American ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty has once again criticised the Maoists for not living up to their “assurance that they are peace loving democrats”.

US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty (File photo)

US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty (File photo)
“Maoist assurances that they are peace loving democrats have been proven hollow daily by the violent actions of their cadre. If the Maoists want the people’s trust and support, they must win it through democratic competition and free elections – and not through violence,” Moriarty said addressing a function organised by the Community Information Center in Pokhara Tuesday.

He further said, “I have been told repeatedly over the last year that the most important thing in Nepal is the peace process. I have been accused of derailing this process by speaking out against atrocities by Maoists and other groups. I think many would agree, however, that these atrocities, not my words, are threatening the peace process. Peace is not just the absence of war. Maoist violence and intimidation are derailing the peace process, and the consequences threaten the future of all Nepalis.”

He went on, “Finally, we had all hoped that the entry of the Maoists into the government on April 1 would prompt them to behave like a mainstream political party. Instead, the Maoists have forcefully reminded the people of Nepal that April 1 is also called April Fool’s Day. Since that date, the YCL has run amok, the Maoist ministers of Forests and of Local Development have called for bandhas against the government they work for, and the Maoist Minister of Information and Communications has publicly stated that the Prime Minister, his boss, has a criminal mind.”

According to Moriarty, Maoists’ violent behavior and the ethnic division are two main obstacles to peace and democracy in Nepal.

He also said the US government would continue its support to the Nepal government’s efforts for peace and democracy and revealed that Nepal would get more than $50 million US aid this year.