July 21, 2006

THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNUAL POLICIES and programs were endorsed by the majority of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Although its chairman is a deputy prime minister in the current cabinet, People’s Front (PF) refrained from voting in favor of the policies. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) voted against the policies stating that its five-point proposals were not included. So did Rastriya Janashakti Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP). MPs belonging to ruling coalition of Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), NC (Democratic), NSP (Anandidevi) voted in favor of the policies. Parliamentarians of NC and UML have roundly criticized PF for playing dual role – staying in power and acting as opposition.

Foreign Affairs recently issued a statement regarding the arrest of two of its nationals - Ghulam Hossain Chima and Aftab Mohiuddin Siddique - in Kathmandu . “Clarifying the media reports regarding arrest of two Pakistani nationals in Nepal allegedly in connection with the Mumbai blasts, the spokesperson stated that the Pakistan Mission in Kathmandu was instructed to immediately get in touch with the Nepalese Foreign Office to ascertain the facts.  Our Mission was later contacted by the Nepalese police authorities who confirmed that the arrest of two Pakistanis was in connection with an old case dating back to 2001 and that no linkage had been established with the Mumbai blasts.  The Foreign Office also called the Nepalese Charge d' Affaires to make a demarche asking for consular access and release of the persons,” read a statement issued by Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu . “The employers of the two persons, M/s Sachal Engineering Works that had a road construction project with the Nepalese government some years ago, approached the Foreign Office requesting help and gave further details.  According to the company, the two persons had nothing to do with the 2001 case and had visited Nepal several times for recovery of outstanding payments to the company by the Nepalese Roads and Works Department.  These persons had gone to Nepal on 8 July for the same purpose after seeking prior appointment with the concerned Nepalese Department and were in Nepal when they were detained.  We are in touch with the Nepalese side through diplomatic channels in this matter.”

PARLIAMENTARIANS HAVE RAISED VOICES demanding that the government and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) build the proposed 300 MW-strong Tamakosi hydropower project through internal resources. They have threatened to organize ‘sit in’ to prevent the fate of Khimti repeating in Tamakosi project. The MPs have said that cheap projects could end up being expensive when inviting foreign investors. Recently, a Norwegian company had shown interest to finance the Tamakosi project, which lies in Dolakha district. A couple of years ago, a Norwegian company had build 60 MW-strong Khimti project in the same district. Khimti is now regarded as one of the most expensive projects for which NEA has to pay money in US dollars. MPs of Dolakha Ananda Prasad Pokharel and Pashupati Chaulagain have vowed that if the government does not allocate more resources in order to prepare infrastructures for the project, they would organize “sit-in” in front of the parliament beginning July 18. In this year’s budget, Finance Minister has set aside Rs 22 million for the project even as it needs Rs 130 million for access road and another Rs 130 million for detail designing. “If the FM does not allocate Rs 260 million, we will continue our sit-in,” said Pokharel. He said that financing from Citizens’ Investment Fund, Employees Provident Fund, local commercial banks and domestic capital should be mobilized to build the project.

RASTRIYA PRAJATANTRA PARTY (RPP) has issued an 11-point draft stating its positions regarding the forthcoming interim constitution. It has called for people’s supremacy, sovereign Nepal , human rights and multiparty competitive democracy. It has said that the interim constitution being drafted by a committee should guarantee rule of law, fundamental rights and press freedom. It has demanded that issues of gender, caste, ethnicity, Madhesi, Dalit, minority as well as religion, language, culture and region should be addressed in the interim statute. The party has called for federal system. The party has stated that adoption of Proportional Representation electoral system could ensure inclusion. Leading dailies report

THE GOVERNMENT HAS WAIVED OFF the renewal fee for FM radios. Likewise, it has waived off postal fee for newspapers. Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat informed about the decision to the parliamentarians. He added that the government has decided also to give fifty percent discount on annual royalty to be paid by FM radios and television stations. Earlier, the government had been collecting between Rs 55,000 to Rs 550,000 as renewal fee and four percent of income as royalty. Save the Independent Radio Campaign had demanded waiver of both the fees and had been urging the FM stations not to pay the amount. The royal government had increased the postal fee for newspapers from 10 paise to Re 1. The budget slashed the fee down to 50 paise but the decision was roundly criticized by press fraternity. And now the government has decided to revoke it altogether.