Rare and old coins sold away against laws

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 19

Although a coin or currency more than 100 years older is prohibited by law to sell abroad, the historically and culturally important old and rare coins of Nepal are being taken to other countries without interruption.

Numismatics is a hobby of collection of coin or note of any country. A coin or currency is archaeological, historical and cultural asset, which is used to carry out a research or study on culture, history, politics, society and anthropology of antiquity.

According to the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1956, any coin or denomination older than 100 years is restricted to send away from the country or move from one place to another. Clause 13, Sub-clause (1) of the Act clearly mentions that a prior permission from the Department of Archaeology must be taken before moving such monuments, archaeological objects and curios abroad or inside the country. However, there is no such practice.

“A bulk of such entities is being taken away from the country without any obstacles,” said Jal Krishna Shrestha, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACAPAC).

Old coins of Lichhavi, Malla and Shah period, other belonging to even 300-200 BC, are available in Nepal. The DoA purchases or collects the older and rare coins to enhance the national museum. Among others, a very rare coin belonging to unifier of Nepal Prithvi Narayan Shah has been decorated in British Museum, London, said Shrestha, who is spokesperson for MoFACAPAC and also a collector.

The coins, archaeological sources, are generally sold ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 600,000 per piece. They are made of gold, silver and copper. Old and rare Nepalese coins issued by Man Dev, Trailokya Bikram, Prithvi Narayan Shah, Pratap Singh and Rana Bahadur Shah among others are sold on higher prices. If a foreign collector wants to have it, one may pay more than the aforementioned amount.

Ghana Shyam Rajkarnikar, a collector of coins dating from Man Dev to present period and president of Nepal Numismatic Society, said that people use the coins issued by Prithvi Narayan Shah and Chakra Bratendra Malla as medicines during the delivery problems. “Coins are also used as ornaments in the festivals and special occasions,” he said.

The coins are smaller in shape and easy to carry. “If a person keeps it in a pocket or anywhere, it will go unnoticed and will be easily taken away,” said Shrestha. “This is the reason behind smuggling of archaeological entities,” he added.

There are about a dozen of local collectors including Bhupendra Narayan Shrestha, who owns coins worth about Rs 10 million, in the country. They also sell the coins when they are in need of money, said Shrestha.

A person who trades monuments or illegally carries is fined from Rs 10,000 to Rs 100,000 and six months to three years jail term separately or both, according to laws. SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Crime Investigation, said that there was no record of coin cases. “If we are informed, we will take action as per the law,” he added.

During British queen Elizabeth’s Nepal visit in 1956, she asked about coins of Nepal. Four years after her visit, DoA initiated to establish museum in the country but it is yet to manage well. However, there is not a specific data of coins available. “Before the time of then king Mahendra, who died in early 1970s, there was no cataloguing system of coin issuances,” said Rajkarnikar.

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Land-mafias using power centres to grab govt land

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 11

The land-mafias have been eying the government land on the name of different organisations along with other land once the government acquisitioned by compensating the owners for the construction of roads.

According to the officials at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW), a number of land mafias have tabled the files for withdrawing the land once they got compensation on the mutual understanding. They have now claimed that the compensation paid to the owners was very low compared to the real price of land.

The MoPPW acquisitioned a plot of land nearby Birtamod of Jhapa district in 1997. However, the mafias with recommendation from the Chief District Officer came to the ministry for withdrawing the land by proposing to return the government given compensation. Another mafia from Itahari in Sunsari district claimed the government land pooled 38 years ago by preparing fake documents belonging to the ownership.

The land mafias have also knocked the doors of the ministry to withdraw the land pooled for Banepa-Sindhuli section of BP Highway, said the senior officials at the MoPPW. The lands were acquisitioned compensating Rs 10,000 per ropani about a decade ago. However, the price of land went higher by manifolds now. “They have submitted the recommendations from CDO to withdraw the land,” the officials said in shocking mood.

