Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1727
2006-06-30 11:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
US-FUNDED FACILITATOR CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #1727 1811157 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301157Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2161 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4546 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4797 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9911 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2784 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4198 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9955 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
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)
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
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