DESHBASI देशबासी

Chief of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD), DIG Ganesh Raj Rai, has announced that he would resign from the post if he was found guilty of irregularity while conducting service.

In a press conference organised in the Capital on Wednesday, Rai claimed there has not been instance of irregularity in the Division and the police posts under the MTPD.

DIG Rai claimed there was conspiracy against him. “I am the person who has been working even on weekdays for the last eight month since he assumed the post of MTPD chief,” he added. “This conspiracy was plotted while I took a

week’s leave in order to take my father to India for his cancer treatment.”

He further said the collection of three times more revenue during his tenure is enough to nullify the allegation of irregularity.

Rai went on to say that the Department of Transportation Management (DTM) charges fine over Rs 200 in which the traffic police do not have any role.

He said it is ridiculous to blame Traffic Police for using duplicate bill as the DTM itself issues the receipt bill in case of incidents of drunk driving.

Moreover, DIG Rai claimed he does not even have a house in Kathmandu and leads a simple life. Attributing his father for inspiring to join the police service, he said: “some of my junior colleagues have bungalow in Kathmandu, and I am residing in a rented apartment at my relative’s house. If I have collected illicit money, why would I have to live in a rented house?”.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/en/

Baidhya faction forms parallel youth front

2012-04-24T09:27:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu,

The hard-line faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidhya has formed people’s volunteer bureau similar to the party’s youth wing Young Communist League (YCL). A meeting of the Baiday faction, held in an undeclared central office in Kupondole, Lalitpur, formed the bureau with standing committee member Netra Bikram Chand as in-charge.

The bureau was formed in the presence of Vice President Mohan Baidhya and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, among other hardliner leaders. This bureau had already been formed but was inactive due to the protests by YCL leaders.

Former division assistant commander Udaya Bahadur Chalaune, Ramlal Roka and Nep Bahadur Kunwar are also the member of the reconstituted bureau.

Likewise, a 17-member committee has been formed including YCL leaders Uma Bhujel and Sabitri Dura as the members.

-http://www.ekantipur.com/en/

Maoists to stick to its guns

2012-04-23T15:12:00.002-07:00

Kathmandu,

The UCPN (Maoist) has decided to remain firm on its stance on some of the key contentious issues to be adopted in the new constitution.

Maoist party decided to remain firm on the form of governance and state restructuring in the new constitution. Political parties have agreed on the other issues of electoral system, citizenship and judiciary.

The meeting between Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, also the Vice Chairman of the party, on Monday morning agreed to remain firm on their stance on forms of governance and state restructuring. PM Bhattarai had discussed with the Coordinator of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha Bijay Kumar Gachhadar today to garner support for the same.

PM”s political advisor Devendra Poudel said that the Maoist would not budge away from its stance on the issues. “Maoist will make no compromise in these issues,” he said.

Maoist has been pushing for presidential system of governance contrasting to that of Nepali Congress’s parliamentary system and the UML’s stance on mix system.

Similarly, Maoist has proposed federating the country into nine states on the basis of identity and capability. However, NC and UML are in favour of 6-8 federal units.

-ekantipur.com/en

Major-party talks inconclusive

2012-04-23T15:05:00.002-07:00

Kathmandu,

The talks between major political parties aimed at forging consensus on the disputed issues of constitution drafting ended inconclusively on Monday.

Leaders of UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha convened at Constituent Assembly (CA) building in New

Baneshwor as part of their last-ditch effort to hammer out an acceptable compromise on the disputes over the future constitution.

Earlier in the day, the parties mustered courage and sought two more days to forge consensus on the key issues of new constitution. The Constituent Assembly (CA) was cancelled after the parties sought for more time to forge consensus on the contentious issues. The CA meeting was to settle the contentious issues through voting.

Leaders hoped that they would be able to settle the disputes over the new constitution. They have been holding discussions on the issues such as electoral system, forms of governance that have already been agreed upon.

Though there is an agreement to adopt a mixed model of governance, the parties have not been able to arrive at consensus on the number within their own party.

The Nepali Congress have proposed that the number of parliament members should not exceed 300—with 105 to 205 to be elected directly, while the Maoists have been saying that the number of parliamentarians should be around 400 including 240 to be elected directly.

They requested for more time citing that they were inching closer to consensus on the issues. The parties said they have almost reached an agreement on judiciary, citizenship provision and electoral system. However, they are still divided on the issues of state restructuring and forms of governance.

The Business Advisory Committee of the CA granted two more days to the dispute resolution committee to arrive at compromise. The contentious issues would be settled through voting at the Constituent Assembly meeting slated for Thursday if the parties fail to forge consensus.-ekantipur.com/en

Govt drafts Action Plan on 'scientific land reform'

2012-04-22T13:34:00.005-07:00

Kathmandu,
The government has drafted an action plan that aims to reform and manage lands in a "scientific" way to implement the commitment of political parties in the Comprehensive Peace Accord of 2006.

The Action Plan 2012, prepared on the basis of the recommendations of two previous commissions on land reforms, hopes to minimize unequal distribution of lands and put in a new policy on tenancy and ownership rights.

Officials estimate around Rs 50 billion will be required to implement the plan which was prepared five years after the signing of the epoch-making peace deal of 2006.

