News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

"Domestic And International Situation Conducive ": Mahara

A member of the Maoist negotiation team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has said that the domestic and international situation at present was conducive for the peace talks. In an interview with the "Disha Nirdesh" program over the state-owned Nepal Television Monday (March 17), Mahara, however, admitted that international forces were not positive towards the Maoist movement since it was launched in 1996. He also said that the government too seemed more serious towards the peace process this time. Responding to another question, Mahara hoped that the peace talks could start within two weeks of the signing on the code of conduct. The government and Maoists had signed on the much-talked about code last Thursday. Saying that the King, parliamentary parties and Maoists were three forces in the country at the moment, the former MP-turned-rebel leader said it would not be possible for any one of the force to run the country alone. "There is a need for all these three forces to work together," he added. Gorkhapatra daily reports.

Property Probe Report

The high-level judicial probe commission on property (JIPC) is to submit its report to King Gyanendra on March 18. According to newspaper reports, the Commission led by Justice at the Supreme Court, Bhairav Prasad Lamsal, has compiled the details of properties of over 30,500 public office bearers and government servants since the restoration of democracy in 1990. Officials at the Commission said that of nearly 40,000 people whose property was scrutinized by the Commission, they had gathered evidence against nearly 2,000 people of amassing wealth disproportionate to their income (read: corruption). Some 8,000 government employees failed to submit details of their property, officials said. The Commission was set up last year, as part of the anti-corruption drive, at the recommendation of the then Sher Bahadur Deuba's government. Compiled from reports.

Youth Pray For Peace

While observing the colorful festival of `Fagu Purnima,' popularly known as 'holi' on Monday (March 17), youth in the capital and elsewhere prayed for peace. Students from the Institute of Engineering and Institute of Medicine, among others, carried out peaceful but fun-filled rallies carrying placards that said, "Let's play with colors, not blood." They also urged the parties in seven-year-old conflict in Nepal to settle the differences through peaceful means. Compiled from reports.

Death Toll In Kalikot Rises

The number of people dying of the outbreak of a 'yet-to-be-identified' disease has reached 26 by early this week, reports said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said Monday that it has already sent a team of medical personnel to the remote northern district to control the disease and treat the patients. A team from the district public health office has already opened a health camp to treat the patients in the district, reports said. Compiled from reports.

New Destinations For Employment

The government is engaged in homework to send Nepalese workers to developed countries including the US, Japan and South Korea, a senior government official said. Minister for Labor, Kamal Chaulagain, said that there had been a written agreement with Japan while informal understanding had been reached with the US and Korea. Priority will be given to people living in the Maoist-insurgency hit areas, backward communities and former Kamaiyas, he said. Hundreds of thousands of people are now working in Malaysia and Gulf countries at present. Some 18 percent of the total national income (that is, around Rs 74 billion) comes from the remittance in the country every year. Kantipur daily reports.

PM Chand

PM Castigates Bigger Parties

Buoyed by the recent agreement for the code of conduct between his government and the Maoists, Prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand shot back at the bigger political parties for their continued refusal to take part in all party meeting called by him and their "unreasonable" demands to change the government. Talking to reporters at far western town of Dhangadhi, Chand strongly came down against the bigger parties for calling his government unconstitutional. "If they want, they can ask for my resignation. But why call this government, which is formed under the Article 127 of the present constitution, unconstitutional?" he retorted. "Moreover, any government that replaces the current one will have to be formed under this very article. So how can they call it unconstitutional." The prime minister also warned the bigger parties that if they do not budge from their current stance, the government would be forced to go alone. "We will still request for their cooperation. But if they do not agree, the government will act alone," he said. Leading dailies report.

Rosha Koirala Dead

Rosha Koirala, freedom fighter in Nepal's democratic movement and wife of noted writer late Tarani Prasad Koirala, died at the age of 72 in Kathmandu on Saturday. She made an active contribution in the revolution of 1950/51 as a member of the group providing treatment and care to those wounded in the fighting. She was sister-in-law of president of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala. Leading dailies report.

Govt., Maoists Sign Code Of Conduct

In what is seen as fresh development towards the peace talks, the government and Maoists signed a code of conduct ñ a guidelines of dos and don'ts to make the ceasefire durable ñ and presented it before the media on March 13. At a hastily called press conference at the Shankar Hotel in Lazimpat, Minister Narayan singh Pun, convener of the government's negotiating team and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a member of Maoists' negotiating team, made the code of conduct public. The 22-point code of conduct has been signed by Pun, on behalf of the government and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, convener of Maoist negotiating team, on behalf of the rebels. Ever since the two warring sides reached ceasefire one and a half month ago, various quarters of civil society had been pressing them to agree to code of conduct so that the peace-talks will not fall apart like it did in 2001. "It was the result of one month of serious efforts, debates and discussions," said Pun highlighting the salient features of the code of conduct. The agreement states that both the sides would not use or mobilize their armed forces, form a monitoring team endorsed by both the sides to oversee its implementation, allow free transportation of food and other materials and bar raising of funds, among others. "Let there be no doubt about our sincerity towards peaceful resolution," said Mahara, who was the convener of the three-member talk team that held three rounds of peace talks with the previous government of Sher Bahadur Deuba. Both Pun and Mahara said that the talks between the two sides will start soon. Pun hinted a goodwill meeting could be held within a week.
Leading dailies report.

Pensions For Ex-Gurkhas Rise

The British government has raised the pensions of ex-British Gurkhas or their wives by 12 percent, reports said. According to the British Embassy in Kathmandu, the increment in the pension will be effective from April 1, 2003. The Embassy press release stated that the British government has been increasing the pensions by 10 percent every year after it was raised by cent percent in the year 2000. "This latest increase is above the rate of inflation in Nepal and demonstrates the British government's continued commitment to and concern for the welfare of its ex-servicemen in Nepal," the release stated. Compiled from reports.

Plastic And Glasses Banned In Pashupati

Items of plastic and glasses will be banned from the Pashupatinath area effective from April, according to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). The Pashupati area which is home to sacred Pashupatinath temple is also a world heritage site. The trust decided to enforce the new provision to protect the environment as well as the wildlife of the area, reports said. "Items of plastics, which are not bio-degradable have worsened the surrounding environment whereas broken pieces of glasses have been regularly injuring devotees as well as monkeys and oxen that live in the vicinity," said Bhola Situala, an official at the Trust. Leading dailies report.

Rural Water Projects In The Offing

New 900 drinking water projects for rural communities have been announced by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board. The World Bank has already released 16.1 million US dollars for the project. The new projects are expected to benefit some 5,50,000 rural people in 49 districts. The board has already implemented 1048 rural water supply schemes benefiting 6,01,000 rural people. Compiled from reports.