Organization: Arizona State University
Date: Saturday, 12 Sep 1992 17:54:11 MST
From: <ASRPA@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.nepal
Subject:    More News from Nepal

Kyodo News Service   (Sept. 11, 1992):

       Nepal's 4th Airline Set to Begin Domestic Service
        _________________________________________________


   NICON Air will begin domestic operations as  Nepal's  fourth
airline next  Monday, the company said Friday.

   The commercial airline will operate flights to popular
destinations such as  Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj.

   NICON Air is the third private sector airline to enter the
Nepalese domestic  market in the past five months.

    Nepal  Airways started operations in May and was followed by
Everest Air  shortly afterward.

   NICON represents another threat to Royal  Nepal  Airlines, the
country's  first air carrier which has enjoyed a monopoly on
domestic routes since 1958,  according to state-owned newspaper The
Rising  Nepal.

___________________________________________________________________


Xinhua General News Service  (september 11, 1992):


         17 people die of encephalitis in eastern  nepal
         ______________________________________________


   seventeen people, including seven children, four men and six
women, have died  of encephalitis over the past three weeks in the
koshi zonal hospital, eastern  nepal,  local newspapers reported
today.  a total of 96 encephalitis patients  have been admitted to
the hospital during the period.
___________________________________________________________________


The British Broadcasting Corporation  (September 10, 1992):

Japanese ''weather robot'' reportedly spying on Tibet from Nepal
_________________________________________________________________

   A Nepalese parliamentarian has accused Japan's Alpine Club of
planting  weather monitoring equipment on a Himalayan peak in order
to spy on military  activities in Tibet, AFP reported on 8th
September. Amik Sherchan of the  Nepal's  United People's Front
demanded that the government dismantle the  so-called ''weather
robot'', set up on Quangdi mountain near Everest, saying it
affected the sovereignty of  Nepal  as well as the interests of
both China and India.

___________________________________________________________________


Inter Press Service (September 10, 1992):

     NEPAL:  ANTI-INDIA FEELING COULD JEOPARDIZE RAO'S VISIT
     ______________________________________________________

   The sensitive issue of sharing water resources with India has
sparked off fresh controversy in  Nepal  which may jeopardize the
Indian Prime Minister,  P.V. Narasimha Rao's, scheduled visit here
next month.

   Newspapers here have suggested that the government advise Rao to
postpone his  visit until the water row is over. "Nepalis are in no
mood to welcome the Indian  prime minister," said the "Samaj" daily
in an editorial.

   Thousands of supporters of the communist-dominated opposition
took to the  streets of Kathmandu today accusing the government of
selling out the vast hydroelectric potential of  Nepal's
fast-flowing Himalayan rivers to India.

   Seven smaller but organized groups of communists joined hands
with the main  United Marxist-Leninist (UML) party to denounce what
they say is Indian pressure  on river projects, and the
government's willingness to buckle under.

   Opposition leaders submitted memorandums to the speakers of both
houses of  parliament urging them to convene a joint session to
discuss a controversial  project at Tanakpur on  Nepal's  western
border with India.

   Nepali premier Koirala had reached a "broad understanding" on
water resources  with his Indian counterpart during a visit to New
Delhi in December.

   Opposition members say an understanding between national leaders
is as good  as a treaty, and therefore should have been first
ratified by parliament.

   But Koirala insists the agreement was informal, and does not
have to be  discussed by parliament.

   The opposition rejects this claim, saying India has "cheated"
Nepal  by  giving just one mw of power from a 125 mw project and
only 150 cubic meters per second (CUSEC) of water from another
scheme with a capacity of 20,000 CUSECs.

   According to analysts here, the opposition is trying to cash in
politically  on the strong sentiments in  Nepal  about river water
sharing. The government's  empty handed handling of the controversy
is aiding opposition efforts, they add.

   The sensitive issue returned to political center-stage early
this week when a  parliamentary select committee on Tanakpur
submitted a report to the speaker.  The report was adopted by a
majority vote, and not by consensus.

   The report said the "understanding" is not an agreement, and
hence does not  have to be approved by a two-thirds majority.

   A public interest case on Tanakpur is in the Supreme Court and
the hearing  will restart on Sept. 22.

   Sources close to the government said the speaker, Daman
Dhungana, is trying to persuade opposition parties to accept the
government's position before the end of the parliament session next
week.

   Meanwhile, there is an upswell of anti-India feeling in  Nepal.
India is accused of twisting the government's arm on water
resources, and for the plight of Bhutanese refugees in  Nepal.

   About 100,000 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese have in recent months
fled their  country to India and  Nepal.  But New Delhi refuses to
take up the issue with  Bhutan, claiming that it is a bilateral
problem that concerns the governments in  Kathmandu and Thimpu.

