Youth Initiative and Association of Youth Organization of Nepal (AYON) jointly organised a Youth Consultation Conference in Kathmandu to provide inputs to the World Development Report (WDR) 2007 on the theme: Development and the Next Generation. More than 100 youths participated in the conference.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference on Sunday, Kenichi Ohasi, Country Director of the World Bank in Nepal encouraged young people’s civic participation and said, “It will take generational change. For quick change, Nepal’s youths and leaders need a sense of civic duties.”

Vice President of National Planning Commission, Dr Shanker Sharma, shared inspiring views on how important it was to have a personal mission to achieve success in one’s life. He said, “The National Planning Commission will involve youths as important stakeholders in the consultations for the upcoming 11th National Plan.”

Prior to the conference, Youth Initiative and Association of Youth Organisation Nepal organised three workshops on six various transitions affecting youth to get their feedback. Around 30 youths from diverse backgrounds participated in each of these workshops and discussed half a dozen themes including Transition from School, Transition to Work, Transition to Healthy Lifestyles, Transition to Family Formation, Transition to Citizenship and Global Youth Culture.

Rajendra Mulmi, President of the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal, said, “Youths are the major development partner and stakeholder of today.” He further emphasized that youths should be taken as an important partner in the planning process in all development planning and policy making endeavors in the country.

Robin Sitoula, General Secretary of Youth Initiative, said, “The role of youth should not be limited to being mobilized for others, youth should play an important role in policy and decision making.”

The comments and suggestions generated from the discussions will be incorporated in the final report that will to be submitted to WDR 2007.

Students at Patan Campus block the road by burning tires defying the government ban on demonstrations inside the Ring Road, Tuesday, Jan 17 06. nepalnews.com

At least one dozen leaders and activists of the seven-party alliance were arrested in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon while staging rallies, defying the government ban.

Eight leaders and activists including CPN (UML) youth leaders Yogesh Bhattrai, Rup Narayan Shrestha and Rameshwor Phuyal were arrested when a motorcycle rally they were leading arrived at Baneshwor. The rally was organised for the publicity a mass gathering of the seven parties in Kathmandu on coming Friday.

Similarly, police arrested nearly half a dozen seven-party activists including Nepali Congress central leader Narahari Acharya and NP Saud of Nepali Congress (Democratic) when they were carrying out door-to-poor campaign, urging the local people not to cast their vote in the upcoming municipal polls. The leaders had begun the door-to-door program from Haandigaon.

On Monday, the government imposed curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and prohibited rallies and mass movement inside the Ring Road.

The seven-party alliance has said the mass gathering would be held despite the government ban.

As opposition political parties and rights groups have condemned the government’s ban on peaceful meetings in the capital, member of Raj Parishad standing committee, Satchit SJB Rana, has said that ban on public gatherings in Kathmandu are justified from security point of view and that it would not have any adverse effect on the forthcoming municipal elections.

Raj Parishad standing committee member Satchit SJB Rana (File photo)

Raj Parishad standing committee member Satchit SJB Rana (File photo)
In an interaction programme organised by Sanchar Samuha Nepal on Tuesday in the capital, Rana – who is also the former chief of the Royal Nepalese Army– claimed that curfew in major cities would rein in the Maoists’ attack arrangements which are mostly carried out during night time. He further added that the cause of deepening insurgency in the country was due to elected government’s failure to grant permission to the king for army operations in 1998. However, he denied that state’s motive was to look for a military solution of Maoists problem. The on-going operation of security forces is meant at exerting put pressure on the insurgents to come to the table of negotiation before they become too powerful.

He said that army should only be sent to the field when state of emergency is declared and insurgents are termed terrorists.

Rana admitted that the multi party democratic system had been curtailed at present and that only elections, where big parties should necessarily participate, will bring the democratic processes back on track.

General Secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist), Chandra Prakash Mainali, said insurgency had reached to the climax thanks to the state’s failure to seek political solution to the issues raised by the rebels.

Minister Thapa; OHCHR seeks clarification

Home Minister Kamal Thapa

Home Minister Kamal Thapa (File Photo)
Home Minister Kamal Thapa has said that the government has credible information that the protest of the seven political parties slated for January 20 will take a violent turn.

Talking to BBC Nepali service on Tuesday, Home Minister Thapa said that the government imposed restrictions for holding mass meetings and assemblies to check any untoward incidents in the capital during the protest pragrammes.

