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Call For Reconciliation The US Assistant Secretary Christina Rocca completed her visit giving a clear message for the reconciliation among country’s political forces
By KESHAB POUDEL
As the crisis of confidence among Nepal’s major political forces continues to exist and a large number of people are yet to find respite from violent insurgency, the visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to Nepal and her meeting with political players assumed greater significance.
Since there are many points of agreements among Nepal’s political forces including on multi-party democracy, human rights and resolution of Maoist problem, what they don’t have is some one who can point them out. From the King to political leaders, they stress separately for multi-party democracy, restoration of peace and fundamental rights of people.
Rocca, too, had clear message: reconciliation not confrontation is the way out to solve Nepal’s ongoing problems.
Even after the Royal action of February 1, the US has been using persuasive languages pressing for reconciliation. Rocca’s recent meeting with various political forces, many see, will bring definite results.
“US now understands our problems better,” said foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey. "United States has always been good friend of Nepal.”
In the last few years, the forms of governments have changed but the fundamental problems of Nepal remained the same. Maoists continue to terrorize the countryside and crisis of confidence is widening between the major political players.
“It has been a year since my last visit to Nepal. Much has changed, but the fundamental crisis confronting Nepal remains the same,” said Rocca addressing the talk program on Nepal US-Relations. “The United States and other friends of Nepal have long believed that it is essential for Nepal’s legitimate political leaders to resolve the longstanding political impasse that has prevented a united effort to confront the two dangers facing Nepal - the Maoist insurgency and underdevelopment. The key to accomplishing this is for the legitimate political parties and the King to unite in a multi-party democratic framework in order to confront the Maoists and address the country’s serious development problems. Over the past several years we have encouraged political party leaders and the King to follow this course. We will continue to stress this message to the King and to all political forces.”
Following the Royal action of February 1, Rocca - who is the first senior US official to visit Nepal - met with the King, two vice chairmen of Council of Ministers, foreign minister, senior government officials, members of civil society, political leaders and human rights activists during her three day tour to Nepal.
As a representative of sole super power committed to democracy and civil liberties, US assistant secretary expressed her concern about the reports of continuing repression of civil liberties and additional arrests. “We continue to urge the government of Nepal to release all political detainees, restore civil liberties, and reach out in a pro-active manner to the political parties,” said Rocca. "We continue to believe that the events of February 1 were serious setback to accomplishing this objective.”
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the US in 1947, Nepal continues to receive support from the US in her effort to modernize. “The United States has a strong interest in helping the people of Nepal overcome this threat and deal with the country’s serious developmental problems. Our goals for Nepal can be put quite simply: we want Nepal to be a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country where civil liberties and human rights are protected.”
Following the escalation of Maoist insurgency, United States backed Nepal to deal with the threat.
Rocca’s message is clear: unite for the resumption of multi-party democratic process, narrow down the differences between the King and the political parties solve the Maoist insurgency and for the all-round economic development.
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