 |
SPOTLIGHT Family wishesh for long and happy life to Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on the occasio of her 30th auspicious birthday |
CROWN PRINCE PARAS vowed to sponsor the education of six children of late mountaineer Babuchhiri Sherpa in Budhanilkantha school. The Crown Prince expressed his commitment while unveiling Sherpa’s statue and inaugurating the museum built in his memory. Late Sherpa had set a number of records like climbing Everest for 10 times - which has been subsequently broken by others; and spending 21 hours in the peak. He died after falling into a crevasse while climbing down the mountain four years ago.
THE INTERNATIONAL AUDITING company – PriceWaterHouseCoopers – has started its financial study of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). It is studying the financial, technical and organizational structure of the NOC. The study is being conducted to find out about the frequent public grievances regarding the lack of transparency in the operation of NOC. The company would submit its report within three months to the government along with recommendations. The company would undertake detailed study on eight different subjects related to NOC. It would study the operational status of all branches of NOC; expenditure and structure; and identify ways for expenditure control. Likewise, the study would also identify reasons for functional weaknesses and advise areas that need reform. The study would further assess the current financial situation of the NOC. Furthermore, the study would analyze the processes of purchase (of oil), distribution cost and price-fixing mechanism. J.K. Jain of the company has signed an agreement regarding the study with the government.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE COUNCIL (SWC) has given approval to five new INGOs to work in different sectors of conflict-hit areas in the country. According to the Council, the new INGOs include Action Against Hunger of EU; Concern Worldwide of Ireland; Norwegian Refugee Council of Norway; People’s Trust of Netherlands; and Mercy M. Corp of the UN. The Action Against Hunger has identified Bajhang as its target district where it would conduct programs in areas like food security, production, irrigation, fertilizers, health and sanitation. It has reached into an agreement with the SWC to spend Rs 90 million between 2005 and 2007. Concern Worldwide has identified all five districts of Karnali zone. Norwegian Refugee Council would engage in helping internally displaced people. The Trust from Netherlands has agreed to work towards helping people victimized by the conflict. Likewise, the Mercy M Corp would conduct humanitarian assistance to conflict victims. Durga Bhattarai, assistant director of the SWC, said that the government would always welcome and encourage INGOs that aim to reach to real victims.
A TEAM OF EUROPEAN UNION (EU) troika will visit Kathmandu in the first week of October to assess the new developments. The team will be led by Tom Phillips, the director for South Asia and Afghanistan in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, representing the presidency of the EU. He will be accompanies by Herve Jouanjean, the Deputy Director General representing the European Commission, Nikolaus Scherk, Director of the Asia and Oceania Department, representing the Austrian Presidency of the EU, and Michael Swann, representing the EU’s High Representative for common foreign and security policy. Similar team had visited Nepal last year, too. According to the press statement issued by the British Embassy, the team will also make public its views on the general political situation in the country and further aims to offer public support for those working towards EU’s goal of a sustainable peace based on the principles of a democratic and accountable government.
FOREIGN MINISTER RAMESH NATH Pandey addressed the 60 th session of the UN General Assembly on September 21. In his speech, Pandey defended Nepal government and said that lasting peace can be achieved only through dialogue based on trust and confidence. “Any overture must be credible and sincere enough to dispel all doubts and suspicions surrounding it,” Pandey said, adding that the Nepal government was trying to work with all constitutional forces to bring about peace and stability in the country. “The terrorists have exceeded all norms and values by resorting to the most heinous acts of violence, indiscriminate killings, maiming and abduction of innocent civilians, kidnapping and forceful recruitment of children as soldiers and extortion and intimidation to the civilian population,” said Pandey. He stressed the need for combating terrorism resolutely, firmly, comprehensively and without any double standards and selective interpretation. He also sought support from the UN member states to Nepal ’s candidature to a non-permanent membership of the Security Council for the period 2007-08.
THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE by the police against the demonstrators have come under fire from the representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Ian Martin, the representative, has conveyed its serious concern to the Home Minister and Police Chief. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Martin also expressed deep concerns over reports of the demonstrators being baton-charged and abused and also the increasing restrictions on peaceful public gatherings. It also said it has received reports of the arrest of demonstrators on questionable grounds, the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by some policemen while taking demonstrators into custody, the failure to give access to medical care for the injured and the threats and injuries to rights monitors and members of the press observing the demonstrators. The OHCHR further said violence used by some participants in some of the rallies was deplorable.
NEPAL BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) has filed contempt of court case against vice chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri. The Supreme Court (SC) would initiate the hearing of the case on Thursday (September 22). The NBA has sought maximum punishment for Dr. Giri as per Article 86(2) of the Constitution and Clause 7(1) of the Supreme Court regulation 1991 accusing him of contempt of court against the apex court and its judges. Dr. Giri could face up to one year of jail term or Rs 10,000 fine or both. Dr. Giri had recently accused the court and judges of being influenced by the political parties while deciding cases.
