Received: from mp.cs.niu.edu (mp.cs.niu.edu [131.156.1.2]) by library.wustl.edu (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id TAA10465 for <huestis@library.wustl.edu>; Fri, 13 Jan 1995 19:13:54 -0600 Received: by mp.cs.niu.edu id AA23461 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for nepal-dist); Fri, 13 Jan 1995 16:19:42 -0600 Received: by mp.cs.niu.edu id AA23457 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for nepal-list); Fri, 13 Jan 1995 16:19:40 -0600 Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 16:19:40 -0600 Message-Id: <199501132219.AA23457@mp.cs.niu.edu> Reply-To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> From: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu> Sender: "Rajpal J. Singh" <A10RJS1@cs.niu.edu> Subject: The Nepal Digest - Jan 13, 1995 (29 Push 2051 BkSm) To: <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> Content-Type: text Content-Length: 36122 Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 82
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The Nepal Digest Friday 13 Jan 95: Push 29 2051 BkSm Volume 35 Issue 8
Note: There was a file update problem on the system last week. If
you or one of your friends are not getting TND, please re-subscribe!
Apologies for the inconvinience.
Today's Topics:
1. TAJA_KHABAR News From Nepal
Nepalis Raped and Abused in Korea
Macroeconomic Performance in Nepal
2. KURA_KANI
Economics - Re: Foreign Aid
Environment - Arun III
3. KATHA_KABITA
Muktak - Chithhi and Rahar
4. JAN_KARI
Matrimonials
******************************************************************************
* TND Board of Staff *
* ------------------ *
* Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* SCN Liason: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
* Consultant Editor: Padam P. Sharma sharma@plains.nodak.edu *
* Discussion Moderator: Ashutosh Tiwari tiwari@husc.harvard.edu *
* Memberlist Archives: Sudeep Acharya sa01@engr.uark.edu *
* TND Archives: Sohan Panta k945184@atlas.kingston.ac.uk *
* *
* Subscription/Deletion requests : NEPAL-REQUEST@MP.CS.NIU.EDU *
* Provide one line message: sub nepal "lastname, firstname, mi" <user@host> *
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* TND database to: <A10RJS1@MP.CS.NIU.EDU> *
* Snail-Mail Correspondences to: Rajpal J. Singh *
* Founding-editor/Co-ordinator *
* The Nepal Digest (TND) *
* 502 West Lincoln Highway *
* DeKalb, Illinois 60115, U.S.A. *
* Digest Contributions: NEPAL@MP.CS.NIU.EDU *
* Contributors need to supply Header for the article, email, and full name. *
* *
* Postings are divided into following categories that are listed in the *
* order below. Please provide category-type in the header of your e-mail. *
* *
* 1. Message from TND Editorial Board *
* 2. Letter to the Editor *
* 3. TAJA_KHABAR: Current News *
* 4. KATHA_KABITA: Literature *
* 5. KURA_KANI: Economics *
* Agriculture *
* Forestry *
* Health *
* Education *
* Technology *
* Social Issues *
* Cultural Issues *
* Environment *
* Tourism *
* Foreign Policy *
* History *
* Military/Police *
* Politics *
* 6. Entertainment (Humor, Recipies, Movie Reviews, Sattaires etc.) *
* 7. JAN_KARI: Classifides (Matrimonials, Jobs etc) *
* 8. KHOJ_KHABAR (Inquiring about Nepali etc. ) *
* 9. Immigration/Taxes *
* 10. TITAR_BITAR: Miscellaneous *
* *
* The Nepal Digest(TND) is a publication of the Nepal Interest Group for *
* news and discussions about issues concerning Nepal. All members of *
* nepal@cs.niu.edu will get a copy of TND. Membership is open to all. *
* THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ARTICLES FOR CLARITY. *
* *
* **** COPYRIGHT NOTE **** *
* The news/article posters are responsible for any copyright violations. *
* TND, a non-profit electronic journal, will publish articles that has *
* been published in other electronic or paper journal with proper credit *
* to the original media. *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" -Dr. MLK *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar_RJS_Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 02:08:10 +0000
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
From: mdeschen@cc.brynmawr.edu (Mary Des Chene)
Subject: TAJA_KHABAR: Current News
Cardinal Kim Apologises to Foreign Workers in Seoul
(Updates, recasts throughout)
SEOUL, Jan 10 (Reuter) - South Korea's Cardinal Stephen Kim apologised
on Tuesday to Nepali migrant workers demonstrating for better work
conditions and prosecutors began investigating alleged abuses by their
employers and placement agent.
