News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

"Talks Are Going On For Talks"

Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said that the government is in contact with the Maoist insurgents through a group of human rights activists. "You can say that talks are going on (to prepare ground) for holding official talks," Minister Thapa told reporters, at a face to face program, Saturday. The Minister called upon the rebels to inform the government of their agenda and come to the table of negotiations. The Minister said he did not know anything about money put on the rebel leaders heads and that they were taking shelter in India. He said that he did not believe in transparency in security matters. Security is not a matter of guns and bullets. It depends very much on how we deliver services to common people, said the former Zonal Commissioner. He also sought help from major political parties and civil society at large to address what he said the number one problem in the country-that is the Maoist insurgency. Leading dailies report Dec. 1.

Journos, Activists File Cases

Eighteen journalists and human rights activists,† have filed separate against the government at the district court of Kathmandu Thursday seeking compensation for "illegally" detaining them during the nine-month-long state of emergency that came to an end on August 28. Fourteen journalists and two human rights activists have demanded compensation of up to Rs 100,000 each in accordance with the six year old law, Act relating to Torture Compensation Act, 2053 B. S. Recently formed Press Freedom Grand Jury Nepal and Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) provided legal support to the victim journalists and rights activists to file the cases. The Act relating to Torture and Compensation 2053 B. S. has the provision for compensation of maximum Rs 100,000 to be paid to the victim by the state. Nearly 150 journalists were detained by the government during the state of emergency out of which over 20 are still in prison. Those filing cases on Thursday include editor of Saanghu weekly Gopal Budhathoki, chief editor of Mulyankan monthly Shyam Shrestha, reporter of Janadesh weekly Dipak Sapkota, a staff at Janadesh Dipendra Rokaya, executive editor of Dishabodh monthly Iswor Chandra Gyawali, joint editor of Dishabodh monthly Manarishi Dhital, and human rights activists Dr. Mahesh Maskey and Pramod Kafle, among others. P. B. Diyali, editor of Blast Times, also filed a petition at Sunsari district court on Thursday, reports said. Leading dailies report Nov. 13.

Upadhyaya

"Parties Resonsible For Royal Royal Move:" Upadhyaya

Former Chief Justice, Bishwo Nath Upadhyaya, has said that the latest royal move was a cumulative effect of the lack of resistance on the part of the political parties when king indulged in 'interference' time and again since 1990. Upadhyaya, who was also the chairman of the present Constitution drafting committee, claimed that† violation of the spirit and letter of the Constitution by the king began ever since the new constitution was launched. Addressing a† talk program here Wednesday, Upadhyaya said it was an extra-constitutional practice to appoint ambassadors and Upper House members by the king without cabinet recommendations. Referring to the latest statement of Badri Prasad Mandal, deputy Prime Minister, as saying that the government was considering awarding citizenship certificates† to almost four million people, Upadhyaya said it was unfortunate for the country to exchange citizenship with votes. Compiled from reports Nov. 28.

London Court Verdict In Fafor Of Ex-Gurkha PoWs

In what is seen as a landmark verdict on Wednesday, the London High Court has asked the British government to pay compensation to ex-British Gurkha soldiers who suffered as 'Prisoners of War (PoWs) in the second world war five decades back. Three Gurkha veterans, Pahalman Gurung, Gauriswor Thapa and Hukum Singh Pun had sued the British government early this year for discrimination. They were taken prisoners by the Japanese during the war. The three ex-British Gurkha soldiers will receive payments of US$ 15,500 each (nearly Rs 1.2 million) from a British government fund set up in November 2000 for surviving British PoWs. The ruling could also benefit up to 300 other Gurkha former PoWs who have been denied compensation, lawyer Phil Shiner told AP news agency Wednesday. Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organization (GAESO) had pursued the case on behalf of the ex-British Gurkha PoWs. Compiled from reports Nov. 28.

Khadka

CIAA Remands Former Ministers Duo Into Custody

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has remanded two former ministers, Khum Bahadur Khadka and Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, for judicial custody for second time. Upon hearing cases for three days, the Special Court at Anamnagar granted permission to the CIAA to remand the ministers duo only for 15 days as against its demand for 30 days for the second time. The CIAA had taken the ministers duo into custody on October 30. The Commission is probing influential former minister Khadka on charges of irregularities at the Bakraha Irrigation Project while the probe is going on against former Communications Minister Gupta on charge of granting permission to import huge amount of mobile telephone sets, among others. Talking to reporters at the court premises on Tuesday, Gupta alleged that a criminal group was out to destroy his political personality and had even taken the CIAA into its influence by spending a huge amount of money. He claimed that even his lawyers were being threatened by "the group" but did not disclose their names. Many believe that Gupta was pointing towards a publication house that runs the only private television in the country at the moment. Compiled from reports Nov 28.

National Vigilance Center Set Up

The government has constituted a powerful body under Prime Minister's Office to adopt precautionary measures, control financial irregularities and take immediate actions against corrupt officials, KANTIPUR daily reported Tuesday quoting official sources. According to the news report, the cabinet meeting on Monday decided to set up the National Vigilance Center (NVC) as per Chapter 4 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2002 endorsed by the 21st session of parliament last year. The government has also appointed Mohan Bahadur Karki, former chief of the Special Police Department, as the first chief of the NVC. The main task of the centre is to stop corruption by compiling secret information and also to discourage graft from society by creating awareness against corruption. Other tasks entrusted upon the Center include monitoring of the government offices and public sector undertakings, gathering information about corruption in and outside the government and probing any officials secretly. On the basis of its findings, the Centre will recommend the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to take up the cases and pursue legal course against the accused. Compiled from reports Nov. 28.

IOS To Advise In Restructuring Of NRB

IOS Partner, an American company, has been chosen as a consultant to restructure Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank in the country. IOS had submitted a financial proposal of USD 1.94 million while a Danish company, Calebro Management, had submitted a proposal of USD 1.97 million. As per the agreement he IOS should complete the restructuring work within three years of signing the contract. The restructuring of NRB is being done under the Financial Sector Reform project under the loan assistance worth USD 4.6 million from the World Bank and a British aid agency. Space Time Nov 30.

Nepal Gets Tariff Concession

Nepal has obtained a customs tariff concession in a range of 10 to 30 percent for exports of over 1,150 products to five South Asian countries excluding India. As a gesture of goodwill, Nepal has also agreed to slash tariff line of 10 to 15 per cent to these countries. A recent meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on customs tariff negotiation in Kathmandu worked out such decisions. It was the last negotiation of the fourth round of SAPTA (South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement). Nepal did not negotiate with India during the IGG meeting, as the trading between the two countries is being carried out under preferential arrangement. "Even various copper commodities including copper wire, which was among the most disputed items during the Nepal-India Trade Treaty renewal, has been provided with customs concession by Pakistan and the Maldives. During the negotiation, Bangladesh, the second largest trading partner in the region, agreed to slash tariff up to 20 per cent on Nepali exports of 13 products which mainly include agricultural produces like strawberry, cardamom, spices and peaches, among others. Compiled from reports Nov. 28.