R&D_NewsBrief_27th OCt, 2009

R&D Economic Research & Business

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Date: October 27, 2009

Highlights

• The government will be compelled to use force against Unified CPN (Maoist) activists and their supporters if they continue their unruly activities that includes displaying black-flag to the President and Prime Minister and attacking ministers, a cabinet minister has said.

• Leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML today challenged the main opposition party, UCPN-Maoist, to topple the government from within the parliament, not by exerting pressure from outside.

• Once again, Constituent Assembly (CA) defeated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, Mrs. Sujata Koirala has made the world to laugh by advocating in favor of civilian supremacy.

• It’s CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal’s turn to participate in India trip. The reason is obvious but not specific to visit India by Nepali leaders; but the recent visit of Khanal is expected to be “meaningful.”

• A day after the Unified Maoists’ Party demanded resignation from the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to pave way for the formation of the Maoists’ Party led National Government, the 15 party comprising the ruling coalition meet out rightly rebuked the Maoists’ demand.

• Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has asked his party workers to be ready for a nationwide stir to be launched by the party soon.

• The Deputy Chairperson of Unified Maoist party, Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha alias Prakash smells rat in the recent "dissatisfaction" expressed by Nepal's President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav over the joint proposal forwarded by Nepalese Congress and the UML to Unified Maoist towards creating an atmosphere for consensus.

• A senior Maoist leader on Monday said that the ongoing process of discharge and rehabilitation of disqualified combatants will falter if the government does not come up with a scheme to provide gratuity to those being discharged.

• The revised Nepal-India trade treaty will enable Nepal to boost export to India. According to Commerce and Supplies Minister Rajendra Mahato the revised trade treaty would solve most of the problems that Nepal has been facing since it was signed first in 1991.

• Nepal's mighty southern neighbor, India, has proposed Extradition Treaty and control of fake currency to be included in bilateral security talk between Nepal and India.


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• The International Atomic Energy (IAEA), the world's center of cooperation in the nuclear field, has urged the Nepali government to enact nuclear law and establish an atomic energy commission as soon as possible to deal with nuclear issues in Nepal.

• Nepal Army (NA) is running out of bullets as it has not been able to procure raw materials to manufacture them for a long time due to the prolonged peace process, Kantipur daily reported.

• Have you been indulging in any form of sexual harassment in your work place? If yes, beware! The cabinet on Monday approved a bill against sexual harassment in the workplace.

• Bankers told myrepublica.com that due to shortage of liquidity that the market experienced after the end of festivals, the inter-banking rate has increased to 8 percent from around 3 percent when the market opened after festival holidays.

• After staying at double digits for 15 months, inflation has slipped to single digit. The latest statistics of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) show that inflation in mid-September stood at 9.7 percent.

• Salary and wages increased by double in comparison to the price hike in the second month of the current fiscal year.

• Sanima Bikas Bank Limited has announced a new car-loan scheme. In a statement issued Monday, the bank said it was providing a 100 percent loan on vehicle purchases.

• Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said on Monday that Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) would increase petroleum prices soon. According to the NOC, it is currently incurring monthly loss of about Rs. 100 million, which is expected to go up as high as Rs. 700 million as per current international price of crude oil.

• Ninety per cent of the international air business has been taken over by foreign airlines, with just a 10 per cent share left for the national carrier, according to experts.

• Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has decided to purchase two planes from Airbus, the European manufacturer. The committee has settled on one plane in the A320-200 series, at a cost of US dollars 41.289 million, and one in the A330-200 series, at 92.845 million dollars, a statement of NAC stated.

• To avoid lengthy procurement process through overseas companies, the government has decided to buy 50,000 tons of chemical fertilizer from India.

• Sub-committee of the Constituent Assembly Natural Resource on Sunday organized an all party discussion in Bharatpur over the debatable issue of hotels located inside the Chitwan National Park, reports RSS.


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• The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) continued to slip down day and again as it posted a 4.1 points drop on Monday. All the sub-indices except for the trading sector were down. The trading sector went up by 4.8 points while the remaining of the indices went negative.

• Veteran Gurkha soldiers from Nepal are launching another court battle against the government Tuesday -- this time over pension rights.

• Check out this Xinhua picture of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at their meeting over the weekend. Wen has a wan smile, and Singh can’t even manage that.

• A Nepal Army soldier serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti has died while on duty.

• On November 24th and 25th, the world’s largest ritual animal slaughter will take place at the Gadhimai temple in the southern Bariyapur district of Nepal to honor the Hindu goddess of power.

• To discourage early school dropouts, the government has adopted a new policy where students up to class 7 don’t have to necessarily pass their examinations to be promoted to the next class, Kantipur Daily reported Monday.

• The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom which was released by United States’ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour says that Tibetan Buddhists faced various restrictions, including outright interference and often an intimidating police presence during their religious celebrations in Nepal.

POLITICS:

‘Govt will use force against Maoists if necessary’

The government will be compelled to use force against Unified CPN (Maoist) activists and their supporters if they continue their unruly activities that includes displaying black-flag to the President and Prime Minister and attacking ministers, a cabinet minister has said.

“There will be no option left for the government but to resort to using force if the Maoists continue with their atrocities like attacking the Prime minister and ministers,” Minister for Irrigation Bal Krishna Khand said at a press meet organized in Jhapa on Monday.


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He said the government will go to any length to foil the unruly activities of the Maoist activists. On Sunday, Maoist activists prevented Minister Khand from taking part in a programme in Jhapa.

Claiming that the government has exercised maximum flexibility to give a way out to the current political deadlock, Minister Khand urged the Maoists to reciprocate in the same manner.

He, however, said the Maoists have taken the flexibility shown by the government as its weakness and accused the former rebel party of fomenting trouble in the country by continually obstructing the legislature-parliament.

Source: www.nepalnews.com Date: October 26, 2009

UCPN-M dared to prove majority

Leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML today challenged the main opposition party, UCPN-Maoist, to topple the government from within the parliament, not by exerting pressure from outside.

They have also made it clear that it is unacceptable to censure the President through a sankalpa prastav (stricture motion).

The NC and UML made their stance clear in response to the Maoist demand that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal step down to pave the way for a national unity government under its leadership.