“We have forwarded the Action Plan to the Finance Ministry and Ministry of Law and Justice for their necessary consent,” said Minister for Land Reforms and Management (MoLRM) Bhim Prasad Gautam. “The MoLRM will soon send the Action Plan to
the cabinet for endorsement.”

Spokesperson of the MoLRM Krishna Bahadur Raut said the Action Plan has made a 13-point recommendation based on reports submitted by two separate High Level Scientific Land Reforms Commissions headed by Maoist leader Haribol Gajurel and by CPN-UML leader Ghanendra Basnet.

According the plan, the state will set up a land bank where willing landowners and buyers can deposit and buy lands respectively. It will also compensate people whose land were seized by the government for holding land over the ceiling fixed by the law. Similarly it will sell land to landless people who are required to make the payment over a certain time frame. The Action Plan also aims to manage assets and lands owned across the country by Guthi (trusts).

The Action Plan has made recommendation to the government to formulate and implement a national land use policy and land policy so that the scientific land reforms and management can be set in place on a long-term basis.

Similarly, the Action Plan has suggested the government to manage the land usage and put fallow lands to productive use. It also calls on the government to preserve state owned and public lands across the country.

The Action Plan proposes to allow foreign companies to own land in Nepal for industrial and business purpose but bans on selling to individuals.

Under the title ´Land Administration and Management´ the Action Plan has suggested legal and judicial reforms, administrative and technological reforms.

There will be different land taxes as per the classification of lands on the basis of its usages, according to the Action Plan.

“Once the Action Plan is endorsed by a cabinet meeting the government will form a taskforce on data collection regarding lands,” said Gautam, adding, “Then, the government will work for ceiling on lands.”

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government had formed 10 members High Level Scientific Land Reforms Commission headed by Gajurel on 10 December, 2008. After his government collapsed, Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had formed 12 members commission headed by Basnet on 7 October, 2009.

As none of reports were implemented the present government formed a seven member committee headed by Minister for Land Reforms and Management on 21 December, 2011to draft Action Plan to implement the recommendations made by Gajurel and Basnet Commissions.

Public suffer as NC, UML men fight on roads

2012-04-21T11:27:00.004-07:00

Kathmandu,

As leaders of their mother parties never get tired of saying "we will stay away from violence", party unions continue to fight a never-ending war even at public places.

That is exactly the kind of situation that the student unions of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have found themselves in after their duel at Pashupati Multiple Campus.

Their unrestrained actions leave commoners confused and prompt them to

laugh up their sleeve asking why they have to repeatedly bear the brunt of inter-union fights.

Unconcerned over inconvenience caused by their actions to the public, cadres of UML's All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU) and Nepal Student Union (NSU) of Congress staged protests against each other at different places in the Capital on Saturday.

NSU activists even burnt effigies of the prime minister and the home minister saying that the government has not arrested Ain Bahadur Mahar who was allegedly involved in attacking their leaders at the campus with khukuris and gunshots.

Around a dozen of union cadres were injured in the clash on Thursday. Among them is Ramesh Khadka who is undergoing treatment at Om Hospital. The NC student wing has demanded ouster of Inspector Atul Raj Bohara, chief at Metropolitan Police Sector Gaushala claiming that he is trying to hush up the case. "Mahar who led the attack also opened fire at the campus, but Bohara is trying to prove him innocent," claimed NSU coordinator Ranjeet Karna.

On the other hand, ANNFSU activists demonstrated against the local administration demanding release of Bijay Rai who was arrested in connection with the incident. Some 200 cadres led by UML central committee member Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal took out a rally in Ratnapark. ANNFSU has even gone a step further by issuing a two-day ultimatum for Rai's release. The union has been claiming the clash was inevitable as NSU men used gangsters to bar their leaders from entering the college.

‘NC punished by Madhesis in CA election’

2012-04-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu,

Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said NC lost in the Constituent Assembly election because of Madhesi people’s punishment.

Addressing an assembly organised by the party in Rautahat district on Saturday, Deuba said that the NC leaders would not dare to insult the Madhesis from now on. He also assured that the new constitution would ensure federalism.

Saying that the weapons of the UCPN (Maoist) were under the disposal of the government, Deuba claimed that the new constitution would be promulgated by May 27, as there was no hindrance in the constitution drafting process.

Moreover, Deuba went on to blame the Madhesi leaders for disseminating rumors that NC was against Madhes and said that the party would now on work in accordance with the sentiments of Madhesi people.

NC leaders Bimalendra Nidhi, Gagan Thapa, among others, also stroke the same chord as Deuba saying that NC would not go against the Madhes.

Maoist hardliner demand probe into army mobilisation

2012-04-20T14:22:00.004-07:00

Kathmandu,

The hard-line faction of the Maoist party has demanded a probe into the April 10 decision of the Special Committee to bring Maoist combatants under the control of the national army through its mobilisation in PLA cantonments.

Addressing a meeting of the parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) on Friday, Maoist lawmaker Pampha Bhusal claimed that the committee's decision was unconstitutional as it had not been endorsed by the National Security Council or the President.

