NA forms board of inquiry

Kathmandu, April 24

The Nepali Army has stated that it is investigating allegations of child rape against UN peacekeepers from Nepal in South Sudan.

Nepali Army Spokesperson Brig Gen Gokul Bhandari said the NA unit in South Sudan had formed a board of inquiry to look into the allegations. “An incident has occurred. The board of inquiry there will soon come up with its investigation report,” said Bhandari.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan today said in a statement that there was no allegation of rape made against UN peacekeepers from Nepal.

“On 13 April, four teenagers were caught trying to enter the United Nations base in Aweil through the perimeter fence. It was alleged that one of the teenage girls had been touched inappropriately by a member of the Nepali contingent in exchange for money. There was no allegation of rape,” it said in a statement.

The UNMISS has deployed a Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Immediate Response Team to Aweil to gather information and preserve evidence prior to investigation by the troop contributing country concerned. The matter has also been reported to the Office of Internal Oversight Services, an agency that is independent from UNMISS, the statement read.

“The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal has also been notified by the UN of the allegation and is in the process of appointing a team of National Investigation Officers who will conduct an investigation as per normal procedures relating to military contingents,” adds the statement.

Till April 22, the Nepali Army had deployed 12 missions around the world. As a troop contributing country, Nepal ranks sixth in the world.

Some 4,830 soldiers, including 131 females, from Nepali Army are serving in 12 missions around the globe. In South Sudan, 1,747 Nepali Army personnel are deployed, according to the Nepali Army official website.