प्रचण्डद्धारा संसदीय प्रजातन्त्र र पूँजीवादको चर्को विरोध</h1> <article> <h1>प्रचण्डद्धारा संसदीय प्रजातन्त्र र पूँजीवादको चर्को विरोध</h1> <p>admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:50:02 +0000</p> <div class="storytext"><strong>प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल प्रचण्डले संसारमा हाल प्रचलित ‘औपचारिक संसदीय प्रजातन्त्र’ र अर्थव्यवस्थाले गरीब समुदायलाई झनै पछाडि धकेल्दै लाने दाबी गरेका छन्। </strong></div> <p class="storytext">संसदीय प्रजातन्त्रको बारेमा बोलेर बेलाबेलामा चर्चामा आउने गरेका प्रधानमन्त्री प्रचण्डलाई विश्वमा जारी आर्थिक संकटले फेरी एकपटक त्यसबारे बोल्ने अवसर प्रदान गरेको थियो।</p> <p class="storytext">“हाल प्रचलनमा रहेको औपचारिक संसदीय प्रजातन्त्र र विश्वव्यापीकरणको भेषमा लागू भएको बजार नियन्त्रित नवउदारवादी आर्थिक नीतिहरुले गरीब र असहायहरुलाई झनै सीमान्तकृत गरेको छ,” प्रचण्डले भने।</p> <p class="storytext">एउटा कट्टरपन्थी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टि नेकपा माओवादीको नेताको रुपमा प्रधानमन्त्री बने लगत्तै सार्वजनिक कार्यक्रमहरुमा बोल्दै प्रचण्डले पूँजीवाद र विश्वव्यापीकरण लाई बेवास्ता गर्न नसकिने बताउने गरेका थिए।</p> <p class="storytext"><strong>आरोप</strong></p> <p class="storytext">तर सोमवार काठमाण्डूमा आयोजित ‘लोकतन्त्र बिकास र शान्ति’ बारे एशियाली सम्मेलनमा बोल्दै उनले पूँजीवादी व्यवस्थामाथि थुप्रै आरोपहरु लगाए।</p> <p class="storytext">विश्वव्यापी आर्थिक संकटप्रति संकेत गर्दै उनले संसारले झेलिरहेको खाद्यान्न र उर्जाको संकट तथा हावापानी परिवर्तन जस्ता समस्याको जड पूँजीवादी बजार अर्थतन्त्र रहेको बताएका थिए।</p> <p class="storytext"><strong>समान धारणा</strong></p> <p class="storytext">सोही कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै अर्का कम्युनिष्ट नेता तथा नेकपा एमालेका पूर्व महासचिव माधवकुमार नेपालले पनि पूँजीवादी व्यवस्था विरुद्ध समान खालको धारणा राखेका थिए।</p> <p class="storytext">उनका अनुसार नवउदारवादले नेतृत्व गरेको आर्थिक शासनले दिगो बिकास र शान्ति दिन सक्दैन।</p> <p class="storytext">नेता नेपालले विश्वव्यापी पूँजीवाद जोगाउन अहिले बिकसित मुलुहरुमा समाजवादका विशेषताहरु अपनाउने होडबाजी चलेको पनि उल्लेख गरे।</p> <p class="storytext">विश्वव्यापी आर्थिक संकटका कारण ठूल्ठूला देशहरुका अर्थतन्त्र धरमराइ रहेको बेला नेपालका प्रमुख कम्युनिष्ट नेताहरुले पूँजीवादको चर्को बिरोध गरेका छन्।</p> <p class="storytext">SRC: BBC</p> </article> <article> <h1>Maoists Acting as Taxmen, Charge Cardamom Farmers</h1> <p>admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:46:03 +0000</p> <p>People of three wards of Sabhapokhari VDC of this district have accused the Maoists of imposing tax on the sale of cardamom. The taxation has been going on for a month, the affected said. The farmers have also accused the Maoists of visiting their places seeking cardamom.<br /> The villagers have told the Maoists in clear terms that they will opt for protests if the former rebels continue to act as taxmen.<br /> “Maoist area secretary Lokman Bogati and Biswas of the YCL have threaten to take action against the villagers if they do not not provide them with cardamom,” said Ganga Prasad Rai of Sabbhapokhari-7. The farmers claimed that the Maoists had been seeking anywhere between 400 and 600 kg of cardamom from each farmer.<br /> Earlier, the villagers had chased away cardamom-seeking Maoists. Following this incident, the Maoists issued a diktat, calling some farmers, including Ganga Prasad, to produce themselves at their office, the villagers said.<br /> Farmers of ward nos 7, 8 and 9 of the VDC said they will retaliate if the Maoists continued to seek cardamom from them.<br /> Among others, the Maoists had sought a cut from cardamom farmers, including Harka Bahadur Rai, Bharatman Limbu, Uttar Kumar Limbu, Naspate Limbu and Kaji Limbu, farmers said.<br /> “The Maoists used to seek cardamom every day and impose tax in the sale of cardamom, saying they had debts to pay,” said Uttar Kumar Limbu, a farmer. “They have stopped the act after we warned them of retaliation.”<br /> However, the Maoists said they were demanding cardamom from fields, which were under their control.<br /> A district committee member of the CPN (Maoist), Dibya Baral, said he was unaware of the entire episode. He promised to acquire information on the matter.