BRIEFS (Spotlight Weekly)

SPOLIGHT FAMILY family for His Majesty's long. glorious and happy life.

THE GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY HAS agreed to provide a grant assistance of Norwegian Kroner 195 million (approx. Rs 1664.6 million) to Nepal government for implementation of the basic and primary education program, phase II. The grant includes the Norwegian contribution of NOK 183.3 million to the joint donor funding of Core Investment Program (CIP) component and the rest as technical assistance to the program over the period July 16, 1999 to July 15, 2004. Joint Secretary at the Finance Ministry Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Minister Counsellor at the Royal Norwegian embassy in Kathmandu Ms. Ingrid Ofstad signed on an agreement to this effect here on Wednesday. On completion of BESEP II, the net enrolment rate in primary education is expected to increase to 90 percent from the present rate of 79 percent and average test score for grade 3 and 5 children raised to 75 percent from the present level of 45.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED show cause notice to the defendants after hearing a public interest litigation filed by Advocate Tika Ram Bhattarai last week. In his petition, Bhattarai demanded that the apex court issue order to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to take action against five ministers in the then Sher Bahadur Deuba government, namely Balaram Gharti Magar, Buddhi Man Tamang, Shanti Shumsher Rana, Mahendra Raya and Bishnu Bikram Thapa, who had left for Bangkok on the eve of crucial no-confidence motion presented in the Parliament three years ago. In the petition, Bhattarai demanded that the Supreme Court ask the political parties to initiate a process of impeachment against Chief Commissioner and Commissioners at the CCIA for their alleged failure to take action against the culprits. Earlier, the Commission had said that it had decided to issue warnings only against the concerned ministers and that it could not take action against the said ministers as it was an old case.

THE RULING NEPALI CONGRESS has been awarded full membership of the Socialist International-an umbrella organization of social democratic parties around the world. Secretary General of SI, Louis Ayella, in a letter addressed to NC President G. P. Koirala, has informed him about the decision to this effect, NC central office said on Monday. The 21st Congress of the Socialist International held in Paris last month had endorsed the proposal to award full membership to the NC. Late B. P. Koirala of NC was a founder member of the SI.

NEPAL LEVER LIMITED (NLL), a subsidiary of Hindus Lever Limited, has started exporting its one more product, the fairness cream with the brand name `Fair & Lovely' to India. The NLL said that the 'Fair & Lovely' is the largest selling skin cream in Nepal. The Company said that it would be exporting the cream to other countries soon. The Company's others products, including Liril soap, are already being exported to India.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A TOTAL of 34 Tibetans, including six children and four women, at northern town of Jiri bordering Tibet, last week. According to Ilaka Police Office in Jiri, the Police arrested the Tibetan nationals as they had entered into Nepali territory in an illegal way. The Police said that the arrested people have been sent to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu for further investigation. Hundreds of Tibetan refugees flee Tibet every year to visit their religious leader, The Dalai Lama in Dharmashala, India via Nepal.

PRESIDENT OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, Nepal (FPAN), a pioneer non-governmental organization working in the areas of reproductive health, Sunil Kumar Bhandari has said that his organization has been delivering nearly one-third of total reproductive services being provided to people in the country. Talking to reporters here last week, Bhandari said that the FPAN was working in 34 out of 75 districts of the country with the help of nearly 16,000 volunteers and other professional staff. He also claimed that FPAN's activities were one of the best among the activities of non-government organizations working in the areas of reproductive health. He also said that FPAN had received the highest amount of funds for its activities through international donor agencies. He also denied reports that claimed there had been rampant corruption under him in the FPAN. Meanwhile, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has issued a press statement denying reports that it was goin.

Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala released a book "Karmabir Ko Katha" written by industrialist Hulas Chand Golcha highlighting his father, Ram Lal Golcha's contribution towards Nepal's industrial development. A large number of guests attended the function.

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Embassy of India, Kathmandu celebrated its 26th Annual Day amidst a cultural program last week. Indian Ambassador K.V. Rajan pointed out that the Vidyalaya while rendering service to Nepalese students also was contributing towards strengthening the bilateral relations between Nepal and India.

The severe criticisms the Bhattarai government has been facing for rampant corruption has induced the Prime Minister to institute a commission which will submit its recommendations to curb corruption within few weeks. But few have any faith in the commission. Firstly, they cannot believe the Prime Minister is keen to eradicate corruption. They all know he enjoys his own shallow comments. And secondly how can a person who advises the junior administrators to go for bribes be keen to curb it. If he were really sincere he would have instituted a very high powered committee or promulgated an ordinance.