Lalitpur, Jan. 20:
Main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has stressed maintaining balanced relation with India and criticised the Indian media for the coverage implicating Nepal in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane last month.

The relations between the two countries should be based on the principles of freedom and equality, said Jhala Nath Khanal, the head of UML’s foreign affairs department and appealed to the government to take initiatives to review the 1950 Treaty that put Nepal at an unequal footing.

The government should also make attempts to solve the problem of open boarder between the two countries that has often proved to be a cause of trouble for us, Khanal told a talk programme on ‘Nepal India Relations’ organised by Rotary Club of Patan West here this evening.

Khanal showed serious concern over Indian media reports following the hijack of a New Delhi-bound Indian Airlines plane late last month that Nepal’s security mechanism was very week. “It is acceptable that we need to modernise and tighten the security measure at Tribhuvan International Airport. However, Indian government’s strategic attempt to bring TIA security under its umbrella is unacceptable.”

Khanal said that Nepal was not solely responsible for the hijack and criticised Indian media’s coverage, which, he said, jeopardised Nepal’s image internationally.

Protesting against India’s reported demand to keep her security post at Tribhuvan International Airport, Khanal said that the government as well as the public should be alert about it.

Khanal said the government should make public the contents of a letter that Indian government reportedly sent to the Prime Minister two weeks ago.

Kathmandu, Jan 20: The population of nepal is expected to reach 32,000,000 in the next 20 years if the present growth rate continues.

The annual population growth rate in Nepal is 2.37 percent and the population is expected to double in the next 33 years.

This information was given at a three day workshop seminar on long term action plan on population management organised here today by the Ministry of Population and Environment.

At present the population of Nepal has reached 22,400,000, and the reproductive growth rate is 4.35 whereas the child mortality rate is 65 in every thousand living births.

The HMG has a target of keeping the reproductive rate at 2.1 in 20 years.

Inaugurating the seminar, Minister of State for Population and Environment Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said there is a need for a national thinking for moving the country on the right path by preparing a long term policy for controlling population in Nepal.

From the chair, secretary at the Ministry of Population and environment Dr. Govinda Raj Bhatta said the prime responsibility of the state and the government is not only to control the population but also to mobilise them for the fulfillment of their basic needs.

Shedding light on the programmes, joint secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Ananta Raj Pandey said the seminar was organised with the realisation of a clear need for a long term plan on population as per the target of reducing the reproductive growth rate in displacement level within the next 20 years or the end of the 12th five year plan.

Also speaking on the occasion was under-secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Upendra Adhikari.

Altogether 50 individuals including high ranking officials of His Majesty’s Government, population experts and journalists have been taking part in the seminar.

Ilam, Jan 20: The traffic on the Ilam-Birtamod and Ilam-Fidim portion of the Mechi Highway have come to a standstill for an indefinite period from today as a dispute erupted on the running of bus services.

The Ilam-Dharan and Biratnagar bus operators agitation committee have closed bus services on the Ilam-Dharan and Biratnagar routes as the buses were stopped by the bus operators in Birtamod.

The agitation committee was formed under the initiative of the Ilam municipality as the bus service was obstructed soon after its commencement in Mangsir, 2056 B.S.

The agitation committee has said that the decision to stop bus services for an indefinite period was reached as the transport was obstructed despite an agreement reached between the committee, the Mechi Transportation Association, the Kankai transport association and the Mechi Hills Transportation Association.To run the service turn by turn during various joint meetings on Mangsir 28.

The agitation committee warned that if the services are not allowed to resume by the obstructers, the services on other sectors will also be closed.

Kathmandu, Jan. 20: Ministers today stressed a good coordination between the party and the government so that the latter can function smoothly to fulfill the pledges made to the people.

Sharing a forum provided by Reporter’s Club of Nepal today, the cabinet members stated that the party has a big role of alerting the government so that the government can push ahead on the track of the election manifesto and promises made to the people.

Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Sarat Singh Bhandari said that the party president has an important role to caution the government to move on the right path. “We have taken his comments regarding the performance of the government very positively,” he added.

Bhandari assured that Nepali Congress will never break because of some minor differences as the party has overcome difficult situations in the past. The litmus test of the past is the proof that we will remain strong and intact forever. There is the proper mechanism to eliminate the gap between the party and the government. The Party-Government Coordination Committee addresses this issue, he added.

Minister Bhandari refused to speak on the issue of the possibility of cabinet reshuffle saying that it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Stating that Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai will remain in his post for the full term of five years, he added that complaints of NC MPs have been discussed and addressed by both the leaders.

Industry Minister Omkar Prasad Shrestha said reshuffle of the cabinet may take place if the Prime Minister thinks it is necessary. It is entirely his prerogative and it is not necessary to comment further on it, he added.

Shrestha said he has launched measures to improve the industry sector. An industry perspective plan has been formulated and a special unit has been set up to monitor the industries. He informed that industries that are in sick condition are being studied and a drastic decision will be taken about them, he added.

Minister of State for Information and Communications Govinda Bahadur Shah said that ministries should be run by following democratic norms and sharing the responsibility collectively. The role played by the party president to alert the government is positive, he added.

Referring to the division of portfolio between the Minister and Assistant and State Ministers, Shah said differences, if any, can be sorted out with proper management. “All this depends on an environment of understanding,” he stated adding that he is satisfied with the responsibility he is handling at the Ministry.

However, Assistant Commerce Minister Narendra Bikram Nemwang complained that he was not given the due responsibility by the Commerce Minister. “I feel I am getting less work to do than I deserve to do. I have reported this to the Prime Minister,” he said.

Emphasising a cordial bond between the party and the government, Nemwang said the government can be effective when every member of the cabinet is given responsibilities to discharge.

Minister of State for Local Development Mohammad Aftab Alam said that bureaucrats can hatch designs to bring difference between Ministers, State Ministers and Assistant Ministers. “It is necessary to remain cautious about it,” he added.

Kathmandu, Jan.20: John Shepherd, visiting British Deputy Under Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said that Nepal has to persuade British companies that this is a better place to invest. Underscoring the fact that Britain is the second largest source of foreign direct investment in the world, Shepherd said that Nepal has many opportunities to attract investors.

John Shepherd

“Clearly one of the ways this country can be made attractive to invest is by ensuring the potential to exploit the Indian as well as the Nepalese markets,” the senior official at British Foreign Office told reporters here today. “Because that is between two countries, the government here has more of a role in ensuring that the free exchange between the two countries is real and not just potential.”

He further added that there needs to be a considerable effort of marketing on Nepal’s part. “Such efforts could be like the two trips to London the Nepalese Ministers are undertaking in the future. Nepal British Chamber of Commerce and Industries can also make a big contribution on the business network getting the messages out that the opportunities are here.

The British Under Secretary said that his country has the expertise in marketing, licensing, regulation, commercial side of some enterprises that need to involve private business because, he added, governments nowadays don’t have the resources to do these as government schemes. “What we can offer is that combination of engineering, financial, legal, and other skills, to put them together as a package so that a complete project concept can be realised.”

The senior British official, however, said that such cooperation cannot be easy. “Because all the conditions have to be right. If the conditions are right, our companies could make a real contribution to that potential.”

Commenting on the barriers to develop trade relations between Nepal and Britain, Shepherd said that the first wall is the distance and accessibility because, to the extent the trade is about goods, it is certainly important to have the infrastructure that allows you to exchange goods without adding huge costs.

In a positive note, he said that trade is about services and investments. “In those sectors distance isn’t quite so important. With good telecommunications and information technology, distance can be reduced.”

On the possibilities of Nepal’s export to Europe, he said that Britain can be a gateway for that purpose. “Exporting, however, is not easy. Business has to establish links and market its products in highly sophisticated and competitive markets.”

