Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King Gyanendra recieving Queen Komal on her return from Bangkok at Tribhuwan International Airport. Crown Prince Paras is also seen in the picture

THE CABINET HAS GIVEN GREEN SIGNAL to four ordinances including the Government Bank and Financial Institutions Ordinance 2061; Insolvency Ordinance; Safe Transaction Ordinance; and Ordinance on Securities. Thursday’s cabinet meeting approved these ordinances, which now need to be formally issued by the King to come into effect. Officials said that the financial acts had to be brought out in form of ordinance because the government wants to pursue the path of reforms. In the absence of House of Representatives, acts need to be brought out in form of ordinances. The ordinances with updated provisions are expected to accelerate the pace of reforms by ending legal complexities. The Insolvency Ordinance, for instance, would now allow companies to declare themselves as bankrupt in case of grave financial crisis.

BRITISH MINISTER FOR ASIA AT THE DEPARTMENT for International Development (DFID) Thomas Gareth visited different DFID aided projects at the mid-western district of Surkhet on Thursday (July 29). In what was the first visit by a minister of a foreign country to an insurgency-hit area, the British minister spent around three hours talking with the local people about the programs on drinking water, irrigation, education and health, which are being carried out with the British assistance. Thomas visited Karekhola and Guptipur of Jarbuta VDC in the district. He conducted on-the-site inspection of various development projects and had active discussion with local people about them. Thomas expressed happiness over the Karekhola Sitapur irrigation project, which had been constructed with active participation of local community. The project was completed at the cost of Rs 900,000. It irrigates 32 hectare of land benefiting 491 people of 76 households. The British Minister also visited safe motherhood project at Madhubani of Rupandehi district the same day. He also visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

THE MINISTRY OF LAW, JUSTICE AND Parliamentary Affairs has raised objected to the proposed competition act drafted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies throwing into uncertainty the issuance of the act within the prescribed (by the World Trade Organization) date of July. The government had committed to introduce the law within July while submitting its legal action plan to the WTO. The Law Ministry is said to have disagreed over some provisions in the draft regarding the jurisdiction, implementation process and monitoring agency mentioned in it. “The proposed act is unclear in many policy issues. The Ministry should convince us first about those things,” said a senior official at the Law Ministry. The major point of discord is said to be the proposed establishment of ‘Competition Commission’. “We believe that by forming a separate commission, the responsibility and liability of the government will increase. If works can be carried out without forming a separate commission, why not explore the option?” the law ministry official asked.

A SEVEN-MEMBER TASK FORCE UNDER the coordination of Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, a member of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), has been formed to help in the measles vaccination campaign to be initiated across the country shortly. Earlier, human rights community, health workers and experts had urged the Maoists to take part in the campaign to protect the lives of children.

AROUND 130 PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF GASTRO ENTERITIS outbreak in five districts of remote Karnali zone. The outbreak is yet to be brought under control. Two dozen people have died in Mugu district, 40 in Kalikot, two dozen in Jumla, 18 in Dolpa and three dozen in Humla district.

THE CONTRACTOR FOR KALI GANDAKI A project Impregilo SPA has filed a case at the International Court in Paris, France against Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The Italian Company Impregilo SPA has demanded US$ 30 million in the case. The International Chamber of Commerce (international court) has written a letter to the NEA ordering it to present itself before the court within next 30 days. It has also asked the NEA to appoint an arbitrator. The NEA has been caught by surprise with the sudden turn of events as it was engaged in negotiations with the contractor over the dispute in payment. The NEA officials are said to be discussing their strategy.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY APPROVED THE Copyright Regulations 2004, which will help in respecting the intellectual property rights of creators in conformity with the provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The regulation will help in protecting the copyrights of books, literary creations, computer software etc. Although a new Copyright Act had been formulated a year ago, the process of protecting it was not duly defined in absence of the regulation. Already five dozen creations have applied for copyright protection at the Copyright Registrar’s Office. “Now that the regulation has been approved, the process of duly registering the applications for copyright will begin,” said Ram Prasad Bhattarai, registrar. “The demand that we have been making for the past seven/eight years has finally been fulfilled. We believe that now the copyright violation and piracy can be stopped,” said Kumar Basnet, president of Copyright Protection Society of Nepal and a popular folk singer. According to the regulations, anybody found violating copyrights could be sent to six months in jail and imposed fine of Rs 100,000.

A health camp organized by youth Volunteers at Purano Guheshwori. Over 600 patient received health services and medicines. Purano Guheshwori Sudhar Samiti facilitated the organization of the health camp.