Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU575
2002-03-20 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR INDIA, FIRST TRIP
how-toThis 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000575
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER ETRD PREF PINR NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR INDIA, FIRST TRIP
ABROAD THIS TERM
REF: KATHMANDU 467
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI, REASONS 1.5(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000575
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER ETRD PREF PINR NEPAL'>NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR INDIA, FIRST TRIP
ABROAD THIS TERM
REF: KATHMANDU 467
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI, REASONS 1.5(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary. Securing Indian assistance in NEPAL's battle
against the Maoist insurgency will be NEPALi Prime Minister
Deuba's primary goal in his March 20-26 official visit to
India. He will ask his counterparts both for materiel
assistance and for help in apprehending NEPALi Maoists in
India. Indian diplomatic sources here hold up the visit as
evidence of their country's support and concern for their
northern neighbor. NEPAL will also be looking to discuss
trade issues, border security and Bhutanese refugees. Deuba
will visit Calcutta for meetings with state leaders there
before returning home. End Summary.
Insurgency Dominates PM's First Trip Abroad
--------------
2. (SBU) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba left Kathmandu
March 20 on a week-long official visit to India, his first
trip abroad since taking office in July, 2001. Before
leaving, the Prime Minister indicated that NEPAL's Maoist
insurgency will dominate bilateral discussions. Deuba plans
to ask the Indians for materiel assistance and help in the
form of arresting Maoist leaders - some of whom either live
in India or travel frequently across the open border - and in
cracking down on Maoist operations in India, including
financial transactions through Indian banks.
Indians Play Up Visit
--------------
3. (C) In a call with Ambassador, the Indian Ambassador
related that PM Vajpayee had made time to receive Deuba
despite a schedule made crowded by domestic problems, and
that receiving Deuba with full state honors should be
interpreted as a clear signal of India's support for NEPAL
and its concern about the current situation. Indian Embassy
Poloff reiterated this point, and added that Vajpayee had now
cancelled several trips abroad in order to deal with crises
at home. (Note: The Indian Ambassador added that he had
weighed in with NEPAL's former Prime Minister G.P. Koirala,
asking the elder statesman - who has had good relations with
India throughout his career - to lay off his political
maneuvering to unseat Deuba, on the grounds that stability in
NEPAL is essential at this time. Note.)
Other Issues: Trade, Border Issues, Refugees
--------------
4. (SBU) Trade issues are also on Deuba's agenda. Deuba
plans to bring up revisions to the NEPAL-India trade treaty -
including quotas on four of NEPAL's primary exports to India
(Reftel) - and a still-inoperable dry port container facility
on the border. Other long-standing issues, including a
border dispute at Kalapani and an Indian embankment built
near Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, will be in Deuba's
talking points. Deuba stated that he would ask New Delhi to
play a positive role in resolving the Bhutanese refugee issue.
Why Calcutta?
--------------
5. (C) Dueba's Indian hosts plan to take him on a side trip
to Calcutta. The Indian Embassy here told us that they like
to take their guests out of Delhi, and Calcutta was chosen
because of NEPAL's shared border with West Bengal. State
leaders would call on Deuba during his stay in Calcutta, the
Indians told us. Some NEPALese Maoists are believed to
operate out of West Bengal, and in the past have met NEPALi
political leaders in the Indian city of Siliguri.
Speculation is rife in Kathmandu about the possibility of a
meeting in West Bengal between Deuba and insurgent leaders.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) India was the first country to declare the Maoists
"terrorists" after the insurgents broke the ceasefire in late
November, 2001. Since then they have done little, and
reportedly Maoist leaders and cadres continue to shuttle back
and forth across the open border. India appears to be using
Deuba's visit to show their care and concern, but not
necessarily in more than a symbolic way. In Calcutta the
intent may be to ask for cooperation directly from the local
(Marxist) government.
MALINOWSKI
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER ETRD PREF PINR NEPAL'>NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR INDIA, FIRST TRIP
ABROAD THIS TERM
REF: KATHMANDU 467
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI, REASONS 1.5(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary. Securing Indian assistance in NEPAL's battle
against the Maoist insurgency will be NEPALi Prime Minister
Deuba's primary goal in his March 20-26 official visit to
India. He will ask his counterparts both for materiel
assistance and for help in apprehending NEPALi Maoists in
India. Indian diplomatic sources here hold up the visit as
evidence of their country's support and concern for their
northern neighbor. NEPAL will also be looking to discuss
trade issues, border security and Bhutanese refugees. Deuba
will visit Calcutta for meetings with state leaders there
before returning home. End Summary.
Insurgency Dominates PM's First Trip Abroad
--------------
2. (SBU) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba left Kathmandu
March 20 on a week-long official visit to India, his first
trip abroad since taking office in July, 2001. Before
leaving, the Prime Minister indicated that NEPAL's Maoist
insurgency will dominate bilateral discussions. Deuba plans
to ask the Indians for materiel assistance and help in the
form of arresting Maoist leaders - some of whom either live
in India or travel frequently across the open border - and in
cracking down on Maoist operations in India, including
financial transactions through Indian banks.
Indians Play Up Visit
--------------
3. (C) In a call with Ambassador, the Indian Ambassador
related that PM Vajpayee had made time to receive Deuba
despite a schedule made crowded by domestic problems, and
that receiving Deuba with full state honors should be
interpreted as a clear signal of India's support for NEPAL
and its concern about the current situation. Indian Embassy
Poloff reiterated this point, and added that Vajpayee had now
cancelled several trips abroad in order to deal with crises
at home. (Note: The Indian Ambassador added that he had
weighed in with NEPAL's former Prime Minister G.P. Koirala,
asking the elder statesman - who has had good relations with
India throughout his career - to lay off his political
maneuvering to unseat Deuba, on the grounds that stability in
NEPAL is essential at this time. Note.)
Other Issues: Trade, Border Issues, Refugees
--------------
4. (SBU) Trade issues are also on Deuba's agenda. Deuba
plans to bring up revisions to the NEPAL-India trade treaty -
including quotas on four of NEPAL's primary exports to India
(Reftel) - and a still-inoperable dry port container facility
on the border. Other long-standing issues, including a
border dispute at Kalapani and an Indian embankment built
near Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, will be in Deuba's
talking points. Deuba stated that he would ask New Delhi to
play a positive role in resolving the Bhutanese refugee issue.
Why Calcutta?
--------------
5. (C) Dueba's Indian hosts plan to take him on a side trip
to Calcutta. The Indian Embassy here told us that they like
to take their guests out of Delhi, and Calcutta was chosen
because of NEPAL's shared border with West Bengal. State
leaders would call on Deuba during his stay in Calcutta, the
Indians told us. Some NEPALese Maoists are believed to
operate out of West Bengal, and in the past have met NEPALi
political leaders in the Indian city of Siliguri.
Speculation is rife in Kathmandu about the possibility of a
meeting in West Bengal between Deuba and insurgent leaders.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) India was the first country to declare the Maoists
"terrorists" after the insurgents broke the ceasefire in late
November, 2001. Since then they have done little, and
reportedly Maoist leaders and cadres continue to shuttle back
and forth across the open border. India appears to be using
Deuba's visit to show their care and concern, but not
necessarily in more than a symbolic way. In Calcutta the
intent may be to ask for cooperation directly from the local
(Marxist) government.
MALINOWSKI