Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1239
2006-05-12 11:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
DEFENSE SECRETARY: GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #1239 1321144 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121144Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1460 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3997 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9723 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 4601 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9705 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 4345 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2588 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0873 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001239
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV MARR NP
SUBJECT: DEFENSE SECRETARY: GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
ARMY TO CHANGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001239
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV MARR NP
SUBJECT: DEFENSE SECRETARY: GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
ARMY TO CHANGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Bishnu Dutta Uprety, Ministry of Defense Secretary,
told A/DCM and Pol/Econ Chief May 12 that the Ministry of
Defense would soon become a "player." Uprety said that Prime
Minister Koirala had stressed to him that the focal point for
military policy issues must be the Ministry of Defense, and
that the RNA should be "part of the government, not a
separate body of government." Uprety said he had mentioned
to the army the government's new concept. He expected the
Cabinet to ask him to submit a proposal for a new
relationship that would establish civilian control over the
army.
2. (C) Uprety acknowledged that the Ministry of Defense was
currently a "small ministry." It had only fifty or so staff
and an additional fifty staff in the Department of Defense
Account Controls, which distributed pensions to retired
soldiers and did some other accounting work related to the
army. He explained that the army itself was, until now,
linked to the Palace. The RNA had close links with the
military wing of the Palace Secretariat, which was manned by
approximately 300 military personnel. He noted that Chief of
Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa also headed up the Palace
Secretariat's military wing. He said it was likely the new
SIPDIS
government would dismantle the military wing of the
secretariat.
SIPDIS
3. (C) Uprety expressed his appreciation for U.S. assistance
to Nepal, and for U.S. support for the new government. The
A/DCM assured him that the U.S. would continue to help.
Uprety suggested that the Ministry might need assistance to
computerize records.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Uprety knows/hopes big changes are around the corner,
but is waiting to get his marching orders from the Cabinet.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV MARR NP
SUBJECT: DEFENSE SECRETARY: GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
ARMY TO CHANGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Bishnu Dutta Uprety, Ministry of Defense Secretary,
told A/DCM and Pol/Econ Chief May 12 that the Ministry of
Defense would soon become a "player." Uprety said that Prime
Minister Koirala had stressed to him that the focal point for
military policy issues must be the Ministry of Defense, and
that the RNA should be "part of the government, not a
separate body of government." Uprety said he had mentioned
to the army the government's new concept. He expected the
Cabinet to ask him to submit a proposal for a new
relationship that would establish civilian control over the
army.
2. (C) Uprety acknowledged that the Ministry of Defense was
currently a "small ministry." It had only fifty or so staff
and an additional fifty staff in the Department of Defense
Account Controls, which distributed pensions to retired
soldiers and did some other accounting work related to the
army. He explained that the army itself was, until now,
linked to the Palace. The RNA had close links with the
military wing of the Palace Secretariat, which was manned by
approximately 300 military personnel. He noted that Chief of
Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa also headed up the Palace
Secretariat's military wing. He said it was likely the new
SIPDIS
government would dismantle the military wing of the
secretariat.
SIPDIS
3. (C) Uprety expressed his appreciation for U.S. assistance
to Nepal, and for U.S. support for the new government. The
A/DCM assured him that the U.S. would continue to help.
Uprety suggested that the Ministry might need assistance to
computerize records.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Uprety knows/hopes big changes are around the corner,
but is waiting to get his marching orders from the Cabinet.
MORIARTY