PROTESTS AGANST CA TENURE EXTENSON CONTNUES IN TERAI

PROTESTS AGAINST CA TENURE EXTENSSION RESENTE FOR FOURTH DAY

Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: A strike sponsored by seven organizations protesting moves to extend a constituent assembly after 30 November disrupted normal life in terai districts of the far-West and the West for the fourth consecutive day Saturday.
Protestors smashed a passenger bus in Kailali overnight where normal life was badly disturbed Saturday.
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SERVICE CHARGE OF RS. 75,000 FIXED FOR OUTSOURCING AGENCIES SENDING WORKERS TO ISRAEL
Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: A maximum Rs.75,000 service charge equivalent to
$903 for sending workers to Israel has been fixed for outsourcing agencies by ministry of labour and transport.
Israel is a popular destination for Nepali migrant workers, especially maids.
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CONFLICTING REPORTS ON RETURN OF SERIZED ASSETS
BY MAOSTS
Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: The process of returning property seized by the Maoists officially started with the handover of around 30 hectares of land owned by Binod Dhwoj Chand and his family members at Rajapur VDC-7 in Bardiya on Friday, Kamal Panthi writes in The Kathmandu Post from Gulariya.
The handover was made in the presence of a taskforce representing the three big parties, a team of facilitators and representatives from the local administration.
"For 11 years I watched, helpless, while others exploited my land. I am happy to get my property back," Chand said.
The land was returned on verbal conditions--that the landowners should employ current tenants in case they wish to put up their land for lease farming; the tenants will continue to work the land until an alternative for their rehabilitation is had; and if in case the landowners decide to sell the property they must first seek permission from the tenants.
Twenty-eight tenant farmers, including six employed by Chand, are working the land at present.
After the land handover, Chand asked the district leadership of the Maoists why his land was seized. "Was I a feudal or a corrupt?" he asked. In reply, he was told that his land was seized by the party simply because he was a landlord.
Chand said he received not a single grain of crop produced on his land during the conflict. "Only after the Maoists joined the peace process I started receiving one-third of the produce," he said.
Chand and his family moved to Kathmandu after the Maoist took over their land and house. Due to lack of maintenance, the two-storey house has morphed into a squalid structure, its doors and windows ripped apart.
Asked if he and his family will return to Bardiya and resume farming, Chand said: "It will take some time for that to happen. The house needs renovation and we need to arrange equipment to run a farm."
According to the Bardiya District Administration Office (DAO), the Maoists have captured over 600 hectares of land. The DAO has so far received 244 applications requesting assistance in freeing the land and property.
"We will continue the process of returning the seized property in the days ahead," said Tilak Sharma, the Maoist district in-charge.
Janak Nepal/ Durga Lal KC add in The Kathmandu Post from Dang:
Maoist leaders and activists have plotted seized land after purchasing it from tenant farmers and started selling it in Dang district, it is learnt.
Twenty-seven katthas of farmland belonging to Gobinda Gautam of Tarigaun VDC-2 have been plotted with the agreement of Maoist activists.
Nanda Bahadur Pun, a relative of Maoist leader Parshaman Pun and local leader Tirtha Acharya were planning to sell it. “Parts of the captured land have been plotted while others were sold secretly. Mostly, tillers are affected by it,” said Maoist ward in-charge Gyan Bahadur Basnet.
A source said the seized land is being plotted with the agreement of local chapters of political parties. Maoist activist Dhan Bahadur Basnet has purchased 24 katthas of farmland, which was earlier tilled by tenant farmers Yagya Bahadur Bali, Prakash Chaudhary, Jaguram Chaudhary and Bishnu Bhandari. After the tillers were forced to vacate the seized land, the relations between the Maoists and them had soured. “They (Maoists) would say that they were in favour of tenant farmers. But their original idea was different,” said Lal Bahadur Rawal, a tenant farmer. He said it was beneficial for them to give half the share of the produce to the landowners as they would get seeds and fertilisers from the latter.
Fifteen bighas of captured land belonging to former chief justice Hari Prasad Sharma was sold except for five bighas registered in the name of his son Shyam.
Of the captured land, Durga Bahadur Budathoki purchased 18 katthas of land and 24 katthas, seven katthas, 12 katthas and four katthas were purchased by Balaram Dangi, Maniram Chaudhary, Hemraj Bhandari and Basanta KC respectively.
Assistant in-charge of the Maoist party in the district Lumakanta Neupane said it was against the party policy to purchase and sell captured land. “We will take action against the guilty,” he said.
A total of 438 bighas of land belonging to 47 households is still under the control of the Maoists in the district.
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WATER TALKS INCONCLUSIVE IN DELHI; MINISTERIAL MEET SLATED FOR 2012
Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: The sixth meeting of the Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) concluded here on Friday with agreement to hold the meeting of the Power Exchange Committee (PEC) on December 14-15 in New Delhi, The Kathmandu Post reports New Delhi.
The PEC is a joint team that decides on techicalities of crucial issues pertaining to power
trading.
The PEC meeting scheduled for November14-15 could not be held in Kathmandu due to various technical reasons. PEC will finalise the dates and techicalities to provide 100 MW power to Nepal. Nepal has intended to get that amount of electricity before march 2012 to address its power woes.
A recent meeting of technical officials of both the countries concluded that Nepal can import 100 MW from India with minimum repairs in the existing transmission lines within three months and an additional 145 MW in one year.
The two-day meeting of the JCWR also discussed a dozen issues related to the Saptakoshi High Dam, Naumure Project, Gandak Project, Mechi embankment, additional power supply to Nepal from India and the terms of reference of the Pancheshwor Development Authority, among others.
Energy Secretary Balananda Paudel led the Nepali delegation to the talks, while secretary
at the water resources ministry Dhruv Vijay Singh led the Indian sisde. The JCWR has also decided to do groundwork to hold a ministerial level meeting in early 2012.
Both the sides said the meeting was ‘very positive’. “We look forward to more cooperation in the water resources sector,” Singh said.
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EDUCATION MINISTRY BID TO CREATE 20,000 VACANCIES IN SCHOOLS
Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: The Education Ministry is preparing to table a bill in Parliament to create new vacancies for teachers in government-run schools across the country, The Himalayan Times reports.

