The sub-committee handed over the report to Chairman of the Parliamentary State Affairs Committee Ram Nath Dhakal during a meeting on Thursday. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Home Minister Bhim Rawal were also present on the occasion. [break]
The sub-committee formed under the chair of Pradip Gyawali arrived at the conclusion after the making a field visit to Sudan and holding discussions with concerned stake holders. Bhim Prasad Gautam, Jagadish Narasingh KC, Ram Janam Chaudhari and Mukunda Sharma were other members of the committee.
According to the probe report, Nepal Police spent Rs 237 million for the purchase of eight APCs and their spare parts in the beginning. It spent an additional Rs 67.4 million in the last 20 months. Nepal incurred additional losses of over $ 687,225 as the UN refused to reimburse expenses after the self-sustaining logistics, prefab house and others did not meet the standards set by the UN.
The report claims all the APCs have been manufactured in late 1970s´ and that they do not have cooler system, space for installing arms and communication devices in order to be feasible for peace keeping operations in African countries like Sudan. The APCs are designed for cold areas since heating system starts working automatically.
The probe subcommittee has urged the government to take action against all those involved in the purchase of the obsolete APCs, including Bhagawati Traders that supplied the equipments.
Among others, the sub-committee has suggested the government to immediately send at least five APCs and six escort vans to Sudan to enhance effectiveness of Nepal Police personnel deployed in Sudan. It has also asked the government to send necessary automatic weapons, bullet-proof helmets and jackets for them.
“This will help maintain the image of Nepal Police in Sudan,” said Gyawali, adding, “Police personnel are currently working under miserable conditions.”
Addressing the meeting, Home Minister Rawal said the government has started process to procure five APCs and 98 pieces of bullet proof jackets and helmets. “We are currently studying whether to make decision through the cabinet or police headquarters to make the process transparent and legal,” he said.
Earlier, the sub-committee had written to the office of the prime minister to immediately make available five APCs and six vehicles, among other safety materials, to the Nepal Police team working in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan.
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