During a bilateral meeting with the UML on Sunday, the Maoist talks team set a condition that the PM should step down to facilitate smooth functioning of the parliament and clear the path for managing the conflict and constitution-making process.

“If the Maoists want to form the next government they should prove their majority in the parliament. This is the only way of forming the government that they want,” said Arjun Narsingh KC, NC spokesperson, after holding an informal meeting of the fringe parties in the Nepal-led government. Any exercise of bringing down the government from outside the parliament is unconstitutional, KC clarified.

Ishwor Pokharel, UML general secretary, said the interim constitution has a clear provision of forming and ousting the government. “They (Maoist) should follow constitutional process. The main opposition is advised to table a no-confidence motion in the House to oust the government,” Pokharel said. He said the government could not be brought down by taking to the streets.

NC vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel appealed to the Maoists to let the stalled Parliament resume its business.Subsequent to the NC-UML meet, the NC held a consultative meeting with the fringe parties in the government with a view to briefing


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them about the latest political development. But the UML leaders were conspicuous by their absence in the NC-called 22-party meeting.

Keshav Badal, a UML leader, said they had actually proposed holding the 22-party meeting only after convening a summit meeting of the three parties’ top leaderships. Such a meeting was planned to be held today. But it could not be done as the Maoist chairman has a busy schedule, KC said. They would probably sit together tomorrow.

Source: The Himalayan Times Date: 10/27/2009

Nepal Prez should be Empowered: DPM Sujata

The elevation of an election defeated candidate to the honorable post of Minister and later quickly to the post of the deputy prime minister of the country is in itself a mockery of democracy.

However, when an election defeated Minister accuses others for "abducting" civilian supremacy, surely it becomes a matter of great fun.

Such a fun was witnessed in Nepalgunj.

Once again, Constituent Assembly (CA) defeated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, Mrs. Sujata Koirala has made the world to laugh by advocating in favor of civilian supremacy.

She has accused the Unified Maoist for abducting civilian supremacy by disrupting parliament, a supreme organ of people's representative.

"To spell civilian supremacy by disrupting supreme organ of people's representative is only a joke", she said at a program organized by Banke chapter of Press Chautari in Nepalgunj, 26 October, 2009.

"To draft new constitution on time, a national consensus government is needed. Since the intermittent change of government will prolong instability which is already prevalent in the country, and thus I suggest the Maoists to join the current government", she suggested.

She also said that the move of Nepal's President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to reinstate ex-Army Chief Mr. Rukmangad Katwal was in accordance with the will of the people.

"Instead of further empowering the President, the Maoists are endangering nationality by crying against him", she concluded.

Source: www.telegraphnepal.com Date: 2009-10-27


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It’s Khanal’s turn; visit to India

Kathmandu, Nepal – It’s CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal’s turn to participate in India trip. The reason is obvious but not specific to visit India by Nepali leaders; but the recent visit of Khanal is expected to be “meaningful.”

Khanal is planning to leave for India on November 3, leading delegates from the UML. It is said that Khanal’s visit to India is meaningful in terms of the issue of government’s longevity and others.

A high placed UML sources close to the UML said that Khanal was invited by officials of the India’s external ministry. However the visit is not only termed as informal but trying to keep secret about Indian invitation.

During the visit Khanal is planning to have meetings with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh, main opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani, senior communist leaders including Sitaram Yechury and others. It is first ever visit of Khanal to India after succeeding on the post of Chairman of the UML.

“Now, India is trying to forge consensus among the democratic forces” said a diplomat suspecting the Khanal visit that “it would be a part of the purpose.” Khanal is termed as the closer with UCPN Maoist.

India has been suspecting with Maoist about its closer ties with China. However, it is said that chairman of the UCPN-Maoist is also visiting India on the invitation of Indian communist leader.

Source: www.reviewnepal.com Date: October 26, 2009

Nepal Politics takes a Nose Dive; NC, UML challenge Maoists

A day after the Unified Maoists’ Party demanded resignation from the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to pave way for the formation of the Maoists’ Party led National Government, the 15 party comprising the ruling coalition meet out rightly rebuked the Maoists’ demand.

The coalition has rather challenged the Maoists’ party to show its majority in the Parliament and form a government on their own if they can.

The meeting was convened by the Nepali Congress party, where the UML leaders were mysteriously missing.

Prior to the 15 Party meeting, the NC and the United Marxist Leninists’ leaders held a meeting at the UML headquarters in Balkhu, Kathmandu, October 26, 2009.

The UML and the NC leaders concluded that the Maoists’ Street demand to replace the current government was an undemocratic stipulation.


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The Maoists’ Party has freshly begun demanding resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. The gun is now directed towards the PM not the President.

Sounds interesting.

Earlier, the party was demanding correction in the unconstitutional steps of the President while the latter reinstated Maoists’ government sacked Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal, May 3, 2009 late evening.

Making his views clear at the meeting the Nepali Congress leader of the constituent assembly Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel said that no agreement would be reached with the Maoists’ Party concerning their demands for resignation of the Prime Minister and as far as the move of the president was concerned.

He also said that the Maoists must first end the current political deadlock to open talks over other issues.

Ishwor Pokharel, the UML General Secretary also criticized the Maoists for exhibiting undemocratic behavior.

The NC and UML meet also concluded that the Maoists’ demand for resignation of the PM was also against the 12-Points Agreement.

Politics appears to have taken a nose dive. Chaotic days ahead. Tighten your belts.


Maoist chairman asks cadres to be prepared for '3rd Janaandolan'

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has asked his party workers to be ready for a nationwide stir to be launched by the party soon.

Speaking at a tea reception organised by the Maoist-affiliated Newa State Council in the capital Monday afternoon, Dahal said the Maoist party is going to create a wave of protests which might well turn into third Janaandolan (people's movement), and party cadres to stay prepared for that.

Dahal maintained that there is a need for third Janaandolan to restore civilian supremacy, write the new constitution and bring the peace process to a logical end.

The Maoist strongman also claimed that some elements were conspiring to dissolve the Constituent Assembly and derail the peace process.

“Some people have already started talking about imposing President’s rule,” Dahal said, adding, “But, we are not going to run away from peace process nor are we going to let the CA dissolve.”

