Pressure on Nepal from India side to change the course of Koshi River

India is insisting pressure on Nepal to change the course of the Koshi River. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today urged the Indian central government to take up with Nepal immediately the issue of ensuring flow of water centrally from Koshi River downstream of its barrage to prevent devastating floods, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).

In a letter faxed to External Affairs minister S M Krishna, Kumar said the Koshi River has been one of the most problematic rivers in the recent past. In the downstream of Koshi barrage, the river has shifted eastwards and is now flowing by hugging the eastern Koshi embankment, he said, adding that it was imperative that the river flow should remain central to exert minimum pressure on either side of the embankments.

Chief Minister Kumar informed that a scheme of excavation of pilot channel was formulated in the light of recommendation made by Kosi High Level Committee (KHLC), the technical body, to make river flow central.

As quoted in Republica, the excavation of the pilot channel was started unilaterally by India around two months ago and around seven weeks ago, the Saptari District Administration Office issued a directive to immediately halt the construction following protests by locals and it was halted.

A senior officer at the Department of Irrigation (DOI) confirmed that Gobargada, an island VDC of Saptari to the south of the barrage, will be swept away if Koshi were brought to the central course. The river has shifted eastward after breaching the embankment over two years ago, by constructing a pilot channel. The DOI officer said bringing Koshi to the central course may be even more dangerous for Nepal.

Is it racism? Naomi Campbell not so Blissful by an advert

Supermodel Naomi Campbell found her comparison with a chocolate bar ‘insulting and hurtful’.

The Cadbury’s advertisement for its ‘Bliss’ chocolate bar says: "Move over Naomi – there is a new diva in town." The advertisement was published in newspapers last week. Naomi claims Cadbury owner, Kraft, refused to Naomi’s request to pull the ad campaign.

To be noted, the ad also compares Naomi with a ‘diva’. I am sure she is not upset by that… Move over Naomi!

Naomi says, "I am shocked. It
‘s upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful."

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Standard and manner

When people can’t appreciate what they have got – a photo of the 6 lane highway from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur:

Beekalpa Paudel posted this photo in his Facebook profile.

Documentary – Introduction to Tanahun

An Introduction to Tanahun district

A documentary was produced by the residents of Tanahun now living in Hong Kong.

Tanahun District, one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, is a part of Gandaki Zone. The district headquarter of Tanahun is Damauli (previously it was Bandipur). The district houses 315,237 people in an area of 1,546 km² (2001 census)
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Five point pact signed by Dahal will be discussed within party: Gajurel

UCPN (Maoist) General Secretary CP Gajurel has said on Tuesday that Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal’s decision to form a national consensus government by dismantling the present Khanal led government will be seriously discussed within the party.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Kathmandu, Gajurel claimed that demanding the prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s resignation was against the party mandate, so, serious deliberations would be hold within the party on how Dahal happened to sign the agreement against the party decision. Gajurel said “we won’t dismantle the government that we formed.”

Maoist Chairman Dahal had signed a five-point pact on Sunday before agreeing to extend Constituent Assembly (CA)’s term for three months. The last point of the pact states the prime minister will resign to pave the way for the formation of a consensus national unity government.

Gajurel further claimed that the implementation of the five point pact has many hurdles in implementation and expressed dissatisfaction for compelling to reach the five point agreement for extending CA term.

He also emphasized on the process of handing over weapons and integration should go hand in hand.

How can a blind person drive motorcycle?

When I saw this photo, I wondered if the person driving the bike is blind. But, how can a blind drive motorbike?

May, be the person can’t read. The is a perfect example to prove why education is so important! Send your kids to school … Please !

Photo credits – Brazesh Khanal

Fourth Republic Day celebrated

The fourth Republic Day is being observed with various programmes all across the country and among the Nepali Diaspora abroad on 15th of Jestha to commemorate the declaration day of Nepal as republic. This is the day when the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly had declared Nepal a Republic and abolished the 240-year old monarchy.

