Parties closer to consensus
BY YUVRAJ ACHARYA & THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, JUNE 8
The three big parties in the Constituent Assembly have come closer to a consensus on most of their differences including amendment of the constitution, following parleys at bilateral meetings, Saturday.
They have agreed to a meeting Sunday morning at Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence, during which they will set up two tripartite panels - one to prepare a draft of the amendment to the constitution and the other to prepare a package for taking the ongoing peace process to a logical end.
"We have agreed to set up the panels and reach a consensus by day after tomorrow," said Dahal, coming out of a meeting with Nepali Congress leaders at Singhdurbar.
He said the new agreement will cover ways to take the ongoing peace process to a logical end, amend the constitution and prepare a power-sharing deal among the parties.
"We still have pending issues concerning integration of the armies, they (other parties) have called for change in the YCL's working style, return of land and relief to the conflict victims, which is still an unresolved issue, and a commission for disappearances and others are yet to be formed," said Dahal, adding, "We have to address all these."
The second issue to be addressed immediately is amending the constitution, he added. "There is debate over two-third majority and simple majority for forming the government, the constitution has mentioned the names of the seven parties and attached a list of legislators - which are all irrelevant in the present context," said Dahal. He said another issue was related to power-sharing. "Discussion on the issues has been quite positive," he said.
The parties have put constitutional amendment, the peace process and power-sharing in that order of priority, according to NC general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi. He said there was an understanding in principle to address the issues in a package and make a strong commitment to refrain from getting involved in the petty game of frequent change of government at least for a few years or until the new constitution is promulgated.
"We are not against the simple-majority system for formation and ouster of the government but what we wanted is that there should not be space for the petty game of frequent change of government," said Maoist Chairman Dahal.
UML leader Bhim Rawal said the parties would come up with a commitment to a common minimum program to stop such unhealthy practices in future. "The progress made during today's parleys is agreement to immediately end the YCL's paramilitary structure and change its modus-operandi, and an agreement to prepare a draft constitutional amendment."
‘Maoists should have proposed Koirala for prez’
Amidst for and against arguments by leaders of the major political parties over Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as the country's future president, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Saturday said Koirala's name should have been proposed by the Maoists themselves.
During his meeting with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Saturday, Sitaula said he was surprised the Maoists did not propose Koirala's name, recognizing the octogenarian leader's contribution to leading the country to the present stage.
"During my talks, I told them in context that they (Maoists) should have offered the post to Koirala because of his role from thrashing out the 12-point understanding to successful holding of the Constituent Assembly polls," said Sitaula.
Sitaula said there was no logic behind the argument that a parallel power center will be created when Koirala becomes president with the Maoists holding the position of chief executive in their capacity as the largest party. "The president is above all the party lines and becomes a symbol of the unity of people across the country," Sitaula was quoted as having told the Maoist leader.
"I did not find the Maoists negative towards the concept of making Koirala president but we did not discuss the matter in detail," he said. "We stressed the need for immediately determining the election procedure for the president.
The Maoist supremo, however, said the NC has proposed Koirala's name but his party is not in favor of Koirala because of his age and health factors.
"NC leaders, might be with a view to making him a national figure, have gotten ready to relieve him of all party responsibilities but we still believe he cannot fulfill his responsibility due to his failing health and age," said the Maoist leader. "There will be tension of some type or other for a person of that age, so we are not in favor of giving him that tension and want to put him in some other respectable position."
THE KATHMANDU POST
Monday, June 9, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
ADB to review Melamchi progress
BY THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, June 6
A mission of Asian Development Bank (ADB) is beginning a progress review of the Melamchi Water Supply Project from Friday. The mission from the principal donor of the project will conclude on June 13, said an ADB official from its Kathmandu office.
Urban Development Specialist Gyongshim An, the mission leader, arrived in Kathmandu from ADB's headquarters in Manila on Thursday, according to the ADB official.
Gyongshim and another Urban Development Specialist Notio Saito are in the mission from Manila, while five other members of the mission will join from the Nepal Resident Mission in Kathmandu, the ADB official said.
