BIG THREE MEET AGAIN WEDNESDAY

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: A summit of the Big Three—UCPN (Maoist), NC and UML—is again being held Wednesday at Gokarna Resort to discuss the prolonged deadlock, constitution drafting and concluding the peace process.
The first round talks at Hattiban Resort in Chovar Friday/Saturday were inconclusive.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is attending the meet that started at 10.30 in the morning amid heavy security; the meet venue is out of bounds for journalists,
The meeting Wednesday will again discuss alternatives to end
prolonged deadlock, constitution drafting and concluding the peace process.
The summit Wednesday is a continuation of discussions Friday/Saturday.
Deep differences continued between the parties despite attempts inter-party talks Tuesday with NC rejecting a UML request to Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel to withdraw his candidacy for prime minister.
A meeting of NC office bearers Tuesday night rejected suggestion of UCPN (Maoist) and UML to amend the constitution or parliamentary rules governing the voting process to adopt a new process to elect a successor of Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
NC has been pushing a package solution and a guarantee of the peace process to handover power to main opposition Maoists.
NC Vice-chairman Ram Chandra is the only candidate in the race after Maoist Chairman Prachanda withdrew from the contest after the fourth round protracted vote.
The NC also rejected a presidential system of government for
Nepal arguing such a government system was against the constitution.
A meeting of NC office bearers Tuesday decided the unconditional presentation of the budget by the government should be the main
agenda of Wednesday’s Three Party summit.
Maoists, meanwhile, are pushing a one-point agenda—their entry into government, which they argue, can only ensure constitution drafting and completion of the peace process.
No work has been recorded in drafting a constitution in more than five months after the elected two-year term of the constitution (CA) to draft a
constitution to institutionalize a declared republic was extended by one year 28 May 2010.
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PHARMACIST SHOT DEAD IN BIRATNAGAR

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Amid growing lawlessness in the terai where the law and order situation is deteriorating, Pharmacist Suresh Mandal was shot dead in Biratnagar while returning home from his pharmacy at a neurological hospital in the town.
Mandal died while being rushed to hospital.
Two motorcyclists pumped eight bullets into Mandal’s stomach
and legs and decamped.
Pharmacies in the town remained closed Wednesday to protest the
murder.
Two suspects have been arrested.
Sanak Bahadur Lama, 24, was also shot and injured by
unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle at BP Chowk in Itahari Tuesday.
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QUADRUPLETS BORN

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Toka Bishwakarma, 40, who gave birth to quadruplets Monday in Rolpa was admitted to Bheri Anchal Hospital in Nepalgunj for treatment Tuesday.
She first gave birth to a son and three daughters 10 hours later.
The mother and children are doing well.
She received preliminary treatment at Sulichaur health post.
Local traders hired a jeep for Rs 12,000 and drove her to Nepalgunj
for further medical attention.
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RPP-NEPAL ON PROTEST

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: RPP-NEPAL-- a party that has adopted constitutional monarchy and a Hindu state as its agenda—will launch three-day anti-government protests 13 November, Chairman Kamal Thapa said Tuesday.
A sit-in will be staged in front of the constituent assembly building 14 November and four party lawmakers will gherao the rostrum,
Protests will be staged in 75 district headquarters, motorcycle rallies will be taken out and corner meetings will be held to push the party’s programmes.
Chairman Thapa criticized the election commission to rescind its decision not to make citizenship certificate compulsory for issuing digitalized voters’ registration cards.
Thapa demanded citizenship certificates should be compulsory for enlistment in new voters’ list.
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24 NEW DENGUE CASES IN CHITWAN

Kathmandu, 10 Nov. Twenty-four new cases have been reported in Chitwan in the last two days, Radio Nepal said quoting district health officials Wednesday.
The disease has assumed epidemic proportion n the district and areas around Butwal.
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BABURAM BHATTARAI DENIED INDIAN CHARGE NAXALITES BEING TRAINED BY MAOISTS

