Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU739
2003-04-23 11:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL'S MAOIST LEADERS RETURN TO INFLEXIBLE STANCE

Tags:  PGOV 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000739 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2013
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S MAOIST LEADERS RETURN TO INFLEXIBLE STANCE
ON CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

REF: A. KATHMANDU 723

B. KATHMANDU 652

C. KATHMANDU 675

Classified By: DCM Robert K. Boggs for reasons 1.5 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000739

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2013
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S MAOIST LEADERS RETURN TO INFLEXIBLE STANCE
ON CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

REF: A. KATHMANDU 723

B. KATHMANDU 652

C. KATHMANDU 675

Classified By: DCM Robert K. Boggs for reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (U) Summary: In an April 22 mass meeting held in
southwestern Nepal, Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai
reportedly stated that the "introductory round" of peace
talks originally scheduled for April 21 was postponed (ref A)
due to ambiguity in the government's stand on the "political
agenda" of the talks (i.e. the question of a constituent
assembly.) Variously calling on King Gyanendra to clarify
the Government of Nepal (GON)'s position or take part in the
talks personally, he reiterated the Maoist commitment to a
constituent assembly. Bhattarai's speech, peppered with
belligerent rhetoric, echoed similar comments made in an
April 21 press release by Maoist leader Prachanda. End
summary.


2. (U) Speaking to a public gathering in the southwestern
district of Kailali on April 22, Maoist leader Baburam
Bhattarai reportedly claimed that his negotiating team
postponed peace talks scheduled for the previous day (ref A)
because the GON had not taken a clear position on the issue
of a constituent assembly. Stating that "the King has been
sending contradictory messages," Bhattarai insisted that "if
the King is really honest about peace, he should come up with
a clear political agenda." Newspaper reports of the speech
were contradictory, with some claiming that Bhattarai said
the Maoists "surfaced in the public to hold direct talks with
the King," and other reports quoting him as saying the
Maoists would meet with the King's emissaries.


3. (U) Bhattarai also told the crowd, which reports
estimated at approximately 30,000, that the Maoists would not
abandon their basic demands. "There is no alternative to the
requirement of a new constitution, which should be built
through a constituent assembly, followed by a round-table
conference and an interim government," he reportedly said.


4. (U) Reports of Bhattarai's speech included some examples
of hyperbolic saber-rattling, including his promise of "a
decisive war" if the government does not seriously pursue
peace talks. "We returned to the peace process not because
we wanted a safe landing after being defeated or exhausted by
war," Bhattarai reportedly said, "but because we wanted a
progressive political outlet." Stating that the Maoists have
"thousands of cadre who are ready to lay down their lives,"
as well as "ultramodern rocket launchers," Bhattarai
proclaimed that "if the state tries to crush (the Maoists),
we will fight a decisive war to capture power at the center."


5. (U) Bhattarai's comments echoed an April 21 press release
by Maoist leader Prachanda. Breaking his month-long silence,
the Maoist Chairman said that "it is well known that (the
Maoists) are moving responsibly forward in the talk process,"
and that the GON "is trying to strengthen its power rather
than proposing a political solution." In the April 21
release, Prachanda backed away from previous statements made
by the Maoist negotiating team, which had indicated a
willingness to work with an all-party government, and
repeated his demand for a constituent assembly. "The
constitution of the past has failed to find a solution to the
problems facing the people," the statement read. "Therefore
there is an urgent need to form a new constitution... The
assumption of various political parties, including the
Communist Party - United Marxist Leninist, that only a
so-called all-party government can... resolve the crisis
facing the country is an illusion." Stating that "neither a
so-called all-party government, nor reinstatement of the old
parliament, nor reinstatement of the Deuba government" would
be able to resolve the crisis, Prachanda said that the "real
political solution can be found only by focusing on the peace
process and by movement toward building a new constitution
through a constituent assembly."


6. (C) Comment: Bhattarai's statement is clearly offered as
a pretext for the Maoists' decision to postpone the opening
round of talks after publicly lambasting purported delays on
the part of the GON. Pinning the delay on the GON's failure
to address the controversial topic of a constituent assembly
at the first round of negotiations is a flimsy cover for an
obvious desire on the part of the Maoists to see how
events--ongoing student unrest (refs A and B) and rumored
changes in the Cabinet (ref C)--play out. The Maoists'
sudden inflexibility on the issue of a constituent assembly
raises questions about the motive behind this apparent shift
in rhetoric. The Maoists undoubtedly have heard rumors that
the GON is considering an all-party government, and are
striving to prevent the parties from joining forces with the
King. Post does not see the change as evidence of a split in
the Maoist ranks, but will continue to monitor the situation
closely in the coming weeks.
MALINOWSKI