   However, as the refugee population swells in this Himalayan
country, there is  a growing feeling that India, which unlike
Nepal  shares a border with Bhutan, is passing on its own refugee
problem.
_________________________________________________________________


Kyodo News Service  (Sept. 10, 1992)

         U.N. Provides More Relief to Bhutanese Refugees
        ________________________________________________

   The United Nations has announced it would provide more relief
for Bhutanese  refugees through its food aid arm, the World Food
Program.

   The U.N. Information Center said additional basic food items
worth 2.9  million dollars will be handed over to meet the needs of
an estimated 75,000  refugees for six months.

   The program has already committed over 15,000 tons of food aid
for the  refugees.

   U.N. officials say Bhutanese refugees arriving in  Nepal  have
grown from  10,000 in January this year to over 66,000.

   Every day, 200 to 250 refugees are newly registered, and at that
rate, it is estimated there will be 75,000 Bhutanese refugees in
Nepal  by the end of this month.

   According to the officials, the refugees arrive with very little
food, often  with none at all.

   They have usually sold all their possessions to obtain money for
their escape and have no means to buy food or other essential
items, they said.

   The hardest hit are young children, many of whom arrive sick and
suffer from  malnutrition, they said.
___________________________________________________________________


The British Broadcasting Corporation  (September  9, 1992):

     India urges bilateral solution to  Nepal -Bhutan issue
     ______________________________________________________

   India has counselled Bhutan and  Nepal  to bilaterally sort out
the problem  created by unrest among the people of Nepalese origin
living in Bhutan. During  his meeting with Bhutanese Foreign
Minister Dawa Tshering here on Thursday  [Jakarta, 3rd September],
Indian Premier P.V. Narasimha Rao said India was looking forward to
the Bhutanese King's visit to New Delhi in December. The  Bhutanese
Foreign Minister informed Rao of the progress achieved during a
recent  meeting with his Nepalese counterpart in Thimpu on the
problems facing some  30,000 people of Nepalese origin. The matter
is understood to have figured  during Rao's talks with Nepalese
Premier Girija Prasad Koirala here on Wednesday  [2nd September] .
The Bhutanese Foreign Minister fully endorsed India's stand
that bilateral issues should not be brought up at any international
fora such as the Non-Aligned summit.
_________________________________________________________________


The British Broadcasting Corporation (September  9, 1992):


         Nepal  proposes talks with India on waterways
         _____________________________________________


    Nepal  has proposed talks with India on the opening of
waterways for  carrying goods to Calcutta's port, Press Trust of
India news agency Delhi  reported (in English 0701 gmt 8 Sep 92).
Replying to ''a call attention motion''  of Dr Prakash Chandra
Lohani of the National Democratic Party, former Panchayati
Minister at the House of Representatives on 7th September, Shiva
Raj Joshi,  Assistant Minister for Works and Transport, said the
government had put forward a proposal for the development of
waterways in the current eighth Five  Year Plan. Joshi said there
was no possibility of operating jet barges on the  rivers of
Nepal,  but other boats could be used. Earlier, tabling the ''call
attention motion'', Dr Lohani said the Koirala government should
initiate talks  with the Indian government to develop waterways
from Narayani to Calcutta.
_______________________________________________________________


The British Broadcasting Corporation (September  9, 1992):


     Nepalese Prime Minister on Kashmir and Bhutan refugees
     ______________________________________________________


   The Nepalese Prime Minister, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala, has said
that Kashmir  issue should be solved within the framework of the
Simla Agreement. He was  talking to newsmen at the Tribhuvan
airport in Kathmandu today [7th September]  on his return from the
Jakarta NAM summit. Asked whether during their meetings in Jakarta,
the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, had sought  Nepal's
support on the Kashmir issue, Mr Koirala said  Nepal  is against
interference in  the affairs of either India or Pakistan.

   Replying to another question on whether during his meeting with
Mr Narasimha  Rao in Jakarta he sought  Nepal's  help in solving
the problem of influx of  Bhutanese refugees in  Nepal,  he said he
did not think it necessary as the  problem concerns  Nepal  and
Bhutan and should be solved bilaterally. Mr Koirala  disclosed that
Mr Rao will be paying a three-day visit to  Nepal  beginning from
the 19th of next month. He said during the Jakarta meeting, he and
Mr Rao  discussed matters of mutual interest, including trade and
water resources. About  NAM, he said it is important in the context
of the changed international  political situation. He underlined
the need to increase economic content of the  NAM movement.
______________________________________________________________


The British Broadcasting Corporation (September  9, 1992)

      Nepal  re-elected President of World Hindu Federation
     ______________________________________________________


    Nepal  was re-elected the President of the World Hindu
Federation (WHF) at  the third international Hindu conference held
in Dili in Indonesia last week.  Krishna Gopal Tandon ( Nepal)
succeeds Nagendra Prasad Rijal, former prime  minister of the
Panchayati period. Tandon's candidature was proposed by Sri Lanka
and unanimously seconded by India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia,
UK and  Indonesia.
__________________________________________________________________

Reuters (September  9, 1992):

                 Anti-India protests rock  Nepal
                 ______________________________


    Nepal's  warring communist parties came together on Wednesday
to protest  against the government's decision to allow an Indian
power project to spill over  into  Nepal.

