700,000 HINDU DEVOTEES OFFER WORSHIP

`MAHASHIVARATRI BEING OBSERVED

Kathmandu, 2 March: Hundreds of thousands of devotees worshipped at Pashupatinath and other Shiva temples nation-wide temples as gates of the holiest Hindu temple were opened at three in the morning Wednesday.
Nepal Army held a special programme at Tundikhel also celebrating Army Day as well.
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and top officials attended the function.
An estimated 700,000 devotees from home and India are expected to worship at Pashupatinath.
Altogether 175,000 persons offered worship until noon.
More than 4,000 security personnel were deployed.
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FOUR MURDERED, INCLUDING THREE MEMBERS OF A FAMILY

Kathmandu, 2 March: Narayan Khadgi beat his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild and a neighbour to death with a stick at a remote village in Rolpa, Radio Nepal said Wednesday.
Police have reached the murder site and arrested Khadgi.
Further details weren’t available of the gruesome murders.
Gita Paudel and her three-year daughter were found murdered at a village in Sunsari.
Gita was found hanging from a ceiling while her daughter’s head was
The husband has been arrested.
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KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI’S CONDITION SERIOUS

Kathmandu, 2 March: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, 87, is in serious condition undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital for 20 days.
His condition worsened Wednesday
“His present condition is serious,” Dr. Shyam Bahadur Pande said. ‘He’s conscious but can’t recognize people and talk with them”
He’s being treated for bronchitis, chronic renal failure and conjunctive heart failure.
Dr. Bharat Raut, who is also treating Bhattarai, said the former premier’s oxygen level has fallen.
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FIRST NEPAL CAUSUS IN US CONGRESS

Kathmandu, 2 March: The first bipartisan Nepal caucus in the US has been formed, according to the Nepali embassy in Washington DC.
Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw and Jatel Polis, a Democrat, are co-chairmen.
“The members of the caucus are supposed to meet as and when necessary to discuss issues of interest and to direct actions which will help strengthen the relations between USA and Nepal,’ Nepal embassy said in a statement.
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ADVISORS OF THE PM

Kathmandu, 2 March: Milan Tuladhar has been officially designated foreign affairs advisor of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.
Surya Thapa has been nominated press advisor.
Tuladhar as a retired director of ICIMOD and member of UML foreign relations department.
Thapa is secretary of the party publicity department and editor of party mouthpiece Navayug monthly.
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GOVT. TO FOOT BILL FOR LIBYA REPATRIATION

Kathmandu, 2 March: The cabinet Tuesday decided to foot the entire bill for the airlift home of all Nepali workers from Libya.
Government has set aside Rs 7 billion for the operation, Government Spokesman and Minister Without Portfolio Galgalal Tuladhar said.
Workers have fled Libya to neighbouring Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Sudan.
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FIRST WHEAT CROP IN SINDHULI IN 16 YEARS

Kathmandu, 2 March: Farmers in Sindhuli grew wheat for the fist time in 16 years this winter, FAO said.
“Farmers in some of the VDCs like Bhadrakali cultivated wheat after 16 years and are fully satisfied with the crop,” the UN agency said.
The crop is good.
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TOURIST ARRIVALS UP 12.2% IN FEBRUARY


Kathmandu, 2 March: Altogether 37,582 arrived in February—up 12.2 percent compared to February 2010, Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport said.
Altogether 70,498 visitors came in the first two months of 2011—up 18.4 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
Arrivals from South Asia rose 31.8 percent; Indian arrivals jumped 39.9 percent.
Arrivals from China increased two percent but less visitors came from Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
European arrivals increased 6.3 percent.
Arrivals from Australia and Canada jumped 11.4 and 22.4 percent respectively.
Arrivals from USA and New Zealand, rocked by earthquakes, dropped 4.5 percent and 27.4 percent respectively.
Altogether 38, 183 tourists departed from TIA in the review period.
Altogether 54,262 Nepalis arrived and 56,625 departed.
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Ncell LASHES CALL RATES TO INDIA

Kathmandu, 2 March: Ncell slashed call rates to India to Rs.2.99 per minute.
Previously, it was charging Rs. 6 per minute.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘In the name of abolishing caste based discrimination, political parties have started discriminating against Brahmins. If this goes on, we will show them what we can do. We worship deities and perform rituals with our hands. If we are compelled, we will show our hands can carry guns too, We have been neglected as the government removed us from the list of indigenous Nepalis.”

(Bhramin Samaj Nepal member OM Sharma, The Kathmandu Post, 2 March)

“Extremist thinking and attempt towards polarization has prolonged and made complex the transition.”