“Since the government has not fulfilled the constitutional provision, I urge the SAC to investigate the matter,” Bhusal said. The Baidya faction has said the decision is against the constitutional provision. At the meeting, CPN-UML lawmakers said the issue raised by Bhusal was a serious one but there should be a study to see if it is within the SAC's jurisdiction. SAC Chairman Ram Nath Dhakal said they will discuss the issue with experts before taking a decision.

GJM in dilemma over felicitation in Nepal

2012-04-19T04:03:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI,

The reported plan of a little-known Nepali organisation to felicitate chief of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Bimal Gurung later this month in Kathmandu has put this powerful force of the Darjeeling hills in a dilemma.

Confirming the situation, GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri informed The Post that they will write to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking permission to go to Nepal to accept the felicitation by the Nepali organisation ‘Himali Cultural Group’.

The group reportedly wrote a letter to Gurung some days ago, inviting him to Nepal to accept an award on April 28 in honour of his contribution to ‘upholding the Nepali culture’. Giri claimed that President Ram Baran Yadav would confer the award though it is not formally mentioned in the letter.

“The Himali Cultural Group wrote to us some five days ago. However, it is only verbal communication that the President will honour our party chief,” said Giri.

A report carried on Thursday by the Indian daily The Telegraph states that ‘receiving an award from a neighbouring country like Nepal would not have raised eyebrows in case of any other Indian citizen but the GJM’s statehood agitation which centred on a different identity for Indian Gorkhas has put the party in a spot’.

In 1995, when Subash Ghising—the head of Gorkha National Liberation Front—was invited to Nepal for a programme organised by a group called Karnali Mukti Morcha, it had created brouhaha. Later, the Nepal government itself did not allow the programme to take place.

Mastermind behind journo murder surrenders

2012-04-19T03:57:00.004-07:00

KAKADVITTA,

Alleged mastermind behind the murder of Jhapa-based journalist Yadav Poudel surrendered before the police administration on Tuesday.

Madan Rai, the main suspect in Poudel’s murder surrendered at Area Police Office in Kakadvitta at about 4 this afternoon.

Poudel was killed by an unidentified group at Birtamode in Jhapa district on Arpril 3. His body was found outside a guesthouse with his throat slit, bruises on his face and a fractured arm.

PLA integration: Army wants directorate structure finalised first

2012-04-18T06:56:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu,

The Army on Tuesday said it cannot start the recruitment process of former Maoist combatants until the structure—leadership and size—of the general directorate is finalised at the political level. The Army also said the selection process of combatants could be carried out, but that training will take place only after the structure of the directorate is finalised.

In an informal meeting with members of the Special Committee, Army officials said the directorate should be under a lieutenant general as it is a special unit for peacekeeping and has broad mandates including disaster management, infrastructure development, industrial security, forest and environment security.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have, however, said it should be under a major general.

An NA team led by Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung also requested the committee to endorse the vacancy for the general directorate to speed up the integration process. The seven-point agreement signed on April 14 says the structure and leadership of the directorate will be finalised once the NA completes the selection of combatants eligible for integration. The committee said the Military Act will be enforced on combatants once they go to the barracks for training.

“We will take a decision on issues once we get the actual number of Maoist combatants opting for integration,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

The November 1 deal commits to integrate a maximum of 6,500 combatants in the Army, but the number has decreased to around 3,000 as combatants started opting for voluntary retirement.

Parties have earlier reached an informal understanding to appoint a lieutenant general to lead the general directorate and appoint a brigadier to head each of the directorates.

As the number of combatants opting for integration decreased and the size of the directorate is going to be relatively small, there is confusion about its leadership and size. Maoist leader Barsa Man Pun said that though the number has decreased, the directorate should be led by a lieutenant general as it is going to be formed under special circumstances.

Committee members also held consultations with Acting Chief of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Kayo Devi Yami on the selection procedure of Maoist combatants.

The Special Committee also suggested the PSC to not accept combatants who have been involved in grave human rights violations during the insurgency, but give due concession to those who have sustained minor injuries.

Retirement process ends in six camps

KATHMANDU: The voluntary retirement process of PLA combatants has completed in six of the seven division camps.

As of Tuesday, 6,177 of the 9,705 combatants opted to retire from the PLA. Our correspondents reported that among those who chose retirement were 545 of the 796 combatants under the first division camp in Ilam, 446 of the 805 in the Sindhuli-based second division, 1,587 of the 2,214 in the Chitwan-based third division and 796 of the 1,282 in the Nawalparasi-based fourth division.

In the Rolpa-based fifth division, 740 of the 1,287 combatants went for the retirement option; while in the Surkhet-based sixth division camp, 987 of 1,559 combatants chose the scheme. The voluntary retirement process in the Kailali-based seventh division camp is expected to complete on Wednesday. As of Tuesday, 1,076 of the 1,762 combatants from the division have chosen retirement.

NFIN protests against 7-state proposal

2012-04-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu

Accusing the major political parties of trying to agree on seven federal provinces in the new constitution, the National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) staged hour-long sit-ins outside the central offices of three major political parties.

They handed over memorandums to the major parties–UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, demanding that the federal provinces should be delineated on the basis of the proposal by State Restructuring Committee. The umbrella body of 56 different ethnic groups took out rallies outside the offices of major political parties.