</p> </article> <article> <h1>‘Adulterated’ petrol tests panel’s mettle</h1> <p>admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:45:16 +0000</p> <p>The committee probing the alleged adulteration of petrol today reached Birgunj to collect samples from Nepal Oil Corporation’s depot at Amlekhgunj and adjoining areas. Earlier, samples were collected from depots in eastern Nepal and Thankot.<br /> “We will analyse the samples in Kathmandu. Tests will be conducted at home or abroad,” said Bishnu Shrestha, a committee member, who is associated with Nepal Auto Dealers’<br /> Association.<br /> “We are trying to ascertain whether Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology have the facilities to conduct these tests,” said Shankar Paudel, the coordinator of the committee.<br /> Sources maintained that the committee members are divided over who would carry the samples — if the tests were to be conducted abroad — and where would they be conducted. NOC is clear about its policy. “Valley dealers can take petrol either from Thankot depot or divert the supply from Raxaul to their respective pumps,” said Mukunda Dhungel, spokesperson, NOC. Digambar Jha, managing director, NOC, yesterday accepted that the petrol supplied by the state monopoly could have been adulterated. He had maintained that the tampering could be done on the 300-km supply route between Barauni refinery in Bihar and other depots. Saroj Pande, president, Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, too, wants to adopt a wait-and-watch policy. NOC’s testing mechanism — for both density and final boiling point tests — have become obsolete. Raju Kshetri, general manager, HH Bajaj, attributed the frequent complaints of engine failure to “rampant use of spurious petrol”. He denied allegations that the new models of motorbikes being rolled out of Yamaha, Honda, Bajaj and Hero Honda plants required 91-plus-octane petrol, a superior quality of fuel to what NOC supplies.<br /> “Had there been complaints of engine failure in any one model, it would perhaps have been a manufacturing defect,” said Kshetri. Prem Lal Maharjan, president, Nepal Consumers’ Forum and a member of the panel, rued the lack of a laboratory, where these tests can be conducted.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Cops Nab Armed YCL Cadres in Sarlahi</h1> <p>admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:44:25 +0000</p> <p>The police detained six armed cadres of the Young Communist League from Brahmapuri VDC in Sarlahi district.<br /> According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Hanuman Shah, the police seized one countrymade gun from the YCL cadres — Bindheshwor Raya of Bhelhi-9, Dinesh Mahato of Bela- 7, Tapasi Mahato of Ramwan-4, Bharat Shah of Nokelwa-5, Bhagyanarayan Ram of Ramwan-6 and Thaga Mandal of Chhatauna-2.<br /> Local residents had informed the police and the YCL after robbers began robbing pedestrians in Brahmapuri VDC. Instead of arresting the robbers, the police turned to the YCL cadres after finding them with gun, 11 rounds of bullets, 4 khukuris and a knife while.<br /> Conceding that the YCL cadres had come there to help the police, the DSP said, “We arrested them only because they were wielding weapons.”</p> </article> <article> <h1>Footpath vendors at Nembang’s doorstep</h1> <p>admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:47:03 +0000</p> <p>Evicted street vendors today met Constituent Assembly chairman Subas Nembang and handed over a memorandum to him. They are opposing Home Ministry’s crackdown without any alternative plan of action.<br /> At a conservative estimate, there are more than 6,000 street vendors in Kathmandu and Lalitpur.<br /> Handing over the memo to Nembang, representatives of the Federation of National Industries’ and Commerce (FNIC) drew his attention to the government’s “insensitive move”.<br /> “We also came to know that a few CA members raised the issue in today’s session of parliament and urged the government to manage the vendors,” said Shiva Kattel, FNIC president, after the meeting with Nembang.<br /> “I am hopeful that some plans to manage the displaced vendors will be in place by Tuesday,” he said.<br /> Kattel said vendors today clashed with the police at Lagankhel and Sundhara.