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Nepali petroleum pump workers postpone strike; oil to become available

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:41 -0600

Petroleum pump workers based in eastern Nepal on Tuesday declared the postponement of their strike as it caused inconvenience to people due to the closure of petroleum pumps.

Govinda Prasad Rijal, Coordinator of All Nepal Petroleum Workers’ Association (ANPWA), told reporters that the workers’ negotiation with petroleum pump owners in the eastern Nepal ended without any decision since the entrepreneurs were reluctant to follow the Labor Act that has stated that the workers are entitled to permanent appointment letter after 240 days’ of their work.

According to ANPWA, the workers have withdrawn from the strike for two weeks to create some convenience for people though the entrepreneurs were not flexible towards their demand.

In Nepal, workers live miserable lives. Most of them have to live below one dollar a day.

Diesel and Kerosene Prices Go Up in Nepal

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:29:32 -0600

Nepal Oil Corporation, the country’s state-owned trader, has on Tuesday increased the prices of diesel and kerosene each by Rs. 03.00 per litre, according to Commerce Secretary Purushottam Ojha.

The Corporation has attributed the price rise to the state’s inability to control the re-sale of diesel and kerosene at a higher price, at Nepali border points with India.

It has stated no other factor for the rise.

The price rise of diesel and kerosene directly affects the lives of the working class people in Nepal.

Supply Minister Rajendra Mahato had warned one month ago that the petroleum price was going to be increased soon.

Nepal is yet far behind in the combat against all-pervasive corruption, ill-governance and dysfunctions of its state mechanisms.

The present rise in the petroleum price is also considered as an indicator of the heavy influence of black market forces, operating in nexus with political players, on state power mechanisms.

Nepal government threatens to use army against anti-government protesters

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:57:32 -0600

Nepal’s Defense Minister Vidya Bhandari has threatened to use the government army against Maoist protesters. This is her continuous reiteration over more than a week.

Ms. Bhandari was defeated in the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections held on 10 April 2008.

Earlier Deputy Prime Minister Vijay Gachchhedar had given a similar threat regarding the ongoing Maoist protests against the government across Nepal.

Maoists—currently in the UN-monitored peace process—have been protesting against the current coalition government headed by UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal. Mr. Nepal was also defeated in the CA elections.

After becoming Nepal’s largest political party through the CA elections, Maoists had headed the previous coalition government. Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda took action against the then Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal for his parallel decision-making role challenging the executive government.

Ceremonial President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, at the request of anti-Maoist alliance, approved of the Army Chief’s parallel power exercises against the elected Prime Minister Prachanda in May 2009.

This parallel rule against the Maoist-headed government led Prachanda to immediately resign his office to avoid any untoward consequences.

Maoists, since then, have been demanding that the agenda of civilian supremacy be debated in the Legislative-Parliament composed of the elected CA members. They have gone to people for support.

But the current anti-Maoist political coalition and its government have firmly refused to discuss the agenda of civilian supremacy in the House. Instead, they have threatened to use the Nepal Army to quell protests.

Dalit community faces threat to life for inter-caste marriage

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:27:37 -0500

Nepal government has remained a mere spectator though a Kathmandu-based daily Sunday made public a news report about a serious human rights violation in Dailekh district. According to the Nayapatrika daily, locals of Jaganath village ward#6 have made Amit B.K. pay a fine of Rs. 60,000 for marrying a Sabita Shahi belonging to so-called high caste community. He was not only forced to pay the fine but was also deprived of his bride.

The neighbors and relatives of Sabita Shahi, the bride, were the ones who beat and tortured Amit BK, the bridegroom. They forcefully snatched Sabita away from Amit and tried to murder the boy, who is now reported missing following his attempt to escape the murder by running down a cliff.

There is no report of any police rescue team reaching the village. However, Prem Bhurtel, a local human rights activist, is trying to afford help for the victims from different mechanisms he is accessible to.

Many similar incidents of human rights violations arising from caste-apartheid deep-rooted in Nepal are reported every year; however, the state of Nepal has done nothing to prevent them. Nepal is a party to most of the international human rights treaties and instruments. Although the Nepali laws clearly say that caste discrimination and racist behavior are punishable, the state has rarely proved its worth in implementation form.

The reported case of Amit BK and Sabita Shahi indicates the violation of their right to marriage and self-decision about their personal life. Similarly, the attempt to murder Amit for marrying a girl of so-called high-caste background shows the threat to his life.

