WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JULY 27 TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001493 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PGOV PREL KMDR NP SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JULY 27 TO August 2, 2004 STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR IN/R/MR STATE FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SA/PPD ¶1. NEPAL - U.S. -- U.S. assistance for Nepal's flood victims: "The U.S. Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty handed over a cheque of U.S.$ 50,000 to Karin Hakensson-Furga, representative of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to assist the government of Nepal to respond to the recent floods and landslides across the country. (Government-owned "The Rising Nepal," E/D and others, 7/31). -- "American fund" for new mechanism: According to a senior U.S. Embassy source, the U.S. has launched a new mechanism to collect information about the present dreadful conflict, following the arrival of.the new ambassador. For this, the State Department has already allocated a budget... As the former ambassador developed strategies base on the information from only a couple of so-called America experts, new U.S. Ambassador ]ames ¶F. Moriarty has been instructed to build up strategies by discussing with well-known politicians, administrators, journalists, etc. that had participated in the Humphrey, Fulbright and IVP programs. As the State Department has already dispatched budget for this, a "special duty officer" (Nepali) has also been designated. Moriartv has alreadv started this project by having dinners with special iournalists". (Pro-Nepali Congress "Deshantar weekly," V/W, 8/1) -- America seriously concerned over Maoist problem: As the breeze of the Maoist problem in Nepal reached the U.S., the new U.S. ambassador, ]ames Moriarty, has expressed the commitment that his country would solve this problem during his tenure... There are several reasons why a pro-China Ambassador has been sent to Nepal by recalling former Ambassador Malinowski even though he still had some time to serve in Nepal. The U.S. has given Moriarty a full authority to end the Maoist insurgency in Nepal during his period. Ambassador Moriarty has a direct approach, influence and relationship with the White House. He is considered as a polished diplomat. The Republican U.S. policy maintains that it doesn't face any danger from its well-to-do counterpart nations, but it does so from weak countries. The Maoists have been able to draw the U.S.'s attention because of their successful movement in Medal . America is now fully determined to finish 
off the Maoists for once and all. (Leftist "Jana Manch," V/w, 8/1) -- DOA sends Kal Bhairav papers to palace: The Department of Archaeology (DoA) on Friday sent documents regarding the details of the archaeological and historical significance of Kal Bhairav temple to the Royal palace after a controversy cropped up over the recent conservation works being carried out at the temple. The Kathmandu Va]ley Preservation Trust is carrying out conservation work on the shrine of Kal Bhairav at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square under a U.S. Embassy grant. (Pro-India "The Hlmalayan Times," E/D, 3/31) -- Real player oceans away, Deuba and Maoists pawns of grand design: "". The main actor of this design is found to be a person named Craig Fuller, Managing Director of Korn/Ferry International". The roval palace, political parties, Deuba and the Maoists have become pawns of Fuller's mastermind in such a way that Nepa might have to bear a colossal damage in the future"- According to the source, ]ulia Chang Bloch was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal on his advice". The new U.S. Ambassador, ]ames F. Moriarty, like Bloch, is also considered as Fuller's trusted man. Moriarty had even worked at Fuller's firm in the past". Analysts, who know well how America is entering Nepal on the ground prepared by the Maoist insurgency, claim that the CPN- Maolst has become a "pawn" of America, like the Talebans had become in Afghanistan". (Centrist "Yugpatra," V/W, 7/29) -- Maoist problem will be resolved during my term: "What are America's thoughts on endino the violence and civil war in Nepal? American Ambassador ]ames Francis Moriarty has given a long interview to ]ana Aastha. This is the first interview to a Nepali-language Paper of the new ambassador. He had urged the political parties to join the government during a press conference last Tuesday".' (Leftist "]ana Aastha," V/W, 7/28) -- No immediate talks: "There are no possibilities of immediate talks between the government and Maoists. This was due to changes in the tone of PM Deuba and the CPN-UML about constituent assembly after they joined the government". America and India are trying to break the possible alliance between the