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| Kathmandu, Sunday May 12, 2002 Baishakh 29, 2059. |
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Nepalis
in US support Deuba’s stance against Maoists
By Prateek Pradhan
NEW YORK, May 11 :
Following the U.S. government’s financial and moral backing to Nepal’s war
against terrorism, Nepali citizens living in New York boosted Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba’s confidence by offering their full support, and pledging assistance
Friday.
In a rare display of
unity among five different Nepali associations, the leaders utilised a common podium to
express faith on premier Deuba to solve the on-going insurgency in the country. They
also supported Prime Minister’s stance to resume peace talks only after the Maoists
surrender their arms.
The support from the
Nepali organisations in the US has come as a strong morale booster for Prime Minister
Deuba who is visiting the US and UK to garner financial and ethical support on the
country’s war against Maoists.
"Nepalis living in
the US are willing to help the government fight against the on-going war on
terrorism," said Binod Rokka, president of Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in
Nepal, an association of Nepalis living in New York.
"We would help the
Prime Minister and the government to solve the insurgency," said Ramesh Amatya,
chairman of Nepalese America Council, an umbrella body of Nepalis NGOs in America.
According to Rokka, his
organisation is considering mobilisation of the resources and people in the US to protect
democracy and human rights in Nepal. "We are considering to collect funds to
provide support to the people hit by Maoist attacks," he said.
Amatya is not sure what
kind of help the government wants. "We are ready to offer any kind of help, including
the brokerage of peace talks with the Maoists," Ramesh Amatya said.
Kamal Karki, President
of Nepal-America Friendship Society hailed Deuba’s achievement in garnering support
from the USA. "The government has not spelled out, but we are willing to
support," he said.
Other organisations to
take part in the event were United Sherpa Association, Nepalese Youth Club, and Nepalese
Artists Community.
Addressing the Nepalis
attending the function, Prime Minister Deuba mentioned the evil-works of the Maoist
rebels, and sought support from all the Nepalis in the US. "You can lobby our
interests in your own level in the US," he said. He also mentioned the important role
of Nepalis living in the US in the democratic movement of 1990.
"The Maoists have
destroyed our schools, abducted our children, and destroyed infrastructures," he
said. "They have done what even an invading country wouldn’t."
To the worried and
concerned Nepalis in the foreign land, Deuba assured that Maoist terrorists would
definitely be defeated. "We have the international support to protect our
democracy and constitutional monarchy," he said.
"The Prime
Minister’s approach and stance against the Maoists are supported by most of the
Nepalis in the US," said Bijaya Sigdel, a political analyst.
Foreign Secretary Madhu
Raman Acharya said that the basic objective of the visit was to garner ethical support
from the super power countries. "In that aspect the PM’s visit has been very
successful."
On the occasion Nepali
associations urged the Prime Minister to take initiatives for the provision of dual
citizenship in Nepal. They also demanded that non-resident citizens be allowed to own
property in Nepal.
Speaking about the
problems of legal status for most of the Nepalis living in the US, Sonam Sherpa, president
of United Sherpa Association asked Nepal government to pursue talks with the US to provide
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to the Nepalis. TPS is an status given to the people
who can not return to their native country due to civil war and other big disasters.
In a different
programme organised by Asia Society on Friday Prime Minister Deuba stressed that Royal
Nepal Army was strong enough to fight against the Maoist insurgents. "We need
material and moral support, our army is capable and trained enough to quell our
problem," he said.
He also reiterated that
the government would not compromise multi-party democracy and constitutional
monarchy. "We are open for talks in any other issues under the sun, if the
Maoists surrender their arms," he added.
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