Reality World

SC to Examine Case on Facilities to Ex-royals THT Online Kathmandu, June 20 Revoking the Supreme Court Registrar's earlier decision, a single bench of Justice Kalyan Shrestha directed Registrar Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena to register a case that challenged the government's decision to provide facilities to the deposed king and his family members. "Since the issue in question is related with the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007, Registrar's decision to reject the petition is legally unsound," the SC order said. "The SC will decide whether the issue in question is political or not," it said. On June 10, the Registrar had refused a petition challenging the government's decision to allow deposed king Gyanendra to stay in Nagarjun palace with state security and providing buildings on the Narayanhiti Palace premises and state security to his mother and grandmother. Registrar Dr Timalsena had maintained that the case was of political nature and that it woul

Displaced Accuses Cops of Seizing Relief Materials THT Online Rolpa, June 20 A displaced person on Thursday complained that the Dang District Police Office (DPO) took control over the relief materials he had got from the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). "A team of cops questioned me where I got the materials from and then took them away on Tuesday," Kaluram Shahu BK, 70, a displaced from Rolpa said, adding that the policemen were under the influence of alcohol. Policemen held BK and beat him up, a relative, Bishnu Shahu BK, said, adding that the police released him only after pressure from the relatives yesterday. Kaluram, who was displaced from Jengwang of Rolpa district during the conflict, is staying in a hut in Shantinagar, Dang. According to BK, he was returning to Dang with the relief materials -- including 195 kg of rice, 25 kg of pulses and other utensils -- from Rolpa when the police intervened. BK has urged human right activists and journalists to take initiatives to

Dispute Mars Handover of Civil Service Hospital THT Online Kathmandu, June 20 A dispute between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of General Administration Ministry has delayed the handover of the Civil Service Hospital in Min Bhawan for seven months. As per the prior letter of exchange signed between the two ministries on May 14, 2001, the hospital should have been handed over to the Civil Servants' Hospital Development Committee on November 2007. However, the two ministries are now competing with each other for the hospital's affiliation with their respective ministry. Minister for General Administration Ram Chandra Yadav said the hospital should be affiliated with his ministry as it is meant for providing healthcare services to civil servants. "I do not see any reason for which the hospital should be affiliated with the Health Ministry." He added that he had not held any meeting with the Health Ministry on the issue, but said he would assist with the recruitment

Call to Make Leaders Aware of Sanitation Issues THT Online Kathmandu, June 20 Leaders of different political parties on Thursday conceded that Nepali leaders lacked proper knowledge of issues related to water and sanitation. Constituent Assembly member from the Nepali Congress Nabinra Raj Joshi admitted that politicians in the country had little knowledge of water and sanitation issues. "I have to admit that water and sanitation situation is pathetic in the country. I would like to receive some inputs on the issue to raise voice in the CA," he said at a discussion programme organised by Water Aid Nepal. He urged experts to provide enough inputs to politicians so that they would work for making a better policy on water use. "Kathmandu badly needs a policy governing water. I want your support to guide us to have it," he said, adding that the politicians would support a water master plan prepared by experts. UML leader Ananda Pokhrel said water has a big impact on the

Maoists, NC Continue Blame Game THT Online Kathmandu, June 18 The CPN-Maoist and the Nepali Congress leaders have been blaming each other for the political deadlock and the dealy in formation of a new government, while other parties are insisting on consensus. Maoist leader Post Bahadur Bogati on Tuesday said the NC was putting forward unnecessary conditions to bar the Maoists from leading the new government. "This is against the people's mandate expressed through the Constituent Assembly (CA) election," he said. "We have shown utmost flexibility but the NC is reluctant to give an outlet to the problems facing the country," he said. "As the NC is creating obstacles to prevent the Maoists from leading the new government by coming up with unnecessary demands, a consensus seems impossible in near future," Bogati said while speaking at an interaction. NC leader Dr Minendra Rijal said the NC wanted the issue of army integration solved before the former rebe

