Kathmandu, November 22, 2006

Nepalis today celebrated the end of a decade-long bloody conflict by organising victory rallies across the country.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda yesterday signed the Comprehensive National Peace Treaty and announced the end of the war. Thousands took to the streets in joyous rallies around the country.

Schools, offices and businesses were closed after the government declared a public holiday today. Thousands of political activists and general public gathered at different places waving banners and chanting slogans in celebration.

“Victory is ours. Long live people’s democracy and a peaceful Nepal,” the participants shouted. In the capital, tens of thousands of people cheered the peace agreement and welcomed a new era of violence free Nepal.

A rally that started from Ratna Park marched across the city before it turned into a joyful mass meeting, addressed by political party leaders, at the place of its origination. Participants shouted slogans for a republican state.

There was very good participation from professional, intellectual and student organisations. UML leader Ishwor Pokhrel said the parties want to share the happiness with the entire population.

“This is undoubtedly a moment of historic happiness. We are proud to say that no Nepali will ever raise arms again,” he said.

“However, there are challenge ahead,” he said. Maoist leader Hisila Yami said the world has now changed their views on Nepal.

Pilots can fly till they’re 65

With the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s amended Flight Operation Requirement coming into force from tomorrow, the country’s pilots will now be eligible to fly up to 65 years, up five years.

“We amended the FOR clause allowing the pilots to renew their flying licences until the age of 65 as per the International Civil Aviation Organisation standard,” Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, chief of CAAN’s Aviation Safety Department told this daily.

The amended requirements of both CAAN and ICAO are set to take effect tomorrow. Nepal is a member state of ICAO. Until now, the standard retirement age of pilots in a majority of domestic airlines including Nepal Airlines Corporation was 58.

However, it is up to the individual airlines to set their retirement age but it should not exceed 65, said Suman. However, the pilots cannot escape CAAN requirements if they intend to fly well above 60.

The amended FOR requires pilots to undergo several medical tests including “treadmill” (heart-related medical test) and “audiometry” (hearing) tests before getting their flying licences renewed every six months.

Normally, co-pilots below 40, are required to get their licences renewed from CAAN every year while captains (pilots) have to get them renewed every six months.