MAOIST PARTY PLENUM DECRIES ELECTIONS; CASTIGATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001309

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2012
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST PARTY PLENUM DECRIES ELECTIONS; CASTIGATES
U.S.


Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5(B,D).


1. (C) Summary: An undated Maoist press release, signed by
Party President Prachanda, reported the successful conclusion
of a Party plenum. The Nepali-language release outlines the
contents of a "political and organizational proposal"
presented by Prachanda which highlights a purported U.S. plot
to "capture" South Asia and "encircle" China; criticizes the
government's scheduling of elections as a false "drama"; and
renews previous calls for an interim government and a
constituent assembly. The statement appears to be an attempt
to influence the Government of Nepal (GON) to postpone
elections in favor of establishing a constituent assembly.
End summary.


2. (C) An undated Maoist press release, signed by Party
President Prachanda, reported the successful conclusion of a
Party plenum. (Note: The release does not state where or
when the meeting, whose probable participants are on the
Nepali Government's most wanted list, took place, but one
leftist party leader insists the location was in India. The
release began appearing in local media in late June. End
note.) The statement reports the presentation of a
"political and organizational proposal" by Prachanda. The
proposal, entitled "New Situation and New Responsibility,"
charges that the U.S., in order to deflect attention from
domestic political and economic problems, is planning "a
volcanic clash between imperialism and the victimized
countries" by capturing South Asia and encircling China. The
American plans, Prachanda contends, offer "a new historic
role" for South Asians to unite to defeat imperialism.


3. (U) Most of the proposal's vitriol, however, is reserved
for the "feudal, tyrannical power" of the Palace, the
"terror" perpetrated by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA),and the
Palace's "worthless servant" Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba. The Maoist broadsheet charges that this triad
connived to preserve the state of emergency and dissolve
Parliament to frustrate purported support from political
parties, including the Maoists, and others "for dialogue and
a peaceful, positive way out." Calling mid-term elections
when the country is locked in "a deadly civil war" was a
"wicked move," Prachanda's statement says, and heaps
criticism on the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist
Leninist (UML),the largest Opposition party, for agreeing to
participate. (Note: A week after the release appeared in
the press, one UML party worker was killed, five severely
beaten, and five abducted by Maoists in Rukum District. End
note.) Maoist comrades, along with supporters "of the
historic people's movement of 1990" should unite in "another
historic movement in order to establish an interim government
. . . and elections for the constituent assembly."


4. (U) Prachanda's statement further alleges that the
"People's Liberation Army" has improved markedly during the
six months since the imposition of the state of emergency,
noting progress in equipment, training and expansion to a
brigade level. The Maoists could quickly finish off the RNA
"if it does not receive support from foreign imperialists,"
the release charges, adding "the RNA's morale survives only
on the backing of America and the UK." He also reported
decisions to make "important changes in organizational
structure" and "military mobilization."


5. (C) Comment: This latest press release was remarkable
for its length (more than three pages of text, single-spaced)
and for language even more tortured and convoluted than
usual. Although a censorious phrase or two directed at the
U.S. is standard fare in Maoist propaganda, the discussion of
purported U.S. regional ambitions--and our "plan" to encircle
China--is new. (Given the America-against-South Asia flavor
of the accusations, India, which is usually coupled with the
U.S. as enemies of the people in most Maoist diatribes,
merited not even a mention this time.) Although recent
Maoist statements usually contain oblique references to
talks, this is the first time since the state of emergency
that we've seen such explicit renewed calls for dialogue, an
interim government, and a constituent assembly. The intense
criticism of the proposed November 13 general elections is
yet another indication that the insurgents intend actively to
sabotage them. The references to dialogue may be intended to
signal Maoist willingness to be involved in a constituent
assembly, should one be constituted if elections are
postponed. The leader of the leftist UML, which reportedly
maintains back-channel contacts with the Maoists, told the
Ambassador that he had firm evidence that the party plenum
was held in India, probably with the knowledge of Indian
intelligence agencies.
MALINOWSKI