As political crisis deepens in the Himalayan kingdom, a six-member British parliamentary delegation has arrived Kathmandu on Sunday on a six-day visit to Nepal.
Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) immediately upon their arrival, leader of the delegation and Conservative MP Sir John Stanley said, “We come here as friends of Nepal. …We are here to listen and to learn, and we shall be reporting back to our Government and our Parliament on our return.”
Sir Stanley further said Nepal is a sovereign country and the resolution of the serious problems Nepal faces must lie with the people of Nepal. “However, if we can make some contribution, however, small, to the peaceful re-emergence of stability and multi-party parliamentary democracy in Nepal, our visit will have been worthwhile,” he added.
In a written statement, Sir Stanley—who has served as a minister in Conservative government– said, “Our two countries have a unique relationship, stretching back now over nearly 200 years, but still very much alive today. After Japan, Britain is the largest bilateral aid donor to Nepal. Gurkha soldiers remain an integral and highly valued element in the British armed forces. There have been observers from the British Parliament at each of the elections held in Nepal since 1991. Nothing symbolizes Britain’s support for parliamentary democracy in Nepal more clearly than the fact that the Speaker’s Chair carved in oak in each House of Nepali Parliament—the National Assembly and the House of Representatives—were gifts from out Parliament at Westminster to Nepali parliament in Kathmandu.”
Sir Stanley clarified that the present parliamentary visit was initiated by the British government. “However, though we have come under the British Government’s auspices, we speak in our personal capacitates as British parliamentarians and the views expressed are our own. Having said that, the deep concern of the British Government about the suspension of parliamentary democracy, terrorism and violations of human rights in Nepal is a concern shared throughout our parliament and by all political parties in Britain,” he added.
Responding to a query, Sir Stanley said the delegation had placed a request to call on His Majesty King Gyanendra and waiting for an appointment. He said the delegation would also be visiting Biratnagar to see the international aided development programme in the eastern town.
Other members of the British parliamentary delegation include Earl of Sandwich, Conservative lawmakers Geoffrey Cliff-Brown and Richard Ottaway, Liberal Democrat MP Baroness Northover and Labour MP Tom Levitt.