The objectives of the mission are: review and assessment progress in implementation of institutional reforms and transition works, and follow up on pending issues raised by the Specialist Urban Development Division (SUDD) with respect to the government's assurances on restructured projects and institutional reforms.
The mission will facilitate institutional assessment in implementing sub-projects under the amended loans, discuss social safeguards and social uplift program implementation and undertake field visits to Melamchi Valley to assess the development of social programs. Likewise, other objectives of the mission are to review the progress and implementation action plan of the Technical Assistance (TA) and to undertake inception discussion with the Technical Assistance funded interim managers.
Some four months back, the government of Nepal formed Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) under public-private partnership concept as ADB and other donors had been pressuring the government that water distribution responsibility in the capital be handed over to an autonomous body for improving the water supply system in the valley.
ADB provided technical assistance to help in management and operation of water services in Kathmandu Valley during KUKL's initial operation period of 18 months. Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) had been carrying out water supply work in valley in the past. The government had handed over some assets and staff of NWSC to KUKL on February.
Melamchi is designed to supply 170 million liters of water daily into the capital. The current water demand in the Valley is 250 MLD, while supply stands at only one-third of the demand.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-06-05 21:07:06 (Server Time)
KATHMANDU, June 6
A mission of Asian Development Bank (ADB) is beginning a progress review of the Melamchi Water Supply Project from Friday. The mission from the principal donor of the project will conclude on June 13, said an ADB official from its Kathmandu office.
Urban Development Specialist Gyongshim An, the mission leader, arrived in Kathmandu from ADB's headquarters in Manila on Thursday, according to the ADB official.
Gyongshim and another Urban Development Specialist Notio Saito are in the mission from Manila, while five other members of the mission will join from the Nepal Resident Mission in Kathmandu, the ADB official said.
The objectives of the mission are: review and assessment progress in implementation of institutional reforms and transition works, and follow up on pending issues raised by the Specialist Urban Development Division (SUDD) with respect to the government's assurances on restructured projects and institutional reforms.
The mission will facilitate institutional assessment in implementing sub-projects under the amended loans, discuss social safeguards and social uplift program implementation and undertake field visits to Melamchi Valley to assess the development of social programs. Likewise, other objectives of the mission are to review the progress and implementation action plan of the Technical Assistance (TA) and to undertake inception discussion with the Technical Assistance funded interim managers.
Some four months back, the government of Nepal formed Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) under public-private partnership concept as ADB and other donors had been pressuring the government that water distribution responsibility in the capital be handed over to an autonomous body for improving the water supply system in the valley.
ADB provided technical assistance to help in management and operation of water services in Kathmandu Valley during KUKL's initial operation period of 18 months. Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) had been carrying out water supply work in valley in the past. The government had handed over some assets and staff of NWSC to KUKL on February.
Melamchi is designed to supply 170 million liters of water daily into the capital. The current water demand in the Valley is 250 MLD, while supply stands at only one-third of the demand.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-06-05 21:07:06 (Server Time)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
12 fringe parties to group against biggies
BY THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, June 3
A meeting of 25-parties being being represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) concluded without entering the agenda -- formation of CA Business Advisory Committee and CA Regulations Drafting Committee.
The meeting actually didn't take place as the Maoist CA member failed to show up. The meeting ended in just two minutes. Nepali Congress leader and senior-most CA member, Kul Bahadur Gurung, who is acting as Chair of the CA, informed that the discussion would now take place a few hours before the second CA meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Representatives from larger parties immediately left the meeting hall at the Parliamentary Secretariat in Singha Durbar.
Then it was the turn of representatives from 12 small parties gathered at the place. Twelve of the total 25 parties had won no seat in the first-past-the-post electoral system. They won less than five seats under the proportional electoral system.
"Now, let's enter our [small parties'] topics," said Dr Keshav Man Shakya of Nepal Rastriya Party.
Then leaders from small parties spoke their mind. "I think we should term it as a coalition of 12 parties in the CA," said Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, Co-Chairperson of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP).
This should be for fighting against the hegemony of the 13 parties, said Chandra Bahadur Gurung of the staunch royalist party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal.
