The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed concern over continued attacks on journalists in Nepal and has urged the Nepal government to “increase protection for media workers”.

In a statement issued Monday IFJ Asia Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said, “Journalists face challenges from various fronts in Nepal. A concerted effort is needed to encourage freedom of expression in the country so that members of the press can report without fear of violence.”

The IFJ call was made following media reports about attacks on journalists and their property.

Gyanendra Khadka, a reporter of Nepal Samachar Patra daily and vice president of FNJ’s Bhojpur chapter, was attacked by a group of about Armed Police Force personnel on the evening of July 10 in Bhojpur while a Kantipur Publications van was stopped and set ablaze near Banke River in an area bordering the eastern districts of Sarlahi and Mahottari, at around 2pm on July 11.

The IFJ, an organisation representing over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries, has condemned these attacks and is demanding the Nepalese government to prevent further violence against the media.

“Immediate attention should be given to the Nepalese media, who are constantly being threatened from both authoritative and vigilante groups on a daily basis,” Park said, adding “a truly democratic Nepal cannot be achieved until the government puts an end to this type of violence.”

United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has said the issue of security sector reform, primarily relevant to those Maoist army who remain in cantonments after verification, should not be the precondition for carrying out the second stage verification.

In a regular press briefing at its newly established office at Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC), UNMIN chief Ian Martin said that his agency works under the criteria set out by the government and the Maoists and the responsibility conferred in the agreement on monitoring and management of arms and armies.

Citing promotions in the army and alleging that government was reluctant to integrating the Maoist army into the national army, Maoist Chairman Prachanda had last week asked the UNMIN to stop the second phase verification of the PLA.

Martin said that during his meeting with Maoist chief on Thursday, Prachanda indicated his intention to resume the verification soon, but he wanted further discussions in the next few days before he did so.

“He indicated that these include broader discussions – beyond the issue of verification itself – among the eight parties and within the special committee of the Interim Government established in accordance with Article 146 of the Interim Constitution, to supervise, integrate and rehabilitate the combatants of the Maoist army,” Martin said.

UNMIN has also shown interest to hold discussion regarding the future of those who would be released from the cantonments for not meeting the criteria set out.

Martin also said that those under 18 years must be discharged from the cantonments promptly but did not mention how many had been identified ineligible to remain in the camps.

Responding to a query if UNMIN and the Maoist leadership had misunderstanding on the modalities of verification, Martin said the modalities were primarily reached between the then government and the Maoists and that the UNMIN is only responsible for implementing the agreement.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress made on preparation for constituent assembly elections, Martin informed that 124 international UN volunteers (UNVs) have arrived and together with 43 Nepali UNVs, they would be deployed as district electoral advisers. “By mid-August we plan to have deployed 48 international and 19 national UNVs to 28 district headquarters, from where they will cover another 31 districts. The rest of the district electoral advisers will be deployed in September to cover all 75 districts,” he added.

Stating that the report of the United Nations Electoral Expert Monitoring Team, prepared after its visit to Nepal from 11 to 23 June, was submitted to the Secretary-General, he added that it would be made available to the government and to the Election Commission soon.

The UNMIN chief also informed that at the request of the Election Commission, the United Nations would assist in coordinating international observers through the UNDP.

Citing challenges ahead for holding the polls in a conducive environment, Martin said, “UNMIN, and indeed the Secretary-General, have repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring through dialogue that historically marginalized groups – Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits, women and others – can accept that their legitimate demands for representation will be met by through the electoral system.”

Dialogue with agitating groups is essential to assuring public security, especially in the eastern Terai, Martin said and added that UNMIN looked forward to being briefed on the government’s plans for election security.

He stressed the need for establishment of an independent national monitoring body and appointment of members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

“Both bodies are urgently needed to monitor progress in peace implementation, including the human rights commitment of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, and UNMIN and OHCHR can then intensify our own roles in monitoring or supporting national monitoring,” he added.

Asking all parties to give up violence, Martin expressed hope that the Maoist leadership would ask the Young Communist League to end intimidation and violence. “It is sickening for those of us who wish to see a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nepal to read daily of killings, assaults, threats of violence and destruction of public and private property. All such acts are criminal, whether or not they have a political dimension,” he said.

Ten persons including the District Education Officers (DEOs) of Sunsari and Taplejung district were injured when the jeep they were traveling in collided head on with a speeding truck on Koshi higway in Biratnagar Monday morning.

The jeep enroute to Itahari from Biratnagar collided with a truck with number place Lu 1 Kha 2331 coming from the opposite direction and both the vehicles skidded off the road, according to police and local people.

The truck lost control before it hit the jeep with the officers.

The injured were rushed to Birat Nursing Home in Biratnagar following the accident and are currently undergoing treatment there.

The condition of the two of the injured is said to be very critical.

At a time when lawmakers have strongly protested allocation of budget for royal palace, general secretary of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said it is but natural for the government to do so.

Speaking at an interaction by Nepal Press Chautari in Damauli, Tanahun district, Nepal said, “The state has to allocate budget even to the prisoners in jails. So, it is natural to allocate budget for the palace.”

He added that since the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections will usher in republic, the current budget (for the palace) will only be valid till November.

Although the budget for coming fiscal year 2007/08 had not formally allocated budget for royal palace, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat later revealed that the government has allocated Rs 125 million for the palace.

A senior leader of Maoists has said that the state needs to treat Terai extremists as terrorists.

“The government should not hold dialogue with parties that want to split the country. They should be termed terrorists and strong action taken against them,” said Chandra Prakash Gajurel aka Gaurav.

