Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CALCUTTA430
2006-09-21 12:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

NEPAL MAOIST LEADER RELEASED THEN DETAINED

Tags:  PREL PINR PGOV IN NP PTER 
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VZCZCXRO5835
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0430 2641253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211253Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1172
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1048
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0413
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0413
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0251
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0251
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0194
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0172
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1434
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000430 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV IN NP PTER
SUBJECT: NEPAL MAOIST LEADER RELEASED THEN DETAINED


UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000430

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV IN NP PTER
SUBJECT: NEPAL MAOIST LEADER RELEASED THEN DETAINED



1. (U) Summary: On September 18 in Chennai, W. Bengal police
attempted to arrest Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPNM)
Politburo member Chandra Prakash Gajurel upon his release from a
Chennai prison after serving a three year term for passport
forgery. The W. Bengal police action was in connection with two
sedition cases pending against Gajurel since 2003. Gajurel's
lawyers have filed two separate petitions to block the W. Bengal
charges. The Chennai High Court directed the W. Bengal police
not to take Gajurel to W. Bengal until a final decision was
taken on the petitions, and Gajurel remains in a Chennai jail.
End Summary.


2. (U) Earlier in 2004, a W. Bengal police team arrived in
Chennai with a prisoner transfer request pertaining to sedition
cases filed against Gajurel at the Bhakthi Nagar police station
in W. Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. At that time, Gajurel's
defense attorneys filed a petition with the Chennai High Court,
claiming that the request was really intended to deport him to
Nepal at the behest of the Nepali monarchy. The Chennai High
Court granted a stay of execution of the transfer on August 27,

2004. Recently on September 18, 2006, after learning that the
2004 petition was still pending before the High Court, a local
magistrate in Chennai denied execution of the Jalpaiguri
transfer request and remanded Gajurel back to prison. Gajurel's
lawyers have also filed a second petition challenging the
attempted re-arrest by W. Bengal police. Both petitions will
now have to be decided by the Chennai High Court, and a hearing
is scheduled for September 25.


3. (SBU) A W. Bengal police contact told Post that the W.
Bengal cases against Gajurel were based on "anti-national
activities," likely for his links to Maoists in W. Bengal.
However, local journalists told Post that the cases filed
against Gajurel in W. Bengal are part of Chief Minister
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's plan to detain Nepali Maoist leaders
like Gajurel in order to keep Maoist-linked insurgents such the
Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and state Maoists in
check. Another senior Nepali Maoist Leader, Mohan Baidya, is
also presently detained in West Bengal. The CPM has no love for
the Maoists, who have been a thorn in the CPM's side for
decades, killing CPM workers and officials and engaging in
violence in the state.


4. (SBU) Comment: The GOWB's effort to detain Gajurel is
surprising, as the state is interjecting itself into a case that
has international ramifications. However, Communist Party of
India-Marxist (CPM) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury is
currently negotiating with officials of the CPNM to lay down
their weapons and join the democratic process. Local CPM
officials could be trying to buttress Yechury's importance as a
statesman in resolving the Nepal crisis, and the arrest of
Gajurel would provide Yechury with further leverage in the
negotiations. Alternatively, this may be an effort directed
and supported by the GOI to help the GOI's overall effort to
encourage the CPNM to join the democratic process in Nepal.

JARDINE