Friday, March 12, 2004
Maoists trying to extort money: UN agencies
Press Trust of India Kathmandu, March 12
Maoists were trying to extort money from various UN agencies in Nepal and such attempts would jeopardize development projects in the Himalayan Kingdom, the agencies said on Friday.
The United Nations' programmes and officials have been under continued pressure from Maoists to provide "forced donations," the UN agencies said in a statement in Kathmandu.
"The continued attempts to force the UN agencies to pay contributions put the future of our development programmes at risk," it said.
"The UN staff are obliged to adhere to the principles in UN Basic Operation Guidelines, which clearly states, the UN will not make contributions to political parties and will not make forced contributions," the joint statement said.
A joint meeting of the heads of all the UN agencies in Nepal issued the statement following continued pressure from the Maoists to donate money, a UN official said.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.