Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU175
2003-01-30 09:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: GOVERNMENT AND MAOISTS DECLARE CEASE-FIRE,

Tags:  PTER PGOV PINS 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000175 

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/ERIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2008
TAGS: PTER PGOV PINS NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GOVERNMENT AND MAOISTS DECLARE CEASE-FIRE,
NEGOTIATOIONS EXPECTED SOON

REF: A. A. KATHMANDU 154


B. B. KATHMANDU 169

C. C. KATHMANDU 137

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski for reasons 1.5 (b) and
(d).

--------
Summary
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000175

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/ERIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2008
TAGS: PTER PGOV PINS NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GOVERNMENT AND MAOISTS DECLARE CEASE-FIRE,
NEGOTIATOIONS EXPECTED SOON

REF: A. A. KATHMANDU 154


B. B. KATHMANDU 169

C. C. KATHMANDU 137

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski for reasons 1.5 (b) and
(d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (U) On January 29, the Maoists followed by the Government
of Nepal (GoN) announced a cease-fire. The GoN (see
paragraph 13),in return, agreed to drop the terrorist
designation placed on the Maoists. In their statement (see
paragraph 12),the Maoists reiterated their demands for a
round table conference, interim government, and a
constitutional assembly. Dates and venue for impending
negotiations have not yet been established. The political
parties are cautiously optimistic but are still establishing
strategies in the wake of the announcement. How the
ceasefire may affect security forces operations and the
general strike previously announced by the Maoists for
February 13-14 remains unclear. End Summary.

--------------
Cease-fire Announced
--------------


2. (U) At 18:00 on January 29, the Maoists issued a press
release declaring a cease-fire (Ref B). The Government of
Nepal (GoN) followed with its own announcement a few hours
subsequently. The Maoist press statement (Paragraph 12)
states that the GoN had met the minimum conditions for
talks--removal of the terrorist designation, withdrawal of
the INTERPOL warrants, removal of bounties on the Maoist
leadership, and declaration of a cease-fire--but did not
identify commitments the Maoists made to the government. The
release also called upon the party's membership to work in
accordance with the declared cease-fire and mobilize in
support of its minimum demands: a round table conference, an
interim government, and a constitutional assembly.


3. (SBU) Neither the GoN or the Maoists have agreed to a date
or venue for negotiations. According to press sources, the
Maoists have formed a three member negotiating team,
including top idealogue Baburam Bhattarai, Krishna Bahadur
Mahara (who had headed the Maoists' previous negotating
team),and Dev Gurung. The GoN's press release designates

Minister for Works and Physical Planning Narayan Singh Pun to
serve as the GoN's coordinator for negotiations. According
to Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare
Anuradha Koirala, there is no decision on who will lead the
delegation or its members.

--------------
Getting the Parties Onboard
--------------


4. (SBU) From press reports and Embassy contacts, it appears
that only the National Democratic Party (RPP) leadership was
consulted prior to the announced cease-fire. The local press
reported that the King held a meeting with RPP leader Surya
Bahadur Thapa on January 28 to discuss peace talks and
conditions. (Comment: As Prime Minister Chand is a member
of the RPP, it is likely that Thapa was aware of the
developments. It is also unlikely the King felt it necessary
to call a separate meeting with the Nepal Sadbhavana Party,
as Deputy Prime Minister Mandal is its leader. End Comment.)
The local press also reported that both Girija Prasad
Koirala, President of the Nepali Congress Party (NC),and
Mahdav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of the Nepal Communist
Party-United Marxist Leninist (UML),declined to meet with
the King on January 29. We have been unable to verify this
report (Ref C).

--------------
Party Perspectives
--------------


5. (SBU) Nepali Congress (NC): Narhari Acharya of the NC, a
member of the GoN's previous negotiating team, told the
Embassy that while the cease-fire is a positive step and a
dramatic shift for the Cabinet, but noted it was done without
consulting the Party. The lack of transparency on the terms
and conditions are problematic. As a former negotiator,
Acharya feels the terms and conditions should be made public
so failure can be appropriately assigned.

6. (U) Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist Leninist (UML):
According to the Party's headquarters, the UML was not
consulted prior to the cease-fire announcement. Despite this
drawback, the UML hopes the negotiations will be successful.
In a January 29 statement at the UML's General Convention,
now being held in Janakpur, UML Leader Nepal stated, "...we
do not rule out the possibility of constituent assembly as an
alternative to resolve the current crisis dogging the
nation." Support for a constituent assembly is a reversal of
previous party positions, which called for establishing an
all-party government under Article 128 of the Constitution.