Human Error Caused UNMIN Chopper Crash THT Online Kathmandu, June 18 The government-formed commission to investigate into the UNMIN chopper crash in Ramechhap district concluded on Tuesday that the human error was the reason behind the incident, which took lives of 10 persons on March 3. The MI-8MTV-1 helicopter Ra-27019, operated by Vertical-T for the United Nations Mission in Nepal, crashed in Bethan-9 in Ramechhap, killing all seven passengers and three-member crew. "The investigation has concluded that the chopper crashed due to the violation of regulation, lack of experience and familiarisation with local terrain and weather as well as poor handling of flight control system by the flight crew in an emergency situation," said Dron Raj Regmi, the chief of the commission. The report raised doubts over the ability of Russian pilot. However, it failed to elaborate why and how both engines were shut down. "There was no record of the crew's conversation in the flight d

ANNFSU Shuts Schools in Sankhuwasabha THT Online Sankhuwasabha, June 18 CPN-UML affiliated All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) closed all educational institutions in Sankhuwasabha's Constituency No 2 on Tuesday to protest the attack on five ANNFSU cadres by Maoists on Sunday. The union said Maoist cadres led by Maoists' district committee member and area in-charge Dawa Sherpa had beaten up five ANNFSU cadres of Madi Multiple Campus in Madirambeni on Sunday. The students were critically injured in the attack. Of the injured, Nabin Dahal was taken to Chainpur for further treatment on Tuesday, the ANNFSU said. Meanwhile, Maoist district secretary Rajendra Karki alias Nabin denied Maoists' hand in the incident. In a statement, he said the incident was nothing than a ploy to defame his party

FNJ Team in Dailekh to Recover Scribe's Body Puskar Thapa Dailekh, June 18 A team of the Federation of Nepali Journalists on Tuesday reached Dwari VDC of Dailekh district, suspected to be the burial site of the body of journalist Dekendra Raj Thapa. The Maoists had killed Thapa, a Radio Nepal reporter, on August 11, 2004 after abducting him from Toli VDC on June 26, 2004. Since then, they had been refusing to hand over Thapa's body to his family. According to the FNJ Dailekh chapter, it planned to dig up the site after the Maoists refused to provide information about the burial site. "The FNJ has planned to excavate the suspected site after the Maoists turned down repeated requests of Thapa's family to hand over the body," FNJ district president Bishnu Sharma said. It is suspected that Thapa's body was buried in a field around 150 metres from the Nepal Rastriya Lower Secondary School in Dwari-1. A team comprising two journalists and security personnel of civil

Israel Mulls Ad Hoc Plan to Recruit Nepali Workers THT Online Kathmandu, June 18 The government of Israel is mulling to devise an ad hoc mechanism to recruit Nepali migrant workers. In May 2007 Israel had imposed a temporary ban on Nepali workers citing lack of adequate linguistic and cultural knowledge and poor job proficiency. "The government of Israel may devise an ad hoc solution to resume recruiting Nepali migrant workers in Israel," Israeli Ambassador Dan Stav told this daily on Tuesday. For temporary adjustment, the Ministry of Home might nominate manpower agents in Israel to recruit workforce through Nepali agencies, Stav said. While issuing the ban last year, the Israeli government had set two conditions before it could resume recruiting Nepali workforce. First, Nepal had to establish a functioning mission in Israel. Secondly, Nepal's recruiting process had to undergo a comprehensive change, including a contract with International Organisation of Migration (IOM),

Prakash Man Blames Maoists for Deadlock THT Online Kathmandu, June 17 Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh on Monday said the Constituent Assembly would be able to write a new constitution only if the political parties worked hand in hand. Addressing a felicitation programme organised by Nepa Rastriya Party here on Monday, he said it was due to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's firm commitment to the peace process that the CA election was successful. "We have always fought for democracy, rule of law and liberty but some elements are spreading rumour that we do not want to quit power. We have already called the Maoists to form a new government but the Maoists, instead of meeting the constitutional criteria, are blaming the PM for the deadlock," he said. Lauding Koirala's role for taking the peace process to this stage, he said: "The question of who should be the first President of the country is a secondary one but the most pressing issue is that the Maoi

