Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KATHMANDU2816
2005-12-15 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
PARTY DEMONSTRATION PEACEFUL, BUT VALLEY-WIDE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #2816 3491143 ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY DATE IN PARA 1. - MSI1565 - AD6F42D3 - 555) O 151143Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHSD/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9531 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3757 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0096 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4015 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9059 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1983 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8927 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1054 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1722 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002816
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CORRECTED DATE IN PARA
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002816
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CORRECTED DATE IN PARA 1.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CASC ASEC NP
SUBJECT: PARTY DEMONSTRATION PEACEFUL, BUT VALLEY-WIDE
CLOSURE CALLED FOR DEC. 16
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
SEVEN PARTY ALLIANCE DEMONSTRATION ATTENDANCE LOW, LARGELY
PEACEFUL
-------------- --------------
1. (C) The December 15 demonstration organized in Kathmandu by
the seven party alliance was peaceful. Emboffs observing the
demonstration estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 people
participated. The atmosphere was not tense, although many
police monitored the demonstration. UN OHCHR and other local
human rights organizations were visibly present at the
meeting. Leaders of all seven political parties spoke and
received sporadic applause from the audience. The protest
dispersed peacefully at 4:30 pm local time, but police
sources reported that after the demonstration protesters
threw stones at some government vehicles.
PARTIES CALL KATHMANDU BANDH TO PROTEST RNA SHOOTINGS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Party leaders at the demonstration called for a
Kathmandu Valley bandh (closure) for December 16, to protest
the incident where one Royal Nepalese ARMY (RNA) soldier
fired indiscriminately, killing 11 and injuring 19 civilians
(according to the RNA statement). The government announced
December 15 that it had formed a high level judicial team to
investigate the incident that took place late December 14 in
Nagarkot (a resort area on the edge of Kathmandu Valley that
also has an RNA training barracks). The Parties distributed
pamphlets at the demonstration condemning the killings by the
RNA of "16 civilians" (sic) and decrying the injuries of
dozens more. The pamphlet stated that "the King, as the
Prime Minister and the Defense Minister, should take
responsibility for the incident." In protest of the
killings, the Parties called a Kathmandu Valley-wide bandh
for December 16, asking the people to come out with black
flags, an anti-monarchy symbol.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Parties had admitted that they were ill-prepared
for the demonstration. However, their December 16 bandh will
likely be more widely observed. The RNA shootings may well
spark anger among Kathmanduites, anger that some among the
political parties (and the Maoists as well) will be anxious
to fan. Septel reports EAC held by post.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CORRECTED DATE IN PARA 1.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CASC ASEC NP
SUBJECT: PARTY DEMONSTRATION PEACEFUL, BUT VALLEY-WIDE
CLOSURE CALLED FOR DEC. 16
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
SEVEN PARTY ALLIANCE DEMONSTRATION ATTENDANCE LOW, LARGELY
PEACEFUL
-------------- --------------
1. (C) The December 15 demonstration organized in Kathmandu by
the seven party alliance was peaceful. Emboffs observing the
demonstration estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 people
participated. The atmosphere was not tense, although many
police monitored the demonstration. UN OHCHR and other local
human rights organizations were visibly present at the
meeting. Leaders of all seven political parties spoke and
received sporadic applause from the audience. The protest
dispersed peacefully at 4:30 pm local time, but police
sources reported that after the demonstration protesters
threw stones at some government vehicles.
PARTIES CALL KATHMANDU BANDH TO PROTEST RNA SHOOTINGS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Party leaders at the demonstration called for a
Kathmandu Valley bandh (closure) for December 16, to protest
the incident where one Royal Nepalese ARMY (RNA) soldier
fired indiscriminately, killing 11 and injuring 19 civilians
(according to the RNA statement). The government announced
December 15 that it had formed a high level judicial team to
investigate the incident that took place late December 14 in
Nagarkot (a resort area on the edge of Kathmandu Valley that
also has an RNA training barracks). The Parties distributed
pamphlets at the demonstration condemning the killings by the
RNA of "16 civilians" (sic) and decrying the injuries of
dozens more. The pamphlet stated that "the King, as the
Prime Minister and the Defense Minister, should take
responsibility for the incident." In protest of the
killings, the Parties called a Kathmandu Valley-wide bandh
for December 16, asking the people to come out with black
flags, an anti-monarchy symbol.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Parties had admitted that they were ill-prepared
for the demonstration. However, their December 16 bandh will
likely be more widely observed. The RNA shootings may well
spark anger among Kathmanduites, anger that some among the
political parties (and the Maoists as well) will be anxious
to fan. Septel reports EAC held by post.
MORIARTY