agitating parties including Nepali Congress and for this, the two countries have said that they could dismiss the incumbent government and ask Nepali Congress to form the government".' (Saptahik Aawa], V/W, 7/28) -- Nepali works on Librarv of Congress website: Prominent Nepali authors have begun recording the excerpts of their works for a website of the.South Asian Literary Recording Project (SALRP) of the Library of Congress, the biggest librarv in the world. To celebrate 200 years of its establishment, the Library of Congress had initiated the documentation of writers' works ln their own voices besides books and magazines. (Major dailies, 7/28) -- U.S. pledges to provide $24.4m grant: The US government has pledged to provide additional grant assistance of $24.4 million to five various ongoing projects. The total value of these five agreements amounts to $187.6 million. Dr Madhav Prasad Ghimire, joint secretary at the ministry of finance and ]ames Moriarty, U.S. ambassador to Nepal, Donald Clarke, director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today signed agreement amendments at a ceremony held at the ministry of finance. (Major dailies, 7/27) ¶2. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -- Donors want bureaucrats to run Peace Secretariat: Even as the government is undecided on the composition of Peace Secretariat, donors who have pledged . commitment to fund it have made it clear that they would not support the secretariat if the government packs it with Doliticos". The government has allocated about Rs 20 million for the Peace Secretariat and the United States Embassy has also pledged a certain amount of money under the Peace Bureau. (The Himalayan Times, 8/2) -- CPN-UML to quit gout. if peace talks delayed: CPN- UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has threatened to pull out of the ruling four-party coalition if the government fails to hold peace talks with the Maoist rebels soon. Nepal said, "There is no meaning of our remaining in the government if it undermines its first task-restoration of peace." He added that one of the major coalition allies, led by the Prime Minister himse]f, seems to be de]aying the process. (Centrist "The Kathmandu Post," E/D, 8/2) -- Koirala to rope in parties before talks with Maoists: Nepali Congress President GP Koirala Thursday said he would initiate talks with political oarties includinq those in the government for a collective stance before holding dialogue with the Maoists- (The Kathmandu Post, 7/30) ¶3. MAOIST INSURGENCY -- Maoists set up landmine in road: Hundreds of people have been suffering as their movement has come to a- grinding halt after the Maoists laid down landmines in a busy road section if Pyuthan-Balubang and Rolpa- Bhalubang in mid-western Nepal. The Maoists have fixed landmines in several places within the one-kilometer section of the road. Security forces are cleaning the area but still some explosive devices are said to be active there. (Centrist "Kantipur", V/D, 8/1) -- Maoists set to arm locals in west: The Maoists are preparing to arm the locals of rural areas of western Nepal under their new "people's army movement " . , according to Prabhakar, the Maolsts' politburo member and Seti-Mahakali Regional Organization Committee in- change. He also said that the Maoists are in touch with Nepali Congress chief Girija Prasad Koirala...'' (The Hlmalayan Times, 8/1) -- Insurgency toll 9,996: The Maoist insurgency, which began ln February 13, 1996, has claimed the lives of 9,996 people in the country as per the latest figures available. The number of people killed by the Maoists until ]ulv 14 totaled 3,409 while the state accounted for the death of 6,587, according to Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC). (The Kathmandu Post, 7/29 -- There's been no govt-Maoist talks yet: No dialogue has taken place so far between the government and the Maoists, Padma Ratna Tuladhar told The Himalayan Times today. Tuladhar was one of the four facilitators in the previous rounds of talks that failed on August 27 last year. Tuladhar's assertion contradicts claims made by several po]iticians and bureaucrats that the present government has made informal contact with the Maoists. (The Himalayan Times) -- Maoist plan: "... According to sources, the Maoists plan to expand their military wing to six battalions across the country with ten thousand militias in each..." (Leftist "]anadharana," V/W, 7/29) -- KWP and MNF break ties with CPN-Maoists: Two Maoist aligned sister organizations have opted to split from the mainstream of CPN-Maoists. The two sister organizations of Maoists - Madhesi National Front (MNF) and Kirat Workers Party (KWP) - formally decided to split from the main body of CPN-Maoists, after they found that Maoists leadership did not stop discriminating their people on various grounds within the party. (Kantipur, 7/27) MORIARTY