Kathmandu, June 29 :

Flaying US ambassador James F Moriarty’s statement made yesterday, UML leader Bamdev Gautam today said Nepal can go ahead without American support.

Addressing the inaugural function of the South Asian regional seminar on ‘Preparing Inputs to FAO Special Session of the Committee on Food Security,’ Gautam, also a former deputy prime minister, said the envoy’s comment was “a ploy to stop peace from prevailing in the nation.” Moriarty, had reportedly said yesterday that the US would not extend any support to the government which included the Maoists, unless the rebels renounce violence. Gautam said Moriarty’s remarks were directed by the royal palace.

“Singling out the Maoists would only benefit the monarch and therefore the King is conspiring to bring about a split in between the seven party alliance and the Maoists.”

“If Maoists are not brought to the national mainstream, peace will never prevail in the country,” he said, adding that the US ambassador will regret later for his statement.

Gautam, also the president of the All Nepal Peasants Association (ANPA), said Nepali farmers have been suffering from monarchy’s suppression and therefore they want to throw the institution out through a constituent assembly. He said the ANPA is working on how food sovereignty could be maintained through the constituent assembly besides ensuring farmers’ rights on land, water, forests, medicinal herbs and bio-diversity. “We are also demanding special courts for farmers and formulation of laws to safeguard their rights,” he added.

He criticised the policies of the World Food Programme and claimed that the number of people suffering from food scarcity is increasing. Coordinator of the South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication, Dr Arjun Karki, said the royal government spent Rs 19 billion for the military while only Rs 3 billion was spent for development of the agriculture sector.