CODEL DREIER MEETS WITH NEPAL'S PRIME MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000681

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.5 B & D
TAGS: PREL PTER NP
SUBJECT: CODEL DREIER MEETS WITH NEPAL'S PRIME MINISTER
THAPA

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI FOR REASONS 1.5 b & d


1. (C) Summary: In an April 9 meeting with CODEL Dreier,
Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa reviewed the Government of
Nepal's (GON) three-pronged strategy to return to a more
stable political and economic path: public security,
increased assistance to grassroots areas and democratic
government. He said the GON was consulting with party
leaders by telephone and would work with them to arrange
elections and the transition to a democratic government. The
door was open to the parties and the Maoists to return to
talks at any time. Thapa told the Ambassador that the new 11
p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew and limits on public assembly in
Kathmandu were imposed to avoid confrontation during
demonstrations against the government. GON has learned that
Maoists have infiltrated the demonstrations and intend to
cause trouble, he explained. Thapa thanked the U.S. for its
years of development assistance and recent military support.
Both have been important for GON and Royal Nepal Army (RNA)
morale. End Summary.


2. (C) The Chairman of the House Rules Committee David
Dreier (R-Ca) accompanied by Representative Karen McCarthy
(D-Mo) and Representative Grace Napolitano (D-Ca) began the
meeting by noting the extraordinary challenges that the
Government of Nepal (GON) faces so that its people can live a
better life in a peaceful, stable and democratic country.
Prime Minister Thapa thanked the delegation for its visit,
adding that Nepal is pleased to have frequent U.S. visitors
at all levels, which now include Congress. The Chairman said
he was concerned with recent developments in Nepal and asked
what steps the GON was taking to re-establish a democratic
government and end the Maoist threat.


3. (C) PM Thapa replied that GON has a three-pronged
strategy: (1) assure public security; (2) increase the flow
of development assistance to the grassroots; and (3) a return
to a democratic government. In this latter, the GON wants
the constitutional process to move forward with political
party participation. The GON has set a timeframe for
multi-party elections and hopes that the parties will take
part, as King Gyanendra stated in Pokhara earlier in the
week. After elections, the GON will consult with the parties
to set the modalities for the new government. Talks are
already taking place with party leaders telephonically, he
said. The politicians want to talk to the King, who has
already held two rounds with them. Thapa said he believed
that the next talks will take place soon.


4. (C) Representatives McCarthy and Napolitano focused on the
Maoist problem. Rep. McCarthy inquired about GON strategies
to work with the political groups to address the Maoist
threat. Thapa reiterated that the government seeks to raise
public spirit by increasing the standard of living and has
sent development teams to villages toward this end. The GON
remains ready to hold talks again with the Maoists even
though the insurgents previously walked out of talks
unilaterally twice. The door for negotiations remains open.
The Maoists claim that they want a "republic," but are not
sure what that means. Talks fell apart the last time (August
2003) over the government's plan for social reforms, he
observed. The GON intends to uphold the constitutional
monarchy and a multi-party democracy. Rep. Napolitano
suggested that economic and infrastructure development could
put people to work and improve public livelihood. Nepal's
natural resources, such as hydropower, could be developed.
Thapa replied that the GON was definitely concerned and
making efforts to build tourism and infrastructure to improve
the nation's economy.


5. (C) Ambassador Malinowski asked the PM to explain the
government's rationale for imposing restrictions on public
gatherings (11 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew and prohibition on
public assembly of more than five persons) in downtown
Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Kirtipur, announced the night before
(April 8). Thapa said that the measures were taken to avoid
casualties during the daily party demonstrations. The GON
believes, he explained, that the demonstrators are
infiltrated by Maoists who will try to provoke violence.
Asked how long these measures would be in place, Thapa said
that the government is determined that these restrictions
should not last more than two or three days, "as has been the
case in the past." Thapa acknowledged that the parties might
believe that the GON "acted in haste" in imposing the bans
and predicted that the measures would not interfere with the
next protest (April 9). He painted a scenario wherein the
authorities detain protesters to avoid confrontations, then
release them soon afterward.


6. (C) The Ambassador told the PM that Chairman Dreier would
like to speak with His Majesty. Thapa confirmed that the
King was returning to Kathmandu that afternoon (April 9) and
offered to help arrange a conversation.

7. (C) The PM closed by reiterating Nepal's gratitude for
all of the help that the United States has given the Nepali
people over the years, including economic and social
development assistance and malaria eradication. Chairman
Dreier said he had spoken with Secretary of State Powell
before the trip, who recalled the beauty of Nepal and the
warmth of its people. The U.S. desires to make a difference
through assistance. At the same time, the American people
also face serious challenges at the moment. That does not
diminish their desire to help the people of Nepal and to see
an end to human rights violations and to curfews and a path
to self-determination. The U.S. wants to work in any way
possible against the Maoist terrorists, the Chaiman affirmed.
The Prime Minister thanked the U.S. for the concrete and
moral support it has given Nepal, which has been very
effective and been a great boost for both Royal Nepal Army
and GON morale. Noting the GON's recent reaffimation of
twenty-five human rights principles, Thapa repeated that the
country is very serious about meeting its international
obligations in this area.


8. (U) CODEL Dreier has cleared this cable.

MALINOWSKI






MALINOWSKI