Newslook :: Nepal's Premiere Online Newsmagazine, Since 1999

For the first time in human history, more people live in cities (urban areas) than in the country. So says the State of World Population 2007 launched Wednesday. It says though only 17 per cent of the country’s 28 million population lives in urban areas, Nepal has been urbanizing very rapidly, at an average annual rate of 6.65 per cent in the intercensal period 1991-2001. Most of the increase has come from migration, intensified by an 11-year conflict, especially to the southern Terai region and to the slums of Kathmandu.

More on Nepal: Poverty and political instability are blamed for the urban swell. Displacement of people, estimated at 200,000 to 500,000, is another source of the growth.

...Human rights worsens in 2005. The February coup was abusive, so were the prolonged civil war and the Maoists. Now there is hope because of the peace process and UN involvement... reads the report on Nepal's human rights situation for 2006 by the New York-based Human Rights Watch. Nothing much new-- the report does not update much of the rights situation in the later half of 2006, when Maoist attrocities continued, as well as other non-political rights abuses.
• Child soldiers 'still recruited by Maoists', Reuters
• Supreme Court to investigate disappearances, M & C
• Nepalli human rights advocates form NUF, Nepal News
• Fears that new constitution fails to address HR violations, Reuters
• Human Rights Watch World Report 2007, Himalayan Times

The post-constitutional monarchical set-up has rendered the king powerless. It was not the king who presented "his" government’s policies [official document] this year. Deputy PM K. P. Oli substituted the ailing PM and read out on July 9 the statement for the Fiscal Year 2006/2007. Among the government’s priorities include sustainable peace, interparty trust, economic reforms, collaboration, rural employment and infrastructure building, industrial revival, protection of bio-diversity, ending dual control over land, universal childhood education, skill development, women's empowerment, rural health, community rural electrification, irrigation projects, planned urban development, full enjoyment of the right to information, civil service reforms, access to justice by the ordinary citizens, Bhutanese refugees, UN‘s cooperation in peace process and national unity.
Govt policy, programmes draw mixed reaction, Himalayan Times
Lasting peace govt's top-most priority, the Rising Nepal
Dy PM Oli presents government annual programmes, policies, Kantipur
New Nepal govt presents policies in parliament, People's Daily

UNHCR Global Report 2005, released by the UN refugee agency on June 20 (World Refugee Day), updates the status of some 35 major refugee crises in the world. There are today 8,569,996 refugees of concern to UNHCR, but the total population of concern hovers around 20,871,220. Funding is a major problem for UNHCR. In 2005, overall contributions to UNHCR was USD 1.1 billion, about 102.2 million less than the needed amount. The report also updates on refugees in Nepal: There are today some 106,200 Bhutanese and 20,200 Tibetan refugees. There has been an increase in Tibetan's transit, and refugee camps face security risks due to ongoing conflict. Though funding has been a problem, the UNHCR managed to spend some 7,414,931USD last year in Nepal. One of the reports paragraphs is critical of the Nepali government, and claims that the Nepali authorities are not open to the possibility of resettlement to a third country, nor are they cooperating with UNHCR to help refugees with special needs.
International Refugee Day being observed in Nepal
Old refugee day: UNHCR unhappy with Nepal
Tibetan centre in Nepal observe World Refugee Day
Millions mark World Refugee Day

PM Koirala is back home after his 4-day sojourn of India. Compared to his last big visit of the Delhi Durbar in July 2000, which Newslook covered extensively, this trip went very well for him. Then, he attempted to discuss "all issues" with his counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee, made a trip to the Indian Silicon Valley to emulate the Indian economic formula, gave speeches and luncheon addresses and proposed toasts. Despite that, commentators dubbed his visit as a "missed opportunity." Some said he returned home "almost empty handed." This time round, his visit, which followed the popular April Uprising in Kathmandu, managed to generate Ne Ru 15 billion! And that without any formal speeches! Suddenly, Nepal, which was pushed behind Bhutan in Indian aid diplomacy, has topped New Delhi's assistance list. That may be New Delhi's reward for Koirala, the most powerful PM under Nepali democray ever to visit India. But the real Indian goodwill should reflect in its resolution of several outstanding issues, including the 1950 Treaty, the Bhutanese refugees problem, Kalapani, Maoists' bases in India, disputes over shared river projects, and Nepalis' security in India-- all too familiar, yet unsolved. In fact, the internal revolution in Nepal may be over (even Prachanda sounds optimistic on peace), but a truly Nepali revolution will remain incomplete, say, without resolving the 1950 Treaty with India.
Joint press statement, Nepal-India, at the end of Koirala visit
MEA India's statement on Koirala visit

The royal government has introduced a new draconian press ordinance.