The strong remark by Maoist politburo member and chief of its international relations cell has come in the wake of appeal for dialogue with Terai groups made by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

“We are doubtful how the dialogue will be helpful in resolving the problem when many of Terai groups are openly claiming that they will now hold talks only to divide the country,” Gajurel said.

Home Minister Sitaula had appealed to ‘Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, factions of JTMM and other groups’ to come for dialogue within two weeks following which, he warned, the government would be compelled to take strong actions in order to create proper environment for Constituent Assembly elections.

Around a dozen armed groups have sprung in Terai region in last couple of months. Some of them have also demanded a separate Terai state.

The bullish trend at the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) continued to soar for yet another week. The Nepse index maintained new historic highs throughout the week, a growth attributed to the strong performance of commercial banks at the stock market.

The Nepse index registered a sound double-digit growth of 27.72 points to reach a new high of 643.15 points at the end of this week.
After the capital market opened its trading at 614.43 points on Sunday, it continued to climb up through the week and set a new record. According to trade analysts, soaring share prices of commercial banks, insurance companies and hydropower companies supported the growth.

The weekly turnover, however, dropped significantly this week to Rs 297.8 million with 914,428 units shares being traded through 2,357 transactions, against last week’s figure of Rs 497.4 million through the trading of 1,453,396 shares. Out of the total 91 listed companies, 65 companies saw their transactions this week. The group wise share trading analysis shows that all major groups including commercial banks and insurance groups posted an impressive growth.

Stock market analysts have been somewhat bewildered by the unusual growth in major indices, even terming the current growth unjustifiable because it is largely caused by speculative buying and investors’ expectations that the economy will gain momentum.

Three minors have died in yet another landslide that struck Awalgutara of Bhagwati VDC-3 Jajarkot on Thursday evening. Earlier, 25 people had died in separate landslides in Baglung and Bajura.

The deceased have been identified as 13-year-old Karna Bahadur Basnet, 12 year old Omlal Bohora, and 2 years old Darpati Shahi. According to Chief District Officer Govindamani Bhurtel, a police team has been dispatched to the affected place on Saturday to carry out rescue operations in the area.

Meanwhile, an elderly man was killed after he was struck by lightning while he was ploughing field Saturday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Alakshan Majhi, 55, of Katahari-3, Morang.

With a view to promote tourism, the government is preparing new ‘tourism policy’ by incorporating the “long-term vision and broad-based reform agenda of the tourism sector”.

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat revealed this during his budget speech Thursday in which he announced an annual budget of Rs 168.9 billion for the new fiscal year 2007/08.

As per the plan Non Resident Nepalis (NRNs), Nepalese diplomats, residential and honorary consulates, Nepalese students and worker communities abroad will be mobilised to implement “Send Home a Friend” programme, as part of the strategy to increase the number of tourists under the Special Tourism Promotion Program next year . Likewise, renowned Nepalese mountaineers, athletes, and others will be involved by awarding the brand ambassador to promote “Nepal for All Seasons” programme.

During his budget speech Minister Mahat also said that necessary infrastructure building works would be started in order to construct a second International Airport in Nijgarh of Bara district. He said the government would also attract foreign investment by building necessary infrastructures including land acquisition for the construction of international airport of regional level in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.

Similarly, the government has also plans to install modern equipments in Tribhuvan International Airport so as to make airlines flights “well managed and more reliable”.

Not forgetting the sick hotel industries, which according to Dr Mahat is passing “through a revival stage”, the government will provide some concession on customs duties at the import of furniture and fixtures to hoteliers in order to minimize their investment cost. Customs exemption will also be provided to the hoteliers for the importation of the vehicle for the use of tourist as well.

And finally for preservation of the national heritages of cultural significance the government has also allocated a budget for the development and preservation of the Lumbini Area Development, Greater Janakpur Area Development, and Pashupati Area including other culturally and archeologically important sites.

The Nepalese Women cricket team has reached the semifinals of the ACC Women’s Cricket Tournament outclassing Hong Kong by 7 wickets in today’s match in Johor Baru, Malaysia. With 10 points from 3 games, Nepal earned its place in the semifinals.

According to information posted in nepalcricket.com, Hong Kong, batting first, could only muster 31 runs. In reply, Nepal made 32 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, winning the match by 7 wickets.

In yesterday’s game against hosts Malaysia, the game ended in a tie with both teams collecting 2 points each. Nepal, chasing 74 runs for victory, needed one run to win with 2 wickets and 10 balls in hand, but could not do so with good bowling from Malaysia and a batting collapse, resulting in a tie.

In the game before that against Thailand on Thursday, the Nepalese Women cricket team outclassed Thailand by 55 runs.

Minister for Works and Physical Planning Hisila Yami has said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given a ‘green signal’ to proceed with the multi-million-dollar Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

Following the meeting between visiting ADB delegation and Ministry officials on Sunday, Yami told Nepal FM that the project will now proceed.

“They have urged us to move forward in a new framework,” she said. Yami added that the delegation assessed the physical and institutional reform measures, which are required before starting the construction of tunnel of the project.

“They have given us good message and asked us to work in a new framework,” she said.

The ADB headquarters had dispatched the delegation led by its deputy director general of South Asia Division Sultan Hafeez Rahman following request made by the government of Nepal to proceed with the MWSP.

Earlier, after Yami refused to honour the previous government’s agreement to allow UK’s Severn Trent to handle the management of valley’s water distribution system, the ADB had warned it might not renew the funding commitment for the project. However, later it agreed to hold further talks with the government. ADB is the principal donor for the project and has agreed to finance the construction of 26 km long tunnel – said to be the costliest component of the project – to bring water from Melamchi river to Kathmandu valley.