``I am very sorry, as a Korean,'' Kim said as he shook hands with the
13 Nepalis who have been protesting since Monday outside Myongdong Roman
Catholic Cathedral in central Seoul.
The Nepalis, braving chilly winter weather, tied themselves up in
chains and walked around outside the church with protest placards around
their necks.
South Korean labour activists have been helping the demonstrators in
order to highlight the plight of tens of thousands of foreign workers in
Korea.
Tens of thousands of foreigners work in South Korea, many of them
illegally in so-called ``3-D'' jobs -- dirty, difficult and dangerous --
which locals shun.
The workers said they came through an agency in Nepal, which has an
office in Seoul, thinking they would earn about $400-$500 a month and learn
technical skills. Instead they were offered $210 which they had yet to
receive, they said.
Seoul's prosecutors began an investigation after Prime Minister Lee
Hong-koo ordered a thorough study of the case and the working conditions of
foreign workers.
``We can't let foreign workers be mistreated, especially when we are
heading for an era of globalisation,'' Lee told senior officials at his
office.
``First, find out the reasons for the Nepalese workers' rally, and also
find solutions to change the working conditions for foreign workers,'' a
spokesman quoted him as saying.
A Nepali worker told Reuters a Nepali woman was beaten and raped on
Saturday in her room at the factory she works for. ``She is now in hiding
but that is what happens to us here,'' he said, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
``We get no salary in our hands. We have no passports. We get beaten up
by the broker and the owner,'' said one of the 13 Nepalis.
``I came here to take training, I don't get it here,'' said another
protester outside the cathedral. ``I have to work like Korean workers but
the factory owner beats us and we don't get our basic salary.''
The 13 said in a joint statement: ``We may be from a poor country and
that's why we are working here in Seoul like slaves. But we have our basic
human rights too.''
REUTER
Transmitted: 95-01-10 09:31:38 EST
S.Korean Manager Arrested for Raping Nepali
SEOUL, Jan 11 (Reuter) - A South Korean factory manager was arrested
after a Nepali migrant worker accused him of raping and beating her, police
said on Wednesday.
The arrest came as 13 Nepali migrant workers continued their protest
for a third day on Wednesday outside a Seoul cathedral, saying they had
been beaten and worked in poor conditions.
``He was arrested last night after the woman filed charges,'' a police
official in Kyonggi province, on the outskirts of Seoul, told Reuters.
A Nepali woman, who identified herself only as Miss G, earlier told
reporters that the manager entered her room at the factory late on Saturday
night and beat and raped her. She said her female roommate, also from
Nepal, fled after being punched in the face by the manager.
Miss G managed to escape after being raped and was staying at a place
that houses foreign workers in South Korea.
The case was brought to the police after South Korean Prime Minister
Lee Hong-koo ordered a thorough investigation into allegations by the 13
Nepali workers, who are protesting outside Seoul's Myongdong Roman Catholic
cathedral.
They carried placards reading: ``No More Slavery'' and ``Don't beat us
please.''
A Nepali at the Shelter for Foreign Workers in Seoul said they would
continue their protest indefinitely.
``There are only 13 of them protesting now but this is something that
conchan office in Seoul, thinking they would earn about $400 to $500 a month and
learn technical skills. Instead, they were offered $210 which they had yet
to receive, they said.
