NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

PM Gives Explanation To PAC

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has assured the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament that the government would take stern action against those guilty if any irregularities were found in the Lauda Air deal. Replying to questions from committee members Thursday morning, Koirala said his government had no intention of violating the directives of the parliamentary committee. RNAC brought the Boeing 767 jet aircraft on lease early this month for 18 months despite directives issued by the PAC not to implement the deal until the committee completed its investigation. Earlier, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut had told the committee that as RNAC was an autonomous body, it had the right to enter into the deal in the interest of the corporation. Koirala also asked the parliamentary committee to maintain the clear-cut boundary of jurisdiction between the legislative and the executive branches. Leading dailies report Dec. 22.

Management Of NBL, RBB To Be Handed Over To Private Sector

Senior officials said Friday that the government has decided to hand over the management of two public-sector banks to private firms shortly. Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Koirala told the Public Accounts Committee of the parliament that the government was going to hand over the management of Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) and Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) to the private sector to rescue them from the precarious situation they are presently in. Koirala admitted that the banks faced problems due to a faulty loan disbursement process, weak accounts maintenance system, poor management and information system and huge amounts of negative net worth. He, however, did not mention rampant government intervention in the management of these two banks said to be primarily responsible for their poor health. Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal said the contract would be awarded in accordance with prevailing laws and that the selected managing companies would be asked to compensate the banks in case they incurred further losses. Gorkhapatra Dec. 23.

Nepal, Greece Agree To Expand Cooperation

Nepal and Greece have agreed to increase and expand areas of cooperation for mutual benefit. During the visit of Greek Foreign Minister George A. Papandreou, Greece has agreed to extend support to Nepal in such areas as human rights, democracy, environment and health. After meeting with his Nepali counterpart, Chakra Prasad Banstola, Papandreou said Greece, as a member of the European Union, wants to expand relations with other countries and support their development efforts. Greece would support Nepal in such areas as consolidation of democracy, human rights, health and environment, he said. Papandreou is the first high-level Greek official to visit Nepal. He said the EU has taken the problem of Bhutanese refugee in Nepal seriously. Addressing a joint press conference in Kathmandu Tuesday, Papandreou said since the problem of Bhutanese refugee in Nepal is a global issue, the EU is interested in it. Bastola said talks between the two countries also covered the issue of easy access of Nepali goods into the European market. Leading dailies report Dec. 20.

Cases Filled Regarding Exam Irreegularities

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases at the Patan Appellate Court against four people on charge of committing irregularities while examining the answer papers of some students who appeared in the SLC exams held two years ago (in 2055 B. S.). Those implicated in the case include deputy director at the Distance Education Center Kedar Chandra Khanal and three teachers. The commission has also recommended departmental action against then-controller of examinations Haribol Khanal for failing to fulfil his duties properly and has instructed the Ministry of Education and Sports to rectify such irregularities in examinations. RSS reports Dec. 20.

RBB Raises Interest On Deposits

The state-owned Rastriya Banijya Bank has decided to raise the interest rates on its deposits by an average of 0.75 percent since Monday (Dec. 18), reports said. As per the new regulations, the bank will pay 6.25 percent interest for savings account and 7.5 percent for two-years' fixed deposits. Reports said the bank had decided to raise the interest rates following partial withdrawal of deposit by the Royal Nepal Army. Out of nearly Rs 1 billion belonging to the Army Welfare Fund, the army has already withdrawn nearly Rs 150 million from the bank. The RBB, which will have a new international management from April next year, has a total deposit of Rs 35.5 billion and has extended loans and advances amounting to more than Rs 23 billion. Compiled from reports Dec. 20.

Agriculture Tools Factory Remains Closed

Agricultural Tools Factory (ATF) remains closed for the last three years even after a new management was brought in through privatization, a newspaper reported. Established 36 years ago in Birgunj, the government had sold the factory to the private sector more than three years ago. The new management had, however, closed down the factory within six months in the wake of an employee strike. Interestingly, the government is still providing salaries to more than 250 employees at the factory though they don't have to report for work. The government has neither called bids to sell the factory to another management nor is ready to invest nearly Rs 20 million to re-start it. Interestingly, it released Rs 9 million a few months back to pay salaries to the employees of the privatized factory. Kantipur Dec. 19.

