Nepalese army to continue to battle Maoists despite U.K. arms halt

Source: Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA)

Date: 23 Feb 2005

Nepalese army to continue to battle Maoists despite U.K. arms halt

Kathmandu (dpa) - The Nepalese Army will continue to battle the Maoist insurgency despite a British decision to suspend military assistance to Nepal, the Himalayan kingdom's internet news site reported Wednesday.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was reported to have told the British parliament that the U.K. government was suspending its military assistance to Nepal.

The British government along with most Western governments severely criticised King Gyanendra's takeover of all state powers on February 1 and the imposition of a state of emergency that curbed civil liberties, including press freedom.

Western countries including the United States are calling on King Gyanendra to restore democracy as soon as possible.

The internet news site, Nepalnews, reported that the spokesman of the Nepalese army, Brigadier Deepak Gurung, commenting on the British move, said ``We are obviously saddened by the decision of the British government.''

Saying democracy was never put in danger due to the army in Nepal, the spokesperson said, ``We are fighting for promotion and protection of democracy against Maoist terrorists and this decision of the British government would certainly back the Maoists at the moment.''

According to reports in the Nepalese press Wednesday, India has also indicated that it was suspending all military supplies to Nepal.

Political observers are attaching considerable importance to a meeting between the Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri and the Chinese ambassador in the Nepalese capital Wednesday.

They say that Nepal might be preparing to buy arms from China as these have now been denied by India and the Britain.

They recall that purchase of arms from China in 1988 led to an Indian economic blockade in 1989 that lasted for over 15 months. dpa sb jh Sphere: Related Content