PM DIRECTS SECURITY CHEFS TO PURSUE COMLAINTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Kathmandu,26 Nov.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai convened a meeting of security chiefs Sunday and told them to take stern action against security personnel who sideline complaints of violence against women. “Violence against women has increased Security officials don’t register complaints of violence. “Many complaints have been received. “Investigation is carried out only in name. Violence against women is increasing. This is very regrettable. nnnn- SUSPENDED NAC NEW DELHI FLIGHTS RESUME A JANUARY Kathmandu, 26 Nov. : Suspended Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) flights On the lucrative sector flight to New Delhi because of aircraft shortage resume January. Spokesman Saroj Kasajoo said 3 to 4 flight a week will e operated. The flag-carrier hasn’t cashed in on increasing tourist arrivals because of shortage and as other carriers fly in from foreign capitals. nnnn; NEPAL FILES CANDIDACY FOR MEMBERSHIP OF TWO UN BODIES Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: Nepal has filed two 'key' candidacies at the United Nations in a bid to upgrade its stature in the international forum given its success at two previous UN platforms this year, Anil Giri writes in The Kathmandu Post.. Nepal filed its candidacy for membership to the UN Human Rights Council 2014-2018 and as an executive board member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), most likely for 2013-2015. The decision to file for candidacy was taken immediately after Nepal was elected to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOCOS) from the Asia-Pacific region on November 9 in New York. The UN General Assembly elects members to the UN Human Rights Council based on region. Nepal 's candidature is for four years from Asia. Likewise, members of UN Economic and Social Council (ECOCOS) elect the UNDP board members. Compared to its candidacy for a seat on the UNDP board, the human rights seat will require that Nepal do more homework. An upcoming meeting of ECOCOS will elect board members either through an election or consensus, said sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Out of seven board members from Asia, three countries--India, Pakistan and Qatar--will complete their term by the end of this year. "Most likely Nepal will contest a 2013 UNDP membership bid," said MoFA sources. As the UNDP administrator coordinates the activities of four important UN agencies--the UNDP, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)-- Nepal will get the opportunity to play an important role in policymaking if it wins the bid, sources added. " Nepal wants more participation in the UN and wants to contribute more as a willing and capable member," said Foreign Secreatry Durga Bhattarai. Extensive lobbying, improvement in Nepal 's domestic political situation, excellent presentations at the UN, active participation in policy formulation and fulfillment of promises and commitments along with active participation in UN agencies are a few key elements that will determine Nepal 's bid for candidacy at both UN institutions. With Gyan Chandra Acharya's recent appointment as Under-Secretary General and High Representative for Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Small Island Developing Countries in August, Nepal seems to be gradually uplifting its status and presence in the UN. "Member states will assess and gauge Nepal 's performance and roles in other UN platforms . Fulfilling previous commitments will also have direct influence on the elections," said the MoFA official. "We also need to greatly improve the country's domestic situation if we are to win the human rights council bid." For the welfare of the country, such types of candidacy should be encouraged but it is also necessary to bring about changes in the domestic arena, said another MoFA official. A political leadership that understand the gravity of the candidacy is also very much required, he said. Nnnn NEPAL RAW CHIEF APPOINTED TO TOP INDIAN INTELLIGENCE JOBIN INDIA Kathmandu, 26 Nov.: Alok Joshi , a top Indian official who worked in Nepal during the difficult political transition, has been appointed the chief of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), The Kathmandu Post reports.. He will, however, assume the office after the current RAW chief Sanjiv Tripathi retires on December 30. Joshi, who is currently a special secretary at RAW, started his career in 1976 from Haryana Police Service. After joining RAW he was deputed to Nepal and Pakistan as an operations expert, Indian media have reported. Joshi was the station chief of RAW in Kathmandu for nearly two years from 2007 till 2009--a period when historical Constituent Assembly polls were held. Even after that Joshi used to visit Kathmandu as a special envoy of RAW during the crucial political developments in Nepal. Meanwhile, Syed Asif Ibrahim has been appointed as new director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) of India. nnnn