PARTY DEMONSTRATION PEACEFUL, BUT VALLEY-WIDE

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