Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU968
2002-05-17 13:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

Maoist Leader Calls For Talks; King Calls in

Tags:  PGOV PTER ASEC PINR NP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000968 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC PINR NP
SUBJECT: Maoist Leader Calls For Talks; King Calls in
Parliament to Extend Emergency

REFERENCE: Kathmandu 695

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000968

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC PINR NP
SUBJECT: Maoist Leader Calls For Talks; King Calls in
Parliament to Extend Emergency

REFERENCE: Kathmandu 695


1. (SBU) Summary. A Maoist leader sent a letter to
Nepal's main political parties May 14 calling for talks
with the government. The Prime Minister's political
advisor called the offer a ploy to allow the insurgents to
regroup. The opposition echoed the same sentiment, adding
that the Maoists were feeling the effects of international
pressure. The King has called in Parliament May 23 to
consider extending the state of emergency. A May 17 all-
party meeting to discuss an extension was inconclusive,
but reportedly security forces pushed hard to a
continuation and the PM is willing to go along. Maoists
used the occasion of three rounds of talks in late 2001 to
regroup and plan attacks against army installations. End
Summary.

Maoists Ask for Talks
--------------


2. (U) Maoist leader Prachanda sent a letter to Nepal's
main political parties May 14 calling for talks to resolve
the ongoing conflict in Nepal. [Post's translation of the
Nepali-language text follows paragraph 7.] Prachanda's
message came in response to recent statements by leaders
of Nepal's major political parties appealing for peace
talks. His statement emphasizes the need to take control
of Nepal's army away from the Royal Palace and give it to
"the people," and berates "feudal reactionary elements"
for plotting to hand the country over to a foreign power
and for requesting foreign military intervention.

A Ploy, PM's Advisor Says
--------------


3. (SBU) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's political
advisor, in meeting with Poloff, characterized the
overture as a "ploy" and said the Maoists were not
sincere. They would only use peace talks as an
opportunity to regroup, consolidate and plan further
attacks.

Opposition Party Also Skeptical
--------------


4. (SBU) Nepal's main opposition party, CPN-UML, was
studying the statement and had not yet decided on its
response, the UML spokesperson told us. [Note: The UML
felt confident of the letter's authenticity.] Previous
Maoist statements were not sincere, he said, and this
might be another "ill-intentioned tactic." Prachanda's

latest letter might be intended to dissuade the U.S., U.K.
and India from providing military assistance, he added.
The UML judged that the Maoists were on the defensive -
although their core force was not destroyed, they were
confined to remote areas - and now was the time to build
up Nepal's security forces, not to go in for talks.

PM to Seek Extension of Emergency
--------------


5. (SBU) The King has called a special session of
Parliament for May 23 to consider extending the state of
emergency in effect since November 26, 2001. The Prime
Minister called an all-party meeting at his office May 17
to discuss the matter. A reporter from Nepal's official
news agency told us that the heads of the army and police
had requested an extension, while the political parties
had argued against it. In reply, PM Deuba reportedly said
that while personally he did not support a continued
emergency, the government should heed the security forces'
request. The reporter concluded that the result of the
meeting was unclear, but speculated that the government
would seek an extension.


6. (SBU) After the meeting, the PM's political advisor
told us that the government would recommend an extension.
He added that even though opposition parties might speak
out against the emergency, they would do so to cater to
their own constituencies and in fact supported an
extension. [Note: Reportedly the heads of the Nepali
Congress Party, UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Pakshye (RPP)
- the three largest parties - all missed the meeting due
either to prior commitments or illness. End Note.]

Comment
--------------


7. (SBU) The Maoists used last year's negotiations as an
opportunity to regroup and to plan the devastating attacks
against army installations in November. Many believe -
including those in the GON - that they would likely behave
similarly should the government agree to hold talks with
them now. Security forces apparently continue to push for
an extension of the emergency even after Parliament
enacted a new law giving them expanded powers even when an
emergency is not in effect (Reftel). That the leaders of
the three largest political parties stayed away from the
meeting gives them some deniability and cover in the all-
too-likely event they may use the request for extension as
an opportunity for political posturing. Ultimately,
however, Parliament looks likely to go along when they
meet late next week.

Text of Prachanda's May 14 Statement
--------------

(U) Begin Text:

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Central Committee

Dear Mr. Chairman/President/General Secretary,

Today the country is in a most serious economic, political
and cultural crisis. On the basis of social scientific
norms and historical experience, it can undoubtedly be
said that the insufficiency of the capitalist democratic
revolution has been the main cause behind the pain and
trouble faced by Nepali society. As long as the military
power, which is a major wing of any government, is not
placed under the control of the representatives of the
people, any democracy in any form or under any name cannot
be a long-lasting or real democracy. Although this
scientific reality has been proven in several instances,
the tradition of negligence and [false] compromises in
Nepalese politics has been a major and serious flaw in
bringing the control of the military force from the feudal
palace to the people. Despite many limitations, problems
and weaknesses, the armed movement of our party is an
expression of the historic need to bring the military
force ultimately under the control of the people in order
to provide self-sufficiency to the capitalist republican
revolution.

Today the feudal elements with their traditional military
force are again trying to impose tyranny on the people by
attacking the main spirit of the achievements made through
the historic People's Movement of 1990. In our analysis,
the dreadful attacks on the 1990 achievements began on the
day of the Narayanhity Palace massacre [June 1, 2001].
All the ups and downs since then are the essential results
of that. Looking at the drama of [last year's]
negotiations - which had no political alternative and no
settlement - and the mobilization of the Royal Nepal Army
against the people, we were compelled to continue the
armed struggle. Today the feudal army is encountering
heavy losses in the battles at the real fronts due to the
dedication, bravery and sacrifice exhibited by the people
in protest of the so-called emergency and the Royal Nepal
Army. Putting price tags on the heads of Maoist leaders
and demanding foreign military interference, the feudal
regressive elements are now busy endeavoring to give away
the country to foreign powers. This is a dreadful attack
on the freedom and sovereignty of Nepal and the Nepalese
people. This exercise has intensified the existing crisis
of the country to a very great extent.

To free the country from this national crisis, the need of
a united initiative from the partner political powers of
the historic 1990 people's movement, now both in
parliament and outside of parliament, has increased many
times over. Our party has been pointing seriously to this
need since the palace murder scandal. That we have never
closed the door to talks leading to a positive political
way out is a fact not hidden to anyone. Our party has, in
a very positive sense, welcomed the appeal by seven
political parties, including your party in the parliament,
for the resolution of the existing crisis through talks
and dialogue in a political manner. The wish of almost
all political parties, social organizations, human rights
groups, intellectuals and the public for a peaceful
political exit has been publicized. It is a matter of
pleasure and pride for all of us that the whole nation has
been on the side of talks and a political settlement. It
is time now that a solid step is taken on the basis of the
people's current opinion. Therefore, we are writing this
letter with the objective of maintaining uniformity in the
process of moving the country in the right direction by
freeing the country from the existing crisis through
formal and informal discussions on bilateral and
multilateral bases.

Prachanda
President, Central Committee
Nepal Communist Part (Maoist)
May 14, 2002

End Text.

MALINOWSKI