Prosecutors on Tuesday began a probe into the workers' employers and
placement agent.
Tens of thousands of foreigners work in South Korea, many of them
illegally in so-called ``3-D'' jobs -- dirty, difficult and dangerous --
which locals shun.
REUTER
Transmitted: 95-01-11 05:29:51 EST
%%%%%Editor's Note: Thank you for the current News flash. TND family %%%%%
%%%%% is very very concerned about the abuse of Nepali %%%%%
%%%%% men and women in Korea, especially rape and %%%%%
%%%%% attrocities commited by Koreans. I am confident %%%%%
%%%%% TND members includes scholars, social workers and %%%%%
%%%%% influential professionals who can help to bring %%%%%
%%%%% this issue in the public. One of the possibility %%%%%
%%%%% is to file formal complaints to UN or contact CNN %%%%%
%%%%% for full coverage of the story. Please circulate %%%%%
%%%%% the news for awareness and send in your thoughts. %%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
**********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 15:50:25 -0500 (EST)
To: Nepal Digest <nepal@cs.niu.edu>,
From: Neal Cohen <ncohen@usaid.gov>
Subject: Macro-Economic Performance
Marco-Economic Developments for the First Five Months of the Nepal Fiscal Year
The developments in different sectors of the economy based on the stat-
istics available for the first five months of FY1994/95 reflect a mixed
trend. Improvement in Government's fiscal position mainly due to
enhanced revenue mobilization, restrained monetary expansion and a
marginal decline in the rate of inflation could be cited as positive
developments. Decline in export earnings in the face of sustained
increase in imports which has exacerbated the deterioration in trade
balance is the single most factor of concern. The widening trade and
current account deficits have put pressure on the country's balance of
payments.
In the monetary sector, the rate of growth in money supply has deceler-
ated to 4.5% in the first five month of FY1994/95 as compared to a
higher rate of growth of 6.2% in the same period last year. Net foreign
assets has declined by 2% to $720million whereas domestic credit has
expanded by 7.7% to $1.2billion in the review period. Net foreign
assets and domestic credit had grown by 11% and 5% respectively in the
same period last year. Acceleration in credit allocation to the private
sector by 15% from a growth rate of 7% last year has been the main
expansionary factor this year. Credit to the private sector has
increased by $97million to $740million. Credit expansion to the public
sector (government and government enterprises) has declined by 1.5% in
the review period as against an increase of 4% last year. Credit expan-
sion to the government and government enterprises has declined by 1.4%
($6million) and 2.7% ($1million) to reach $463million and $39million
respectively. Growth in time deposits has slowed down to 4% this year
from 84% last year.
On the price front, the rate of inflation as measured by the national
urban consumer price index has shown a marginal deceleration. On a
point to point basis the price index has risen by 9.0% in mid-December
1994 as compared to mid-December 1993. Such increase was slightly
higher at 9.1% in the same period last year. On a point to point basis,
the price index for food and beverages has increased by 8.8% which that
for non-food and services has gone up by 9.4% this year. Price indices
for these two categories had gone up by 9.1% and 9.2% respectively in
the same period last year. On a monthly basis, the price index in mid-
December over the previous month has shown a decline of 2.3%. Such
monthly decline had been 2.4% in the same period last year.
Government's budgetary position shows improvement mainly as a result
of improvement in revenue collections. Reduced development budget
spending has contributed toward the decline in the deficit. Based on
budgetary statistics on a cash flow basis for the first five months of
FY1994/95, total expenditure increased 16% to $39million because reg-
ular budget spending 64% (partly due to transfer of some items from
the development to the regular budget and the cost of elections) Total
receipts increased by 29% to $184million in the review period. Of this,
revenue receipts increased by 31% to $157million. In the same period
last year, total expenditure declined 10%, total resources (and
domestic revenue) grew 19%. Improved revenue mobilization contributed
to lowering the budgetary deficit by 43% to $19million in the first
five months of FY1994/95. The budgetary deficit had been$33million in
the same period last year. The budget deficit in the review period has
been financed by internal loans worth $5million (well within the
structural adjustment target of $20million for the fiscal year) and
foreign cash loans worth $26million. The budgetary position has con-
tributed to an increase in government's deposit balance by $12million.
