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VOL. 27, NO. 29, March 28, 2008 (Chaitra 15 2064 B.S.)
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THE NEPALI ARMY (NA) HAS SAID that it will have no truck with elements that believe in terrorism, extremism and radicalism and that wants to seize state power based on such beliefs. The NA has said, Thursday (Mar 20), it will neither bow down nor compromise with such elements. "The NA will not bow down or compromise with elements that play with Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that raises arms against democratic system and wants to direct the political system through arms; which in this global context believes in terrorism, extremism and radicalism and wants to seize state power based on such beliefs," states the NA press release. The statement has come in the wake of media reports that Maoist chairman Prachanda recently had a meeting with NA chief General Rookmangud Katawal. The reports had quoted Maoist leader Agni Sapkota as saying that the two had met recently. In its statement, the NA has urged the people not to believe in such media reports that are aimed at dragging the NA leadership to political disputes.
EUROPEAN UNION LAUNCHED ITS ELECTION Observation Mission (EU EOM) to observe the election of the constituent assembly, scheduled to be held on April 10. The mission will have 120 observers from 22 different EU countries, including Norway and Switzerland. The mission is made up of a core team of 10 election experts. Forty long-term observers will arrive on March 22 and will be deployed in teams of two around the country to assess the campaign period and pre-election preparation. Before the election day, around 70 short-term observers, including a delegation of members of European Parliament, will join the mission to observe voting and counting. The mission will remain in the country for several weeks after the election to assess the final stage of the electoral process. EU has the largest number of observers among the international observing organizations, which has accepted the government's invitation to observe the constituency assembly polls. Talking to media persons today, Jan Mulder, the head of the EU EOM, a member of the European Parliament, said that the mission would observe not only the process and happenings but "all possible spheres related with the election and the electoral process". He added that team would not be limited to the capital and other urban areas, but would go as far as possible and cover all the incidents and proceedings there. After the election day, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its initial findings within a day or two. And a more comprehensive, final report, including recommendations for future elections, will be published within two months of the end of the electoral process, which will be given to all government institutions of EU countries as well as government of Nepal.
ABOUT 25 ,000 YOUTHS ASPIRING TO GO TO SOUTH KOREA for work have filled up exam forms at the makeshift office set up by the labor ministry at Dasharath Stadium amidst heavy police presence. Laxmi Sharan Ghimire, director at the Department of Labor and Employment Promotion for Employment Permission System (EPS), said that they would be attending the exam for Korean language proficiency to be held after two weeks. The Tribhuvan University is collecting the exam forms. Youths who traveled to Kathmandu to fill up the form complained that it would be better for them if the government had made arrangements to submit forms in their own districts. Ghimire assured that there would be no cheating in results as the Koreans would be checking the answer papers. He also assured that the selection process of people aspiring to go Korea would be corruption free. Only the people securing pass mark in this exam will be eligible candidate to for Korea.
EVEN AS REPORTS HAVE BEEN COMING that the Chinese authorities have requested Nepal to prevent mountaineers from scaling the Mt Everest between May 1 and 10, tourism entrepreneurs have reached understanding not to send them during the period. According to Kantipur daily, the government authorities are expected to endorse the entrepreneurs' understanding. China has already announced not to allow scaling of Everest from its side during the period when it is preparing to take the Olympic torch atop the highest peak in the world. It had requested Nepali side also to follow the suit to avoid anti-China activities during that period. In an interaction held by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Sunday, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Sagarmatha Mountaineers Association have reached such understanding, the daily adds. "We told we can help by not sending mountaineers during that period. We are also committed to avoid anti-China activities during mountaineering and to share information with the government," a participant at the meeting said. This spring season 17 expedition teams have applied for Everest ascent. Recently, international news agencies reported that the Nepal government had prohibited the Everest ascent from May 1-10. However, government officials have said that they have not yet made such decision. The entrepreneurs have said that they cannot conduct business by irritating Chinese authorities.
