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VOL. 27, NO. 41, June 27 , 2008 (Ashadh 13 2065 B.S.)
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Show Of Support
The visiting UK Minister stresses on formation of government of national unity to address security and development issues
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
When UK Minister for International Development (for Asia) Shahid Mallik visited Nepal in September last year, he was greeted with the news of en masse resignation by the Maoist ministers.
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Malik (center) at the press meet: Generous support |
And when he visited Nepal for the second time this week, he was once again confronted with the news of Maoist ministers bolting out from the government.
"I have been assured by chairman Prachanda that these were mere coincidences," a frank and forthright Mallik told reporters in a light vein.
On a somber note, he called on the political actors of the country to deliver peace and development to the people of Nepal. Addressing a press meet at the end of his three-day visit to Nepal, Minister Mallik, on Sunday (June 22), said there should be continuation of consensus politics as not all challenges have disappeared.
Stating that without peace, there will not be prosperity, the visiting minister Shahid Mallik said, "There are still challenges in terms of security and those challenges will not be met until the formulation of new government, which can take responsibility for criminalization and violence that does exist in Nepal society."
" Nepal first of all needs a government that will bring security and the rule of law. The vacuum of governance urgently needs to be addressed. With security people can go about their daily lives without hindrance; with security investment can happen, businesses can flourish and create more jobs; with security it will be possible for government to deliver development to the people," he said.
Mallik met with prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) general secretary Jhal Nath Khanal and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) coordinator Upendra Yadav. On the issue of ongoing meetings among party leaders, Mallik had this to say, "Let's hope that they are able to in their meetings in the next few days come to some kind of consensus and deliver a government of national unity, which they all agree is the best way to move forward."
In a gesture of continued British support to Nepal, the minister also announced US$ 55 million in aid over four years to help the government unite all of rural Nepal through roads.
"Delivering on the construction of roads is key to achieving a prosperous and inclusive Nepal. Roads will connect remote areas to the rest of Nepal and make health, education, food, water and employment more accessible. Roads also create opportunities, particularly for women. I visited a road constructed in Kavre district through UK and other donors funding. I met a woman there who told me the road had not only opened up opportunities for her home, but opened up the minds of many women to opportunity," Mallik said.
The British Department for International Development (DFID) is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal. It provided $ 273 aid in the last five years including $100 million for health over five years and further $30 million for HIV/AIDS (2004-2009); and $40 million for education over five years (2004-2009).
The DFID has also focused on road infrastructure development in Nepal – which has the lowest access rate to roads in Asia where 10 million people live two hours distance away from the nearest road. Around 36 percent of Nepal population walk up to four hours to reach a road. The DFID has provided $100 million over ten years to support infrastructure including 120 suspension bridges, and 800 kms of rural roads.
