SALLE AIRPORT IN RUKUM CLOSED DOWN FOR THEEE MONTHS Kathmandu, 15 Feb .: Rukum’s Salle Airport servicing district headquarters has been closed down for three months for upgradation. The runway is being blacktopped for Rs.70 million. nnnn NEW ARMY NORMS FOR FAST-TRACK PROMOTIONS Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: The government has introduced new regulations for the Nepal Army with provisions of fast-track promotion of its officers based on their performance, Phnindra Dahal writes in The Kathmandu Post.. The Army Service Regulation 2013 will put an end to the tradition of promoting army officers only on the basis of seniority and trainings. The rule introduced by the Cabinet last month states that scores obtained by officers in their appraisals would be the primary basis for the promotions. The regulation came into effect after its publication in the Nepal Gazette on January 23. According to the new rules, junior officers can get good ‘jumps’ in the promotions if they obtain maximum score in the performance appraisal. “The new rules bring an end to the system in which an army officer would be promoted in his career just only on the basis of seniority,” said Under-secretary at the legal section of the Ministry of Defence, Laxmi Prasad Gautam. “Mid career officers should secure maximum marks in their appraisal if they want to climb up to the rank of army chief,” he added. The regulation stipulates that majors and lieutenant colonels will be classified into three groups—good, very good and excellent—during their promotions. Of the total vacant seats, 20 percent will be filled by those in the ‘excellent’ category, 60 percent by those in the ‘very good’ category and 20 percent by those in the ‘good’ category. The new rules say that officers promoted in the ‘excellent’ category will be senior to all officers from the other two categories. In order to get enlisted in the ‘excellent’ category, officers should score 70 percent or more in their appraisal. A source at the Army Headquarters said the success of the new policy will depend on its fair implementation. “The new policy seems more logical than the previous policy,” said the Army officer. “But we will look at the implementation part. If officers close to the leadership are picked and promoted by using powers vested in the army chief, it would be unfortunate for the institution,” he added. A Defence Ministry official said the regulation has tried its best to avoid unfair practices in promotions. The new rules have the provision of a board to investigate complains lodged by officials dissatisfied with the decision of the promotion board. The rules state that soldiers convicted for human rights and international humanitarian law violations by the court will not be eligible for promotions. If the vacant posts cannot accommodate all soldiers in the ‘excellent’ category, they will be promoted on a merit basis in the seats allocated to the ‘very good’ category. Officers in the ‘very good’ category who fail to get promotions despite staying in the category for three times will be brought down to the ‘good category’ and should compete with officers who have not completed the staff course. Candidates in the ‘good’ category will not be entitled to participate in the promotion process more than three times. The hierarchy of officers promoted from the ‘excellent’ category will be defined on the basis of their scores. The hierarchy of majors promoted through the ‘very good’ and ‘good category’ will be decided as per their seniority during their basic trainings. Hierarchy of the lieutenant colonel from those categories will be decided as per the scores obtained at the year of promotion. In case two candidates of the same category secure identical score in their promotions, hierarchy will be decided on the basis of their seniority. The new rules give no power to the ministry of defence in transfers and promotions of the officers. Promotion of officers from the rank of a colonel to lieutenant general would be decided by the Cabinet, while that of a lieutenant to major would be decided by the army chief himself. Nnnn NEPALI WOMEN IN JORDAN MESS;WANT TO RETURN HOME Kathmandu, 15 Feb.: Five Nepali women working in a garment factory in Jordan 's Dulay Industrial Park have pleaded with the government to help them return home. The women claimed that they are being exploited, ill treated and harassed by their employers and local juvenile youths. They claimed that around 100 Nepali workers are willing to return home, The Kathmandu Post writes.. “Children hurl stones at us, while older youth verbally and physically abuse girls. A few days ago, a few Arab boys attempted to abduct two Nepali girls and took away their mobile phones,” Sarita KC of Jorpati told the Post over telephone. Along with KC, Supriya Lama, 25, of Nijgadh, Aarati Pariyar, 32, of Rajahar, Maya Lama, 20, of Sindhupalchowk, and Rupa Ghatami, 25, of Palanchowk Bhagawati, are seeking to get back home. All of them went to Jordan legally through the Kamal Pokhari-based SCC employment agency, paying between Rs 40,000 to 50,000. In their month-and-a-half work-stay at a needle-craft company, they claimed that they were forced to work 18 hours a day without proper food or lodging. "The manpower company assured that we would be paid Rs 22,000 monthly, but our employers only give us Rs 13,000," said Ghatami. They do not leave their dwellings due to fear as they are constantly abused and terrorised by local youths, she said. Ghatami, the mother of a child, said that her husband and brother are also working in different factories in Jordan . Despite being ill, her husband has not been granted leave, she said. According to KC, around 100 of her fellow women workers are willing to return home to Nepal. “Some are sick, others injured or paralyzed. Many women are living in pathetic conditions and want to escape,” she said, adding that many others had befriended Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis and were happy. Bishnu Khadka of the SCC manpower company said his agency is preparing to bring the women back. He said he has spoken with officials at the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and the Nepali mission in Saudi Arabia to rescue the women. “The women are exaggerating the matter. However, if other women also want to return, we are ready to bring them all back,” said Khadka. Nepali Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Udaya Raj Pandey told the Post that the embassy has written to the honorary counselor of Jordan about the matter. “Our embassy was not even informed of the presence of Nepali women in the Jordan ian industry. Earlier, the government would provide work approvals only after verification from us, but they did not consult us in this case,” said Pandey. He said the embassy will send its delegate if the manpower company or the honorary counselor fails to help the women. Meanwhile, DoFE officials said they have started the process to bring the women back. (The names of victims have been changed upon request) nnnn