Monday’s cabinet meeting chaired by His Majesty King Gyanendra has approved the Finance Ordinance 2006 that slashed tariffs on import of 125 items, according to reports.
According to government officials, the average custom rate has been slashed to 8 percent from the existing 9.6 percent. “Customs rates have been adjusted mainly for third country imports, which won’t adversely affect the competitiveness of domestic industries,” the Kantipur daily quoted a government official as saying.
Customs rates have been lowered on some third country manufactured two wheelers, electronic goods, television sets, musical equipments and power gathering sets among others.
The ordinance however hasn’t laid out any policies and programmes to compensate for possible loss of custom revenue due to adjustment.
The paper further said that the Ordinance has also made some minor changes in income tax.
Minister of State for Finance Dr Roop Jyoti
Dr Roop Jyoti (File Photo)
The report quoted some sources as saying that Minister of State for Finance Dr Roop Jyoti was compelled to compromise on the customs rates rollback for some goods after top officials of the Finance Ministry opposed the proposal for drastic cuts.
The present tariff cut would cost the state coffers Rs 1.70 billion in estimated customs mobilization for the current fiscal year.
Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma (File Photo)
The ordinance, however, has not changed the annual revenue target and recurrent expenditures.
Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma presented a review of the progress of the Annual Programme for Fiscal Year 2005/2006 up to the present during the 198th meeting of the National Planning Commission (NPC) held in the presence of His Majesty at the Royal Palace Monday.
Minister for Land Reforms and Management Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Minister for Land Reforms and Management Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Minister for Land Reforms and Management Narayan Singh Pun said a high-level commission will be constituted with the representation of the former Kamaiyas and landless people in order to resolve the problems of the landless as well as the landless Kamaiyas.
At an interaction programme on ‘Freed Kamaiya Rehabilitation’ organised by the Land Reforms Office, Dang on Monday, Minister Pun said the present government is working towards resolving the landless problem and management of the former Kamaiyas.
Speaking at the same programme, speakers including Central Chairman of Freed Kamaiyas Society, Pashupati Chaudhary and freed Kamaiya activist Laxmi Chaudhary, asked the government to take prompt actions for the rehabilitation of freed Kamaiyas and provide identity card to freed Kamaiyas.
Similarly speaking in Nepalgunj on Monday, Minister Pun said that the government has brought the concept of Land Bank for the proper management and protection of the freed Kamaiyas and the land-less peasants.
He informed that a loan of Rs 150,000 with the interest rate of three percent per annum would be provided to one freed-Kamaiya family from the Land Bank for resolving the problems of the freed Kamaiyas.
Minister Pun said that the freed Kamaiyas taking loan from the Land Bank could purchase land at their free will and they need not pay the interest on the loan for two years.
Speaking at the programme, Programme Officer of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Project Office, Nepalgunj, Govinda Dahal said that ILO was working together with the government for the protection of the rights and interests of the freed Kamaiyas.
Entrepreneurs affiliated to the Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal (EVAN) have urged the government to bring supportive policies for electric vehicles to reduce pollution levels and to contribute to the national economy.
EVAN is an umbrella organization of Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Nepal (EVMAN), Chairman of Clean Locomotives Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (CLEAN) and Nepal Electric Vehicle Charging Association (NEVCA).
They said that electric vehicles not only reduces pollution but also contributes to the national economy through carbon trade if the country associates it with the CDM project as per the Kyoto protocol.
As per the Kyoto Protocol, the industrialized nations for which reducing emissions of carbon is a daunting task could buy the emission rights from another nation whose industries do not produce as much of these gases. The market for carbon is possible because the goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce emissions as a collective.
“Presently, there are 600 electric vehicles in the country but there should be minimum 2000 electric vehicles to be associated with the ‘CDM Project’,” they added.
600 electric vehicles plying in the street are consuming nearly 200 thousand units of electricity per day and paying around 40 million rupees to the Nepal Electricity Authority annually.
They have demanded to remove excise duties imposed on import of chassis of electric vehicles, to introduce seasonal tariff in electricity and provide concession in the electricity for the electric vehicles.
They also urged the government to form supportive policies for the development of electric vehicles in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, Chairman of EVAN, Hridya Narayan Manandhar, urged the government to implement subsidies in the electricity used by electric vehicles as such vehicles are using wasteful electricity in the night.
He informed that the 32 percent excise duty imposed in the import of chassis of the electric vehicle is the main hindrance for the increase of such vehicles and urged the government to revoke it.