One of the leaders said, they were not even informed properly about the 25-party meeting. "I came here to participate in the meeting only after I knew about it through radio," said Pari Thapa of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified).
"I learnt the agenda of this meeting only after entering this hall," added another CA member.
Thapa said smaller parties needed to fight against larger parties as they have displayed big brotherly attitude right from the beginning of the CA. "We fought for inclusive system. But, unfortunately, the CA itself has adopted exclusive policy," Thapa said.
Biswendra Paswan of Dalit Janajati Party was of the opinion that smaller parties should unite and fight in the CA against larger parties' 'dictatorship' and 'discrimination' toward smaller parties. "We should be clear about our role in the CA," he added. Ek Nath Dhakal of Nepal Paribar Dal, echoed similar sentiment.
Likewise, Keshav Prasad Mainali of Chure Bhawar Ekta Samaj emphasized that smaller parties should not be merely witnesses who support larger parties' decisions without any role.
Now these fringe parties are thinking of forming a coalition against 'big' parties. "Those who have felt discriminated even within the 13 parties are welcome to join our coalition," said Lohani.
"Then, perhaps only three largest parties will remain there and the remaining others will join our group," added Gurung of RPP-N. They concluded that once they unite, their role in the CA would grow.
Lohani proposed to be more specific and clear about the coalition's objective. "It's clear. Number one, we should fight for inclusive policy in the CA," said, Thapa, adding, "Number two, the unity will be issue wise."
The 12 parties have 21 members in the Constituent Assembly elected under the proportional electoral system.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-06-03 18:38:41 (Server Time)
KATHMANDU, June 3
A meeting of 25-parties being being represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) concluded without entering the agenda -- formation of CA Business Advisory Committee and CA Regulations Drafting Committee.
The meeting actually didn't take place as the Maoist CA member failed to show up. The meeting ended in just two minutes. Nepali Congress leader and senior-most CA member, Kul Bahadur Gurung, who is acting as Chair of the CA, informed that the discussion would now take place a few hours before the second CA meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Representatives from larger parties immediately left the meeting hall at the Parliamentary Secretariat in Singha Durbar.
Then it was the turn of representatives from 12 small parties gathered at the place. Twelve of the total 25 parties had won no seat in the first-past-the-post electoral system. They won less than five seats under the proportional electoral system.
"Now, let's enter our [small parties'] topics," said Dr Keshav Man Shakya of Nepal Rastriya Party.
Then leaders from small parties spoke their mind. "I think we should term it as a coalition of 12 parties in the CA," said Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, Co-Chairperson of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP).
This should be for fighting against the hegemony of the 13 parties, said Chandra Bahadur Gurung of the staunch royalist party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal.
One of the leaders said, they were not even informed properly about the 25-party meeting. "I came here to participate in the meeting only after I knew about it through radio," said Pari Thapa of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified).
"I learnt the agenda of this meeting only after entering this hall," added another CA member.
Thapa said smaller parties needed to fight against larger parties as they have displayed big brotherly attitude right from the beginning of the CA. "We fought for inclusive system. But, unfortunately, the CA itself has adopted exclusive policy," Thapa said.
Biswendra Paswan of Dalit Janajati Party was of the opinion that smaller parties should unite and fight in the CA against larger parties' 'dictatorship' and 'discrimination' toward smaller parties. "We should be clear about our role in the CA," he added. Ek Nath Dhakal of Nepal Paribar Dal, echoed similar sentiment.
Likewise, Keshav Prasad Mainali of Chure Bhawar Ekta Samaj emphasized that smaller parties should not be merely witnesses who support larger parties' decisions without any role.
Now these fringe parties are thinking of forming a coalition against 'big' parties. "Those who have felt discriminated even within the 13 parties are welcome to join our coalition," said Lohani.
"Then, perhaps only three largest parties will remain there and the remaining others will join our group," added Gurung of RPP-N. They concluded that once they unite, their role in the CA would grow.