(UML leader Shanker Pokhrel, Budhabar, 2 March)
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SHER BAHADUR DEUBA GOING TO SINGAPORE FOR TREATMENT

Kathmandu, 2 March: NC leader Sher bahadur Deuba is going to Singapore for week-long medical treatment Thursday, Naya Patrika reports.
He is going for follow-up treatment for stomach ailment.
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'NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE POLICY IN JULY'





Kathmandu, 2 March: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has prepared a draft to fight against non-communicable diseases, The Rising Nepal reports.
Dr. Baburam Marasini of the MoHP stated that the draft would have its full shape by July this year.
Keeping in mind the threat posed by non-communicable diseases on the economies of the South-East Asian Region, the MoHP has been preparing to formulate a policy against non-communicable diseases for two years, Dr. Marasini said.
Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly is holding a high-level meeting in September 2011 to galvanize action to halt premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.
The World Health Organisation is organising a Regional Consultation for Member States between 1 and 4 March 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia to prepare for the General Assembly Meeting.
Non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases cause 3 out of 5 deaths in South-East Asia Region, killing some 8 million people annually.
More than 22% of deaths worldwide due to non-

communicable diseases occur in the 11 countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region
According to WHO, many of non-communicable diseases can be prevented, delayed or alleviated through simple lifestyle changes. By improving diet, increasing physical activity and quitting smoking, 80 per cent of heart diseases and stroke, 80 per cent of type 2 diabetes and 40 per cent of cancer can be prevented. A 150-minute moderate physical activity a week could reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease by 30 per cent, the risk of diabetes by 27 per cent and the risk of breast and colon cancers by 21-25 per cent.
Preventing non-communicable diseases is cheaper than treating them.

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BIHAR’S ECONOMIC BOOM THROWS WRENCH INTO NEPALI INDUSTRIES
Kathmandu, 2 March: While bordering Indian state of Bihar is posting a rapid economic growth, Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor in the country is wearing a deserted look, as workers these days prefer to work across the border, Somnath Bastola reports in The Himalayan Times from Itahari.

Arihanta Multifibres Ltd, a jute industry, has a shortage of 300 workers, and Reliance Spinning Mills, the largest thread industry in the country, also is facing manpower crunch.

According to Morang Industry Association data, SMIC, which has already employed 50,000 employees, requires 30,000 additional workers. Out of 565 industries in SMIC, 450 are in operation, but they have not been able to function in full capacity and production has dropped almost by half.

According to MIA secretary Somnath Adhikari, economic boom in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is attracting workers.

Industrialists claim that SMIC earlier used to witness a huge inflow of workers from across the border.

With 16.5 per cent growth rate in 2008/9 and 10.5 per cent now, the once impoverished Indian state now has opened new avenues for workers.

RSM had more than 300 Indian workers till a few years ago, but now it has less than 60. After working for years at RSM, Pawan Patel of Sitamadhi, Bihar, recently quit his job wowed by the economic boom in his hometown. “I have better opportunities and facilities here,” Patel told THT over phone.

RSM senior manager Mahesh Pokharel said, “Of late, 30 skilled workers on average are leaving my company every month.”

Economist Chiranjibi Nepal said the crisis was the result of difference in economic growths of the two countries. “Nepal has not been able to protect its labour market,” said Nepal. “While domestic labour force is setting off for the Gulf, those who used to come from India are staying there with the Indian government providing better opportunities and lucrative pay.”
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NA DEMOCRATIZATION; PARLIAMENT PANEL SEEKS GOVT. POSITION
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Kathmandu, 2 March: The State Affairs Committee of the Parliament has decided to seek the position of the new government before conducting serious discussions on the action plan for democratisation of the Nepal Army and the national security policy prepared by the previous government, The Kathmandu Post reports.

The committee unanimously agreed to examine whether the new government approves the documents prepared by the Cabinet committee led by then Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari last August. The committee will soon invite Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and seek his opinion on the proposed policies, informed Chairman Ram Nath Dhakal.

During Tuesday’s meeting, key coalition partner UCPN (Maoist) expressed its reservations over the documents saying that the policies were drafted ignoring the spirit of consensus, in contradiction with the provision prescribed by the Interim Constitution. Lawmaker Pampha Bhusal said the committee that drafted the action plan and security policy was unconstitutional because it was formed without any discussion with the Maoists and fringe parties.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka suggested that the House committee start discussions over the proposed documents only after consulting with the new government. He said the documents should be forwarded to the Cabinet for revision if the new government refuses to take its ownership.

Some lawmakers had proposed formation of a subcommittee to make a comprehensive review of the national army democratisation plan and revision of the security policy during Tuesday’s meeting. At the end of the two-hour discussion, Chairman Dhakal said the House committee had only collaborated with Swiss INGO Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and its partner NGO in Nepal, National Peace Campaign, and that the committee was aware about providing only limited managerial role for those institutions while organising interaction on security sector reform.

Earlier, DCAF had posted information on its website claiming that it had organised the visit of Nepali parliamentarians to the headquarters of the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army. The post was deleted from DECAF’s website last week. Chairman Dhakal read out the apologies sent by the INGO’s headquarters in Geneva in the meeting.
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REPRIEVE FOR CASINOS

Kathmandu, 2 March: Eight casinos facing possible closure for defaulting on their royalty payments got a temporary reprieve on Tuesday with the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deciding to go for extensive discussions, The Kathmandu Post reports.

PAC’s move came amid growing pressure from casino trade unions who want action against the gambling houses to be delayed.