Umesh Raj Shrestha of CLEAN, demanded to fix separate routes for electric vehicles to compare pollution levels against other vehicles.
“If the government substitutes 20 years old vehicles with the electric vehicles, the country could gain much benefit from the trade of carbon as well as save foreign currency used for the import of fissile fuels,” he added.
According to statistics, the number of 20 year old vehicles exceeds 13 thousand.
Currently only three wheeler electric vehicles are operating in Nepal, but the entrepreneurs claim that they are ready to operate four wheelers and mini-buses if the government forms supportive policies for it.
In what is seen as a show of strength, an estimated over 20,000 people took part in nearly 12-km long rally from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu on Monday at the call of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) calling for restoration of peace and democracy in the country.
Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party staging a Bhakatpur- Kathmandu rally against ‘regression’ at Kausaltar, Tuesday, Jan 10 06. nepalnews.com/rh
People from all walks of life including women, children and young people participated in the rally organized by NWPP, one of the constituents of the seven-party opposition alliance.
Participants were holding placards that called for reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives and end of what they called an ‘autocratic monarchy’ and chanted slogans against the February 1, royal takeover. The participants also carried placards that described US President George W. Bush as the “terrorist no. 1” of the world.
NWPP activists also carried photo of communist leaders Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao Ze Dong.
They also called to boycott the municipal polls slated for February 8.
Starting from Bhaktapur, the rally passed through major thoroughfares of the city before converging into a mass meeting in the street in front of the Birendra International Convention Center at New Baneshwore. Police had diverted traffic along the busy street for the mass meting.
Most of the opposition parties and civil society groups organize their mass meetings at New Baneswore, which they have re-named as ‘Loktantra’ (Democracy) chowk, as Open Air Theatre at Tundikhel has been designated by the government as a “Restricted Zone.’
Addressing the mass meeting, NWPP President, Narayan Man Bijukchhe, called upon all to boycott the municipal polls slated on February 8, this year. He alleged that the proposed municipal poll was a government ploy to distract and divide the seven-party alliance that is launching nationwide peaceful movement against the direct rule of the King.
Bijukchhe also criticized one of the provisions in the 12-point understanding between the seven party alliance and the CPN (Maoist) saying that if the country’s army was put under supervision of the foreign powers it might jeopardize the country’s sovereignty.
Other leaders of the NWPP said elections to the constituent assembly was the only way to resolve the long-drawn political crisis in the country. They also called upon the Maoists to give up arms and join the peaceful movement.
One day after the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) expelled ten members from the party’s central working committee, the special convention called by the dissident faction expelled party president Pashupati Shumser JB Rana from the party’s top post.
RPP dissident leaders in the inaugural session of special general convention of its party in Kathmandu, Tuesday, Jan 10 06. nepalnews.com/rh
RPP dissident leaders in the inaugural session of special general convention of its party in…
The expelled vice-chairman had proposed to expel Rana from the RPP top post and the meet endorsed the proposal.
The special convention of the dissident faction has also formed an election committee under the leadership of Lal Bahadur Khandayer to oversee the election of a new party president.
“We have taken this decision to take the party in the path towards democracy,” said Lawoti, convener of the special convention.
The convention also passed a proposal to amend the party statute.
The organizers said that around 1,300 RPP general convention representatives from across the country are participating in the convention.
The closed session of the convention is discussing the paper regarding the party policy.
Home Minister Kamal Thapa
Home Minister Kamal Thapa (File Photo)
Addressing the gathering, Home Minister, Kamal Thapa said that they called the general convention as the establishment side initiated action against party leaders haphazardly and the party became indecisive in the issue of taking part in the election.
He added that it is inappropriate to let the district committees to decide about the participation in the elections.
The row in the RPP emerged on the issue of whether to participate in the municipal polls slated for February 8 this year and support the royal takeover after six members of the party were inducted in the council of ministers.
The establishment side warned to take action against party leaders taking part in the special convention called by dissident faction.
The continuing cold wave has claimed five more lives in Mahottari and Rautahat, bringing the toll to 16.
The cold wave has been continuing in Mahottari for six days.
Purna Mukhiya, a 60-year-old resident of Damhi Madai-9, and 55-year-old Kari Mandal of Ratauli-7 froze to death on Monday, bringing the toll due to cold wave in Mahottari to seven.
The continuing cold spell has been affected life in the terai region. According to a report from Rautahat, three more people died due to the cold on Monday, bringing the toll to six.