The land was evaluated as per the price while they were compensated. Land-mafias are involved in vested interests due to the soaring price of land. They are trying to manipulate the political power centres to own the government land again, claiming that the land once pooled has remained useless.

The mafias are lured to have the land pooled to construct Ram Raja Bridge in Birgunj, which was built six years ago. The mafias were highly encouraged after the Maoist-led government provided 10 bighas of land to them in the name of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries in Nepalgunj.

“Now, the mafias in veil of different organisations are influencing the ministers to grab the land,” said MoPPW officials requesting anonymity. “There are bundles of such files piled in the Ministry. It is in mood to provide two bighas of land to the mafias through the Butwal municipality authority in Rupandehi district,” they revealed.

Just an instance, mafias are trying to grab some 50-60 ropanis of public land in Lalitpur in the name of an institute, said the sources. “It is reported that the mafias forced Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to recommend Deputy PM and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar to provide land for an organisation. But it is still undecided,” a source quoted as saying the mafia network.

The ministry officials are worried about the political influence encouraging the mafias by misusing the political transitional phase ongoing in the country. “If this trend continues, the bureaucracy alone will be helpless to block such malaises under the pressure from ministers,” said MoPPW senior officials. “The bureaucracy has rejected to okay such files till date.”

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Not all sages are holy but some more unholy too

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 13

Not all sages are holy but some are involved in unholy and criminal activities. Some sages or other persons in guise of sages, who come to shelter in Pashupati vicinity, are reported to be involved in smuggling arms and narcotics.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), some sages sheltering illegally in Ram Mandir at Pashupatinath are also reported to be involved in weapons and narcotics smuggling. There are about five dozens of sages and sadhus hailing from Nepal and India often live in Ram Mandir. "We are scrutinising the matter in cooperation with the Department of Crime Investigation that informed us about the arms and drugs smuggling by the sages," said Sushil Nahata, member secretary at the PADT.

Sources at PADT, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, informed that it aimed to vacate fake sages from the Ram Mandir area before February 12, citing suspicion of involvement in arms and drugs smuggling. "PADT has warned us to remove from the area by mid-April," said Lal Baba, 83, who has been regularly living at Ram Mandir for last 26 years. "We are troubled due to the suspicious activities in guise of sages," he said. "However, I will not go away."

Lal Baba said that the smuggling of narcotics from the area including Tilganga was rampant. "Even the school and college students come to buy those intoxicating drugs," he said. "The smuggling of weapons also cannot be denied as many people in guise of sages come and go frequently," he said. "Only about a half dozen of sages stay inside the temple premises, rest of them frequently go away."

Baba complained the PADT and other government mechanism were unable to identify who is guilty or not. The criminals can disguise to earn money safely, he revealed.

The new sages should register their names to PADT, however, they all don't abide by the rules, according to PADT. The PADT lacks orderly registration system at Ram Mandir besides its office time. PADT permits them to shelter in the temple upto five days.

"We have recently requested the District Administration Office to remove illegally settling sages and persons from the area," said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director at PADT. "We are not against the true sages who are not involved in illicit activities. They will be allowed to stay here."

The attempts of authorities to quell illegal and criminal activities in the past could not be successful owing to the lack of effective governance and willpower of political parties.

The crimes in the society are alarmingly increasing making commoners' life vulnerable, said Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, local and storekeeper at the Pashupatinath temple. "It will be hard to subjugate illegal activities unless the efficiency and performance of the government and police are professionalised," he said.

SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Crime Investigation, said that they have assigned a team to watch the activities in the area. "They will face at least 12 years of jail term under the Arms and Ammunition Act and Narcotics and Drugs (Control) Act if they are caught," Chand said, urging all to cooperate with police to punish the criminals.

