Six Nepalis die fighting for Russian Army in Ukraine, one captive

The Foreign Ministry today officially confirmed the deaths of six Nepalis, while serving for the Russian Army that is currently fighting a war after invading Ukraine in February 2022.

Issuing a press note, the ministry clarified that these deaths were confirmed despite Nepal banning to join its nationals in foreign armies, except for those recruited into the national armies of friendly countries under traditional agreements. Nepalis traditionally join the armies of India and the UK.

The ministry had issued a press note also on August 1 stressing not to provide permission for recruitment in any foreign army apart from those in a few countries as per traditional agreements.

The ministry has also confirmed a Nepali, who has been fighting for Russia, has been captive in Ukrain.

The Nepalis, who lost their lives in Ukraine are identified as Sandeep Thapalia of Gorkha, Rupak Kari of Kapilvastu, Dewan Rai of Kaski, Pritam Karki of Syangja, Raj Kumar Roka of Ilam, and Ganga Raj Moktan of Ilam. 

The ministry has also formally requested the Russian government to expedite the repatriation of the deceased Nepalis' bodies and provide compensation to their grieving families.

The ministry has also requested the Russian government to refrain from recruiting Nepalis into the Russian army.

Likewise, the government has also requested Russia to repatriate any Nepalis, who may have recently joined the Russian army. "Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure the return of Bibek Khatri, a Nepali citizen currently held captive in Ukraine after joining the Russian army," the press note reads, confirming the report that one Nepali is in the captivity of Ukraine.

There are unofficial reports that many Nepalis are being lured to joint the Russian Army, the press note added appealing Nepali citizens, excluding those engaged in government work, recipients of Russian government scholarships, and professionals in business, to travel to Russia only through the Consular Service Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tripureshwar.

Likewise, the ministry has urged the Nepalis to refrain from joining the armies of war-torn countries, based on false information or the temptation of monetary gains. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests all concerned not to join the army of war-torn countries on the basis of false information or temptation," it added.

According to the ministry, the deceased are:

Sandeep Thapaliya (Gorkha)

Rupak Karki (Banganga-1, Kapilvastu)

Duban Rai (Kaski)

Pitam Karki (Putali Bazaar-5, Syangja)

Raj Kumar Roka (Melung-6, Dolakha)

Ganga Raj Moktan (Ilam-5, Ilam)

Government decides to open embassy in Portugal, appoints envoy too

The government decides to establish a residential Nepali Embassy in Portugal.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held today took the decision to open a residential embassy in the Portugal, confirmed Minister for Communications and Information Rekha Sharma.

The meeting also decided to appoint Sanil Nepal as the first Nepali ambassador to Portugal, the government spokesperson added.

Though, some cabinet minister claimed that the government's decision to open Nepali Embassy in Portugal has come under Deuba's pressure, the government -- in the last week of October -- had struck a deal to establish a residential embassy in Portugal.

Currently, Nepal has 40 diplomatic missions abroad including 30 residential embassies, 3 permanent missions, and 7 consulates general, for which billions are spent annually from the state coffer. But the investment on these mission has been very nominal compared to the government spending. 

Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Portugal were established in September 1976. It is estimated that around 60,000 Nepalis are currently residing in this southern European country. 

According to the Constitution of Nepal-2015, the President appoints diplomats to their positions after their names are endorsed by the parliamentary hearing committee.

Though, opening a new embassy will incur a financial burden of billions of rupees annually, the government has not been able to lure investment and tourist with the help of these missions abroad. The embassy also has to play a role in strengthening bilateral ties while keeping in mind the interests of Nepal and the rights of Nepali migrant workers.

Though, economists and foreign experts are repeatedly suggesting that the number of embassies be reviewed, the government has been adding the foreign missions. The Prachanda-led government in its budget statement last May had said that it would review the number of embassies. 

Likewise, the cabinet today also passed the directives for operation of social media 2023 with some amendments.

Th meeting passed the directives presented by the legislation committee of the council of ministers with some changes, government spokesperson  Rekha Sharma added.

The Cabinet meeting has also passed the National Vocational and Skill Development Training Academy (Formation and Operation) Order 2023, and the National Vocational Training Center Development Committee (Formation) Order 2023.

Nepal tries to correct diplomatic blunder

After the 'diplomatic blunder' by the party co-chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) led government has claimed that it stands for peace, stability and unity of Venezuela. "Nepal calls for resolution of differences through peaceful means," a press note released today by the Foreign Ministry reads.
It also said that the people of Venezuela have the ultimate right to take a decision on the country’s political and constitutional course. "We have been closely following the recent political development in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” further reads the press note, adding, "In line with its principled position, Nepal believes that internal political problems of a country need to be resolved within its constitutional parameters in a democratic manner, free from external interference."
However, Nepal’s official position – of the non-aligned – bends away from the statement released by ruling NCP (NCP) co-chairman Dahal on January 25. On Friday, the NCP had issued a statement bearing recognition to democratically elected constitutional President Nicolas Maduro. The NCP (NCP) statement read that the recognition of self-declared acting president Juan Guaido by US and other states is ‘unacceptable intrusion’ in internal affairs and an attempt of ‘imperialist coup’.
The statement – the diplomatic blunder of Nepal siding with Russia-China group against Nepal's position of non-aligned – followed the stand taken by China, Russia and a number of other countries, who have criticised the role of the US and its allies on Venezuela’s political crisis.
The letter signed by NCP (NCP) co-chairman Dahal – in absence of the party’s another co-chairman and also the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli – had not triggered a debate over whether it is the official position of the government or the NCP (NCP) only but also raised serious concern from the US. The US has also sought Nepal government's official position in the issue.
Foreign experts claimed that the Dahal statement on Friday was a reaction to the statement issued by around a dozen Kathmandu-based missions including the UN, who asked the government to finalise Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP).
On Thursday, issuing a press note Kathmandu-based diplomatic missions of Australia, Germany, European Union, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, and United Nations said, "Noting the looming expiration of the mandates of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, as well as the upcoming fourth anniversary of the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed certain requirements for transitional justice processes, we encourage the government to clarify to the public its plans to take the transitional justice process forward in 2019."
Though, Nepal has extended diplomatic relations with 163 countries around the world, it has not been in any group historically. Nepal and Venezuela had tied the bilateral relations on April 28, 1987.