“The states should be formed on the basis of caste, language, and culture. Religious tolerance, inclusive state, and the federal system

should be the basis for restructuring. The recent talks between major parties at a hotel instead of Constituent Assembly, smacks of conspiracy,” said NFIN Chairman Raj Kumar Lekhi Tharu.

Furthermore, NFIN has announced phase-wise protests programmes that include sit-ins at the residences of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala, and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.

Moreover, NFIN has planned for General Assemblies, torch rallies, motorcycle rallies, and so forth across the nation.

'Ready to sacrifice life for identity-based federalism'

2012-04-17T09:09:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu,

Minister for Federal Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Constituent Assembly and Culture Gopal Kirati has warned of dire consequences if the leaders of the major political parties do not agree on the identity-based federalism.

Taking the names of his party-UCPN (Maoist)--Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal at the Reporters Club in the Capital on Tuesday, Minister Kirati remarked the leaders will not get a piece of land to keep their feet if they look for an alternative to the identity-based federalism.

Minister Kirati said he was ready to even sacrifice his life for the identity-based federal structure. He also remarked that there should be at least 11 federal states. “States lower than 11 will not be accepted,” said Kirati. “I am ready to make any sacrifice for that,” he added.

He also warned that the Maoists will severe its ties with the NC and UML if they agreed upon eight-state model.

“If the parties agree to the eight federal states, Maoist’s relation with the NC and UML will be over. It will not be accepted and the country will plunge into deep crisis,” said Kirati.

Journey we’d started from Delhi has ended: Dahal

2012-04-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the political journey began from New Delhi based on the 12-point understanding has reached its conclusion with the handover of PLA command to the national army.

This understanding signed between the erstwhile Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoist party in New Delhi with India’s ‘active support’ some seven years ago, drew the course of ongoing political process while dethroning the king and establishing the Constituent Assembly.
“It is a matter of pride and a happy moment that PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is going to be a part of the national army,” Dahal told The Hindu, an Indian daily. “As the chairman of the party
which led the process, I feel I got an opportunity to fulfil my responsibility. The journey that began in Delhi with the 12-point deal has now concluded.”

Talking at length about India’s role in Nepal’s political process, Dahal said there has been certain freshness in relationship between New Delhi and Nepali Maoists as well as a greater understanding of each other’s concerns in the past year-and-a half.

“Right now, India wants to see the conclusion of peace and constitution-drafting processes, political stability and development in Nepal. I don’t see India having other motive,” Dahal said. He told The Hindu that an appropriate balance between India and China is important, however quickly added Kathmandu has a “special relationship” with Delhi.

Hope for national unity govt

Maoist Chairman Dahal also said that a national unity government should be formed under the current prime minister till the peace process gets

completed and agreement on the fundamentals of the new constitution is reached.

“On the day of constitution promulgation itself, we do not have any objection to even a Nepali Congress-led government,” he argued.

He said the differences on form of governance have been more or less resolved. “An all-party taskforce submitted a proposal that there should be a directly elected president, and a PM elected by the parliament with power sharing between the two. This is the meeting point,” Dahal stated.

'Ghost' in 'spooky' New Road house has all on their toes

2012-04-16T13:44:00.002-07:00

Kathmandu

Traffic went haywire and business saw a downturn at the Pipal Bot area in New Road here on Monday, as people flocked in droves to witness what some called a "ghost" in a "haunted" building.

People stood in awe outside the four-storey grey-coloured building just opposite the Pipal Bot and beside the Ranjana Galli entrance.

In what later turned out to be a cock-and-bull story, the so-called phantom reportedly manhandled Dipak Maskey, the owner of the “haunted house”, that, according to locals, is empty for many years.

Rumour mills started churning and people said Maskey was slapped several times "by no one" when he tried to open his shop at around 11:30 in the morning. The houseowner was about to hand over a shop at the ground floor of the building to a new tenant when it all started.

With a view to convincing the new tenant that all spooky rumours concerning the house were fake, he had invited the media as well as some Vastu experts.

However, his bid to prove that the house was never haunted was all ruined after people started to huddle around TV journalists gathered there. As the crowd swelled and the minutes ticked away into hours, the baseless assumption that there was a ghost throwing a tantrum in the house filled the air.

A store has been selling watches and sunglasses in the shop for the past six years. According to Ranjit Rai, a salesman in the store, which shifted to an adjoining building 22 days ago, nothing unsusual happened during their six years of stay in the building.

“No ghost lives in our house,” said Sangita Maskey, Dipak's wife.

The ghost rumour that spread like wildfire turned everything in the area topsy-turvy, while also forcing police to interfere.

“Nothing happened as was claimed,” giggled 62-year-old Roshan Lal, the owner of a music shop, adjoining the “haunted building”. “This is very funny. Everything is happening right under our noses and outsiders are simply spreading rumours, giving twists and turns to this non-existent story.”

According to Psychologist Ganga Pathak, the hoax had much to do with psychological factors. “People rely less on their intellect and more on rumours when they are in a mass,” she said. “Another reason could be the people's phobic state of being jobless.”