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Holy shrine of Pashupati stained in illicit activities

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 6

The holy shrine of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), place of sanity, spirituality and humanism, has been notoriously stained in indecent, illegal and criminal activities, even by the sages

According to the PADT, some sages sheltering illegally in Ram Mandir at Pashupatinath are also reported to be involved in weapons and narcotics smuggling. There are about five dozens of sages and sadhus hailing from Nepal and India have been living in Ram Mandir. “We are scrutinising the matter in cooperation with the Department of Crime Investigation that informed us about the arms and drug smuggling by the sages,” said Sushil Nahata, member secretary at the PADT.

Sources at PADT, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, informed that those who would be found guilty would be expelled from the area. The guilty will be taken legal actions if proved through investigation, according to the Metropolitan Police Range at Gaushala.

Nahata said that PADT was planning to systemise the shrine in a decent and proper manner against all kinds of malaises. “About 300 shops are illegally stalled inside the area while lands of shrine are encroached, and sand from Bagmati bank inside area is illegally traded,” he said. “One who wants to work fairly is threatened and forced not to take action against the unauthorised practices.”

PADT set to install CCTV cameras by Sunday

KATHMANDU: In a bid to check suspicious activities in the area, PADT is all set to install CCTV cameras by Sunday. “We will fix at least two CC Televisions by Sunday,” said Nahata. “One camera will be installed at the Office of Secretariat and another at the main gate of Pashupatinath Temple,” he added. “The cameras will be gradually installed in different locations of the area where necessary.” Nahata, who was issued death threats three times, has lodged a complaint with District Administration Office and the police seeking security. Nahata was threatened over his mobile phone using public telephone booth and grocery from Teku area.

The PADT, which is spread at the area of 283 hectors of land including settlements, aims at expelling sages involved in arms and drugs smuggling, evicting illegally settled street vendors, evacuating land encroachers from the area, checking illegal trade of sand and concrete and  banning alcohol and meat business in the area.

Narottam Baidya, treasurer at the PADT, also said the illegal and criminal activities are taking place at the shrine though they are strictly banned. “Even sale and consumption of alcohol and animal flesh are prohibited in the area, they are openly traded,” he worried.

However, the attempts to quell illegal and criminal activities in the past could not be successful owing to lack of effective governance and willpower of political parties.

The crimes in the society are alarmingly increasing making commoners’ life vulnerable, said Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, local and storekeeper at the Pashupatinath temple. “It will be hard to subjugate indecent and illegal activities unless the efficiency and performance of the government and police are professionalised,” he said.

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A pitiful picture of a pretty girl in Nepal

A Shameful Deed

By Bishnu Prasad Aryal

A FEW days back I met a smiling girl at a shelter under an NGO. She seemed to be happy. However, in reality she was not happy, as she was a lonely girl in the crowded city. She had a bitter story to tell. When she was a student of class one she was compelled to abandon her study.

Her mother married a man when she was a small child. She even does not know her father's name. He died before she knew him. She has been living with her mother at her stepfather's home. She is the youngest among eight sisters. She said that she would study if she got an opportunity.
It is a story of a 14-year old girl. A few months ago, she had been to one of her elder sisters' home. She helped in household works for her sister and brother-in-law who have a small child. They had a small teashop at the ground floor of a house. A police post has occupied the upper floor of the house.
On the 3rd of August, she was playing with her nephew. A policeman came there and snatched the baby away. He headed towards the office. By dint of panic and absence of his relative, he began to cry. Then her sister and brother-in-law sent the girl to bring the child back as they were busy at the teashop.

As soon as she entered into the police office, the same policeman taped her mouth and seduced her at the premises of the office. Another tall policeman was the witness to all this inhuman act.

After completing his task, the cruel creature in police uniform threatened her not to reveal the incident. If she complied, he would give her Rs. 100,000. But she denied it violently. He regretfully pleaded to her that he would, otherwise, be dismissed from his job.

She said he must be killed for what he did. According to her, the culprit is Netra Bahadur Karki, a policeman at Tundal Devi Mandir, Bishal Nagar, Kathmandu.

