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Kathmandu, 20 January: On the eve of his last day in office, US President Bill Clinton authorised a $22 million package for Bhutanese and Balkan refugees, a White House official announced Thursday.

In a directive to the State Department Clinton said: "I hereby declare that in the national interest of the United States it is important to provide up to $22 million from the US Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund available to meet unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs, including those of refugees, displaced persons, conflict victims, and other persons at risk, due to crises in the Balkans and Nepal. These funds may be used, as appropriate, to provide contributions to international, governmental, and non-governmental organisations and, as necessary, for administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration."

In a letter to Prime Minister GP Koirala a few weeks ago, Clinton had commended Nepal’s generosity in sheltering the Bhutanese refugees in camps and directly supported Nepal’s plea for the resolution of the refugee problem. Nepalnews.com/br/at

3.9 million children administered polio drops

Kathmandu, 20 January: In a nation-wide campaign to eradicate polio, nearly 3.9 million children were administered polio drops on Saturday. For the last four years, Nepal has launched a campaign to administer vaccine to children up to the age of five to eradicate the debilitating disease from the kingdom. 

Several cases of the disease have been detected despite the campaign. Government and donors set aside Rs170 million this year for the campaign. Nepalnews.com/br/at

AIDS claims 8,325 lives in Nepal

Kathmandu, 20 January: AIDS has so far claimed 8,325 lives in Nepal, including 2,535 new deaths in 1999 alone, a UN study said. Altogether 35,000 persons were infected with HIV/AIDS in 1999—up from 20,000 in 1996. 

Altogether 1,807 persons tested positive from 182,180 blood samples in the year 2000 while only five persons were infected with the deadly virus in 1990 from 8619 tests, the National AIDS and STD Control Centre said. 

Health officials said 1063 males and 536 women, mostly sex workers were infected. Three persons contracted the disease through blood transfusions while 196 others by sharing infected syringes.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Tests confirm heroin seizure

Kathmandu, 20 January: Police on Friday confirmed that the one kg of heroin seized from the home of 42-year-old Rukmini Bista in Lalitpur Wednesday was genuine. The disclosure came after tests were carried out on the seizure. 

"This is one of the biggest drug hauls in the city in recent times," police official Krishna Prasad Sharma said. Bista faces a possible life sentence and a maximum fine of Rs 2.5 million if convicted.

Nepalnews.com/br/at

Maoists abduct two senior officials, guard killed

Kathmandu, 20 January: Maoists killed a police guard when abducting chief district officer Bhanubhakta Pokhrel and Tatopani Customs official Bharat Subedi at 7 pm Friday in neighbouring Sindupalckowk. The officials who were going to Chautara from Tatopani near the Nepal Tibet border were later released, a Home Ministry official said.

The insurgents shot dead the police guard while another survived after he surrendered his weapon to the Maoists. Police in the capital were put on alert after the daring attack in the neighbouring district. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Kamaiyas capture forest

Kathmandu, 19 January: About 1,600 free and impatient kamaiyas in Kailali district, west Nepal, began taking over government-owned forest land Thursday to build homes. The former bonded labourers accuse the government of failing to rehabilitate them after "freeing" them seven months ago. The kamaiyas have started constructing huts on the captured forest land.

The government, however, says it has started distributing land to kamaiyas. Approximately 70,000 former kamiyas in five districts of west Nepal were freed by government decree last year. The kamaiyas also accuse NGOs and INGOs of drawing attention to their cause without
thinking of solutions. Some have gone back to their landlords, although landlords are hesitant to employ them for fear of punitive action from the government. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Bandits decamp with one million

Kathmandu, 19 January: A group of about 50 bandits decamped with one million rupees and
injured 18 employees in an attack on the Jyoti Spinning Mills near Birgunj Thursday evening, police said. The bandits attacked the industrial complex when salaries were being paid out. 

The injured are being treated at Narayani Zone Hospital. The factory is owned by the Kathmandu-based Jyoti Group of Industries which has trading, financial and industry interests.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Nepal-India agree to increase power exchange

Kathmandu, 19 January: Nepal and India have agreed to expand electricity exchange from the present 50 MW to 150 MW as well as increase rates for power, an announcement here said. Nepal currently sells power to India at Rs 3 per unit. 

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Planning Division Member of the Central Electricity Authority of India KN Sinha signed the accord Thursday after a three-day meet.

The agreement to export more power to India comes after a surplus in Nepal's power generation as a
result of the completion of two hydel power plants in the private sector. Three more transmission lines to India will be added to the nine existing lines. Demand for electricity in Nepal is low during summer as opposed to India's high requirement during that time of year. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Nepali Congress convention begins

Kathmandu, Jan 19: The 10th National Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress party begins today in Pokhara. Prime Minister and party president Girija Prasad Koirala is to inaugurate the convention. Preparations for the convention are complete, party spokesman Narahari Acharya said after the last meeting of the present Central Working Committee of the party held there yesterday.

The meeting approved the political and organisational documents to be presented at the convention. According to spokesman Acharya, the meeting decided that nobody will henceforth be allowed
to contest three consecutive times for any top post from the local to central level of the party. "If someone wants to be elected a third time, there must be a gap in between," said Acharya. The meeting also approved the proposal relating to the election of 50 percent Central Working Committee members from the national convention. Earlier, only five persons used to be elected
by the Convention. 

