‘Why US is biased against us’

KATHMANDU: The Maoist leader, Prachanda, said that he wants to talk to US Ambassador James F Moriarty to know why Washington is “so biased” against their party. “We are eager to talk to Moriarty and to know why he is so biased against us.”

“We have asked former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Communist Party of Nepal-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to arrange a meeting with the US Ambassador.”

However, the American envoy has already given a negative signal. “They should change their behaviour instead of trying to meet diplomats,” Moriarty said before heading to Washington for three weeks to brief the State Department about the current developments in Nepal. He also warned that if the Maoists join the government before laying down arms, the US would not assist that government.

“If the Maoists continue to use violence after they enter the government, our law says that we can’t supply assistance to those who support a terrorist group. We have to consider them as terrorist group until they give up arms,” said Moriarty.

The US provides Nepal with $45 million a year in development, education and health aid. In the past, the US has given Nepal’s government millions of dollars in military aid to fight the Maoists rebels, but suspended it after King Gyanendra seized absolute power last year. The communists’ leader criticised Moriarty’s stance. “I am not surprised with the comments by the ambassador to Nepal, because he does not want peace in Nepal,” said Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal.