US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs Christina Rocca has concluded her three-day visit to Kathmandu after assessing the situation in Nepal, renewing US support to the government in its anti-Maoist campaign, and putting before the King US perceptions on several issues, including democracy and human rights in the country. At her pre-departure press conference on Wednesday, Rocca repeatedly stressed the need for the King and the political parties to be reconciled to end the crisis and present a united front against the Maoists. At the same time, she ruled out a military solution to the insurgency. Though she called for the release of all political detainees and restoration of civil liberties, she never once hinted during her stay here at the framework for such reconciliation, including questions of the kind of government and exercise of executive power pending the elections, which lie at the root of the confrontation between the palace and the parties. Earlier, she had advised the parties to work with the King.

Rocca also met leaders of political parties, including Congress president G. P. Koirala and CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Nepal. She found ‘considerable receptivity’ to the US hope for all legitimate political forces to unite. It is not, however, clear how this can happen when the seven parties have announced their one-point agenda for the restoration of the Lower House, an idea which the palace has been opposed to from the very start. India has also hoped for the restoration of the democratic processes, while announcing the resumption of arms supply, withheld since February 1. Rocca said US military aid to Nepal is on hold, but this has to be so because of procedural technicalities. It will be clear only when the matter comes up for decision in US Congress in the middle of the year. The last time, too, it was released at the time of decision, citing certain gestures and commitment by Nepal towards ‘improvement in human rights.’ Rocca also said, contrary to the official claims here, that the security situation has not improved after February 1. But it is the results and time-frame that count most to the people, whether in conflict resolution or in restoration of a full-fledged democracy.