Lohani proposed to be more specific and clear about the coalition's objective. "It's clear. Number one, we should fight for inclusive policy in the CA," said, Thapa, adding, "Number two, the unity will be issue wise."
The 12 parties have 21 members in the Constituent Assembly elected under the proportional electoral system.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-06-03 18:38:41 (Server Time)
Demonstrations deluge Baneshwor, elsewhere
BY THIRA L BHUSAL / KOSH RAJ KOIRALA
KATHMANDU, May 28
Rallies and celebrations marked Kathmandu throughout Wednesday to welcome the dawn of Republican Nepal.
Thousands of cadres affiliated to various political parties, including CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress, came on to the streets in various parts of the capital city early morning today to celebrate the beginning of New Nepal sans the 240-year old institution of monarchy. They chanted slogans against monarchy and walked through the city hoisting their party flags and banners welcoming the republic.
Several groups of civil society leaders, artistes and people from different walks of life inundated the areas around International Convention Centre (ICC), New Baneshwor, the venue of Constituent Assembly (CA), pressing the ruling parties to declare implementation of federal democratic republic without delay. They sang songs, recited poems and chanted slogans in favor of republic. Earlier in the morning, they held a mass rally from Basantapur Durbar Square to New Baneshwor to mark the glorious day.
UML leaders and cadres led by senior UML leader Bamdev Gautam took out a huge rally from Maitighar and arrived outside ICC. Likewise, Maoist cadres also gathered there from several places.
As political party cadres gathered in front of ICC, dozens of media persons and ordinary public reached to the main entrance of Narayanhiti Palace in a bid to capture the historic moment of king Gyanendra leaving the palace once and for all. But they had to return empty-handed as the first CA failed to convene on time.
Keeping in view possible untoward incidents during the CA meeting, local administration deployed huge number of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel in and around BICC, Narayanhiti royal Palace and Singha Durbar. Likewise, the administration barred vehicles from plying on different road sections in the capital to beef up security. A large number of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres were also mobilized keeping in view the possibility of untoward incident.
The public, who had spontaneously gathered around BICC and several other places with expectant faces to celebrate the arrival of the new era, were seemingly frustrated as political parties failed to declare republic even hours after the scheduled time.
Meanwhile, pro-royalist group staged rally in New Road Area Wednesday afternoon. Addressing a corner meeting, Jagat Gauchan, a staunch royalist, said they will fight until death against the decision to remove the institution of monarchy through CA meeting.
What the public waiting outside ICC said?
Pavitra Parajuli Bagle, daughter of late Chhaya Devi Parajuli, a noted democracy fighter during the April uprising, said as generations of Nepalis fought against the king's regime, power should not be centralized on a single person once again. "Be it any President or Prime Minister, power must not accumulate in a single person. It must go to the people," she said.
Chhaya Devi, who established herself as a committed democratic fighter even in her eighties, died two years ago.
Beduram Neupane, Bachelor level student of Ratna Rajya Campus, TU, described it as very important moment as the country's total power that was centered on a single person has ultimately come to the people.
Neupane, who hails from Anguri VDC of Arghakhanchi district, said this situation should be further stabilized and focus must be given to development activities in the days to come.
Neupane's friend Rudra Dev Pandey, who hails from Thulapokhara of Arghakhanchi, said the governing system of the country should be based on equality among all castes and communities.
Ice cream vendor Maiya Karki, 35, from Sindhuli district, hoped the political change would bring meaningful changes for poor people as well.
Likewise, 36 year-old Man Kaji Shivakoti from Sunakhari VDC of Dolakha district, who was selling water-melon in front of ICC hall, said political parties should give priority to providing employment opportunities to the people.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-05-28 18:09:42 (Server Time)
KATHMANDU, May 28
Rallies and celebrations marked Kathmandu throughout Wednesday to welcome the dawn of Republican Nepal.
Thousands of cadres affiliated to various political parties, including CPN (Maoist), CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress, came on to the streets in various parts of the capital city early morning today to celebrate the beginning of New Nepal sans the 240-year old institution of monarchy. They chanted slogans against monarchy and walked through the city hoisting their party flags and banners welcoming the republic.