“The government received credible information that the mass meeting of the seven opposition political parties will be turned into an armed urban uprising,” he said.

Refuting allegations that the government took the decision to check the show of strength of the agitating political parties, Minister Thapa said, “The government did not create any hurdles in the protest program of the political parties outside the valley but took the decision this time after the Maoists said that they will actively participate in the protest programme of the agitating political parties and create chaos in the capital.”

Defending the arrest of leaders and cadres of political parties from the campaign organized to create awareness about the mass meeting of Friday, Minister Thapa said that the government had fulfilled its responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the society by arresting them who had defied the prohibitory order.

Dozens of leaders and cadres of political parties arrested from the capital on Tuesday while organizing protest programmes defying the government’s ban.

On Monday, the government imposed curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and prohibited rallies and mass movement inside the Ring Road. Then on Tuesday, its extended the night curfew by one hour, starting at 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

He said that the government had managed appropriate security provision in the capital to check any untoward incident in the capital.

12 policemen were killed during the Maoist raid at different police posts in the capital on Saturday.

Meanwhile issuing a press statement on Tuesday, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has expressed regret over the government’s ban in the peaceful demonstration in various parts of the capital and seeks clarification from the government in this regard.

“OHCHR-Nepal regrets that the sweeping restrictions now imposed to ban all assemblies, processions and sit-ins in most of Kathmandu and Lalitpur represent an extreme limitation on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which the High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the authorities to respect,” the statement adds.

Stating that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed under Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a party, the OHCHR said, “OHCHR-Nepal is seeking clarification from the Government regarding the measures imposed and the basis on which they are deemed necessary and proportional.”

Stating that excessive restrictions on peaceful assembly at a time of legitimate political debate however carry the risk of contributing to violence, the Chief of the OHCHR in Nepal Ian Martin said, “We urge the Government to maintain the maximum freedom of peaceful assembly consistent with legitimate security considerations, and we call on those who organise or participate in demonstrations and rallies to act peacefully at all times.”

The OHCHR-Nepal also recalled that it called for the extension of the unilateral ceasefire, the declaration of a reciprocal ceasefire by the Government, and full respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.

The statement further said OHCHR-Nepal is monitoring closely the conduct of both parties including attack by the CPN (Maoist) on the Thankot Police Post on 14 January 2006 to determine whether international humanitarian law was violated.

At a time when most media outlets outside Kathmandu are facing existence problem while many of them have already been closed down, Kavre Times, a vernacular weekly published from Banepa, Kavre district, celebrated its 10th anniversary on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the anniversary function in Banepa, Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bishnu Nisthuri, said that bringing out a weekly newspaper regularly in the present difficult time is quite a challenging task and that the Kavre Times deversed praise for facing the challenge.

He further said that independent press has been the first target of the King’s ’autocratic’ rule.

With a slogan “Communication for Rural Development”, Kavre Times has been publishing since 2052 B.S.

Meanwhile, FNJ Kavre’s president, Ishwori Ojha, was awarded wiith ’Press Freedom Fighter Bharatraj Shrestha Journalism Award- 2062’ on the occasion of the 10th anniversay of Kavre Times weekly, a press release issued by the newspaper said.

One Maoist was killed and two others including a civilian were injured during a shootout between the Maoists insurgents and the security forces in Tribhuvan Nagar Municipality, Dang district, Tuesday afternoon.

Security forces shot and killed one Maoist – whose identity is yet to be verified – immediately after a group of Maoist gunmen opened fire at them at Bal Mandir Chowk, reports said.

One security man and a local woman who received bullet injuries in the shootout have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Security has been tightened in the area following the incident, reports added.

Machhindra FC (MFC) broke Mahendra Police Club’s (MPC) 25 league matches winning streak with an impressive 2-0 victory while Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) beat Gyanendra Armed Police Force (APF) 2-1 in the ANFA Martyrs Memorial “A” Division League Football Tournament matches played today.

In the MFC versus MPC match at Dashrath stadium, Gudiya Rai scored the opener capitalizing on the error by Tika Karki in the mid-line, well grabbed by Rai before firing home a brilliant goal. Then Nigerian recruit AM Michael scored the 2nd goal for MFC in the 77th minute sealing the win. Michael scored utilizing the cross off Bikash Subba from right flank leaving MPC defenders stranded.

