News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

Public's Concern Appreciated

King Gyanendra has appreciated the concern of the public for His Majesty's safety, press secretariat of HM the King said Friday. According to the secretariat, the advance team of the motorcade saw some suspicious items on the road at Maharajgunj area on late Thursday while His Majesty the King was returning toward Nirmal Nivas (HM's residence). His majesty was apprised of this, and the motorcade returned towards the Royal Palace. His Majesty was then taken to Nirmal Nivas by an alternate route. His Majesty has expressed satisfaction at the action of the security personnel. Earlier, reports said the security forces had defused a 'thermos bomb' and took away a petrol bomb littered some 100 meter away from the US embassy at Panipokhari after spotting away right ahead of the HM King's entourage. Minister of State for Home, Mr. Kandel, said it could be a coincidence and was not targeted against the royalty. He said it could be part of the Maoist tactics to terrorize the people. Compiled from reports April 28.

Russia Condenms Maoists Activities

The government of Russian Federation has condemned what it called the Maoist terror abruptly exacerbated in Nepal over the last few months and gave a strong backing to the government's current military campaign against the insurgents. "The Russian side resolutely condemns the actions of extremists in Nepal and expresses full support to the Nepalese government in its efforts to restore peace and order in the country," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in Moscow Friday. "Moscow believes that the rallying of all the responsible political forces of Nepal in the face of the mounting terrorist threat will enable the authorities to achieve stabilization of the situation in the kingdom." The statement also referred to the "armed attacks by left wing extremists" targeting administrative centers including capital Kathmandu, attacks on army and police units, administrative institutions and infrastructure facilities almost daily. The statement followed the visit of acting foreign secretary Madhu Raman Acharya to Moscow for bilateral consultations with senior Russian government officials on April 23 and 24. Mr. Acharya left Moscow for Beijing as part of his official tour to brief the friendly countries about Nepal's fight against Maoist insurgency and seek their support. Compiled from reports April 28.

British Minister Condemns Maoist Violence

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Friday condemned Nepal's Maoist rebels over their "brutal and indiscriminate" acts of violence during a rebel-backed general strike. "I'm deeply concerned about the worsening security situation in Nepal, and the increasing violence linked to the Maoists' national strike this week," said Straw in a statement. "I view with abhorrence the brutal and indiscriminate terror tactics employed by the Maoists against civilians. These developments are a direct threat to democracy and stability in Nepal," he said. Saying that the British government supported the government of Nepal in its efforts to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency and the right of the people of Nepal to choose their government through the ballot box, the British Secretary said the Maoists must renounce violence and intimidation, come back into the political mainstream, and re-engage in the talks. Compiled from reports April 28.

Govt. Considering Special Visa To NRNs

Responding to the long-running demand of Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) to provide them with special concessions for carrying out trading and industrial activities in Nepal, the government is all set to introduce a new visa scheme for them. KANTIPUR daily quoted a high-level Home Ministry source as saying that the special visa would be valid for ten years and would be provided to the NRNs willing to stay in Nepal either for academic pursuit, establishing business or carrying out researches. "The Ministry has finalized the draft and is currently busy on looking into the finer details of its legal aspects," said the source. It is likely that the new provision would get indorsed by the Cabinet within a week, informed the source. Earlier, the government had also announced granting five-year multiple-entry visa to foreign investors residing in the country. Compiled from reports April 26.

Business Leaders Hold Rallies

Nepal's top business leaders organized a motor rally in the capital Thursday defying the call for five-day shutdown strike by the underground Maoists in protest of the government's decision to proclaim the state of emergency. President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Ravi Bhakta Shrestha and President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kaji Shrestha led the rally that passed through different parts of the capital. There was marked increase in the number of vehicles in the streets but most of the shops remained closed. People from different walks of life took out peace rallies in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and other parts of the country. The fourth day of the strike remained largely peaceful except a bus and motorbike damaged by the protesters. A taxi driver was also injured and his vehicle got damaged in a bomb explosion. Meanwhile, in a statement, Industrial Relations Forum (IRF)óan umbrella body of 15 different organizations including FNCCI, has called upon all the political parties to express their commitment to oppose the strikes as that of the ongoing five-day strike. "Such activities have hampered the economic growth of the country and have hit almost all sectors of the economy," the Forum said. Compiled from reports April 26.

FRHRC Criticizes The Govt. Policy

The parliamentary Foreign Relations and Human rights Committee (FRHRC) has criticized the government's decision to declare bounty for the heads of Maoist leaders saying that it is in contravention of the country's constitution and norms of international human rights. In its meeting on Sunday, the committee also cautioned the government to be wary of foreign powers trying to get a foothold in Nepal in the pretext of helping country against Maoist insurgency. The FRHRC's comments have come in the aftermath of media reports that a group of US military officials visited insurgency-hit districts in the country recently. Narayan Man Bijukchchhe, a leftist lawmaker, warned that Nepal could turn out into becoming another Afghanistan and Laos. Former foreign minister and ruling NC lawmaker, Chakra Bastola, said the international support was for the government to seek a negotiated settlement to the insurgency, not to pursue an all-out military option. Compiled from reports April 29.

Defense Ministry Prepares Three-Year Plan

The Royal Nepalese Army has formulated a three-year security plan, which will cost the exchequer over Rs.16 billion during the period, a leading daily reported Sunday. The Ministry of Defense has already submitted the plan to the government for approval. The new strategy aims to strengthen counter-terrorist operation and upgrade national security apparatus of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA). According to sources, the Defense Ministry has sought Rs seven billion for the three-year modernization and expansion plan in the coming budget itself. The plan would basically focus on improving logistic and intelligence capability. "The main objective of the plan is to strengthen the capability of the RNA by improving its logistics and infrastructure," said Defense Secretary Padam Kumar Acharya. The plan also proposed to introduce 'Crops Concept' under which the present centralized security system would be decentralized and arrangement would be made to keep RNA personnel in all 75 districts under the command of their respective regional headquarters. This would not only strengthen the security system but would also help mobilize the personnel when needed. The RNA has also proposed to recruit 14,504 new security personnel. About 5,000 troops would be added in the first year while 3,004 and 6,500 personnel would be added in another two years respectively. Kantipur April 28.

Quota Allotted For Export To India

The task of allocating quotas on the goods to be exported, as provided for in the Nepal-India trade treaty protocol, has started, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies said. As per the Nepal-India treaty quotas have been slapped on the export of the vegetable ghee, acrylic yarn, zinc oxide and copper products. The criteria for fixing the quota are equality, efficiency of exports, approved capacity of industries and value added while some part will be allotted to new industries. As for vegetable ghee, each of the 16 industries has been allocated of 1,078 metric tons. The quota will be allocated every three months. Eighty percent of the quota must be exported within six months of receiving the quota. One hundred percent quota must be utilized before the quota for the fourth time is fixed. The goods for which quota has been received should be exported from only six customs points, the Ministry said. Meanwhile, Nepal Vegetable Ghee Manufacturers Association has flayed the distribution of export quota by the Ministry as impractical and unjustified. Compiled from reports April 30.