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VOL. 27, NO. 7, September 28, 2007 (Ashwin 11 2064 B.S.)
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Global Concerns
In the aftermath of the decision by the Maoists to quit the government and launch street agitation and following their statements against the November elections, international community has expressed serious concerns. Follows excerpts of their reactions:
UNITED NATIONS:
A senior UN official made telephone calls to the prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda urging for political compromise. "Both the Government of Nepal and the Maoists have renewed their commitment to the country's peace process in conversations with the top United Nations political official, who urged them to reach a political compromise in the broader interest of the peace deal, which ended a decade-long bloody civil war that killed some 15,000 people in the country," says a news received from UN center.
B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called Prime Minister Giriji Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chariman Prachanda on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who "has been following the recent political developments in Nepal with concern," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.
In the telephone calls, Pascoe also stressed the need to press forward with the Constituent Assembly election as scheduled in November. "Both leaders reiterated their commitment to the peace process, and also noted that 8-Party discussions were continuing positively with the goal of overcoming the current difficulties in the near future," Montas noted.
INDIA:
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has expressed hopes that concerned parties would come up with resolution to the crises in a democratic manner on the basis of previous understandings. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mukherjee said, "'These are internal issues of Nepal which are to be resolved by Nepal itself." He said that he was confident that parties in Nepal would reach to an understanding themselves.
''We would hope that all concerned will implement previous understandings that underpin Nepal's peaceful transition and that differences will be resolved democratically,'' he said. Mukherjee said ''The common goal must remain to enable the people of Nepal to choose their own future and the manner of their governance.''
UNITED STATES:
United States has warned the Maoists against trying to 'trash' the November polls, which it has said is quite crucial for Nepal's future. To decide sensitive questions of constitutional change and the role of the monarchy in Nepal, it is "essential" to consult the voters, top State Department official Richard Boucher said, according to a report by AFP.
"We're glad to see the elections scheduled for November and we think it's very, very important that everybody respect that and that everybody go through that polling process," said Boucher, who is Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
"Trying to trash this election is trying to trash the whole process," Boucher said at Washington's Johns Hopkins University. "Declaring yourselves an opponent to the democratic voting process, we can't abide that. So I hope they won't go that far," Boucher said. Boucher said the US government would continue to treat the Maoists as extremist outcasts until the movement becomes a normal political party.
"They need to give up the gun. They need to give up extortion. They need to give up the militant youth groups that have sort of extended their power and tried to intimidate people in the countryside," he said.
EU & BRITAIN:
The European Ambassadors and Representatives in Kathmandu issued a statement on Thursday (September 20) expressing disappointment over Maoist decision to quit the government. They said, "We are disappointed that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) have decided to withdraw their participation in the Government and deeply concerned that they have announced plans to disrupt the elections. These elections are about securing peace and democracy in Nepal. They are in fulfillment of promises made to the Nepalese people that they will be able to decide their own future through a fully representative and inclusive Constituent Assembly and begin building a lasting peace and a prosperous future. If the elections cannot be held on time with the full support of all parties this will be a betrayal of the people's aspirations and damage the credibility of the peace process in their eyes and in the eyes of the international community."
The EU ambassadors further said, "Accordingly we urge all parties to resolve their differences quickly and peacefully and encourage them to find common ground to ensure the elections are held as planned on 22 November. It is vital that the elections are held in a secure and peaceful environment in which the parties and the voters are confident they can freely express their views. We request all the political forces to give a clear commitment to maintaining public security and to support the Election Code of Conduct."
The EU ambassadors have said that they strongly support the peace process and are now preparing to bring a substantial Election Observer Mission for the election.
Addressing a press meet on Wednesday (September 19), the visiting UK Minister for Asia, Shahid Mallik, said that his country wants the parties to find ways to hold elections to Constituent Assembly (CA) on November 22.
Announcing a fresh aid of $ 8 million to the Peace Trust Fund, Mallik said that he believed that although they pulled out from the government, Maoists were still committed to peace process and elections. Stating that credible CA polls would offer the best hope for maintaining peace and development, Mallik warned that if the elections were not held on schedule, Nepal would lose confidence in the political and peace process. "No party would want that to happen; everyone I met understands that at least the peace process should go on," he said. "For all the political parties, November 22 should not just be about winning elections, but about winning peace."
JAPAN:
Japan has also expressed its concerns with the decision of the Maoists to pull out from the government. " Japan expresses its concern that the four Maoist ministers tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on September 18 and declared not to abide by the code of conduct and the schedule of an election for the constitutional assembly," states a press release issued by Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. It adds that Japan continues to pay close attention to the political situation in Nepal.
Supporting the decision of Nepali people "to choose peace and democratization through the agreement made by all the parties in Nepal in November last year with the assistance of the international community," Japan has said that it "strongly hopes that the election scheduled for November 22 will be carried out in a free and fair manner."
PRACHANDA SPEAKS….
Indicating a prolonged instability, Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that his party will join the government only if there is a new cabinet based on new understanding.
Speaking after the function organized to mark the merger of CPN (Marxist Leninist Maoist) into Maoists, on Monday (September 24), Prachanda said his party will not join this current government – pointing at moves to pull down Koirala government.
His comments have disappointed the national and international community who were hoping that the Maoists would soon return to the government and help conduct Constituent Assembly elections on schedule.
Expressing happiness over the merger of MLM, Prachanda said it marked polarization of revolutionary forces. "Our strategy is world revolution. Tactically, we have to lean towards right some time and towards left some time. Let there be no confusion," he said.
Likewise, Dr Baburam Bhattarai said there would be polarization between communists and democratic groups. Bhattarai said the issue of monarchy that divided the political parties is no more the topic of debate. He stressed the need of one communist party in Nepal to fulfill the aspirations of the people's democracy in true sense and called on all communist groups to get into this bloc.
With the merger of MLM into Maoists, the latter have become second largest party in the interim parliament with 84 MPs. The NC has 85 MPs while UML has 83 MPs.
