Nepal (Hansard, 22 July 2004)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Nepal and trying to resolve the conflict through work to improve Nepalese counter-insurgence capability, developing human rights, building political capacity, and providing humanitarian assistance. The United Kingdom has run conflict prevention programmes of £10 million over the past two financial years. DfID is running a bilateral programme of £6 million in 2003–04, which is expected to increase in 2004–05 and 2005–06 to £35 million and £47 million respectively.

§ The Earl of Sandwich
My Lords, it is encouraging to hear from the noble Baroness how much DfID is doing in conflict prevention and poverty reduction. Maoism, or the version of Maoism that exists in Nepal, thrives on unrepresentative government and a degree of political confusion. Is our embassy doing enough, alongside DfID, the Indian Government and 339 the European Union, to encourage all political parties, including Congress, to enter the process, and to urge those parties to reduce tension in the country and give the Nepali people a sense of confidence in democratic government?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I believe that our embassy is properly engaged in this process. We are encouraged by the formation of a multiparty government in Nepal under Prime Minister Deuba. We are looking forward to supporting the Nepalese in their progress towards a negotiated peace settlement. The noble Lord is right to point out that the Nepali Congress Party's decision to remain outside government is unfortunate, but it is not in itself an obstacle to peace negotiations or to peace. We hope that the new government will maintain those links to the Congress Party as the negotiation strategy continues to develop. I remind the noble Earl that in addition to our ambassador, Sir Jeffrey James is the UK Special Representative for Nepal, and he visits the country three times a year.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, regarding the development plan announced in May, of which the noble Baroness has given details today, does she not agree that some donor programmes, particularly in the west of the country, have had to be suspended because of the conflict? Will the Government, in their spending programme, give priority to all measures for bringing the conflict to an end? Is any of the £80 million specifically earmarked for the facilitation or promotion of dialogue between the government and armed rebels?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I agree that security is a real problem. As we know from this conflict and conflicts elsewhere, if security is not present on the ground it is very difficult for civil society to flourish and democratic processes to take root properly. That is why it is so important that part of the money we are devoting to conflict prevention is going towards a counter-insurgence capability.
Of course, that is not the sole answer, but it is important to look at those security issues. I assure the noble Lord that they are being looked at in concert with the issues around building civil society.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the supply of arms and equipment to the Nepalese Government will not by itself solve the conflict? That simply is not effective as a weapon against terrorism. Only with training in stable government and civil liberties and extending it way outside Kathmandu, which is somewhat of an island in Nepal, can the rule of law be re-established and common sense reign in that country. Will the Minister encourage a move in that direction?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, yes. I agree wholeheartedly with what the noble Baroness, Lady Chalker, said. The package of assistance that we 340 are giving in respect of military aid includes a very strong element of human rights training for the armed forces. Our aim has been to improve the professionalism of the army so that it can respond accurately and—if I may say—appropriately and proportionately to Maoist violence, as well as be trained in defending a democratic constitutional state from any takeover by armed Maoist insurrectionists.

§ Lord Bramall
My Lords, following on from what the Minister said, does she not agree that one of the problems is that the military action that has to be taken to make the rebels realise that they, too, cannot win by military means alone is not always done in the most sensible way? With all our experience, is there not more that we can do to help the Royal Nepalese Army to win the hearts and minds of the villagers as well as giving the rebels a nasty jolt?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I believe that that is exactly the thought behind the way in which we are approaching our relationship with the Nepalese military authorities. There has to be a strong inculcation into those authorities that it is not just the use of force by itself, but that force is used in an appropriate and proportional way.
For example, the counter-insurgency capabilities have included things such as bomb disposal equipment so that a clear benefit can be demonstrated to civil society. Some of the helicopters that have gone to Nepal were used only last weekend to assist from the air, showing how the people of Nepal could be best helped by the sort of military equipment that we are giving. The training element is crucial.

§ Lord Lea of Crondall
My Lords, following up on the question from the noble and gallant Lord, the Prime Minister has often referred to failed states and failing states. Unfortunately, does one not have to reach the conclusion that Nepal is now a failing state? It might be better to get behind the label Maoist and follow up the thought about hearts and minds to set out a much more comprehensive political strategy, possibly in conjunction with the Indian Government, to see how we can talk more directly to some of those people.

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I am sorry to say that I have to disagree with my noble friend. It is not fair to say that Nepal is a failing state in the sense that we usually use that term. Mr Deuba's appointment and the formation of a multi-party government represent the first window of opportunity for a return to negotiations with the Maoists since 2001.
It is important that we should back those efforts. We have been working very closely with our international partners to that end. We have been working through the EU and with our colleagues not only in the United States but also in India.