NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Govt. To Release 15 Maoist Activists

River Bank

The government has announced that it will release 15 Maoist activists to build a congenial atmosphere for the preparation of talks with the underground rebels. Spokesman at the Home Ministry Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said the government has already issued orders to the concerned authority for the release of these people. In a statement, the Home Ministry said the government has halted all its actions against the Maoists to find a peaceful solution to the problem through dialogue. "The government is serious to proceed with the talks in a meaningful way," the statement said. The ministry added that the government was also doing necessary work on withdrawing cases against the Maoist activists who are currently in prison after the court decisions or are in custody for investigations. The latest government move has come in the aftermath of the call for a cease-fire by the rebels in response for the same by the newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Leading dailies report July 29.

UML MPs Protest Against Dam

Victims of Violence

A group of 16 MPs belonging to the main opposition Unified Marxist-Leninist party have demanded the government to ask its Indian counterpart to stop the construction of Lautan Rasiawal Khurd dam near the Indo-Nepal border at Rupandehi in western terai, saying it would submerge hundreds of villages on the Nepalese side. In a joint statement issued Wednesday after inspecting the construction site, the legislators said the Indian side had already constructed a nearly 3-km portion of the dam unilaterally, which would submerge arable land in 18 VDCs in Nepal and displace more than 125,000 people. It could even submerge Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, enlisted as a World Heritage Site. The MPs, who were part of the entourage coordinated by the UML’s youth wing, have also called upon the Indian government to respect Nepal’s sovereignty and deal with the kingdom as a good neighbor. Compiled from reports July 26.

Nepal-India Trade Talks This Week

Senior government officials from Nepal and India are meeting in Kathmandu this week (between August 1-3) to discuss various issues related to bilateral trade, officials said. Both sides have attached much importance to the meeting, which is going to take place nearly five months ahead of the renewal of the 1996 Indo-Nepal trade treaty. Kantipur daily quoted Nepalese officials as saying that Nepal would be raising the issue of railways agreement to operate the Inland Container Depot at Birgunj, recognition of the Nepalese Standard Mark by India and removal of Quarantine duty on Nepalese exports to India. Similarly, Indian officials are expected to raise the issue of unauthorized trade between the two countries and security of Indian investments in Nepal. Compiled from reports July 26.

Rebels Abduct Engineer, Political Workers

A group of Maoist rebels abducted Krishna Raj Upadhyaya, chief engineer of Dailekh district irrigation office in the mid-western region, reports said. Upadhyaya was going to the regional headquarters of Surkhet on foot. In a separate incident, the rebels have abducted Yuvraj Giri, a Rastriya Prajatantra Party worker, in the eastern district of Dhankuta. The rebels had earlier kidnapped two people belonging to the ruling Nepali Congress from the district. Compiled from reports July 27.

UML And CPN (Unity Center) Come Closer

The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and CPN (Unity Center) have, in a joint communiqué, said that a peaceful solution should be found in favor of overall changes in Nepalese society by moving ahead with the proposed talks between the government and the CPN (Maoists), RSS news agency reported. The present problem can be resolved only through progressive changes in Nepalese society and not through regression, mobilization of army and use of force. The communiqué, issued after a meeting between UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and underground general secretary of the CPN (Unity Center) Comrade Prakash, claimed that only the leftist forces were capable of providing a reliable leadership to Nepalese society. Analysts say as the underground Maoist party seems to be seeking a role in mainstream politics, the largest communist party in the country, the UML, is trying to forge alliances with the fringe leftist parties to retain its position. The joint communiqué between UML and the ultra-left party may be a step in that direction, they said. Compiled from reports.

EU, US Welcome Cease-Fire

The European Union (EU) has welcomed the steps taken by the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels toward a cease-fire. In a statement issued by the British Embassy in Kathmandu Friday on behalf of the Presidency of the European Union, the EU has called for dialogue between the parties and hoped that dates would quickly be set for the negotiations. In a declaration on behalf of its members and associated countries, the EU also called on the parties to renounce violence and seek a peaceful and negotiated solution to the conflict to ensure stable and lasting development in the country. Similarly, in a congratulatory message sent to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on assuming office, US President George W. Bush expressed hoped that Deuba would be successful in his efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Maoist dispute. "All of Nepal’s friends join in the hope that Nepal can refocus its efforts from the insurgency toward building peace, prosperity and a Strong democratic system," President Bush said. Compiled from reports July 29.

Bridge Starts Crumbling Within Two Months

The bridge constructed at Kawasoti River along the East-West highway in Nawalparasi district has started to crumble in less than two months of operations. Constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 30 million under grant assistance from the DFID, the overseas assistance arm of the British government, the 103 m x 10 m long bridge was completed within the stipulated period of 20 months. But the slabs on the upper part of the bridge have already crumbled. Chairman of Kawasoti VDC, Narayan Timilsina, has demanded that the quality of the bridge be checked and the contractor, Sharma and Company, be taken into account. Chief of Western-4 No. Division Road Office at Butwal, Guru Prasad Dhakal, however, said his office could not comment on the issue as the bridge was constructed under foreign grant and design. Kantipur July 29.

French Company To Divest Its Shares From Indosuez

The Credit Agricole IndoSuez of France, a joint venture partner of Nepal Indosuez bank, has decided to divest its shares, a leading daily reported Monday. According to the report, the renowned French Bank had sought to raise its 50 percent equity to 67 percent in the Indosuez two years back but could not get approval. In this year’s budget, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has proposed allowing foreign investors to raise their investment up to two-thirds of the total shares. The French bank has cited deteriorating law-and-order situation and worsening economic conditions as the main reason for pulling out its investment. Governor at the Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Tilak Rawal, however, said the Credit Agricole was a big bank and that it was closing several branches in accordance with its policy of not investing in small proportions. The present market value of the 50 percent shares of Nepal Indosuez Bank, owned by the Agricole, is estimated at around Rs 2.5 billion. Kantipur July 30.