FNCCI Demands Lowering Of POL Product Prices

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has demanded that the government and agencies concerned lower the prices of petroleum products immediately. In a statement issued Tuesday, the apex private-sector body has asked the government to lower the prices of petroleum products as the international market price for crude oil has dropped from US$ 37 per barrel to US$ 27 per barrel now. The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) had recently hiked the price of petroleum products citing the hike in the prices of POL products in the international market. "It is very sad and practically unreasonable that the consumers in the country are compelled to buy petroleum products at the increased prices. Hence, the government and the NOC should immediately revise the prices of petroleum products," the FNCCI said. RSS reports Dec. 20.

Temba To Climb Mt. Everest Again

Temba Chhiri Sherpa, who abandoned the expedition from 20 meters below the summit of Mt Everest in May this year, announced Saturday that he would try to climb the tallest peak again and become the youngest person to reach the top of the world. Temba,15, said he would try once more and become the youngest person to climb Mt Everest, "if I get enough support for my expedition". He, however, did not provide details of his plan. He was 14 when he attempted Sagarmatha to set a new world record. Although he abandoned the expedition from 20 meters below the Everest summit, he still established the world record by reaching the altitude of 8428 meters at the age of 14. Temba had to abandon his expedition as his fingers were frostbitten. He later lost four fingers at a hospital in Kathmandu in order to save his other fingers, doctors said. Gorkhapatra Dec. 24.

Over 1,000 People Killed In Mid-Western Region

Officials have said over 1,000 people have been killed in the mid-western region alone since the Maoist rebels launched their "people's war" nearly five years ago. According to police, 749 rebels, 172 policemen and 159 civilians were killed in fighting between the police and rebels. According to official estimates, more than 1,500 people have lost their lives all over the country during the rebellion. Unofficial estimates put the death toll at twice that number. Compiled from reports. Dec. 18.

Nepal Asks Congress To Quit Power

Leader of the main opposition and general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has asked the ruling Nepali Congress party to quit power in order to facilitate a resolution of the five-year-old Maoist insurgency. Addressing an interaction program organized by his party's sister organization in the capital Saturday, Nepal said at least 50 percent of the country's problems would be resolved immediately if the Nepali Congress party was removed from office. He said a "common mechanism" could be worked out to resolve the Maoist problem as soon as the Nepali Congress government was forced out of power. Nepal did not clarify how a government that enjoys majority in the parliament could be removed from office. General Secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher Rana said the 'social contract' among Nepali Congress; United Left Front and the King in 1990 had failed now. "This is a very grave crisis for the country and it should be resolved with the help of all political parties and other sides," said Rana. Himalaya Times Dec. 25.

New Facilities For K<umari, Ganesh, Bhairav

The government has decided to provide new facilities effective from July 16, 2000 to the living goddess and god Sri Kumari, Sri Ganesh and Sri Bhairav in addition to the existing facilities, as they are an indispensable part of national culture. As per the decision, Sri Kumari, Sri Ganesh and Sri Bhairav will get proper education, their standard of living and nutrition level will be enhanced and housing will also be made available to Sri Bhairav and Sri Ganesh, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Housing facility is already provided to Sri Kumari. The ministry said pension amounts would be increased to former Sri Kumaris, Sri Bhairav and Sri Ganesh. The government has also decided to provide Rs 1.26 million in order to protect and promote the Jyapu Guthis (trusts) in 63 toles within Kathmandu metropolis which have been preserving ancient traditional music and musical instruments through the 'Nasadya' worship performed in honor of the `Guru' of this musical tradition.

Aidop-visual Section In Bhaktapur

The national archives has made arrangements of audio-visual presentations for domestic and foreign tourists visiting its archives at Bhaktapur. The archives has been attracting tourists with its 14th-century old statues and paintings. The ground floor of the archives, which has been converted into an audio-visual section, will now present historical and cultural heritage of Bhaktapur through audio-visual means during office hours. The half-hour program provides a glimpse of most of the historical monuments and festivals of Bhaktapur at no extra cost, chief of the archives Damodar Gautam said.

'Quarantine Duty On Nepali Products Illegal'

In what has come as a much-needed support for Nepali farmers, a top state official in India has said the quarantine duty being imposed by the Indian government on Nepali agro-products is illegal. Talking to Nepali reporters in Calcutta Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya said there was no reason or rationale for imposing such a duty and, hence, it should be scrapped immediately. The Indian checkpoints have been charging more than Rs 3,000 per truckload of Nepali agro-products for the last six months. Bhattacharya said his government was willing to import excess milk produced in Nepal but there were legal and other hassles in imports from Nepal. A high-level Nepali delegation is currently in Calcutta to take part in the 14th Indian Industrial Trade Fair 2000. Kantipur Dec. 24.