The Red Lions (MFC) lost 5-0 to MPC at the start of season. They have started the second leg in a notable way as they locked horns with MMC and suffered a last minute loss to TAC. The historic victory saw MFC going to 11th position.

“I am very happy today,” MFC coach Diken Suwal told reporters. He further added, “My boys labored hard to down MPC’s vigor”. Despondent coach of MPC Yogamber Suwal said, “This is an upset result for us and none of players could meet their par excellence”. Suwal even fielded injured Ananta Thapa and experienced Raju Pulami to change the results but got nothing in return.

The win came as the greatest victory in the history of the Tebahal side. The victory resulted in MFC leapfrogging Friends Club, Mahabir Club, Boys Union and Boudha FC in the standings.

In the other match played at Dashrath stadium, TAC beat APF 2-1 to go atop the table with 44 points after playing 19 matches in the league leapfrogging MMC and NTSC.

The match was excellent from the start with both teams neck-to-neck. Lanky Ram Kumar Biswash of TAC utilized his height advantage to score an opener in the 27th minute. Biswash deftly fired an excellent header off Shiva Chowdhary’s corner kick. But the joy did not last long as APF restored parity within one minute through Mani Pundit. Pundit brilliantly flicked the ball coming from right flank off stand-in captain Ganesh Lawati.

After the lemon break, the match was slower compared to the first half and both teams couldn’t create many goal scoring chances. But Chakra Tamang struck match-winning goal in the 52nd minute through his left footed lofted shot that saw lanky APF goalie Samit Rajbhandari stranded.

A documentary film on Nepal titled ‘Nepal: Journey’s on the Roof of the World’ was screened at the Nepalese Embassy Hall in London on January 15.

About 80 viewers from Nepali Diaspora, media persons and British citizens attended the function. According to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), which supported in the making of the documentary film produced by 73Films, the film has captured various tourism-related activities including river rafting, trekking, village tour, sight-seeing, jungle safari, Dashain festival and various aspects of Nepali lifestyle.

The chief guest of the programme, Dipendra Bista, Charge De Affairs at the Nepalese Embassy in UK, honoured the production team by giving letter of appreciation on behalf of NTB. The film would encourage foreign tourists to visit Nepal, Bista observed.

Stephan Sherman, producer and director of the film, shared his 14 months work experience in producing the film. “The worth of friendship is incredible in Nepal,” he noted.

By Dilep K. Paudel

Corruption in the governmental and non governmental sector has been a candidly addressed matter in the international arena. Despite the economic and development rapids of the nation, it has been considered as the single major challenge to all the countries and mostly it is a critical development threat to the developing countries.

Corruption is a behavioral practice and has been flourishing in the developing countries with poor economic structure where corruption people get social prestige for their economic wellbeing. In fact, corruption is an attitude of molding personal gain, economic wellbeing and earnings in an illegal and unmannered way by misusing one’s power and authorities. In a lay-man’s term corruption is the transaction of the fiscal or non fiscal wealth in an illegal way by misusing the power for personal profit or in other word, activities of gaining and claming profit for public work by misusing the power of oneself. Here, power indicates privilege and status being held by an individual due to his official position.

Culturally developed corrupt behavior has strong social root in Nepalese context to a great extent. Unless we bring about transformation on social perception towards corruptly gained wealth in our society, we are feeding corruption and multiplying our moral loss of honest citizen. Corruption is a dangerous social capsule once we inspired or feed one to be corrupt and indulged in corruption, it inspires hundreds others. The corrupt officials only are not guilty but the societies who inspire and encourage them for corruption are equally guilty. There is always give and take in corruption, therefore the taker and giver are both guilty and both need to be addressed equally.

Corruption capsule contaminate economic, social and administrative system of the nation. Not only bribery is a corruption capsule it also includes fraud, misuse of power and authority, unsolicited personal gains, misappropriation of public finance, theft, robbery, and money laundering, among others.

Corruption culture

“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”

—Former U.S. President James Madison, 1822

Pervasive corruption in Nepal poses alarming danger for the economic development of the country. Intuitionally developed corruption damages social purity and administrative functioning of the nation. Nepal has very slow and steady economic development process and that too is constrained by the socio-economic, geo-political and corrupt phenomenon of the territory. Rapidly spreading corruption is the by-product of failure of the government and weakening rule of law in the country. In the history of Nepal, corruption was a limited phenomena in the pre democratic tenure where certain authorities and administrative bodies indulged in corrupt activities. But in recent years it has been a borderless practice in the governmental and non governmental authorities.

