Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

A MAJOR ASIAN REGIONAL SUMMIT on mountain development was organized in the capital last week. Around hundred experts, researchers and policy-makers from 15 countries participated in the seminar, which was held to mark the International Year of Mountains 2002. The experts discussed about the importance of carrying out sustainable development in mountain areas and improving the living condition of people living in those areas, among others. In fact, similar seminar kicked off simultaneously in three other continents including Africa (Nairobi, Kenya), Europe (Milan, Italy) and Latin America (Mendoza). The conclusions of these summits would be presented and discussed in the Global Mountain Summit, which would be held in October-November in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING the tourism business, the government has announced heavy cut down on royalty to climb Mt. Everest. The new announcement now allows a climber to scale the mountain for the royalty of US$ 25,000 only ñ which is considerably less than earlier fee of US$ 70,000. According to new price tag, two-member climbing team can scale it for the royalty of US$ 40,000, three for 48,000, four for 56,000, five for 60,000, six for 66,000 and seven for 70,000. Each additional member of a 12-member team will have to pay US$ 10,000. The government hopes the new provisions would encourage even lone climbers to scale the peak. As per the new rules, the Nepalese peaks are now open for climbers throughout the year after the government scrapped the policy of granting permits in different seasons like spring, summer, autumn and winter. And t! he recommendations of national alpine clubs will not be required from now on to acquire climbing permits. The new provisions has hiked the insurance fees, daily wages of liaison officers, sirdars, guides and base camp staffers. Now onwards, a local high altitude porter who used to get Rs 27 per day will get Rs 250 and a Sherpa sirdar who used to get Rs 45 per day will get Rs 400.

THE OFFICIALS OF THE FEDERATION of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) have said that as the increasing media reporting on economic activities were having positive effect on overall economic sector, they would now set up a media center to institutionalize and improve its interaction with the members of the media. "The media community can play major role in development of economic sector by reporting constructively," said Rajendra Kumar Khetan, second vice president of FNCCI.

CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY S. Padmanabhan is visiting Nepal at the invitation of Royal Nepalese Army chief Gen. Prajwalla SJB Rana. The Indian army chief arrives in Kathmandu on May 13 for a four day visit. His Majesty the King would also grant him an audience during the visit. The Indian army chief is also likely to make an inspection visit to Maoist-affected region, sources said. His visit is seen to be meaningful as it comes at a time when India has been supporting Nepal's fight against terrorism.

"THE SUBSISTENCE FARMING WOULD not help in the poverty alleviation. What we need is commercialization of agriculture," said Mahesh Acharya, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives. Addressing the 11th anniversary celebrations of Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Minister Acharya stressed the need to increase production, expand internal/external market and adopt/transfer new technologies for realizing the potential of agriculture. The minister said owing to global economic slowdown, Nepalese agriculture sector, too, was facing similar slowdown. The NARC is a major research facility which aims to increase agricultural productivity in the country by involving various technological and other innovations and adapting them in practice. According to acting director of NARC Raghunath Prasad Sapkota, the council has already researched and recommended 177 varieties of 43 different agricultural products.

THE POLICE HAVE TAKEN IN THEIR control a weapons factory that had been making and supplying arms and explosives to Maoists. The police raided and took control of Mo. Hussein Engineering Workshop in Dhakdhai village of Bhairahawa-Parasi route. The police also recovered few arms and explosives from the factory. The owner of the factory Rahis Khan and three workers are absconding and the police have launched massive search for them.

THE SECOND MEETING OF SOUTH Asian Peasant's Council was organized last week in Nagarkot with the objective of preserving the interests of farmers in the context of globalization and freeing the South Asian region from the food crisis. The meeting was participated by farmer leaders from eight countries including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines. The farmer leaders also criticized the globalization policy and termed it as being anti-farmer. "All in all along with the enforcement of globalization policies, land and wealth concentration process has augmented in the society in a massive scale in either further marginalization or proletarisation of the peasantry," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition, addressing the meeting. Likewise, farmer leaders from other countries also made sharp criticism against globalization and urged governments to take up pro-farmer policies.