PM Promises To Ensure Return Of Seized Properties
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has promised his MPs that he will ensure the return of all seized properties by the Maoists. Following the meeting of the parliamentary party of Nepali Congress, Sunday (April 22), the PM made the promise. The MPs had criticized the government for failing to maintain law and order and for inducting the Maoists into the government before the latter returned all seized properties. After the meeting, Benup Raj Prasai, secretary of the NC PP, informed that the MPs had also criticized the Maoists for stalling the proceedings of the parliament. He said such activities could hurt the basis of eight party unity. Compiled from reports
YCL Announces Campaign To Seize Royal Land
The cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) declared seizure of 99 ropanis of royal land in Sallaghari of Bhaktapur on Saturday (April 21). Coordinator of ‘New Kathmandu Valley Campaign’ Hitman Shakya planted a tree-sapling at the land declaring open their campaign. The land in Sallaghari is said to be in the name of late prince Nirajan. “The parliament has failed to formulate laws on capturing land belonging to the King, as such, the YCL will now capture all such land and use it for the public,” he said. Earlier, on Friday, police had arrested seven cadres of YCL from Kappan area in Kathmandu as they barged into the residence of one lady named Tungsang Lama and were attempting to rob her valuables. Compiled from reports
PM And Education Minister Agree To Appoint VCs
Following the meeting between the Prime Minister and Education Minister Pradeep Nepal, on Friday (April 20), the two have agreed to expedite the procedure for appointing the vice chancellors of the universities. According to reports, as per the understanding, the PM will soon form a recommendation committee, which will nominate VCs for universities. As per the understanding among the parties, the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) will get to choose its candidate as VC of Tribhuwan University (TU), NC will have VC in Purbanchal University, Maoists will get to appoint their nominee at Pokhara University and NC (Democratic) will bag the position at Nepal Sanskrit University. Leading dailies report
Sorhakhutte Three Die In Mysterious Incident In
Three brothers were found dead at a rented room in a house in Khusibu Town Planning area in Sorhakhutte on Friday. Three brothers between 18 to 22 years of age were found dead at their room on Friday (April 21). Their room had remained locked since one week (April 14). Neighbours today found them dead when the room was opened up as stench emanated through it. Their bodies were found lying underneath two beds. Police have suspected that they could have been killed a week ago. The three brothers – Anil Bajracharya, Sunil Bajracharya and Sujan Bajracharya – had been living at the house owned by one Sunil Rajopadhyaya in Sorhakhutte. They hail from Thangsing village of Nuwakot district. Police and medical examiners have not found any sign of external wound or bruise in their bodies. They are suspected to have died of asphyxiation but further examinations will be held before concluding the reason for their deaths. Compiled from reports
Experts Against Nepal Nod To Lift Ban On Tiger Trade
Nepal should not agree to lift ban on the sale of tiger parts as proposed by a Chinese delegation during an international tiger symposium, experts said. “ Nepal should show serious concern and intervene on the issue of legalization of trade and commercial farming of tigers,” Steven Broad of the Traffic International (TI) said. The UK-based TI coordinates with the worldwide traffic network, established to monitor trade in wild plants and animals. An international tiger symposium is going on here and a group of Chinese delegation is lobbying to have tiger trade legalized as illegal farming of tigers and selling tiger parts to produce medicine and wine is a big business there. Though China has a few wild tigers, it has over 5000 tigers in captive breeding, according to a study done by TI. “Tiger parts from such breeding places are supplied to factories for medicines and wines while some luxury restaurants even serve tiger meat,” says the TI report. Broad said that the lifting of ban on tiger trade in China is going to make a direct impact on Nepal’s tiger conservation, adding, “If Nepal fails to convince the world that the open trade is a threat, Nepal’s tigers will see a very bleak future.” He said as market opens there, chances are there that wild tigers from Nepal’s jungles will be openly marked in China. Anil Manandhar, country representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, said that the domestic trade of tiger in China has direct relation with poaching and smuggling of tigers in Nepal. “The lifting of ban on tiger trade in China means acceleration of wildlife trade in Nepal. That is going to be out of control soon, if the government fails to come up with a wise stand,” he said. Nepal is yet to make its official stance on tiger trade. The Himalayan Times daily reports