International advocacy groups view King Gyanendra's takeover only helping to worsen the situation. They paint a gloomy future of the country. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group says the King's move only boosts the Maoists by confirming their view of the monarch as opposing democracy. It believes opposition party inclusion is a must, military solution is likely to fail, support to monarchy will sink further, donor support will decline, and corruption may continue unabated. Similarly, the London-based Amnesty International, has called on the government, donors and international community to respond to the looming crisis.

• A long ignored human rights crisis is now on the brink of catastrophe, Amnesty, Feb 17/09
• Nepal rapidly plunging into deep rights crisis: Groups, IPS, Feb 09/05
• Nepal’s royal coup: making a bad situation worse , Intl Crisis Group, Feb 09/09 Report
• India, US and UK must share blame for Nepal crisis, CounterPunch, Feb 09/09

Finally, the offical version of the massacre is out, and as expected, Late Crown Prince Dipendra is blamed. It is yet to be seen how the public will react to the report. Following is the unofficial translation of the synopsis of official report:

Stratfor, the Austin, USA-based reputed intelligence firm, has published a special report on Nepal. Guess what? Another controversy, for sure.

An intelligence report released by the American National Intellegence Council says by 2015 India will be the unrivaled regional power with a large military and a dynamic and growing economy.Pakistan will be more fractious, isolated, and dependent on international financial assistance. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal will be drawn closer to and more dependent on India and its economy. (Dec 21/00)
• This is the world in 2015, The Telegraph, Dec 31/00

On a recent trip to Nepal, California artist Lyn Bishop was struck by the fragility of the ancient Hindu and Buddhist cultures in the face of 21st century technology. So she decided to employ technology to help preserve those cultures. Zama.Com, Oct 19/00

Maoists must end abductions, killings and the recruitment of child soldiers, says Amnesty International in a report.
• Nepal rebel group denies recruiting child soldiers, CNN/Reuters, 25 Aug '00
• Nepal's Maoists step up use of children in their bloody struggle, Daily News/AFP, 25 Aug '00

Human development report 2000 puts Nepal behind 143 countries, but says the kingdom registers greatest advance since 1975. In the HDR 2000 released today, June 29, Nepal ranks 144. Canada, Norway, USA lead the world. Sierra Leone, Niger and Burkina Faso show worst performance. Bangladesh stands at 146, and Bhutan (142) overtakes the Kingdom. Nepal's performance improved slightly compared to last years' HDI. Sri Lanka (84) and the Maldives (89) lead South Asia. Other regional ranks: China (99), India (128), Pakistan (135).
• UNDP Press Releases
• The Ogden Newspapers/AP, June 29: U.N.: human rights, real democracy needed for poverty cut, Nepal registers greatest advance since 1975
• Reuters: World rankings
• June 29: The New York Times story (registration required)

Amnesty Report 2000 lauds abolition of
death penalty, raises concern for 'deteriorating human rights''
• AI Press Release:"None of the human rights tragedies of recent years were unpredictable or unavoidable."

•|AI Report 2000|Report on Nepal | Report on Bhutan | Asia Index |

World Health Organization (WHO) puts France on top, Sierra Leone on the bottom. Nepal stands 150th in a community of 191 nations. Regional scores: Sri Lanka: 76; Bangladesh: 88, India: 112, Pakistan: 122, Bhutan: 124, and the Maldives: 147. Japan leads the Asian countires.
• KOL, June 28: WHO urges pre-paid health care for Nepal
• June 21: WHO Press Release
• World Health
Report 2000
• Previous World Health
Reports

Red Cross in Geneva releases report on Maoist Insurgency. In a separate report released June 13, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) detailed the effects of Maoist insurgency on the lives of people.