NEPAL: KOIRALA RETURNS ENERGIZED FROM INDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001324 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2015 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: KOIRALA RETURNS ENERGIZED FROM INDIA REF: NEW DELHI 04531 Classified By: ADCM Grace Shelton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (U) Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala returned to Kathmandu on June 15 and revealed to reporters that he had telephone conversations with Maoist leaders during his week-long trip to India. He reportedly asked the rebels, without receiving a reply, to give up violence and support the seven parties' campaign to restore democracy. Koirala decried the "hue and cry" coming from Nepal's regime, India, and others against his talks with Maoists as "meaningless", as leaders of political parties should take initiatives to bring the rebels to the dialogue table. ¶2. (C) All NC leaders who had gone to India in self exile immediately after the February 1 move by the King returned to Nepal with Koirala on June 15. Leaders of other parties are expected to return to Nepal soon. The General Secretary of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) told EmbOff that two NSP leaders were still in India, along with two NC (D) leaders and one United Marxist Leninist (UML) leader. He noted that some junior level workers from various parties expected to remain in India after their leaders returned to Nepal. ¶3. (C) NC member Romi Gauchan Thakali told EmbOff that Koirala, in briefing party members on his trip, indicated he was buoyed by the support Government of India officials had shown to the political parties' democratic movement. Thakali indicated that NC would pursue a double track strategy. It would continue to work within the seven party alliance to continue street demonstrations to pressure the King to enter dialogue, and would engage in quiet communication with the Maoists to try to convince them to enter negotiations and rejoin the political mainstream. ¶4. (C) Comment: A month and a half after the lifting of the state of emergency it is a good sign that self- exiled party leaders return to Nepal. However, these leaders continue to be deeply distrustful of the King. Koirala returns from India with a renewed sensed of gravitas. His presence in Nepal is necessary for movement toward reconciliation with the King who remains out of the country until June 22. However, Koirala might have become more entrenched in his views and less likely to compromise. MILLARD