The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal Television (NTV) and Radio Nepal on Thursday to promote domestic tourism and to create awareness about tourism in general and tourist destinations in particular inside the country
Chief Executive Officer of NTB Tek Bahadur Dangi, and Chairman and General Manager of NTV, Shambhujit Baskota, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
According to MoU, programs that promote and encourage domestic tourism shall be produced and aired on partnership basis between NTB and NTV under the banner of ‘Desh Darshan’.
Apart from this, NTV will also host studio based talk/interaction/conference program on tourism and will feature three documentaries of 30-minute each focusing new destinations, tourism program, trends/achievements and challenges in tourism field.
Similarly, CEO of NTB Dangi and Bhairab Bahadur Adhikari, Director, Commercial Division, Radio Nepal, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations to strengthen the tie between NTB and Radio Nepal for promotion tourism.
As per the MoU, NTB and Radio Nepal will jointly produce ‘Radio Tourism Programme’ to promote and encourage domestic tourists, which will be aired by Radio Nepal.
Similarly, a ‘Tourism & Development Program’ with focus on village and pro-poor focused sustainable community based tourism will be aired by Radio Nepal through Professional Media Network Forum, Kathmandu.
News and views of various local/national festivals, events, religious celebrations, fairs and other such programmes supported and promoted by NTB shall be aired in these programs by Radio Nepal.
Radio Nepal will also help in the promotion of various local/national festivals, religious celebrations and fairs that NTB will be supporting and promoting by broadcasting reports coinciding with the said fairs, festivals and religious celebrations.
At least 17 students were arrested Thursday morning as police interfered into a protest staged by the students of Balmiki Bidhayapeeth at Exhibition Road, Kathmandu, against the arrest of 20 students yesterday.
According to Nepal Students Union (NSU) central office, riot police interfered into the peaceful protest of students and arrested 17 students including former president Free Students Union (FSU) of the campus and NSU central member Bishu Panthi, FSU president Laxman Acharya and secretary Kirshna Rijal were arrested.
The NSU also demanded that the authorities immediately release all arrested students, stop sending police inside the campus premises and settle the demands of the students through negotiations.
On Wednesday, three students were injured and 20 others were rounded up during a clash with police.
Putting forth a 27-point demand that includes better administration, quality education and resignation of the campus chief, students of Balmiki Bidhayapeeth have been carrying out strike for more than a month.
Leaders of various political parties have said that restoration of democracy is inevitable to restore peace and resolve problems dogging the country.
Acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Gopal Man Shrestha, inaugurating the 11th general convention of the party at New Baneshwore, Thursday, Jan 05 06.
Acting president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Gopal Man Shrestha, inaugurating the 11th general convention of the party at New Baneshwore, Thursday, Jan 05 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Nepali -Democratic NC (D) that kicked off at the Birendra International Convention Centre on Thursday, they said the King should return people’s rights to the people to give outlet to the present political crisis dogging the country.
In his message sent from custody, President of the NC (D), Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the King has detached himself from the democracy through the February 1 royal takeover.
He claimed that municipal poll is a ploy of the King to legalise his undemocratic royal move and added that the government should take the responsibility of violence as the Maoists broke the ceasefire due to the government.
The controversial Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) has been detaining former president and NC (D) president Deuba and central committee member of the party the then minister for physical planning and works Prakash Man Singh in the charge of irregularities in the Melamchi Drinking Water project.
Speaking at the programme, General Secretary of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that there has been conspiracy to demoralize democratic forces.
Stating that the 11-month long direct rule of the King has failed, Nepal said that there is a need of election of the constituent assembly.
He added that failure of the municipal poll will give a new height to the ongoing agitation political parties and urged all to make the poll a failure.
Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa urged the NC (D) to choose the principle as per the aspiration of youths.
He said that there have been efforts to weaken political parties to weaken the democracy.
Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumser Rana said that RPP is facing punishment for supporting the principle of multiparty democracy. “But RPP will never compromise in the principle of democracy,” Rana added.
Rana further said that there is a need of dialogue among constitutional forces to resolve the crisis dogging the country and the government should initiate efforts for resolving the problem, adding, “Formation of all-party government and holding talks with Maoists is essential for it.”
