Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU102
2006-01-10 10:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY (DEMOCRATIC) CONVENTION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY (DEMOCRATIC) CONVENTION
DECIDED MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY INCOMPATIBLE
Classified By: DCM Elisabath I. Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PARTY REMOVES "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY" FROM STATUTE
--------------------------------------------- -------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY (DEMOCRATIC) CONVENTION
DECIDED MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY INCOMPATIBLE
Classified By: DCM Elisabath I. Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PARTY REMOVES "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY" FROM STATUTE
-------------- --------------
1. (U) At its general convention January 5 to 9, the Nepali
Congress (Democratic) Party (NC(D)) decided to remove the
term "constitutional monarchy" from the party's statute. The
NC(D) stated its position that elections to a constituent
assembly were the only solution to the current political and
constitutional crisis. The convention unanimously elected
Sher Bahadur Deuba for a second term as President of the
party. (Note: Deuba is currently in detention, convicted of
corruption by the Royal Commission for Corruption Control
(RCCC). End Note.)
FORMATION OF THE CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE IS DEMOCRATIC IN
SUBSTANCE
--------------
2. (U) The general convention decided to form a 45-member
Central Working Committee (CWC),26 of whom will be elected
by the party with 18 members appointed by the party
president. The party president will be the forty-fifth
member of the CWC. (Note: Because the NC(D) was formed in
2002 as a splinter party from the Nepali Congress (NC),this
is the first time it has elected CWC members. This is the
first general convention after the split. End note.) The
Party specified that the elected CWC members would include 18
general members and eight representing specific groups: two
from ethnic minorities, two from the Madhesi (Terai)
community, two women, one from the Dalit (low caste)
community, and one from the remote Karnali Zone of north
mid-western Nepal. The party held elections for the CWC
during the convention. Although the results were not yet
announced, the press reported that former CWC members were
the front-runners.
POSITIVE REACTION OF THE NC(D) ACTING PRESIDENT
-------------- --
3. (C) Gopal Man Shrestha, Acting President of the NC(D),
told EmbOff that the decisions taken by the general
convention were "progressive." Shrestha explained that the
NC(D) dropped the term "constitutional monarchy" from the
party's statute because since 1951 the Kings of Nepal had
"betrayed the political parties." However, Shrestha
commented that the Party would be ready to accept a
ceremonial King, provided he pledged to remain a nominal head
of state. Shrestha emphasized that the party had now
accommodated ethnic communities, including women and dalits.
He expressed satisfaction that the decisions of the general
convention had made the NC(D) even more progressive than the
Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist).
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) With approximately 60 percent elected members in the
CWC, the NC(D) president no longer has a monopoly. The new
CWC has paved the way for more democratic processes within
the NC(D) party as well as a more representative CWC. This
stands in stark contrast with the NC, in which party
President G.P. Koirala nominated the majority of CWC members.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY (DEMOCRATIC) CONVENTION
DECIDED MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY INCOMPATIBLE
Classified By: DCM Elisabath I. Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
PARTY REMOVES "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY" FROM STATUTE
-------------- --------------
1. (U) At its general convention January 5 to 9, the Nepali
Congress (Democratic) Party (NC(D)) decided to remove the
term "constitutional monarchy" from the party's statute. The
NC(D) stated its position that elections to a constituent
assembly were the only solution to the current political and
constitutional crisis. The convention unanimously elected
Sher Bahadur Deuba for a second term as President of the
party. (Note: Deuba is currently in detention, convicted of
corruption by the Royal Commission for Corruption Control
(RCCC). End Note.)
FORMATION OF THE CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE IS DEMOCRATIC IN
SUBSTANCE
--------------
2. (U) The general convention decided to form a 45-member
Central Working Committee (CWC),26 of whom will be elected
by the party with 18 members appointed by the party
president. The party president will be the forty-fifth
member of the CWC. (Note: Because the NC(D) was formed in
2002 as a splinter party from the Nepali Congress (NC),this
is the first time it has elected CWC members. This is the
first general convention after the split. End note.) The
Party specified that the elected CWC members would include 18
general members and eight representing specific groups: two
from ethnic minorities, two from the Madhesi (Terai)
community, two women, one from the Dalit (low caste)
community, and one from the remote Karnali Zone of north
mid-western Nepal. The party held elections for the CWC
during the convention. Although the results were not yet
announced, the press reported that former CWC members were
the front-runners.
POSITIVE REACTION OF THE NC(D) ACTING PRESIDENT
-------------- --
3. (C) Gopal Man Shrestha, Acting President of the NC(D),
told EmbOff that the decisions taken by the general
convention were "progressive." Shrestha explained that the
NC(D) dropped the term "constitutional monarchy" from the
party's statute because since 1951 the Kings of Nepal had
"betrayed the political parties." However, Shrestha
commented that the Party would be ready to accept a
ceremonial King, provided he pledged to remain a nominal head
of state. Shrestha emphasized that the party had now
accommodated ethnic communities, including women and dalits.
He expressed satisfaction that the decisions of the general
convention had made the NC(D) even more progressive than the
Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist).
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) With approximately 60 percent elected members in the
CWC, the NC(D) president no longer has a monopoly. The new
CWC has paved the way for more democratic processes within
the NC(D) party as well as a more representative CWC. This
stands in stark contrast with the NC, in which party
President G.P. Koirala nominated the majority of CWC members.
MORIARTY