US Department of State
A meeting with two US State Department officials on 2 February, Melanie
Bixby, Senior Advisor South Asian Affairs, and Kristin Needler, Nepal desk
officer, provided some updated information on the situation in Nepal and the
US position. According to the State Department, phone lines were cut to
prevent organised protests in the capital and will be slowly turned back on
over the next week. The officials were candid and cordial, though they held
the official line. On human rights violations, they freely admitted that the
RNA was guilty, but that most of US military assistance was providing human
rights training to the army, which has grown quickly in size over a short
period. They did not say if anything was being put forward to hold the army
accountable. The US also refused to take a position on the involvement of a
third party to facilitate peace talks between the king and the Maoists.
While acknowledging that the UK was in favor and India dead opposed, the US
is in favor of a "negotiated settlement". They had been in contact with the
US embassy in Kathmandu and Ambassador Moriarty was planning to visit the
palace as soon as possible, which he has done subsequently. The US also
noted that India was in shock over the King's decision and felt slighted.
It's unclear whether the US will take a strong position on Nepal, as India
has, though intially they have condemned the move. King Gyanendra seems to
be hoping that the US and India's dislike for the Maoists will outweigh
their contempt at his power grab.
On the ground in Nepal
Reports are coming through that there is a widespread crackdown on dissent
in the capital and in Pokhara. Political and student leaders are being
targeted by the army for arrest. BBC reported that 250 were arrested in
Pokhara and possibly fired upon after demonstrating. The BBC also reported
that 21 members of the Nepali Congress, Nepal's largest political party,
were arrested in Kanchanpur. It is assumed that human rights activists are
next in line and some are being offered shelter by the Danish embassy and
the UN. Phone lines have been reopened an hour or two at a time, before
being disconnected. Supposedly, this is to prevent activists from
organising protests. Additionally, it has prevented the three-day bandh
called by the Maoists from having any affect whatsoever, due to the absence
of communication. Few, if anyone in Nepal are aware that the Maoists called
one. Newspapers are closed still and occupied or surrounded by security
personnel, while open radio stations are permitted to only play music,
because the army does not have the resources to screen all the news
reports.
cont......
