Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI8845
2005-11-22 15:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

INDIA DOUBTS NEPALESE MAOIST/POLITICAL PARTY

Tags:  PREL PBTS PGOV MOPS ECON IN NP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

221534Z Nov 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008845 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV MOPS ECON IN NP
SUBJECT: INDIA DOUBTS NEPALESE MAOIST/POLITICAL PARTY
BREAKTHROUGH, WELCOMES U.S. PRESSURE ON KING

REF: NEW DELHI 8750

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008845

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV MOPS ECON IN NP
SUBJECT: INDIA DOUBTS NEPALESE MAOIST/POLITICAL PARTY
BREAKTHROUGH, WELCOMES U.S. PRESSURE ON KING

REF: NEW DELHI 8750

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: Recent press reports of a breakthrough
between Nepalese Maoists and political parties are not true,
outgoing MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit Rae insisted on
November 22, acknowledging nonetheless that the two sides
have met in Delhi to discuss a solution to the ongoing
crisis. Rae told PolCouns and PolOff that observers in Nepal
perceive a growing gap between Indian and US strategies and
that our position articulated in Kathmandu is tilting in
favor of the King; in this context, he strongly welcomed
Ambassador Moriarty's November 16 comments in Dehli.
PolCouns reaffirmed our position that the King must work with
the political parties to find a democratic solution and laid
out Ambassador Moriarty's strategy to achieve this (Reftel).
Rae welcomed the U.S. initiative for a cease-fire and noted
that any settlement will undoubtedly require conversations
between the Maoist and the parties. He commented that
leaders of the Nepalese political parties who visited Delhi
recently insisted to the GOI that the Maoists are looking for
a political solution. Rae reiterated that a Maoist victory
was unacceptable to India and that any strategy employed in
Nepal must ensure that the parties emerge as the strongest
player vis-a-vis the Palace and Maoists. End Summary.

No Shift in US Policy
--------------


2. (C) In a meeting to introduce new MEA Joint Secretary
(North) Prakaj Saran to PolCouns, Rae discounted press
reports claiming that recent discussions between the Maoists,
the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist),
Nepali Congress Party and other political parties would soon
lead to a breakthrough. He also expressed concern about
sentiments in Kathmandu that the US was siding with the
palace, which some have cited to suggest there is a growing
gap between US and Indian positions. PolCouns indicated that
Ambassador Moriarty's November 16 visit and public statements

were made specifically to dispel these rumors. Rae welcomed
the fact that the US was not changing its position on the
need for action by the King to reach out to the parties.

Dialogue The Only Solution
--------------


3. (C) Rae acknowledged that discussions between the
political parties and Maoists have occurred in New Delhi,
arguing that an overall political settlement will only be
possible through dialogue that includes the Maoists. "We do
not want to do anything that will overly empower the Maoists
because we know what these terrorists do," Rae added.
However, he warned that we should not expect to reach a
political solution in Nepal without their involvement, and
noted that Nepali Congress President Girga Prasad Koirala
during his recent visits to Delhi insisted the Maoists were
ready to negotiate in good faith. Rae reiterated New Delhi's
view that the Maoists must be shown that they cannot win
militarily, and that we must bring them into the mainstream.
There are two tracks that we can take, Rae claimed; the first
is through informal exchanges with the Maoists, and the
second, through interactions with the King. Talks with the
palace have not been fruitful so far, he elaborated, but
India intends to continue to pressure the King to return to
multi-party democracy.

Parties Remain Weak
--------------


4. (C) Rae observed that, while the political parties are
important, they are the weakest leg of the "triangle." The
Maoists and the palace currently hold the two keys needed to
find a political solution, because each has an armed force.
He asserted that, ultimately, the political parties must be
the strongest link and that any strategy used must strengthen
them vis-a-vis the other two players. He reiterated that a
Maoist victory was unacceptable to the GOI and the only
durable solution remained with the parties.

Hoping for a Cease-Fire
--------------


5. (C) PolCouns laid out Ambassador Moriarty's strategy on
pressing the Palace and the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) to
adopt a cease-fire as a way to regain the political
initiative (Reftel). Rae agreed that a cease-fire would be a
good idea and could pave the way for the political parties to
return to the countryside. Noting reports that the RNA used
the latest cease-fire to kill more Maoists, he regretted that
the palace did not reciprocate the halt in military action.
Rae commented that it would be beneficial if the King could
be persuaded to be part of a cease-fire and that such an act
would demonstrate that the King is truly dedicated to peace.


6. (C) Rae concluded that he and his replacement Prakaj Saran
will visit Nepal in the coming weeks and suggested this would
provide a venue for the GOI to build on the Prime Minister's
message to the King in Dhaka about moving back to democracy.
BLAKE