Whatever the provocations, the Maoists will not return to jungle, he added.


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Dahal also said his party made a grave mistake by bringing current Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal into the CA and that the party was regretting the decision.

Earlier, addressing a gathering of senior Maoist cadres from Terai at the party headquarters Koteshwor Dahal said possibility of consensus among parties was getting weaker and that protests would be the next step.

Meanwhile, a prescheduled meeting of top leaders of the three major parties could not take place today due to Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala’s bad health.

Bilateral meetings of the three parties yesterday hit a snag after the Maoist side put forward a 'new proposal', seeking 'package agreement', which would include formation of a national unity government, among others.


Maoists' smell rat in Prez Yadav’s fresh utterances

The Deputy Chairperson of Unified Maoist party, Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha alias Prakash smells rat in the recent "dissatisfaction" expressed by Nepal's President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav over the joint proposal forwarded by Nepalese Congress and the UML to Unified Maoist towards creating an atmosphere for consensus.

'This has manifested the conspiracy which is being hatched to dissolve the Constituent Assembly (CA) and impose Presidential Rule in the country", Narayan Kaji said this while talking to the RSS, the National News Agency of Nepal today, 25 October 2009.

"Such act of President will further flare up the current disagreement which that prevails between the political parties", he opines.

Concluding that such utterances of the President has further proved the urgency of the prevalence of Civilian Supremacy which the Unified Maoist is urging for and voicing of late.

Mr. Prakash says the President’s opinion may derail the ongoing constitution making process and the peace process as well.

However, a high placed source at the President office, on condition of anonymity, has told telegraphnepal.com this evening, October 25, 2009, that "the President has not even thought over this scheme as yet".



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POLICY:

No gratuity no discharge: Maoist Discharge in 3 more cantonments from Sunday A senior Maoist leader on Monday said that the ongoing process of discharge and rehabilitation of disqualified combatants will falter if the government does not come up with a scheme to provide gratuity to those being discharged.

Maoist politburo member Kul Prasad KC, one of two Maoist leaders on the Committee on Rehabilitation, Monitoring and Coordination of Disqualified Combatants, said the process will see a logical end only if the government announces a policy of gratuity for the disqualified.

“It will be difficult to persuade disqualified combatants to leave the cantonments in the absence of such a gratuity scheme. The process will not move ahead in such a situation,” KC told myrepublica.com on Monday. “How can the disqualified combatants be asked to leave the cantonments with just some clothing?”

KC´s comments come a day after the government and the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) rejected the Maoist demand for a cash scheme for the disqualified - minors and late recruits - during the meeting of the committee on Sunday. AT the meeting of the committee, which oversees the process, KC had demanded that each disqualified combatant be provided a cash incentive.

There are altogether 4,008 combatants disqualified by UNMIN during its verification in 2007. The discharge and rehabilitation of these Maoists is an important aspect of the three-year-old peace process.

“The disqualified combatants want Rs 1 million each besides vocational training. I put forth their demand at the meeting on Sunday,” KC said.

KC had to give up the demand for Rs 1 million for each disqualified combatant after officials from UNMIN and other UN agencies attending the meeting vehemently opposed it. He had then pushed the demand for gratuity.

The Maoists have maintained that the government should treat the disqualified combatants as temporary staff who should be given gratuity much in the way it does with staff when they are given retirement.

But a senior government official, who prefers anonymity, told myrepublica.com that the government would not announce such cash relief since it fears that the money may ultimately go into Maoist coffers.

“If the government comes up with a cash scheme, a lot of donors will support it,” said KC.


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Currently, the Peace Ministry and UN agencies based in Kathmandu are jointly working on a rehabilitation package for the disqualified. But such a package will include vocational training, not any cash incentive.

Discharge at three more cantonments

A meeting of the technical committee headed by Joint Secretary Bishnu Prasad Nepal on Monday decided to begin the discharge and rehabilitation process at three more cantonments - Hattikhor (Nawalparasi district), Shaktikhor (Chitwan) and Dasharathpur (Surkhet) - from Sunday. The process has already begun at Dudhauli cantonment in Sindhuli

Source: www.myrepublica.com Date: 10/27/2009

Trade treaty to be inked today

The revised Nepal-India trade treaty will enable Nepal to boost export to India. According to Commerce and Supplies Minister Rajendra Mahato the revised trade treaty would solve most of the problems that Nepal has been facing since it was signed first in 1991.

“After 18 years, the revised trade treaty will minimise problems of Nepal in the bilateral trade and help expand trade relations with India,” he said, adding that the treaty will have a seven-year shelf life, two years more than the earlier treaty.

Indian Commerce and Industries Minister Anand Sharma will arrive here on Tuesday to ink the revised treaty. The two ministers will also sign a new agreement upgrading the 1996 agreement to control unauthorised trade from third countries. Both agreements were initialised during Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s five-day visit to New Delhi in August.

“The treaty will help private sector enhance its professional capacity in matters of trade exchanging reliable information with trade partners,” said Mahato.

“Nepal had been facing problems in certifying its goods in India previously but the revised treaty will solve this problem, as the certification processes would be done in the laboratories of Nepal itself,” he said, adding that the treaty will boost Nepal’s technical standards, quarantine and testing facilities and related human resource capacities. Both countries have agreed to facilitate cross-border flow of trade through simplification, standardisation and harmonisation of customs, transport and other trade-related procedures and development of border infrastructure.

India will also facilitate export under the Most Favoured Nation treatment of articles manufactured in Nepal, which do not fulfil the criteria for preferential access and establish four additional Land Customs Stations and open air traffic for bilateral trade.


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The new LCS are Maheshpur/Trutibari (Nawalparasi); Sikta-Bhiswabazar; Laukha-Thadi; and Guleria/Murtia. Bilateral trade by air will be allowed through Kathmandu/Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai airports.

According to Mahato, “The new trade treaty will also see bilateral trade being conducted in Indian rupees at par with trade in convertible currency in respect of tax rebates and other benefits available to such trade. This indicates ending the existing complicated mechanism of tax refunds.”

The switch will provide Nepal direct control over customs duty revenues on the import of manufactured goods from India. Other tax rebates and export promotion benefits will also become available on exports from India to Nepal, with the combined impact making imports from India cheaper both for sale and further manufacture in Nepal.