PAC’s latest stance has raised questions whether the casinos will actually be penalized. Earlier, it had taken a tough position even asking the government to scrap the licenses of those who flout government rules.

Lawmakers were divided into two groups at Tuesday’s meeting, one demanding that the licenses be scrapped immediately and the other suggesting further discussion. Lawmakers like Dhanraj Gurung and Lal Babu Pandit were for an immediate scrapping of the licenses while Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Prakash Chandra Lohani, Prem Bahadur Singh and Narayan Dahal were for holding more discussions.

With four among the eight casinos recommended for action by the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) having cleared their outstanding royalties and dues, the Tourism Ministry is in a dilemma whether to take action against all of them or only the four that haven’t paid their dues. Of late, trade unions affiliated to the casinos have intensified their lobbying with government officials and lawmakers to delay action.

Casino Anna has said that it would clear its remaining dues. Casino representatives told PAC that their management would be clearing the dues within a weak. “The new management is committed to clearing the liabilities,” said Hem Bahadur Rawal, representative of Casino Anna. “The government should consider the willingness of the new management.”

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was expected to take action against the eight casinos on Monday. The Tourism Ministry on Feb. 27 had said that it would forward the file to chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire on Feb. 28 for a final decision.

On Dec. 28, 2010, PAC had directed the government to cancel the licenses of all the casinos that failed to clear their dues within 35 days. Based on that directive, the DRI on Feb. 14 had formally requested the Tourism Ministry to take against the eight casinos.

Hoteliers housing the casinos said at Tuesday’s meeting that if the casino operators did not clear their dues, then they would pay them. However, they said that the onus for clearing the dues lies with the casino operators as they have been paying them in the past.

Lawmakers pointed out that the hotels should be made liable for the dues and royalties. “The hotels should not move away from their responsibility,” said lawmaker Prakash Chandra Lohani. Hotel Annapurna’s acting general manager Paras Rana told PAC that the hotel did not hold the operating license of Casino Anna. “The license belongs to Annapurna International that used to operate the hotel in the past,” said Rana.

However, Soaltee Hotel representative said that the government should first auction the properties owned by Nepal Recreation Centre (NRC) to recover unpaid dues.

According to him, if the money thus raised falls short of the payments owed, the hotels would be liable for the rest. Two casinos run by Rakesh Wadhwa’s NRC haven’t made any payments till date despite enormous pressure from the government.

Piyush Bahadur Amatya, chairman of the Fulbari Resort, said that the hotel management was forced to take ownership of the casinos after the casino operators failed to clear government dues and hotel rentals. Amatya asked for more time to clear the dues. As of now, the hotel has paid Rs 13 million to the government.
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ILLEGAL WORKERS BEGIN SURRENDER IN HONG KONG
Kathmandu, 2 March: Nepalis staying illegally in Hong Kong have started to surrender after the government brought stringent policies to discourage illegal workers, Purna Basnet writes in Republica from Hong Kong.

Over 100 surrendered and returned to Nepal in the past one year while around 50 in jails are awaiting deportation, according to the immigration officials. Nepali solicitor Ek Narayan Sharma said Nepalis have started to return home along with others from the South Asian countries after finding it very difficult to cope with the new laws.
Sharma said the cases of surrender that started after the government passed a law last year to slap three years imprisonment and a fine of around Rs 500,000 on anyone found working illegally or doing business having stayed as refugee or torture victim, have increased after the government recently shortened the process of investigation. "Most of those claiming to be refugees or victims of torture after expiry of visa can stay for one year that includes a few months in Hong Kong jail," Sharma explained.

Hong Kong government is not legally bound to recognize the refugees as it is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention relating to status of refugees. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) can investigate the applications for refugee status and send the applicants to a third country but just 10 Nepalis have been successful in the past decade to get refugee status through the UNHCR.

The workers could choose the second option of claiming to be victims of torture and illegally work in the interim as the government took years to complete investigations. But the government has hired around 400 solicitors and trained them about torture and refugees so that the applicants can be interviewed in front of the solicitors. "It would take around 3-4 years in the past but now the process is completed in around six months to a year and the applicants have no option other than to return home," Sharma, who has also received solicitor training, stated.

Sharma revealed that around 500 of the 10,000 applying for amnesty on grounds of torture are Nepalis and no one has been successful although around 3,000 among the 10,000 cases were decided in the past three years. "If the application is found invalid the applicant is sent to jail for making false claims and repatriated only after serving up to one year in prison," Sharma added. "As there is bigger punishment for those staying longer illegally, the workers are seeking the prudent option of surrendering and returning home," he claimed.

The Office of the Nepali Consular General in Hong Kong said the Hong Kong government buys the deportees their plane tickets but they have to complete their prison sentence first. "Even those who offer to buy the tickets themselves have been sent to jail after surrender," Consular Kiran Shakya said.

Hundreds of workers from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal are still being duped by agents into visiting Hong Kong in lack of proper knowledge about the strict new government policies. A group of Nepalis had arrived in Hong Kong a month earlier paying Rs 400,000 each to brokers. "We are trying to return home as we don´t see any chance to work here due to the new rule," said a worker who has applied for refugee status.
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