THE MEETING OF THE Privatization Committee of the government has decided to provide 5 percent shares of Nepal Telecom (NT) to its employees at concessional rate. The meeting decided to provide shares worth Rs 100 at Rs 90 to the employees. As per the NT’s total capital on Magh 2 of 2060, 5 percent shares amounting to Rs 750 million will be provided to employees while ten percent shares amounting to Rs 1.5 billion will be provided to general public. The meeting of the Committee – headed by Finance Minister – has decided to give shares at concessional rate to all employees (permanent, temporary or contractual workers). The Committee has also decided that employees will be able to sell up to 25 percent of their shares after five years. They cannot sell the remaining 75 percent till they move out of service. Meanwhile, Telecom employees have said that these conditions are very impractical. Likewise, the government has decided to give full mobility to NT’s CDMA service.
THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER for Human Rights has called on the parliament to increase penalty for those involved in forced disappearances. The OHCHR- Nepal also demanded that time period for filing disappearance cases in court be extended, taking into account extreme seriousness of the crime. It also suggEsted the government to provide adequate reparations to victims dependants of disappeared persons and immediate family. The "Disappearance Bill", which has been pending in the parliament, should explicitly state that civilian courts will have jurisdiction over all persons alleged to have committed forced disappearances, including Nepalese Army personnel, the OHCHR-Nepal said in a statement. International human rights standards require that ordinary civilian courts exercise jurisdiction over military personnel, who commit serious human rights violations. "Forced disappearance is amongst the most serious human rights violations, and extremely traumatic for family members of the victims. The criminalization of forced disappearance is an encouraging step towards bringing perpetrators to justice," Lena Sundh, the representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, said in the statement. "However, a comprehensive law on forced disappearance, which encompasses relevant international human rights standards, will be an even stronger indication that the government of Nepal is serious about ending impunity and ensuring accountability."
THE REPORT BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (AI) has raised concerns over the continuation of rights abuses by the Maoists as well as other armed groups even as it points out to the need of ensuring accountability for past abuses. “Despite the CPN (Maoist)’s public commitments to respect international human rights standards, there were continuing reports of unlawful killings, abductions, torture and ill-treatment, extortion, threats and harassment by members of the CPN (Maoist),” states Amnesty International Report 2007. The report added that there were reports of “ongoing child recruitment after the ceasefire, particularly in the days and weeks preceding the Peace Agreement.” The report also mentions rights abuses, including unlawful killings and abductions, by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM). With regards to security forces, the report says that although conflict-related violations have ended “almost completely” since cessation of hostilities, the were still concerns regarding accountability for past human rights abuses. The report adds that last year’s April changes led to major improvements in the human rights situation and raised expectations that long-standing issues, such as caste-, ethnic- and gender-based discrimination, would be addressed.
MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCE Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that West Seti hydropower project is necessary for Nepal. He said that the cabinet including eight parties’ representatives has decided to have share investment in the project and, therefore, it should be completed on time. Replying to queries by MPs at Natural Resource Committee of the parliament, Karki said thousands of Nepalis will get jobs, government will enjoy royalty and after 30 years take over the ownership of the 750 MW project. He informed that electricity will be generated from this project from 2015. He said Upper Tamakosi project of 309 MW strength will be completed before that to cater to domestic demands. The West Seti is a purely export oriented project, which is being developed by Australian Snowy Mountaineering and Engineering Corporation (SMEC) to export power to India. Meanwhile, MPs including CP Mainali criticized the government for trying to invest in a totally export-oriented project by seeking loan from ADB.
THE GREEN NEPAL PARTY president Pusp Prasad Luitel has submitted the report of annual activities to party High Command and central executive committee. In the report, the president has mentioned all the activities the party had carried out including public gatherings, submission of memo to the Chief Election Commissioner and various other position papers and statements issued from time to time.
