Friday, August 31, 2007
NAC HK flight returns from Biratnagar
Nepal Airlines flight 757 — from Kathmandu to Hong Kong re-scheduled for 8 pm today — was cancelled at the proverbial eleventh hour. It was also scheduled to fly to Dubai after returning from Hong Kong.The 757 Boeing, which took off from TIA at 1:15 pm today, made an ‘emergency’ landing back just afterhalf-an-hour of take-off as it was just crossing Biratnagar. The Boeing was bound to Hong Kong (which is four-and-a-half-hour flight) with 144 passengers, 11 crew members, including four pilots.The Nepal Airlines Corporation authorities, however, denied that it was an emergency landing. According to RB Shrestha, Operation Director of NAC, who was flying the aircraft, the decision to return was taken as a “precautionary step” as “no compromise could be made on passengers’ safety.”“After the failure of anti-ice system of the right engine, we thought it is safe to return,” Shrestha said adding that failure of anti-ice system is actually not a dangerous situation but the present weather (monsoon) could lead to more ice formation. “Though the problem was not a major one, I did not want to take any chance,” Shrestha added.The only aircraft that has been doing the international flights non-stop has been in trouble since Saturday.Raju KC, Corporate Director of NAC, had, however, earlier confirmed that the flight was re-scheduled and would fly at 8 pm.The cancellation caused inconvenience to the stra-nded passengers. Basanta K Gurung, who was to report to his company in Hong Kong, said, “What if the company does not accept me due to delay?”
Resignations sought
The NAC Employees Coordination Committee demanded resignation of the entire management and the board members of the corporation on Thursday. Issuing a press statement, the committee stated NAC management should resign immediately since “it has failed to resolve the issues confronting the Corporation for a long time.” They accused the management of inefficiency for not taking timely decision on engine overhaul and module-4 repair of the Boeing stranded in Hong Kong for last 17 months for which the company is paying a high rent
MPRF strikes 22-pt deal with govt; gears up for polls
In a sudden and major development, the agitating Madhesi People’s Right Forum (MPRF) has called off all its protest programmes following a 22-point agreement with the government on Thursday.
During the talks held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, the government agreed to form a commission to restructure the state along federal lines while MPRF accepted the mixed electoral system.
“We have withdrawn the agitation with immediate effect and have geared up for the Constituent Assembly elections from today itself,” MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav said after inking the agreement with Minister Poudel, the chief government negotiator.
So far, MPRF had been insisting for a fully proportional electoral system.
“But, we have written a note (of decent), stating that we will go to the people with the major agenda such as a proportional electoral system and end of monarchy and establishment of a republic,” Yadav added.
Today’s agreement has not just ended nearly six months of agitation in the Terai, but has heightened the possibility of the November 22 elections actually going ahead.
The two sides have agreed to ensure a federal structure of the state with autonomy without affecting national sovereignty and integrity.
However, the structure and rights of such states will be decided by the elected Constituent Assembly.
The government has also decided to provide compensation to the families of all Madhesi activists killed during the agitation by declaring them as martyrs and to provide free medical treatment to all injured.
It will also drop charges against the Madhesi leaders and activists.
The government has conceded to another major MPRF demand- proper representation of all marginalized communities in all state organs. An inclusive commission will be set up to work out the details.
Yet another important agreement is that the government will give national recognition to the dress, language and culture of the Madhesi community, sanction public holidays during Muslim festivals and give legal protect to people’s religious rights.
The government has agreed to adopt a “three-language policy” to recognize Nepali, English and the mother tongues for official work.
Dispatching teams to the villages to distribute citizenship certificates to those deprived of them is another important agreement.
Legal provision for free education up to primary level, reservation in education and employment and land to the landless to address the plights of the Dalits are the other agreements.
Today’s agreement comes after MPRF threatened to resume the Madhes agitation from September 6 if the government did not meet its demands by August end.
The previous five rounds of talks between the two sides had ended inconclusively.
Regional autonomy for the Madhesi people with the right to self determination and proportional representation all marginalized groups in all the state organs were some of the MPRF key demands.
During the talks held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, the government agreed to form a commission to restructure the state along federal lines while MPRF accepted the mixed electoral system.
“We have withdrawn the agitation with immediate effect and have geared up for the Constituent Assembly elections from today itself,” MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav said after inking the agreement with Minister Poudel, the chief government negotiator.
So far, MPRF had been insisting for a fully proportional electoral system.
“But, we have written a note (of decent), stating that we will go to the people with the major agenda such as a proportional electoral system and end of monarchy and establishment of a republic,” Yadav added.
Today’s agreement has not just ended nearly six months of agitation in the Terai, but has heightened the possibility of the November 22 elections actually going ahead.
The two sides have agreed to ensure a federal structure of the state with autonomy without affecting national sovereignty and integrity.
However, the structure and rights of such states will be decided by the elected Constituent Assembly.
The government has also decided to provide compensation to the families of all Madhesi activists killed during the agitation by declaring them as martyrs and to provide free medical treatment to all injured.
It will also drop charges against the Madhesi leaders and activists.
The government has conceded to another major MPRF demand- proper representation of all marginalized communities in all state organs. An inclusive commission will be set up to work out the details.
Yet another important agreement is that the government will give national recognition to the dress, language and culture of the Madhesi community, sanction public holidays during Muslim festivals and give legal protect to people’s religious rights.
The government has agreed to adopt a “three-language policy” to recognize Nepali, English and the mother tongues for official work.
Dispatching teams to the villages to distribute citizenship certificates to those deprived of them is another important agreement.
Legal provision for free education up to primary level, reservation in education and employment and land to the landless to address the plights of the Dalits are the other agreements.
Today’s agreement comes after MPRF threatened to resume the Madhes agitation from September 6 if the government did not meet its demands by August end.
The previous five rounds of talks between the two sides had ended inconclusively.
Regional autonomy for the Madhesi people with the right to self determination and proportional representation all marginalized groups in all the state organs were some of the MPRF key demands.
New National Anthem Of Nepal
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