The Education Bill (eighth amendment) has proposed golden handshake — as well as other options — for temporary teachers, who have been demanding permanent status, to create 20,000 vacancies in public school and reinstate teachers displaced by conflict, said Education Minister Dina Nath Sharma.

Sharma said new teachers would be joining the service for the first time since 1996. His remarks come as the government has been drawing flak for failing to inject young blood into the education sector.

Talking to this daily, Sharma said the bill, which will be tabled in Parliament on November 28, proposes various options for temporary teachers. They can accept a golden handshake package or compete with their peers to continue in the profession. If they fail in the Teachers Service Commission exam, they will be paid only half of the golden handshake money, the bill proposes. The package will be worth Rs 1 lakh to three lakhs depending upon service.

“Teachers who want to continue in their profession should at least pass the examination conducted by Teachers Service Commission,” said Sharma. The bill is also instrumental for implementing the School Sector Reform Plan, 2009-15.

Likewise, Minister Sharma has proposed that teachers displaced during the conflict, believed to be around 200, be reinstated.
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PROTESTORS IN FRONT OF US EMBASSY DEMAND DETAILS F SECRET AGREEMENT ON MONSANTO MAIZE SEED SUPPLY
Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: A group of 300 people, comprising youths, civil servants and agronomists, thronged the US Embassy today [Friday] seeking details about the ‘secret deal’ struck between USAID and the Agriculture Ministry regarding the introduction of a hybrid seed of maize by Monsanto company, The Himalayan Times reports.

Ananda Mishra, one of the protesters, slammed the embassy for denying them right to information. Mishra said, “We demand transparency, we object to the deal that makes Nepali farmers dependent forever.”

“We have submitted a memorandum to the US embassy, but they did not respond,” complained Mishra.

“Once it is introduced, the company will modify the indigenous seed and make farmers dependent and register patent rights of its own.

It is harmful to our biodiversity as Nepal has variety of maize types and seeds and farmers can use the same seed time and again, which is not the case with Monsanto seeds.”

Mishra said that they would launch a Facebook campaign by writing to the US Ambassador demanding details of the deal. They are also planning to launch a series of protest programmes.
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