Although Amit and Sabita were married on 01 September and their parents took them home on 12 September when Sabita’s family members, relatives and their supporting neighbors attacked Amit, the information of the incident came quite late because the victims were too terrified to inform the media. Some social workers like Bhurtel took the initiative to disclose it to the media. In Nepal, so-called high-caste people, also belonging to the ruling class, treat Dalits (‘untouchables’ according to ritual belief of Hindu Pundits) like animals. Because of this long-practiced caste discrimination, the Dalits are the most marginalized and excluded community in Nepal. The Dalits are still treated as ‘ritually contaminated community’ and are generally boycotted in villages in the form of discriminated speech and behavior.

Article 1 in the Universal Declaration of human rights states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. This has been directly violated in the case of Amit and Sabita. The declaration in Article 2 that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set f in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status has also been violated openly. Similarly, the right to life, liberty and security stated in Article 3 has also been trodden upon. Article 5 set against torture and inhuman and cruel treatment has also faced a violation. Thus the incident can be linked to the violation of most of the Article in the declaration.

Now the victims’ family members are reported to have taken shelter away from their permanent settlement.

Current Status of Investigative Journalism in Nepal

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:38:49 -0500

Investigative Journalism has a mission of digging out truth and diagnosing deep-rooted problems in the human society. Investigative journalists' work is different from normal reporting. It challenges those wishing to remain latent operators of society. It, therefore, is a highly challenging responsibility.

Many journalists in Nepal still feel extremely insecure to practice practice their journalistic profession in a truthful manner. They believe there are many barriers to practicing journalistic principles and ethics in favor of the majority of the working class people. In fact, the working class people are the ones named frequently by Nepali politicians, who actually devote themselves to the interests and priorities of elitist politics. Consequently, democracy has always been hijacked. So has press freedom.

Due to the nexus between politicians and criminal gangs in the country, journalists usually face life threats from smuggling and other criminal gangs. This situation has led away the mainstream as well as alternative journalists from the required level of investigative journalism practice.

However, it does not mean that Nepali journalists have completely ignored the need of investigative journalism practices. They find it more comfortable to carry out their investigative journalism focusing on environmental, gender and economic issues. Due to all-pervasive ill-governance and corruption in all tiers of state systems, journalists are well aware that the state cannot protect them. In this context, what is strikingly true is the fact that they fear most irresponsible state mechanisms more than criminal gangs.

It is natural for Nepali journalists to fear the state to such a degree because they sort of believe that the state protects criminal gangs rather than truth-digging investigative journalists. This is perhaps one of the major causes why Nepali journalists shft their focus on to other issues despite the rapid expansion of crime industry in the country.

If one goes through the news coverage of the Nepali media, both electronic and print, one will find so many news stories of rape, kidnap, robbery, murder, money laundering, smuggling and more. Searchers will also discover from the news cover that most of such incidents often happen with the help of underground forces within state mechanisms. It is not difficult to understand that such underground state mechanisms serving crime industries definitely put more threats to investigative journalists. This may be another considerable cause for hesitation to become investigative journalists.

Several senior Nepali journalists, who have been in the media sector for more than 25 years, say they have not become professional investigative journalists because no appropriate environment exists there. But they admit that they have also practiced investigative journalism in different forms and to different degrees.

Nepali journalists have seen certain efforts to recognize the importance of investigative journalism. For instance, two workshops were held in 2006: one in Pokhara and the other in lalitpur. But the theme was more concerned with theoretical approaches to interpreting corruption than with the accelerating process of criminalization within state mechanisms. However, showing interest in investigative journalism should be considered positive.

Some books on investigative journalism written by Nepali journalists can be found in the books. For example, khoj Patrakarita (Investigative Journalism) written by Mohan Mainali and Binod Bhattarai, Dharap (ambush) edited by Basanta Thapa and Mohan Mainali, and Bigreko Bato (Spoilt Path) edited by Kedar Sharma.

So far, the state (most Nepalis don't believe there exists a state in Nepal) has done much to discourage Nepali journalists as far as investigative journalism and free media practice in general are concerned. But the possibility of practicing investigative journalism through public networks strongly exists. The question is how to create and strengthen public networks that can safeguard and promote investigative journalism. For this, powerful media institutions that include not only the mass media in general but also the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and other media NGOs.

