Superpower's Super Concern
The senior-most US official who came calling to Kathmandu expressed worries over Maoist violence and ethnic unrest
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
Though her visit was quite short, the Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta H. Fore – the senior-most Bush administration official to visit Nepal since April change – made very important statements during the two-day trip that ended on Saturday (March 10).
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For meeting with PM : Conveying the message |
Right at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), she told reporters that she fully stands behinds statements made and positions taken by her country's ambassador James Moriarty – who has been drawing huge criticism from a section of left-oriented politicians and civil society members for making disapproving remarks about the continued Maoist violence.
At the media roundtable held at the American Center on March 10, she said that the United States government is worried with two particular trends in current situation in Nepal , - the continuing Maoist violence and growing ethnic unrest. She warned that t the two trends, if unresolved, threaten Nepal 's democratic progress.
"The Maoists are now members of the interim parliament, and they have proclaimed their commitment to democracy. Yet, what have we seen? Violence and intimidation continue. Impunity continues," she said. She added that the Maoists themselves must finally renounce violence and begin acting like a mainstream political party. "If they cannot, then the United States believes they do not deserve membership in a coalition government whose other partners play by the rules of civility and non-violence," she said.
Referring to the latest incident of a Maoist MP bragging at parliament about pistol in his pocket, the US official reminded what her colleague, Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher, during his visit to Kathmandu last November, had told reporters: "… you don't walk into Parliament with a gun in your pocket." "Sadly – and incredibly – the Maoists recently proved that statement wrong," she said.
Likewise, the US official added that the growing unrest among various ethnic groups in Nepal has also worried the US . "Unity and inclusiveness are central for Nepal 's democratic transition and its future. Various groups are clamoring for dialogue. The United States hopes that Nepal 's leaders can find an effective and transparent manner to engage them," she said.
"We support a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future and we stand ready to help," she said.
Prachanda's Plot Allegations
The allegations made by Maoist chairman Prachanda that he has the information about plots by royalist elements to assassinate US officials posted in Nepal and pin the blame on Maoists has, quite naturally, generated a lot of concern to the US government. During her visit with the Prime Minister also, Under Secretary of State Fore raised this issue and the PM assured to provide adequate security to the US officials in the country.
At the media roundtable, American ambassador James Moriarty has said that he was "stunned" by the statement made by Maoist chairman Prachanda over plots to kill US officials in Nepal . Reacting to Prachanda's statements made in Pokhara on Thursday, ambassador Moriarty said that Prachanda should immediately share the information with authorities. "As an ambassador, my most important job is to ensure protection of US officials, citizens and people who work with us here," he said.
If Prachanda has evidences to support his claim, he should immediately provide that to authorities otherwise he should retract (the statement), he said. Moriarty termed the statements as malicious and dangerous if Prachanda had made them without evidence. Moriarty said the US government has no information about such plots though.
As ambassador Moriarty, Prachanda has made a dangerous statement, which if he fails to back up with evidences quickly, could even belittle his position.
