National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

A Sign Of Good Will

With the initiative of Britain, Nepal's two neighbors, India and China, join an international meet, expressing solidarity with the kingdom's efforts to quell terrorism

By A CORRESSPONDENT

Thanks to the initiative of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, Nepal's Maoist terrorist crisis and the country's development needs have come into international focus. In presence of Nepal's two powerful neighbors, India and China, the participants discussed political instability and the security situation of Nepal.

Although the formal press release mentioned nothing on how intensively the donors expressed the concern over the terrorism, Nepal two neighbors Indian and China, which have officially supported the Nepal's effort to contain terrorism, also experienced the mood of the western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

At a time when there are persistent report about the continual use of Indian territory by Nepalese Maoists for training, shelter and other purposes, the discussions at the London meeting might be considered very significant. As Nepal's geo-strategic vulnerability is well known, any indication of intervention of any of neighbor may change the present equation. In the conference, the chairman concluded that the meeting condemned terrorism and expressed support for the Nepalese government's efforts to combat Maoist violence. The concluding remarks also noted that the conflict posed a threat to regional stability and the human rights of the people of Nepal and discussed the possible assistance to a future peace process. The Nepalese delegation, which was allowed to present its national paper at the first session, did not attend the closed-door meeting where the donor community discussed their role in supporting Nepal to combat terrorism and to meet its development challenge.

While condemning terrorism and expressing support for the Nepalese government's efforts to combat Maoist violence, the London conference also underlined the need for an integrated approach to security, radical economic reform and development. "As western countries under the leadership of the United States have been waging an all-out war against international terrorism, no country is in a position to support overt or covert terrorism in the region," said a western diplomat on condition of anonymity.

Addressing the meeting, British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said Nepal's struggle against Maoist insurgents should be seen as part of the wider war against terrorism. He, however, admitted that there was no evidence to link Nepal's militants to Al Qaeda.

"Maoist terrorists are conducting a savage campaign of intimidation in Nepal to further their own political aims. The UK has long been a friend of Nepal. The UK and the international community are committed in our support for the government of Nepal. That is why the UK has put together such a comprehensive package of development and military assistance totaling more than 30 sterling pound for this fiscal year. It is imperative that we help the government of Nepal in its struggle against terrorism. Nepal must not be allowed to become a failed state." The British minister's remarks provide a clear indication of the western point of view.

According to a press release issued by the British Embassy, the June 19-20 noted that the conflict posed a threat to regional stability and the human rights of the people of Nepal, and called for urgent need to tackle poverty, exclusion, poor governance, discrimination, corruption, livelihoods and human rights.

"The international meeting has stressed development, security and governance. The outcome was very significant and positive," said Dr. Shanker Sharma, member of National Planning Commission and leader of the Nepalese delegation.

The meeting, hosted by the British government and participated in by a wide-range of international partners and agencies, also noted that military assistance should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to the resolution of the conflict. The meeting also stressed that the general elections on November 13 should be free and fair. "The meet focused on the current conflict in Nepal, the resultant economic and fiscal crisis and the response of the Nepalese government and international community," the release said.

Senior officials from the United Kingdom, United States, India, China, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Australia, United Nations and the World Bank attended the meet. Meanwhile, the British government has significantly increased its development aid to Nepal from US$ 29 million last year to US$ 40 million this year, agency reports said quoting British officials. More significantly, the military aid including training, equipment and logistics has been boosted from US$ 1 million to US$ 10 million this year. While expressing that conditions in the Himalayan kingdom had deteriorated alarmingly in the last few months, British officials have exhibited concern that Nepal's fragile democracy may not be able to survive without some outside gestures of support.

Apart from the pledges of the donor community to provide more aid, the significance of the meeting rested in the fact that it was the first of its kind in which Nepal's southern and northern neighbor sat together to listen to the concern of the western countries about the deteriorating situation in the country.