POLITICAL PARTIES: TALKS, NOT ALLIANCE, WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002400 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS, SA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NP SUBJECT: POLITICAL PARTIES: TALKS, NOT ALLIANCE, WITH MAOISTS REF: A. KATHMANDU 2390 ¶B. KATHMANDU 2384 (EXDIS-NOTAL) ¶C. KATHMANDU 2388 (EXDIS-NOTAL) Classified By: Amb. James F. Moriarty, Reason 1.4 (b/d) Dialogue, Not Alliance, with the Maoists -------------- ¶1. (U) Responding to the Embassy's November 4 Press Statement "Embassy Warns Against Maoists-Parties 'Alliance'" (ref A), leaders of the Seven-Party Alliance stressed to the media that the ongoing dialogue with the Maoists should not be construed as an attempt to forge an agreement with the insurgents. Representatives from Nepali Congress (NC), Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC-D),and CPN-UML stressed that the Parties had agreed not to form a pact with the Maoists unless the latter gave up violence and accepted democracy. NC General Secretary Ram Chandra Poudel stated that the Parties were attempting to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream through dialogue. CPN-UML Central Working Committee member Subash Nembang explained to the press that the Alliance had agreed at an all-party meeting to give some top party leaders responsibility to initiate dialogue with the Maoists. He clarified that they had talked only about dialogue, not "collaboration of any sort." The Parties seemed eager to stress that the Embassy reflected a continuation of U.S. policy and did not represent a change in favor of the Palace. CPN-UML Acting Head Still for Alliance -------------- ¶2. (C) While most Party leaders reacted to the Embassy's warning by emphasizing their caution vis-a-vis the Maoists, CPN-UML acting General Secretary Bamdev Gautam told the press that there was no alternative but to forge an alliance with the Maoists. He reportedly said "I am in favor of reaching an alliance with the Maoists to defeat the King's autocracy." Gautam, who was selected to be one of the leaders to initiate dialogue with the Maoists, has publicly claimed to have held a meeting with the Maoists during his visit to Rolpa District. (Note: Ref B contains text of reported agreement reached between the CPN-UML and the Maoists. End Note.) Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) The Parties definitely took notice of the warning contained in the November 4 Press Statement and have reiterated their precondition that before they will enter into any closer relationship with the Maoists, the insurgents must stop their use of terror, abductions, extortion and killings and lay down their weapons. NC President GP Koirala underscored his Party's resistance to closer collaboration with the Maoists while they still had weapons (septel). We shall seek out the views of CPN-UML General Secretary MK Nepal following his return from India on November 9. But the Parties' growing frustration with the King gives increasing support to those who share Bamdev Gautam's views in favor of doing whatever it takes to overthrow the monarchy. MORIARTY