# Prem Sagar Poudel
The activities of Americans in Nepal are now increasing exponentially. After the MCC was passed by the Parliament of Nepal, the number of high ranking US officials has also been increasing. After the blockade imposed by India in 2072 BS, Chinese influence had increased in Nepal. At the present Indian influence is not growing, but American influence is growing.
Not only the issue of passing MCC but also the number of American officials coming to Nepal after passing MCC seems to be increasing. Recently, a team of American parliamentarians visited Nepal and returned. They have returned with a commitment from the Nepalese government to satisfy in Tibetans issues and in addition to American interests.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kelly Keiderling’s team returned from Nepal on 8th Baishakh. While in Nepal, the team also visited Lumbini. In addition, Bhumika Shrestha, winner of the International Brave Women Award and a Nepali LGBTQI Plus campaigner, had a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly. According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the rights and upliftment of the Nepali LGBTQI Plus community were discussed during the meeting. The US embassy wrote on Twitter: ‘The United States appreciates Shrestha’s contribution to the upliftment of the rights of the LGBTQI Plus community and equal opportunity initiatives in Nepal. We are committed to supporting the endeavor for right of the sexual and gender minorities.”
Showing Ukraine, main interest Tibet
A delegation from the US Parliament arrived in Nepal on Friday, 9th Baishakh, for a three-day visit, expressed happiness over the position taken by Nepal against the Russian attack on Ukraine, the day after Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kelly left Nepal. The delegation, which is on a visit to various countries to get the support against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, had bilateral meetings and discussions with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chairman of the Main Opposition KP Sharma Oli, Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and Coordinator of the Nepal-US Parliamentary Friendship Group Minendra Rijal.
The US parliamentary delegation visiting Nepal appreciated Nepal’s position in the international arena, including the United Nations, on the Ukraine crisis and signaled that Nepal has taken the side of the US. During a meeting with Prime Minister Deuba in Baluwatar on Saturday, the US parliamentary delegation thanked Nepal for its stance on the Ukraine issue in the international arena.
“The United States is well aware of Nepal’s position on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the humanitarian crisis there. During the meeting, the US parliamentary delegation thanked Nepal for its position in the international arena on Ukraine’, said Govinda Pariyar, Press Adviser to Prime Minister Deuba. “Nepal will always be a good friend of the United States,” said Kirsten Gillibrand, leader of the US parliamentary team.
During the meeting with the US Parliamentary delegation, Prime Minister Deuba thanked Nepal for its support in the field of social and economic development. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Nepal has voted in favor of Ukraine in a majority at the UN General Assembly. On April 7, 2022, Nepal abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on the suspension of Russia from membership of the UN Human Rights Council. In addition, in the other four votes on the Ukraine crisis, Nepal supported Ukraine. The government was also criticized for abandoning its non-aligned foreign policy by voting in favor of Ukraine at the behest of the United States and other Western countries.
A statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry said after the meeting with the US parliamentary delegation: ‘The meeting also discussed cooperation between Nepal and the United States in institutionalizing democracy and climate change. Both sides stressed the importance of parliamentary interaction to enhance the multifaceted friendship between Nepal and the United States.’ During a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Khadka at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar, US Parliamentary Team Chief Gillibrand praised Nepal’s stance on Ukraine.
During the meeting, the US parliamentary delegation reiterated its willingness to work closely with Nepal on issues of common interest. Although these are said to be issues of common interest to Nepal and the United States, they appear to be more interested in the military strategy that the United States has begun to expand in this area. A statement issued before the MPs’ visit said: ‘This powerful congressional delegation will meet with the U.S. military leadership and military personnel in Poland. The United States and NATO allies together will think how it can act against an unfair and unjust attack on Ukraine by Russia. Amid the current global tensions, the congressional delegation will also meet with leaders from Poland, the UAE, India, Nepal and Germany to discuss strengthening ties.
Earlier, in February 2020, a parliamentary delegation comprising US bipartisan (Democratic and Republican) MPs arrived in Kathmandu. The parliamentary team was led by Ami Bera, coordinator of the Asia, Pacific and Non-Proliferation Subcommittee under the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. The team discussed Nepal policy of USA and its assistance to Nepal. Even then, their interest was more focused on the MCC and the Tibetans in Nepal. However, they could not formally discuss on the matter.