According to DSP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, Spokesperson of the Metropolitan Police Range (MPR) Kathmandu, police had to spring into action after the crowd started obstructing traffic in the area. (Source: ekantipur.com/en)

No politics please, new code tells combatants

2012-04-15T15:33:00.003-07:00

Kathmandu

The Special Committee has enforced a 12-point code of conduct for former Maoist combatants, barring them from engaging in any political activity inside cantonments.

The code that came into effect in all the 15 cantonment sites on Friday asks PLA combatants to maintain discipline and follow the Nepal Army rules. The new policy comes in the wake of the government's decision to transfer the chain of command of the combatants, weapons and the cantonment sites to the Army.

The code of conduct urges both the combatants and the Army rank and file to consider the sensitiveness of peace and conflict and requires them to honour each other. It also asks both the sides to not be biased and refrain from resenting the past and making provocative statements.

"The concept of two armies has ceased after the army integration deal. The new code of conduct is an interim arrangement to create uniformity and harmony among the combatants and the Nepal Army (personnel)," Special Committee Coordinator Balananda Sharma said.

Around 1,400 Army personnel are deployed in cantonments following the cantonment handover last week.

The code further instructs Army officers and PLA commanders to hear grievances, if any, of the combatants and resolve them accordingly. It also stresses on the proper use of physical infrastructure in the camps, which is now the property of the government.

The code says activities in the cantonments should be based on the programmes prepared in coordination of the commander of the Army deployed there. It bars combatants from conducting political orientations, debates or gatherings and urges them not to carry out any activity that will adversely affect the local community.

The code of conduct also urges the combatants to follow the Interim Constitution of 2006, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other agreements signed among parties on the supervision and management of the combatants. It says that the Army will be responsible for the security of the cantonments and states that the cantonments will remain as Army barracks until the completion of the integration process.

The code also says that only arms and ammunition belonging to the Army and the authority designated by it can be stored in the cantonments.

Meanwhile, the Special Committee is all set to introduce a new dress code for combatants who opt for integration. "The combatants will give up the combat fatigue and insignia given to them by the Maoists once the voluntary retirement process completes. There cannot be a military in two uniforms now," said Secretariat coordinator Sharma.- ekantipur.com/en

Pashupatinath annual income crosses Rs 50m

2012-04-14T11:56:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu,

Six days after the authorities counted the money offered in Pashupatinath for the first time ever in history, calculations suggest that the temple’s daily earning stands at around Rs 135,000 on average.

Excluding festivals and special occasions, if the same rate is maintained, the yearly income of Pashupatinath could be at least Rs 50 million.

According to Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Director Ramesh Upreti, money offered in the temple is counted twice a day, based on the two-time major prayer schedules.

It is mainly during the prayers in the morning (8 am to 2 pm) and evening (5 pm to 8 pm) that the devotees offer money to the deity stationed on the main temple premises of Pashupatinath.

After counting the amount collected during the morning session of prayers, the sum is deposited in a Nepal Investment Bank (NIB) account. The money collected during evening is counted on the same day after 8 pm and deposited the other day in the same account.

According to officials, almost one third of the money is collected during the morning prayers.

Gates to the premises of the main temple are opened at 4 am everyday. However, after priests have conducted regular prayers in secrecy, four doors of the temple are opened at 8 am, marking the beginning of morning prayers for the public.

After the gates are closed at 2 pm, the collected money is counted and subsequently deposited in bank.

Before the transparency of monetary offerings was established, the temple priests—Bhatta and Bhandari—used to divide the money among themselves without anyone else’s consent.

Now that the priests’ hold over the monetary offerings has been lifted, Bhatta, Bhandari, and all other sects of holy men (Bishet and Rairakami) working at the main temple of Pashupatinath will be provided fixed salaries like government officials under PADT.

According to PADT officials, though it has not yet been decided what is to be done with the collected money, the sum will be utilised for the development of the holy shrine.

“With the collected money to be invested for Pashupatinath’s further development, the abode of lord Shiva is likely to go purer in the days to come,” said PADT Treasurer Narottam Vaidya.

I won’t sign statute that smacks of disintegration: Prez

2012-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has remarked that he would not sign the new constitution if it smacks of disintegration while restructuring the country.

He said that it is the responsibility of the head of the state to promulgate the new constitution and that he would under no circumstances support the federalism that reeks of schism.

“We will remain Nepalis, only if Nepal remains,” said the President, speaking at an inauguration of a temple at Kanpur in Kavre district on Friday.

The president, however, said that the nation should go for federalism in order to maintain the national integrity. He added that the country should not adopt the federalism model that would trigger disintegration.

“The bottom-line is that the nation should not disintegrate while delineating the federal states.” He stressed that the Nepali people should not tolerate the situation in which the country moves towards the brink of split.

President Yadav said that federal states should not be carved only on the basis of caste, language and colour because the Nepali people have been living in harmony.

Yadav, on the occasion, said he was constantly coordinating with the four major political forces of the country. He also urged the major political parties to work together for the new constitution.

According to the Interim Constitution provision, the new constitution would be promulgated after the president puts his signature on it.

Cards replacing cash in shoppers’ wallets

2012-04-11T04:18:00.002-07:00

Kathmandu,

Usages of plastic cards (debit/credit cards) have increased impressively in retail shopping, paying bills at hotels and restaurants.

