March 18, 2005

Japanese Government shows its willingness to support poor people of Nepal despite using persuasive language to bring about the change

By KESHAB POUDEL

Envoy Hiraoka : Clear commitment

Even as the European countries, particularly the Scandinavian countries, are making harsh statements suspending their development aid following the Royal action of February 1, Japan, Nepal’s largest development partners, seems to have chosen a middle path by continuing its humanitarian and development aid to Nepal along with using persuasive language for democratic changes in the country.

Like European and other countries, Japan has also strongly urged for the early restoration of pluralism, press freedom and human rights and has called for the release of the detained political leaders. The press statement by the Japanese foreign ministry used sober language to make its points clear.

Instead of threatening aid suspension, Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance of over Rs.1.2 billion to Nepal for two projects. According to the press statement of Japanese Embassy, the Government of Japan has agreed to extend grant assistance of Rs 1.2 billion to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal for the execution of Non-Project Grant Aid and the Increase of Food Production in Japan’s Fiscal Year 2004.

"Japan, being a close friend and development partner, has been extending development assistance to the Kingdom of Nepal in order to enhance the well-being of the Nepalese people and to foster a long lasting friendly and cooperative relationship between the two nations. People to people relationships between Japan and Nepal has also been strongly promoted over past many years. As a result, a relationship of confidence and mutual understanding has been developed between the two nations," the press statement reads.

"The Government of Japan also believes that strengthening of the democratization process under a system of democracy and a constitutional monarchy will facilitate to achieve sustainable development in Nepal. Japan hopes that Nepal will recover its peace and stability as soon as possible on the basis of democracy and constitutional monarchy. As stated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Statement issued on February 2, 2005, Japan has been strongly urging that the political leaders be released and that the freedom guaranteed by the constitution be restored promptly. Japan also urges the Maoist to achieve peace through dialogue," it further reads.

Furthermore, the Embassy of Japan in Nepal has also decided to extend a grant of Rs 6.07 million to Nepal Medical College, Lord Buddha Educational Academy, for the implementation of the Project for Medical Care and Preventive Medical Services through Out Reached Clinic for Conflict Victims of the Mid-Western Nepal in Japan’s fiscal year 2004 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.

The grant will be exclusively utilized for the procurement of one mobile clinic van, one mobile X-ray machine and two ultra-sound machines. Nepal Medical College will bear the operation and maintenance cost of the vehicle and the equipment. The objective of the Project is to upgrade the existing facility and services of the Academy and support its initiation of out-reached medical camps in Banke, Bardiya, Dang and Surkhet districts of Mid-Western Development Region. It is expected that the Project will help bring medical personnel and medical care closer to conflict victims who have not been able to travel to hospital due to remoteness and prevailing conflict. About 18,000 people, victims of conflict and people from poor background and deprived community, are expected to benefit from the Project annually.

"Japan has decided to continue grant-assistance to the people of Nepal, with a view to addressing issues at the core of the Maoist insurgency such as poverty alleviation and redressing social inequity so as to significantly help reduce poverty and cultivate an atmosphere conducive towards attaining peace which would lead to the development of a stable democracy in Nepal,” said Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Tsutomu Hiraoka. “ Nepal will recover its peace and stability as soon as possible on the basis of democracy and constitutional monarchy.”

When Nepal has been passing through most difficult phase in its history for its survival, Japan seems to have understood Nepal’s compulsion. Sandwiched between two big powers of Asia, a small Himalayan Kingdom has a very limited choice, either to give up terrorism or restore peace as well as democracy.

As an Asian country with a long history of many ups and downs, Japan understands the constraints and difficulties faced by Nepal for its survival as an independent nation. Instead of using threatening language and making pressures to bow down, Japan has chosen to use the language of persuasion.

From the very first comments about Nepal’s political development, Japan has shown its clear stance regarding the development assistance to Nepal. Whenever Nepal faces the crisis, Japan has come to rescue Nepal through its generous financial support without putting any conditions. Since Japanese assistance is directed at infrastructure projects, agriculture, health and education, discontinuation of its aid would have adversely affected poor population.  

Without compromising its policy on promotion of liberal democracy and human rights, Japanese government has agreed to continue its support to Nepal for the sake of poor and needy people.