Army chief back from UK visit

Nepal Army chief General Rukumangad Katuwal returned home on Monday after ending a weeklong tour of the United Kingdom.

Katuwal had gone to the UK on July 22 on the invitation of Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) in his first foreign trip since the restoration of democracy in Nepal. The NA chiefs traditionally pay visit to India and Britain during their tenure.

Although the British MoD’s decision to invite Nepal Army chief on a “red carpet” visit was highly criticised by the British press saying that it gave a wrong signal that Britain approves of the rights abuses committed by NA under General Katuwal, the British Embassy in Kathmandu said the main purpose behind this visit was to apprise the NA chief of the contribution the army could make in the post-conflict period.

While in Britain General Katuwal had met with his couterpart/chief of British Armed forces and discussed upgrading the Nepal Army’s capacity, according to Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, chief of Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), Nepali Army. British newspaper the Guardian had reported that British Ministry of Defense could provide more than £150,000 for building facilities, establishing computerised network and developing human resources. nepalnews.com ag July 30 07

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