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Murari Raj Sharma's Speech Says:
September 17th, 2005 at 9:13 pm

Statement by Mr. Murari Raj Sharma, former UN Ambassador of Nepal, at the Rally for Democracy in Nepal ( New York: 16 September 2005)

Dear Friends,

Today, we are gathered here in solidarity with the Nepali people in their struggle for full democracy. The royal regime has considerably weakened now and may crumble soon.

Clearly, King Gyanendra has been digging the grave for monarchy. His February 1 action has pushed political parties to disown constitutional monarchy. And the Nepali people will decide its fate.

Under the king, Nepal has become a police state at home and pariah state abroad. No one trusts his government, as he says one thing and does just the opposite.

He preaches democracy but practices dictatorship.

He has pledged a clean government but his cabinet in packed with convicts, embezzlers, defaulters and smugglers.

He has promised peace but given more violence.

The Nepali people recognize the proverbial wolf in a sheepâ??s skin.

Unfortunately, the royal regime has specialized in telling lies, tear-gassing children, manhandling senior political and civil society leaders, beating students and torturing innocent people. I condemn these despicable actions.

The royal regime lacks legitimacy and competence to represent the Nepali people. So I request the world leaders who are now meeting in the United Nations in front of us:

1. To boycott the regimeâ??s representatives and agents to the United Nations and other international forums.

2. To put pressure on King Gyanendra to restore democratic rights and civil liberties in Nepal.

3. To refuse military assistance to the regime due to its worsening human rights record.

4. To provide all possible support to the Nepali people in their struggle for full democracy and freedom.

Friends, I fully support the seven parties in their joint campaign for democracy. I also urge them to commit to internal reforms, to good government, and to accountability.

I reject Maoist tyranny. The rebels must renounce violence and join the democratic mainstream.

MURARI RAJ SHARMA OF NEPAL CHAIRMAN OF FIFTH COMMITTEE

The Permanent Representative of Nepal, Murari Raj Sharma, was elected Chairman of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on 17 July this year.

Mr. Sharma was appointed Nepal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 20 July 2000.  Prior to that he served as Foreign Secretary from February 1998.  Mr. Sharma was Acting Foreign Secretary from November 1997, and Special Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from May 1997.  Prior to that, he was Joint Secretary at the same Ministry as the head of its United Nations, International Organizations and International Law Division, from April 1993 to May 1997.  He was also responsible for the North-East and South-East Asia and Pacific Division from 1993 to 1994.

Joining Nepal’s Administration Service in 1978, he served as Section Officer at the Foreign Aid Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance until 1982 and at the Americas Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1982 to 1983.  He was Under-Secretary with the Ministry of General Administration from 1983 to 1989 and with the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1989 to 1990. He became Joint Secretary in 1990 at the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he was in charge of the Planning and Special Services (Drug Control and Disaster Management) Division until 1991.  He then joined the Ministry of Finance as Joint Secretary and headed its Budget Division until 1993.

Holding a master’s degree in economics from Tribhuvan University of Nepal, Mr. Sharma also taught at the same University before entering the Civil Service.

A Hubert Humphrey Fellow at the American University in Washington, D.C.,

Mr. Sharma also holds a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States, and a Bachelor of Law from the Tribhuvan University of Nepal.

Born in April 1951, Mr. Sharma is married and has two sons.