Last year, internal loans were $10million and foreign cash loans of
$24million.
On the external front the declining trend in exports has continued.
Total exports declined by 17% to $140million in the first five months
of the current fiscal year. While export to India increased 50% to
$27million, export to third countries declined 25% to $113million.
Exports of woollen carpets, the single largest export item, declined
by nearly 35% as against a rise of 18% in the same period last year.
Readymade garments, the second largest export item, decelerated its
growth from 60% last hear to just 5% this year. Total import growth,
on the other hand increased 33% to $458million. Imports grew by 31% in
the same period last year. Imports from India amounted to$154million
(a 22% increase) and that from third countries $304million (39%
increase). Total trade deficit has widened by 81% to $317million in the
review period as compared to an increased of 40% in the corresponding
period last year.
Total foreign exchange reserves as of December 23, 1994 stood at
$777million registering a decline of $10million over the level of
reserve prevailing at the end of FY1993/94. The available reserves
would be adequate to cover about eight and a half months of merchandise
imports.
Neal
**********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 17:15:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Frank Kroger <fkroger@halcyon.com>
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - Jan 12, 1995 (28 Push 2051 BkSm)
Would it be possible to put the masthead of the Nepal Digest at the end?
That way regular reader could start reading the digest without having to
scroll through all that stuff everytime and could bail out when they
reach it at the end. A brief announcement about the masthead's existence
could be included at the top of TND....
Frank Kroger, Seattle, WA, USA. fkroger@halcyon.com
**********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 21:12:58 EST
From: tilak@UFCC.UFL.EDU
To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Foreign aid in Nepal.
Dear Ms. Shirley Cheung,
I am glad to note your concern about Nepal and Nepalese development.
However, I am not able to understand the connection between Hindu religion
and underdevelopment or women's plight. Would you please kindly elaborate
and mention specific religious beliefs which are against development, family
planning or women's right. Your posting is most appreciated.
Thanks and regards. Sincerely yours - Tilak B. Shrestha.
***********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 22:03:40 +0700
To: Nepal Digest <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
From: Suman Kumar Manandhar <a94314@cs.ait.ac.th>
Subject: Matrimonials
It is very funny that TND matrimonial section does not tell us the sex of
either the candidate or the wanted person. Sure we can guess that Raju
might be a boy (I know one Raju who is a girl) and Daya is certainly
ambiguous. Height considerations give us a clue but well ....
The effort is, however, a very welcome one. Nepalese lonely hearts are
now offered an opportunity to tie the blissful knot via
cyber"lami"nation. Good luck to the Lonely Hearts Club members ...
Suman Kumar Manandhar
a94314@cs.ait.ac.th
Computer Science
Asian Institute of Technology
Bangkok
**********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 10:23:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Jagadish Dawadi <JXD9590@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - Jan 12, 1995 (28 Push 2051 BkSm)
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Dear Editor:
Gee, thanks much for sending me the Nepal Digest electronic magazine. I find
this magazine very informative and have found it as a convenient tool for
keeping myself abreast of what is going on in Nepal and what Nepalese people
are doing here in the USA. I higly appreciate your wonderful work of making
this electronic magazine available on the internet. Keep up this good work!
With best wishes,
Jagadish Dawadi
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York
**********************************************************************
From: Shailesh R. Bhandari <sbhandar@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>
Subject: muktak
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 11:41:53 -0500 (EST)
CHITHI
Timro naam ma pathaaeko prem patra
Timi lai khojdai khojdai merai chhaatima
Taasina aaipugeko chha
Malaai ke thaahaa ki
Timro mutu le mero chhaati vitra
Ghar banaaeko chha.
