CRUCIAL UML CENTRAL COMMITTEE BEGINS

CRUCIAL UML CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET BEGINS UPDATE
Kathmandu, 6 Aug.: A crucial UML central committee began Saturday.
With the delayed arrival of members, the meeting was delayed for two hours.
nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“After such a huge investment [Rs.20.3 billion in five years],the country should been on the peace path Unfortunately, the result is zero.”

(NC leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Annapurna Post, 6 Aug.)
nnnn

TWO TIBETANS HELD, RELEASED
Kathmandu, 6 Aug.: Police today [Friday] detained two Tibetans on suspicion of being involved in anti-China activities in Lazimpat, where the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) is located, and released them later after they were found innocent, The Himalayan Times reports.

TRWO is the Nepal-based official agency of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, India.

The arrestees were: TRWO chief volunteer Thinley Lama and an employee, Jampa Dondup.

A team led by Inspector Dan Bahadur Thapa, in-charge of Metropolitan Police Sector, Lainchour, arrested the duo at around 1 pm following a press meet organised by the agency at Hotel Ambassador to disseminate facts about the July 26 arrest of Tibetans with Nepali passports at Tribhuvan International Airport.

SP Kedar Rijal, MPR chief, said “We released them without filing any charge after they were found innocent,” he said.

According to TRWO, Thinley and Dondup were on their way to office after attending the press conference when the police arrested them.

Police have recovered a few copies of news release issued by TRWO from them.

In the press meet, TRWO reiterated that Jayang Tenzin (15) and his sister Tsering Lhamo (12), arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police at the airport with fake Nepali passports, were by no means Tibetans.
Nnnn

INSTABILITY DISCOURAGING FOREIGN INVESTORS
Kathmandu, 6 Aug.: Non Resident Nepalis (NRNs) expressed the difficulty in convincing foreigners to opt for investment in Nepal in absence of proper investment climate, The Himalayan Times reports.

“Despite our attempts, it is difficult to persuade the foreigners to invest in Nepal due to absence of peace, power and lack of security of investment,” said president of NRN Association -International Co-ordination Council (NRNA-ICC) Dev Man Hirachan in an interaction on ‘NRNs’ Role in Economic Development of Nepal’ organised by Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) here today.

He emphasised that NRNs are being wrongly criticised for failing to bring investment in Nepal. “We might have failed to directly invest in Nepal but the income we earn along with skill is also a kind of capital that is enriching Nepal,” he said. NRNA — established in 2003 — has about 500,000 members across 56 nations. It is aimed at encouraging NRNs to contribute in economic and social development of Nepal.

In 2005, NRNs had announced to set up a $100 million basket fund to promote marketing of Nepali products and increase investment in Nepal so that NRN can invest in social service and production sectors in Nepal through the fund. “The establishment of the fund is delayed as half of the countries where NRNs reside is yet to be distributed NRN card issued by Nepal government,” Hirachan said, adding that the fund will be set up soon.

Similarly, senior vice preseident of NRNA-National Co-ordination Council of USA, Prahlad KC said that the foreign investors are not interested in coming to Nepal in the current political situation due to instability. He pointed out the importance of NRNs in working as the bridge between the Nepali business community and the local businesses — where they currently residing — in the absence of official diplomatic channels.

“Even if NRNs fail to attract more investment they are still contributing in Nepal’s economic development,” he said, illustrating that if only five per cent of NRNs visit Nepal and spend about $2000, the country can earn $15 million in revenue from their expenses.

“NRNs can identify the potential sectors for investment in Nepal and act as facilitator between foreign investors and Nepal,” president of NCC Suresh Basnet said, applauding NRNs for voluntarily trying to promote tourism, trade and investment abroad.
nnnn