GROWING NEPAL-INDIA COOPERATION AGAINST MAOISTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001408

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: GROWING NEPAL-INDIA COOPERATION AGAINST MAOISTS

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1407

B. KATHMANDU 1314

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d)


1. (C) Summary. The recent arrest of four Nepali Maoists in
New Delhi and their immediate extradition to Nepal, confirmed
by the Indian Embassy here, is one of many signs of growing
Nepal-India cooperation on efforts against the Maoist
insurgency in Nepal. The four were members of a
Maoist-affiliated organization banned by the GOI as of July
1; their names were on a list provided by Nepal. The Indian
Embassy has indicated that they wish to conclude an
extradition treaty with Nepal at an early date. India has
reportedly stepped up security along the border between the
two countries, and, at Nepal's request, agreed to conduct
joint border patrols. End Summary.

Maoists Arrested as Nepal-India Cooperation Grows
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2. (C) The Indian Embassy confirmed on July 18 that four
Maoists arrested by police in New Delhi had been handed over
to Nepal. The four were arrested in the Indian capital July
11 and immediately passed to Uttar Pradesh police, who turned
them over to their Nepalese counterparts at the border the
same day, First Secretary V.V. Rao told us. This incident
received substantial media play in Nepal's press, as have
other recent actions suggestive of greater bilateral
cooperation directed against Nepal's Maoist insurgents. The
extradition of the four also won praise from Nepal's Foreign
Ministry.

Members of Group Recently Banned at Nepal's Request
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3. (C) The four, all members of the Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta
Samaj (ABNES, or All-India Nepali Unity Society),a political
front of Nepal's Maoist party, were arrested at a political
meeting in New Delhi. One, Partha Chhetri, a.k.a. Ram Karki,
reportedly played a leading role in the Maoists' public
relations efforts. Another, Maheshwor Dahal, is reportedly
the son of a Maoist leader named Iswori Dahal, a member of
the Central Committee. Nepal's press has highlighted India's
July 1 announcement of the ban of ABNES. The Indian Embassy
confirmed that the organization was banned at the GON's
request.

India Acts on Nepal's Lists, Seeks Extradition Treaty
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4. (C) In arresting the four, India was acting on a list of
Maoists provided by Nepal, Rao said. India would continue to
act on information it receives from Nepal, and moreover would
detain and deport any other Maoists who came to their
attention. Rao added that the recent visit of Nepal's King
Gyanendra to India (Ref B) had given new impetus to a
long-standing effort to reach agreement on an extradition
treaty between the two countries. India hoped a deal could
be struck "as soon as possible," Rao stated, and the issue
would likely be taken up during an expected visit to Nepal by
new Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha in the
coming weeks. (Note: Nepal's Chief Secretary also has
commented on preparations to conclude a Nepal-India
extradition treaty. End Note.)

Stay Order Came Too Late
--------------


5. (C) Asked about media reports relating that the High Court
in Delhi had ordered the GOI to halt the extradition of the
four, Rao explained that a stay order had been issued to
prevent their repatriation but only after they had already
been turned over to Nepal police. Because it was not a
directive, the stay order would not apply to future cases of
Nepalis arrested in India, Rao asserted.

Border Patrols Stepped Up, Also at Nepal's Urging
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6. (C) Responding to another recent request from Nepal, India
has agreed to conduct joint border patrols, Rao maintained.
Additionally, India has employed additional manpower to
regulate movement across the Nepal-India border. The volume
of movement across the open border made it difficult to
monitor everyone, but India was working on modalities to step
up monitoring. In addition to the police, customs and
immigration officers who had always manned the borders, India
had added "special security forces" to monitor the frontier,
Rao concluded.

Comment
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7. (C) Increased cooperation between Nepal and India on
counter-insurgency measures is a welcome sign, and recent
Maoist statements (Ref A) indicate that the insurgents have
already begun to feel the pinch. Post believes that India
should be encouraged, whenever and wherever possible, to
continue to make life difficult for the Maoists. The Indian
Embassy to Nepal has welcomed our interest in their efforts
to date.
MALINOWSKI