Govt mulling over buying time

KATHMANDU: The government is hard-pressed following a UN caveat that the Nepali mission in Darfur of Sudan will be dysfunctional if the government failed to supply UN-standard logistics and equipment to Nepali troops there at the earliest.

The government is contemplating writing to UN seeking some time for the equipment supply. However, it is yet to finalise what procedure to follow for the same.

The Nepali mission in Darfur is embroiled in controversy following reports of irregularity in the purchase of logistics and equipment, especially Armoured Personnel Vehicles, for Nepali troops stationed there.

The Darfur scam, which involves quite a few high-profile personalities, including former home minister and Nepali Congress leader Krishna Sitaula, was extensively discussed at yesterday’s parliamentary State Affairs Committee meeting in which SAC had categorically directed the government and Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority to bring guilty to book.

The Nepali mission, with 150 troops, in Darfur is almost dysfunctional with sub-standard equipment in possession.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today discussed equipment procurement issue with home minister, finance minister, secretaries and officials of concerned ministries, Nepal Police chief and AIGs.

The meeting mulled over two options: Write to UN seeking some time or start procuring equipment immediately to replace the non-operational ones. However, the meeting ended with differences among the participants in the meeting. “Some suggested that NP should move ahead with the procurement process while others said the government should opt for a short-cut way for procurement through a Cabinet decision,” said a source.

Even if the government takes the short-cut route, it may take about a month and a half to complete the procurement.

But is worse, if the UN decides to repatriate the Nepali troops, the country’s image will be tarnished in the international arena. Moreover, Nepal, which is one of the largest contributors to UN peace missions, could be deprived of participating in any mission in future.

On October 25, UN had alerted the government about the non-operational status of the equipment and sought an update to this effect. A few days ago, it inquired Col Purna Silwal, Military Adviser, Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, about the progress in procurement.

It had informed Silwal that Nepal Formed Police Unit in Sudan could be no longer deployed due to the sub-standard APCs it had and that it would soon send an official note to Permanent Mission of Nepal setting the deadline for bringing the FPU in operational status. “There was clear hint that in failing to meet the demand, the next step would be to send the FPU back,” reads a December 22 e-mail forwarded by Col Silwal to Nepal’s high-level authorities.

Meanwhile, SAC today wrote to the prime minister, home minister, IGP and CIAA to begin procurement process within 10 days.

SAC also directed CIAA to file a case against the guilty involved in the graft. Nine months ago, SAC had concluded that around Rs 320 million was embezzled while procuring the low-grade equipment worth around Rs 420 million.

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Govt+mulling+over+buying+time&NewsID=271128