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