At present, the criminal is under custody and the government has assured that the culprit would be punished. Necessary legal procedures are underway. And CAP-CRON, an NGO for children has shown interest to offer legal aid for the victim.

The issue is very touching. Sadly this is not a rare of case. Teachers, fathers, brothers, employers are seducing children, girls and women. Our patriarchal society remains ignorant and negligent about such issues. Though voices against sexual harassment and gender suppression are emerging, they are yet to be effective to control such crimes.

At a time when women empowerment has become a catchword for a number of international organisations, a large number of girls here are falling victim to (s)exploitation. Women and children are badly undermined in traditional societies like ours. The United Nations Child Right Convention (UNCRC) 1989 ensured to implement the humanitarian principles for all under 18. The Constitution of Nepal has also included this provision. Children Act 1992 has been amended under the Constitution.
But due to the lack of implementation such legal provisions have become toothless.

If we analyse the present state of affair, we can trace the need of two kinds of rights. They are social justice and legal justice.

At present, legal justice has been altered into a new dimension but weakness lies in implementation.
In rapidly changing scenario of human civilization and development, the Children Act 1992 has been seen as incomplete and vague with some clauses that have hindered practicality.

To preserve the child rights, the Children's Bench was established in 1999 in 75 districts under juvenile justice. Yet, no case concerned to children has been filed and heard of in those districts, because of the lack of legal clarity.

On the other hand, members of civil society are not keenly aware about the implementation of those laws for them who are detested/condemned from family and local community.

Now, it has become a major issue to revive them in the society without any prejudice and protest so that they can be secured for their future prospect. Only then the smiling face of the girl and her enthusiasm can be protected. It is the responsibility of family, society and the state to do this.

This feature article was published on THE RISING NEPAL daily, Kathmandu Wednesday September 04, 2002 Bhadra 19, 2059.

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Drawbacks in crime investigation in Nepal

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, August 11

It is well known that there is no room for error in forensic science to deliver justice to the people. However, crime investigation and forensic laboratories in Nepal are full of drawbacks, lacking sensitive technologies and methods.

“The state of crime investigation into the complex situation of cases is at sorry state in the country,” said Dr Hari Har Wosti of Forensic Department at the Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj. “The condition of forensic laboratories is incomplete and useless in terms of analysing the evidences,” he said. “It cannot detect even poison or drugs at all if I send them to test there.”

There are two forensic laboratories–National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) and Police Forensic Laboratory in the country. “Both of them are not updated and nearly functionless compared to the available modern technologies in the field of crime investigation,” said Wosti.

Superintendent of Police Janak Bahadur Singh, chief of the Forensic Laboratory under police department, admitted that lab equipments were not updated as modern technologies. “Chemical (toxicology) division of the lab is not modern and cannot anylise modern drugs and poisons well. But physical and fingerprint divisions work well,” said SP Singh.

According to the police, the evidences of 3,235 criminal cases were analysed in the police lab in the last fiscal year. Among them, 2,715 cases belonged to chemicals, 439 of physical cases and 81 of fingerprint cases. “There is high chance of letting the culprits go scot-free because of the lapses,” said SP.

“Collecting evidences from the field is equally important to investigate into the crime cases,” Singh said. “There must not be contamination and decomposition of the evidences,” he said. “This is not satisfactory in the country due to the lack of experts. There are only few police officials expert on this sector,” he added.

Forensic science, which has shaped the world of justice, fuelling crime investigations and signifying the progress of modern technology, more reliable method to prove innocent or guilty has not been effectively implemented in the field of investigation, said Jiwan Prasad Rijal, special scientist at the NFSL. “In fact, real investigation in crime is yet to carry out in the country,” he added.

Forensic science covers modern computer/clay facial reconstruction, DNA fingerprinting, autopsy techniques, forensic anthropology, toxicology and much more. “The major drawbacks are resources and method of investigation into the criminal cases,” said Rijal. “There is not a single qualified expert in forensic anthropology and cyber crime,” he said.

