In a attempt to foil mass meeting of the alliance of seven political parties, the Home Ministry has instructed the chief district officers (CDO) to take ‘strict action’ against those campaigning for a boycott of the civic polls, slated for February 8, reports said.
The directives were particularly issued to the CDOs of the 43 districts where elections to 58 municipalities are planned.
The seven political parties are organizing a massive rally in Kathmandu on January 20.
The Himalayan Times daily quoted a senior Home Ministry official as saying that the ministry had issued directives to the CDOs concerned to take ‘maximum possible action’ against those campaigning for a boycott of the elections.
“Take maximum possible action against those campaigning for the boycott of the elections in accordance with clause 6 (a) of the Local Administration Act, 2028 BS,” the CDO’s were directed, the paper quoted the official as saying.
Under the clause, the CDO can impose a curfew in a certain area or restrict movement of the people with a view to maintaining law and order, arrest the persons suspected of breaking law and order, and even order security personnel to shoot during the curfew.
The alliance of seven agitating political parties, have vowed to actively boycott the polls and have announced a series of anti-election programmes.
Likewise, some ministers also ordered the presidents and vice-presidents of District Development Committees (DDC) of mid and far western regions to strongly retaliate against the parties, which have declared a boycott of the municipal polls.
Assistant Minister for Water Resources Binod Shah
Binod Shah (File Photo)
Giving instructions to the government nominated DDC members gathered at Bheri Technical Institute, Assistant Minister for Water Resources Binod Shah, said, “You (all) have to retaliate against the parties who have been terming the king’s February 1 move a regression and also retaliate against those who are campaigning against the people’s right to vote,” according to Kantipur daily.
Assistant Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chhakka Bahadur Lama
Chhakka Bahadur Lama (File Photo)
Assistant Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chhakka Bahadur Lama instructed the chiefs and deputy chiefs to attract the Maoists towards the government so as to make the opposition alliance weaker.
Likewise, Assistant Minister for Local Development Roshan Karki said, “All security forces (Royal Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police) are with the government and are ready to sacrifice themselves to make the election a success. So you need not worry.”
Minister for Local Development Tanka Dhakal
Tanka Dhakal (File Photo)
Minister for Local Development Tanka Dhakal claimed that the agitating political parties were becoming a failure as they just ape Bihar and British politics.
The DDC chiefs and deputies were gathered after returning from the special convention called by the pro-government faction of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in the capital.
None of the Nepali Hajj pilgrims is among the casualties in the deadly stampede that occurred on Thursday in Saudi Arabia which killed 345 pilgrims.
Issuing a press statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that none of the Nepali Gajj pilgrims is among the causalities in the stampede.
According to reports, all of the 254 Nepali Hajj pilgrims were safe.
The Nepali team of Hajj pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia on December 31 last year.
By Anil Baral
Nepal became, although belatedly, a party to the Kyoto Protocol a few months back. This is a welcome step towards tapping renewable resources in a country known for natural bounties. However, resources do not mean a penny unless we are able to utilize them.
Nepal has mostly been a passive participant when it comes to international environmental treaties and conventions. If we let the benefits of Kyoto membership go down the drain by being a mere spectator, we are going to miss a huge opportunity in terms of economy and the environment.
With China and India vigorously pushing themselves as prime candidates for the clean development mechanism (CDM) projects, it has become even more important for us to quickly develop solid proposals and apply for CDM projects. This ensures that more of our clean energy projects qualify for carbon emissions trading.
Carbon reduced through CDM projects becomes tradable certified emission reductions (CERs) when certified by an independent entity. The carbon emissions trading scheme under Kyoto allows developed countries that are unable to meet their carbon emission reduction targets to buy carbon credits from developing countries such as Nepal and India which have no obligations.
Our carbon emission reduction potentials are small compared to those of our giant neighbors China and India due to their large size and huge industrial base. China and India are the second and sixth largest emitters of carbon, respectively. However, we still can reap the benefits commensurate with our potentials if we start out early in the game.
The only project that has garnered some attention is Biogas Project in the aftermath of the interest shown by the World Bank to buy carbon credits through its carbon prototype fund. In this context, frustration shown by electric vehicle (EV) entrepreneurs in a recent gathering for not getting enough incentives to increase the number of EVs in order to qualify under CDM is justifiable.
