Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

The four day visit of Christina Rocca, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, to Nepal has clearly emphasized the growing U.S. concern for the prevailing situation in this small country. In about two years this is Roccaís third visit which in itself is quite significant. By killing two security guards working for the American Embassy and accepting the responsibility, the Maoists have almost challenged the U.S. government. Rocca has repeated the U.S. pledge to assist Nepal to combat the escalating Maoist violence. Since it has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the Maoists are enjoying safe haven in India and also getting moral and material support as well from extraneous forces, it may not be possible for Nepal to solve the problem soon without the sincere cooperation of the Indians. And here Christina Rocca can definitely play a very important role. She has to impress upon India the utter gravity of the situation and induce her to curb the Maoist movements in their territory. A western diplomat based in Kathmandu confided to this scribe, on condition of anonymity, that they did broach the issue with them but the Indians have not responded positively. Since terrorism has no frontiers and the terrorists in Nepal could have links with international terrorists, no country howsoever far could feel entirely secure from their violent activities. Rocca, if she really means business, must take up the issue with the Indians at appropriate level with utmost seriousness. She cannot afford to brush it aside as idle suggestion. At a time when the U.S. President George W. Bush is staking his prestige to root out global terrorism and soliciting cooperation from everybody, all American officials must spare no efforts for achieving his mission. Moreover, although small and not so strategic, Nepal has always been a good friend of the United States. And this is one only valid reason why the U.S. should not hesitate to use its resources and good offices as well to help Nepal get over her plaguing problem soon. Even if we do not subscribe to the view of Salman Rushdie in toto that ìAmerica is facing an ideological enemy that may be hard to defeat than militant Islam: that is to say anti-Americanism, which is taking the world by stormî we cannot deny that President Bush is in an unenviable situation and needs as many good friends as possible to stand by him. Consequently, we do hope that United States as the only super power of the world will not desert its dependable friend and use all possible means to rescue it from imminent disaster.

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It seems the politicians of two bigger political parties are trying to put tremendous pressures on King Gyanendra. Since he must have weighed all possible pros and cons before taking the action he took, he must not be terribly perturbed at the unrestrained outbursts and behavior of those politicians. These politicians who have looted the country for twelve years are wholly responsible for bringing her to this mess she is in today. Because they could not agree to a consensus candidate to head the government after the dismissal of Deuba government, the King was left with no alternative but to appoint this government. Instead of cooperating with the King to bring the insurgency to a quick end, they have chosen the path of confrontation demonstrating to the world that they are not interested in peace but only in acquiring power. Since King Gyanendra is known to have inherited the indomitable will of his august father, we do believe, he would not be cowed down with any kinds of threats and pressures. These political leaders who should have been taken to task and punished for their misdeeds, as is happening in many countries of the world, they are being courted to join the government instead, so that they may again resort to their unabashed corrupt behavior with greater impunity. The concern of the donor countries for strengthening the democratic process and behavior in Nepal is quite understandable. But, it belies our imagination why should the donors support the political mafia knowing fully well that it is because of them the poor country is being engaged in disastrous civil war. The top priority before the king and the government now is to end the insurgency and restore peace and normalcy for holding the elections as soon as possible. Maoists, too, must renounce the violence and come to the dialogue knowing well that violence is no solution and only aggravates the misery of the poor people. The Maoists must refrain from playing into the hands of the enemies of the state. If the Maoists agree to stop the insurgency and lay down the arms, King Gyanendra too has to grant them general amnesty and bring them to the mainstream of national politics. It is a time when the King needs wise counsels unloaded by any ulterior motives. Since King Gyanendra is fully aware how counsels have landed the monarchy in big troubles before, we are sure he is fully capable of avoiding those pitfalls. As such, if the image and authority of the constitutional monarchy is to be preserved intact, King Gyanendra must not give in to any untoward threats or pressures. Less resolute behavior will only negate the very justification of his latest action. The Chand government must work hard with concrete results without losing time or quit. Complacency, they must know, is the mother of all problems. n