NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Sajjiwan Oil For Diesel Engine

For the first time scientists in Nepal used oil extracted from Sajjiwan's seed (Jatrpoha species) as a substitute to diesel to run diesel engine successfully for 30 hours. " We are getting encouraging results from our experiment with vegetable oils," said Prof. Mike Baswell, visiting research fellow at University College North Hampton and Oxford Brooke University-Oxford . "The Sajjiwan's oil and diesel have similar efficiency to run diesel engine." Prof. Mike conducted a demonstration test at the laboratory of Research Center for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), Tribhuvan University. Three heaters of 1000-watt each were run in full capacity on electricity generated by a generator using Sajjiwan's oil. "There is no difference in running an engine from Sajjiwan's oil and diesel. The only difference is emissions from the engine," said Prof. Mike. Emissions from diesel are irritating, pungent, and poisonous, however, emissions from Sajjiwan's oil are far less polluting., he said. Kantipur, May 7.

Sexual Exploitation Of Children On The Rise

The incidences of sexual exploitation of children in Nepal is on the rise, an independent task force has said on the basis of its media monitoring round the year in 1999. According to the Media Task Force comprising senior journalist Gokul Pokhrel and journalists Mrs. Babita Basnet and Tanka Panta, a total of 147 cases of sexual exploitation of children were reported in Nepali media last year. Of them, 74 girls below 16 years of age fell victim to rape out of which their own family members were involved in 20 cases. The report has pointed out toward the need of a strong law to punish the culprits and discourage such crime in future. Nepal Samacharpatra May 14.

'Four Million People Without Citizenship'

Activists demanding more say for `Madhesis' (people of terai) in national affairs have claimed that nearly four million of them have yet to get citizenship certificate in the country. Presenting a paper in a symposium on ìMadhesiya community after ten years of democracyî here on Saturday, coordinator of Nepal Intellectual Forum, Upendra Yadav said the government is holding the fundamental rights of citizenship of four million Madhesi people. The issue of citizenship and equal opportunity for representation in civil service are the main issues prevalent today, he said. Nearly 50 percent of the population in Nepal belong to Madhesi community, activists said. Compiled from reports May 14.

Teachers Surround The Education Ministry

Thousands of school teachers belonging to the Nepal National Teachers Association (NNTA) surrounded the Education Ministry's premises and prevented the government employees to enter the Ministry on May 13,. The Association had summoned its members from all 75 districts of the country to press the government to fulfill its demands. The 11-point demands of the Association include making temporary teachers permanent, stopping alleged politicization of the education sector and implementing the free education system, among others. After picketing, the teachers participated in a protest rally that passed through different parts of the capital city. The Association is said to be close to the main opposition, UML, and other left parties. Pro-Nepali Congress organization, Nepal Teachers' Union, however, did not take part in the protest program. Aparanha, May 13.

UML Workers Gherao The Foreign Ministry

The activists belonging to the main opposition, UML, gheraoed the Foreign Ministry for nearly two hours on Thursday morning as part of their nationwide agitation program, APARANHA daily, an eveninger, reported on Thursday. During the protest program, UML leaders and workers had chanted slogans including `Indian Army Quit Kalapani,' and `(India) Stop encroaching Nepali border.' In yet another program, UML workers closed Nepal-India border for two hours at the main gate of Customs office at Jamunaha bordering India in mid-western district of Banke on Thursday, KANTIPUR daily reported today. The sit-in program was organized to protest against the embankment constructed by India on Laxmanpur barrage. The party said more than 15,000 families in Nepal will be affected and 3400 bighas of land in Nepal will be submerged due to the barrage and embankment. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy has released a sum of Rs 7 million as the first installment for the construction of the right embankment on Lalbakaya River in Rautahat district. According to the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, the construction work has already been initiated. Compiled from reports May 12.

Lama's Last Rites Performed

Thousands of people took part in the funeral of late Communist leader Nirmal Lama on Wednesday who died at the Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital on Tuesday morning. Last rites of late Lama were performed at Swoyambhu. Son Nima Lama and senior leader of the CPN (Unity Center) Nara Bahadur Karmacharya jointly consigned to flames the mortal remains of the late communist leader. Top government officials, political leaders, communist workers and people from all walks of life paid their last tribute to the veteran Communist leader while his body was kept at his traditional house at Mheypi for the last two days. Leading dailies report May 11.

Post Of Chairman To Remain Vacant IN The UML

The post of chairman will continue to remain vacant in the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) till the party's general convention, reports said. The post remains vacant after the demise of former Prime Minister and party Chairman Man Mohan Adhikary a year ago. The party's central committee meeting has taken the decision, reports said. Compiled from reports May 11.

Two Indian Nationals Arrested

Police have arrested two Indian nationals at Matihani VDC in Mahottari district bordering India on Tuesday while they were trying to extort money from local people posing themselves as Maoist rebels. Police said they also recovered a home-made gun from Nagendra Purbe and Shanker Yadav upon getting a tip off. Purbe and Yadav duo had demanded Rs 200,000 from Ram Chandra Mahato, a local villager, by writing a letter. But looking at the scribbled letter and text, Mahato had suspected them as being frauds and informed the police promptly. Gorkhapatra May 11.

NC Busy Preparing For General Convention

Ruling Nepali Congress party is busy to preparing for the upcoming 10th General Convention scheduled for sometime in October/November this year. Twenty-one subcommittees have already been formed to prepare for the major meet slated to be held in the scenic lake city of Pokhara. This year's Congress convention is expected to be a lively affair as voices of discontentment regarding the leadership by older generation is gaining momentum by the day. At present Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is the President of the party and he has already indicated his willingness to defend his post this time too. Ghatana Ra Bichar May 10.

Deuba Opens Contact Office

As an evidence of the growing differences within the ruling Nepali Congress, former Prime Minister and known opponent of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to open a separate contact office in New Baneshwor especially to "meet his loyalist MPs". Deuba's move is particularly interesting as he has already expressed his desire to contest the election for the post of party President in the upcoming general convention. Formerly a Koirala associate, Deuba has over the years began to assert his independent leadership within the party with the backing from another senior Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Samakalin May 11.