Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal offering prayers at the Ram Janaki Temple

ON THE EVE OF HIS VISIT TO INDIA, King Gyanendra has said that he will put forth his views about Maoist violence and ‘seek to know’ India’s position on the same. In an interview he gave to an Indian daily, he is quoted as being worried because of the situation in Nepal. "Because internal peace is eluding Nepal... because socio-economic reforms are taking a long time in reaching the common man. I will speak my mind when in India and get to know India's perspectives on insurgency in Nepal."

INFORMATION MINISTER DR. MOHAMAD MOHASIN has said that Nepal would soon initiate process to set up a SAARC Information Center in Kathmandu. Dr. Mohasin informed about this decision to the reporters on Saturday after returning from Islamabad where he took part in the meeting of the SAARC Information and Communication Ministers. Nepal had briefed others about its preparations to set up the center in Kathmandu as per the decision made during the last year’s 12th SAARC Summit, which was held in Islamabad. Kathmandu already hosts the SAARC regional secretariat and SAARC Tuberculosis Center, among others.

THE COLLECTION OF INSURANCE PREMIUM IN THE fiscal year 2060/61 has increased by 30.51 percent compared to 2059/60. Experts attribute this significant growth to the increased perception of insecurity and growing awareness among people. According to reports, the premium (for both life and non-life insurance) totaling Rs 4.86 billion were collected this year. Of the total, Rs 2.22 billion was for life insurance and the rest for non-life.

OFFICIALS OF NEPAL AND CHINA will hold talks on transport links between the two countries in January. The two countries are preparing to open up the transport links between Kathmandu and Lhasa from May next year. Labor and Transport Ministry officials have revealed that the talks, which will be held in Kathmandu, will thrash out outstanding issues to clear the beginning of direct bus service. Among others, they are yet to agree on the issue of opening bus counters in both the countries. Sajha Yatayat has already made the decision to start the Lhasa service.

THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) TROIKA TEAM has urged the Maoists to unconditionally accept the talks offer put forth by the government if they want to be recognized as legitimate political actor. “Maoists must renounce violence and embrace democracy and human rights,” said Robert Milders, the head of the EU team, at a press meet on Wednesday (December 15). He also said that international mediation is possibly only if the Maoists renounce violence and agree to hold dialogues with the government. The EU team expressed serious concern over the human rights violations in the country. They said that EU will open its humanitarian office in Kathmandu soon to help the victims of conflict. The EU has been providing Euro 100 million every year to Nepal. The team had also met with the King during their visit. They said they found the King ‘positive and supportive’ of their efforts. The visiting EU team consisted of Milders, Director for Asia in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes Laurence Argimon Pistre, Head of the Unit for South Asia representing the European Commission; and Peggy Frantzen representing the incoming Luxemborg Presidency of the EU. The team is leaving Kathmandu for Bhutan to talk about the long-standing refugee impasse.

LABOR AND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT Minister Raghuji Panta has cancelled the license of Lumbini Overseas Manpower Agency. The Agency, which has been sending Nepalese workers to South Korea since last 12 years, had a bitter row with the government over the issue of using lottery system in selecting workers. The Agency had gone to the Supreme Court after the Minister decided it should use lottery to select candidates. Even though the Supreme Court had later decided in favor of the government, the cabinet later allowed the agency to send the candidates it had already selected. According to Minister Panta, its license was cancelled after it breached laws in sending workers. He said that the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Revenue Department, too, had recommended actions against the agency.

ON THE EVE OF THE EXPIRY OF THE Multi-fiber Agreement, which is feared to severely affect its garment exports, Nepal government has submitted an application requesting the United States government for duty free access to two items under the GSP facility. According to sources at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Nepal government has requested the US Trade Representative (USTR) to provide such facility to Nepalese Pashmina and woolen carpets – the two items in which the US has been providing such facility. Nepal had not made used of such facility till now. “We have decided to make the request after consulting with the private sector,” the source said. America provides such facility to over 5000 different products. But it does not include garments.