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: In the first Maoist reaction, Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai rejected Indian charges Nepal’s Maoists were
imparting military and ideological training to Indian Maoists called Naxalies in the Nepal terai.
Bhattarai told Hindusthan Times the charge was
‘unnecessary escalation’.
Bhattarai said,” We’ve never imparted training to Indian Maoists. We’ll not engage in such foolish act to mar good relations with India.
He said training wasn’t imparted to fighters even during the insurgency and added,” Why should we give training after joining the political mainstream?”
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood, in a communication to the government, charged Nepal’s Maoists were imparting training to Naxalites at camps under UNMN watch.

CHATT FESTIVAL STARTS WEDNESDAY

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Chatt festival of the terai residents started Wednesday.
The festival is observed for three days.
The festival concludes Thursday—declared a public holiday by the government—by worshipping the rising sun.
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COMMITTEE TO PROBE CHOPPER CRASH

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Government Tuesday formed a five-member
probe committee to investigate Sunday’s crash of a Fishtail Air
helicopter on the 6812 meters high Amadablam killing the pilot and flight engineer.
Capt. Pramod Lama of Air Dynasty Heli Services Pvt. Ltd., Engineer of Mountin Helicopter Pvt. Ltd Deepak Raj Koirala, Aviation Medical Board Coordinator Dr Rannjeet Singh Baral, Under-Secretary at Tourism Ministry Suresh Acharya are members of the committee headed by former Secretary Nagendra Prasad Ghimere.
The committee has been asked to submit its report in 60 days.
The chopper crashed in gusty winds while attempting to rescue two
foreign climbers.
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NRN MEET IN DUBAI

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: The fifth regional conference of Non-resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) is being held in Dubai from 14 to 16 January 2011 with the theme: Collective Investment and Safe Immigration.
The conference aims to collect small savings of low income NRNs for investment at home.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

GOLD HITS NEW HIGH

Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: The price of gold recorded a new high of
Rs. 39,600 per tola [10 gm] in the local market Tuesday as the price of the yellow metal soared to $1,410 per ounce in the international market the same day.
The price increased as the wedding season approaches.
Silver was traded for Rs 654.50 per 10 gm Tuesday—up from
Rs 610 per 10 gm Thursday.
The price shot up in the local market with the rise of gold price in the international market.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Government leadership has been the main priority of the big
three parties. The deadlock would not resolve as long as this situation continues.”

(TMDP Chairman Mahanta Thakur, Republica, 10 Nov.)

“It’s a big mistake on the part of CPN-UML to force Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to resign despite having a majority government in place.”

(Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya, The Himalayan Times, 10 Nov.)


“There’s been no agreement despite serious discussions between three parties. There’s no unanimity. There’s class struggle between parties despite attempts for understanding.”

(Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, Gorkhapatra, 10 Aug.)
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CHINA HOSTS SECURITY MEET

Kathmandu, 10 Nov/.: -
China is hosting a two-week-long training programme in Beijing from Tuesday to what sources claim reinforce its concern over anti-China activities in Nepal, The Kathmandu Post reports.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) said a team consisting of chief district officers of Kaski and Dolpa and officials from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) stationed in Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Mustang and Solukhumbhu left for China on Monday to attend the event.

Security sources said the training was a part of China’s larger campaign to stem anti-China activities arising due to the presence of Tibetans in Nepal.

In recent 0years, China has hosted several training programmes on security and invited Nepali officials. Past attendees say these programmes are a way to reinforce Chinese concern over growing anti-Chinese activities

in Nepal.

The chief of the Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka, Ramesh Kharel, who left for China last week, is also attending similar training. MoHA Spokesperson Jaya Mukunda Khanal, however, said the training was a part of regular cooperation to bolster the country’s immigration system.

