The Hindu : Front Page : Question mark over arms for Nepal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 28, 2005

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Question mark over arms for Nepal

Amit Baruah

India expresses concern at arrest of Deuba

NEW DELHI: A question mark hangs over resumption of arms supplies to Nepal after India expressed concern at the re-arrest on Wednesday of the former Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the detention of political leaders by the Gyanendra regime. This action is contrary to the "assurances" conveyed to New Delhi.

The issue of resuming arms supply occupied centre-stage after King Gyanendra told a television channel on Sunday last, after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Jakarta, that India had given "assurances" that the supply would "continue."

`Proper perspective'

Dr. Singh said in Jakarta that the King had raised the issue of arms supplies with him and that New Delhi would look at the matter in "the proper perspective."

In response to a question, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said it followed from what the Prime Minister said in Jakarta that "all factors and all developments will be taken into account" before taking any decision on resuming arms supply. Asked to explain the "proper perspective," the spokesman said: "I am not going to be able to second-guess that statement and to define what the proper perspective means. Obviously, when we say it will be considered in the proper perspective it means that we would take into account all developments, all situations and balanced decisions will be taken."

`Contrary to assurances'

Official sources suggested that the "logical interpretation" of the "proper perspective" would be that the supply of arms would again be put on hold.

"We are ... concerned that the arrest and detention of political leaders, student leaders and workers of political parties continue, as do the restrictions on travel and movement of some academicians, human rights activists and students, contrary to [the] assurances conveyed to us," the spokesman said.

"We believe that these developments would further complicate efforts for a reconciliation between [the] political parties and the constitutional monarchy in Nepal. It has always been India's conviction that the problems confronting Nepal today can be addressed effectively only on the basis of [a] national consensus between the two constitutional forces," he added.

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