A special programme is being organised at the Nepal Army Pavilion at Tundikhel, Kathmandu where helicopters of Nepal Army showered flowers and Nepal Army soldiers, various cultural groups and students paraded.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang, high level government officials and other dignitaries were present in the programme.

President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and political leaders have extended greetings and good wishes to the people.

On this occasion, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, on the recommendation of the cabinet, ordered to set free over 300 prisoners, who had completed half their terms of imprisonment, on the grounds of good conduct while in jail.

Sweta Lamichane clarifies Saptahik article

I wrote about Sweta Lamichane back in Februry of 2010. It is good to see the beautiful lady featured in this week’s Saptahik weekly. But apparently, Sweta is not too much happy about the portraying of her as the ‘Hollywood star’ in the article.

Sweta’s clarification in her own words:

Since I can’t read Nepali, I had to have someone else read the Saptahik to me. I would like to clear up a few mistakes that were made.

Yes, I am a working actress, but I’m not a huge Hollywood star. I have done a few movies, commercials, and television shows. In fact, I did all of my training in Hollywood, got my SAG eligibility, and then moved away. It wasn’t until I moved that I started to book bigger roles. All of the movies that I have speaking roles in are independent films. These films only go to film festivals and you can’t find them on the shelves. Currently I’m working on a web series, I’ve completed three movies (will only appear in film festivals), and I’ve done a direct TV commercial campaign. I’m also in school for esthetics and make-up artistry. In addition, I’m recoding an album that will release at the end of this year. Thank you time and attention and Thanks for all the support!

Sweta has done a good job in Hollywood and she has made us proud by her skills over there. Now, I am also impressed by the humbleness she has shown.

Good job Sweta! Keep the good works.

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CA to extend 3 months: Maoist, UML and NC signed a 5-point deal

UPDATE: The CA is extended for another 3 months. In an election held in CA, out of total 508 votes 504 votes were cast for the proposal and only 4 CA members voted against the extension.

The top three political parties CPN Maoist, CPN UML, and Nepali Congress have reached to an agreement and signed a 5-point deal. The meeting of the parliament to approve the extension of the Constituent  Assembly has started at 4:30 am on Sunday.

The full text of the deal (translated – credits Republica):

We the political parties have reached the following agreement today, May
28:

1. To complete the basic tasks of the peace process within three months
2. To prepare the first draft of the constitution from the Constituent Assembly (CA) within three months
3. To implement effectively the various past agreements reached with the Madhesi Front, including the one to make the Nepal Army (NA) an inclusive institution
4. To extend the CA term by three months
5. The prime minister to resign and pave the way for the formation of a consensus national unity government

Signed by Prachanda, Sushil Koirala, and Jhalanath

London protest held successfully

The voices of Nepali all over the world is being heard, thanks to the recent development in communication and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

A group of Nepali youths in UK organized the protest event in front of the Embassy of Nepal in London to demand the timely constitution and co-operation from the Government. The protest event comprising of about 100 people started at 12pm midday. The protestors chanted slogan, recited poetry, sang songs , gave speech and handed over a letter to the Ambassador of Nepal for UK, to be delivered to speaker of CA.

The protest program ended at 2.15PM when Miss UK Nepal 2010, Nabina Gurung, and bloggers, Lex Limbu and Pradeep Kumar Singh went in the Embassy to handed over a letter and a petition signed by hundreds of participants. The petition demanded the government to draft constitution on time and move ahead for peace and political stability in the country and the letter to the Speaker of CA conveyed the similar message. The Nepali Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise, promised to deliver the letter to the speaker of CA. The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes.

More photos from the event (Photo source – Nepali Unites UK)

Lawmakers' death rituals performed by people's movement victim

Netra Pani Subedi, 46, of Kaskikot-4 has performed once again ‘Shraadhha’ annual death ritual observed by the Hindus, on May 28 2011. He had performed the first ‘Shraadhha’ one year ago, on May 28 2010. He was injured during the 19-day agitation. Subedi performed the mourning rituals for all the 601 lawmakers accusing them of failing to deliver the new constitution by the extended May 28 deadline.

