Kathmandu (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Swiss organization Small Arms Survey (SAS) and the Nepal armed violence assessment (Nava) reported, on May 15, that 450 thousand firearms were introduced illegally into Nepal; of these only 55 thousand were registered. Keith Cruse, lead researcher of the Swiss organization, called the situation 'risky' especially for the capital Kathmandu and the neighboring valleys.
Prof. Idraiit Rai, national security expert, explained that "in a country that is facing increasing Hindu pressure, a large number of weapons could be used to intimidate Christians and other religious minorities." He added that "the government should endeavor to limit its spread before we approach the election period."
Nepal is an official signatory of the UN Arms Trade resolution. The issue is currently under discussion between the Member States. The Sas and Nava report, states that "Kathmandu, as political and economic center of the country, has been repeatedly affected by violence stemming from the illegal activity of criminal groups. Such groups - says the source - in the past have had possible links with some of the figures from the Nepalese political scene. " Analysts fear that the presence of a massive arsenal within the borders of the country can strengthen the criminal activity and affect the stability of inter-confessional relations.
Five years ago, a bomb of Nepal Defense Army, a Hindu fundamentalist group, killed three Catholics in the Cathedral of the Assumption. The same religious faction assassinated Fr. John Prakash in the eastern region of the country. Hermanta Bahadur Pal, police spokesman in Kathmandu, also pointed out that "both the Catholic priest and Faizan Mohamad, Secretary General of the Islamic Federation, were killed with similar weapons."