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Kathmandu Saturday January 19, 2002 Magh 06, 2058.
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Powell condemns Maoist violence
Seeks emergency to be of ‘limited duration’
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 18: The United States Friday condemned the violence
perpetrated by Maoists in different parts of the country and both Nepal and the US agreed
that there was a need to tackle the root of the problem.
This was stated by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, in the course of
a joint press conference addressed also by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Friday
evening at the Prime Minister’s residence immediately after their bilateral talks.
Secretary of State Powell is here, as he put it, to "reaffirm his
country’s enduring friendship with Nepal and the Nepalese people" and noted that
"Nepal was no stranger to violence".
In this respect, he mentioned the "recent" Maoist attacks on the
Nepalese people, the police and the military, and said, "There is no room for use of
violence to create political change in a democracy".
Secretary Powell fully backed the Nepali government efforts against Maoist
violence, saying, "We fully acknowledge the government of Nepal’s right to
protect its citizens and institutions from terrorist attacks."
However, he said that the US wanted the current State of Emergency to be of a
limited duration and urged the elected government to protect human rights while dealing
with the emergency situation.
Dealing briefly with the "solution to the disaffected young people"
who "can’t find jobs, who believe there is no hope or future for them are
attracted to this kind of radical causes", the Secretary of State said he discussed
these matters with both King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Deuba.
"You have to fight terrorist activities, you have to fight
terrorists," said Secretary Powell, and added that at the same time, "You have
to commit your nation and your government to good governance, to ending corruption, to
finding ways to move the economy forward."
He also advocated the utilisation of the enormous water resources potential
of the country to improve its economy. He said he discussed with the Nepalese leaders the
way in which the US could help in this regard.
Referring to the military hardware to fight the Maoists, the Secretary of
State said this was not discussed, but he was aware that there were needs for the Nepalese
military, and a team from the US Embassy here would be discussing these needs. "We
are anxious to hear more about their needs and I will be meeting with military authorities
tomorrow morning before I depart," said Powell.
Regarding the garment exports to the US, and the US Department of State
travel advisory that has been having an adverse impact on tourism in Nepal, Secretary of
State Powell said that he would review the situation after he gets back to Washington.
He noted, however, that "We are pleased that in this time of emergency
none of the violence so far seems to be directed against Americans or tourists." On
garments, he acknowledged that as a developing and least developed country, Nepal was
facing a distinct disadvantage having to compete with others who are more fortunate even
in terms of distance from the US which cuts down the cost of transportation.
Regarding increased aid flow to Nepal, Secretary Powell said no specifics
were discussed but that he would now go back to the United States with "a better
understanding of the needs of Nepal".
Prime Minister Deuba in answer to a query said that he took Secretary
Powell’s comments on good governance and corruption as a suggestion and that his
government was trying to do something about them, including measures to give more powers
to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Earlier, at the start of the press conference, Prime Minister Deuba described
the US Secretary of State’s visit to Nepal as a milestone in Nepal-US relations. He
also said he communicated to Secretary Powell Nepal’s appreciation of US solidarity
in Nepal’s fight against terrorism.
Stating that the US fight against terrorism must be comprehensive, Prime
Minister Deuba called for a new global coalition to fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy and
diseases. He invited the US to take the lead in this fight in the 21st century. Deuba also
said that he briefed the visiting dignitary about the present situation in the country,
the fight against Maoists, and the recent SAARC Summit.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary of State arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day
unofficial visit, and was welcomed at the Tribhuvan International Airport by Finance
Minister Ram Sharan Mahat.
Powell is leading a high-level delegation that includes US Under Secretary of
State for Economic Affairs Alan Larson, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia
Christina Rocca, and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Richard Boucher,
along with some other high-ranking US government officials. Powell was granted an audience
by King Gyanendra, after which the Secretary of State met with Prime Minister Deuba.
Powell will leave on Saturday for Tokyo.
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