National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Democracy Matters

The prime minister gets a positive response from the world's sole super power, but his major challenges remain on the home front

By BHAGIRATH YOGI in Washington DC

When Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba emerged out of the Oval Office of US President George W. Bush in the typical daura, suruwal and Nepali cap last Monday afternoon (May 7), most of the media people and photographers didn't recognize him. They were more interested in the US president's meeting with Israeli prime minister, the king of Jordan and crown prince of Saudi Arabia the same day.

However, for Deuba — and for that matter, for Nepal — it was no less a historic moment. The country's first chief executive in 40 years to meet the US president at the White House, Deuba was able to garner strong political support for his government's crucial fight against the Maoist insurgency.

PM Deuba : Upbeat

"Nepal is fighting a Maoist rebellion, and Nepal is an example, again, of a democracy. And the United States is committed to helping Nepal," Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman told reporters. "There's a request by the administration for $ 20 million in the supplemental appropriations bill to help Nepal. The US currently provides a couple of million dollars of assistance toward Nepal."

While the $20 million military aid package will take some time to get through, Nepalese officials were more keen to tune into the Bush administration's pledge to fight against terrorism around the world in the wake of the 9-11 attacks on the twin towers in New York and Pentagon, showcasing the economic and military might of the only superpower in the world.

As expected, Deuba raised the issue of US support for Nepal's fledgling democracy, its fight against the insurgency and a strong package for the country's socio-economic development. During his meeting with senior US officials including Secretary of State Colin Powell, the prime minister reiterated that international support was crucial for Nepal to sustain as a democracy.

Addressing top US intellectuals at the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Center in the US capital a day later, Deuba admitted that the insurgency had disrupted Nepal's economy and crippled tourism, while forcing the government to increase security expenditures. "We are in the midst of our fight against terrorism and for the consolidation of the democratic system in our country. We believe that our fight deserves international support and cooperation," said Deuba. "Destabilization of a country by a terrorist group with heinous purposes can have adverse effects around the world. Terrorism in any form and anywhere is a threat to the international community."

Whether during his interaction with the Nepalese community in the United States or addressing the US special session on children in New York or in an interview with CNN, Deuba expressed his government's resolve to fight insurgency back home. Accusing the rebels of indulging in serious human rights violations, Deuba asked for the international community's support in the Nepalese government's efforts for socio-economic transformation and strengthening of good governance in the country.

Deuba rejected an appeal by the rebels for a month-long "cease fire" — which the underground party later termed as a hoax. The US government, too, was quick to comment on the issue. In a State Department briefing on May 9, a US official said as heavy fighting continued between the Nepalese security forces and Maoist insurgents, the US government couldn't really say whether the offer was a sincere one.

The Nepalese government has been reiterating that the talks could resume only if the rebels lay down their arms. "They have cheated us in the past. We don't want to be fooled once again," Deuba told the Nepalese community in Washington DC.

While Deuba did not make public his demand list for support from the US government, except helicopters, Nepalese officials hoped that the strong support by the US government would go a long way in the Himalayan government's fight against the six-year-old rebellion.

"We all have to be together in this fight, as the promotion of international peace and security is our common responsibility," Deuba told the high-profile gathering at the Woodrow Wilson Center. "The freedoms have to be defended everywhere. For better or worse, the world has become a global village. What happens in one country reverberates all over."

The US government and intelligentsia have given a sincere hearing to what Deuba had to say. But despite trying hard to mobilize international support, what is obvious is that the Nepalese prime minister will have to fight a decisive battle on the home front — at all levels.