Several groups of civil society leaders, artistes and people from different walks of life inundated the areas around International Convention Centre (ICC), New Baneshwor, the venue of Constituent Assembly (CA), pressing the ruling parties to declare implementation of federal democratic republic without delay. They sang songs, recited poems and chanted slogans in favor of republic. Earlier in the morning, they held a mass rally from Basantapur Durbar Square to New Baneshwor to mark the glorious day.
UML leaders and cadres led by senior UML leader Bamdev Gautam took out a huge rally from Maitighar and arrived outside ICC. Likewise, Maoist cadres also gathered there from several places.
As political party cadres gathered in front of ICC, dozens of media persons and ordinary public reached to the main entrance of Narayanhiti Palace in a bid to capture the historic moment of king Gyanendra leaving the palace once and for all. But they had to return empty-handed as the first CA failed to convene on time.
Keeping in view possible untoward incidents during the CA meeting, local administration deployed huge number of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel in and around BICC, Narayanhiti royal Palace and Singha Durbar. Likewise, the administration barred vehicles from plying on different road sections in the capital to beef up security. A large number of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres were also mobilized keeping in view the possibility of untoward incident.
The public, who had spontaneously gathered around BICC and several other places with expectant faces to celebrate the arrival of the new era, were seemingly frustrated as political parties failed to declare republic even hours after the scheduled time.
Meanwhile, pro-royalist group staged rally in New Road Area Wednesday afternoon. Addressing a corner meeting, Jagat Gauchan, a staunch royalist, said they will fight until death against the decision to remove the institution of monarchy through CA meeting.
What the public waiting outside ICC said?
Pavitra Parajuli Bagle, daughter of late Chhaya Devi Parajuli, a noted democracy fighter during the April uprising, said as generations of Nepalis fought against the king's regime, power should not be centralized on a single person once again. "Be it any President or Prime Minister, power must not accumulate in a single person. It must go to the people," she said.
Chhaya Devi, who established herself as a committed democratic fighter even in her eighties, died two years ago.
Beduram Neupane, Bachelor level student of Ratna Rajya Campus, TU, described it as very important moment as the country's total power that was centered on a single person has ultimately come to the people.
Neupane, who hails from Anguri VDC of Arghakhanchi district, said this situation should be further stabilized and focus must be given to development activities in the days to come.
Neupane's friend Rudra Dev Pandey, who hails from Thulapokhara of Arghakhanchi, said the governing system of the country should be based on equality among all castes and communities.
Ice cream vendor Maiya Karki, 35, from Sindhuli district, hoped the political change would bring meaningful changes for poor people as well.
Likewise, 36 year-old Man Kaji Shivakoti from Sunakhari VDC of Dolakha district, who was selling water-melon in front of ICC hall, said political parties should give priority to providing employment opportunities to the people.
THE KATHMANDU POST
Posted on: 2008-05-28 18:09:42 (Server Time)
Monday, May 19, 2008
One more attraction to beautify Lumbini
BY THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, May 14
Pilgrims and tourists will find one more attraction at Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
The sacred site will have a park with a monument of Little Buddha and three ponds will be constructed there. Likewise, there will be one structure to showcase Korean culture inside the park that spreads in 12 ropani land at the South Pond inside the Lumbini Master Plan.
The park is scheduled to be inaugurated on the occasion of Buddha Purnima (full moon night), is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is expected to lay the foundation stone on May 20.
The construction of the park will cost around 30 million rupees, according to Yeom Sun Jung, Director of Korea Cultural Center (KCC). The Lumbini Development Fund has given 18 months period to complete the construction of the whole park.
The project was initiated as a part of several activities to promote Buddha's birthplace, said members of KCC.
The group led by one of the most prominent religious leaders in Korea, Reverend Sun Mook Hye Ja, is providing support to the park construction project and has planned to bring in over 7,000 Buddhist religious leaders to Nepal from Korea within a few years, according to Saroj Khanal, Director of Sun Hype Peace Academy. The Academy, KCC, and Service for Peace headed by senior political leader Ram Hari Joshi have taken initiatives to construct the park and to arrange pilgrimage in the country with support of the religious leader Hye Ja.
