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Kathmandu Monday January 21, 2002 Magh 08, 2058.
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Powell visit
Many are inclined to say the success of the just
concluded visit to Nepal by American Secretary of State Colin Powell lay in the fact that
it took place. This is true in that Nepal is often skipped by top flight world leaders
when touring the region, the most glaring example in recent years being failure by the
then US President, Bill Clinton, to even touch down in Kathmandu when swinging through the
neighbourhood. But there is more to the Powell visit than symbolic significance. It has
come as a morale booster to an increasingly beleaguered Nepalese establishment, though
there was no clear breakthrough as such. At a press conference here, the US leader
condemned the Maoists and said there was no place for violence for bringing about change
in a democracy. He also showed awareness of the more deep-rooted causes of the turmoil
when he referred to the disaffected young who have lost hope being attracted to radical
causes. In this connection he referred to the need for good governance, economic
advancement and an end to corruption. While in Kathmandu Mr Powell met with the army top
brass to discuss US help with military hardware. It has since come to light that any
military assistance the US provides Nepal will would be non-lethal, and would be built on
existing programs involving training, military exchange and equipment. In a prolonged
confrontation such as the country is now apparently headed for, resources in material and
know-how can help tip the balance.
The Powell visit likewise came as a morale
booster for human rights advocates and for the population in general now living in a state
of emergency. When Mr Powell said the US wanted the emergency to be of limited duration
and urged the government to protect human rights while dealing with the emergency
situation, he struck a responsive chord in many quarters. The Secretary of State, who no
doubt had larger issues in mind during his trouble-shooting tour of the region, thus on
the whole struck a fairly balanced position viz a viz the Maoist insurgency, while at the
same time expressing concern at this number one problem facing Nepal. But there was no big
aid commitment to pull this country out of its troubles. This is in contrast to the
Marshal Plan style aid for Afghanistan that is being discussed at a conference in Tokyo,
the next stop on the Powell itinerary. The public concession that we did get from him was
a better understanding of the needs of Nepal.
Such understanding undoubtedly relates also to
the other issued that figured during the visit. These include the garment export and the
travel advisory from the State Department to US nationals headed for Nepal. Mr Powell was
sympathetic over these matters and the travel advisory position will be reviewed when he
gets back home. But the one issue that Nepal has apparently missed a chance to press its
case on was the Bhutanese refugee imbroglio, to go by the official pronouncements. This is
regrettable in that the previous US administration had taken the trouble to dispatch two
senior officials to Nepal and Bhutan to expedite resolution of that very issue. The
refugee verification mechanism, such as it is, would not have materialized but for that
American initiative. Some follow up would have helped. The Powell visit was seen in part
as reward for Nepal’s long time friendship towards the west. But the true extent of
Nepal’s sacrifices to that friendship, despite her own geopolitical compulsions, is
not always appreciated. Here was as an opportunity to win that appreciation. |