Sitaram Yechuri, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and acting president of Nepal Democracy solidarity committee– a committee comprising political parties of India after February 1 royal takeover to express solidarity to the movement of Nepal for the restoration of democracy – said Indian political parties had consensus regarding restoration of democracy in Nepal.
He further added that though Nepalese people and political parties has the authority to decide the modality of democracy but Indian political parties will support Nepalese political parties in their fight for the restoration of democracy.
Speaking at the same programme, leaders of Nationalistic Congress Party of India Professor Ramesh Dixit and DP Tripathi, leader of socialist party Bijay Pratap Singh also expressed solidarity to the ongoing agitation of the seven political parties and demanded immediate restoration of democracy in Nepal.
They criticised the detention of NC (D) president and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the then minister for physical planning and works Prakash Man Singh, terming their detention as illegal and conspiracy of the government.
Kamar Jaman Kairo, representative of Pakistan People’s Party expressed solidarity of their party and Benijir Bhutto to the ongoing democratic movement of the country and expressed best wishes for the success of the general convention.
More than 1500 general convention representatives from all 75 districts are participating in the three-day general convention.
Acting NC (D) president, Gopal Man Shrestha, inaugurated the general convention, which the party claims to be its 11th convention.
Media reports earlier said founder leader of Nepali Congress and former premier, KP Bhattarai, was expected to inaugurate the convention. Bhattarai is no more taking part in active politics mainly due to ill health after the NC underwent a vertical split in 2002.
Then premier Sher Bahadur Deuba led the break away faction after NC led by GP Koirala started disciplinary action against him for dissolving the parliament the same year.
Both the parties, however, are agitating against the royal takeover of February 2005 as members of the seven-party opposition alliance.
NC (D) is likely to declare itself neutral towards the constitutional monarchy in its party statute. The 11th general convention of Nepali Congress had also decided to delete references to constitutional monarchy from the party’s statute last year in response to the royal takeover.
The general convention will elect new executive committee for the next term of two years.
The dissident faction of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has decided to prepone its special general convention for January 10-11.
In a statement Thursday, the Central Special General Convention Coordination Committee announced to prepone the convention, which was earlier slated for January 16-17. The committee also directed all general convention representatives to arrive in Kathmandu one day before the inauguration of the convention.
Accusing the party leadership of failing to settle some ideological and organizational issues, the dissident faction led by then vice-chairman Padma Sundar Lawati, had two weeks earlier, given ultimatum to immediately call the special general convention, warning to call its own special convention.
The dissident faction, which has been advocating for active participation in the upcoming municipal elections, has also accused the RPP establishment of failing to take concrete decision on the polls.
Citing his opposition to party guidelines, a central committee meeting of the RPP early this week had decided to expel Lawati from the post of vice-chairman.
The intra-party row in the RPP culminated after its six central leaders including Kamal Thapa, Roshan Karki and Bhuwan Pathak joined the royal cabinet in early December.
(19:00 pm)
At least three security personnel were killed and two others were injured when suspected Maoists opened fire at a police checkpost near a domestic airport at Nepalgunj Thursday evening.
According to preliminary reports, a group of armed personnel attacked policemen from Armed Police Force (APF) manning a police check post leading to the Nepalgunj airport at around 5:30 p.m. today.
The authorities are yet to confirm the number of casualties.
Nobody has been arrested so far in connection with the attacks.
Security has been tightened in the mid-western town and search for the assailants is going on, according to security sources.
Details are still awaited.
The high level committee headed by former Justice at the Supreme Court, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, formed to probe the Nagarkot carnage has held responsible weak management of arms in the army barracks as being responsible for the incident.
Site of carnage: Kalidevi temple at Nagarkot (Photo courtesy: Nepali Times)
Site of carnage: Kalidevi temple at Nagarkot (Photo courtesy: Nepali Times)
The Nagarkot massacre occurred after a minor scuffle between Thapa and local villagers who were singing, drinking and dancing till late in the evening after a local fair at the Kalika Devi temple at Chihandanda on December 14.
In the reckless shooting spree, Thapa- who was in his twenties– shot dead 12 civilians including women and children. He was also found dead at the site of incident.
