Muni Saha and president of Siraha district fnj bijaya Prasad Mishra also wished for the success of the convention.

Altogether 76 journalists from  all over the kingdom  are  participating in the national convention.

Meanwhile, in Butwal, a day-long interaction programme on ‘Fagun 7 and  Freedom of Expression’ was organised here yesterday by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists on the occasion of the 50th National Democracy Day.

On the occasion, judge of the Appellate Court Butwal Kalyan Shrestha said freedom of expression is the measuring rod and true definition of democracy.

Mp ram Chandra Bhattarai said it is not proper that there should be freedom only for the Ranas during the Rana regime, only for the Panchas under the Panchayat system and only for supporters of the multiparty system in a multiparty democracy.

Professor Dil Sahani said there is suppression of the press even though the constitution clearly mentions  press freedom.

Former mayor of Butwal municipality Ram Prasad Khanal said freedom of expression is possible only in democracy.

Chairman of the progressive journalists forum Bal Krishna Chapagain said politicians have devalued themselves in the aftermath of the restoration of democracy.

Chairman of the Appellate Court Butwal unit Ben Bahadur Poudel said the constitution of Nepal is not complete and an assessment should be made of the freedoms gained.

President of the fnj Nawalparasi Krishna Bahadur Karki said freedom tends to be in favour of whoever makes the laws.

At the programme presided over by fnj branch president Binod Pahadi, various other speakers including social worker Ganesh Man Sainju, Mrs Kusum Lakaul who was involved in the 1950 revolution, and president of Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahendra Narayan Shrestha also expressed their views.

Kathmandu Feb. 25: A two-day International Conference on Pain began today at B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) at Dharan. The conference is participated by two hundred delegates from six countries. The participants include cancer specialists, eminent medical scientists, senior doctors and nurses.

In his inaugural address Vice-Chancellor of BPKIHS Dr Shekhar Koirala observed that the poorer section of the society possibly accepts pain as a curse and blames it to their fate. He also added that very little data is available from the developing countries regarding the prevalence of pain in the community and Nepal is no exception.

Stressing on the awareness about the problem and management of pain he urged the participants to understand the importance of biopsychosocial models in pain management rather than existing biological model, which has failed to deliver. He also informed the gathering that Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care of BPKIHS in association with Department of Community Medicine has planned a study on incidence of chronic pain in the districts of eastern Nepal. Inclusion of pain as a subject in medical, dental and nursing curriculum has become an absolute necessity and the primary care physicians and nurses must exercise responsibilities in recognising the scope of pain medicine problems he said.

Hoping that the conference would make a beginning to bring about scientific thinking in the field of pain among the health care Dr. Koirala said the deliberations of the conference would undoubtedly initiate thoughts in the minds of the participants regarding the approach to be taken to address the problem of pain in the communities of the developing countries.

Pokhara, Feb. 25: Speaker Taranath Ranabhat inaugurated the one-day seminar on “Pokhara International Airport Project” organised by Regional Hotel Association Nepal, Pokhara here today

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Ranabhat said that construction work of the international airport would not stop due to lack of funds but the international sector has been suspicious because of the political instability and commission mongering in the country.

The prestige of Pokhara is being enhanced in the international arena and the international institutions and diginitaries have love and goodwill for Pokhara, Mr Ranabhat said, adding that the need for an international level airport is being felt in Pokhara as it has become a center for education and health.

Stating that even though many foreign tourists wish to visit Nepal, we have not been able to bring them due to shortage of flights, Mr Ranabhat said that His Majesty’s Government should extend positive cooperation for development of Pokhara as it could contribute to the economy of the country.

Mp and nc kaski district president Sukra Raj Sharma requested the authorities concerned to start construction of the airport on the land acquired many years ago.

Kaski ddc chairman Punya Prasad Poudel expressed the view that development of Pokhara was possible through the joint commitment of  the local political parties, businessmen social workers and intellectuals.

Mayor of Pokhara sub-metropolitan city Krishna Thapa informed that 39 kilometers of drainage would be built and 12 kilometers of roads blacktopped within the next 17 months with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

At the seminar chaired by president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Sunder Kumar Shrestha, Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Shaligram Poudel, chairman of Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee Ashok Palikhe, advisor at the Ministry of Industry Ananda Raj Mulmi, president of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Azad Shrestha, chief engineer of the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Upendra Dhital, first vice-president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Hari Prasad Gurung, chief district officer Shyam Sunder Sharma also expressed their views.

The seminar was participated in by the representatives of political parties, hotel entrepreneurs, the chiefs of offices, industrialists, businessmen, people’s representatives and the journalists.

Kathmandu, Feb. 25: Deputy Speaker Mrs Chitralekha Yadav inaugurated the seventh international conference organised by the Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (nelta) here today.

In her inaugural speech, Deputy Speaker Mrs Yadav stressed the need to provide proper training to teachers so as to raise the standard of education, and to seek an increment in the assistance the British Council has been providing to Nelta in order to further enhance the role and efficiency of the Teachers Association.

Prof. Jayaraj Acharya spoke of the need to train teachers by establishing training centres at the regional level and asked the government to provide necessary assistance to nelta for improving the standard of English education.

Nelta general secretary Gangaram Gautam, while presenting the association’s annual report, called for the cooperation of all sectors concerned in nelta’s educational development campaign.

Director of the British Council Barbara Wikham pledged continued support to nelta and said that the British Council will also help nelta in developing relations with relevant foreign organisations.

Representative of Secondary Education Development Project David Royal said efforts are being made under the project to develop school textbooks and curriculums.

