OPINION (Spotlight Weekly)

Us Concerened Over Nepal's Insurgency

By RALPH FRANK, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal

On January 23,1951, the United States and Nepal signed an agreement that began a fifty-year relationship of trust, mutual respect, and commitment to the people of Nepal. With that signing, the United States became the first bilateral donor to Nepal.

Also at that time, travel in Nepal was still almost exclusively by foot as only 376 kilometres of rough vehicles tracks existed in the valley and the Teria. In fact, it is said that the first ox-cart only reached Pokhara in 1953 - and that arrived by air. The first car arrived in Kathmandu carried in by porters from the Indian Border. Electricity was virtually non-existent and food supplies were very limited. In the entire country, there were only 321 primary schools, 11 secondary schools and one technical college. The illiteracy rate was 98%.

Health services of any kind were rare. Malaria was endemic with an estimated 25% of the population infected at any given time -resulting in prime farmland in the Terai lying fallow. Many other communicable disease also wreaked havoc, and life expectancy averaged 28 years.

In the last five decades, Nepal has built roads, hospitals, schools, and drinking water systems. The Nepalese people can expect to live twice as long as they could in 1951. They can also expect a better education. In 1951, there were only 300 college graduates in Nepal. Today, there are over 1000,000 who attended university in Nepal alone. Literacy, especially among women, continues to grow.

Nepal has made the transition to democracy and pursued market reforms. Thousands of forest water users groups are now managing the resources they depend on, and the income of many family farm families has tripled through high valued crop production.

One can note from my examples that Nepal has made incredible progress in a relatively short period of time, and the United States is proud to be a part of the efforts that have resulted in this dramatic progress. But as we all know, Nepal continues to face dramatic and substantial development challenges. Bilateral programs have helped eliminate malaria from the Terai, double life expectancy, and improve literacy in Nepal.

I wish take just a moment to comment on what I regard as a cloud hanging over current development efforts, and to make an earnest and heartfelt plea for an improved national dialogue that will facilitate future efforts.

As perhaps you can guess, my concern is the current atmosphere of distrust and negativism that seems to be resulting in an increasing climate of violence in expressing political dissent. My plea is for political leaders and government officials to renew their commitment for good governance, and for all Nepali citizens to commit themselves to peaceful participation in the democratic political process.

Nepal is blessed with excellent human resources, with a beautiful country, with an exotic and diverse culture, and with a tremendous hydropower potential. Indeed, Nepal has within itself the tools to create a prosperous future for all Nepalis. And we and the rest of the donor community are anxious to continue our support towards this goal.

However, in the current environment, our efforts can only go so far. While I have not seen a comprehensive study, I would guess that the economic costs of bandhas each year are larger than my government's bilateral AID budget. And the economic costs of the anti-government insurgency is far greater. It's been found elsewhere in the developing world that countries succeed best in the development process when they have chosen elected, representational democracy as the form of government: when they have developed strong democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and a free press: and when they have a vibrant opposition that is free to engage in peaceful, constructive, non-violent protest.

So the most fervent hope I have - during this 50th anniversary year of development cooperation between our two countries - is that it be a year of peace and goodwill so the benefits of American assistance can be extended to all of Nepal's citizens. We look forward to continuing our enduring partnership with the people of Nepal, and support their efforts to achieve enduring economic and social progress.

Excerpts of the speech delivered at the function to mark USAID\Nepal 50th anniversary celebration.