<br /> Lagankhel remained tense throughout the day.<br /> Vehicular movement was disrupted in Lagankhel following the sporadic clashes.<br /> Four agitating vendors, who were arrested from Lagankhel, were released later. Radha Timilsina, Radha Fuyal, Hari Timalsina and Ram Bahadur BK sustained injuries during the scuffle.<br /> The police today bulldozed 250 stalls set up on the footpaths in Lagankhel, according to Kattel. One person was held from Ratna Park after a clash between the displaced vendors and the police at Sundhara in the capital this evening.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Nepal Telecom’s discount tariff rates to continue</h1> <p>admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:45:43 +0000</p> <p>Nepal Telecom has decided to give continuity to the promotional fares even after November 15 — the last date it had announced earlier for the promotional tariffs — subject to<br /> Nepal Telecom Authority’s approval.<br /> An NT press statement said, the per month charge for using voice service in the GSM Post Paid will be Rs 400, which is Rs 500 till date.<br /> Free calls equivalent to Rs 400 will also be provided to the customers.<br /> Users of GPRS will be charged Rs 500 for the facility of Voice and GPRS and Data (volume based) or voice, or both data and voice facility equivalent to Rs 500 will also granted to the users.<br /> The same facility cost Rs 1,100 per month now, which will be more economical after the new rate, stated the release.<br /> All new charges for telephone services like PSTN, C-Phone Fixed, VSAT, GSM mobile Service, Post Paid, Pre-paid, CDMA mobile service and Sky Phone are sans government taxes.<br /> Nepal Telecom’s promotional discounts started from October 1.</p> </article> <article> <h1>First batch of Nepali troops join Darfur peacekeeping force</h1> <p>admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:44:32 +0000</p> <p>The first batch of Nepali Formed Police Unit (FPU) have arrived in Nyala where they will be based for a one-year tour of duty in Darfur, the UNAMID said.<br /> 108 Nepali police officers of the 147 strong force arrived in the capital of South Darfur. They will be followed by the rest of the unit on 21 October 2008.<br /> Sudanese government for long time resisted the participation of non African troops in Darfur peacekeeping operation. The Nepali and Thai troops are expected to be fully deployed in Darfur by the end of the year according the Alain Le Roy, the head of the UN peacekeeping department.<br /> These officers were preceded, on 23 September 2008, by an advance party of twelve (12) Nepali Police Advisors tasked with assisting in the preparations of the facilities earmarked for the Unit at UNAMID Super-Camp and the coordination of the logistics of the contingent’s owned equipment (COE).<br /> Police Advisors are unarmed civilian police officers whose task is to conduct patrols, investigate incidents, monitor reports, conduct community policing in Darfur Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDP) camps, as well as training.<br /> The Nepali Formed Police Unit is the third UNAMID FPU to be deployed, after the Bangladeshi and Indonesian ones, out of the 19 such units mandated by the Security Council resolution creating UNAMID.<br /> The African Union - United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) has currently around 10,000 troops on the ground.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Thrillseekers free fall from roof of the world</h1> <p>admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:52:28 +0000</p> <p>Skydivers plunged through the shadow of Mount Everest today in preparation for a planned free fall over the world’s highest peak.<br /> Launching themselves from 22,000 feet this morning, the skydivers had around one minute in free fall before a parachute descent that offered a stunning Himalayan panorama.<br /> “It was like floating on a cloud while looking at the highest mountains in the world. The views of Everest were amazing, you could even see base camp,” said Steve Hennessy, an Australian skydive instructor, who made one of the first descents yesterday .