UK resumes non-lethal military aid to Nepal

Prior to the February 1 royal takeover, the British government had planned in January to "gift" a package of military equipment to Nepal under its "Global Conflict Prevention Pool" to help the Royal Nepalese Army combat the escalating Maoist insurgency.

The equipment, worth 1.34 million pounds, comprised non-lethal aid like surveillance helicopters with night flying capability and communications enhancements, 40 general purpose Land Rovers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment and vehicles.

This week there was a British parliamentary notice to the effect that some of the equipment would be released.

After the royal coup, following the Indian Government's decision to freeze military aid to Nepal, the US and Britain too had put military assistance on hold.

Last month, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had issued a statement saying his government had decided to suspend the planned package in the light of the "disturbing situation" in Nepal.

"The UK would be reviewing the impact of the king's action on the security assistance we provide to Nepal," the statement added.

"We are now considering with key international partners what our longer term policy for providing assistance to Nepal should be, including on assistance with a humanitarian purpose."

The notice on resuming military assistance came nearly a week after a Ministerial Troika meeting between the European Union, India and Luxembourg, which currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union. Britain is a member of the EU.

Attended by Indian External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh on May 19, the meeting in Luxembourg discussed EU-India ties as well as regional and international developments, where Nepal reportedly featured on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Nepal's government has ordered the closure of a radio programme production centre in the latest crackdown on the media since the king assumed absolute power almost four months ago, the centre said yesterday.

"The Ministry of Information and Communications sent a letter to us Friday (telling) us to shut down our centre," said Gopal Guragain, managing director of the Communication Corner which operates with a team of 12 journalists.

The ministry said the centre, which provides programming to 14 of the 50 private FM radio stations across the country, was operating illegally, Guragain said.