A pilgrimage of 300 Buddhist monks led by Hye Ja arrived on a five-day visit to Nepal on February 23 in course of their visit to 108 Buddhist Temples of the world. Joshi headed the pilgrimage organizing committee. This was the beginning of the campaign in Nepal.
The park construction project was initiated by the group as requested by PM Koirala during a meeting with its members.
Likewise, another pilgrimage of 108 monks led by Hye Ja himself is arriving in Nepal for the Buddha anniversary. The pilgrims will visit Lumbini and several other Buddhist shrines in the country.
"We want to inform more and more Koreans that Lord Buddha was born at Lumbini in Nepal," Jung said. Many Koreans still think that Buddha was born in India, according to him.
"We want to give them true information about Buddha because Koreans greatly revere Gautam Buddha, but sadly have misconception about buddha's place of birth," he added.
Many Koreans visit Nepal to view the Himalayas and other natural sights because they do not know about Lumbini and its importance, he informed. "Once Koreans know that Nepal is Buddha's birthplace, majority of them will certainly not miss a visit to Lumbini," he said. He claimed that many Koreans have shown interest in visiting Lumbini after the Korean media gave good publicity of Lumbini during the "108 temple visit" pilgrimage last February.
KATHMANDU, May 14
Pilgrims and tourists will find one more attraction at Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
The sacred site will have a park with a monument of Little Buddha and three ponds will be constructed there. Likewise, there will be one structure to showcase Korean culture inside the park that spreads in 12 ropani land at the South Pond inside the Lumbini Master Plan.
The park is scheduled to be inaugurated on the occasion of Buddha Purnima (full moon night), is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is expected to lay the foundation stone on May 20.
The construction of the park will cost around 30 million rupees, according to Yeom Sun Jung, Director of Korea Cultural Center (KCC). The Lumbini Development Fund has given 18 months period to complete the construction of the whole park.
The project was initiated as a part of several activities to promote Buddha's birthplace, said members of KCC.
The group led by one of the most prominent religious leaders in Korea, Reverend Sun Mook Hye Ja, is providing support to the park construction project and has planned to bring in over 7,000 Buddhist religious leaders to Nepal from Korea within a few years, according to Saroj Khanal, Director of Sun Hype Peace Academy. The Academy, KCC, and Service for Peace headed by senior political leader Ram Hari Joshi have taken initiatives to construct the park and to arrange pilgrimage in the country with support of the religious leader Hye Ja.
A pilgrimage of 300 Buddhist monks led by Hye Ja arrived on a five-day visit to Nepal on February 23 in course of their visit to 108 Buddhist Temples of the world. Joshi headed the pilgrimage organizing committee. This was the beginning of the campaign in Nepal.
The park construction project was initiated by the group as requested by PM Koirala during a meeting with its members.
Likewise, another pilgrimage of 108 monks led by Hye Ja himself is arriving in Nepal for the Buddha anniversary. The pilgrims will visit Lumbini and several other Buddhist shrines in the country.
"We want to inform more and more Koreans that Lord Buddha was born at Lumbini in Nepal," Jung said. Many Koreans still think that Buddha was born in India, according to him.
"We want to give them true information about Buddha because Koreans greatly revere Gautam Buddha, but sadly have misconception about buddha's place of birth," he added.
Many Koreans visit Nepal to view the Himalayas and other natural sights because they do not know about Lumbini and its importance, he informed. "Once Koreans know that Nepal is Buddha's birthplace, majority of them will certainly not miss a visit to Lumbini," he said. He claimed that many Koreans have shown interest in visiting Lumbini after the Korean media gave good publicity of Lumbini during the "108 temple visit" pilgrimage last February.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tarai violence surges post election
Use of arms becoming chronic: Police
BY THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, May 10 - Incidents of murder, kidnapping, looting and other criminal activity have seen a resurgence in the eastern and central tarai districts after a brief hiatus during the Constituent Assembly elections.
