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We met Raut on human rights grounds: Envoys
KOSH RAJ KOIRALA KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Amid various controversial activities by Kathmandu-based western diplomats, the government has cautioned European Union (EU) envoys in Kathmandu to carry out their activities within the limits permitted by international laws. During a meeting with ambassadors from EU countries, except Germany, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Monday afternoon, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey cautioned the envoys to understand the ‘political sensitivities’ of the host country while carrying out their activities, according to senior government officials. The meeting of EU envoys with Pandey has taken place at a time when the government is preparing to take appropriate ‘diplomatic action’ against some EU envoys for their clandestine meetings with CK Raut, who is leading a secessionist campaign in the southern plains. The government has taken strong exception as such meetings are against established international diplomatic norms. MoFA Spokesperson Tara Prasad Pokharel confirmed the meeting, but did not want to divulge the details. “The meeting was arranged at the request of EU envoys,” Pokharel told Republica. Sources said Pandey told the envoys that the meeting with Raut in the current political context in Nepal had sent a negative message across Nepal about a section of EU envoys, raising serious questions about their intentions in Nepal. Although the envoys tried to justify their meeting saying that Raut was not a convicted criminal, the minister said that the meeting was unwarranted as it goes against the set diplomatic code of conduct. On the occasion, EU ambassadors clarified that they had held meeting with Raut on ‘human rights’ ground. “We were requested to listen to him. Although we held a meeting with him in Kathmandu on human rights ground, the meeting is in no way our endorsement of the campaign he is leading,” a source quoted the envoys as saying at the meeting. Highly-placed government sources said concerned government authorities are currently investigating the sources of funding to Raut’s secessionist campaign. Sources said they have started investigation to see if the money from various donor agencies is directly or indirectly being channeled through NGOs in the southern plains to fund Raut’s controversial activities. Published on 2015-01-27 07:10:29 |
