Lawmakers slam U.S. envoy's behavior in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17 Kyodo

Nepalese lawmakers criticized Sunday the behavior of U.S. Ambassador to Nepal James Moriarty, saying his visit to army barracks as well as his political statements violate diplomatic norms.

Speaking at the House of Representatives, parliamentarian Lilamani Pokhrel said the government should throw Moriarty out of the country.

''He is acting more like a political leader than a diplomat,'' said the lawmaker of the left-leaning Joint Popular Front, asking if a Nepalese ambassador could carry out inspection visits to army barracks in the United States.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe, president of the Nepal Peasants and Labor Party, said the political statements being made by the U.S. ambassador have ''clearly undermined'' Nepal's sovereignty.

Last week Moriarty visited far-western Nepal for what he said was to ''make an assessment of the political situation in rural Nepal and get firsthand information about the activities of Maoist guerrillas.''

Returning to the capital, he said Saturday the guerrillas, currently involved in a truce and peace process with the government, were still indulging in extortion, intimidation and abduction.

The U.S. envoy faces the ire of the Maoist rebels who have accused him of making attempts to drive a wedge between the guerrillas and the government.

In June, Moriarty talked the Nepalese authorities into changing their decision to induct the rebels into the government without laying down their arms.

He also threatened to cut off $45 million annual aid should the rebels join the government without settling the question of arms management.

Commenting on Moriarty's visit to the countryside, alliance leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said Saturday, ''It would be better if diplomats abide by diplomatic norms.''

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