NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Paswan Elected NA Vice-Chairman

UML candidate Ramprit Paswan has been elected Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly in the elections held Friday. Mr. Paswan, the first dalit ("untouchable") to reach the high post, defeated ruling Nepali Congress candidate Ashok Koirala by 31 votes to 26. No party has a majority in the upper house parliament. Chairman of National Assembly Dr. Mohammed Mohsin administered the oath of office to Paswan amid a function in parliament. Compiled from reports Aug. 11.

Court Fines Two Secretaries

The Supreme Court on Friday issued orders to fine Home Secretary Srikanta Regmi and General Administration Secretary Mukunda Aryal a symbolic Rs 1 each for "contempt of court". The secretaries had failed to execute the order of the apex court to reinstate Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry, Usha Nepal. The court verdict came in response to a writ petition filed by Nepal, saying the concerned authorities delayed reinstating her in violation of the court order. The Supreme Court had declared null and void a government decision to send Nepal - who was leading the Nepalese team for the verification of Bhutanese refugees - into compulsory retirement because of her age. Compiled from reports Aug. 11.

SC Reinstates UML's Lawmaker

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed the verdict by the Appellate Court of Patan more than a year ago declaring Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) candidate Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani victorious over sitting MP Rajendra Prakash Lohani of the UML by one vote in Nuwakot-1 constituency in the last general elections. A joint bench of justices Harischandra Upadhyay and Kedar Nath Acharya delivered the reversal order. In its verdict, the Supreme Court said RPP candidate Dr. Lohani failed to fulfill necessary procedures while filing the writ seeking a recount of votes, as he lodged his complaint directly with the election tribunal instead of through the district attorney. The exiting law doesn't provide the election tribunal authority to place votes in "notice" during counting and declare the ballots valid or invalid, the Supreme Court said in its verdict. Compiled from reports. Aug. 9.

Govt. Releases Eight More Maoist Cadres

The government has ordered the release of eight more Maoist cadres from detention under the Public Security Act, the Home Ministry said. A1125 Maoist activists detained under the act have been released, said a spokesman at the Ministry. Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka told parliament Wednesday that he has ordered the ministry to release all Maoist cadres in custody under the act. He said the introduction of the Armed Police Force bill and Local Administration (fourth amendment) bill would not hamper the proposed talks between the government and the insurgents. Compiled from reports Aug. 9.

Liquor Entrepreneurs Flay Maoist Call

Manufacturers of liquor and beverages in Nepal have flayed the call by a Maoist organization to impose a total ban on alcoholic beverages beginning Tuesday (August 17). Taking part in an interaction program in the western town of Butwal early this week, President of the Hotel and Restaurants Entrepreneurs' Association Dhruba Tulachan criticized the government for issuing license indiscriminately to distilleries and suggested that limited industries and retail outlets be permitted to trade in the alcoholic beverages. President of the Liquor Association, Ananda Raj Bajracharya, said it would be better to close down all the distilleries rather than impose a sweeping ban on alcoholic beverages. The program was organized by All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary), a sister organization of the underground Maoist party, which has called for a total ban on alcoholic beverages. RSS reports Aug 9.

BPC Privatization Bid Falls Into Controversy

The privatization of the state-owned Butwal Power Company (BPC) has fallen into fresh controversy following the rejection of the financial bid of one of the two bidders for the profit-making venture. According to a highly placed source at the Finance Ministry, the evaluation committee has canceled the financial bid of Independent Power Corporation (IPC), a British-American company, leaving Interkraft, a Norwegian company, as the sole contender. The IPC's bid was canceled on the ground that there was no covering letter and that part one and two of the bid document contained no signatures. The government had called bids from private sector bidders nearly three years ago to sell 75 percent shares of the company that owns a 30 MW power generation plant, among others. Kantipur Aug. 8.

RNAC Stops Europe Flight Bookings

The Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) has said it will stop further booking reservations of airlines tickets for Europe with effect from September 2. In a statement, RNAC said it would arrange for re-routing all those who have already booked tickets. RNAC decided to cancel its European flights, among others, citing lack of wide-body aircraft to fly on international sectors. After the termination of lease agreements with China SouthWest Airlines and Lauda Air, the corporation is left with only two wide-body aircraft. Compiled from reports Aug. 12.

Udaypur Cement Factory Registers Profit

At a time when most state-owned entities are in the red, Udaypur Cement Industry Ltd. has made good performance, a newspaper report said. According to the report, the company registered a profit of Rs 110 million over the last six months and has distributed bonus to the workers. The industry was set up a decade back at a cost of Rs6.2 billion with Japanese assistance. "We have been able to turn the loss-making industry into a profit-making one by discouraging political interference," said Ashok Kumar Malla, general manager of the industry. Himalaya Times Aug. 13.