Compare this to 112 Indian companies that have already received approvals from the United Nations Framework of Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) for carbon trading. By switching to cleaner technologies and trading carbon credits, India is set to bring in $100 million per year. By 2012 India could earn as much as 12 billion dollars from carbon emissions trading. The World Bank estimates that India’s global share of carbon market could reach as high as 10%.
The first step in getting started is to apply for CDM projects and get a clearance from our government. There are several projects that easily qualify under CDM. Examples include electric vehicles, solar, microhydro, afforestation/reforestation, and biogas. As such these projects have been sources of revenues or economic benefits. With the possibility of increasing revenues through carbon trading, such projects become even more attractive.
Unlike most cleaner and carbon reducing technologies that industries in India and elsewhere likely to adopt, these projects are almost carbon neutral except for biogas. In other words they do not add carbon to the atmosphere. The fact that it is not enough just to reduce carbon emissions by a few percent for reversing climate change adds a value to these carbon neutral projects. Even more valuable are afforestation/reforestation projects which go beyond carbon neutrality and act as net carbon sinks provided that they are not harvested and used as fuels. In addition, low labor costs ensure that we can sequester carbon and earn carbon credits at low costs.
In view of such potentials, it is high time that entrepreneurs, investors, and NGOs recognized the opportunities and developed sound proposals for CDM projects.
The government should complement these efforts by instituting a mechanism and expediting the review process by cutting down bureaucratic red tape and corruption. The appropriate ministry can consider several criteria in guiding its decision which may include the project’s contribution to economic development, environmental benefits (climate change and local air pollution mitigation), conditions associated with technology transfer, existing local capacity, potential for localization of the technology, and the scale of investment.
The faster we go through the approval process, the better chance we have when we apply for the next round of approval for CDM projects from the Executive Board of the UNFCCC. Getting a green signal from the UNFCCC sets us in motion for carbon trading.
Since European countries are setting mandatory caps on carbon emissions in line with Kyoto targets, Europe can emerge as an attractive market for us. Alternatively, the World Bank may facilitate carbon emissions trading through its prototype carbon fund. Although the structure of carbon market is still fluid, it bodes well if we are prepared in advance.
Maoists carried out explosions in two government offices in Banke and Baridya districts Saturday morning.
The Maoists detonated pressure two cooker bombs at the No.2 Survey Office at Nepalgunj, Banke district, at around 5:45 p.m. Reports said two rooms of the office building located at Surkhet Road were destroyed in the blast, but no casualty took place.
The Maoists, who came in a small group, had taken the security guard under control before entering to the Survey Office.
Security has been beefed up in Nepalgunj following the explosion, reports added.
In a similar incident, the rebels bombed the Land Revenue Office in Gulariya, Bardiya district, this morning. Reports quoting local security officials said parts of the office building were destroyed in the blast.
Sister Mary Nirmala MC, 77, the successor of Mother Teresa as the head of the Missionaries of Charity (MC) of Kolkata, arrived Jhapa in eastern Nepal on Friday.
Sister Mary Nirmala
Sister Mary Nirmala ( Photo Source : www.judithcorsino.com)
Born in Nepal, it is her first visit to Nepal after she was announced the successor to Nobel laureate Mother Teresa in 1997. She visited Nepal earlier in 1988 and 1996. She will be visiting Pokhara where Fr. Oki will be donating a plot for a new branch of MC.
She visited her sisters’ house in Dhulabari and stayed there distributing lockets, posters with messages of Mother Teresa and logos for almost one-and-half hour. She also gave a speech on peace and harmony and urged all concerned to give up egoistic notions. Frank and easy-going Nirmala quickly became familiar with locals in her sister’s neighbourhood who gathered to meet her.
Born as Nirmala Joshi in a Nepali Brahmin family, she converted to Catholicism and dedicated her life to the poor at the age of 24. She met Mother Teresa in Calcutta in the spring of 1958, when she was 23 years old, and asked to be admitted to the Catholic Church. She was one of the earliest to join the Missionaries of Charity and headed its Latin American network in the 70s. She is the daughter of Mahananda Joshi, an Army officer and Mohini.
Missionaries of Charity now has around 4,600 dedicated volunteers, popularly known as sisters, and runs 569 centers in 131 countries.
Latest reports say at least eleven policemen, including a police inspector, were killed during coordinated attacks by Maoist insurgents at Thankot police check post in the capital, Kathmandu, and Dadhikot police post in Bhaktapur district Saturday evening.
