BHUTANESE REFUGEES ASKED TO BREAK FAST

BHUTANESE REFUGEES ASKED TO BREAK FAST

Kathmandu, 21 Nov.: The efforts by the local administration and the human rights organizations to break the fast-unto-death going on at the Beldangi-based Bhutanese refugee camp in Bhadrapur have not bore any fruits even as the hunger strike enters the seventh day on Monday, RSS reports from Bhadrapur.

The hunger strike has been organized by the Relief Deprived Bhutanese Refugees Women’s Group and 15 women are observing the fast-unto-death since November 15.

The Women’s Group started the hunger strike demanding the fulfillment of their five-point demands including that the Bhutanese refugees deprived of identity cards be given the cards and the provision of ration distributed by different donors.

Acting Chief District Officer of Jhapa district, Yogendra Dulal, coordinator of the Human Rights Organization of Nepal, East Region chapter, Dr. K.P. Subedi, among others had held talks with the representatives of the Women’s Group on Sunday in an effort to break the hunger strike. But the talks failed as the people staging the hunger strike were adamant that they would not break their fast until all their demands were addressed.

The Group claims that 3,649 Bhutanese refugees living in six camps in Jhapa and Morang districts have missed the verification carried out by the UN High Commission on Refugees and therefore have not got the identity cards with them which has resulted in they being deprived of various relief assistance given to the refugees.
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DRIVER OF DOZER BURIED ALIVE
Kathmandu, 21 Nov.: An assistant-driver of a dozer was killed when the dozer used for road construction in Arthunge VDC of Myagdi buried while gravelling road, RSS reports from Myagdi.



Arjun Chaudhary, 25, of Dang district, and the dozer were buried after the landslip fell upon the vehicle while gravelling the Beni-Arthunge road section, said Police inspector Mahendra BK of the District Police Office, Myagdi.

Nepal Army personnel from Indra Box Battalion and local had dog out the body by using another dozer.
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TOURISM MINISTRY DIRECTIVE TO SPEED UP WORK ON AIRPORTS

Kathmandu, 21 Nov.: Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar has directed to departmental chiefs to forward upgrading works of the main airports across the nation, immediately, RSS reports.

Addressing a meeting of the departmental chiefs organized at the Ministry on Monday, Minister Bista Magar directed to forward the upgrading works of the airports.

A total of around of Rs. 1.32 billion has been received by the ministry from the regular budget for the works and has been making preparations for taking soft loans from the Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies for the remaining insufficient amount for the works.

Minister Bista Magar directed to actively carry out works of upgrading runway of Pokhara Airport, extension of Gautam Buddha Airport and regarding the plan to complete land acquisition works of proposed second international airport in Nijgadh of Bara district.

He further said the proposal forwarded by the government to develop the Surkhet Airport as the Regional Airport will be implemented immediately and obstructions in policy level if any will be removed.

Upgrading works of Dang Airport and Dhangadhi Airport will be carried out so as to make flights at night under the program.
Upgrading works of Dang Airport and Dhangadhi Airport will be carried out so as to make flights at night under the program.

The minister emphasized on making progress of the projects in first priority over 95 percent and directed the chiefs for the same.

Minister of State Dilip Maharjan requested the chiefs to present plans for modernization of the Tribhuwan International Airport.

Ministry Secretary Ganesh Raj Joshi said the target could be met if worked by removing policy obstacles.
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