The new trade treaty will also have India enhance the time limit for temporary import of machinery and equipment into India for repair and maintenance from three to 10 years. Besides, India will allow several new items to the list of primary products Nepal wants to export, like floriculture products, wheat flour, bran, husk, bristles, herbs, stone aggregates, boulder, sand and gravel. All these items will have duty free access to India without any quantitative restriction.

The two sides will also undertake measures to reduce/eliminate non-tariff, para-tariff and other barriers that impede promotion of bilateral trade.

India has agreed to establish a joint mechanism, comprising local authorities, to resolve problems arising in clearance of goods at customs points and the two sides will review and simplify the existing administrative arrangements for operationalisation of fixed quota for acrylic yarn, copper products and zinc oxide.

Benefits for Nepal

• The treaty will have a seven-year shelf life, two years more than the earlier treaty. • Goods to be certified in laborataries in Nepal itself. • India to establish four additional Land Customs Stations and open air traffic for bilateral trade • Bilateral trade to be conducted in Indian rupees at par with trade in convertible currency in respect of tax rebates and other benefits available to such trade.


Indian pressure likely on Nepal to ink Extradition Treaty

Nepal's mighty southern neighbor, India, has proposed Extradition Treaty and control of fake currency to be included in bilateral security talk between Nepal and India.


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The Home Secretary level talks between the two nations are scheduled for November 6 and 7, next month.

Previously, both parties had agreed to hold discussions on crime and security concerns along the adjoining border area between Nepal and India.

However, on the eve of the meet, this “assertive proposal” forwarded by India abundantly proves its Big Brother mindset towards Nepal, opines a Kathmandu based analyst.

India has time and again forced Nepal to sign extradition treaty, he recalls.

However, due to excessive international pressure especially from China and Pakistan and some other countries near and far, Indo-pendent Nepali government so far has not been able to sign the Indian draft of the Extradition of the Treaty.

A high level official at the Nepal's Home Ministry says during the early November meet, no decision and agreement will be made regarding the extradition treaty despite Indian pressure.

"Ministry has yet not decided over the subject of discussion”, claims the Nepali official.

This time also, the previously raised issue of peace and security, curbing crime in the border area, checking drug trafficking etc. may be discussed", says Home Ministry Spokesperson Mr. Govinda Kusum, as quoted by Kantipur Daily, Nepal's largest circulated vernacular daily, 26 October, 2009.


Nepal urged to enact nuclear law

KATHMANDU, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy(IAEA), the world's center of cooperation in the nuclear field, has urged the Nepali government to enact nuclear law and establish an atomic energy commission as soon as possible to deal with nuclear issues in Nepal.

According to Monday's myrepublica.com, IAEA's call to Nepal for membership came at the end of a fact-finding mission, which visited Nepal on Oct. 19-23.

The mission's visit followed the first-ever visit of IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed Elbaradei to Nepal in September, said Science Secretary Ram Hari Aryal.

"The law and regulations should be enforced as soon as possible," IAEA said in its preliminary report submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

As of today, there is no legislation and regulation to oversee nuclear activities, including licensing and inspecting.


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IAEA can help Nepal in many areas of development like health, agriculture and energy if it enacts nuclear law. Besides, IAEA will not be authorized to provide Nepal with radioactive sources for medical and other purposes till it enforces nuclear laws.

Meanwhile, the three-member mission also expressed concern over safety of radioactive elements used by different cancer hospitals, said a government official who worked with the mission during the visit.

Nepal currently lacks mechanism to notify any nuclear accident to IAEA though it is required to have such mechanism as a member state. Nepal became IAEA member in August, 2008.

Aryal told the website that Nepal can benefit from the IAEA in different areas of development as IAEA works with its members states and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.

Source: Xinhua Date: October 26, 2009

NA running out of ammunition

Nepal Army (NA) is running out of bullets as it has not been able to procure raw materials to manufacture them for a long time due to the prolonged peace process, Kantipur daily reported.

NA has not procured any arms, ammunitions or raw materials since the royal take over on February 1, 2005. The international community had imposed an arms embargo to Nepal immediately after the assumption of direct authority by former King Gyanendra Shah.

After the downfall of the royal regime, the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed on November 21, 2006 has prevented the army from buying any arms, ammunitions and explosives.

The stock of bullets with NA has almost finished as a large number of bullets are required for regular trainings of army personnel, according to retired general Bala Nanda Sharma.

More than 3 million bullets are required for the army for a single training session alone. In five years, the army has used more than 15 million bullets for such trainings. The reducing stock of bullets has affected the trainings in recent days.

Meanwhile, the sayings of former Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal written on the walls of various barracks have been erased under the instructions of incumbent CoAS Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.


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According to Annapurna daily, CoAS Gurung directed the barracks to erase Katawal's statements saying it would not be appropriate to display a general's sayings at a time when the sayings of monarchs had been erased.


Cabinet approves bill against sexual harassment

Have you been indulging in any form of sexual harassment in your work place? If yes, beware! The cabinet on Monday approved a bill against sexual harassment in the workplace.

The bill proposes punishment for sexual harassment in all forms and manifestations. Women rights activists have applauded the cabinet move, which aims to create healthy environment in the workplace. “The bill will enable female workers to perform their duties without fearing sexual harassment,” said Constituent Assembly Member Sapana Pradhan Malla. Advocate Malla has long been fighting against sexual harassment in the workplace.

The bill initially drafted by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare will come into effect after it is passed by the parliament.

According to the Law and Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, those involved in any forms of sexual harassment will be sentenced to three months in prison or be fined up to Rs 25,000. “If the nature of crime is serious, the guilty may be liable to both,” added Minister Singh.

The bill defines sexual harassment not only in terms of physical contact but also in terms of the use of obscene expressions and gestures. Sexual harassment would be taken up as a criminal offense, if the victim formally files complaints against the offender. The bill states that the manager or the head of the institution, where such incident takes place, would be held accountable for not making the office working environment healthy.

On their part, the victims are required to first lodge their complaint with the head of the office. If the head of the office fails to settle the case through negotiation between the victim and the offender, the case is handed over the Chief District Officer (CDO).

