British Ambassador to Nepal Keith G Bloomfield has said that there has to be genuine willingness among all political forces to compromise, to abandon long-held positions and to act on their find-sounding public declarations to resolve the problems of the country.
Speaking at an interaction between visiting British parliamentarian and Nepali political leaders, he said, “Since the London Conference four years ago the international community has consistently argued that the King and the parties should work together to agree a strategy for handling the Maoist threat and bring peace to this tragically war-torn country through negotiations and reintegration of the Maoists into the mainstream. Our advice has not been acted upon. We have even been told to mind our own business.”
He further said that no sustainable peace process is possible without a democratic environment and democratic intentions, adding, “All experiences suggests that what is required is widespread consultations among the different interest groups, including the political parties and civil society, in a way which ensures their buy-in.”
Expressing dissatisfaction over the violent activities of the Maoists he said, “The Maoists have not yet abandoned either their obsolete political ideology or their unacceptable pursuit of political ends by violent means, both of which the international community has rightly and soundly condemned.”
Referring to the 12-point pact between political parties and the Maoists, the British envoy said the efforts of the political parties to draw the Maoists into peaceful resistance in the latest Memorandum of Understanding between them is therefore a welcome development. However it is not enough, he added.
The United States has criticized the pact and stressed the need of consensus between the King and political parties to tackle the Maoist insurgency.
Stating that the ongoing Maoist violence continues to undermine the cause of peaceful resistance and to make it easier for opponents of political engagements to justify their refusal to engage, Bloomfield said, “We therefore urge the Maoists to resume a ceasefire and to renounce violence permanently. We also urge both the Government and Maoists to work sincerely towards a properly monitored ceasefire agreement, followed by a well-structured peace process.”
Commenting on the His Majesty’s plan to conduct parliamentary elections by April 2007, the British envoy said there should be democratic environment for an election to work. “Locking up senior political leaders arbitrarily and without trial, using intimidation to force people to vote, and banning peaceful demonstrations will not contribute to such an environment.”
He also added that there should be representation of credible political parties for the elections to be valid. “It is not the number of parties that counts here, but their ability to mobilise the people as demonstrated by their track record in the previous elections. Elections which were boycotted by nearly all the parties represented in the last parliament would not be an exercise in meaningful democracy and do little to solve the constitutional crisis,” he added.
The United Kingdom (UK) had marked the municipal elections held on February 8 and boycotted by the mainstream political parties as a meaningless exercise to resolve the political crisis of the country.
The visiting six-member British parliamentary delegation led by Conservative MP Sir John Stanley will present their report in the British parliament and the government.
They held discussions with the leaders of various political parties to access the political situation of the country. The delegation also visited some parts of the country to access the situation there.
The British government has been stalling military assistance to Nepal following the February 1 royal takeover of last year, terming the move as setback to democracy.