PAKISTANI EMBASSY OFFICIAL OUT OF DANGER

MORE DETAILS OF SHOOTING INCIDENT

Kathmandu, 14 April: The Pakistani working in the visa section of Pakistani embassy was shot while going to office from home at 9.10 in the morning and is out of danger.
Assassins fired at him from behind a tree to escape identification, according to police.
A motorcycle on which they fled has been recovered.
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SOCIETY LEADERS EXTEND NEW YEAR GREETINGS

Kathmandu, 14 April: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal said New Year 2068 said will be marked as a victory year in history.
He made the observation in a New Year message.
Khanal hoped the a constitution will be promulgated and peace process concluded in the new year.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda said 2068 will be ‘decisive’
He hoped the year will see durable peace and .promulgation of a constitution.
‘The constituent assembly which was expected to institutionalize the
achievements of the 2006 people’s uprising has now entered the third year.
People have hoped the remaining tasks of peace and constitution will
complete within the designated,” President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said.
The hope is in likely to be fulfilled.
“… what could be more persuasive than to allow the people of Nepal to live in an environment of peace and stability.
“I, therefore, appeal to all not to infringe upon these desires in any away.
I have no hesitation in reiterating my conviction never to shirk from any
national culpability ensuring Nepal remains tranquil, stable and up—and
--.coming,” former King Gyanendra said in his new year message.
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SHIVA HARI SINGH PAGAL DEAD

Kathmandu, 14 April: First generation journalist Shiva Hari Singh Pagal has died.
He was associated with Dr.. K.I. Singh’s political party.
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WHY THE DELAY ASKS SUPREME COURT

Kathmandu, 14 April: A single bench of the supreme court Wednesday asked the government and legislature/parliament the cause for the delay in forming
the truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) and commission on enforced disappearances.
The show cause notice was issued in response to a writ seeking the formation of th bodies as envisaged in the interim constitution.
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FROMER ARMY CHIEF KATAWAL ENTERING POLITICS

Kathmandu, 14 April: Former Nepal Army (NA) chief Rookmangud
Katawal is planning a political career for himself, The Kathmandu Post
reports.
Katawal is scheduled to make a formal announcement of his political
journey and unveil his party dubbed the Samyiukta Rashtriya Mach on
May 15 at a function that will beheld in Dhangadi.
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BAN ON WORKERS TO GULF LIFTED


Kathmandu, 14 April: Relaxing the ban on its citizens´ entry into politically unrest Gulf countries partially, the government on Wednesday decided to allow those migrant workers who got stuck in Nepal after coming home on leave to return to Bahrain and Oman to join their companies. Om Astha Rai writes in Republica. .

“The decision is meant for only those workers who came to Nepal on leave,” said Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM) spokesperson Purna Chandra Bhattarai. “Not those who are willing go to there first time.”

In the wake of the Arab uprisings, the MoLTM had imposed a temporary ban on Nepali workers´ entry into Bahrain, Oman and Libya. Though the government is in no mood to lift the ban on Libya for the time being as situation continues to remain violent there, Nepali foreign employment agencies have been pressing lately for lifting the ban on Bahrain and Oman. Foreign employment agencies say some 300 Nepali workers have remained stranded in Kathmandu for the last two months after they came home on brief holidays from Bahrain and Oman.

“Many of them were unaware of the ban. They learnt about it only when immigration officials returned them from the airport,” said Tanka Basnet, immediate past president of Nepali Club of Bahrain. “Some 15 workers contacted me for help. They were fearful of losing their jobs if they failed to return to their companies in time,” Basnet, who is now in Kathmandu to persuade Nepali officials to revoke the ban, said. “However, aspiring workers still do not have a reason to celebrate.”

As Nepal does not have an embassy in Bahrain, the government assesses the situation in the country through the information provided by the Nepali club.

According to Basnet, the club recently wrote to the Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia that migrant workers no longer face any risk in Bahrain. However, the MoLTM appears reluctant to fully lift the ban as a state of emergency continues in Bahrain. The MoLTM officials argue that fresh protests may erupt in Bahrain once the emergency is lifted, putting lives of Nepali workers in danger.

However, more than 1,000 workers who have got visas to work, including those for the first time, fear they would losing their job opportunities.

General secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) Kumud Khanal said that the foreign workers recruiting agencies of Bahrain have warned they will exert pressure on their government to impose a complete ban on Nepali workers if MoLTM failed to make a positive decision within a few days. “The MoLTM must think about it at the earliest,” he said.

Khanal says that Nepali manpower agencies are facing the heat as other countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have already lifted bans on their workers´ entry into Bahrain. “Recruiting agencies say why Nepal cannot lift ban when other countries have already started sending their workers,” said Khanal.
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37 NEPALIS STRANDED IN KUWAIT TO BE SENT BACK HOME
THURDSDAY, FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 14 April: Thirty-seven Nepalis abandoned two months at a desert in Kuwait are being repatriated home by Nepal embassy there Thursday and Friday, Nagarik reports,
Fifteen are being sent back Thursday and 22 Friday.
Twenty-two were repatriated earlier.
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NRB BONDS TARGET FOREIGN WORKERS

Kathmandu, 14 April: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued Foreign Employment Bonds worth Rs 5 billion on Sunday, The Himalayan Times reports.

The foreign employment bonds that would mature in June 2016 will be sold only to the Nepali citizens working in South Korea, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, through chosen agents. The aim of this instrument of internal borrowing is to bring money earned by migrant workers that is sitting idly in the cupboards to the Nepali financial channels and help the liquidity situation of these institutions as well. Along with government being able to raise public debt, workers have a chance to earn a higher interest rate.

NRB has given license to seven remitters to sell the bonds in five destination countries South Korea, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The institutions include Himalayan Bank Limited, International Money Express (IME), Sewa Money Transfer, Prabhu Finance Company, Incentive Money Transfer, Shramik Remit Company and Prabhu Money Transfer.
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