The dead were identified as Pitambar Thakur Lohar, a 50-year-old resident of Saruatha VDC-4, Amiri Shah, a 55-year-old resident of Saruatha VDC-3, and 68-year-old Thakur Prasad Dahal, a resident of Chandranigahapur-5, reports quoted relatives as saying.
At least 11 persons died across the nation in the last two days as a severe cold wave gripped the country.
Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal being welcomed by people of Okhaldhunga in course of Their Majesties visit of the Eastern Development Region, Tuesday, Jan 10 06. Photo Courtesy : Basanta Chitrakar (DOI)
Their Majesties King Gyanendra and Queen Komal visited Okhaldunga district as part of their informal tour to the Eastern Development Region on Tuesday.
Sagarmatha zonal administrator Ram Kumar Subba, chief district officer of Okhaldhunga, nominated officials of the District Development Committee and hundreds of ordinary citizens welcomed Their Majesties when they arrived in Okhaldhunbga Bazaar, reports from the district said.
During his interaction with the security heads and ordinary citizens, His Majesty inquired about the progress in the construction of Katari-Okhaldunga road as well as the security situation in the district.
After the visit, the royal couple returned to the Royal Nepalese Army’s divisional headquarters in Itahari, Sunsari district, in the afternoon.
Their Majesties had left for the eastern region on January and are scheduled to complete the tour on January 22. This is their second visit to the region after the February 1 royal takeover.
The royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party underwent a formal split for the second time in less than a year on Tuesday with the dissident faction of the party “electing” Home Minister Kamal Thapa as the new party president by the “special general convention” of the party.
RPP dissident leaders in the inaugural session of special general convention of its party in Kathmandu, Tuesday, Jan 10 06. nepalnews.com/rh
RPP dissident leaders in the inaugural session of special general convention of its party in…
A national meet of the dissident group in Kathmandu on Tuesday chose Home Minister Thapa as its new leader “unanimously” after senior party leaders Padma Sunder Lawoti and Rabindra Nath Sharma withdrew from the race. Lawoti is the convener of the “special general convention.”
Home Minister Thapa has been alleged of “misusing” government resources to bring in party delegates to Kathmandu from mid-western development region by chartered flights aboard helicopter paid for by the Home Ministry.
In a statement issued Monday, the Home Ministry termed such reports as “baseless.”
Known as an ambitious person with “unstable political nature,” Thapa had also served as Foreign minister during the previous coalition government.
The “special general convention” called by the dissident faction earlier announced that they had deposed party president Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana by majority votes. The dissident group also filed its petition—with “signatures” of a total of 883 RPP delegates at the Election Commission today claiming itself as the genuine RPP. They have also demanded that the EC allot them the party’s official election symbol, plough.
The whole exercise comes less than a month ahead of the municipal polls slated on February 8, this year.
RPP chairman Pashupati SJB Rana (Photo source : thehimalayantimes.com)
RPP chairman Pashupati SJB Rana (Photo source : thehimalayantimes.com)
The row within the RPP escalated after party chairman Rana refused to oblige to the dissident faction that was demanding that the party take formal decision to contest municipal polls. As a ‘compromise formula,’ RPP central committee decided to delegate authority to the party’s district level units to decide on whether to take part in the municipal polls in their respective districts.
The dissident group was not amused. It preponed the “special general convention” of the party, which on Tuesday announced that Rana had been deposed and Thapa was the new chairman of the party.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Rana described the entire exercise as “ridiculous and unconstitutional.” “I don’t want to comment on such so-called meet,” he added.
The RPP’s central committee is meeting at Rana’s residence this evening to assess the situation and chart new strategies for the party’s future. On Monday, RPP led by Rana expelled seven central committee members of the party, including Home Minister Thapa, from the party’s ordinary membership for a period of six years. Three other appointed members of the CWC were also sacked.
Addressing a press meet on Monday, Rana alleged the royal government of trying to bring about vertical split in his party. “It is because we have stood firmly in favour of democracy,” he added.
Early last year, former premier and one of the founding leaders of RPP, Surya Bahadur Thapa, quit the party and floated a new outfit, Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP).
RPP leader Kamal Thapa was actively involved in the establishment of the RJP but he chose to stay back with the RPP at the last minute. Within months, he started campaigning against party president Rana and started openly supporting the royal takeover of February 1, 2005.
