NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

Talks With Pro-Maoist Students Fail

School students

Police arrested two leaders of the pro-Maoist student organization, ANNFSU (Revolutionary), Saturday after four days of talks among the agitating student body, officials, guardians and private school operators collapsed. Police took into custody ANNFSU (Revolutionary) leaders Purna Poudel and Raju Nepal at the main entrance of the Ministry of Education Saturday afternoon as they were coming out of the meeting. The student organization has called a week-long shutdown of nearly 8,000 private and boarding schools throughout the country beginning Monday (May 14) to press their demands, including 50 percent reduction in the fees charged by the private schools, promotion of government-run schools, removal of Sanskrit as a compulsory subject from the curriculum and compulsory enrolment of the children of government officials and ministers in public schools. Compiled from reports.

Army Being Deveolped In Gorkha

Royal Nepal Army personnel were deployed in the Maoist-affected western district of Gorkha beginning Monday as part of the government plan to develop the district as a model under the integrated security and development program (ISDP). A battalion of the 800-army personnel belonging to 'Bajrabahari Gan' is staying at Khaireni VDC for the last 20 days. Chief District Officer of Gorkha, Kashinath Marasini, said the ISDP would help accelerate the development projects that remain hindered because of the Maoist insurgency. "Royal Nepal Army and Nepal Police will be there for the security of the public and the government staff," he said. The government has decided to implement the program in seven districts, including Gorkha, most affected by the Maoist insurgency in the first phase with a view to disarming the rebels, among others. Compiled from reports.

Future Of 'Gardep Project' Uncertain

Officiating joint director of the Gulmi-Arghakhanchi Rural Development Project (GARDEP), Richard, has said the fate of the project remains uncertain in the aftermath of violent attacks by suspected Maoist rebels last week. The project is being run under the grant assistance of the European Union. A group of Maoist rebels torched a project vehicle last Tuesday at Chiureni in Rupakot VDC in Gulmi district. The project staff were going to the site to monitor the project’s activities, including soil conservation, forest nursery, small hydro project and school construction works. The Maoist rebels targeted the EU assistance project weeks after the European Union issued a strong statement saying that it did not support violent activities being carried out to overthrow a popularly elected legitimate government. Compiled from reports May 13.

Garment Entrepreneurs Lobby

Garment market

Garment entrepreneurs have requested the Nepalese government to strongly urge the government of United States to provide Nepal with the same facilities that it has granted to some sub-Saharan African countries. The US government had dismantled tariff and quota barriers for textile and clothing imports from the African countries, whose per capita income is below US$ 1,500. "Since Nepal too has per capita income of less than $1,500, Nepal falls within the criteria set by the US government for removal of import barriers," said Uday Raj Pandey, general secretary of the Garment Association Nepal (GAN). Nepal’s per capita income presently is estimated to be US$ 244. If Nepal were allowed duty free access into the American market, it would mean a reduction in tariff for American importers by as high as 21 per cent. " Reduction in tariff would enhance the competitive edge of the costly Nepali garments, said Pandey. He also accused the government of not being sympathetic to the problems being faced by the industry in the wake of Nepal’s preparation to join the World Trade Organization. Compiled from reports May 13.

‘Refugee Verification To Be Expdited'

Bhutanese refugees

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Y. Thinley has said that the joint verification process for Bhutanese refugees will be advanced more effectively. Mr Thinley made this remark at a reception hosted by Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Bhutan Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa in Thimpu last week. According to Ambassador Thapa, Mr. Thinley reiterated his government’s commitment to resolving the refugee problem and stated that Bhutan was willing to promote cooperation in the civil aviation, trade, culture and sports sector with Nepal. Dr. Thapa stressed that His Majesty’s Government wanted to resolve the refugee problem as early as possible and added that a ministerial level meeting will be held in the near future to take stock of the progress made so far. The Bhutanese minister has made these remarks at a time when there has been criticism about the slow pace of the verification of nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in refugee camps in eastern Nepal for the last 11 years. Compiled from reports May 10.

Maoists Destroy Temples

Maoist rebels have destroyed two famous temples in the northern district of Kalikot recently. A group of nearly 40 rebels destroyed the historic temples of Dehang and Nuwadek gods in Kotbada VDC in the district and also set the on fire. Interestingly, a group of women Maoist workers have constructed a latrine and a temple of Saraswoti, the goddess of learning, at a local school in Ramnakot VDC in the same district. Twelve women associated with the Maoist party volunteered their labor for five days to complete the work, headmaster of Shisu Kalyan primary school, Puran Chaudhari, said. Kantipur May 10.

Case Failed Against CIAA Chief

A case has been filed against chief of the Commissioner for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Surya Nath Upadhyay for his alleged involvement in corruption. Saroj Kumar Sharma, a resident of Basundhara in Kathmandu, has filed a case at the government-formed commission to probe into alleged irregularities while paying compensation by the Mahakali Irrigation Project. Former water resources secretary Upadhyay was the chair of the project. The petitioner has claimed that Upadhyay gained undue benefits by providing concessions to the Korean contractor of the project, among others. A parliamentary committee is also probing into the case. The case has been filed against Upadhyay a few days after the top anti-corruption body sent a questionnaire to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in connection with the Lauda Air deal. Himalaya Times May 9.

Machhapuchre No To Be Opened For Climbing

Top government officials have declared that they have no plans to include Mt. Machhapuchhre for expedition at least in the near future. "Opening up of the Machhapuchhre for mountaineering purpose may be a matter of debate but we have decided not to open her up for mountaineering sports. And this is the wish of the public as well," said Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mahadev Gurung, who represents Pokhara. He claimed that people want it to remain sacred forever. He also said that opening up of the peak for mountaineering may fulfill the whims of some people and even help promote Nepal’s tourism industry, but that will not last for more than a few years. Gurungs, Lamas, Thakalis and other communities of Pokhara valley and its surrounding areas take Machhapuchhre as a sacred peak. "Environmental and pollution problems are other factors behind our decision for not opening up the peak for the sporting activities," the minister said. Former tourism minister and noted development planner Dr. Harka Gurung has been spearheading a campaign to open up the mountain for tourists. Dr. Gurung argues that it will generate employment opportunities for the local people and help raise their living standards. Compiled from reports May 11.

Three-Day General Strike Called

Six left parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML, have called for a three-day long nationwide ‘general strike’ on May 27, 28 and 29 demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for his alleged involvement in the Lauda Air scandal. A meeting of the six left parties took the decision Tuesday. Meanwhile, a pro-Maoist group, Language and Regional Front coordination committee, Nepal, has called a day-long ‘Nepal-bandh’ on May 31 against alleged discrimination against national languages in the country. Compiled from reports May 9.