Khanal Asks UML Cadres to Retaliate Maoist Attacks Uday GM Tulsipur (Dang), June 17 CPN-UML general secretary Jhalanath Khanal on Monday directed party cadres here to retaliate if Maoists or Young Communist League cadres attacked them. He asked the cadres not to come running with news of UML men getting beaten up by Maoists or the Young Communist League but to retaliate. "Whenever or wherever there is an attack on UML cadres, retaliate. Don't remain motionless or mute," he said. Addressing a two-day training for party activists here, Khanal said Maoist arrogance and cussedness were preventing the formation of a new government. He said, "The Maoists have got the public mandate to lead the new government, but they are behaving as if they have secured a two-thirds majority." Khanal said the Maoists were gloating at their status as "winners" and ridiculing other parties as "losers". He added that no political entity had created hurdles in the for

Encephalitis Breaks Out in Kailali THT Online Dhangadhi, June 17 With the onset of monsoon Japanese encephalitis (JE) has spread in Kailali district. Until now one person, Cheej Mani Chaudhary, of Laxmipur VDC, has died and 15 had been admitted in Seti Zonal Hospital for treatment of Japanese encephalitis, hospital superintendent Ganesh Bahadur Singh said. Two persons, one from Parasan of Kanchanpur district and another from Urma VDC of Kailali, had returned home after treatment. Bikram BK and two others of Kanchanpur are being treated for encephalitis, said Dr Singh. Hospital records revealed that 19 patients died of Japanese encephalitis in 2004, 46 in 2005, seven in 2006 and 11 in 2007. This data is only of those reported in the Seti Hospital and deaths from the disease in other health centres have not been accounted for, an administrative staffer of the hospital said. Hospital sources said the district public health office had administered JE vaccine last year, but this year it has

Rhododendron Not Safe Even in Conservation Area Roshan Sanwa Terhathum, June 17 People have been rampantly felling rhododendron trees in Teenjure of Milke Jaljale area even though it was declared as Rhododendron Conservation Area a decade ago. The Milke Jaljale area lies in between 1,700 and 5,500 metres above mean sea level and is spread across 558 sq km in 10 VDCs of Terhathum district, seven VDCs of Sankhuwasabha and six VDCs of Taplejung district. Of the 32 species of rhododendrons found across the country, 28 are found in the Milke Jaljale area alone. Chairman of National Rhododendron Conservation Committee (NRCC) Laxman Tiwari said the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology had declared the area as Rhododendron Conservation Area a decade ago. The NRCC with the support of the IUCN and Conservation Association of Nepal had started conserving rhododendrons in the area eight years ago. The district forest offices of Terhathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung had handed over the

6 Passengers Hurt in Spatari Bomb Blast THT Online Rajbiraj, June 16 An unknown gang planted a bomb in a Dharan bus bound for Kathmandu on Sunday night leaving six persons injured. The condition of three of them is critical. The blast occurred at Portaha chowk in Saptari district. Police suspect the blast may have been triggered by the cadres of Madhesi Virus Killers as they have called a three-day bandh beginning Sunday and warned of targeting all those daring to defy it. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast. The injured persons have been rushed to BP Koirala Institute of Health sciences in Dharan of Sunsari district, said Saptari deputy superintendent of police Bharat Pradhan.

Maoists Beat Up ANNFSU Members THT Online Sankhuwasabha, June 16 Maoists on Sunday beat up and injured five students affiliated to the CPN-UML in Madirambeni VDC of Sankhuwasabha district. Led by district committee member and area incharge Dawa Sherpa, the Maoists assaulted Navin Dahal, Roshan Dahal, Mahesh Dahal, Suman Dahal and Mohan Gurung on Madi Multiple campus at 6.30 pm, said the campus administration. Navin sustained severe injuries on the head and torso. The injured students are the district, zonal and regional level members of the pro-UML ANNFSU, said Aer Bahadur Tamang, ANNFSU coordinator of the union's 15th district convention. The Maoists vented their fury over the five after ANNFSU members gheraoed the house of the principal of the Madirambeni-based Nepal Lower Secondary School. Meanwhile, Maoist district secretary Rajendra Karki said he had no information of the incident and added that his party would investigate.

