Finland to re-evaluate its development aid to Nepal

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Finland will continue its bilateral development cooperation with Nepal despite the fact that the Nepali monarch King Gyanendra, who seized power in a palace coup in February, is yet to restore democracy to the Himalayan nation.
      Still, Finland will abstain from launching any new development projects in Nepal, which coincides with the official policy of other EU nations assisting Nepal.
      "Also, the budget for future aid to Nepal will be tightened", anticipates Finland's Charge d'Affaires to Nepal Pauli Mustonen from Kathmandu.
      Last year, Finland's development aid to Nepal was EUR 3.8 million in total.
     
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided on the new policy the week before last. The ministry also suspended a EUR 2.5 million water supply project for western Nepal, which had already been agreed on.
      Denmark, which has loudly insisted on the restoration of democracy in the aid-dependent Nepal, has decided to freeze its aid aimed at building up Nepal's tax administration. Britain, in turn, has cancelled its funding for a training programme of Nepali police officers.
      "Our existing programmes take place on the grassroots level, and hence we think we can safely continue them", says Mustonen. "Denmark and Britain, in turn, fear that the funding for their development projects might end up being used for military purposes instead."
      Britain, the United States, and India have all discontinued selling arms to Nepal. On Sunday, however, an Indian daily The Hindu reported that India would resume its military aid to Nepal "as soon as possible".
     
According to Mustonen, the state of emergency that followed the February coup has eased up somewhat. E-mail connections and landline phones work again, but mobile phone networks are still shut down.
      The media in Nepal remains heavily censored.
      According to Amnesty International, the Nepali security forces have arrested about 3,000 individuals since February, some of whom have reportedly been tortured.
     
Development aid work in Nepal has been made significantly more difficult by frequent roadblocks and general strikes organised by Maoist insurgents.
      According to some estimates, the Maoist insurgents control 70-80 percent of the countryside.
      King Gyanendra has announced the start of preparations for local elections. "Mere promises will not amount to much, but if the elections are actually held that may mark a significant turning point", Mustonen believes.
      The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs reviews its policy towards aid for Nepal once a month.


Links:
  Amnesty International: Human rights crisis continues in Nepal

Helsingin Sanomat