National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

International Concern

While foreign envoys and leaders call for unified response, the domestic actors are still struggling to patch up their differences

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

After the August 27 breakdown of ceasefire, the country has been dragged to the period of prolonged bloodbath triggering responses from not only within the country but from the outside world as well.

Even when the country is in the middle of bloody battle with the forces that want to do away with the whole establishment, the principal actors that adhere to the constitution are yet to patch-up their differences and pose a strong front to face the rebellion.

Although it was expected that political problems would be ironed out after the King returned from London, the signs are yet to emerge.

Indian Envoy Sharan : Valuable suggestions

Concerned by these developments, foreign envoys and leaders have started urging for the ‘unified response’.

While stressing that the solution to the Maoist problem should be sought through peaceful means, Indian ambassador to Nepal Shyam Sharan said, “If violence is the answer there is no option but to deal with that violence effectively by a unified response.”

At a program in capital last week, Sharan said that the international community in Nepal needs to stand up and delegitimize violence. “The end does not justify the means and we need to recognize that murder is murder whether it is for political or any other cause,” he said. “International community does not need to interfere but can play a supportive role.” He said that the Maoists must come to he mainstream by transforming themselves into a political party.

Likewise, the American ambassador Michael E. Malinowski said that political parties should put aside their differences and work to bring economic and political stability in the country.

In a particularly hard-hitting statements, Malinowski even said that there was similarity in the ‘propaganda policy’ adopted by the Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai with that of Goebbels, the Hitler’s close aide.

“When I see the Baburam Bhattarai, leader of so-called Maoist continuously leveling charges that the army, foreign forces or country are responsible for the derailment of ceasefire, it reminds me of Goebbels, the Nazi leader during second world war,” said Malinowski.

The delegation of European envoys who recently met with representatives of civil society are said to have emphasized that before re-starting the peace process, there should be understanding between the King and the political parties.

So when there is such a barrage of responses from foreign envoys stressing on the need to urgently address the problem of political impasse, the Nepalese people are yet to breathe a sigh of relief.

Apart from the envoys, the two visiting ministers from India and Pakistan who were in capital last week for separate purposes also expressed grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Nepal. Indian Minister for Communications, Disinvestment and IT Arun Shourie said that India was concerned with the resumption of conflict and said there was no way changes would come by killing people.

Likewise, Pakistani foreign minister Khursid Mia Mahmood Kasuri said Pakistan was ready to provide any kind of support to help Nepal at this juncture.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca, who was in New Delhi last week said that India and the United States can together help Nepal defeat the ‘ruthless’ Maoist rebels. “India’s historic, cultural and social ties with Nepal continue to make it the most important outside influence on events in that country. Working in tandem, our governments can help Nepal defeat the Maoist threat and re-establish democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people,” she said.

“Though the goodwill from the international community is important, it is up to our leaders whether there will be any let-up in political crisis,” observed an analyst.