Cabinet Suspended After Minister Quarrels With PM
The cabinet meeting on Wednesday (April 18) morning was suspended after the Maoist Minister Matrika Yadav quarreled with the Prime Minister over the issue of transgression of ministerial jurisdictions. When the ministers arrived in Baluwatar for the meeting, PM Koirala expressed his objection over Yadav’s recent comments accusing Nepali Army of being involved in killing animals like deer and wild boars in Shivapuri jungle. Yadav defiantly told Koirala that he will speak what he thinks is right. When the PM pointed out that issues concerning army should not be dealt by ministers other than defense minister (PM himself holds defense portfolio), Yadav said he would not ‘lie to the people.’ Finally, the PM asked Yadav to go out of the meeting. Yadav further enraged the PM by saying that he did not belong to the PM’s party to be ordered like that. Subsequently, Yadav left the meeting and was followed by other Maoist ministers. Latter talking to media, Yadav asked PM Koirala to correct himself and stop treating them like his own party’s representatives. On Wednesday afternoon, Maoist chairman Prachanda went to Baluwatar to meet with the PM and sort out the quarrel. After his meeting, Prachanda told reporters that the problem occurred due to differences in the ‘style of presentation.’ Compiled from reports
Shrestha Gets Back His Jeep
Six months after the jeep was confiscated by the Maoists, Raju Shrestha, a businessman from Budhanilkantha, finally got it back on Wednesday (April 18) when he produced legal documents proving his ownership. Police handed him over the Nissan jeep, which it had seized from Bagbazar on Tuesday after Shrestha spotted it at a parking lot. As the Maoists tried to stop Shrestha from taking away the jeep, police seized it and asked both sides to produce legal documents of ownership. Shrestha did so and got his jeep back. His jeep was reportedly being used by top Maoist leaders including Prachanda. Shrestha said that he had knocked the doors of government agencies and even the UN demanding that he get back his vehicles. In last October, Shrestha claims he was abducted by the Maoists and tortured. “They took away my gold chain, and the jeep,” he said. Compiled from reports
GDP Growth Could Touch 4 Percent In 2007: UNESCAP
A UN report has estimated that the GDP of Nepal will grow by around 4 percent in 2007 thanks to positive development in the country. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2007, released by the UNESCAP said that the GDP grew by an estimated 1.9 percent in 2006, adding, "The recent peace agreement has, however, brought new hope and Nepal is expected to return to a new phase of sustained growth and development." The report also said that the inflation rate has increased by 3.5 percent in 2006 and reached to 8 percent in 2006 due to rise in petroleum and food prices.
The report further said that the fiscal situation remained weak with growing recurrent expenditure, low capital spending and a high budget deficit, which increased to 4.3% in 2006 from 3.4% in 2005." It added, "Reform needs to be maintained to sustain high growth and rapid poverty reduction. With fiscal adjustment still a challenge, more progress is needed in tax collection and resource mobilization to reduce large budget deficits.” On regional perspective, the report said that the economy of the Asia Pacific region grew by 7.9 % in 2006 up from 7.06 % in 2005. The report also said that the inflation rate will be 3.8 percent in 2008. “The region is losing US$ 42-47 billion per year because of restrictions on women's access to employment opportunities and another US$ 16-30 billion a year because of gender gaps in education," the report further said. Compiled from reports
Over 2.2 Million Citizenship Distributed
Home Minister Krishna Sitaula informed that the Home Ministry teams have distributed a total of 2,250,869 citizenship certificates by mid-April. According to the minister, 1,055,869 citizenship certificates have been issued in Terai, 1,022,286 in the hilly region and 173,421 in the mountainous region. The ministry had deployed 586 teams for the citizenship distribution. The Minister said that distribution will continue in Saptari, Dhanusha, Kailali, Achham, Rautahat, Parsa and Sarlahi districts until the end of April while the deadline for citizenship distribution in Humla, Dolpa, Mugu and Mustang districts has been extended by a month. "Longstanding problem of citizenship has been solved with this successful distribution campaign," Sitaula said at a press meet on Tuesday, adding, "The distribution process has been objective and realistic." He also said that the government would take stringent actions against those acquiring citizenship illegally. Compiled from reports
