The 23rd Academic Council meeting of the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) decided to honour 12 individuals and organisations making notable contribution in the field of science and technology.
The Council decided to present this year’s His Majesty King Gyanendra Nature Conservation Award to the Bagmara Community Forest Management Committee, Chitwan for its exemplary role in sustainable development through protection of bio-diversity and promotion of eco-tourism. The Award carries a purse of Rs 100,000.
Likewise, the Crown Prince Youth Science and Technology Prize carrying a purse of Rs 30,000 each is to be presented to cardiologist Dr Man Bahadur KC, meteorologist Miss Archana Shrestha, computer engineer Dr Subarna Shakya, pharmacist Dr Saffar Mansoor and soil scientist Dr Junukamal Tuladhar.
The council also decided to honour the Bhattedanda Conservation Ropeway for promotion of clean environment and senior journalist Bhairav Risal for taking solar power to Humla with the RONAST science and technology promotion prize. The prize carries a purse of Rs 20,000 each.
Similarly, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World prize worth Rs 35,000 each is to be presented to physicist Dr Binil Aryal, mathematician Dr Mahendra Prasad Panthee, chemist Dr Akkal Deo Mishra and bird ecologist Dr Hem Sagar Baral for the contributions made in their respective sectors.
vice chairman of the council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri
Vice Chairman of the council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri(File Photo)
Speaking on the occasion, vice chairman of the council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri said despite the adverse situation of the country the government is ready to provide possible support to RONAST in view of its important role in the development of the country.
Vice chancellor of RONAST Prof. Dr Dayananda Bajracharya shed light on the achievements of the Academy in the past eight years of his term of office.
At a time when the royal address of His Majesty the King on the occasion of completion of one year of royal takeover is facing criticism, people from different walks of life have said that the address was relevant in the present circumstance.
Speaking at an interaction in the capital on Thursday, foreign policy expert Dr Mohan Prasad Lohani said His Majesty’s address to the nation on Wednesday reaffirmed the monarch’s commitment to give dynamism to country’s politics, economy and diplomacy.
He said that improvements had been recorded in various fronts in one year since His Majesty assumed executive power in February 2005.
Diwakar Panta, secretary and chief of human rights watchdog at the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the human rights situation had been improved after February 1, 2005 in comparison to the earlier period.
He reiterated government commitment to human rights laws and informed arrangements had been made to set up human rights cells in all security bases across the country to give security personnel adequate exposure to the importance of human rights.
Coming down heavily to the rights organizations, Pant said some human rights organisations are campaigning only for political rights undermining the rights of a nation and citizen’s right to life.
He informed that Royal Nepalese Army had taken action against 160 personnel on rights abuse charges. Twenty Nepal Police members also faced action.
Dr Dharma Bahadur Thapa said that the security situation has improved remarkably in the recent months with the capacity of the terrorists to harm the forces drastically gone down.
Surendra Bir Malakar, second vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that His Majesty’s address had rekindled hopes among the citizens and instilled confidence in the business community.
Meanwhile, various persons of Siraha district and the general public have expressed their views in support of the Royal Proclamation addressed to the nation by His Majesty King Gyanendra, reports state run news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti.
In, Kavre, the District Development Committee organised a peace rally on Thursday to welcome the address to the nation by His Majesty the King.
The government is mulling to formulate a National Youth Policy with the aim of involving youths in national development mainstream by enhancing their knowledge, skills and capabilities, reports said.
Critics, however, said the new policy aims at mobilising support among youths in the name of nation and nationalism as was the case during the Panchayt days.
Minister for Education and Sports Radha Krishna Mainali
Minister for Education and Sports Radha Krishna Mainali (File photo)
The policy aims to prepare committed citizens by instilling in them the values and norms guaranteed by the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal as well as values on nation, national unity and democracy, reports said.
The proposed policy will have action plans such as education, youth development, empowerment, youth mobilisation, participation, employment and entrepreneurship, development, sustainable development and environment, sports and entertainment, health and family welfare and conflict resolution.
