September 1, 2005
Ambassador Moriarty Remarks for Ned McMahon Presentation on “Strengthening Democracy: The Positive Role of Political Parties in a Crisis Situation”
Mr. Nabindra Raj Joshi, Ganesh Man Singh Academy;
Mr. Edward McMahon, Professor, University of Vermont;
Distinguished guests:
Thank you all for attending this important discussion today. Chief guests like myself say that every time one of us opens a talk program like this. But truly, today, nothing could be more important than talking about the restoration of democracy and the positive role that political parties can play in the resolution of the current political and security crisis in Nepal. The United States thinks it is essential to advance the dialogue about democracy here and now, and I truly am pleased to personally welcome you all this morning.
As some of you may have heard me say in a speech to the Nepal Council of World Affairs a few weeks ago, the United States stands for freedom and democracy around the world—and that includes Nepal. Freedom, my friends, is the cornerstone of America’s engagement with the world at this crucial moment in our history. It is also the cornerstone of our engagement with Nepal at this crucial moment in your history.
Nepal today is at a cross-roads: Unless the principles of freedom, civil rights, and democracy once again take root through a process of true reconciliation among the legitimate political forces, I fear your country will inexorably slide toward confrontation, confusion, and chaos.
Political parties are the engine of democracy. In Nepal, they have a proud tradition of competition and governance during the 12 years of active democracy.
We believe the best way to get back to that functioning democracy with solid constitutional institutions is for the political parties and the Palace to reconcile. While the King must reach out, the parties should make clear that they are ready to discuss all ideas in order to find a common path forward. That’s what political parties do. They compromise, they discuss, they form coalitions, and they work together to create policies and governments that fulfill the will of the people.
Those were my words several weeks ago. I repeat them now because I believe strongly in them. Political parties are indeed the engine of democracy, but the engine needs to run well for the people to be effectively represented. Political parties are not ends in and of themselves. Political parties exist to represent the common man who cares deeply about his own fate, about the fate of his family, about the fate of his society, but who does not have the time and resources to advance his own concerns.
We can never forget that political parties exist to make democracy truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. What else is democracy?
Visiting U.S. scholar and political party expert Professor Edward McMahon has been in Nepal for one week at the behest of the U.S. Embassy to discuss with politicians at all levels the positive role that parties can play. The political parties of Nepal obviously are not perfect and have obviously made mistakes in the past. Drawing on his experience in democratic countries that have emerged from conflict, Prof. McMahon has interacted with many political leaders in Kathmandu and Biratnagar on various aspects of coalition building, platform development, and party credibility.
His seminars explored transparency in policy-making and leadership structures, short-term and long-term planning and political vision, and interacting with those who give political parties their real power – the voters and constituents.
Prof. McMahon is here today to present to all of us his findings. This means his presentation is really about all of you. These are your ideas, your energy, your assessment of the best way forward.
And it is incumbent upon all of you—all of us actually—to take positive ideas and put them into action. I challenge all of us to go home after this program and talk to someone new. Find out what average Nepalis are thinking, what they want, how they want to get it, what their everyday concerns are. If we can democratize ourselves, democracy will come more easily to Nepal.
I’ve said for 14 months that the United States wants to see a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal. That has not changed, and it will not change. Today we advance the discussion further, and challenge ourselves a bit more.
Thank you all for being open to that discussion.