Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU1955
2002-10-10 00:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: PARTIES LOOKING FOR "FLEXIBILITY" FROM KING

Tags:  PGOV NP GON 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001955 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2012
TAGS: PGOV NP GON
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PARTIES LOOKING FOR "FLEXIBILITY" FROM KING

REF: KATHMANDU 1947 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: POL PMAHONEY. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001955

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2012
TAGS: PGOV NP GON
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PARTIES LOOKING FOR "FLEXIBILITY" FROM KING

REF: KATHMANDU 1947 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: POL PMAHONEY. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) The October 9 deadline set by King Gyanendra for
political parties to forward their nominations for the
interim Cabinet (Reftel) appears ready to pass without any
names having been submitted. A Palace source said the
parties had so far sent no nominations to the King. The
King, who does not want to allow the deadline to slip too
far, is reportedly weighing the possibility of announcing the
Prime Minister and two ministers by October 10--with or
without the consensus of the parties--and then tasking the
new PM with consulting with the parties on the other members
of the Cabinet. The upcoming Dasain holiday (October 13-20)
can provide some much-needed breathing space to allow this
delicate process to play out, the source observed.


2. (C) Madhav Nepal, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal
- United Marxist Leninist (UML),told the Ambassador October
9 that his party views the King's action in sacking the
government of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and
assuming executive power as unconstitutional. Nonetheless,
the UML is looking ahead at how to deal with this new
reality. Since the Nepali Congress has lost the moral
authority to govern, he stated, the UML has a legitimate
claim to the post of prime minister. The UML is willing to
be flexible on this point, but the King should also show
"flexibility and large-heartedness" by choosing the PM and
forming the new government in consultation with the six
parties. Not all members of the Cabinet have to be
politicians--some can be technocrats--but the post of Prime
Minister must be held by a political figure with the
experience and mass-based support needed to create the proper
atmosphere for holding elections. Nepal said the six major
parties (minus the Deuba wing of the Nepali Congress) are
still seeking a joint meeting with the King to press their
views, which so far has not been granted. That meeting may
be granted October 10, he believes. He indicated that if the
six party leaders are allowed to meet together with the King,
the King might then meet separately with each, if he chooses,
to work out the details of the Cabinet. By Nepal's
calculations, the King can extend the deadline for Cabinet
nominations to October 11 and still be able to form the
government before the Dasain holiday.
MALINOWSKI