Inaugurating a workshop organized to discuss the draft of the policy, Minister for Education and Sports Radha Krishna Mainali said that the government is bringing the policy with the objective of overall development of the youths.
He further said technical and professional education should be emphasised in the policy as the present education system is literacy oriented rather than employment-oriented.
Speaking at the same programme, other speakers emphasised on the role of youth in the national development.
A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) left for Tansen of Palpa to investigate the Maoist attack there.
The team comprises NHRC member Sudip Pathak, Chief of the Protection Department Yagnya Prasad Adhikari and officer Dhani Ram Shapkota.
A team led by NHRC member Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh that left for Tansen on Thursday could not reach there due to the obstructions laid at Bayaghari and Galyang of Syangja by the Maoists.
A press statement issued by the NHRC on Friday said it had received preliminary information that Maoists abducted 37 people including Chief District Officer Laxman Bahadur Thapa and Inspector of National Investigation Department Yam Prashad Parajuli along with some army men and policemen.
The NHRC has appealed to the Maoists to behave with the detainees as per Article 3 of the Geneva Convention and immediately release them.
At least 11 security personnel and eight rebels were killed in the gun battle that lasted for nearly seven hours on Tuesday.
Police have arrested dozens of university teachers, journalists and other professionals as they were preparing to take out a rally from Tripureswore in the capital, Kathmandu, Friday afternoon.
Professors associated with the Nepal University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) staging rally in Kathmandu to support the ongoing democratic movement in the country, Friday, Feb 03 06. nepalnews.com/rh
President of Nepal University Teachers Association (NUTA), prof. Bhupati Dhakal ‘Kamal,’ president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nisthuri, former president of FNJ Harihar Birahi, journalists Sanjay Santoshi Rai and Krishna Humagai were among those arrested.
The rally was being organized by NUTA in protest of the year-old royal takeover and calling for restoration of peace and democracy in the country.
Police have given no reason for arresting professionals while trying to take out a peaceful rally.
The constitution of the kingdom of Nepal, 1990, and a number of international to which Nepal is a party, guarantee right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, among others, to Nepali citizens.
Opposition parties as well as media personnel have refuted allegations made by Home Minister Kamal Thapa that seven party opposition alliance, a section of international community and media were supporting the Maoist activities.
General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat
General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (File Photo)
Talking to Nepalnews, joint General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, said that the seven party opposition alliance was not in favour of violence and that they have never supported the violent activities being carried out by the Maoists.
He claimed that the remarks by Home Minister Thapa was an attempt to weaken the movement of the seven party alliance which he said is moving towards a decisive turn.
Dr. Mahat made it clear that the 12-point agreement between political parties and Maoists aimed at restoring what he called complete democracy in the country and to bring them into the political mainstream rather than assisting them to carry out violent activities.
Home Minister Kamal Thapa
Home Minister Kamal Thapa (File Photo)
Home Minister Kamal Thapa had accused the alliance of seven political parties of encouraging Maoist rebels to carry out violent activities.
Holding a press conference after visiting Tansen on Thursday, Home Minister Thapa alleged that the Maoists had carried out their activities with the tacit approval of the seven parties.
He also smelled a rat in the fact that the seven parties had refrained from condemning the Maoist attack in Thankot and Dadhikot police posts last month that saw the death of one dozen security personnel.
Dr Mahat said that it was not necessary to issue press release after every incident, adding, “The alliance never supports the violent activities of the Maoists.”
Vice Chairman of people’s Front Nepal, Lilamani Pokhrel said that the statement by the Home Minister was a result of his “ill mentality.”
“These incidents are the results of the state’s refusal to respond to four-month-long unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists and its act to push them back to violence. So the state should take the responsibility for the latest Maoist attack at Palpa,” he added.
When asked why the opposition parties were not denouncing the violent activities by the Maoists, Pokhrel said, “Our duty is not only to issue condolence message. We are working to restore permanent peace in the country and the on-going agitation is part of it.”
