Nepal Drivers' Union launches strike in Kathmandu

A one-day strike called by the Nepal Drivers' Union, in protests of illegal and improper hassles by the traffic police, was staged in Kathmandu on Friday.

The strike affected vehicular movement in the capital area as taxis operating in the Valley were parked along the street.  

Taxi drivers and owners submitted a 12-point agenda to the Department of Transportation Management. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

Govt to operate bus service to Tibet

Sajha Yatayat has decided to operate bus services from Kathmandu to the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa from September, the state owned news agency said.

The RSS quoting executive director of the Sajha Yatayat Corporation, Mukund Satyal said, "As per the agreement met between Nepal and China to start direct bus service ten years ago, Sajha Yatayat has decided to start the bus service to promote tourism and expand the friendship between the two countries."

Saying the Sajha Yatayat will start three to four bus services a week, Satyal added that the corporation was carrying out homework to expand its services to India.  nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

NGOs stress the need for Competition Law

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) and Pro Public, two NGOs working in the areas of consumer rights and trade have demanded for a suitable Competition Law and an efficient and competent authority to monitor the same.

The need for such a law had increased immensely after Nepal's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a press release jointly issued by the two NGOs said. 

The release added that Nepal had committed for the enactment of a Competition Law before the end of July while acceding to the WTO.  The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MOICS) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had jointly prepared a competition law draft and submitted to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MLJPA). 

But, according to the release, the law could not be brought into effect because of a row between the MOIC and MLJPA over the creation of an independent Competition Commission to implement the law. nepalnews.com amt July 30 04

Begin the talks: UML

The standing committee meeting of the CPN-UML on Friday, reiterating its stance for peace talks, asked the government and Maoists to immediately initiate peace talks. 

The meeting also decided to make changes in its interior leadership. Ministers Ishwor Pokharel, Yubraj Gyawali and Raghu Panta have reportedly been dismissed from their posts in the party. Pokharel, Gyawali and Panta were holding vital posts in the party leadership.

"We stressed on the need to initiate peace talks", a standing committee member told Nepalnews. "The country must head towards resolving the ongoing-armed conflict, as other existing social and economic issues in the country cannot be addressed until the insurgency is addressed", he added.  

The meeting also formed a five-member task force to present suggestions on resolving the Maoist problem to the party and the government. UML leader Jhalnath Khanal is leading the task force. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Three policemen injured, other details  

Three policemen, including a police inspector, were severely injured when their vehicle ran over a landmine along the highway near Ratnanagar in Chitwan Friday morning. 

The policemen were in a microbus on a security patrol when their vehicle overran the landmine. The injured policemen have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, according to reports. The injured police inspector has been identified as Bharat Prasai.

Armed Maoists murdered three civilians in Saptari district Thursday night accusing them of spying on Maoists activities in the area, radio reports said Friday. The dead have not been identified yet, the reports added.

In Udaypur, the Maoists torched a VDC office and an unoccupied police post near Katari on Friday, reports said. The buildings have been completely destroyed. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Part time teachers of Tribhuvan University call off strike

Tribhuvan University (TU) part-time teachers called off their strike on Thursday after the TU administration promised them to offer a 'course contract'.

Nanda Kishore Singh, president of the TU Part Time Teachers' Association broke his hunger strike on the 14th day after the TU administration assured him that the university would consider their demands.

Singh broke his fast by accepting fruit juice offered by Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala.

Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times quoting a medical report said that Singh had "taken something" during his fast. "It is really surprising that [Singh] is in a stable condition. He might be taking something to eat than just water," the daily quoted Dr Gajendra Bahadur Baniya, associate professor, TU Teaching Hospital as saying. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Rehabilitate us in third country: refugees

The Bhutani refugees stationed at different camps in Morang and Jhapa districts in east Nepal handed a memorandum to the Home Ministry, the UNHCR and foreign diplomatic missions demanding rehabilitation in another country.

According to reports, seventy-nine refugees belonging to nine families from different refugee camps have made the request. The refugees also appealed to the concerned authorities to save their future generations from being stateless. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Floods inundates Dhaka based Nepalese embassy

The Dhaka based Nepali embassy has been inundated after heavy rainfall halting all official work, embassy officials notified the Foreign Ministry Thursday.

Knee-deep water around the embassy has flooded the ground floor office rooms. The officials added that the flood hasn't caused serious damage to the property.

News agencies said that the floodwaters have entered at least 10 diplomatic mission offices and residences of diplomats.

The monsoon this year has displaced two million Bangladeshi people and submerged nearly half of Dhaka as well as two-thirds of the country. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Maoists abduct 1,800 in Karnali, Bajura

Maoists have abducted 1,800 students, teachers and civilians in Karnali region and Bajura district, reports said Thursday.

According to Nepal Samacharpatra daily, the Maoists took teachers, students and civilians from Gotri, Safata, Bade and Jukot villages for training sessions in the past 15 days.

Similarly, Maoists have abducted over 1500 people from over a dozen villages of two different districts in the Karnali district for the Suuj campaign. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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Wagle case hearing today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on the case demanding the immediate arrest of the former minister Chiranjivi Wagle on Friday, Supreme Court Registrar Shree Prasad Pundit said. 

The petition was filed in the apex court Thursday seeking interim order for an immediate arrest of former minister Wagle as per the verdict of the Special Court last Thursday.

Advocate Nandu Raj Acharya filed the petition. nepalnews.com pd July 30 04

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