THT 10 years ago: Preparations planned to mark Nepal Era 1127

Kathmandu, October 20, 2006

Over 50 programmes will be organised, mainly in the Kathmandu Valley, to mark the Nepal Era 1127, which falls on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, chairperson of the New Year Celebration Committee, Prof Prem Shanti Tuladhar, said that the calendar of Nepal Era, though initiated by a Nepali citizen in the name of his country, is still a matter of study for the scholars, though the government is reluctant to accept it as a national heritage.

“The awareness about the importance of Nepal Era is rising and it is getting popular in urban areas,” she said. She said that the main programme on Monday morning will be participated in by around 50,000 people with traditional drums, costumes and slogans.

The participants will wish for a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will address the event to be organised after the rally.

“We are continuously trying to make peole understand that the era belongs not only to the Newars but to the whole country and asking their participation in celebrations,” Prof Prem Shanti Tuladhar said.

Naresh Bir Shakya, general-secretary of the Nepalbhasha Manka Khala, said that the events remind us of Sankhadhar Sakhwaa, the originator of the Nepal Era, who paid of debt of the whole citizens of Nepal Mandal 1126 years ago.

Peace talks soon after Tihar

The cabinet meeting which was held today at the official residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala analysed the latest developments in the peace process which has not moved forward following a deadlock.

In an important decision reached today, the cabinet decided to hold the peace talks with the Maoists soon after Tihar with a view to take the peace process to a definite conclusion. However, the date of the peace talks could not be independently confirmed.

The decision is expected to be made public tomorrow at a press conference. The coalition cabinet, which is dominated by Prime Minister Koirala, came to a conclusion that the peace process, if delayed, could be beneficial to the “reactionaries who could play a dubious role.”

The Prime Minister reportedly realised the necessity of speeding up the peace process and pave a way for a timely election to constituent assembly.

The cabinet has also come to a common conclusion that preparation for the peace talks should not suffer and that the upcoming talks must come to a meaningful conclusion “at any cost.”

Since the last round of talks had failed to throw up any conclusion, the cabinet both discussed and came to a conclusion that “informal discussion and negotiation must be carried out with the Maoist leadership.”