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VOL. 27, NO. 23, February 15, 2007 (Falgun 03 2064 B.S.)
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NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER JENS STOLTENBERG stressed on the centrality of the Constituent Assembly election. After wrapping up his 20-hour visit to Nepal, on Friday, Stoltenberg said to reporters, "The CA is the strong platform to address challenges facing Nepal." During his brief stay in the capital, he met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and pledged Norway's continued assistance to Nepal. His visit was focused on effects of climate change in the Himalayan nation. He also met with UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda.
THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN, based on the request made by the Government of Nepal, has approved the utilization of the Counterpart Fund under the Food Aid of Rs 50 million for the implementation of the Project for the Transportation of Food Grains to Remote Area. The project was approved in order to counter the existing food deficit in Nepal, particularly in the remote hilly and mountain districts, due to the low productivity of agriculture, a statement issued by Japanese embassy said. Under this project, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) will deliver an additional 1,430 metric tons of rice to eighteen remote hilly and mountain districts in addition to NFC's annual program of delivering about 7,500 metric tons of rice. The Counterpart Fund was established through the financial assistance extended by the Government of Japan under the Food Aid (KR). The Government of Nepal has procured rice through this assistance and sold it in the domestic market. The amount collected from selling the rice was deposited as a Counterpart Fund, which can be utilized for implementing various social and economic development projects through consultation between the two governments.
NEPAL GOVERNMENT HAS HANDED DR AMIT KUMAR, the alleged kingpin of a multi-million dollar kidney racket, over to Indian authorities. Dr. Kumar, who faces charges of leading kidney racket in India was arrested in Nepal on Thursday (Feb 7). He was flown to New Delhi by a regular flight of the Indian Airlines (IC 814) Saturday evening. Earlier, the police officials had hinted at the possibility of initiating a case against Dr Amit in Nepal for illegal possession of foreign currency and some fake documents. Dr. Kumar had been arrested from a hotel in Sauraha, Chitwan by a special team of Nepal Police. There was also an Interpol red corner notice against him.
THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC) is expecting recommendations from visiting foreign forensic experts on whether to exhume the Shivpuri area. The rights body is expected to decide whether to dig up the site after getting preliminary report from the visiting forensic experts on controversial Shivpuri human bodies buried case. The NHRC is expected to get the report within next ten days. "After their recommendation we will decide what steps to be taken further," NHRC member Gauri Pradhan said. Finnish forensic experts Ranta Helena and Saukko Bikko have currently been analyzing the testimonies found in the Shivpuri area after their preliminarily examination of the site. According to Pradhan, they are currently busy on technical work with the assistant of domestic experts' team lead by Dr Harihar Wosti. The NHRC had invited the forensic experts to investigate the Shivpuri area on suspicion that 49 Maoists' cadre disappeared from the Maharajgunj-based Bhairav Nath Battalian of the Nepal Army were killed and buried in the area. While the technical team has authority to decide whether or not to exhume the suspected site, the NHRC would endorse its decision. "They are free to decide the steps to be taken further in this case. We will only endorse their decision," Pradhan added.
THE NEPAL GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED exit permits to Bhutanese refugees who have opted for third country resettlement. This allows refugees to leave the camps in eastern Nepal for third countries once their cases are accepted. In a statement on Monday (Feb 4), the UNHCR welcomed the Nepal government's decision to issue exit permits to the Bhutanese refugees and stated that third country settlement is an important step towards finding solution to the refugee stalemate. More than 107,000 Bhutanese refugees have been languishing in seven camps in Jhapa and Morang districts for 17 years. However, the refugees are sharply divided over the resettlement issue. There have been frequent clashes between refugees opposing the third country resettlement and those in favor of it. Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency has said the group resettlement process has been gaining momentum in the camps since it started late last year. "Thousands of refugees have expressed interest, and UNHCR has submitted the details of nearly 10,000 interested refugees for consideration by the resettlement countries. The refugees are currently in various stages of the process, ranging from interviews to extensive medical screening and cultural orientation before departure." The United States has offered to resettle at least 60,000 Bhutanese refugees and Canada has indicated it will accept up to 5,000. Australia , Denmark , the Netherlands , New Zealand and Norway have also shown their willingness to take in refugees. The first batch of refugees is set to fly to the United States in March while larger numbers will be leaving Nepal starting in July.
