India urged not to resume military supplies to Nepal - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), a Delhi based regional human rights organization on Wednesday expressed deep concern over India's decision to resume military supply and training to the Nepal Army following the Joint secretary level talks in Kathmandu from December 4. India cut military aid after Nepal's last king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah took power and dissolved the multi-party government in February 2005. "The timing of resumption of military aid is absolutely inappropriate. This decision is highly divisive in divided Nepal and will only encourage the Nepal Army to play more pro-active political role and further harm the dangerously stalled Nepal's peace process." Said Suhas Chakma, Director of ACHR. ACHR stated that despite paying lip service to consensus politics and peace, the actions of both the government and the Maoists appear often to be aimed at provoking each other. ACHR also urged India to get behind the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by providing support for the foundation of agreement including power sharing and consensus. Security forces killed at least four Maoist party supporters and one member of the police died in a clash on December 4 in Kailali in western Nepal, where landless people had illegally occupied government-owned land. The Maoists, on the other hand, have made governing Nepal impossible and its cadres have continued violence and intimidation. From December 11, the Maoists intend to announce autonomous regions, a move that will inject still further tension into the process.