GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN US COUNTERTERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002652 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS DEPT FOR S/CT SLAVEN NSC FOR RICHELSOPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL NP SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN US COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY REF: KATHMANDU 2407 Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In separate meetings on November 18, Nepali officials shared with visiting S/CT South Asia Officer William Slaven the actions that His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) was taking against terrorism and how those activities complemented U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Nepal is focused on three elements: Maoist leadership, joining international agreements to deter Nepal from becoming a safe haven for terrorists, and working to win the hearts and minds of people by improving conditions to deter terrorism. Officials stressed that HMGN was working to promote respect of human rights. End Summary. Targeting Maoist Leadership -------------- ¶2. (C) Armed Police Force (APF) Assistant Inspector General of Police Shyam B. Thapa agreed with visiting S/CT Slaven that focusing on terrorist leadership was important. Security service senior officials said HMGN concentrated on Maoist leadership and their command and control structure. Thapa showed Slaven wall-charts explaining Maoist leadership structure and photographs of top Maoist cadre. Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Director of Military Operations Brig. Gen. Ranadhoj Limbu briefed Slaven on Maoist military structure, demonstrating a strong understanding of the Maoist military commanders. Denying Terrorists Safe Havens -------------- ¶3. (C) Discussing the U.S. counterterrorism strategy that included denying safe havens where terrorists could train, operate and recruit, Foreign Ministry Joint Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai told Slaven that Nepal was "not a safe haven for terrorists." He added that "there is no excuse for terrorism." Bhattarai outlined the six international agreements against terrorism to which Nepal was party, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, which recently came into force with all seven SAARC countries of the grouping ratifying it "to wage a joint war against the scourge of terrorism." Bhattarai noted that Nepal submitted annual reports to the UN Security Council on Resolution 1373, against international terrorism. Surendra Pradan, Director of Banking Operations at Nepal's Central Bank, said the bank forwarded all terrorist financing information from the USG to its member institutions. He noted that while no institution in Nepal had found any terrorist assets to date, Nepal had the legal ability to freeze assets if necessary. Preventing Conditions Fostering Terrorism -------------- ¶4. (C) Upon hearing Slaven's explanation that one part of U.S. counterterrorism strategy was to prevent conditions that fostered terrorism, Home Ministry Security Division Under Secretary Kabi Raj Khanal told Slaven about the Government SIPDIS efforts to target Maoist-affected communities. Khanal explained that the concept of Peace and Development Committees was intended to mobilize local communities to be able to counter Maoists (reftel). He noted that the government had launched the program in 25 village development committees (VDCs) last year and planned to launch the program in 100 more VDCs this year, although resource constraints had prevented the government from extending the program to more VDCs. Khanal said that the program targeted youths who might otherwise join the Maoists. The RNA trained Peace and Development Committee members on development and other issues, including human rights. The committees then created development programs such as construction of small roads, drinking water facilities and community meeting facilities using government grant money. The APF, RNA and Home Ministry officials agreed with Slaven about the importance that respect for human rights played in convincing people to support the government rather than terrorists. The officials explained that the human rights cells were working to ensure human rights were protected within their respective institutions, including the Home Ministry. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Nepali officials were very interested in the U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Nepal's strategy appears to include all three elements of the U.S. strategy, but the officials had not considered it in that framework before. HMGN is engaged in counterterrorism and would be eager to receive further information and ideas on this important topic. ¶6. (U) Mr. Slaven departed post before clearing this cable. MILLARD