Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1828
2006-07-12 10:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
FORMER PM DEUBA URGES "OUTSIDERS" TO HELP NEPAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001828
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR NP
SUBJECT: FORMER PM DEUBA URGES "OUTSIDERS" TO HELP NEPAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1732
B. KATHMANDU 1744
C. KATHMANDU 1582
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
GON: HASTE MAKES WASTE
-----------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001828
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR NP
SUBJECT: FORMER PM DEUBA URGES "OUTSIDERS" TO HELP NEPAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1732
B. KATHMANDU 1744
C. KATHMANDU 1582
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
GON: HASTE MAKES WASTE
--------------
1. (C) In a July 11 meeting, Nepali Congress - Democratic
(NC-D) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
told CDA that the Government of Nepal (GON) seemed to be in a
hurry to make concessions to the Maoists. Deuba expressed
concern that the GON was going to forfeit its gains, such as
the reinstatement of Parliament, by giving in to Maoist
demands without a plan. He recalled his recent speeches
declaring that the Maoists must lay down arms, return seized
property, and stop extortion if they wanted to join the
government. He acknowledged the positive influence the
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National
Monitoring Committee could have on Maoist behavior. He
agreed that the GON should promptly replace NHRC and Election
Commission members with impartial appointees. However, Deuba
stressed to us that the Nepalese alone could not speak out
against the Maoists like outsiders--the international
community--could. He praised the Ambassador's June 28 speech
(ref A) in this regard. Deuba concurred that the Maoists
were cleverly exploiting political party differences by
approaching party leaders separately. He affirmed that unity
among the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) was of paramount
importance.
MUST-HAVES: CONSULTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
--------------
2. (C) Deuba was frustrated about not being consulted about
the GON's July 2 letter to the UN requesting assistance with
arms management (ref B). He claimed that he had had no
contact with the UN in Kathmandu. He had been unaware of the
contents and hence unable to speak about the letter during
his early July visit to New Delhi. Deuba supported a UN
peacekeeping role but claimed that the GON was in no position
to extend an invitation to the UN at this time. He assented
that speed was important to the peace process, but said the
GON needed to work on its "real problem" of implementing
decisions. Deuba wanted all SPA members to be included in
decisions, not just Prime Minister GP Koirala's circle of
advisers. The former PM urged that the UN should send
monitors and peacekeepers who were willing to speak strongly
against GON and Maoist violations.
WILDCARDS: NC REUNIFICATION AND NEW DELHI
--------------
3. (C) Deuba assured us that he wanted unity between the
Nepali Congress (NC) and the NC-D but avowed that he would
not desert those who had supported him since Koirala expelled
him from the NC in 2002. Deuba described relations between
the two factions as a tricky, ongoing give-and-take. He said
that he had asked the NC, "You help the Maoists. Why don't
you help me?" (Note: Deuba's comment was in reference to a
belief among NC-D and other politicos that the NC and the
Maoists have some sort of secret understanding. NC leaders
have publicly denied the rumor. End Note.) Deuba did not
offer any ideas about how the Parties could connect and
seemed unconvinced that reunification would occur. He gave
more attention to his visit to New Delhi, during which he had
been impressed to meet with PM Singh, Congress Party leader
Gandhi, and several GOI officials he had not been able to see
on previous visits. Deuba remarked that he had held candid
discussions with the Indians, and although he "did not know
why they suddenly seemed interested" in him, he suggested
that the reception indicated GOI support.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Deuba, although still embittered about being
sidelined from political decision-making, appeared slightly
less down than he was in his last meeting with us in mid-June
(ref C). The former PM's visit to New Delhi may have buoyed
his spirit and provided hope that he could become a more
relevant player in Nepal's transformation to democracy.
Deuba was light on details about his discussions with the
Indians but implied that he could be amenable to riding
shotgun to an "Indian solution." Deuba's visions of grandeur
were perhaps more reflective of his marginalized status than
foresight regarding the impending course of Nepal's
transformation.
DEAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR NP
SUBJECT: FORMER PM DEUBA URGES "OUTSIDERS" TO HELP NEPAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1732
B. KATHMANDU 1744
C. KATHMANDU 1582
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
GON: HASTE MAKES WASTE
--------------
1. (C) In a July 11 meeting, Nepali Congress - Democratic
(NC-D) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
told CDA that the Government of Nepal (GON) seemed to be in a
hurry to make concessions to the Maoists. Deuba expressed
concern that the GON was going to forfeit its gains, such as
the reinstatement of Parliament, by giving in to Maoist
demands without a plan. He recalled his recent speeches
declaring that the Maoists must lay down arms, return seized
property, and stop extortion if they wanted to join the
government. He acknowledged the positive influence the
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National
Monitoring Committee could have on Maoist behavior. He
agreed that the GON should promptly replace NHRC and Election
Commission members with impartial appointees. However, Deuba
stressed to us that the Nepalese alone could not speak out
against the Maoists like outsiders--the international
community--could. He praised the Ambassador's June 28 speech
(ref A) in this regard. Deuba concurred that the Maoists
were cleverly exploiting political party differences by
approaching party leaders separately. He affirmed that unity
among the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) was of paramount
importance.
MUST-HAVES: CONSULTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
--------------
2. (C) Deuba was frustrated about not being consulted about
the GON's July 2 letter to the UN requesting assistance with
arms management (ref B). He claimed that he had had no
contact with the UN in Kathmandu. He had been unaware of the
contents and hence unable to speak about the letter during
his early July visit to New Delhi. Deuba supported a UN
peacekeeping role but claimed that the GON was in no position
to extend an invitation to the UN at this time. He assented
that speed was important to the peace process, but said the
GON needed to work on its "real problem" of implementing
decisions. Deuba wanted all SPA members to be included in
decisions, not just Prime Minister GP Koirala's circle of
advisers. The former PM urged that the UN should send
monitors and peacekeepers who were willing to speak strongly
against GON and Maoist violations.
WILDCARDS: NC REUNIFICATION AND NEW DELHI
--------------
3. (C) Deuba assured us that he wanted unity between the
Nepali Congress (NC) and the NC-D but avowed that he would
not desert those who had supported him since Koirala expelled
him from the NC in 2002. Deuba described relations between
the two factions as a tricky, ongoing give-and-take. He said
that he had asked the NC, "You help the Maoists. Why don't
you help me?" (Note: Deuba's comment was in reference to a
belief among NC-D and other politicos that the NC and the
Maoists have some sort of secret understanding. NC leaders
have publicly denied the rumor. End Note.) Deuba did not
offer any ideas about how the Parties could connect and
seemed unconvinced that reunification would occur. He gave
more attention to his visit to New Delhi, during which he had
been impressed to meet with PM Singh, Congress Party leader
Gandhi, and several GOI officials he had not been able to see
on previous visits. Deuba remarked that he had held candid
discussions with the Indians, and although he "did not know
why they suddenly seemed interested" in him, he suggested
that the reception indicated GOI support.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Deuba, although still embittered about being
sidelined from political decision-making, appeared slightly
less down than he was in his last meeting with us in mid-June
(ref C). The former PM's visit to New Delhi may have buoyed
his spirit and provided hope that he could become a more
relevant player in Nepal's transformation to democracy.
Deuba was light on details about his discussions with the
Indians but implied that he could be amenable to riding
shotgun to an "Indian solution." Deuba's visions of grandeur
were perhaps more reflective of his marginalized status than
foresight regarding the impending course of Nepal's
transformation.
DEAN