China has been mounting pressure on the Nepal government to tighten security system so as to restrict Tibetans from carrying out anti-Chinese activities from Nepali soil. Chinese pressure in the run-up to the Olympics in Beijing in Aug. 2008 led to the deployment of around 200 APF personnel on the Nepal-Tibet border in Sindhupalchowk.

China has urged Nepal to deploy around 10,000 security personnel along the Sino-Nepal border to guard against fleeing Tibetans and infiltration into Tibet, according to security sources. Beijing has assured all possible assistance needed to make the arrangements. However, APF’s feasibility study for the deployment of APF in Rasuwa and Mustang in mid-October shows that it would be a difficult task to guard the northern border mainly due to the jagged terrain.
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SNOW LEOPARD POPULATION UP
Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: -
The population of snow leopard inside Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA) has gone up with the introduction of livestock insurance programme that indemnifies domesticated animals against the attack of the large wild cat. The Kathmandu Post reports from Ghunsa, Taplejung.

KCA management had launched the insurance programme two years ago to discourage villagers from killing snow leopards in the name of protecting their cattle. The campaign was successful and effective in limiting snare-deaths of snow leopards, listed as an endangered species.

“We don’t have any incident of a snow leopard being killed these days which is a good news for these animals,” said Himali Chundak, president of Snow Leopard Conservation Committee.

Currently, there are at least 45 snow leopards in KCA. The last year’s census had put the animal’s population at 32.

“The growth in the population of snow leopard is definitely due to the insurance policy, no doubt about it,” said Sujit Kumar Shrestha, manager of Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Project. Earlier, villagers used to set up snares to capture and kill these protected wild cats to exact revenge for killing their cattle.

The conservation project had initially established a revolving fund of Rs. 1.2 million to start the livestock programme. Livestock owners had contributed Rs. 55 for each number of animals they owned. Under the programme, a villager is entitled to receive Rs. 2,500 if a snow leopard killed his cattle.

Introduced only at Ghunsa region in the beginning, the programme was later adopted in all the areas where snow leopards are found.

“The idea was very effective and the villagers were really cooperative. This helped us a lot to conserve snow leopards,” Shrestha said.
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Rs 500,000 SPENT FOR PM's TEA PARTY
Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Nearly 6,000 invitees on Tuesday attended a tea party hosted by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on the occasion of Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Eid and Nepal Sambat new year collectively at his official residence at Baluwatar, Bimal Gautam reports in Republica..

According to a knowledgeable source, the Prime Minister´s Office (PMO) had issued nearly 8,000 invitation cards.

"Nearly 6,000 persons attended the tea party," admitted Raghuji Panta, principal advisor to the PM, adding, "The tea party hosted by Prime Minister Nepal is the continuation of a practice begun by former prime ministers including Sher Bahadur Deuba, Girija Prasad Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Dahal."

"Nearly Rs 500,000 was spent on Tuesday´s tea party," divulged a source close to the PM on condition of anonymity. The total cost incurred in Tuesday´s party covers expenses on food items and costs for other arrangements. "However, the items served to guests at the tea party were not so costly," the source told Republica.

Anmol Catering, which has long been making catering for the PM´s residence, supplied the food items for Tuesday´s tea party. Items served to the guests included a piece of jerry, mini samosa, laddu and some nimkee.

Anmol Catering confirmed that altogether 6,150 food packets were consumed by the guests. Catering owner BL Sharma informed that they charge less if the order is large.

Another close aide of PM Nepal informed Republica that the costs incurred in Tuesday´s tea party would be reimbursed from state coffers. "Such practices have been common in the past. It´s not a big deal," Panta said.

Another source informed Republica that the PM was advised to invite only a small number of guests. "Inviting a large number of guests could send a negative message,” the PM´s well-wishers had urged him, according to the source. However, the PM apparently turned a deaf ear to them.

