MAOISTS EXTEND UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE ONE MONTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002685 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV PTER NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS EXTEND UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE ONE MONTH REF: A. KATHMANDU 1958 ¶B. KATHMANDU 2556 Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard, Reason 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. This is an action request. Please see para. 5. Maoists Announce One-Month Extension of Cease-Fire -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) On the morning of December 2, the last day of the Maoists' original three-month cease-fire (ref A),Maoist party chairman Prachanda announced that they would extend the unilateral cease-fire by another month. Prachanda issued a statement explaining that an extension of the cease-fire would help further the movement against the "autocratic monarchy" and give additional time to explore a political way out "through a constituent assembly." He asserted that the Maoists had decided to extend the cease-fire in light of the demands made by forces within the country and abroad. However, he warned that it would not be possible to maintain the cease-fire "if the current attitude of the absolutist feudal elements continued." Prachanda noted that the three-month cease-fire had provided an opportunity for the seven-party alliance and the Maoists to present a new "blueprint" to resolve Nepal's crisis. Political Parties Welcome Extension -------------- ¶3. (C) Political party leaders welcomed the extension of the cease-fire. Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) Central Committee member Narayan Khadka, CPN-UML Central Committee member Kashinath Adhikari, and Nepali Congress (NC) Central Committee member Chakra Prasad Bastola separately commented to us that the extension was positive. Khadka and Adhikari noted to Emboff that the extension both gave time to, and increased pressure on, the government to favorably respond to the Parties-Maoist understanding (ref B). Khadka speculated that the Maoists could have decided on a one-month extension following discussions with UML party leaders, as a cease-fire that ended January 2 would still leave time for Maoist violence in the countryside to disrupt the municipal elections called by the King for February 8. However, Adhikari stated that after one month the Parties would again request the Maoists to extend the cease-fire so the Maoists and Parties could continue peace talks. Khadka also observed that, by announcing the extension, the Maoists showed that they had respected appeals to do so by the EU, the UN, and the international community. Bastola suggested that the Maoists and parties would use the time to "network" with international groups that could play a monitoring role. He remarked that the extension would give more time to the Maoists to convince others about the sincerity of their commitments expressed in the understanding with the political parties. (Note: Despite the cease-fire and the understanding, the Maoist violence has not ended. On November 30, they abducted a Nepali leader of a UNDP project and seized journalists' equipment in Taplejung District. End Note.) Bastola added that the understanding was "very primitive" and only in its initial stages; it needed a lot of clarification. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) By extending the cease-fire -- however imperfect -- the Maoists have maintained the high ground. The Parties would have been hard-pressed to continue their understanding with the Maoists had the latter returned to violence so soon - without waiting for a reaction from the King or establishing their bona fides. While the extension has also given the King some breathing space, the pressure has indeed mounted on him to respond positively. Action Request -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Embassy suggests the following press guidance for use by the Department spokesperson: We welcome the Maoist one-month extension of the cease-fire. We call on the government to respond positively to this development. As we have said many times, there is no military solution to the ongoing conflict in Nepal. Any measure that promotes peace in Nepal is to be welcomed. We urge the Maoists to permanently abandon violence and rejoin the political mainstream to seek a peaceful resolution. MILLARD