US forces in Nepal for joint military exercise

By Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Jan 13:A team of the US Pacific Command forces is currently in Nepal as part of a joint military training exercise with the Royal Nepal Army soldiers, which will continue for a month beginning next week. A platoon each from both countries will take part in the exercise.

While this is a "kind of a routine, annual exercise" involving the US and the Nepalese soldiers, the exercise has three purposes: to enhance the operational capability of the US Pacific forces; to improve their inter-operability with other forces; and also to increase the tactical efficiency of the host nation, according to Constance Colding Jones, the US Embassy spokesperson in Kathmandu.

Dubbed ‘Joint Combined Exchange Training’, "the exercise also includes some medical trauma and emergency (drills) that may be needed during natural disasters," Jones told The Kathmandu Post. "The exercise is part of our on-going military exchange programme. It’s a business-as-usual kind of thing."

Such an exchange programme, she added, has been going on between the RNA and the US Pacific Command since mid-1990s. The United States has entered into agreements with a total of 25 countries in the Asia Pacific region to conduct such exercises.

The RNA officials, meanwhile, said the US Pacific Command forces comprising of a platoon will partake in the exercise together with a RNA platoon somewhere in central Nepal. "The exercise will start next week," an official told The Kathmandu Post.

The RNA has been involved in similar joint military exercises also with the British Army. Just a few months ago, a joint British Army-RNA combined military exercise for effective disaster management was conducted in Kathmandu Valley.

A few examples of similar exercises forces are, the "Baker Neptune", and "Hold Fast". While the former was conducted once, about nine years ago, the latter was done thrice all in the mid-1990s.

Widely acclaimed for its expertise in various UN peacekeeping operations, the RNA also participated in a multi-platoon training event with forces from the US, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The event was held at the RNA’s Peacekeeping Training Centre, Kavre-Panchkhal three years ago.

ALSO:

One girl dead, four others injured in cross-fire, other details

An eight-year-old girl died and four others were injured, including three of her sisters, in shoot-out between the armed police and Maoists at Dingla in Bhojpur 150 kms southwest of the capital Monday

afternoon, security sources said Tuesday.

Sabina Khawas died instantly and sisters Sharmila, 19, Pramila, 12, Binita,12, and Lal Bahadur Bika, 56, were injured at home in the cross-fire, the same source said. The injured have been airlifted for

treatment at Dharan. Sabina died immediately of chest injuries.

A platoon each from the US Army and the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) will conduct a routine month long joint military exercise mostly in central Nepal beginning next week to enhance capabilities of the two armies, a spokesman of the RNA said.

The exercise includes handling emergencies during natural disasters. nepalnews.com br Jan.1

Second article is 2 weeks old. My bad...

Army admits killing two innocents in Myagdi

By Ghanashyam Khadka

MYAGDI, Jan 14 : Local security authorities admitted that two innocent boys were killed during crossfire between the security forces and Maoist rebels near Khahare Khola in Fulbari village of Okharbot Village Development Committee on December 19.

Krishna Bahadur Budha, 23, and Hemenra Siuthani, 14, both from Lusipar Village of Rum Village Development Committee (VDC), were shot dead by the security personnel in the VDC, without any verification.

The security officials have also recommended the concern government body to provide adequate compensation to the bereaved family members. A recently held meeting of the district security authorities realised the fact that the boys were innocent and killed in the crossfire. The meeting recommended the government for a compensation to the bereaved families. The government has set a rule to compensate Rs.100, 000 in cash to the bereaved family of a person killed in a crossfire.

The bereaved family members of the two boys, killed by the security forces, had filed a joint complaint at the District Administration Office (DAO) in Beni, the district headquarters, seeking compensation and an impartial probe into the deaths, 19 days after their killings.

In their joint complaint, Dhan Bahadur Budha, father of deceased Krishna Bahadur, and Ram Prasad Siuthani, grandfather of deceased Hemendra, had stated that their son and grandson were found to have been shot with five and seven bullets respectively.

Quoting the Defence Ministry press statement on December 21, the state-controlled Radio Nepal, however, aired that two "terrorists" were shot dead during an encounter in Myagdi district.

The bereaved family members said that the boys were, in fact, returning to their home village after escorting the rheumatic father and grandfather to have a bath in the Tatopani-based hot water spring, located at a few hours walking distance from the district headquarters.

The boys were shot dead by the security forces, while chasing away a group of Maoist rebels, who had attacked them with hand grenades from the other side of the Khahare Khola.

Hemendra’s grandfather Siuthani, quoting the locals, said that the soldiers had ordered the villagers to hide inside their homes before they rounded up the village. The boys also hid in the backyard of a house. "But other security personnel, who arrived close to the house, opened fire at the them without verification," grandfather Siuthani quoted the locals as saying.

"I always dream of my grandson pleading his innocence. I also see him crying in the dream," lamented the grandfather, "I could not tolerate this and arrived here hoping that I will get justice." He added that it was the greatest agony in his life to hear that his innocent grandson was labelled a "terrorist".

Likewise, Nawaraj Sharma, former chairman of Myagdi District Development Committee, said that the government should publicly apologise for the mistake committed by the security personnel and provide adequate compensation to the bereaved family members for the deaths.

The second article is from Jan 14, 2003, not 'Jan 1'. Thus there IS a discrepency in the articles concerning the presence of US troops in the area. Also of note is the following article which may indicate the REAL reason US troops are in Nepal:

Government readies special force to crush insurgency

By Kedar Ojha/Khim Ghale

KATHMANDU, Jan 14:The government is all set to deploy a ‘united special taskforce’ of army and police to the Maoist affected areas. The taskforce will comprise of 20,000 security personnel, equally divided between army and police personnel.

The taskforce will be equipped with latest weapons, recently purchased from America and Belgium.

The taskforce termed as ‘On The Job Training’ is expected to be placed by next month. Both army and police personnel selected for the taskforce will be trained to handle these weapons, before deploying them to the areas.

A high level police official told The Kathmandu Post that both army and police personnel would be deployed to make the operation very effective.

"It will be the biggest ever operation," the source said.

The source informed that earlier the army, barring cases of minor patrolling, had never joined the police personnel in such an heavy operation.

The officials also hoped that the decision would help in minimizing the lack of coordination between the security wings. Even the police involved in the taskforce would handle sophisticated weapons. The Royal Nepal Army has managed primary training for the security personnel at Amlekhganj training centre.

"The police personnel involved in the taskforce will not take their weapons. Army will manage everything," the security source said.

The taskforce will be deployed in different phases, with the first phase seeing a select band of 2,500 army and police personnel being sent to combat the Maoist rebels.