The CDO then investigates into the case before awarding punishment to the offender. The bill makes it mandatory for all government and non-government offices to set up a code of conduct for their offices. “Offices are required to put code of conduct on the notice board in their offices and abide by the same,” Minister Singh told myrepublica.com. The Women Commission will monitor and regulate the code of conduct set up by the offices.



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BANKING:

Market experiences liquidity shortage Inter-banking lending rate rises to 8 pc

In an early indication of tightening liquidity in the money market, the inter-banking lending rate has scaled up to a new height and the discount rate on 91-day treasury bills has also increased.

Bankers told myrepublica.com that due to shortage of liquidity that the market experienced after the end of festivals, the inter-banking rate has increased to 8 percent from around 3 percent when the market opened after festival holidays.

Though a light liquidity shortage is a usual post-festival phenomenon in Nepal, this time it has been aggravated further by sluggish government expenditure due to delay in endorsing fiscal year budget from the parliament, said a leading banker.

According to a senior official of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the shrinking bid amount submitted by the banks against the latest 91-day treasury bills is the strongest proof that the financial institutions are in shortage of liquidity. The NRB offered treasury bills worth Rs 500 million on Monday but the bid amount submitted by the banks totaled Rs 980 million and the discount rate offered has also gone up to 4.48 percent from 3.75 percent recorded two weeks back.

"Though the bid amount is more than the offered amount, the worrisome fact is that the bid amount in the past used to be four to five times more than the offered amount but this it is not even double now," said the official.

Bankers said the latest shortage of liquidity was also an impact of chronic note shortage that the country witnessed just before Dashain, Nepal´s biggest festival. As the banks are demanding more cash to settle intra-branch flow of funds made during the crisis, there is higher demand of liquid cash, said a banker.

He also added that pace of deposits coming back to banks has remained slow compared to previous years´ trend, may be due to the shattered confidence of depositors as they had to be in long queues outside banks to withdraw cash just before the Dashain festival.


Inflation down to single digit in 15 months

After staying at double digits for 15 months, inflation has slipped to single digit. The latest statistics of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) show that inflation in mid-September stood at 9.7 percent.


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Consumer inflation remained at double digit throughout the last fiscal year. However, after reaching the high of 14.4 percent in January 2009, inflation has started to moderate slightly in the past few months. It was at 10.4 in mid-August. The current monetary policy has projected an inflation target of 7 percent for the current fiscal year.

The ease in inflation is due to drop in the prices of non-food items and services only. NRB data shows the index of non-food and services group rose only by 2.1 percent. However, the price of food and beverages has continued to go up. According to 2nd month price analysis of the NRB, the price index of food and beverages group has increased by 16.3 percent during the period.

Despite the inflation coming down to single digit, the price rise of vegetable and fruits has affected the general consumers. The price index of vegetables and fruits has increased by whopping 43.5 percent during the review period. Last year, it had declined by 14.6 percent.

The price of sugar and sugar related products has also continued to rise. Same is the case with meat, fish and eggs as well as pulses. The price of meat, fish, eggs and pulses sub-groups has increased by 29 percent and 25.6 percent, respectively, compared to a corresponding rise of of 14.5 percent and 23.7 percent in the same period last year.

The index of the grains and cereal products sub-group also witnessed an increment of 5.8 percent compared to 23.8 percent increase in the same period of the previous year.

Among the non-food and services group, the price of tobacco and related products rose up by 17.0 percent compared to a rise of 12.7 percent during the same period last year. But the price index of transport and communication has declined by 8.7 percent against an increase of 23.1 percent during the same period last year.

NRB data shows that the consumers of Tarai suffered the most due to price rise followed by consumers of Kathmandu valley. As per central bank's statistics, the price index of Tarai increased by 9.9 percent and of Kathmandu increased by 9.6 percent.

However, wholesale price inflation increased to 12.6 percent in the review period. The price of agricultural commodities and domestic manufactured commodities has increased by 29.7 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively in the review period as compared to 0.7 percent and 15.8 percent a year ago.

Source: www.kantipuronline.com Date: October 27, 2009

Price hike cools, salary increases

Salary and wages increased by double in comparison to the price hike in the second month of the current fiscal year.


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According to Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) data of mid-September, overall year-on-year (y-o-y) salary and wage rate index rose by 20.8 per cent but inflation moderated to 9.7 per cent.

The price hike was 13.5 per cent in the same period last year. The price index of food and beverages group increased by 16.3 percent. Similarly, the index of non-food and services group rose only by 2.1 percent. The index of food and beverages and non-food and services group rose by 14.2 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively, last year.

Rise in prices of vegetables and fruits contributed to the price hike as their indices increased by a whopping 43.5 per cent — in sharp contrast to a decline of 14.6 per cent in the same month last year. Similarly, the price indices of sugar and sugar related products also increased by 40.5 per cent in comparison to an increase of 38.9 per cent during last year’s same month, said the NRB.

The price index of meat, fish and eggs has doubled to 29 per cent against an 14.5 per cent increase in same period last year.

However, the grains and cereal products subgroup witnessed an increment of 5.8 per cent against a 23.8 per cent hike in the same month last year. The price index of transport and communication declined by 8.7 per cent against the increase of 23.1 per cent in same month last year.

Region-wise, the Tarai was the most expensive as the price index there rose by 9.9 per cent followed by 9.6 per cent in Kathmandu Valley and 9.4 per cent in the hills. The respective rates were 13.5 per cent, 14.1 per cent and 12.7 per cent last year. The y-o-y core inflation rose to 10.9 per cent from 12.1 per cent a year ago, said the report.

However, the overall y-o-y salary and wage rate index rose by 20.8 per cent in comparison to a rise of 9.1 per cent a year ago. “The salary index increased by 32.8 per cent due to increase in basic salary and allowances for civil servants,” said NRB. The wage rate index increased by 17.1 per cent compared to an increase of 12.3 per cent in the same month last year.

Wages of agricultural, industrial and construction labourers increased by 18.1 per cent, 15.8 per cent and 16.4 per cent respectively against increase by 19.5 per cent, 2.7 per cent and nine per cent, respectively, in the same month last year.

