National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Superpower's Concern

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca clearly spells out the world's sole superpower's concern over events in Nepal

By A CORRESSPONENT

Nearly a year after the visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca concluded a four-day visit to the kingdom expressing concern over deepening political instability and the escalating Maoist violence.

A year ago, when Powell landed in Kathmandu, there was a democratically elected government in power which had just announced a state of emergency. The country's major political powers were somehow united. There was a strong presence of democratic institutions in the form of local elected bodies and the House of Representatives.

When Rocca was in town last week, the situation was completely different. There was a very wide gap between the King and political parties that showed signs of deepening. Following King Gyanendra's dismissal of the elected government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and the appointment of a replacement under the leadership of Lokendra Bahadur Chand, political parties were in an entirely different mood.

The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (Democratic) have held rallies in different parts of the country demanding that the King "correct his mistakes". Rocca met King Gyanendra, Prime Minister Chand and the leaders of major political parties, including Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Deuba.

At a time when relations between the country's major political parties and the king was deteriorating, the meetings Rocca held were very significant. Although there is still no sign of compromise between the constitutional forces, it is felt that they have been moving a bit closer.

For the first time in the last six years, the world's sole superpower, which has been waging a war against terrorism, also pointed out the need for continuing dialogue with India and other countries concerning the Maoist problem. She warned that the US might declare the Maoists as terrorists if they continue to commit violence, a marked change in the stand of the US.

Rocca's clear message is that the Maoist violence is no more Nepal's own problem. Sandwiched between two Asian powers, China and India, lawlessness and violence in Nepal will have far-reaching consequences in the region. "If Maoist terrorism is not dealt with effectively in Nepal, the ongoing politics of terror and intimidation could spill over with serious ramifications for the whole of South Asia," Rocca said.

"This is a clear message from the world's sole superpower to all concerned parties that they will not remain isolated in case of growing Maoist violence in the Himalayan kingdom," said a former Nepalese diplomat. "The US seems to be aware of the possible scenario of direct confrontation between the two Asian powers."

"As the two Asian powers compete to for their sphere of influence in the South Asian region, which is the hotbed of terrorists and militant outfits, one cannot rule out the possibility of using these forces against each other in case of low intensity of conflict. With huge resources, technology and power, the US can prevent possible confrontation in Nepal," he said.

Nepal has a long open border with India, which will have to face any bad consequences of Nepal's internal problems. From home guards to the supply of fresh army recruits to Indian Gurkha battalion and day-to-day border crossings, Nepal has complex relations with India. As high mountains and deep passes provide a strong wall along Nepal's northern neighbor China, which has very little contact with larger Nepalese population, the Indian border is open and easy to cross, as there are frequent contacts between the people of the two countries.

Along with political and moral support, Rocca also pledged continuing assistance for the modernization of the Royal Nepalese Army. Nepal's neighbors may dislike deepening US military support to the small Himalayan kingdom, but the US has evinced an abiding interest in curbing Maoist violence.