Facing Challenges for a Better Future

The following article was published in 'Newsfront' weekly, July 2-8, 2007.

By Ambassador James F. Moriarty

I am ending my assignment at a pivotal moment in Nepali history.  Democracy and peace are within view but hinge on a Constituent Assembly election on November 22 that is free and fair.  My hopes that the current peace process will lead to a democratic Nepal are great but my concerns about that process are equally great.   The prospect of a better future for the people of Nepal faces two increasingly serious threats: the worsening security situation and threats to free and independent media.

The Worsening Security Situation
Basic law and order are key factors in establishing a stable democracy.  Individuals and institutions must feel secure in their lives and missions, or the society will stop moving forward and risk collapsing into a failed state.  For over a decade, Nepal stagnated during the Maoist insurgency.  Supposedly, peace is now here and the fighting has stopped – but only on paper.  Killings, kidnapping, and intimidation are on the rise.  The Terai is awash with political violence, carried out by extremist Madhesi groups that are tearing the region apart with horrific fighting and heightened ethnic tension.  Threats and violence by the Maoist Young Communist League (YCL) are affecting citizens at all levels of society.  The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights underscored YCL abuses in a report released in June.  The report points out that these criminal acts appear to have increased since April 1, when the Maoists joined the Interim Government.

While everyone from the Prime Minister to former President Carter and, I might add, even Pushpa Dahal, has spoken out about the intolerable security situation, action is missing.  First and foremost, Pushpa Dahal must keep his many promises and stop his cadre, young or old, from continuing their reign of lawlessness.  He must show the people of Nepal whether his words carry any value.  Secondly, the Government of Nepal must follow through on its basic duty to its people to enforce law and order, effectively using the enforcement agencies and resources at its command.  And third, the extremist groups in the Terai must come into the political mainstream - or be treated as common criminals.

When law and order is respected by all, then the hard work of building a democratic federal state can proceed freely for the benefit of all.  Fiery speeches, such as C.P. Gajurel’s June 25 outburst in Bhairahawa that threatened a return to arms by the Maoists, are irresponsible and call into question the Maoist commitment to peace.  The Maoists are in the government and claim to support the democratic process.  As of today, however, their words are hollow and everyone knows it.

Threats to the Free Media
Now, more than ever, the media have a weighty role to play in establishing a democratic system in Nepal.  In an environment of constant change, Nepali citizens desperately need unbiased information to make informed decisions.  Nepali media have flourished since the overthrow of royal rule in April 2006.  In the last few weeks, however, private media have faced sustained intimidation, including threats to individual publishers’ and journalists’ lives.  Just two weeks ago, a Maoist-affiliated union shut down the daily newspaper Nepal Samacharpatra and its smaller evening sister publication for several days.  Attacks on journalists in the Terai are occurring at an alarming rate, causing some journalists to go into hiding. 

Democracy in Nepal will not survive without a free media.  Certainly the media will play a key role in the Constituent Assembly election.  Independent news and free public debate are key components in any successful, developed country, whether the model is Switzerland, South Africa, or the United States.  For a nation that aspires to democracy and prosperity, free media are key.  Nepalis must demand an end to Maoist aggression against the media and threats from any corner. 

Another Concern:  Violence in Refugee Camps
While not a Nepal-wide concern, another security challenge greatly concerns my government and other friends of Nepal as well.  I refer to recent violent outbreaks in the Bhutanese refugee camps.  The refugees have lived 16 years in primitive conditions with little hope of creating better lives for their children.  They cannot own property or start businesses, and the prospect of returning to Bhutan is as dim now as it was when they were forced out.  And yet, elements inside the camps are increasingly using violence in an attempt to keep these poor refugees in a continuing state of helplessness for political aims.  This is blatant political manipulation of a population that has already suffered too much.  For the first time in 16 years, thanks to an offer of resettlement from the United States and other nations, the refugees will have a choice regarding their futures.  Each refugee family has a right to decide its own best future based on the choices available.  No group or individual should be allowed to take away this right through violence or threats.    

Nepal has taken commendable and significant steps in its nascent democracy.  As the early history of the United States confirms, young democracies face many challenges.  Now is the time for leadership, national unity, and a clear vision.  All Nepalis deserve to live in a safe place with free access to independent information and no threats to their families or livelihoods.  As diplomats say, these conditions are non-negotiable.  

##