PM Dahal lauds UN role for Nepal peace, defends Maoist armed struggle in his first int'l appearance
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tried to justify the decade-long armed struggle waged by his party since 1996 during his first speech in an international platform, saying the movement was launched for the liberation of the common man "from the clutches of age-old suppression, deprivation, marginalization and outright negligence by the then existingpolity."
Addressing the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York Friday, PM Dahal said people in Nepal overwhelmingly voted for his party with the hope of change.
"They voted in favour of change and transformation that my own party had fought for so many years," he said.
PM Dahal also reiterated Nepal's commitment to protecting and promoting human rights of its people under all circumstances, and added that the human rights situation in Nepal has improved significantly after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006.
He said that the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission would preserve the centrality of peace by seeking a balance between peace and justice and lauded the UN for establishing an office of its regional centre for Peace and Disarmament in Kathmandu.
PM Dahal also took the opportunity to make a case for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), saying that LDCs should be ensured dedicated support and cooperation to make the world just and inclusive.
"We want full implementation of the respective global compacts, the Brussels Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Almaty Program of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries."
He urged the world body to deal with the issues of LDCs separately and also said Nepal is committed to continuing to provide its troops for UN peacekeeping missions.
He called for fulfilling the "solemn" pledges made in 2000, and at the 2002 World Conference on Financing for Development.
"We need to create a regime of common but differentiated responsibilities, in which the developed countries will lift the burden of adaptation in the vulnerable countries, such as the least developed countries and small islands. The world will stand to benefit in addressing the climate change if we are able to harness the tremendous potentials of Nepal''s hydro-power as it is a renewable and clean source of energy. For this, Nepal is ready to invite and encourage investment in its hydro-power projects," he added.
He further said, "Nepal is committed to restoring law and order, providing immediate relief to the people affected by the conflict, fighting against the cancerous growth of corruption and starting an economic recovery package focusing on pro-poor growth, infrastructure development and public-private partnership."
While appreciating the UN's role in Nepal's peace process, PM Dahal said the world body must also tackle such development challenges as religious extremism, nuclear weapons proliferation, trans-national crimes and gross human rights violations.
On climate change, he noted that Nepal is witnessing melting of glaciers and shifting weather patterns, and strongly appealed for international support to help protect its environment. A regime of common but differentiated responsibilities also must be created, he added.
The PM also appealed to the international community's support and cooperation to protect and promote the pristine environment of the Mt Everest and the Himalayan Range.
"The mountains provide life-supporting water downstream for more than a billion people. It needs to be protected and utilised properly to contribute to the humanity as a whole," he said. nepalnews.com ag/ia Sep 27 08
Full text of PM's address to the 63rd GA
Related news
- PM Dahal criticises int'l community for not doing enough to end world poverty
