News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Defense Ministry, Indian Embassy Refute Reports

Defense Ministry and Indian embassy in Kathmandu have separately refuted reports saying that an aircraft carrying a consignment of sophisticated arms to Nepal from Belgium has got stuck in central Asia for the last one week. THE KATHMANDU POST on Saturday reported, quoting highly placed sources in the Royal Nepal Army (RNA), that the aircraft had been stuck following denial from authorities in India to give "over-flying permission" to the special cargo flight steering its way into Nepal through Indian airspace. BBC Nepali Service on Saturday evening quoted Defense Secretary, Madan Prasad Aryal, as saying that his Ministry didn't have any knowledge regarding the entire episode as of then. Similarly, first secretary at the Indian embassy, Sanjay Verma, said that Indian government had not received any request to use its flying space either from Nepal or Belgium nor had barred any aircraft to fly thereof. TKP news report had claimed that the Wallon (South Belgium) -based arms manufacturer, Fabrique National (FN) Herstal, owned by the Belgian government, had already dispatched the first shipment of Minimi machine guns. The delivery is part of the 25 million Euro arms deal hammered out earlier this year by the Sher Bahadur Deuba government. Under the deal, the Belgian government is to deliver 5,500 Minimis to the RNA. Compiled from reports Dec. 22.

UML Criticizes The King

The main opposition in the dissolved parliament, CPN (UML) has concluded that efforts of political parties so far for reconciliation with the King have failed. The central committee meeting of the Unified Marxist-Leninist on Thursday also said that time had come to prepare for a "joint struggle" involving all democratic political parties against the October 4 royal move. The party has termed the move as "unconstitutional and undemocratic." The party has also reiterated its demand for forming a powerful, all-party government as per the spirit of the Article 128 of the constitution. Meanwhile, the party has also decided to hold its seventh general convention at Janakpur from Febraury 1-5. Compiled from reports Dec. 20.

Koirala

Koirala Talks Tough

In what is seen as toughening of positions of major political parties against the monarch, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the Royal Nepalese Army should be brought under the control of the parliament. Addressing a meet organized by his party in the eastern town of Birtamod Wednesday, the septuagenarian leader said now the time had come for people to protect the royal palace. He did not elaborate. He also declared that NC would continue its fight unless the monarchy is made constitutional, managed and honorable. Space Time Dec. 19.

Nepal Graduates In A World Bank Assessment

A crucial meeting of World Bank (WB) board of executive directors held in Washington DC last week has decided to upgrade Nepal into the 'base case' scenario from existing 'low case' scenario in the World's Bank lending category. The latest upgrade means Nepal now would receive loan assistance worth US$ 100 million annually or more depending upon the sustained progress that Nepal makes in accelerating reforms, the Bank's country office in Kathmandu said in a statement. Prior to the graduation, Nepal was in low-case category, under which Nepal used to get annual loan assistance up to US$ 50 million only. The board of directors has, however, warned that the future resource availability from the bank would largely depend upon the acceleration of reform process in Nepal. "The latest decision is important for Nepal as it sends a positive single among the donor community over Nepal's commitment on reforms," said Shankar Sharma, vice-chairman at the National Planning Commission. The graduation is based on the progress report of the Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) that was formulated in 1998. "Progress in implementation of a wide range of reforms over the past 12 months could earn Nepal a significant increase in the availability of WB resources for the country's development," the bank statement said. Compiled from reports Dec. 22.

India Extradites Six Rebels

After a gap of several months, Indian authorities on Friday extradited six Maoist rebels undergoing treatment at Sitamarhi in the Indian state of Bihar to Nepali officials, reports said. The government had officially approached the Indian government to extradite them in Nepal for legal action after local-level initiatives failed to materialize. The injured rebels were handed over at the Nepal-India border. Deputy Superintendent of Police in Sarlahi, Uttam Bahadur Karki, said they were undergoing treatment at a private nursing home after being seriously injured during a massive attack on an area police post at Sindhuli's Bhiman on September 7. A total of 49 policemen and dozens of rebels had been killed during the battle. The extradited rebels include two woman guerrillas. India had also extradited rebels, undergoing treatment at Lucknow and other hospitals, to Nepali authorities in the past. Compiled from reports Dec. 22.