Traders attribute the surge to the increment in the number of card holders and awareness among the people about card usage. “The trend of using debit/credit cards while shopping is increasing remarkably,” said Panu Poudel, head of operation at Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket, the country’s largest retail chain. “Professionals, expats, tourists are among the users of plastic money.”

According to Poudel, currently, around 20-25 percent of shoppers at Bhat-Bhateni use cards, up from around 12 percent the last year.

To encourage payments through cards, the department recently conducted a month-long campaign, in which it provided a 10 percent discount on payment through Visa cards. Bhat-Bhateni incurs a service charge of 2.5 percent to establish plastic money as a prominent mode of payment at its stores. “It is an easy mode of payment. It saves time of both buyers and sellers. This is why we are promoting plastic money,” Poudel said, adding that it also helps people who don’t carry enough cash. Going by the current trend, Pouldel feels that the percentage of Bhat-Bhateni shoppers using cards would reach up to 50 percent in the next four-five years.

According to Antim Ranjit, branding and purchase manager at Big Mart Department Store, around 40 percent customers at Big Mart’s Lazimpat branch use debit/credit cards to make payments. “As 80 percent of our customers in Lazimpat outlet are foreigners and high-profile people, the trend of using plastic money at this outlet is really high,” he said.

Same is the case in the hospitality sector. According to Tejendra Nath Shrestha, president of Restaurants and Bars Association of Nepal and the owner of Ying Yang and Third Eye restaurants, around 30-35 percent transactions at his restaurants are done through cards. “While almost all foreigners pay by debit/credit cards, Nepalis are slowly imitating them and the number is growing notably,” Shrestha said. “Mostly foreigners and high-income people pay by credit cards, while those with limited income use debit cards.”

Shrestha feels plastic money has the potential to match the uses of hard cash in the near future if financial intuitions focus on promoting the technology even in small retail stores.

The use of plastic money is also growing in retail outlets. According to Sachin Khanal, store manager at Store One, one of the famous clothing outlets in Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, around 10 percent of transaction at the store is done through debit/credit cards. “We are witnessing around 8-10 transactions a day through plastic money,” Khanal said, adding that the trend of carrying hard cash is slowly declining among working people.

Sanima Bank

Sanima Bank launched debit card service in 2008 and currently has 25,000 card users and a network of four ATMs. The bank maintains only four ATMs, but its customers can use any ATM under the SCT network without paying a transaction fee. “We bear all the transaction charges of our customers,” said Sunil Khatiwada, business development officer of Sanima Bank. “In this way, we are managing a cost effective way of providing card service to our customers.”

The bank also offers mobile banking service to make balance inquiries. Customers using the service receive the balance and withdrawal through the mobile banking service and the bank plans to provide transaction facility in the future. The bank is, however, reluctant to provide credit card facilities to its customer as there is no tracking mechanism of customers. “Also, the country does not have a credit bureau with a database of credit,” said Khatiwada. “So we do not have plans to launch credit cards in the near future.”

Kist Bank

Kist Bank has been offering debit cards since 2005 from its 80 ATM counters across the country. More than 190,000 customers of the bank are being provided the service through SCT and the Kist Payment Network.

Kist is planning to launch Visa debit card service from May. “We have already received membership from Visa International Associate for the service,” said BN Gharti, deputy manager of the bank. According to him, they will start the credit card facility shortly after they receive the Visa debit card.

Apart from the card service, Kist Bank has been offering internet banking services from the last three years. According to Gharti, the bank is providing services like transaction statement, balance inquiry, funds transfer and utility bill payment to its customers. “Similarly, customers can also ask the bank for services like cheque book and disabling one’s account along with fund transfers of a customer to another using internet banking,” said Gharti.

The bank has also come up with mobile wallet service. “It offers all the services of internet banking using a mobile phone.” He claims that the bank is among the few to provide funds transfer service under mobile and internet banking.

Sunrise Bank

Sunrise Bank offers Visa debit cards—domestic and international—for the last two years. Besides providing the service through its own network, the bank also has a tie-up with SCT and NPN, a network of Nepal Investment Bank Limited. A customer is charged Rs 20 for each transaction conducted through NPN.

Apart from Visa cards, the bank issues travel cards which allow withdrawal up to $2,500 at a time. Sunrise also has mobile banking service—Sunrise m-banking. “Customers can pay utility bills and transfer funds through m-banking,” said Anis Tamrakar, head of the bank’s card centre.

Sunrise has halted its internet banking service temporarily for upgradation work. “We will resume the service within a month,” said Tamrakar, adding that the bank plans to start corporate internet banking after upgradation. “It will facilitate mainly the business houses to ease their regular transaction, including the salary payment to workers.”

Tamrakar said the bank would also start one-time password facility internet banking users. “The password becomes invalid automatically once it is used. This secures users from the threat of password hacking,” said Tamrakar.

Smart Choice Technologies

Establishment of Smart Choice Technologies (SCT) in 2001 was a milestone for the card business in Nepal. Currently, SCT offers a shared service network to its 81 member BFIs. SCT’s network consists of 1,050 ATMs, more than 2,000 POS and more than 1.4 million card users.

