Aid agency threatens to withdraw from Nepalese district

A British aid agency today threatened to suspend work in a mountainous district in west Nepal, refusing to register their work with communist rebels who have major influence in the area.

This is the first time an aid agency has had trouble in Nepal since Maoist rebels and the government declared ceasefire in April and began peace talks aimed at ending decade-old insurgency.

Britain’s Department For International Development, which is operating livelihood and forestry programmes in 15 districts in Nepal, said Maoist rebels were asking their operation at Parbat district in west Nepal to be registered with the guerrilla group.

Bob Smith, the agency’s deputy chief in Nepal, said the problem began when local Maoist leaders in the area - about 175 miles west of Kathmandu - began to insist the agency register with the rebels’ administration.

The rebels are known to run a parallel administration in the areas where they have control or influence imposing taxes on people and even running courts.