News Notes (Spotlight Weekly)

RNA Expresses Grief Over ‘Accidental’ Killing

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has expressed grief over the accidental killing of an innocent lady. Balkeshari Sahani of Sisautiya VDC of Sarlahi district died of bullet wounds fired by security personnel. Security personnel opened fire at her residence suspecting the Maoists had taken shelter in there. Her infant child was also injured in the incident. The RNA has provided Rs 5000 as compensation to the family of the victims. Security officials have promised to help in making full compensation available to the family. Kantipur daily reports.

Feasibility Study Of Saptakosi Dam In The Offing

A joint technical team of Nepal and India are set to undertake the feasibility study of the much-touted Saptakosi High Dam. A four dozen member team of India will arrive in Nepal and work to prepare its Detailed Project Report within the next three years. This project has been floated for the past 50 years. But it could never really take off despite various understandings in that direction. Last week, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had promised to construct the dam with Nepal’s cooperation when he inspected the flood-ravaged areas of Bihar. The dam is expected to tame the Kosi river, which causes massive flood in Indian state of Bihar frequently. Kantipur daily reports.

RPP Lands In Serious Trouble

In what seems to be a tit-for-tat exercise, a faction of the RPP led by former prime minister and strongman Surya Bahadur Thapa has come down hard against the party president Pashupati SJB Rana accusing him of derailing the party from its democratic track. The Thapa faction has demanded for a special convention to rectify the problems running deep inside the party. On Saturday (August 7), Rana met with former minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani and party vice president Padma Sundar Lawati in order to sort out the problem. The Thapa faction is enraged over the party president who had not cooperated with the Thapa government. Leading dailies report.

Indian Embassy Writes Letter Demanding Probe In Spacetime

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has written a letter to the Foreign Ministry asking the Nepal government to investigate the Spacetime Network, which it alleges to be funded by Dawood Ibrahim – a former Mumbai underworld don charged of carrying out serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in the past. The letter handed over to the Ministry on July 16 urges the government to take note of resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council, which calls for international cooperation in exchanging information over terrorists. The Foreign Ministry has already forwarded the letter to the Home as well as the Information and Communication Ministry. Deshantar weekly reports.

Shakya Is New Miss Nepal

Payal Shakya, 18, of Kathmandu has been crowned the new Miss Nepal at the Beauty Pageant held on Saturday (August 7). Shakya triumphed over 18 other contestants and bagged the 10th Miss Nepal title. Sarah Gurung, 18, of Lalitpur and Anita Gurung, 20, of Pokhara were declared first and second runner up respectively. Shakya, a higher secondary school student, will now take part in the Miss World Beauty Pageant to be held in China later this year. Meanwhile, an anti-beauty pageant rally was held in front of the pageant venue in Birendra International Convention Center (BICC). The rally condemned the ‘commodification’ of women and demanded end to beauty pageants. The rally participants even burnt a welcome gate erected in front of the venue to show their anger over the pageant. Leading dailies report.

Army Helps An Ailing Boy

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has helped a heart patient by providing assistance of Rs 100,000. The impoverished family of Tikaram of Swami VDC of Jumla district, who is currently awaiting cardiac surgery at Martyr Ganga Lal Hospital in Kathmandu, had asked for help from all. Tikaram has a hole in heart. In response to the family’s plea, the western division headquarters of the RNA raised Rs 100,000 from its army staffers and handed it over to the family. Leading dailies report.

India Has Assured Of All Sorts Of Help: PM Deuba

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who returned from Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday (August 4), told the reporters that during his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he was assured of all sorts of help for resolving the Maoist problem. Deuba met Singh on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. “The Indian Prime Minister assured of every possible help to sort out this problem,” said Deuba. This was the first meeting between Deuba and Singh. The assurances of Indian help also include military assistance, weapons and training. Recently, this issue was also discussed in the Indian parliament, where the Indian government had proposed to provide military assistance worth Rs 3.96 billion to Nepal. Deuba added that Singh also assured him of cooperation in harnessing water resources for mutual benefit. Meanwhile, when asked of delay in holding peace talks with the Maoists, PM Deuba sai d that the initiative should also come from the other side. “Peace is not possible if the other side is not equally willing,” said PM Deuba. Kantipur daily reports.

