National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Continuous Support

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca renews American support to Nepal in its war against terrorism

By A CORRESPONDENT

Rocca : Strong backing

Just two days after the arrest of fugitive former Iraqi president Saddam Hussain, U.S Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs Christina Rocca arrived in the capital city of Nepal on her four day visit in order to renew the United States government’s support in containing the Maoist terrorism.

Although it is a part of regular annual visit to Nepal, Rocca’s visit has major significance since the US government has reaffirmed her support against terrorism. Along with supporting the war against terrorism, Rocca also used this opportunity to renew the American commitment to support Nepal’s development efforts and democratization process.

As prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and his senior officials left for two South Asian nations’ tour on Wednesday, Rocca met with him as well as ambassador-at-large Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and discussed Nepal’s internal situation as well as other economic and development issues just a few hours after she arrived in the capital on Tuesday. In his press statement, Prime minister Thapa thanked the US government for giving continued support in the quest of Nepal’s all round development and fight against terrorism.

“This is a regular annual visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Rocca. We discussed on various matters ranging from the US support in containing Maoist terrorism as well as Nepal’s development programs,” said Dr. Thapa talking to Nepalese media.

Nepal’s senior officials including prime minister Thapa, ambassador-at-large Dr. Thapa and other senior foreign ministry officials held several rounds of talks with Rocca.

A press statement from the Foreign Ministry stated that Rocca pledged for continued support to Nepal in fight against terrorism. According to the statement, she held discussions with the prime minister on the current political situation, bilateral ties and other matters of mutual interest and she assured of US support in Nepal’s socio-economic development.

Rocca is also said to have expressed concern over the violation of human rights. For the last one-week, the country’s leading newspapers have been raising the matter of human rights violation by security personnel in a much highlighted manner.

In the last two years, Rocca has visited South Asia several times to diffuse the tension between the India and Pakistan. Although the US is far away from Nepal, the sincere support given by the world’s only super power to Nepal has immense importance to limit the damage of terrorism. Thanks to the only super power’s pressure, the tensions between two south Asian nuclear rivals have already eased to certain level.

But the US pressure on India, whose sincere support is essential to Nepal’s quest for peace by containing the Maoists and creating conducive situation to hold elections, is yet to be seen.

Following a high profile meeting between the CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and top Maoist leaders in Indian capital Lucknow, the capital city of Utter Pradesh close to India’s national capital New Delhi, one can get clear idea regarding the type of support Nepal is getting from India in containing the Maoist terrorism.

Indian ambassador to Nepal Shyam Sharan has already expressed inability of Indian security apparatus including intelligence to locate Maoists in India. Since Indian envoy Sharan’s statement seems to have undoubtedly convinced Nepalese political leaders and the government ministers, it remains to be seen how world’s only superpower will take note of the Indian inability.

Whether one likes it or not, the US has reaffirmed its continuous support for Nepal’s effort to quell the Maoist terrorism as a part of its global war against the terrorism. Rocca’s statement and support to Nepal’s cause once again proves that the US is a reliable partner, which has only the intention of seeing the long term security and prosperity of Nepal.