Nepal, according to him, has good products, some of them immensely popular in the UK. “Your pashmina shawls are on every woman’s shoulder in London this winter. You got to keep them there. For that you got to change the designs, modernise the product and have the right marketing assistance.”

Britain, said Shepherd, is an open market where good business and marketing can get without any trouble. He further said that people in Britain would be happy to buy things that were made in Nepal “because Nepal is a good brand in my country.”

He, however, said that Nepal-Britain trade figures are not brilliant at the moment. “So a lot has to be done to tap the huge potential.”

On the Gorkha issue, the British official said that the general people in Britain are as happy as Nepalese are on the solution reached recently on the Gorkha pension row.

With the British government, of late, so much focussing on trade rather than on granting aid, Shepherd said that trade produces far greater developmental effects than aid does. “The days of large budgetary aid are over.”

But, he added that the British Government has not stopped development programme in the country. “It is expanding. We have moved our experts from Bangkok to Kathmandu so that they are here on the spot able to do more focussed and better job. It’s true that the resources involved may be less but the impact on the development process should be far greater.”

Shepherd said that the achievements of his present visit have been to put business between Nepal and Britain into a fact. “Because if it is going to be a development of economic relations between the two countries, it’s not something for governments to do. That’s something for the business to do.”

Nepalgunj, Jan. 20: Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala has said that while the increase in the incidence of terrorism and violence does not bode well for the country, there is a need for public effort in addition to governmental efforts for addressing the problem.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the Nepal Press Union (npu) Banke district chapter here today, general secretary Koirala said that both the government and the Nepali Congress have called for a dialogue with those involved in the so-called “people’s war” launched in the name of Maoists.

He expressed the view that a strong approach and action is needed to resolve the problem since they (the Maoists) have not given up violence and terrorism despite various incentive measures taken by the government under the Ganeshman Singh Peace Campaign.

Mr. Koirala said that nobody raised the issue of human rights violation when so many Nepali Congress workers were being killed by the terrorists but the issue of rights violation is raised only when terrorists are killed during police encounters.

This is prejudice and a wrong approach, he remarked.

On the release of Deb Gurung, a top-level Maoist ideologue released recently by the government, he said those involved in killings and terrorist acts should not be freed.

Stating that he had just undertaken a visit to Rukum district, general secretary Koirala said he felt after his visit was that the people of the district were looking to the leadership to rid themselves of the atmosphere of fear and violence.

He said he would reschedule his programme and once again visit the districts affected by the so-called people’s war as this, he believed, would help free the people from the environment of violence and terror.

Deterioration in the law and order situation would invite political instability and this, in turn, breeds corruption, nc general secretary Koirala observed.

The Nepali Congress, while working for the preservation of the ideals, norms and values of democracy has also been striving for its institutional development, general secretary Koirala said, pointing out that the press also had an important responsibility in this task.

Mr. Koirala also expressed commitment to make every effort to resolve the problem of inundation in seven or eight vdcs in the district bordering India which were submerged during the summer due to the construction of the Laxmanpur barrage in India.

He said that he had already held talks with the Prime Minister, the Minister for Water Resources, the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Indian Ambassador regarding the inundation problem.

Regarding a question about the cabinet reshuffle, he said, “This is the Prime Minister’s prerogative. I have no comments on it.”

There are internal disputes in the Nepali Congress, this is one of the characteristics of a democratic party, and the talks on change of leadership of the parliamentary party are also not unusual. But the Nepali Congress won’t split, Mr. Koirala said.

Nepal Press Union Banke district branch member Sarad k.c. delivered the opening remarks at the press meet presided over by npu banke district chapter president Rajendra Singh Rathour.

Kathmandu, Jan 20: Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that despite its weaknesses, democracy has no better alternative, and sooner or later, entire humanity will be governed democratically.