Amnesty Writes Open Letter To Prachanda

The London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) has written an open letter to Maoist chairman Prachanda asking him to order an immediate halt to abductions of civilians and their unconditional release. In the letter, the AI has expressed serious concern over recent rights violations of civilians including human rights defenders and journalists by the Maoists. “We appeal to the CPN-Maoist leadership to uphold previous commitments made by you and Babu Ram Bhattarai to abide by human rights standards and the Geneva Convention, in Marsh 2004 and April 2003 respectively,” states the AI letter. The AI is “particularly” concerned over the abduction of three human rights defenders and threats against two journalists. Leading dailies report.

Journalists Leave District Due To Maoist Threat

After they received threatening from the Maoists that their hands would be chopped off, two journalists of Dailekh district have left their native. Bhupendra Shahi of Gorkhapatra daily and Kamal Neupane of local Susheli daily had to face the Maoist wrath after they wrote a news article about the Maoist extortion of local businessmen. Furious over their writings, the Maoists threatened to chop off their hands and send them to its labor camp. Meanwhile, the Maoists have compelled Pashupati Neupane, the father of journalist Neupane, to pay them Rs 80,000 as ‘donation’. In view of increased threat, the two have left the village. Kantipur daily reports.

54 Kids Died In Last Six Months Due To Conflict: Report

A report by Child Workers in Nepal Concerned sector (CWIN) “State of the Rights of Children in Nepal – 2004” has stated that 54 children have died and 99 were injured in the last six months due to the conflict. The children were mostly killed in bomb explosion and crossfire. Among the dead include 12 girls. The report detailing the children’s rights situation in the first six months of 2004 stated that 6919 children were affected by the conflict during the period. Leading dailies report>

Maoists Threaten To Close Down Many Companies

The Maoist-affiliated trade union has threatened to close down many multinational companies in different districts, including Kathmandu, from August 17 saying the government is not serious about meeting a charter of 11-points forwarded by them. They issued this threat in a press statement issued last week by the Maoist-affiliated trade union. The multinational companies include Soaltee hotel, Surya Tobacco Company and Bottlers Nepal, Elite Oil Store, Sukedhara, Tankeshwore Garment Industry, Tahachal, Pashupati Spinning Mill, Sallaghari, Sangai Plastic Industry, Lalitpur and Yeti Fabric, Bhaktapur. The statement has accused these companies of exploiting the workers and spying against their party. The Maoist-affiliated trade union had put forward a charter of 11 demands. The main points were: publicizing the condition of their vice president Hira Bahadur Rokka, and general secretary Krishna Bahadur Pyakur el, withdrawing of the charge of terrorism leveled against their workers and providing appropriate compensation to the victims’ families. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

SC Gives Interim Order To Halt Lottery System

In a response to a writ petition filed by the Lumbini Overseas Manpower Agency, the Supreme Court has issued an interim order asking the government to stop implementing the lottery system for the time being. The court issued the stay order asking the government to first clarify the need why it wanted to go for the system. Labor Minister Raghuji Panta said he would respect the SC order. However, he added the government would implement lottery system in a sustainable manner. Earlier in the day, the representatives of foreign employment association and the ministry had agreed to go for lottery system to choose candidates for the overseas employment after working out practical difficulties. Leading dailies report.

Manpower Agencies Under Scanner

The Department of Revenue Investigation has said that it would vehemently investigate the charges of revenue cheating by the manpower agencies. Deep Basnet, director general of the department, said that the department would start with the Lumbini Overseas Manpower Agency. And if the allegations against the agency are proved, the department would expand the probe into other agencies. Likewise, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also started probe into the Lumbini Overseas on charges that it cheated while sending people for jobs overseas. The Commission has taken over the files related to the agency from the ministry. Leading dailies report.

197 Women Complete Army Training

For the first time in history of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), 197 women completed full combat training. All of them will be inducted in non-technical positions in army infantry. Speaking at the passing-out ceremony, chief of the army staff General Pyara Jung Thapa said that the RNA would also induct women officers in non-technical positions soon. He said the induction of women soldiers would further strengthen the army and also raise its credibility. At the ceremony he asked the RNA soldiers to be aware of big responsibility of bringing peace in the country. He also asked them to respect human rights. Compiled from reports.