Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

SPOTLIGHT Family wishesh Crown Prince Paras a long and happy life of the auspicious occasion of his 34th birthday

THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL Kofi Annan has urged both the Nepal government and the Maoists to sit for peace talks. Expressing grave concern over the situation in Nepal and the growing violations of human rights, Annan has appealed for peaceful settlement of the conflict. He has also expressed concern over reports that even human rights defenders were not protected in the country. In a press statement he released on Wednesday, Annan has, however, praised the recent agreement between Nepal government and the UN Office of the High Commissioner of the Human Rights.

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC) will investigate the case of suicide by Maoist leader Prashant in army custody a few days ago. Army officials have claimed that Prashant killed himself by tying shoelaces in his neck and hanging himself by the window in his cell. Meanwhile, the Commission has stated that the Maoists butchered police inspector Indra Bahadur Lama after attacking Sankhu Police Post last week. The commission has stated that the Maoists slit his throat after taking him under their control. The commission has cautioned Maoists against committing such barbaric acts.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT NEPAL can only put in up to 30 percent investment in the proposed Upper Karnali project. Earlier, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had shown interest to make 49 percent investment in the project to be developed as joint investment by NEA and National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) of India. In response to India’s letter asking Nepal about its policy model and other aspects about the investment in Upper Karnali, the Water Resource Ministry has expressed Nepal’s ability to invest only 30 percent. The project is said to be financially very attractive. Studies have shown that per unit cost of electricity generated from this project will be Rs 2.9. The two countries are soon expected to reach into a formal agreement to develop the project by forming a joint investment company between NEA and NHPC.

ACCORDING TO NEPAL FREIGHT FORWARDERS’ Association (NEFFA), exports will begin from Birgunj Inland Container Depot (ICD) within next two weeks. Although the dry port had become operational five months ago, exports had not been routed through it. Still 70 percent of Nepal’s export takes place through land (road) route and 30 percent through air. According to NEFFA president Namgyal Lama, the exports had not started using the train services from the ICD because there were still confusion regarding the train fare and schedules.

INDIA HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE Rs. 3,64,120 for gifting of scientific equipment to Mechi Multiple Campus, Jhapa. At a function held at Mechi Multiple Campus, Bhadrapur, Jhapa, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Counsellor (Political), Embassy of India gifted the scientific equipments to the Campus. According to the press release from the embassy, this assistance adds to the educational infrastructure of the Campus and reinforces India’s commitment of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, through such cooperation, specially in the important sector of education. At the Mechi Multiple Campus the students come not only from District Jhapa where the campus is located but also from neighboring districts. It is one of the oldest colleges under Tribhuvan University catering to the needs of more than four thousand students.

ROTARY CLUB OF LALITPUR WITH THE SUPPORT from SeaGate Institute of Technology organized an orientation program for all Rotarians throughout Nepal regarding scholarship for Computer Skill Training to Rotarians, Spouses and elders of more than 30 years of age recommended by Rotary Club Presidents. This scholarship will help some 150 people and overcome the digital divide among the elder and younger generation. The training ranges from basic computer handling to very advance technology like Geograhic Information System and Advance Database Management. This scholarship project is worth Rs. 1.5 million. The training will start from January 17, 2005. President of Rotary Club of Lalitpur, Bharat Krishna Shrestha said that they would widen such scholarship program in future.

"IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST OF His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, Government of India has decided that tea, pulses & pulses products, and cereals & cereal products imported into India from Nepal will henceforth be subject to 5-20 per cent random sampling, instead of the existing requirement of 100 per cent testing," states a press release from the Indian Embassy. According to the press release, agricultural and food products imported into India are subject to testing prior to clearance of consignments under the provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 and other relevant Acts. "This measure is expected to greatly benefit Nepalese exporters of tea, pulses & pulses products, cereals & cereal products and represents another step in Government of India’s continuing efforts to further facilitate Nepal’s exports to India."

LAXMI BANK LIMITED, technical partners of Hatton National Bank of Sri Lanka, has given Rs 100,000 as a help to victims of tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka. The check was handed over to Sri Lankan envoy Grace Ammal Asirwatham on December 27. Rajendra Khetan of Khetan Group - which owns the Laxmi Bank - and Suman Joshi, CEO of the Bank, went to embassy to hand over the help.