BRIEFS (Spotlight Weekly)

PERPLEXED BY THE MANNER in which the Upper House returned, without discussion, the Bill to Amend the Civil Code (11th Amendment) passed by the Lower House, women's rights activists have urged lawmakers to pass the measure as soon as possible. They say that despite being riddled with many discriminatory provisions, the bill would establish some of their rights. According to Dr. Shanta Thapaliya, a leading women's rights activist, the bill could solve 50 percent of the problems of women. She urged the lawmakers to immediately pass the bill, which has come under sharp public scrutiny as well as intense debate. Activists are demanding equal property rights to daughters. The government, however, passed the bill from the Lower House after including a provision that required women to return such property once they were married.

PEOPLE LIVING IN DADHIKOT village in Bhaktapur have formed a committee to oppose the establishment of brick kilns in their locality. Local residents claim that pollutants from the brick kilns are responsible for respiratory diseases in children. They also blame brick industries for the loss of soil fertility through their use of top layer soil. Kantipur daily quoted Ram Krishna Karki, coordinator of the local committee as saying that the local people had filed a protest letter with the Department of Small and Cottage Industries (DSCI) against the establishment of new brick kilns. He said that two years ago, they had collected 434 signatures and submitted protest letters to various government organizations, including the District Administrative Office, DSCI, and Ministry of Population and Environment, urging them to remove existing brick kilns from the area. Almost all the brick kilns located in the area are accused of violating the government's environment protection regulations.

SEVENTY-TWO MPS FROM the ruling Nepali Congress party have demanded a judicial probe into the road accident involving their party chief Girija Prasad Koirala. On Saturday (Nov. 10), a jeep carrying the former prime minister had collided with a mini-truck while he was returning to capital from Banepa. Koirala and others in the vehicle were unhurt. In a joint statement, the parliamentarians said such a sensitive issue demanded more than an ordinary probe.

PRIME MINISTER SHER BAHADUR Deuba has promised to set up a Dalit Commission during the winter session of the parliament. "I assure you that Bill on Dalit Commission will be tabled in the 21st session of the parliament," he said in an address to a workshop on the state's responsibility to end untouchability and the state of Bill on Dalit Commission. Deuba said the country could develop only if there is equality and urged all political parties, including the underground Maoists, to cooperate with the government in ending untouchability. The workshop was organized by Mukti Samaj and the Informal Sector Service Center.

THE MAIN OPPOSITION Unified Marxist-Leninist party has come down heavily on the Maoist rebels for "constantly attacking and kidnapping our members." In a statement issued Sunday, the UML's central office alleged that the Maoist leadership had lost control over the rank and file. Anarchist groups within the underground party have a greater say [in party matters] than its top brass, the UML said. Citing alleged Maoist atrocities in Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Humla and other districts, the UML demanded the immediate release of party members. It also warned the Maoists of dire consequences if they did not refrain from their "mischievous activities". Accusing Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government of failing to provide security to the people, the UML has urged urgent action in restoring law and order in the country.

A CHARTERED TWIN OTTER plane of Yeti Airlines, a private company, escaped an accident Saturday after a hawk hit its cockpit near Lamra village in the remote northern district of Jumla. The aircraft was transporting food belonging to Nepal Food Corporation from Surkhet to Jumla in the mid western region. Captain Kosh Bahadur Thapa received minor injuries on his head. The other three crewmembers were unhurt. The plane was badly damaged. The mishap occurred just two minutes before the plane was scheduled to land at Jumla airport, officials said. The crew was airlifted to Nepalgunj. Captain Thapa has returned to the capital.

CONTRACTORS BASED in Nuwakot district have confiscated construction equipment belonging to the state-owned National Construction Company Nepal (NCCN), protesting against the government's decision not to employ local contractors. The government has hired NCCN for the construction of a bridge and maintenance of the 19-km long Devighat-Galchhi road in the district at a cost of Rs 20 million. Kantipur daily quoted the local contractors as saying they could complete the job at half the allotted sum. They alleged that the NCCN sub-contracted the job to other companies by taking certain percentage as commission. Chairman of the local contractors' association, Bharat Khadka, said the government would benefit by encouraging competition.

Joshi receiving the award

A speech program on the promotion of peace through education was held recently in Kathmandu by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal. Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Nath Joshi, an educationist and acting president of the federation, said a peaceful society could be built by including peace in the education curriculum so that children learn about its significance since their formative years. Minister of State for Education N.P. Saud was also present in the program. Joshi also received a prestigious James T. Doty award presented to him by the US-based organization called People to People International for his contribution to build peace.