Earlier, in 2017, an eight-member bipartisan team led by Nancy Pelosico, an MP from the US Democratic Party, visited Nepal. The delegation placed special emphasis on the issue of Tibetan refugees in Nepal. They expressed concern over the non-issuance of identity cards to the descendants of Tibetan refugees born in Nepal after 1990 AD and the impediment to their freedom of expression and movement.
US lawmakers were concerned about the plight of Tibetan refugees in Nepal with the President of Nepal-US Parliamentary Friendship Group Dr. Minendra Rijal. He said: “They are satisfied that Nepal has been providing shelter to Tibetan refugees for a long time. They emphasized that Nepal should continue to play such a role in the future as well.’ The parliamentary team had flown to Germany from Nepal via Delhi, the capital of India.
Analyzing the reasons behind coming to Nepal, the first interest of the parliamentary team was to prevent Nepal from getting closer to China. Another is to get a commitment to help from Nepal on the issue of Tibetan refugees. In recent times, Western countries, including the United States, have been pressuring to issue identity cards for Tibetans born in Nepal since 1990. Based on the identity card, their travel abroad is also easy. They can be involved in all kinds of economic activities in Nepal. On the other hand, the government of Nepal has been urging the supporters of the Dalai Lama who want to go to India through Nepal to facilitate their arrival without any hindrance.
The US interest in the ambassador’s recommendation:
The Government of Nepal has recently recommended Bishnu Pukar Shrestha as its Ambassador to China. Shrestha, who is also the founding chairman of the Campaign for Human Rights and Social Transformation Nepal (CAHURAST-Nepal), has been recommended by the Maoist quota as ambassador to China. Shrestha of Dhading has been working in the field of human rights for a long time. “CAHURAST-Nepal” is a non-governmental organization that came into operation after the Maoists entered the peace process. It is also the official human rights organization of the Maoists.
The Canadian Assistance Office has invested in a campaign for transparent and accountable governance at the local level run by Kahurashtra Nepal. The $ 31,000 program seems to focus on making local bodies more transparent and accountable. The project focuses on the right to information at the district and local levels. The Canada Assistance Office has also been working on behalf of independent Tibetans in India and Nepal. The office had invested $ 5.4 million in 2018 for the education of independent Tibetans in India and Nepal.
In Nepal, Canada has been working with UNHCR on a wide range of issues for independent Tibetans. It seems to have been investing in non-governmental organizations run by people involved in the campaign. The investment in “CAHURAST-Nepal” seems to have been due to the positive role played by its operators in favor of independent Tibetans. Shrestha, who was the ambassador to China, is still the president of “CAHURAST-Nepal”. Details posted on Kahurasht’s website show that he has been active in the organization since its foundation.
The Lutheran World Foundation is a church organization in Switzerland as a partner of “CAHURAST-Nepal”. The organization has been working on behalf of the independent Tibetans in Nepal under the slogan ‘have our own identity, have a future’. From this link one can learn how to raise the hopes of Tibetans in Pokhara. Another non-governmental organization in the United States, Open Contracting Partnership, is another partner of “CAHURAST-Nepal”. Due to its close ties with the United States, the organization seems to have helped “CAHURAST-Nepal”. Despite being recommended as ambassador to China, Shrestha has not yet resigned from “CAHURAST-Nepal”. Instead, he is seeking advice on how to enhance the role of ambassador from those living in Nepal and working for the United States. How is the US systematically transforming the Nepalese Embassy in Beijing into a US center? It has become clear.
It seems that those who work close to the United States have started taking more advantage from the Maoists because the Maoists have helped to pass the MCC. CPN (MC) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said that he would not pass the MCC till the end and stopped the voices against the MCC. But, at the end, he decided to pass the MCC anyway, with the help of an explanatory announcement.
Assessing that the voice against the MCC had weakened, President Dahal had moved in favor of the MCC. Shrestha was one of the people who helped him to work in this aspect. Earlier, Rupak Sapkota, son of Speaker Agni Sapkota, who was nominated for the post of Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, was dissmissed and for helping Dahal by Shreshth creating an environment to pass the MCC. Sapkota, who returned to Nepal after completing his PhD from China, was made the Executive Director of the Government of Nepal’s Think Tank Foreign Affairs Foundation. When there is a high chance to get the ambassador, he resigned from the post of executive director. Moreover, Pro. Dr. Yuvaraj Sangroula and former ambassador Leela Mani Poudyal were also aspirants.
