Though, the United Nations (UN) has imposed strict sanctions on North Korea for its involvement in haphazard productions and tests of nuclear weapon, they are not only working illegally in Nepal but also without the labour permit since long under the political pressure. Nepal is also a party to the UN and it has to follow the UN resolution but the North Koreans working in Nepal have also been suspected to be involved in the illicit activities.
However, Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has recently taken action against a hospital ‘Ne-Koryo’ operating in Damauli, as the North Korean doctors have been found operating the hospital without labour permits, though they have landed in Nepal on a tourist visa. The Ne-Koryo Hospital has been closed down but the North Korean diplomats are lobbying with the incumbent government to reopen the hospital.
Likewise, another restaurant named ‘Himalayan SoJe Restaurant’ operating at Sanepa in Lalitpur has employed some six North Korean illegally. “Out of them, three North Koreans are staying in Nepal on tourist visas, while the other three do not have labour permits to work in Nepal.”
Though, the restaurant has been registered with the Department of Industry on September 5, 2018, in the name of two North Korean citizens – Ju Ok Hwang and Il Hyang Kang – with an address of Lazimpat, Kathmandu, they are operating in Sanepa without informing the department.
In April 2018, a special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) arrested some 11 North Korean nationals – illegally working in Nepal – from the Durbar Marga-based Pyongyang Okryugwan Restaurant operated by North Korean nationals.
They were handed over to Department of Immigration but the department released them due to political pressure, and they continued their work at the restaurant.
According to the Department of Industry, five restaurants have been registered with 100 per cent ownership of the North Koreans, over the period of one decade. But the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu has recently reminded the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and his ministers about the UN sanctions against North Korea and the international obligation of Nepal to follow the UN resolutions. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the government has also stopped entertaining the North Korean diplomats.
The secretary of the US Michael Richard Pompeo had expressed his displeasure about the illegal activities of North Koreans in Nepal with foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in the meeting in Washington DC last year. Gyawali assured Pompeo that Nepal government will not allow the Nepali land for any illegal activities by any country against any other country.
Pompeo also wrote an official letter to Prime Minister K P Oli reminding him once again his failure to take any actions against the illegal activities being carried out in Nepal despite the assurance given by foreign minister.
The North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Yong Man has been trying to fix time to meet either the Prime Minister Oli or party Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal to lobby, but he has not been able to get their time as both of them cautiously rejected his plea.
However, Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has recently taken action against a hospital ‘Ne-Koryo’ operating in Damauli, as the North Korean doctors have been found operating the hospital without labour permits, though they have landed in Nepal on a tourist visa. The Ne-Koryo Hospital has been closed down but the North Korean diplomats are lobbying with the incumbent government to reopen the hospital.
Likewise, another restaurant named ‘Himalayan SoJe Restaurant’ operating at Sanepa in Lalitpur has employed some six North Korean illegally. “Out of them, three North Koreans are staying in Nepal on tourist visas, while the other three do not have labour permits to work in Nepal.”
Though, the restaurant has been registered with the Department of Industry on September 5, 2018, in the name of two North Korean citizens – Ju Ok Hwang and Il Hyang Kang – with an address of Lazimpat, Kathmandu, they are operating in Sanepa without informing the department.
In April 2018, a special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) arrested some 11 North Korean nationals – illegally working in Nepal – from the Durbar Marga-based Pyongyang Okryugwan Restaurant operated by North Korean nationals.
They were handed over to Department of Immigration but the department released them due to political pressure, and they continued their work at the restaurant.
According to the Department of Industry, five restaurants have been registered with 100 per cent ownership of the North Koreans, over the period of one decade. But the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu has recently reminded the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and his ministers about the UN sanctions against North Korea and the international obligation of Nepal to follow the UN resolutions. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the government has also stopped entertaining the North Korean diplomats.
The secretary of the US Michael Richard Pompeo had expressed his displeasure about the illegal activities of North Koreans in Nepal with foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in the meeting in Washington DC last year. Gyawali assured Pompeo that Nepal government will not allow the Nepali land for any illegal activities by any country against any other country.
Pompeo also wrote an official letter to Prime Minister K P Oli reminding him once again his failure to take any actions against the illegal activities being carried out in Nepal despite the assurance given by foreign minister.
The North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Yong Man has been trying to fix time to meet either the Prime Minister Oli or party Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal to lobby, but he has not been able to get their time as both of them cautiously rejected his plea.
No comments:
Post a Comment