NEPAL: US offers military support

BY NORM DIXON

The United States has offered to spread its "war on terrorism" to Nepal. A US official told Associated Press on January 19 that during a visit to the Himalayan kingdom US Secretary of State Colin Powell had offered increased US military aid to defeat Maoist guerillas.

Maoist rebels recently ended a four-month-old cease-fire, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency.

At a news conference on September 18, Powell said that Washington "is very concerned about what is happening in Nepal, and we hope that Nepal's government will play an important role in fighting against terrorism not only inside of Nepal but all over the world". Powell was speaking after meeting with Prime Minister Shel Bahadul Deuba and King Gyanendra.

The US provides training, military exchanges and surplus US equipment to Nepal. Current US aid to Nepal is worth more than US$20 million.

Rebels from Maoist factions have been fighting the government since 1996. They promise to redistribute land among the poor peasants. Thousands of guerillas, led by rebel commander Prachanda, have operated in remote mountainous areas.

About 100 soldiers and police were killed in January during a rebel offensive. Rebels also were blamed for two bombs that exploded on January 17 at the Coca-Cola plant in Kathmandu.

From Green Left Weekly, January 30, 2002.

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From GLW issue 478