Nepal in Europe's Heart and Mind

By Guna Raj Luitel

BRUSSELS, Feb 5 - Temperature was freezing at minus 2° Celsius but they didn't care about it. Holding red flags and banners, they were chanting the slogan, "down with autocracy." They left the country long before, but nostalgia always haunts them. They are in the most democratic region of the world, but couldn't ignore the worsening situation of the country.

Hundreds of Nepalese and members of European civil society organisations gathered in front of the European Commission (EC) and Council of the EU, appealing for the restoration of democracy in Nepal. The Nepali diaspora was well supported by European organisations and individuals. They were encouraged when senior European officials received their memorandum in the protest ground.

James Moran, acting Director for Asia, Directorate-General External relations, EC, personally came to the protest site with his colleagues and received the memorandum. It showed the importance and attention the EU system has placed on Nepal.

After February 1, 2005, the EU alone has issued 12 declarations regarding Nepal's political instability. For the first time Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) showed "concern" issuing statement on Nepal. One year after the dissolution of multi-party government in Nepal, on February 1, 2006, he said, "The sad failure by the King and his Government to declare a truce and to engage in dialogue at the time of the recent Maoist unilateral ceasefire was an opportunity missed."

"I, together with the whole EU, will continue to monitor closely the situation in Nepal and to press for early progress towards peace and genuine democracy", Solana added.

One of Nepal's key development partners, the EU is genuinely concerned about Nepal. Several influential leaders of the EU were present in a programme organised by the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) and Eurostep, a Brussels based European NGO on February 1 where they renewed the EU's early stand regarding the restoration of peace and democracy in Nepal.

Personal Representative of Javier Solana, Michel Matthiessen, who was present as a panellist, said, "Today, one year after the Royal takeover, the EU reaffirms its stand of peaceful transformation in Nepal and condemns the excessive use of force against political leaders and activists", adding, "We support the peaceful protests in Nepal."

Matthiessen also urged the Nepal government to release human rights defenders including Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha who was supposed to be in the meeting but couldn't be present as he was arrested before he could leave by security forces in Kathmandu.

Urging the government to stop harassing opposition leaders, Matthiessen said, "Human rights, democracy and peaceful protests are of core value to the EU."

Bruno Bilek, Counsellor Responsible for Asia, Austrian Permanent Representation to the EU, said, "Nepal is very much in our heart and mind." About the government-announced municipal elections, he said, "For meaningful elections, there needs to be political atmosphere."

Dr. Gunther Bächler, Special Advisor for peace building in Nepal, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, billed Nepal's present regime as "Panchyat Plus".

Jo Beall, Director of the Development Studies Institute (DESTIN), London School of Economics, Petra Pinzler, Die Zeil EU Correspondent, Robert Shaw, Human Rights and Communications officer, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Dr. Arjun Karki, President, NGO Federation of Nepal were the panellists of the programme.