Ambassador's Remarks to Independence Day Reception

July 3, 2007                                              

Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to celebrate the 231st birthday of the United States of America with us.  I am pleased to be here, for the last time as the American Ambassador to Nepal, to share this evening with you.

The act of nation-building is daunting, but auspicious.  One of our founding fathers, John Adams, once said,

"You and I. . . have been sent into life at a time when the greatest lawgivers of antiquity would have wished to live… When, before the present epoch, had three millions of people full power and a fair opportunity to form and establish the wisest and happiest government that human wisdom can contrive?"

John Adams and the other American founding fathers knew well that they faced an opportunity of immense historical importance to create the best state institutions possible for their people.  

Nepal is facing a similar moment this year.  The Constituent Assembly election that will be held on November 22 is both an opportunity and a test for this country.   A successful election, whose results stand up to international scrutiny and are considered legitimate by all the people, will allow Nepal to continue moving forward in its democratic nation-building.  

There are two obstacles blocking this path today.  The first is the ongoing violence by the Maoists and extremist Madhesi groups.   The OHCHR last month released a report detailing the rise in violence, mostly by the Young Communist League, throughout the country since the formation of the interim government in April.   As members of the interim government, the Maoists have a responsibility to the people they now work for to stop these actions immediately.

The second obstacle in Nepal's democratic nation-building is the failure to adequately address the issue of inclusion of all Nepali citizens.   For too long, caste, ethnicity, gender and religion have been used to enforce unfair economic and social discrimination.  The new Nepal demands an end to these unfair disadvantages, but not through violence.   Instead, the way forward is through civil discourse to address legitimate grievances.

In the words of the great American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.,

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

It was also difficult creating the new American Republic.  Our history has its fair share of shameful periods, especially the time and legacy of slavery.   But, in the end, our constitution, and the institutions it created, has proven to be a solid democratic foundation for addressing the needs of the American people.   Nepal  now has a similar opportunity to create a new constitution and new government institutions that serve its people well. 

It has been my honor to serve as the American Ambassador to Nepal during this historic period.  The last three years have been challenging and rewarding.   Nepal will always have a special place in my heart, mostly due to the Nepali people.  For the people of this country, the United States of America desires peace, prosperity and democracy in Nepal - as in the United States, as throughout the world.

My stay here has been memorable because of everyone of you and I thank you for that.
 
Thank You.