NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Writ Petition Filed Against Govt's Decision

Three environmental NGOs have filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court last week seeking directive to the Nepal Government not to endorse/ implement the agreement reached between Nepal and India regarding the import of Indian vehicles. The agreement, reached during Prime Minister G. P. Koirala's visit to India last month, not only violates the Nepal Mass Emission Standards 2056 B. S. but also the fundamental right of the citizens to breath in clean air envisaged by the Constitution of Nepal 2047, the petitioners said. The joint press statement issued during Koirala's visit had stated that "imports of Indian vehicles into Nepal would be permitted on the basis of self-certification by Indian vehicle manufacturers based on Type Approval (TA)". As per the emission standard 2056 of Nepal, any vehicle importer must submit Type Approval (TA) and Conformity of Production (COP) certificate certified by the Government recognized authority to import a vehicle in Nepal. The joint press release not only nullified the requirement of the Conformity of Production (COP) certificate but also allowed to import the vehicle on the basis self-certification by the manufacturers, the petitioners said. The hearing on the petition will start on Monday, reports said. Compiled from reports Sept. 22.

'Bhutan Is Under Pressure': Bastola

Foreign Minister Chakra P. Bastola has said Bhutan is under pressure from the international community to resolve the decade-old refugee issue. Talking to reporters upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport Saturday, Bastola said he has raised the issue with his Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, and other western leaders. Bastola said he discussed the issue of Bhutanese refugees and bilateral economic cooperation during his visit to Norway and Sweden. He said his visit with the Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Thinley in New York was a part of a continuous process. He did not elaborate. Nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees are living in Nepal for the last one decade but no resolution is in sight so far. Leading dailies report Sept. 24.

Rupee Depreciates Against Greenback

As the Nepali currency started to move downwards vis a vis the US dollar after a stability of about six weeks, commercial banks have approached the Nepal Rastra Bank for its intervention, reports said today. The Foreign Exchange Dealers Association — a cartel of 11 commercial banks — has requested the central bank to float at least one million-dollar in the market, Pramod Rijal, its president said. The Nepali currency is being traded at Rs 73.60 against one US dollar since Wednesday. The last depreciation of Nepali currency is a fallout of sliding of Indian currency against the US currency, observers said. Nepali currency maintains fixed exchange rate vis a vis the Indian currency. Leading dailies report Sept. 22.

‘No Agreement To Open More Routes’: Chinese Ambassador

Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Zeng Xuyong, has made it clear that no written agreement has been concluded between China and Nepal to open more transit routes between the two countries. Foreign Minister Chakra P. Bastola had said last month, at the end of his week-long visit to China, that both the countries had agreed in principle to open two more routes between them. At present, there are four transit routes available between Nepal and China along the northern border. Addressing a talk program here Friday organized by Nepal Council of World Affairs, the ambassador said Tibet is an integral part of China since the 13th century. He said China has not made any of its nationals refugees. Those who have left the country have done so voluntarily, the Chinese diplomat said. Xuyong further said his country did not want to make strategic alliances with any country but wished to establish friendly ties with all on the basis of the principle of peaceful co-existence. Leading dailies report Sept. 23.

DOR Starts Repairing The Road

A day after a Kathmandu-based diplomat drew attention toward the dilapidated condition of a section of a Kathmandu road, the Department of Roads has kicked off repair and maintenance works at the Maharajgunj section of the road linking Lazimpat to the Ring Road, reports said today. The ambassador of Thailand to Nepal, Powthep Vanachinda, had written a letter to KANTIPUR daily on Tuesday drawing the attention of local authorities about the condition of the dilapidated road at Maharajgunj. According to the daily, the ambassador said a woman working for him suffered a miscarriage while riding over the bumpy road dug up nearly two months ago for repairs near Shital Niwas that houses the Foreign Ministry. The concerned officials have claimed that the repair works had been delayed due to the continuous downpour of heavy rains. Compiled from reports Sept. 21

FDI In Nepal Lowest In The Region

Nepal has been able to draw less than one percent of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flow in South Asia into the country, experts said. Fatteh Bahadur K. C., a Tribhuvan University teacher said, out of 3426 million dollars invested in South Asia, 90 percent went to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Nepal received only nine million dollars or just 0.26 percent. "In terms of investment in Nepal from South Asian countries, 96 percent was invested by India. This is because policy exercises were in favor of investors from India-whether in terms of liberal trade, import of labor or convertibility of the Indian currency," he said. Speakers in the day-long seminar on `the Role of Private Sector in South Asia' Friday, speakers said increasing cooperation among the private sectors of the region was important for both poverty alleviation and to nurture pluralistic and transparent societies aspiring for development. Leading dailies report Sept. 23.

Two Maoists Arrested After Release

Police have taken into custody two Maoist activists from the court premises within minutes after the Appellate Court at Ilam ordered their release, reports said. The court had ordered the release of Dhirendra Sharma and Laxmi Devi Neupane, pro-Maoist student leaders. Sharma and Neupane were jailed after they failed to furnish a bail of Rs.27, 000. Local journalists and human rights activists have protested the police action. Compiled from reports.