MAOIST LEADER APPEARS IN PUBLIC WARNING GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001375 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOIST LEADER APPEARS IN PUBLIC WARNING GOVERNMENT Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). Prachanda Warns of "Violent Storm" -------------- ¶1. (U) Maoist Chairman Prachanda, in his first public appearance in Nepal in a number of years, said on May 30 that his party was committed to making the current peace talks a success. The party's second-in-command, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, also appeared at a Maoist rally in Makwanpur District, south of Kathmandu, on May 30. Addressing the mass meeting, the two top Maoist leaders warned of a "violent storm" of protests if talks with the government failed. Prachanda reiterated this threat in a May 30 interview in the Nepali language daily Annapurna Post. Prachanda alleged that the government was "misinterpreting" the Maoist mass meeting planned for June 2 in Kathmandu. Prachanda urged the government to nationalize all the property of the late King Birendra. Media reported that, although not scheduled, the Maoist leaders addressed the gathering in response to locals' request as the two Maoist leaders had been residing in the area for a few days. Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) Prachanda's threat of a violent storm of protests if talks fail once again calls into question Maoist goals for the peace talks. His warning also indicates the insurgents have no intention of giving up arms in the near future.QORIARTY