Policemen on high alert after the Maoist attack on their police post at Thankot, Saturday evening, Jan 14 06. nepalnews.com
According to security sources, the rebels attacked the Thankot check post at around 5:40 p. m. They first exploded a bomb and later opened fire indiscriminately. Police inspector Mahesh Rawal, two sub-inspectors and seven policemen were killed in the attacks. Sub-insepctor Yadav KC is said to be in critical condition. Over 40 police personnel were stationed at the check post during the time of surprise Maoist raid.
At around 5:30 p.m., another group of rebels attacked a police post at Dadhikot in Bhaktapur district in the Kathmandu valley. A total of 17 policemen were stationed during the time of Maoist offensive, according to police sources. Sub-Inspector of Police, Hari Prasad Sharma Wagle was killed while seven more police personnel were injured. A civilian, Sangita Mahat, was also injured during the attack. Some policemen are reported mission after the Maoist offensive.
Officials are yet to provide details about the number of casualties in the latest attacks. A Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) official said RNA personnel have already reached Thankot and are conducting search operations. All vehicular movement along the main entry point to Kathmandu have been stopped.
According to a Nepalnews correspondent who reached Thankot police post after the incident, Maoist rebels had arrived at the police post in a bus. They were in combat dress. It could not be known how they crossed another security post at Nagdhunga only a few kms away on their way to Thankot.
Thankot is the major overland entry point to Kathmandu.
Krishnasenonline, a pro-Maoist news agency, has owned responsibility of Saturday’s attacks at Thankot and Dadhikot and has claimed that there has been no casualty on the part of the rebels.
Suspected rebels have also caused explosion at the office of ward no. 9 of Lalitpur municipality this evening. There are also reports of explosions in some ward offices of Kathmandu metropolis.
Details are still awaited.
Saturday’s attacks are the first major attack by the rebels in the Kathmandu valley after they broke off their four-month-long unilateral ceasefire early this month.
In December 2004, they had attacked a police post at Sankhu at the outskirts of Kathmandu killing four police personnel.
His Majesty King Gyanendra walked around in eastern town of Itahari Saturday morning and interacted with local people.
His Majesty King Gyanendra converses with ordinary citizens in Itahari, in course of Their Majesties visit of the Eastern Development Region, Saturday, Jan 14 06. nepalnews.com (Photo source: Department of Information)
According to reports, King Gyanedra strolled for over an hour in an unannounced visit and spoke to local people. Local people told His Majesty that restoration of peace was the only thing they were craving for. They also inquired His Majesty about the forthcoming municipal polls that the royal government is going to conduct.
His Majesty replied to the queries of local people, reports said.
Their Majesties King Gyanedra and Queen Komal are recently visiting various districts of the eastern development region. They are staying at the Eastern Divisional headquarters of the Royal Nepalese Army at Itahari.
There have been more reports of explosions in and around Kathmandu on Saturday. The rebels caused explosions at ward no. 9 office of Lalitpur municipality at Chyasal. They also caused explosion at ward no. 6 office of Kathmandu metropolis at Bouddha.
There are also reports of explosions at Besigaon, Jorpati of Kathmandu. There are no reports of any casualties in these explosions.
There are also unconfirmed reports of explosions at ward offices of ward no. 1 and 2 of Thimi municipality in Bhaktapur district.
According to a Nepalnews correspondent who reached Thankot police post after the incident, Maoist rebels had arrived at the police post in a bus. They were in combat dress. It could not be known how they crossed another security post at Nagdhunga only a few kms away on their way to Thankot.
Thankot is the major overland entry point to Kathmandu.
“All the shops and houses are closed. There is deadly silence. Nobody is out in the street except security personnel and journalists. Security personnel have already launched search operation and are combing the area,” he told us over phone.
Assistant Minister for Finance Dr Rup Jyoti
Assistant Minister for Finance Dr Rup Jyoti (File Photo)
The government on Saturday issued the ‘Finance Ordinance 2006′, giving continuity to the budget estimates made public in July 2005.
Releasing the Finance Ordinance at the Finance Ministry, Minister of State for Finance, Dr Roop Jyoti, said that except for some changes in revenue policy, no major changes have been made in the budget estimates of 2005/6 presented six months earlier.