The trend comes with a clear escalation of violence by various armed groups operating in the tarai in the post-CA election period. The government had mobilized special task forces in the tarai districts and security agencies in Nepal and India worked hand in hand to curb violence and criminal activity along the border areas during the CA poll. The Nepal-India border was also sealed for a few days during the poll.
Following relaxation in security after the election, at least 14 persons have been killed, more than 30 abducted and scores of other sustained injuries in separate incidents in the 13 eastern and central tarai districts. Fifteen incidents of bomb blast also took place in these districts.
In the eastern region alone, and mainly in Siraha and Saptari, nine people were killed, 18 abducted and a bank robbed after April 10. Ten persons sustained bullet and other injuries and four bomb explosions took place, according to police records. Similarly, two other cases of robbery and 14 incidents of looting were reported in these districts during the same period. Police in the region seized three weapons in connection with the incidents.
Likewise, in the central region, at least three people were shot dead in separate incidents after the CA poll. Nepal Police in the region recorded 11 cases of abduction, 14 incidents of bomb explosion and four bomb disposals. At least four of the abducted persons were rescued by police. Several people were injured in six other separate attacks in several of the districts.
In Janakpur, an accountant at Janakpur Cigarette Factory, Shrawan Kumar Shrestha, was found shot dead Wednesday morning at Icchyapur along a river bank. Shrestha, 52, had been abducted four days ago. Abinash Mukti of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Rajan Mukti Group) has owned up to the killing. In Rupandehi, a group of armed and unidentified assailants shot and killed a construction worker at Bodhbar-1 Bishnupura, Wednesday midnight. The deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Arjun Bohara of Krishnapur, Chitwan.
Deputy Inspector General Ravindra Pratap Shah informed that criminal elements have begun to rear their head again in Siraha and Saptari. "The present situation is comparable to what it was till a week before the election," Shah said.
According to DIG Kiran Gautam, the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) and other armed groups have begun creating trouble lately. "It is mainly the issuing of threats over the phone to exact money that is increasing," he informed.
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police, Keshav Baral, said small arms imported from India are being used in killings, kidnappings, looting and other criminal activity.
"People have learnt to make improvised bombs and other homemade weapons and the use of these is increasing," said Baral, adding, "Our society will suffer for a long time from this chronic problem." AIG Baral said that a political decision is needed and the government should come up with concrete policies and legal provisions to resolve the problem for good.
Posted on: 2008-05-09 19:00:13 (Server Time)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Only surviving Dura speaker keen to teach
BY THIRA L BHUSAL
KATHMANDU, March 28
Kiu means water. Rilu means cow. Gosay means ox. And, railo means nanny goat in the Dura language, octogenarian Soma Devi Dura explained.
Eighty-three-year-old Soma is the only surviving native speaker of this indigenous language of Nepal, which falls under the Tibeto-Burman group, according to linguists and researchers. It used to be spoken in parts of Lamjung and Tanahun districts in western Nepal.
According to the experts, without Soma, this indigenous language would have been as dead as the dodo.
However, Soma the only resource person with primary knowledge of the language, Soma, is keen to teach it to others.
“How can a once vibrant language die out. It will not,” a very confident Soma said, adding, “It’s so good. It’s better than Nepali and other languages. I can teach it to anyone.”
However, she lamented that though she tried to teach it to several members of her family, relatives and neighbors, no one paid attention. “Every time I spoke in our mother tongue, everyone would frown at me and become annoyed,” she said, adding, “How can you continue with language, when there is no one to listen to it being spoken, and speak it back to you.”
These days, she is teaching Dura to one of her grandchildren. “Though I tried to teach many, only one’s learning it seriously,” she said. Though Soma can’t remember exactly when she last held a conversation in Dura with anyone she says it’s been decades.
She learnt the language from her grandmother. Locals from not only the Dura community but also from other ethnic groups spoke in this language. “Even people from other castes used to speak Dura,” she says recalling her childhood days.
But, gradually the language became endangered as a new generation grew up not speaking it. According to her. “They felt uneasy speaking this language.”
She can speak Nepali, Dura and Gurung languages. According to her, many words in this language are similar to Gurung language.
