NEPAL ASKS CHINA LFOR ONE-TIME SPECIAL GRANT TO COMPLETE PEACE PROCESS, CONSITUTION DRAFTING

NEPAL ASKS CHINA FOR ONE-TIME SPECIAL GRANT TO COMPLETE PEACE PROCESS AND CONSTITUTION DRAFTNG
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 29 Nov.: At a time when some European states are hesitating to finance the return home of former Maoist PLA fighters from a five-year stay in camps, Nepal government has asked China for the one-time special grant to complete the delayed peace process and constitution promulgation.
“We have also sought a one-time special grant at a time when we are
approaching the final state of the peace process and constitution
drafting,” Foreign Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha told Republica.
Shrestha returned home Friday after discussions in Beijing to lay the groundwork for the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in
the last week of December.
Dashing hopes of any EU financial assistance
to financé the return home of former Maoist from camps, a member of a EU parliamentary delegation visiting Nepal said Monday cash donation wasn;t a solution.
“We view that returning home with cash is not a suitable approach to address the problem,” Lluis Navarro, a member of the delegation,
said.
Government ministers and some members of leading parties hoped EU member states would help the return home of the former combatants.
But five European states had been contributing to a peace fund managed by government to finance the peace process, including the monthly upkeep of 19,000 plus former fighters at the camps.
It’s come to light Monday 3,000 fighters deserted the camps but the paty was collecting the monthly stipends from government.
In effect, the Maoists were being financed through the government agency.



Navarro said the EU could support disabled fighters, women and
their children as and when asked, but not in the form of cash.



A three-member European delegation, led by Jean Lambart, left for home Monday after completing a week-long visit.
EU and some non-EU European states have been funding and supporting he peace process.
EU donor fatigue has surfaced at time of financial crisis the rich
grouping of European states.
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