Similarly, Gautam, 24, of Purunchaur-9, shaved his head and long-time-grown beard as a protest. Gautam is also the victim of the People’s Movement-II (19-day agitation). He has sent it to the lawmakers as a protest against the Constituent Assembly (CA) members.

They said that they are deeply saddened to have to do it and added further that CA members are as good as dead after being unable to release the constitution in two years.

Vehicles vandalized, some arrested

Vehicles were vandalized in several places during the course of the bandh called by various organizations on Friday.

At 4:45 AM, group of two/three unidentified persons torched a Nepal Yatayat bus (Ba 1 Kha 7324) at Jadibudi in Bhaktapur by throwing bottle of petrol in it. The bus is totally vandalized. Police took two suspicious persons under control and initiated action against them.

Similarly, at Banasthali in Kathmandu, three men in a 220 c.c motorcycle set ablaze the van (Ba 5 Cha 9375) belonging to the Kantipur Television after following from Putalisadak. Police took six persons including 20 years old Bhagnath Dallakoti of Chitawon under control from Balaju and 20 years old Bikki Lama of Ghattekulo from Maitidevi at 11 am, as suspects.

At Dillibazaar height, Kathmandu also, a microbus (Ba 1 Ja 6255) was torched by group of five persons at 5 am and external glasses and seats were demolished in the fire, according to police. Similarly, at Sukedhara Prakashmarg, Kathmandu, an unidentified person vandalized glass of a taxi (Ba 1 Ja 7548) by pelting stone in it at 5 am.

Police detained two persons including Bhumiraj Niraula, general secretary of Chure Bhabhar from New Road, Kathmandu at 7:45 am while forcefully enforcing bandh. Thirty men and seven women of Chure Bhabhar were also held by police during rally from party office Anamnagar to Baneshwor.

Two persons including Ganesh Pokhrel of Biratnagar, cadre of Brahman Samaj were detained in Morang. Bandh supporters have destroyed motorcycles (Ba 23 Pa 6889 and Ga 4 Pa 3974) at Shanti Chowk, Chitawon district while heading towards Narayangadh from Khairani, but, not harmed much.

12 Characteristics of a Blogger

We had a #tweetdebate on whether a blogger is a journalist of not. After the debate it was clear that there isn’t any single answer. A blogger can be a journalist if he/she wishes but, the blogger can also be anything else.

That is confusing. Before defining a blogger, let me write down the 12 characteristics of a blogger (I know there are others, please add more in comment):

1. A blogger is a person. It can be you, me, or a random guy on the street.
2. A blogger today might not be a blogger tomorrow
3. A blogger today mightn’t have been a blogger yesterday
4. Every journalist can be a blogger but every blogger can’t be a journalist

<
li>A blogger might seem to know everything

5. A blogger might seem to know nothing
6. A blogger might not have a name or an address or a contact number
7. A blogger might be a team of bloggers (there is no way to know)
8. A blogger usually have a second job to pay for living (Journalists usually don’t)
9. A blogger can survive without a single reader (sustainability can be questioned)
10. A blogger can write a post every day, or every week, or every month, or every year. It might also be one post in the life-time.
11. Most of the bloggers say they post blog posts for fun (are you serious?).

For these reasons, most of the blogs go unnoticed, un-managed, and too personal for most to even care for.

Now, let’s seek the definitions of a blogger:

• Dictionary.com says a blogger is – "a person who keeps and updates a blog."
• A blog is – a website or part of website which, "A frequent, chr
  onological publication of personal thoughts and Web links."

Can such a creature be confined in an organization? Can any organization have an authority over such a random creature as a blogger?

The biggest question is can somebody’s "personal thoughts" be regulated? It probably can’t. That might be the reason Tim O’Reilly’a proposed seven code of conducts don’t mention the word ‘Ethics’ in them!

1. Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.
2. Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
3. Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
4. Ignore the trolls.
5. Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.
6. If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.
7. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.

Reference:

• Tweetdebate – Is blogger a journalist?
• Ujjwal – Code of ethics for bloggers
• Tim O’Reilly’a proposed seven code of conducts
• Wikipedia on blog