A copy of the probe commission report, seen by Nepalnews at Keshar Library at Lainchour on Thursday, says Thapa, who had left the barrack without permission was allowed to carry the gun without fulfilling any formality around midnight and that the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the Royal Nepalese Army at Nagarkot barrack was not alert and aware even though the weapon was taken out of the barrack.
The Judicial Commission said Thapa returned to the barrack after minor scuffle with the local villagers and took a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) from the bed of Raj Kumar Shahi, another soldier and a member of the Quick Response Team (QRT), who was on duty. Shahi was carrying LMG while on duty, the Commission said.
The report further said that though Thapa was transferred to Naya Ranabhumi Company of the RNA, he was allowed easily to take the weapon outside the barrack.
Thapa was also allowed to be inside the barrack without even asking the password. As per the RNA rules, officers as well as soldiers need to utter `password’ of the day before entering the barrack.
“Thapa had the history of remaining absent from duty for up to two weeks without permission and had also opened fire indiscriminately when he was a sentry. The officer leading the RNA Academy, Nagarkot, had failed to maintain strong discipline among personnel under him,” the report said.
The report also concluded that soldier Thapa committed suicide by shooting himself after the carnage and that it did not find any evidence of involvement of any other person except Thapa in the incident.
The autopsy report of Thapa, published as part of the report, said, “Although the site of the entry wound over the anterior mid chest is not a very common site for self-infliction of a rifled firearm entry wound, it seems as a site of self-infliction in some cases.”
“The cause of death, as stated above, is rifle firearm wounds of the chest and abdomen,” the report added.
The committee also suggested that the government take necessary action to prevent the possibility of fights erupting between locals and army personnel who take part in local festivals without permission.
“Management, and operation and discipline within the barracks should be immediately reformed,” the report said.
The report has also urged the government to provide more relief assistance to families of victims, arrangement for education, livelihood for families totally dependent on the deceased, compensation to the injured and guarantee of a future livelihood for those who have become disabled or helpless due to the incident.
The report has also displayed pictures showing that it was possible to commit suicide by using an SLR.
The RNA is yet to make the report submitted by the RNA’s separate probe committee headed by Brigadier General Netra Bahadur Thapa public.
The Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee today approved the nominations of Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Ayogi Prasad Yadav for the post of election commissioners.
The Constitutional Council had recommended Gurung, who is the secretary of the Election Commission, and Yadav to the post of election commissioners. Yadav, an assistant professor at Tribhuvan University, is a Maoist-supported candidate.
The parliamentary committee approved their names as there were no complaints against the nominations.
The Council of Ministers will appoint them as election commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner and two other commissioners – Usha Nepal and Nil Kantha Uprety – have already been appointed.
By Shiv Raj Bhatt
Contribution of foreign aid in Nepal’s development can be debatable, however, the reality is that Nepal still relies much on aid. Around 70 percent of the development budget is financed by aid and it accounts for over 10 percent of country’s GDP.
Foreign aid has been instrumental in Nepal’s development, mainly in reducing infant and child mortality, increasing primary school enrollment, reducing gender gap, increasing access to drinking water, infrastructure development, and natural resource management. Similarly, institutional capacities of the government, non-governmental organisations and private sector have been significantly improved with the help of aid. Its role in local development, decentralization, gender mainstreaming, uplifting socio-economic status of dalits, indigenous minorities and ethnic groups is also notable.
Facts and figures show that Nepal achieved significant development targets with the help of aid, but many indicators of development are still low. Moreover, donors’ initiatives to support Nepal’s development process have been facing serious challenges in recent past, mainly due to the conflict, political instability, absence of democratic institutions, and divergence in the ideas and interest. Now it has been realized that external resources are helpless to face the challenges of development in a sustainable manner in absence of internal conditions conducive to use available resources efficiently and equitably.
Lack of accountability and transparency, wrong targeting, misallocation of resources, neglect of poor people’s voices, corruption, and dominance of elite are some problems of aid-supported programmes. Therefore, removal of these hurdles is very much needed to make aid work for people, basically the poor.
Despite of many weaknesses, no one can blame foreign aid or foreigners for low development outcome in Nepal. Necessity of aid cannot be ignored, but over dependency and endless increment is harmful. Unfortunately, in Nepal, the flow of aid has been used as the measuring rod of government’s success.
