IRISH RESPONSE TO FREEZING MAOIST ASSETS

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001594 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER KTFN SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO FREEZING MAOIST ASSETS REF: SECSTATE 213824 Emboff, drawing on reftel points, spoke on October 19 to Maurice Biggar, Deputy Director for International Terrorism & Illicit Drugs, and his colleague, Eoin Duggan at the DFA. Biggar stated that the last EU Clearinghouse Meeting on Terrorism took place in June and the decision was made to postpone officially condemning the Maoists in Nepal. However, recent events in Nepal have changed the situation and the Clearinghouse will review the situation at the next meeting. After 9/11, all terrorism responses have been handled at the EU level instead of by individual countries. Biggar explained that they would prefer to keep it at the EU level and that they won't independently freeze assets or condemn the group unless the EU collectively deems it necessary. This is largely due to the fact that the GOI can not act alone as a member of the EU and not because of a lack of conviction in stopping terrorism financing. On the contrary, Biggar emphasized the need for a political solution sooner rather than later. He says the key issue is whether or not labeling the group as terrorists will indeed put pressure on the group to negotiate or if it will only aggravate the situation. That being said, the EU and the GOI have the Maoist insurgency in Nepal under active consideration. KENNY