AMBASSADOR MORIARTY INTERVIEW WITH CNN APRIL 18, 2006

CNN, April 18, 2006

TRANSCRIPT

“The U. S. Ambassador to Nepal calls on King Gyanendra to hand over power to the political parties”

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Ambassador James F. Moriarty: I will tell you that I said that which my government has been saying, which is time is running out. There needs to be reconciliation between the King and the parties, and it has to come quickly or else this country is going to slide downhill very quickly.

CNN’s Satinder Bindra: When you say slide downhill very quickly, what do you mean? How do you describe the situation as it exists here right now?

Ambassador: Well, it looks to me if you look at the crowds out in the streets here, if you look at the crowds out in the cities down in the south, we are coming pretty close to a pre-revolutionary situation here. I think it is very, very clear that the Maoists want a violent revolution, the insurgents want to see this government toppled through force, and frankly they have a good chance of achieving that goal if there is no reconciliation, if the King does not reach out quickly to the parties.

SB: What’s going to happen to the state, to the people, if these protests continue? They are now in their 12th day; very little food is coming in, a lot of people complaining that they just can’t afford the price of essential commodities.

Ambassador: This city is under complete blockade right now; nothing is getting in. But, I think if this keeps up, and as you said, prices continue to rise, nobody can find food, nobody has any money, then I think you will see larger and larger crowds demanding a change.

SB: You said you wanted the King to cede political control, but lets talk specifics, Mr. Ambassador, what can or should he be doing first?

Ambassador: Basically he has to make it clear to the leaders of the political parties that his goal is to hand over power completely and quickly. That’s the first step. Second step they’re going to have to decide on. How does that come about? Does he invite individuals in for talks? Do they all come in together?

SB: What do you see in the next few days?

Ambassador: I see more confusion. I think I see bigger demonstrations. I haven’t seen anything yet to indicate that the King has brought the political parties back into the process. I haven’t seen any indications publicly that he is ready to hand over power quickly to the parties, and therefore I think things are probably going to continue getting worse rather than better.

SB: How long can the King last?

Ambassador: I don't know. I am not going to comment on that, but, I will say as I said before, unless he begins to take these steps, unless he begins an irreversible process of handing over power, I don’t think his state will last all that long.