VOL. 28, NO. 18, Jan 09, 2009 (Paush 25 2065 B.S.)

COAS Katuwal (Left) Meeting Indians Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. General S.P.S. Dhillon

THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL Development and United Nations Development Programme have signed a memorandum of understanding of USD 3.2 million to carry on supporting the implementation of the national HIV/AIDS control in Nepal for 2009. UNDP will keep on contributing to the implementation of comprehensive services for Most-At Risk Populations in 2009 and assist strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Centre for HIV/AIDS and STD Control, Ministry of Health and Population and the HIV/AIDS and STD Control Board, stated a press release issued by the UNDP on Tuesday. The DFID funding will also provide complementary and supplementary support from the Global Fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, added the statement. It is estimated that more than 70,000 people are infected with HIV/AIDS in the country.

RAMESH BABU PANTA AND RAMESH K.C, the two Maoist-affiliated labour union leaders accused in the attack on Himalmedia office and its staffers 10 days ago, were released on bail Thursday (Jan 1). Lalitpur Chief District Officer (CDO) Laxmi Prasad Dhakal released the duo on a bail amount of Rs 12,398 each after conducting a hearing on their case at the District Administration Office. The bail amount was meant to cover Rs 20,385 the government prosecutor had recommended as compensation to Himalmedia for the damages carried out at its offices by a group of workers allegedly led by Panta and KC. Around 200 Maoist trade union activists and workers, who had gathered at the CDO for the hearing, started celebrating soon after the duo came out of the office following their bail. Our reporter at the scene said that the jubilant crowd smeared the duo's faces with vermillion as a sign of victory and also held a small procession for some time. "We were not involved in the attack [on Himalmedia]. We were wrongly accused," Panta, chairman of All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, told media persons and the jubilant crowd after his release. "A high level probe commission should investigate the Himal incident and bring out the truth." Panta and K.C also demanded that the 18 staffers wrongfully sacked by the Himalmedia should be reinstated at the earliest. Chairman of Maoist Trade Union Shalikram Jammarkattel, who arrived at the CDO office for the hearing but left immediately after Panta and KC were released, said that he not will let rich business owners exploit the workers and will always fight for their rights. He also described the Himalmedia episode as a "class struggle" between workers and rich businessman. Jammarkattel, however, stressed on resolving the "Himalmedia labour dispute" through dialogue, but at the same time warned of "serious consequences" if the workers rights are undermined while doing that. He was clearly referring to the employees who were laid off by Himalmedia citing growing company losses. Panta and KC were remanded to 10-day police custody on Sunday. The district Administration Office, Lalitpur, remanded Panta and KC to 10-day police custody on Sunday, as requested by the police, in order to complete the inquiry. Kunda Dixit, the editor/publisher of Nepali Times weekly, one of the publications of Himalmedia, had lodged a case at the District Police Office, Lalitpur, on Thursday, demanding legal action against the two and others involved in the attack last Sunday. The two main accused had surrendered to the DAO last Friday.

SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Shankar Prasad Koirala on Wednesday (Dec 31) said that at least 145 MW electricity will be added to the national transmission line by March, 2009. He said that the government has already made necessary preparations to import electricity from India to cope with the increasing problem of the power cut in the country. Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters' Club in the capital today, Koirala informed that 20 MW of electricity will be imported from Tanakpur tomorrow itself, and will be connected to the national transmission line. He further said that the transmission line ravaged by the Koshi floods will be repaired by March, and after that 40 MW electricity can be supplied. Similarly, 35 MW of electricity generated by the Mid-Marsyangadi Hydro Project will be connected to the national transmission line by the end of February, Koirala said. He added that the government has made preparations to import 65 MW electricity from Farbisgunj, Sitamadi and Jayanagar of India.

THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING to bring a law to ban bandh, strikes in industries, highways, education and health sectors. "We have remained silent till now. But we will no more tolerate anarchy," Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said, while addressing a program organized by Confederation of Nepali Industries (CNI) on Thursday (Jan 1). Talking on the issue of Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS), Dr. Bhattarai said it was not only targeted at businessmen. "We will also not let politicians. They will also be brought under the tax net," he said. He also urged business community not to suspect the government. "We have no hidden agenda," he said. He stressed that VDIS was aimed at income tax not property tax.