MEDIA REACTION: NEPAL-U.S. RELATIONS; U.S.- MAOIST RELATIONS

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000917



SIPDIS



STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO



STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU



E.O. 12958 N/A

TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, PGOV, OPRC, NP

SUBJ: MEDIA REACTION: Nepal-U.S. relations; U.S.-

Maoist relations



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NEPAL-U.S. RELATIONS

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1. Nepali JOURNALIST Rishi Dhamala wrote an OP-ED in

pro-India vernacular daily Annapurna Post (with

circulation of 70,000) on October 7, titled "Nepal-

America: Incomparable Comparison." The writer built

the piece on his recent visit to the U.S. It praised

the development and prosperity of America, and

called upon the people and leaders of Nepal to learn

from the American experience. Translated excerpts:



2. "The United States of America is a 'dreamland'

for the people around the world. It is a country

which is prosperous and where political and economic

freedom have flourished. It has a free but

disciplined society. Everything runs systematically.

People are civilized. Human Rights and Rule of Law

is fully ensured. A 'beautiful museum' of people

around the world, America has enough prospects for

every individual's progress. Labor is highly valued.

Capital is highly valued. People have dignity and

time is important."



3. "...To be like America, Nepal has to do many

things. The cultural aspect (in Nepal) is more

important than political, economic, and social

stability. Nepalis have to eliminate their faults to

cultivate the system and culture of American

society. To develop a social culture like that of

America, Nepal has to change its entire social

literature, not only the mathematics. It has to

learn the entire school by heart, not a few

lessons."



4. "...Civil life is easy due to clear policies of

the American Government. Law is not arbitrary like

in Nepal. Rulers do not have the leverage to take

undue advantage of power. Besides being rich and

free, the society is also disciplined and defined.

Everybody has recognition and dignity based on their

work. The law not only provides facilities, but also

security for citizens. Nobody can bypass the law.

Every individual is aware of his or her dignity that

builds on honesty. If you have a small stain on your

dignity, it would be difficult to face society. But

somebody who errs can easily apologize for their

mistakes and gets reestablished in the society, as

exemplified by former President Bill Clinton."



5."I was amazed at the skyscrapers and wide streets

of Chicago. Chicago is the state of American

President Barack Obama. His supporters said, "Obama

is America's new leader. He is the new hope."



6. "... There were no security hassles around the

White House, despite of a very strong security

arrangement. Anybody with bad intentions cannot

enter the vicinity. There was no frisking or

interrogation. Technology takes care of the

security and it cannot fail. It would be wrong to

compare America's security with that of Nepal."



7. "... Seeing America, I wondered when Nepal would

attain the same level of prosperity and development.

Our leaders have travelled the world. But why

cannot they bring that culture into Nepal? Why don't

we have a leader like in America? We have rich

natural resources and culture. Nepal might not be as

big as America in geography, but it is beautiful. If

the Nepali leaders unite for nation building, then

Nepali youths don't have to fill the DV Lottery

forms. They can make their own land a dreamland..."



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U.S. - MAOIST RELATIONS

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8. An opinion piece by the same JOURNALIST titled

"US viewpoint yet to be assured about Maoists" was

also published in pro-India English daily The

Himalayan Times (with circulation of 40,000) the

same day, October 7. The piece began with the recent

visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to the



United States and his meeting with President Barack

Obama, and stated that the U.S. is waiting to see

the Maoist party in Nepal fully transformed into a

democratic force before it could be removed from the

"terror watch" list. It also said America has sub-

contracted its Nepal policy to India.

Excerpts:



9. "... The meetings between President Obama and PM

Nepal were so much so happening for those Nepal and

the UCPN-Maoist watchers that they started on what

the Maoist leadership was up to, with the underlying

meaning being that it would be unfortunate for Nepal

and the rebel outfit if it decides not to live up to

its public commitment of a hallmark democratic

party. ... That President Obama time and again

wanted to know whether the ruling parties were in a

position to work together with the UCPN-Maoist

emphatically suggests that the US is in favor of the

parties taking the UCPN-Maoist along without any

exception."



10. "... the US administration does not want to see

political parties in Nepal, and that of course

includes the UCPN-Maoist, to smack of Mao and all

that which is identified with him and his political

ideology.



11. "It was interesting to note that the Maoist

outfit figured in talks in the US capital and the

White House. Equally interesting was the series of

meetings between Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They met as

often as PM Nepal and President Obama met."



12. "... one thing which should not go missing on

Nepal-US relationship analysis is that the US should

be expected to take the Indian word on events in

Nepal. Said conversely, the Obama administration

will be taking cue from the Indian policy towards

Nepal whenever it comes to forge any policy in the

future. ... the U.S. has in a way sub-contracted the

task of forging policy for countries like Nepal and

Bhutan to India. This is likely to continue in the

decades ahead ..."



13. "That is to say the UCPN-Maoist will need to

review its policy vis--vis India ... So, the key

for the UCPN-Maoist to the US heart passes through

New Delhi."



14. "Yet, another reason why the US is concerned

about Nepal, the UCPN-Maoist and the peace process

is its geographical proximity to China through times

when the western world is doing all it can to foster

unrest in Tibet, and thus weaken China as part of

the longstanding strategy to score over that

country."



15. "In a way, Nepal is a pawn which must be kept

clean and within reach. Another reason why the US

is worried over Nepal and its peace process is the

involvement of the UN which is another face of the

US."



MOON