DATE=05/14/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09882

TITLE=EDITORIAL: U.S. SUPPORT FOR NEPAL

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: Rebels who call themselves Maoists are trying to overthrow Nepal's government. Nepal is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. But the rebels want to replace this democratic government with a Communist tyranny modeled on those of Mao Zedong in China and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.

The rebels have perpetrated many acts of terrorism, including bombings of civilian targets and torture and murder of civilians and public officials. In a half dozen years of civil war, thousands of people in Nepal have been killed.

This month, the Nepalese rebels stepped up their campaign. In only a few days, the fighting claimed hundreds of lives on both sides. Then, on May 9th, the rebels said they would halt their attacks if the government would do likewise.

The Nepalese government is skeptical. In the past, the rebels have taken advantage of talks to regroup their forces and then wage even more vicious attacks. As Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba [SHEHR BAH-hah-door (DEH-OO)-bah] said of the rebels, "Unless they lay down their arms and renounce violence, we can't trust them anymore."

The increase in violence in Nepal took place as Prime Minister Deuba was visiting Washington to meet with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and other officials. In a speech, Prime Minister Deuba pointed out that he was jailed for nearly a decade because of his attempts to bring democracy to Nepal. He said that he and his colleagues in parliament "will leave no stone unturned. . .to liberate our people from terror and to ensure each [and] every man, woman, and child security, peace, freedom, and improved quality of life."

Nepalese Prime Minister Deuba also expressed his support for the international war against terrorism. "No cause, [however] noble it may sound, justifies terrorism," he said.

The United States supports Nepal's democratic government. A U.S. military assistance team recently visited Kathmandu, the capital, to review Nepal's military capabilities. President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress for twenty-million dollars for military aid to Nepal. The U.S. also plans to increase development aid to Nepal to thirty-eight million dollars, nearly double last year's amount.

As White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "Nepal is fighting a Maoist rebellion, and Nepal is an example. . .of a democracy. And the United States is committed to helping Nepal."

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.