There are altogether about four dozens of experts in all the streams. “One expert works in upto six fields at a time when it is very objectionable,” said Rijal. “Criminal cases are decided without DNA tests, which may not deliver justice to victim and book the culprits,” he said.

SP Singh said the samples of heinous crimes are sent to India for DNA testing. “It will be possible to test DNA of any kinds in our lab after a few months,” said Rijal.

Dr Wosti said that the investigation based on witness was unscientific. “Witness may not understand the truth fairly and can be influenced with bulk of bucks,” he said. “The court verdicts based on such evidences will not ensure right justice to the people.”

This feature news was published on The Himalayan Times, August 12, 2009.

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Smearing soot on gurus politically motivated?

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, August 7

Instance 1: Activists of Madhesi Students Front (Democratic) smeared soot on the faces of Harihar Bhandari and Tulraj Bhattarai, campus chief and assistant campus chief of Biratnagar Degree Campus respectively, on August 6.

Instance 2: Cadres of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) attacked Hari Prasad Parajuli, principal, Tri-Chandra Campus in Kathmandu on August 2.

Instance 3: All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary blackened the face of Jasa Bahadur Lungeli, chief, Mahendra Multiple Campus, Ilam, on July 1.

Instance 4: Representatives of the Free Students Union badly beat up campus chief Devidatta Shah and other lecturers of Mahendra Bindeswori Multiple Campus in Rajbiraj of Saptari on June 8.

Instance 5: The Maoist students smeared tar on the faces of Tribhuvan University ViceChancellor, Prof Dr Madhav Prasad Sharma, and Rector Prof Dr Surya Lal Amatya, on April 22.

Such news of assaults and misbehaviour with the teachers are commonplace in the media lately. But, what are the reasons the students have been turning on their own gurus, who, according to the Hindu tradition, are revered that like of gods?
Prof Dr Mana Prasad Wagle says such acts are utterly shocking. "Such indiscipline is rife in the educational institutions mainly due to encouragement by the political parties the assailants are associated with," said Wagle. "At the same time, the students are indulged in such negative and violent act as a result of dissatisfaction and frustration."

It is also because of the political parties' failure to tame and guide their affiliated students on discipline and responsibility, says Wagle. "Unnecessary politicking of students and education sector, which has massively deteriorated the education standard of Tribhuvan University, is also another cause of such anarchy."

"Student unions put unnecessary pressures on the campus administration for enrolling students, just to garner votes in the union election. To say frankly, such unions in the universities, which are hardly concerned about the betterment of education, are not needed at all" Wagle argues.

VC Dr Sharma, one of the victims, says that the university and schools were not the right place for one to do politics. "We're sad to say that such incidents are recurring largely due to the prevalent impunity."

Pradip Paudel, president, Nepal Students Union agrees that humiliating and disrespecting the teachers are not acceptable. "We opt for other means to solve problems."

Paudel, however, attributes the culture of violence in academia to the Maoists and its student body. "But, university teachers, who often seek political back up, are also to be blamed." Himal Sharma, general secretary, ANNISU-R, says: "Students are ultimately compelled to do so after all other available means fail to yield outcome."

He, however, maintains that the students should be availed of the rights to do politics.

Sheltering those involved in such crimes by mother parties and letting them scot free are the reasons behind such incidents, according to Gagan Thapa, CA member, who is also the former general secretary of NSU. "Besides, the education sector should also change itself in order to accommodate to the aspirations of the changing times."

This feature news was published in The Himalayan Times on August 8, 2009.

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Student unions troubling Gurus and students

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, May 6

Tribhuvan University, which was closed for about a month, resumed its official activities from today after leaving indecent impression of the student unions for smearing black on university top authorities. Maoist affiliated union showed their traits of political obstinacy by smearing black on the Gurus.

