ACTION REQUEST: NEPALESE PARTY LEADER INVITED TO

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001472 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR SA, SA/INS, EAP, INR/EAP, INR/B, AND NP/RA NSC FOR MILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2013 TAGS: PINS PINR PARM KN NP SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: NEPALESE PARTY LEADER INVITED TO NORTH KOREA; OFFERS TO WORK WITH THE USG Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) On August 1, Pashupati SJB Rana, Chairman of Nepal's National Democratic Party (RPP),reported to the Ambassador that he has been invited to travel to North Korea by its Ambassador to Nepal, Jon Son Myong. Rana offered to deliver points that align with U.S. policy, and he is willing to meet with persons of interest to the USG. Post will provide Rana with publicly available background information on North Korea and U.S. policy and suggests that the Department may wish to provide more specific information. Comment and Action Request =========================== ¶2. (S/NF) Rana has been for years a valuable contact who, Post believes, could serve as a useful source of information on North Korea and a reliable conduit for messages that reinforce U.S. policy. The Department may wish to take advantage of this opportunity by providing talking points that reinforce U.S. policies of democracy and free market economy, a list of desired contacts, and subjects of interest. Biographic Information ======================= ¶3. (SBU) Pashupati SJB Rana was elected Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP),translated as the National Democratic Party, on December 14, 2002 for a four-year term. Rana served as the Water Resources Minister from September 12, 1995 to April 1998, where he actively promoted private sector development of Nepal's many rivers. Grandson of the last hereditary Rana Prime Minister, Mohan Shumshere, Rana comes from a wealthy and privileged family. He was the chief player in negotiating the much despised Mahakali Treaty with India, which lead to the collapse of the 1996 Communist-led coalition government. ¶4. (SBU) Rana has held prominent positions since the Panchayat era--a period (1960-90) in Nepal's political history when the King appointed members to a hierarchy of quasi-democratic councils. He began his government career in 1964 as a Joint Secretary in the Panchayat's Research and Training Section. He later rose to the positions of Minister for Education and Tourism (1977-79),Minister for Water Resources (1983-86),and Minister for Local Development (1986-88). He is a founding member of the RPP, a party created to bring together former Panchayat appointees, and served as its the General Secretary from 1990 to 2002. During the current period of turbulent politics, Post finds Rana to be one of Nepal's most reasonable advocates of democracy. ¶5. (SBU) Rana is popular in Sindhupalchowk district, north of Kathmandu, from which he has been elected three times to Parliament. Highly intelligent, articulate, and anglicized in manner, Rana is a talented public speaker. Rana grew up in England and received a BA from Oxford University in 1963. He has been to the U.S. on a VOLVIS program. An art historian by advocation, Rana has published several articles on the subject. He is active in promoting Nepal as a World Site with UNESCO. His wife is the daughter of Maharaja of Gwalior, with whom he has two daughters. MALINOWSKI