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