RAHAR
Meraa aankha niyaali hera
Prem nai prem ko lahar chha
Ani mero man lai bujhne kosis gara
Timi laai anggalo maa rakhera
Europe ra America ghumne rahar chha.
**********************************************************************
From: gshah@st6000.sct.edu (Gopal Shah)
Subject: Matrimonial
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 1995 11:48:05 -0500 (EST)
Thanks to all TND board members for this Matrimonial("Lami")
section. Let's hope through this section many hearts will join
together. At the moment, we have two candidates. If it works, we will
have more candidates.
Descriptions:
Name: "Raju" Name: "Daya"
Height: 5' 8" Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 165 lbs. Weight: 155 lbs.
Caste: Brahmin Caste: Brahmin
Age Group: 25-30 yrs. Age Group: 25-30 yrs.
Education:BA in Chemistry,MBA Education: BA in Chemistry
Job: Work in a chemical company Job: Work in a chemical company
Location: Georgia,USA LOcation: Georgia,USA
Looking for:
Height: 5' 1" + Height: 4' 11"+
Age: 19 yrs+ Age: 19 yrs.+
Education: undergraduate Education: undergraduate
Interested candidates/parents can send confidential email to
gshah@st6000.sct.edu. PLEASE DO NOT CALL.All the confidential reports
including names will not be disclosed.
%%%% Editor's Note: Welocme to MATRIMONIALS! You quite possibly might %%%%
%%%% be the first romantic souls to be in matrimonial %%%%
%%%% "Nepali-Style" in Nepali history (Pratyoush, %%%%
%%%% please verify if I am correct). TND hopes more of %%%%
%%%% you will join in search of your soul mates. %%%%
%%%% %%%%
%%%% Best of wishes and good luck! %%%%
%%%% %%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
************************************************************************
Date: Jan 10, 1994
Forwarded by: Rajpal J. Singh <a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu>
To: The Nepal Digest <nepal@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Matrimonials
Looking for 25 + years female.
Caste no bar
Name: Ramesh Shrestha
Age Group: 25-30
Profession: Self employed
Phone: 312-665-0214
***************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 1995 18:13:14 -0800
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
From: bhushan@Tanner.COM (Bhushan Mudbhary)
Subject: matrimonials
A great idea! But why identify oneself with a "caste". I just love people who
say " No, I do not believe in the caste system, and yes I am a brahmin".
Lets do away with the caste bigotry once and for all.
Bhushan Mudbhary
%%%%%Editor's Note: Granted bigotry at any level should be dicouraged, %%%%
%%%%% "choices" on the other-hand are personal matters. %%%%
%%%%% In order to encourage matrimonials, I would like %%%%
%%%%% to leave caste as an option and a personal choice. %%%%
%%%%% %%%%
%%%%% On the other hand, TND is wide open for KURA_KANI %%%%
%%%%% process to unite Nepalis across all castes. All %%%%
%%%%% comments welcome, please! %%%%
%%%%% %%%%
%%%%% "By all means get married, if you get an understanding spouse, %%%%
%%%%% you will be happy, else you'll become a philosopher" - Socrates %%%%
%%%%% %%%%
%%%%% It's a WIN-WIN situation, isn't it? :-) %%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
**************************************************************************
From: gshah@st6000.sct.edu (Gopal Shah)
Subject: Matrimonial
To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 11:43:43 -0500 (EST)
We are thrilled that more and more people are posting in "LAMI"
section. It is really a great start!
Yo Bhushan! It was not our intention-Brahmin guys looking for brahmin
women. Our purpose was simply providing as much information as we
could to women so that they would response accordingly. We also don't
believe either that caste is a major obstacle in the marriage.On the
other hand, we agree with Rajpal that it is a matter of personal
choice. Let's forget about caste and other obstacles and let their
hearts join together!
