America is not just changing it's tune but now seems to be singing a completely different song when it comes to the Maoists.
Nepal Maoists were never called a terrorist outfit: US`
Source: http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14674587
| Thursday, 15 May , 2008, 15:19 |
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Washington: The US now says Nepal's Maoist party had never
been designated a "foreign terrorist organisation" and the basis of its
relations with the new government in Nepal will depend on the actions
of individuals there.
"First of all, the Maoists in Nepal never have been a 'foreign
terrorist organisation,' as designated. That is one category under
law," State Department spokesperson Tom Casey said, indicating a
rethink in Washington's Nepal policy following the once underground
party's victory in last month's elections there.
"They have, however, been on the 'terrorist exclusion list'.
That is something that applies to consular issues, visas and other
kinds of matters," he told reporters Wednesday, for the first time
making a subtle distinction between the two categories.
"You have two separate issues here," he said when asked to
comment on Washington's position with the former guerrillas now poised
to head the new Nepalese government. "But you know, ultimately, the
basis of our relations with the government of Nepal will be based on
the actions of the individuals there." |
The spokesperson acknowledged that US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy
Powell had met Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (CPN-Maoist) chief
Prachanda on May 1. But this first formal US contact with a party still
on US "terrorist" list, he said, was essentially intended to get an
assurance that US humanitarian programmes will continue.
"That meeting was principally to focus on and to gain
assurances that the humanitarian programmes that we have in Nepal,
which are focused through non-governmental organisations rather than
the government, would, in fact, be honoured and not interfered with.
"We were pleased to get a response that they did not intend to
do anything to block or otherwise obstruct these programmes," Casey
said. "But you know, ultimately, the basis of our relations with the
government of Nepal will be based on the actions of the individuals
there."
"Whether or not the legal issues involved and the changes that
have occurred in the government there are such that it would warrant a
change in the status of that party on the terrorism exclusion list is,
again...something you can get a lot of lawyers in the room together and
argue about," he said.
Though the US accepted the April poll verdict that favoured the
Maoists in Nepal, Washington remains doubtful about the former
guerrillas.
Wednesday's statement making a distinction between a 'foreign
terrorist organisation' and a 'terrorist exclusion list' is indicative
of a movement towards what a senior US official recently described as
"legitimate reconciliation and reintegration politically" in Nepal
after the Maoists' election victory.
"In any terrorist organisation or any terrorist situation, if
there is a way for reconciliation legally and lawfully through the
political system, obviously, we prefer that," said Dell L Dailey,
coordinator of the Office for Counter-Terrorism.
"And there are places where that's taking place already," he
said, briefing reporters on the State Department's annual terrorism
report. "It is taking place in Nepal, although it's had some ups and
downs."
"But we prefer a legitimate reconciliation and reintegration
politically long before we go after and try and do a coordinated,
integrated, with host nation military action," he said when asked how
the US planned to deal with the new situation in Nepal.
Dailey's remarks were the first indication of a US rethink of
its Nepal policy following the Maoists' election victory. Other
officials too have hinted at the possibility of a review, but have
declined to spell it out in so many words.
Washington still regards the CPN-Maoist as a terrorist group
although the group formally laid down weapons in 2006 and joined
Nepal's interim coalition government last year. Officials have pointed
to "legal hurdles" in taking the Maoists off the list.
Last edited: 15-May-08 08:49 AM
