CPN-UML LEADER MK NEPAL WAITING FOR KING TO ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: CPN-UML LEADER MK NEPAL WAITING FOR KING TO ACT

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) In an April 21 meeting with the Ambassador, the
sixteenth day of the seven-party alliance's general
strike/demonstrations and two days after he was released from
detention, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal
seemed to be waiting for the King to act. The Ambassador
emphasized the importance of the political parties being able
to agree quickly on a way ahead should the King announce he
was ready to transfer power. MK Nepal noted his party was
considering several ways ahead, including constituent
assembly elections and a democratic republic, but was
prepared to accept the reinstatement of parliament should
other alliance members insist on that path. He agreed with
the Ambassador that the first step of a new government should
be to call for a cease-fire, explaining that he did not fully
trust the Maoists. MK Nepal said he had talked with security
force chiefs urging them to use restraint and be flexible
during the demonstrations. End Summary.

Ambassador Urges Parties to Agree Quickly on Way Forward
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2. (C) The Ambassador told just-released UML General
Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Amrit Bohara (acting General

SIPDIS
Secretary since January),and UML central committee member

SIPDIS
Bharat Mohan Adhikari that the U.S., India and some Nepalese
interlocutors had all stressed to the King that he had no
choice but to turn over power quickly to the political
parties. The Ambassador emphasized the hope that the
political parties would speedily agree on a way forward if
the King announced he was ready to transfer power. He
suggested that the political parties develop a plan to return
to democracy, restart the economy and address the insurgency.
He assured the UML leaders that the international community
would want to support a party-based government to the extent
possible. He encouraged the leaders to consider how to
handle the Maoists and recommended the new government call
for talks and a cease-fire.

Waiting For The King To Consult The Parties
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3. (C) MK Nepal agreed that time was running out. He
lamented that the King had not yet approached any of the
leaders of the seven-party alliance. He explained that if
there were to be a transfer of power, the King first needed
to initiate a round of talks and consultations. MK Nepal
worried that the King continued to try to manipulate the
parties; MK Nepal also expressed concern about Maoist
manipulation of the situation. If the King decided to turn
over power, the seven party alliance would need time to
discuss the way ahead, he said.

Would Agree to Reinstatement of Parliament as Way Ahead
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4. (C) MK Nepal stated that his party had been thinking about
how to move ahead, but knew it had to calculate the situation
carefully. He commented that the institution of monarchy
would still be accepted by the people of Nepal, but he
believed it should be a "limited," or "nominal" monarchy. He
added that the King needed the confidence of the political
parties, who could give him one last chance. MK Nepal later
said that his party still supported a democratic republic,
i.e. without a King, but would agree to both the
reinstatement of parliament and retention of a ceremonial
monarchy if the seven-party alliance insisted. The UML did
not want to create any "embarrassment," even though it might
prefer to pursue elections to a constitutional assembly, the
Maoists' preferred path.

UML Urges Security Forces to Be Flexible
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5. (C) MK Nepal said that on April 20 he had told Chief of
Army Staff Thapa and Police Chief Thapa that the security
forces needed to be flexible. He urged them to stop the
killings, and have the security forces bend a little. If the
security forces stepped back a few steps from the
demonstrators, the people would view it as a victory and
would not need to march to the King's Palace.

Parties "Riding A Tiger"
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6. (C) The UML leader insisted that the King should "respect
the people's sentiment" and acknowledge the on-going
movement. He asserted that the parties remained in control
of the on-going demonstrations, but added "We're riding a
tiger, we have to respect the people's sentiment and voice,
or they'll eat us."

UML Has A Plan To Address the Maoists
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7. (C) MK Nepal acknowledged some Maoist participation in the
protests, but downplayed their role. He stated that the
seven parties could not "fully trust" the Maoists. The UML
leader said that the first work of a new government would be
to announce a joint cease-fire, or, if that were not
possible, unilateral cease-fires. The second step would be
to remove the terrorist tag from the Maoists. Then, the
government should release some Maoists, as a gesture,
although he admitted it would not be able to release
hard-core Maoists. He feared the Maoists might try to create
another attack or insurgency, so there would need to be some
international role. The final step would be to call a
roundtable conference to discuss the constitution and
restructuring of state. MK Nepal noted the international
community had an important role to play to monitor the
militants and their arms; he also hoped international experts
could help with the constitutional questions and
restructuring of the state. In response to the Ambassador's
question of what would happen if the Maoists did not respond
to the call for a cease-fire, MK Nepal stated that the
Parties and the Maoists "would break-up."

Comment
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8. (C) MK Nepal seemed ready to agree to a settlement if the
King reached out. Although he acknowledged the Maoists might
try to prevent the political parties coming to power, he
seemed to think the Parties and the international community
acting together could manage the Maoists.

MORIARTY