NEPAL: DETENTIONS DECREASED TO 49 POLITICOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001245

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS
DEPT PLEASE PASS EU COLLECTIVE
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY
LONDON FOR POL-BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: DETENTIONS DECREASED TO 49 POLITICOS

REF: KATHMANDU 1124 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Charge Elisabeth I. Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

DETENTIONS DOWN
--------------


1. (SBU) His Majesty's Government of NEPAL (HMGN) has
released from detention all but 49 politicians, according to
conversations we had with seven political parties. CPN-UML
reported that three student leaders remained in detention,
Nepali Congress - 27 members, Nepali Congress (Democratic)
(NC(D)) - 5, and People's Front NEPAL (PFN) has 14 members
still in detention. In response to three habeas corpus
petitions filed on behalf of the PFN Chairman, the
Vice-Chairman, and General Secretary, the Supreme Court on
June 7 ordered HMGN authorities to furnish a written reply
regarding their detention.

MAOISTS CONTINUE TO KILL PARTY POLITICIANS
--------------


2. (C) Since February 1, despite their calls to the political
parties to unite with them against the King, the Maoists have
murdered twelve political party cadre across the country.
CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar NEPAL told the Charge on June 6
that Maoists had killed five UML party members; NC(D)
spokesperson Minendra Rijal said that Maoists had killed
three NC(D) politicians; and RPP reported that Maoists had
murdered 4 of their cadre. MK NEPAL also stated that the
Maoists were still threatening UML members in a number of
districts, and that Maoists had a hit list of 20 UML members
in Arghakhachi District.

COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) HMGN continues to release detainees; about 100 have
been released since May 27 (reftel). In the meantime, the
Maoists continue to terrorize and intimidate the political
parties -- actions that obviously undermine their calls to
the parties to join forces against the Palace.
MILLARD