The sum total of fertilized corruption is weak national policies, non transparent rule and regulation and failure of the state authority that are support to combat corruption in the current era. The feeble anti-corruption laws provide corrupt authorities and individuals an easy and comfortable escape. Very poor initiative and meager commitment of the government to combat corruption is another factor for existing corruption in the nation.

Corruption breeds corruption

We have seen in our daily lives that corruption breeds more corruption. Corrupt activities have to be addressed by the state authority strongly and bring national consensus to combat it from all levels. The nation has identified corruption as the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development. It undermines entire development process by distorting the rule of law and weakening institutional foundation on which economic growth depends. A proven anti-corruption initiative is the essence of the nation where all efforts to combat corruption is framed holistically.

People are always the first subject of the cause and effect of corruption. Harmful effects of corruption are especially severe on the poor, who are hardest hit by economic decline, are most reliant on the provision of public services, and are least capable of paying extra costs associated with bribery, fraud, and misappropriation of economic privileges. Corruption sabotages policies and programs that aim to reduce poverty, so attacking corruption is critical to the achievement of the nation’s overarching mission of poverty reduction.

Existing frequency of corruption invites more misery in the development process of the nation. Uncontrolled corruption in the administrative sector, that has been in practice as administrative legacy is the welcoming sign for breeding more corruption. Therefore the country has to be more attentive to bring combined efforts to uproot corruption.

National anti-corruption initiatives

Corruption in these days is an omnipotent and omnipresent aspect in Nepali context. It is on rise in such a frequency that it seems to be a legally approved transaction for all administrative affairs.

Although Nepal has the history of constituting several forum, commissions and offices in different names in order to combat corruption; all these have gone in vain so the public expectation is very low on the productivities of such efforts resulted from past experience.

In the recent years little hope was candled by the government. The almost sleeping organization to work against corruption has wake up and come up with propagandist approach although it is better than nothing. The CIAA exposed several major corruption scandals in the past, took popular action against them and some of them are still under process to finalize. Another recently formed Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC)– a so-called politically unconstitutional body– has invited more controversy by sending former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba to jail than take any concrete steps to combat corruption.

An effective anti-corruption strategy builds on five key elements:

· Focus on increasing Political Accountability

· Encouraging and Strengthening Civil Society Participation for anti-corruption

· Developing a Competitive Private Sector as the Substitute and Making Them Transparent.

· Intuitional Restraints on Power Applied by the State Authorities

· Improving and Reforming Public Sector Management

If the government makes some effective and strong policies and strategies to combat corruption on the basis of above elements, we can hope the corruption trend and tendency will certainly decline. To reduce the corrosive impact of corruption in a sustainable way, it is important to go beyond the symptoms to tackle the causes of corruption.

(Poudel writes on contemporary issues. Please send your comments/suggestions to [email protected])

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected] and your comments/suggestions to [email protected])

Though Nepal and India had failed to renew the transit treaty between both countries, experts and entrepreneurs at a discussion programme have said that the Indo-Nepal Transit Treaty should be renewed without any ambiguities.

The transit treaty between Nepal and India expired on the first week of January.

However, the meeting of the joint-secretaries of both the countries held in New Delhi in the first week of january has extended the treaty for three more months only instead of renewing it for the next seven years.

Speaking at the programme, Surendra Bir Malakar, acting president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said, “a cloud of uncertainty hovers over Nepali businesses with the treaty only being extended for three more months.”

“When there were no obligations from either side, it should have been automatically renewed for the next seven year term,” he said adding that the Indian government is positive towards the treaty but the state governments have raised questions over the issue of renewal.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said that foreign investors are now hesitant to invest in Nepal as the treaty will expire in next three months and the renewal remains in uncertainty.

Nepal should reap the benefit of being located between the two economically growing titans of Asia. “If Nepal could be developed as a transit point between these two economic giants, then there lies chances that our indigenous products would get promotion,” he said.

The meeting between Nepalese and Indian officials failed to renew the treaty and extended it for three months after Indian side said they needed time to study and review the treaty in accordance with its provisions.

The two countries, which share an open border and 15 transit points, had in January 5, 1999 signed the India-Nepal transit treaty, valid for seven years, to facilitate administration and prevent cross-border crime and smuggling.