Mr Koirala, who was inaugurating a conference on Democracy for Burma organised jointly by l0 different international organisations including icftu/apro, the Nepal Trade Union Congress and the International Labour Organisation here today, said the 21st century will be the century of freedom, pluralism and democracy.

Mr Koirala said democrats around the world share a common concern about the flagrant violation of democracy and human rights in Burma, adding that the heroic fight that Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi has been fighting deserves global applause and whole-hearted support.

He lauded the great courage and tenacity with which she has been struggling for a long time to restore democracy in her country.

Asking how long the world should be like a helpless and passive onlooker, he urged friends around the world who advocate the policy of constructive engagement with the military rule in Myanmar to put decisive perssure on it to respect and restore democracy.

However he expressed uncertainty whether after such a long time the so-called constructive engagement will be helpful or detrimental to the cause of democracy there.

Describing Myanmar as essentially a Buddhist country, he said Lord Buddha preached the middle path that is the noble path leading to democratic socialism, and hoped the government of Myanmar today will listen to the sprit of its own Buddhist tradition, and let its people prosper according to their own individual genius.

Mr Koirala also referred to the historical ties going back to the late 1940s that Nepal and the Nepali Congress have with Myanmar.

icftu-apro general secretary Noriyuki Suzuki said trade union rights cannot be achieved in Burma without genuine democracy in terms of not only the election of mps but also the rights of minorities and disadvantaged groups, the opportunity for pluralism, freedom of expression and assembly, respect for the rule of law and the accountability of public officials and politicians for their actions.

The impunity with which government officials in Burma, in particular the military, treat the civilian population as an unlimited pool of unpaid forced labourers and servants at their disposal is part of a political system built on the use of force and intimidation to deny the people of myanmar Democracy and rule of law, he said.

Nepal Trade Union Congress chairman Laxman Bahadur Basnet denounced the violation of human rights and trade union rights in Burma, adding that democracy is indispensable for the safeguarding of such rights.

General secretary of the Burmese Trade Union Maung Maung said that past movements for democracy in Burma should be pressed forward still more activley.

Participating in the three-day international conference are some 70 persons from various international organisations.

Kathmandu, Jan 20: The Prime Minister, in an interaction at the PM’s residence today, said the government is prepared to bring about policy reforms to solve the problems faced in the field of industry and commerce.

“This government is determined to deal with your problems and takes them seriously,” he said adding the government is planning to bring in a new policy for commerce.

Mentioning that there are quite a number of new joint venture companies coming in, he stressed that we must bring in foreign investment and expertise in the country.

“There are plenty of policies and the problems have been identified. What lacks in our country is dynamism in the implementation part,” he said.

“We must not be satisfied with small achievements as success can be met only if we think we are not perfect yet,” he said.

“This interaction is the first step in our belief that the government must also invite suggestions and inputs from sectors other than the bureaucrats alone,” said Minister for Industry, Omkar Prasad Shrestha.

Emphasising that everyone must work together to fulfil the commitment of the PM to bring tangible changes in the nation within four years, Minister Shrestha said, “the Government will now move ahead in earnest.”

Minster for Commerce Ramkrishna Tamrakar stressed that Private sector being the most important sector, should play a major role in nation building.”

“We have sent the draft of the new Commerce policy to the FNCCI, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and other related private non-governmental organisations for suggestions and comments,” he said. The government has taken various steps to support the private sector, Tamrakar said.

He also informed that a conference of Multinational companies is soon going to be held and a Trade Promotion Fair is also to be held in March.

Minister Tamrakar urged the businessmen that the facilities provided for in the Nepal-India Transit Treaty should be made use of to the fullest and if there are problems, solutions can be sought during his upcoming India visit.

“Private sector has the most important role in the process of globalisation, and Nepali Congress has been committed to economic liberalisation, free market policy and privatisation which are important ingredients of the process,” said chief advisor of the Prime Minister, Narayan Khadka.