Is it Worth a Shot?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:04:38 -0500

You've Already Had Your Barrage of Vaccines when You Were a Baby, but Recent Studies Say's You Got to Get Pricked Again

Doctors say's that an injection only hurts as much as a pinprick, and its true. Besides, experiencing a non second's worth of pain is nothing if it means preventing further harm to your body. Here are some diseases that vaccines can help prevent.

Diphtheria
What it is: A highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease with symptoms such as sore throat, low grade fever and a clam like, phlegmy feeling on the tonsils, pharynx, and nose.
How it spreads: An airborne disease that is spread through coughing and sneezing.
Why you need a vaccination: Complication may lead to death.
Extra info: Diphtheria toxoid vaccine should be taken every 10 years.

Shingles
What it is: Think: chicken pox for adults people who've gotten chicken pox before can get shingles. The main culprit is a virus of the herpes family, which is also the cause of chicken pox. stress, a weakened immune system, and aging are possible suspects that can trigger the chicken pox virus to reccur. It's symptoms are intolerable itchiness, leaving rashes with blisters, and skin tingling, among other's.
How it spreads: Shingle's cannot be directly passed from one person to another; so even if you touch someone with shingles, the worst you can get is chicken pox. However, any person who's had chicken pox may develop shingles when the chicken pox virus is reactivated.
Extra info: You can ask your doctor to boost you with zoster vaccines to suppress the reactivation of the virus.

Hepatitis A
What it is: An infectious disease caused by virus that attacks your liver. Some of its symptoms are fever, nausea, fatigue. The more serious ones, meanwhile, are darkened urine, upper-right abdominal pain, and jaundice like symptoms.
How it spreads: By ingesting something contaminated by an infected person's stool ( known as the oral-fecal route) or through anal- oral sex.
Why you need a vaccination: Adults are prone to have more severe form of hepa A-leading to bed rest for four weeks and may have to stop working for three month's or longer recovery can take up to a year.
Extra info: Hepatitis A vaccine is effective from 15 to 30 years.

Hepatitis B
What it is: A viral liver disease with symptoms like vomiting, dark urine, jaundice, and inflammation of the liver.
How it spreads: Through contact with the blood of an infected person ( i.e. injection, blood transfusion, and sex ).
Why you need a vaccination: Complication may lead to life long liver problems, including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Extra info: Hepatitis B vaccines are recommended to be taken every five to 10 years.

Human Papilloma Virus: (HPV)
What it is: A virus that attacks the cervical cells. This virus can only be detected through pop smears, and women are of great risk.
How it spreads: By having sex with an infected person.
Why you need a vaccination: If untreated, The virus may lead to cervical cancer.
Extra info: Get the shot between the age 16 to 23 " If you catch girls early enough before they become sexually active, then that is when this vaccines seems to be so young", Say's Dr. Sean Kenniff.

International Day of Democracy and Political Irony

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:23:33 -0500

Ban Ki-moon’s message on 15 September

On the occasion of the second International Democracy Day on 15 September, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message to the world on Tuesday said, "Democracy is not only an end in itself; it contributes powerfully to economic and social progress, international peace and security and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms." The slogan of this year’s International Day of Democracy encompasses the ideal of “democracy and political tolerance”.

The UN General Assembly had recognized 15 September as the International Day of Democracy through its resolution A/RES/62/7 on 8 November 2007. Following the decision, the first International Day of Democracy was observed in 2008 with an ideal of promoting and consolidating democracy.

The 2009 slogan (democracy and political tolerance) of the International Day of Democracy appropriate and logical because the world has not achieved democracy in essence yet, nor is there political tolerance. Instead, political criminals have been accelerating their de-humanizing process through corrupt and belligerent thoughts and deeds.

Ground reality to consider

The production and export of arms and the creation of more civil wars in many poverty-stricken and semi-feudalist countries clearly indicate that the world needs democracy more than ever before, no matter how many countries in appearance adopt democratic constitutions.

There is no political tolerance in the world. There are serious ideological discriminations in the US. Political intolerance there has sustained racism and crimes in general. In the name of democracy, no alternative voices are given a place. Corporatized democracy has monetized the mindset of people; consequently, it is difficult for them to realize the evils of criminalized politics.

Far worse is the situation of democracy and political tolerance in African, Latin American and Asian countries. They face a common problem of corrupt and slave-minded politics. The ruling elites in those countries run a heinous industry of brokering politics, continuously victimizing their people in every sphere.

