arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

The Belgian government faces a no-confidence vote because of the approval of illegal arms sale to Nepal on Saturday 30 August. News reports show that there are efforts to cover up the reality in Nepal. The government is calling the decision to sell the arms "irrevocable". So long as Nepali bodies have not yet been mangled by these guns it is NOT irrevocable. But there must be fast action to stop it.

The EU is arguing that the Deuba government is a "legitimate democratic government fighting terrorists" and therefore it is not a civil war. This is a specious argument on many counts -- there is no elected government in Nepal and there is no democratic behaviour by those who have grabbed power by twisting and distorting the formal mechanisms of parliamentary democracy; the CPN(Maoist) has been declared "terrorist" only by the Deuba government which agreed with everyone else in defining the problem as a political one until post-September 11 environment gave the green light to most reactionary forces of Nepal and Deuba government began to act as their puppet.

However, even if the specious definition being put forth by the EU were accepted, the arms sale remains in violation of Belgian law and EU Code of Conduct for Arms sales because of the rampant abuses by the Royal Nepal Army, killings of innocent and unarmed people, disappearances, torture, policy of killing CPN(Maoist) insurgents rather than capturing when that is possible without any greater risk to army personnel; killing of CPN(Maoist) members and supporters, as well as hundreds of people with no connection to the insurgency WHILE IN CUSTODY. etc. Tell the truth; tell it quickly.

Write to this man and the list that follows:
Jef Tavernier (AGALEV)
jef.tavernier@deKamer.be

This man is the replacement for Magda Aelvoet, who resigned as Health Minister in protest over the arms sale decision. Tavernier says he will only support the arms sale if Nepal gives "humanitarian guarantees". Explain to him the worth of "humanitarian guarantees" from the current government of Nepal. Those who know the details -- include some of them! Nepal government gives out "guarantees" like candy - because it has no intention of honouring them. Let us remember Deuba's "guarantee" that no one but "terrorists" would be affected by the State of Emergency -- followed by pure state terrorism unleashed on the whole population. Let us remember Deuba's "guarantee" that freedom of the press would not be impinged upon -- followed by Nepal becoming the "biggest journalists jail in the world" according to international journalists associations. And on and on.

Do not allow anyone in Belgium to believe that they can have a clear conscience if they receive such a "guarantee". And do not allow such a "guarantee" to be used as a diplomatic strategy to cover over the naked reality: profit to Belgian arms makers for putting guns that fire 1000 rounds per minute into the hands of RNA personnel who are killing anyone they please and hiding the evidence.

jef.tavernier@deKamer.be

send copies at least to his party (AGALEV), and better yet to all the following so no one faction or party can keep quiet the truths they hear:

cab.ae@diplobel.org, vdplaets@meta.fgov.be, simonc@meta.fgov.be, jos.geysels@agalev.be, cabinet.durant@vici.fgov.be, info@telcobel.be, kabinetsz@minsoc.fed.be, BrusselsEU@diplobel.org, cabinet@cabos.fgov.be, info@just.fgov.be, SP@deKamer.be, PS@laChambre.be, VLD@deKamer.be, CVP@deKamer.be, Ecolo.Agalev@laChambre.be , Agalev.Ecolo@deKamer.be, hans.bonte@deKamer.be, hans.bonte@deKamer.be, magda.demeyer@dekamer.be, dalila.douifi@deKamer.be, osatish@lycos.com, dirk.vandermaelen@deKamer.be, colette.burgeon@laChambre.be, jose.canon@laChambre.be, jacques.chabot@laChambre.be, jean-marc.delizee@laChambre.be, jacques.lefevre@laChambre.be, yvon.harmegnies@laChambre.be, patrick.moriau@lachambre.be, jean-pol.henry@laChambre.be, fred.erdman@deKamer.be, S-P-A@polgroups.senate.be, ECOLO@polgroups.senate.be, VLD@polgroups.senate.be, PS@polgroups.senate.be, luc.lemiengre@agalev.be, pers@agalev.be, luc.lamote@agalev.be, eddy.deneef@agalev.be, ecolo.sf@ecolo.be, service.presse@ecolo.be, elio@dirupo.net, info@meerspirit.be, vld@vld.be, sap-pos@freegates.be, pvda@pvda.be, nppfbe@hotmail.com