Kathmandu, December 31, 2005

Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala today said he was not quite assured about the “ultimate motives” of both the Maoists and the institution of monarchy “when it comes to embarking on a peaceful future.” He, however, claimed the “feudal force was on its way out.” He said the “main concern” was that both the political forces were armed and that “those with arms cannot be taken simplistically.” Koirala said this while addressing a rally in Patan on the occasion of National Reconciliation Day observed by the party since the past 30 years. “If I were to tell a truth, I am not assured about the motives of both the Maoists and the King. The rest of us are caught in the crossfire. What is also true is that the King, too, may not benefit if he does not make amends,” Koirala said in front of thousands of party workers. Reinforcing the need to strike reconciliation between the institution of monarchy and the political forces, Koirala said the efforts initiated at bringing the Maoists to the mainstream were undertaken with a view to bring the rebels in the ambit of reconciliatory politics. He also said he has appealed to the Maoists to extend the ceasefire once again and thus give a last chance to the King before he “reciprocates to the offer for peace.”

Credit: Two projects registered

Nepal has made a claim in the world carbon credit market. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board of United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has recently registered Nepal’s two projects on bio-gas support programme, which will give us a total of Rs 36,500,000 annually. After undergoing a lengthy procedure of application and tough competitions, Nepal’s projects — “Project 0136: Biogas Support Programme - Nepal (BSP-Nepal) Activity-1”, and “Project 0139: Biogas Support Programme - Nepal (BSPNepal) Activity-2” are now ‘registered’ list of projects as small-scale CDM project activities, as per a decision made on December 27. Authorised participants at Activity 1 are the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), Maiya Gautam and Suk Man Tamang whereas that of Activity 2 are (AEPC), Min Prasad Gautam and Madhu Prasad Simkhada. “It is a historic success and a milestone in Nepal’s status in the world carbon credit market,” said Jivan S Acharya, a research Officer at Winrock International, which provided technical assistance by preparing all the necessary documents. He said that the industrialised countries will pay Nepal $500,000 (Rs 36,500,000) annually as a compensation as they are emitting greenhouse gases through their industries, while the use of biogas technology in cooking and other purposes in Nepal will reduce greenhouse gas emission by displacing conventionally used fuel sources.