Definitely, forces advocating for the supremacy of parliamentary democracy will, on this day, emphasize the importance of democracy of parliament though the grassroots people suffer the worst due to the class-based discriminations and prejudices in the policies made by the ruling elites. They are never prepared to accept the existence of the working class people, who are the most substantial labor forces sustaining and promoting the world.

How should ordinary people take September 15?

Innocent civilians are losing their lives for reasons they do not know. So many politically tagged organizations are war companies profiting from deaths. Several of them are favored by donor nations. Donor nations have a strong hegemonic attitude towards the peoples of the least developed countries. Donors are not ready to tolerate the independent ideas and activities of the peoples of the intellectuals in the developing countries. In order to promote democracy and political tolerance, donor nations must recognize the independence of the work of the developing countries.

In the name of democracy, democracy messiahs are making serious mistakes. They believe that the political forces that follow them unquestioningly are genuine democratic forces. Because of this belief, democracy messiahs are mismobilizing their funds to suppress the working class movement seeking to transform their society. Why do they intentionally support and strengthen corrupt parties in the developing countries is a serious question to be considered on the International Day of Democracy.

International Day of Democracy and the Peace Process of Nepal

More armed gangs, specializing in murdering and looting, were created with political tags in the plains of Nepal after Nepal’s Maoist insurgents entered the mainstream peace process by depositing their People’s Liberation Army (PLA) men and arms in the UN-monitored cantonments. The emergence of dozens of armed gangs when the peace process actually began in 2006 in the country indicates that arms smugglers and corrupt feudals still exercise their influence in Nepal’s politics.

After the former Maoist rebels emerged as the largest political force through 10-April Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, the Nepalis became extremely happy because they believed that the Maoists’ successful entry into the country’s mainstream politics meant greatly for change and long-term peace. However, the political forces, who ruled Nepal previously with the backforce of feudal monarchy and foreign donors, could not tolerate the fact that the former insurgents have stood as the largest political force. Especially after monarchy was abolished with a view to creating a more inclusive and diversity-represented Nepal, the Nepali Congress (NC), the UML, and other monarchist and pro-Indian political parties took a different path geared at reversing the peace process.

One piece of evidence can be found in the Presidential coup directed at creating a failure in the republican system of democracy. The NC, the UML and monarchist and pro-Indian parties advocated that the Army Chief in a democracy need not follow the order of the elected government. They also advocated that a ceremonial head of the state with no executive power, could even re-appoint the army chief though it is an act beyond the country’s Interim Constitution. This is a blatant mockery of democracy. What do the donor nations think about it? How do democracy messiahs judge this case of Nepal?

More surprisingly, the NC and the UML, the most ardent advocates of parliamentary democracy, did not allow Maoists’ resolution to enter the parliamentary debate. Maoists, who are still believed to have distrusted the parliamentary model of democracy, have sought a place for wide discussions on the presidential coup within the parliament, while parliamentary democrats, who promise to die for the sake of parliamentary supremacy, have vowed to bar Maoists from discussing the issue in the House. This is a big irony in Nepal’s parliamentary democracy.

The Nepalis, in the main, do not believe in the traditional model of parliamentary democracy. They want the parliamentary system to be changed into the grassroots public sphere where people’s agenda can be discussed and refined. At present, the parliament in Nepal has been a centre of lethargic gathering. The systems used in the parliament are designed to serve the smugglers and black marketers, though a few public-oriented bills, never to be implemented at people’s level, are passed occasionally.

One has to visit Nepal’s markets to see the real face of democracy. Business forces are the ones above the nation’s constitution. They can set their prices at their will. There is no state in this context. Dealers exorbitantly hike prices about which the state mechanisms express their helplessness. Business leaders say they expect to blockbusterprofit because they have enslaved political leaders in general. Amidst such anarchy and bankruptcy of ethics, the ongoing peace process, people fear, may be threatened.

Addicts of Power and Corruption

However, may the International Day of Democracy be the occasion for the addicts of power and corruption in all the countries to realize that they need to go off as soon as possible for the sake of future generations.

Suspected criminal gang massacres six in Kathmandu

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:03:39 -0500

A gang of suspected criminals at 00:30 on Wednesday murdered six persons at Bhotahity in Kathmandu. According to a taxi driver, one of the eyewitnesses, the gang on a vehicle numbered B. A. Ch. 8030 drove to the bar of the pavement and killed six passers-by while some others escaped the attempt. The driver said that he and some other taxi drivers took the dead bodies to Bir Hospital after the police told them to do so after the incident.

