US-FUNDED FACILITATOR CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001727 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR MILLARD DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID/ANE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER NP SUBJECT: US-FUNDED FACILITATOR CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE IMPLEMENTATION REF: KATHMANDU 631 (NOTAL) Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) USAID-funded contractor Hannes Siebert told the Ambassador June 29 that he was worried about the lack of progress by the Government of Nepal (GON) in the constitutional drafting committee as well as in establishing the cease fire monitoring committee. Siebert shared the Ambassador's assessment of the inherent danger of including the Maoists in an interim government before they had laid down their arms and renounced violence. He agreed with the Ambassador that the arms management issue is the make-or-break issue central to the current phase of Nepal's transition. ¶2. (C) Siebert noted that monitoring committee members had been approved by both the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists, thus clearly including Maoist sympathizers. He expressed alarm at the lack of teeth accorded the monitoring committee under the agreed terms of reference, emphasizing the need to add terms outlining concrete consequences (sanctions) for cease fire code of conduct violations. Siebert intended to press this point during rounds of meetings in Kathmandu in coming days. ¶3. (C) Siebert was complimentary regarding the efforts of Nepal's interim constitutional drafting committee, noting that staff are already deeply engaged in long hours of preparatory drafting. Siebert encouraged the Ambassador's activist approach toward engaging both the monitoring committee and the constitutional drafting committee. He shared the view that international support for the wavering and overwhelmed GON, especially from the United States, is crucial at the current juncture. The USAID-funded peace facilitator agreed that Home Minister Sitaula's dual-hatted role as chief law enforcement officer and GON negotiator presented an inherent conflict of influence which weaken the GON's position. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Siebert reflected a pervasive sense of uneasiness with the peace process among GON officials and Nepal's political class. This widespread criticism of the performance of the GON combines with a perception of the perceived relative strength of the Maoists to create a morale-sapping cocktail. Stepped up engagement and support for democracy by the international community, led by the U.S., is clearly essential at this potential tipping point. MORIARTY