7. (SBU) Nepal Peasants and Workers Party (NPWP): Least
optimistic of all the major party spokesmen, the NPWP
President Narayan Man Bijuchhe predicts that the talks will
bog down and fail. Further, he believes that the call for
talks is a ruse by the Maoists and/or the government to stage
for future attacks. Should the talks be successful and a
constituent assembly be held, he stated that the Maoists can
be expected to serve the Indian agenda as a means of thanking
them for providing years of safehaven.


8. (SBU) People's Front Nepal (PFN): Amik Sherchan,
President of the PFN, took the cease-fire announcement
positively, as it has opened the door for talks. However, he
too went on to complain that the government did not consult
the political parties regarding this matter. It is his
belief that the opportunity for a peaceful resolution to the
conflict may be squandered if the government continues to
sideline the political parties. Serchan stressed that it
would take some time for the Maoists to accept a
constitutional monarchy. He raised further concerns about
Narayan Singh Pun's credentials as the government's
coordinator; he believes it will only be a matter of time
before Pun is named the delegation's head.

--------------
Unknown Implications
--------------


9. (SBU) The GoN is evaluating the full implications of a
cease-fire. Comments to PolOff by MG Katwal, Co-coordinator
of the National Security Secretariat, indicate his desire to
continue security force patrols and presence in the field. He
confided, however, that a code of conduct has not yet been
established. MG Katwal could also not determine if the
cease-fire will mean a withdrawal of the Maoists' February 13
and 14 general strike.

--------------
The Palace Extends Its Thanks
--------------


10. (C) The Palace's Press Secretary, Mohan Pandey, called to
thank the Ambassador for the U.S. Government's support and
pressure on the Maoists, which he believes played a
significant role in in influencing Maoist agreement to the
ceasefire.

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


11. (C) The political parties' initial comments--cautious
optimism laced with criticism--indicate that they may be
trying to hedge their bets in the face of uncertain outcomes.
The parties, which already fear being marginalized, will
likely press for greater "transparency" in dialogue efforts
as a way to keep open opportunities to comment on the process
without having to take responsibility for its success or
failure. The GON realizes the importance of multi-partisan
support for this initiative (Refs A and B); failure to get
the parties on board will only leave the Maoists a possible
"out" to renege on any commitments made through negotiations.
Party strategies will become clearer after the release of
public statements expected in the next few days. End Comment.

--------------
Maoist Press Statement
--------------


12. (U) Begin Translation:
It is well understood that our party is always ready for the
positive and progressive solution to the present civil war in
the country. We have been publicizing our minimum conditions
to make an environment for the talks. In this connection,
yesterday we were informed about the Government's decision
that to start the peace talks the previous government's
decision of declaring the Maoists as terrorists has been
revoked, the red corner notices issued against the Maoist's
leaders has been withdrawn, the government's decision of
fixing price tags on the heads of top Maoist leaders has been
withdrawn, and the decision for a cease-fire has been made.
This decision of the ruling party is taken positively by our
party and through this press release we declare a cease-fire
and willingly participate in the peace talks process. Like
always, the party appeals to the entire revolutionary
warriors of the liberation army, authorities of the people's
power, and the general public to work according to the
declaration. The party also appeals for the continuation of
the organizational and peaceful mobilization to move forward
in favor of general policy of the party and minimum working
plan--round table conference, interim government, and
constitutional assembly.
Date: 29 Jan 2003
Prachanda
Central Committee
NCP (Maoist)
End Translation.

--------------
Government Press Statement
--------------


13. (U) Begin Translation:
A) His Majesty's Government has the policy to resolve the
Maoist problem through talks, and the CPN (Maoist) has also
taken initiative in this regard, and since both the sides
have reached an understanding for a cease-fire, the earlier
deicision of labeling the CPN (Maoists) as terrorists, red
corner notice to arrest them, and cash rewaqrds to anyone
informing or helping in arresting the Maoist leaders, as
called by some quarters as "prices on their heads" have been
scrapped.
B) To create an atmosphere for the political solution of the
problem, Mr. Narayan Singh Pun has been designated as the
coordinator.
Cabinet Secretariat
January 29, 2003
End Translation.
MALINOWSKI