NHRC Expects Shivpuri Report Soon THT Online Kathmandu, June 16 A member of the National Human Rights Commission on Sunday said it was expecting to receive results of the detailed forensic tests on substances found in the Shivapuri area soon. "We are expecting to receive the report soon," member Gauri Pradhan told this daily on Sunday. The NHRC had sent the testimonies found in the Shivapuri area for their forensic tests in Finland through the Finnish embassy after the suggestions of foreign experts. "The embassy officials have demanded some days to complete the task," Pradhan added. After receiving the report from the national and international experts on February 15, the NHRC had decided to send the testimonies to Finland for testing. Professor at University of Helsinki Helena Ratna and professor at University of Turku Rekka Saukko had referred further investigations to confirm or exclude the possibility of human remains in the Shivapuri area. The NHRC has been in

Nepal to Take Up Border Closure with China THT Online Sankhuwasabha, June 16 An all-party meeting held at the district administration office on Sunday decided to initiate talks with Chinese border security officials to re-open Chinese border post at Kimathanka. The Nepal-China border has been closed for the last 24 days affecting food grain supply from there, said chief district officer Mukunda Adhikari. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist, CPN-UML, Janamorcha Nepal, human rights organisations, civil society members and heads of security organs. Human rights activist Khadag Rai said they had agreed to transport food grain immediately to crisis-hit areas with the consent of the Nepal Food Corporation. "The Ministry of Home Affairs would be informed about the effects of the closure of the border," he said. Chinese border security officials had shut Kimathanka border post citing security threat to the Beijing Summer Olympics scheduled f

Petroleum Dealers Threaten Strike THT Online Kathmandu, June 16 The petroleum dealers are launching a series of protest programmes demanding security and adequate supply of petro-products. Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association (NPDA), the apex body of dealers, on Sunday said the dealers would launch a series of protest programmes with a two-point demand including smooth supply of petroleum products and implementation of accords between the government and the dealers in the past. NPDA president Shiva Prasad Ghimire said the new protest programmes have started from on Sunday. They had already issued an ultimatum to the government to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products and arrange security measures for petrol pumps, he said. NPDA has already submitted memorandum to the concerned authorities including Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. It plans to carry out publicity activities from June 16 to 18 and tell public the truth about supply

VAT Pushes Revenue Collection Up THT Online Kathmandu, June 16 Despite regular unrest, the government has been successful in revenue collection. In the first nine months of 2007-08, revenue mobilisation of the government rose by 25.1 per cent amounting to Rs 70.85 billion compared to an increase of 22.2 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year. Such an impressive growth of revenue was on account of substantial increase in the import of merchandise goods, according to the current macroeconomic situation based on the first nine months' — the third quarter (Q3) — data of this fiscal year. Of the total revenue mobilisation, VAT grew by 23.2 per cent to Rs 22.22 billion in mid-April 2008. The growth in VAT was on account of growing imports and consumption induced by the rise in remittances and reforms in VAT administration such as establishment of Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU), strengthening of billing system and non-filers management. In the review period, customs revenue

Child Swept Away in Dolakha THT Online Charikot, June 15 One child died, another went missing and two persons of a family were injured when a river swept away a motorbike here on Saturday. The incident occurred when Santosh Mahato and his four family members who were riding on a motorbike collided with a stone in a causeway over Polkarekhola in Boch VDC-1, Dolakha. As the water was flowing over the surface of the causeway, the flooding water swept away the bike. The river swept away Mahato's three year-old Susan and wife Reeta has been missing. His six-year-old critically injured son Santon was undergoing treatment in Charikot-based Chchhorolpa Hospital, police said. Mahato, a permanent resident of Mahottari, is currently living in Kathmandu.