President of FNCCI Pradip Shrestha said, “although it will take some time for the commerce and industry sector to come out of the slack period, the new majority government has lent great support to the process and the private sector is ready to make its share of contribution to the government.”

He said the government’s policy and programmes should be development oriented and not revenue oriented. There should be a different policy aiming at attracting foreign investment.

There should be consensus among political parties on issues concerning the development of water resources, agriculture and information technology, Shrestha said.

During the Prime Minister’s visit to India, he added, special attempts should be made to promote joint investment between Nepal and India.

President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Mahesh Kumar Agrawal said Nepal had experienced more problems in the areas of revenues and value added tax system than in the industrial sector.

Agrawal said the policies lacked continuity in course of implementation. He said foreign investors have criticised lack of transparency and the accounting system. “There should be a separate mechanism to correct it.”

President of Small Scale and Cottage Industries’ Association Basudev Giri said the government should fix priority sector for investments. The government should come up with a clear cut policy to develop and protect pashmina industries, which have started only lately.

Former President of FNCCI Padma Jyoti said there should be proper policy to ensure safe exit to the industrialist in case the industry needs to be closed down.

Tourism entrepreneur Ambika Shrestha said the government should launch a special program to further develop tourism sector, the back bone of industrial development. “Immediate steps should be taken to solve the problems from the Indian government’s decision not to allow Nepal’s private airlines to operate additional flights in India.”

President of Hotel Association of Nepal Gautam Das Shrestha said the government had treated hotels as industries, but Nepal Electricity Authority did not recognise hotels as industries. The Authority has stripped hotels of the facilities other industries are entitled, he said.

President of Employers’ Council of FNCCI Rajendra Khetan said a lot had been done to tackle the labour related issues after this government took over the administration in June last year. “However, the labour act still remains quite complex.”

FNCCI’s second vice-chairman Diwakar Golchha said the domestic sugar factories need protection.

Central President of Nepal Carpet Manufacturers’ Association Krishna Prasad Maske said the government should take initiatives to explore whether Japan and the USA could be alternative markets to Nepalese carpets, which depend almost entirely on the German market.

Industrialist Chiranjivi Lal Agrawal said Nepal should adopt an anti dumping act to check unhealthy competition.

The Prime Minister’s Press Advisor Kishore Nepal was also present at the gathering, which was participated in by over two dozen representatives of the business community.

Lakhanpur, Jhapa, Jan. 19: Member of Parliament Dr Gopal Prasad Koirala says institutional development of democracy and enabling every one to have a real feel of democracy is the main problem of the day.

Addressing local gatherings organised by Nepali Congress Lakhanpur village committee, he said “since popular will is the backbone of democracy the government effort alone is not enough, and equal efforts should be made at the local level also.”

Nepali Congress Lakhanpur unit Chairman Rishikesh Subedi presided over the gatherings.

Boost morale, NC men told

Kathmandu, Jan. 19: Nepali Congress central member and Minister for Health Dr. Rambaran Yadav, addressing a workers gathering organised by NC constituency No. 1 regional committee at Dumre in Tanahu, said that NC party workers have to work with high morale and participate actively in developmental work.

The gathering was chaired by regional committee chairman Tham Bahadur Gurung.

Bhaktapur, Jan.19: CPN-UML standing committee member Khadga Prasad Oli inaugurated the Hinchowk-Gundu road blacktopped by local Gundu vdc at a fucntion here today.

The 2.5 km road was constructed at a cost of Rs 180,000. On the occasion, Mr Oli gave away letters of appreciation to office-bearers of the road users’ committee and others who contributed to road construction and expressed confidence that the metalled road will go a long way in solving people’s problems.

He also spoke of the need of unity in all parties to expedite development and construction works and control corruption.

CPN-UML Bhaktapur district secretary Rajendra Man Shrestha and others also expressed their views at the fucntion chaired by Gundu vdc chairman Mahesh Basnet.