The number of card users in the SCT is network is seeing an average annual growth of 30 percent. The growth was 120 percent in fiscal 2007-08 followed by 50 percent in 2008-09, 30 percent in 2009-10 and 22 percent in 2010-11.

SCT ATMs register 25,000 transactions on an average day. According to Rabindra Malla, managing director of SCT, the number of transactions itself is a revolution. “Without this technology, all these people have to visit the teller at the bank premises, significantly increasing the operation cost of BFIs,” said Malla. “Equally, this technology has given a lot of convenience to users.”

However, the use of plastic cards is limited to cash withdrawals from ATMs. Although the cards are equally convenient for making payments by swiping them, their use for that purpose has been very negligible, according to Malla. “We are planning to conduct an awareness campaign to promote the use of cards to pay for the purchase of goods and services,” said Malla.

The next venture of SCT is mobile banking service within the next four months. That service will facilitate funds transfer, balance inquiry and utility bill payment in the first phase.

Agitating Baidya faction obstructs transportation

2012-04-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu,

The hardline faction of the UPCN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya obstructed the transportation across the country for an hour on Wednesday protesting against the handover of combatants and arms to the Nepal Army.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister and party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai had decided to hand over the combatants, arms and cantonments to the NA from Tuesday evening.

The Special Committee had declared on Tuesday that the former Maoist combatants, their weapons and the cantonments have come under the command control of the NA with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, protesting against the decision of party establishment faction led by Chairman Dahal, the Baidya faction has decided to burn the effigy of Dahal and Bhattarai and take out a torch rally from various parts of the country this evening.

Prachanda confident on Army integration being concluded by April 12

2012-04-09T17:30:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu
Chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpakamla Dahal Prachanda has claimed that the army integration process would be completed anyhow by April 12. Addressing a mass gathering organized by Maoist in Dipayal today, he said that the peace process was at its final phase. The Maoist chairman said that some elements averse to change were still trying hard to pose problems in the way statute drafting. Stating that his party was for creating a state which recognizes identity, the Maoist chairman said that the failure in that regard would have negative consequences for the UCPN Maoist itself. Speaking at the same program, Maoist leader and Minister for commerce and supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta said that he had fighting for the identity of the Far Western region. The Hardliner faction of Maoist had boycotted the program

16 Nepali Police SPs promoted

2012-04-09T17:24:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday promoted 16 Superintendents of Police. While 15 of the promoted officials belong to the administrative department of Nepal Police, Krishna Prasad Guragain belongs to the technical department.

Birgunj Police Chief Ramesh Kharel, Rajendra Shrestha (Kathmandu) and Bhog Bahadur Thapa (Lalitpur) were elevated to Senior Superintendents of Police. Others promoted are Yadav Raj Khanal (Kaski), Subodh Ghimire (Anti-terrorism Cell), Sarbendra Khanal, Rajendra Man Shrestha, Milan Basnet, Puskar Regmi, Subash Chaudhary, Uttam Karki, Yogendra Romkhami, Ganesh Gurung, Chabi Lal Joshi and Uttam Bahadur Singh. The promoted SPs are of batches 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Meanwhile, Nepal Police Spokesman DIG Binod Singh said that after the promotion, Metropolitan Police Ranges of Kathmandu and Lalitpur would be commanded by an SSP. SPs Rajendra Shrestha and Bhog Bahadur Thapa, both of whom promoted, are the sitting chiefs of the Kathmandu and Lalitpur Ranges, respectively.

However, according to DIG Singh, it was not yet decided whether or not the same officials would continue as Kathmandu and Lalitpur Police chiefs. “New postings of the SSPs have not yet been finalised,” he said, adding that the authorities were also mulling over keeping SSPs as commanders of five training centres across the country.

Maoists to select, send 5-6,000 fighters

2012-04-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu

The UCPN (Maoist) leadership, which failed to commence the second scheduled regrouping process on Sunday, has told the Nepali Congress leaders that they would select 5,000 to 6,000 combatants on their own and hand them over to the Nepal Army by April 12.

The Maoist leadership, however, was emphatic over one condition that the selected combatants should not be screened in such a way that a significant number of them get disqualifed. NC leaders sounded confident over the completion of the combatant handover process by the promised date, saying, "everything was on track." The fighters, however, would be screened by the Army as per its standard norms, they said.

"Prachanda has assured that the party would hand over the combatants to the Army by Chaitra 30 [April 12]. We have no objection if the Maoists want to first select the combatants by themselves since the Army is not going to visit the cantonments for the same," said Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Situala. "The Nepal Army will conduct the final selections of those referred to it based on its standard norms."

Situala met UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday morning, when Dahal assured that integration process would be carried out within the stipulated time frame.

On Saturday, Military in charge of PLA Barsha Man Pun had invited the commanders of the seven divisions for an 'urgent meeting' of the party's Integration Bureau in Kathmandu. Sources said they were invited to finalise the internal selection process. Commanders have checked the minimum requirements and tried to ensure that those to be sent for integration would meet the educational and health requirement and posses proper citizenship documents.

The internal regrouping was carried out by commanders at all the 15 cantonment sites to reduce the numbers of the combatants opting integration from the current strength of 9,705 to the ceiling of 6,500 agreed in the seven-point agreement. The selection will be endorsed by the Integration Bureau of the Maoist party scheduled for Monday.

