CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF OF NEPALI ARMY General Rookmangud Katawal has left for the United Kingdom at the invitation of British Ministry of Defense. This is the first time NA chief has visited foreign country after last year’s political change. Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Kathmandu has said that the visit by the NA chief was aimed at assisting the NA in "making it more accountable to the democratic/civilian authorities”. “The visit aims to assist the General with the information and discussions that he needs to develop the Nepal Army for its post conflict role in society and in making it more accountable to the democratic/civilian authorities,” the statement says.
NEPAL AND INDIA HAVE AGREED on a range of measures to upgrade security and other facilities in check posts in four major entry points. Meeting of the Joint Planning Direction Committee, which comprises senior officials of Nepal and India, held at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works on Saturday (July 21) arrived at the decision to develop the entry points in Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Biratnagar. Acting secretary at the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning, Purna Kadariya, who led the Nepali team in the talks, said 'integrated checkpoints' would be established outside the Dus Gaja on both sides of the border. The infrastructure in the proposed checkpoints will be of international standard with all facilities including sprawling parking lot and security arrangement. As per the agreement, construction of new checkpoints in Birgunj and Raxual ( India), which is the main entry point between the two countries, will start within one year. Three other border points will also be developed gradually, Kadariya said. A sub-committee has been constituted to decide technical matters related to the plan. The Indian team led by U.N Panjiyar, a senior official at India's Union Home Ministry, had arrived in Kathmandu on Friday for talks.
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY of five-day workshop on Democratic Transition and Civil Military Relations, on Friday (July 20), Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel has said that security sector reforms involved not only the right sizing of the security bodies but also internalization of basic tenets of human rights. The government wants its security wings to be "more democratic, inclusive and responsive to changed local and global contexts," said Poudel. "Our greatest challenge in the security sector reforms is to streamline the Nepali Army and integration of verified Maoist combatants," he said. Poudel received the document on "National Security Strategy Development" prepared by the workshop by incorporating inputs from the government officials, political leaders, security officials, civil society as well as business sector. He said the government will go through the document and implement its suggestions where possible. Addressing the ceremony, Robert Hugins, Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy, stressed the importance of security to hold free and fair Constituent Assembly elections. "The recommendations should prove as invaluable references to policy makers," he hoped. At the program, Nepali Congress leader and former foreign minister Chakra Bastola and Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG), Armed Police Force (APF), Sanat Kumar Basnet presented the highlights of the document.
GURKHA PENSIONERS WILL BENEFIT from an average increase of 19% to their service pension under new measures announced on Thursday (July 19), by Under Secretary of State for Defense Derek Twigg. The Ministry website says that the significant increase to the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) is in line with changes to Indian Army pensions set by the Indian Pay Commission, and follows on from an increase of 7% announced earlier this year as part of the annual inflationary uplift. All Gurkha pensioners of the rank Warrant Officer Class 1 and below will benefit from the increase – representing 95% of all Gurkha pensioners. Twigg also announced that the British Government will be conducting a review into how Gurkha Pensions are increased annually. The review will look at how best to measure the cost of living in Nepal, where an estimated 25,000 Gurkha pensioners live. Twigg said, ""I am delighted to be able to announce this substantial increase in pensions to retired Gurkhas in the Gurkha Pension Scheme. This increase will sustain Gurkha Pension Scheme payments at an appropriate level and demonstrates our continuing commitment to the retired Gurkha population in Nepal. The bravery and heroism of the Brigade of Gurkhas is world renowned and they are fully deserving of this reputation. Their continued significant contribution to operations around the globe has been and will continue to be greatly appreciated." The website report states that the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between Nepal, India and the UK established the linkage for pensions between British Army Gurkhas and those recruited to serve in the Indian Army. A Gurkha Rifleman with 15 years service currently receives approximately £110 per month. This will rise to approximately £131 per month. The increased benefits to the Gurkha Pension Scheme have been included in the Gurkha Offer To Transfer to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme which was announced on 8 March 2007. Meanwhile, Gurkha Ex-Servicemen Organization (GAESO) has said that the pension is too little. Though they welcomed the decision terming it as yet another victory of their movement for equal rights to British Gurkhas, the GAESO has said that it will proceed with legal cases at British courts to attain equal rights at par with British soldiers.
SUPREME COURT (SC) has ordered the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to make public the financial situation of Nepal Bank Limited (NBL). The bench comprising judges duo Balram KC and Gauri Dhakal issued the order in response to a writ petition filed by businessman Rajendra Kumar Khetan last year. Khetan had pleaded that shareholders should be informed about the annual general meeting proceedings and other activities of the bank. In his petition, Khetan has contested that as a shareholder he has the right to know about the financial situation of NBL.