From the chair, nelta president Prof. Jayaraj Awasthi stressed the need for training centres for providing training to teachers at local level.

He also said that nelta has been organising training and workshops for English teachers in different parts of the country.

Principal of Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute Laxman Rajbansi highlighted nelta’s contribution to the English language teaching in Nepal.

About 500 English teachers from various public and private schools are taking part in the conference.

Talks, workshops, panel discussion and books exhibition will be organised during the conference. The conference will also elect an 11-member new working committee of nelta for two years.

Kathmandu, Feb.25: Hit by the suspension of the inbound Indian Airlines flight, after the December 24 IC 814 hijack last year, more than one dozen tourism-related organisations today said the travel industry has borne above US$ 1.5 million loss in the last two months. They have also suggested additional Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation flights to Indian cities besides allowing private airlines from both Nepal and India to fly into each other’s country.

“At least 28,400 potential visitors have been denied access to this Himalayan Kingdom due to the withdrawal of Indian Airlines flights,” read a press statement distributed at a press-meet jointly organised by the tourism-related associations here this evening. “In addition, 244 thousand kgs of export cargo have not been able to reach the international markets.”

Speaking during the press meet, heads of tourism-related organisations said that the suspension of the Indian Airlines flights was no less than economic sanction against Nepal and that the official effort to make the flights resume has not been up to the mark. “Despite repeated efforts of Nepal Tourism Board and the private sector and various categorical assurances received from the Indian diplomatic mission in Kathmandu this impasse does not seem to be approaching any positive end,” read the press-statement.

“One of the official moves, at this time of crisis, should be to instruct RNAC to add frequencies to Delhi and to start immediate flight operation to Varanasi and the government should also make the aircraft acquisition for RNAC a national priority.”

The national flag carrier, said Yogendra Shakya, Chairman of Nepal Incentive and Convention Tourism Association (NICA), should be made a safety valve. “The private sector strongly believes that RNAC should be strengthened.” At present, RNAC flies to three Indian cities: New Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. Soon it will be flying to south Indian city Bangalore as well.

Travel traders equally stressed on allowing the private airlines to fly to Indian cities. More than three years ago, the government had allocated different international routes including Indian cities for around half a dozen private companies — some of those that have already operated in the domestic routes. But, only one of them — Necon Air — has so far started international flights.

“The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) must withdraw the licenses of those private airlines that have failed to fly in the international routes and fresh licenses must be issued to those willing to operate in the international skies,” added the press statement.

“People in the private sector are ready to invest if they are allowed to operate in the international routes,” said Bhola Thapa, President of Nepal Association of Travel Agents. “We have to learn lesson that the cases like Indian Airlines flight suspension can take place in the future as well. So we have to ready ourselves.”

From the day the IC 814 was hijacked in Indian aerospace after it took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport on December 24 last year, Indian Airlines has suspended all its Kathmandu-bound flights. There has been no official statement so far on the resumption of the flights. Indian airlines used to bring in around 30 per cent of the total inbound tourists by air. A little above 420,000 tourists visited Nepal by air last year. Of the total inbound tourists, 30 per cent is estimated to be Indians.

Kathmandu, feb. 25: A week long training in ultrasound treatment held under the joint auspices of Siddhi Women and Children’s Hospital, Bhaktapur and the Berwin Institute of Ultrasound (Ultra Sonogram) in Canada concluded here recently.

Director of the institute Dr. Syed Amir Gilani and its Asian Office Deputy Director Dr. Mr. Saulat Nawaz imparted basic knowledge about ultrasonogram and its applicability. Some 36 medical doctors and health workers took part in the training.

Director gilani gave away prizes and certificates to the best trainees as well as other participants.

Meanwhile in Nepalgunj, a blood donation programme was organised  at  local bhuri Gaon Village of Bardia district on the occasion of the 25th National Education Day Thursday.

The blood donation was jointly organised by Nepal Junior Red Cross Circle and the Ramjanaki Boarding High School, Sri Ram Nagar in cooperation with the Nepal Red Cross Society, Bagnaha Branch.

Altogether 22 persons from Bagnaha and Neulapur VDCs donated blood on the occasion.

Coordinator of Nepal Red Cross Society Bagnaha branch health sub-committee Om Pakash Sharma and  social worker MRS. BENU SHaha jointly inaugurated the blood donation programme . They also donated blood.

President of the Junior Red Cross Circle  Kalika Prasad Acharya presided over the programme.

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Feb 25:

The underground Nepal Communist Party ( Maoist) that has been launching an armed insurgency has put forward conditions to start talks with the government to end the Maoist insurgency.

General secretary of Maoist Communist Party Com Prachanda ( Puspa Kamal Dahal) issued a press statement today and said that if the government was serious to initiate talks with the Maoists, it first has to meet the conditions put forward by the guerillas.

The conditions put forward by Maoists are:

All Maoist leaders and workers who are in jail should be immediately released.

Names and position of those who disappeared from the police custody and killed should be made public

” State terrorism” should be immediately stopped.

Investigation into the recent killing and arson in Rukum should be initiated and strict action against the culprit taken.

Compensation should be given to the victims of police action

The general secretary of Maoist Party has demanded that the government fulfil these demands to start the talks.

In the statement the chief of the Maoist party has asked the government to create a conducive and internationally acceptable atmosphere to begin the talks.

Otherwise, the government would be responsible for any kind of future consequences, he warned.

The reaction of the Maoist leader came in response to the recent statement of Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba calling the Maoists to come to negotiating table for the resolution of more than four year old insurgency.