[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 24]
[Senate]
[Page 33146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    DETERIORATING SITUATION IN NEPAL

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, over the years, both during and since the 
end of the monarchy in Nepal, I have urged the Nepal Army to respect 
human rights and cooperate with civilian judicial authorities in 
investigations of its members who abuse human rights. I spoke on this 
subject a few days ago in relation to the horrific case of Maina 
Sunuwar, a 15-year-old Nepali girl who was tortured to death by Nepal 
Army officers who then sought to cover up the crime.
  I have also, similarly, urged the Maoists to stop committing acts of 
violence and extortion against civilians, respect human rights, and 
work to improve the lives of the Nepali people through the political 
process. The fact that the Maoists laid down their arms and entered 
into a peace agreement gave the Nepali people the first chance in 
Nepal's history to build a democratic government that is responsive to 
their needs.
  It is therefore disheartening that the Maoists continue to engage in 
tactics that serve little purpose but to make the lives of the Nepali 
people, already difficult, even harder. They have just staged their 
latest general strike, which for the past 3 days crippled Nepal's 
economy.
  For 3 days, Nepal, already a poor country, neither imported nor 
exported goods through its land entry points, causing a significant 
loss of revenue. Tourism, one of Nepal's most important sources of 
income for hotels, shops, transport, restaurants, and guide services, 
has been damaged. The garment industry, also among Nepal's largest, was 
brought to a halt. And there is the risk that foreign companies will 
decide that Nepal is still too unstable, and look elsewhere to invest.
  What possible good does this kind of protest do? It angers and hurts 
the very people whose interests the Maoists claim to serve. In fact, it 
hurts poor people the most, because they and their children do not have 
savings, and go hungry. And it can hardly make other political parties 
more likely to accede to the Maoists' demands.
  The latest news is that the Maoist leaders have threatened an 
indefinite national strike unless the government puts in place within a 
month a unity government headed by the Maoists. This kind of ultimatum, 
which has no place in a democracy, would be disturbing enough if it 
were not for the fact that the Maoists headed a coalition government 
last year after winning national elections, only to leave the 
government in May when it failed to replace the then army chief of 
staff.
  I also felt that Nepal needed a new army chief who was not tainted by 
past abuses, but for the Maoists to quit the government and then accuse 
the President of forcing them to do so when their demands were not met, 
was irresponsible. Today, in fact, Nepal has a new army chief. Time 
will tell if he is the right person for the job.
  As an observer of developments in Nepal, I have been encouraged by 
the positive steps the country has taken since the events that led to 
the end of the monarchy. But the desires that led to that courageous 
demonstration of popular will remain unfulfilled. The institutions of 
democracy are barely functioning and the political situation continues 
to deteriorate. Only 5 months remain until the deadline for drafting a 
new constitution, and growing distrust between the political parties 
threatens to derail the peace process. Indeed, the political parties 
have often seemed more concerned with promoting their own interests 
than with addressing the needs of the Nepali people. The army has yet 
to reform. Thousands of Maoist ex-combatants need to be demobilized and 
trained for jobs in the civilian workplace. Unless the political 
parties take decisive steps to work together to address these issues, 
the situation will go from bad to worse, and at some point the Nepali 
people may again take matters into their own hands.
  In the meantime, the periodic economic shutdowns and acts of violence 
and intimidation perpetrated by the Young Communist League, cause one 
to question whether the Maoist leaders understand or accept the 
responsibilities that are inherent in a democracy. Rather than 
orchestrating acts of collective punishment to try to force a result, 
the Maoists need to earn the public's trust and respect. There is also 
the responsibility to exercise power in a manner that strengthens, not 
erodes, popular support. So far, the Maoists have failed to demonstrate 
a capacity for either.
  The Communist Party of Nepal--Maoist--today remains a designated 
foreign terrorist organization under U.S. law. I am among those who 
would like to see that designation lifted, as I believe the U.S. could, 
through technical assistance and exchange programs, help the Maoist 
leaders to better understand the benefits of working constructively 
within the democratic process on behalf of the Nepali people. But the 
fact remains that having engaged in acts that got them onto the list in 
the first place, they need to demonstrate that they have abandoned 
those tactics and are accountable to the people. Organizing harmful 
strikes that serve no logical or legitimate purpose, encouraging acts 
of violence, refusing to punish its own members who committed 
atrocities, and making threats, are not consistent with a responsible 
political organization.
  Mr. President, poverty and injustice have been a fact of life in 
Nepal for centuries. Three and a half years ago the Nepali people rose 
up against a corrupt, abusive monarchy and demanded something better. 
They are still waiting, but they will not wait forever. Like Nepal's 
other political parties, the Maoists will be judged by what they 
deliver.

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