The PM had invited all staff working at the PMO. But only secretaries were invited from the ministries. Ministers, heads and members of various constitutional bodies, senior leaders of various political parties, diplomats, ambassadors, chiefs and deputy chiefs of various missions in Nepal, CA members, journalists, businessmen, civil society leaders, human rights activists, and chiefs and deputy chiefs of leading NGOs and INGOs were also invited.

According to a source close to the PM, most of the invitees were from the Newar community. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal skipped the party.
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CT SCAN AT KANTI HOSPITAL SOON





Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: Kanti Children Hospital, the only referral hospital for children, is all set to bring in operation a new and advanced CT-scan machine, The Rising Nepal rports.

According to Dr. Tirtharaj Burlakoti, director of the hospital, Kanti is the first government hospital to install the machine in Nepal. Such an advanced CT scan machine is in operation only in Kathmandu Model Hospital. The machine costs around 45 million rupees.
Within a month, we will start providing CT scan service, he informed.
According to Dr Burlakoti, through the16 slice CT-scan machine, including other facilities like normal CT scan, Cardiac angiography can also be carried out, he added.
"We have been referring around 10 to 12 patients daily to different hospitals for CT scan," Dr. Burlakoti said.
"The patients will benefit once the machine comes into operation as we are planning to charge only normal costs which will be cheaper than services being provided by the private hospitals."
Though it is a children’s hospital every patient will be benefited by this facility, doctors said.
Meanwhile, the hospital is also launching Digital Radiography (DR) System, an advanced imaging system of X-Ray, within a month.
Adra Japan and a Japanese organisation, Naomi, have jointly donated the machine for DR System. The machine costs five million rupees.
"Through this DR System we will catch sharp image," doctors said and claimed that such a facility was not available in the country.
The system helps minimise the bad effect of radiation.
The 330 bed hospital has been witnessing an excessive flow of patients and lack of human resources.
The hospital is preparing to add up to 500 new beds in the near future and the physical works are underway for expansion of the services, however, the government should add more human resources, Dr. Burlakoti said.
According to hospital sources, a total of 528 employees including 65 doctors and 150 nurses are working in the hospital. As per the flow of patients around 30 more doctors and 50 nurses are needed to run the services smoothly.
For some months now the hospital has also been providing ENT and orthopedic service.
The hospital is also preparing to establish a Child Health Academy. A proposal related to it has been pending in the cabinet
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KATHMANDU CITY MODERATE AIR QUALITY
Kathmandu, 10 Nov.: New air quality research results at the “Better Air Quality in the Changing Climate Conference” that kicked off today in Suntec of Singapore has rated Kathmandu a city with moderate air pollution along with Colombo and Hangzhou, The Himalayan Times reports from Singapore..

“Other cities like Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Jinan and Manila have been rated good on the scoreboard,” said Sophie Punte, Executive Director, The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center.

The Clean Air Scorecard, developed by the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) with the support of ADB, is a practical assessment tool for cities to identify their strengths and potential improvement areas in addressing air pollution and green house gas emissions. The tool comprises three indexes — air pollution and health index, clean air management capacity index and policies and action index. The result was disclosed at the largest gathering of Asia to mull over air quality in Asian countries, which is held every two years.

More than six hundred participants from thirty five countries, including government, non-governmental and private organisations are discussing how to improve the degrading air quality in rapidly growing Asian cities in the three-day conference.

Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in terms of air pollution, according to the clean air scorecard. The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center’s latest research said that

of the 230 Asian cities, most of them, including Kathmandu, had annual average concentrations of particulate matter with diameter less than 10 micro metres (PM 10) in the air that can directly enter the lungs affecting health.

Only one per cent of the cities in Asia met the WHO’s annual guideline. “Rather than judging and ranking cities based on air pollution alone, it is important to also look at existing capacity, policies and measures as these are better indicators for future levels of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,”added Punte, of CAI-Asia.

The Singaporean Minister for Environment Dr Jacoob Ibrahim said while inaugurating the conference today,” It is indeed possible to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.”
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