Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU1138
2003-06-19 10:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: MAOISTS UTILIZING TRADE UNIONS TO ADD

Tags:  PGOV PINS PTER 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 KATHMANDU 001138 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS UTILIZING TRADE UNIONS TO ADD
PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT

REF: A. 2001 KATHMANDU 1676

B. KATHMANDU 152

C. KATHMANDU 740

D. KATHMANDU 770

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001138

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
NSC FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS UTILIZING TRADE UNIONS TO ADD
PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT

REF: A. 2001 KATHMANDU 1676

B. KATHMANDU 152

C. KATHMANDU 740

D. KATHMANDU 770


1. (SBU) Summary: Over the past week, garment manufacturers
have been in negotiations with leaders of the
Maoist-affiliated trade union. The Maoists have requested a
dramatic increase in salaries and permanent employment. The
Maoists have issued vague threats to pressure the garment
manufacturers to accede. The Maoists' recent use of trade
unions may indicate a new urban political strategy. It
appears that the Maoists have not yet sought cooperation from
mainstream trade unions. End summary.


2. (SBU) Over the past week, members of the Garment
Association of Nepal (GAN) have been in negotiations with
leaders of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union
Federation. According to GAN President Kiran Saakha the
Maoists have requested a dramatic increase in monthly
salaries (from USD 30 to USD 78) and an end to the use of
temporary workers by demanding that garment manufacturers
bring such workers onto the permanent payroll. The recent
Maoist activism on behalf of garment workers echoes demands
made in August 2001 (ref A). Rather than threaten immediate
strikes, the Maoist trade union negotiators prefaced their
demands with threats; they claimed responsibility for the
slaying of Inspector General of Police Shrestha (ref B) and
stated they could make doing business very difficult. The
Maoist negotiators claimed that as they occupy ninety-eight
percent of the country's territory, they should be extended
the same respect the manufacturers give the Government of
Nepal. Despite the threatening overtones, a special
committee of the GAN has engaged them in dialogue for five
days without the Maoists calling a strike or threatening
specific harm to the companies.


3. (SBU) Calls by the Embassy's political specialist to
spokespersons of the two largest trade unions, the General
Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (affiliated with the
Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist) and the
Nepal Trade Union Congress (affiliated with the Nepali
Congress Party),revealed that they were completely unaware
of the Maoist trade union's demands.


4. (SBU) Comment: These recent actions by the
Maoist-affiliated trade union may represent an evolving urban
strategy. This strategy may have been tested first by the
Maoist-affiliated student union, which appropriated existing
grievances of the mainstream student unions and led them into
the streets (ref C and D). Similarly, the Maoist trade union
has taken up complaints of low-pay and employment insecurity
and may utilize them to try to garner broad appeal. Given
the mainstream trade unions' lack of awareness of the Maoist
campaign, a "joint movement" of the trade unions--similar to
that conducted by the student wings--seems unlikely in the
coming weeks.
BOGGS