The student unions in the name of students have troubled them too much, deprived them of academic rights, said Shankar Tiwari, a Master’s level final year student at Nepal Manaviki Campus. "They behaved indecently with gurus too. It was more than enough the student unions played a foul game of politics in an academic institution," he said.

“I am preparing for the final exams but I am deprived of submitting exam forms, because the Exam Section of the campus was locked,” he added. “Students were also barred from paying fees and getting IDs.”

The All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary padlocked the Central Office of TU and account offices in the campuses after it increased examination fees on April 1.

“We withdrew all of the strikes and unlocked the TU central offices and all of the account sections of campuses throughout the nation today,” said Himal Sharma, president of the Free Student Union at TU. “All of the TU services closed for about a month resumed from today,” he added. “We were serious on the convocation of TU on May 8 and decided to help it on this concern.”

Various activities including filling up of exam forms, new admissions in the campuses and issuance of student ID cards were halted in all of the TU constituent and affiliated campuses across the country. There are 60 constituent and more than 300 affiliated campuses operating under TU. About 500,000 students including of affiliations appear in the TU’s regular and partial exams annually.

TU administration has raised the exam fees by 60-200 percent on 12 different heads. According to TU administration, TU and student unions have reached to an agreement for not charging late fees once, but taking the exam fees that was fixed earlier.

Prof Dr Madhav Sharma, VC at TU, said that the increased fees were not irrational in comparison to the exam expenses and other universities. The present fee structure was fixed 12 years ago.

“We have many problems regarding the exams, namely early publication of results, paying for examiners, maintaining academic calendar and copy checkers. The result of the Department of Education has not been published for eight months due to the lack of funds,” he added. “The government does not provide us enough funds to carry out our all jobs.”

Pradip Paudel, president of the Nepal Students’ Union, said they never wanted to cause nuisance to the students but promote the quality in the university. “If TU increases fees, it must ensure quality and prompt services as per the ratio of charged fees,” he added.

Himal Sharma said that TU agreed to roll back the decision of increasing fees on six heads out 12 heads in which fees were hiked. “The six heads includes fees charged on transferring exam centre, transfer certificate and duplicate certificate, which were increased by more than 100 percent,” he added.

“TU issued 10-point white-letter declaration to reform the exam system. It includes the publication of results within three months and issuance of transcript on the second day of submission of application,” he said.

TU increased the exam fees as recommended by the panel formed to reform exam systems on April 1. The Nepal Students’ Union, the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union and other student organisations protested against TU for slashing increased fee structure. The ANNISU-R padlocked the campus account sections and the TU central offices including Vice Chancellor, Rector and Controller of Examinations.

Following the rift on the fee row, the ANNISU-R smeared black on the faces of TU VC and Rector on April 22, which was widely condemned and criticized by the various sectors. Police arrested 22 students on the case and were in dentition. “They were released yesterday as we agreed with TU to withdraw the strike,” Himal Sharma said.

VC Sharma thanked the student unions for understanding the gravity of programmes and agreeing to scrap their strike. "However, the incident was painful and has saddened us. It was the students' conscience to understand what is wrong and right. They should realize it themselves rather than telling them wrong," he added.

University graduates smearing black on the faces of Vice-Chancellor and Rector of Tribhuvan University has demeaned the educated circle disgracefully. "Was it rational for the educated persons to do so? Certainly, it has forced us to think of it," wonders Swami Chandresh, founder of Budhanilkantha Ashram School, Kathmandu.

Education can play an instrumental role on determining what kind of citizen is produced but the present system has failed to do so, Swami said. “Such shameful act of so-called educated persons is a result of present materialistic education.”

“The only remedy for this pseudo system of 173 years is the trinity of education that includes spiritually self-building, practical and creative, and informative education,” he added. "People must be taught the education that honours self, cultures, society and history.”

He said, a person, who does not have self-confidence and preserve own identity, is not a citizen in real sense. “Holding certificates does not necessarily mean to be worthy citizen,” said Chandresh.

This article was published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES on May 7, 2009.

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