<br /> The unprecedented jumps are being offered as a commercial enterprise by High and Wild, a British adventure travel company .<br /> The first 32 clients each paid $24,000 to be part of an exercise that the company itself classified as “touching madness.”<br /> Around 20 people jumped this morning. Ian Bishop, one of the organisers, said that — if the weather holds up — they would start diving from above the height of Mount Everest (29,028 feet) tomorrow. Jumping out of a plane at such altitudes poses a raft of challenges.<br /> The air is extremely thin, forcing the skydivers to use specially-made parachutes with canopies three times the regular size.<br /> They also wear neoprene suits and thermal gear to keep out the freezing cold on the descent and have bottled oxygen strapped to their waist.<br /> For Nigel Gifford, director, High and Wild, the first “Everest Skydive” is the realisation of an idea that has been 15 years in the making.<br /> “It came about because I have been a Himalayan mountaineer and took up skydiving. I love doing both and I thought it would be good to marry the two,” said Gifford.<br /> Mount Everest is considered holy by both Buddhists and Hindus. Gifford, however, believes that the adventure will not offend the gods that locals believe inhabit the Himalayas.<br /> “Before I made my first approach to Nepali authorities for permission, I spoke with many friends who live in the Everest region and asked if they thought this was appropriate culturally and spiritually,” said Gifford “The feedback was positive,” he added.<br /> Ningma Jamyang, a local Buddhist monk, had no objections.<br /> “I like this a lot. I enjoy the way they come down so gracefully from so high. It’s amazing,” said Jamyang.<br /> “They are doing daily puja to pay their respects so I don’t think the gods in the mountains will be unhappy and they won’t cause them any problems,” said the 48-year-old monk.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Gone are the days of male domination: Jhakri</h1> <p>admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:50:18 +0000</p> <p>Ram Kumari Jhakri, who made history by getting elected as the first female president of the ANNFSU, entered into politics when she was studying in Grade VI in a village in Gulmi. Jhakri, the sixth child of the family with seven kids, was born to a peasant’s family. Her father Ratna Bahadur had worked in India to eke out a living.<br /> Jhakri chose not to disclose her private life when asked about her boyfriend. “People stopped making proposals for marriage 10 years ago,” she said.<br /> After completing school education from Prithvi Secondary School of Myal Pokhari VDC of Gulmi, Jhakri entered the Valley to pursue nursing education. But fate had something else for her and she joined Padma Kanya Multiple College from where she began her mainstream political journey.<br /> Jhakri, who leads one of the nation’s largest unions of students, said the age-old concepts are gradually changing and now Nepalis have accepted that women can do anything that a man can do. “I have proved it,” she says.<br /> A known face at almost every street protest and students movements Jhakri has played significant role in the last people’s movement. No standing committee leaders were spotted at the venue fixed for agitation. Most of the senior leaders had not believed that Nepal would become a republic so fast.<br /> “When I look back to those days of movement I remember the day when my head was filled with blood at Ratna Park,” she said. On the next day the debate for the significance of monarchy has begun.<br /> Tribhuvan University, where she is studying masters’ degree in sociology and anthropology, is on the verge of collapse since it has not adopted the policy of merit. “If the university continues to go with the existing policy of sharing the posts among the political parties, it will take no time for its collapse,” she said.<br /> “ANNFSU never became a puppet of any government or the party politics. It has played the role of creating pressure and creating awareness among people,” she claims.<br /> The process of socialisation in Nepal is wrong, she says, adding that the education is based on superstition rather than on truth. She says the education system always supported status quo.