Finance Minister Pun declined to divulge details but confirmed that commanders have instructed the combatants who can not meet the Nepal Army standards to go for voluntary retirement.

Later, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai admitted that party had carried out internal regrouping at the cantonments. "This is a complex issue, we have done the internal homework to ensure that combatants referred for integration meet the standard norms," a participant quoted Bhattarai as telling the Special Committee meeting on Sunday afternoon. PM has also urged non-Maoist representatives not to doubt his commitment to vacate the camps within April 12 deadline. He said internal discussions within the Maoist party would complete in a day or two and assured that the peace process would advance.

Bhattarai further said outstanding issues like ranks, structure of the general directorate, training period and selection mechanism can be discussed further even after handover of combatants opting integration to the Nepal Army. The Special Committee is likely to sit either on Tuesday or Wednesday to make an effort to forge consensus on those issues. "We expressed concern that the deadline could be missed if the process is deadlocked further," said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat. "The prime minister has reaffirmed the commitment that the process of vacating cantonments will complete within the stipulated time frame."

Maoist politburo member and PLA Commander Chandra Prakash Khanal 'Baldev' said the party would reach a conclusion on advancing the process on Monday. "All of the commanders will be reaching to the respective cantonments early by Monday evening or Tuesday morning. The process of awarding voluntary retirement will start at the camps in full swing from Tuesday," said Khanal.

3 months on, graft-convicted ex-IGPs walk scot-free

2012-04-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu
The Special Court (SC), on Feburary 13, had convicted the trio for malfeasance in the multi-billion Sudan scam and slapped them a two-year jail term. However, all of them are still off the hook as the court is yet to initiate the necessary process to jail them. Besides jail term, they are subject to pay fine—Rs 170 million by Rana, Rs 64.8 million by Gurung and Rs 48.54 million by Thakuri.Had there been swift legal system in place, they would have been doing time in jail now. But, to public's utter dismay, the Nepal Police confers the title of "former police chiefs" on the corruption convicts.The court could have arrested them from its premises if they were present when the verdict was announced. The law has it that if the convicts are absent at the time of verdict, they can be arrested only after formally informing them about the ruling and allowing them 35 days for a review at a higher court.In the Sudan case, only a few junior officials, out of the total 34 accused, were present when the verdict was issued. Thakuri and Gurung had appeared at the court, but they left before the verdict was announced as they were "informed that they are going to be indicted".In the court's eyes, the status of the three former IGPs is recorded as "at large", which means the convicts have no information that the court has convicted and sentenced them.The SC is also facing another problem that has been delaying their arrest. It hasn't drawn up the full text of the final verdict without which the court cannot write a letter to the convicts. "However, we are just through with the full text of the verdict now. Soon we will inform them by handing over a letter," said SC Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chanda. If they approach the Supreme Court and their appeal is accepted, they would avoid an immediate arrest. Another former IGP Moti Lal Bohara, who was recently convicted for amassing wealth disproportinate to his income, has said he would knock the apex court's door.The former police chiefs, except Bohara, were found involved in misusing Rs. 290 while purchasing Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Nepal's Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur some five years ago. The CIAA had filed corruption cases against them. However, the anti-graft body is not satisfied with the SC verdict to acquit another accused and former police chief, Achyut Krishna Kharel."We have accurate property valuation of the accused. But the court convicted one and acquitted others," said CIAA Spokesman Ishwori Paudyal. "We will move the Supreme Court after going through the full text of the verdict," he added.Even three months after the three former police chiefs were convicted of corruption, they are still walking scot-free. Worst, all of them—Om Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung and Ramesh Chanda Thakuri—are enjoying state-provided secutity facilities.

DESHBASI देशबासी

*लुम्बिनीमा नेपालीको लापरवाही भारतीयको राज -

*जिम्मेवारी पदका व्यक्ति नै पैसाको लोभमा किर्ते काममा संलग्न

*संघीयता बन्यो घाडो, कुरा मिलाउ चाडो

*मिनाक्षी थापालाई मुम्बईबाट इलाहाबाद लगेर हत्या

*गणेशराज राईले भ्रष्ट्राचारमा वरिष्ठ प्रहरी अधिकृतहरु संलग्न रहेको आरोप

*पाँच जना तिब्बतीलाई नेपाली नागरिकताको प्रमाण–पत्र दिइयो

*धन्दा पुरुष वेश्याको

*दलहरु सहमतिमा नपुगेपछि

*सिराह र कपिलवस्तुमा भिषण आगलागी

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‘NC punished by Madhesis in CA election’

Maoist hardliner demand probe into army mobilisation

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Mastermind behind journo murder surrenders

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No politics please, new code tells combatants

Pashupatinath annual income crosses Rs 50m

I won’t sign statute that smacks of disintegration: Prez

Cards replacing cash in shoppers’ wallets

Agitating Baidya faction obstructs transportation

Prachanda confident on Army integration being concluded by April 12

16 Nepali Police SPs promoted

Maoists to select, send 5-6,000 fighters

3 months on, graft-convicted ex-IGPs walk scot-free