 |
| |
VOL. 27, NO. 30, April 04, 2008 (Chaitra 22 2064 B.S.)
|
|
THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL has urged all political parties in Nepal to uphold public security and create an atmosphere that is conducive to successful holding of election. Welcoming the progress towards Constituent Assembly election, the members of the Security Council in a press statement Thursday also said they looked forward to elections being held in a free and fair manner on April 10 while reiterating their full support for the United Nations Mission in Nepal.
THE ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) has expressed concern over reports of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) members coming out of their camps in combat uniforms. Election commissioners today sought clarification from UNMIN chief Ian Martin regarding these reports and urged the mission to effectively carry out the monitoring process. During a meeting held at the EC, Martin assured the commissioners that the UNMIN would keep the PLA combatants under strict monitoring.
TIBETAN EXILES STAGED YET another demonstration outside the United Nations premises in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, on Friday (March 28), demanding that the world body exert pressure on China to stop 'brutal crackdown' on pro-independence protesters in Lhasa. Dozens of Tibetans including monks in saffron robes displayed placards and banners emblazed with "Free Tibet" slogan while some 20 Tibetan school students apparently jumped into the UN compound at around 10 am and handed over the banners and pamphlets to UN officials. The police intervened into the demonstration outside the UN office, rounding up at least four dozen protesters.
MAOIST CHAIRMAN PRACHANDA HAS SAID that there would be economic revolution in the country within ten years. He said the economic progress will gain speed once the Constituent Assembly (CA) is successfully held. Addressing an election program in Birtamode, Jhapa, he said, "Currently the per capita income of Nepalis is just $300. In ten years, this would be increased to $3000." He said developing tourism and mobilizing internal productions would be adequate to bring about change in the face of the nation. He said annually 10,000 Tibetan tourists should be lured in the country. Speaking at a separate program in Itahari, he said that if his party wins the election, the railway up to Lhasa will be brought to Kathmandu in ten years. He also said there would be railways linking Pokhara, Lumbini and Terai region. Nepal Samacharpatra daily reports
DURING THE THREE YEAR INTERIM PLAN PERIOD, the government plans to invest Rs 32.4 billion in hydropower development. The government plans to invest Rs 10.3 billion in power generation, Rs 11.22 billion in transmission, Rs 8.95 billion in distribution and rural electrification and Rs 1.93 billion in conducting surveys and studies. The three year interim plan period has started from the current fiscal year 2064/65 (2007/08) and will end on fiscal year 2066/67 (2009/10). In this period the government plans to bring into operation projects worth 105 MW from government and private developers. This include 70 MW-strong Middle Marsyangdi and 14 MW strong Kulekhani III by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and smaller projects totaling 20 MW from private developers.
ALTOGETHER 810 INTERNATIONAL election observers from 29 organizations are scheduled to monitor the April 10 CA election across the country. Earlier the Election Commission had stated that there would be some 550 international observers from 14 organizations and has already issued accreditation cards to 101 observers. The deadline for filing applications for observer accreditation has already elapsed but the EC said it would make rules flexible. "We will not accept new applications for observer accreditation but still the EC will exercise flexibility while dealing with the new organizations who have shown deep desire to engage in Nepal's CA election process," said an officer at the Election Observer Resources Centre. Of late, the embassies of Canada, Britain, France, Malaysia, Japan, Finland, Norway, Australia, Bangladesh and Thailand have shown interest to deploy poll monitors and have contacted the EC in this regard.
