Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King Gyanendra (left) and Queen Komal receiving the civil felicatations from the people of western development region in Pokhara.

THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN has urged the government and the Maoists to take immediate steps to resume the peace process. In a statement issued on Tuesday, he said he was disturbed by the recent escalation of fighting in Nepal. “Civilian casualties and serious human right violations are a routine occurrence, and the country’s economic and social development is being seriously hampered,” the statement adds. Annan has appealed to the government and the Maoists to resume peace process by roping in all political and civil forces of the country. “The secretary general does not believe there is a military solution to the conflict,” the statement forwarded by the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Kathmandu adds. Annan has also said he would be available to help find a solution that is acceptable to all.

NEPAL HAS FAILED TO COMBAT CORRUPTION DESPITE having good corruption laws, the Transparency International has said in its Global Corruption Report 2004, released on Thursday (March 25). The report has identified Indonesia, the Philippines, Zaire, Nigeria, Serbia, Yugoslavia, Haiti, Peru, Ukraine and Nicaragua as the countries with most cases of corruption adding the former presidents and heads of governments of the respective nations are the most corrupt persons in the world, who have earned as much as US$ 1 million to US$ 100 million illegally.

WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENJOYING CONCESSIONAL custom facilities from China, Nepal is preparing to joint eh Bangkok agreement – a regional organization that has India, Bangladesh, South Korea, China, Sri Lanka and Laos as members. Nepalese government had submitted its Letter of Interest to enter the Bangkok Agreement four months ago. And now Nepal has been invited to take part in a consultative meeting in Bangkok. Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dinesh Chandra Pyakurel and joint secretary Purushottam Ojha have left for Bangkok to take part in the meeting. China had been advising Nepal to join the agreement to enjoy custom facilities. According to Ojha in the consultative meeting, Nepal will have to consult with member states regarding is custom provisions and other issues related to import/export. “Only then will the modality for membership be prepared,” he said. The Bangkok Agreement was formed in 1975 under the UN-ESCAP.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS URGED the Maoists to announce ceasefire and come for talks with the government to find political solution to the problem. Richard Boucher, spokesperson of the US State Department made the appeal following the escalation of conflict in the country. He said that the US Embassy in Kathmandu is constantly in touch with the Nepalese government regarding the situation in Nepal.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE DENOUNCED THE abduction of Chief District Officer (CDO), deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and other personnel by the Maoists after the Beni attack. The rights activists have also said that bargaining by using abducted officials is criminal act. The Maoists have linked the release of those abducted by them with the release of their leaders in government custody. “Their demand was more like that made by criminals and not rebels,” said Krishna Pahadi, chairman of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES). Likewise, Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) has asked the Maoists to release all those kidnapped after Myagdi clash. “It is condemnable to use CDO and DSP as bargaining chips,” HURON said, adding that their demand is completely against international law and human dignity.

EVEN AS THE WORLD CELEBRATED THE Tuberculosis Day on Wednesday (March 24), Nepal is facing terrible risk from the disease as it continues to be one of the major public health concern. Till a few years ago, 15000-18000 people used to die of the disease annually in Nepal. But after the extensive use of Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) technique, the mortality volume has subsided, - but it is still around 5000-7000 every year. Meanwhile, the threat of TB and HIV coming together has posed another challenge before the health officials. Experts say that HIV positive person is 30 to 50 times more like to develop active tuberculosis. Moreover, poor compliance to TB treatment has also increased incidents of developing multi-drug resistant TB, which is quite fatal.

NEPAL HAS FORMALLY RATIFIED THE WORLD Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The cabinet had submitted the decision of ratification for the final approval from the King. The royal palace communicated the approval on Tuesday (March 23) marking the formal entry of Nepal into the global free trade regime. The letter stating the decision of ratification has been submitted to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Supplies. This decision now needs to be communicated to the WTO Secretariat through Foreign Ministry. Officials expect that the remaining process will complete within a week in Geneva. After becoming a full-fledged member of WTO, Nepal will also get to enjoy equal voting rights and many other facilities. Nepal had been granted WTO membership nearly six months ago in the fifth ministerial conference held in Cancun, Mexico. Apart from Nepal, another Least Developed Country (LDC) Cambodia, too, had been granted WTO membership then.