Import of arms from China as per the agreement: RNA
A senior official with the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has confirmed
that it has received few truckloads of arms and ammunition from
China as per the agreement reached during the recent visit to
China by chief of the army staff, General Pyar Jung Thapa.
Talking to Nepalnews Friday, the senior RNA official said some
weapons were imported from China but added that there was nothing
new to it.
China had pledged to provide Rs.72 million military aid to the RNA during COAS General Thapa's visit to the northern neighbour in October.
China's aid comes at a time when India, the United States and the United Kingdom have suspended the supply of lethal military arms to Nepal following the royal takeover in February this year.
Earlier, a newspaper report said that China delivered the first lot of military hardware to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) on Wednesday. Kantipur daily reported Friday that arms and weapons entered Nepal in 18 trucks - 12 on Tuesday and six on Wednesday - via Kodari highway.
There has been no official word regarding reports of arms import from China as yet.
Meanwhile, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has stated that Maoists are continuing their violent activities despite unilateral ceasefire declared by them.
Addressing a press conference organized at the RNA headquarters on Friday, Colonel Umesh Kumar Bhattarai said 19 people were killed and 4,013 people were abducted during the truce period.
Colonel Bhattarai alleged that Maoists had declared unilateral ceasefire to consolidate their power as they were steadily loosing grounds.
Spokesman of the RNA, Brigadier General Dipak Kumar Gurung, said the RNA was continuing its activities unabated and that it was not facing problem in any part of the country.
He informed that the number of army and security camps have been increased keeping in view of the security situation in the country.
On the 12-point agreement between Maoists and seven parties Brigadier General Gurung said the army could not hold a separate stance than that of the government.
The RNA officials did not want to comment on reports of arms imports from China.
According to RNA, a total of 4,546 Maoists were killed and 2,889 more surrendered following the collapse of the second round of peace talks in August, 2003. The army also suspects more than 1,200 causalities on the rebels' side during the period.
The Directorate of the Public Relations (DPR) of RNA informed that 563 army men were also killed during the same period.
The RNA reiterated its full commitment towards protection and
promotion of human rights in the country.
The RNA also presented a video recording of a Maoist cadre, Buddhi Man Karki, who spoke on camera saying that the Maoists declared unilateral ceasefire for three months as they did not have the strength to fight the army.
While declaring the three-month long ceasefire unilaterally, the rebels said they were doing so keeping in view of Nepali people’s overwhelming desire for peace.
The truce comes to an end on December 2, 2005. nepalnews.com pb Nov 25 05
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