News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

PM Raises LDC Issues

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has called upon the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to seriously address the problems of developing countries and defend their common interests. Addressing the 13th summit conference of the NAM in†† Kuala Lumpur on February 24, the Nepalese premier said the developed nations should also provide deeper debt relief and open their markets for developing countries, particularly for the least developed countries (LDCs). Chand said the NAM must join hands for the implementation of the pledges made by the international community, and that efforts should be made to ensure effective fulfillment of collective commitments on the eradication of poverty, creation of a fair world trading regime and adequate financing for development in a sustainable manner. RSS news agency reports Feb. 25

Extradition Talks Inconclusive

The Nepal- India talks on concluding a new extradition treaty so as to replace the 50-year-old treaty concluded on February 20 inconclusively, reports said. The next round of talks will be held in New Delhi the date for which is yet to be decided. Joint Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, who was heading the Nepali delegation, said that the discussions on the drafts remained incomplete. Dr. Bhattarai also disclosed that Nepal had revised the draft as per the UN Model Treaty on Extradition, 1990. Reports said that India had proposed to extradite even the citizens of the third country in the new treaty. Nepal rejected the proposal and argued that only those who are likely to get at least two year sentence should be extradited. Analysts said incorporation of the controversial clause in the proposed treaty would be against the international norms as well as against the independent standing of Nepal as a sovereign country. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Narendra Bikram Shah said that the Kathmandu meeting helped in understanding each other's positions. "The† points of agreements and disagreements are still there," he added. Compiled from reports Feb. 21

"Who Played Spoilsport?" Deuba Asks

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has asked the Maoist leaders what prompted them to walk out of the peace process more than a year ago. Talking to Maoist negotiation team member Krishna Mahara, and politburo member D. N. Sharma, here early this week, the former chief executive asked who had made that fateful call during the third phase of negotiations compelling the Maoists to withdraw from the talks. "Was the call from the palace, Maoist leadership or a foreign force?" Deuba asked Mahara, who headed the failed peace talks in 2001. "But, he (Mahara) did not reply," Deuba later said. The Maoist leaders had called on Mr. Deuba as part of their hectic parleys to convey their party's concerns regarding the proposed peace talks with the government. Kantipur Feb. 25

Koirala Criticizes UML, Maoists

Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has alleged the CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal of attempting to head an all-party government which would not have any executive authority. Addressing the third general convention of Nepal Trade Union Congress-- on which platform he started politics more than five decades ago-- in Biratnagar on February 23, Koirala said an all-powerful, all-party government could be formed only after the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives. "The King can't form such a government now," he said. Referring to his recent meeting with Maoist leaders, Krishna B. Mahara and D. N. Sharma, in Kathmandu, the Nepali Congress strongman said they were not clear about their demands for a round table conference and forming of an interim government. "On whose guarantee (to provide safety) did you enter Nepal?" I asked them, said Koirala. "To this their childish answer was: At the guarantee of Colonel Pun," Koirala said. Minister Narayan Singh Pun heads a government committee to talk to the Maoists. Kantipur Feb. 24

SAARC Meet Likely In October

Pakistani Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, has said that the SAARC Summit in Islamabad would be held towards the end of October this year. In an interview to a leading India Daily 'The Asian Age,'† the Minister said initial discussion carried out by Pakistan government for the SAARC Summit appeared to be settling for October as this appears to fit into the schedule of most of heads of states. The Minister added saying that he would try his best to see that leadership of India changed its mind and participated in the seven-nation summit. The Minister further said that he would personally like the SAARC summit to be held 'sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, SPACETIME daily reported Monday that Foreign Minister Narendra Bikram Shah discussed with his Indian counterpart, Yeshwant Sinha, in Kuala Lumpur regarding rescheduling of the SAARC summit. Compiled from reports

