NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

student appearing in exam

Mother And Son Take SLC Exams

Thirty-eight-year-old mother Bharati Kharel is taking the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exams together with her 16-year-old son, reports said. A resident of Biratnagar sub-metropolis at Jamungachhi, Mrs. Kharel had first appeared in the exam 22 years back but had given it up after she got married. Kharel, who is appearing as a private examinee from the Gograha higher secondary school, said she had decided to take the exams because life these days would be useless without passing the SLC. Himalaya Times, April 22.

154 People Die Of AIDS In Achham

A recent study has indicated that more than 150 people have died of HIV/AIDS in the far-western district of Achham alone. A study conducted by Save The Children (UK) in 61 out of 75 village development committees in the district showed that at least 154 people, including four children, have died of AIDS over the last decade. Most of the victims were women of so-called lower caste. The report said there are 12 persons in the district living with HIV/AIDS and 28 more with full-blown AIDS. K. K. Singh of the Reproductive Health Project, being operated with assistance from GTZ, said the figures grossly contradict those produced by the National Center for AIDS and STD Control saying that only 150 people have died of AIDS in the entire country. Many people from this remote hilly district work in Indian cities, including Mumbai, as migrant laborers, and bring home and spread the dreaded disease, the study said. Compiled from reports April 21.

Maoists Threaten Policeman's Family

The Maoist rebels in Kalikot have threatened the family of a police constable who died in the Rukumkot massacre early this month, leading them to seek refuge in the district headquarters of Manma. According to a report, the family of late police constable Raya Bahadur Rokaya fled their house after the rebels demanded Rs 400,000 from them out of a compensation of Rs 750,000 they are entitled to receive from the government. The rebels also beat family members mercilessly, the report said. Kantipur April 18.

The Costs Of 'Bandh'

A recent survey has said the tourism sector suffers a loss of nearly Rs 40 million for every day of `bandh’ (shutdown strike). According to the survey, conducted by Pro-Public, an advocacy group, each tourism-related firm surveyed said it lost Rs 235,000 in one day’s bandh. The survey conducted among 169 travel trade operators said the accumulated loss for one day stood at Rs 39.7 million. The survey said over 3,700 tourists would cancel their visits to Nepal and another 3,800 shortened their visits on each `bandh.’ Over 96 percent of the respondents said they disapproved of ‘bandhs’ while only 4 percent said they supported them. Compiled from reports April 18.

Rebels Loot Banks

Suspected Maoist rebels have looted nearly Rs 12 million in cash and kind by raiding local branches of two banks in eastern Nepal in the second week of April. According to police, nearly a dozen rebels entered the local bank branch at Ghailaduba in the eastern district of Jhapa Sunday afternoon. They covered security guards and asked the cashier to hand over them the entire booty. Within 12 minutes, they were at large with Rs 800,000 in cash and gold and jewelry worth Rs 8.3 million. They also seized five guns from the guards. Police arrived on the scene nearly 15 minutes after the robbery. In a separate incident, suspected rebels raided a local branch of Rastriya Banijya Bank at Necha VDC in the eastern hilly district of Solukhumbu last Thursday. They looted Rs 3.7 million in cash and kind. A rebel was killed during an encounter. The rebels, who were engaged in a gun battle with police for nearly four hours, also looted five guns from the bank guards. Compiled from reports April 16.

Army to Be Mobilized In 16 Districts

RNA personnel

With the meeting of the cabinet endorsing the concept of "integrated security and development," Royal Nepal Army personnel will now be mobilized in 16 out of 75 districts of the country most affected by the rebel activities, a weekly newspaper reported, quoting sources. As the King has agreed to the government's proposal to mobilize the army to maintain law and order in the country, the government's concept is likely to materialize. According to the plan, the government would launch development activities in those districts in coordination with security agencies. The army personnel will also be stationed with police at the police posts to raise the morale of the police. With the new arrangements, officials hope that they would be able to avoid incidences like the recent massacre of policemen during rebel attacks early this month. Deshanter April 15.

FNCCI Suggests Measures

FNCCI Chief Shrestha

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has submitted a report along with recommendations to restore law and order to promote industry and businesses in the country. According to RSS news agency, the report submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel has urged the government to take immediate measures to guarantee law and order. The government should jointly take ahead the "economic agenda" with other political parties and other forces, formulate and implement a time-bound program to ensure law and order, the body said. The FNCCI alleged that the government has been unable to arrest those involved in arson, robbery and explosions at industrial establishments. The FNCCI demanded that frequent strikes should be done away with and called on political parties to adopt alternative methods of protests. Compiled from reports April 18.

'Army Mobilization To HBelp Maoist War'

Prachanda

Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Comrade Prachanda, has said the mobilization of Royal Nepalese Army personnel by the "corrupt and widely discredited" government led by GP Koirala would help in the qualitative military development of the ‘people’s war.’ It also proves the new height attained by the people’s war, Prachanda said. This will also practically end the political role of the parliament and parliamentary factions in the Nepalese politics. This will lead the entire country toward a decisive fight between the revolutionaries and anti-revolutionaries, between the Maoist ‘people’s war’ and the army. The army itself will pass through a phase of rebellion and dissolution. And, finally the people’s war will attain victory. But this should not mean that we want to invite the army and bloodshed. We are still in favor of a political solution. But if the `reactionaries’ force us, we are prepared to give them a ‘tit for tat.’ Janadesh, April 17.

Global Green New Political Power Of 21st Century

Over 700 participants from 71 countries of six continents met at Canberra, Australia, between 12-16 April 2001, where they passed the resolution to form a ìGlobal Green Networkî of all Green Parties and Institutions working for green movements to work unitedly to improve global environment to enhance the quality of life with sense of dignity and for the promotion of value-based politics. The gathering decided to fight against poverty and political powerlessness of the impoverished and marginalized group, condemn all dictatorship and regimes that deny the human rights, uphold the rights of women, support the rights of children's, support the rights of indigenous people and support the rights or workers with assured basic needs leading to sustainable development. Global Greens will campaign for the greater power for the countries of the South, and support strengthening the role of UN as a global organization of conflict management and peace-keeping. Further Global Greens will seek to modify the role of World Bank and WTO (World Trade Organization) for the benefit of the economically poor countries adversely affected by the megamultinational and globalization. The leaders of the Global Greens movement expressed satisfaction on the encouraging growth of the Green Movements in such a short time around the world. And expressed hope that in coming two decades, the Greens shall run governments in most of the countries of the world. A dynamic team from the Green Nepal Party led by the President Kuber Sharma, with Central Executive Member Madhav Kumar Rimal, Shiva Bahadur Nepali Pradhan as delegates and Maita Lal Gurung and Mrs Gauri Rani Pradhan as observers, returned home after attending the Global Greens Conference 2001. The Nepalese delegation presented a country paper highlighting political corruption and Maoist activities. The delegation met the world leaders of the green movements who in turn expressed concern over the present unstable political environment in Nepal.