Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KATHMANDU2498
2005-11-16 10:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #2498 3201024 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161024Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9145 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3661 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 3938 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 8974 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1895 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3357 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8797 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard; Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS
--------------------------------------------- -
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard; Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS
-------------- -
1. (U) On November 15, the Rastriya Janashakti Party's (RJP)
Central Committee decided to boycott the municipal elections
scheduled for February 8, 2006 and the parliamentary polls to
be held in April 2007. (Note: The RJP splintered off from
the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in March to form a new
political party. Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa,
founding Chairman of the RPP, is the Chairman of the RJP.
The party is based on the principles of multiparty democracy
and constitutional monarchy. End note.) The Central
Committee meeting concluded that the proposed elections
announced by the King in October would not be the remedy for
Nepal's outstanding problems at a time when the country is
"heading toward unimaginable consequences." However, the RJP
nevertheless decided to register with the Election Commission
to show that the party had faith in the election process.
CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT LACKING
--------------
2. (SBU) Hari Bahadur Basnet, Central Committee Member of the
RJP, told EmbOff that his party was not against the municipal
elections, but the government must first create a conducive
environment in which all the political parties could
participate in the polls. He added that the election was not
possible in the present circumstances. Nawaraj Subedi,
another RJP Central Committee Member, termed the elections
meaningless in the absence of participation by the major
political parties. However, both Basnet and Subedi
emphasized that the RJP would register with the Election
Commission, as they believed in elections.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) With the seven-party alliance and now the RJP
boycotting the elections, the RPP is the only remaining
sizable nationwide party that may participate in February 8
municipal elections, unless the King creates a conducive
environment. This decision by the RJP, widely viewed as a
party close to the King, should send a wake-up call to the
Palace that it is losing the support of even its traditional
backers.
MILLARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard; Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS
-------------- -
1. (U) On November 15, the Rastriya Janashakti Party's (RJP)
Central Committee decided to boycott the municipal elections
scheduled for February 8, 2006 and the parliamentary polls to
be held in April 2007. (Note: The RJP splintered off from
the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in March to form a new
political party. Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa,
founding Chairman of the RPP, is the Chairman of the RJP.
The party is based on the principles of multiparty democracy
and constitutional monarchy. End note.) The Central
Committee meeting concluded that the proposed elections
announced by the King in October would not be the remedy for
Nepal's outstanding problems at a time when the country is
"heading toward unimaginable consequences." However, the RJP
nevertheless decided to register with the Election Commission
to show that the party had faith in the election process.
CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT LACKING
--------------
2. (SBU) Hari Bahadur Basnet, Central Committee Member of the
RJP, told EmbOff that his party was not against the municipal
elections, but the government must first create a conducive
environment in which all the political parties could
participate in the polls. He added that the election was not
possible in the present circumstances. Nawaraj Subedi,
another RJP Central Committee Member, termed the elections
meaningless in the absence of participation by the major
political parties. However, both Basnet and Subedi
emphasized that the RJP would register with the Election
Commission, as they believed in elections.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) With the seven-party alliance and now the RJP
boycotting the elections, the RPP is the only remaining
sizable nationwide party that may participate in February 8
municipal elections, unless the King creates a conducive
environment. This decision by the RJP, widely viewed as a
party close to the King, should send a wake-up call to the
Palace that it is losing the support of even its traditional
backers.
MILLARD