Surya Bahadur Thapa - 2000 To 2003

2000 To 2003

In 2002, presided over the 3rd National Convention of RPP in Pokhara and paved the way for new leadership within the RPP Party.

In June 2003, Surya Bahadur Thapa was once again appointed Prime Minister of Nepal for the sixth time. He led a six member cabinet team. During his tenure as Prime Minister he also held the additional portfolio as Defense Minister. Under his tenure the Government also offered the Maoists for the first time, a 75 point socio-economic and political reform package during the peace talks.

Unfortunately, the peace talks failed. To counter the persistent bloody attacks on the Police, Army, Armed Security Personnel and innocent civilians, Mr.Thapa then set up the historic Unified Command, under which the police, army and armed security functioned as a cohesive team to combat terrorism in the country. During his tenure he secured arms, military hardware and aircraft for the army from donor countries (India, USA and Great Britain) as military aid. This also included training programs for the armed forces. Unlike his predecessors, he remained adamant that no commissions should be made on arms, when the country was reeling under civil war. Thus all arms procured during this period straight under grant aid.

During this period Nepal also was granted active membership to the World Trade Organization.

During this period Mr. Thapa also initiated the establishment of a separate Peace Secretariat to facilitate the peace dialogues.

For the first time in the history of Nepal, the Government offered women special reservations and quotas in government, in the Public Service Commission. Special quotas were also provided to the under-privileged Dalits and Janajatis for higher education.

During this period an attempt was made to reinstate the dissolved local bodies across the country, as election at that stage was not possible. Therefore, dissolved local body members were reinstated where possible and in other places, people were nominated with consensus of the other political parties.

In November 2003, PM Thapa as the Chairman of the SAARC, urged the Indian PMMr.Vajpaye and Pakistani President Mr.Jamali to participate in the SAARC Summit in Islamabad. His active participation and persuasion as the SAARC Chairman brought both these nuclear countries to attend the summit. Mr.Thapa also became the first Nepali Prime Minister to make an official visit to the Druk Kingdom of Bhutan. Several bilateral agreements were initiated with the SAARC countries during this historic visit.