Maoist Leaders Continue Parleys

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a member of the Maoist negotiation team and Dinanath Sharma, a politburo member of the Maoist party, have continued their consultations with a galaxy of political leaders and human rights activists in the capital for the last one week. They have already called on Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, former President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Surya Bahadur Thapa, chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, NarayanMan Bijukchhe, former Prime Minister Kirtinidhi Bista, CPN-ML leader CP Mainali and rights activists, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, among others. and they have also conferred over telephone with a number of political leaders, reports said.† All the leaders they met said the Maoists this time are quite serious towards peace talks. After his meeting,† former premier Bista as saying that the Maoist leaders were worried "for lack of seriousness on part of the government to create a congenial environment for talks."Compiled from reports Feb. 24

AMARC Meet Under Progress

A weeklong conference on Community Media and Social Justice got underway in the capital since February 21. A total of 250 delegates from 30 countries are taking part in discussions on various aspects of community broadcasting in the next one week. The objectives of the eighth conference of global body of community broadcasters, AMARC, is to work towards achieving social changes and evolving a common forum keeping in mind the aspiration of the Southern Hemisphere, the organizers said. The conference will come to an end after coming up with Kathmandu Declaration on role of community media in upholding human rights. Moreover, the delegates are also expected to institute an Asian network of AMARC, which is an apex body of nearly 2,000 community radio stations around the world. Significantly, the conference will also present the Nepalese experience of community broadcasting as an example for Asian nations, said Suman Basnet, director of the conference. Compiled from reports Feb. 22

Drug Exporters Face Heat

Nepali drug exporters have said that they will face heat once the amendment to the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act 2001 comes into effect from March 1st, this year. As per the amendment, the registration charge for any drug company intending to export its products to India has been raised by 30 times to US $1500. The new Act also imposes a number of new fees including factory inspection charge amounting to US $ 5,000 and quality examination fee of US $ 1,000 to each new brand of the foreign drug that are exported to India. Until now, Nepali drug exporters are not required to pay such heavy fees. "It will be next to impossible to export Nepali drugs to India once the new Act comes into effect," said Pradeep Jung Pandey, former president of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal. While the Indian drugs can enter Nepali market quite easily, the Nepali drugs have to pass through a longer and difficult route to penetrate into the vast Indian market. On their part, foreign drug companies are required to deposit only NRs 50,000 as registration fee to acquire the license and produce WHO-GMP (World Health Organization- Good Manufacturing Practice) license to the Department of Drug Administration of Nepal to enter the Nepali market. Nepali drug companies contribute nearly 27 per cent of total drug demand of annual Rs seven billion within the country.
Compiled from reports.

"Talks Still A Month Away:" Minister Pun

Convenor of the government-appointed negotiation team, Minister Narayan Singh Pun, has said that proposed peace talks between the government and Maoist insurgents could start only after a month. Talking to reporters in the capital on February 22, Minister Pun said the formal talks with the rebels would start from the third week of March. He said that the government and Maoists had already exchanged their draft code of conduct. He did not give details. Minister Pun said the government was discussing with the major as well as small political parties in order to reflect popular opinion during the forthcoming talks. Himalaya Times Feb. 24

Ex-British Gurkhas Lose Case

The London high court on February 21 dismissed an application by seven former Gurkhas for equal pension rights with British soldiers, but the Ministry of Defense was warned it may be providing insufficient accommodation for service families from Nepal. According to the Guardian newspaper, Justice Sullivan said differences in pay and pensions between soldiers in the Brigade of Gurkhas and British soldiers were not so great that they could be described as "disproportionate or irrational". The judge said the difference in pensions was justified by the different cost of living in Nepal and the UK. Gurkhas retire to Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries, where they receive pensions at double the top rate in the Indian army after 15 years' service. British soldiers are not entitled to a pension until they have served for 22 years. The claim that Gurkhas are denied equal pay and conditions because of discrimination on grounds of race or nationality was presented by Cherie Booth QC, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. She alleged their treatment breached the European convention on human rights. He urged both sides in the dispute to resolve the issues through negotiation and refused the Gurkhas permission to appeal. Meanwhile, Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organization (GAESO)† has welcomed the court verdict and claimed that it has ruled in its favor. In an interview, GAESO chairman Padam Bahadur Gurung said the British high court has laid down that there has been "discrimination" against the British Gurkha soldiers. Compiled from reports Feb. 23