US Working Out On Possible Assistance

Responding to media reports that the US government had pledged a massive support to the Royal Nepalese Army to fight Maoist insurgency, a spokesperson at the US embassy in Kathmandu said Thursday that the US government was preparing to provide assistance to Nepalese security forces to provide a shield for the development work and was developing programs of assistance in consultation with the Nepalese government. As yet, the programs are not complete but still in the stage of development. The amount of money for the programs is yet to be determined, the spokesperson said. The Nepalese Defense Ministry officials also expressed ignorance about specific military assistance by the US government to Nepal to fight Maoist insurgency. KANTIPUR daily on Thursday had reported that the US government had agreed to provide an assistance worth 200 million dollars to the Royal Nepalese Army to procure defensive security equipment in its fight against Maoist terror. 

Compiled from reports March 1.

UNICEF Provides Significant Assistance

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has agreed to provide the Nepalese government a grant assistance of approx. Rs 5624.65 million for the period January 2002 through December 2006 to support program activities that help further enhance the needs of children and women in Nepal. The master plan of operations (2002-06) in this respect has been concluded between HMG/N and UNICEF at the Ministry of Finance. The UNICEF's cooperation framework for 2002-06 will cover seven different programs, namely Decentralization Action for Children and Women, nutrition and care, children and women's environment education and child protection, communication, advocacy and life skills and cross sectoral program. The program will beimplemented through government agencies, local bodies, NGOs and civil societies. Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Koirala and UNICEF Representative to Nepal Stewart Mcnab signed an agreement to this effect on Wednesday. 

RSS reports Feb. 28.

Chinese Company Stops Construction

A Chinese construction company, CICO, has stopped construction of the Surkhet-Kalikot section of the 220-km Karnali highway citing insecurity created by the Maoist terror, a leading daily reported Thursday. In the wake of intensifying security operations, the Company has already pulled back its 150 staff and some 60 vehicles from its work sites to Birendranagar, Surkhet citing security reasons.   The Chinese company, which had bid the construction of 135-km section of the highway at Rs 350 million, has so far been able to complete only 35 percent of its work, officials with the Company said. Over 5,000 laborers have also lost their jobs due to the decision of the Chinese and Nepalese contractors to stop the construction till an indefinite period. The strategically important Karnali highway, that would link remote northern districts with rest of the country, was to be completed within the next two years at the cost of Rs 2487.2 million. 

Himalaya Times Feb. 28.

Birgunj Sugar Factory In The Red

The state-owned Birgunj Sugar Factory (BSF), the oldest sugar factory in the country, has incurred a loss of nearly Rs 340 million, a leading daily reported. Set up in 1965, the Factory was earning profit till 1990 producing nearly 135,000 quintals of sugar. But in the last fiscal year, total production of sugar stood at only 82,000 quintals. Frequent changes in the management, lack of discipline among the employees and corruption are some of the major factors for the present state of the factory, the report said. General Manager of the Factory, Prahlad Karki, said there is a need to reduce the current 1100 staff of the factory to at least half and raise its crushing capacity from the present 1500 metric tonnes a day to 3000 metric tonnes a day to make it profitable. Ramesh Kedia, proprietor of the private sector Indu Shanker Sugar Factory, said unhealthy competition among the sugar factories in collecting sugar has also resulted into their losses. 

Kantipur Feb. 26.

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"Don't Invite The Prime Minister"

Amid growing criticism that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has kept himself busy in inaugurating seminars and workshops despite the country being in the state of emergency, the private secretariat of the Prime Minister has issued a notice Tuesday asking people not to invite him for such activities. "It has become difficult for him to find time to attend such functions because of his hectic schedule following the proclamation of a state of emergency in the country," RSS news agency reported quoting the secretariat. 

Compiled from reports Feb. 27.

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13 Insurgents Killed

The security forces have killed 13 Maoist insurgents and seized different kinds of weapons and explosives during the last 48 hours of their operations, the authorities said. Defense Ministry said Tuesday that 11 armed insurgents were killed in separate encounters with the security forces in various parts of Achham districtsówhere the Maoists had launched the most fierce attacks last fortnight killing over 140 security personnel. The encounters took place at different blockades that the security forces have set up to surround the terrorists who were trying to escape in small groups after their attack in Mangalsen, the Ministry said. Two more Maoist rebels were killed in action at Lekhgaon area in the mid-western district of Surkhet, the Ministry said. Over 70 rebels have been killed in Kalikot and surround districts during the army action on Saturday. 

Compiled from reports Feb. 27.

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Relief Fund For Children To Be Set Up

Nepal Police has taken initiative to set up a separate Fund for children who have lost their parents during Maoist insurgency. Additional Inspector General of Police Tirtha Kumar Pradhan said that the Fund was being set up, in association with the Private and Boarding Organization of Nepal (PABSON), with a view to provide scholarship to children of the police, army and general people, who have been killed by the Maoist insurgents. Vice President of PABSON, Umesh Shrestha, said his organization was ready to rescue and provide quality education to such children and that detailed modalities were still being worked out. Of nearly 8,000 private and boarding schools operating in the country, some 4500 are affiliated to PABSON. A directory to this effect is being worked out with the help of the British embassy in Kathmandu and UNICEF Nepal, the report said. Over 3,000 people have lost their lives in the six-year-old insurgency. 

Kantipur March 04.

Badminton Tournament

The Jawalakhel Badminton circle recently organized final championship of its badminton tournament on 19th February, 2002. The final tournament was organized to coincide with the National Democracy Day. The circle, founded by local sports enthusiasts, have been actively involved in the promotion of the games. The tournament was held as a part of annual sports program of the Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC). "The badminton circle is committed to develop the sports in the locality" said Munindra Kumar Rana, chairman of the Badminton Circle. Though the circle is less than a year old, it has already built a court in Jawalakhel and developed necessary infrastructures. But, as there is only one court, the circle has been unable to provide enough time for all its members to play. Also an avid sports-watcher, Rana is unhappy over the developments in the Nepalese sports sector. ìThe fact that there are parallel football organizations each claiming to represent the country is ironic. In fact, we at the club level could initiate dialogue and help end the problem,î he said. Although, at present, only members of the circle are allowed to play in the court, even non-members will be allowed once the light system is put in place. The circle also has the target to build fence around the court and bring in equipment for physical fitness.

THE GREEN NEPAL PARTY HAS CALLED FOR national consensus to prevent the country from collapsing. The party has recommended the King to call a broad assembly of all political parties, civil society and wise citizens in order to resolve the nation's problems. In a press release issued by the party, it has raised serious concerns over the rising insecurity and barbaric acts of violence targeting women and children in the country. The party has asked for ending the state of emergency saying it has not done anything good for the country. The party has asserted that the King, the government and Maoists should reach agreement, with positive mind-frame, to restore peace and protect the democracy.