The resort town of Pokhara looks decked like a bride because of the colourful banners, posters and
welcome arches in different parts of the town. Hotels are packed and the narrow roads of Pokhara crowded. The two camps in the ruling party-one led by Prime Minister Koirala and the other by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba-busied themselves the whole day, mustering support of representatives to ensure their victory for party leadership. The Prime Minister cancelled some of his programmes and remained busy consulting with supporters and workers. Deuba, also a contender for the top post, met with workers and put forth a justification for his candidacy.

Sailaja Acharya, another central leader, has opposed the decision relating to the election of 50 percent of CWC members from the national convention. She said that this system would weaken the party president and said that the party president needs to be free to choose his entire team.
Nepalnews.com/yl/rh/at

One killed, two injured in bomb attack

Kathmandu, 19 January: One person was killed and two others injured in a bomb attack by identified persons in Gaur Thursday evening, police said. One of the injured is said to be in a serious
condition. Police have sealed off the town and are trying to nab the culprits.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Development Committee summons minister Gupta

Kathmandu, 18 January: The Parliament's Development Committee has summoned the minister for communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta on 24 January to explain this week's controversial government decision that banned news broadcasts by independent FM radio stations. The government move came after the formation of a committee to review and oversee the functioning of
popular FM radio stations. The committee has asked Gupta to provide copies of conditions and licenses for operation of FM radio stations.

According to the reviewing committee, the stations were broadcasting news and opinions in the
clear absence of guidelines on what constituted news and opinions. A government official said FM radio stations were not permitted to broadcast news which is a monopoly of state owned Radio Nepal. The Chinese embassy last year had protested the broadcast of news on the Falungong movement by a FM radio station. However Member of Parliament and also member of the development committee Raghuji Panta said: "The move of the government is undemocratic and
should not restrict operations of FM radio stations." Another communications expert who preferred
anonymity added that the governments initiative was a form of censorship and that it would have negative effects.

Broadcasts of Radio Sagarmatha that was relaying BBC newscasts have been affected by the government decision. FM radio stations have come under criticism from conservative sections of society for their lacy broadcasts. The government has been issuing licences for FM radio stations elsewhere after successes in the capital. Nepalnews.com/br/at

NHRC teams to visit Maoist affected areas

Kathmandu, 18 January:
For the first time since its formation six months ago, two teams of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will visit Maoist affected districts in west Nepal in the first week of February to determine human rights violations, an announcement here said.

"By studying the human rights situation there, we plan to bring to light the reality so that pressure can be put on government and the Maoists," Commissioner Kapil Shrestha said. Shrestha will head a four member team on a 15-day mission to Salyan and Rolpa while Commissioners Sushil Pyakurel and Dr.Gauri Shanker Lal Das will visit Jajarkot and Rukum. The commissioners plan to meet rebels in the hope of ending the insurgency.

The visit also coincides with the sixth anniversary of the launch of what Maoists call the "People's
Movement" to topple Nepal's monarchy and multiparty democracy and supplant a communist state in the kingdom. The insurgency has already claimed more than 1,500 lives in Nepal's worst internal conflict with both national and international human rights groups accusing the government and rebels of serious human rights violations.

Meanwhile the government has finalised plans to set up a 15,000-strong Armed Police Force to combat the Maoists after a regular police force failed to contain the insurgency. The Royal Nepali Army as well as India are training a separate armed police force in anti insurgency warfare. The government and the palace are finalising a legislation for launching the new unit. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Probe indicts police

Kathmandu, 18 January: A parliamentary probe into the police firing in the Nepalgunj jail riot that resulted in the death of two inmates and injured over 20 other prisoners said that the shooting was unwarranted. "It is unfortunate that police resorted to firing when there were other options available as the prisoners were not breaking jail," chairman of the Foreign and Human Rights Committee of Parliament Som Prasad Pandey told reporters in Nepalgunj Wednesday.

"The demand for improved jail conditions was reasonable as the inmates are living in poor conditions and fear. Such a situation should end," Pandey said. The government has also ordered another administrative probe into the firing. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Pyakurel elected NBA president

Kathmandu, 18 January: Senior lawyer Sindhunath Pyakurel was declared elected president of the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) after results of Saturday's election were announced here Wednesday evening. Chudamani Acharya, Bhumi Kharel, Ram Prasad Ghimire, Govinda Prasad Sharma and Prayag Dutta Bhatta were elected vice presidents from the eastern, central, mid-western, and far western regions respectively, while Satish Kharel has been elected secretary of the Association.

Other members who were elected are Yadu Nath Khanal, Milan Raj Rai, Bijaya Mishra, Ek Raj Bhandari, Babu Ram Giri, Sapana Malla, Sushila Regmi, Surendra Kumar Mahato, and Sunil Pokhrel. The treasurer had  earlier been declared unopposed. The election witnessed keen competition between pro-Nepali Congress and pro-Communist factions, and Pyakurel's panel is said to be with the latter. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

Dali appointed RNAC chief

Kathmandu, 18 January: Rajesh Raj Dali has been appointed the new executive chairman of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), an announcement here said. He assumed the top job at Nepal's state airlines on Wednesday.

Dali succeeds Hari Bhakta Shrestha who was suspended pending investigations into a suspected
fraudulent deal to lease a Boeing aircraft from Austria's Lauda Air. Dali was previously general manager of the Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepalnews.com/br/at