   Thousands of communist cadres belonging to various factions
marched through the streets of the capital shouting anti-government
slogans and carrying placards demanding that  Nepal's  interests
not be sold out to India.

   During a visit to India last month, Nepalese Prime Minister
Girija Prasad  Koirala gave New Delhi permission to build a
concrete wall for the 120 mega watt  Tanakpur power project inside
Nepal.

   The major portion of the project, started by India in 1984 on
the Mahakali  river which flows through both countries, is on the
Indian side of the border.

   Opposition leaders have charged Koirala with trying to by-pass
a  constitutional requirement which calls for an endorsement by
parliament of any  international agreement.

    Nepal's  Supreme Court has been considering whether the
understanding  reached between Rao and Koirala was a treaty or an
agreement.
________________________________________________________________


Xinhua General News Service  (september 9, 1992):

mass rally against accord on tanakpur barrage held in kathmandu
_______________________________________________________________


  a mass rally of some 25,000 people in protest against the accord
on tanakpur  barrage reached between the government and india was
organized by eight nepalese  left-wing parties here today.  during
his visit to new delhi last december,  nepalese prime minister
girija prasad koirala agreed to the construction of an  afflux bond
at tanakpur in  nepal  by india under an understanding with the
neighbor.  leaders of the eight parties, including the main
opposition the  communist party of  nepal  (uml), spoke at the
gathering, demanding that the  understanding reached with india be
brought to parliament for discussion and put  to voting for
approval.  they insisted that the accord be approved with a
two-thirds majority of voting in accordance with the constitutional
laws  regarding treaties or agreements signed with foreign
countries.  but the  government argued that the accord was only a
memorandum which needs not be  approved by a two-thirds majority in
parliament as treaties or agreements  affecting the country.  a
procession was held afterwards in the downtown streets  in the
capital city.

____________________________________________________________


Xinhua General News Service  (september 9, 1992):

            china to build cancer hospital for  nepal
            _________________________________________


   china has agreed to undertake construction of a cancer hospital
in  nepal   with its grant assistance, according to letters
exchanged between the two sides  today.  the proposed hospital, to
be build in bharatpur of chitwan district,  southern  nepal,  will
have 100 beds and a floor space of 9,000 square meters,  including
the quarters for doctors and nurses.  china will also provide
general medical apparatus to the hospital.  the grant assistance
was agreed upon  during prime minister girija prasad koirala's
visit to china in march this year and the hospital construction was
decided at the end of a survey by a chinese  doctors group.  the
prime minister received the group on august 24, when he  expressed
gratitude to the government of china and her people for their
cooperation in the establishment of a cancer hospital in  nepal.
_____________________________________________________________


Xinhua General News Service  (september 9, 1992):

      more relief food for bhutanese refugees inside  nepal
      _____________________________________________________


   the world food program (wfp) has expanded its current relief
operation with  2.9 million u.s. dollars to cope with the
ever-growing number of bhutanese  refugees fleeing to southeastern
nepal,  according to a press release issued by  the united nations
information center today.  under the expansion, 7,773 metric tons
of rice, pulses and other basic food items will be provided to
cover the needs of an estimated 7,500 refugees for six months.
about 14,000 malnourished  children under the age of six will
receive extra rations of sugar and a cereal  blend as well as
powdered milk.  wfp has already committed over 15,000 tons of
food aid for the refugees camps in eastern  nepal  since the
beginning of the  year.  but the humber of refugees arriving in
nepal  has grown from 10,000 in january to the current over 66,000,
and will be 75,000 by the end of september  at a rate of 200 to 250
registered every day.  the refugees arrive with very little food,
often with none at all. they have no means to buy food or other
essential items as they have usually sold all their possession to
obtain money  for their escape. the hardest hit are the young
children, with nearly one in  five arriving sick and suffering from
malnutrition.
_________________________________________________________________


THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY  (Sept. 2, 1992):

     King Birendra has appointed Durgesh Man Singh as Royal
Nepalese Ambassador to Belgium. Meanwhile, Royal Nepalese
Ambassador to Thailand, Sundar Nath Bhattarai, has been accredited
as Ambassador to Brunei while Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Russia
Yadav Kant Silwal, has been accredited as Ambassador to Bulgaria,
Rumania and Latvia.

______________________

     Nepal Sadbhavana Party welcomed the consitutional recognition
accorded to Nepali in India and has called for moral support from
Indian citizens, MPs and others in its struggle for according the
status of a national language for Hindi in Nepal.
_________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic