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ALL FIVE SOLDIERS OF NEPAL ARMY (NA) who were in captivity have been released on Saturday by militia in Congo. In fact, during a clash between peace-keeping forces of NA and Congolese militia in Ituri region one and a half month ago, one NA soldier had died and seven were captured. Two of the captured soldiers were released two weeks ago. The UN had been working to release them.
THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC) has informed that 22 people have died during the last two months of ceasefire period. Although the incidents of human rights violations have reduced, the killings have not stopped, according to the NHRC. “Of the total, 12 have been killed by the Maoists or security personnel,” said Sudip Pathak, a member of the Commission. Others were killed due to mine explosions and attacks by vigilantes. The Commission has added that threats, extortion and action by “people’s courts” of the Maoists have not stopped. The Commission had prepared the report detailing the incidents of past two months.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED the tenure of Rayamajhi commission by two more months. Earlier, the government had formed the commission in order to investigate repression against people’s movement and recommend actions against guilty. It was asked to finish its investigation in two months. But the commission requested the government for the extension of its tenure as it could not complete the investigations in the given time. The commission has been interrogating former royal ministers, advisors and officials about their role in the repression.
OFFICIALS OF NEPAL AND INDIA ARE SET TO REVIEW the railway service agreement to do away with existing hassles in the operation of Indian rail from Kolkata to Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Birgunj. According to sources at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, a meeting at joint secretary-level will be held on July 18-19 in Kathmandu to review the pact. The meeting is being held at a time when the ICD has not been able to operate as desired even though it was set up two years ago. “The meeting will focus on easing the trade and ending hassles in the operation of ICD,” said the source. Officials say that once the custom method is finalized and cargo starts coming from various Indian cities, the ICD would come into full operation and help in the reduction of existing trans-shipment cost.
THE LOAN RECOVERY TRIBUNAL has not been able to effectively help in the recovery of bad debts, according to a data. In the past three years since it was formed, banks and financial institutions have filed cases demanding recovery of bad debts totaling Rs 13.12 billion – out of which only Rs 85.8 million could be recovered. Although tribunal has the authority to imprison any defaulter and make him pay back the loan, none of the defaulters have so far been imprisoned. As per the financial sector reforms program, the government had formed the tribunal to expedite judicial process of loan recovery. According to latest data by the Nepal Rastra Bank, of the total loan investment (by the banking system) of Rs 155 billion nearly 18.26 percent are bad debts. Commercial banks face bad debts totaling Rs 28.75 billion. Officials say the tribunal has inadequate resources and manpower to deal with the pressure of cases. There are around 2000 cases filed at the tribunal currently.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS OVERTURNED ITS earlier decision and has now decided to allow Moondrops Manpower Agency to recruit workers for South Korea. The latest decision was taken after the Korean Federation for Small Business refused to provide workers’ quota to government. Earlier, the government had decided to suspend the license of Moondrops charging that its process of recruiting workers were not transparent. The government then decided that it would take over the process of selecting workers itself. However, the KFSB refused to provide the quota to the government saying it has an agreement with Moondrops. The KFSB even threatened to relocate the quota to other countries if the government did not allow the Moondrops to recruit workers. “For this time, the government has decided to allow Moondrops to send workers by fulfilling some conditions,” said a source at the cabinet. The first condition is that the company should withdraw its legal case against the government. Other two conditions include that the agency give priority to workers who were selected in the past and the agency provide 10 percent quota to government. Managers of the agency said that while they were ready to fulfill the first condition, the other two have to be discussed with KFSB.
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