Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 18:

Close on the heels of the suspension of its military aid to Nepal, the United Kingdom has also cancelled the aid that it had committed to support the Nepal police, prison services and the Prime Minister’s office. “A total of £2.4 million sterling had been committed for the fiscal year 2004-2005, but the first tranche of £1.3 million sterling remained unspent, and so, the entire aid package will now be cancelled,” said an official at the Department for International Development (DFID). According to the DFID, the UK government carried out an initial assessment of implications in mutual development partnership with Nepal, after the takeover by King Gyanendra on Feburary 1.

“In the current environment, we consider it inappropriate to continue support the Police, Prison Services and Prime Minister’s Office,” a DIFD press communique quoted the UK’s international development minister Gareth Thomas as saying. Thomas also stated that the criteria against which decisions will be made are: “Our ability to make an effective contribution towards the Millennium Development Goals and the safety and security of staff. We need to ensure that our programmes can continue to benefit poor and excluded people in Nepal. It is vital that the government of Nepal maintain agreed financial allocations to essential development services, such as health, education and not divert these for other purposes.” “The UK remains deeply concerned about human rights in Nepal,” Thomas said.