Among the murdered have been identified as Madan Gupta, Sanjay Gupta, Dharmanath Sinha, Beena Sinha, Krishnaa Devi and one unidentified person—one man and one woman. The six of the killed are reported to have been from Bihar of India.

According to police sources, the police have captured the car though the driver called Biplavman Singh escaped after the assault.

One woman who survived the car assault said that the gang dragged another passer-by and ran over him. According to her, the deceased lived at Asan and Bangemudha in Kathmandu.

Portion of brains stuck on the metal bars of the pavement at Bhotahity Sub-way Cross was seen. Blood was also observed at the spot. One portion of the metal bar at the pavement was also seen collapsed.

Policemen deployed at the spot said that it was a murder scandal and could in no way be an accident. However, the mass media of Nepal have disseminated its news as a mere 'accident'.

The deceased are known to have been street vendors. They were returning from Bir Hospital in connection with the emergency treatment of one of their children.

Local people in angry mood have begun protesting against the massacre. Crowds gathered at the spot said that they understood the incident as a pure murder by an experienced criminal in the form of a car driver.

Ordinary people protesting in the streets have demanded the immediate arrest of the murderers for legal actions.

In Kathmandu, elite family members, usually suspected of having nexus with state power and smuggling gangs, enjoy in night brothels and come home late. Many unidentified murders in the name of car-hits had occurred in the past as well.

Law application mechanisms are considered morally quite weak due to all-pervasive corruption and bribery.

Gazan children deprived of educational human rights

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:47:52 -0500

While the UN Economic and Social Council today discussed the socio-economic impact of the Israeli occupation and blockade on the Palestinian living conditions, the UN Humanitarian Country Team in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has also highlighted the impact of Israel’s blockade on the Palestinian children and their education in Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said the Israeli blockade has caused untold suffering to children in Gaza.

Pointing out to the long-disrupted Gazan educational system, Lazzarini has demanded full and unfettered access into and out of Gaza.

According to UN sources, 18 Gazan schools were completely destroyed while 280 were damaged before the ceasefire six months ago.

Ideological prejudices kill 200 diarrhea patients in Nepal

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:07:26 -0500

Nepali media had begun to bring out news reports on the diarrhea outbreak in Jajarkot from April 2009. Follow-up news reports on Jajarkot diarrhea spread show that about 100 patients lost their lives by the third week of this month. But the toll rose to at least 150 by the first half of the fourth week of this month.

However, neither any government health mechanism nor any mass media adopted an investigative approach. Consequently, all were pronouncing the word ‘diarrhea’.

In fact, public nonaccountability and lack of accurate information have contributed to the spread of the communicable disease. Both the government and the media were taking the
case lightly as a simple diarrhea.

The death toll in the district shows that the district government mechanisms, especially the health sector, are defunct. If such defunct mechanisms are the reality in today’s Nepal, this is one of the greatest threats to Nepal’s sovereignty as well because they will never watch out against frequent border encroachment by India.

But the major political forces of Nepal, who have more supporters and mobilizational ability, appear more negligent over such defunct state mechanisms.

The death toll caused by the ‘diarrhea’ in the district shows how self-centered the power-holders are.

The government has not yet declared health emergency in the district. Deaths have continued. Government officials have blamed the victims themselves for their deaths. “They are illiterate. They do not follow rules of hygiene and sanitation. They do not go to health centers,” officials remark accusatorily.

Local sources from Jajarkot, Rolpa and Rukum indicate that the current government is prejudiced against the victimized in those districts, the strongholds of Maoists, who mainly base their politics on the issues of the Dalit community and the deprived. Most of the victims are Dalits and malnourished destitutes, the supporters of Maoists.

In this context, Maoists must also admit to their shortcomings. They have to be accountable to their supporting masses. If they hope much from the defunct state mechanisms, their political life itself will go defunct. They must stress on mobilizing their own resources as far as they can because people-oriented politics is not done only while in state positions but also when out of power.

Regarding the diarrhea-caused deaths in Jajarkot, some questions naturally arise in mind: is the state punishing the victims for their ideological faith? Nepal government’s negative attitude towards them shows the pre-set state character against the working class population. This is something modern democrats, who tirelessly preach human rights, must consider.

After all, what is state? Is it just a ruling tool or a public spirit of managing public issues?