Reports noted that despite the peace process and Maoists’ joining mainstream politics, subjects like warfare and weaponry were still being taught in Maoist-run schools in the Rukum, Rolpa and Salyan districts of Nepal. Students were also being taught about communist revolutions as well as the history of communist leaders like Mao Zedong, Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. A principal of a school was quoted as stating that “traditional bourgeois education is not practical.”1

Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, at the end of a week-long visit to China, stated that the Chinese government had agreed to provide 150 Yuan (Nepalese Rs. 1.74 billion) annually as aid as well as duty-free access to as many as 497 different export items. Chinese will help develop the Rampur Agriculture Campus in Chitwan into an agriculture university. China also expressed its willingness to help Nepal in infrastructure projects, science and technology and tourism sectors.2

Meanwhile, British Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans Kevan Jones on a visit to Kathmandu met President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Rookmangud Katawal on April 15. He lauded the work of Gurkhas and pledged help in the integration of the Maoist
combatants.3

• 1. “Warfare being taught in Maoist-run schools,” Kantipuronline.com, April 15, 2009, at http://www.kantipuronline.com/capsule.php?&nid=189519
• 2. “China to increase aid to Nepal,” nepalnews.com, April 18, 2009, at http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2009/apr/apr18/news09.php
• 3. “British minister pledges peace pie,” Kantipuronline.com, April 16, 2009, at
  http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=189645