DID THE KING WAIT TOO LONG?

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001022 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 TAGS: PGOV NP SUBJECT: DID THE KING WAIT TOO LONG? REF: KATHMANDU 1021 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Former PM Deuba Calls Speech an "Opening" -------------- ¶1. (C) Following the King's message turning power over to the seven-party alliance (reftel),Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC(D) President and former Prime Minster, told the Ambassador that he thought the speech was an "opening." However, he lamented that he had to "follow the consensus" of the seven-party alliance. The Ambassador urged him not to reject the King's offer, but to push the alliance in the right direction. But Mid-level Party Cadre Negative ... -------------- ¶2. (C) K.P. Oli, CPN-UML Central Committee member, complained the King had not gone far enough as he had offered to give executive power, but not "state power," to the people. He cautioned Emboff that it was only his personal reaction, and the seven-party alliance would meet and discuss their reaction on April 22. Arjun Narsingh K.C., NC Central Committee member, agreed that the King's proclamation was not sufficient, and told Emboff that, in his personal view, the King should have reinstated Parliament. Anil Jha, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Central Committee member, also stated the King also should have reinstated Parliament. "We have not been on the streets fighting for a prime minister," he explained. The people on the street will not see this as sufficient, he opined. Minendra Rijal, NC(D) Spokesman, concurred, rhetorically asking Emboff "even if the alliance chooses a prime minister, then what? He should have reinstated Parliament." ... As Are Common People -------------- ¶3. (C) Emboffs called people throughout Kathmandu and all reported crowds shouting "not enough." The crowds were also urging the parties not to accept the offer. In at least one area inside the Ring Road, people were tearing down government signs. In Kirtipur, the crowd was yelling, "if parties accept, we will abandon the parties." The people were insisting they would come to the streets on April 22. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) The next few days will show whether the King acted soon enough to defuse the pro-democracy movement's cry for a republic. We will be pushing the Parties to treat the King's proclamation as a clear and unambiguous offer to transfer power. The Indian Ambassador has assured us that he too will be doing everything possible to push the Parties in this direction. MORIARTY