Speaking at the Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council of the UN in Geneva, Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Kamal Thapa, on Wednesday expressed hope that the differences in his country which arose following the promulgation of the new Constitution could be dealt by timely amendments in the future.
Criticising the protests and the blockade which arose following the promulgation, Mr Thapa said, the blockade hurts land-locked Nepal’s international rights. Highlighting the impact that the blockade has left on his country, he further stated, “The continuous obstructions at border points under any pretext has severely impeded the exercise of rights and freedom that Nepal is entitled under the international law as a land-locked country”. Mr Thapa’s speech became a landmark as it was the first occasion when Nepal took up a bilateral issue with India on an international platform.
But in an unprecedented intervention following the Minister's presentation, India laid out a series of steps for Nepal to stabilise internal law and order situation. The Indian delegation stated that, “Obstruction referred in the Hon’ble Minister’s statement is on Nepalese side caused by Nepalese protesters.” The statement by India also highlighted the extrajudicial killings, and the deaths that were reported during the ongoing blockade. The Indian statement bared the points that were not mentioned in Mr Thapa's presentation.
Expressing his government’s desire to deal with the crippling ongoing blockade and inter-ethnic tension, Mr. Thapa said: “We are quite optimistic in view of our ability and competence to resolve our differences on our own for the national interest of the country.”
In his speech, in defence of the Nepali Constitution and human rights record, Mr. Thapa highlighted that the present government led by Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli has been holding a national dialogue with the Madhesi and the Tharu communities of the Terai region.
The speech at the UNHRC came as an elaborate defence of the Nepali constitution which was promulgated on September 20 and was followed by the prolonged blockade on the economic gateways of Nepal located on the India-Nepal border.
‘Avoid interference’ China on Wednesday called on Nepal to resolve the differences over the new charter without “outside interference,” a veiled reference to India amid the agitation by Indian-origin Madhesis.
“China is closely following the situation in Nepal,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, when asked about the stir.