His Majesty King Gyanendra appointed Thapa as the new Home Minister in the royal cabinet on December 7, 2005.
The results of the election for Central Working Committee (CWC) seats of the Nepali Congress-Democratic, which is holding its general convention in Kathmandu, were announced Tuesday afternoon.
The NC (D) convention elected Prakash Man Singh, who facing jail on graft charges, with highest number of votes. Singh secured a total of 1192 votes, the NC (D) said.
Acting party president Gopal Man Shrestha, vice-president Chitra Lekha Yadav have also been elected as CWC members. Other leaders elected for CWC seats are Pradeep Giri, Bimalendra Nidhi, Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, Chiranjivi Wagle, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Bal Bahadur KC, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Dr Minendra Rizal, Dip Kumar Upadhyay, Amar Raj Kaini, Bal Krishna Khand, NP Saud, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Manmohan Bhattarai and Jip Chhiring Lama.
Uma Adhikari and Dina Upadhyay who contested for the two reserved seats for women also made it to the CWC while Indra Bahadur Gurung and Bhisma Raj Aangdungbe secured the CWC seats allotted for indigenous nationalities. Dal Singh Kami, Umakant Chaudhary and Khimkanta Jha were elected for reserved seats for Dalits and the Terai community respectively. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi was nominated unopposed for the CWC membership from one seat reserved for Karnali region.
Then CWC members Dr Narayan Khadka, Hom Nath Dahal and Ramesh Rijal, Narendra Bikram Nemwang and Sagar Shumsher Rana lost the election.
The NC (D) general convention had re-elected jailed former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as the party president unopposed on Saturday.
The general convention has expanded the 37-member CWC to 45. Remaining 18 CWC members will be nominated by the party president.
Jugal Bhurtel of the Non Resident Nepali International Coordination Committee (NRN-ICC) spoke to Nepali Times recently looking back at the achievements of overseas Nepalis in 2005.
How has 2005 been for the overseas Nepali community?
The most important achievement was the second conference that was held in Kathmandu in October. The amount of work that went into the conference shows how seriously overseas Nepalis take the development of their homeland. The conference went much better than expected.
Concrete accomplishments?
First, as I said, it showed that overseas Nepalis are concerned about the country and are willing to help. It proved that the first conference wasn’t just a whim or homesickness, it showed a commitment to start a process of interaction with the government to try to find out where we can fit in the development of our homeland. The second conference gave the non-resident Nepali movement a permanent place in Nepali society.
How do you gauge the government’s response?
There was support from the government, political parties and all sides. We met the leaders of all the big parties. There was no pressure to toe any line.
I think this was because everyone regarded the NRN issue as one of national importance that had to be kept out of the political arena.
How is the networking among overseas Nepalis progressing?
Since the second conference there is expected to be a big leap forward in participation of overseas Nepalis in nation-building, not just paying lip service to helping Nepal. Also, from this time there is more participation of women and we hope to reach the communities and groups of NRNs we haven’t reached yet. This year’s conference helped increase our self-confidence.
So what next?
Our organisational structure is more or less strong. Although it still has limitations, the NRN Act has come into being which gives us a legal basis for investment. We hope there will be reforms in the law through ordinance. The other big achievement this year was the commitment to help in a future peace process in the country and a committee is being set up to deal with it. The concept of a $100 million Nepal Investment Fund has been floated which can take the NRN movement into a new phase. There is also a proposal to start a Skills Training Centre for Nepalis working overseas for which there is another $10 million fund proposed. We also want to work with local bodies in the districts with a project in each area of education and health. So, this year we pledged to carry out some effective interventions.
Exactly how do you propose to spend the funds?
There will obviously be some difficulties with the implementation of the $100 million fund. Firstly, NRN Association can’t even be registered according to prevalent laws of the land. There will be further complications because of post-9/11 restrictions on registering international funds in conflict zones. Still, our international consultant is working on this and many of our friends have already pledged money to the fund.
We feel the biggest challenge is to restore peace. We can show all the commitment we want but if the country remains at war our commitments for investment won’t mean much. The government must also amend the NRN ordinance so as to include a big group that is now kept out.
So what are you doing till the next conference?
We must establish offices in all countries where Nepalis reside. It is huge task. And while seeking a more pro-active role in the socio-economic transformation of Nepal we have also accepted a lot of responsibilities towards our ever-suffering motherland. The third conference will evaluate what we have done so far but I am confident we will see results.
Courtesy : Nepali Times
(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])