Wholesale price up

KATHMANDU: The y-o-y wholesale price inflation rose to 12.6 per cent against 10.3 per cent last year. Agricommodities increased by 29.7 per cent compared to the 0.7 per cent increase a year ago. Within the agricultural commodities group, the price index of cash crops increased by 84.3 per cent against the decline of 23.2 per cent a year ago. Likewise, the prices of livestock, fruits and vegetables and spices also increased by more than double to 42.5 per cent, 30.9 per cent and 20.2 per cent


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respectively against the increase of 13.3 per cent, -22.1 per cent and 10 per cent last year.


Sanima announces 100% auto-loan scheme

Sanima Bikas Bank Limited has announced a new car-loan scheme. In a statement issued Monday, the bank said it was providing a 100 percent loan on vehicle purchases.

To avail the service, clients will have to deposit 20 percent of loan amount in the bank in the client´s savings account for the period of the loan. The bank said it would provide the client interest on the deposit.

“In other such loans, the amount is taken as a down payment and paid to the seller. But with us the clients will not only get back the 20 percent but also the accumulated interest after he/she has paid off the loan,” the statement said.


BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

Petroleum price will go up soon

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said on Monday that Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) would increase petroleum prices soon.

According to the NOC, it is currently incurring monthly loss of about Rs. 100 million, which is expected to go up as high as Rs. 700 million as per current international price of crude oil.

With the global economy recovering when the NOC adjusted petroleum price the price of crude oil in the market has already crossed US$ 80 per barrel from around US$ 40 in early March.

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) revises the petroleum and diesel prices it supplies to NOC every 15 days, twice a month. Kerosene, aviation fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices are reviewed once every month.

"There is no alternative to price adjustment as per the international market value," said Mahato at an interaction in the capital. He, however, declined to specify the date for price adjustment.


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The NOC officials said that the oil monopoly was yet to repay loans as high as Rs. 10.84 billion to the government, Citizen Investment Trust and the Employees' Provident Fund. It has however already paid back its dues to IOC.

NOC spokesman Mukunda Dhungel said that the NOC was facing difficulty to pay loans after it started to incur loss again since September.

"We have not repaid loans since September." said Dhungel. The NOC used to repay loans on monthly basis generally.

"We will not be able to pay loans if petroleum prices are not readjusted, keeping at par with the international value," Dungel said.

The retail price of various petroleum products has been maintained at Rs. 77.50 per liter for petrol, Rs. 55 per liter each for diesel and kerosene, Rs.1125 for a gas cylinder and Rs. 70 per liter for aviation fuel to be used in domestic flights. The price of aviation fuel has been maintained at US$ 750 per kilolitre.


NAC holding short end of business stick

Ninety per cent of the international air business has been taken over by foreign airlines, with just a 10 per cent share left for the national carrier, according to experts.

However, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) both are working to increase the share of the national carrier. “Domestic airlines should target for the rest 90 per cent share also,” said Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari during a programme on ‘Aircraft Financing in Nepal — Problems and Prospects,’ here today.

He also said that if the domestic airlines want to compete in the international market too, government is open to supporting their initiative.

“Here, we do not lack money in the market. It is the flow of investment that is lacking,” Bhandari said adding that along with NAC, the private airlines sector should also come up with new plans. Talking about NAC, Bhandari said that NAC should make proper business plans and enhance its corporate and management sectors to garner profits.

“Currently, 22 international airlines operate in Nepal and even these existing international airlines are on their way to increasing the frequency of flights and seat capacity,” said MoTCA secretary Nagendra Prasad Ghimire.

According to Ghimire, foreign airlines are profit-oriented so they will stay here as long as they get benefits from their flights operations.


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Thus, they can also minimise flight operation if their business goes down. Ghimire also informed about the preparations going on for a second full-fledged international airport.

He said, “The government has come up with a plan to establish an international airport at Nijgarh. The feasiblility study for it is going on and the study should be completed within 10 months. Within five years, Nepal can be developed into an international standard transit hub.”

Talking about plans for boosting the number of NAC aircraft, NAC executive chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar said, “We are planning to purchase aircraft rather than take them on lease as leasing aircraft creates numerous problems.” “However, for the purchase we need investments and funds,” he added. According to Kansakar, Employee’s Provident Fund is ready to grant Rs 10-12 billion but only if the government is ready to stand guarantee. “Not only international flights, we are facing pressure to increase domestic flights too,” added Kansakar.

During the programme, people from the civil aviation sector urged for establishing financial discipline along with responsible corporate behaviour so that the airlines corporation can get major financing support.

According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal director general Keshab Raj Khanal, domestic banks are not capable of major financing in this sector. “The Cape Town Convention should be ratified and the government should allow funding in this sector,” Khanal suggested.


NAC to buy two planes

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has decided to purchase two planes from Airbus, the European manufacturer.

A meeting of NAC´s executive committee held on Monday took decision to this effect.

The committee has settled on one plane in the A320-200 series, at a cost of US dollars 41.289 million, and one in the A330-200 series, at 92.845 million dollars, a statement of NAC stated.

The proposed wide-body A330-200 has a seat capacity of 279 while the narrow-body A320-200 has a seat capacity of 150.

The corporation said that it found the proposal forwarded by Airbus more profitable, commercially and otherwise. It had called for bids on April 7 this year to supply the planes.


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NAC had formed a 14-member committee to assess the bids submitted by both manufacturers. The committee submitted its report in June. The committee decided in favour of Airbus as the operating cost of the A330-200 was found to be 40 percent less than the wide-body Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 that had been proposed by Boeing.

It had been prescribed that NAC go for Airbus for the narrow-body aircraft instead of buying one Boeing and one Airbus because the airline would not need different sets of people to fly and maintain these two aircraft. The same set of pilots and technicians could fly and maintain both the A320-200 and A330-200.

The Airbuses will be the first planes that NAC is buying after it bought two Boeing 757s, in 1987 and 1988. The purchase is part of a five-year plan under which NAC aims to add six jets, it is understood.


Govt to buy 50k tons of fertilizer from India 12,000 tons DAP stuck in Kolkata port To avoid lengthy procurement process through overseas companies, the government has decided to buy 50,000 tons of chemical fertilizer from India.

Officials said the government will procure 30,000 tons of Urea, 15,000 tons of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and 5,000 tons of Potash from India to distribute the fertilizers to farmers under the government subsidy that was revised after a decade-long gap.

