02-24-2005, 08:35 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Asian Age
Nepal to self-finance military ops
- By PTI/AFP
Kathmandu, Feb. 23: A day after India and UK stopped military assistance to the Himalayan Kingdom, Nepal on Wednesday said it will mobilise internal resources to fund military operations against rebels and carry out development work.
"We will increase our tax net and mobilise other internal resources to fund military operation against insurgents and carry out development works if donor countries stop military and financial assistance," finance minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana said.
He, however, hoped that donor countries would not alter their assistance policy due to the political changes in the Himalayan Kingdom.
The finance minister acknowledged that revenue has declined due to the economic blockade imposed by the Maoists for the past two weeks and said the blockade was an attempt to ruin the country's economy.
"The government has made necessary security arrangements on the highways for the smooth movement of vehicles including cargo trucks. The government has also insured trucks to compensate in case of any damage due to the Maoist violence," he said.
Expressing confidence that foreign investments will pour in the country despite the imposition of emergency, Mr Rana said even in conflict, foreign investment is possible. "We should learn lessons from civil war in Sri Lanka."
When asked about foreign mediation in the Maoist problem, he said "we will solve it internally. There is no need for international mediation to bring the Maoists to the dialogue table." However, the government welcomes facilitation by any international broker in the peace process.
Mr Rana also said that the government will punish tax evadors and corrupt bureaucrats and politicians will be brought to justice.
Nepal army says military aid halt by Britain, India will bolster Maoists.
Meanwhile, Nepal's Army said on Wednesday a decision by India and Britain to halt military aid in response to King Gyanendra's seizure of power would bolster a growing Maoist insurgency in Nepal.
<b>"Nepal is fighting a war against terrorism while the US, UK and India are also fighting against terrorism, and if the military assistance is stopped this means they are also helping the Maoist terrorists," </b>said army spokesman Brigadier General Dipak Gurung.
India and Britain, which have regiments of the famed Nepalese Gorkha soldiers in their own armies, said on Tuesday that they had halted military aid. Both countries have called on the King to restore democracy in Nepal. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nepal to self-finance military ops
- By PTI/AFP
Kathmandu, Feb. 23: A day after India and UK stopped military assistance to the Himalayan Kingdom, Nepal on Wednesday said it will mobilise internal resources to fund military operations against rebels and carry out development work.
"We will increase our tax net and mobilise other internal resources to fund military operation against insurgents and carry out development works if donor countries stop military and financial assistance," finance minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana said.
He, however, hoped that donor countries would not alter their assistance policy due to the political changes in the Himalayan Kingdom.
The finance minister acknowledged that revenue has declined due to the economic blockade imposed by the Maoists for the past two weeks and said the blockade was an attempt to ruin the country's economy.
"The government has made necessary security arrangements on the highways for the smooth movement of vehicles including cargo trucks. The government has also insured trucks to compensate in case of any damage due to the Maoist violence," he said.
Expressing confidence that foreign investments will pour in the country despite the imposition of emergency, Mr Rana said even in conflict, foreign investment is possible. "We should learn lessons from civil war in Sri Lanka."
When asked about foreign mediation in the Maoist problem, he said "we will solve it internally. There is no need for international mediation to bring the Maoists to the dialogue table." However, the government welcomes facilitation by any international broker in the peace process.
Mr Rana also said that the government will punish tax evadors and corrupt bureaucrats and politicians will be brought to justice.
Nepal army says military aid halt by Britain, India will bolster Maoists.
Meanwhile, Nepal's Army said on Wednesday a decision by India and Britain to halt military aid in response to King Gyanendra's seizure of power would bolster a growing Maoist insurgency in Nepal.
<b>"Nepal is fighting a war against terrorism while the US, UK and India are also fighting against terrorism, and if the military assistance is stopped this means they are also helping the Maoist terrorists," </b>said army spokesman Brigadier General Dipak Gurung.
India and Britain, which have regiments of the famed Nepalese Gorkha soldiers in their own armies, said on Tuesday that they had halted military aid. Both countries have called on the King to restore democracy in Nepal. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->