Kathmandu, June 1, 2006

Donors today expressed confidence on the Nepali tourism industry’s ability to pick up steam under a new political dispensation, following a long period of uncertainty in the wake of conflict and political instability.

At a programme organised by Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, Pradip Gyanwali discussed tourism related problems, seeking solutions to the same at the earliest possible.

Gyanwali said that he is committed to move in line with the tourism sector people to resolve problems surrounding it. Gyanwali said that he would do everything possible to rescue the already-troubled tourism industry.

Keith Bloomfield, British ambassador to Nepal at the same function stressed that investment on infrastructure would produce better results. At the same time, he said, hassles for visiting tourists should be removed.

He suggested controlling the rising criminal activities in the Kathmandu valley in recent days and control corruption which is raising the cost of tourists staying here.

He also expressed his desire to extend all support to boost the tourism industry in Nepal.

Gyanwali expressed optimism for the tourism sector as the seven party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists have already clinched a deal during the first round of talks for peace settlement through a code of conduct.

1990 statute is irrelevant now, AG tells SC

Attorney General Yagyamurti Banjade told the Supreme Court, which today started testing the legality of the detention of former ministers Ramesh Nath Pandey, Shrish Sumsher Rana and Nikshya Sumsher Rana, that the government does not have to to abide by the 1990 Constitution.

“Since the political regime has already been changed it does not mean to follow the 1990 Constitution in the changed context,” Banjade said. “The House itself declared that it is the supreme body of the nation and the provisions of the existing Constitution and laws cannot apply if they contradicted with the declaration.

So there is no question of going by the existing Constitution,” he argued. Banjade was arguing before a full bench comprising Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel and Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Ram Nagina Singh, Anup Raj Sharma and Khil Raj Regmi.

The Chief Justice put Justice Regmi on the bench after Justice Kedar Prasad Giri declined to be a member of the bench hearing the case.

Banjade also claimed that King Gyanendra had transferred the state authority to the people and reinstated the House and so there is no ground to test the government’s action.

He also added that the former ministers were taken into preventive detention because they had started hatching conspiracies against the achievement of the Jana Andolan and they had suppressed the people misusing power.

Deputy AG Regmi said there was no need to follow the SC’s precedents in the changed contest.