NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Khatri Refutes Media Reports

Newly appointed Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Nayan Bahadur Khatri, has refuted reports in local media quoting him as loyal to the erstwhile Partyless Panchayat polity. A popular movement in 1990 overthrew the system and restored multi-party democracy in Nepal. RSS news agency quoted Khatri, a former Chief Justice at the Supreme Court, today as saying that he had always faith and belief in multi-party system and human rights. " I will always remain committed to the protection of human rights," he said. Khatri also alleged that "Tarun weekly," a vernacular paper, had misquoted him while publishing his interview. A number of legislators, including former Foreign Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, had expressed reservations in the Parliament over Khatri's alleged remarks. Compiled from reports June 1.

The Importance Of Morang-5 Consituency

The Mornag-5 constituency in eastern Nepal has attracted lion's share in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year 2000-01, even more than that allocated for the two constituencies (Mornag-1 and Sunsari-5) represented by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. It is because Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya represents Morang-5 constituency. Minister Acharya has allocated Rs 30 million for the construction of Ghinaghat-Biratchowk road under his constituency, up from Rs one million allocated in the current fiscal year. Similarly, he has allocated Rs 2.5 million for Kayarkhola bridge in his constituency and has allocated additional Rs two million for reconstruction of Juri Khola bridge. Similarly, he has allocated Rs 2.5 million to construct a Ring Road in Biratnagar and has allocated additional Rs two million to construct a 'by-pass' in the municipal area. He has allocated more than Rs 40 million for the maintenance of Biratnagar-Rangeli bridge. He has, however, allocated only Rs one million for the construction of Chatara-Chakraghatti-Birpur road in Sunsari-5 constituency currently held by the Prime Minister. Samakalin June 1.

Doctors Resign EN Mass In Biratnagar

All the services in the Koshi zonal hospital in eastern town of Biratnagar, including emergency, remained closed on Sunday as a total of 24 medical officers working there resorted to strike after resigning en mass in protest of beating of one of their colleagues by a group of local people. A group of local people had manhandled Dr. Narayan Basnet alleging him of carelessness while treating Sudip Subedi, a local resident, who was rushed to the hospital in a state of coma after meeting with an accident. Subedi died as soon as he was admitted at the hospital. Surgeon Dr. Basnet is undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit in the same hospital after being beaten severely. Police have not arrested anybody in this connection. Leading dailies report June 5.

‘Nepal To Focus On Visibility In The UN’

Newly appointed permanent resident representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Murari Raj Sharma, has said he would focus on giving more visibility to the country in the United Nations. In an interview before leaving for New York, former Foreign Secretary Murari Raj Sharma said besides Track One diplomacy, he would make efforts to promote Nepal's national interests on the basis of Track Two diplomacy involving the civil society. The relevance of United Nations has grown in the changing global scenario and it has become equally important for bigger countries as much as for the smaller countries, he said. Now, the time has come for the United Nations to redefine its role so as to deal with new emerging challenges, he added. Gorkhapatra daily reports June 4.

EU Hails The Govt. Decision

The European Union has welcomed the decision by Prime Minister G. P. Koirala's government in Nepal to extend the mandate of the Deuba commission which has been set up to create a cross party consensus among the country's democratic groups and pave the way for negotiation with the Maoist insurgents. In the European Union's view a negotiating process offer the best chance to resolving Nepal's problems for the longer term, a French Embassy press release said. The European Union has observed with growing concern the escalation of the internal conflict following the declaration of people's war more than four years ago. Maoist attacks against representatives of the democratic state are always unacceptable, an frequently barbarious. The avowed aim of the insurgents is to over turn the democratic order, the statement said. Leading dailies report June 3.

‘King Should Not Revoke The System’

Former Chief Justice and one of the drafters of the country's present constitution, Biswonath Upadhyay, has said if the King resorts to revoke the parliamentary polity, the monarchy itself will be abrogated. In that case, even the sovereignty of our country will fall under risk, he said. In an interview, Upadhyay blamed the King for not implementing the decision of the Constitutional Council during Sher Bahadur Deuba's government more than four years ago. The Council had recommended Upadhyay's name as the chief of the National Human Rights Commission. "People have right to know what happened to that decision," said Upadhyay. Upadhyay also labeled Prime Minister G. P. Koirala as an "opportunist" and said he could do anything to save his chair. Bimarsha June 2.

HRC Members Take Oath Of Office

Amid controversy regarding the appointment of a former chief justice as chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), members of the newly appointed NHRC have taken oath of office. Newly appointed chairman of the Commission, Nain Bahadur Khatri delivered oath of office to members of the Commission, Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Sushil Pyakurel, Ms. Indira Rana and Dr. Gauri Shanker Lal Das at the Commission's Office on Monday. Some ruling and opposition party legislators had criticized the appointment of Khatri to the prestigious post saying that he was responsible for handing down death sentence to two pro-democracy activists during the Panchayat regime. Khatri has, however, refuted such reports and has claimed that he was not involved in any such decisions. Compiled from reports, June 6.

Officials Confirm Of Inflated Price In Construction Materials

Officials at the Ministry of Education and Sports have said they have heard about inflated price while procuring bricks to construct primary school buildings under the Japanese assistance. Secretary at the Ministry Khagendra Basnet told the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament on Monday that he had heard of procuring bricks at Rs 7 (that would cost Rs 2 at local market) by Syanpo International, the contractor hired by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). "But we don't exactly know how much they pay per piece as they don't need to show the details of purchase as per the agreement." Reports said that the Japanese contractor hired by JICA has been supplying low quality construction materials at inflated prices. JICA has been supporting construction of 600 blocks of classrooms in seven districts. The Japanese embassy in Kathmandu is yet to make its comment public regarding the controversy. Kantipur reports, June 6.

AIC To Supply Fertilizer In Remote Areas

The government has made a provision to supply fertilizer in 23 remote districts of the country, through Agriculture Inputs Corporation (AIC), where road network doesn't existent and businessmen also don't supply the fertilizer. As the AIC and private sectors are supplying fertilizers in other districts, there hasn't been any policy change in case of such districts, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry said. RSS news agency reports, June 6.

Court Inquires Municipality On Ban Of Plastics

The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to Mahendranagar municipality in far-western Nepal regarding its decision to ban the use of polythene bags. The Court issued notice in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Gopal Prasad Aryal on behalf of Nepal Plastic Industries Association (NPIA). The petitioner claimed that the Municipality's decision went against the rights provided by the country's constitution and was also against the spirit of the Industrial Enterprises Act 2049 B. S. The municipality had recently imposed ban on the use of polythene bags within the municipal area with a view to control pollution. RSS reports, June 6.