NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER WON'T JOIN HANDS WITH THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000101 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER NP SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER WON'T JOIN HANDS WITH THE MAOISTS Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Will Not "Join Hands" with the Maoists While They Have Arms -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) In a January 9 meeting, Nepali Congress (NC) President GP Koirala stressed to the Ambassador that his party would continue its stance of not cooperating with the Maoists as long as the latter had arms. Koirala said that he had "rejected outright" a proposal by CPN-UML leader MK Nepal that the seven-party alliance issue a joint statement with the Maoists showing solidarity with the insurgents. Koirala admitted that he might have agreed to do so if the Maoists had extended the cease-fire (which they called off on January 2),but in the current circumstances a joint statement was "unthinkable." He explained that the NC would risk losing the support of the people, whose biggest desire is peace, if they saw his party cooperating with the Maoists now that the latter had resumed their armed struggle. He recognized that if the NC "joined hands with the Maoists while they had arms, the Maoists would then direct their arms against us." He said he would explain his party's views to the public at the seven-party alliance-organized public meeting January 12 in Jhanakpur. However, he noted that some of the other Parties' leaders might have different opinions. Koirala assured the Ambassador that his party would condemn the Maoists if they killed innocent people and civilians. He said he continued to call the Maoists to account for abducting, extorting, and killing innocents. Pushing Reinstatement of Parliament, Postponement of Elections -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Citing the need for the "continuity of history," Koirala emphasized that he was still pushing for the reinstatement of Parliament. He opined that there should not be a rush to hold a constituent assembly without "going through the processes." Reinstating Parliament would be the proper course of action, he stressed. He lamented that intellectuals and civil society were pressing for an immediate constituent assembly as the solution. The NC leader reiterated his call for the King to postpone the municipal elections scheduled for February 8; doing so would create space and time for dialogue. He advocated for the presence of a credible third-party international observer at talks among the King, Parties, and Maoists. He explained that the international observer would alleviate his concern that the King and the Maoists, both with arms, might strike a deal excluding the Parties. NC an "Island" of Democrats Surrounded by Communists -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The NC leader worried that he was losing support within his party as well as within the seven-party alliance. Koirala lamented that he was under fire for publicly criticizing the Maoists for their continued extortion and not living up to their commitments made in the November 17 Parties-Maoists 12-point understanding, as well as for keeping the door open for dialogue with the King. He explained that UML General Secretary MK Nepal had indirectly criticized him for proposing that the King should postpone elections to create a conducive environment for dialogue. He added that a senior leader within his party had also questioned how he could consider talks with the King. He stressed that democrats were in a very difficult position. "NC is an island among the seven-party alliance with communists surrounding democrats." Koirala indicated that the seven-party alliance was fragile. He noted that if the King were to reach out to the political parties before the municipal elections, he would still have a difficult time persuading the other Parties in the alliance. He declined to speculate as to the Parties' response if the King tried to initiate dialogue after the elections, explaining that a new situation would have developed. The Ambassador agreed with him that the failure of the King to reach out and the Maoists' return to violence forced the political parties into a very difficult situation. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Suffering from ill health, Koirala did not seem to have thought about a plan in the event the King does not postpone municipal elections to allow for possible dialogue. There seem to be significant divisions among the seven-party alliance regarding how to deal with both the King and the Maoists. If the Parties are not able to bridge these differences to present a united opposition front to the King, their position will be further weakened. MORIARTY