“Water and nanny goat is same in both languages. But, ox is different,” she said. It’s not only language but also several other customs and practices that are similar between the Dura and Gurung communities, according to her.
Her memory is very sharp. She speaks Dura more fluently than Nepali.
Soma’s health condition has become of special concern not only to her own kin but also to society in general.
One has to shout to make her hear. But, her eyesight is still sound.
Some linguists, researchers and university professors are happy that Soma’s health has not shown any serious problem so far. Soma is more energetic and lively than one would expect at that age.
According to the government, the Dura population is nearly 5,000. “But, our study has showed that the number of Dura people is actually 5,676,” said Sakha Dura, central member of Dura Sewa Samaj.
Currently, they live in 12 districts - Lamjung, Kaski, Tanahu, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rautahat, Okhaldhunga, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Doti, Kailali and Banke.
Researchers recently brought Soma to Kathmandu for their study. Kedar Bilash Nagila of Central Department of Linguistics of Tribhuvan University is doing a PHD in the Dura language.
“She is the only person who can be defined as an ideal Dura native speaker,” Nagila said.
Migration, mixing with people from other communities, and the sway of Nepali language are some of the major factors that have jeopardized the Dura language.
KATHMANDU, March 28
Kiu means water. Rilu means cow. Gosay means ox. And, railo means nanny goat in the Dura language, octogenarian Soma Devi Dura explained.
Eighty-three-year-old Soma is the only surviving native speaker of this indigenous language of Nepal, which falls under the Tibeto-Burman group, according to linguists and researchers. It used to be spoken in parts of Lamjung and Tanahun districts in western Nepal.
According to the experts, without Soma, this indigenous language would have been as dead as the dodo.
However, Soma the only resource person with primary knowledge of the language, Soma, is keen to teach it to others.
“How can a once vibrant language die out. It will not,” a very confident Soma said, adding, “It’s so good. It’s better than Nepali and other languages. I can teach it to anyone.”
However, she lamented that though she tried to teach it to several members of her family, relatives and neighbors, no one paid attention. “Every time I spoke in our mother tongue, everyone would frown at me and become annoyed,” she said, adding, “How can you continue with language, when there is no one to listen to it being spoken, and speak it back to you.”
These days, she is teaching Dura to one of her grandchildren. “Though I tried to teach many, only one’s learning it seriously,” she said. Though Soma can’t remember exactly when she last held a conversation in Dura with anyone she says it’s been decades.
She learnt the language from her grandmother. Locals from not only the Dura community but also from other ethnic groups spoke in this language. “Even people from other castes used to speak Dura,” she says recalling her childhood days.
But, gradually the language became endangered as a new generation grew up not speaking it. According to her. “They felt uneasy speaking this language.”
She can speak Nepali, Dura and Gurung languages. According to her, many words in this language are similar to Gurung language.
“Water and nanny goat is same in both languages. But, ox is different,” she said. It’s not only language but also several other customs and practices that are similar between the Dura and Gurung communities, according to her.
Her memory is very sharp. She speaks Dura more fluently than Nepali.
Soma’s health condition has become of special concern not only to her own kin but also to society in general.
One has to shout to make her hear. But, her eyesight is still sound.
Some linguists, researchers and university professors are happy that Soma’s health has not shown any serious problem so far. Soma is more energetic and lively than one would expect at that age.
According to the government, the Dura population is nearly 5,000. “But, our study has showed that the number of Dura people is actually 5,676,” said Sakha Dura, central member of Dura Sewa Samaj.
Currently, they live in 12 districts - Lamjung, Kaski, Tanahu, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rautahat, Okhaldhunga, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Doti, Kailali and Banke.
Researchers recently brought Soma to Kathmandu for their study. Kedar Bilash Nagila of Central Department of Linguistics of Tribhuvan University is doing a PHD in the Dura language.
“She is the only person who can be defined as an ideal Dura native speaker,” Nagila said.
Migration, mixing with people from other communities, and the sway of Nepali language are some of the major factors that have jeopardized the Dura language.
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