Participation of stakeholders is necessary even in aid-supported programmes. But instead of stakeholders’ participation, donor’s influence in domestic policy-making is very large. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce such interferences, while insuring stakeholders’ participation in all the stages of plan formulation and implementation.
Aid mostly comes with conditionality and in recent past conditions of aid are very unpleasant therefore, aid conditionality should be relaxed.
Similarly, ego war between government and donors has also been observed many times, which is not good for both the parties as well as for the targeted real beneficiaries of the aid. Therefore, such ego war should be minimized.
After February 1 of this year, many donors had stopped or discontinued their support, pressurizing the government to restore democracy. Advancing development requires democratic governance; therefore, it cannot be sidelined in modern civilized world. Viewing its importance, the King also showed his strong commitment for democracy many times formally and informally. However, many ministers and other high officials have failed to grasp this truth and are arguing that Nepal will not die if the aid will be stopped.
Of course, Nepal will not die if donors stop their support, but many Nepalese, especially the poor will be sufferer in such situation, which ultimately is not in the interest of donors and government. The donor community is showing their strong commitments for Nepal’s development, especially in the areas of education, health, infrastructure development and poverty alleviation. However, it seems that the ruling government attaches low importance to these areas in comparison to arms and ammunition. Many donors have already withdrawn their support from many development projects due to government’s failure to convince them. Lack of balanced aid diplomacy is the primary cause of such failure. Therefore, Nepal needs balanced aid diplomacy that maintains our pride while minimizes confrontations with donors.
At the end, to make aid an instrument of development and poverty alleviation, Nepal should urgently identify and assess the goods and bads of aid and accordingly remove/minimize its bad effects while keeping up the bright side in the future.
(Bhatt is Programme Officer with the UN-supported Trade Related Capacity Building Project. Views expressed here are his personal. Please send your comments to [email protected] or [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])
The Supreme Court has condemned the decision of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) to seek the resignation of Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel and newly-appointed ad hoc judge Pawan Kumar Ojha.
Supreme Court (File Photo)
Supreme Court (File Photo)
The NBA on Monday sought the duo’s resignation terming them ‘incompetent’ in protecting the independence of the judiciary.
An emergency full court meeting called by CJ Paudel and attended by 23 justices of the SC condemned the NBA’s decision saying the SC is committed to protecting the rights of the people under the 1990 Constitution even in difficult times.
“The meeting expressed serious concern over the NBA stance,” a press release issued by the Acting Registrar of the apex court, Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena, said.
“Such a stance does not suit the NBA, which is an established lawyers’ institution in the country,” the statement added.
The SC urged the NBA to be constructive and not create hurdles in dispensing justice. “The apex court is committed to providing justice to the people at any cost and as such it is improper to oppose it,” the statement said.
Chief Justice (CJ) Dilip Kumar Poudel
Chief Justice (CJ) Dilip Kumar Poudel (File Photo)
The NBA also announced phase-wise stir against the recent appointment of four ad-hoc Justices of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel, with the consent of King Gyanendra, appointed Ojha, Tahir Ali Ansari, Rajendra Prasad Koirala and Bipulendra Chakravarti as Justices of the SC.
A civilian was injured during a series of blasts including one at the residence of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the western city of Pokhara on Tuesday evening.
A powerful explosion took place at the Baglung Bus Park at Ward No 2 of Pokhara Sub-Metropolis at around 7:20 Tuesday evening. A man, who has been identified as Raju Sunar, was injured in the explosion.
An explosion also took place at the residence of Armed Police Force DSP, Lal Bahadur Adhikari.
The ground floor of the building was completely destroyed in the incident.
Nobody was injured in the blast as the rebels evacuated the building before detonating the bomb.
Likewise two bombs went off at the taxi stand at Bagar, Ward No. 1, Pokhara Sub-Metropolis and in front of the Pokhara Sub-Metropolis-10 Ward office at Ram Bazar. The blast shattered the windowpanes of some houses near the municipal ward office.
This is the second consecutive day of blasts in Pokhara after the breakdown of the ceasefire by the rebels on Monday.
The Maoists exploded a powerful bomb at Prithivi Chowk of the city on Monday, within hours of the ceasefire break down.