********************************************************************
From: rajendra@coos.dartmouth.edu (Rajendra P. Shrestha)
Subject: News from Nepal
Date: 12 Jan 1995 23:51:02 GMT
To: The Nepal Digest <nepal@mp.cs.niu.edu>
January 11
------------------------------------------------------------------
India presents locomotives to Nepal
PTI report
India has presented two diesel hydraulic locomotives and six
coaches to Nepal to commence the "dieselization" process of its
railway. The diesel trains will connect Jayanagar railway station in
India to Janakpurdham station, one of the prominent pilgrimage centres
of Terai region. Rail India Technical and Economic Services supplied
the locomotives and coaches under the Indo- Nepal cooperation
programme. It will also look after their maintenance for one year in
addition to imparting training to Nepalese operating and maintenance
staff. The dieselization of trains between Jayanagar and Janakpurdham
has now been completed and regular diesel train services have begun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance Minister says Government Reviewing Privatization Process
Radio Nepal Report (as monitored by BBC)
Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari has said that as His
Majesty's government is making a reappraisal of the corporations sold
to the market sector in the past, the government has not discontinued
the privatization drive. Replying to a question of Dr Prakash Chandra
Lohani of RPP [Rashtriya Prajatantra Party] during question hour in
the House of Representatives today [9th January], Finance Minister Mr
Adhikari gave the information, and said once the task of assessing the
achievements and weaknesses of the corporations that have gone to the
private sector is completed, His Majesty's government will specify its
next measure. He also made it clear that the government does not
intend to bring under its control industrial institutions that have
already been handed over to the private sector.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Nepal Expected in India Next Month
Excerpts from Reuters report
Deputy PM and foreign minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is expected to
travel to India next month on his first official foreign visit,
government officials said on Wednesday. Indian Ambassador to Nepal
Bimal Prasad delivered an invitation on Tuesday to the home of Madhav
Kumar Nepal, who is deputy prime minister and foreign minister in
Nepal's new government, the ministry said in a statement. Foreign
Ministry officials said the dates of Nepal's visit had not been set,
but last week he told a newspaper he planned to go to India in the
first week of February.
The new government formed by the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist
(UML) party has signalled its desire to put relations with India on a
new course by demanding renegotiation of a four-decades old treaty
with New Delhi. The communists have complained that the so-called
friendship treaty has allied Nepal too closely to its southern
neighbour. They say relations with India and China must be put on a
more balanced footing.
Diplomatic analysts attached considerable importance to the visit
to India by Nepal, who is also the UML's general-secretary.
Nepal's visit to India would pave the way for a trip by Adhikary
to New Delhi for talks with Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao,
who has already invited the Nepali prime minister to the Indian
capital.
"I am looking forward to having open talks with friends in India on
matters concerning the Mahakali River, its source and the question of
sovereignty over its waters and the Tanakpur project during my visit
to India," Adhikary said in a speech in the western town of
Mahendranagar on Tuesday.
He was referring to the Tanakpur hydro-electric project built by
India on the Mahakali River, which forms part of the border between
the two nations.
Nepal now receives only two megawatts of electricity and 1,000
cubic feet per second of irrigation water in exchange for permitting
India to extend part of the project into Nepal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
January 12
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister denies Political Bias Against Civil Servants
Excerpts from Xinhua report
Replying to a motion in parliament, general administration minister
Subash Chandra Nemwang has stated that no political prejudices exist
against those civil servants working in the general
administration. the minister told the on-going parliament session
tuesday that no employees with inclination towards the former ruling
nepali congress have been sacked, transferred or compelled to resign
from the ministry of general administration. NC mp Govinda raj Joshi,
the motion proposer, asserted that the administration ministry has
been politicized by sacking the employees whose tenure was yet to
expire or by compelling them to resign. Nemwang also pledged that no
employees will be removed even if any of them has been promoted to the
post of secretary or the like during the nepali congress rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from: India News Digest
NEPAL: DRAWING CLOSER TO A DISTANT COUSIN...AND WARMING UP TO A
NORTHERN NEIGHBOR
Business Week, January 16, 1995
By Helen Chang in Kathmandu
In the Durbar Square shopping area in Kathmandu, vendors sell
swanky leather jackets from India, while others offer garlic and
tomato sauce from China.
