MAOISTS LIFT BLOCKADE FOR NOW

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001052 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV ECON NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS LIFT BLOCKADE FOR NOW REF: A. KATHMANDU 1042 ¶B. KATHMANDU 1040 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Maoists Lift Blockade -------------- ¶1. (C) On April 26, the Maoists announced they had lifted their blockade of the capital and district headquarters until April 28, when the Parliament will convene. The Maoists say they will reinstitute their blockade, which had effectively stopped all goods coming up from India for the past three weeks, if the reinstated Parliament does not announce "unconditional" elections to a constituent assembly, a long-standing Maoist demand and also a sticking point in their November 2005 twelve point understanding with the seven-party alliance. The seven-party alliance and the Maoists continue to differ over Maoist weapons, with the alliance calling for the Maoists to give up their arms before constituent assembly elections. In an op-ed in an April 26 Nepali language weekly, Maoist number two Dr. Baburam Bhattarai continued to express Maoist displeasure with the Parties for accepting the King's second address and urged the people to question the alliance's decision. Ambassador Shoring Up the Parties -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador on April 26 again assured Prime Minister-select GP Koirala and CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal that the U.S. would do everything it could to support the political parties during this transition. The Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. would be supportive of any negotiations to bring the Maoists into the mainstream and lay down their weapons. Both party leaders expressed appreciation for U.S. efforts to restore democracy to Nepal. Koirala said he was convinced the parties could persuade the Maoists to enter the political mainstream. MK Nepal said the Parties would negotiate with the Maoists about their demand for unconditional constituent assembly elections. MK Nepal said that much needed to be done, and quickly. He expressed some concern that Koirala might not physically be up to the challenge. COAS Thapa Stresses Support to New Government -------------- ¶3. (U) In an April 25 interview with CNN, Chief of Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa stated the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) was willing to work with the new government and answer to the new Prime Minister and Defense Minister. He also said that the RNA could incorporate Maoist fighters into the RNA, and expressed optimism that dialogue with the Maoists would usher in peace. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) The Maoists have continued their public expressions decrying the Parties acceptance of power, but there seems to be no popular support for continuing their blockade. The blockade's withdrawal, at least until Friday, will allow the Maoists to get their cadre out of Kathmandu, as well as give the Maoists and security forces a break. Maoist threats to resume the blockade on April 28 keep their options open and keep the pressure on the Parties to accede to Maoist demands. With the RNA swearing fealty to the new government and the international community bucking up the parties, we hope the new government will stand tough and the Maoists will not get their "unconditional" constituent assembly elections. MORIARTY