NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Deuba Cuts His Visit Short

Sher Bahadur Deuba, former PM and Congress leader, who was on a visit to Australia, had to cut short his stay there following the unexpected development within the ruling Nepali Congress that culminated last week with 58 of its MPs filing no confidence motion against their parliamentary party leader and PM Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. "It is a naked breach of the agreement reached between the PM and Party President G.P. Koirala two months ago," said seemingly furious Deuba, who is said to play a pivotal role in current Bhattarai cabinet. Deuba asked that if the agreement between the two top leaders can be breached in such a manner, who will trust the Congress leaders in future. Nepalipatra February 18.

"We Have More Than The Support Of 58 MPs" Gupta

Former Minister and central Congress leader Jaya Prakash Gupta, one of the signatories filing the no confidence motion against PM Bhattarai says that they (read anti Bhattarai camp) have support of more than 58 MPs. "Don't get carried away by the small number of 58, we have lots more on our side," said Gupta, who has been criticizing the present Bhattarai government from the very beginning. "We are convinced that Bhattarai is unable to lead the government. That is why we had to resort to this." Bimarsha February 18.

New Efforts To Control Pollution

The government has decided to ban the operation of government, corporation and diplomatic vehicles that do not meet the emission standard effective from February 19. According to the officials at the Ministry of Population and Environment, the decision to ban polluting govt, diplomatic vehicles will be followed by similar ban on private vehicles, too. In its bid to control the pollution in capital valley, the present government has already banned the polluting diesel-run three-wheelers and has stopped registering the two-stroke motorcycles. Media reports February 17.

Electric Incinerators Waiting To Be Utilized

Although fifteen years have passed since electric incinerators were introduced in the country to dispose off dead bodies, they are still to be utilized. The incinerators were introduced as alternative to woods for cremating dead bodies. The incinerator imported from India was set up in Teku Dobhan one and a half decade ago. Such incinerators are said to be environmentally friendly and especially proper for towns with dense population. Nepal Samacharpatra February 17.

Demonstration Supporting Nepal's People's War In New Delhi

Solidarity Forum to Support People's War In Nepal, an organization formed by India-based Nepalese to support Maoist-launched people's war in Nepal, organized a rally in the Indian capital New Delhi on February 13 to mark the fifth anniversary of the people's war. Participants in the rally brandished placards and raised slogans praising Maoist people's war and criticizing state terror. The rally was participated by Nepalese people living in different parts of India. The rally went round the Indian capital and finally handed over a memorandum to a staff at the Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi. Janadesh February 15.

UPF Dissolved

United People's Front (UPF), the political wing of underground Maoists, have been dissolved by its Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Dr. Bhattarai, in a statement dated February 12, has stated the dissolution of the UPF. Ever since the Maoists launched people's war, all the leader of UPF have gone underground pledging full support to the guerrilla war. According to Bhattarai, the UPF was dissolved to meet "new historic requirement". He has appealed to all leftist forces, ethnic and regional freedom movements to come together to form a revolutionary united front. Drishti February 15.

Congress To Demonstrate Against Maoists

Nepali Congress party has directed all its district committees to organize demonstrations and public gathering on February 19 -- the Democracy Day -- to protest against the violence, murder and terror unleashed in the name of Maoists. The Congress' decision to hold protest programs comes in the wake of the party President Girija Prasad Koirala's call to start movement against the insurgents. Meanwhile, the congress party has decided to hold a major demonstration against Maoists in the capital valley on February 19, under the joint coordination of all three Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district congress committees. Media reports February 16.

Shrestha Awarded Best Manager

Laxman Babu Shrestha, the man responsible for introducing the first cable car in Nepal, has been awarded this year's Best Manager by the Management Association of Nepal (MAN). Shrestha was declared the best manager of 1999 for successfully operating the Manakamana Cable Car that links the temple of wish fulfilling deity Manakamana. The cable car has increased the flow of international as well as domestic tourists to this region and ushered a new concept in the tourism sector of the country. Shrestha heads the Manakamana Darshan Private Limited, the company that built the cable car. Ghatana Ra Bichar February 16.

Thapa Complaints Against Minister KC

After four months of silence, Indira Thapa has finally opened her mouth charging Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Bal Bahadur KC, with vandalism and physical abuse. Thapa has registered a complaint at the party office of Nepali Congress asking for punishment against the minister. She has stated that such immoral and characterless person should not be allowed to continue as Minister. According to Thapa, she remained silent for the last four months because she feared Minister KC's men would abduct her son. Minister KC was caught barging out of Thapa's house (in Handigaon) on midnight of September 30 by a press photographer. He reportedly abused Thapa, a married lady in her late twenties. But strangely, both Thapa and KC denied the whole incident the following day despite press photos showing the Minister coming out of the house on the said date. Although, Congress leaders including the party President Girija Prasad Koirala had called for his removal from the cabinet, KC survived the episode with the Prime Minister, defending him. PM Bhattarai refused to oust KC citing there was no evidence of KC's wrongdoing. The feud between Thapa and KC, reportedly started after KC refused to pay back Rs 1.1 million which he had borrowed from Thapa during May general elections. Minister KC reportedly vandalized her house and physically abused her after Thapa threatened of informing the press about the loan. Media reports February 16.

Indian Journos Informed On Nepalese Tourism

A group of Indian journalists, who were recently in the capital at the invitation of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), met with the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar to get information about different prospects for promoting tourism between the two countries. The group also met with government officials and several Nepalese tourism entrepreneurs. During an interaction between the journalists and tourism entrepreneurs, Narendra Bajracharya, President of HAN, told that the recent episode of Indian Airlines hijacking has reduced the number of Indian tourists coming to Nepal significantly. Nepal Samacharpatra February 16.