Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU837
2003-05-07 09:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN INSURGENTS,

Tags:  PTER PGOV NP 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000837 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2013
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN INSURGENTS,
GOVERNMENT SCHEDULED AMID FUROR OVER USG TERRORISM WATCHLIST

REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 0769

B. (B) KATHMANDU 0814

Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000837

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2013
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN INSURGENTS,
GOVERNMENT SCHEDULED AMID FUROR OVER USG TERRORISM WATCHLIST

REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 0769

B. (B) KATHMANDU 0814

Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (U) The second round of talks between the Government of
Nepal (GON) and Maoist insurgents is scheduled to take place
on May 9 at an undisclosed location, according to local press
reports. The initial round was held less than a week earlier
at a Kathmandu hotel (Ref A). No agenda for the second round
has yet been made public.


2. (SBU) The announcement of this next round follows
closely upon dire predictions by Maoist negotiators and even
some mainstream politicians that the USG decision to place
the Maoists on a watchlist in its annual terrorism report
could "derail" peace talks. In a May 7 interview with a
left-wing vernacular newspaper, Maoist ideologue Baburam
Bhattarai described the listing as "an unsuccessful attempt
by the US to jeopardize talks. . . . and to establish a
military base in Nepal and fulfil its strategic interest in
South Asia." In another interview in the Maoist publication
"Janadesh," Bhattarai charged, "The action increases the
chances of turning the country into a battlefield by turning
China and India against each other. There is no doubt that
the action will have a serious and far-reaching effect on the
sovereignty and independence of the country. . . . .The
declaration is . . . a big conspiracy against Nepali
nationalism and Nepali people." At a rally in Kathmandu on
May 4 (Ref B),Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist
Leninist (UML) General Secretary Madhav Nepal warned that the
USG action "could disrupt the peace process." In a televised
interview that aired on May 5, Ambassador Malinowski
clarified the significance of the listing, noting that the
Maoists' actions against US interests had landed them on the
watchlist (septel). He noted that, contrary to widespread
speculation, the release of the report was not/not
intentionally timed to coincide with the peace talks.


3. (C) The expatriate head of an NGO called poloff May 4 to
communicate Bhattarai's dismay at the listing. Bhattarai
reportedly had said that the Maoists had declared a ceasefire
and come to the negotiating table "in good faith" to try for
a peaceful settlement. The Maoists were thus "genuinely
mystified" by the listing, and wondered if they were supposed
to be "negotiating with Kathmandu or Washington." The NGO
head indicated the Maoists might be interested in resuming
dialogue with an Embassy representative to clarify matters.
Poloff declined, replying that matters were likely clear
enough already to the Maoists, i.e., that their own actions
against US employees and interests had earned them the
listing.


4. (C) Comment: The Maoists are clearly dismayed by the
listing, which they fear may impede the charm offensive they
have launched with the diplomatic community, members of civil
society, and the local intelligentsia since coming above
ground on March 28. We will continue to convey the message,
both publicly and privately, that the listing took place
because of Maoist actions against the USG, that our decision
was made independently of Maoist actions against the GON and
the GON decision to stop characterizing them as terrorists,
and that the listing cannot thus be misconstrued as "internal
interference." Maoist rhetoric aside, we are encouraged that
the two sides have agreed to a second round of talks. This
decision strengthens our perception that the US' firm
opposition Maoist violence is a major consideration in their
pursuit of a political settlement.
MALINOWSKI