“There has been no significant change in the objectives, bases and the fundamental policies of the budget and the accompanying different fiscal ordinances presented on July 16, 2005 which was formulated with a focus on the spirit and letters of the historical step taken by His Majesty the King on February 1, 2005, 21-point program issued by His Majesty’s Government and Tenth Plan goal of poverty alleviation,” the minister said, adding “There has been some change in the revenue policy as stated in the Finance Ordinance with a view to addressing the needs of the changing times.”
The Finance Ordinance, Jyoti explained, aims to effectively implement the 21-point program announced by the King on February 1 last year. “I would also like to state that the present Finance Ordinance has made specific arrangements for corruption control, greater transparency, private sector development, consumer participation in economic activities, tourism, and foreign employment and for the promotion of domestic industries.”
The mid-term ordinance budget has incorporated necessary reforms in the revenue system so that the country’s commitments in World Trade Organisation (WTO), BIMSTEC and South Asian Free Trade Agreement 9SAFTA) could be addressed, he said.
In the Finance Ordinance, arrangements have been made to bring traders with a monthly turnover of Rs 200,000 into the Value Added Tax (VAT) net, abolishing the VAT on service business by foreign employment providers. In place of VAT, 2 percent excise on invoiced amount will be imposed.
Similarly, as per the new provision, 5 percent excise duty will be applicable on health services instead of 13 percent VAT previously levied on this service while VAT has been exempted for woollen carpets, weaving and washing and raw materials imported by pharmaceutical industries.
Custom tariff has been reduced in this Finance Ordinance in more than 100 import items. According to the minister Jyoti, slashes in customs duty were made “with a view to increasing honesty in revenue sector, increasing compliance and implementing VAT in retail level effectively.”
However, the minister announced to increase customs duty of petrol by Rs 4 per litre while Rs 1 has been reduced on diesel per litre. Similarly, duty on aviation fuel has been increased to Rs 2.10 from Rs 1.29 per litre and duty on kerosene has been increased to Rs 2.10 from Rs 0.80 per litre.
On the income tax front, the present rate of 10 percent tax deduction at source for payment of commission by a resident company to a non-resident company has been slashed to 5 percent, while taxpayers having tax arrears have been given three-month deadline to clear their arrears.
His Majesty King Gyanendra promulgated four ordinances today – Finance Ordinance 2006, Appropriation Ordinance, National Debt Ordinance, Loan and Guarantee Ordinance and Finance Ordinance 2006 with some amendments, giving continuity to the ordinances promulgated in July last year.
Jyoti’s predecessor Madhukar Shumsher Rana had presented Rs 127 billion budget for the fiscal year 2005/6.
Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) brutally hammered Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 7-1, Mahendra Police Club (MPC) defeated minnows Boys Union Club (BUC) 3-0 and Machhindra Football Club (MFC) locked horns 1-1 with tail-ender Boudha Football Club (BFC) in the ANFA Martyrs’ Memorial “A” Division League Football Tournament matches played today.
Brigade Boys Club were hapless from start as Kendra Limbu scored an own post in the 7th minute. After then, it was all MMC scoring goals galore. Nigerian imports Nurudeen Olawale Salau doubled the tally in the 18th minute. MMC were happy to take a two goal lead into interval.
After the lemon break, MMC added five more goals from Basanta Gauchan, Ritesh Khadka, Sandeep Rai, Khum Gurung and Nabin Neupane. Gauchan fired home the third goal in the 63rd minute while Ritesh Khadka scored his first goal for MMC in the 80th minute. Defender Sandeep Rai also wrote his name in goal sheet as he fired home the sixth goal penetrating a sea of players. Nabin Neupane completed the rout scoring the seventh goal in 90+2 minutes.
The impressive win provided MMC relief as they were held by minnow Machhindra FC in the previous clash. MMC is in fourth position with 39 points.
In another match played at Dashrath Stadium, Mahendra Police Club defeated Boys Union Club 3-0 riding on the crest of Jumanu Rai and Deepak Poudel. Rai struck twice while Poudel found one to push the team to second position with 40 points with one match in hand.
Elsewhere at Halchowk, Machhindra FC played to a 1-1 tie with Boudha FC. MFC’s Nigerian import AM Michael proved his firing home a leading goal in the 21st minute but Gopal Thapa, a national U-19 player, restored parity in the 61st minute for BFC.