NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

"Nuclear War Can't Be Ruled Out"

Bastola

Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola has said nuclear war in the South Asian region cannot be ruled out. "Our neighbours India, China and Pakistan are nuclear powers and we are under the shadow of a nuclear hazard, said Bastola in an interveiw to a state-owned daily. "It is perhaps in this sense that the US President Bill Clinton called this region a nuclear flash point," Bastola said. He, however, added: We should try to foster† friendship and discourage weapon race to maintain peace and security in the region. Referring to the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Freiendshi, Bastola said abrogation of the 1950 treaty could put Nepal into difficulty. It will close the door to more than two million Nepalis.

Gorkhapatra, Sept. 3.

"India Should Not Bother About Sino-Nepal Relations"

A Chinese professor visiting Nepal has said more trade routes between Nepal and China and their increased ties should not bother India, as it is the matter of two sovereign nations and does not hamper regional peace. In an interview, Prof. Wang Hongwei from the Beijing-based Institute of Asia Pacific Studies of the Chinese academy of social sciences said India had no reasons to object strong relations between the two sovereign nations. He further said India"s (perceived) security threat from China was ridiculous. China has no territorial ambition and wants to see a strong and developed India, said Prof. Wang, He advised India to overcome its cold war apprehensions and said good ties between the two countries will promote stability in the region and will benefit countries like Nepal.

Compiled from reports Sept. 9. (Photo)

Pakistan Denis Reports ABout Explosive And Extradition

Pakistan has denied reports in Nepali and Indian media that claimed that Nepali authorities had extradited a Pakistani national to India after he was found with explosives. "The report is totally false and concocted," state-run Associated Press of Pakistan quoted a senior foreign official in Islamabad as saying. Earlier, HIMALAYA TIMES daily had reported that Nepal had extradited one Mustaq alias Safi, a Pakistani national, to India in a covert way after he was allegedly found carrying 35 kg of RDX explosives, the biggest haul ever in Nepal. Nepal Police has, however, strongly refuted the news report and said it a totally wrong news. In an interview to Spotlight, a Kathmandu-based weekly newsmagazine on Friday, Pakistani ambassador Ms. Fauzia Nasreen said Pakistan would not do anything that would harm the interests of Nepal. She also denied reports that Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI, was carrying out anti-India activities from Nepal. Meanwhile, reports said Nepal Police have launched a drive against Kashmiri traders in the capital. More than two dozen Kashmiri people were taken into custody for up to 14 days "for interrogation" and majority of them are still said to be languishing in the secret detention centers. Nepal Police has denied such reports.

Compiled from reports Sept. 9.

Two Nepalese Arrested

Police have taken into custody two Nepali youths with explosives at the recreation center of the US embassy at Fohara Durbar in the capital on Friday, KANTIPUR daily reported today. According to Police, security guard at the Center had informed Police after he found gun powder in the bag of one of the youths. Police is investigating the case.

Kantipur, Sept. 9.

Nepal To Abolish Child Labor

Nepal will abolish child labor by the year 2005 in line with the declaration of SAARC and ILO conventions, a senior official said. Minister of State for Labor, Surendra Hamal, said the challenge needs to be tackled through multi-pronged† approach in an integrated manner securing support from all concerned organizations and international agencies. In Nepal, about 500,000 children aged five to nine and 1.7 million children† aged 10 to 14 are believed to be engaged in different economic activities.

Compiled from reports Sept. 6.

House Committee Establishes Irreularities

The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has established that financial irregularities had taken place while awarding a supplement project to the Bakrah River Control Project (BRCP) without calling tender bids as required by the law. In its meeting on Tuesday, PAC has asked the government to take action against concerned officials within two months. The China Hunan International Economic Technical Corporation (CHIETC) had been awarded the contract for Rs. 114.7 million for the 58-kilometre long river control project. Launched two and half years ago with the aid from OPEC, the group of petroleum exporting countries, the Chinese Corporation had begun work on the project for Rs. 337.4, which was 34 percent less than the amount estimated for the project and granted by OPEC. The surplus money was now being used for projects to supplement the original project. Such contract should have been granted only through the bidding process, PAC officials said. Officials said under pressure from the regular locals and the shortage of time prompted them to extend the contract without calling bids and through cabinet approval. PAC members said since the project was in the constituencies of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and senior UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, the political pressure may have been responsible for by passing the rules.

Compiled from reports Sept. 6.

Dr. Rawal Files A Suit

The former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, who was dismissed unceremoniously from his post by the government last week, has filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the government decision. In his petition, Rawal has argued that his dismissal was against the NRB Act, 2012 B. S., which categorically stipulated the term of a governor as five years. The government appointed former Secretary, Dipendra Purush Dhakal, as the governor of the central bank on August 28 by dismissing Rawal. The then K. P. Bhattarai government had appointed Dr. Rawal to the coveted post seven months ago.

Compiled from reports Sept. 7

Suspected Maoists Loot Trekkers

A group of suspected Maoist rebels have looted six Spanish trekkers at Soti in Thupikot Village Development Committee in western district of Gorkha on Sunday night. According to Police, the rebels took hostage the six trekkers and their two guides throughout the night and demanded Rs 600,000.00 from them. They later released them after taking away Rs 75,000.00 and a camera without hurting anyone. A helicopter rescued all the tourists on Monday morning. Police said this is the first incident of looting the tourists since the Maoist `people"s war" was launched more than four years ago.

Nepal Samacharpatra Sept. 5.

Govt. Cancels Permission

The government has canceled permission granted to† two private airline companies to begin international operations from Nepal. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) revoked the international operations license of Alpine Air and Air Nepal International for not starting international flights even after two years of getting the permission. The two companies renewed the license several times, but still failed to begin operations forcing CAAN to cancel the permission, civil aviation authorities said. So far, Necon Air is the only private airlines that is flying on international routes to India.

Compiled from reports Sept. 4.

"Communists Are Pseudo-Democrats" : Bhattarai

Bhattarai

In what has come as an untimely song, former Prime Minister and senior Nepali Congress leader K. P. Bhattarai has warned his cadres to become aware of Nepali communists. Inaugurating the national convention of the Democratic Thought Society on Saturday, Bhattarai said Even the King knows it very well that only the Nepali Congress is a true royalist party, he claimed. As the Communists have given up their ideology of class struggle, they are always under suspicion, he said. A colorful politician, Bhattarai is known for his off-the-cuff remarks.

Compiled from reports.