NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER KOIRALA EXERTS POWER AFTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001745

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, DS/IP/SA
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY
LONDON FOR POL-BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NP GON
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER KOIRALA EXERTS POWER AFTER
RESTRICTED FROM ENTERING AIRPORT

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (U) On August 28, after Royal Nepal Army (RNA) personnel
barred former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Party
President Girija Prasad Koirala from entering the domestic
terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA),a
Nepali Congress-affiliated organization called a general
closure (bandh) for Kathmandu Valley on August 29. The RNA
explained that the security personnel at the airport were not
informed about Koirala's visit and had been following
standard procedures. The GON formed a five-member
investigation committee to probe into this matter. The RNA
and the government have apologized to Koirala. End Summary.

RNA STOPS NEPALI CONGRESS PRESIDENT AT THE AIRPORT
-------------- --------------


2. (U) On August 28, Koirala tried to catch a domestic flight
to Bhairahawa to attend public meetings in the western
districts of Rupandehi and Kapilbastu. After RNA personnel
stopped Koirala at the TIA, the Nepali Congress Party (NCP)
issued a press statement condemning the incident, and
appealed to all Nepalese to peacefully and strongly protest
against the incident, alleging that it violated the
fundamental rights of the people. The NCP urged all
democrats, political parties, human rights organizations,
members of the business community and civil society to unite
in favor of democracy and wage a strong agitation against
regression, and called for a one-day bandh.


3. (U) Rajendra Thapa, spokesman at the RNA Directorate of
Public Information, said that the security personnel
stationed at the airport had not been informed about
Koirala's visit. The RNA issued a press release on August
28th stating that the security guards at the airport had
tried to stop a car speeding towards the car park, but it did
not pay any heed and proceeded towards the domestic terminal
building of TIA. According to the RNA, after the car
stopped, a person rolled down the window and said that they
were going towards the terminal but without mentioning who
was in the car. After being denied access to the terminal,
the car turned and departed. The RNA statement further said,
if it has prior information, VIPs are escorted with due
respect towards the terminal. The RNA apologized for the
inconvenience caused to former Prime Minister Koirala.


4. (C) For security reasons, at the domestic terminal, all
vehicles park at the parking lot and passengers walk to the
terminal. However, vehicles carrying important persons are
allowed to go up to the terminal provided that they have
prior security clearance. Embassy sources said that
Koirala's security detail had called ahead to give notice.
RNA sources blame a private who may not have gotten the word;
and when the private turned away, Koirala's car drove away.

GOVERNMENT APOLOGIZES AND OPENS INVESTIGATION
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5. (C) Mohammad Mohsin, Minister for Information and
Communications and government spokesperson told the local
press that "it was unfortunate, and that the government would
take up the incident with serious concern." On August 28,
the GON formed a five-member committee headed by Medini
Prasad Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation, to probe into the incident.
Mohsin told the Ambassador on August 31, "this a storm in a
teacup."


6. (U) On August 29, the Nepal Student Union, a student wing
of the NCP, called for the closure of the Kathmandu Valley.
The protesting NCP workers burned tires at different places
in the valley and vandalized dozens of vehicles. The NC
activists also held rallies in Biratnagar, Birgunj
Bhairahawa, Rajbiraj, Kailali and Jhapa.

COMMENT
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7. (C) The RNA made a mistake; by preventing a former fighter
for democracy from traveling inside the country to address a
political rally, the RNA may have given Koirala the national
jolt he needed to capture some positive press and prove he is
still relevant to the system. NCP leader Koirala has already
begun using the airport flub to reestablish his national
leadership, which had been on the wane both within and
outside his party. The bandh on August 29 showed Koirala can
still energize the Nepali population if given sufficient
ammunition.


8. (C) The timing of the NCP's action may also have a
personal/political element to it. Later this week, the
Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Koirala has to
respond to a series of questions raised by the Commission for
the Investigation for the Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Rather
than appear before the CIAA to answer corruption charges,
Koirala and several others brought a case before the Supreme
Court to protect themselves from giving testimony. Koirala
may try to use the "undemocratic" treatment at the airport as
an example of the governmental authorities' mistreatment of
him, and try to portray any Supreme Court decision against
him in a similar light.
MORIARTY