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VOL. 03, NO. 01, June 01, 2009 (Jestha 18 2066)
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PM Madhav Kumar Nepal
Taking Oath of office with President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
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Indian Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jebao congratulated Madhav Kumar Nepal for his appointment as a prime minister of Nepal.
Indian Prime minister Dr. Singh expressed his hope that India-Nepal friendly relations between the two countries will strengthen further during Nepal’s tenure as a prime minister. Chinese Prime minister Wen Jebao expressed the hope centuries old relations exist between China and Nepal will be further strengthen in the interest of two countries.
Similarly, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan extended heartfelt congratulations to the office of the Prime Minister of Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Madhav Kumar Nepal.
According to the press released issued by Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu, Japanese prime minister said,” I am pleased that our two countries have been enjoying a friendly relationship over the years. I look forward to working with Your Excellency in further strengthening the cordial and cooperative relations existing between our two countries.
“Your country is addressing various challenges to decide a future form of nation at a historic juncture, in which the system of government had changed. I hope that all parties cooperate with each other and focus on formulating a new constitution, consolidating peace and democracy, and bringing stability and welfare to the people of Nepal under Your Excellency's leadership. Japan has been and will continue to support efforts of Nepal,” said Japanese prime minister Taro Aso .
TWO DAYS AFTER BEING ELECTED FOR THE TOP JOB, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was sworn on May 25. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered him the oath amidst a special function held at presidential palace Shital Niwas. Though the Maoists boycotted the PM's election process on Saturday, their deputy leader in the parliament Narayan Kaji Shrestha and erstwhile communication minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara attended the oath taking ceremony.
Unlike the tradition, Nepal took oath neither in the name of 'God' as stated in the oath paper nor in the name of 'people' as done by his predecessor Pushpa Kamal Dahal. He simply skipped the phrase "in the name of God". Nepal has formed a three-member cabinet, inducting UML leaders Bidhya Bhandari and Surendra Pandey as defense and finance ministers respectively. After being sworn in by the President, the Prime Minister administered oath to the two ministers. The Nepali Congress said it will name its ministers only after the number of portfolios in the new cabinet are decided. NC and UML have formed separate committee to finalize the distribution of portfolios.
Another key ally, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is set to send its team in the government under the leadership of Bijaya Gachchhadar. Interestingly, the big three parties in the coalition have not shown keen interest in the Home Ministry, which is considered the most powerful portfolio in the wake of growing security problem and likely street demonstrations from the Unified CPN (Maoist). In the meantime, smaller parties have begun their internal discussion to name their representatives in the government.
THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS WARNED US citizens of risks of traveling to Nepal and urged to take caution when traveling here. In an updated travel warning following the ouster of Maoist-led government from power, the US state department said it remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaced the Travel Warning for Nepal issued by the department on November 21, 2008. The warning said political violence remains a problem in Nepal. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern. It further said, protests, demonstrations and disruptions frequently occur and that the resignation Maoist-led government has created an environment of increased political instability and the potential for demonstrations to be called without advance notice. Given the nature, intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, American citizens are urged to exercise special caution during times when demonstrations are announced, avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile. The US department also said crime in the Kathmandu valley continues to rise and police resources to combat such crime are limited. The statement also reaffirmed that U.S. government's designation of the UCPN (Maoist) as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" organization under Executive Order 13224 and its inclusion on the "Terrorist Exclusion List" pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act remain in effect.
MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS FOR CHILDREN Affected by AIDS in Nepal (UCAAN) have expressed deep concern over the recent expulsion of HIV infected and affected children by schools in different parts of the country. "Incidents in Kavre, Kailali, and Banke districts, and most recently in Kaski district, have deprived these children of their basic human rights as expressed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Nepal is a signatory. Non-discrimination is a principle of the Nepali Constitution and a right to education is constitutionally guaranteed for every Nepali child," a statement issued by UCAAN said. Citing the recent Supreme Court ruling that children affected and infected by HIV should not be discriminated against on such grounds, UCAAN said such actions depriving children from educational opportunities are against national and international laws. UCAAN members urged all organizations and institutions to collectively condemn such discriminatory acts against children and requested the Government of Nepal to take action to ensure that the rights of these children are protected now and in the future. UCAAN consists of 11 aid agencies including Unicef, USAID Nepal, Save the Children, UNAIDS, United Mission to Nepal and Family Health International (FHI).
POPULAR MOUNTAINEER APPA SHERPA broke his own record as he reached the top of Mount Everest for nineteenth time on May 21. Sherpa reached the top of the highest peak in the world at around 8 a.m. today after 364 days of his previous record. While he conquered the peak last year to raise funds for a school in Thame, this year he scaled the peak for raising awareness on climate change and global warming. He also placed Bumpa, a sacred copper vase containing 400 elements handed over to him by Rimpoche Ngawang Tenzin Zangpo of Tengboche monastery on top of the world at the peak. Appa had left for the summit on April 6.
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR INTEGRATED MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT (ICIMOD) organized a regional training on monitoring of glacier growth and retreat from April 27 to May 15. The 17-day training is the first of its kind in the country providing practical training on the Yala Glacier in Langtang district, ICIMOD said. The training course aimed to disseminate information on how to measure and calculate the mass of a glacier. Speaking during the closing ceremony, Environment Minister Ganesh Shah said, "We hope this training course will help devise a long-term monitoring scheme targeting at least one glacier in the country." According to Adarsha Prasad Pokhrel, chairperson of the Nepal National Committee for UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme (IHP), Mera peak glacier in the Khumbu region has been identified as a benchmark glacier to monitor glacier growth and retreat of other glaciers. During the training, experts called for a concerted and coordinated monitoring scheme for glaciers in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region. Eighteen trainees from Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan attended the training.
