Hindustan Times
Busy days for Uncle Sam in Kathmandu
The US embassy in Kathmandu is buzzing with activity these days. Not that it remains quiet usually, but seven mails in my inbox from the embassy in six days indicate things are busier than routine.
Though Nepal’s two big neighbours China and India remain in focus for their engagement with Kathmandu, countries of the European Union and US too enjoy significant leverage in the Himalayan nation because of their funding and investment potential.
On Monday US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake landed at Tribhuwan International Airport on a two-day visit. It is the first visit by a high-level US official to Nepal since dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May.
Blake got busy in meetings with political leaders from various parties soon after landing. Meetings with President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and newly appointed Nepal Army chief General Gaurav SJB Rana are also on the agenda.
He will also interact with business leaders, human rights activists, civil society leaders, representatives from the Tibetan community in Nepal and address a press conference before departing on Tuesday evening.
Besides bilateral issues, Blake is concerned at a recent ordinance sent by the Maoist-led government to President Yadav that many fear could grant blanket amnesty to those who committed serious human rights violations during the civil war.
Recent closure of Kathmandu outlets of Pizza Hut and KFC due to labour unrest and the ongoing political and constitution crisis in Nepal following dissolution of CA without a constitution also figured in the meetings.
In most of his engagements, Blake was accompanied by newly appointed US ambassador to Nepal Peter W Bodde who reached Kathmandu on Saturday and submitted his credentials to the President on Monday. He replaces Scott H DeLisi who left in July.
Bodde who was posted in Baghdad prior to the new assignment has already served in Kathmandu twice (1982-84 and 1994-97). A Foreign Service veteran, he speaks Nepali fluently, something which is expected to help him abundantly while discharging his duties.
Both Bodde and Blake arrived in Kathmandu within three days of US removing the ruling Maoist party from its list of terrorist organizations. Washington’s move came six years after the Maoists signed a peace deal that ended the civil war and entered political mainstream.
Amid these developments, 20 Peace Corps volunteers also arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday. They are the first batch of volunteers from the US government agency focused on peace and friendship to Nepal since 2004 when they left at the height of civil war.
The fresh batch of volunteers will receive training for 12 weeks before they are assigned to three districts in the west where they will work on food security, sanitation and health projects.
It’s been 50 years since Peace Corps volunteers started arriving in Nepal and till date over 4,200 of them have served in the country.
There’s more. From Monday Nepal Army and the US military, led by the US Pacific Air Forces started a six-day humanitarian assistance project called ‘Operations Pacific Angel Nepal’ in Pokhara, a scenic lakeside town frequented by tourists.
Nearly 150 Nepali and US military personnel and Project HOPE doctors are involved in the project that will include medical, optometry and construction programmes and also subject-matter exchanges between experts.
An US embassy release says the project would help improve health and quality of life of Nepali communities and enhance regional cooperation, stability and security.
Though the US military has been conducting Operation Pacific Angel throughout the Asia-Pacific region since 2007, this is the first time it is being held in Nepal.
For those interested, diplomatic relations between Nepal and US began in 1947 and Washington set up its embassy in Kathmandu in 1959. Since 1951, US has provided $ 1.2 billion in developmental assistance to Nepal. In recent years that assistance has averaged $ 54 million annually.
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Have been planning to visit Nepal, to refresh old, very pleasant memories but get deterred by reports of long hours of load shedding.
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Dear Editor and Readers !
Why USA- the democratic nation is involving to intervene Nepal? US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake Jr has exposed about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on The respected countries representatives should understand that Nepal is passing unconstitutionally after the experiment of CA. Then, why they compelled to pass the ordinance of–’Trust and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on Disappearances.’ which was forwarded by the government to the office of president by the government to the office of president on 28 August 2012. After the experiment of Constituent Assembly, the Interim Constitution and the PREZ and the head of the government the PM have already lost their existence. Now the president and PM have been exercising in futility in the name of so-called consensus. Is it not a naked intervention to the Nepalese Internal affairs? It is very shameful and regretting for all Nepalese people. It is a matter of grief that the democratic nations-the EU diplomats have directed exposed attacking to our internal affairs. And then it is very suspicious that secretly how had and have been involving these diplomats to destroy the Nepalese Hindu religious identities for Christianity with huge amount of money. So, we Nepalese people suggest them with requesting not do so according to the international diplomatic norms. It is not the good manner to the EU diplomats.
They should understand thye international diplomatic norms.
President Rambaran Yadav and PM
Baburam Bhattarai have already lost their posts after the death of Constituent
Assembly (CA). Their posts are not in existence. The dead interim constitution
cannot secure the post of President, as well as Baburam’s post of PM. With the
dissolution of the CA, the interim constitution was cremated. Down with persons
willing to bargain off the country for power positions! So in a sense, Rambaran
Yadav, who opened the gates of treason, is considered more fatal than the leader
of treacherous acts–Baburam Bhattarai. So, this nonsense element should be
removed immediately. Foreign powers especially-RAW, CIA and EU nations are
investing their full energy to fulfill their selfish interests for
establishment of Christianity in Nepal, and carry out the campaign
of Free-Tibet. The republic setup is not in the interest of this country,
instead it is fatal. We will honorably fight against such anti national
injustice resonant in republic setup and secularism. So, all the organs of the
state shall unite, and in accordance with the 1990 Constitution and in presence
of the King, we shall strengthen this Hindu Kingdom.
If not China will come with communism for its security. If Monarchy is in Nepal, China thinks its security. But in the name of republic, gradually, China comes with communism, then not only Nepal India also coverts as a anarchist-Communist nation in South Asia. So, the safe the democratic sense in this Zone, Monarchical democratic system should be maintain in Nepal for the sake of Nepal, India as well as China. It is the duty of all Nepalese, whether in political parties or outside, Nepal
Army, and even the nationalists in the Maoists’ party to save this
nation.
Please, send me comment with arguments.
Thank you.
Political Analyst-Nepal
Dirgha Raj Prasai
Kathmandu, Nepal
Email:dirgharajprasai@gmail.com
[Reply]