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SPOTLIGHT Family extends best wishes to Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev on the auspicious occasion of his 35th birthday |
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS welcomed the recognition by the Maoists of the Basic Operating Guidelines (BOGs) of the UN and bilateral donor agencies operating in Nepal . “UN welcomes the Maoist statement, which has noted that their cadres had been instructed to adhere to the UN and donor agencies’ BOGs,” Matthew Kahane, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kathmandu said on Thursday. The BOGs are based on international law and established humanitarian principles. They protect the interest of conflict-affected populations and the safety and security of staff working for the UN, donor agencies and NGOs. The government earlier this year had recognized the BOGs. “Adherence to the BOGs by the government and the Maoists will enable the international community to more effectively implement development and humanitarian initiatives in conflict-affected areas,” Kahane said. The Maoists, on Thursday, issued a statement committing themselves to BOGs. “We appreciate in principle the BOGs of the UN and other development agencies operating in Nepal and have instructed cadres to cooperate with them,” it said. The Maoists also appealed to the international community and development agencies to work in “regular consultation and cooperation” with the party and its representatives to execute the development programs. Asked about this condition, Kahane said, “I am not convinced there is any condition.” The UN system in Kathmandu had to suspend movement of its staffers in 10 districts in the past.
IAN MARTIN, CHIEF OF THE UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, has issued a statement seeking clarifications what the Maoists mean by ‘Jana Karbahi’ (people’s action) and ‘Bishesh Karbahi) (special action) against the candidates and election officials in the forthcoming municipal polls. The statement says that the Maoists program could mean killing, demeaning the status or abductions of people not taking part in the conflict, which, it said, would be against the international human rights law and norms. Maoists had unveiled their program aimed at disrupting the polls. They had vowed to conduct special action against poll officials and candidates.
TWO CIVILIANS WERE KILLED and two others critically injured when a landmine exploded at the Phungling area in Taplejung district on Friday (December 23) morning, reports The Himalayan Times daily. According to Raj Kumar Niraula, the Chief District Officer (CDO), the landmine was planted by the Maoists targeting security forces. Those killed have been identified as Darinjen Sherpa, 38 and Phurba Sherpa, 53, of Dhungre Sandh VDC. Following the incident, people’s movement and traffic in the area came to a halt. The Maoists have been imposing night-time curfew in the area every day. Meanwhile, reports say that one of the three persons abducted by the Maoists one and a half month ago from Banamare of Baglung district has been found dead. Maoists had abducted Bhakti Bilas Upadhyaya, his wife Jamuna and son Devnarayan one and a half month ago. The dead body of Devnarayan, 21, was found near Chhisti VDC.
THE INDIAN OIL CORPORATION (IOC) has asked Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to pay interests on the delayed settlement of import bills. Since long time, NOC has been unable to pay its dues to IOC on time as it has been unable to raise enough resources. At the joint review meeting of NOC and IOC held in Kathmandu , the IOC officials have asked NOC to pay interest. The two sides have reached an understanding, in principle, regarding this. “The IOC has said it will submit a separate modality clarifying the rate of interest and payment procedures,” said a source at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. As per the tradition, NOC needs to settle its dues on the 15 th day of every English month. But lately it has been paying dues in three installments every month.
THIS YEAR THE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILES in the country could increase by 40 percent, according to entrepreneurs. According to Gopal Prasad Chhetri, president of Nepal Textile Manufacturers Association, the production this year could increase following the new tax policy by the government. He said that the decision by the government to change the Value Added Tax (VAT) policy leading to solution in the problems seen due to smuggling in border areas and custom under-valuation would result in the production surge. He said that Nepali manufacturers had been reeling under intense pressure generated by cheap clothes that used to be smuggled. “The new policy has given positive indications,” Chhetri said. He said that current manufacturing industries in Nepal have the capacity to produce 150 million meters of clothes. “They can turn profit even if they can produce 50 percent of their capacity,” he added. Every year, 350 million to 400 million meters of clothes are consumed in Nepal . Actual domestic production is around 20 million and legal import is around 50 million. Rest come from smuggling, he said. In recent years, 60 percent of textile manufacturing industries have closed down in the country unable to face unhealthy competition.
THE PREMIER FIVE-STAR HOTEL YAK AND YETI was empty even as other hotels in Kathmandu are bustling with Christmas holiday-makers. Tourists who were staying in the hotel have been asked to go elsewhere. They were the victims of long-running conflict between the workers and the management. The management has issued a statement blaming the workers for non-cooperation leading to obstruction in the operation of hotel. It has said that due to non-cooperation it was not possible to serve the guests and security of management team was also under threat. On the other hand, workers have said that they had not organized any strike. “We had been wearing black bands since Wednesday,” said Chhabi Pandey, president of the Hotel’s trade union. This week the hotel was 80 percent booked. The dispute between the workers and management could not be resolved even after the labor tribunal made a settlement a month ago. The hotel, which has 270 rooms, employs 350 staffs.
