Correspondent
July 19, Kathmandu
It might sound a bit weird but that's what the Government in Nepal has done by giving out funds from state coffers to a criminal. According reports, the Information and Communications Ministry of Nepal has granted almost hundred thousand rupees (HK$10,000) to an organization called Reporters Club owned by Rishi Dhamala who is accused of serious crime such as extortion, murder and possession of illegal arms. The country's Information and Communications Ministry is headed by CPN UML leader, often termed as a pro-Indian figure.
Rishi Dhamala and his two associates were last arrested in February 2009 by police and remanded in custody for exploding a bomb in the capital, Kathmandu. He was later released on bail by the country's supreme court. His two associates are still under police custody.
Upon his arrest, Nepal police released a tapped voiceover believed to be that of Mr. Dhamala plotting to plant the bombs in various parts of the capital and extort money from business persons with his associates.
Rishi Dhamala was accused of working in the name of Ranabir Sena, an underground terrorist outfit active in the country. Upon Dhamala's arrest, the activities of the terrorist outfit was eliminated.
Legal experts and analysts have expressed alarm over the decision of the minister to grant state funds to a person convicted of serious crime. Legal experts argue that a person or an organization cannot be funded by the government unless acquited by the law courts. People believe that the Minister's decision to allocate state funds to such an individual violates the rule of law and undermines the stabilization efforts of the country plagued by violence and political instability.
Rishi Dhamala is believed to have an approach to high profile political leaders in Nepal such as former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala and present Prime Minister and leader of CPN UML Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal. Mr. Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal criticised the Maoist led government when police arrested and remanded him into custody in February. After the Maoist government toppled and CPN UML led government formed in Nepal, he has received a sweet candy from the government.