Govt. Approves BPC Privatization

In what would be the biggest privatization bid in the country, the meeting of Council of Ministers on Thursday has approved the proposal to sell majority stakes in the state-owned Butwal Power Company to Interkraft Nepal, a consortium of Norwegian and Nepali investors, KANTIPUR daily reported quoting officials sources. The Privatization Committee at the Finance Ministry last week had decided to recommend selling the BPC for the approval of the cabinet. The Committee had decided to invite Interkraft for final negotiations in March this year after it outbid its rival, Independent Power Corporation (IPC) Nepal. Interkraft had quoted Rs 950 million to procure 75 percent shares of the BPC while IPC had quoted Rs 866 million for the same stakes. Compiled from reports Dec. 20.

UN Lists Nepal Rebels For Using Child Soldiers

A report by the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, to the Security Council issued Monday has 23 different warring parties around the world, including Maoist rebels of Nepal, that recruit children as soldiers. The report lists 23 parties, including governments and insurgents in Afghanistan, Burundi, Congo, Liberia and Somalia, which recruit and use child soldiers in violation of internationally accepted standards. Olara Otunnu, Annan's special representative for children and armed conflict, said the report, Annan's third to the council on children and armed conflict, was the first to specifically name and list violators. The report noted that gains had been made in codifying international norms and standards to protect children during conflict, including three Security Council resolutions and two landmark international treaties that entered into force this year that set age limits. But more needed to be done to raise awareness about those standards and to strengthen monitoring and reporting mechanisms "to identify and take measures against the violators," the report said. The list was limited to situations currently on the Security Council's agenda, but it highlighted other conflicts, including in Colombia, Burma, Nepal, the Philippines, Sudan, northern Uganda and Sri Lanka, where it said children were recruited and used as combatants. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers estimated last year that more than 300,000 children were fighting as soldiers in 41 countries. The Coalition has estimated that nearly one-third of the total number of Maoist guerrillas in Nepal are children below 16 years. International law prohibits recruiting children under the age of 15. Compiled from reports Dec. 19.

"Stand-Off Dangerous": Rana Bhat

Speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives Taranath Rana Bhat has warned the king and political parties that the ongoing conflict between them could be "dangerous" to the country. He has also called upon them to stand united to resist the force of "republic seekers". "The king and the constitutional forces should unite together to fight against the republicans in the country," the Speaker said. "But they are standing apart, which is very dangerous for the nation." A 'new political polarization' has cropped up in the country in the aftermath of October 4 royal proclamation, which is not good for the country, he said here on Tuesday while addressing a workshop on "Management of Conflicts in Nepal", organized by the Center for Study on Good Governance and Democracy (CSGD). Rana Bhat was critical of the on-going military action against the Maoists in a bid to restore peace. "It is not the solution to solve the Maoist problem in the country, its solution should be sought politically," the Speaker said. Rana Bhat was recently in the news for saying publicly that India was openly backing the Maoist insurgency in Nepal to fulfill its security-related interests. Compiled from reports Dec. 19.

EU Calls For Halt To Rights Violation

The European Union expressed its concern at the deterioration security and law and order situation and violations of human rights, including those by security forces in Nepal. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Danish Embassy, presidency of the EU in Kathmandu, condemned the ongoing Maoist violence and called upon the Maoists to "immediately stop the systematic campaign of killings, harassment and destruction". The EU regretted that killings of party activists and sabotage of physical infrastructure has continued, even after the recent Maoist call for a halt to such killings and destruction. The EU noted with deep concern "the evidence of human rights violation committed by the security forces with impunity". It expressed the hope that the human rights cell set up within the security forces would achieve its objectives of improving the human rights record of the army. The EU has also urged HMG/ Nepal to take immediate action in conformity with its international obligations. The EU has also asked the government to implement the recommendations made by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Compiled from reports Dec. 19.