With recent market reforms, Nepal's trade ties with its two giant
neighbors have started to warm. And with the call by Nepal's new
communist government for more privatization and foreign investment,
analysts say the question is not whether market reforms will continue,
but how quickly they will be implemented.
Sandwiched between India and China at the foot of the Himalayas,
this tiny kingdom remained largely sealed off from the rest of the
world until a popular revolt in 1990 led to a multiparty system and
market reform. After two years of turmoil, the economy has started to
take off, with growth doubling to 7.8% last year.
In recent years, Indian businesspeople have found a welcome in
Nepal. Eager to expand trade in northern India, yet worried about
political instability and market restrictions there, southern Indian
industrialists have set up shop in Nepal, where they enjoy special tax
incentives. The goods are then sold in northern India.
Approvals for Indian industrial projects in Nepal skyrocketed
nearly 700% -- from $ 103 million in 1991-92 to $ 685 million in
1992-93, according to the Industry Ministry. Two-way trade has also
flourished, growing to $ 7.2 billion in the first nine months of 1994
-- equivalent to the whole amount in the previous year.
But Nepal has long had close but uneasy trade with India, and
remains wary of its larger cousin. For 18 months, the kingdom was
nearly at a standstill as India -- angered by Kathmandu's purchase of
Chinese arms -- blockaded the border. One Nepalese businessman
explains it this way: ''We're paranoid about the Indians. We're
dependent on them, but they can screw us at any time.'' Distrust of
Indians is the reason the tiny Nepalese stock market -- only 67
listings, with less than 30 actively traded -- is closed to outsiders.
Foreigners can list joint-venture companies, but they cannot buy
shares. Explains one government official: ''Indians are very well
advanced. If we allow Indians to buy, then Nepali people will be left
behind.'' Stock exchange General Manager Madan Raj Joshi says the
government's main reason for excluding foreigners is to allow time to
assess the full impact of recent foreign-exchange convertibility
policies. But the long-term plan is to open the market to
foreigners. Says Joshi: ''You should be competitive, no matter if you
have the foreign investor or the local.''
Nepal has had more distant relations with China. Geographically
separated by the Himalayas, the two have traded mostly by way of
Tibet. But China's recent market opening and its desire to maintain
Tibetan stability through greater economic prosperity have increased
Beijing's interest in trade with Nepal. Last year, the two countries
agreed to liberalize Tibetan border trade, and the Chinese set up a
representative office in Kathmandu last fall.
Chinese investment in Nepal -- mostly state-owned producers of
cement, steel, and machinery -- has also grown, tripling to $ 20
million from $ 6.6 million, according to the Industry Ministry. But
trade volume with China is still negligible -- even smaller than with
Singapore or New Zealand -- and the Chinese often fail to adapt to the
Nepalese market. Outside Kathmandu, Chinese brick factories are
stacked with unwanted blocks, the sizes too large for Nepalese
standards.
Still, many Nepalese believe that continued Chinese and Indian
market reforms will spur Nepal's own trade policies as well. Says
Walter Diller, chairman of NIDC Capital Markets Ltd., a
Kathmandu-based securities firm: ''As long as India and China are
moving toward market reform, everyone can see there are a lot of
advantages involved, like industrial development, increased
employment, more government tax revenue.'' And as Nepal pursues
reform, its prospects for economic growth also look promising.
**********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 12:13:49 -0500 (EST)
From: rpanth@uceng.uc.EDU (Ranjan Panth)
Subject: Arun
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
About ArunIII
Does anyone think that the reason we have the debate over
Arun III pop up again has anything to do with the fact that the people
who were "compensated" to get the job done are no longer in power ?
Does anyone know if the lobbyists had offered the World Bank a "money back
guarantee" on getting the government to accept the loan ?
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