The government has already imported 32,500 tons of Urea, DAP and Potash from Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd, an undertaking of the Indian government. A total of 10,000 tons Urea -- the last batch of the Indian fertilizer consignment -- is in the process of entering Nepal soon.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had requested India to sell chemical fertilizers to Nepal during his visit to the southern neighbor in the last week of August. The government need not call for tender while importing fertilizers from India as that can be supplied through Indian government-owned enterprise.“

"The cabinet meeting held recently decided to request the Indian government to sell 50,000 tons of chemical fertilizer to Nepal at International Parity Price (IPP) to avoid lengthy procurement process from overseas suppliers," Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), told myrepublica.com.

Dahal said the ministry has constituted a high-level negotiation team led by State Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Karima Begam to negotiate with Indian officials. Other members in the panel are Keshav Adikari, a senior official at Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, Uttam Bhattarai, joint secretary at the MoAC, Ram Krishna


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Shrestha, under secretary at the MoAC, and Pashupati Gautam, managing director of Agriculture Inputs Corporation (AIC).

"We are arranging dates for the visit of panel members to the southern neighbor to negotiate with Indian officials," said Dahal, who is also the chairman of the AIC, the government undertaking responsible for the production and distribution of agriculture inputs in the country.

Dahal said a consignment of 12,000 tons of DAP has arrived at Kolkata port from Jordan after more than four months of procurement process through a private contractor. However, it has been stuck in Kolkata port for the last three weeks due to some technical reasons.“

"Another consignment of 12000 tons of Urea is entering Nepal from China within a month," Dahal added.

The government has decided to distribute 100,000 tons of chemical fertilizer, about one-fourth of the total demand, to farmers under the government subsidy for the fiscal year 2008/09. The Finance Ministry has already released Rs 1 billion of the Rs 1.77 billion allocated for the purpose.


Discussion on Chitwan hotels held

Sub-committee of the Constituent Assembly Natural Resource on Sunday organized an all party discussion in Bharatpur over the debatable issue of hotels located inside the Chitwan National Park, reports RSS.

Members of the sub-committee had arrived in Chitwan two days ago for field inspection and suggestions collection.

The sub-committee held discussions with the representatives of the political parties, entrepreneurs, members of civil society, journalists, administrative officials and others. After the discussions, chairman of sub-committee Ramesh Rijal committed to prepare a report on this issue within 10 days on the basis of suggestions.

He said most of the suggestions were for replacing the hotels from the Park.


MARKET:

NEPSE continues to fall


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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) continued to slip down day and again as it posted a 4.1 points drop on Monday. The NEPSE index settled at 595.33 points when trading closed.

All the sub-indices except for the trading sector were down. The trading sector went up by 4.8 points while the remaining of the indices went negative. The hydropower sector which was the only one to gain yesterday lost the most on Monday as it shed 7.47 points. The share market witnessed a total turnover of Rs. 57.064 million with 90,370 shares being traded. Shares of 59 companies changed hands on NEPSE.

Among the 18 commercial banks present on the trading floor, Himalayan Bank Limited posted the biggest growth with its stock rising by 10 points while Everest Bank Limited lost the most by shedding 79 points.

Similarly, among the 13 development banks whose shares were traded on NEPSE on Monday, Clean Energy Development Bank Limited witnessed the highest increase of 43 points while Sanima Vikash Bank Ltd. dropped 27 points.

Among the 21 finance companies on NEPSE, Merchant Finance Company Limited was the highest gainer with an increase of 36 points in their share prices. Api Finance Limited lost 40 points.

The top winners on NEPSE were Merchant Finance Company with a 10 percent rise in its stock price followed by Clean Energy Development Bank Limited, Swabhlambhan Bikas Bank Limited, Gorkha Finance Company.


GENERAL:

Gurkhas in fresh court battle over army pensions

LONDON — Veteran Gurkha soldiers from Nepal are launching another court battle against the government Tuesday -- this time over pension rights.

The British Gurkha Welfare Society is taking action at London's High Court because it says around 24,000 veterans and dependants who served in the British army before 1997 receive only a third of the normal payments.

In May, all Gurkha veterans with a minimum four years' service won the right to settle in Britain after a high-profile legal battle led by actress Joanna Lumley.

"It is an insult that the Gurkhas are yet again forced to take the British government to court," said Chhatra Rai, general secretary of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, ahead of the hearing.


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"Notwithstanding the savings that could be made by increasing the future monthly pension payments for Gurkhas, this is above all a moral issue as the majority of Gurkha veterans in this group are now becoming increasingly old and fragile," he said.

"Most of these Gurkhas are therefore not able to work in their old age to supplement their pension."

The society says there are also around 7,000 Gurkha veterans who served for less than 15 years and receive no pension at all. In addition, around 5,000 veterans and widows currently rely heavily on charity to survive, it adds.

The Ministry of Defence, the target of the legal action, says that because Gurkha pensions are payable over a longer time than regular armed forces pensions, Gurkhas end up receiving the same amount as British veterans.

"Over the course of a retirement, Gurkha soldiers will receive the same amount of pension as their British counterparts," it said in a statement.

"Gurkha pensions can be paid from the age of 33, 20 years before British pensions begin," it added.

"That means a Gurkha rifleman will already have received approximately 40,000 pounds (44,000 euros, 65,000 dollars) by the time he is 60."

Ninety-four British lawmakers have so far signed a House of Commons motion calling for improved pension rights for Gurkha veterans.

One of them, Ann Widdecombe of the main opposition Conservatives, said: "The Gurkhas have always been an integral part of the British armed forces, fighting the same wars and carrying out the same duties as British soldiers."

"It is an injustice to give these veterans a pension based on their country of origin instead of the country in whose army they loyally served."

About 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World War I and World War II and more than 45,000 have died in British uniform.

Around 3,500 now serve in the British army, including in Afghanistan, from where around 100 Gurkhas returned to their base in southeast England on Sunday.