<br /> She says reports o students turning to vandalism time and again were the results of the ‘wrong practice of socialisation’. “Instead of respecting the skills of candidates, TU positions are being shared among the political parties,” she regrets.<br /> After getting elected to the president of ANNFSU, Jhakri said free and quality education for all and free education up to secondary level would be her major agenda. “I would stand for research-based education that will help the students to take up a profession of their choice,” she said.<br /> She said the ANNFSU was in favour of separate universities in all federal states and subject-wise universities at the central level, and open universities.<br /> She slammed the government, of which UML is also a part, for levying five per cent education tax on educational institutions, saying that it will further increase the commercialisation of education.<br /> She has come up with 25-point programme following the conclusion of the 19th national conference of ANNFSU in Pokhara. “For the first time in the history of ANNFSU, we have the most inclusive central committee with 33 per cent women elected in the 121-member body.”<br /> Jhakri sounded supportive to the latest crackdown on late night entertainment business business. “Earning through nude dance is not a good thing and that must be stopped,” she said. But she said the government should also think of providing alternative employment to those employed in the late night business.<br /> However, she sounded somewhat supportive of the beauty pageants. Despite being always against commodification of sex, beauty, womb and religion, Jhakri said stopping the pageant was not going to liberate any woman.<br /> Being the first woman president of ANNFSU, she is aware of the problems she might face in the days ahead. But she says she is confident of playing her role responsibly. “Gone are the days of male domination,” she said.<br /> She said she will prove her capabilities during her two-year term. “My ultimate aim is to create an equitable and prosperous society,” she said.<br /> But she is not free from the stigma. For a woman, she knows, it’s not easy as it would be with a male.<br /> On lifestyle, she says, “I live jointly with my family members and relatives. I do not have to contribute to lodging and food costs. But I spend Rs 2,000 on mobile phone and Rs 3,000 as pocket money.”<br /> Politics is a dirty game, many would say. She says she will try to convince the students that it (politics) is not a bad game but a choice to give life to the nation. She also said she would revamp her office and restructure the organisation in line with the federal structure of the country.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Border security tops bilateral talks agenda</h1> <p>admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:48:15 +0000</p> <p>Talks between security officials of Nepal and India were held in Nepalgunj yesterday to find ways out to control increasing incidents of looting of Nepalis returning home from Indian towns like Simala and Kalapahad.<br /> The talks were proposed by the Banke District Police Office after many Nepalis were robbed on the Indian side of the border at the hands of thugs and even by the Indian policemen. Superintendent of Police at Banke Ghanashyam Bhatta said similar talks were held in India’s Rupaidiya two days ago.<br /> DM Shudhir Kumar Srivastab of India’s Baharaich district and SP Rajesh Mudak and other officials had arrived in Nepalgunj for talks at the invitation of Bhatta.<br /> Banke DSP Govindaram Pariyar said Nepalis were being robbed in Rupaidiya, Baharaich Buspark and in customs offices. The issues of controlling crime and women trafficking along the border also surfaced during the talks.<br /> According to Pariyar, the Indian security officials promised to stop untoward activities across the border on the Indian side.<br /> DM Srivastav said he would take action against those involved in robbing the Nepalis returning home specially for Dashain. He added extra security force would be mobilised in the Bahairaich Buspark and border areas.</p> </article> </main></body></html>