“The 12-point pact will continue and we will move ahead by upgrading our understanding,” said Pokhrel.
11 security personnel and eight rebels were killed during the fierce overnight battle at Tansen and Maoists abducted 34 security personnel and three officials including Chief District Officer Laxman Thapa on Tuesday.
Home Minister Thapa termed the Maoist attack as “heinous and inhumane” and said that they had destroyed historical monuments, attacked Bal Mandir (children’s home), Scout building, and houses of local residents and businessmen. Thapa also accused rebels of using human shield in the attack. He applauded the security forces for exercising restraint, which he said saved huge loss of life and property.
Talking to Nepalnews, senior journalist and editor of Himal Southasian magazine Kanak Mani Dixit said the allegations leveled by the Home Minister against were not true.
“There is no major media house that I know today is supporting the Maoist activities in anyway,” he added.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organization of working journalists across the country, Bishnu Nisthuri said that the recent remark by the Home Minister Thapa alleging the media was nothing but an attempt to cover up the inefficiency of the royal government.
“There is no basis in such statements. It is only a ploy to pass the buck at a time when the government is getting isolated from all quarters of life,” Nisthuri added.
Newly elected ward chairman of Biratnagar municipality, Triveni Majhi, who was shot by the Maoists on Thursday died while undergoing treatment at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences at Dharan.
A local journalist Bikram Nirauala informed Nepalnews over telephone that, Majhi– who was elected unopposed to the post of chairman of ward no. 15 of
Biratnagar sub-metropolis-was shot at as he was residing at his residence at Janapath tole Thursday evening.
A group of assailants fired indiscriminately at Majhi and people around him and fled immediately. Dipak Gurung, who had gone to congratulate Majhi for being elected to the post, died during the attacks.
Maoists have been targeting the candidates of the municipal polls.
Meanwhile, six children were injured when a bomb planted by the Maoists went off at the bridge of Lohendrakhola of Morang district on Friday morning.
The incident occurred when children tried to play with an unidentified object.
According to Niraula, the injured children are undergoing treatment at the local hospital.
Meanwhile, a report from the mid-western region said security forces clashed with Maoists at Kusumbaghat of Padnaha Village Development Committee in Bardiya district, Friday afternoon.
According to report from the district, the clash started at around 1:30 in the afternoon when security forces reached the incident site after receiving information that Maoists were holding a gathering in the area.
Likewise, Maoists detonated a bomb at the office of the ward number 5 at Kritipur municipality. Maoists detonated the bomb at around 9 in the morning. Some windowpanes were destroyed during the incident.
Maoist rebels clashed with security forces in search operations in Bardiya this afternoon.
Reports say that the clashes begun at around 1:30 p.m. when the security forces met the rebels at Kusumbahgat of Padnava VDC where Maoists were planning for a gathering Friday afternoon.
The place lies some 12 km north of the district headquarters Gulariya.
Details are awaited.
Two dozen people, including ten children, were injured when improvised explosives went off near a bridge along the Rangeli-Biratnagar road Friday morning.
According to reports, the injured personnel are undergoing treatment at the Koshi Zonal hospital at Biratnagar.
Security personnel later diffused over a dozen of bombs planted by the rebels at the bridge.
The rebels have been intensifying their attacks in the run up to the municipal elections slated on February 8.
Local authorities in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts have urged residents of the capital vally to avoid pillion riding between Feb. 4-11, this year citing security reasons.
In a joint statement issued Friday, local administrations in the capital valley said the request had been made with a view to maintain security in the run up to the municipal polls slated on February 8.
The decision by the local authorities comes days after two assailants, who were riding on a motorbike, opened fire and injured Dal Bahadur Rai, a candidate for deputy mayor of the Lalitpur municipality early this week.
Critics, however, said the new provision may cause inconvenience to tens of thousands of people within the capital valley.