SWB
FE/0073 A3/7
Indian spokesman on forces, casualties in Sri Lanka (Excerpts) A total of 363 Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF) personnel, including 18 officers, were killed and 1,169 injured in the operations against Tamil "Tiger" militants in the northern provinces of Sri Lanka since October 1987... The total casualties on the side of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was, however, not known. The [Indian Foreign Ministry] spokesman described as "grossly exaggerated", a report in a section of the press that over 115,000 Indian troops were currently in Sri Lanka. The report was based on the "fevered imagination" of some persons. The figure was much less than that, maybe even “less than 50%”, he said, while not giving exact figures... (PTI in English 1511 gmt 9 Feb 88)
Nepal and India to co-operate on border patrols against GNLF (Text) The Nepalese Foreign Minister, Mr Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya, has said that his country is prepared for a joint patrolling of the West Bengal border and exchange of information regarding the GNLF with India. He reiterated that the Darjeeling hill area problem is an internal matter of India and Nepal will not allow its soil to be used against another country. (New Delhi in English for abroad 1900 gmt 7 Feb 88)
Nepal and India resume talks on Koshi dam Nepal and India resumed their talks on the problems of the Koshi dam in Kathmandu on 8th February after a 10-year break. A four-member Indian delegation, led by Water Resources Secretary of Bihar State C.K. Basu, is participating in the talks. A hydro-power station was built at the dam to provide electricity to nearby Nepalese villagers free of charge. But it has stopped functioning for years because of heavy sand storage. The deposited sand is threatening more and more Nepalese farm land which could be flooded. The Indian government has agreed to pay the compensation to the Nepalese farmers for the loss of their land. The rates and the ways of paying may be discussed at the talks, which is scheduled to last for three days. (Xinhua in English 1629 gmt 8 Feb 88)
Japanese banker in India Indian Finance Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari called for a co-ordinated developed strategy between India and Japan in talks with T. Tanaka, the visiting president of the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of Japan, on 9th February. (PTI in English 1303 gmt 9 Feb 88)
12 Feb 88
Zealand's development aid to Fiji still remains officially frozen. (Radio Australia in English for abroad 0700 gmt 9 Feb 88)
Chinese NPC delegation in Thailand (FE/0068/A3/4 - Excerpt) The visiting delegation of the Chinese National People's Congress [NPC] led by Vice-Chairman of its Standing Committee, Chen Pixian, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister General Prem Tinsulanon at Government House at 0915 [local] on 4th February... (Bangkok, 'Xin Zhong Yuan Ribao' in Chinese 5 Feb 88)
Malaysian supreme commander in Thailand Acting supreme commander and army commander Gen Chawalit Yongchaiyut received Malaysian supreme commander Gen Tan Sri Hashim Bin Mohamed Ali, who is visiting Thailand as a representative of the Malaysian armed forces, on 9th February. (Army television Channel 5, Bangkok 1300 gmt 9 Feb 88)
Japanese businessman in China Chinese State Councillor Zhang Jingfu met Masanori Ito, adviser to the Japanese Namura Securities Co., Ltd. on 9th February. (Xinhua in English 0922 gmt 9 Feb 88)
OTHER REPORTS
(Excerpts)
Fiji resumes dialogue with New Zealand Fiji's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced today [9th February] that New Zealand has resumed dialogue with the country's two-month old civilian government... A statement from Fiji's Foreign Ministry said the main subject discussed was the mutual desire by the governments of both countrics to resume dialogue and contact. New Zealand has not formally recognised the Mara government which was formed after power was handed back to President Sir Ratu Penaia Ganilau in December following Fiji's two military coups. New
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