Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

PM Deuba (left) with Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh

A TEAM OF NEPALESE OFFICIALS LED BY Information and Communication Minister Dr. Mohamad Mohsin will pay visit to Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in a ‘damage control’ exercise following the riot in Kathmandu on September 1 in which mobs targeted Arab airlines and Muslim interests. The visit is also aimed at reassuring the Arab countries about Nepal’s situation and to take stock of the state of Nepalese workers in those countries.

AMID CONTINUOUS STRIKES ON EDUCATION and business sector by the sister organizations of the Maoists including its student and trade union wing, the government has rejected talking with them. “We do not want to talk with the sister organization and go on meeting their demands. That will not solve the problem. We want to hold the dialogue with the basic Maoist party,” said Dr. Mohamad Mohsin, Information Minister, at a press meet on Tuesday (September 7). Dr. Mohsin’s assertions come at a time when the trade union affiliated to the Maoists has threatened to close down 35 more industries. A dozen industries still remain closed for the last three weeks owing to their threat. Likewise, the Maoists’ student wing is holding the education sector in the western region at ransom demanding the release of their leaders.

THE NEPAL TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY (NTA) has allowed Spice Cells Nepal (P) Ltd to operate the mobile phone service. This private company has been re-issued the license nearly four years after the NTA had withdrawn the license. The NTA had revoked its license to the same company four years ago thanks to the controversy in the payment of Rs 210 million as license fee. The NTA officials have said that they now decided to re-issue the license after the company agreed to comply with its instructions.

THE INDIAN OIL CORPORATION (IOC) HAS SIGNED A memorandum of understanding with the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for laying a 350 km product pipeline between Raxaul (India) and Amlekhgunj (Nepal). The proposed pipeline will be designed for a capacity of 1.1 MMTPA to meet current and future needs. The estimated cost of laying the pipeline is Rs 330 million and completion schedule is approximately 24 months. On completion, the pipeline will transport petrol, diesel and kerosene. At present, Nepal’s entire requirement of 0.7 MMTPA of petroleum products is being met by IOC through supplies to NOC from its depots and terminals in border areas. IOC supplies about 60 percent of Nepal’s requirement of major products from its Raxaul depot alone via Amlekhgunj depot of NOC, which is about 35 km away from Raxaul. The MoU will now provide opportunities for future collaboration between IOC and NOC in areas of retail and LPG including setting up of bottling plants in Nepal. The new pipeline is expected to ensure uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to Nepal through an environment-friendly mode of transportation, effecting savings in freight besides reducing in stock loss.

PAKISTANI SECURITY FORCES HAVE TIGHTENED the security provided to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Islamabad after some extremist group threatened to attack it following the September 1 riots in Kathmandu, in which Muslims were targeted by the mob. The mob had taken to the street after an extremist group in Iraq executed 12 innocent Nepalese workers.

INDIA HAS CLARIFIED THAT THE INDIAN OIL CORPORATION (IOC) had misinterpreted the circular issued by the Central Customs and Excise Department resulting in the controversy over the imposition of excise and duty on supplies of petroleum to Nepal. According to Indian Embassy official, the duty is aimed only for the internal consumption in India and not for supplies to Nepal. The official said that the government has already instructed bordering states not to impose excise on petroleum supplies to Nepal. Earlier, the IOC had written a letter to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) notifying about the duties in violation of the petroleum supplies agreement between the two sides reached three decades ago. The NOC had halted the supply of petroleum products since Monday (September 6) after receiving the notification. It had also written back to the IOC raising objection to the new provision and threatening that it would be compelled to explore importing the products from third parties if the decision was not withdrawn.

THE GREEN NEPAL PARTY HAS DEPLORED the government for failing to provide security to the lives and properties of the people during the riots, which occurred in Kathmandu valley on September 1 in the wake of brutal killing of innocent 12 Nepalese workers in Iraq. In a press statement issued by the party, the government has been condemned for its failure to provide security to the people even in the capital city at a time when the people living in villages and districts are reeling under the violent conflict. The party has also criticized the leaders of 'bigger parties' for failing to help the people and instead engaging in 'fishing in troubled waters'. The party has urged the King to dismiss the incompetent government immediately and replace it by a government representing all sections of society.