Source: www.google.com/hostednews/ Date: October 27, 2009

A Tense Meeting for China and India's Premiers

Check out this Xinhua picture of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at their meeting over the weekend. Wen has a wan smile, and Singh can’t even manage that. Not surprising, given the accusations flying back and forth between China and India recently over their disputed border. “We have


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reached important consensus on promoting bilateral ties, and I believe that our two countries could maintain a good relationship in the future,” Xinhua reported Wen saying after the meeting at the ASEAN summit in Thailand. Singh, according to the Chinese news agency, said “We share with the Chinese people their pride of success.”

The Times of India account of the meeting explains why the leaders made for such an unhappy uncouple in front of the photographers. “The contentious issue of the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh remains unaddressed, prompting analysts in India to predict the Wen-Singh meeting will not mean a softening of Beijing’s tough stance toward New Delhi,” the paper wrote.

Indeed, the Times reports that the Indian suspicions of China are actually getting worse, as Indians warily eye Beijing’s efforts to build influence in Nepal. “Silently but speedily China is spreading its wings in the erstwhile Hindu kingdom, mainly to unleash anti-India propaganda. Besides acquiring some major construction projects in Nepal, the Chinese are also making their presence felt by opening language centres in Nepali cities on the Indo-Nepal border. These centres are teaching Chinese language. But, what raises suspicions on Chinese intentions is the fact that these centres are open only for Nepali citizens.”

The Times gives us no examples of the “anti-India propaganda” that Beijing has unleashed in Nepal. Similarly, it’s hard to believe Mandarin-language centers are really sinister plots to create fifth columnists for China in the Himalayas. Indians are concerned about Nepalese plans to re-direct rivers that flow into India, with help from China, but worries about Nepal becoming a Chinese satellite seem premature. It’s New Delhi, not Beijing, that is about to sign a new free-trade treaty with Nepal.

Source: www.businessweek.com Date: October 26, 2009

Nepali peacekeeper dies in Haiti

A Nepal Army soldier serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti has died while on duty.

According to the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of the army, Corporal Posh Raj Adhikari died on Oct 21. He was a member of the 10th batch (Chandannath battalion) of NA's peace-keeping force deployed under the MINUSTAH mission in the country.

The DPR, however, did not reveal the circumstances leading to his death. His dead body is to be brought to Nepal on Oct 29.



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Largest Ritual Animal Slaughter

On November 24th and 25th, the world’s largest ritual animal slaughter will take place at the Gadhimai temple in the southern Bariyapur district of Nepal to honor the Hindu goddess of power.

The Gadhimai Festival will see anywhere from 350,000 to 400,000 animals slaughtered by men who fortify themselves for the festival with copious amounts of alcohol. Animals slaughtered include roosters, piglets, buffalos, chickens, rats, goats, baby goats, roosters, and pigeons.

Animal Nepal is speaking out against the several century old festival and is asking people around the world to sign a petition to end the slaughter at the Gadhimai Festival.

"We launched our campaign to put a stop to the gruesome killing of animals in the name of God," said Pramada Shah, director of Animal Nepal told AFP. However, the group faces an uphill battle in the deeply religious Hindu nation.

Source: www.greenmuze.com Date: 26 October 2009

Govt adopts liberal education policy; students till grade 7 won't need to pass exams

To discourage early school dropouts, the government has adopted a new policy where students up to class 7 don’t have to necessarily pass their examinations to be promoted to the next class, Kantipur Daily reported Monday.

Education secretary Ram Swarup Sinha said that the government made this decision after reaching conclusion that the three-hour examinations system can’t fully evaluate student’s capability.

“Education doesn’t only mean passing or failing your final examination. Its objective is to impart skills and teach you life lessons,” Sinha told Kantipur Daily.

He said the psychological effect on a child on failing an examination can give a negative impression about the whole education system.

“The ministry is very serious towards this fact,” Sinha said adding, "the new policy will discourage school drop out and also create an affirmative educational atmosphere."

As per the statistics maintained by the Ministry of Education, of the 4,782,313 students who get admission in the primary level throughout the country, only 30 percent make it to the lower secondary school level. The remaining 70 percent quit schooling owing to various reasons including failing in exams.


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The percentage of students who repeat classes after failing in class 1 is just 29 percent, according to the ministry.

Additionally, only 12 of the 100 students who get admission in class 1 make it to the final examination of the secondary level and the remaining 88 of them drop out of the school.

Sinha said that the new policy would bring drastic improvement in this situation.

According to him, students from class 1 to 3 will be elevated to the next class through regular evaluation. Nobody will be failed or have to repeat the class.

On the basis of the criteria determined by the National Curriculum Board, a policy of regular evaluation and liberal class promotion policy will be implemented.

“From now on, no students till class 7 will have to repeat classes for just failing in their annual examination,” he said.


Tibetan harassment on rise: US

The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom which was released by United States’ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour says that Tibetan Buddhists faced various restrictions, including outright interference and often an intimidating police presence during their religious celebrations in Nepal. The report records the status of respect for religious freedom in all countries during the period from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. The Annual Report's primary focus is on the actions of governments, including those that contribute to religious repression or tolerate violence against religious minorities as well as those that protect and promote religious freedom.

The report said that Nepal Government generally respected religious freedom during the reporting period, although on a few occasions it interfered with the practice of a religious group. The interim Constitution officially declared the country a secular state; however, the President, in his capacity as head of state, attended major Hindu religious ceremonies over which the King previously presided, the report said. Members of minority religious groups occasionally reported police harassment. There was a marked increase in the harassment of the Tibetan community. Authorities stopped Tibetan religious gatherings with political overtones and arrested some participants. There was often substantial police presence at purely religious gatherings, the report added.

The report also pointed out that adherents of the country's many religious groups generally coexisted peacefully and respected places of worship, although there were reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or


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practice. Those who converted to a different religious group occasionally faced violence and were ostracized socially but generally did not fear admitting their affiliations in public.

The report stated that Tibetan Buddhists faced various restrictions, including outright interference and often an intimidating police presence during their religious celebrations. Local authorities tolerated celebration of Tibetan religious festivals only on private property. The report noted that during one religious event on private property for which advance permission had been obtained, police confiscated and burned a picture of the Dalai Lama. The Government mounted a campaign of steadily increasing intimidation against the Tibetan community, successfully shutting down protest activities and severely constraining even purely religious events, the report added.


R&D_NewsBrief_27th OCt, 2009

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